[Note: The following article stating Conwell's birth year as 1859 is incorrect. In 1860 census, Conwell was three years old.]
The Los Angeles Herald, 15 December 1917, Page 1
L. A. COUNCIL PRESIDENT EXPIRES
Daughter Only Member of Family Present as Dean of Auto Row Passes Away
J. S. Conwell, president of the city council and known as the dean of the automobile business in Los Angeles, died early today at Blythe, California. Death overtook the councilman as he was returning to Los Angeles after a pleasure trip by automobile to Phoenix, Ariz., with his daughter, Miss Larooka Conwell. Word of his sudden passing was received by his business partners of the Conwell & Hathaway company, 1026 South Olive street. Mr. Conwell had been ill for a long time. When he took his annual vacation recently he spent the best part of it in the work of managing the last automobile show here. It was a stupendous undertaking and he was not feeling well when he began this work. He carried it to a successful finish, and then after a few days’ rest started December 5, with his daughter, by automobile to Phoenix.
ON WAY HOME
In Phoenix the council head and his daughter were joined by Roy E. Stewart, president of the Conwell & Hathaway company, and the trio wore on their way home when death intervened at Blythe and turned the trip from one of pleasure to one of sorrow. The body was turned over to funeral directors at Blythe and will be sent here. When word of Mr. Conwell’s passing was received here, Acting Mayor Frank L. Cleaveland immediately ordered the flag oh the city hall and those on all other municipal buildings lowered to half-mast. Mr. Cleaveland also called an immediate conference of his associates in the city council for action touching the death of their president, Mr. Conwell was born at Winona, Minn., July 4, 1869. He was the son of the Rev. Francis Asbury and Mary Mercy Conwell. He was married in 1891 to Miss Hopkinson.
ENTERS BUSINESS
Mr. Conwell was a graduate from the Lake View high school, Chicago, 1879, and the Northwestern university, Evanston, Ill., In 1882. In the latter university he won his B. S. degree. Entering the men's furnishing goods business in 1886, he was a member of the firm of Evans & Conwell, Los Angeles, until 1886. Then he was with Folmer, Clogg & Co., umbrellas, at San Francisco, from 1889 to 1894. He was with the Indiana Bicycle company in San Francisco, 1894 to 1897. From 1897 to 1900 he was manager of the same company at Indianapolis and was president of the Wilke Manufacturing company, refrigerators at Anderson, Ind., between 1900 and 1906; secretary and manager of the United Motors Los Angeles company from 1907 to 1919. Mr. Conwell was secretary of the
Automobile Funding company of America, a member of the United States life-saving crew at Evanston, Ill. in 1879 and 1880; clerk of the village of Evanston, Ill. 1881-1882; president of the San Francisco Cycle board of trade 1881-1882; president of the Motor Car Dealers’ association of Los Angeles, in 1911 and 1912; director of the Merchants’ association of Francisco, 1898 and 1899: member of the charter committee of 100 appointed by Mayor Phelan of San Francisco, and in 1899 he built the first Waverly electric automobile. Mr. Conwell was the inventor of the Hydro-Thermo Distillate Gasifier for automobiles. He was a member of the Society of Automobile Engineers of America; Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity; I. O. O. F., University clubs of Indianapolis and Los Angeles; member of the Los Angeles Athletic club, Automobile Club of Southern California, Annandale Country club and the Gamut club. He was a member of the Methodist church.
TO ARRANGE FUNERAL
The Conwell family home has been at Van Ness avenue. They have had a country home at Newport Beach, where the members of the family were wont to spend week ends boating and fishing. Mrs. Mae Hopkinson Conwell, the widow, and two daughters survive Mr. Conwell. No date has been set for the funeral. No arrangements will be made for it until the remains reach here. Mr. Conwell was elected councilman the first time about five years ago at the time Mayor Hose went into office. After two years of service he was re-elected. When, last spring, the city made its fight against the marring of her beauty by billboards, it was Mr. Conwell who led the fight in the city council for an ordinance that would restrict billboards and exclude them entirely from the residence districts.
ACTED AS MAYOR
Conwell was the only member of the old city council who was reelected. He was made president of the city council and paid close attention to this work. Many times, during the absence of Mayor Woodman, he was acting mayor. Mr. Conwell was a champion of the efficiency commission and a strong advocate of such a department. Mr. Conwell was regarded as an upright, studious, thoughtful and painstaking officiaL There was much speculation at the city hall today after the question of who would bo elected to succeed him on the council and who would be elevated to the presidency. Walter Mallard received the largest vote for council last spring, but the names of Criswell, Farmer and Beeves were also mentioned as possibilities for place. Works Board Pays Tribute to Conwell The board of public works today adopted the following resolutions touching the sudden death of President of the City Council Conwell:
“Whereas —The board of public works has just learned with surprise and regret of the death of President J. S. Conwell of the council of this city; now therefore be it
“Resolved, That this board of public works, as a mark of its appreciation of the public services of said. J. S. Conwell, and its respect for him as a man and citizen, hereby officially declares its sincere sense of public loss in the sudden and untimely death of the president of the council of this city, and also hereby extends to the bereaved family of said President J. S. Conwell, the condolences of this board officially, and the members thereof, personally; and further
“Resolved. That a certified copy of this resolution shall be transmitted to the family of the late president of the city council; and be it further
“Resolved, That the flag on the city hall shall be placed at half-mast in respect to the memory of Mr. Conwell.”
Which resolutions were adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Messrs. McAleer, O'Brien and President Handley (3). Noes: None.
The Los Angeles Herald, 15 December 1917, Page 1
L. A. COUNCIL PRESIDENT EXPIRES
Daughter Only Member of Family Present as Dean of Auto Row Passes Away
J. S. Conwell, president of the city council and known as the dean of the automobile business in Los Angeles, died early today at Blythe, California. Death overtook the councilman as he was returning to Los Angeles after a pleasure trip by automobile to Phoenix, Ariz., with his daughter, Miss Larooka Conwell. Word of his sudden passing was received by his business partners of the Conwell & Hathaway company, 1026 South Olive street. Mr. Conwell had been ill for a long time. When he took his annual vacation recently he spent the best part of it in the work of managing the last automobile show here. It was a stupendous undertaking and he was not feeling well when he began this work. He carried it to a successful finish, and then after a few days’ rest started December 5, with his daughter, by automobile to Phoenix.
ON WAY HOME
In Phoenix the council head and his daughter were joined by Roy E. Stewart, president of the Conwell & Hathaway company, and the trio wore on their way home when death intervened at Blythe and turned the trip from one of pleasure to one of sorrow. The body was turned over to funeral directors at Blythe and will be sent here. When word of Mr. Conwell’s passing was received here, Acting Mayor Frank L. Cleaveland immediately ordered the flag oh the city hall and those on all other municipal buildings lowered to half-mast. Mr. Cleaveland also called an immediate conference of his associates in the city council for action touching the death of their president, Mr. Conwell was born at Winona, Minn., July 4, 1869. He was the son of the Rev. Francis Asbury and Mary Mercy Conwell. He was married in 1891 to Miss Hopkinson.
ENTERS BUSINESS
Mr. Conwell was a graduate from the Lake View high school, Chicago, 1879, and the Northwestern university, Evanston, Ill., In 1882. In the latter university he won his B. S. degree. Entering the men's furnishing goods business in 1886, he was a member of the firm of Evans & Conwell, Los Angeles, until 1886. Then he was with Folmer, Clogg & Co., umbrellas, at San Francisco, from 1889 to 1894. He was with the Indiana Bicycle company in San Francisco, 1894 to 1897. From 1897 to 1900 he was manager of the same company at Indianapolis and was president of the Wilke Manufacturing company, refrigerators at Anderson, Ind., between 1900 and 1906; secretary and manager of the United Motors Los Angeles company from 1907 to 1919. Mr. Conwell was secretary of the
Automobile Funding company of America, a member of the United States life-saving crew at Evanston, Ill. in 1879 and 1880; clerk of the village of Evanston, Ill. 1881-1882; president of the San Francisco Cycle board of trade 1881-1882; president of the Motor Car Dealers’ association of Los Angeles, in 1911 and 1912; director of the Merchants’ association of Francisco, 1898 and 1899: member of the charter committee of 100 appointed by Mayor Phelan of San Francisco, and in 1899 he built the first Waverly electric automobile. Mr. Conwell was the inventor of the Hydro-Thermo Distillate Gasifier for automobiles. He was a member of the Society of Automobile Engineers of America; Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity; I. O. O. F., University clubs of Indianapolis and Los Angeles; member of the Los Angeles Athletic club, Automobile Club of Southern California, Annandale Country club and the Gamut club. He was a member of the Methodist church.
TO ARRANGE FUNERAL
The Conwell family home has been at Van Ness avenue. They have had a country home at Newport Beach, where the members of the family were wont to spend week ends boating and fishing. Mrs. Mae Hopkinson Conwell, the widow, and two daughters survive Mr. Conwell. No date has been set for the funeral. No arrangements will be made for it until the remains reach here. Mr. Conwell was elected councilman the first time about five years ago at the time Mayor Hose went into office. After two years of service he was re-elected. When, last spring, the city made its fight against the marring of her beauty by billboards, it was Mr. Conwell who led the fight in the city council for an ordinance that would restrict billboards and exclude them entirely from the residence districts.
ACTED AS MAYOR
Conwell was the only member of the old city council who was reelected. He was made president of the city council and paid close attention to this work. Many times, during the absence of Mayor Woodman, he was acting mayor. Mr. Conwell was a champion of the efficiency commission and a strong advocate of such a department. Mr. Conwell was regarded as an upright, studious, thoughtful and painstaking officiaL There was much speculation at the city hall today after the question of who would bo elected to succeed him on the council and who would be elevated to the presidency. Walter Mallard received the largest vote for council last spring, but the names of Criswell, Farmer and Beeves were also mentioned as possibilities for place. Works Board Pays Tribute to Conwell The board of public works today adopted the following resolutions touching the sudden death of President of the City Council Conwell:
“Whereas —The board of public works has just learned with surprise and regret of the death of President J. S. Conwell of the council of this city; now therefore be it
“Resolved, That this board of public works, as a mark of its appreciation of the public services of said. J. S. Conwell, and its respect for him as a man and citizen, hereby officially declares its sincere sense of public loss in the sudden and untimely death of the president of the council of this city, and also hereby extends to the bereaved family of said President J. S. Conwell, the condolences of this board officially, and the members thereof, personally; and further
“Resolved. That a certified copy of this resolution shall be transmitted to the family of the late president of the city council; and be it further
“Resolved, That the flag on the city hall shall be placed at half-mast in respect to the memory of Mr. Conwell.”
Which resolutions were adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Messrs. McAleer, O'Brien and President Handley (3). Noes: None.
[Note: The following article stating Conwell's birth year as 1859 is incorrect. In 1860 census, Conwell was three years old.]
The Los Angeles Herald, 15 December 1917, Page 1
L. A. COUNCIL PRESIDENT EXPIRES
Daughter Only Member of Family Present as Dean of Auto Row Passes Away
J. S. Conwell, president of the city council and known as the dean of the automobile business in Los Angeles, died early today at Blythe, California. Death overtook the councilman as he was returning to Los Angeles after a pleasure trip by automobile to Phoenix, Ariz., with his daughter, Miss Larooka Conwell. Word of his sudden passing was received by his business partners of the Conwell & Hathaway company, 1026 South Olive street. Mr. Conwell had been ill for a long time. When he took his annual vacation recently he spent the best part of it in the work of managing the last automobile show here. It was a stupendous undertaking and he was not feeling well when he began this work. He carried it to a successful finish, and then after a few days’ rest started December 5, with his daughter, by automobile to Phoenix.
ON WAY HOME
In Phoenix the council head and his daughter were joined by Roy E. Stewart, president of the Conwell & Hathaway company, and the trio wore on their way home when death intervened at Blythe and turned the trip from one of pleasure to one of sorrow. The body was turned over to funeral directors at Blythe and will be sent here. When word of Mr. Conwell’s passing was received here, Acting Mayor Frank L. Cleaveland immediately ordered the flag oh the city hall and those on all other municipal buildings lowered to half-mast. Mr. Cleaveland also called an immediate conference of his associates in the city council for action touching the death of their president, Mr. Conwell was born at Winona, Minn., July 4, 1869. He was the son of the Rev. Francis Asbury and Mary Mercy Conwell. He was married in 1891 to Miss Hopkinson.
ENTERS BUSINESS
Mr. Conwell was a graduate from the Lake View high school, Chicago, 1879, and the Northwestern university, Evanston, Ill., In 1882. In the latter university he won his B. S. degree. Entering the men's furnishing goods business in 1886, he was a member of the firm of Evans & Conwell, Los Angeles, until 1886. Then he was with Folmer, Clogg & Co., umbrellas, at San Francisco, from 1889 to 1894. He was with the Indiana Bicycle company in San Francisco, 1894 to 1897. From 1897 to 1900 he was manager of the same company at Indianapolis and was president of the Wilke Manufacturing company, refrigerators at Anderson, Ind., between 1900 and 1906; secretary and manager of the United Motors Los Angeles company from 1907 to 1919. Mr. Conwell was secretary of the
Automobile Funding company of America, a member of the United States life-saving crew at Evanston, Ill. in 1879 and 1880; clerk of the village of Evanston, Ill. 1881-1882; president of the San Francisco Cycle board of trade 1881-1882; president of the Motor Car Dealers’ association of Los Angeles, in 1911 and 1912; director of the Merchants’ association of Francisco, 1898 and 1899: member of the charter committee of 100 appointed by Mayor Phelan of San Francisco, and in 1899 he built the first Waverly electric automobile. Mr. Conwell was the inventor of the Hydro-Thermo Distillate Gasifier for automobiles. He was a member of the Society of Automobile Engineers of America; Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity; I. O. O. F., University clubs of Indianapolis and Los Angeles; member of the Los Angeles Athletic club, Automobile Club of Southern California, Annandale Country club and the Gamut club. He was a member of the Methodist church.
TO ARRANGE FUNERAL
The Conwell family home has been at Van Ness avenue. They have had a country home at Newport Beach, where the members of the family were wont to spend week ends boating and fishing. Mrs. Mae Hopkinson Conwell, the widow, and two daughters survive Mr. Conwell. No date has been set for the funeral. No arrangements will be made for it until the remains reach here. Mr. Conwell was elected councilman the first time about five years ago at the time Mayor Hose went into office. After two years of service he was re-elected. When, last spring, the city made its fight against the marring of her beauty by billboards, it was Mr. Conwell who led the fight in the city council for an ordinance that would restrict billboards and exclude them entirely from the residence districts.
ACTED AS MAYOR
Conwell was the only member of the old city council who was reelected. He was made president of the city council and paid close attention to this work. Many times, during the absence of Mayor Woodman, he was acting mayor. Mr. Conwell was a champion of the efficiency commission and a strong advocate of such a department. Mr. Conwell was regarded as an upright, studious, thoughtful and painstaking officiaL There was much speculation at the city hall today after the question of who would bo elected to succeed him on the council and who would be elevated to the presidency. Walter Mallard received the largest vote for council last spring, but the names of Criswell, Farmer and Beeves were also mentioned as possibilities for place. Works Board Pays Tribute to Conwell The board of public works today adopted the following resolutions touching the sudden death of President of the City Council Conwell:
“Whereas —The board of public works has just learned with surprise and regret of the death of President J. S. Conwell of the council of this city; now therefore be it
“Resolved, That this board of public works, as a mark of its appreciation of the public services of said. J. S. Conwell, and its respect for him as a man and citizen, hereby officially declares its sincere sense of public loss in the sudden and untimely death of the president of the council of this city, and also hereby extends to the bereaved family of said President J. S. Conwell, the condolences of this board officially, and the members thereof, personally; and further
“Resolved. That a certified copy of this resolution shall be transmitted to the family of the late president of the city council; and be it further
“Resolved, That the flag on the city hall shall be placed at half-mast in respect to the memory of Mr. Conwell.”
Which resolutions were adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Messrs. McAleer, O'Brien and President Handley (3). Noes: None.
The Los Angeles Herald, 15 December 1917, Page 1
L. A. COUNCIL PRESIDENT EXPIRES
Daughter Only Member of Family Present as Dean of Auto Row Passes Away
J. S. Conwell, president of the city council and known as the dean of the automobile business in Los Angeles, died early today at Blythe, California. Death overtook the councilman as he was returning to Los Angeles after a pleasure trip by automobile to Phoenix, Ariz., with his daughter, Miss Larooka Conwell. Word of his sudden passing was received by his business partners of the Conwell & Hathaway company, 1026 South Olive street. Mr. Conwell had been ill for a long time. When he took his annual vacation recently he spent the best part of it in the work of managing the last automobile show here. It was a stupendous undertaking and he was not feeling well when he began this work. He carried it to a successful finish, and then after a few days’ rest started December 5, with his daughter, by automobile to Phoenix.
ON WAY HOME
In Phoenix the council head and his daughter were joined by Roy E. Stewart, president of the Conwell & Hathaway company, and the trio wore on their way home when death intervened at Blythe and turned the trip from one of pleasure to one of sorrow. The body was turned over to funeral directors at Blythe and will be sent here. When word of Mr. Conwell’s passing was received here, Acting Mayor Frank L. Cleaveland immediately ordered the flag oh the city hall and those on all other municipal buildings lowered to half-mast. Mr. Cleaveland also called an immediate conference of his associates in the city council for action touching the death of their president, Mr. Conwell was born at Winona, Minn., July 4, 1869. He was the son of the Rev. Francis Asbury and Mary Mercy Conwell. He was married in 1891 to Miss Hopkinson.
ENTERS BUSINESS
Mr. Conwell was a graduate from the Lake View high school, Chicago, 1879, and the Northwestern university, Evanston, Ill., In 1882. In the latter university he won his B. S. degree. Entering the men's furnishing goods business in 1886, he was a member of the firm of Evans & Conwell, Los Angeles, until 1886. Then he was with Folmer, Clogg & Co., umbrellas, at San Francisco, from 1889 to 1894. He was with the Indiana Bicycle company in San Francisco, 1894 to 1897. From 1897 to 1900 he was manager of the same company at Indianapolis and was president of the Wilke Manufacturing company, refrigerators at Anderson, Ind., between 1900 and 1906; secretary and manager of the United Motors Los Angeles company from 1907 to 1919. Mr. Conwell was secretary of the
Automobile Funding company of America, a member of the United States life-saving crew at Evanston, Ill. in 1879 and 1880; clerk of the village of Evanston, Ill. 1881-1882; president of the San Francisco Cycle board of trade 1881-1882; president of the Motor Car Dealers’ association of Los Angeles, in 1911 and 1912; director of the Merchants’ association of Francisco, 1898 and 1899: member of the charter committee of 100 appointed by Mayor Phelan of San Francisco, and in 1899 he built the first Waverly electric automobile. Mr. Conwell was the inventor of the Hydro-Thermo Distillate Gasifier for automobiles. He was a member of the Society of Automobile Engineers of America; Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity; I. O. O. F., University clubs of Indianapolis and Los Angeles; member of the Los Angeles Athletic club, Automobile Club of Southern California, Annandale Country club and the Gamut club. He was a member of the Methodist church.
TO ARRANGE FUNERAL
The Conwell family home has been at Van Ness avenue. They have had a country home at Newport Beach, where the members of the family were wont to spend week ends boating and fishing. Mrs. Mae Hopkinson Conwell, the widow, and two daughters survive Mr. Conwell. No date has been set for the funeral. No arrangements will be made for it until the remains reach here. Mr. Conwell was elected councilman the first time about five years ago at the time Mayor Hose went into office. After two years of service he was re-elected. When, last spring, the city made its fight against the marring of her beauty by billboards, it was Mr. Conwell who led the fight in the city council for an ordinance that would restrict billboards and exclude them entirely from the residence districts.
ACTED AS MAYOR
Conwell was the only member of the old city council who was reelected. He was made president of the city council and paid close attention to this work. Many times, during the absence of Mayor Woodman, he was acting mayor. Mr. Conwell was a champion of the efficiency commission and a strong advocate of such a department. Mr. Conwell was regarded as an upright, studious, thoughtful and painstaking officiaL There was much speculation at the city hall today after the question of who would bo elected to succeed him on the council and who would be elevated to the presidency. Walter Mallard received the largest vote for council last spring, but the names of Criswell, Farmer and Beeves were also mentioned as possibilities for place. Works Board Pays Tribute to Conwell The board of public works today adopted the following resolutions touching the sudden death of President of the City Council Conwell:
“Whereas —The board of public works has just learned with surprise and regret of the death of President J. S. Conwell of the council of this city; now therefore be it
“Resolved, That this board of public works, as a mark of its appreciation of the public services of said. J. S. Conwell, and its respect for him as a man and citizen, hereby officially declares its sincere sense of public loss in the sudden and untimely death of the president of the council of this city, and also hereby extends to the bereaved family of said President J. S. Conwell, the condolences of this board officially, and the members thereof, personally; and further
“Resolved. That a certified copy of this resolution shall be transmitted to the family of the late president of the city council; and be it further
“Resolved, That the flag on the city hall shall be placed at half-mast in respect to the memory of Mr. Conwell.”
Which resolutions were adopted by the following vote: Ayes: Messrs. McAleer, O'Brien and President Handley (3). Noes: None.
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