Los
Angeles County
Biographies
BARTON DARLINGTON
A lawyer by instinct as well as
training, Barton Darlington has won success and prominence in his profession
and in years of continuous service is one of the oldest legal practitioners of
Los Angeles. He was born in Hudson, St.
Croix County, Wisconsin, November 13, 1858, a son of Francis and Mary (Allen)
Darlington, and in childhood went with his parents to West Chester,
Pennsylvania, the old home of his father, an able lawyer, whose death occurred
in Los Angeles, February 1, 1916. A
lover of nature, Francis Darlington studied the habits of birds and also
acquired a knowledge of botany. For many years he survived his wife, who
passed away at West Chester in February, 1892.
They were the parents of seven children and those now living are
residents of Los Angeles, all brought here by our subject.
Barton Darlington attended the West
Chester State Normal School before taking up the study of law and was admitted
to the bar of Pennsylvania, June 26, 1885.
Yielding to the lure of the west, he went to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he
entered the office of the United States district attorney. In 1887 he obtained a month’s leave of
absence and purchased a round trip ticket to Los Angeles, arriving here on the
23rd of February. However, he
never had occasion to use the return portion of his ticket, for he was so
favorably impressed with Los Angeles and its people that he decided to
establish his permanent home in this city.
He was admitted to the bar of California on July 3, 1888, but did not
take up practice at that time. Instead
he accepted a responsible position in the office of the Los Angeles Abstract
Company, later known as the Title Insurance & Trust Company of Los Angeles,
and remained with the corporation for five years. He has practiced continuously in this city
for forty years, remaining alone throughout that period, and the court records
show that he has successfully handled many estate settlements. He maintains an office at 206 South Spring
Street.
On the 22nd of October,
1910, Mr. Darlington was married in Los Angeles to Miss Lela Monroe and they
now reside on their ranch, which is located on San Gabriel Boulevard, a few
miles from Los Angeles. In politics Mr.
Darlington is a Democrat, and while never an office seeker, he has always shown
a deep interest in public affairs, maintaining a progressive attitude in
matters of citizenship. He was a member
of the Chamber of Commerce, the City Club of Los Angeles and the Sierra Club
for many years. He enjoys the priceless
possession of good health and although he has passed the Psalmist’s allotted
span of three score years and ten, his alert mind and strong physique enable
him to continue in active practice. His
has been an industrious, useful, upright life and his professional colleagues
and the general public unite in bearing testimony to his fine qualities of
heart and mind.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. III, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 261-262, Clarke Publ.,
Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPIES