Daughter of Juan Bandini and Dolores Estudillo, she married Abel Stearns at 14 years of age, he was 43. The couple purchased the Los Alamitos Ranch near Long Beach and spent their summers there. Stearns had his wife's name added to his investments and thus making her very wealthy. They lived in one of the finest homes around and she rode around in a Bostonian carriage. Stearns died in 1871 and Arcadia married Col. Robert S. Baker and they settled in a luxurious hotel in Santa Monica on Ocean Avenue. When she died in 1912, she hand an estate valued at $7-8 million - the largest in California history at that time. As there was no will, it became one of the most contested in Los Angeles history. It is not know for certain, but the city of Arcadia may have well been named in her honor.
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María Arcadia Francisca de Paula Bandini y Estudillo was born at the Presidio of San Diego where she was baptized in the Presidio Chapel January 14, 1827 (SD Baptism 06081, ECPP). She was only 14 when she married (1) Abel Stearns, 43, at Mission San Gabriel June 22, 1841 (SGL Marriage 01917, ECPP). After Abel's death in 1871 she married (2) Robert S. Baker on April 29, 1875.
Courtesy of Steve.
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María Arcadia Francisca de Paula Bandini y Estudillo was born at the Presidio of San Diego where she was baptized in the Presidio Chapel January 14, 1827 (SD Baptism 06081, ECPP). She was only 14 when she married (1) Abel Stearns, 43, at Mission San Gabriel June 22, 1841 (SGL Marriage 01917, ECPP). After Abel's death in 1871 she married (2) Robert S. Baker on April 29, 1875.
Courtesy of Steve.
Daughter of Juan Bandini and Dolores Estudillo, she married Abel Stearns at 14 years of age, he was 43. The couple purchased the Los Alamitos Ranch near Long Beach and spent their summers there. Stearns had his wife's name added to his investments and thus making her very wealthy. They lived in one of the finest homes around and she rode around in a Bostonian carriage. Stearns died in 1871 and Arcadia married Col. Robert S. Baker and they settled in a luxurious hotel in Santa Monica on Ocean Avenue. When she died in 1912, she hand an estate valued at $7-8 million - the largest in California history at that time. As there was no will, it became one of the most contested in Los Angeles history. It is not know for certain, but the city of Arcadia may have well been named in her honor.
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María Arcadia Francisca de Paula Bandini y Estudillo was born at the Presidio of San Diego where she was baptized in the Presidio Chapel January 14, 1827 (SD Baptism 06081, ECPP). She was only 14 when she married (1) Abel Stearns, 43, at Mission San Gabriel June 22, 1841 (SGL Marriage 01917, ECPP). After Abel's death in 1871 she married (2) Robert S. Baker on April 29, 1875.
Courtesy of Steve.
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María Arcadia Francisca de Paula Bandini y Estudillo was born at the Presidio of San Diego where she was baptized in the Presidio Chapel January 14, 1827 (SD Baptism 06081, ECPP). She was only 14 when she married (1) Abel Stearns, 43, at Mission San Gabriel June 22, 1841 (SGL Marriage 01917, ECPP). After Abel's death in 1871 she married (2) Robert S. Baker on April 29, 1875.
Courtesy of Steve.
