Ozro W. Childs
Ozro Childs | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1824 Sutton, Vermont, U.S. |
| Died | 1890 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, horticulturist, banker |
| Known for | Founder of University of Southern California; co-founder of Farmers and Merchants Bank; Los Angeles horticulturist |
Ozro Childs (1824–1890) was a 19th-century Los Angeles figure known as a Protestant horticulturist, businessman, and banker. He played a key role as one of the founders of the University of Southern California.
Early years
Childs was born in Sutton, Vermont, where he also received his initial schooling. His family background included a farming father and a grandfather who served as a local minister. Following the common migration trend of Vermonters, he moved westward, initially settling in Ohio. There, he worked as a teacher and acquired skills in tinsmithing.
Northern California
After the California Gold Rush, Childs made his way to California by traveling through New Orleans and Nicaragua, facing significant challenges while crossing Central America due to ship delays. He reached San Francisco in August 1850 and proceeded to the mining regions. However, the damp climate of Northern California aggravated his asthma condition, which later affected his health severely. Subsequently, he relocated southward to San Pedro Bay.
Southern California
Together with his partner Hicks, Childs journeyed on foot from San Pedro to the modest Pueblo de Los Angeles, where they launched a tinsmith and hardware business, initially acquiring stock on credit. After several years, Childs purchased Hicks’s share and left the trade with earnings of $40,000. He then obtained a contract to extend the Zanja Madre water canal system, for which he was compensated with land located in present-day Downtown Los Angeles—bounded by Sixth to Ninth Streets and Main to Figueroa Street.
This property became the foundation of his financial success. Childs constructed an impressive home at the corner of 10th and Main Streets and cultivated extensive gardens, earning recognition as Los Angeles’s foremost horticulturist with a well-known plant nursery.
In July 1896, Childs was involved in a public dispute concerning stock transactions with W.L. Hastings outside the Hollenbeck Hotel, an encounter that resulted in injuries for both parties.
Farmers and Merchants Bank
Childs focused much of his investment on real estate and commercial enterprises, frequently collaborating with Isaias W. Hellman. Their flagship venture was the establishment of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Los Angeles, which attracted several prominent local investors. The bank’s prudent lending policies allowed it to withstand numerous economic crises. It was eventually purchased by Security Pacific in 1956 and later merged into what is now Bank of America.
Grand Opera House
In 1884, Childs inaugurated the Grand Opera House located in downtown Los Angeles. With seating for 1,311 patrons, it stood as the largest theater venue in the city during that era.
University of Southern California
A major philanthropic contributor, Childs donated significant acreage for the creation of the University of Southern California in 1879. USC commenced operations in 1880 and continues to be a leading institution of higher education.
He passed away in 1890 at his residence in Los Angeles, leaving behind six children and a widow who survived him by more than four decades.
Los Angeles Common Council
Childs held a brief term on the Los Angeles Common Council, having been elected on December 6, 1869, but resigning shortly thereafter on January 13, 1870.