Los Angeles County
Biographies
LEWIS REED WORKS
WORKS, LEWIS REED, Attorney,
Los Angeles, California, was born in Vevay, Indiana,
December 28th, 1869. His father is the present United
States Senator, John Downey Works, and his mother Alice (Banta) Works. On
August 28th, 1903, Mr. Works married Harriett Laura
Wilson, of Los Angeles. Mr. Works has one son, Pierce Works, born
January 2, 1896, by a previous marriage.
Mr. Works received his education beginning at
Miss Drummond’s school for children in Vevay,
Indiana, his birthplace, and then by attending the public schools of Vevay and of San Diego and San Francisco, California,
having removed to San Diego from Indiana, with his distinguished father, in
April, 1883. He is also a graduate of the San Diego Commercial College. He was
admitted to the Bar in February, 1892.
Upon his admission to the bar he entered partnership with
his father in San Diego, the firm doing business under the name of Works and
Works.
The style of this firm later became Works, Works and
Ingle, and later still returned to the title of Works and Works.
Entering the field of politics, Mr. Works was in 1898
elected as a member of the State Assembly, and served from January, 1899, to
January, 1901.
On the completion of his term of service in the State
Assembly, Mr. Works went to Los Angeles, where his father had located in
the meantime, where he entered partnership with his father and Bradner W. Lee, under the firm name of Works, Lee
and Works (September 1st, 1901).
Mr. Works attended closely to his practice and took very
little part in politics, but was from February 1, 1907, to
January 1, 1909, first assistant City Attorney of Los Angeles, a
position he resigned in order to form the law partnership of
John D. Works and Lewis R. Works. On the retirement of
John D. Works from active practice, as a result of his election to
the United States Senate, the firm was dissolved and since that time
Mr. Works has conducted a successful practice by himself.
In July, 1911, Mr. Works was appointed on the Board of
Public Utilities of Los Angeles and was elected its President, a place he now
holds.
As an active participant in public affairs,
Mr. Works began at an early age to show those characteristics which have
become a dominant part of his life, and which have brought him forward to a
prominent point of interest and effect, in all matters appertaining to the
welfare not only of the city which he has adopted as his home, but of the state
and nation as well.
For example, when as a very young man he learned of the
movement to organize a naval militia force in California, he jumped enthusiastically
into the agitation, and was a charter member of Company A, the first one
organized in the State and which was made up of San Diego young men.
As matters of ethical interest, he finds entertainment in
being a member of the Archaeological Institute of America and of the National
Geographical Society.
Actively and in a militant spirit, he belongs to the City
Club of Los Angeles, to the Good Government Organization of Los Angeles, to the
College Equal Suffrage Association as an honorary member, to the National
Municipal League, to the Los Angeles Municipal League, and to the Chamber of
Commerce, the Severance Club and the Gamut Club.
In all matters which he undertakes, whether it be for the city or for his club, he goes at them with all
his energy, and he is regarded as one of the most progressive young men in the
Southwest. His secret order is that of the Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks, of which he is Past Exalted Ruler of San Diego Lodge No. 168.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard
11 May 2011.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 651,
International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles,
Boston, Atlanta. 1913.
© 2011 Marie Hassard.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPIES