Andrew Glassell
Encyclopedia
Andrew Glassell was a Los Angeles
real estate attorney
and investor. He may be best known as one of the founders of the city of Orange, California
.
, the son of Andrew Glassell (1793–1873) and Susanna Thorton (1804–1836). In 1834 his family moved to Greensboro, Alabama
, where his father engaged in cotton planting. Andrew was educated in the University of Alabama
, from which he graduated in 1848. After graduating he studied law. He came to San Francisco in 1853 and established a law practice. His appointment as the United States
attorney at Sacramento, California
soon followed. During the Civil War
his sympathies were with the South, and he refused to take the loyalty oath
to the United States
required of lawyer
s. He left his public office and quit the practice of law and operated a lumber mill near Santa Cruz
.
in 1865. He formed a partnership with Alfred Chapman
and Colonel George H. Smith
, the firm becoming known as Glassell, Chapman & Smith. Their law practice was confined chiefly to real estate transactions and they made their fortunes by being retailed in the large partition suits. When Glassell first came to California, he had worked with the federal land commission that reviewed all the old Mexican Rancho grants and so he was very well versed in title land law. Chapman was the businessman of the firm. They would take their compensation in land, and nearly every final decree in partition would find that Glassell and Chapman had quite an area of land in severalty. Glassell was involved in the legal suit known as The Great Partition of 1871 brought against the Rancho San Rafael
property in the eastern San Fernando Valley
and Verdugo Mountains
. The section he and Chapman were awarded later became the community of Glassell Park, Los Angeles. In 1875 Andrew Glassell purchased Rancho Tujunga
, the adjacent northern rancho in the Valley, from Agustin Olvera
.
Andrew Glassell was one of the incorporators of and attorney for the Farmers and Merchants' Bank. He was the first president of the Los Angeles County bar association in 1878 - 1880. He incorporated the 'Los Angeles and San Pedro Railroad,' and was prominent in its management until it was absorbed by the Southern Pacific Railroad
. When this transfer was made he became chief counsel of the S.P. railroad company in Southern California
, and remained in that capacity until he retired in 1883.
family of the Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana
, and when after a drought
, the final settlement was reached there was not enough cash to satisfy attorney fees. Reluctantly a few thousand acres of land were taken in payment, and Chapman and Glassell came into possession of the land on which the City of Orange, California
was built.
In 1872, the Richland
(later Orange) subdivision was placed on the market by Andrew Glassell. Glassell and Chapman employed the former's younger brother, Captain William T. Glassell
to plot the town site. Captain Glassell surveyed a section of land for his brother and Chapman in 1871. He divided the tract into 60 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) lots surrounding a 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) town site, which he called Richland, and served as sales agent for the property. In 1873, when a post office
was sought for the village it was discovered that there was a town in Sacramento County by the name of Richland. As an alternative, Orange was chosen in honor of Andrew Glassell's home county.
came to live with him in Los Angeles.
In 1857, Andrew Glassell married Lucy Toland ( - 1879), daughter of H. H. Toland, a pioneer physician
of San Francisco. Several children were born to this union. After her death, he married Mrs. Virginia Micou Ring (1836–1895) of New Orleans in 1885. Glassell died at his home in Los Angeles
and is interred at Angelus Rosedale Cemetery in Los Angeles.
in Los Angeles and Glassell Street in Orange County are named for him.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
real estate attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and investor. He may be best known as one of the founders of the city of Orange, California
Orange, California
Southern California is well-known for year-round pleasant weather: - On average, the warmest month is August. - The highest recorded temperature was in 1985. - On average, the coolest month is December. - The lowest recorded temperature was in 1950...
.
Early life and career
Andrew Glassell was born in Orange County, VirginiaOrange County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,881 people, 10,150 households, and 7,470 families residing in the county. The population density was 76 people per square mile . There were 11,354 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
, the son of Andrew Glassell (1793–1873) and Susanna Thorton (1804–1836). In 1834 his family moved to Greensboro, Alabama
Greensboro, Alabama
Greensboro is a city in Hale County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,731. The city is the county seat of Hale County. It is part of the Tuscaloosa, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, where his father engaged in cotton planting. Andrew was educated in the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
, from which he graduated in 1848. After graduating he studied law. He came to San Francisco in 1853 and established a law practice. His appointment as the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney at Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
soon followed. During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
his sympathies were with the South, and he refused to take the loyalty oath
Loyalty oath
A loyalty oath is an oath of loyalty to an organization, institution, or state of which an individual is a member.In this context, a loyalty oath is distinct from pledge or oath of allegiance...
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
required of lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
s. He left his public office and quit the practice of law and operated a lumber mill near Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
.
Los Angeles legal practice
After the war Glassell came to Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1865. He formed a partnership with Alfred Chapman
Alfred Chapman
Alfred Beck Chapman was a Los Angeles real estate attorney and investor. He may be best known as one of the founders of the city of Orange, California.-Life:Chapman was born on September 6, 1829, in Greensboro, Alabama...
and Colonel George H. Smith
George Hugh Smith
George H. Smith was a Confederate Civil War veteran and prominent Los Angeles lawyer and judge.-Early life and career:...
, the firm becoming known as Glassell, Chapman & Smith. Their law practice was confined chiefly to real estate transactions and they made their fortunes by being retailed in the large partition suits. When Glassell first came to California, he had worked with the federal land commission that reviewed all the old Mexican Rancho grants and so he was very well versed in title land law. Chapman was the businessman of the firm. They would take their compensation in land, and nearly every final decree in partition would find that Glassell and Chapman had quite an area of land in severalty. Glassell was involved in the legal suit known as The Great Partition of 1871 brought against the Rancho San Rafael
Rancho San Rafael
Rancho San Rafael was a Spanish land grant bordering the Los Angeles River and the Arroyo Seco in present day Los Angeles County, California, given in 1784 to Jose Maria Verdugo. The rancho includes the present day cities of Glendale, Eagle Rock, La Cañada, Montrose, and Verdugo City...
property in the eastern San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
and Verdugo Mountains
Verdugo Mountains
The Verdugo Mountains are a small, rugged mountain range of the Transverse Ranges system, located just south of the western San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County, Southern California...
. The section he and Chapman were awarded later became the community of Glassell Park, Los Angeles. In 1875 Andrew Glassell purchased Rancho Tujunga
Rancho Tujunga
Rancho Tujunga was a Mexican land grant in present day Los Angeles County, California given in 1840 by Mexican governor Juan Alvarado to Francisco Lopez and Pedro Lopez. The rancho lands included the present day Los Angeles communities of Lake View Terrace, Sunland, Tujunga.-History:The Mexican...
, the adjacent northern rancho in the Valley, from Agustin Olvera
Agustin Olvera
Agustin Olvera was a pioneer of Los Angeles, California and was active in the turbulent political affairs of the time.-Biography:...
.
Andrew Glassell was one of the incorporators of and attorney for the Farmers and Merchants' Bank. He was the first president of the Los Angeles County bar association in 1878 - 1880. He incorporated the 'Los Angeles and San Pedro Railroad,' and was prominent in its management until it was absorbed by the Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
. When this transfer was made he became chief counsel of the S.P. railroad company in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, and remained in that capacity until he retired in 1883.
Orange, California
Glassell, Chapman & Smith looked after the interests of the YorbaJosé Antonio Yorba
José Antonio Yorba , also known as Don José Antonio Yorba I, was a Spanish soldier and early settler of Spanish California.-Spanish Soldier:...
family of the Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana
Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana
Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana was a Spanish land concession in present day Orange County, California given by Governor José Joaquín de Arrillaga in 1810 to Jose Antonio Yorba and his nephew Pablo Peralta...
, and when after a drought
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
, the final settlement was reached there was not enough cash to satisfy attorney fees. Reluctantly a few thousand acres of land were taken in payment, and Chapman and Glassell came into possession of the land on which the City of Orange, California
Orange, California
Southern California is well-known for year-round pleasant weather: - On average, the warmest month is August. - The highest recorded temperature was in 1985. - On average, the coolest month is December. - The lowest recorded temperature was in 1950...
was built.
In 1872, the Richland
Richland
Richland may refer to:in the United States*Richland, California*Richland, Georgia*Richland, Florida - Rural community northeast of Zephyrhills, Florida*Richland, Illinois - Abraham Lincoln elected captain of militia*Richland, Indiana...
(later Orange) subdivision was placed on the market by Andrew Glassell. Glassell and Chapman employed the former's younger brother, Captain William T. Glassell
William T. Glassell
William Thornton Glassell was an officer in the Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War. He was one of the world's first combat submariners...
to plot the town site. Captain Glassell surveyed a section of land for his brother and Chapman in 1871. He divided the tract into 60 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) lots surrounding a 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) town site, which he called Richland, and served as sales agent for the property. In 1873, when a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
was sought for the village it was discovered that there was a town in Sacramento County by the name of Richland. As an alternative, Orange was chosen in honor of Andrew Glassell's home county.
Family life
Andrew Glassell's widowed sister Susan Thornton GlassellSusan Thornton Glassell
Susan Thornton Glassell was the wife of George Smith Patton and George H. Smith, and the sister of Andrew Glassell.-Early life:...
came to live with him in Los Angeles.
In 1857, Andrew Glassell married Lucy Toland ( - 1879), daughter of H. H. Toland, a pioneer physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
of San Francisco. Several children were born to this union. After her death, he married Mrs. Virginia Micou Ring (1836–1895) of New Orleans in 1885. Glassell died at his home in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and is interred at Angelus Rosedale Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Legacy
The Glassell Park neighborhoodGlassell Park, Los Angeles, California
Glassell Park is a neighborhood in northeast Los Angeles, California.-Geography:Glassell Park borders Atwater Village and the Los Angeles River on the west, the city of Glendale on the northwest, Eagle Rock on the northeast, Mount Washington on the southeast and Cypress Park on the south...
in Los Angeles and Glassell Street in Orange County are named for him.