VAIL, Nathan Russell II “N. R.”
VAIL, Nathan Russell II “N. R.” (1883-1943), oldest of seven children born to Walter and Margaret Vail. He married Nita Mills (1883-1951) and they had three children:
- Margaret Louise Vail (1920-2010)
- and twin boys
- Nathan Russell “Russ” Vail (1921-2005)
- Alexander Lennox Vail (1921-2000)
N.R. Vail took over management of Vail & Vickers in 1906 when his father, Walter, died. He managed affairs for Santa Rosa Island until his early death of a heart attack at age 59 on May 24, 1943. At that time, his youngest brother, Ed, took over island affairs.
In the News~
April 5, 1922 [SBMP]: “Buy Santa Rosa off Coast Here. Los Angeles Firm has title to more than 62,000 acres of cattle-raising lands. Santa Rosa Island has become the sole property of the firm of Vail and Vickers of Los Angeles, according to a deed filed yesterday with the county recorder here. In the transaction, which is dated March 4, 1922, N.R. Vail has purchased the one-eighth undivided interest held by the More estate for $85,000. Mrl Vail and his partner had previously obtained control of the other seven-eighths of the island. Santa Rosa Island, lying some 30 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara county, consists of 62,686.49 acres, according to the United States government survey made in April 1862. It is used chiefly for stock raising. The More estate was operated under the name of the Santa Rosa Island company, with a capital stock of $300,000. John Faxon More as administrator of the estate of John F. More, deceased and president of the company held controlling interest with 2996 shares, while Julie Belle Austin, Mr. More, Miriam E. More and Miriam C. More held one share each for themselves. The transaction that was completed yesterday was made through the office of William G. Griffith, attorney. Santa Rosa Island belonged to the Mexican government up to 1837. In that year, it being before the occupation of the state by Americans, Don Carlos Carrillo was a candidate for governor of the territory which was torn by revolutions and dissension. Failing to obtain the office, Carrillo was given a grant to the island to soothe his grief over political failure. He held on to it for a short time only, giving it away as a marriage portion to his two daughters in 1842, both of whom were married on the same day, one to J.C. Jones, United States consul to the Sandwich Islands, and the other to Captain A. B. Thompson. Santa Rosa Island later fell into the hands of A. P. More, and it was his heirs who relinquished the last title to the vast acreage yesterday. The island was never productive until modern sea transportation made it easily accessible to Santa Barbara harbor, but ever since then profits have been made in the cattle industry there. Most of the island is good for grazing, and, with abundant fresh water, it has become one of the most profitable cattle ranches in the state.”
