The Valley of Heart's Delight
JAMES LOUIS LIGHTSTON
-
PIONEER FAMILY-SAN JOSE TREASURERS
Surnames; SOTO, ROSSMUSSEN
A native son of California who has for the past eleven years been
connected with the city government is James Louis Lightston, who is now
a deputy city treasurer and license collector. Mr. Lightston was
elected for three terms as city treasurer; when the new commission form
of government was established this position became appointive and Mr.
Lightston was again selected to hold this office, which he does to the
entire satisfaction of his constituents. He was born in San Jose on
February 14, 1872 , the son of Frank and Juanita (Soto) Lightston, the
father a '49er, having come to this country during the time of the gold
rush and first tried his luck as a miner. He was the first city
treasurer of the city of San Jose, and was also the deputy Sheriff;
James Lightston is still using the books that were opened by his father.
The mother was a member of an old Spanish family, and passed away in
the year 1900, her husband having preceded her in 1890.
James was educated in St. Joseph's school, and when he first began
to make his livelihood he began as a clerk in a grocery store and was
engaged in that line for a period of five years; he then went to work
for and undertaker's establishment and was employed here for three
years; then he he spent ten years in railroad work and later he was
elected to the position of city treasurer and license collector for
three terms, and later, under the new form of government, he received
this appointment, and in of all he has served in that office for eleven
years.
Mr. Lightston's marriage united him with Sarah A. Rossmussen, a
member of a an old pioneer family of San Jose, of which place she is a
native; they are the parents of three children: Louis N., Charles F.,
and Juanita. Mr. Lightston is very popular in the fraternal
organizations of which he is a member, the Woodmen of the World,
Foresters, Red Men, and the Yeomen Lodge. In national politics he is a
Republican and in his religious faith is a member of the Catholic Church
.
Transcribed by Joseph Kral, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County,California, published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 360
RETURN TO SANTA CLARA COUNTY HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHIES
VALLEY OF HEART'S DELIGHT-