Abel Stearns
Encyclopedia
Abel Stearns was a trader who came to Los Angeles, Alta California
in 1829 and became a major landowner, cattle rancher and one of the area's wealthiest citizens.
, Massachusetts
, Abel Stearns went to Colonial Mexico in about 1826, where he became a naturalized citizen.
, then settled in Pueblo de Los Angeles
, present day Los Angeles
. He obtained a concession to build a warehouse in San Pedro
. Later, he established a stagecoach
route connecting San Pedro Bay
with the Los Angeles pueblo. In 1831, he built a three-story flour mill on North Spring Street, Los Angeles. Soon Stearns became one of the most prominent and influential Californio
citizens of the pueblo.
Abel Stearns represented Los Angeles under American military rule, 1848-1850. He was a delegate to the 1849 California Constitutional Convention , representing the district of Los Angeles; later he was California State Assembly
man, and a Los Angeles County Supervisor
and Los Angeles City Council
man.
In 1842 Stearns bought the 28000 acres (113.3 km²) Rancho Los Alamitos
between the Los Angeles and the harbor. However, there was a drought 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 and Reese's estate then sold it to John W. Bixby.
In 1842 Stearns made the first shipment to the U.S. Mint
of California gold on record. On July 8, 1843, his package of 18.75 ounces of placer gold was deposited in the Philadelphia Mint
by Alfred Robinson.
, Rancho Los Coyotes
, Rancho San Juan Cajón de Santa Ana
, Rancho Las Bolsas
, Rancho La Bolsa Chica
, Rancho Jurupa
and Rancho La Sierra (Sepulveda)
. Stearns was hit hard by the drought of 1863-64, causing the loss of thousands of cattle. By 1868 Stearns had suffered such financial reverses that he mortgaged all his ranch assets in what were then Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.
and four San Francisco investors; Samuel Brannan
, E. F. Northam, Charles B. Polhemus, and Edward Martin; that became known as the Robinson Trust in 1868. He turned over 177796 acres (720 km²) to the Trust, including all but one of his ranchos.
The era of the large cattle rancho
s was on the way out. In its place came agriculture, as ranchos were broken up and generally sold in 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) farms and ranches. The Robinson Trust acted as sales agents for the subdivisions. In order to gain maximum coverage for their campaign, they linked themselves to the California 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 nevertheless succeeded. By 1870 Stearns was out from under the debts incurred by the drought of the 1860s and was on his way to accumulating yet another fortune. But, before he could realize that fortune, Abel Stearns died.
of the wealthy Bandini family
. Stearns died on August 23, 1871 at age 82 in the Grand Hotel, San Francisco, California
, and is interred at Calvary Cemetery, Los Angeles
.
Alta California
Alta California was a province and territory in the Viceroyalty of New Spain and later a territory and department in independent Mexico. The territory was created in 1769 out of the northern part of the former province of Las Californias, and consisted of the modern American states of California,...
in 1829 and became a major landowner, cattle rancher and one of the area's wealthiest citizens.
Early life
Born in LunenburgLunenburg (CDP), Massachusetts
Lunenburg is a census-designated place in the town of Lunenburg in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,760 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Lunenburg is located at ....
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, Abel Stearns went to Colonial Mexico in about 1826, where he became a naturalized citizen.
Los Angeles
In 1829 Abel Stearns came to Monterey, CaliforniaMonterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
, then settled in Pueblo de Los Angeles
Pueblo de Los Angeles
El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles was the Spanish civilian pueblo founded in 1781, which by the 20th century became the American metropolis of Los Angeles....
, present day Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. He obtained a concession to build a warehouse in San Pedro
San Pedro, Los Angeles, California
San Pedro is a port district of the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. It was annexed in 1909 and is a major seaport of the area...
. Later, he established a stagecoach
Stagecoach
A stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...
route connecting San Pedro Bay
San Pedro Bay (California)
San Pedro Bay is an inlet on the Pacific Ocean coast of southern California, United States. It is the site of the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach, which together form the fifth-busiest port facility in the world and easily the busiest in the Western Hemisphere...
with the Los Angeles pueblo. In 1831, he built a three-story flour mill on North Spring Street, Los Angeles. Soon Stearns became one of the most prominent and influential Californio
Californio
Californio is a term used to identify a Spanish-speaking Catholic people, regardless of race, born in California before 1848...
citizens of the pueblo.
Abel Stearns represented Los Angeles under American military rule, 1848-1850. He was a delegate to the 1849 California Constitutional Convention , representing the district of Los Angeles; later he was California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
man, and a Los Angeles County Supervisor
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is the five-member nonpartisan governing board of Los Angeles County, California. Members of the board of supervisors are elected by district. They were as of December 2, 2008:*District 1: Gloria Molina...
and Los Angeles City Council
Los Angeles City Council
The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles.The Council is composed of fifteen members elected from single-member districts for four-year terms. The president of the council and the president pro tempore are chosen by the Council at the first regular meeting after...
man.
In 1842 Stearns bought the 28000 acres (113.3 km²) Rancho Los Alamitos
Rancho Los Alamitos
Rancho Los Alamitos takes its name from a Mexican land grant in southwestern Los Angeles County and northwestern Orange County, California. Los Alamitos means the Little Cottonwoods or Poplars in Spanish, after the native Fremont Cottonwood trees there.Rancho Los Alamitos originally included...
between the Los Angeles and the harbor. However, there was a drought 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 and Reese's estate then sold it to John W. Bixby.
In 1842 Stearns made the first shipment to the U.S. Mint
United States Mint
The United States Mint primarily produces circulating coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint was created by Congress with the Coinage Act of 1792, and placed within the Department of State...
of California gold on record. On July 8, 1843, his package of 18.75 ounces of placer gold was deposited in the Philadelphia Mint
Philadelphia Mint
The Philadelphia Mint was created from the need to establish a national identity and the needs of commerce in the United States. This led the Founding Fathers of the United States to make an establishment of a continental national mint a main priority after the ratification of the Constitution of...
by Alfred Robinson.
Ranchos
By 1860, Abel Stearns was the most important land owner in Southern California, and owned Rancho La HabraRancho La Habra
Rancho La Habra was a Mexican land grant in present day Los Angeles County and Orange County, California given in 1839 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Mariano Reyes Roldan...
, Rancho Los Coyotes
Rancho Los Coyotes
Rancho Los Coyotes was a 1834 Mexican land grant resulting from the partition of the Rancho Los Nietos grant, in present day southeastern Los Angeles County and northwestern Orange County, California...
, Rancho San Juan Cajón de Santa Ana
Rancho San Juan Cajón de Santa Ana
Rancho San Juan Cajón de Santa Ana was a Mexican land grant in present day Orange County, California grant given in 1837 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Juan Pacífico Ontiveros...
, Rancho Las Bolsas
Rancho Las Bolsas
Rancho Las Bolsas was a 1834 Mexican land grant resulting from the partition of Rancho Los Nietos, located from the coast on inland within present day northwestern Orange County, California. The Spanish name "las bolsas" means "the pockets", and refers to pockets of land amongst the marsh ...
, Rancho La Bolsa Chica
Rancho La Bolsa Chica
Rancho La Bolsa Chica was an Mexican land grant in present day coastal northwestern Orange County, California given in 1841 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Joaquín Ruiz. The name means "little pocket", and refers to pockets of land amongst the marsh wetlands of the Santa Ana River estuary...
, Rancho Jurupa
Rancho Jurupa
Rancho Jurupa was a Mexican land grant in California, United States, that is divided by the present-day counties of Riverside and San Bernardino. The land was granted to Juan Bandini by Governor Juan B. Alvarado in 1838...
and Rancho La Sierra (Sepulveda)
Rancho La Sierra (Sepulveda)
Rancho La Sierra was a Mexican land grant in present day Riverside County, California, United States. In 1846 Governor Pio Pico issued the grant to Vicenta Sepulveda...
. Stearns was hit hard by the drought of 1863-64, causing the loss of thousands of cattle. By 1868 Stearns had suffered such financial reverses that he mortgaged all his ranch assets in what were then Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.
Robinson Trust
To obtain the necessary operating capital, he formed a real estate sales partnership, with Alfred RobinsonAlfred Robinson
Alfred Robinson was an American businessman and author in 19th century Alta California of Mexico and California of the United States...
and four San Francisco investors; Samuel Brannan
Samuel Brannan
Samuel Brannan was an American settler, businessman, and journalist, who founded the "California Star" newspaper in San Francisco, California...
, E. F. Northam, Charles B. Polhemus, and Edward Martin; that became known as the Robinson Trust in 1868. He turned over 177796 acres (720 km²) to the Trust, including all but one of his ranchos.
The era of the large cattle rancho
Ranchos of California
The Spanish, and later the Méxican government encouraged settlement of territory now known as California by the establishment of large land grants called ranchos, from which the English ranch is derived. Devoted to raising cattle and sheep, the owners of the ranchos attempted to pattern themselves...
s was on the way out. In its place came agriculture, as ranchos were broken up and generally sold in 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) farms and ranches. The Robinson Trust acted as sales agents for the subdivisions. In order to gain maximum coverage for their campaign, they linked themselves to the California 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 nevertheless succeeded. By 1870 Stearns was out from under the debts incurred by the drought of the 1860s and was on his way to accumulating yet another fortune. But, before he could realize that fortune, Abel Stearns died.
Family life
Stearns was nicknamed "Cara de Caballo" (Horse Face) because of his long-jawed countenance. In 1841 Stearns married Arcadia BandiniArcadia Bandini de Stearns Baker
Arcadia Bandini de Stearns Baker was a wealthy Los Angeles landowner.-Early life in San Diego:Arcadia Bandini born 1825 in San Diego, California, the eldest of three daughters of Juan Bandini and Marie de los Dolores Estudio. Arcadia and her two sisters were considered the most beautiful women of...
of the wealthy Bandini family
Juan Bandini
Juan Bandini was an early settler of what would become San Diego, California.-Early history:Juan Bandini was born 1800 in Lima, Peru to José Bandini, a Spanish sea captain. His father came to California in 1819 and 1821 and participated in the Mexican War of Independence...
. Stearns died on August 23, 1871 at age 82 in the Grand Hotel, San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, and is interred at Calvary Cemetery, Los Angeles
Calvary Cemetery, East Los Angeles
The Calvary Cemetery is a Roman Catholic cemetery operated by the Los Angeles Archdiocese, located at 4201 Whittier Boulevard in Los Angeles, California...
.
See also
- List of pre-statehood mayors of Los Angeles, California
- History of Los Angeles
- Ranchos of CaliforniaRanchos of CaliforniaThe Spanish, and later the Méxican government encouraged settlement of territory now known as California by the establishment of large land grants called ranchos, from which the English ranch is derived. Devoted to raising cattle and sheep, the owners of the ranchos attempted to pattern themselves...