Los Angeles County
Biographies
HON. JOHN D.
FREDERICKS, Sr.
Hon. John D. Fredericks, Sr., began the practice of law in Los Angeles in 1896 and is recognized as a prominent representative of the profession in this part of the state. Also taking a leading part in public affairs, he represented the tenth California district in the first congress to convene under President Coolidge.
John Donnan Fredericks was born in Burgettstown, Washington county, Pennsylvania, September 10, 1869, son of Rev. James T. and Mary (Patterson) Fredericks. From the public schools of his native town John D. Fredericks continued his education in the Trinity hall Military Academy at Washington, Pennsylvania, and in 1891 received the A. B. degree from Washington and Jefferson College at the same place. Soon after graduating he came to California, and while teaching at the Whittier State School for three years he studied law and in 1896 was admitted to practice. We quote from “California and Californians”: “He has achieved unequivocal success in his profession, and it was at a genuine sacrifice of his private interests that he went to Washington as a congressman, necessarily giving up his personal participation in the large volune (sic) of law practice enjoyed by the firm of Fredericks Hanna.” It was in May, 1923, that he was elected to congress from the Los Angeles district to fill the vacancy caused by the death of H. Z. Osborne, and by reelection he remained a member of the national lawmaking body until 1927.
Mr. Fredericks was appointed deputy district attorney of Los Angeles county in 1899, and in 1902 was elected district attorney and reelected in 1906 and 1910. He retired to private practice in 1915. While district attorney Mr. Fredericks prosecuted the famous McNamara dynamite cases, involving investigations extending all over the United States and finally the apprehension of the McNamara brothers, charged as the principals in the dynamiting of the Los Angeles Times building in 1911, causing the death of twenty-one persons. All the important moves in securing evidence against these brothers were directed by District Attorney Fredericks, and he was directly responible (sic) for securing the confessions of guilt from the McNamaras, thus avoiding the uncertainties of a prolonged trial. In connection with the work of the district attorney’s office Mr. Fredericks also made a special study of methods used in the correction and punishment of criminals. In 1906 Mr. Fredericks represented Los Angeles county and other California counties contesting before the federal courts the case against the owners of the patent an oiled roads. Mr. Fredericks’ contention that the process was not patentable was sustained after a hard fight in the courts.
Mr. Fredericks served as president in 1922 and subsequently was chosen treasurer of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, of which he was a director for many years. He personally had the chief responsibility in handling the purchase of land from the Baldwin estate for the Arcadia Balloon School site, a transaction that was finally concluded while he was president of the Chamber of Commerce. In order to make the transfer a personal guarantee of one hundred thousand dollars had to be secured, and through Mr. Fredericks’ efforts this money was advanced by members of the Chamber. The sale finally was consummated for four hundred and sixty-three thousand, one hundred and nineteen dollars, the money being paid by the government through the Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Fredericks was republican candidate for governor of California in 1915. One feature of his election to congress that made the event of national significance was the fact that in his campaign he was an avowed supporter of President Harding’s plan for United States participation in a world court of arbitration. His election was the first opportunity offered the people in any section of the United States to judge a candidate on this issue.
During the Spanish-American war Mr. Fredericks served as an adjutant in the Seventh Regiment, California Volunteers, and after the war served as Captain of Cavalry Troop D. He is a Knight Templar Mason and Shriner, a member of the Bel-Air Bay Club, the California Club and the Immanuel Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the law firm of Fredericks and Fredericks, organized in 1932 and their offices are in the Edison building, at Fifth street and Grand avenue, his home is at 10778 Chalon Road, Bel-Air.
In 1896, in Los Angeles, Mr. Fredericks married Miss Agnes M. Blakeley. They have four children: John D., Jr., whose biography appears on another page of this work; Doris F. Toney; Deborah F. Fort and James B. Fredericks.
Transcribed
3-19-12 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: California
of the South Vol. II, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages
191-193, Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 Marilyn R. Pankey.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES
BIOGRAPIES