Ingersoll's Century History Santa Monica Bay Cities (Being Book 1908, 1908a, 1890s Number Two of Ingersoll's Century Series of California Local History Annals),
Rindge and Malibu Rancho, 1908, 1908a, 1890s
[p. 129] In 1891, Mr. Rindge purchased the property commonly known as the Malibu ranch, a Spanish land grant originally made to José B. Tapia in 1804, and later belonging to Don Mateo Keller. The original property extended along the coast northwesterly from Las Flores canyon for twenty miles. To this Mr. Rindge added other tracts until he owned a strip of land extending along the sea coast for twenty-four miles. Beautiful 'passages' or valleys; fertile mesas, stretches of magnificent beach, lofty peaks and ridges, gave a wonderful variety of scenery and climate to this rancho. Mysterious caves, almost inaccessible canyons, groves of ancient oak and sycamore lent romance and charm. It is not strange that Mr. Rindge, with his poetical tendency of thought and spiritual [p. 130] trend of mind, found here his ideal home and loved this historical rancho-not as property-but as a divine inheritance. He built here a home that was perfect in its adaptation to the environment and he spent here some of his happiest hours. His book, Happy Days in Southern California (1898) is largely a tribute to his life upon the Malibu, although it deals with other aspects of California life also.
But while he sought rest and inspiration in the seclusion of his ranch home, Mr. Rindge never shut himself out from active participation in business and public affairs. During the years of his residence in this state, from 1888 to 1905, probably no other man was ever connected with so many and such large and varied interests. His investments were made not only with a view to the increase of his own wealth, but, very largely, for the purpose of developing the resources of this country and thus giving opportunity to men of lesser means. For this reason he was a moving factor in a large number of companies organized to develop water and reclaim land, and in various other enterprises. Among the most important of these was the Conservative Life Insurance Company, of which he was president. Mr. Rindge, believing that a man should make his gifts while living, was a man of large yet unostentatious benevolences. He gave liberally to the Methodist church of which he was long a consistent member, being of a deeply religious nature. He aided many institutions, both in California and in New England, and lent a helping hand to many individuals. He was discriminating in his charities-as a man of great wealth must be-if he is to be a power for good rather than for evil.
[p. 164] Chapter II Laying the Foundations. 1870-1880.
In 1889, he [Edwin Jackson Vawter, Jr.] took a position with the First National Bank of Santa Monica. On the organization of the Commercial Bank of Santa Monica, in 1894, he became cashier of the institution. He was cashier of the Main street Savings Bank of Los Angeles for five years and was connected with the Security Savings Bank. He then became cashier of the United States National Bank of the same city. He is now [1908] president of the First National Bank of Ocean Park.
[p. 182] Chapter III. From Town to City. 1880-1890.
. . . In 1888 he [Juan J./John Carrillo] was elected as city trustee and for twelve years thereafter he was re-elected regularly, thus serving the city longer than any other trustee ever chosen. During this time he was for seven years, from 1890 to 1897, president of the board and thus acting mayor of the city. During his entire service he gave much time and energy to city affairs and Santa Monica has never had a more disinterested and honest official.
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[p. 266] Chapter VII Public Institutions
Schools
In 1889, after a good deal of agitation, steps were taken to provide the south side with a school. This was opened in a private house; but in 1888 lots had been secured at the corner of Ash and Fourth streets and in 1890 a small building erected. In 1891 another small building was put up in Garapatos canyon. This section of the district has since been cut off from the Santa Monica district. In 1894 a neat building was provided for the pupils resident in Santa Monica canyon.
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[p. 283, 1890, 1890s] Board of Trade-Chamber of Commerce--Improvement Club
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In 1890, M.R. Gaddy was again president. In February, 1890, the Board of Trade passed a resolution declaring that Santa Monica was the most advantageous location for a harbor and requesting Representative Vandever to use his influence towards securing an appropriation for that purpose. This Board of Trade continued to exist and to hold semi-occasional meetings until March, 1895, when it became a Chamber of Commerce, duly incorporated for the sum of $10,000. The incorporators were: R.F. Jones, F.L. Simons, T.H. Wells, M.H. Kimball, Walter G, Schee, J.J. Carrillo, Roy Jones, E.B. Woodworth, N.A. Roth, W.T. Gillis, H.W. Keller.
The old members of the Board of Trade were eligible to membership and a campaign for new membership was made. The meeting at which the re-organization was effected passed resolutions thanking Hon. J.J. Carrillo for "faithful and efficient official service during the seven years last past, all of which time he has been Secretary of the Board." The president of the new Chamber of Commerce was Robert F. Jones; first vice-president, F.L. Simons; second-vice-[p. 284] president, H.W. Keller; treasurer, M.H. Kimball.
The new organization laid out a broad scheme of work; twelve different committees were appointed to deal with municipal improvements and affairs. One of the first matters taken up was the planning of a float for La Fiesta. Another topic which absorbed much attention and was exhaustively handled by a committee consisting of Roy Jones and H.W. Keller, was that of securing a sewer system.
They engaged an engineer and had careful estimates and plans made, which were later adopted by the city council. When the Chamber of Commerce asked the Board of Trustees to call an election to vote on sewer bonds, the Board declined, fearing that the issue would not carry. The Chamber of Commerce then held a "straw election," which was carried out with all the completeness of a genuine election and the bonds were carried by a handsome majority. As a result a bond election was called by the city and $40,000 bonds were voted for sewers.
A road to Calabasas was another subject which received attention and which was successfully carried out, largely owing to the work of Mr. J.J. Carrillo. Of course, the Chamber of Commerce took every opportunity to advance Santa Monica's interests in the harbor fight, then on, and some very interesting meetings were held in connection with this matter. The Chamber of Commerce raised a fund to send Mr. John W. Mitchell to Washington as their representative.
[p. 284] The enthusiasm of the Chamber of Commerce seems to have worn itself out in 1898. At any rate in December of that year it was proposed to organize an "Improvement Club" which it was believed would eventually make the town doubly a paradise. Frank A. Miller, then mine [sic] host of the Arcadia, was one of the moving spirits in this organization and it started out with energetic talk. J.J. Davis was president; F.B. McComas, vice-president; F.H. Taft, secretary; Dr. P.S. Lindsey, treasurer. The executive committee included F.A. Miller, W.S, Vawter, N.A. Roth, Roy Jones, Abbot Kinney, A. Mooser, A.W. McPherson, E.P. Clark, T.H. Dudley, F.H. Rindge, L.B. Osborne. The Club made a vigorous, although unsuccessful campaign to secure lower fares to Los Angeles. It also took up the matter of liquor licenses, recommending that only six saloon licenses be issued and that the license be raised to $600. The Improvement Club did some efficient work in arousing public opinion of the saloon situation, and for three or four months, the Outlook contains long reports of its meetings-then apparently the Improvement Club went the way of the Board of Trade and Chamber of Commerce.
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[p. 288] Chapter VIII Churches and Societies: Methodist Church; Episcopal Church-Saint Augustine-By-The-Sea; Baptists; Grand Army of the Republic
[Steady progress had been made during the 1880s developing the Santa Monica Methodist Church] until 1890, when a serious disagreement occurred between the pastor, the official board and the membership, and as a result thiry-one of the fifty-three members withdrew and formed the Prohibition Congregational church. The blow was a severe one and the church did not recover its strength for two or three years.
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[p. 288] In 1892 Mr. and Mrs. F.H. Rindge became members of the church and rendered much assistance to it. Rev. Wm. Stevenson was pastor, and under his ministrations the church doubled in membership and began an advance move which has since continued. The Epworth League was formed this year. Dr. Stevenson remained as pastor of the church until 1897 and was then given a farewell reception which expressed somewhat the honor and love which he had inspired, not only in the church, but among the citizens of the town generally.
In June, 1895, it was announced that Frederick H. Rindge proposed to build a new church building, free of all cost to the church provided it would agree to meet the pastor's salary and all incidental expenses. In consequence on August 13th, 1895, ground was broken for this building and on the first Sabbath in 1896, the most beautiful Methodist church building in Southern California was dedicated.
In 1897-98 Rev. R.C. Wuestenberg was pastor and the membership was increased to 150, while the Sunday school numbered from 250-270. In July, 1898, it was voted to remove the old church to South Santa Monica, where a mission was holding service in the old Santa Fe depot. But after some agitation the action was not taken. In August, 1899, a church was organized, then known as South Santa Monica M.E. church, wtih Rev. F.G.H. Stevens as pastor, the mission having been served by Rev. Robert Fisher. In December, the old church was donated to the new organization and was moved to Ocean Park. A new parsonage was erected on the site of the old parsonage.
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[p. 296] Chapter VIII Episcopal Church-Saint Augustine-By-The-Sea
Mr. Jefferys resigned in the early part of 1889 and the Rev. Orrin Judd, of North Carolina, succeeded him. Mr. Judd had come to California broken down in health; but he was a most eloquent preacher, which gift led to his resignation of this charge a year later to accept the new church of St. John on West Adams street, Los Angeles, which had been built in order to find a place for him in the city. During Mr. Judd's incumbency the work prospered and considerable additions were made to the membership of the church.
The Rev. P.S. Ruth, of Pomona, officiated temporarily until September, 1891, when the Rev. I.M.M. Jones became rector. Mr. Jones remained in charge for nearly six years [1897] and during that period the Parish Hall was built and in many ways the church made progress. On the resignation of Mr. Jones, [p. 297] the Rev. Edward Meany officiated temporarily and, at a critical time in the history of the congregation, maintained the regular services of the church . . .
When, in May, 1900, Mr. Meany's school duties in Los Angeles compelled him to resign, he was succeeded by the present rector, the Rev. John D.H. Browne, who had been for sixteen years in Southern California and who had just resigned St. John's church, San Bernardino.
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[p. 297] Chapter VIII Baptist Church
. . . [p. 297] Sunday, January 12th, 1890, a call having been made by G.B. Studd and J.O. Mathewson for a Sunday school in South Santa Monica, about forty-two persons gathered at the home of Mr. Mathewson, at the corner of Bay and South Sixth streets. A school was organized and Mr. Andrew Mills was chosen as superintendent, a position which he filled for six years [1890-1896]. For a time the school was held in the old school house and then in the house of Captain Clark, Fourth and Strand. This rough cottage was adapted for Sunday services as far as possible and neighboring pastors were frequently invited to preach here.
From February 1st, 1890, until November 3rd, 1892, Rev. A.P. Brown, [p. 298] pastor of the Baptist church at Palms, preached on alternative Sunday afternoons at Ocean Park. Three pupils were baptized from the Ocean Park school into the membership of the Palms [church.]
[p. 298] In 1891, Rev. W.W. Tinker, became district secretary of the American Baptist Home Missionary society. He proposed to erect a chapel in commemoration of J.O. Mathewson [ -1890], who had passed away the previous year.
September 5th, 1892, this was dedicated as the "Baptist Mission," a branch of the Palms church. It cost $700, was furnished with 100 chairs, a pulpit and a baby organ. Dr. Danel Read, of Los Angeles, preached the dedicatory sermon.
During 1893-4, Rev. H.S. Baker, pastor of Palms church, preached regularly in the chapel, assisted by Mr. Charles Baird as singer.
In 1895, Rev. Mr. Thomason, pastor at Palms, preached regularly. In June the church was encouraged by a visit from Rev. E.G. Wheeler and the chapel car "Emmanuel." The same month the annual convention of Southern California Baptists was held in the Y.M.C.A. Pavilion at Ocean Park.
In 1896 the church at Palms ceased to exist and the interest fell off very materially at Ocean Park. July 26th, Rev. Mr. French, who had located in Ocean Park for his health, began to hold services in the chapel and organized a new Sunday school. He also organized a Baptist church of sixteen members. In September, 1896, Rev. T.F. Tooker took charge of the little church and conducted the services and Sunday school for some time.
In 1898, Rev. Chas. Pelley, a graduate of Charles Spurgeon's college, in London, located in Santa Monica and acted as pastor of the church until the spring of 1899, After his departure the work languished and the Sunday school died. The Methodists were granted the use of the building for their services until 1900 when they secured their own church.
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[p. 303] Chapter VIII. Grand Army of the Republic
Fort Fisher Post G.A.R., No. 137, Department of California and Nevada, was organized in 1885. J.J. Mohen, H.M. Russell, J.W. Keith, G.T. Holford, J.L. Allen, R.P. Elliot, C.B. Fuller, Guy C. Manville, F.A. Westover, George Young, W.R. Waldron and Henry Gardner were the charter members of this post. In June, 1887, Fort Fisher Relief Corps was installed with Mrs. Josephine Baxter, president; Mrs. E. Gaddy and Mrs. Sadie Bennett, vice-presidents; Miss Mary Elliott, secretary; Mrs. Alice Mosse, treasurer, and Mrs. Rebecca Gulberson, chaplain.
In February, 1887, John A. Logan Post was organized in Santa Monica, with H.M. Russell as president, J. Mohen, secretary, and with twelve members. This was later merged with John A. Martin Post, Soldier's Home.
Fort Fisher Post [of the Grand Army of the Republic] flourished [from 1885] until about 1901, when the enthusiasm died out and the organization was disbanded. The old soldiers and the Relief Corps had always taken a prominent part on public occasions and especially on Memorial day, and were much missed from the civic organizations.
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