Frederick J. Whiffen
Frederick J. Whiffen | |
|---|---|
 Whiffen in 1915 | |
| President of the Los Angeles City Council | |
| In office July 7, 1913 – June 30, 1915 | |
| Preceded by | George Williams |
| Succeeded by | Martin F. Betkouski |
| Member of the Los Angeles City Council for the at-large district | |
| In office June 30, 1910 – June 30, 1915 | |
| Preceded by | John D. Works |
| Succeeded by | Fred C. Wheeler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 18, 1848 Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin |
| Died | December 1, 1929 (aged 81) San Pedro, Los Angeles |
| Political party | Republican |
| Other political affiliations | Good Government Municipal Conference |
| Spouse |
Adah Maria Hobart
(m. 1871; died 1910) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Bryant and Chase Business College |
Frederick James Whiffen (January 18, 1848 – December 1, 1929) was an American politician who served in the Los Angeles City Council from 1910 until 1913, serving as President of the Los Angeles City Council from 1913 to 1915. He pursued a career in retail before moving into business ventures in cattle and iron manufacturing. He later shifted his focus to real estate, relocating to Los Angeles in 1892. Whiffen was elected to the City Council as part of the Good Government organization and played a key role in local politics, including a mayoral run in 1915 election.
Early life and career
[edit]Whiffen was born on January 18, 1848, in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin to William Whiffen and Mary Ann Hitchcock. He received his education at a district school and attended Bryant and Chase Business College in Chicago, Illinois. He began his career as a clerk in a retail dry goods store before partnering with M. A. Calkins in 1873 to form the firm Whiffen & Calkins. The business grew significantly, and in 1887, Whiffen sold his interest in the company. He then invested in a herd of range cattle in Wyoming and an iron manufacturing business in Rockford, Illinois. By 1890, he had sold these investments and shifted his focus to real estate. In 1892, Whiffen moved to Los Angeles, California.[1]
Los Angeles City Council
[edit]
On March 22, 1910, two members of the Los Angeles City Council, John D. Works and Richmond Plant, resigned. Works left to pursue a seat in the U.S. Senate, while Plant resigned amid an investigation. Following their resignations, the City Council called for an election to fill the vacant seats. On April 17, 1910, Whiffen announced his candidacy for the Good Government nomination and was subsequently nominated along with George H. Stewart.[2][3]
In the primary election, Whiffen placed fourth, behind Bernard Healy, Stewart, and Arthur D. Houghton.[4] In the general election, he and Stewart won the election, gaining the two seats for the Good Government organization.[5] He stated that he had "no interest, directly or indirectly, with any corporation" and vowed to represent the people faithfully.[6]
In 1911, Whiffen ran for re-election on the general ticket for the Good Government organization.[7] In the general election, Whiffen placed eighth and was re-elected to the city council.[8] On July 1, 1913, Whiffen was elected as the President of the Los Angeles City Council. He officially took office on July 7, succeeding George Williams.[9]
Mayoral campaign
[edit]In 1915, Whiffen announced his candidacy for the mayoral election. His platform included promoting the consolidation of the city and county, developing the Harbor area, and keeping the city free from corruption.[10] When the filing petitions for the mayoral race expired, Whiffen was up against five other candidates. Among them were Chief of Police Charles E. Sebastian and future councilmembers Robert M. Allan and Ralph Luther Criswell.[11] He and Sebastian advanced in the primary, and in the runoff election on June 2, Sebastian defeated Whiffen by a majority of 4,509 votes.[12] In September 1916, Whiffen alleged that he had been offered the position of mayor for $2,500 to succeed Sebastian, who had resigned amid scandal. This accusation prompted an investigation by District Attorney Thomas L. Woolwine to look into the charges.[13]
Personal life
[edit]Whiffen married Adah Maria Hobart on December 27, 1871, in Winnebago, Illinois. The couple had four children together before her death on January 7, 1910.[1] During his tenure as a councilmember, he lived in the neighborhood San Pedro.[14] Whiffen passed away at his home on December 1, 1929.[15]
Electoral history
[edit]| Year | Office | Party | Primary | General | Result | Swing | Ref. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | % | P. | Total | % | P. | ||||||||
| 1910 | Los Angeles City Council | Nonpartisan | 4,679 | 17.96% | 4th | 16,834 | 29.26% | 2nd | Won | N/A | [4][5] | ||
| 1911 | Nonpartisan | Results unknown | 78,383 | 6.76% | 8th | Won | N/A | [8] | |||||
| 1915 | Mayor of Los Angeles | Nonpartisan | 14,591 | 20.25% | 2nd | 41,989 | 47.45% | 2nd | Lost | N/A | [16] | ||
References
[edit]- ^ a b Who's Who in the Pacific Southwest. Times-Mirror Printing & Binding House. 1913. p. 388.
- ^ "Whiffen Enters in Council Race". Los Angeles Herald. Vol. 37, no. 198. April 17, 1910. p. 10.
- ^ "Thirteen Aspirants for 2 Council Seats". Los Angeles Herald. Vol. 37, no. 242. May 31, 1910. p. 9.
- ^ a b "Gang Works Hard But Stewart and Whiffen Win Out". Los Angeles Herald. Vol. 37, no. 245. June 3, 1910. p. 1.
- ^ a b "Voters Strike S. P. Machine Crushing Blow by Sending Reform Leaders to Council". Los Angeles Herald. Vol. 37, no. 273. July 1, 1910. p. 1.
- ^ "Whiffen and Stewart Avow Faith to People". Los Angeles Herald. Vol. 37, no. 272. June 30, 1910. p. 13.
- ^ "Good Government Candidates". Los Angeles Herald. Vol. 38, no. 46. November 18, 1911. p. 16.
- ^ a b "Thirty-Four Thousand the Mayor's Lead". Los Angeles Times. 7 December 1911. p. II1. ProQuest 159808208.
- ^ "9 Departments to Rule City Agreed On". Los Angeles Herald. Vol. 39, no. 230. June 26, 1913. p. 9.
- ^ "Frederick J. Whiffen Announces His Playform". Los Angeles Express. March 26, 1915. p. 6.
- ^ "California Outlook". 1915. p. 14.
- ^ Post, Louis Freeland; Post, Alice Thacher, ed. (1915). The Public: A Journal of Democracy. Vol. 18. p. 573.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link) - ^ "Los Angeles Stirred by Political Scandal". The Modesto Bee. Vol. 60, no. 58. September 8, 1916. p. 1.
- ^ "October 23, 1911". San Pedro Daily News. Vol. 9, no. 247. p. 2.
- ^ "Civic Leader Dies". Imperial Valley Press. December 3, 1929. p. 1.
- ^ "Sebastian's Majority Over Four Thousand". Los Angeles Times. 3 June 1915. p. I1. ProQuest 160116232.