Roundup: August 12, 2015
Almansor Court – 700 S. Almansor, Alhambra, CA
Social Hour: 5:00 PM
Dinner: 6:00 PM
Speaker: Nat Read
Subject: The Story of early Los Angeles the man who molded it
Please join us this August 12th for a fascinating presentation about one of the most colourful and important people from our local Southern California history. Author Nat Read will surely delight the Corral with his insightful knowledge regarding Don Benito Wilson, truly a person of great importance in the history of this area.
Benjamin Davis “Don Benito” Wilson, 1811-1878, (namesake of Mount Wilson) molded Los Angeles in its late Mexican and early U.S. history. A mountain man and Alta California ranchero, he led U.S. Army troops in the first local battle of the Mexican War, set up U.S. government here, and was the second mayor of Los Angeles. Additionally, he also served as a Los Angeles County supervisor, and was elected to three terms of the California State Senate. He was president of the first local railroad and, with Phineas Banning, formed the Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbor. He founded the predecessor college of USC and owned Beverly Hills, UCLA, Wilmington, Santa Monica, Pasadena, and large parts of downtown Los Angeles.
John Selmer
Deputy Sheriff