William Allen, a native of England, purchased a 502-acre ranch in Altadena, CA, 1878 and brought his family to Southern California the following year. Named the Sphinx Ranch because Allen spent twenty-three years in Egypt as a broker before coming to Southern California, the ranch had a vineyard and small commercial winery at the time Allen purchased it. Allen had additional acres of grapes and citrus trees (mostly oranges) planted on the property. After Allen's death in 1886, his wife and children continued to operate the ranch. In 1911 a part of the ranch was subdivided, and additional subdivisions followed in subsequent years.
From the description of Journals of the Sphinx Ranch, 1878-1918. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 228718379
