Sacramento County
Biographies
WILLIAM D. LAWTON
An intimate association of thirty years
with the business development of Sacramento has given to Mr. Lawton a
comprehensive knowledge of property valuations in and near the capital city,
also of commercial enterprises contributing to the local development and civic
measures devoted to the general welfare. It would be difficult to find a
citizen more loyal than he to the city of his adoption; its interests he has
made his own, its welfare is ever dear to his heart and its progress is a theme
of never-ceasing importance to him. To such loyal citizens the city owes
its steady development in all that gives lasting value to its influence. That
his citizenship has been appreciated appears in the statement that he was chosen
president of the first board of trustees under the new charter of 1893 and at
one time was also honored with being elected a director of the Sacramento
Chamber of Commerce, in these positions giving evidence of earnest loyalty to
civic growth and intelligent understanding of municipal problems. He was
instrumental as early as 1892 in the building of the first macadamized street
in Sacramento, which was the inception for macadam and asphalt streets there,
and in 1894-95, when he was president of the board of trustees, the cement
sidewalks were built, thus starting permanent work in that line. He was zealous
in working for the interest of the city at all times, and it was entirely
through his efforts that the city water works were saved to the city instead of
passing into the hands of a private corporation.
Descended from an old eastern family and
himself a native of Lyons, N. Y., William D. Lawton has been a citizen of
California ever since the year 1873 and therefore has given the intelligent
service of manhood to the commonwealth of his adoption. Four years after his
arrival in the west he was united in marriage with Miss Emma Grimshaw, of Sacramento, the daughter of a prominent
pioneer family originally from Illinois; after coming to California her father,
William R. Grimshaw, was for years identified with
Captain Sutter and Sam Brannan and his participation in early history had a
direct bearing upon subsequent progress. For little less than ten years after
coming to the west Mr. Lawton engaged in the manufacturing business in San
Francisco, but during 1882 he established his home in Sacramento, and here he
has resided ever since. Practically ever since he came to the state he has been
interested in mining to some extent. On several occasions he was engaged as an
engineer in mines in this state and Nevada and while thus employed he bought
personal interests in a number of promising claims. In addition to holding
shares of stock in mines he has controlling water interests at a point in
Southern Nevada and by means of his own private water system he supplies an
abundance of water for irrigating and domestic purposes, as well as for the
treatment of ores. He is devoting much time to real-estate and investments in
the Sacramento valley.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 814-815. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.