Dr. Obed Macy, born on the Island of Nantucket in Massachusetts, in 1801, was prominent in the history of Los Angeles. He first settled in El Monte in 1850, following his arrival in California from Indiana. He spent only a few months in El Monte, moving to Los Angeles where he rented and conducted the Bella Union Hotel, and later, developed the Alameda Baths, located at Main and Macy Streets. The family was honored in the naming of Macy Street in that city for Dr. Macy.

Dr. Macy’s son, Oscar, for a time was a resident of El Monte district. He filed on a government claim, which he later sold to Samuel King. He also was well known in Southern California as a printer.