Description
Collected business and personal
correspondence relating to Southern California landowner Benjamin Davis Wilson (1811-1878) and
his family. The collection also includes account books, diaries (kept by Wilson's
wife Margaret and their daughters Annie and Ruth), and assorted ephemera. The Shorb
and Patton families are also heavily represented in the correspondence.
Background
Benjamin Davis Wilson (1811-1878), a native of Tennessee, was a pioneer California
rancher and businessman who came to Southern California from New Mexico in 1841 as a member
of the Rowland-Workman party. He purchased the Jurupa Rancho (Riverside, Calif.) in
1843. In 1851-52 Wilson was elected the second mayor of Los Angeles, in 1852 he
served as U.S. Indian Agent under Superintendent Edward F. Beale, and in 1855-57 and
1869-72 he served as state senator. He purchased Rancho de Cuati and adjacent land
to develop his Lake Vineyard Ranch (part of present-day San Marino) and with John S.
Griffin purchased Rancho San Pascual (which later became the city of Pasadena).
Wilson planted vineyards and citrus groves and became active in business circles.
Extent
2,394 items in 41 boxes.
Restrictions
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder,
if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Availability
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader
Services.