San
Joaquin County
Biographies
JUDGE WARREN H. ATHERTON
One of the youngest men in the state
of California to be appointed city justice, Judge Warren H. Atherton has
already attained a position of prominence among the members of the Stockton
bar, his signal rise in the legal profession coming as a due recognition of his
ability and the thoroughness of his training, gained through his application
and persevering study. Judge Atherton is
a native son of California, born at San Francisco, December 28, 1891 gaining
his education in the public schools there.
In 1908 he entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad, as a
clerk in the office at Port Costa, Contra Costa County. With a decided bent toward the legal
profession, he had already made up his mind to enter the practice of law, and
so began by studying at night, pursuing this course until October 20, 1911 when
he came to Stockton and entered the law office of H. R. McNoble. Here he studied diligently so that he was
admitted to the bar on January 8, 1913 becoming Mr. McNoble’s
partner the following year.
On October 13, 1917 Mr. Atherton
patriotically gave up his law practice to enlist in the service of his country,
entering Company D, 363rd Infantry, as a private. He became first sergeant, and was
commissioned first lieutenant while in an American training camp, and
transferred to the ordnance. Soon after
arriving in France he was advanced to the rank of captain, and saw service in
the tank corps, having charge of the distribution of caterpillar tractors in
France, and in command of one of the ordnance parks there. After nearly two years in the service, he
received his honorable discharge on September 3, 1919 returning to Stockton,
where, on October 1, he formed a law partnership with M. P. Shaughnessy, as
Shaughnessy & Atherton. On December
15, 1920 he was named Justice of Stockton, and this post he has filled most
efficiently, being exceptionally well qualified for its duties. Judge Atherton has made a special study of
bond issues and is considered an authority on this important subject, as
related to municipal financing. He was
selected by the city to conduct its bond proceedings in recent issues, among
them the issue of $1,275,000 for the Stockton school district, the $1,760,000
issue for the Stockton Municipal Auditorium and City Hall, and the $1,500,000
issue for the Calaveras Dam project.
On July 7, 1917 Mr. Atherton was
married to Miss Anne M. Holt, daughter of the late Benjamin Holt, the inventor
of the famous caterpillar tractor, and whose genius and worth gave him a place
of highest honor among Stockton’s noted citizens. Judge Atherton took a prominent part in the
organization of the local post of the American Legion and is very popular in
its ranks, being a member of the executive committee during the year 1920.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1271. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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