Los Angeles
County
Biographies
HENRY
WILLIAM O’MELVENY
The
oldest member of the Los Angeles bar in point of years of continuous practice
is Henry William O’Melveny, who for more than half a century has honored his
profession by his able and conscientious service as counselor and
advocate. Mr. O’Melveny was born in
Central City, Marion County, Illinois, August 10, 1859, a son of Harvey
Kilpatrick Stuart and Anna Wilhelmina (Rose) O’Melveny. In his early childhood he was brought by his
parents to Los Angeles, and in the public schools of this city received his
preliminary education, graduating from high school in 1875. He completed his academic course at the
University of California in 1879, was admitted to the bar in 1881 and at once
entered upon the practice of law in Los Angeles.
In
1883 he was appointed assistant district attorney of Los Angeles County under
Stephen M. White, in which capacity he served for two years, after which he
entered into a law partnership with J. A. Graves under the firm name of Graves
& O’Melveny. In 1888 the firm name
became Graves, O’Melveny & Shankland, which
continued until 1904. From that date to
1906 Mr. O’Melveny practiced alone. In
1906 Henry J. Stevens became associated with Mr. O’Melveny under the name of
O’Melveny & Stevens and in the following year E. E. Millikin
was admitted to the firm, the name of which then became O’Melveny, Stevens
& Millikin.
In 1914 W. K. Tuller became an associate of
the firm, and at a later date L. W. Myers, the firm now practicing under the
name of O’Melveny, Tuller & Myers. This is one of the most important law firms
in the entire state, its clientele being among the largest in California. Possessing a wide and accurate knowledge of
the law, sound and judicious in its application and adhering closely to the
highest ethics of his profession, Mr. O’Melveny has long stood in the front
rank of the lawyers of this community, while in the sphere of private
citizenship he has stood for those things which contribute to the public good and
the well-being of society. He has been
successful in his individual affairs, being a director of the Farmers &
Merchants National Bank, a director of the Security–First National Bank of Los
Angeles, counsel and a director of the Title Insurance & Trust Company of
Los Angeles, a director of the Dominquez Water Company, the Dominguez Estate Company
and other well-known business institutions of this section of the state.
On
the 28th day of May, 1887, in Los Angeles, Mr. O’Melveny was united
in marriage to Miss Marie Antoinette Schilling, of Canton, Ohio. To this union were born three sons, namely: Stuart, Donald and John.
Mr.
O’Melveny is a member of the California, the Sunset and the Los Angeles Country
Clubs, and maintains professional affiliation with the Los Angeles Bar
Association, of which he was president in 1919, the California State Bar and the
American Bar Association. He has been
active in matters affecting the civic welfare of his city, having served for
several years as a trustee of the public library, as a member of the civil
service commission, of which he was president in 1903-04 and as a member of the
board of park commissioners for six years.
He is honored and respected by all who know him and has a host of loyal
friends throughout the wide range of his acquaintance.
Transcribed
by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. IV, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 617-618,
Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V.
Gerald Iaquinta.
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