Los Angeles County
Biographies
JOHN GRIFFIN MOTT
MOTT, JOHN GRIFFIN, Attorney-at-Law (Mott & Dillon), Los Angeles, California, was born in that city August 3, 1874, the son of Thomas Mott and Ascension (Sepulveda) Mott. He married Lila Jean Fairchild at Los Angeles, February 23, 1905.
Mr. Mott, member of a devout Catholic family, received his primary education in St. Vincent’s College of Los Angeles, and later received the degrees of Bachelor of letters and Bachelor of Laws from Notre Dame University, where he was a student during the years 1895 and 1896. From the Indiana institution he went to the Catholic University of America at Washington, D.C., and there received the degree of Master of Laws. Bishop Conaty, now head of the diocese of Los Angeles, was rector of the university at that time, having been appointed by Pope Leo XIII about the time that Mr. Mott became a student.
Mr. Mott returned to Los Angeles immediately upon the conclusion of his studies and began the practice of his profession. After approximately four years in offices by himself, he formed a partnership with R. J. Dillon, which has continued down to date. Mr. Mott has made a specialty of corporation and probate law and during his many years of practice has figured in some notable cases.
He is intensely interested in various movements for the upbuilding of Los Angeles and vicinity and was one of the principal factors in the preliminary work of consolidating Los Angeles and San Pedro, a move which made Los Angeles a seaport and placed it in line for the benefits promised by the Panama Canal. He also figured prominently in the campaign for selling bonds for the Owens River Aqueduct, modern work which revolutionized the water system of the city of Los Angeles. When the United States Government was considering the erection of a Federal building at Los Angeles, Mr. Mott was chosen by certain property owners desirous of providing the site for the building to look after their interests. In this capacity he made a notable fight, carrying his case to Washington. He appeared before the House of Representatives and Senate in his effort to win the prize his clients sought, and, following this, presented his case at the White House itself. He finally persuaded Theodore Roosevelt, who was then President, of the justness of his cause and the executive signed the bill.
These are only a few of the important matters in which Mr. Mott has figured, but they serve to show the character of work with which he has been identified.
He is prominently identified with the Republican party of California and has performed telling service for that organization, having taken the stump for it in local and State campaigns. Mr. Mott is, by common consent, placed among the leading orators of the West and some of his speeches are remembered as beautiful eloquence—perfect specimens of word architecture. His address at the farewell banquet to Bishop Montgomery is referred to as a magnificently blended tribute to the retiring prelate who had won the love and affection of the city wherein he was a spiritual guide.
Mr. Mott’s father, Hon. Thomas D. Mott, was one of the pioneers, of California, who crossed the plains in 1849, and a man who took a leading part in the early development of the State. From him the subject of this sketch inherited his gift of oratory.
Mr. Mott enjoys a high professional standing in Los Angeles and the State, and is a member of the Los Angeles and Los Angeles County Bar Associations. He is Past Exalted Ruler of the Los Angeles Lodge of Elks, member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, Knights of Columbus, Crags Country, Jonathan and California Clubs.
Transcribed 5-10-09
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 264,
International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles,
Boston, Atlanta. 1913.
© 2009 Marilyn R. Pankey.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPIES