Edwin Tobias Earl(May 30, 1858 – January 2, 1919) was an American businessman, newspaper publisher and philanthropist.
Edwin T. Earl | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Edwin Tobias Earl May 30, 1858 Tehama County,California |
| Died | January 2, 1919(aged 60) Los Angeles,California |
| Resting place | Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Hollywood, California |
| Occupation | Publisher |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Emily Jarvis Earl (m.1902) |
| Children | 4 |
Biography
editEarly life
editEdwin T. Earl was born on a fruit ranch nearRed Bluff, Californiaon May 30, 1858.[1]His father was Joseph Earl and his mother, Adelia Chaffee.[1][2]His brother was Guy Chaffee Earl.[1]
Career
editHe started his career in the shipping of fruits.[1]By 1886, he was President of the Earl Fruit Company. In 1890, he invented therefrigerator carto transport fruits to the East Coast of the United States.[1][2]He established theContinental Fruit Expressand invested US$2,000,000 in refrigerator cars.[1]In 1901, he sold his refrigerator cars toArmour and CompanyofChicagoand became a millionaire.[1][2]
In 1901, he purchased theLos Angeles Expressand became its editor.[1][3]Ten years later, in 1911, he also purchased theLos Angeles Tribune.[1]
He also invested in real estate in Los Angeles.[1]
He was a Freemason, a member of theCalifornia Cluband theJonathan Club,two private member's clubs in Los Angeles, and theBolsa Chica Gun Club.[1]He was a member of theCalifornia Republican Party.
Philanthropy
editIn 1901, he made a donation to thePacific School of ReligioninBerkeley, Californiato start theEarl Lectures.[2]For more than a hundred years, it has featured distinguished guest speakers likeTheodore Roosevelt,Maya Angelou,Harry Emerson FosdickandCecil Williams.[2]
Personal life
editHe married Emily Jarvis Earl ofLouisville, Kentuckyon April 30, 1902.[1]They had three sons, Jarvis, Edwin (1905–1981) and Chaffee, and one daughter, Emily.[1]They resided in Los Angeles, California.[1]He died on January 2, 1919, in Los Angeles.[1][2]
References
edit- ^abcdefghijklmno'Edwin T. Earl Dies in South',Sausalito News,Volume 35, Number 2, 11 January 1919[1]
- ^abcdef"Pacific School of Religion: Earl Lectures".Archived fromthe originalon August 18, 2013.RetrievedAugust 22,2013.
- ^Kevin Starr,Inventing the Dream: California Through the Progressive Era,Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986, p. 241