Jonathan Temple
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Temple came to Los Angeles
in 1828 and became a large landowner, cattle rancher and one of the area's wealthiest citizens.
to Jonathan Temple and Lucinda Pratt. From at least 1823, Temple lived as a mechant in Hawaii
then, in 1827, migrated to San Diego
in Alta California
, where he was baptized a Roman Catholic. The following year, Temple moved to the Pueblo de Los Angeles
, where he opened the pueblo's first store, a business he operated for almost thirty years. His younger brother Francisco P. Temple
joined him there later.
Jonathan Temple married Rafaela Cota (1812–1887) in 1830, and they had one daughter, Francisca Temple (1831–1893). In 1836, Temple hosted at his Los Angeles pueblo home, the first vigilance committee to form in California. The committee later executed two lovers accused of the murder of the woman's husband, thereby committing the first lynching
in California.
from his wife's relatives, the Cota family
. His 1844 adobe
survives as part of the Los Cerritos Ranch House
National Historic Landmark site. Both Temple and his ranch house played roles in the Mexican-American War. Temple created a thriving cattle ranch and prospered, becoming, after Abel Stearns, the wealthiest man in Los Angeles County
.
During the 1840s, Temple was active in ship-bound trade throughout the coasts of California and Mexico and owned extensive lands between Acapulco
and Mazatlán
. In 1856, by providing, through his son-in-law, Gregorio de Ajuria (1819–1861), the funds to finance a revolution toppling Mexico's government, he became the lessor of the Mexican national mint, a concession held by him and his daughter until 1893, when the mint was nationalized by Porfirio Díaz
.
, and featured the first true theater in southern California. He also served as the first alcalde
(or mayor) of Los Angeles after capture of the pueblo by the United States during the Mexican-American War and served on the first American-period common (city) council. In 1849, after Los Angeles was ordered by California's military governor to conduct a survey, but couldn't pay for the work, Temple paid for the Ord
Survey out of his own funds, and then was repaid by the sale of lots created in the survey. Temple Street (Los Angeles)
was developed by him as a modest one-block dirt lane in the 1850s.
The ill-fated timing of his construction projects in late 1850s Los Angeles, which was in an economic downturn, was exacerbated by a flood in 1861-62 and drought from 1862-65 that almost destroyed the cattle industry, then the backbone of the local economy.
Rafaela Cota de Temple moved to Paris
to join her widowed daughter (Gregorio de Ajuria having died insane in Paris in 1861), and died there in the 1887.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1828 and became a large landowner, cattle rancher and one of the area's wealthiest citizens.
Biography
Jonathan (also known as Don Juan) Temple was born in Reading, MassachusettsReading, Massachusetts
Reading is an affluent town situated in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, some north of central Boston. The population was 24,747 at the 2010 census.-Settlement and Independence:...
to Jonathan Temple and Lucinda Pratt. From at least 1823, Temple lived as a mechant in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
then, in 1827, migrated to San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
in Alta California
Alta California
Alta California was a province and territory in the Viceroyalty of New Spain and later a territory and department in independent Mexico. The territory was created in 1769 out of the northern part of the former province of Las Californias, and consisted of the modern American states of California,...
, where he was baptized a Roman Catholic. The following year, Temple moved to the Pueblo de Los Angeles
Pueblo de Los Angeles
El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles was the Spanish civilian pueblo founded in 1781, which by the 20th century became the American metropolis of Los Angeles....
, where he opened the pueblo's first store, a business he operated for almost thirty years. His younger brother Francisco P. Temple
Francisco P. Temple
Francisco P. Temple served on the first Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in 1852.-Biography:...
joined him there later.
Jonathan Temple married Rafaela Cota (1812–1887) in 1830, and they had one daughter, Francisca Temple (1831–1893). In 1836, Temple hosted at his Los Angeles pueblo home, the first vigilance committee to form in California. The committee later executed two lovers accused of the murder of the woman's husband, thereby committing the first lynching
Lynching
Lynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people. It is related to other means of social control that...
in California.
Rancho Los Cerritos
In 1843, he purchased Rancho Los CerritosRancho Los Cerritos
Rancho Los Cerritos was a 1834 land grant in present day eastern Los Angeles County and Orange County, California The grant was the result of a partition of the Rancho Los Nietos grant. "Cerritos" means "little hills" in Spanish...
from his wife's relatives, the Cota family
Leonardo Cota
Leonardo Cota was a Captain with the Californios in the Mexican-American War; and later a Los Angeles County Supervisor.-Leonardo Cota:...
. His 1844 adobe
Adobe
Adobe is a natural building material made from sand, clay, water, and some kind of fibrous or organic material , which the builders shape into bricks using frames and dry in the sun. Adobe buildings are similar to cob and mudbrick buildings. Adobe structures are extremely durable, and account for...
survives as part of the Los Cerritos Ranch House
Los Cerritos Ranch House
Los Cerritos Ranch House, also known as Rancho Los Cerritos or Casa de los Cerritos, in Long Beach, California, was "the largest and most impressive adobe residence erected in southern California during the Mexican period". Los Cerritos means "the little hills" in English...
National Historic Landmark site. Both Temple and his ranch house played roles in the Mexican-American War. Temple created a thriving cattle ranch and prospered, becoming, after Abel Stearns, the wealthiest man in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
.
During the 1840s, Temple was active in ship-bound trade throughout the coasts of California and Mexico and owned extensive lands between Acapulco
Acapulco
Acapulco is a city, municipality and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, southwest from Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay and has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico’s history...
and Mazatlán
Mazatlán
Mazatlán is a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa; the surrounding municipio for which the city serves as the municipal seat is Mazatlán Municipality. It is located at on the Pacific coast, across from the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula.Mazatlán is a Nahuatl word meaning...
. In 1856, by providing, through his son-in-law, Gregorio de Ajuria (1819–1861), the funds to finance a revolution toppling Mexico's government, he became the lessor of the Mexican national mint, a concession held by him and his daughter until 1893, when the mint was nationalized by Porfirio Díaz
Porfirio Díaz
José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican-American War volunteer and French intervention hero, an accomplished general and the President of Mexico continuously from 1876 to 1911, with the exception of a brief term in 1876 when he left Juan N...
.
Post-statehood
Temple was also one of Los Angeles’ first developers, constructing such landmarks as the original Temple Block and the Market House, which later served as city and county administrative headquarters, contained the county courthouseCourthouse
A courthouse is a building that is home to a local court of law and often the regional county government as well, although this is not the case in some larger cities. The term is common in North America. In most other English speaking countries, buildings which house courts of law are simply...
, and featured the first true theater in southern California. He also served as the first alcalde
Alcalde
Alcalde , or Alcalde ordinario, is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate, who had both judicial and administrative functions. An alcalde was, in the absence of a corregidor, the presiding officer of the Castilian cabildo and judge of first instance of a town...
(or mayor) of Los Angeles after capture of the pueblo by the United States during the Mexican-American War and served on the first American-period common (city) council. In 1849, after Los Angeles was ordered by California's military governor to conduct a survey, but couldn't pay for the work, Temple paid for the Ord
Edward Ord
Edward Otho Cresap Ord was the designer of Fort Sam Houston, and a United States Army officer who saw action in the Seminole War, the Indian Wars, and the American Civil War. He commanded an army during the final days of the Civil War, and was instrumental in forcing the surrender of Confederate...
Survey out of his own funds, and then was repaid by the sale of lots created in the survey. Temple Street (Los Angeles)
Temple Street (Los Angeles)
Temple Street is a street in the City of Los Angeles, California. The street is an east-west thoroughfare that runs through Downtown Los Angeles parallel to the Hollywood Freeway between Virgil Avenue past Alameda Street to the banks of the Los Angeles River...
was developed by him as a modest one-block dirt lane in the 1850s.
The ill-fated timing of his construction projects in late 1850s Los Angeles, which was in an economic downturn, was exacerbated by a flood in 1861-62 and drought from 1862-65 that almost destroyed the cattle industry, then the backbone of the local economy.
San Francisco
Temple, evidently deciding that Los Angeles was not likely going to become the prominent city he hoped, moved to San Francisco. Jonathan Temple lived his last years in San Francisco where he died in 1866, two months after selling Rancho Los Cerritos to Flint, Bixby & Co for $20,000, or less than a dollar an acre, during a prolonged depressed real estate market.Rafaela Cota de Temple moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to join her widowed daughter (Gregorio de Ajuria having died insane in Paris in 1861), and died there in the 1887.
See also
- Workman and Temple Family
- Pliny Fisk Temple (Francisco P. Temple or F.P.T )Francisco P. TempleFrancisco P. Temple served on the first Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in 1852.-Biography:...
(February 13, 1822–April 27, 1880) - Josephine M. Workman–Mona DarkfeatherMona DarkfeatherMona Darkfeather was an American actress. During the silent era of motion pictures, from 1911 to 1917, she appeared in 102 movies...
(January 13, 1883–September 3, 1977)
- Pliny Fisk Temple (Francisco P. Temple or F.P.T )
- Boyle-Workman familyBoyle-Workman familyThe Boyle-Workman family relates to the pioneer interconnected Boyle and Workman families that were prominent in: the history of colonial Pueblo de Los Angeles and American Los Angeles; the Los Angeles Basin and San Gabriel Valley regions; and Southern California — from 1830 to 1930 in Mexican Alta...
- William H. WorkmanWilliam H. WorkmanWilliam Henry Workman was an American politician, banker and businessman. He served two terms as the 18th Mayor of Los Angeles, California.-Early life:...
(January 1, 1839–February 21, 1918) - Boyle WorkmanBoyle WorkmanAndrew Boyle Workman was a Los Angeles politician and businessman. He served as President of the Los Angeles City Council and, as such, was acting Mayor on occasion. He was the first city councilman to represent District 4 , under the new charter of 1925...
(September 20, 1868–December 25, 1942)
- William H. Workman
- Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum
- El Campo Santo CemeteryEl Campo Santo CemeteryEl Campo Santo is a cemetery located at the Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum, 15415 East Don Julian Road, in City of Industry, California....
- El Campo Santo Cemetery