Cameron E. Thom
Encyclopedia
Cameron E. Thom who came to California during the gold rush, was a lawyer, a Confederate officer in the Civil War, and the 16th Mayor of Los Angeles (1882–1884).
. He came to California
in 1849 during the gold rush
and after a few years of unsuccessful mining, he studied law in Sacramento
. In April, 1854, Thom was sent by the government to handle land cases in Southern California. He settled in Los Angeles
, where he was at the same time appointed Los Angeles City Attorney
and Los Angeles County District Attorney
, to fill unexpired terms.
In 1857 he was elected State Senator
to represent what are now Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, San Diego and a part of Ventura Counties.
, and died). Shortly after arriving in San Pedro he was recognized by an old friend - J.M. Griffith, who loaned him $300.
Captain Thom served again as Los Angeles County District Attorney from 1869–1873, and 1877-1879. He served as Mayor of Los Angeles, California
from 1882 to 1884.
being divided into thirty-one sections and given to twenty-eight different people including 724 acres (2.9 km²) for Thom. The land belonging to Prudent Beaudry
, Cameron Thom, Alfred Chapman
, and Andrew Glassell
evolved into Glendale
. Harry J. Crow, Cameron E. Thom, and his nephew, Erskin B. Ross, along with B.F.Patterson and B.T.Byram were responsible for the creation of the City of Glendale in 1887.
Mount Thom in the Verdugo Mountains
of Glendale is named for him.
California
Cameron Erskine Thom was born in VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He came to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1849 during the gold rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
and after a few years of unsuccessful mining, he studied law in Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
. In April, 1854, Thom was sent by the government to handle land cases in Southern California. He settled in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, where he was at the same time appointed Los Angeles City Attorney
Los Angeles City Attorney
The Los Angeles City Attorney is an elected official whose job is to prosecute all of the misdemeanor criminal offenses within the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. The General Counsel Division of the office provides legal counsel for the city by either defending the city or acting...
and Los Angeles County District Attorney
Los Angeles County District Attorney
The District Attorney of Los Angeles County prosecutes felony and misdemeanor crimes that occur within the jurisdiction of Los Angeles County, California....
, to fill unexpired terms.
In 1857 he was elected State Senator
California's 1st State Senate district
California's 1st State Senate District is one of 40 Senate Districts. It is represented by Republican Ted Gaines of Roseville.-District profile:...
to represent what are now Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, San Diego and a part of Ventura Counties.
Post Bellum Los Angeles
Captain Thom served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. After the war, in 1865 Thom returned to California. He had lost his property, fortune, and his wife (Susan Hathwell returned to her family in MarysvilleMarysville, California
Marysville is the county seat of Yuba County, California, United States. The population was 12,072 at the 2010 census, down from 12,268 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Yuba City Metropolitan Statistical Area, often referred to as the Yuba-Sutter Area after the two counties, Yuba and...
, and died). Shortly after arriving in San Pedro he was recognized by an old friend - J.M. Griffith, who loaned him $300.
Captain Thom served again as Los Angeles County District Attorney from 1869–1873, and 1877-1879. He served as Mayor of Los Angeles, California
Mayor of Los Angeles, California
The mayor of Los Angeles is the chief executive officer of the city. He is elected for a four-year term and limited to serving no more than two terms. Under the California Constitution, all judicial, school, county, and city offices, including those of chartered cities, are nonpartisan...
from 1882 to 1884.
City of Glendale
The land case known as The Great Partition of 1871 resulted in Rancho San RafaelRancho San Rafael
Rancho San Rafael was a Spanish land grant bordering the Los Angeles River and the Arroyo Seco in present day Los Angeles County, California, given in 1784 to Jose Maria Verdugo. The rancho includes the present day cities of Glendale, Eagle Rock, La Cañada, Montrose, and Verdugo City...
being divided into thirty-one sections and given to twenty-eight different people including 724 acres (2.9 km²) for Thom. The land belonging to Prudent Beaudry
Prudent Beaudry
Prudent Beaudry served as the 13th Mayor of Los Angeles, California from 1874 to 1876. A native of Quebec, he was the second French Canadian, and third French American mayor of Los Angeles.-Early life:...
, Cameron Thom, Alfred Chapman
Alfred Chapman
Alfred Beck Chapman was a Los Angeles real estate attorney and investor. He may be best known as one of the founders of the city of Orange, California.-Life:Chapman was born on September 6, 1829, in Greensboro, Alabama...
, and Andrew Glassell
Andrew Glassell
Andrew Glassell was a Los Angeles real estate attorney and investor. He may be best known as one of the founders of the city of Orange, California.-Early life and career:...
evolved into Glendale
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
. Harry J. Crow, Cameron E. Thom, and his nephew, Erskin B. Ross, along with B.F.Patterson and B.T.Byram were responsible for the creation of the City of Glendale in 1887.
Legacy
In 1858, Thom married Susan Henrietta Hathwell(1839 – 1862), and after her death, married her sister, Belle Cameron Hathwell (1859 – 1924) in 1874. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles.Mount Thom in the Verdugo Mountains
Verdugo Mountains
The Verdugo Mountains are a small, rugged mountain range of the Transverse Ranges system, located just south of the western San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County, Southern California...
of Glendale is named for him.