Jacob F. Gerkens
Encyclopedia
Jacob F. Gerkens was a member of the Los Angeles
, California
, City Council
and the first police chief
of that city after the abolition of the office of city marshal. He served for a little more than a year, from December 18, 1876 to December 26, 1877.
, Germany
, January 12, 1842. His parents emigrated to America during his early childhood and settled in Erie County
, New York
, near Buffalo
. At age 16, Gerkens and his ox teams came direct to Los Angeles, where for several years he "was engaged in teaming and freighting." He next went to Yuma
, Arizona
, ran a ferry for a year, "and again engaged in freighting and carried on the business until 1865," then returned to California and worked as a ranch foreman for Robert Burnett for two years.
On January 9, 1867, he married Isadora Carabajal, a native of Los Angeles. They had three children, Charles F., Margurette and Annie. Between 1867 and 1871 he was a sheep rancher and owned property on the southern slope of the Puente Hills
. He built a house on Camilla Street in the community that became Whittier
, California. It is the oldest home in the city. "His next venture was in the grocery business, on San Fernando street, at the junction of Downey avenue."
He was twice elected a member of the Los Angeles City Council, and in 1877 sold his store and became police chief for a year and assistant police chief for two years thereafter. The Lewis history stated that "Mr. Gerkens never went to school in his life, but as a result of his self-education he can speak and write three different languages." He was described in the Lewis book as a capitalist, living at 9 Sotello Street, Los Angeles. The 1900 census has him living with his wife in the Garvanza
district of Los Angeles, which at that time was in the Burbank Township
.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, City Council
Los Angeles City Council
The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles.The Council is composed of fifteen members elected from single-member districts for four-year terms. The president of the council and the president pro tempore are chosen by the Council at the first regular meeting after...
and the first police chief
Chief of police
A Chief of Police is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America. Alternate titles for this position include Commissioner, Superintendent, and Chief constable...
of that city after the abolition of the office of city marshal. He served for a little more than a year, from December 18, 1876 to December 26, 1877.
Biography
Gerkins was born in HolsteinHolstein
Holstein is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is part of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, January 12, 1842. His parents emigrated to America during his early childhood and settled in Erie County
Erie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, near Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. At age 16, Gerkens and his ox teams came direct to Los Angeles, where for several years he "was engaged in teaming and freighting." He next went to Yuma
Yuma, Arizona
Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, ran a ferry for a year, "and again engaged in freighting and carried on the business until 1865," then returned to California and worked as a ranch foreman for Robert Burnett for two years.
On January 9, 1867, he married Isadora Carabajal, a native of Los Angeles. They had three children, Charles F., Margurette and Annie. Between 1867 and 1871 he was a sheep rancher and owned property on the southern slope of the Puente Hills
Puente Hills
The Puente Hills is a chain of hills, one of the lower Transverse Ranges, in an unincorporated area in eastern Los Angeles County, California.-Geography:...
. He built a house on Camilla Street in the community that became Whittier
Whittier, California
Whittier is a city in Los Angeles County, California about southeast of Los Angeles. The city had a population of 85,331 at the 2010 census, up from 83,680 as of the 2000 census, and encompasses 14.7 square miles . Like nearby Montebello, the city constitutes part of the Gateway Cities...
, California. It is the oldest home in the city. "His next venture was in the grocery business, on San Fernando street, at the junction of Downey avenue."
He was twice elected a member of the Los Angeles City Council, and in 1877 sold his store and became police chief for a year and assistant police chief for two years thereafter. The Lewis history stated that "Mr. Gerkens never went to school in his life, but as a result of his self-education he can speak and write three different languages." He was described in the Lewis book as a capitalist, living at 9 Sotello Street, Los Angeles. The 1900 census has him living with his wife in the Garvanza
Garvanza, Los Angeles, California
Garvanza is a neighborhood in northeast Los Angeles. It is generally considered a subdistrict of Highland Park.It is named for the garbanzo beans that once flourished there. Garvanza was annexed by the city in 1899....
district of Los Angeles, which at that time was in the Burbank Township
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
.