San Joaquin County
Biographies
PAUL WETHERLY BENNETT
P. W. BENNETT.-- Among the
most prominent representatives of the legal profession now practicing at the Stockton bar is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He
is a native of Gloucester, Massachusetts, born June 12, 1836. His childhood days were spent at
his native place, and he was quite young when he went to the British North
American provinces, where he resided most of the time until leaving the East.
In the fall of 1858 he sailed from Boston to California, landing at San
Francisco, and for several
years after coming to the State resided in Sonoma
and Marin counties. About the commencement of 1864 he went to Owen’s River
valley, Tulare County. When Inyo County was organized that territory was included in the new
county, and he went to live at Independence. He had been reading law as opportunity presented
from the time he was a mere youth, and when, under the new county organization,
he was made under sheriff of Inyo, he took occasion to brush up his legal
knowledge. In 1868, before the expiration of his term in that position, he was
appointed District Attorney of Inyo County. He served two terms in that office,
and upon the expiration of his second term continued to practice law at Independence until 1878, when he went to Bodie, Mono
County. There he remained six years, part of the time in
partnership with P. Reddy (now of San
Francisco), and in November,
1884, he removed to Stockton. In 1885 he formed a partnership with J. C. Campbell,
which continued unchanged until the late Judge David S. Terry became a member
of the firm. In 1886 this strong firm was dissolved by the removal of Judge
Terry to Fresno. Since that date Mr. Bennett was for a time
associated with George M. Gill, and later with F. D. Nicol. He now, however,
has no business partner.
Mr. Bennett is a member of Morning Star
Lodge, No. 68, F. & A. M.; of Stockton Chapter, No. 8, R. A. M., and of
Stockton Commandery, No. 8, Knights Templar. He is also a member of Charter Oak
Lodge, No. 20, K. of P.
Mr. Bennett is a stanch Republican in his
political proclivities, and has been prominent in the councils of the party and
active in its ranks. As a lawyer he is capable of holding up the reputation of
the bar of San Joaquin in any court.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Page 363. Lewis Pub. Co.
Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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