Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-08-08
A BUSINESS BOOM.
The Mercantile Interests of
Los Angeles City.
ONE OF OUR PIONEER FIRMS.
The House of NJ. A. Newmark u Co
With Its History for Over
Thirty Years.

during the past ten years. Some who do
not know on what our development rests
affect to think that the excitement Of the
past decade has nothing substantial ON
which to rest, that it was all confined to
dealing in land, and that these deals
were all engineered by schemers and car
ried on for purely speculative ends. 1t
is the purpose of the HERALD in
this article to set forth the
history of q pioneer business
house of this city because it is indisput-
able that the facts in this history will
knock higher than the famous Gilderoy' s
kite all such idle ideas. The facts here
to be narrated will establish to the salts
faction OF any unprejudiced and therefore
reasonable person that this "boom" has
not been confined to the past decade
that it is not limited by speculative deal
ings in real property; that it has, on the
contrary, most substantial basis on
which to rest; that it is the natural
outgrowth OF the development of our sec
ton rich in resources, attractive beyond
any other bit of territory on the globe,
and capable of supporting-in fact actu-
ally supporting-a large and steadily
growing population and, finally, that this
growth must continue.
THE BEGINNING.
There is no citizen better known OF
thought of than is Mr.. Harris Newmark.
He is now a retired merchant having for
upwards of fifty years by business sagaci.
ty, integrity and energy achieved such
success in his affairs as seldom is the
lot of even the best men.
In the ffties Mr.. II. Newmark
was already in business in Los Angeles,
and in 1865 he thought he saw an open
ing in this city for no less an enterprise
than a Wholesale Grocery House. To
see such an opportunity with men Of Mr..
Newmark's mold is to embrace it and
thus at that comparatively early period in
the history of the American occupation
of this fair city, he opened
one of the first houses of this
character set up in the great State OF
California outside OF he metropolis of the
Coast, San Francisco. This house was
opened in Arcadia block on Los Angeles
street, little south of Arcadia street. AT
the date here in question the Arcadia
block was the handsomest in the city. 1t
W DIS d oOllo ColuCC luo " OLilo udy
unchanged as business premises OF some
pretensions. Mr.. Harris NeWmark, with
that courage in his own convictions
which always was a strong characteristic
of his, event it alone" in making this
great venture. In short time, however,
he found business so growing on his
hands that there seemed plenty OF work
for two heads, two sets of hands and
the capital of two men in the concern.
Mr.. Sam Cohn was thereupon admit
ted to partnership in the enterprise
This took place in 1866. Still the business
grew and multiplied and Mr.. Kaspar
Cohn, brother OF the gentlemen just
mentioned, was taken into the firm in
1866. The style Of the house was H. New
mark & Co. 1t is legend which for
many years was read over the door OF
the house in Arcadia block, which was
found in every grocery store in all OF
Southern California, in the sparse.
ly settled districts of Arizona
and which daily penetrated more
and more remote sections of the country
bringing steadily increasing aggregations
of business to the house. That legend,
moreover, was found signed to thousands
of obligations during those years, and it
was one which when found on bit OF
commercial paper always made it cur
rent money with the merchants-not
merely as good as gold but far better under
the circumstances which then governed
trade in thinly inhabited districts, remote
from banks, and where the transfer OF
large sums of metal money was hazard
GUS undertaking.
Mr.. s. Cohn was not long in the firm,
for the ruthless hand of death soon severed
his connection with the firm and with all
earthly occupations. In 1870 so largely
had the interests of the firm grown that
help was found indispensable in many
ways. and Mr.. Meyer J. Newmark, a
brother-in-law of the head of the house,
was admitted as partner. What Angelei1u
of these old days has forgotten Meyer J
Newmark? If there is one it is safe to
say he is man of whom his fellows are
not greatly enamored. Genial, jovial
upright M. j. Newmark, although nc
longer of this city. his memory is dearly
cherished by a large circle of friends
Well may he prosper at all he puts his
hand to, and late may he he called to
ornament higher sphere than earth!
IT GROWS APACE
With the growth of the country around
the house of Fl. Newmark & Co. steadily
added to it's business in all its branches
In 1871 new member was added to the
firm in the person of Mr.. M. A. New
mark. And about the same time it was
found that the old quarters SO long oc.
cupied in the Arcadia block were rather
narrow to accommodate the enlarged
business which had been built up by
sagacity, fair dealing and honorable
treatment of all who traded with
the concern. Therefore building
was erected on Los Angeles street Just
north of Requena street for the use oi
the firm. At that time the firm consis
ted OF the Messrs. H. Newmark, Kaspa,
Cohn, M. j. Newmark and NJ. A,
Newmark.
THE NEW STORE.
The new store into which the firm
moved in 1884 was a substantial brick
building two stories high. So ample
were the premises in all respects that it
was considered sufficient for all business
needs of the time in the line of Whole
sale Grocery establishment for half a
century. Here in new quarters the old
time splendid line of luck followed the
house. Its business grew and prospered
beyond all the most sanguine expecta-
tions of the members of the firm. The
members made good money, and that
consideration coupled with de-
sire for rest after many years
of toll, or for change after
spending years in one occupation led
of 70 ych 70 ont