Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

THOMAS A. DELANO 
 
was born in Charleston, New Hampshire, in 1830. He is a son of Charles A. and 
Mary C. (Hammet) Delano, and during his boyhood followed the sea. His father was 
from Nantucket, and was a sea-faring man, as were also his ancestors for six 
generations before him. The subject of this brief notice is a pioneer in 
California of
1849. He came by sail, and landed in San Francisco on the 7th of August, after a 
voyage of seven months. He first engaged in mining at Sutter's Mills and Middle 
Fork of the American River, for about one year, after which he went to the 
Russian River district, and engaged in raising wheat. To him belongs the honor 
of getting the first American plows in that section.  He bought them in San 
Francisco, at a cost of $38 apiece. His father had accompanied him to 
California, and had gone back East in 1850.  In 1851 he returned to San 
Francisco, and there died in July of the same year. Our subject remained on the 
ranch till 1854. January 4, 1855, he arrived in Los Angeles, and for sixteen 
years gave his time and attention to freighting, harvesting and threshing. He 
owned property in Los Angeles and put out two orchards there, one on Main 
street, and one on San Pedro street. For a number of years he kept a freight 
station in San Franciscito Ca�on, called Delano Station. In 1872 he discovered 
borax in the Slate Range in San Bernardino County, and there built a 
manufacturing establishment. Four years ago he moved to where he now lives. He 
and his sons have about 1,800 acres of land, which under their careful 
management yields abundant harvests of grain and hay. They also raise horses and 
cattle. In 1862 he married Miss Soledad Vejar, a native of California, and the 
daughter of John C. Vejar, who was born in San Diego. He was a Spaniard, and by 
occupation a farmer. His wife's name was nee Gracie Reys, also a native of 
California and of Spanish origin. They were a very influential family, and had 
important titles and grants. They had five children, three of whom are living. 
He died in 1875, and his wife in October, 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Delano have a large 
family: John Charles, William H., Thomas A., Mary Grace, Frederick J., Annie I., 
who departed this life at the age of thirteen years; Arthur G., who died at the 
age of ten years; Robert, who died when eight years old; Benjamin F., died in 
infancy; Frank and George. In closing this brief outline of Mr. Delano's life, 
it is altogether proper to state that he is a man of more than ordinary worth. 
The esteem in which he is held by his neighbors is evidence of his uprightness 
of character and his honor as a man. In his home he is kind and obliging, and a 
hearty welcome is extended to all.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 444
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler