John King (California politician)

John King was president of the Los Angeles, California, Common Council—the legislative arm of that city— effective June 1, 1868. He replaced Murray Morrison, who resigned. In 1865 he served a term on the county grand jury.[1]

For other people named John King, see John King (disambiguation).

His terms of service on the council were:

  • May 10, 1866, to May 8, 1867. Reinstated August 8, 1867.[2][3]
  • August 8, 1867, to December 7, 1868.[2][3]
  • December 9, 1868, to December 9, 1869. He was chosen as president by the drawing of lots.[4]
  • December 9, 1869, to December 9, 1870.

Political party

He was a Democrat,[5] but King was also a delegate to an Unconditional Union county convention in Los Angeles on August 5, 1861, "for the purpose of selecting, nominating, and adopting such measures as will secure the election of Union candidates for County offices."[6][7]

Bella Union Hotel

King was at one time the manager of the historic Bella Union Hotel, and in 1862, he formed a partnership with Henry Hammill to lease and again operate the hostelry. A June 4, 1862, article in the Semi-Weekly Southern News said of the affair that: "We are pleased to notice the fact that a large American flag has been hoisted over the house, and we hope that the stigma which has been attached to [it] . . . will be removed, as the present proprietors, though fully realizing their duties as landlords are sound Unionists."[8]

The partnership was dissolved in February 1865, with King retaining ownership on his own.[9]

References
  1. "County Court," The Los Angeles News, January 14, 1865, page 2
  2. "August 8, 1867, the city officials elected May 6, were deposed and with few exceptions the officials elected the previous year (May 7, 1866) resumed office.
    "They officiated until April 6, 1866 when a new group of officials was elected, which although certified on April 9, never took office.
    "The 1866/67 administration, with a few changes continued to function from April 20th to the regular election changed, for the first time, to December 7, 1868.
    "In other words, with the exception of the time from May 6, to August 8, 1867, the governing body elected May 7, 1866, actually served until December 7, 1868." Chronological Record of Los Angeles City Officials, 1850-1938, 1867-1868 section, page 1, first iteration
  3. "According to the records of the City Council the election which occurred as usual in May [1867] proved invalid after the elected officials served for a period of three months only.
    "On August 8, 1867 this entire group of officials was replaced by the municipal officers elected the preceding year (May 7, 1866).
    "The first move of the reinstalled governing body was to legalize all the official acts of the deposed council[,] thus protecting the city corporation and the citizenry." Chronological Record of Los Angeles City Officials, 1850-1938, 1867-1868 section, page 1, second iteration
  4. Chronological Record of Los Angeles City Officials, 1850-1938, 1868-1869 section, page 11
  5. "Democratic Ticket," Los Angeles News, April 20, 1866, page 2
  6. "People's Union County Convention," The Semi-Weekly Southern News, July 10, 1861, page 1
  7. "People's Union County Convention," The Semi-Weekly Southern News, August 7, 1861, page 2
  8. "Bella Union Hotel," The Semi-Weekly Southern News, June 4, 1862, page 2
  9. "New Advertisements: Notice," Los Angeles News, March 4, 1865, page 2

Notes

Data is from Chronological Record of Los Angeles City Officials, 1850-1938, compiled under direction of Municipal Reference Library, City Hall, Los Angeles (March 1938, reprinted 1966). "Prepared ... as a report on Project No. SA 3123-5703-6077-8121-9900 conducted under the auspices of the Works Progress Administration."


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