Los Angeles County
Biographies
WELDON
DEVERELL WHELAN
WHELAN, WELDON DEVERELL, Insurance, Los Angeles, Cal., was born in Tullamore, Kings County, Ireland, December 7, 1859, the son of Robert Whelan and Mary (Deverell) Whelan, and grandson of Capt. Patrick Whelan, who served under Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo in the Royal Engineers, or, as it was then called, the “Sappers and Miners.” Mr. Whelan married Emily Cruise, daughter of William Vere Cruise of Menagh, County Tipperary, June 2, 1883, and to them were born three children, Weldon D., Jr., Florence, and Blanche Whelan.
Mr. Whelan received his education in the private schools of Tullamore and Bates Academy, of Dublin. Leaving school in 1877, he entered the National Bank of Ireland as Junior Clerk, and later was promoted to Teller. He held this until April, 1883, when he sailed for California, arriving there two months later.
Purchasing a fruit ranch within thirty days of his arrival in Los Angeles, Mr. Whelan embarked in business as a fruit grower and continued in that capacity for the next succeeding thirteen years. In 1894 he went into the insurance business and was appointed representative in his district for the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company of San Francisco. His success the first two years led him, in 1896, to go into the insurance field permanently and he has been in the business ever since, having leased his ranch that year and opened offices in Los Angeles. After conducting his work for four years, Mr. Whelan’s company, in 1900, appointed him Special Agent for the entire Southern California and Arizona territory, which field he controls.
In addition to his insurance business, Mr. Whelan is a heavy real estate owner and a stockholder in various banks. He is a Republican and a member of the California Club.
Transcribed 5-5-11
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Press Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 669, International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta. 1913.
© 2011 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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