William Heath Davis facts for kids
William Heath "Kanaka" Davis, Jr. (1822 – 1909) was an important merchant and trader in Alta California. He is known for helping to start "New Town," which is now Downtown San Diego in San Diego, California.
Life of William Heath Davis
William Heath Davis, Jr. was born in 1822 in Honolulu. This was in the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. His father, William Heath Davis, Sr., was a ship captain from Boston. His mother, Hannah Holmes Davis, had Hawaiian roots. His nickname "Kanaka" came from his Hawaiian background. He was one-quarter Hawaiian through his grandmother.
Davis first visited California when he was a boy in 1831. He came back again in 1833 and 1838. On his last visit, he worked as a store clerk. He worked for his uncle in Monterey and Yerba Buena (which is now San Francisco). Later, he started his own business in San Francisco. He became a successful merchant and owned ships.
In 1847, Davis married María de Jesus. She was the daughter of José Joaquin Estudillo. The Davises had at least one daughter, Anna Maria. Around 1850, Davis moved to San Diego. California became part of the United States that same year.
Starting New Town San Diego
Davis was the first person to try and build "New Town" San Diego. The original settlement, Old Town San Diego, was far from the water. It was more than a mile from the San Diego Bay. This made it hard for ships to reach.
The idea for a new town came from Lt. Andrew B. Gray. He was a surveyor for California's new borders. Gray realized that a spot near the natural harbor would be much better for a city. Davis agreed with this idea.
Davis teamed up with José Antonio Aguirre, Miguel Pedrorena, and William C. Ferrell. They bought 160 acres of land. They planned streets, a large dock, and a warehouse. People in the area called the project "New Town," "Graytown," or even "Davis's Folly."
However, the project faced problems. There was not enough fresh water. Also, people from Old Town and La Playa were not supportive. The U.S. Army had a base there for a while. But they left during the American Civil War.
Later, in 1867, the idea of a new town was tried again. Alonzo Horton built a new area next to Davis's land. This time, it was a big success. This area is now known as Downtown San Diego. The original settlement is still called Old Town.
Davis later wrote a book about his life. This book helped historians learn a lot about early California and San Diego.
Davis eventually moved to San Leandro. He faced money problems later in life. He passed away in Hayward, California on April 19, 1909.
Legacy of William Heath Davis
The oldest building in the "New Town" area is the William Heath Davis House. It is a special type of home called a "saltbox" style. It was built in 1850 from parts shipped from the east coast. This house was not Davis's own home. But it looks like his house, which was on State and F Streets. Today, the William Heath Davis House is a museum. You can visit it at 410 Island Ave.
The first public square for New Town is now Horton Plaza. But another area called New Town Plaza still exists. It is found between F, G, Columbia, and India Streets.
