Los Angeles Common Council
The Los Angeles Common Council was the predecessor of the Los Angeles, California, City Council. It was formed in 1850 under state law, when the city had only 1,610 residents, and it existed until 1889, when the city had about 50,400 residents and a city charter was put into effect.
From 1850 through 1869, council members were elected at large under a first-past-the-post voting system, in which the top vote-getters were seated. From 1870 they were elected by electoral districts called wards.
Alphabetical
Chronological
The dates in the headers reflect the years of installation of the incoming councils.
1850–59
City population in 1850: 1,610.
Election: July 1, 1850. / Term: July 3, 1850 to May 7, 1851.
- David W. Alexander, president
- Cristobal Aguilar (resigned 8/30/1850)
- Wilson W. Jones (special election 9/9/1850)
- Alexander Bell (resigned 9/26/1850)
- Alexander W. Hope (special election 10/7/1850; resigned 1/4/1851)
- John Ozias Wheeler (special election 1/15/1851)
- Alexander W. Hope (special election 10/7/1850; resigned 1/4/1851)
- Julian Chavez (resigned 8/30/1850)
- Benjamin Davis Wilson (special election 9/9/1850)
- Morris L. Goodman (resigned 12/18/1850)
- Jose Vicente Guerrero (special election 12/30/1850)
- Manuel Requena
- Jonathan Temple (resigned 12/18/1850)
- Stephen C. Foster (special election 12/30/1850)
Election: May 5, 1851. / Term: May 7, 1851, to May 4, 1852.
- David W. Alexander, president to 9/25/1851 (resigned 9/25/1851)
- Joseph Lancaster Grant (special election 10/17/1851)
- Manuel Requena, president from 10/17/1851
- Ygnacio Coronel
- Stephen C. Foster
- Agustin Olvera
- Tomas A. Sanchez
- John Ozias Wheeler
Election: May 3, 1852. / Term: May 4, 1852, to May 3, 1853.
Election: May 1, 1853. Term: May 3, 1853, to May 4, 1854.
- Manuel Requena, president
- John F. Jones (removed 9/6/1853
- Henry R. Myles (special election 9/6/1853)
- William T.B. Sanford[1]
- Arnold Jacobi (resigned 8/23/1853)
- Ezra Drown (special election 9/6/1853)
- Pio Pico (did not assume office)
- Juan Maria Sepulveda (special election 8/9/1853)
- William R. Rand (removed 9/6/1853)
- Collins Wadhams (special election 9/6/1853)
- Jose Maria Doporto
Election: May 1, 1854. / Term: May 4, 1854, to May 9, 1855.
- Francis Mellus, president to 12/8/1854 (resigned 12/8/1854
- Obed Macy (special election 1/5/1855
- Lewis Granger (resigned 7/28/1854
- Alexander W. Hope (special election 8/16/1854)
- Solomon Lazard (resigned 7/28/1854)
- Ezra Drown (special election 8/16/1854)
- Collins Wadhams
- Antonio Franco Coronel (resigned 1/19/1855)
- No successor appointed.
- Manuel Requena, president from 12/8/1854
"At Councilman Lewis Granger's proposal at the May 4 session, the minutes of the Common Council were for the first time written in both Spanish and English, on alternate pages."[2]
"At Councilman Sanford's proposal[,] an invitation was extended to the two printers [in the city] to send a reporter each to their council meetings for the purpose of bringing any matter of general interest to the public through their newspapers."[2][3]
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Election: May 5, 1856. / Term: May 7, 1856, to May 6, 1857.
- Manuel Requena, president
- Ygnacio del Valle (resigned 12/15/1856)
- Myron Norton (special election 12/27/1856)
- John Gately Downey (resigned 12/15/1856)
- George Carson (special election 12/27/1856)
- Nehemiah A. Potter
- August Ulyard
- Ezra Drown
- Ira Gilchrist
Election: May 4, 1857. / Term: May 6, 1857, to May 10, 1858.
- Antonio Franco Coronel, president
- August Ulyard (resigned 6/22/1857)
- George N. Whitman (special election 9/30/1857)
- Joseph Mullaly
- John Frohling
- Hiram McLaughlin
- John Barre
- George Carson (Removed 1/19/1858)
- David M. Porter (special election 1/19/1858)
Election: May 3, 1858. / Term: May 10, 1858, to May 9, 1859.
- Antonio Franco Coronel, president
- John Strother Griffin
- John Goller
- Cristobal Aguilar
- Phineas Banning
- David M. Porter
- Stephen C. Foster
Election: May 2, 1859. / Term: May 9, 1859, to May 9, 1860.
- Nehemiah A. Potter, president
- Ezra Drown
- James Baldwin
- Geronimo Ybarra
- Arthur McKenzie Dodson
- David M. Porter (resigned 10/17/1859)
- Vincent A. Hoover (special election 11/7/1859)
- Wallace Woodworth
1860–69
City population in 1860: 4,385.
Election (to come). / Term: May 9, 1860, to May 7, 1861.
- Abel Stearns, president (resigned 12/3/1860)
- William Moore (special election 12/15/1860)
- Damien Marchesseault (resigned 12/27/1860)
- Joseph Huber Sr. (special election 1/7/1861)
- T.B. Collins (resigned 8/20/1860)
- William H. Peterson (special election 9/1/1860)
- Elijah Moulton
- Vincent A. Hoover
- James Edwards, president from 12/3/1860 (resigned 8/20/1860)
- Wallace Woodworth (special election 9/1/1860
- Peter Baltz (resigned 6/18/1860)
- David Anderson (special election 6/29/1860)
Election: May 6, 1861. / Term: May 7, 1861, to May 7, 1862.
Election: May 5, 1862. / Term: May 7, 1862, to May 9, 1863.
- Nehemiah A. Potter, president
- Augustine Poulain
- Antonio Franco Coronel
- John Turner
- Jacob Weizel
- Philip Sichel
- Joseph Huber Sr.
Election: May 4, 1863. / Term: May 9, 1863, to May 5, 1864.
- Joseph Huber Sr., president
- James Brown Winston
- Philip Sichel
- Antonio Franco Coronel
- John Turner
- Eli Taylor
- Felix Signoret
Election: May 2, 1864. / Term: May 5, 1864, to May 6, 1865.
Election: May 7, 1866[4][5] / Term: May 10, 1866, to May 8, 1867.
- Murray Morrison, president
- Elijah H. Workman
- Louis Roeder
- John Schumacher
- Moritz Morris (resigned 11/1/1866)
- Jose Mascarel (special election 11/12/1866)
- John King
Election: May 7, 1866.[4][5] / First term: May 10, 1866, to May 8, 1867. / Reinstated: August 8, 1867.
Second term: August 8, 1867, to December 7, 1868.
- Murray Morrison, president to 6/1/1868 (resigned 6/1/1868)
- Louis Roeder
- John King, president from 6/1/1868
- Antonio Franco Coronel (resigned 12/10/1867)
- Jose Mascarel (position declared vacant 8/19/1867; reelected 9/2/1867)
- John Schumacher
- Elijah H. Workman (position declared vacant 8/19/1867)
- Andrew A. Boyle (appointed 9/2/1867)
- Dionisio Botiller (elected 6/15/1868)
- George Dalton (elected 8/15/1868)
Election: December 7, 1868. / Term: December 9, 1868, to December 9, 1869. The ten councilmen elected this year drew lots for terms of one or two years. The president of the council was also selected by drawing lots.[6]
- John King, president
- Louis Roeder
- Caro W. Childs
- Henry Wartenberg
- Dionisio Botiller
- Mathew Keller
- Moritz Morris
- William H. Perry
- Jose Mascarel
- Jacob Metzger
Election: December 6, 1869. / Term: December 9, 1869, to December 9, 1870.
- John King, president
- Ozro W. Childs (resigned 1/13/1870
- James R. Toberman (special election 2/23/1870)
- Louis Roeder (resigned 6/23/1870)
- Dionisio Botiller (resigned 1/20/1870)
- Andrew A. Boyle (special election 2/23/1870)
- Henry Wartenberg
- Moritz Morris
- Jose Mascarel (resigned 1/13/1870)
- Luis B. Martinez (special election 2/23/1870
- Samuel Bradford Caswell
- Elijah H. Workman
- Juan C. Vejar (added 3/31/1870)
1870–79
City population in 1870: 5.730.
Election: December 5, 1870. / Term: December 9, 1870, to December 11, 1871.
1st Ward
- Julian Chavez (resigned 12/1/1871)
- Bernard Dubourdin
- John Jones, president
2nd Ward
3rd Ward
- Henry Dockweiler (resigned 9/28/1871)
- Frank Sabichi
- William S. Hammel, Sr.
- John Osborn
Election: December 4, 1871. / Term: December 11, 1871, to December 5, 1872.
1st Ward
- Thornton P. Campbell
- Oscar Macy
- Julian Valdes
2nd Ward
3rd Ward
- H.K.S. O'Melveny, president
- William H. Dennison
- Frank Sabichi
- Elijah H. Workman
Election: December 2, 1872. / Term: December 5, 1872, to December 4, 1873.
1st Ward
- Julian Valdes
- Joseph Mullaly
- George R. Long (resigned 10/23/1873)
2nd Ward
3rd Ward
- Frank Sabichi, president
- Eulogio F. de Celis
- William Osborn
- Henry Dockweiler
Election: December 1, 1873. / Term: December 4, 1873, to December 18, 1874.
1st Ward
- Julian Chavez
- Jacob F. Gherkins
- Julian Valdez
2nd Ward
3rd Ward
- Charles E. Huber
- Frank Sabichi, president
- Henry Dockweiler
- Eulogio F. de Celis
Election: December 7, 1874. / Term: December 18, 1874, to December 9, 1875.
"Beginning this year, the mayor also served as president of the City Council."[7]
1st Ward
- Thornton P. Campbell (resigned 4/15/1875; resignation voided by ordinance 6/3/1875)
- Ramon R. Sotelo
- Joseph Mullaly
- Joseph G. Carmona
2nd Ward
3rd Ward
- Elijah H. Workman
- Louis Wolfskill
- Charles E. Huber
- Thomas Leahy
Election: December 6, 1875. / Term: December 9, 1875, to December 6, 1876.
1st Ward
- Jacob F. Gherkins
- Ramon R. Sotelo
- Thornton P. Campbell
- Joseph Mullaly
2nd Ward
- William Henry Workman
- Jacob Kuhrtz
- Matthew Teed
- Louis Lichtenberger
3rd Ward
- Thomas Leahy
- D.V. Waldron
- Louis Wolfskill
- Charles E. Huber
Election: December 4, 1876. / Term: December 8, 1876, to December 6, 1877.
1st Ward
- F. Tamiet
- B. Valle
- Ramon R. Sotelo
- Jacob F. Gherkins (resigned 12/18/1876 to become chief of police)
2nd Ward
- Bernard Cohn
- John S. Thompson
- William Henry Workman
- Jacob Kuhrtz
3rd Ward
- Elisha K. Green
- John B. Thompson
- Thomas Leahy
- D.V. Waldron
Election: December 3, 1877. / Term: December 6, 1877, to December 6, 1878.
1st Ward
- Joseph Mullaly
- Cayetano Apalblassa (declared vacant 5/2/1878)[8]
- F. Tamiet
- B. Valle
2nd Ward
3rd Ward
- John H. Jones
- Albert Fenner Kercheval
- John S. Thompson (resigned 1/18/1878)
- Elisha K. Green
Election: December 2, 1878. / Term: December 5, 1878, to December 5, 1879.
1st Ward
- Ezra M. Hamilton
- Louis Meinzer
- John Schaeffer
2nd Ward
- Richard Molony
- Jesse Houston Butler (resigned 8/14/1879; resignation rescinded 8/18/1879; reconsidered and resigned definitely 8/18/1879)
- John Bobenreith (resigned 8/7/1879)
3rd Ward
- Charles Brode (resigned 3/13/1879)
- Simon A. Francis
- S.H. Buchanan
4th Ward
- Samuel J. Beck, president
- S.M. Perry
- William Henry Workman
5th Ward
Election: December 5, 1879. / Term: December 5, 1879, to December 11, 1880.
1st Ward
- R.L. Beauchet
- William Norton Monroe
- Louis Meinzer
2nd Ward
- Jacob Kuhrtz, president[9]
- H. Schumacher
- Richard Molony
3rd Ward
- Edward Falles Spence
- Elisha K. Green
- S.H. Buchanan
4th Ward
- O.H. Bliss
- Samuel J. Beck
- William Henry Workman
5th Ward
- John P. Moran
- James Greer McDonald
- William B. Lawlor, president
1880–88
City population in 1880: 11,200.
Election: December 6, 1880. / Term: December 11, 1880, to December 10, 1881.
1st Ward
- J.G. Bower
- R.L. Beauchet
- William Norton Monroe (resigned 6/18/1881)
2nd Ward
- Matthew Teed
- Jose Mascarel
- Jacob Kurhtz
3rd Ward
- George Gephard (resigned 11/12/1881)
- Edward Falles Spence
- Elisha K. Green
4th Ward
- Bernard Cohn
- Burdette Chandler
- O.H. Bliss
5th Ward
Election: December 5, 1881. / Term: December 10, 1881, to December 9, 1882.
1st Ward
- Joseph Mullaly
- Clinton S. Scheiffelin
- J.G. Bower
2nd Ward
- Jacob Kurhtz
- Jose Mascarel
- Matthew Teed
3rd Ward
- Andrew S. Ryan
- Robert Steere
- J.B. O'Neil
4th Ward
- George Kerckhoff
- Bernard Cohn
- Burdette Chandler
5th Ward
- John P. Moran, president
- Otto G. Weyse
- Walter Scott Moore
Election: December 4, 1882. / Term: December 9, 1882, to December 8, 1883.
1st Ward
- Charles W. Schroeder
- Joseph Mullaly
- Clinton S. Scheiffelin
2nd Ward
- Pascal Ballade
- Henry Hammel
- Jacob Kurhtz
3rd Ward
- Charles Gassen
- Andrew S. Ryan
- Robert Steere
4th Ward
- Alfred Louis Bush (resigned 10/27/1883)
- Joseph W. Wolfskill
- George Kerckhoff
5th Ward
- Walter Scott Moore
- John P. Moran, president
- Otto G. Weyse
Election: December 4, 1883. / Term: December 9, 1883, to December 8, 1884.
1st Ward
- Ezra M. Hamilton
- William Thomas Lambie
- Charles W. Schroeder
2nd Ward
- Frank R. Day
- Pascal Ballade
- Henry Hammel
3rd Ward
- Charles H. Johnson
- Loring A. French
- Charles Gassen
4th Ward
- D.E. Miles[10]
- Frank Sabichi
- Joseph W. Wolfskill
5th Ward
- Daniel Michael McGarry
- John B. Niles
- Walter Scott Moore, president
Election: December 1, 1884. / Term: December 9, 1884, to December 10, 1885.
1st Ward
2nd Ward
- John Frederick Holbrook
- Martin V. Biscailuz
- Frank R. Day
3rd Ward
- Albert Brown
- Loring A. French
- Charles H. Johnson (resigned 6/2/1885)
4th Ward
- Milton Santee
- James D. Bullis
- D.E. Miles,[10] president
5th Ward
- Hiram Sinsabaugh
- Daniel Michael McGarry
- John B. Niles (resigned 10/6/1885)
Election December 7, 1885 / Term December 10, 1885, to December 13, 1886
1st Ward
- Thomas Goss
- George L. Stearns
- James Valsir
2nd Ward
- Jacob Kurhts
- Martin V. Biscailuz
- John Frederick Holbrook
3rd Ward
- Levi Newton Breed
- Edward Wadsworth Jones
- Albert Brown (Resigned 2/16/1886)
4th Ward
- S.M. Perry
- James D. Bullis
- Milton Santee
5th Ward
- Cyrus Willard
- Jacob Frankenfeld
- Hiram Sinsabaugh, president
Election December 6, 1886 / Term December 13, 1886, to December 12, 1887
1st Ward
- William Thomas Lambie (resigned 3/21/1887
- Edward A. Gibbs (appointed 4/18/1887
- Thomas Goss
- George L. Stearns
2nd Ward
- Michael Thomas Collins
- Matthew Teed
- Jacob Kurhts
3rd Ward
- Charles R. Johnson
- Levi Newton Breed, president
- Edward Wadsworth Jones
4th Ward
- John Lovell
- Joseph Hyans (resigned 11/7/1887
- S.M. Perry
5th Ward
- Horace Hiller
- Jacob Frankenfeld
- Cyrus Willard
Election December 5, 1887 / Term December 12, 1887, to December 10, 1888
1st Ward
- James Hanley
- Newell Mathews (resigned12/1/1888
- Edward A. Gibbs
2nd Ward
- Thomas J. Cuddy (resigned 1/23/1888)
- John Moriarty (2/20/1888)
- Matthew Teed
- Michael Thomas Collins
3rd Ward
- Edward C. Bosbyshell
- John F. Humphreys, president
- Charles R. Johnson (resigned 3/12/1888
- J.H. Book (appointed 4/16/1888)
4th Ward
- Bernard Cohn
- Burdette Chandler
- John Lovell
5th Ward
- Hiram Sinsabaugh
- A.W. Barrett
- Horace Hiller
Election December 3, 1888 / Term December 10, 1888, to February 21, 1889
The new city charter having been compiled by a specially elected board of freeholders under the provisions of Assembly Constitutional Amendment No. 16, and having been approved by the voters at a special election held October 20, 1888, by a vote of 2,642 to 1,890, caused Mayor John Bryson Sr.'s administration to be terminated on February 21, 1889, the day of the new elections. Mayor Henry T. Hazard was swept into office for a year and three quarters. Under the new charter all elected officers were elected for two years, the election month being December of every second year from 1889 on.[11]
1st Ward
- George O. Ford
- C.N. Earl
- James Hanley
2nd Ward
- Jacob Kurhts, president
- H.T.D. Wilson
- John Moriarty
3rd Ward
- John Henry Bryant
- Edward C. Bosbyshell
- John F. Humphreys
4th Ward
- Anthony McNally
- Edward R. Threlkeld
- Bernard Cohn
5th Ward
- Austin C. Shafer
- A.W. Barrett
- Hiram Sinsabaugh
See also
- Los Angeles City Council, 1889–1909
- Los Angeles City Council, 1909–1925
- Los Angeles City Council, 1925 to present
Citations
Notes
- Except for the population figures (see below), all data is from Chronological Record of Los Angeles City Officials,1850-1938, compiled under direction of Municipal Reference Library, City Hall, Los Angeles (March 1938, reprinted 1966). "Prepared ... as a report on Project No. SA 3123-5703-6077-8121-9900 conducted under the auspices of the Works Progress Administration."
- Population figures are from Moffatt, Riley (1996). Population History of Western U.S. Cities & Towns, 1850–1990. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow. p. 41."Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places Over 100,000, Ranked by July 1, 2009 Population: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009". United States Census Bureau, Population Division. July 1, 2009. Archived from the original (CSV) on June 29, 2010. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
References
- ^ "William T.B. Sanford came to an untimely death on the ill-fated Ada Hancock." 1854-1855 section, page 5
- ^ a b 1854-1855 section, page 6
- ^ The newspapers at that time were the Los Angeles Star and the Southern Californian. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-12-11. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b "August 8, 1867, the city officials elected May 6, were deposed and with few exceptions the officials elected the previous year (May 7, 1866) resumed office.
"They officiated until April 6, 1866 when a new group of officials was elected, which although certified on April 9, never took office.
"The 1866/67 administration, with a few changes continued to function from April 20th to the regular election changed, for the first time, to December 7, 1868.
"In other words, with the exception of the time from May 6, to August 8, 1867, the governing body elected May 7, 1866, actually served until December 7, 1868." Chronological Record of Los Angeles City Officials,1850-1938, 1867-1868 section, page 1, first iteration - ^ a b "According to the records of the City Council the election which occurred as usual in May [1867] proved invalid after the elected officials served for a period of three months only.
"On August 8, 1867 this entire group of officials was replaced by the municipal officers elected the preceding year (May 7, 1866).
"The first move of the reinstalled governing body was to legalize all the official acts of the deposed council[,] thus protecting the city corporation and the citizenry." Chronological Record of Los Angeles City Officials,1850-1938, 1867-1868 section, page 1, second iteration - ^ Chronological Record of Los Angeles City Officials,1850-1938, 1868-1869 section, page 11
- ^ 1874-1875 section, page 1
- ^ Minutes of the Common Council printed in the Los Angeles Herald, however, showed that Apablasa (the correct spelling) was present at the meeting of May 2, 1878, and that he attended all meetings in 1878 through December 9.[1] Los Angeles Herald, December 10, 1878, image 3
- ^ "Pioneer of Gold Days Dies," Los Angeles Times, January 30, 1926, page A-1
- ^ a b The text of the source says, "B.E. Miles," an error. Times stories give the initials as D.E.
- ^ Chronological Record of Los Angeles City Officials,1850-1938, 1888-1889 section, page 1
- Los Angeles Common Council (1850–1889) members
- 19th-century American politicians
- California city councils
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- 19th century in Los Angeles
- People in 19th-century California
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- 1850 establishments in California
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