Los Angeles County
Biographies
WASHBURN B. STIRDIVANT
STIRDIVANT, WASHBURN B.,
Southern California Manager, Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Co., Los Angeles,
was born at Wilson, Wisconsin, September 29, 1860. His father was
John J. Stirdivant and his mother Eliza
(Bryant) Stirdivant. On June 20, 1892, he
married Ella Frances Besant at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To them were born
Earl B. Stirdivant, Mildred A. Stirdivant, Bryant Stirdivant
and Evelyn E. Stirdivant.
He obtained his education in the country and high schools
of his native state.
At the age of fifteen he entered the grocery business in
Wisconsin and for seven years continued in this work. At the end of that time
he left the grocery business to engage as an apprentice in a drug store where
he remained for two years following. Then for one year he was engaged in the
shoe business. His health having partly failed, he quit work and traveled in
the South and West for more than three years.
At the end of his travels, he obtained a position with
the Grand Union Tea Company in 1887, and for three years he remained with that
corporation.
In 1890, he determined to enter business for himself. At
this time he incorporated the Boston Tea Company of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, with
himself as sole proprietor. He successfully operated this concern for a period
of about three years in Wisconsin, made it a paying proposition and was able to
set aside a fair amount of capital.
His next venture was in the insurance business. He
identified himself with the Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company under the
management of James S. Norris of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He became
efficient in this line of work, and in a short time had worked up a substantial
business. His work at that place was so attended with success that in 1894 he
was appointed to fill the position of District Manager of the company at
Janesville, Wis. Two years later he was advanced again, being stationed at Los
Angeles, California, where he became the Southern California agent of the
Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Co. From that period down to date he has had
charge of the important Southern California end of the company’s interests.
In 1902 he was advanced to the position of manager of the
company’s extensive business in Southern California and today continues in that
capacity. Under his management the company, which has headquarters at Hartford,
Connnecticut (sic), and branches all over the
country, now claims the Los Angeles branch as one of its strongest locations.
Mr. Stirdivant’s territory covers everything
south of Tehachapi. His many policy holders in Southern California in the
Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company assure him of a larger success in the
future.
Since going to Southern California, Mr. Stirdivant has played an active part in the community’s
welfare. At the present time he resides in Pasadena, California. In that place
he is a member of the Tournament of Roses Committee, an enterprise which
annually attracts the interests of the world. He is a member of the Pasadena
Board of Trade and of the Young Men’s Christian Association of that city.
In Los Angeles he is a member of the Jonathan, Union
League and City Clubs. He is also an active member of the Los Angeles Chamber
of Commerce, one of the leading civic organizations of the Southland.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard
22 August 2011.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 729,
International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles,
Boston, Atlanta. 1913.
© 2011 Marie Hassard.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPIES