Sacramento County
Biographies
THOMAS K. CLIFTON
THOMAS K. CLIFTON.—A
well-known and popular merchant tailor of Sacramento,
is Thomas K. Clifton, who is familiarly known as Tommy Clifton and is the owner
of the Tommy Clifton tailor establishment, located at 1009
Eighth Street, Sacramento. His
birth occurred at old Washington, now Broderick, in Yolo
County, just across the river from Sacramento,
March 30, 1883, a son of James L. and Mary (Norcross) Clifton. James
L. Clifton and his wife came to California in the early
sixties and for many years James L. Clifton was employed in the shops of the
Southern Pacific Railroad Company at Sacramento,
until he was retired with a pension. There were ten children born to this
pioneer couple, of whom Thomas K. Is the third oldest. He attended grammar
school in old Washington; and
self-study, reading and the school of experience afforded him a general fund of
knowledge that has proved of great value in his career. He learned the machinist’s trade while still in his teens and
eight years were occupied at this trade with the Southern Pacific
Railroad. He then spent one year with the Capital
City tailors as a salesman, and in
1908 engaged in business for himself. He began on
a small scale but was very successful, gradually
increasing his business until now he has one of the largest in his line in Sacramento. It
is the consensus of opinion that he is the largest advertiser of any tailoring
establishment in the city. He carries a large line of suit length samples
in the latest seasonable patterns. Of a pleasing personality and great
affability, he is very successful, and he employs several people to assist him
in caring for his growing business.
Mr. Clifton was united in marriage in Sacramento
with Mrs. Pearl (Southmayd) McMurray, a native of Oregon. During 1920 Mr. Clifton served as secretary of the
Eagles Lodge of Sacramento. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce,
Retail Merchants’ Association and Retailers’ Credit Association. Mr.
Clifton possesses a very pleasing baritone voice and is very fond of music and
musical associations. He frequently favors Sacramento audiences with his rendition of the latest songs and
particularly Irish songs, in which he excels. He is an ardent baseball
fan, for in former days he played semi-professional baseball, his place on the
team being shortstop. Outdoor sports appeal to him and he enjoys the
mountains and fields, delighting in hunting and fishing.
Transcribed 8-24-07
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Reed, G.
Walter, History of Sacramento County,
California With Biographical Sketches, Pgs
999-1000. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.
© 2007 Marilyn R. Pankey.