Los Angeles County
Biographies
KEMPER B. CAMPBELL
CAMPBELL, KEMPER B., Attorney-at-Law, Los Angeles, California, was born at Adel, the county seat of Dallas County, Iowa, July 5, 1881. In that county his father, Dr. Solon B. Campbell, was a practicing physician for twenty years and was prominent in educational circle. His mother was Sarah Caroline (Otterman) Campbell. At the age of four years he was sent to the public school of Adel, Iowa, and at eleven had entered high school.
Upon the death of his father the family moved to Pomona, California, where he again entered school, graduating from the High School with an excellent record in 1899. In 1900 he graduated from Williams Business College and took a postgraduate course at the High School. He later graduated from Brownsberger Home School at Los Angeles.
He accepted a position with the National Bank at Pomona, which he held until he moved to Moneta, Cal., where he was engaged in the canning business with his brothers, serving for several years as Secretary and Superintendent of the Moneta Canning Co.
In 1904 his brother, Vernon Campbell, having discovered and perfected the process of canning ripe olives, he became interested with him in the establishment of the American Olive Company, which, under their directorship, became the largest olive packing concern in the world.
Mr. Campbell found the long awaited opportunity in 1904 to enter the Law Department of the University of Southern California, which he did, graduating in 1907.
During his college career he was voted every place of honor at the command of his fellow students and won all competitive prizes.
He served in turn as President of his class, President of the student body, President of the Lyceum, President of the Phi Delta Phi and as Editor of the Law Department of the University Courier. For two successive years he won first place in debate over more than a score of contestants, and successfully represented the Law College and University on the rostrum. The last year of his attendance he won first place in the College of Law in oratory. In scholarship he was awarded the Alumni gold medal for the highest average ever attained in the College of Law, which record still remains the high mark in that institution.
After graduating with the degree, LL.B., he immediately opened law offices. In 1908 he became a member of the faculty of the College of Law, filling the chairs of Torts and Damages. In 1909 his Alma Mater conferred upon him the degree of Master of Laws. In 1910 he was also appointed instructor and lecturer on Real Property and presided as Judge of the Practice Court. During the year 1910 he was elected President of the Alumni of the University of Southern California College of Law.
Mr. Campbell is the author of a hand-book on “Torts,” used in the College of Law, and has in preparation a more elaborate text on that subject.
He won his first laurels within six months after his admission in the successful defense of “Big” Barbour, charged with the murder of Benjamin Johnson. Among others of his cases which have attracted considerable public attention are People vs. Ybarra and Griffith Vs. Griffith.
He early allied himself with the “Reform” forces in politics, winning his first victory by changing the political complexion of the largest precinct in the county. In March, 1910, when the Insurgents were marshalling their forces for the most strengents were marshalling their forces for the most strenuous campaign in the history of California, Mr. Campbell was unanimously chosen by the Lincoln-Roosevelt Republican League as Secretary and Campaign Manager for Los Angeles County, with supervisory duties in other counties South of Fresno.
Containing a large portion of the entire Republican vote in the State, Los Angeles County was recognized as the campaign battleground of the Republican State primary election.
Given full leeway, he perfected an organization which was the envy and despair of the “machine” forces, the result being the nomination and election of almost the entire State, county and township tickets of the League.
Mr. Campbell was perhaps the least surprised of the leaders in the new movement when it was found that his organization also controlled the Los Angeles Republican County Convention by over one hundred votes. By winning this convention for the Insurgents, they were enabled to send to the State Convention at San Francisco eighty “Reform” delegates, without whom the State Convention would have been controlled by the “Regular” wing of the party. Mr. Campbell is Vice Pres. of the Metropolitan Club, Secretary of the Lincoln-Roosevelt Republican League and a member of the following: City Club, L. A. Bar Association, California Bar Association, Gamut Club, Knights of Pythias and Legal Fraternity Phi Delta Phi.
Transcribed
by Joyce Rugeroni.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 603,
International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles,
Boston, Atlanta. 1913.
© 2011 Joyce
Rugeroni.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES
BIOGRAPIES