Los Angeles County
Biographies
WILLIAM
JOHN MOSSHOLDER
MOSSHOLDER, WILLIAM JOHN, Attorney-at-Law, San Diego, Cal., was born August 27, 1857, at Martinsburg, in Knox County, Ohio, the son of Squire Humphrey Mossholder and Mary Eliza (Robinson) Mossholder. He married Jennie Prentice, at Viroqua, Wis., Sept. 26, 1881, and two children were born of that union, Marks Prentice Mossholder and Rusk P. Mossholder.
Mr. Mossholder was graduated from the Nebraska Wesleyan University with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy, and from the Law Department of the University of the State of Iowa with the degree of Bachelor of Laws.
Since then he has had an interesting and a busy legal career. He was admitted to the Supreme Court of Iowa and to the United States courts. He practiced his profession at Osceola, Polk County, Nebraska, and it was not long before he was elected County Judge, not a usual honor for one so young. He occupied the office for a term, and then, in December of 1885, he moved to San Diego, California. San Diego was then only a promise of the city that was to be, little better than a Mexican pueblo, much as the Mission padres had left it. Only a few thousands of white settlers had as yet discovered its remarkable climate and beautiful bay, and it was in the days of the beginnings of Coronado and its world famous resort. Coming as he did nearly thirty years ago, he is considered one of the pioneer lawyers, and much of the interesting history of the growing city has passed under his eye. He has taken part in much of the important litigation that has passed through its courts.
He formed a partnership with Hon. Watson Parrish, who formerly was a member of the Legislature of Nebraska, and also a Government director of the Union Pacific Railroad Company. He subsequently retired from the firm on account of ill health, and Mr. Mossholder continued in the practice. Few men are more familiar with the political traditions of San Diego.
His practice has always kept him too busy for him to seek office or any form of political preferment, but his voice has been heard in every issue of importance. He has displayed more than his share of public spirit in everything that concerned the real progress of San Diego. He has belonged to the commercial associations and public improvement societies and has always been willing to work when the labor promised any substantial benefit to his city.
He is well known socially and knows about every man of consequence in San Diego and his part of the country. He is quite familiar with his State of California, over which he has traveled much for purposes of business and recreation.
In addition to his legal work Mr. Mossholder has been quite active in lodge matters, being one of the most energetic workers for the growth of the Order of Masonry in his section of California.
He is a Past Master, Past High Priest, Past Commander, Past Thrice Illustrious Master, Past Royal Patron, Past Patron, and Past Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, of California.
He is at present the Venerable Master of Constans Lodge of Perfection, Scottish Rite Masonry, of San Diego; member of Al Malaikah Temple of the Mystic Shrine, First Vice President and a Director of the Scottish Rite Cathedral of San Diego, and President of San Diego Chapter No. 2 of the Sons of the American Revolution of San Diego, and he is also a member of the California State Society.
Only recently Mr. Mossholder was honored by being elected a Knight Commander of the Court of Honor by the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite Masons in Washington, D.C., which is the preliminary step to the thirty-third degree.
The honors that he holds make him one of the biggest figures in Masonry in America.
Transcribed
6-28-11 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 783,
International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles,
Boston, Atlanta. 1913.
© 2011 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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