George H. Peck (1856-1940)
Encyclopedia
George H. Peck was an American
real estate
broker
, developer and millionaire
.
Born George Huntington Peck, Jr., in San Francisco
, California
, he began his career as a railroad conductor
and is credited with driving the first Southern Pacific
train
into San Pedro. Convinced of the need for harbor
facilities, he later bought land along the seashore and, in 1890–despite little formal education–established the first bank in San Pedro.
Peck eventually acquired virtually all of San Pedro and much of the north part of what became Manhattan Beach
. He also subdivided and laid out the small town of El Porto
, which was eventually annexed by Manhattan Beach and became part of its north end. Among his larger real estate transactions were the sale of properties for the Standard Oil
(now Chevron
) refinery
at what became El Segundo
and the Army
's Fort MacArthur
at San Pedro.
George Peck died at age 83 in his home located at 1315 W. Adams Boulevard in Los Angeles
, (which is now the historic West Adams District
), leaving an estate valued at $5,000,000. He is interred in the Mausoleum of the Golden West, Sanctuary of Faith at Inglewood Park Cemetery
, Inglewood, California
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
broker
Real estate broker
A real estate broker, real estate agent or realtor is a party who acts as an intermediary between sellers and buyers of real estate/real property and attempts to find sellers who wish to sell and buyers who wish to buy...
, developer and millionaire
Millionaire
A millionaire is an individual whose net worth or wealth is equal to or exceeds one million units of currency. It can also be a person who owns one million units of currency in a bank account or savings account...
.
Born George Huntington Peck, Jr., in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, he began his career as a railroad conductor
Conductor (transportation)
A conductor is a member of a railway train's crew that is responsible for operational and safety duties that do not involve the actual operation of the train. The title of conductor is most associated with railway operations in North America, but the role of conductor is common to railways...
and is credited with driving the first Southern Pacific
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
into San Pedro. Convinced of the need for harbor
Harbor
A harbor or harbour , or haven, is a place where ships, boats, and barges can seek shelter from stormy weather, or else are stored for future use. Harbors can be natural or artificial...
facilities, he later bought land along the seashore and, in 1890–despite little formal education–established the first bank in San Pedro.
Peck eventually acquired virtually all of San Pedro and much of the north part of what became Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach is the wealthiest beachfront city located in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, USA. The city is on the Pacific coast, south of El Segundo, and north of Hermosa Beach. Manhattan Beach is the home of both beach and indoor volleyball, and surfing. During the winter, the...
. He also subdivided and laid out the small town of El Porto
El Porto, Manhattan Beach, California
El Porto is a beach community that is part of Manhattan Beach, a city in the South Bay area of Greater Los Angeles in Southern California.The boundary of El Porto is 45th Street on the north side, which is the border with El Segundo, and its Chevron oil refinery, to 38th Street, which was the old...
, which was eventually annexed by Manhattan Beach and became part of its north end. Among his larger real estate transactions were the sale of properties for the Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
(now Chevron
Chevron Corporation
Chevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation headquartered in San Ramon, California, United States and active in more than 180 countries. It is engaged in every aspect of the oil, gas, and geothermal energy industries, including exploration and production; refining,...
) refinery
Oil refinery
An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas...
at what became El Segundo
El Segundo, California
El Segundo is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located on the Santa Monica Bay, it was incorporated on January 18, 1917, and is one of the Beach Cities of Los Angeles County and part of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments...
and the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
's Fort MacArthur
Fort MacArthur
Fort MacArthur is a former United States Army installation in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California . The fort is named in honor of Lieutenant General Arthur MacArthur...
at San Pedro.
George Peck died at age 83 in his home located at 1315 W. Adams Boulevard in Los Angeles
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...
, (which is now the historic West Adams District
West Adams, Los Angeles, California
West Adams, also known as Historic West Adams, is a large district located in the center of Los Angeles, California, southwest of Downtown and west of USC...
), leaving an estate valued at $5,000,000. He is interred in the Mausoleum of the Golden West, Sanctuary of Faith at Inglewood Park Cemetery
Inglewood Park Cemetery
Inglewood Park Cemetery was founded in 1905 in Inglewood, California. A number of notable people, including entertainment and sports personalities, have been interred or entombed here.-List of notable and celebrity interments at Inglewood Park:...
, Inglewood, California
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
.