Los Angeles County
Biographies
SAMUEL DAVID RANNELLS
RANNELLS, SAMUEL DAVID
(Deceased), Real Estate, Los Angeles, California, was born in Morgan County,
Ill., Aug. 17, 1844, the son of David Andrew Rannells
and Cynthia Ann (McKee) Rannells. He married Jane Hoge Sackett at Nottingham, Ohio,
March 11, 1869, and to them there were born four children,
John W. Rannells (deceased), Clara C. Rannells (deceased), Alfred W. Rannells
and Evelyn B. Rannells. Mr. Rannells was descended of a line of Presbyterian ministers
and his wife the same, her father and grandfather having been well-known
members of the clergy.
Mr. Rannells, who attained a
position among the real estate developers and upbuilders
of Southern California, following a similar work in the middle
West, received his early education in the schools of his native State. He
prepared for college at North Sangamon Academy and then concluded his studies
at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania.
Fired by patriotism, Mr. Rannells,
although a boy in years, abandoned his college career at the beginning of the
Civil War and enlisted for service as a private in the 101st
Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was immediately sent to the front and was with
his regiment in several important engagements, being seriously wounded in one
of these battles. Upon recovering from his wound, however, he re-enlisted, this
time as a member of the 133rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and it
was not long before he was in action again. He displayed such unusual courage
in one of his battles that he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and as
such, after serving throughout the war, was mustered out at its conclusion with
one of the finest records possessed by any man in his command.
Returning to his home after the war, Mr. Rannells taught in the district schools of Illinois for
several terms and in 1869, following his marriage, moved to Grand Island,
Nebraska, where he engaged in the real estate business. He operated in Nebraska
with great success for the next eighteen years, but in 1887 sold out his
interests there and transferred his activities to Los Angeles, which, in that
year, experienced one of the most remarkable real estate booms in its history.
Mr. Rannells immediately became one of the
active real estate men of the city and continued in that business up to the
time of his death, on January 1, 1912.
During the twenty-five years that he was engaged in
business in Los Angeles, Mr. Rannells was one of
the potent forces for the upbuilding of the city and
is credited with having been instrumental in the development of several fine
residence sections. When he first arrived the city was restricted in area and
population, but gave promise of attaining a position among the important cities
of the country, and Mr. Rannells, who was
possessed of an unusual amount of energy, had a large part in the city’s
growth. He was especially active in the Northwest section of Los Angeles and
also led the way in opening up the Sunset Boulevard
territory, this latter district being one of the beautiful sections of the
city.
Operating under the name of the Rannells
Land Company, Mr. Rannells improved a large tract of
land in the Palo Verde Valley of Riverside County, California, and in the
development of this property established the town of Rannells.
The last few years of his life, Mr. Rannells
devoted to the upbuilding of this town and it has
grown to be an important trading center, located in the midst of one of the
choicest agricultural districts in Southern California. As President of the
company, Mr. Rannells handled the greater part of its
affairs, although with him were several well-known men and his son,
John W. Rannells.
Mr. Rannells belonged to
various civic bodies and other organizations, including the North-East-West
Improvement Assn., the Chamber of Commerce and the Los Angeles Realty Board. He
was one of the founders of the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles and
took a deep interest in religious affairs.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard
16 May 2011.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 676,
International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston,
Atlanta. 1913.
© 2011 Marie Hassard.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPIES