Los Angeles-Plumas-Fresno County CA Archives Biographies.....Seymour, John J. 1852 - 
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Author: Luther A. Ingersoll (1908)

    JOHN J. SEYMOUR is a native of Ohio, born near Washington, C. H. Fayette
County, February 16th, 1852. When a child his parents moved to Illinois. He
obtained an elementary education in the schools of that state and later entered
the State University, graduating with the class of 1877 as a civil engineer.

    After graduation he was employed some time in the government service making
surveys on the Mississippi River, then in various railroad construction corps in
Indiana, Dakota, and later in Colorado with the Denver & Rio Grand R. R. during
its palmy construction era. He afterward engaged in mining engineering and was a
U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor in the San Juan silver mines in Colorado. In 1886
he came to California and was for some time engaged in railroad construction in
Plumas County and later in a general engineering business in Santa Clara County.
In 1890 he located in Fresno where he became general manager and part owner of
the Fresno City Water Works. He early became interested in the development of
electric water power and assisted in the formation of a company organized to
bring electric power from the San Joaquin River in the Sierra Mountains to the
City of Fresno. He was president and general manager. This company was one of
the pioneers in electric transmission and claimed the distinction at one time of
having the longest transmission line (35 miles and later 69 miles) in existence,
and of operating its water wheels under the highest head of water, 1400 feet.

    His health failing he was obliged to dispose of his business interests in
and about Fresno and in 1903 he removed to Santa Monica which he has since made
his home, making substantial investments in real estate in this vicinity. Mr.
Seymour is recognized as one of Santa Monica's most substantial citizens. He
takes a lively personal interest in local public affairs, is one of the charter
members of the Santa Monica Board of Trade and its president-elect. Mr. Seymour
was married in 1885 to Corinne, a daughter of Dr. Joseph Howells, of Richmond.
Indiana, and a cousin of the famous author, William Dean Howells.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Ingersoll's century history, Santa Monica Bay cities: prefaced with a brief
history of the state of California, a condensed history of Los Angeles County,
1542 to 1908: supplemented with an encyclopedia of local biography and
embellished with views of historic landmarks and portraits of representative
people.

Los Angeles: Luther A. Ingersoll (1908)


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