Finding Aid to the Benjamin D. Wilson Papers MS.703
Holly Rose Larson
Library and Archives at the Autry
2012 November 9
210 South Victory Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91502
rroom@theautry.org
Contributing Institution:
Library and Archives at the Autry
Title: Benjamin D. Wilson Papers
Creator:
Wilson, Benjamin Davis
Identifier/Call Number: MS.703
Physical Description:
0.1 Linear Feet
(1 folder)
Date (inclusive): 1856-1872
Language of Material:
English
.
This collection contains 25 pieces of correspondence, invoices, ledgers, papers, and stock certificates from Benjamin David
Wilson. Documents are dated from 1856-1872 and some have notations written on verso from 1936.
Benjamin D. Wilson Papers, 1856-1872, Braun Research Library Collection, Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles; MS.703.
Processed by Library staff after 1981. Finding aid completed by Holly Rose Larson, NHPRC Processing Archivist, 2012 November
9, made possible through grant funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commissions (NHPRC).
Copyright has not been assigned to the Autry Museum of the American West. All requests for permission to publish or quote
from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Research Services and Archives. Permission for publication is
given on behalf of the Autry Museum of the American West as the custodian of the physical items and is not intended to include
or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Benjamin Davis Wilson (1811 December 1 – 1878 March 11) was a California statesman and politician. He was known to the Native
Americans as Don Benito because of his benevolent manner in his treatment of Indian affairs. Wilson, a native of Tennessee,
was a fur trapper and trader before coming to California. He married Ramona Yorba, daughter of Bernardo Yorba, a wealthy and
prominent landowner, and purchased part of Rancho Jurupa in what would become Riverside County. Wilson was made Justice of
the Peace for the Inland Territory and was entrusted with the care of Indian affairs. He was also commissioned to deal with
the hostile Ute tribe over their cattle rustling and other crimes against the ranchers.
Wilson became the first non-Hispanic owner of Rancho San Pascual, which encompassed today's towns of Pasadena, Altadena, South
Pasadena, Alhambra, San Marino and San Gabriel. Wilson was the second elected Mayor of Los Angeles for one term, Los Angeles
County Supervisor and served three terms as a California State Senator. Wilson died at his San Gabriel ranch in 1878.
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Subjects and Indexing Terms
Los Angeles (Calif.)
San Francisco (Calif.)
Correspondence
Invoices
Ledgers
Stock certificates
Financial records
Pico, Pio
Newmark, Myer Joseph
Wells, Fargo & Company