William H. Workman
Encyclopedia
William Henry Workman was an American politician
, bank
er and businessman
. He served two terms as the 18th Mayor
of Los Angeles
, California
.
, the son of David Workman
(1797–1855) and Nancy Hook (1807–1888). He had two older brothers, Thomas H. (1832–1863) and Elijah H. (1835–1906). William, named for his uncle William Workman
(1799–1876), a well-known rancher, farmer and banker in Los Angeles County, was raised in Howard County, Missouri until the age of 15. His father, who ran a saddlery in Missouri for many years (an apprentice in the mid-1820s was Christopher "Kit" Carson, a famed scout and mountain man in New Mexico after running away from the Workman business) opened a store in Gold Rush-era Sacramento and which burned in a fire that destroyed seven-eighths of the city, visited William Workman and was convinced to resettle in the Los Angeles area. In April 1854, the David Workman family, including 15-year old William, crossed the plains to California. While resting and restocking supplies at Salt Lake City, the family was approached by Brigham Young
, leader of the Mormons, about staying there. The family declined and moved on, arriving at William Workman's Rancho La Puente
in October.
William's father, David, ran sheep and cattle to the gold mines for his brother, but was killed in an accident in late June 1855, falling off a cliff while searching for a stray animal. After his death, the widow, Nancy and her sons moved to Los Angeles, residing on Main Street. Thomas went to work as secretary for noted transportation magnate Phineas Banning, married Alice Woodoworth, and died in the explosion of the steamer "Ada Hancock" in April 1863, leaving no children.
Elijah, following the family profession, opened a saddlery in Los Angeles by 1857 and, shortly afterward, was joined by William. The two continued in partnership for most of the next twenty years, building up, as the Workman Brothers, a substantial business at their Main Street location.
He married Maria Elizabeth Boyle (1847–1933) on October 17, 1867, in Los Angeles. Maria was born in New Orleans, but after her mother died when she was young, was raised for a time by relatives while her father, Andrew A. Boyle (1818–1871) relocated to San Francisco. Not long after sending for his daughter, Boyle moved to Los Angeles, buying a tract of land east of the Los Angeles River called "Paredon Blanco" (White Bluffs.) Boyle ran a shoe store and also the existing vineyard at Paredon Blanco, as well as served on the City Council during the 1860s. William H. Workman and Maria Boyle had seven children, including Boyle Workman
.
, between 1872 and 1880, and was a proxy
delegate
at the 1872 Democratic National Convention
in Baltimore
. During his council tenure, he was on the committee that planned the city's first high school, which opened in 1873.
He served two terms as Mayor of Los Angeles from December 14, 1886 to December 10, 1888 He was a conservative Democrat at a time of Republican dominance of politics in the growing city. His mayoral term, lasting the two years of 1887 and 1888, occurred during the years known as the "Boom of the Eighties," during which several parks, including today's MacArthur Park
, were established and a new city hall
was built. He was also instrumental in overseeing the revision of the city charter and the transfer of the mayor's duties as city judge to a separate judicial figure.
He also served on the city parks commission in the 1890s, when several major parks, including Westlake, Eastlake [now Lincoln] and Hollenbeck, donated by him and Elizabeth Hollenbeck in memory or Mrs. Hollenbeck's husband and Workman's real estate partner, John, in the Boyle Heights neighborhood, and others were created.
He was the treasurer of the city for three terms from 1901 to 1907. During his three terms as treasurer, he assisted in the transfer of municipal water
control from private to public ownership and initiated the financial dealings for the early stages of the monumental Los Angeles Aqueduct
project.
. After Andrew Boyle's death, Workman decided, during the first development boom of the city, which took place from 1868 to 1875, to subdivide much of Paredon Blanco and create the community of Boyle Heights
. In spring 1875, the announcement was made publicly, but the collapse of the local economy the following year stunted the growth of Boyle Heights until a new development boom in the late 1880s. By the end of the Nineteenth Century, Boyle Heights was a premier residential area of town. Later, it developed into one of the city's most diverse communities and was home to a unique mix of Latinos, Jews, Molokan Russians, Italians, Japanese and other ethnic and religious groups. After the 1950s, the neighborhood became primarily Latino and especially attracted new migrants from Mexico and Central America. The recent opening of the extension of the Metro Gold Line has been welcomed by both optimism for a renewal of the aging community and concern about the loss of its Latino identity through gentrification.
In between and after political office-holding, Workman maintained a successful real estate office for many years, was president of the American Savings Bank, and continued to work until his death.
William H. Workman died at age 79 of heart failure at his home in Boyle Heights. He is interred in Evergreen Cemetery. His son, Boyle, who was his father's assistant during the mayoral and treasurer terms, was a multi-term city councilman from 1919 and 1927 and served as president of that body. Boyle's memoir, "The City That Grew," was published in 1935 and is still read for its tales of family and regional history.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
er and businessman
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
. He served two terms as the 18th Mayor
Mayor of Los Angeles, California
The mayor of Los Angeles is the chief executive officer of the city. He is elected for a four-year term and limited to serving no more than two terms. Under the California Constitution, all judicial, school, county, and city offices, including those of chartered cities, are nonpartisan...
of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, 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...
.
Early life
Workman was born in New Franklin, MissouriNew Franklin, Missouri
New Franklin is a city in Howard County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,145 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Columbia, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.The country music singer Sara Evans was born here in 1971.-Geography:...
, the son of David Workman
Boyle-Workman family
The Boyle-Workman family relates to the pioneer interconnected Boyle and Workman families that were prominent in: the history of colonial Pueblo de Los Angeles and American Los Angeles; the Los Angeles Basin and San Gabriel Valley regions; and Southern California — from 1830 to 1930 in Mexican Alta...
(1797–1855) and Nancy Hook (1807–1888). He had two older brothers, Thomas H. (1832–1863) and Elijah H. (1835–1906). William, named for his uncle William Workman
Workman-Temple family
The Workman-Temple family relates to the pioneer interconnected Workman and Temple families that were prominent in: the history of colonial Pueblo de Los Angeles and American Los Angeles; the Los Angeles Basin and San Gabriel Valley regions; and Southern California — from 1830 to 1930 in Mexican...
(1799–1876), a well-known rancher, farmer and banker in Los Angeles County, was raised in Howard County, Missouri until the age of 15. His father, who ran a saddlery in Missouri for many years (an apprentice in the mid-1820s was Christopher "Kit" Carson, a famed scout and mountain man in New Mexico after running away from the Workman business) opened a store in Gold Rush-era Sacramento and which burned in a fire that destroyed seven-eighths of the city, visited William Workman and was convinced to resettle in the Los Angeles area. In April 1854, the David Workman family, including 15-year old William, crossed the plains to California. While resting and restocking supplies at Salt Lake City, the family was approached by Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
, leader of the Mormons, about staying there. The family declined and moved on, arriving at William Workman's Rancho La Puente
Rancho La Puente
Rancho La Puente was a ranch in the eastern San Gabriel Valley that, in its fullest extent, measured just under , and remained intact until about 1870. By modern landmarks, the ranch extended from San Gabriel River on the west to just west of the 57 Freeway on the east and from Ramona...
in October.
William's father, David, ran sheep and cattle to the gold mines for his brother, but was killed in an accident in late June 1855, falling off a cliff while searching for a stray animal. After his death, the widow, Nancy and her sons moved to Los Angeles, residing on Main Street. Thomas went to work as secretary for noted transportation magnate Phineas Banning, married Alice Woodoworth, and died in the explosion of the steamer "Ada Hancock" in April 1863, leaving no children.
Elijah, following the family profession, opened a saddlery in Los Angeles by 1857 and, shortly afterward, was joined by William. The two continued in partnership for most of the next twenty years, building up, as the Workman Brothers, a substantial business at their Main Street location.
He married Maria Elizabeth Boyle (1847–1933) on October 17, 1867, in Los Angeles. Maria was born in New Orleans, but after her mother died when she was young, was raised for a time by relatives while her father, Andrew A. Boyle (1818–1871) relocated to San Francisco. Not long after sending for his daughter, Boyle moved to Los Angeles, buying a tract of land east of the Los Angeles River called "Paredon Blanco" (White Bluffs.) Boyle ran a shoe store and also the existing vineyard at Paredon Blanco, as well as served on the City Council during the 1860s. William H. Workman and Maria Boyle had seven children, including Boyle Workman
Boyle Workman
Andrew Boyle Workman was a Los Angeles politician and businessman. He served as President of the Los Angeles City Council and, as such, was acting Mayor on occasion. He was the first city councilman to represent District 4 , under the new charter of 1925...
.
Political career
Workman served several terms on the Los Angeles City CouncilLos 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...
, between 1872 and 1880, and was a proxy
Proxy voting
Proxy voting has two forms: delegable voting and delegated voting, which are procedures for the delegation to another member of a voting body of that member's power to vote in his absence, and/or for the selection of additional representatives, as in the case with transitive proxies...
delegate
Delegate
A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization at a meeting or conference between organizations of the same level A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization (e.g., a government, a charity, an NGO, or a trade union) at a meeting or conference...
at the 1872 Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
. During his council tenure, he was on the committee that planned the city's first high school, which opened in 1873.
He served two terms as Mayor of Los Angeles from December 14, 1886 to December 10, 1888 He was a conservative Democrat at a time of Republican dominance of politics in the growing city. His mayoral term, lasting the two years of 1887 and 1888, occurred during the years known as the "Boom of the Eighties," during which several parks, including today's MacArthur Park
MacArthur Park
MacArthur Park is a park in the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, named after General Douglas MacArthur and designated city of Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #100.- Geography :...
, were established and a new city hall
Los Angeles City Hall
Los Angeles City Hall, completed 1928, is the center of the government of the city of Los Angeles, California, and houses the mayor's office and the meeting chambers and offices of the Los Angeles City Council...
was built. He was also instrumental in overseeing the revision of the city charter and the transfer of the mayor's duties as city judge to a separate judicial figure.
He also served on the city parks commission in the 1890s, when several major parks, including Westlake, Eastlake [now Lincoln] and Hollenbeck, donated by him and Elizabeth Hollenbeck in memory or Mrs. Hollenbeck's husband and Workman's real estate partner, John, in the Boyle Heights neighborhood, and others were created.
He was the treasurer of the city for three terms from 1901 to 1907. During his three terms as treasurer, he assisted in the transfer of municipal water
Water supply network
A water supply system or water supply network is a system of engineered hydrologic and hydraulic components which provide water supply. A water supply system typically includes:# A drainage basin ;...
control from private to public ownership and initiated the financial dealings for the early stages of the monumental Los Angeles Aqueduct
Los Angeles Aqueduct
The Los Angeles Aqueduct system comprising the Los Angeles Aqueduct and the Second Los Angeles Aqueduct, is a water conveyance system operated by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power...
project.
Boyle Heights
Workman inherited valuable and productive vineyards and orchards from his father-in-law, Andrew A. BoyleBoyle-Workman family
The Boyle-Workman family relates to the pioneer interconnected Boyle and Workman families that were prominent in: the history of colonial Pueblo de Los Angeles and American Los Angeles; the Los Angeles Basin and San Gabriel Valley regions; and Southern California — from 1830 to 1930 in Mexican Alta...
. After Andrew Boyle's death, Workman decided, during the first development boom of the city, which took place from 1868 to 1875, to subdivide much of Paredon Blanco and create the community of Boyle Heights
Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California
Boyle Heights is a neighborhood east of Downtown Los Angeles on the East Side of Los Angeles. For much of the twentieth century, Boyle Heights was a gateway for new immigrants. This resulted in diverse demographics, including Jewish American, Japanese American and Mexican American populations,...
. In spring 1875, the announcement was made publicly, but the collapse of the local economy the following year stunted the growth of Boyle Heights until a new development boom in the late 1880s. By the end of the Nineteenth Century, Boyle Heights was a premier residential area of town. Later, it developed into one of the city's most diverse communities and was home to a unique mix of Latinos, Jews, Molokan Russians, Italians, Japanese and other ethnic and religious groups. After the 1950s, the neighborhood became primarily Latino and especially attracted new migrants from Mexico and Central America. The recent opening of the extension of the Metro Gold Line has been welcomed by both optimism for a renewal of the aging community and concern about the loss of its Latino identity through gentrification.
In between and after political office-holding, Workman maintained a successful real estate office for many years, was president of the American Savings Bank, and continued to work until his death.
William H. Workman died at age 79 of heart failure at his home in Boyle Heights. He is interred in Evergreen Cemetery. His son, Boyle, who was his father's assistant during the mayoral and treasurer terms, was a multi-term city councilman from 1919 and 1927 and served as president of that body. Boyle's memoir, "The City That Grew," was published in 1935 and is still read for its tales of family and regional history.
See also
- Boyle-Workman familyBoyle-Workman familyThe Boyle-Workman family relates to the pioneer interconnected Boyle and Workman families that were prominent in: the history of colonial Pueblo de Los Angeles and American Los Angeles; the Los Angeles Basin and San Gabriel Valley regions; and Southern California — from 1830 to 1930 in Mexican Alta...
- William H. Workman
- Workman-Temple familyWorkman-Temple familyThe Workman-Temple family relates to the pioneer interconnected Workman and Temple families that were prominent in: the history of colonial Pueblo de Los Angeles and American Los Angeles; the Los Angeles Basin and San Gabriel Valley regions; and Southern California — from 1830 to 1930 in Mexican...
- Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum