John K. Luttrell


John King Luttrell was an American miner, lawyer and politician who served three terms as a United [States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative] from California from 1873 to 1879.

Early life

Born near Knoxville, Tennessee, Luttrell attended the common schools. He moved with his parents to a farm in Alabama in 1844. He moved to Missouri in 1845 with his parents, who settled on a farm near St. Joseph. He moved to California in 1852 and engaged in mining. He also studied law.
He settled in Yolo County and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He moved to Prairie City in 1853, to El Dorado County in 1854 and thence to Watsonville in Santa Cruz County, and to Alameda County. In the 1870s he moved to Sonoma County, living on a ranch there for ten years prior to being appointed U.S. Commissioner of Fisheries for Alaska.

Early career

He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Oakland in 1856. He was a Justice of the Peace in Brooklyn in 1856 and 1857. He moved to Siskiyou County in 1858 and purchased a ranch near Fort Jones. He engaged in agricultural pursuits, mining, and the practice of law.
He was sergeant at arms of the California State Assembly in 1865 and 1866.
He again served as a member of the Assembly in 1871 and 1872.

Congress

Luttrell was elected as a Democrat to the 43rd [United States Congress|Forty-third], Forty-fourth, and Forty-fifth Congresses. He declined to be a candidate for reelection.

Later career

He resumed the practice of law, farming, and mining. He served as member of the board of state prison directors from 1887 to 1889. He was appointed United States Commissioner of Fisheries and special agent of the United States Treasury for Alaska in 1893.

Death and burial

He died in Sitka, Alaska at age 62, and was interred in Fort Jones Cemetery, Fort Jones, California.