Mendocino County Biographies

Hon. J. B. Lamar

Transcribed by: Pat Howard

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
	Whose portrait appears in this work, is a native of Bibb 
county, Georgia, and is now in his 53d year. His parental ancestors were French 
Huguenots, and his mother was a daughter of Colonel Miner Winn, who was a 
patriot soldier of the Revolutionary War. Winsboro, South Carolina, takes its 
name from and was founded by this family. Judge Lamar�s boyhood was mostly 
passed in Chatanooga county, near the Lookout Mountain. He completed his 
scholastic course at the Gurnnette Institute; commenced the study of law at 
eighteen years of age, and was admitted to practice in all the courts of Georgia 
in the winter of 1848, and embarked at New Orleans for Vera Cruz, traveling 
through Mexico and Mazatlan, where he took passage on the brig Antonie, arriving 
in San Francisco April 24, 1849. After a brief sojourn in San Francisco he went 
into the northern mines. In 1855 he settled in Ukiah valley, Mendocino county. 
In 1857 he married Miss Anderson, of Anderson valley. By this union four 
children are now living: Fannie, Walter, Basil, and Leeta. Mr. Lamar was elected 
to the Legislature of 1859, and during that session introduced the Bill 
organizing Mendocino county; and the following year represented Mendocino county 
in the Assembly. In 1867 he was elected County Judge, which position he held 
four years. In 1876 he removed to Oakland and commenced the practice of law in 
San Francisco. During the four years preceding the 1st of August last he held 
the position of attorney for the Board of State Harbor Commissioners. A 
political change occurring this year, whereby a majority of the Board were 
Republicans, Mr. Lamar was retired to make room for a Republican successor. 
Judge Lamar has been unwavering in his fidelity to the Democratic party and its 
principles; and his name and voice have become familiar in every portion of the 
State as a pleasing and effective orator. As a member of the San Francisco Bar 
he occupies an honorable position, and is the peer of its ablest lawyers.
 
SOURCE: History of Mendocino County, California - San Francisco, Cal. Alley, 
Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1880 Pp. 675