Riverside County
Biographies
LUTHER
JAY & ALICE (MITCHELL) TOBIAS
Luther Jay Tobias is the capable county
treasurer of Riverside county, in which office he
succeeded his wife, Mrs. Alice (Mitchell) Tobias, who filled the position for
six years prior to her death in February, 1932. He was born on a farm near
Dayton, Ohio, December 24, 1890, his parents being David W. and Hulda (Cassel) Tobias, also natives of the Buckeye state.
The father, who became a very prominent agriculturist, has passed away. Mr. and
Mrs. David W. Tobias, were the parents of two
children: Luther Jay, of this review; and Mrs. Erla
W. Chaffin, of South Carolina.
Luther J. Tobias acquired his early
education in the grade and high schools of his native state and continued his
studies at the Ohio State University as a member of the class of 1912. He was
employed by the National Cash Register Company in a clerical capacity for some
years and served in the United States Army for one year, being stationed with headquarters company at Camp Lewis, Tacoma, Washington. He
is a member of the American Legion. In 1920 Mr. Tobias came to Riverside,
California, and here assumed the duties of chief deputy in the sheriff’s
office. Later he was made chief deputy under the county treasurer, Alice
Mitchell, who became his wife and whom he succeeded in office following her
untimely death. He has membership in the Congregational Church and also belongs
to the Victoria Country Club.
It was on the 31st of
December, 1931, that Mr. Tobias married Miss Alice Mitchell, daughter of David
G. Mitchell, who became the first treasurer of Riverside county
in 1893 and filled the office continuously for a third of a century or until
his death, which occurred February 10, 1926. Mr. Mitchell was succeeded in this
important public position by his daughter, Alice, who discharged the duties
devolving upon her in a most efficient and faithful manner until she, too,
passed away. She died February 23, 1932 after two weeks’ (sic) critical illness
following an operation. Mrs. Tobias is survived by four brothers, namely: Harry
E., who is connected with the Sherman Institute, one of the largest Indian
schools of the country, located near Riverside; Frank E., a resident of
Chicago, Illinois; Claude W., of San Francisco; and Roy R., of Ogden, Utah.
Mrs. Tobias made a splendid record in public office and also manifested an
active and helpful interest in church, club and social service work. For a
period of six years she was treasurer of the Women’s Club. A host of friends
mourned her passing, for she was greatly loved and admired for her many
admirable traits of character.
Transcribed By:
Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: California
of the South Vol. II,
by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 483-484,
Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles,
Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 Cecelia
M. Setty.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S RIVERSIDE
BIOGRAPHIES