Percy Vernon Hammon (August 28, 1873 – October 4, 1958) was a politician who served in the

California State Assembly The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature (the upper house being the California State Senate). The Assembly convenes, along with the State Senate, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento, Califor ...

from 1907 to 1913 and in the

Los Angeles City Council The Los Angeles City Council is the Legislature, lawmaking body for the Government of Los Angeles, city government of Los Angeles, California, the second largest city in the United States. It has 15 members who each represent the 15 city council ...

for the 2nd Ward from 1904 to 1906. He also served as a Deputy City Attorney for 23 years.

Early life and career

Hammon was born on August 28, 1873, in a lob cabin in Spring Hill, Iowa, moving to

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

in 1895 where he attended Woodbury Business College. In 1889, he was a clerk for Isidore B. Dockweiler, and from 1900 to 1904, was employed at the Title Guarantee & Trust Company.

Political career

In 1904, Hammon was elected to the

for the 2nd ward. Two years later, he was elected to the

for the 75th district and was re-elected in 1908. In 1907, after graduating from the

University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in ...

, Hammon became a Deputy City Attorney under

John D. Fredericks John Donnan Fredericks (September 10, 1869 – August 26, 1945) was an American lawyer and politician from Los Angeles, California, who served two terms as a U.S. Representative from 1923 to 1927. As District Attorney of Los Angeles County (19 ...

, resigning in 1915 to be in a private practice with W. Joseph Ford. In 1920, it was believed that Hammon would become the county chairman for the

California Republican Party The California Republican Party (CAGOP) is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in the U.S. state of California. The party is based in Sacramento and is led by chair Corrin Rankin. As of October 2023, Republicans represent app ...

. In 1929, he became a Deputy City Attorney again under

Buron Fitts Buron Rogers Fitts (March 22, 1895 – March 29, 1973) was an American lawyer and politician from Los Angeles who served as the 29th lieutenant governor of California, from 1927 to 1928, and as Los Angeles County District Attorney thereafter until ...

and was Fitts's legal adviser. In 1941, he was reassigned to Dockweiler, replacing William O. Russel. On July 20, 1943, Hammon retired from the post of Deputy City Attorney after 23 years.

Personal life and death

On October 4, 1958, Hammon died in the Good Samaritan Hospital due to a heart ailment.

References

Links to the ''Los Angeles Times'' articles require the use of a library card. {{LosAngelesCityCouncil1889-1909 1873 births 1958 deaths Politicians from Los Angeles Los Angeles City Council members Members of the California State Assembly 20th-century members of the California State Legislature