Glendale, California Biographies

Robert Divine

Robert Divine, who passed from this life December 7, 1920, had been a resident of the valley since 1881, when he purchased a forty-six acre tract on San Fernando Road, and made that place his home until his death. He was a native of Ireland; born October 20, 1834, at Straben, Tyrone county; educated in the national schools; and grew to manhood on a farm. At the age of twenty-one he set sail on the “Great Western” from Liverpool, and after six weeks arrived at New York City. After a short stay in the city, where he visited relatives, he boarded the “Illinois” for the Isthmus of Panama, which he crossed on the railroad, then came up the Pacific on the “Golden Age,” anchoring at San Francisco, January 15, 1856. He mined in California and Idaho for many years; was among the first hundred to enter Idaho from the west, at the time of the Salmon River excitement. In 1867 he returned to Ireland via the Nicaragua. He spent several weeks renewing associations of youth, but though loyal to his native land, returned to California firm in the faith that no region approached it, in opportunities afforded to men of energy and determination. During his visit in Ireland he secured and paid for a life rental of the old home place for his father and gave him the greater part of his cash on hand, enabling the elderly gentleman to live in every comfortable circumstances during his declining years.

In 1881 he purchased a tract of land on San Fernando Road, which was partly set out to deciduous fruit trees and grapevines. He cleared off the rest of the land and built a modest residence the first year. The present home of the family at 3464 San Fernando Road, which was built in 1908, occupies a site adjacent to their original residence. The acreage is still intact except for 10 acres sold to the Coast Lumber Company, and land given to the City for Oxford Street. The ranch is leased to Japanese for the raising of garden truck. It is one of a few large close in properties let, and is very desirable for either residence or business sites. Mr. Devine was a Democrat, always active in the rank, serving on the election boards and as a delegate to conventions.

At Los Angeles, on May 4, 1874, Mr. Devine married Ellinor Chapman, a native of Georgina, York County, Province of Ontario, Canada. She came to Los Angeles in 1868. They became the parents of six children: Janet, who died at the age of two years; Margaret, who died in her twenty-fourth year; Robert, who is a rancher at Owensmouth; Leila, who died at the age of thirty-six, and was an auditor in the employ of Parmalee Dohrmann Company, of Los Angeles, prior to her death; Mable, who is at home with her mother and assumes the responsibility of the home; and Florence, who is a bookkeeper in the employ of Andrew Jergens Company at Burbank. The family are members of the Episcopal church.

From “History of Glendale and Vicinity” by John Calvin Sherer. The Glendale Publishing Company, c. 1922 F. M. Broadbooks and J. C. Sherer. P. 329-330.