Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

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


PETER RICHARDS.
 
        The subject of this sketch is a native of Austria, born in Dalmatia, in 
1842. His parents were Mathew and Lucretia Richards, both natives of the place 
of his birth. His father was a seafaring man, and Mr. Richards early imbibed a 
love for that calling. When sixteen years of age he left home and for many years 
followed the life and occupation of a sailor. In 1863 he came to California and 
entered the employ of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, where he was engaged 
until 1865. He then devoted himself to mining and prospecting through Nevada, 
Idaho, Montana and Utah, and finally through the Tejon Pass to Southern 
California. Shortly after his arrival he located at Wilmington, working for 
General Banning, and afterward established a restaurant at that place, which he 
conducted until 1869. He then moved to Anaheim, where he was proprietor of a 
restaurant until 1876, opening the first one ever established in that town. Mr. 
Richards was successful in his business operations in that town and accumulated 
property to the value of about $25,000. In 1876 a fire destroyed his buildings 
and stock of wines, etc., and left him financially ruined. He then went to San 
Francisco, and for the next three years conducted a grocery store on the corner 
of Vallejo and Montgomery streets, and
afterward established a store at the corner of Larkin and Sutter streets. In 
1883 Mr. Richards visited Mexico with the intention of entering into mining 
operations, but not suited with the prospects he returned to Los Angeles County 
and, through M. L. Wicks, became interested in the town of Lancaster, where he 
opened the first hotel ever built in that town. The next two years were spent by 
Mr. Richards in San Francisco, Monterey and Ventura, principally in the latter 
place, where he established a restaurant. In 1886 he came to Los Angeles County 
and located at the mission of San Gabriel and opened a grocery store, nearly 
opposite the mission church, which he has since conducted. He also has property 
interests in that place, having town lots and acreage land in the immediate 
vicinity, among which are two acres and a half of orchard property nearly 
opposite Judge Hamilton's place. In 1874 Mr. Richards married Miss Incarnation 
Carillo, the daughter of Ramon and Vicentia (Sepulveda) Carillo. She is first 
cousin of ex-Governor Romualdo Pacheco and a descendant of the old mission 
families of Southern California. From their marriage there are four children, 
viz.: Lucretia, Robert M., Alfred J. and Verona. Mr. Richards and his family are 
members of the Catholic Church. In political matters he is Democratic, 
consistent in his views and a worker in the ranks of that party.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 620
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler