Los Angeles County, CA Biographies

Alexander, David W
...an Irishman by birth, came to Los Angeles from New Mexico, about 1841 or '42. He ranched at the Rincon Ranch, San Bernardino County, for a time; also kept a store in Los Angeles. He was elected Sheriff of the County September 5, 1855; served the ensuing term; and again filled that office in the years 1876 and '77. He now resides at Wilmington. Page 37

Temple, F P F
...a native of Massachusetts, arrived in Los Angeles by water during the summer of 1841, and engaged in business with his brother, John Temple, then a leading, merchant of the city. He subsequently established a stock-ranch near Fort Tejon, and disposed of this (1868) to engage in banking at Los Angeles, in partnership with I. W. Hellman and William Workman. In 1871 this firm dissolved, and the banking house of Temple and Workman succeeded. This bank failed 1875-3. Mr. Temple died at his ranch April 30,1880. - Page 37

Workman, William
...was born in England, A. D. 1800, and came to America while quite young. He settled in St. Louis, Missouri, then a frontier town, and engaged in business. From there to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where for a number of years he followed trapping and trading. He accompanied his partner Rowland to Los Angeles in 1841, and they settled together on the Puente Ranch. He was a partner of F. P. F. Temple in the banking business at Los Angeles, 1868 to 1875-6, and the failure of that enterprise so preyed upon his mind that he committed suicide May 17, 1876. His remains were interred in the little chapel at La Puente. - Page 37

Bell, Alexander
...was born in Pennsylvania, 1801. In 1823 he emigrated to the city of Mexico, where he resided until 1842, when he came to Los Angeles. In 1844 he married Dona Nieves Guirado. They had no children, but according to H. D. Barrows, Esq., sustained the relation of "padrinas" (godfather and godmother) to more children than any other couple in California. He was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Los Angeles until 1854, and built the block of buildings known as "Bell's Row," fronting on Los Angeles and Aliso streets. During the war of occupation he commanded a company as Captain. He died at Los Angeles July 24, 1871 Page 37

Den, Richard S M. D.
...a native of Ireland, landed at Santa Barbara September 1, 1843, and soon afterward removed to Los Angeles, where he was licensed to practice medicine by the Mexican authorities. During the war of 1846-7, he acted as chief physician and surgeon of the Mexican forces in southern California. He also treated the American prisoners confined at Los Angeles during the war, including Benjamin D. Wilson and party, captured at the Chino Ranch; Thos. 0. Larkin, the only American consul ever appointed in California, etc., etc. Dr. Den has never changed his nationality. He still resides in Los Angeles. Page 37

Temple, John
..who may justly rank as the pioneer merchant of Los Angeles, was a native of Reading, Mass., and for several years prior to his advent on this coast resided at the Sandwich Islands. He came to Los Angeles about the year 1827, and forming a. partnership with George Rice, opened the first store of general merchandise ever established in the pueblo. They did business in an adobe building on Main street, where the Downey Block now stands. The firm dissolved partnership about 1830 or '31, Mr. Temple continuing the business alone until 1845 or '46, when he engaged in real estate speculation, building and ranching, for some years; becoming one of the most extensive landholders and stock owners in the, County, Later he leased the government mint in the city of Mexico for ten years, and so valuablewas
the contract considered, that lie refused $1,000,000 offered by an English company therefor. About the year 1830 he erected the nucleus of what is now the " Downey Block," at first of adobe, but afterward changed it to brick. About 1857-8 he built a large part of the present " Temple Block." He also built the present City Hall. About 1830 he married Dona Rafaela Cota, a native lady. He died at San Francisco May 30, 1866, aged 70 years. His widow survives him, and has for some time resided in Paris, which city was also Mr. Temple's home for several years. Page 33

Rice, George
...a native of New England, came to Los Angeles about the year 1827, from the Sandwich Islands, and was for some time a partner of John Temple in the mercantile business. After dissolution of their firm, he continued in business on his own account in the block on Main street, between Downey Block and the Cosmopolitan Hotel. About the year 1830, he married a lady named Lopez, in Los Angeles, and some five years later removed East with his family. Reported dead. Page 33

Leandry, J D
...a native of Italy, settled in Los Angeles about the year 1827. He opened a store near the plaza, on Nigger alley, and some years later purchased an interest in the San Pedro Ranch, with one Johnson as partner. He resided here for some time, and then purchased the Rancho Los Coyotes, where he lived until his death in 1842. Page 33

Mascarel, Jose
...French, arrived in Los Angeles in 1844,and has resided there ever since. He was elected Mayor of the City in 1865 and has served several terms in the Common Council. He has erected several fine blocks of buildings in the City and has also been largely identified with orchards and vineyards in the neighborhood. Is still a resident Page 37

Dalton, Henry
...English, resided in Los Angeles prior to 1845, and was a merchant there at the time of the Americanoccupation. He still resides at Azusa. Page 37

Bowman, Joseph
...(usually known as Joaquin Bowman) was a Kentuckian, and one of Jedediah S. Smith's party of 1831. He became miller for the mission of San Gabriel soon after his arrival, and retained that position until his death, several years later. Page35

Rhea, John
...was a native of North Carolina, and emigrated to New Mexico about 1828-9; thence to California as one of Wolfskill's party, in 1831. He remained in Los Angeles, where he kept a saloon and grocery, also a billiard room. He at one time owned the lot whereon the Cosmopolitan Hotel now stands. In 1836 he sold out his property to William Wolfskill, and returned East. He is reported dead. Page 35

Day, William
...an American, was a member of the same party (Jedediah S. Smith's) which Col. J. J. Warner accompanied to New Mexico. He reached Los Angeles in 1831, with Jackson's or Carson's party, and settled there, keeping a small grocery near the Catholic church. He died in Sonora some years later. Page 35

Ward, John
...was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1765, from whence he removed with his parents while yet a child. He took part in the battle of New Orleans, being then resident at that place. Soon after the opening of Mexican territory to foreigners, he entered Santa Fe, his being the first American wagon train to that point. He visited Los Angeles in 1832, stayed two years and returned to Missouri. In 1843 he re-entered California by the Gila river route, in the first eastern carriage ever seen in the territory. In 1846 he left here for Chihuahua, but again returned in 1849. He died at Los Angeles, 1859. Page 35

Ferguson, Jesse
...an American, came to Los Angeles from New Mexico, by way of Gila river, in company with R. Laughlin and N. M. Pryor, about the year 1828. He conducted a store on Main street, near Second, for Wm. G. Dana, of Santa Barbara. He married in Los Angeles a Miss Randon, and about the year 1835 went to Lower California, where he died a few years later. Page 33

Laughlin, Richard
...about the year 1828, came as a trapper from New Mexico,, by way of Gila river, in company with Jesse Ferguson, N. M. Pryor, and others. He went first to Lower California, where he and his party were arrested by the authorities, probably for trapping without a license. In 1829 lie reached Los Angeles, where he worked at his trade of carpenter and joiner, occasionally trapping and hunting also. Finally he started a vineyard on the east side of Alameda street, and married a native lady, by whom he had several children. He. died about the year 1855. Page 33

Mc Kinly, Santiago
...a native of Scotland, arrived in Los Angeles during the year 1824. He was at that time twenty-one years of age. He became a merchant, and his name appears on a list of foreigners resident in Los Angeles in 1836,now on file in the city archives. He afterward went to Monterey, and was reported dead some years ago. Page 33

Vignes, Louis
...was a native of France, and in 1831 came to Angeles by way of the Sandwich Islands, bringing with him a stock of devotional ornaments and trinkets, which he disposed of to the missions and people at such good profits that he became quite weal thy. He was long familiarly known as "Old Aliso" from his ownership of the Aliso vineyard. In 1851 he offered this property for sale, and in his advertisement states. "There are two orange gardens that yield from five thousand to six thousand oranges in the season. The vineyard with forty thousand vines, thirty-two thousand now bearing grapes, will yield one thousand barrels of wine per annum, the quality of which is well known to be superior." He is believed to be the first who planted oranges in Los Angeles - bringing his cuttings from San Gabriel. The date of his death does not appear. The old aliso (sycamore) tree still stands -an ancient landmark of the city, and is supposed to be centuries of age. Page 35

Pryor, Nathaniel M
...was an American, and came to Los Angeles with Richard Laughlin's party in 1828-9. By trade be was a silversmith, and divided his time between this business and otter hunting. He was also at one time in the employ of Abel Steams, at San Pedro and in Los Angeles, as warehouse-keeper. He married Dona Sepulveda, in Los Angeles, and subsequently purchased all tlie property extending from Aliso street to First, on Alameda. There he resided with his family, and died there in May, 1850, leaving several descendants still resident in the County. Page 33

Young, Ewing
...was a native of Tennessee, and for a number of years was engaged in New Mexico trapping beaver. In 1828-9 he visited California; trapped on Tulare lake, the San Joaquin river and tributaries; returned to New Mexico about 1830, and fitted out the Wolfskill party, witli whom he came to Los Angeles. In 1830 he settled in Oregon, and became quite wealthy dealing in stock. He died there some thirty years ago. Page 34

Stearns, Abel
...a native of Salem, Mass., spent considerable time in Mexico, and settled in Los Angeles as a merchant, in the year 1828. He married dona Arcadia, daughter of Don Juan Bandini. He obtained large land grants of land throughout the territory, and accumulated much wealth. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention, 1849, and of the State Legislature, 1851; also 1861. He died at San Francisco, August 23, 1871. His widow subsequently married Col. R S Baker - residence, Los Angeles. Page 33

"Portuguese George"
...was a native of Portugal. He settled in Los Angeles at an early day, prior to 1831, and possibly before 1830. But little is known of him save that he married a native woman, and died there many years ago. Page 34

Rocha, Antonio
...was here, and married to a native lady named Alvarado, when Colonel Warner came in 1831. He was a native of Portugal-a gunsmith by trade, and was at one time in the employ of San Gabriel Mission. He died in Los Angeles several years ago. Page 34

Domingo, John
...a Hollander by birth, was carpenter on the brig Danube, which was wrecked in the harbor of San Pedro in 1829. He remained in Los Angeles and worked at his trade. He purchased property opposite where the Baker block now stands, and here resided with his family, having married a Miss Feliz of Los Angeles. He subsequently planted a vineyard on Alameda street, near Aliso, and lived there until his death, December 18, 1858. He left a numerous family, and many warm friends. Page 34

White, Michael
...a native of Kent, England (1801). Emigrated to Lower California in 1817, and remained about a year, after which he spent some eight years as a sailor on various trading vessels in the California gulf; thence to the Sandwich Islands, in 1826, where he remained a year, and in 1828 returned to the Californian coast as commander of the brig Dolly. He remained at Santa Barbara until the fall of 1829, when he went to San Pedro to assist in saving the wrecked brig Danube. He remained here until 1839, when he went to New Mexico, and returned two years later with the Wilson and Rowland party. Has ever since resided in Los Angeles, and still
resides there. Was at one time quite wealthy. Page 34

Wilson, Benjamin Davis
...was born December 1, 1811, in Nashville, Tennessee. At fifteen years of age he went into business for himself at Yazoo City, above Vicksburg. He traded here with the Choctaw and Ohickasaw Indians, until compelled to leave by bad health, when he went to Fort Smith --an outpost up the Arkansas river. From here he went to Missouri and joining tlie Rocky Mountain Fur Company, crossed the plains with them. In the fall of 1833, he readied Santa Fe, and here joined a trapping party bound for the Gila river, and Apache country, to trap beaver. This expedition met with considerable success, and in the spring of 1835, he returned to Santa Fe. He now fitted out a company himself, and back to the Gila. In one of these expeditions he discovered a ruined town, and many evidences of a past civilization,
wholly unaccountable to the Mexicans.

At this time the Apaches were on the best of terms American frontiersmen, and their chief-Juan Jose-a educated man, was frequently in Mr. Wilson's camp. On the other hand, a deadly feud existed between the Apaches and Mexicans; and the Americans, trapping in the Mexican country without authority, there was, to some extent a feeling of " common cause" between them and the Apaches. About this time the Mexicans procured one James Johnson (an American), assisted by a man named Gleason, to betrayand murder the chief, Juan Jose. In retaliation Apaches massacred a party of American trappers under Charles Kemp, and then took Mr. Wilson and two companions prisoners, with the avowed object of putting them also to death. By connivance of the new chief, Mangas, Wilson was allowed to escape. He was pursued by the infuriated warriors on horseback, but succeeded in making cover before daylight. By forced marches, almost wholly without food, and nearly naked, he succeeded in eluding the savages and reached Santa Fe (over 100 miles distant), entirely destitute. Two days later he conducted a party to " Foil Rocks," 150 miles south of Santa Fe on the El Paso road, buried the remains of twelve men there slain by the Indians.

He now spent some time in Santa Fe merchandising for other parties. The good chief, Mangas, afterwards visited him there and long partook of his bounty. In 1837, a revolution broke out in this town; Governor Percy and many others were murdered and the mob carried the heads of their victims through streets on poles, crying, ' Death to the Americans; death to the gringos! " Mr. Wilson and six other Americans concealed themselves until peace was restored, but only escaped through good offices of an Indian chief named Pedro Leon, who was friendly to Mr. Wilson.

Mr. Wilson now bought out the stock of goods had hitherto taken charge of, and remained in Santa Fe until the fall of 1841. Finding that the hatred felt for Americans made it unsafe to remain longer New Mexico, he, in company with John Rowland, Workman, William Gordon, William Wright, and others to the number of about forty, started overland for California early in September. They drove sheep with them for food and all readied Los Angeles in safety, about two months later. These others came to settle, but Mr. Wilson's plan wasto visit China, and from there return home. Failing, however, to procure a ship for China, he finally purchased the Jurupa Ranch stocked it with cattle, and settled down at the place where Riverside now stands, to the life of a rancher.

In 1844, he married Dona Ramona Yorba, daughter of Don Bernardo Yorba, one of the owners of the Santa Ana Ranch. In the fall of that year he was severely wounded by a grizzly bear [which had slain one of his cows] while tracking it through the woods. Upon recovering from his wounds he ambuscaded the bear, wounded him, and in a general hunt next day, killed the ferocious beast, but a second time narrowly escaped death. In the fall of 1845, he took charge of an expedition into the Mojave country to punish marauding Indians. On their way his party camped at a lake where the bears were so numerous that twenty-two men lassoed eleven in one evening, and the same feat was repeated on their way home, making twenty-two bears killed on the trip. Hence, he named this "Bear Lake," which name it has ever since retained.

During this campaign he was severely wounded by an Indian outlaw named Joaquin, with a poisoned arrow, but killed his adversary in the encounter; and his own life was saved by an Indian servant who sucked the wound. After resting and refitting, Mr. Wilson marched his command into the Cahuilla country in search of two renegade mission Indians, who were committing depredations on the ranchers. -Taking the chief, " Carbezon" (Big Head), a prisoner, he succeeded in inducing the tribe to deliver up the heads of the outlaws. He then organized a second expedition against the Mojaves and succeeded in killing a number of men and bringing in many women and children captives. These had all formerly been mission neophytes, and were now returned to San Gabriel Mission.

In 1845, he raised a company to assist in the defense of Los Angeles against Micheltorena, and was one of the two ambassadors who, under a flag of truce, succeeded in winning Micheltorena's American force over to the side of Governor Pico, the result being Micheltorena's abandonment of hostilities and embarkation at San Pedro next day.

Upon the breaking out of war with the United States, Mr. Wilson was ordered by Governor Pico to raise a company and prepare for active service against the Americans; but this he refused to do, on the ground that he was himself an American citizen. He was threatened with arrest, but on sending his parole was allowed to remain peaceably on his ranch. He refused Governor Pico's friendly offer to grant him any large tract of land in the State he might desire; and bore that gentleman's parting compliments to Commodore Stockton. He accompanied the Commodore into Los Angeles (the army following in the evening), and not a blow was struck. Com. Stockton, some days later, handed him his commission as Captain, and detailed him to watch the frontier and guard against a surprise from the Mexican General, Castro.

To aid him in this duty, Mr. Wilson organized a company of twenty-two Americans. After some time, everything appearing to be safe in that neighborhood, he took his company into the mountains on a hunt, and while thus engaged, learned of the revolt by the natives against Lieutenant Gillespie, whom Stockton had left in charge of Los Angeles. Mr. Wilson now repaired to his Jurupa Ranch, and there received a letter from Col. Isaac Williams, of the Chino Ranch, inviting him and his party there, and promising them plenty of ammunition. This proved to be a piece of treachery on William's part, and while here the Americans were surroundedby a native force under Varela, who fired the building in which they had fortified themselves, and compelled a surrender of the whole party. From this time until the re-occupation of Los Angeles by Stockton and Kearney, Mr. Wilson and the other Americans were held prisoners. After the re-occupation, he performed many signal services for the American commanders, and aided, perhaps, more than any other man in southern California, in restoring peace and good feeling between the Americans and natives.

During all this time he had been heavily engaged in merchandising in Los Angeles, as well as in cattle ranching at Jurupa. In 1850 he was a delegate to a convention held at Santa Barbara for the purpose of procuring a division of the State-the southern portion to remain as a Territory. This project, however, failed. After organization of the State, he was elected the first County Clerk of Los Angeles County, Dr. Wilson W. Jones acting as his deputy and receiving all emoluments of the office. Mr. Wilson was also elected Mayor ,of the city in 1851. In 1852, he was appointed Indian agent for the southern district, by President Fillmore; and assisted Gen. Beale in forming the reservation at Fort Tejon. In 1854, he succeeded the widow of Hugh Reid in ownership of large landed interests at San Gabriel.
In 1855, he was elected State Senator from Los Angeles, and served the ensuing term; also in 1869-70. From that time until his death, March 11, 1878, he resided on his Lake Vine-yard Ranch in San Gabriel valley. His first wife having died March 21, 1849, he married Mrs. Margaret S. Hereford, February 1, 1853, -who survives him, and still resides at Lake Vineyard with her two unmarried daughters. A daughter of Mr. Wilson, by his first wife, is married to J. De Bath Shorb, Esq., of San Gabriel valley.

Footnote: [Page 37]
*Johnson's treachery met with its just reward. The Mexican eminent never paid him the agreed "blood money," and to escape vengeance of the Apachca, he fled to California, where he lived and died in obscurity and poverty. Mr. Wilson learned subsequently that the two companions he left sick at the Apache camp had also escaped. Pages 36 - 37

Mullally, Joseph
...resides in Los Angeles, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, December 18, 1826. He crossed the plains in 1850, and arrived in San Francisco the same year, where he commenced the manufacture of bricks, which he continued until 1854, when he removed to Los Angeles, and again resumed the brick business, which he is still engaged in. In 1857 he was elected a member of the Los Angeles City Council, and has been a member of that body during four different terms.

The residence of Mr. Mullally is situated on the corner of Buena Vista and College streets, is one of the finest residences in the city of Los Angeles.The grounds have a frontage of one hundred and eighty-five feet on Buena Vista street and two hundred and eighty-five feet on College, and contain afine bearing orchard, consisting of orange, lemon, pear, apple trees, etc. A view of his place will be found on another page. Page 181

History of Los Angeles - Thompson & West - 1888
Transcribed by: Martha A Crosley Graham

Bouchette, Louis
...was a native of France, and came to Los Angeles about 1828 or 1829. He purchased a small vineyard near where the Sister's school now is, and cultivated it up to the time of his death. He resided where the Baker Block now stands. Died October 23, 1847. His widow still resides in the city. Page 33 - 34

Warner, Jonathan Trumbull
[better known as Don Juan J. Warner] ...was born in the town of Lyme, New London County, Connecticut, November 20, 1807. In the fall of 1830 he left his native State for Illinois, and remained there until the spring of 1831, when he removed to St. Louis, Missouri. In April, 1831, he entered the service of Jedediah S. Smith, who was then fitting out an expedition for Santa Fe, New Mexico. On their way out the leader, Smith, was killed by Indians, but the remainder of the party arrived safely, and remained from July till September, selling goods. In September of that year he took service with Jackson, Waldo & Young, trappers and traders, and accompanied them to California, arriving there in November, following.

He first entered Los Angeles December 5, 1831. At that period nearly the whole town was comprised between the junction of Spring and Main streets on the south and the cross street next to the plaza on the north. There were only three or four houses north of these bounds. The furthest house south on Spring street was that now used by the mayor is an office; the furthest one south on Main street was about second street. There was not a house on the east side of Alameda street, and but few east of Los Angeles street; there were no houses west of Main and Spring streets. The houses were all of adobe-one story only in height. Three or four of these were covered with tiles manufactured at San Gabriel, the rest had flat roofs covered with brea (asphaltum). At this time Los Angeles had less than one thousand inhabitants, and these with but few exceptions, all Mexicans. Indians, and half-breeds.
There were a few Americans and Europeans, (other than Spanish), and of these he remembers the following:

John Temple American
William Wolfskill American
George Rice American
Samuel J. Shields American
John Rhea American
Richard Laughlin American
Nathaniel Pryor American
Jesse Ferguson American
Samuel Prentiss American
Louis Bouchet Frenchman
John Domingo Hollander
Portuguese George Portuguese
Mocho Dan Irish

The summer of 1832 was spent by Mr. Warner in hunting otter along the Californian coast and among the islands adjacent thereto-from San Pedro to Point Conception. In the fall of 1833 he settled in Los Angeles, and during 1834-5 acted as clerk for Abel Steams and John Temple successively. During 1836-7-8 he was engaged in mercantile business, part of that time being associated with Henry Mellus. Their place of business was on Main street, on the lot now occupied by Myers & Co. Ill health compelled him finally to retire from business, and for several years he remained in Los Angeles an invalid. In 1840 he visited the East. and in a lecture on California delivered at Rochester, N. Y., and afterward at Upper Middletown, Connecticut, advanced and demonstrated the proposition that the trade of Europe and the Atlantic States, could be carried across the continent by rail more advantageously than by ship canal at Panama. This is claimed to have been the first suggestion of that great enterprise now known as " the Transcontinental Railroad."

In the fall of 1843 Mr. Warner went to San Diego and settled upon what has since been known as " Warner's ranch." In 1851-2 he represented that County in the State Senate. In 1857 he returned to Los Angeles, where he has since resided. From March 1858 to June 1800 he published the Los Angeles Southern Vineyard; and in the last-named year was member of the Assembly from this County. In 1876 he was appointedUS. Register in Bankruptcy for the Southern District, which office he still holds.

In the year 183G, at San Luis Rey, Mr. Warner married Dona Anita Gale, by whom he had five children of whom two are now living.
Mrs. Warner died in Los Angeles in 1858. - Page 34

Rowland, John
...came to Los Angeles in the fall of 1841, as leader of a party from New Mexico. He was a partner of William Workman at Santa Fe, and subsequently joint-owner with him of the Puente ranch, where he died October 14, 1873, aged 82 years. The following is a translation of a Spanish document on file in the Los Angeles city archives:-

"List of the persons who accompanied the undersigned on his arrival
in the Territory of Upper California:-
William Workman
William Gordon and families.
James D. Meade, Physician.
Benjamin D. Wilson.
--- Knight.
Jacob Frankfort, Tailor.
William Campbell, Naturalist.
Thomas Lindaay, Mineralogist.
Hiram Taylor, Musician.
Wade Hampton, Gunsmith.
Isaac Givens, Engineer.
John McClure.
James Dokes.
L. Lyman, Physician.
Daniel Sinton. Carpenter.
Albert G. Tibiana.
---- Batchelder, Cooper.
Francis Bedebry, Carpenter.
Francis Gvvinn, Blacksmith
Michael White.
Juan Manuel Bara and family
Lorenzo Trujillo and family
Ygnacio Salazar and servants.
--- Tomes, Carpenter.
William Moon, Cooper.

Each one with his fire-arm, which is needed for defense on the journey. Those with families have come with the intention of settling in this
Department, and those who have trade", in pursuit of employment, and some of the others to see and examine this Department with a view of settling now, or of returning after they go back to their country.
JOHN ROWLAND.

COPY. Office of the First Justice of the Peace, Los Angeles February 29, 1842.
MANL. DOMINGUEZ."
Page 36

Wolfskill, William
...was born March 20, 1798, near Richmond, Kentucky. Until the year 1831 he roamed through the great West as a hunter and trapper. In February of that year he reached Los Angeles with a number of others, and here the party broke up. Aided by Friar Sanchez, then in charge of San Gabriel Mission, he, in company with Nathaniel Pryor, Richard Laughlin, Samuel Prentiss, and George Yount, (all Americans) built a schooner at San Pedro for the purpose of hunting sea-otter. This vessel they named the Refugio. They made but one trip in her, and meeting with only poor success, sold her. He next turned his attention to pomology and horticulture at Los Angeles, and planted his first vineyard in 1838. In 1841 his first orange orchard was planted. From this period he devoted his life to these industries, assisted for a time by his brother John, who reached Los Angeles in 1837.

Mr. Wm. Wolfskill died at Los Angeles October 3, I866, leaving four children. His wife, Dona Magdalena Lugo, died before him - July 6, 1862. At the time of his death Mr Wolfskill's Los Angeles property was stocked with some six thousand bearing vines, two thousand orange and lemon trees also bearing, and a large assortment of miscellaneous fruits.
He was the owner of much real estate in Los Angeles County. Page 34

History of Los Angeles - Thompson & West :1888
"Pioneers of Los Angeles"

Transcribed by: Martha A. Crosley Graham