Keller, Matthew, 1810-1881

Matthew Keller, Los Angeles pioneer businessman and ranch owner, was born in Ireland and lived in New York, Texas, Mexico, New Orleans, and San Francisco before settling in Los Angeles in 1851. He opened a general merchandise store and established the Rising Sun and Los Angeles Vineyards winery. He experimented with horticulture, held several public offices, was a director of the Pioneer Oil Company, and became the owner of many pieces of property in Los Angeles, vineyards in Anaheim, and the 13,000 acre Rancho Mailbu.

Matthew Keller's son, Henry Workman Keller (1869-1958), was a director of the Automobile Club of Southern California and was active in the promotion of the Pan American Highway, for which he was honored by the Mexican government.