Germans in Los Angeles - Chapter III This file is a part of a manuscript entitled "The Germans in Los Angeles County California 1850 - 1900" by Lamberta Margarette Voget, written in February, 1933. Scanning and OCR by Joy Fisher ------------------------------------------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ----------------------------------------------------------------- CHAPTER III AGRICULTURAL AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES The Germans have long been known for their industrious habits. A study of the commercial activities in early Los Angeles County reveals a surprisingly large number of these foreigners engaged in nearly every trade and occupation imaginable. The census of 1850 is valuable in showing this variety as it existed at the beginning of the period under discussion. [1] At that time in the city of Los Angeles there were among the German residents two carpenters, one cabinet maker, two traders, one cooper, one tailor, five merchants, one shoemaker, two bakers, one mason, one blacksmith, one brewer, two farmers, one gardner, one painter, one locksmith, one laborer, and one man and one woman for whom no occupation was given, the total number of Germans being twenty-six. Of the eight Germans outside the city, three were gardners, four were laborers, and one was a farmer. It is to be noted that in the city, merchants predominated, and that the remainder were a scattered variety. In general, this characteristic held true throughout the period, A typical picture of German occupations in 1875 is obtained from the Great Register of Los Angeles County. [2] In this year four hundred and twenty-seven Germans were registered as voters. Of these there were sixty-one merchants, fifty-seven farmers, thirty-seven clerks, thirty laborers, seventeen bakers, seventeen carpenters, fourteen butchers, eleven miners, ten blacksmiths, sixteen saloonkeepers, twelve vintners, nine tailors, eleven brewers, eight shoemakers, seven coopers, six musicians, five druggists, two watchmakers, four winegrowers, four rancheros, two sheepraisers, three hotel keepers, three painters, three teamsters, two harness makers, two saddlers, three carriage and wagon makers, three upholsterers, five engineers, [3] three gunsmiths, two masons, two hatters, two grocers, two traders, two millers, two barbers, two surveyors, two mechanics, two cooks, two bootmakers, two aparists, three seamen, and one of each of the following! painter and glazer, locksmith, tinsmith, tinner, bricklayer, restaurant keeper, bookkeeper, doctor, physician, minister, teacher, soda manufacturer, glassworker, liquor dealer, cigar maker, speculator, salesman, city sexton, [4] jeweler, carver, renter, stock raiser, gardner, waiter, ditchtender, steward, tob dealer, agent, marble worker, dewer, zanjero, and gentleman. In addition to these, there was one who merely designated "soda water" as his occupation, [5] and two who gave no occupation. With 1880 and 1890 the number and variety of occupations increasedo The Great Register for the latter year listed [6] nearly one hundred and seventy- five German-born farmers outside the city; of merchants, the city alone had at least one hundred and ten. A large number of laborers of various types were given as well as men in such respected positions as bankers, physicians and manufacturers. Indeed, the list of occupations is a strange and interesting mixture. FARMING AND VINICULTURE For the sake of clearness and further information the various general occupations will be discussed separately, and some of the outstanding or typical persons engaged in each will be named. Of the occupations, farming and viniculture was one of the more outstanding. In his book, The German Element in the United States. Mr. A. B. Faust says: [7] From the earliest time the Germans made attempts to cultivate the grape in the United States. They tried it in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, California, and elsewhere. American varieties of grapes were developed by Germans and descendants of Germans in the eastern and middle western states, but, to continue in the words of Mr. Faust: [8] The foreign-born viticulturists of California were more fortunate in having their fondest hope realized, that of seeing the European varieties of the grape prosper on American soil. The greater centers of viniculture in California were in counties north of Los Angeles, however. Nevertheless, this occupation cannot be overlooked, for even Los Angeles County had wine dealers of no mean significance, and large numbers of the farmers of this county, especially in the earlier decades, had vineyards. Mention has already been made of Johann Groningen, the first German settler of Los Angeles. [9] His vineyard on Alameda Street was the first owned by a German in this county. The first man to make wine on a large scale in Southern California was Charles Kohler, one of the Anaheim pioneers. [10] A large place in the county's wine interests was held by Herman Boettcher, proprietor of the San Pedro Winery. A paragraph written in the 'Nineties gives the following description of this establishment: [11] The winery with its different departments on the corner of Jefferson and San Pedro streets covers about three acres of ground and is fitted throughout with every known appliance that is used in the manufacture of first-class wines. There is also a fine vineyard adjoining the winery, comprising about thirty-five acres. Besides the grapes grown in his own vineyard, Mr. Boettcher buys many carloads of grapes each season from Pomona, Riverside, etc. . . He manufactures yearly about 150,000 gallons of wine, as it takes that amount to supply his trade. Mr. Boettcher does both a wholesale and retail business, and, besides shipping to every state in the Union, having a large mail order business, and selling through his agents, he enjoys a large local retail trade, and has employed three delivery wagons in this department. Another Los Angeles man of some worth who may be cited as a further example in this typically German occupation is Charles Hahn, who came to America in 1864 and began his residence in the city in 1880.[12] Mr. Hahn's business was located at 229 Kuhrts Street and was established in the late 'Eighties. He sold to dealers in the east as well as catering to local patronage. He was trained in this occupation, his whole life having been devoted to wine interests. His financial condition enabled him to own real estate of considerable extent. Of an earlier time was Leonard John Rose, a large landowner and fruit raiser of this county. Mr. Rose came to Los Angeles with his family in November, 1850, after having spent two years in Albuquerque. After his arrival, this ambitious German bought one hundred and sixty acres of land1 near Mission San Gabriel and set out a vineyard and orange orchard, which prospered so greatly that he was enabled to increase his holdings to more than two thousand acres. Careful supervision and planning made his orchards one of the famous places of interest in the county. Furthermore, his efforts were important in starting the extensive growing of oranges in Southern California. Adolphus Busch, German millionaire and philanthropist, earned his wealth from his large malting and brewing business, known as the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company. [15] Mr, Busch was a resident of Pasadena. The vineyard colony of Anaheim, containing many viticulturists almost none of whom were trained for this pursuit, was discussed at length in chapter II. MERCANTILE ACTIVITIES Of a nature somewhat similar to the trade in wines was the trade in dry goods, pharmaceutical materials, foods, and similar merchandise. The outstanding name in this respect is that of Harris Newmark, whose trip to America has already been described. [16] This prominent and influential pioneer of Los Angeles was a native of Loebau, Germany. For the first eight months after arriving in Los Angeles he clerked in the dry goods store owned jointly by his brother, J. P. Newmark, and by Jacob Rich, but when his brother sold out in 1854 Harris decided to start in business for himself, whereupon he rented a store on Commercial Street. After seven months of diligent labor, during which time he did his own clerking, bookkeeping, and janitor work, he took an inventory of this pioneer business venture and discovered that he had saved fifteen hundred dollars [17] He had learned the English and Spanish languages and was able to fit into the community to the extent that further rapid progress was possible. Early in 1855 the firm Rich, Newmark and Company was organized with the arrangement that Rich, who had done similar work with J. P. Newmark, should reside in San Francisco taking care of the business there, while Elias Laventhal, another partner, and Harris Newmark should manage the business in Los Angeles. The firm was prosperous, developing a wholesale trade as well as retail business. The following year, however, the partnership was dissolved, and until 1858 Mr. Newmark was in the firm of Newmark, Kremer and Company, in which his partners were his uncle Joseph Newmark, who had come to the city in 1854, [18] J. P. Newmark, and Maurice Kremer. A larger assortment of stock was carried than heretofore, but trade was confined to retail stock. One venture after another was undertaken, and nearly always, after the first years, there were several simultaneous efforts in various directions. In 1865, after making a secret arrangement with Phineas Banning, who monopolized transportation between Wilmington and Los Angeles, Mr. Newmark put out his own sign, "H. Newmark," later changed to "H. Newmark and Company." This firm dealt in groceries, hardware, hides, wool, and other similar merchandise. [19] This business later developed into the big wholesale grocery firm of M. A. Newmark and Company, M. A. Newmark was a nephew who has assisted the older man, and whose business ability was early recognized and appreciated. Harris Newmark was now ably assisted not only by this nephew, but also by J. P. Newmark, who was in San Francisco giving his cooperation, and by Mr. Banning, as well as by the Mormons in Salt Lake, who held an important key to trade with the eastern states. In 1866 he bought out Mr. Banning. Other advantageous additions were also made from time to time. Needless to say, his business became very extensive. Of 1866 he writes: [20] I remember that early in February not less than twenty-seven Government wagons were drawn up in, front of H. Newmark & Company's store, to be loaded with seventy to seventy-five tons of groceries and provisions for troops in the Territory. It was in 1885 that the firm changed to M. A. Newmark and Company. At this time. H. Newmark became active in the firm K. Cohn and Company, which dealt in hides and wools. [21] After a period of ten years existing arrangements were discontinued, K. Cohn and Company conducting the wool trade, while H. Newmark continued the hide business. Among the dealers in food stuffs, Julious Hauser may be selected as an outstanding business man. Born in Baden in 1847, Mr. Hauser came to California in 1870. [22] His earlier years in this state were spent in Sacramento, but in 1882 he came to Los Angeles where he bought a meat market and began the business which later became one of the largest of its kind in. the west. The Hauser Packing Company was organized in 1891 and incorporated three years later. After ten years the following description appeared in a comprehensive business directory of that time: [23] He (Mr. Hauser) occupies the main floor (at 100 South Main Street), 25x80 feet, and has a large coldstorage refrigerator on the premises. He has seven delivery wagons constantly on the go, delivering meats to all parts of the city. He does a large wholesale business in fresh and salt meats, and ships extensively throughout Southern California. Of the druggists, Mr. C. Laux may serve as an example. [24] Located at 142 South Spring Street, C. Laux and Company, Inc., was founded in the early 'Eighties. Mr. Laux, the president of the company, had been engaged in business in Chicago for several years after coming from Germany. His quarters here were large and well furnished, according to the reports. He had a fine soda fountain and excellent prescription service. He had a good line of perfumes, chemicals, toilet articles, drugs, and the other usual accessories of a drug store. Mr, Laux was a member of the State Pharmaceutical Association, There were many other business men engaged in some type of merchandising. Mr, Charles J, Nimmer [25] and Mr. B. J. Dresser [26] each owned "first class" fancy grocery stores, while Mr. F. Levy [27] had a meat market. Dr. Th. Wrede [28] was a druggist with an expanding business, and Mr. J. L. Lowman [29] of Lowman and Company, hatters and haberdashers, ranked well with other similar concerns. In a slightly different occupation was S. G, Marshutz, [30] sole proprietor of the Pacific Optical Company. H, Raphael and his two sons, composing the firm, H, Raphael and Company, [31] were dealers in plate, window and ornamental glass, a traffic not as varied as the wholesale and retail trade of Samuel Meyer, [32] who dealt in cutlery, plated and silverware, mirrors, trays, oil lamps, gas fixtures, crockery, glassware, white and decorated China, coal oil, fancy goods, and other such wares. Another German, Mr. A. J. Koll, [33] had a sawmill, while his countryman, A. G. Gardner, [34] was a music dealer. MANUFACTURING German ingenuity and industry were displayed in the extent of participation of these foreigners in the manufacturing activities of the county. The Great Register of 1880 designated makers of cabinets, cigars, carriages, harness, soda, watches, soap, and wire rope. [35] Variety increased with the coming years. For specific description the jewelry company of Carl Entenmann may be cited. Mr. Entenmann was trained in the manufacture of jewelry in Stuttgart, Germany, [36] a place famous for its gold and silversmith trade. He was employed in a large German city after his period of apprenticeship was over, but in 1885 he came to the United States, remaining in the east for two years after which time he removed to Los Angeles. Here Mr. Entenmann entered one of the local Jewelry houses but soon determined to start a business of his own. At the close of 1888 was organized the beginning of what has now become known as the Carl Entenmann Jewelry Company. Soon several men were employed, and by 1893 it became necessary to divide the shop and the office, and the place assumed the air of a bona fide manufacturing house. Other manufacturers may be mentioned briefly, Mr. L. Lichtenberger came to California in 1860 and established, four years later, a carriage and wagon factory in Los Angeles at 145 and 147 Main Street. [37] Before the close of two decades Mr, Lichtenberger was manufacturing as high as three hundred wagons and carriages per year, Mr, Carl Richel [38] was one of those who made cigars, while Charles A, Erhardt [39] manufactured and sold galvanized iron cornices, his business extending throughout all Southern California. BANKING By 1900 several Germans were influential in the financial phases of the life of the county. The most familiar name in this respect is that of Hellman, which became connected with the city's history at an early date. Mr. Entenmann has stated that when he arrived in Los Angeles in 1887 he found the Hellman interests well established, [40] several men from this family were in business here; only one, Herman W., will be discussed in this connection, however. This German Jew was born in Bavaria and educated in the public schools of southern Germany. [41] When only fifteen years of age he came to America with his brother Isais W. Hellman, reaching Los Angeles on May 14, 1859. He began his career as a freight clerk under Phineas Banning of Wilmington, but after two years joined his cousin in Los Angeles in the stationery business. Several years later he started a business of his own, dealing in fancy goods and stationery. In 1870 he sold out and spent a brief period in Europe after which time the firm Hellman, Haas and Company was founded. Participation herein continued until 1890, This company carried on a successful wholesale grocery business, the trade reaching out into neighboring states. After retiring from this firm Mr, Hellman became vice-president and director of the Farmers and Merchants Bank, which had been founded by I. W. Hellman. He continued in this capacity until after the opening of the new century. Mr. Hellman also became associated with several banks in Southern California as well as with others in the city of Los Angeles. He was a director of the Main Street Savings Bank and of the Security Savings Bank; he was also vice-president of the Los Angeles Savings Bank. In addition to this, he had administrative duties in several business corporations of Los Angeles, and the opening of the twentieth century found him one of the leading financiers of Southern California. THE GERMANS IN LAW AND POLITICS As a general rule, the Germans have not been very active in politics, Mr. Faust, in speaking of German influence in the United States, says that from the beginning of their history the Germans have not been eager to hold public offices. [42] Further in his study, Mr. Faust continues: [43] The Germans did not enter politics for a livelihood. They came as farmers, tradesman, mechanics, merchants, or professional men, and applied themselves diligently to their particular trades with a determination to succeed in them. Their strongly developed practical sense showed them that the professional politician, immediately ousted from office when his party was defeated, was engaged in a very unsafe and unprofitable business. It must also be remembered that the Germans had language handicaps which many others did not have. Never the less, there were many of these pioneers who took an interest in the government of their adopted community. Large numbers of them were registered voters, and there were also those who participated in the practice of law. Of the latter group a few names will serve as illustrations. Louis Lichtenberger, the wagon manufacturer, was elected city treasurer in 1878 before which time he had served a term in the Common Council. [44] Mr. Jacob Kuhrts, who settled in Los Angeles in 1858, was interested in politics as well as in business. Of him Mr. Newmark wrote: [45] Active as his business life has been, Jake has proved his patriotism time and again, devoting his efforts as City Father, and serving, sometimes without salary, as Superintendent of Streets, Chief of the Fire Department and Fire Commissioner. Frank Lecouvreur of Prussia was surveyor of Los Angeles County from 1870 to 1873. [46] Among the lawyers there was Louis Gottschalk, [47] who had served as a judge in St. Louis, Max Loewenthal, [48] an attorney who had come to California with his family in 1858, and Mr. Lindenfeld, [49] junior member of the firm Pepper and Lindenfeld. Fuller consideration may be given to Mr. Charles Silent, who came to the United States as a result of the European upheaval of 1848, his father having participated in the revolution. [50] The family settled in Columbus, Ohio, but the boy soon came to California, where his education was obtained amid various hardships. In 1885, after experiences as county clerk, lawyer and judge in San Jose and in Arizona, Mr. Silent came to Los Angeles, where he practiced law with S. O. Houghton and Alexander Campbell. He was interested in civic welfare, one of his contributions in this respect being to supervise the construction of the entrance to Elysian Park, This was the result of a plan worked out by Mr. H. W. Frank and himself for the purpose of relieving unemployed men. From common laborers to high professional men, German-born individuals were everywhere evident. By diligent effort and economical habits they were able to lift themselves to higher levels, and in many instances they became owners of extensive property, Mr. Faust says of these diligent, buoyant people: [51] Above all things the German loves his work. He is not forever exercising his ingenuity as to how he may do the least work for the most pay, or escape work altogether, but he plunges in and enjoys his work, knowing the force of the proverb, "Arbeit macht das Leben suss." [1] Newmark and Newmark, Census of Los Angeles for 1850, 29-113. [2] Los Angeles County, Great Register, 1875. [3] Of these, one was a mining engineer and three were civil engineers. [4] Of the city of Los Angeles. [5] He may have been a manufacturer or only a clerk. [6] Los Angeles County, Great Register. 1890. [7] Faust, A. B., The German Element in the United States, II, 39-40. [8] Ibid., II, 47. [9] Above, 1-1. [10] Bancroft, H. H., History of California, VII, 101. [11] Times-Mirror, City and County of Los Angeles. 74. [12] Times- Mirror, City and County of Los Angeles, 105. [13] Hunt, R. D,, California and Californians" II, 484; also, Newmark, H., Sixty Years in Southern California. 285-286. [14] This land was bought from William Wolfskill, an important figure in the early development of the county. [15] Mr. Busch was the sole proprietor. For references see Faust, A. B., The German Element in the Uhited States. II, 444, and Burdette, J. J., Greater Los Angeles, 76. [16] See above, 14-16. Mr. Newmark's book, Sixty Years in Southern California has already been cited as a source of information of his life. Brief accounts are found in Thompson and West, History of Los Angeles County, 181, and Lummis, C. F., Los Angeles and Her Makers. 394. [17] Newmark, H., Sixty Years in Southern California, 128. [18] Ibid., 121. [19] Thompson and West, History of Los Angeles County. 181. [20] Newmark, H., Sixty Years in Southern California. 354. [21] Lummis, C. F., Los Angeles and Her Makers. 394. [22] McGroarty, J. S., Los Angeles from Mountains to the Sea, III, 600-601, contains a sketch of Mr. Hauser's life. [23] Times-Mirror, City and County of Los Angeles, 150. [24] Ibid., 105. [25] Times-Mirror, City and County of Los Angeles. 147-148. [26] Ibid., 157. [27] Ibid., 149. [28] Ibid., 145 [29] Ibid., 114. [30] Ibid., 122. [31] Ibid., 109. [32] Ibid., 137. [33] Times-Mirror, City and County of Los Angeles. 110. [34] Ibid., 112. [35] Los Angeles County, Great Register. 1880. [36] Entenmann, Carl, Jewelry Company, The Evolution of Los Angeles' Largest Manufacturing Jewelery House. [37] Thompson and West, History of Los Angeles County, 180. [38] Times-Mirror, City and County of Los Angeles. 150. [39] Ibid., 135. [40] Entenmann, Carl, Speech, 8. [41] See Burdette, J" R,, Greater Los Angeles. 70, and Thompson and West, History of Los Angeles County. 179, for short sketches of Mr. Hellman's life. Guinn, J. M,, Historical and,Biographical Record. 253-254, has a more extended account. [42] Faust, A. B., The German Element in the United States. 122. [43] Ibid., 123-124. [44] Thompson and West, History of Los Angeles County. 180. Also, Newmark, H., Sixty Years in Southern California. 239. [45] Newmark, H", Sixty Years in Southern California,, 229. [46] Ibid., 411. [47] Guinn, J. M., Historical and Biographical Record. 259-260; Times-Mirror, City and County of Los Angeles. 81. Guinn, J. M., Historical and Biographical Record. 274. [49] Times-Mirror, City arid County of Los Angeles. 119. [50] Lummis, C. F., Los Angeles and her Makers. 411. [51] Faust, A, B,, The German Element in the United States. 470.