Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


OSCAR MACY 
 
was born in Liberty, Union County, Indiana, July 28, 1829. His father, Dr. Obed 
Macy, a pioneer of Los Angeles, was of New England stock and was born on the 
Island of Nantucket in 1801. He moved West with his family when a young man and 
practiced medicine for years in Southern Indiana. He crossed the plains with his 
wife and nine children, one of whom died of cholera on the way, arriving in Los 
Angeles in December, 1850. He settled first in El Monte, but afterward rented 
and conducted the Bella Union Hotel (now the St. Charles) in this city two 
years, when he disposed of the same to W. G. Ross, who was, some years after, 
killed by C. P. Duane in San Francisco. Dr. Macy started the Alameda Baths, on 
the site of the three-story brick building on the corner of Main and Macy 
streets, recently erected by his son Oscar. Dr. Macy died July 9, 1857. His 
eight children are still living in California. Oscar, the subject of this 
sketch, worked awhile in 1851, as a printer, in San Francisco, but could not 
resist the temptation of a miner's life, and left his position to rough it in 
the mines, where he worked with varying success for two years. Returning to Los 
Angeles, he took up a claim in El Monte, which he afterward sold to the father 
of Judge A. J. King, of this city. He then took up his residence in Los Angeles, 
working most of the time at the printer's trade. During these times the 
Republican party was in a chrysalis state; and when General J. C. Fremont was 
nominated for the Presidency he became an enthusiastic advocate of his election 
and of the success of that young national political organization from whose 
principles he has never swerved. On the election of Abraham Lincoln to the 
Presidency, he received the appointment of collector of customs at San Pedro, 
which position he held until the port was reduced to an inspectorship, when, at 
the solicitation of the department, he accepted the position of inspector. After 
some time he resigned in favor of George C. Alexander, who was appointed in his 
place. In addition to the above Mr. Macy has filled various places of public 
trust in the city and county. He was a councilman for several terms, city 
treasurer for two years, and chairman of the board of supervisors for four 
years, occupying the latter office from January, 1885, to January, 1889, during 
which time the present site of the new county court-house was purchased, that 
substantial structure, the county jail, was erected, and also plans of the 
court-house adopted. This magnificent temple of justice, when completed, will do 
credit to the people of Los Angeles County, whose wealth and liberality have 
made it possible to erect a public building unsurpassed by any county on the 
Pacific Coast, excepting San Francisco County. Mr. Macy has been largely engaged 
with others in the sheep industry on San Clemente Island, some fifty miles off 
the coast, where the sheep run wild and thrive with very little care; and where, 
twice a year, the owners go over and stay several weeks to supervise their 
shearing and the packing and shipment of their wool, or to look after the 
sending to market of the mutton sheep. From 8,000 to 10,000 sheep range over the 
island and the business is understood to be profitable. Mr. Macy married Miss 
Margaret E. Bell in 1873, and has five children.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 554
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler