332 HISTORY OF PASADKNA. 



the Throop Polytechnic Institute in Pasadena — the first educational institu- 

 tion of its type west of the Mississippi river, and equipped in all respe'cts 

 equal to the best in the largest eastern cities. [See pages 193 to 197.] 



In addition to the foregoing, there have been many days in the city 

 when great parades, with band music and song, speeches, floral displays, 

 etc, , were indulged in on a liberal scale — such as Fourth of July, Decora- 

 tion Day, Tournament of Roses, etc. ; but these occur annually in regular 

 course, and do not have the exceptional historic quality which pertains to 

 the notable days recorded in this chapter. 



DIVISION FIVE — NAMES. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



The Name " W11.SON." — Sketch of life of Hon. B. D. Wilson, after whom were named 

 so man\' historic places and things within our borders. 



THE NAME WILSON. 



Pasadonaland has a Wilson Ditch, a Wilson School, a Wilson Avenue, 

 a Wilson Lake, a Wilson Canyon, a Wilson Trail, a Mount Wilson or Wil- 

 son's Peak, a Mount Wilson Toll-Road, and a Wilson Ranch, the old Lake 

 Vineyard place. It therefore becomes a necessary part of Pasadena History 

 to give a brief sketch of Hon. Benjamin Davis Wilson, from whom all these 

 local "Wilson " names are derived. 



Mr. Wilson was born at Nashville, Tenn., December i, 18 11. From 

 1833 to 1840 he was engaged in trading and trapping in New Mexico, and 

 all that vast region of country tributary to Santa Fe. In 1841 he came to 

 lyos Angeles with a company of 25 men who crossed the mountains and 

 desert from New Mexico. In 1843 he bought for $1,000 per league from 

 Don Juan Bandini,* the Jurupa Ranch, where the city of Riverside is now 

 located. t In 1844 he married a Spanish lady. Miss Ramona Yorba, 



* Don Juan Bandini was a leading Spanish resident of San Diego. For his aid to the United States, 

 see pages 80, 88, 91, etc. 



t "Riverside was founded in 1870 ; name changed from JurupSL.'—Hisi. Cal., Vol. 6, p. 521. 



