Hiram Sinsabaugh

Hiram Sinsabaugh (c. 1832–1892) was a Methodist Episcopal minister and banker who served on the Los Angeles, California, Common Council, the legislative branch of the city, in the 19th century.

Personal

Sinsabaugh was born about 1832 in Norwich, Ohio. Because of ill health, he moved in 1873 to Denver, Colorado, and in 1880 he came to Los Angeles on a visit and returned the following year with his family.^[1]

He died May 19, 1892, at the age of sixty, with the cause attributed to "a combination of consumption and Bright's disease." A funeral was held in his residence, 225 Loma Drive,^[2] near today's Belmont High School, followed by private burial.^[3]

Vocation

Before moving to Los Angeles, Sinsabaugh was a Methodist Episcopal Church preacher in Ohio and Pennsylvania. After settling in California, he became the president of the Broadway Bank, which opened in March 1890 on the corner of Broadway and Sixth Street.^[4]

Memberships

Sinsabaugh was a vice-president of the University Place Improvement Society, founded in 1887 to protect the interests of that residential area near the University of Southern California.^[5] He was also a member of the Coeur de Leon Commandery, Knights Templar.^[6]

Public service

Sinsabaugh was elected to represent the 5th Ward on the Los Angeles Common Council, the legislative branch of the city government, for three one-year terms between December 9, 1884, and December 10, 1888, and for a short term ending February 21, 1889, because of the institution of a new city charter.^[7]

In 1887, Sinsabaugh ran for a Board of Freeholders to write the new charter for Los Angeles, on a ticket pledged to assure Sunday closing of saloons.^[8][9] He was elected and helped to write the charter.

References and notes

1. "Another Good Man Gone," Los Angeles Times, May 20, 1892, page 6
2. Location of the Sinsabaugh residence on Mapping L.A.
3. "Died," Los Angeles Times, May 21, 1892, page 7
4. "The Broadway Bank," Los Angeles Times, March 26, 1890, page 2
5. "University Place: An Improvement Society Makes a Start," Los Angeles Times, November 19, 1887, page 1
6. "Preparing for the Pilgrimage," Los Angeles Times, August 16, 1895, page 8
7. 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."
8. "Anti-Saloon: A Rousing Meeting Last Night," Los Angeles Times, November 26, 1887, page 2
9. "Beware!" (display advertisement), Los Angeles Times, December 4, 1887, page 5