Ventura
County
Biographies
MALVERN DIMMICK
A public official of proved ability
and worth, Malvern Dimmick has served as justice of the peace for a period of
ten years and before assuming these duties had made an enviable record as mayor
of Ventura. He was born in Onawa, Monona
County, Iowa, January 30, 1864, a son of Addison and Lovisa
(Carpenter) Dimmick.
The father engaged in the practice of law as a young man, and while
residing in the north he fought for the Union.
In 1875 he went to Louisiana and cultivated a plantation in that state
during the remainder of his life.
Malvern Dimmick attended he public
schools of Iowa and Louisiana, pursuing his advanced studies in the University
of Mississippi, which awarded him the Bachelor of Science degree in 1882. Entering the educational field, he taught for
a number of years in Iowa and Missouri, serving as superintendent of city
schools at various places in the latter state.
His last service in that profession was rendered as instructor in
mathematics in the Southwest Missouri State Teachers College at
Springfield. In 1898 he went to Flagstaff,
Arizona, where he was connected with the lumber industry for four years, and
then came to California, locating in Los Angeles. About the 31st of January, 1906,
he arrived in Ventura and was with the Channel Commercial Company, a wholesale
concern, for a year, after which he turned his attention to the grocery
business. In 1918 he became associated
with the former owners of the Ventura Wharf & Warehouse Company, which he
represented as manager for six years following the purchase of the business by
that company, and materially furthered its interests. Meanwhile he had been chosen mayor of Ventura
and served until 1923, giving to the municipality a progressive administration,
characterized by needed reforms and improvements. Elected justice of the peace in the fall of
1922, he took office in January, 1923, and proved so capable that he has been
retained in that capacity to the present time.
He carefully ascertains the facts of each case brought before him and his
rulings have at all times been impartial and fair.
In 1891 Judge Dimmick was married to
Miss Laura J. Rains, who passed away in 1918, leaving two daughters, Helen R.
and Edith C. Dimmick. For his second
wife Judge Dimmick chose Mrs. Elizabeth P. Jones, to whom he was married in
1925. The Judge loves the sea and finds
keen enjoyment in outdoor life. He
belongs to the Lions Club and his fraternal affiliations are with the Masons,
the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is ever ready to aid the poor and needy,
and is an enthusiastic champion of welfare work for boys. Unbiased in politics, he casts his ballot for
the candidate whom he considers best qualified for office, irrespective of
party ties, and is liberal and broad-minded in all of his views. In community affairs he has ever shown a deep
and helpful interest and was mayor and president of the board of trustees of
the city of San Buenaventura for a period of four years. His standards of life are high and the respect
accorded him by the citizens of Ventura is well deserved.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. III, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 147-148, Clarke Publ.,
Chicago, Los Angeles,
Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
GOLDEN
NUGGET'S VENTURA
BIOGRAPIES