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The essay, Phineas & Benjamin, presents early Port of Los Angeles development utilizing surveys, correspondence and deeds. It chronicles mid-nineteenth century accomplishments of Phineas Banning and Benjamin Wilson. Deeds and survey maps accurately document a reliable account of their activities beginning with the acquisition of the Wilmington Tract, now the focal point of Wilmington, to the completion of the railway system connecting Southern California with the Nation.

“They developed a common goal, to build a Los Angeles harbor that would become the
commercial center of the world. It was an absolute necessity to the realistic, often grim, hard-
driving Wilson; it was a “Holy Grail” for the more cheerful, but indomitable Banning. In their
lifetimes, they remained in close, resolute alliance, hurdling all political barriers, including
personal views, to accomplish their goal.”

Twenty-four-hundred acres changed ownership at the ocean end of the Los Angeles River on The
Rancho San Pedro lands of the Dominguez family for twenty thousand dollars, close to forty times
prevailing land values.

• Banning & Company Records & Benjamin Davis Wilson Collection @ The Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.
• Los Angeles County, Deed Records, Book 2, 205-10, Dec 22, 1854, M. Dominguez et. ux. to B. D. Wilson et al.
• Los Angeles County, Deed Records, Book 4, 463-04, May 05, 1859, B. D. Wilson et al to P. Banning,
• Los Angeles County, Deed Records, Book 6, 66 – 07, Dec 06, 1862, Map of New San Pedro.
• Observations on Early Days in California and New Mexico @ The Bancroft Library, Berkeley, CA.

©jtbueche2023

The electronic version of the essay is scheduled for completion by the end of the year. To ensure you receive a copy promptly upon availability, please contact us via email at jtbueche@outlook.com. We will then forward the document as soon as it is ready.