Complex sentence: Charles Brode was a merchant and property owner in 19th Century Los Angeles, California, and was a member of that city's governing body, the Common Council from December 5,1878, to March 13,1879, when he resigned.
Split into simpler sentences: Charles Brode was a merchant and property owner in 19th Century Los Angeles, California. He was a member of that city's governing body, the Los Angeles Common Council, from December 5,1878, to March 13,1879, when he resigned.