Leslie Coombs Brand
| Leslie Coombs Brand | |
|---|---|
|
The father of Glendale California | |
| Born |
May 12, 1859 Florissant, Missouri, United States |
| Died |
April 10, 1925 (aged 65) Glendale, California, United States |
| Occupation | Real Estate |
| Years active | 1879-1925 |
| Spouse(s) | Lulu Broughton, Mary Louise Brand |
Leslie Coombs Brand (1859–1925) was an American real estate developer. He is best known for developing Glendale, California. [1]
Biography
Early life
Leslie Coombs Brand was born on May 12, 1859 in Florissant, Missouri.[2] He had two sisters, Helen Brand and Ada Broker.[2] Their father died when he was ten years old.[2]
Career
At the age of twenty, he moved to Moberly, Missouri to work in an office.[2] He eventually started his own real estate company.[2]
He moved to Los Angeles, California and, together with E.W. Sargent, he established the Los Angeles Abstract Co. on the corner of Temple and New High streets.[2] In the 1890s, they sold their company.[2] His oil investment in Saugus, Santa Clarita, California led to nothing, and he left for Galveston, Texas, to work in real estate.[2] He stayed at the Tremont Hotel in the Strand Historic District.[2]
Back in California, he developed the city of Glendale, California.[3][4] Together with Henry E. Huntington (1850–1927), he brought Pacific Electric to the town to develop it.[4]
Personal life
He married Lulu Broughton in 1883, but she died a few months later.[2] He later remarried to Mary Louise Brand (1871–1945). His sister married the architect Nathaniel Dryden (1849–1924). Later, his brother-in-law designed his private residence in Glendale called El Miradero; it is now 'Brand Library'/ section of the Glendale Public Library. He died on April 10, 1925 in Glendale, California.[2]
Legacy
- The 'Brand Library' section of the Glendale Public Library is named in his honor.[2]
- Brand Boulevard in Glendale is also named in his honor.[4]
- Brand's interest in airplanes started a movement resulting in the Grand Central Airport (United_States) - a hub of aviation history.