Los Angeles County
Biographies
HOMER LAUGHLIN
LAUGHLIN, HOMER,
Capitalist, Los Angeles, California,
was born at Little Beater, Columbiana County, Ohio,
March 23, 1843. His father was Mathew
Laughlin and his mother Maria (Moore) Laughlin, the former
of whom was born in Columbiana County
in the year 1814, one of the pioneers of Columbiana County,
Ohio, engaged for half a century in the
milling business of Little Beaver. James
Laughlin (the grandfather of Homer Laughlin was of Scotch-Irish descent, but
born in Maryland, passing the latter part of his life in
Pennsylvania.
On June 18, 1875,
Home Laughlin married Cornelia Battenberg at Wellsville,
Ohio.
There were three children, Homer, Jr., Nanita
and Gwendolen V.
Mr. Laughlin
received his education, first in the common schools and later Neville
Institute.
On July 12, 1862,
Mr. Laughlin enlisted for Civil War service at East Liverpool,
Ohio in Company A, 115th
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, remaining in service till July 7, 1865, when he was
mustered out, as Sergeant at Cleveland, Ohio.
As a young man,
Mr. Laughlin went to New York
where he became associated with his brother, Shakespeare Moore Laughlin, in the
wholesale importation of English earthenware, the firm operating from October
1, 1871, to October, 1873, under the firm name of Laughlin Brothers. In September, 1873, this firm built a pottery
for the manufacture of fine white earthenware at East Liverpool,
Ohio, and continued until 1879, when Mr. Laughlin bought
out his brother’s interest and personally conducted
the business as the Homer Laughlin China Company until 1897, when he removed to
California to live a retired
life. Under his personal management his
pottery business grew to be much the largest and leading industry of the kind
in the United States. The company while now under other ownership
still retains the established name of The Homer Laughlin China
Company.
Immediately after
taking up his residence here, Mr. Laughlin recognized the possibilities of the
city and commenced the construction of the Homer
Laughlin Building,
on Broadway, the first fire-proof office building in Southern
California. This
undertaking established a standard for fire-proof construction much in advance
of the times. About 1901, he built the
building occupied since its construction by Jacoby Brothers, a few doors south
of the Homer Laughlin
Building. It occupies the site of the old First
Methodist Church.
In 1905, he began
the construction of the “Annex” to the Homer
Laughlin Building,
it being a typical re-enforced concrete structure, covering a large area and
extending to Hill street. It has the distinction of being the first
re-enforced concrete building erected in Southern California.
Mr. Laughlin was
held in high esteem by the late President William McKinley, of whom he was an
intimate friend for over thirty years.
When President McKinley and his Cabinet visited Los
Angeles, he was President of the Reception Committee.
Mr. Laughlin was
for years President of the U. S. Potters’ Association and from 1878 to 1898
chairman of the executive committee. He
received medals from the Centennial Exposition, Philadelphia,
1876; Cincinnati Exposition, 1879; World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893,
for superior manufactory of pottery.
He has been on the
Board of Managers of the American Protective Tariff League since 1882; was a
member of the First Crusaders party of Knights Templar to Europe, June 1, 1871;
is honorary life member Girvan Encampment of Glasgow, Knights Templar of
Scotland; member Allegheny Commandery No. 35, Knights
Templar; member Republican Club of New York and California Club, Los Angeles.
Transcribed 5-31-08
Marilyn R. Pankey.