Isaac Lankershim facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Isaac Lankershim
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Lankershim c. 1870
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| Born | April 8, 1818-20 |
| Died | April 10, 1882 (aged 62-64) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Landowner Real estate developer |
| Spouse(s) |
Annis Lydia Moore
(m. 1842) |
| Children | 2 (incl. James) |
| Relatives | Isaac Newton Van Nuys (son-in-law) |
Isaac Lankershim (born between 1818 and 1820 – died 1882) was a very important landowner and pioneer in California. He was born in Germany and moved to the United States. He became famous for owning a massive 60,000 acres of land in Los Angeles County, California.
Contents
Early Life
Isaac Lankershim was born in Bavaria, a region in Germany. The exact year of his birth is not perfectly clear, but it was around 1818 to 1820. He was born on April 8th.
Isaac Lankershim's Career and Land Ownership
Isaac Lankershim first settled in St. Louis, Missouri. There, he worked in a business that shipped grain and livestock. This means he helped move crops and farm animals from one place to another.
Moving to California and Farming Wheat
In 1854, Lankershim decided to move west to Napa Valley in California. Just one year later, in 1855, he planted and harvested wheat on 1,000 acres of land in Solano County, California. He quickly expanded his farming efforts. Soon, he was growing wheat on more than 14,000 acres near Fresno, California. In 1868, he bought an even bigger ranch in San Diego, California and continued to grow wheat.
In 1860, the rest of his family moved from St. Louis to California. Isaac Lankershim then opened an office in San Francisco, California.
Developing the San Fernando Valley
In the late 1860s, Lankershim moved to Los Angeles, California. Here, he started working with a well-known businessman named Harris Newmark. In 1869, Isaac Lankershim and other businessmen from San Francisco bought a huge piece of land. They purchased 60,000 acres of the San Fernando Valley from Pío Pico for $115,000. This group was known as the San Fernando Valley Farm Homestead Association.
The land they bought now includes many famous areas. These include Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, and North Hollywood.
At first, they used the ranch to raise animals. By 1873, they had 40,000 sheep on the land. However, when the price of wool dropped, they changed their plan. They decided to grow wheat instead. To help transport the wheat from the valley to Santa Monica, California, Lankershim built a special wagon path. Today, a part of this path is known as Interstate 405. In 1876, he turned this path into a toll road, meaning people had to pay to use it.
Starting New Companies
Isaac Lankershim also worked with his son-in-law, Isaac Newton Van Nuys. Together, they started a company called the Los Angeles Farming and Milling Co. They eventually took full ownership of the San Fernando Valley Ranch Company. They also created another company, the Lankershim Ranch Land & Water Co. This company developed 12,000 acres of land into real estate. This area is now known as North Hollywood, Los Angeles.
Personal Life and Legacy
Isaac Lankershim married Annis Lydia Moore in 1842. Annis was an immigrant from England. They had two children: a son named James Boon Lankershim (1850–1931) and a daughter named Susanna Lankershim. Susanna later married Isaac Newton Van Nuys.
Isaac Lankershim passed away on April 10, 1882. His family's name lives on in Los Angeles. For example, Lankershim Boulevard in Los Angeles is named after the Lankershim family, honoring their important role in the area's history.
