Gurdon Wattles
Gurdon Wallace Wattles | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Richford, New York, U.S. |
| Died | January 31, 1932 (aged 76) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, banker, community leader |
| Known for | Funding early development of Hollywood; organizing the Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition |
Gurdon Wallace Wattles (May 12, 1855 – January 31, 1932) was a prominent entrepreneur, banker, and community leader based in Omaha, Nebraska, who played a crucial role in funding the early development of Hollywood. Combining sharp intellect with determined ambition, Wattles crafted a strategic vision that influenced the economic landscape of Omaha during the early 1900s.
Personal life
Wattles was born in Richford, New York as the third son to James Wattles and Elizabeth Whitton. His ancestry included distinguished individuals such as Brampton Gurdon, a 17th-century English parliamentarian and high sheriff, alongside American colonial pioneers like Elder William Brewster and John Howland of the Mayflower. His family tree also featured founders of early New England communities and influential political leaders including Edward Everett.
Following his family’s move to Glidden, Iowa in 1868, Wattles completed high school and worked as a teacher to finance his higher education. Health complications cut short his studies at Iowa Agricultural College in 1878, leading him to pursue law instead. He apprenticed under Thomas F Barbee in Carroll, Iowa, before gaining admission to the bar. Later, Iowa State University honored him with an honorary Master of Philosophy degree in recognition of his accomplishments.
On October 20, 1882, Wattles married Abigail Jane "Jennie" Leete, who descended from Governor William Leete, an early leader in Connecticut. The couple had three children: Frederick Leete Wattles, Margaret Elizabeth Wattles, and Mary Louise Wattles. Jennie passed away in Chicago in 1916.
In 1918, he wed Julia Vance from Nebraska, an accomplished scholar with degrees from Oberlin College and Columbia College. She served as head of the home economics department at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Their son, Gurdon Wallace Wattles Jr., was born in Hollywood in 1920.
Career
After completing his legal training and joining the bar, Wattles began practicing law at a firm in Carroll, Iowa and persuaded his parents to relocate there. In 1882, he ventured into banking by founding the Farmer's Bank in Carroll with silent partners, focusing on serving German immigrant farmers in eastern Nebraska. The bank achieved success well beyond expectations. Upon moving to Omaha in 1892, Wattles assumed the role of vice-president at the city's Union National Bank.
By 1901, he had unified Omaha’s separate streetcar companies into the Omaha and Council Bluffs Streetcar Company, which later became known as the Omaha Traction Company. In 1903, he contributed to establishing both the Omaha Grain Exchange and the Omaha Business Men's Association—an organization dedicated to opposing labor unions and supporting open shop policies. Wattles was appointed president of the United States National Bank of Omaha in 1905 and subsequently served as chairman until 1920. That same year, he directed Nebraska’s exhibit at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition held in St. Louis, Missouri, where he introduced innovative filmed advertising techniques. Additionally, Wattles held a directorship at the Chicago Great Western Railroad and supervised construction of Omaha’s iconic Hotel Fontenelle in 1914.
As a longstanding member of the prestigious Omaha Club, Wattles retained a private room there even after relocating permanently to his California estate named "Jualita" in 1922, which he used as his base for business engagements during visits to Omaha.
Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition
In 1897, Wattles took the lead in organizing and presiding over the Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition and Indian Congress, which drew more than 2.6 million visitors to Omaha over a five-month period. The event displayed 4,062 exhibits throughout a site located in North Omaha, centered around a lagoon stretching in length and encircled by 21 classical-style buildings that presented products from around the world. During President William McKinley’s visit, Wattles introduced him to an audience of nearly 100,000 people. At the grand parade, Wattles rode alongside his close associate William Jennings Bryan, significantly boosting his prominence across Nebraska and the broader Midwest region.
Politics
Wattles was chosen as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1904, where he cast his vote for Theodore Roosevelt and subsequently served on Nebraska’s notification committee. His friendship with Roosevelt endured until Roosevelt’s passing in 1919. During World War I, Wattles was appointed by Herbert Hoover as the Federal Food Administrator for Nebraska.
Honors
In 1905, Wattles was honored with the title King of the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben. Additionally, during the 1910s, he was awarded an honorary degree by Iowa State College.
Wattles House
The Wattles House, designed by Omaha architect Thomas Rogers Kimball in the Chateauesque architectural style, was constructed in 1895. It holds historical importance as it is designated an Omaha Landmark and is included within the Gold Coast Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Wattles lived there from 1896 until 1921 before permanently moving to Hollywood, California in 1922.
Wattles Mansion
In April 1905, Wattles purchased ninety acres in Hollywood, California, extending into the Sierra Madre Mountains, with plans to build a home. The Mission Revival-style mansion named “Jualita” was completed in 1907 based on designs by architects Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey. The estate featured Japanese, Italian rose, and Spanish gardens alongside orchards and a palm court. This mansion stands as a rare surviving example of Hollywood estates predating the film industry era.
Wattles relocated his family permanently to California in January 1922 and established an office in downtown Los Angeles. He also provided guidance to fellow Iowa native Margaret J Anderson during her development of the Beverly Hills Hotel, playing a supportive role during Hollywood’s formative years and Beverly Hills’ early growth.
See also
External links
- Wattles, G.W. (1922) Autobiography of Gurdon Wallace Wattles
- Historic postcard depicting the Wattles Mansion in Hollywood.
