San
Joaquin County
Biographies
JOHN H. SOUTHWELL
For many years a resident of
Lathrop, where he was a leader in the town’s activities, John H. Southwell has
become thoroughly identified with the spirit and undertakings of the city of
Stockton, since taking up his residence here.
Mr. Southwell is a native of Utah, born at Christman,
in the mining district, July 23, 1882, and when twelve years old came with his
parents to Lathrop, California, where he continued his education in the public
schools. His first venture into business
life was as a clerk in the general store of B. F. Eastman, and on leaving
Lathrop he took a position at Oakland as yard clerk with the Southern Pacific
Railroad.
Coming back to Lathrop, Mr.
Southwell became assistant agent for the Wells Fargo Express Company, and then
went on the road as a messenger for the company, later becoming the agent at
Lathrop, and then assistant agent at Santa Cruz. Returning again to his old home town of
Lathrop, he purchased an interest in the store where he had worked as a boy, at
this time being conducted by S. W. Reynolds, and with D. T. Sutton as a partner
the firm of Southwell and Sutton was established and a splendid business built
up. This partnership continued for
eleven years, when Mr. Southwell disposed of his interest at a profitable
figure in 1918. While a resident of
Lathrop, he became a man of affairs there and took an active part in all civic
developments. At the age of eighteen he
was one of the founders of the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen and it was due
to his endeavor that the funds were raised to erect the new hall of that order,
which is a decided credit to the town.
For eight years he served as justice of the peace of Castoria
Township, this township including the thriving city of Manteca. Shortly after the State Bank was started, Mr.
Southwell became a stockholder and director, serving until January 1, 1922, as
a member of the board of this thriving institution, which is now the First
National Bank of Manteca. While in
business in Lathrop Mr. Southwell had an exciting encounter with a Negro
burglar who had entered his store. The
battle lasted half an hour, a fusillade of shots being fired, one of them
passing through Mr. Southwell’s coat. The burglar was captured and is now serving
his sentence in a California prison.
On coming to Stockton in February,
1918, Mr. Southwell bought an interest in the San Joaquin Auto Company, the
proprietor being A. E. Hunter, and the name was then changed to the
Southwell-Hunter Auto Company. They are distributors
for the Chandler and Cleveland cars for San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Amador, Calaveras
and Tuolumne counties, and he is also a member of the firm of the
Clarke-Southwell-Hunter Company at Modesto, in charge of Fred H. Clarke. Both the Chandler and Cleveland are
aristocrats in motordom, distinctive in design and
with reputations for dependability of service that have made them exceedingly
popular throughout the San Joaquin Valley.
With their large territory, the firm has built up a splendid business,
due both to the high-grade cars they represent and the initiative and
capability that characterize both partners.
In January, 1905, Mr. Southwell was
married to Miss Estella Sutton, a native daughter of Stockton, and they are the
parents of two children, Laverne and Lucile.
Mr. Southwell is very prominent in the fraternal life of Stockton and
takes an active interest in all public affairs, contributing generously to
every progressive cause. He belongs to
the Stockton Chamber of Commerce, is a Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner,
belonging to Aahmes Temple of Oakland, a member of Stockton Lodge No. 11, I. O.
O. F., the Elks, Sciots, Knights of Pythias, the D. O. K. K., and a charter
member of the Stockton Lions.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
653. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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