California Biographies
Mendocino and Lake Counties, California
 
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

 

Source:
History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California
With Biographical Sketches
History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry
Illustrated, Complete In One Volume
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914


HON. THOMAS J. WELDON.� No citizen of Mendocino county has 
more fully exemplified the progressive spirit of the west than has Thomas J. 
Weldon, member of the fortieth session of the California legislature, senior 
partner in the law firm of Weldon & Held of Ukiah, former owner of the 
Times and a present Democratic leader of the county seat town. In a life of 
varied experiences he has directed his energies into different channels and 
has proved his versatility of intelligence as well as breadth of view. Essen- 
tially one of the representative men of the county, his accomplishment has 
been such as to justify in the fullest measure his election, November 5, 1912, 
to serve the district in the councils of the state, as a member of the fortieth 
session of the legislature. A resident of the county since 1887, his name 
has since been worthily identified with forward movements and has stood 
exponent with loyalty, progressiveness and co-operation in professional and 
material advancement. 

A native of Tennessee, born near Paris, Henry county, Thomas J. 
Weldon is a son of Dr. Andrew J. and Sarah (McSwain) Weldon, and was 
educated in his native commonwealth, where he later earned a livelihood in 
the lumber business. Appointed by the government as clerk at the Round 
valley Indian reservation in Mendocino county, he came to Mendocino county 
in 1887 and filled the position for two and one-half years. Under J. M. 
Standley and J. H. Smith he served for four years as under-sheriff. Mean- 
while he had studied law in the office of Senator J. H. Seawell, and was 
admitted to the bar in 1899. Two years later the firm of Weldon & Held 
was established with William D. L. Held as junior partner. As previously 
mentioned, he was for a time the owner of the Times, a newspaper of Ukiah 
well-known for devotion to the welfare of the people, but recently he sold the 
plant to newcomers who believe in this section. As legislator his voice has 
been heard in earnest endeavor to effect results beneficial to his district. 
The interests of his constituents have been promoted with fidelity. He has 
a broad knowledge of the law and this has been an important factor in his 
work as assemblyman. In every association, whether as attorney, legislator, 
newspaper man or citizen, he has kept the interests of the people in view and 
always has been a "booster" for his adopted county. Fraternally he is a 
member of the Santa Rosa Lodge of Elks, the Eagles and Odd Fellows, and 
has filled offices in the two last-named lodges. At the time of coming west 
he was unmarried. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Harriet V. 
Stanfield, is a native of Mendocino county and a daughter of Ashley V. and 
Mary E. (Burke) Stanfield, honored pioneers here, the father of the latter 
also being a well-known early settler. During the opening year of the Mexi- 
can war Mr. Stanfield, who was a native of Tennessee, walked from Nash- 
ville, that state, to the city of Mexico, and gave courageous service to his 
country until peace had been declared with the country to the south. Mean- 
while he had become interested in the undeveloped regions of the west and 
south and, hearing of the discovery of gold, he came to California in 1849, 
later identifying himself with the few white settlers of Mendocino county, 
his home during the latter part of his life.