| CHAPTER II |
PRELUDE TO SETTLEMENT
Colonizers of the Anaheim settlement originally came to the United States from Germany, coming from all parts of Germany except its eastern
border. The majority of them were living in San Francisco when the plan of settlement was formulated.
border. The majority of them were living in San Francisco when the plan of settlement was formulated.
Why and when these particular Germans came to the United States and to the West is mostly a matter of speculation. The German element in the
United States in the nineteenth century was the largest of any foreign element, 5,009,280 entering from Germany during the century, and unchecked
by the vastness of their new homeland, pushed on westward with the frontier until they reached the Pacific Coast. There is a possibility that many of
those comprising the Anaheim colony had emigrated to the United States following the revolutionary troubles in 1848. They may have come earlier
during the decade 1831 to 1840, a decade with a great increase of emigration from Germany due to over-population, over-production, and the
decline of the small hand industries which were finding competition with the new factory system. Conditions in the United States during the decade
of the thirties were conducive to immigration, for as Frederick Jackson Turner stated, it was an era of land speculation, town-building, and westward
movement. "Cheap lands, light taxes, the need of laborers, and the opportunity to gain a competence in a short time by toil-these were conditions
that attracted the Germans."
United States in the nineteenth century was the largest of any foreign element, 5,009,280 entering from Germany during the century, and unchecked
by the vastness of their new homeland, pushed on westward with the frontier until they reached the Pacific Coast. There is a possibility that many of
those comprising the Anaheim colony had emigrated to the United States following the revolutionary troubles in 1848. They may have come earlier
during the decade 1831 to 1840, a decade with a great increase of emigration from Germany due to over-population, over-production, and the
decline of the small hand industries which were finding competition with the new factory system. Conditions in the United States during the decade
of the thirties were conducive to immigration, for as Frederick Jackson Turner stated, it was an era of land speculation, town-building, and westward
movement. "Cheap lands, light taxes, the need of laborers, and the opportunity to gain a competence in a short time by toil-these were conditions
that attracted the Germans."
There were persons of German ancestry among gold seekers coming to California in the rush of 1849 and in succeeding years. There had been
Germans in California previous to the gold rush, also. The first organized party of emigrants which arrived at John A. Sutter's colony in New
Helvetia in the Sacramento Valley in 1841 was to a large extent composed of Germans. Merchants, trappers, and artisans of various types had
arrived in both Los Angeles and San Francisco in the thirties and forties from Germany.
Germans in California previous to the gold rush, also. The first organized party of emigrants which arrived at John A. Sutter's colony in New
Helvetia in the Sacramento Valley in 1841 was to a large extent composed of Germans. Merchants, trappers, and artisans of various types had
arrived in both Los Angeles and San Francisco in the thirties and forties from Germany.
Coming from Austria to the gold mines of California in 1850 by way of Cape Horn and Peru and to Los Angeles in 1853, was George Hansen who
was to play a prominent part in the founding of the Anaheim community. Mr. Hansen was a civil engineer and surveyor, who, during his residence in
southern California, probably made more land surveys in Los Angeles and adjoining counties than any other person. He attained the position of
deputy county surveyor of Los Angeles County. Also in Los Angeles at this time was John Frohling, a German musician who had come to California
in 1849 by way of New York and St. Louis and who in 1852 had planted a vineyard of 3,000 vines in Los Angeles along with Charles Kohler, also a
German musician, who had come to New York in 1849 and to San Francisco by way of the Isthmus of Panama in 1852. Kohler and Frohling opened
a wine shop in a basement on Merchant Street in San Francisco in 1854. In 1855, Mr. Hansen, Mr. Frohling, and Otto Weyse, editor of the
Democrat, a San Francisco newspaper, met to discuss plans for buying land, planting it in vines, and establishing a German colony. This is the first
record of the thinking which was to result in the Anaheim colony.
was to play a prominent part in the founding of the Anaheim community. Mr. Hansen was a civil engineer and surveyor, who, during his residence in
southern California, probably made more land surveys in Los Angeles and adjoining counties than any other person. He attained the position of
deputy county surveyor of Los Angeles County. Also in Los Angeles at this time was John Frohling, a German musician who had come to California
in 1849 by way of New York and St. Louis and who in 1852 had planted a vineyard of 3,000 vines in Los Angeles along with Charles Kohler, also a
German musician, who had come to New York in 1849 and to San Francisco by way of the Isthmus of Panama in 1852. Kohler and Frohling opened
a wine shop in a basement on Merchant Street in San Francisco in 1854. In 1855, Mr. Hansen, Mr. Frohling, and Otto Weyse, editor of the
Democrat, a San Francisco newspaper, met to discuss plans for buying land, planting it in vines, and establishing a German colony. This is the first
record of the thinking which was to result in the Anaheim colony.
Viticulture in the mid-nineteenth century in southern California was, next to the livestock industry, the most valuable industry. The demand for wine
greatly exceeded the supply, and it appeared to these Germans that this would be a profitable way to make a living. The success of Arpad
Haraszthy, a pioneer vintner of Hungarian origin, in grape growing in Sonoma County was an example to them of the possibilities of that type of
livelihood. Grapes were bringing high prices, and there were profits from the wine business. The early fifties was a time when nearly every land
owner caught the "wine fever, " entertaining the idea that the planting of a few thousand vines would make him rich, and "vineyards sprang up as if
by magic all over California. " In 1855, the number of vines in California was listed by one source as 324,234; the next year there were nearly
1,500,000; in 1857, there were 2,000,000; in 1858, 4,000,000; and in 1859, 6,500,000.
greatly exceeded the supply, and it appeared to these Germans that this would be a profitable way to make a living. The success of Arpad
Haraszthy, a pioneer vintner of Hungarian origin, in grape growing in Sonoma County was an example to them of the possibilities of that type of
livelihood. Grapes were bringing high prices, and there were profits from the wine business. The early fifties was a time when nearly every land
owner caught the "wine fever, " entertaining the idea that the planting of a few thousand vines would make him rich, and "vineyards sprang up as if
by magic all over California. " In 1855, the number of vines in California was listed by one source as 324,234; the next year there were nearly
1,500,000; in 1857, there were 2,000,000; in 1858, 4,000,000; and in 1859, 6,500,000.
The possibilities of a cooperative grape-growing enterprise were tempting to this group of San Francisco Germans. They saw in a venture of this
type a chance to invest their money profitably and an opportunity to leave the city with its current iniquities and live an outdoor life on their own
homesteads. Furthermore, grape cultivation was an endeavor with a ready appeal to Germans, who as a national group, had been successful
viticulturists in their native land and had attempted grape cultivation elsewhere in the United States with a certain amount of success.
type a chance to invest their money profitably and an opportunity to leave the city with its current iniquities and live an outdoor life on their own
homesteads. Furthermore, grape cultivation was an endeavor with a ready appeal to Germans, who as a national group, had been successful
viticulturists in their native land and had attempted grape cultivation elsewhere in the United States with a certain amount of success.
Those who expressed interest in the cooperative project were of various occupations, some not too successful in their respective callings. In the
main they were artisans. Of those that actually made up the settlement there were several carpenters, a gunsmith, an engraver, three
watchmakers, four blacksmiths, a brewer, a teacher, a shoemaker, a miller, several merchants, a bookbinder, a poet, four or five musicians, a
hatter, some teamsters, a hotel-keeper-and "not a farmer among them all, pray notice. " Coming from such a wine-producing country as Germany,
it was taken for granted, however, that they would understand more about the wine business than other groups in America. These Germans knew
enough about grape growing to be convinced that California had great possibilities in that form of agriculture.
main they were artisans. Of those that actually made up the settlement there were several carpenters, a gunsmith, an engraver, three
watchmakers, four blacksmiths, a brewer, a teacher, a shoemaker, a miller, several merchants, a bookbinder, a poet, four or five musicians, a
hatter, some teamsters, a hotel-keeper-and "not a farmer among them all, pray notice. " Coming from such a wine-producing country as Germany,
it was taken for granted, however, that they would understand more about the wine business than other groups in America. These Germans knew
enough about grape growing to be convinced that California had great possibilities in that form of agriculture.
Establishment of the Vineyard Society
Plans for a vineyard society as discussed materialized into a cooperative venture known as the "Los Angeles Vineyard Society, " the first recorded
meeting of which was held in San Francisco on February 24, 1857. At this meeting presided over by Otmar Caler, George Hansen, the Los Angeles
surveyor, addressed the group concerning the profit and advisability of grape culture. By-laws were presented by Mr. Hansen as drawn up by a
committee, these by-laws providing for five trustees, seven directors, a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer, with provision for
election of officers and meeting dates. The by-laws, with provision to change them by two-thirds majority at a general meeting, were adopted.
meeting of which was held in San Francisco on February 24, 1857. At this meeting presided over by Otmar Caler, George Hansen, the Los Angeles
surveyor, addressed the group concerning the profit and advisability of grape culture. By-laws were presented by Mr. Hansen as drawn up by a
committee, these by-laws providing for five trustees, seven directors, a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer, with provision for
election of officers and meeting dates. The by-laws, with provision to change them by two-thirds majority at a general meeting, were adopted.
According to the by-laws, there was to be a superintendent or overseer of the Society who would be a stockholder in the company, giving bond for
the fulfillment of his contract. His first responsibility was to select a suitable site for the vineyard, obtaining a map of property to be considered and
submitting it to the board of directors of the Society along with legal papers and title to land for which he recommended purchase. After the land
was purchased, the next duty of the superintendent was to fence it, construct buildings for housing equipment and laborers, whom he was to oversee,
and build water canals. Then would come preparation of the land for planting of grape vines and fruit trees. The superintendent was to plant eight
acres out of every ten to grape vines and one acre to fruit trees, leaving one acre to fruit trees, leaving one acre for house and farm buildings. The
executive committee, according to these by-laws, would furnish the superintendent with funds to meet the bills he would submit, for he was not
allowed to contract any debts. The by-laws provided for this further obligation for their overseer:
the fulfillment of his contract. His first responsibility was to select a suitable site for the vineyard, obtaining a map of property to be considered and
submitting it to the board of directors of the Society along with legal papers and title to land for which he recommended purchase. After the land
was purchased, the next duty of the superintendent was to fence it, construct buildings for housing equipment and laborers, whom he was to oversee,
and build water canals. Then would come preparation of the land for planting of grape vines and fruit trees. The superintendent was to plant eight
acres out of every ten to grape vines and one acre to fruit trees, leaving one acre to fruit trees, leaving one acre for house and farm buildings. The
executive committee, according to these by-laws, would furnish the superintendent with funds to meet the bills he would submit, for he was not
allowed to contract any debts. The by-laws provided for this further obligation for their overseer:
He is instructed to further the welfare of the Society in any way possible. He is to furnish the Board of Directors an exact report of all the
conditions favorable or unfavorable to the Society and to report on climatic conditions.
conditions favorable or unfavorable to the Society and to report on climatic conditions.
Mr. Hansen was unanimously elected superintendent at the meeting on March 2, 1857, for a three-year period with a salary of $200 a month, $150
to be paid at the end of each month and $50 a month to be retained until his contract had expired. One fi Bond of $5,000 was posted for the
fulfillment of his duties.
to be paid at the end of each month and $50 a month to be retained until his contract had expired. One fi Bond of $5,000 was posted for the
fulfillment of his duties.
At the previous meeting on February 28, attended by twenty-two men and one woman, twenty-seven shares of stock in the Society were subscribed
at twenty-five dollars each, which was a ten per cent payment on a share at that time. Otmar Caler was elected president of the Society, Charles
Kohler, Vice-president, John Fischer, secretary, and Cyrus Beythien, treasurer. A board of directors of seven 17 members was also elected.
at twenty-five dollars each, which was a ten per cent payment on a share at that time. Otmar Caler was elected president of the Society, Charles
Kohler, Vice-president, John Fischer, secretary, and Cyrus Beythien, treasurer. A board of directors of seven 17 members was also elected.
It was reported at the meeting on April 6th that all stock allotted to residents of San Francisco, forty-two shares, had been subscribed. It was
resolved at the next meeting that four shares of the remaining eight should be reserved for Americans living in Los Angeles. Mr. Hansen was to be
instructed to select men who would 19 be of the greatest benefit to the Society.
resolved at the next meeting that four shares of the remaining eight should be reserved for Americans living in Los Angeles. Mr. Hansen was to be
instructed to select men who would 19 be of the greatest benefit to the Society.
