Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
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FRANK SABICHI 
 
was born in the city of Los Angeles, on the 4th day of October, 1842. His 
father, Matthew Sabichi, a native of the Austrian Empire, wandered a third of 
the way around the globe, and settled in Los Angeles during the earlier years of 
the present century. He became a merchant, and accumulated a handsome property. 
He married rather late in life. In the year 1850 Mr. Sabichi, the elder, taking 
with him Frank, then a child but eight years of age, and another son, left Los 
Angeles for England, with the intention of having his children educated in that 
country. The fond father did not live to accomplish his wishes, for he died 
before reaching England; but Frank was put to school at the Royal Naval Academy 
at Gosport, a town situated near Portsmouth, one of the busiest ports of 
England. At this establishment the boy remained for several years, and received 
there a thorough education. Afterward he traveled extensively in Great Britain 
and on the continent of Europe, and
acquired with proficiency the languages of several of the nations of Europe. 
After some years of pleasant wandering he turned his steps westward, and arrived 
at his native place in the latter part of May, 1860. In the autumn of that year 
Mr. Sabichi entered upon the study of law, and in due course of time was 
admitted to practice in all California courts, and for several years practiced 
his profession. Of late years the care of his landed interests in and around the 
city of Los Angeles has made greater demands upon his attention, and he has 
reluctantly abandoned the calling of his choice. Since his return from Europe he 
has continued to reside in the city of his birth, and is now identified with 
many of the most important enterprises of Los Angeles. He is largely interested 
in the Ballona & Santa Monica Railway, and at one time held the position of 
vice-president of that corporation. Mr. Sabichi is also a director of the San 
Jose Land Company. The subject of this sketch resides with his family in the 
city of Los Angeles, in an elegant home, which, at the cost of several thousand 
dollars, he has built on a site comprising more than two acres in extent, and 
situated on Figueroa street, between Ellis and Adams streets. In 1865 Mr. 
Sabichi married Miss Magdalena Wolfskill, a daughter of the late William 
Wolfskill, one of the earliest and most prominent of the American pioneers who 
settled in Los Angeles. Mr. Sabichi is a consistent Democrat in politics. He has 
never sought office, having repeatedly refused to accept it; but offices have 
sought him frequently. He was elected to the city council of Los Angeles in 
1871, and was re-elected in 1873 -'74, presiding over its deliberations, to the 
lasting benefit of the municipality. He was also a member of the same body in 
1884, when he was foremost in a movement which secured to the city of Los 
Angeles its bountiful supply of water for irrigation purposes. He is an 
aggressive, enterprising business man, who in matters public and private has the 
confidence of the community at large and a wide circle of friends.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 811
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler