Page 24 - lareina1929

20 LA REINA LOS ANGELES IN THREE CENTURIES

DoN ABEL STEARNS Dona ARCADIA BANDINI-STEARNS
" H aughty Spanish families graciously accepted these enterprising young cAnglo-S axons
as sons-in-law "

'The Day of the Yankee Dons
ONSIDERING the hardships endured, the rate at which permanent American
C settlers arrived at the Pueblo during the next 15 years was remarkable. Neither
a trip overland nor around the Horn was to be taken lightly and the arrival of one
per year was not at a discouraging rate from the standpoint of the American element,
nor was it rapid enough to alarm the natives. The requirements of residence were
simple. One had to become a Mexican citizen and a church member. None balked
at this. Former governmental allegiance and religious affiliations were shuffled off
over night. Catholic converts blossomed from Presbyterian and Puritan stock.
But this was only the beginning. Haughty Spanish families graciously accepted
these enterprising young Anglo-Saxons as sons-in-law. John (Don Juan) Temple
came from Reading, Massachusetts, and married Rafaela Coto, descendant of Don
Manuel Nieto. The beautiful Arcadia Bandini became the bride of Abel Stearns,
from Salem, Massachusetts.
The stirring California careers of these two products of New England fairly
bristle with historic interest. While loyal to the land of their adoption, they retained
their Yankee characteristics, winning and keeping the good-will of both native and
immigrant. They were forceful, energetic and progressive men. They both prospered
exceedingly. Where now stands the Federal Building, Temple opened the first
general store in the Pueblo, in front of which he planted pepper trees. He took
up building and ranching, developing stock and farm interests overshadowing anything
· else in the Southland. The first market in the city was his; standing on the site of
the new City Hall, and later becoming the courthouse. The venerable landmark,
known as the Temple Block, lately demolished, was built by himself and brother
This was the first office building.
T em pl e's marriage put him in possession of the far-spreading Los Cerritos
Rancho, upon which now stands a part of Long Beach. He made huge investments
below the line in Mexico, and took time in his busy life to see a bit of Europe with
his wife in the year 1858.
Next to Los Cerritos Rancho lay Los Alamitos, over which Long Beach has
also spread. It was owned by Don Abel Stearns, who, as-before-mentioned, was
likewise married to a beautiful Spanish girl, and thereby came into much wealth.
Stearns' adobe hacienda, standing on this rancho, is now occupied by Fred Bixby
"Don Abel's Palacio," as it was known, stood where the Baker Block now stands,