Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

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


E. J. VAWTER, 
 
Santa Monica, was born in Vernon, Indiana, and, with his father and brother, 
came to the Pacific Coast in 1875, first locating in Pasadena. They were members 
of the old Indiana Colony, the founders of that now beautiful and wealthy town. 
From Pasadena they removed to Santa Monica, then only a sheep ranch. There they 
opened a general merchandise store, and also organized the Santa Monica Lumber 
Company. In 1875 and 1876 the place grew very rapidly. The first railroad was 
completed and a wharf was built in the former year. From 1878 to 1880, using Mr. 
E. J. Vawter's own words, "a financial cyclone struck the town and nearly every 
body who could left for the mines in Arizona. Only a few remained, and among 
those were my father, brother and myself. We had great faith in the future of 
our beautiful Santa Monica, and we hung, as it were, with our eyebrows. Soon 
light dawned upon us, and things took a decided change for the better." Few men 
have labored more assiduously for the upbuilding of a town or the general 
welfare of a community than have the Messrs. Vawter for the development of Santa 
Monica. The town now has two railroads with prospects for a third, also the 
establishment of a wharf. The new Soldiers' Home is located near. In 1888 Mr. 
Vawter, with others, organized the First National Bank with a capital of 
$50,000, and with E. J. Vawter as cashier. The Messrs. Vawter have built and 
have in operation some five miles of street railway. Perhaps to no other persons 
is Santa Monica more largely indebted for the beautiful seaside resort that it 
is than to these gentlemen. When others deserted it to go in pursuit of that 
fickle goddess, gold, they stood firm, and, after a few years of unabated toil, 
are now seeing their efforts crowned with success.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 665
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler