David W. Alexander
Encyclopedia
David W. Alexander was an early California politician and pioneer to Los Angeles. He served on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in 1853 and 1854. In 1855 he was elected the third sheriff to serve the county.
and came to the United States with a brother in 1832. He resided in Philadelphia three or four years, and from there he went to Rocheport, Missouri
. He operated a trading company to Santa Fe, New Mexico
in 1837. In 1841 Alexander left for California
, with the Rowland-Workman Party
. Alexander lived for some time on Rancho El Rincon
, in San Bernardino County, California
. He then went to the port of San Pedro and carried on a trading business from 1844 till 1849. In 1846 he favored the Americans and with a number of the latter he was made a prisoner by the Californios. He then formed Alexander and Mellus Company, a mercantile business in Los Angeles, with Francis Mellus
(1824 - 1863). During this time he also formed a partnership with Phineas Banning
at San Pedro, until 1855, when he sold his interest.
Alexander became involved in southern California real estate. In 1851, de la Osa sold Rancho Providencia
to Alexander and Mellus Company. In 1867, Alexander sold Rancho Providencia to David Burbank. The Rancho Tujunga
, Rancho Cahuenga
and Rancho Providencia were patented to Alexander by the United States courts in 1872.
Alexander was elected Sheriff of Los Angeles county for the terms of 1855–1856 and 1876–1877. He was elected a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
in 1853 and 1854.
Alexander married Adelaida Mellus, widow of his partner, Francis Mellus, in 1864. David's brother, George C. Alexander, and Phineas Banning
operated Alexander & Banning as a successful freight and stage line.
Biography
David W. Alexander was born in IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and came to the United States with a brother in 1832. He resided in Philadelphia three or four years, and from there he went to Rocheport, Missouri
Rocheport, Missouri
Rocheport is a city in Boone County, Missouri, United States. It is part of the Columbia, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 208 at the 2000 census...
. He operated a trading company to Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
in 1837. In 1841 Alexander left for California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, with the Rowland-Workman Party
Workman-Temple family
The Workman-Temple family relates to the pioneer interconnected Workman and Temple families that were prominent in: the history of colonial Pueblo de Los Angeles and American Los Angeles; the Los Angeles Basin and San Gabriel Valley regions; and Southern California — from 1830 to 1930 in Mexican...
. Alexander lived for some time on Rancho El Rincon
Rancho El Rincon (Bandini)
Rancho El Rincón was a Mexican land grant in present-day San Bernardino County and Riverside County, California given in 1839 to Juan Bandini by Governor Juan Alvarado. El rincón means "the corner" in Spanish...
, in San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
. He then went to the port of San Pedro and carried on a trading business from 1844 till 1849. In 1846 he favored the Americans and with a number of the latter he was made a prisoner by the Californios. He then formed Alexander and Mellus Company, a mercantile business in Los Angeles, with Francis Mellus
Francis Mellus
Francis Mellus , brother of Henry Mellus, was a Los Angeles County Supervisor and a successful California business man....
(1824 - 1863). During this time he also formed a partnership with Phineas Banning
Phineas Banning
Phineas Banning was an American businessman, financier, and entrepreneur.Known as "The Father of the Port of Los Angeles," he was one of the founders of the town of Wilmington, which was named for his birthplace...
at San Pedro, until 1855, when he sold his interest.
Alexander became involved in southern California real estate. In 1851, de la Osa sold Rancho Providencia
Rancho Providencia
Rancho La Providencia was a Mexican land grant in present day Los Angeles County, California given by governor Juan B. Alvarado in 1843 to Vincente de la Osa. The majority of Rancho Providencia land north of the modern channel of the Los Angeles River is now part of Burbank. The street grid...
to Alexander and Mellus Company. In 1867, Alexander sold Rancho Providencia to David Burbank. The 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...
, Rancho Cahuenga
Rancho Cahuenga
Rancho Cahuenga was a Mexican land grant in the San Fernando Valley, in present day Los Angeles County, California given in 1843 by governor Manuel Micheltorena to José Miguel Triunfo. Rancho Cahuenga is now a part of the city of Burbank, with the Los Angeles River channel running through it...
and Rancho Providencia were patented to Alexander by the United States courts in 1872.
Alexander was elected Sheriff of Los Angeles county for the terms of 1855–1856 and 1876–1877. He was elected a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
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...
in 1853 and 1854.
Alexander married Adelaida Mellus, widow of his partner, Francis Mellus, in 1864. David's brother, George C. Alexander, and Phineas Banning
Phineas Banning
Phineas Banning was an American businessman, financier, and entrepreneur.Known as "The Father of the Port of Los Angeles," he was one of the founders of the town of Wilmington, which was named for his birthplace...
operated Alexander & Banning as a successful freight and stage line.