Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

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



 
MISS IDONIA McLAIN, 
 
owner of the St. Nichols Hotel, Union street, Pasadena, is the daughter of John 
McLain, a wealthy and public-spirited planter of Louisiana, who, at the 
commencement of the late war, owned about a hundred slaves. During that national 
struggle he lost his valuable estate, but by his extraordinary business tact he 
amassed another fortune. He served one term in the State Legislature, and was 
strongly urged to accept the position for a second term, but his business 
interests were too extensive to permit him to do so. Miss McLain graduated with 
high honors at the female college in Minden, Louisiana. She was strongly devoted 
to her parents, and since their death she has spent much of her time in 
educating her younger sisters. She came to California in 1884 to care for her 
uncle, Captain Thomas McLain, of El Monte, who was an invalid, and who afterward 
died, leaving her to settle up the estate. In 1886 she located in Pasadena, 
investing some $15,000 in real estate. By shrewd management she accumulated 
property, which was at one time worth over $75,000. Her extensive dealings in 
real estate have compelled her to devote most of her time to its care, thus 
depriving her in a great measure from enjoying the pleasures of her fortune. 
Miss McLain is a lady of accomplished literary attainments. The New Orleans 
Times-Democrat published a long and able article which she wrote concerning 
Southern California, picturing in truly graphic style the society, homes, labor 
system and climate of this favored land. That article was said to be the best 
ever published in that city on these subjects; its influence was marked. Of 
course she has no idea that she could ever be contented to live in Louisiana. 
Miss McLain is also a portrait and landscape painter of more than ordinary 
merit, but she has had but little time to devote to this fascinating art. 
Nevertheless she has taken several valuable prizes for her superior oil 
paintings. She is also skilled in pencilings and in work in India ink. Her 
brother, Captain L. D. McLain, is the owner of the largest cotton-seed oil mill 
in America, located at Monroe, Louisiana. The public finds the St. Nicholas 
Hotel at Pasadena conducted in a very neat and liberal manner; everything is 
first-class.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 562
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler