Los Angeles County
Biographies
MICHAEL F. SHANNON
A well-known and able attorney of Los Angeles and of southern California is Michael F. Shannon, who, in 1934, was elected Grand Exalted Ruler of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks of the United States of America, an honor justly bestowed upon Mr. Shannon for his activities in the order. Mr. Shannon is a native son of California, born on the South Broadway in Los Angles on July 28, 1887, the only son of Michael and Nellie (Holmes) Shannon. The father was born in County Clare, Ireland, on the banks of the River Shannon, and came to America in his young manhood to make a home for himself. He found employment with the old Central Pacific Railroad, now the Southern Pacific, and was rapidly advanced until he became superintendent of construction. When the east and west were joined by the uniting of the Union Pacific with the Central Pacific he was present when the golden spike was driven at Promontory, Utah, in 1869. He soon drifted to southern California and when in Los Angeles was big enough to need a police force Mr. Shannon was one of the first peace officers and continued to serve for twenty years. He is now living retired in Los Angeles that he has seen grow from an inconsequential village to a metropolitan city of the west. Nellie (Holmes) Shannon was born at Mission San Jose, Alameda County, California, in 1863, a daughter of Samuel Oliver and Mary J. (Norris) Holmes, the latter a native of Ohio. Her father was born in Massachusetts a member of the same family as Oliver Wendell Holmes, the poet and scholar. In 1849 he crossed the plains with an ox team train of prairie schooners and located in San Francisco for a time but later went to San Jose, where he died in 1868. We quote from California and Californians published in 1924: “In the death of Nellie (Holmes) Shannon in June, 1924, Los Angeles lost one of its notable women financiers and realty holders, as well as a woman of noble character who was one of the city’s leaders in charitable, philanthropic, and club life.”
Michael F. Shannon the only son of his parents attended the public schools of Los Angeles as well as St. Vincent’s College where he prepared himself for his chosen calling. He was graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1909 with the Bachelor of Laws degree. He was admitted to practice law in Michigan but did not do so. In 1910 he was admitted to practice in California and for a short time was associated with the law firm of Hunsaker and Britt, but soon establish an independent practice and built up a satisfactory clientele until he entered the office of the district attorney as deputy under Captain John D. Fredericka, where he served until 1915, when he again took up independent practice and has so continued to the present time. Besides his practice he owns and manages the Shannon Properties in Los Angeles and has other important business interests. His offices are located in the Citizens National Bank building at Fifth and Spring Streets in Los Angeles.
Michael F. Shannon was married on October 21, 1911, to Miss Agnes G. Brown, who was born, reared and educated in Los Angeles, and they have three children: Aileen Agnes; Michael F., Jr.; and Patricia Louise. The family home is at 4311 Victoria Park Drive, Los Angeles. Mr. Shannon is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and president of the Citizen Committee of ten thousand, a non-partisan organization comprised of most of the leading merchants and manufacturers of the city. This body has taken an especially active part in the election of the state legislators and members of the board of education in Los Angeles. He is a Knights of Templar Mason and a Shriner; a Past Exalted Ruler of Los Angeles Lodge No. 99, B. P. O. E., and was an officer in the Grand Lodge. In 1934 he was chosen Grand Exalted Ruler of the Elks of the U. S. A. Since attaining to this high office in the Elks he has promoted many important movements among the subordinate lodges that reflect his high ideals of citizenship and patriotism in coordinating the Elks of the country to unite in various activities, among them we name the following: Acts of friendship, not mere words but actions; Organization and quick mobilization of the man power of all lodges in times of community disaster or emergency relief of any kind on a large scale in order that every one of the half million members may have a definite fighting part of the militant patriotic program of the year; let no public school property in any city that has an Elks lodge be a meeting place for those who would in any way destroy the sacred institutions of this country. Give immediate support and every assistance within in the law to all officials when they have taken a stand against communism; and also to foster patriotism among the youth of the land by boosting the Antlers activities and the Boy Scout movements. With all of his professional activities Mr. Shannon has never neglected his duties as a man and a citizen and is recognized as a leader in every movement that will promote the progress and well-being of the citizens and state. He holds membership in the college law fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon and has other club affiliations.
Transcribed
By: Michele Y. Larsen on March 16, 2013.
Source:
California of the South Vol. V, by John Steven McGroarty,
Pages 640-642, Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis.
1933.
© 2013 Michele Y. Larsen.
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BIOGRAPHIES