Lucky Baldwin
Encyclopedia
Elias Jackson "Lucky" Baldwin (April 3, 1828 – March 1, 1909) was a prominent California
businessman and investor of the second half of the 19th century.
and his family moved to Indiana
when he was a child. Throughout his childhood he was known as a wanderer and adventurer. From Indiana he went to Wisconsin
, where he operated a grocery store until tales of gold drew him to California
in 1852.
Baldwin arrived in San Francisco in 1853, and though he arrived with capital, he worked as a day laborer a while before deciding to open a hotel and livery stable. He made money on several ventures and in payment for a debt, he received 2,000 shares of the Ophir Mine, which was then worth a few cents a share. When the great Comstock Lode
was discovered in Nevada in 1859, the value of shares for Ophir — which operated a mine next to the Comstock — jumped to several hundred dollars per share.
Having generated most of his wealth through both savvy and lucky mining investments (for which he received his nickname), Baldwin accumulated large landholdings of 63000 acres (255 km²) in southern California
, where the communities of Arcadia
and Monrovia
are now located.
Baldwin's matrimonial ventures periodically created sensations. He was married four times, the first three marriages ending in divorce. He was sued by four women for breach of promise of marriage, one of which was awarded $75,000 in damages. Anita Baldwin, one of his accusers who was later reported to be his niece, wounded him in the Baldwin Hotel with a pistol shot in 1883. About ten years later he was shot by Vinnie Ashley who was attempting to avenge his injured sister. His fourth wife and their daughter were at his side when he died at their Arcadia ranch.
He is most famous today for his involvement in horse racing
: Baldwin founded the original Santa Anita Park
racetrack on his estate (later closed and re-opened, again on estate land), breeding and racing some of the finest racehorses of his time.
, the Baldwin Stakes
at Santa Anita, and Baldwin Avenue in the San Gabriel Valley, among a number of places. His nickname also appears as the name of three pubs in Pasadena and Sierra Madre.
racehorses
. He raced under the banner, "Santa Anita Stable". One of his best filly
runners, Los Angeles, competed at tracks on the East Coast of the United States
where she won the 1887 Tyro
and Spinaway Stakes
plus the 1888 Monmouth Oaks and Latonia Derby
. Among other successes, Baldwin's horses won the American Derby
at the now defunct Washington Park Race Track
four times: Volante (1885); Silver Cloud (1886); Emperor of Norfolk
(1888); and Rey el Santa Anita (1894).
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...
businessman and investor of the second half of the 19th century.
Biography
Baldwin was born in Butler County, OhioButler County, Ohio
Butler County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of 2010, the population was 368,130. Its county seat is Hamilton. It is named for General Richard Butler, who died in 1791 fighting Indians in northern Ohio. Butler's army marched out of Fort Hamilton, where the city of...
and his family moved to Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
when he was a child. Throughout his childhood he was known as a wanderer and adventurer. From Indiana he went to Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, where he operated a grocery store until tales of gold drew him to 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...
in 1852.
Baldwin arrived in San Francisco in 1853, and though he arrived with capital, he worked as a day laborer a while before deciding to open a hotel and livery stable. He made money on several ventures and in payment for a debt, he received 2,000 shares of the Ophir Mine, which was then worth a few cents a share. When the great Comstock Lode
Comstock Lode
The Comstock Lode was the first major U.S. discovery of silver ore, located under what is now Virginia City, Nevada, on the eastern slope of Mount Davidson, a peak in the Virginia Range. After the discovery was made public in 1859, prospectors rushed to the area and scrambled to stake their claims...
was discovered in Nevada in 1859, the value of shares for Ophir — which operated a mine next to the Comstock — jumped to several hundred dollars per share.
Having generated most of his wealth through both savvy and lucky mining investments (for which he received his nickname), Baldwin accumulated large landholdings of 63000 acres (255 km²) 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...
, where the communities of Arcadia
Arcadia, California
Arcadia is an affluent city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and located approximately northeast of downtown Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley and at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains....
and Monrovia
Monrovia, California
Monrovia is a city located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 36,590 at the 2010 census, down from 36,929 at the 2000 census...
are now located.
Baldwin's matrimonial ventures periodically created sensations. He was married four times, the first three marriages ending in divorce. He was sued by four women for breach of promise of marriage, one of which was awarded $75,000 in damages. Anita Baldwin, one of his accusers who was later reported to be his niece, wounded him in the Baldwin Hotel with a pistol shot in 1883. About ten years later he was shot by Vinnie Ashley who was attempting to avenge his injured sister. His fourth wife and their daughter were at his side when he died at their Arcadia ranch.
He is most famous today for his involvement in horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
: Baldwin founded the original Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
racetrack on his estate (later closed and re-opened, again on estate land), breeding and racing some of the finest racehorses of his time.
Legacy
His name is found today denoting the Baldwin Hills district of Los Angeles, the City of Baldwin ParkBaldwin Park, California
Baldwin Park is a city located in the central San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 75,390, down from 75,837 at the 2000 census.- History :...
, the Baldwin Stakes
Baldwin Stakes
The Baldwin Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A Grade III event for three-year-old horses, it is contested on turf at a distance of about six and one-half furlongs....
at Santa Anita, and Baldwin Avenue in the San Gabriel Valley, among a number of places. His nickname also appears as the name of three pubs in Pasadena and Sierra Madre.
Thoroughbred racing
Lucky Baldwin bred and raced a number of top ThoroughbredThoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorses
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. He raced under the banner, "Santa Anita Stable". One of his best filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
runners, Los Angeles, competed at tracks on the East Coast of the United States
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
where she won the 1887 Tyro
Tyro Stakes
The Tyro Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually near the of July at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. A non-graded stakes race offering a purse of $65,000, it is open to two-year-old horses weighted at 122 pounds with allowances...
and Spinaway Stakes
Spinaway Stakes
The Spinaway Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Open to two-year-old fillies, it is a Grade I event contested at a distance of seven furlongs on dirt...
plus the 1888 Monmouth Oaks and Latonia Derby
Latonia Derby
The Latonia Derby was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually from 1883 through 1937 at Latonia Race Track in Latonia, Kentucky. Open to three-year-old horses, for its first 52 years the Latonia Derby was contested at a mile and a half; in 1935, the race was shortened to a mile and a...
. Among other successes, Baldwin's horses won the American Derby
American Derby
The American Derby is a Thoroughbred horse race in the United States run annually at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The inaugural American Derby was held at the city's old Washington Park race track and raced there until 1905 when the facility was closed and the track demolished....
at the now defunct Washington Park Race Track
Washington Park Race Track
Washington Park Race Track was a popular horse racing venue in the Chicago metropolitan area from 1884 until 1977. It had two locations during its existence. It was first situated in what is the current location of the Washington Park Subdivision of the Woodlawn community area of Chicago in Cook...
four times: Volante (1885); Silver Cloud (1886); Emperor of Norfolk
Emperor of Norfolk
Emperor of Norfolk was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse. Because he was big with huge hindquarters and because of his stellar racing record, he was called the "California Wonder."-Going to California:...
(1888); and Rey el Santa Anita (1894).