Towers of Gold

By Frances Dinkelspiel

‘Towers of Gold‘ tells the life story of the author’s great-great-grandfather, Isaias Hellman.  Born in Bavaria, Hellman makes his way to southern California right after the Gold Rush.  He is responsible for promoting and developing eight major industries that shaped California: banking, higher education, transportation, real estate, oil, electricity, water and wine.  His story parallels the story of the new State of California.

Of course, Hellman figures prominently in the history of the Homestead as he partnered with F.P.F. Temple and William Workman in the banking business.  This partnership dissolved when Hellman and Temple could not agree on banking principles.  Hellman was educated in accounting, as well as other disciplines, and could not abide Temple’s more gentlemanly approach to lending.

His disputes were not limited to F.P.F. Temple.  He battled with John Downey over management of Farmers and Merchants Bank.  In fact, when Hellman learned of the Bank’s troubles in 1875, he was in Venice, Italy.  It took him only twenty-three days to get back to Los Angeles, quite a feat at that time, to set matters straight.

This book will teach Homestead Museum docents a great deal about the history of California between 1850 and 1920, which corresponds with the time span on which the Museum focuses.