Frederick Hastings Rindge
Encyclopedia
Frederick Hastings Rindge (1857—1905) was an American
businessman, philanthropist, and writer, of Los Angeles, California
. He was a major benefactor to his home town of Cambridge, Massachusetts
.
in 1875 but poor health forced him to leave the College in his senior year. He spent several years traveling through Europe and America, including a brief period as a Colorado sheep rancher. In 1883 he inherited his father's estate, then worth nearly $2 million from his father's investments in textile mills and real estate.
of Cambridge, a Harvard friend, requested Rindge's help in funding a new public library. Rindge responded in July 1887 with an offer of land and full funding for Cambridge's public library
. Later that year he enlarged his offer to the three additional buildings: a new city hall (now the Cambridge City Hall
), a Manual Training School (now Cambridge Rindge and Latin School), and a proposed high school (not built). He also paid the bulk of the costs for the Harvard-Epworth United Methodist Church
. Today Rindge is commemorated in Cambridge through the high school, Rindge Avenue, Rindgefield Street, and Rindge Towers, low-income apartment buildings.
in 1887. In 1892 Rindge purchased the 13300 acres (53.8 km²) Spanish land grant Rancho Topanga Malibu Sequit
or "Malibu Rancho", in Malibu, California. He later expanded it to 17000 acres (69 km²) as Rindge Ranch.
Rindge founded the Conservative Life Insurance Company (now Pacific Life
), and was a vice-president of Union Oil Company, and a director of the Los Angeles Edison Electric Company (later Southern California Edison Company). His investments included land near Stockton, California
and real estate holdings in the San Fernando Valley
of Los Angeles, and the state of Sinaloa
, Mexico
.
He was President of the Harvard Club of Los Angeles and a member of many historical, archaeological, patriotic, and religious organizations which mirrored his interests. A supporter of the temperance movement, Rindge reimbursed the city of Santa Monica
for the loss of license fees when Santa Monica abolished saloons. He established the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Santa Monica. He wrote several self published books which were spiritual and meditative in nature.
Frederick H. Rindge is interred in Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles.
in Los Angeles, California; both are now historic monuments. There they had three children: Samuel Knight Rindge (1888—1968), Frederick Hastings Rindge, Jr. (1890—1952), and Rhoda Agatha Rindge (1893—1962). Samuel Knight Rindge married Agnes Marion Hole, daughter of Willits J. Hole
. Rhoda Agatha Rindge married Merritt Adamson, and they built the Adamson House
, which is on the National Register of Historic Places
. The Rindges also had a vacation home in Marblehead, Massachusetts
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman, philanthropist, and writer, of Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. He was a major benefactor to his home town of Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
.
Early life
Rindge was born in Cambridge, the only surviving son of the six children of Samuel B. Rindge (1820—1883) and Clarissa Harrington (1822—1885). He grew up in the "Rindge mansion," still standing at the corner of Dana and Harvard Streets in Cambridge. He entered Harvard CollegeHarvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in 1875 but poor health forced him to leave the College in his senior year. He spent several years traveling through Europe and America, including a brief period as a Colorado sheep rancher. In 1883 he inherited his father's estate, then worth nearly $2 million from his father's investments in textile mills and real estate.
Cambridge, Massachusetts
In 1887, Mayor William RussellWilliam Russell (governor)
William Eustis Russell was a U.S. political figure. He served as the 37th Governor of Massachusetts between 1891 and 1894, becoming the state's youngest ever elected Governor at age 34.-Family:...
of Cambridge, a Harvard friend, requested Rindge's help in funding a new public library. Rindge responded in July 1887 with an offer of land and full funding for Cambridge's public library
Cambridge Public Library
The Cambridge Public Library in Cambridge, Massachusetts is part of the Minuteman Library Network. The library includes a headquarters and several branch buildings throughout the city....
. Later that year he enlarged his offer to the three additional buildings: a new city hall (now the Cambridge City Hall
Cambridge, Massachusetts City Hall
The Cambridge, Massachusetts City Hall is the city hall for Cambridge, Massachusetts, located at 795 Massachusetts Avenue, and built in the Richardsonian Romanesque style...
), a Manual Training School (now Cambridge Rindge and Latin School), and a proposed high school (not built). He also paid the bulk of the costs for the Harvard-Epworth United Methodist Church
Harvard-Epworth United Methodist Church
The Harvard-Epworth United Methodist Church is a church located beside Harvard Law School near the Cambridge, Massachusetts common. Its congregation was organized in March 1941 by the merger of Harvard Street Methodist Church and Epworth Methodist Church....
. Today Rindge is commemorated in Cambridge through the high school, Rindge Avenue, Rindgefield Street, and Rindge Towers, low-income apartment buildings.
Southern California
Rindge moved to Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
in 1887. In 1892 Rindge purchased the 13300 acres (53.8 km²) Spanish land grant Rancho Topanga Malibu Sequit
Rancho Topanga Malibu Sequit
Rancho Topanga Malibu Sequit was a Spanish land grant in present day Los Angeles County, California given by Spanish Governor José Joaquín de Arrillaga in 1804 to José Bartolomé Tapia.-History:...
or "Malibu Rancho", in Malibu, California. He later expanded it to 17000 acres (69 km²) as Rindge Ranch.
Rindge founded the Conservative Life Insurance Company (now Pacific Life
Pacific Life
Pacific Life Insurance Company is an insurance company providing life insurance products, annuities, and mutual funds, and offers to individuals, businesses, and pension plans a variety of investment products and services. Pacific Life also counts more than half of the 100 largest U.S...
), and was a vice-president of Union Oil Company, and a director of the Los Angeles Edison Electric Company (later Southern California Edison Company). His investments included land near Stockton, California
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
and real estate holdings in the San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
of Los Angeles, and the state of Sinaloa
Sinaloa
Sinaloa officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 18 municipalities and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales....
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
He was President of the Harvard Club of Los Angeles and a member of many historical, archaeological, patriotic, and religious organizations which mirrored his interests. A supporter of the temperance movement, Rindge reimbursed the city of Santa Monica
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
for the loss of license fees when Santa Monica abolished saloons. He established the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Santa Monica. He wrote several self published books which were spiritual and meditative in nature.
Frederick H. Rindge is interred in Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles.
Selected works
- Can You Read Your Title Clear to a Mansion in the Skies? (1889)
- Thoughts Concerning Ourselves and Our Interests (1890)
- Meditations on Many Matters (1890)
- Happy Days in Southern California (1898)
- The Best Way (1902)
Family life
In 1887 Rindge married 22 year old Rhoda May Knight (1864—1941) of Michigan. They moved to 1941 W. 25th Street and then 2263 Harvard BoulevardFrederick Hastings Rindge House
The Frederick Hastings Rindge House is a historic house located in the West Adams district of Los Angeles, in Los Angeles County, California.The Rindge House was built in 1902 for Frederick H. Rindge and designed by Frederick Louis Roehrig and E.C...
in Los Angeles, California; both are now historic monuments. There they had three children: Samuel Knight Rindge (1888—1968), Frederick Hastings Rindge, Jr. (1890—1952), and Rhoda Agatha Rindge (1893—1962). Samuel Knight Rindge married Agnes Marion Hole, daughter of Willits J. Hole
Willits J. Hole
Willits J. Hole was an American businessman and real estate developer of Southern California, during the early part of the twentieth century...
. Rhoda Agatha Rindge married Merritt Adamson, and they built the Adamson House
Adamson House
Adamson House, also known as Vaquero Hill, is a historic house and gardens in Malibu, California that has been called the "Taj Mahal of Tile" due to its extensive use of decorative ceramic tiles created by the Malibu Potteries. The house was built in 1930 for Rhoda Rindge Adamson and Merritt...
, which is on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The Rindges also had a vacation home in Marblehead, Massachusetts
Marblehead, Massachusetts
Marblehead is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 19,808 at the 2010 census. It is home to the Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary and Devereux Beach...
.