John Lovell (c. 1851 – 1913) was a 19th-century businessman in Los Angeles, California, the owner of a grocery store and other property and a member of the Los Angeles Common Council, the governing body of the city. He suffered injuries to his head, was sent to a mental hospital and was said to have epilepsy.
Lovell was born about 1851, and he died on September 18, 1913, in his home at 1302 Trolleyway in Venice, California, leaving his daughter, Mertie L. Lovell, four sisters and two brothers. Cremation was at Angelus Cemetery, Los Angeles.[1]
Marriageedit
Lovell was engaged in a dispute over the terms of a will left by his wife, Amelia, who died in 1912 or before and left an estate valued at $75,000, but bequeathed only $500 to him. The suit was settled out of court: Lovell was given life interest in a house in Venice, California, and $550 in cash.[2][3]
Vocationedit
In 1882 he opened a grocery store in Los Angeles at the point where Spring, Ninth and Main streets meet, and a year later he bought a lot at Ninth and Main, "in a section that was then a fast-growing residence community," where he built a new store and remained in business for ten years.[1] He also owned other property in the city.[4]
In February 1885, just as he had completed moving his business from one building on Ninth Street to another, Lovell engaged in a quarrel with his previous landlord, Paul Kern, words were exchanged and Kern "scooped up a big iron twine-holder, weighing three or four pounds," and with it struck Lovell over the head, cutting a gash "nearly three inches long," Police and medical aid were called, and Kern was discovered carrying a derringer in his pocket.[6]
Lovell suffered an "apoplectic stroke" in December 1896 and fell to the pavement, striking his head and, it was said, fracturing his skull. He was not expected to survive,[7] but he did recover. Six months later he was badly beaten in Santa Monica by a man who accused him of "insulting" the woman the assailant was with;[8] the aggressor was convicted of assault and sentenced to six months in jail.[9]
In October 1900 Lovell was sent to the Los Angeles County Hospital on a charge of insanity, sworn to by his wife. It was said that "for several years his health has been failing" and that he "had a severe fit, or fainting spell, and when he was revived his mind was gone."[4] By 1905 he had been committed to an "insane asylum," with his wife named as his guardian.[10] He was later released, and in 1909 he was referred to as an "epileptic."[11]
Referencesedit
Access to the Los Angeles Times links may require the use of a library card.
^ abc"Lovell Funeral Today," Los Angeles Times, September 20, 1913, page II-9
^"Homeless Boy In Court: Battalion Chief Witness," Los Angeles Times, January 18, 1912, page II-2
^"Fight Not In Vain: Compromise in Lovell Suit," Los Angeles Times, March 8, 1912, page II-2
^ ab"Mind Gave Way," Los Angeles Times, October 13, 1900, page I-10
^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."
^"A Mashing Match," Los Angeles Times, February 10, 1885, page 4
^"John Lovell's Skull Fractured," Los Angeles Times, December 12, 1896, page 11
^"Santa Monica: Los Angeles Ex-Councilman Beaten," Los Angeles Times, June 27, 1898, page 9
^"At the Court House: Lovell's Assailant," Los Angeles Times, September 4, 1898, page B-1
^"At the Courthouse: Estate of Insane Man," Los Angeles Times, November 15, 1905, page II-2
^"Appeals for Assistance," Los Angeles Times, February 7, 1909, page I-10
April 12, 2024
john, lovell, grocer, john, lovell, 1851, 1913, 19th, century, businessman, angeles, california, owner, grocery, store, other, property, member, angeles, common, council, governing, body, city, suffered, injuries, head, sent, mental, hospital, said, have, epil. John Lovell c 1851 1913 was a 19th century businessman in Los Angeles California the owner of a grocery store and other property and a member of the Los Angeles Common Council the governing body of the city He suffered injuries to his head was sent to a mental hospital and was said to have epilepsy Contents 1 Personal 1 1 Birth and death 1 2 Marriage 2 Vocation 2 1 Public service 3 Injuries and medical condition 4 ReferencesPersonal editBirth and death edit Lovell was born about 1851 and he died on September 18 1913 in his home at 1302 Trolleyway in Venice California leaving his daughter Mertie L Lovell four sisters and two brothers Cremation was at Angelus Cemetery Los Angeles 1 Marriage edit Lovell was engaged in a dispute over the terms of a will left by his wife Amelia who died in 1912 or before and left an estate valued at 75 000 but bequeathed only 500 to him The suit was settled out of court Lovell was given life interest in a house in Venice California and 550 in cash 2 3 Vocation editIn 1882 he opened a grocery store in Los Angeles at the point where Spring Ninth and Main streets meet and a year later he bought a lot at Ninth and Main in a section that was then a fast growing residence community where he built a new store and remained in business for ten years 1 He also owned other property in the city 4 Public service edit Lovell represented the 4th Ward on the Los Angeles Common Council in 1886 87 and 1887 88 5 He was also a member of the Fire Commission 1 Injuries and medical condition editIn February 1885 just as he had completed moving his business from one building on Ninth Street to another Lovell engaged in a quarrel with his previous landlord Paul Kern words were exchanged and Kern scooped up a big iron twine holder weighing three or four pounds and with it struck Lovell over the head cutting a gash nearly three inches long Police and medical aid were called and Kern was discovered carrying a derringer in his pocket 6 Lovell suffered an apoplectic stroke in December 1896 and fell to the pavement striking his head and it was said fracturing his skull He was not expected to survive 7 but he did recover Six months later he was badly beaten in Santa Monica by a man who accused him of insulting the woman the assailant was with 8 the aggressor was convicted of assault and sentenced to six months in jail 9 In October 1900 Lovell was sent to the Los Angeles County Hospital on a charge of insanity sworn to by his wife It was said that for several years his health has been failing and that he had a severe fit or fainting spell and when he was revived his mind was gone 4 By 1905 he had been committed to an insane asylum with his wife named as his guardian 10 He was later released and in 1909 he was referred to as an epileptic 11 References editAccess to the Los Angeles Times links may require the use of a library card a b c Lovell Funeral Today Los Angeles Times September 20 1913 page II 9 Homeless Boy In Court Battalion Chief Witness Los Angeles Times January 18 1912 page II 2 Fight Not In Vain Compromise in Lovell Suit Los Angeles Times March 8 1912 page II 2 a b Mind Gave Way Los Angeles Times October 13 1900 page I 10 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 A Mashing Match Los Angeles Times February 10 1885 page 4 John Lovell s Skull Fractured Los Angeles Times December 12 1896 page 11 Santa Monica Los Angeles Ex Councilman Beaten Los Angeles Times June 27 1898 page 9 At the Court House Lovell s Assailant Los Angeles Times September 4 1898 page B 1 At the Courthouse Estate of Insane Man Los Angeles Times November 15 1905 page II 2 Appeals for Assistance Los Angeles Times February 7 1909 page I 10 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Lovell grocer amp oldid 1199902087, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
