Hugh Livingstone Macneil (August 9, 1850 – October 21, 1901) was a pioneer ranch and town developer in

southern California Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and Cultural area, cultural region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. It includes the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the second most po ...

Early years

Macneil was born in the town of Wick, Ontario, Canada, in 1850. He received a high school education and made plans for college, but the death of his father ended those plans. After a few years of experience in the business life of his Canada, Macneil removed to

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

, where, in the capacity of cashier and auditor, he connected himself with the firm of Ingraham, Corbln & May, wholesale grocers.

Career

The Chicago climate proving too severe, Macneil, in 1876, traveled to California. Lingering a short time in

San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...

, with a letter of introduction from Mr. A. N. Towne, then at the head of the

Southern Pacific The Southern Pacific (or Espee from the railroad initials- SP) was an American Class I railroad network that existed from 1865 to 1996 and operated largely in the Western United States. The system was operated by various companies under the ...

in that city, he came to

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

. Here, he became connected with the Los Angeles County Bank as cashier. In 1887, he left the bank and spent four years in association with his father-in-law, Jonathan Sayre Slauson, in various land developments. As one of the owners of the Maclay Rancho, in the

San Fernando Valley The San Fernando Valley, known locally as the Valley, is an urbanized valley in Los Angeles County, California. Located to the north of the Los Angeles Basin, it contains a large portion of the City of Los Angeles, as well as unincorporated ar ...

, he took an active part in developing and selling the land of the Rancho. The town of

San Fernando, California San Fernando (Spanish language, Spanish for "Ferdinand III of Castile, St. Ferdinand") is a General-law municipality, general-law city in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles County, California, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. It ...

, stands on this land. He acquired a large acreage where the towns of

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

and Upland are located, soon after the Chaffeys had organized the Ontario colony, and assisted in promoting and establishing both of these cities. Macneil was also associated with J. S. Slauson, James Slauson and others in organizing the Azusa Land and Water Company, which, in April, 1887, established the town of

Azusa Azusa may refer to: Relating to California From a Native American language, likely Tongva ''Asuksagna:'' *Azusa, California, a city in the United States *Azusa Pacific University, a Christian-based institution in Azusa, California *Azusa Street Rev ...

. Macneil, in 1891, took up his residence there and for the next few years devoted himself to planting orange and lemon lands, the development and transportation of water from the San Gabriel Canon, and the early organization of the Southern California Fruit Exchange. He died in Los Angeles in 1901. He was the first president of the Caledonian Club, one of the early presidents of the

California Club Based in Los Angeles, California, the California Club is an by-invitation-only private club established in 1888. According to Los Angeles Times, "The people who ''run'' Los Angeles belong to the Jonathan Club; the people who ''own'' Los Angel ...

of Los Angeles, a charter member of the

Los Angeles Athletic Club Los Angeles Athletic Club (LAAC) is a privately owned athletic club and social club in Los Angeles, California, United States. Established in 1880, the club is today best known for its John R. Wooden Award presented to the outstanding men's and ...

, and was also a member of the Creel Club and of the Sunset Club. He was for four years a California Fish and Game Commissioner.

Personal life

He was a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

and a Presbyterian. In Los Angeles, on September 17, 1884, he married Louise Slauson. There were two children, a daughter, Marion, and a son, Sayre (born 1886).

References

Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Macneil, Hugh Livingstone 1850 births 1901 deaths Ranchers from California People from the San Fernando Valley People from San Bernardino County, California Canadian emigrants to the United States People from Brock, Ontario