An illustrated history of Los Angeles County, California. Containing a history of Los Angeles County from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day, Part 27

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1092

USA > California > Los Angeles County > An illustrated history of Los Angeles County, California. Containing a history of Los Angeles County from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 27

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Longing for the mining country, Mr. Van Dyke soon pushed on to the American River.

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

In the spring and summer of 1850 he was engaged with some Ohioans in mining on the north fork of the American River with mnoder- ate snecess, and in the fall returned to San Francisco. In November he was one of a eom- pany who went up the coast to start a town on the Klamath River, but their vessel was totally wreeked at the month of the river, and they es- caped with their lives by the aid of the Indians, before the vessel went to pieces. In 1851 he had an interest in the Gold Bluff mines, but soon sold out and went to the town of Trinidad and settled down to the practice of his profes- sion.

Upon the organization of Klamath County, in June, 1851, he was elected district attorney. In the fall of 1852 he was elected to the Assem- bly on the Whig ticket. When the county of Humboldt was organized in 1853 he moved there, being appointed a commissioner for that county to adjust the debt with Trinity County, from which it had been detached. Ile was elected district attorney for the county the next year. In September of that year, 1854, he married in the town of Arcata, Humboldt County, where he then resided.

Mr. Van Dyke, in addition to his professional work, entered the field of journalism, editing and publishing the Humboldt Times for a num- ber of years. In 1861, at the breaking out of the Rebellion, he announeed himself as a " Union" candidate for the State Senate from his district, and was elected after a very close and bitter contest, during which time himself and opponent canvassed the whole district on the war issue, or sustaining the Government. In the Legislature of 1862 there were three parties-Republicans, Union Demoerats, and Secession or Southern Democrats. There were resolutions introduced by all three parties, and Mr. Van Dyke introduced as a substitute a series of Union resolutions without regard to previous issnes or parties, simply pledging the State to stand by and assist the General Govern- ment and President Lincoln in suppressing the Rebellion. After a protracted debate these were

adopted by the co-operation of the Republicans and Union Democrats. The ensuing summer a convention was called in which these two parties combined to form the Union Republican party. Mr. Van Dyke was elected its president, and the superintendent of public instruction, the only candidate there was oeeasion to nominate, was elected by a large majority. In 1863 Mr. Van Dyke was chairman of the jndieiary com- mittee of the Senate, and that being the first session after the adoption of the amendments to the old constitution an unusual amount of work fell to that committee in adjusting the laws to the amended constitution. In the Republican State Convention of 1863 Mr. Van Dyke was presented as a candidate for supreme judge, but laeked a few votes of getting the nomination. He was afterward nominated for district judge of the Eighth or Humboldt Distriet, but de- clined on account of having made arrangements to move to San Francisco. At the ceremony of breaking ground for the Central l'acifie at Sac- ramento, in the winter of 1863, Mr. Van Dyke was one of the speakers.

He practiced his profession for many years in San Francisco, residing in Oakland. From 1869 to 1872 he was chairman of the Republican State Central Committee and took part in can- vassing the State as a speaker. In 1873 he was appointed United States Attorney for the district of California, but resigned in 1876. He was then appointed special attorney for the United States in certain important land eases.

In 1878 he delivered a lecture at Oakland on constitutional reform, and when the movement to that end assumed definite shape he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention of that year, being one of the thirty-two delegates at large, and having received the third largest vote cast for sneh delegate. Ile was chairman of the Bill of Rights Committee.

In 1885 he came to Los Angeles, buying the interest of Judge Brunson in the law firm of Wells, Brunson & Lec. Among the publie benefits derived from his residence here it may be safely said that it is to his judgment and

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

skill as the agent of Senator Jones that this county is indebted for securing the location of the Soldiers' Home at Santa Monica. In the last general election, November 6, 1888, he was elected a judge of the Superior Court for six years, by the largest vote cast for any county candidate. Before a jury he is earnest and im- pressive, and while he is a sound and laborious lawyer he is by no means a mere lawyer. He is a man of culture as well, disposed to be not only just but even generous in his dealings, and honorable under all circumstances. The earnest activity in the pursuit of landable success through his personal efforts has characterized his whole career. It has often been remarked that his personal friends are quite as numerons among political opponents as in the ranks of his own party. His spheres of action have been widely different, but in all of them he has shown mental and moral capabilities of a high order. Self-reliant, energetic, conscientious and honor- able, he has won his way to high honor by worthy methods, which, is the best evidence of ability and character.

Mr. Van Dyke is a life-member of the Society of California Pioneers, is a Royal Arch Mason, and Past Master of Humboldt Lodge, No. 79.

HON. WILLIAM. A. CHENEY, a judge of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, was born February 18, 1848, in the city of Boston, Massachusetts. His father, Benjamin F., achieved no marked distinction in life except that which constitutes the highest and noblest of all, and which, fortunate for the race, is so often attained that it attracts no special attention, a well-spent life devoted to the welfare of his family and the discharge of every public and private duty. The Judge's mother was of the Whitney family, and his maternal grandmother was a Stearns, both being names that have won more or less distinction in the annals of Massa- chusetts. Mr. Cheney's early education in the excellent public schools of his native State was supplemented by an academic course in one of the local institutions of that grade. At the age

of nineteen he felt equal to engaging in the battle of life on his own account, and had the courage to strike out for California, arriving in 1867 by the Panama route.

In 1871 he was married to Miss Annie E. Skinner, of New Haven, Connecticut. They have one child, Harvey D., boru in 1872. After his return to California Mr. Cheney spent sev- eral years in various temporary pursuits. Hav- ing meanwhile gained a fair knowledge of law he was admitted to the bar in 1878, and then entered on his chosen career. He was elected the same year to the office of county judge of Plumas County and held that position until elected State Senator in 1880, State Senator for his district-Bntte, Plumas and Lassen connties. Aside from the discharge of his official duties he was law partner of Creed Hammond in Sacramento. Before the expiration of his terin as Senator he moved to Los Angeles in 1882, and took up the practice of his profession in this growing metropolis. He was elected a member of the school board for one term; and in 1884 was elected to the bench of the Superior Court, a position he still holds to the great satisfaction of the public as well as of the bench and bar of Los Angeles.

In his administration of the criminal law, for which department he was selected by the judg- ment of his associates of the Superior Court, and for which his deep moral sense specially quali- fies him, an earnest desire to temper the severity of the sentence with such measure of mercy as he thinks benefits the individual case is never absent. While inflicting the necessary penalty of transgression he seeks to foster and encourage whatever impulse toward virtne may still linger in the heart of the criminal. He habitually recognizes that in the violator of law there may be hidden the germs of redeemable manhood. No biographical sketch of Judge Cheney would be complete without a reference to his ability as an orator and public speaker, so often attested in his criminal practice at the bar before his elevation to the benchi, and to his successful achievements on the platform on

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great occasions, which place him at once in the front rank of public speakers of the day.

HON. JAMES W. MCKINLEY, Superior Judge and one of the youngest men on the California bench, was born in Newcastle, Pennsylvania, on the 24th of April, 1857. He graduated in the literary department of Michigan University in 1879; read law in his native town and was ad- mitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 1881. After two years' prac- tice in Newcastle Mr. MeKinley came to Cali- fornia, reaching Los Angeles in April, 1883, and immediately started into the practice of his profession, as a partner with W. T. Williams, under the firm name of Williams & MeKinley. The firm enjoyed a very busy practice and was considered one of the strongest in the Los An- geles bar. In December, 1884, Mr. Mckinley was elected to the office of city attorney for two years; and, at the close of the term, declined a renomination for the office. On the creation, by the Legislature at its last session, of two new departments in the Superior Court of Los An- geles County, increasing the number from four to six, there were four or five candidates for the new judgeship. At a meeting of the bar, called for the purpose of deciding what candidates to recommend for appointment, Mr. MeKinley re- ceived ninety-seven ont of 119 votes east by that body; and his name being sent in as their choice, Governor Waterman appointed him Superior Judge, dating his commission on March 11, 1889. Judge Shaw was recommended and re- eeived the appointment as his colleague. Judge MeKinley qualified for the office on March 16, and took his seat on the beneh the following week. His fine judicial record is fully justify- ing the action of his brethren of the bar in rec- ommending his appointment.

In the fall of 1886 Judge MeKinley returned East, and in October married Miss Lillian Elder, a former school companion, and native of New- castle, Pennsylvania.

HON. WILLIAM HOVEY CLARK, one of the Su- perior Judges of Los Angeles County, is prob- ably the youngest man on the bench of California,

and probably in the United States. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in March, 1860, and was educated for his profession in that eity, graduated from the Boston Law School, and was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Massachusetts in September, 1881, soon after his twenty-first birthday. Locating in his native eity, he practiced there and in Barnstable County until the fall of 1884, when he came to Cali- fornia, mainly for the restoration of his health, which was somewhat impaired. Reaching Los Angeles in October of that year, and being favorably impressed with the eity and climate, Mr. Clark soon after entered into a law partner- ship with Hon. A. W. Hutton and H. M. Smith, under the firm title of Smith, Hutton & Clark. He practiced as a member of the firm, which did a large business and was one of the most prominent in the county, until he was elected to the Superior Bench in November, 1888; and was also appointed by Governor Bartlet to fill the unexpired term of Judge A. Brunson, re- signed. He took his seat on the Superior Beneh in December, 1888, being but a few months past twenty-eight years of age. Jndge Clark is held in high esteem by his brethren of the bar, both as a gentleman and a judge; and is regarded as possessing a elear, well-poised judicial mind.

HON. ALBERT M. STEPHENS. This gentleman is a native of Tennessee, and is forty-three years of age. He studied law at the University of Mississippi and at Lebanon, Tennessee; was ad- mitted to the bar in 1868; practiced in Mem- phis, Tennessee, six years; filled the office of distriet attorney in that State four years. In 1874 he came to Los Angeles, and continued active in his profession. In 1877 was elected county judge and served during 1878 and 1879, when the new State constitution abolished that office. Judge Stephens is serving his second term as president of the Los Angeles Bar As- sociation, and is also president of the Los An- geles Law Library. He is held in high esteem by his professional brethren, both as a lawyer and a gentleman.

John Wickwell

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

JOHN D. BICKNELL was born in Chittenden County, Vermont, in June, 1838. In his early childhood his parents moved to the then new Northwest and settled in Jefferson County, State of Wisconsin, where he was edneated in the public schools; also, attended an academy known as the. Albion Academy, in the State of Wisconsin, and was for sometime at the West- ern Reserve Seminary in Trumbull County, Ohio. He completed his studies in the Wis' consin State University. In the spring of 1859, his health failing him in school, he went Sonth and remained about a year in Howard County, Missouri. His health not being benefited in Missouri he determined to try the Pacific Coast, and in April, 1860, he started with a train of emigrants across the plains for California. Early upon the trip he was chosen to take charge of the train, which consisted of forty wagons, carrying about eighty men, several families, and accompanied by about three thou- sand head of stock. To understand the magni- tude of this journey it must be remembered that at that time there was not a home or any signs of civilization between Topeka, Kansas, and Carson's Valley, Nevada, on the line of the route taken by this train, which was then known as the Lander's Cut Off, which was by the way of Fort IIall And Snake River. This was the year of the Sioux war (so called), and the In- dians were hostile all along the route, and all emigrants that year suffered more or less from · hostile Indians, and the train, of which the sub- ject of this sketch had command, was no exception in that particular. The train suffered particularly from attacks made by the tribe of Indians known as the Bannocks. It is difficult now to understand or appreciate the hardships, trials and difficulties attending a trip in the early days across the plains, especially when added to the necessary hardships attending such a trip the emigrants had also to contend with hos- tile Indians. It must be remembered that a train of emigrants was a body of men unused to anything like military discipline and endowed with the spirit of independence and determi-

nation so characteristic of the pioneer of that time. Every emigrant knew that his life and his property was in constant danger, and it re- quired of the person in charge of such a body of men under such circumstances untiring dili- gence, and to hold such a body of men together and to subject them to complete control required determination and bravery. It takes a man of marked individuality and unquestioned bravery to control men in times of danger, and to re- eeive voluntarily from brave and desperate men their obedience in times of peril. It is enough for the purposes of this sketch to say that Mr. Bicknell had control of the train from the Mis- souri River to Sacramento; that he brought it through to California without the loss of a single man, although the train suffered consid- erably from the loss of stock. Mr. Bieknell re- mained on the Pacific Coast until the fall of 1863, spending his time in the mountains of California and Oregon, Washington and Idaho Territories. He then returned to the State of Wisconsin, being much improved in health, and re-entered the State University at Madison and remained there until he entered the law office of H. W. & D. K. Tenney at Madison, Wis- consin. In January, 1866, he was admitted by the Supreme Court of the State of Wisconsin to practice law in all of the courts of that State; after which time he spent a year traveling through the Southern States, and finally located and commenced the practice of law in the town of Greenfield, Dade County, State of Missouri. He remained there enjoying a large and lucra- tive practice, extending over several counties of Southwestern Missouri, until, finding it neeessary to make a change of climate, owing to asth- matic difficulties, he returned to California, having before enjoyed entire relief from this complaint on the Pacific Coast, and located in the spring of 1872 in the city of Los Angeles, where he has remained ever since. Shortly after his location in Los Angeles he formed a co-part- nership with S. M. White, the firm being known as Bicknell & White, which co-partnership ex- isted until January 1, 1888. This firm did a

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large and prosperous business, and it is not too inuch to say ranked among the leading law firms of California. Mr. Bieknell is now (1889), and has been for some years past, the attorney for the Sonthern Pacific Railroad Company, and is the recognized legal counsel and adviser of that great corporation in Southern California. He is president of the Abstract and Title Insurance Company of Los Angeles, and vice-president of the First National Bank of Los Angeles. He was for seven years Commander of the Cœur de Lion Commandery, No. 9, at Los Angeles. As an attorney he has a large and lucrative practice and enjoys the confidence of his clients and the community; as a business man he has amassed a liberal fortune and is ranked among the solid men of the community. Mr. Bicknell has been twice married, his first wife being a Miss Hatch, of Chittenden County, Vermont, who died shortly after their marriage. His present wife was a daughter of Mr. Alexander M. Christian, formerly of Todd County, Kentucky, whom he married in Missouri. He has by his second wife two children, daughters, named Mary and Edna.

Although Mr. Bicknell has maintained for many years a first place at the bar of Los An- geles County by virtue of his profound legal at- tainments and his high standard of integrity and lionor, always an acknowledged leader in a legal eoterie of far more than ordinary caliber, yet it is characteristic of his unassuming nature that all of his successes in law and finance have a second place in his estimation, and the emi- nent counselor, banker and financier turns with fondest memories to those early years when he brought his train of pioneers in safety through the perils and hardships of the overland route.

HION. STEPHEN M. WHITE, a leading member of the bar of Los Angeles County, an influential citizen and acting Lieutenant-Governor of Cali- fornia, is a native of San Francisco, and was born January 19, 1853. Ile is a son of Wm. F. and Fannie J. (Russell) White, both of whom are of Irish nativity. The former came to this country with his parents when about four years

of age. Mrs. White, who was early left an orphan, was brought to Florida while a small child and was raised by her cousin, Stephen R. Mallory, who represented that State in the United States Senate, and was a member of the Confederate Cabinet. Win. F. White grew to manhood in Western New York, became pub- lisher of a weekly newspaper in the city of New York, later an employé in the United States Custom House, in that city. He was married in Savannah, Georgia, having met his wife while she was receiving her education in New York, and came to San Francisco in 1849, where he became prominent in business circles and in the political affairs of the State. He is now a resident of East Oakland. Stephen M. White was given a thorough schooling and was graduated from Santa Clara College in June, 1871. He then read law in the office of Hon. A. W. Blair, of Watsonville, and later, in the office of C. B. Younger and Judge Hagan, of Santa Cruz. He was admitted to the bar at a session of the Supreme Court of this State in April, 1874, and at once removed to Los Angeles, where he has assiduously devoted his energies to the practice of his chosen profession.

He was elected in 1882 as a Democrat district attorney of Los Angeles County, by a large majority, and declined a renomination. In 1886 he was elected State Senator by a light majority, the district at that time having a comfortable majority of voting Republicans. When the State Senate convened, he was promptly chosen its president pro tem, and in consequence of the death of Governor Bartlett, Lieutenant-Governor Waterman be- came Chief Executive of California, and Senator White was for the second time elected presi- dent pro tem of the Senate, and thus became the presiding officer of that body and acting Lieutenant-Governor of the State. Governor White was a delegate to the State Democratic Convention in 1882. IIe presided over the de- liberations of the Stockton Convention in 1884, and later was chairman of the State Democratic Convention in 1886, and was chosen a delegate

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at large from California to the Demoeratie National Convention at St. Louis, in 1888, and was elected temporary chairman of that distin- guished body, over which he presided with dignity, promptness and precision. He was one of the three counsel selected by the Legis- lature of California to maintain the Scott Exclusion Act before the Supreme Court of the United States. This duty was performed, and the decision filed in the Chae Chan Ping ease terminated the controversy in accordance with the unanimons wishes of the people of the Western Coast.

In his domestie relations Mr. White has been as deservedly fortunate as in those distingnish- ing him at the bar and in publie life. On the 5th of June, 1883, he married, at the cathedral of Los Angeles, Miss Hortense Sacriste, an estimable lady of Los Angeles, of French de- seent. They have three children-a son and two daughters.

THOMAS MITCHELL, of the law firm of Haynes & Mitchell, was born in Philadelphia, April 17, 1845; entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1861; left in 1864 and entered the army as Second Lientenant; served with the Army of the Potomae until the end of the war, most of the time as Acting Assistant Adjutant General of the First Brigade, First Division, Fifth Army Corps, on the staff of General I. L. Chamber- lain; was mustered out as Captain in June, 1865, and entered the law office of Henry Wharton, Esq .; gradnated as Bachelor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania, and was ad- mitted · to practice in September, 1867. He removed to Colorado in 1877, and in 1880 was appointed by Governor Pitkin judge of the First Judicial Distriet to succeed Beck, who was elected to the Supreme Court. The latter part of 1882 he removed to Arizona to take charge of the business of the Tombstone Mill & Mining Company, then involved in heavy liti- gation, remaining there until the early part of 1887. Judge Mitehell then came to Los Angeles. He is one of the original members of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the

United States, being No. 16 on the roll of mem- bers of that order. He is a member of the John A. Logan Post, G. A. R., and one of its trustees, and is Judge Advocate of the Depart- ment of California G. A. R.

HON. JOHN HAYNES was educated at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, studied law at Zanes- ville, Ohio, and was admitted in the Supreme Court of that State April 6, 1856, and practiced at Zanesville until 1867. During that time he served six years as proseenting attorney. In 1867 he removed to Michigan, and practiced law at Bay City until March, 1876, and was a member of the State Legislature in 1871.

In March, 1876, he removed to San Fran- ciseo on account of ill-health, and practiced there until August, 1879, when, finding a change of elimate necessary, he removed to Tucson, Arizona, and continued practice in that Terri- tory, serving also in the Territorial Legislature of 1881. In 1885 Mr. Haynes was commis- sioned as judge of the County Court of Pima County (a court of general jurisdiction), but immediately resigned.

In October, 1886, Judge Haynes formed a co-partnership with Hon. Thomas Mitehell, and soon thereafter opened an office in Los Angeles, where the firm still continues to practice.

During his practice in Arizona he represented the Copper Queen Mining Company, the Atchi- son, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company, and other corporations.

GEORGE J. DENIS, United States Attorney for Southern California, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 20, 1859, of French parents on his father's side, and Pennsylvania ancestry on his mother's side. His father's great-grand- father, the Marquis de Lassus, was the French Governor of Louisiana when that Territory extended from the British North American provinces to the Gulf of Mexico. His great- grandfather was the second Governor of Lonisi- ana. Ilis mother's great-great-grandfather was the second mayor of the city of Philadelphia. Young Denis was brought up in France to the age of twelve years; entered Washington and

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Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1092

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1092