Harold Stuart Chase (1890-1970)

He organized a syndicate to purchase 825-acres in Hope Ranch, Santa Barbara, in 1923, and becoming its largest shareholder he was named President of Santa Barbara Estates, Inc. Two years later, he organized another syndicate to purchase a further 1,200-acres to the west of Hope Ranch that became the La Cumbre Estates Corporation. Chase was also President of both the Hope Ranch Park Water Company (today's La Cumbre Mutual Water Company) and the Modoc Preserve. As the majority owner of over 2,000-acres of Hope Ranch, he directed the forestation of Modoc Road. He and his family were hugely instrumental in the early history of Santa Barbara and his daughter, Lady Barbara Fitzmaurice, became the 8th Marchioness of Lansdowne.