Elihu Anthony facts for kids

Elihu Anthony (born November 30, 1818, in Greenfield, New York – died August 15, 1905, in Santa Cruz, California) was an important early settler in California. He was a blacksmith, a successful businessman, a landowner, and a Methodist minister.

Many people consider him a founding father of the city of Santa Cruz. He also served as a member of the California State Assembly for the 6th District from 1880 to 1881. Later in his life, he was involved in a movement that aimed to limit Chinese immigration to the United States.

Early Life and Journey West

Elihu Anthony was born on November 30, 1818, in Greenfield, New York. His parents were Asa and Sarah Anthony. His family moved often when he was a child, eventually settling in Indiana.

His family were Quakers, and he was raised with their beliefs. Before moving to California, Anthony worked as a Methodist minister in Indiana. In 1845, he married Sarah A. Van Anda in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

In 1847, his family began their journey west on the Oregon Trail. They decided to change their path and head to California instead. This was a dangerous trip, especially crossing Donner Pass. The year before, the Donner family had faced terrible hardships there.

Anthony's family struggled with hunger but made it through. They first arrived at Sutter's Fort and then at the Pueblo of San Jose. Anthony helped start the San Jose First United Methodist Church in 1847.

Building Santa Cruz

Anthony arrived in Santa Cruz in late 1847 or early 1848. He came to work as a local preacher for the Methodist Episcopal Church. In his early years there, he bought a large piece of land, about 18 acres.

This land is now part of downtown Santa Cruz. He developed the first commercial area in Santa Cruz, known as the Anthony Block. He built the first business there, which was a blacksmith shop and sawmill. This later became a general store.

Anthony also invested in building homes on a hill called "Anthony's Bluff." When the Gold rush began in 1848, Anthony started making tools like pickaxes for miners. Since there were few ironworkers in California at that time, he made a lot of money.

In 1849, Anthony worked with businessman Henry Cowell to build the first wharf in Santa Cruz. This was the Cowell Wharf, mainly used for shipping lumber and lime. Many other wharves were built later in similar spots. Today, only the Santa Cruz Wharf remains.

Community Involvement and Later Life

Elihu Anthony was an abolitionist, meaning he was against slavery. He strongly supported the Union Army during the American Civil War (1861–1865).

Starting in 1865, Anthony and Frederick A. Hihn built the first private water supply system for Santa Cruz. This system also served nearby communities.

Anthony was the president of the local Workingmen's Club. This group supported the Workingmen's Party of California. The Workingmen's Club helped spread the anti-Chinese movement. This movement was linked to concerns about jobs and wages at the time. This eventually led to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.

By 1885, Anthony and Duncan McPherson, a newspaper editor, led a larger group called the "Non-Partisan Anti-Chinese Association." This movement spread to other towns along the coast.

Elihu Anthony passed away on August 15, 1905, at the age of 86. He is buried in the Santa Cruz Memorial Park Cemetery.