Los Angeles County
Biographies
KARL ELLIOTT
ELLIOTT, KARL, Real Estate, Building and Investments, Los Angeles, California, was born at Greensboro, Indiana, January 25, 1885, the son of Nathan H. Elliott and Eva (Bowman) Elliott. Mr. Elliot married Ada Sellers at Pasadena, California, June 4, 1910, and to them there has been born a daughter, Adrienne Elliott.
Mr. Elliott’s parents left Indiana about the year 1890 and went to California, first locating at San Jose, later at Glendora, and finally at Pasadena, where they established a permanent residence.
He received his preliminary education in the grammar schools of Pasadena, then entered the preparatory department of the University of Southern California, from which he was graduated. He then entered the University and studied for about two years, but at that time left to enter business life.
Mr. Elliott first went to work, in 1900, for the Pasadena Electric Railway Company (now the Pacific Electric Railway Co.), while he was going to school. He worked in all departments of the railroad, including clerical and mechanical branches, and despite his youth, was entrusted with various responsible positions.
Mr. Elliott was at different times in charge of the Southern Division Mechanical Department of the above corporation, wherein he had charge of about seventy-five cars, and the Electrical Department of the Northern Division of the company’s system. Later on he became Chief Clerk in the Mechanical Department, with a subdivision, the electrical Department, under his supervision.
In 1908, Mr. Elliott embarked in the real estate and building field, in which he has met with unusual success. Severing his connection with the Pasadena Railway Company, he purchased an interest in the Original Home Builders of Los Angeles, a development enterprise which has since become firmly established in the business life of Southern California. He was elected President of the company almost immediately, and at once took up his duties in that capacity.
When Mr. Elliott became the head of the Home Builders it was not very strong financially, its total capital at the time being about $10,000. Largely through his managerial ability and progressive methods the concern has grown steadily until, in 1912, it had assets approximately half a million dollars in value.
The Original Home Builders of Los Angeles have taken an active part in the development of Los Angeles and vicinity, the company’s method of operation being the purchase of large tracts of land, which are later subdivided into residence lots and homes built thereon, for sale. The company became particularly active during the year 1912, opening up for improvement several large stretches of territory in the outlying sections of Los Angeles. One notable purchase was that of 117 acres between Los Angeles and Glendale, a suburb, formerly a part of the Glassell Estate. This will be known as Wrighton Place. Another tract, comprising forty acres of land in the Southwestern part of Los Angeles, will be known as Elliott Place, so named in honor of Mr. Elliott, and will be subdivided and built up within the next few years, it is stated.
The Home Builders of Los Angeles occupies an advantageous position in its business field in the Southwest in that it owns its mills and lumber yards where its building material is prepared. In addition to the parent concern, which is the second oldest of the kind in Los Angeles, Mr. Elliott is the dominating factor in several other allied concerns. These include the Elliott Supply Company, of which he is President, a corporation which handles the building material for the Home Builders of Los Angeles; the Elliott, Wright & Company, a general stock, bond and investment firm which handles the general financial affairs of the original company, and also provides a guaranty fund for the stockholders of the Home Builders of Los Angeles. He also is Treasurer of the Wright Builders.
His business interests naturally make Mr. Elliott one of the most enthusiastic workers for the upbuilding of Los Ongeles (sic) and Southern California and through his companies, he has helped to attract many new citizens to that section.
Mr. Elliott is a member of the University Club, of Los Angeles; Los Angeles Athletic Club of the same city, and of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, Alpha Upsilon Chapter, of the University of Southern California.
Transcribed
11-14-10 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 548, International News Service, New York, Chicago, San
Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta.
1913.
© 2010 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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