Homer Laughlin

Homer Laughlin (March 23, 1843 – January 10, 1913) was an American businessman and potter. With his brother Shakespeare, he formed the Laughlin Pottery Company, now known as Fiesta Tableware Company, in 1871.

Biography

Homer Laughlin was born near the Little Beaver Creek in Columbiana County, Ohio, on March 23, 1843. Laughlin's parents were miller, merchant and postmaster Matthew Laughlin (1799–1876), of Scotch-Irish descent, and Maria (née Moore; 1814–1888),

After he was mustered out of the army, he worked in retail in Pittsburgh for a while, and later he worked in petroleum development in Pennsylvania for a year, boring twelve oil wells. where he developed the Homer Laughlin Building on Broadway, the first fire-proof office building in Southern California. It was also the first reinforced concrete building erected in Southern California.

Laughlin was president of the U.S. Potters' Association for many years. He was a member of the Republican Club of New York, the California Club, Los Angeles, the Allegheny Commandery No. 35, Knights Templar, and an honorary life member of the Girvan Encampment of Glasgow, Knights Templar of Scotland.

Family

On June 18, 1875, Laughlin married Cornelia Battenberg (1846–1907) in Wellsville, Ohio. Gwendolyn lived in Los Angeles from the age of 10 when her parents retired there. They bought a large mansion, now demolished, at 666 West Adams Boulevard. Homer Laughlin Jr. attended Stanford University, where he married Ada Edwards, a physical culture instructor, in the university chapel.

Homer Laughlin died of pneumonia on January 10, 1913, after an operation for appendicitis. He is interred in Inglewood Park Cemetery.