Los Angeles County
Biographies
JAMES E.
FENTON
A well known member of the California bar who has been active in the practice of his profession throughout the west for more than 30 years is James E. Fenton, of Los Angeles. He is a native of Missouri, and was born in Scotland County. While very young he moved with his parents to Oregon, where he received his educational training in public schools and at Christian College, Monmouth, Ore., which conferred on him the A. B. degree in 1877. After graduation, he married Mary Churchill in 1878. She died in 1897. His legal training was obtained in the office of Judge William M. Ramsey, of Salem, Ore., and he was admitted to the Oregon bar in 1882.
For a number of years Mr. Fenton was active in educational work, and then engaged in legal practice at Eugene, Ore. He later located at Spokane, Wash., and while there served one term of District Attorney of Spokane County. In 1894 he was tendered the nomination as a member of Congress from the State of Washington, but declined. In 1899 he moved to Nome, Alaska, where he practiced until he came to California in 1902.
In 1906 Mr. Fenton moved to Seattle, Wash., and after practicing in that city for two years located in Portland, Ore., and became Assistant Counsel for the Southern Pacific Railway Company, and was one of counsel for that company in the litigation with the Government involving the Oregon and California land grants. In 1911 he returned to California and re-entered private practice at San Francisco, where he remained until he moved to Los Angeles in 1917. Since locating in the latter city he has engaged in general practice, and has built up an extensive clientele.
Mr. Fenton has many friends and acquaintances among his colleagues in various cities of the west, and is recognized as a lawyer of high ideals and splendid abilities.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: "American Blue Book California Lawyers"
by H. James Boswell, Page 156, Produced by H. James Boswell,
1928.
© 2008 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPIES