Résumé

Ira Gilchrist was one of the earliest Anglo-American architects working in Los Angeles, operating here by 1854. He settled in Los Angeles for several years, but moved about frequently thereafter.

Partner, Gilchrist and Stone, Carpenters and Builders, c. 1854. This firm dissolved on Saturday, 10/28/1854. A statement in the Southern Californian newspaper read: “The co-partnership, heretofore existing between Ira Gilchrist & E. Stone, as Carpenters and Builders, was on Saturday, the 28th day of October, dissolved by mutual consent. All outstanding debts will be paid to Ira Gilchrist. Ira Gilchrist will hereafter carry on the above business in his own name. Ira Gilchrist, E. Stone, Los Angeles Nov. 2, 1854.” (See “Dissolution of Copartnership,” Southern Californian, 03/28/1855, p. 1.) It is odd that this notice of dissolution appeared in the local newspaper four months later.

Principal, Ira Gilchrist, Architect and Builder, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1854-1855. According to his advertisement in the Southern Calfiornian newspaper, Gilchrist operated his own lumber yard on Main Street and a shop/office on Mellus's Row owned by Francis Mellus. His advertisement indicated that he had performed work for significant local property owners including Abel Stearns, Henry Dalton, Francis Mellus, B.D. Wilson and William T.B. Sanford. (See Gilchrist advertisement, Southern Californian, 12/21/1854, p. 2.) Advertisements continued in the Southern Californian and Los Angeles Star newspapers between at least 12/07/1854 and 02/23/1856.

An article in the Los Angeles Star describing Los Angeles City Council resolutions in 07/1855, indicated that Gilchrist worked on fencing around the Public Brick School House: “Resolved. By the Council that the matter relative to building a fence around the public Brick School House be indefinitely postponed, and that a special commission of two, to wit: Messrs. Macy and Foster be appointed to contract with Ira Gilchrist, for the building of a proper gate as an entrance to said School House.” (See “Proceedings of the Common Council,” Los Angeles Star, vol. 5, no. 8, 07/07/1855, p. 2.) Between 10/10/1855 and 02/10/1856, a treasurer’s report documenting an account of receipts and expenses for the City of Los Angeles indicated that Gilchrist received $1,800 for work done. (See "Informe del Tesorero," El Clamor Público, Volume 1, Number 36, 03/01/1856, p. 153.) This work may have included the fencing erected around the school and perhaps for work on the school itself.

Principal, Ira Gilchrist, Building Contractor, Santa Clara, CA, 1865.

Principal, Ira Gilchrist, Architect, Vallejo, CA, 1871.

Owner, planing mill, Stockton, CA, 1877.

Principal, Ira Gilchrist, Architect and Builder, Napa, CA, c. 1879-1880.

Relocation

Born in IN in 04/1822, Ira Gilchrist lived in that state through 1841, at least, when he married his first wife, Catherine Abbott. His child William was born in IN in 1847, suggesting that he may have remained there at that time, as well.

He likely came West to CA with his family in 1850 or so, during the Gold Rush. As noted in the 1852 CA State Census, his daughter Mary was born in CA in 1850. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; 1852 California State Census; Roll #: 6; Repository Collection #: C144:6; Page: 70; Line: 15, accessed 03/07/2025.)

By 1852, he and Catherine operated a hotel in Yuba County, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; 1852 California State Census; Roll #: 6; Repository Collection #: C144:6; Page: 70; Line: 15, accessed 03/07/2025.)

He and his family relocated to Los Angeles, CA, at least by the last quarter of 1854. An infant daughter Jane Gilchrist was reported having died on 11/21 sometime during the 1853-1855 time span in Los Angeles. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California Department of Public Health, courtesy of www.vitalsearch-worldwide.com. Digital Images, accessed 03/07/2025.) A newspaper advertisement in the Southern Californian newspaper indicated that he lived there as early as 12/14/1854. A notice of Gilchrist's partnership dissolution indicated that it had been dissolved on 10/28/1854.

Ira Gilchrist and Catherine Abbott split up sometime between 1855 and 1860, when she moved back to Floyd County, IN. Catherine Gilchrist resided on her own in Lafayette, IN, in 1860, where she operated a farm valued at $4,000. (She also had other assets worth in the region of $350, according to the 1860 US Census.) She lived on this farm with her children Araminta, William and Mary. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Lafayette, Floyd, Indiana; Roll: M653_257; Page: 294; Family History Library Film: 803257, accessed 03/07/2025.)

A U.S. IRS Tax Assessment List of 03/1865 indicated that Ira GIlchrist worked as a building contractor in Santa Clara, CA. He paid $25 according to this tax roll. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Napa County, California, Probate Records, 1851-1935; Author: Napa County (California). County Clerk, accessed 03/09/2025.)

He resided in Vallejo, CA, working as an architect. He registered to vote here on 06/19/1871. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1871; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 130; FHL Roll Number: 978585, accessed 03/09/2025.)

He operated a planing mill in Stockton, CA, by 1877. (See Business Directory of San Francisco and Principal towns of California and Nevada, 1877, p. 208.)

Gilchrist worked in Napa, CA, by 1879, at least, when he collaborated with the architects Joseph and Samuel Newsom on the design of the Napa Valley Opera House.

He passed away following a fall at his residence in Napa, CA, on 01/16/1880.

Spouse

Gilchrist married twice. He wed his first wife Catherine Abbott (born c. 1823 in IN-d. 01/10/1878 in Henderson, KY) in Floyd County, IN, on 09/26/1841. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Indiana, U.S., Marriages, 1810-2001 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014, accessed 03/07/2025.) Catherine remarried to Francis Marion Rager (born 1840 in IN-d. 04/1912 in Newburg, KY) on 06/19/1861 in IN. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Indiana, U.S., Marriages, 1810-2001 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014, accessed 03/09/2025.) Frank Rager worked as a carpenter in Evansville, IN, in 1893. (See Evansville, Indiana, City Directory, 1893, p. 465.) She had a daughter with Francis, named Myrtle Rager (born 1868-d. 08/01/1885 in Henderson, KY), who died quite young.

Ira next wed Mary Ann Abbott (born 1824 in Floyd County, IN-d. 02/20/1904), likely a relative of his first wife. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Geneanet Community Trees Index [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2022, accessed 03/09/2025.)

Children

He and Catherine had the following offspring: Amandy M. Gilchrist McCoy, Araminta Florence “Minta” Gilchrist Labry, William L. Gilchrist, Mary Gilchrist Merriwether, Jane Gilchrist (d. on 11/21 in 1853, 1854 or 1855) and Thomas Vincent Gilchrist.

With his second wife, he had a son, Stephen Ira Gilchrist.