Résumé

Draftsman, Wright and Sanders, Architects, San Francisco, CA, c. 1875-1877.

Draftsman, Augustus Laver, Architect, San Francisco, CA, 1877-1879.

Partner, Pelton and Hatherton, Architects, San Francisco, CA, c. 1879-1886. Pelton and Hatherton had their office at 330 Pine Street in Downtown San Francisco.

Principal, John C. Pelton, Jr., Architect, Los Angeles, CA, 1886-1890. Pelton had an office in Room #25 in the, Wilson Block, 24 West Street 1st Street, Los Angeles. (See Pelton classified ad, Los Angeles Daily Herald, 10/30/1886, p. 7.)

Tile Setter, Santa Barbara, CA. 1927.(See The Santa Barbara Directory Company's Santa Barbara, California, City Directory, 1927, p. 291.)

Relocation

John Pelton, Jr., was born in San Francisco, CA, in 1856. He lived with his parents in San Francisco's 11th Ward in 1870, at which time his parents operated the San Francisco Industrial School, a facility housing "...neglected, abandoned, and delinquent children under the age of 16." (See Angus Macfarlane, OutsideLands.org, “The House of Refuge,” published 02/07/2013, accessed 05/15/2020.)

Pelton resided at 1767 Geary Street in 1907. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 05/14/2020.)

Just after World War I, he and his family made their home at 1035 21st Street, Santa Monica, CA. (See Santa Monica Bay Cities Directory, 1919, p. 263.)

He resided in a dwelling at 1436 Harbor View Drive in Santa Barbara, CA. in 1927. (See The Santa Barbara Directory Company's Santa Barbara, California, City Directory, 1927, p. 290.)

According to the 1930 US Census, Pelton lived at 1619 San Andreas Street in Santa Barbara, CA. He paid $45 per month in rent. He lived here with his wife, Annie, daughter, Dorothy, and son, John. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California; Page: 35A; Enumeration District: 0011; FHL microfilm: 2339949, accessed 05/14/2020.)

Pelton was laid to rest in the Utility Columbarium at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, CA.

Parents

His parents were John C. Pelton, Sr., (born c. 1827 in ME) and his wife, Amanda Pelton, (born c. 1820 in NH), who came to San Francisco early, in the 1850s. In 1870, John Cotter Pelton, Sr., worked as the Superintendent of the San Francisco Industrial School, a detention facility for abandoned and poor children that opened in 05/1859. Amanda worked as the Matron of the Industrial School. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: Year: 1870; Census Place: San Francisco Ward 11, San Francisco, California; Roll: M593_84; Page: 586B; Family History Library Film: 545583, accessed 05/15/2020.)

According the 1870, US Census, Pelton had some wealth, holding real estate valued at $4,500 and personal savings of $450.

John and Amanda had two children: Nancy Pelton (born c. 1853 in CA) and John, Jr.

Spouse

His wife was Annie Pelton (born c. 1880 in NY).

Children

Pelton had a daughter, Dorothy R. Pelton, (born c. 1914 in CA), and son, John Pelton, (born c. 1916 in CA).

Biograpical Notes

There has been some confusion about Pelton's birth and death dates. The California Death Index (CDI) noted that a John Cotter Pelton was born on 07/20/1856 and died on 10/30/1952. The death date varies significantly from that cited by Christopher VerPlanck, in his essay, "Pelton's Cheap Dwellings," who indicated that he died just after his father in 1913. (See: Christopher VerPlanck, FoundSF.org, "Pelton's Cheap Dwellings," accessed 05/16/2014.) It appears from records that the CDI was correct, and that John C. Pelton, Jr., lived well past 1913, dying 39 years later. Prior to 05/15/2020, PCAD used the incorrect dates mentioned in the VerPlanck article. These were corrected on this date.

In 1907, Pelton was a registered Republican according to San Francisco voter records. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation: California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 05/14/2020.)