Samuel Allerton--1025 Highland Street, S. Pasadena

It once took up half the block, and it was only the winter home for Samuel (1829-1914) and Agnes Allerton.

Samuel had made his money in Illinois, creating the Union Stockyards, as well as the First National Bank of Chicago. And by 1900, with two grown children, Kate (1864-1937) and Robert (1873-1964), they were searching to avoid the harsh Illinois winters. The children's mother was actually Pamilla W. Thompson, who passed away in 1880, whereupon two years later Samuel married her younger sister Agnes. Their wedding silverware was recently posted for sale. Interestingly, Agnes was living with the family in 1880 in Chicago. The Agnes Allerton wing of the Art Institute of Chicago was funded in her name by stepson Robert. Daughter Kate and her second husband Hugo Johnstone, came to reside in the Pasadena area after Samuel and Agnes settled there. Kate passed away in Pasadena on December 31, 1937. She is buried in the family plot at Graceland Cemetery in Chicago.

Sometime around 1904 Samuel had this California style stucco home built. Located on Highland Street, it actually faced south to Buena Vista. A more accurate address would have been 1020 Buena Vista.

The Allerton winter home ca. 1906

The house on the left still exists at the corner of Buena Vista and Meridian. The Allerton house was destroyed and the lot was subdivided and six houses now stand where the Allerton home once did.

It was said, according to one biography in 1903, that Samuel was the third richest man in Chicago. How rich was he? The New York Times reported that his estate was worth $20 million when he passed away in 1914.

Sources:

1. New York Times, March 17, 1914
2. Prominent and Progressive Americans, 1903