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H. K. S. O'Melveny

December 18, 2023

Harvey Kilpatrick Stuart O'Melveny (1823–1893) was a Circuit Court judge in Illinois and a Superior Court judge in California during the 19th century. He was president of the Los Angeles, California, Common Council—the legislative arm of the city—in 1871–72.

O'Melveny

Biography edit

Family edit

O'Melveny was born on March 5, 1823, in Elkton, Kentucky, the son of William O'Melveny and Susan McKee, Presbyterians who immigrated from Ireland. He had five brothers and five sisters. The O'Melvenys moved to Southern Illinois when Harvey was three years old, and he spent his youth in Waterloo, Illinois, where he attended school. Discipline was strict in the family, and Harvey once recalled that he was once "thrashed" for whistling on Sunday, the sabbath.[1]

Education edit

A "family tradition" held that O'Melveny attended McKendree College at Lebanon, Illinois. At the age of 20 he began to read law under the tutelage of James Shields and Governor William H. Bissell,[2] and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1846.[1]

Marriage edit

In summer 1850, he married Anna Wilhelmina Rose, sister of the noted California pioneer and state senator, Leonard John Rose. Their children were Edward H., Henry William, Anna R. (Mrs. George Safford) and Adele (Mrs. Calvert Foy). In time, the entire family moved to Los Angeles.[1]

Death edit

O'Melveny was stricken with his final illness ("apoplexy") while he was walking on Spring Street on November 7, 1893; he was taken to the home of his son Henry, 1148 South Pearl (Figueroa) Street (corner of 12th Street), where he died on November 18.[3] Funeral services were held in the Pearl Street home on November 20.[4]

Career edit

O'Melveny began his law practice in 1846 in Belleville, Illinois, and in 1849 he crossed the Great Plains on horseback to reach Sacramento, California, on August 4 of that year; he formed a law partnership with Murray Morrison, whom he had known in Kaskaskia, Illinois. In Sacramento he was appointed recorder of land titles for the Sonoma District by General Bennett Riley, the military governor. Ill health prompted O'Melveny to move to Benicia, and practiced before a Major Cooper, "judge of the first instance under the Mexican regime (corresponding nearly to our justice of the peace.)"[1][3]

After his temporary return to Illinois and his marriage, he established a "lucrative law practice" and had "achieved sufficient prominence" to become a Circuit Court judge of five southern counties in 1857. He held that position until 1862. During that time he became acquainted with Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas. O'Melveny was a Democrat and a political follower of the senator, "whom he admired so much that he named his second daughter, Adele, after Douglas' wife." In winter 1862–63, he was put forward as a candidate to fill the Senate vacancy caused by Douglas's death, "but was defeated in the Democratic caucus for the nomination by two votes."[1][3]

In 1869 the O'Melvenys moved to Los Angeles, where Harvey practiced law in partnership with Anson Brunson, and on December 4, 1871, he was elected to a one-year term on the Los Angeles Common Council and was promptly chosen as president. He was "connected" with ex-Mayor Henry T. Hazard—one source says as a law partner—and he was said to have taken "a vital part" in bringing the Southern Pacific Railroad to Los Angeles in 1876.[3][5]

O'Melveny was elected a county judge in 1872, and in 1887 he was appointed to the Superior Court bench and served there "several years."[3]

References edit

Access to the Los Angeles Times links may require the use of a library card.

  1. ^ a b c d e Clary, William W. (1966). History of the Law Firm of O'Melveny and Myers, 1885–1965. Vol. I. pp. 13–16.
  2. ^ "Judge O'Melveny". Los Angeles Herald. Vol. 41, no. 51. December 11, 1893.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Ebbed Away," Los Angeles Times, November 19, 1893, page 5
  4. ^ "Death Record," Los Angeles Times, November 20, 1893, page 5
  5. ^ Chronological Record of Los Angeles City Officials,1850-1938, compiled under direction of Municipal Reference Library, City Hall, Los Angeles (March 1938, reprinted 1966). "Prepared ... as a report on Project No. SA 3123-5703-6077-8121-9900 conducted under the auspices of the Works Progress Administration."

Further reading edit

  • W.W. Robinson, Lawyers of Los Angeles, pages 6, 50, 52, 73, 301, 319, portrait between pages 78–79
  • James DeLong, Southern California, pages 33–34, 37
  • Ingersoll's Century History of the Santa Monica Bay Cities, page 146

December 18, 2023
melveny, harvey, kilpatrick, stuart, melveny, 1823, 1893, circuit, court, judge, illinois, superior, court, judge, california, during, 19th, century, president, angeles, california, common, council, legislative, city, 1871, melvenycontents, biography, family, . Harvey Kilpatrick Stuart O Melveny 1823 1893 was a Circuit Court judge in Illinois and a Superior Court judge in California during the 19th century He was president of the Los Angeles California Common Council the legislative arm of the city in 1871 72 O MelvenyContents 1 Biography 1 1 Family 1 2 Education 1 3 Marriage 1 4 Death 2 Career 3 References 4 Further readingBiography editFamily edit O Melveny was born on March 5 1823 in Elkton Kentucky the son of William O Melveny and Susan McKee Presbyterians who immigrated from Ireland He had five brothers and five sisters The O Melvenys moved to Southern Illinois when Harvey was three years old and he spent his youth in Waterloo Illinois where he attended school Discipline was strict in the family and Harvey once recalled that he was once thrashed for whistling on Sunday the sabbath 1 Education edit A family tradition held that O Melveny attended McKendree College at Lebanon Illinois At the age of 20 he began to read law under the tutelage of James Shields and Governor William H Bissell 2 and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1846 1 Marriage edit In summer 1850 he married Anna Wilhelmina Rose sister of the noted California pioneer and state senator Leonard John Rose Their children were Edward H Henry William Anna R Mrs George Safford and Adele Mrs Calvert Foy In time the entire family moved to Los Angeles 1 Death edit O Melveny was stricken with his final illness apoplexy while he was walking on Spring Street on November 7 1893 he was taken to the home of his son Henry 1148 South Pearl Figueroa Street corner of 12th Street where he died on November 18 3 Funeral services were held in the Pearl Street home on November 20 4 Career editO Melveny began his law practice in 1846 in Belleville Illinois and in 1849 he crossed the Great Plains on horseback to reach Sacramento California on August 4 of that year he formed a law partnership with Murray Morrison whom he had known in Kaskaskia Illinois In Sacramento he was appointed recorder of land titles for the Sonoma District by General Bennett Riley the military governor Ill health prompted O Melveny to move to Benicia and practiced before a Major Cooper judge of the first instance under the Mexican regime corresponding nearly to our justice of the peace 1 3 After his temporary return to Illinois and his marriage he established a lucrative law practice and had achieved sufficient prominence to become a Circuit Court judge of five southern counties in 1857 He held that position until 1862 During that time he became acquainted with Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A Douglas O Melveny was a Democrat and a political follower of the senator whom he admired so much that he named his second daughter Adele after Douglas wife In winter 1862 63 he was put forward as a candidate to fill the Senate vacancy caused by Douglas s death but was defeated in the Democratic caucus for the nomination by two votes 1 3 In 1869 the O Melvenys moved to Los Angeles where Harvey practiced law in partnership with Anson Brunson and on December 4 1871 he was elected to a one year term on the Los Angeles Common Council and was promptly chosen as president He was connected with ex Mayor Henry T Hazard one source says as a law partner and he was said to have taken a vital part in bringing the Southern Pacific Railroad to Los Angeles in 1876 3 5 O Melveny was elected a county judge in 1872 and in 1887 he was appointed to the Superior Court bench and served there several years 3 References editAccess to the Los Angeles Times links may require the use of a library card a b c d e Clary William W 1966 History of the Law Firm of O Melveny and Myers 1885 1965 Vol I pp 13 16 Judge O Melveny Los Angeles Herald Vol 41 no 51 December 11 1893 a b c d e Ebbed Away Los Angeles Times November 19 1893 page 5 Death Record Los Angeles Times November 20 1893 page 5 Chronological Record of Los Angeles City Officials 1850 1938 compiled under direction of Municipal Reference Library City Hall Los Angeles March 1938 reprinted 1966 Prepared as a report on Project No SA 3123 5703 6077 8121 9900 conducted under the auspices of the Works Progress Administration Further reading editW W Robinson Lawyers of Los Angeles pages 6 50 52 73 301 319 portrait between pages 78 79 James DeLong Southern California pages 33 34 37 Ingersoll s Century History of the Santa Monica Bay Cities page 146 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title H K S O 27Melveny amp oldid 1177039026, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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