Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

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


JACOB PHILIPPI, 
 
capitalist, corner of Buena Vista and Rock streets, is a native of Germany, and 
was born at Merzlich Kartaus, on the River Mossel, near the old Roman city of 
Trier, in the Rhine Province of Prussia, October 20, 1836. He emigrated to 
America when only sixteen years of age, spent one winter in Cincinnati and then 
went to St. Louis, after which he ran on steamboats between there and New 
Orleans. He was for a time in the employ of the Government at Leavenworth, 
Kansas.  In 1855 he hired out to Waddell & Russell, the great transportation 
company, to drive team, his first trip being made to New Mexico. During the same 
fall he acted in a like capacity for General Harney, during the uprising of the 
Sioux Indians, and was at Ash Hollow, where the battle with them occurred, where 
there was such a great slaughter, several hundred Indians being killed. In 1857 
he went on the Government surveying expedition, under General Joe Johnson, 
running the south line of the State of Kansas. In the spring of 1858 he was with 
the train that went to Salt Lake to convey relief to the soldiers at Fort 
Bridger, under command of General Sydney Johnson. After reaching there the 
troops were removed to Salt Lake. Over 800 teams were employed, and the command 
established the military post, Camp Floyd. During the fall of the same year, 
fifteen of them started from Salt Lake with mule teams, for Southern California. 
The mules gave out and the party were compelled to walk from Camp Floyd to Los 
Angeles. They were disturbed by the Indians, who stole their provisions, and in 
consequence they suffered for want of food. They reached Los Angeles in 
November, 1858. Upon his arrival here, Mr. Philippi went up to San Francisco. 
After prospecting for a time in the mines, he went to Stockton and Napa City, 
California, and the following year returned to Los Angeles, where be was in the 
employ of the Government, while General Hancock was in command, until 1861. Then 
he worked for General Banning as teamster. In the fall of 1862 he started a 
grocery, and after running it for a time, and not being successful, he again 
went to work for General Banning. He afterward rented the New York Brewery and 
was successful, but had to give up that enterprise on account of sickness, and 
again went to work for General Banning. In November, 1864, he bought a saloon at 
the corner of Market and Main streets, and carried on the business there and in 
that block and at the People's Hall on Market street for eighteen years. In 1882 
he sold out and made an extended visit through the Eastern States and old 
Mexico. After his return the following year, he established The Gardens," at 
Buena Vista, and made extensive improvements; but on account of ill health sold 
the place to Mrs. Banning. Since then he has not been engaged in active 
business. Mr. Philippi was married October 23, 1869, to Miss Wilhelmina 
Burkhardt, a native of the city of T�bingen, W�rtemberg, Germany. They have had 
two children. Both are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Philippi have a very attractive 
home, situated on one of the finest locations in Los Angeles.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 605
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler