The Rancho San Pascual has always been a famous ranch. Its owners have
always been prominent in the affairs of California and in the Pueblo of
Los Angeles. It has always been famed for beauty and today within its
far-flung boundaries are the world famous cities of Altadena, Pasadena,
South Pasadena and parts of San Marino.
The rancho was granted in 1843 by the then Mexican Governor, Manuel
Micheltorena, to Manuel Garfias and comprised 13,693 acres of land.
Manuel Garfias later became Los Angeles County’s first Treasurer. At the
time he was campaigning for the office of Treasurer he sold a portion of
his rancho for approximately $3.00 an acre for funds with which to
finance his ambitious plans.
Manuel Garfias was a member of one of the finest Spanish families and
married Luisa Abila, whose family owned the Abila hacienda facing the
Plaza in the Pueblo of Los Angeles and where Commodore Stockton resided
while stationed in Los Angeles. History records that Manuel Garfias was
an excellent County Treasurer but as a ranchero he was very poor and bit
by bit he sold off parts of the rancho until in 1857, heavily involved
in financial obligations, he sold the remainder of the rancho to B. D.
Wilson, the famous Don Benito. Wilson Avenue in Pasadena, South Pasadena
and Alhambra, Wilson Lake and Mt. Wilson are all named for B. D. Wilson.
Under his care and under the guidance of Dr. John S. Griffin, who
purchased an undivided one-half interest from Mr. Wilson, the Rancho
progressed and the price of the land gradually increased.
The early conveyances of parts of the Rancho in addition to the usual
indefinite ties of an oak tree, a little rock set on a big one or a pile
of bones or brush, tied in one of its courses “to a point on the side of
a hill North of the prickly pears.” Many of the descriptions tied to the
walled garden of Benjamin D. Wilson, called “Huerta de Quati.”
Later the Rancho was settled by the Indiana Colony, Pasadena was
founded, then South Pasadena and San Marino and today within its
boundaries are many thousands of magnificent homes, carrying on the fame
of the famous Rancho San Pascual.