Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

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


JEAN LOUIS SAINSEVAIN 
 
was born at Begney, Department of the Gironde, France, in the year 1816. He came 
to Los Angeles in 1855, where his uncle, Jean Louis Vignes, the earliest of the 
French pioneers, and his brother, Pedro Sainsevain, had been living many years. 
After living here some time, the two brothers bought out the extensive property 
of their uncle, and carried on the wine business on a large scale till 1867 or 
1868. The brothers Sainsevain were the first manufacturers of champagne in 
California. They were involved in litigation at one time with the Internal 
Revenue Department, and also with M. Racoulliat, husband of one of the heirs of 
their uncle, Don
Louis Vignes. Obtaining a franchise to supply the city of Los Angeles with water 
for domestic use, Don Louis Sainsevain and D. Marchessault, at one time mayor of 
the city, laid wooden pipes for that purpose, iron pipes being thought at that 
period too expensive. In 1868 they sold out to the City Water Company, which 
secured a lease from the city for thirty years, Mr. Sainsevain remaining one of 
the members of the new company, whose lease expires in 1898. The vineyard was 
sold to Alexander Wiel and others, and was eventually divided up into lots and 
sold, and it is now occupied by homes and business houses. The immense old 
"Aliso" (sycamore) tree, around which Don Louis Vignes built his adobe wine 
cellars, is now surrounded by the modern brick-built plant of the Philadelphia 
Brewery, and a street railroad runs along where the dwelling of both Vignes and 
Sainsevain once stood. In after years Sainsevain planted a vineyard at 
Cucamonga, where he lived some time. Latterly, however, and until his death, 
which happened in the early part of this year (February 16, 1889), he resided in 
Los Angeles, where he was well and favorably known as good�hearted, genial "Don 
Louis" Sainsevain. The street in this city bearing his name was so called in his 
honor. He had two sons, Michel and Paul. The former died in this city before his 
father, leaving a widow and several children. Paul and family live in San Diego. 
Vital Fernando and Jean M. Vignes, for many years residents of Los Angeles, are 
cousins of the Sainsevains. Pedro Sainsevain, now an old man, who came here when 
a boy, still lives in San Jose.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 814
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler