Rancho Azusa de Dalton facts for kids
Rancho Azusa de Dalton, originally known as Rancho El Susa, was a large Mexican land grant covering about 4,431 acres (17.93 km2). It was given in 1841 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Luis Arenas. Three years later, Arenas sold his land to Henry Dalton (1803–1884), a rich merchant from the Pueblo of Los Angeles. Dalton then renamed his property Rancho Azusa de Dalton. People also called Henry Dalton "Don Enrique Dalton."
Today, several cities are built on the land that was once part of Rancho Azusa de Dalton. These include Azusa, Arcadia, Monrovia, Irwindale, and Baldwin Park.
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History of Rancho Azusa de Dalton
How the Rancho Began
Luis Arenas first received the Rancho El Susa land grant from Governor Manuel Jimeno in 1841. A few years later, in 1844, Henry Dalton bought El Susa from Arenas. Dalton also bought Arenas's share in another large property called Rancho San Jose.
Henry Dalton was born in England. In 1820, he sailed to Lima, Peru, and became a merchant. He eventually commanded his own small fleet of trading ships. By 1841, he was a well-known figure in the coastal trade of California. Dalton chose Rancho El Susa as his home and renamed it Azusa de Dalton.
He built his house on a spot known as Dalton Hill, near where 6th Street and Cerritos Avenue are today in Azusa. Rancho Azusa de Dalton was located east of the San Gabriel River, across from another property called Rancho Azusa de Duarte. People often called the first one El Susa and the second one Susita.
Expanding Dalton's Land Holdings
Dalton continued to expand his land. He bought Rancho San Francisquito and Rancho Santa Anita. In the end, Henry Dalton owned a continuous stretch of land. It went all the way from what is now San Dimas to the eastern edge of Pasadena.
Challenges with Land Ownership
After the Mexican-American War, California became part of the United States. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 said that Mexican land grants would still be valid. Henry Dalton filed a claim for Rancho Azusa de Dalton with the Public Land Commission, as required by a new law in 1851.
However, Dalton disagreed with the land survey done by Henry Hancock in 1860. He borrowed money from J. S. Slauson to fight his case in court. After 24 years of legal battles, the courts decided against him. In 1885, Dalton had to give Rancho Azusa to Slauson. Slauson, however, gave Dalton a 55-acre (220,000 m2) homestead to live on. Henry Dalton officially received a U.S. patent for Rancho Azusa in 1876. When he passed away in 1884, Dalton had lost most of his property and was living in poverty.
Developing the Town of Azusa
In 1885, J. S. Slauson took over Henry Dalton's Rancho Azusa de Dalton. He then created the Azusa Land and Water Company and started to develop the town of Azusa. Most of Rancho Azusa, except for about 500 acres (2.0 km2), was sold to John Dustin Bicknell, I. W. Hellman, and others.
The lots in the new town of Azusa went on sale in 1887. The following year, the Santa Fe Railroad was completed, making it easier for people to travel to Azusa. On December 29, 1898, Azusa officially became an incorporated city.
About Henry Dalton
Henry Dalton was born in London on October 8, 1804. His parents were Winnall Thomas Dalton and Ann Woolfe. He had nine brothers and sisters.
