1. Abbot Kinney was an American developer, conservationist, water supply expert and tree expert.
13 Facts About Abbot Kinney
1. 2.
Abbot Kinney's family moved to Washington, DC, and became known in politics.
3.
At the age of 16, the 6-foot-2-inch Abbot Kinney went to Europe, where he studied in Heidelberg, Paris and Zurich and became fluent in six languages.
4.
Abbot Kinney traveled to Salt Lake City and Oregon and rejoined the survey team in the Yosemite Valley.
5.
In 1874, Kinney joined the tobacco business run by his older brother, Francis S Kinney, with offices in New York.
6.
Abbot Kinney was appointed to a three-year position as chairman of the California Board of Forestry.
7.
In 1887, Kinney established the nation's first forestry station in Rustic Canyon on 6 acres of land donated by Santa Monica co-founder John P Jones, and Arcadia Bandini de Stearns Baker.
8.
Abbot Kinney formed the Santa Monica Improvement Company in 1887 and built a lawn tennis club.
9.
In 1887 Abbot Kinney purchased 247 acres of land on the bluffs north of Santa Monica Canyon to be developed as "Santa Monica Heights", but economic conditions forced Abbot Kinney to abandon the project.
10.
Abbot Kinney convinced the Santa Fe Railroad to extend its Inglewood line north to his resort.
11.
Abbot Kinney was allowed to build a 60-foot long breakwater to protect his facilities from storm tides.
12.
Around 1900 Abbot Kinney developed a suburban tract at what was then the western edge of the city of Los Angeles.
13.
Abbot Kinney's adopted son, Thornton Parillo, left a government position and moved to New Brunswick, New Jersey, where he wrote stories and books on his father's experience in Southern California.