John B. Felton

John Brooks Felton [1] (June 9, 1827, in Saugus, Massachusetts, died May 2, 1877, in Oakland, California) was an American jurist and politician who served as the 14th Mayor of Oakland, California.

John Brooks Felton
John Brooks Felton, c. 1854 by Stephen W. Shaw
14th Mayor of Oakland, California
In office March 1, 1869 – March 5, 1870
Preceded by	Samuel Merritt
Succeeded by	Nathaniel W. Spaulding
Personal details
Born	(1827-06-09)June 9, 1827 Saugus, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	May 2, 1877(1877-05-02) (aged 49) Oakland, California, U.S.
Resting place	Mountain View Cemetery (Oakland, California)
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Kate S. Baldwin
Alma mater	Harvard University
Occupation	Lawyer

Felton was the son of an almshouse superintendent in Cambridge, Massachusetts and brother of Cornelius Conway Felton, a classics scholar at Harvard University and Samuel Morse Felton, Sr., a railroad executive. He graduated from Harvard in 1847 and briefly served as a Greek tutor before pursuing the law. He studied the Napoleonic code in Paris for one year and became fluent in French and Spanish. In 1854, Felton moved to San Francisco to open a law practice with Harvard classmate, E.J. Pringle. The firm, which was later joined by A. C. Whitcomb, became known for successfully litigating land claims and their clients included Kelsey Hazen, José Yves Limantour, and James Lick [2] Future Congressman Binger Hermann apprenticed under Felton before moving to Oregon.[3] Felton was a legal advisor to Levi Parsons of the San Francisco Dock and Wharf Company during Parsons' attempt to have the "Bulkhead Bill" passed.[4]

Felton campaigned unsuccessfully for a seat in the U.S. Senate in 1867[5] and 1874.[6] He was Mayor of Oakland from 1869-1870 and a Presidential Elector for California during the 1868, 1872, and 1876 Presidential Elections.[7]

Felton was the first President of the Board of Trustees of Toland Medical College (Now University of California, San Francisco) and was tasked with obtaining the school's charter, which he failed to do.[8] He was a regent of the University of California from its inception in 1868 until his death.[9] Felton also served as the President of the San Francisco and Oakland Railroad.[10]

The town of Felton, CA, is named after John Brooks Felton.[11]

His wife, Kate S. Baldwin, was the daughter of Joseph G. Baldwin, his law partner who served on the California Supreme Court.[12]

References

1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-05-21. Retrieved 2010-03-18.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
2. Oscar Tully Shuck (1889). Bench and bar in California: History, anecdotes, reminiscences. The Occident printing house.
3. Joseph Gaston and George H. Himes (1912). The centennial history of Oregon, 1811-1912, Volume 4. The S.J. Clarke publishing company.
4. Oscar Tully Shuck (1889). Bench and bar in California: History, anecdotes, reminiscences. The Occident printing house.
5. "POLITICAL GOSSIP AND SPECULATIONS". Sacramento Daily Union. June 30, 1865. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
6. Oscar Tully Shuck (1889). Bench and bar in California: History, anecdotes, reminiscences. The Occident printing house.
7. http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/fellrath-femille.html
8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-05-30. Retrieved 2010-03-18.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
9. Oscar Tully Shuck (1889). Bench and bar in California: History, anecdotes, reminiscences. The Occident printing house.
10. William Henry Knight (1864). Bancroft's hand-book almanac for the Pacific States. H.H. Bancroft and Company.
11. Clark, Donald T. (2005) Santa Cruz County Place Names, p.110, Kestrel Press.
12. "The Eastern Shore, News of Alameda, Berkeley, Oakland and Environs, Death of Mrs. John B. Felton". Daily Alta California. 42 (14346). California Digital Newspaper Collection. 15 December 1888. p. 8. Retrieved August 8, 2017.

Political offices
Preceded by Samuel Merritt	Mayor of Oakland, California 1869—1870	Succeeded by Nathaniel W. Spaulding