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Contributing Institution:
Library and Archives at the Autry
Title: Jacob P. Leese Photostat Letter
Creator:
Leese, Jacob Primer
Creator:
Stearns, Abel
Identifier/Call Number: MS.689
Physical Description:
0.1 Linear Feet
(1 folder)
Date (inclusive): circa 1932
Language of Material:
English
.
This is a photostatic copy of a letter written to Abel Stearns from Jacob P. Leese, 1837 May 8.
Biographical Note - Abel Stearns
Abel Stearns (1798 February 9 – 1871 August 23) 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.
Born in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, Stearns went to Mexico in about 1826, where he became a naturalized citizen. In 1829, Abel
Stearns came to Monterey, California, then settled in Pueblo de Los Angeles. Abel Stearns represented Los Angeles under U.S.
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 Assemblyman, and a Los Angeles County Supervisor, and a member of the Los Angeles
Common Council, the legislative branch of the city government.
By 1860, Abel Stearns was the most important land owner in Southern California, and owned Rancho La Habra, 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. He became
a founding member of the Robinson Trust, formed to sell off land from the huge ranchos. By 1870, Stearns had paid off his
debts. He died in August 1871 in a hotel in San Francsico, California.
Biographical Note - Jacob Primer Leese
Jacob Primer Leese (1809 August 19 - 1892 February 1), born in St. Clairsville, Ohio became a San Francisco pioneer, building
the first permanent house in San Francisco. He married General Vallejo's sister, moved to Sonoma, and acquired extensive land
holdings.
Leese became active in the Santa Fe, New Mexico trade in 1830. Leese first came to California from New Mexico in 1833, but
did not remain, instead transporting mules between New Mexico and Southern California. He returned in July 1834, and settled
in Los Angeles and went into partnership with Hugo Reid. Two years later he formed a partnership with two established Monterey
merchants, William S. Hinckley and Nathan Spear to open a store in Yerba Buena (now known as San Francisco). In 1836, he was
the second permanent settler on the peninsula.
In 1837 Leese married María Rosalia Vallejo, sister of General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. In 1841, he sold his business in
San Francisco and moved to Sonoma. Here, he was alcalde (magistrate) in 1844. During the Bear Flag Revolt of 1846, Leese was
taken prisoner with Vallejo and held captive at Sutter's Fort. He figured somewhat conspicuously in the historic Bear Flag
revolt as interpreter for the contending force. In 1846 he was associated with Thomas O. Larkin and his plans of annexation
to the United States. In his later life, Leese moved to Monterey and New York, before returning to San Francisco, where he
died in 1892.
Jacob P. Leese Photostat Letter, circa 1932, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MS.689.
Processed by Library staff after 1981. Finding aid completed by Holly Rose Larson, NHPRC Processing Archivist, 2012 November
8, made possible through grant funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commissions (NHPRC).
Donated by Henry Raup Wagner, 1932.
Copyright has not been assigned to the Autry Museum of the American West. All requests for permission to publish or quote
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or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
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Subjects and Indexing Terms
Correspondence
Hides and skins industry
San Francisco (Calif.)
Photostats
Tallow trade