The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-06-11
A SCRAP OF MILITIA HISTORY
Some Facts About the Guard
in Los Angeles.
The Growth of the Present Com
pany.
A Historical Souvenir That IL Iaterest
ing to Many Old Residents I'm This
Community-How the Conn
pany Wac Organized.

A handsome historical souvenir has
been issusd by Company A OF the
Seventh regiment. 1t is beautifully
illustrated with half-tones OF the field
work of the company and portraits Of
the officers.
The history of the company, which
was really the initial company OF the
National guard in Southern California.
contains many points of interest to the
older citizens Of the city OF the Angels,
many of whom were in its ranks. The
company was organized in 1877.
The widespread feeling OF insecurity
and alarm which pervsded all the great
centers of population at that time. ex-
tended even to the then comparatively
Insignificant and circumscribed town OF
Los Angeles. The worthy citizens of
that day were impelled by the dictates
OF prudence and an inherent love of law
and order, to provide an effective safe
guard for the lives OF their families and
the protection OF their homes, and at a
public meeting, the leading men of tn
pueblo decided to band themselves to-
gether as military organization, for
that purpose. There were l40 men in
the company. which was named the Los
Angeles guard. and at a meeting held on
January 8, 1877, P. M. Darcy was elect
ed captain OF the company. The next
record in the official orders comes the
reelection Of Captain Darcy, and the
election of William 2. Stephenson as
| tirst lieutenant, on June 4, 1879. On that
date Francis III. Steele was elected second
lieutenant and resigned on December 5,
1880. In February, 1881, Joseph r.
Smith was elected second lieutenant
Captain Darcy remained in command
OF the company until it was mustered
out by a general order issued April %,
1881. During the existence OF the Los
Angeles guard it did good service in ex-
crossing moral effect on all lawless
elements in the community.
The successor of the guard was known
as the Eagle corps and 1t WAS organized
by W. II. II. Russell in 1881.
The first officers commissioned in the
Eagle corps, which consisted at that
time OF one company, were W. HI. II.
Russell, captain Humbert Il. Brown,
first lieutenant; j. F. Holbrook, second
lieutenant. At that time there were
about 140 men in the com mand, and the
armory was located in hall on Requiem
street, between Main and Los Angeles
streets. During the existence of the
Eagle corps its roster contained the
names of some OF the most prominent
men of Los Angeles, and the orgsniza-
tion was one of the leading social coterie 8
in this community, it's parades and pub
lie functions always being invested with
more than ordinary interest to the peo
pie OF Los Angeles. So popular did the
hot 10
bership necessitated its division into two
GGnna G eadet fdeJHfhhpstfy IofmsdA III
airy, 1885, the latter being under the
command OF Capt. Myndert l.. Starln,
now major OF the Seventh Infantry. The
Eagle corps battalion continued in ex-
istence until 1883. when another COM
pany was organized-Company +, when,
with Company A and the cadet com.
panv, which was admitted az an adult
company, and with companies at San
Diego, Pomona, San Bernardino and
Anaheim, the Seventh regiment OF in
fantry was organized.
Among the many we'll known names
on the original muster roll Of Company
A., made in 1881. are noticed:
II. r. Brown az first lieutenant, now
of the California Hardware company
/ Charles G. Barclay as lieutenant, we'll
known attorney -at-law; John +. Hol-
brook, the well known pipe manufac-
turer, was also lieutenant; Walter s.
Moore, "the blue eyed boy OF destiny"
ex-chief of the fire department, used to
wear q corporal's chevrons; Judge X.
A. Ling was then corporal; George
Atwood. the sign writer, shouldered a
musket rs a plain private; ex-County
Treasurer Refugio Bilderain was also in
hA
man, is down as a private: ID. +. Bar
clay, deputy county assessor, y. j.
Barker of the furniture firm OF that
name. and John Bishop of Bishop & Co.. !,
candy manufacturers, were all privates;
Joseph B. Banning, one OF Ban
ming Brothers, owners of Catalina
island, was private and one OF
the crack shots of the company I;
], Mills Davies, Louis Ebinger, the
restaursteur and baker, 81. NJ. Dalton,
ex.city zanjero; H. d. Godfrey, the
druggist also shouldered muskets as
plain privates. A. ]. Hechtmsn, man
ager for Porter Broe company, was not
az heavy then az now, he also did the
goose etep in ranks; Fred Hsnniman,
Los Angeles Fishing company; John A.
Kingsley OF Kingsley Barnes & Neuner
Co Sam Kutz, deputy county clerk,
and DR.. W. E. Lindley were privates
too. Eugene Maxwell, the genial ex-
internal revenue collector, was an en-
thusiastio gun bearer. Edward Nit
finger of the employ bureau; Len
J. Thompson. ex-city tax collector
James II. Winston, the prominent
young capitalist; r. N, @. Wilson, az
torney-at-law, were every day privates.
Major Cyrus Willard, contractor, and
Ma or NJ L. Starin of Trade were then
both plain privates. VIM. Ii Rigg. dep
uty street superintendent, was also in
, the ranks.
The company is made up OF some o.
the best young men in this com munity,
and offers fine advantages to learn the
, full duty of a citizen soldier.
The Ladies'.