John Frohling
John Frohling | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1827 Prussia |
| Died | 1862 |
| Occupation(s) | Flutist, businessman |
| Known for | Founder of Anaheim, California; co-founder of Kohler & Frohling Wines; member of Los Angeles Common Council |
John Frohling (1827–1862) played a crucial role in shaping the wine industry across Northern and Southern California and was the founder of Anaheim, California during the mid-1800s. Additionally, he held a position on the Los Angeles Common Council, which governed the city.
Personal
Frohling was born in Prussia in 1827 and pursued a career as a professional flutist, performing with a San Francisco ensemble that later became known as the Germania Society.
In November 1859, he wed Amelie Hammes, the daughter of Philips Hammes, marking Anaheim’s inaugural marriage ceremony. While Frohling focused his efforts in Southern California, Charles Kohler established Kohler & Frohling Wines in San Francisco in 1854, recognized as California’s first commercial winery. This heritage continues today through Kohler’s descendant, Bert Sandman, who operates Treasure Island Wines in San Francisco.
Frohling passed away in 1862.
Los Angeles
On May 4, 1857, Frohling was elected to serve on the Los Angeles Common Council, remaining in office until May 10, 1858.
Founding Anaheim
Inspired by the grape cultivation around Los Angeles, John Frohling joined forces with Charles Kohler and a German musician named Beutler in 1853 to enter the wine trade despite lacking prior vineyard experience.
The enterprise, known as Kohler & Frohling, founded by John and Charles, grew into one of the most prominent wineries in the Western United States. As their San Francisco business flourished, they recognized the necessity for expanded grape supplies beyond what Los Angeles could provide. They observed that undeveloped areas of Los Angeles County offered affordable opportunities for vineyard cultivation. The challenge lay in recruiting laborers willing to undertake this work; they found their solution within San Francisco’s German community, which both Kohler and Frohling were familiar with. By 1857, this community had grown significantly due to the Gold Rush.
Consequently, Anaheim was established in 1857 when fifty German-American families from San Francisco each invested $750 into the Los Angeles Vineyard Society, an organization created by Frohling and Kohler. They engaged George Hansen, assistant surveyor of Los Angeles County, to acquire land and design the layout for this new viticultural settlement.
The Los Angeles Vineyard Company achieved national prominence as the first wine brand on the West Coast to ship products eastward as early as 1860. In 1862, a member of a New York Farmer’s Club commented: “I think the samples shown today prove that America is capable of producing its own wine, and that we are really independent of the wine countries of Europe."