Los Angeles County
Biographies
JOHN WILLIAM CALVERT
CALVERT, JOHN WILLIAM,
Manufacturer of Ice, Azusa, Cal., was born at Huntington, Ind.,
September 30, 1855. His father was Ira Calvert and his mother was Racheal (Jones) Calvert, natives of Ohio. Mr. Calvert
traces his family back to the early days of Colonial America, and comes from
well known and distinguished American ancestors. He is a direct descendant of
George Calvert, Lord Baltimore, the celebrated
Governor of Maryland. At Lamanda Park, Cal.,
Sept. 11, 1890, he married Ella L. Eaton. They have two
children, Peyton E. and John W. Calvert, Jr.
Mr. Calvert was educated in the public schools of
Laurence County, Illinois, and later took a complete course in the Normal
school at Ladoga, Indiana, being graduated there in June, 1878. His early
boyhood was spent in Indiana, but when he was ten years of age, his parents
moved to Laurence County, Illinois, in which State he grew to manhood. Outside
of his studies he was occupied in working on his father’s farm.
In 1880 Mr. Calvert was appointed Recorder of Deeds of
Laurence County, Ill., and served in this capacity for two years. Following
this service he was elected for four years County Clerk of the same county and
fulfilled the duties of the office with distinction. At the expiration of his
official term he was offered a position in Los Angeles, which he determined to
accept.
He moved to California from Laurenceville,
Ill., in 1886. Southern California was then in the height of its boom, and he
accepted a position with the Kerckhoff-Cuzner Mill
& Lumber Co., one of the largest organizations of its kind in the
Southwest.
It was this offer which had attracted him from his home
city. He was agent for this company at various Southern California towns, such
as Lamanda Park, where he first located; Pomona,
Azusa and Covina for a number of years, and through his connection became one
of the best known men in the country.
In 1899 he became interested in and was made manager of
the Azusa Ice & Cold Storage Co., at Azusa, Cal., which connection he still
holds. His headquarters are located in that city and he is identified there
with many of the movements for improvement and development. He has made a deep
study of the ice and cold storage business and is one of the leading
authorities on that subject in the Southwest.
Besides his chief business he is active in many other
interests in his home city and keeps a close watch on the civic welfare of the
county. He is a Highway Commissioner of Los Angeles County, his term being that
of the years 1910 and 1911. He has worked for the better road movement in Los
Angeles County, being one of the committee under whose direction the enormous
sum voted for road improvement has been expended. He is a good road enthusiast.
Aside from the above he is director and secretary of the
Azusa Masonic Building Association and director and vice president of the
United States National Bank of Azusa.
Mr. Calvert is very prominent in Masonic circles, being a
member of all York Rite and Scottish Rite Masonic bodies with the exception of
Supreme Council of the Thirty-second degree Scottish Rite.
He has given a great deal of his time to Masonic work and is a liberal
contributor to Masonic homes and the organization and building of Masonic
Temples. He is a Mystic Shriner and an Elk.
He is active in his public duties and takes a prominent
part in the public movements of his home town and the county. As a thorough
business man and as a progressive citizen he is widely known throughout
Southern California. He has a comfortable residence at Azusa, and outside of
his business hours finds a great deal of time to spend with his family.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard
11 May 2011.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 650,
International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston,
Atlanta. 1913.
© 2011 Marie Hassard.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPIES