Abel Stearns | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Born | February 9, 1798 (1798-02-09) |
| Died | August 23, 1871 (1871-08-24) (aged 73) San Francisco,California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American / Mexican |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur,Rancher |
| Known for | Early California pioneer |
| Spouse | Arcadia Bandini |
Abel Stearns (February 9, 1798 – August 23, 1871) was an American trader who came to thePueblo de Los Angeles,Alta California in 1829 and became a major landowner and cattle rancher and one of the area's wealthiest citizens.
Stearns was born inLunenburg, Massachusetts, the son of Elizabeth (née Goodrich) and Levi Stearns, a farmer. His parents were both from families that came from England in the 1600s.[1] In about 1826 he went toMexico, where he became a naturalized citizen.[2]
In 1829, Stearns emigrated toMonterey, California, and then settled in the Pueblo de los Ángeles in present-dayLos Angeles, California. He obtained a government concession to build a warehouse atSan Pedro, the nearest seaport. Later, he established astagecoach route connectingSan Pedro Bay with the Los Angeles pueblo. In 1831, he built a three-storyflour mill on North Spring Street, Los Angeles. Soon, Stearns became one of the most prominent and influential citizens of the pueblo.[3]
In 1842 Stearns bought his firstrancho, the 28,000-acre (110 km2)Rancho Los Alamitos between Los Angeles and the harbor. A drought occurred between 1862 and 1864 which was said to have resulted in the death of 50,000 cattle on Stearns land alone. Stearns mortgaged the rancho to Michael Reese, who then purchased it at a sheriff's sale. Reese's estate was then sold toJohn W. Bixby andIsaias W. Hellman, a founder of the Farmers and Merchants Bank.
In 1842 Stearns made the first recorded shipment of California gold to theU.S. Mint. On July 8, 1843, his package of 1,843 ounces ofplacer gold, valued at $19 an ounce, was deposited in thePhiladelphia Mint byAlfred Robinson.[4]
Following theMexican-American War, Stearns represented Los Angeles to theUS military government of California, 1848–1850. He was a delegate to the1849 California Constitutional Convention,[5] representing the district of Los Angeles. Later he wasCalifornia State Assemblyman, and aLos Angeles County Supervisor[6] and a member of theLos Angeles Common Council, the legislative branch of the city government.
_(14773965104).jpg)
By 1860, Stearns was the most important land owner in Southern California, and ownedRancho La Habra,Rancho Los Coyotes,Rancho San Juan Cajón de Santa Ana,Rancho Las Bolsas,Rancho La Bolsa Chica,Rancho Jurupa andRancho La Sierra (Sepulveda). He was hit hard by the drought of 1863–64, which caused the loss of thousands of cattle. By 1868 he had suffered such financial reverses that he mortgaged all his ranch assets in what were then Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.
To obtain the necessary operating capital, he formed a real estate sales partnership withAlfred Robinson and four San Francisco investors;Samuel Brannan, E. F. Northam, Charles B. Polhemus, and Edward Martin. It became known as the Robinson Trust in 1868. He turned over 177,796 acres (720 km2) to the Trust, including all but one of his ranchos.
The era of the large cattle ranchos was waning. In its place came agriculture, as ranchos were broken up and generally sold in 40-acre (160,000 m2) farms and ranches. The Robinson Trust acted as sales agents for the subdivisions. To gain maximum coverage for their campaign, they linked themselves to theCalifornia Immigrant Union and helped guide that organization's sales pitches.
Despite considerable friction between Stearns and the other members of the trust, the Robinson Trust succeeded. By 1870 Stearns had escaped the debts incurred by the drought of the 1860s and was on his way to accumulating another fortune.
Stearns was nicknamed "Cara de Caballo" (Horse Face),[7] because of his long-jawed countenance. In 1841, he marriedArcadia Bandini of the wealthyBandini family. They lived and entertained at their Los Angeles home, the historicDon Abel Stearns House.
Stearns died on August 23, 1871, at age 72 in the Grand Hotel,San Francisco, California. He was interred atCalvary Cemetery, Los Angeles.[8][9]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
