John Hunt Painter (1819 - 1891)

Born 3 Sep 1819 in Salem, Columbiana County, Ohio

Ancestors

Died 9 Apr 1891 at age 71 in Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California,

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Biography

John Hunt Painter, eldest son of David Painter was born with twin sister Phoebe, at the family farm near Salem, Ohio. John's family was by birthright members of the Society of Friends.

On May 4, 1842, John married a fellow Quaker, Edith Dean at the Quaker meeting in Winona, Columbiana County, Ohio.^[1] John and Edith had eight children, the first two born near Winona, Ohio. The rest born at the farm he established in Springdale, Cedar County, Iowa.

In late December, 1857, John, then a justice of the peace, was visited by John Brown. Some ten companions of John Brown were "lodged with a Quaker, William Maxon [or Maxson], about three miles northeast of the village of Springdale, Brown agreeing to give in exchange for their keep such of his teams or wagons as might seem just and fair. Brown himself was taken into the home of John H. Painter, about a half-mile away; and all were welcomed with that unfeigned hospitality for which the Friends have always been known."^[2]

After John Brown left, Painter shipped 196 Sharpe's rifles and revolvers, marked as carpenter's tools from West Liberty to Harper's Ferry. The weaponry was used during Brown's historic raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859.

Their youngest child was born the same year as the raid, and was married twenty years, later. In 1881, John and Edith migrated with early settlers to Pasadena, California, where he purchased 2,000 acres of land. According to Hiram Reid's History of Pasadena, John Hunt Painter owned virtually all of Pasadena north of Villa Street, at one time.

In 1888, John erected a the commodious hotel, which he called "La Pintoresca." It was later known as Hotel Pasedena, and was a local landmark.

In 1912, the hotel was destroyed by fire. The Pasadena Star reported on January 15, 1912: "With the exception of the north wing at the west end of the building, containing the kitchen, dining room and servants' quarters, Hotel Pasadena, formerly known as La Pintoresca, located at the corner of Washington Street and Fair Oaks Avenue, was completely destroyed by fire that started at 10:45 o'clock last night. The guests escaped without injury."

In an editorial, the Star wrote: "Destruction of property by fire is always particularly regrettable. But the burning of Hotel Pasadena, better known as La Pintoresca, is especially to be deplored, because of the aroma of early-day romance that clung to this landmark. Before it was La Pintoresca, it was known as the Painter Hotel, from the Messrs Painter who built it in 1888 and owned and conducted it until a few years ago. In the early youth of the city many a delightful banquet and social function was held within its walls. Perhaps no structure in Pasadena had more romantic memories and associations attached to it.

The hotel contained antique furniture brought to the hotel by "Hetty" Green, said to be the richest woman in the world, who was an investor in the hotel. One valuable chair that was saved had been made for Francis Scott Key of Star Spangled Banner fame.

The property where the hotel once stood is now Pintoresca Park.

Sources

1. ↑ They were married at New Garden Quaker Meeting in Winona, Butler Twp. Columbiana Co., William Wade Hinshaw, Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, vol. IV, p. 748.
2. ↑ Frederick Lloyd, "John Brown Among the Pedee Quakers" in The Annals of Iowa by the State Historical Society, Vo. IV, no. III, p. 714.

• *Jones, Louis Thomas (1914). The Quakers of Iowa. Iowa City: The State Historical Society of Iowa. p. 193

• Aurner, Clarence Ray (editor) (1910). A topical history of Cedar County, Iowa. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Volume I, page 424

• Hunt, Charles Cummins (1906). A genealogical history of the Robert and Abigail Pancoast Hunt family. Columbus, Ohio: Champlin Press, p. 83:

• Article from Pasadena Star News dated 02/18/12, by Sid Gally, a Pasadena Museum of History volunteer, and correspondent for the Pasadena Star News.

• Find A Grave Memorial# 133347392