Isaac Newton Van Nuys
This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2016) |
Isaac Newton Van Nuys | |
---|---|
banker | |
Spouse | Susanna H. Lankershim |
Children | Annis H. Van Nuys James Benton Van Nuys Kate Van Nuys |
Parent(s) | Peter Van Nuys Harriet Kerr |
Relatives | Caroline M. Van Nuys (sister) A. Vinton Van Nuys (brother) Ella L. Van Nuys (sister) Harriett E. Van Nuys (sister) Webster B. Van Nuys (brother) Herbert K. Van Nuys (brother) Isaac Lankershim (father-in-law) James Boon Lankershim (brother-in-law) |
Isaac Newton Van Nuys (/vænˈnaɪz/; November 20, 1836 – February 12, 1912) was an American businessman, farmer and rancher who owned the entire southern portion of the San Fernando Valley, an area 15 miles long and 6 miles wide. With the approach of the Owens River aqueduct and the possibility of intensive small farming, Los Angeles speculators, including Harry Chandler of the Los Angeles Times, combined to buy out Van Nuys in 1909 and develop the San Fernando Valley.
A development syndicate bought him out in 1911 and founded the town of
Early life
Isaac Van Nuys was born in
Issac attended the academy at Lima in which he was a student for one year.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/Isaac_Newton_Van_Nuys_home.jpg/300px-Isaac_Newton_Van_Nuys_home.jpg)
Career
San Fernando Homestead Association
In 1865, at the age of 29, Van Nuys was the first family member to move to California. He first lived in
Los Angeles Farming and Milling Company
In 1880, Van Nuys and James Boon Lankershim formed the Los Angeles Farming and Milling Company from the San Fernando Homestead Association. Isaac Van Nuys was its president and manager. The company had a four-story building for milling to produce flour, meals, cracked wheat, hominy, and livestock feed. Van Nuys also served as vice-president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank; a director in the Union Bank of Savings; a director in the Los Angeles Pressed Brick Company; and the owner of the Van Nuys Hotel, erected in 1896 in Downtown Los Angeles.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Isaac_Newton_Van_Nuys_signature.jpg/300px-Isaac_Newton_Van_Nuys_signature.jpg)
As the City of Los Angeles authorized building William Mulholland's Los Angeles Aqueduct from the Owens Valley to the city and valley, land speculation plans for the Los Angeles Farming and Milling Company property in the San Fernando Valley were developed. Aqueduct construction began in 1905 and would be completed in 1913. Afterwards, land that was useful only for dryland farming could be turned into residential towns and irrigated crops and orchards.
Los Angeles Suburban Homes Company
The Los Angeles Suburban Homes Company, in the "biggest land transaction ever recorded in
The Los Angeles Suburban Homes Company laid out plans for three new towns of
Personal life
In 1880, Van Nuys married Susanna H. Lankershim of Los Angeles, the daughter of Isaac Lankershim (1818–1882) and the sister of James Boon Lankershim (1850–1931), both of whom were his business partners. They had three children: Annis H., James Benton, and Kate. He was a member of the Masonic order, connected with Pentalpha Blue Lodge, Signet Chapter, Los Angeles Commandery, and Al Malaikah Shrine Temple. He was a Republican and a member of the Baptist Church. He also founded Hollywood Cemetery.
He died at age 75 on February 12, 1912. He is interred (in Section G, Lot 118) at the
Legacy
On February 23, 1944, a
See also
- Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California
- Van Nuys, Indiana
- History of the San Fernando Valley to 1915
References
- ^ [Stadsarchief Amsterdam DTB 461 p 412]
- ^ ISBN 1-883792-55-X
- ISBN 0-89781-393-6
- ^ "The Valley Observed" (Nov. 24, 2005) San Fernando Valley history, lore and sense of place, Accessed Nov. 22, 2006
- ^ Find a grave.
Further reading
- History of Livingston County, New York by James H. Smith, published by D. Mason & Co, Syracuse, NY
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)