Kern County Biographies

ABIA T. LIGHTNER

Submitted by Carolyn Feroben

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

 
The subject of this brief sketch is the youngest son of one of the pioneers of 
California. He was born at or near Pomona, Los Angeles, County, January 1, 1850. 
His father, the late Abia T. Lightner, was a native of Pennsylvania; came to 
this State in 1849, and, as will be seen by a biographical review of his life 
elsewhere in this work, as an honored and useful citizen.
   Mr. Lightner was seven years of age when his parent located in Kern county. He 
received his early education in the public schools of San Jose, attended the 
Pacific Methodist Episcopal College at Vacaville, and subsequently at Heald's 
Business College, San Francisco, graduating at the latter institution in 1871. 
he then returned to Kern County and was engaged in the stock business until 
1876, when he received the appointment of under sheriff of Kern County by M. P. 
Wells, and wore the first official under-sheriff's badge of Kern County that was 
authorized by law. He served a two years' term in that capacity, and in 1879 was 
elected clerk and ex-officio county recorder of Kern County and by reason of a 
change in the State constitution his second term of office was extended two 
years. he was re-elected in 1852, making for him a continuous service of four 
years and ten moths, which ended on the first Monday in January, 1885.
   Retiring from office, Mr. Lightner engaged in the hotel business, with C. W. 
Fare as proprietor of the Grand hotel, of Tulare. The memorable fire of that 
year swept away the hotel and about all Mr. Lightner's early possessions. He 
then went to Sacramento and made a full and complete set of abstracts from the 
records of the surveyor general's office of Tulare County's lands , for Messrs. 
Miller & Creighton searchers of records, Visalia. This work occupied him for six 
months, and after its completion he returned to Kern County, located at 
Bakersfield and associated himself in business with W. E. Houghton, as searchers 
of records and real estate and insurance agents, under the firm name of Houghton 
& Lightner. This business alliance has proved a most signal success. The 
established reputation of Mr. Lightner, and likewise his partner, as careful and 
efficient men in their line of work brought them a large business, which is one 
of the most prosperous on the coast. (See mentioned elsewhere in this volume) 
Mr. Lightner was elected to the office of Assessor of Kern county in November, 
1890, making him the present incumbent of that office. He is distinguished as 
one of the two oldest native-born American citizens of California and is the 
only man in this State eligible to membership in both the Society of California 
Pioneers and the order of Native Sons of the Golden West.
   Mr. Lightner was married October 11, 1883, to Miss Tena Morrell, daughter of W. 
H. and Catherine Morrell. She was born in Mendocino County, California, 
September 6, 1860.
 
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, 
California - Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892 - page 494-495