Leslie Coombs Brand

Leslie Coombs Brand (1859–1925) was an American real estate developer. He is best known for developing Glendale, California.

Biography

Early life

Leslie Coombs Brand was born on May 12, 1859 in Florissant, Missouri. He had two sisters, Helen Brand and Ada Broker. Their father died when he was ten years old.

Career

At the age of twenty, he moved to Moberly, Missouri to work in an office. He eventually started his own real estate company.

He moved to Los Angeles, California and, together with E.W. Sargent, he established the Los Angeles Abstract Co. on the corner of Temple and New High streets. In the 1890s, they sold their company. His oil investment in Saugus, Santa Clarita, California led to nothing, and he left for Galveston, Texas, to work in real estate. He stayed at the Tremont Hotel in the Strand Historic District.

Back in California, he developed the city of Glendale, California. Together with Henry E. Huntington (1850–1927), he brought Pacific Electric to the town to develop it.

Personal life

He married Lulu Broughton in 1883, but she died a few months later. He later remarried to Mary Louise Brand (1871–1945). His sister married the architect Nathaniel Dryden (1849–1924). Later, his brother-in-law designed his private residence in Glendale called El Miradero; it is now 'Brand Library'/ section of the Glendale Public Library. He died on April 10, 1925 in Glendale, California.

Legacy

• The 'Brand Library' section of the Glendale Public Library is named in his honor.
• Brand Boulevard in Glendale is also named in his honor.
• Brand's interest in airplanes started a movement resulting in the Grand Central Airport (United_States) - a hub of aviation history.

• ^ Katherine Yamada, A century of achievements, Glendale News-Press, November 13, 2004
• Online Archive of California
• ^ Glendale Historical Society