Los
Angeles County
Biographies
GEORGE THOMAS CHAMBERS
With thorough training in the school
of experience, George Thomas Chambers has mastered the lessons of life day by
day, thereby developing his powers, and is well qualified for the important
post of superintendent of Inglewood Cemetery, one of the beauty spots of Los
Angeles County. He was born in
Rochester, Pennsylvania, December 29, 1890, and is a son of George A. and Kate
(Ellis) Chambers, members of families long represented on American soil. The father followed the trade of a pattern
maker for years and is now retired.
Reared in the Keystone state, George
T. Chambers acquired his education in its public schools and while living in
Pennsylvania was employed by a hardware dealer and a photographer, devoting
seven years to those lines of work.
Following his removal to Chicago he spent nine years with the Durand
Steel Locker Company, manufacturers of steel furniture, steel files and other
appliances used in offices. It was in
connection with the steel furniture that he came to California in 1920. Later he purchased a freight franchise,
operating through the state railroad commission, and conducted the business for
nine months. He was next employed by the
Darby Boiler Works, specialists in structural steel and tank work, and remained
with them for three years, in which connection he had aided in building some of
the largest tanks and buildings of the Los Angeles Gas & Electric
Corporation plants. In 1924 he became a
salesman for the Inglewood Park Cemetery Association and a member of its
clerical force. Readily assimilating the
details of the business, he was steadily promoted, becoming superintendent in
1928, and has supervised all of the late developments of the Inglewood Park
Cemetery. He has introduced many outstanding
innovations and instituted needed improvements, making this one of the most
beautiful cemeteries in the United States.
In Chicago, Mr. Chambers was married
to Miss Anna G. Michaels, of Pennsylvania, and two sons were born to them: George Ellis, who assists his father at the
cemetery; and Robert W., a student in the southern branch of the University of
California at Los Angeles. For
recreation Mr. Chambers turns to fishing, hunting and mountain climbing. He attends the Methodist
Church and in politics is a Republican of independent views, voting the man
rather than the party. Fraternally he is
an Elk, with membership in Los Angeles Lodge, No. 99, and is active in the work
of the order. He also belongs to the
Rotary Club and lives up to its motto of “Service before self,” taking a deep
interest and a helpful part in civic affairs and welfare work.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. IV, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 473-474, Clarke Publ.,
Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES