Tehama County

Biographies

JUDGE E. F. LENNON

Judge E. F. Lennon, an outstanding citizen of California by reason of his cooperation in many movements beneficial to the state, and one of the honored residents of Red Bluff owing to the active part which he has taken in furthering its civic projects and benevolent activities, certainly deserves mention in a history of the Sacramento valley. He was born in San Francisco, California, October 25, 1855, and is a son of Michael and Jane (O'Leary) Lennon, the latter a native of Ireland. The father was born either in Ireland or Louisiana and he served in the Mexican war.

Judge Lennon attended the Lincoln school and when his textbooks were laid aside he became connected with the newspaper business, to which he devoted fifty years of his life, conducting the News at Red Bluff. He gained a prominent place in journalistic circles and made his paper one of the foremost in the state, for through its columns he championed every plan and measure for the general good. Some of the old forms which he used when publishing his paper are still doing active duty. He won his high judicial title through twenty years' service as police judge and since 1910 he has been justice of the peace. His decisions are always rendered without fear or favor, and are the exponent of high ideals of justice and righteousness. On the 16th of August, 1876, Judge Lennon was married in San Francisco to Miss Elizabeth Irwin, a daughter of Samuel Irwin, and they became the parents of five children: Daisy I., now the wife of A. W. Smith, a wholesale grocer of Sacramento; Jessie Violet, the wife of J. W. Smith, a partner of his brother in the wholesale grocery business; and three who died in early life. The Judge has a grandson, Albert F. Smith, who is the owner of nine stores in Sacramento. He was graduated from Stanford University and also pursued postgraduate work at Harvard. He won a wide reputation as a track man, making a notable record as a mile runner, in which connection he made the fastest time in the state.

Politically Judge Lennon has always been a democrat. He belongs to Vesper Lodge, No. 84, F. & A. M., of Red Bluff and to Red Bluff Lodge, No. 1250, B. P. O. E. He aided General Wynn in organizing the Native Sons of the Golden West at San Francisco, in 1876, the preliminary meeting being held in the old Alta California building. He became a charter member of Parlor No. 4 and he has always been a loyal adherent of the organization. A broad-minded man, he has recognized his obligations to his fellowmen and has extended a helping hand where aid was needed. In 1910 he became the promoter of the community Christmas tree, which was supported by the merchants of Red Bluff and the Sciots. Since that time the tree has been an annual feature of the holiday season. Judge Lennon has also been instrumental in promoting care for the poor, the money being furnished by the Masonic organization. He was instrumental in organizing the Elks Lodge, obtained a charter, and for some time he served as secretary of the local organization. During his school days in San Francisco he was a schoolmate of Josiah Royce, now deceased, and also of David Belasco, the well known theatrical manager. In 1886 he worked for the government in the internal revenue office and from 1923 until 1928 he had charge of the distilled liquors department. He also served as deputy sheriff, as the first county clerk, as auditor, recorder, treasurer, coroner and public administrator, and in fact has held most of the county offices, the duties of which he has discharged with marked promptness and fidelity. He organized the Red Bluff Chamber of Commerce and served for a year and a half as its secretary without pay. A camp site, Lennondale, has been named in his honor, and it was improved with twenty-four cottages, most of which have been destroyed by a recent fire. Fishing has always been his favorite sport and he has ever keenly enjoyed a trip into the open. He started out in life empty-handed when a young man and since that time his progress has been continuous - not only in a material way but in his service to his fellow men along many lines of far-reaching effect and importance. His friends are legion and everywhere he is spoken of in terms of high regard.