George Henry Hewes was born in Charlottetown, P.E.I. on October 17, 1853 to Charles Hughes and Maria Bevan, one of six children. When George was 4, the family entered the United States at Boston and settled in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Charles Hughes died in the early 1860s, and George may have returned to Charlottetown with his mother.
In 1864, George was living with his older brother Charles in South Boston. About 1869, the family changed the spelling of the name from "Hughes" to "Hewes." George became a carriage maker when he was about 20. He married Nancy French on July 17, 1879 in Boston. George and Nancy's first child was born in 1880. On October 14th of that year, George became an American citizen.
In about 1882, the family moved to Le Mars, Iowa. Three more children were born there, but a tornado that damaged their house in 1885 influenced them to move to Los Angeles in November 1889. The Hewes family settled south of downtown Los Angeles and George found work as a carriage maker. He also began working as a minister. It's believed he was never ordained by any religion. On evenings and weekends, he helped the down and out residents living around him, which included all races and religions. Within a few years, he started a settlement house called "The Church of the Neighborhood." His interests were in providing a free kindergarten for young children, and having counseling and activities for young men, particularly those who drank heavily.
George also got involved in socialist politics. In 1898, he spoke at a "mass meeting" of religious and socialist leaders throughout the city. He said, "Competition must give place to cooperation. Socialism gives every man a right to live and work. If we do not change conditions there will come a revolution. People must have something to do...." In 1902, he put himself forward as candidate for president of the County Council of Labor. He was unsuccessful. Then in November of that year, he ran for the U.S. Congress seat in Los Angeles County as a Socialist candidate. He won 4.2% of the vote, a total of 1,261 votes.
By 1904, George accepted an offer from the Episcopil Church to take over his settlement house. The following year, he moved the family to Berkeley, where his son, Charles, attended college. The family continued to live there after Charles graduated. In 1916, George's wife Nancy died, and he returned to Los Angeles to live with his oldest daughter Eleanor. All during this time, George continued working, transitioning from being a "carriage maker" to a "car body builder."
In 1920, he developed respiratory problems and sought a way to get fresh air. So he bought a small lot in the town of Tujunga and built a house on a street which became named for him: George Street (renamed Wyngate Street when Tujunga became part of Los Angeles in 1932). He lived there for just two years before he died on September 18, 1923 at age 69. His cause of death was described as "myocarditis," which was an inflammation of the heart.
In 1864, George was living with his older brother Charles in South Boston. About 1869, the family changed the spelling of the name from "Hughes" to "Hewes." George became a carriage maker when he was about 20. He married Nancy French on July 17, 1879 in Boston. George and Nancy's first child was born in 1880. On October 14th of that year, George became an American citizen.
In about 1882, the family moved to Le Mars, Iowa. Three more children were born there, but a tornado that damaged their house in 1885 influenced them to move to Los Angeles in November 1889. The Hewes family settled south of downtown Los Angeles and George found work as a carriage maker. He also began working as a minister. It's believed he was never ordained by any religion. On evenings and weekends, he helped the down and out residents living around him, which included all races and religions. Within a few years, he started a settlement house called "The Church of the Neighborhood." His interests were in providing a free kindergarten for young children, and having counseling and activities for young men, particularly those who drank heavily.
George also got involved in socialist politics. In 1898, he spoke at a "mass meeting" of religious and socialist leaders throughout the city. He said, "Competition must give place to cooperation. Socialism gives every man a right to live and work. If we do not change conditions there will come a revolution. People must have something to do...." In 1902, he put himself forward as candidate for president of the County Council of Labor. He was unsuccessful. Then in November of that year, he ran for the U.S. Congress seat in Los Angeles County as a Socialist candidate. He won 4.2% of the vote, a total of 1,261 votes.
By 1904, George accepted an offer from the Episcopil Church to take over his settlement house. The following year, he moved the family to Berkeley, where his son, Charles, attended college. The family continued to live there after Charles graduated. In 1916, George's wife Nancy died, and he returned to Los Angeles to live with his oldest daughter Eleanor. All during this time, George continued working, transitioning from being a "carriage maker" to a "car body builder."
In 1920, he developed respiratory problems and sought a way to get fresh air. So he bought a small lot in the town of Tujunga and built a house on a street which became named for him: George Street (renamed Wyngate Street when Tujunga became part of Los Angeles in 1932). He lived there for just two years before he died on September 18, 1923 at age 69. His cause of death was described as "myocarditis," which was an inflammation of the heart.
George Henry Hewes was born in Charlottetown, P.E.I. on October 17, 1853 to Charles Hughes and Maria Bevan, one of six children. When George was 4, the family entered the United States at Boston and settled in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Charles Hughes died in the early 1860s, and George may have returned to Charlottetown with his mother.
In 1864, George was living with his older brother Charles in South Boston. About 1869, the family changed the spelling of the name from "Hughes" to "Hewes." George became a carriage maker when he was about 20. He married Nancy French on July 17, 1879 in Boston. George and Nancy's first child was born in 1880. On October 14th of that year, George became an American citizen.
In about 1882, the family moved to Le Mars, Iowa. Three more children were born there, but a tornado that damaged their house in 1885 influenced them to move to Los Angeles in November 1889. The Hewes family settled south of downtown Los Angeles and George found work as a carriage maker. He also began working as a minister. It's believed he was never ordained by any religion. On evenings and weekends, he helped the down and out residents living around him, which included all races and religions. Within a few years, he started a settlement house called "The Church of the Neighborhood." His interests were in providing a free kindergarten for young children, and having counseling and activities for young men, particularly those who drank heavily.
George also got involved in socialist politics. In 1898, he spoke at a "mass meeting" of religious and socialist leaders throughout the city. He said, "Competition must give place to cooperation. Socialism gives every man a right to live and work. If we do not change conditions there will come a revolution. People must have something to do...." In 1902, he put himself forward as candidate for president of the County Council of Labor. He was unsuccessful. Then in November of that year, he ran for the U.S. Congress seat in Los Angeles County as a Socialist candidate. He won 4.2% of the vote, a total of 1,261 votes.
By 1904, George accepted an offer from the Episcopil Church to take over his settlement house. The following year, he moved the family to Berkeley, where his son, Charles, attended college. The family continued to live there after Charles graduated. In 1916, George's wife Nancy died, and he returned to Los Angeles to live with his oldest daughter Eleanor. All during this time, George continued working, transitioning from being a "carriage maker" to a "car body builder."
In 1920, he developed respiratory problems and sought a way to get fresh air. So he bought a small lot in the town of Tujunga and built a house on a street which became named for him: George Street (renamed Wyngate Street when Tujunga became part of Los Angeles in 1932). He lived there for just two years before he died on September 18, 1923 at age 69. His cause of death was described as "myocarditis," which was an inflammation of the heart.
In 1864, George was living with his older brother Charles in South Boston. About 1869, the family changed the spelling of the name from "Hughes" to "Hewes." George became a carriage maker when he was about 20. He married Nancy French on July 17, 1879 in Boston. George and Nancy's first child was born in 1880. On October 14th of that year, George became an American citizen.
In about 1882, the family moved to Le Mars, Iowa. Three more children were born there, but a tornado that damaged their house in 1885 influenced them to move to Los Angeles in November 1889. The Hewes family settled south of downtown Los Angeles and George found work as a carriage maker. He also began working as a minister. It's believed he was never ordained by any religion. On evenings and weekends, he helped the down and out residents living around him, which included all races and religions. Within a few years, he started a settlement house called "The Church of the Neighborhood." His interests were in providing a free kindergarten for young children, and having counseling and activities for young men, particularly those who drank heavily.
George also got involved in socialist politics. In 1898, he spoke at a "mass meeting" of religious and socialist leaders throughout the city. He said, "Competition must give place to cooperation. Socialism gives every man a right to live and work. If we do not change conditions there will come a revolution. People must have something to do...." In 1902, he put himself forward as candidate for president of the County Council of Labor. He was unsuccessful. Then in November of that year, he ran for the U.S. Congress seat in Los Angeles County as a Socialist candidate. He won 4.2% of the vote, a total of 1,261 votes.
By 1904, George accepted an offer from the Episcopil Church to take over his settlement house. The following year, he moved the family to Berkeley, where his son, Charles, attended college. The family continued to live there after Charles graduated. In 1916, George's wife Nancy died, and he returned to Los Angeles to live with his oldest daughter Eleanor. All during this time, George continued working, transitioning from being a "carriage maker" to a "car body builder."
In 1920, he developed respiratory problems and sought a way to get fresh air. So he bought a small lot in the town of Tujunga and built a house on a street which became named for him: George Street (renamed Wyngate Street when Tujunga became part of Los Angeles in 1932). He lived there for just two years before he died on September 18, 1923 at age 69. His cause of death was described as "myocarditis," which was an inflammation of the heart.
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