Harris Newmark

Harris Newmark (July 5, 1834 – 1916) was a Jewish American businessman, philanthropist, and historian who was born in the West Prussian city of Löbau (now Lubawa, Poland). Newmark immigrated to the United States in 1853. He sailed from Europe to New York City, and then to San Francisco. He joined his older brother and other family in Los Angeles. His branch of the family were among the founders and developers of the region, founding Montebello, California and the related area. Newmark contributed to developing many local institutions, such as the Los Angeles County Library and others supporting children's welfare. He wrote a memoir, Sixty Years in Southern California: 1853–1913, which has been cited in dozens of academic papers and books. It is described as the Los Angeles equivalent of a Pepys diary. Early years Newmark was the son of Jewish parents Phillip and Esther Newmark. Among his siblings was an older brother Joseph P. Newmark. Their father Phillip Newmark was born in Neumark, West Prussia. He frequently traveled to Sweden and Denmark to sell his ink and blackening products. He made a sales trip to New York City in 1837, but became ill and returned home in 1838.