Los Angeles County
Biographies
ALBERT EDWIN
LADNER
LADNER, ALBERT EDWIN, Banking and Investments, Los Angeles, California, was born in San Francisco, California, June 28, 1874, the son of Edwin Ladner and Nancy Clark (Nowlin) Ladner. He married Maud Withers at Salinas, California, May 9, 1894, and to them there have been born four children—two daughters, Marguerite and Mildred, and two sons, Ernest and Raymond Ladner.
Mr. Ladner attended the public schools of Petaluma, California, until he was fifteen years of age, but from that time forward has been earning his own livelihood, and has won a place for himself in the business world through his own efforts. He began his career in 1889 as a clerk in a small country store at San Luis Obispo, California, and remained there for about two years.
Returning to San Francisco in 1891, Mr. Ladner entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company and worked in various capacities for the next few years, being Assistant Station Agent at Monterey, when he resigned in 1894. He gave up railroading in order to take over the management of his father’s cattle ranch, which he purchased outright some time later and which he continues to retain.
For several years prior to 1902 Mr. Ladner interested himself in various mining enterprises and for three years operated a quicksilver mine, which he later sold to Los Angeles capitalists. Following this he went to Los Angeles in search of an investment and within a short time embarked in the grocery business at San Pedro (Los Angeles Harbor), but sold this out at the expiration of a few months and re-engaged in mining.
From this he turned, in time, to concrete construction and superintended the erection of stations for the Las Vegas & Tonopah Railroad on its new line into Las Vegas. In addition he built numerous mining plant buildings and did other work in the Colorado Desert country. He continued in the construction business until 1908, disposing of his interest at that time to take up the development of an alfalfa ranch which he had purchased in Southern California.
In 1909 Mr. Ladner directed his attention to financial matters and in association with others organized the Anchor Brokerage Company, which brought about the formation of the Anchor Fire Insurance Company. This company later was merged with the California National Life Insurance Company and Mr. Ladner, as one of the principal factors in the original concern, had a prominent part in the amalgamation.
In 1911, through the Anchor Brokerage Company, acting as a holding corporation, the Pyramid Investment Company was organized in Los Angeles and this has since become one of the factors in the home building business of that city. Mr. Ladner was elected to the Board of Directors and made Manager of the company, a position he held for more than a year, devoting his time to getting the concern started on a sound basis.
Los Angeles, like most other cities of its size, was beset for many years by the “loan shark” evil in its various phases and the usurious rates of interest charged became so great that in the early part of 1912, a civic crusade against that class of business resulted in the prosecution of numerous firms and individuals. A direct result of this crusade was the organization of the Provident Pledge Company, capitalized at $1,000,000 for the purpose of lending money at a minimum rate of interest, instead of at 10 and 20 per cent per month, as had been the practice. Mr. Ladner aided in the organization of this company, which is incorporated under the laws of California, and was made Vice President and Treasurer of the concern.
In addition to this company, Mr. Ladner is interested in various other enterprises, among them the Bank of Lancaster (Lancaster, California), in which he is Secretary, Treasurer and Director; Lancaster Land & Loan Company, of which he is President and the Pyramid Investment Company in which he is a Director.
He takes an active interest in the affairs of each of these companies, but devotes the greater part of his time to the management of the Provident Pledge Company.
Mr. Ladner is a prominent member of the Masonic Fraternity in Los Angeles, having membership in Pentalpha Lodge, No. 101, Free and Accepted Masons, Los Angeles Consistory, No. 3, Scottish Rite, and the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Metropolitan Club of Los Angeles.
Transcribed 7-17-10
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 467, International News Service, New York, Chicago, San
Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta.
1913.
© 2010 Marilyn R. Pankey.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES
BIOGRAPIES