Los Angeles County
Biographies
HENRY SEWARD VAN DYKE
VAN DYKE, HENRY SEWARD, Attorney at Law, Los Angeles, California, was born at Oakland, California, August 31, 1891, the son of Walter Van Dyke and Rowena (Cooper) Van Dyke. He married Katherine Skiles Moulton at Santa Barbara, California, January 20, 1912. Mr. Van Dyke’s family is of Dutch origin, the first of the family in America having been John Van Dyke, who came over in the early part of the Seventeenth Century. His father was Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California at the time of his death. His wife is a daughter of E. H. Moulton, President of the Tri-State Telephone Company at Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Mr. Van Dyke received his early training in the public schools of Oakland and the family removing to Los Angeles in 1886, he entered the High School there and was graduated in 1889. He then entered the University of California and was graduated in the class of 1893 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts.
Upon leaving college Mr. Van Dyke decided to take up the study of law and, returning to Los Angeles, began reading in the offices of the Clerk of the Federal Court. Within eighteen months he went before the Supreme Court of California for examination and was admitted to the bar on October 30, 1894. He did not engage in practice immediately, but decided to continue his studies and entered the office of Joseph Hutchinson of San Francisco as clerk, reading law meantime.
In 1895 Mr. Van Dyke parted from Mr. Hutchinson and returned to Los Angeles, where he became connected with the office of W. J. Hunsaker, one of the leading lawyers of the city. At the end of a year he opened offices for the practice of law and has been engaged continually since that time (1896).
Mr. Van Dyke practiced alone until 1898, and in that year closed his Los Angeles office and went to San Francisco, where he was engaged for about five years, but in 1903 he returned to Los Angeles and he has maintained his offices there down to date. He became a member of the firm of Lawler, Allen and Van Dyke at that time, the style remaining the same until 1907, when L. W. Jutten joined the firm, the name being changed to Lawler, Allen, Van Dyke and Jutten. This association remained until 1909, when Oscar Lawler, senior member of the firm, resigned to accept appointment as Assistant United States Attorney General, a position which required his presence in Washington, D.C.
Allen, Van Dyde (sic) and Jutten continued their work until the firm was amalgamated with that of Gray, Barker and Bowen, shortly after Mr. Lawler’s departure. After two years the Honorable Frank P. Flint, whose term as United States Senator from California had just closed, entered the firm and the name was shortened to Flint, Gray and Barker, under which form it is known today.
This firm, of which Mr. Van Dyke is an active member, is one of the best known in California and enjoys one of the most extensive practices in the entire State.
Mr. Van Dyke, who ranks high in the legal profession of the Southwest, is a loyal son of California and one of the most enthusiastic workers for the betterment of Los Angeles and the rest of Southern California.
He is a supporter of the principles of the Republican party, but has never taken an active interest in politics, nor been a seeker for public office.
Mr. Van Dyke is a member of the Los Angeles Bar Association, the American Bar Association and various clubs, including the Bohemian Club of San Francisco, California Club of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Country Club, and others.
He is also a member of the Holland society of N.Y. and the National Economic League.
Transcribed 3-12-09
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 212,
International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles,
Boston, Atlanta. 1913.
© 2009 Marilyn R. Pankey.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPIES