USA > California > San Bernardino County > Ingersoll's century annals of San Bernadino County, 1769-1904 : prefaced with a brief history of the state of California : supplemented with an encyclopedia of local biography and portraits of many of its representative people > Part 34
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
dissolution and disruption, whether sincerely or only as a pretext to commit lawless depredations and skip off into Dixie, or hide in the wilds of the Colorado desert or Arizona, while many hard cases remained who had no respect for any government and were quite bold in setting at defiance all law and order. It can well be understood that the office of public prosecutor was not a delightful luxury under such circumstances. Still I managed to hold my footing quite fairly, and during my two terms a goodly number of the lawless and criminal classes were sent off as convicts from this county to the state prison, though most of them could hardly be considered citizens of this county, or of any other place, for that matter. On retiring from that office I continued the practice of law until the creation of the eighteenth judicial district, composed of the counties of San Bernardino and San Diego, by an act of the legislature in February, 1872, when I was ap- pointed judge of said district by Governor Booth, to hold until the next en- suing election. Though a candidate for the next full term, I was not elected. and on retiring from the office I resumed practice at San Bernardino. At the special election in June 1878 for members of the state constitutionai con- vention. I was elected joint delegate from the same two counties and served as a member of that body through its session. The work of that convention was approved by the people by the adoption of the constitution it had prepared. At the first general election under the new constitution, held in the fall of 1879, my home constituency elected me judge of the superior court of the county, a court that had been created to take the places of the former district and county courts, from which office I retired at the expiration of the term to again resume practice at the bar.
Benjamin Hayes, who served as district judge in 1857-58, when San Bernardino county was a part of the district, then including all of Southern California, was one of the earliest and one of the most respected of the early lawyers of the state. He was born in Balti- more, Md., in 1815. He came to California overland in 1850, arriving in Los Angeles in February of that year. In 1857, he was elected as district judge, an office which he filled for eleven years in all. In 1867, he was appointed district attorney of San Diego county, and in 1868, he was elected to the State Legislature from that county. He died in Los Angeles, August 4, 1877. Judge Hayes was a man of wide learning, a student of the Spanish language, and was deeply in- terested in the history of this country. He BENJAMIN HAYES furnished much valuable material for Ban- croft, and preserved much historical matter. He was loved and respected by the people of Southern California, both Ameri-
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
cans and native Californians, and will long be remembered for his services ---- both legal and historical.
John W. Satterwhite came to Southern California from Texas in 1861, being then about nineteen years of age, poor and without influential friends.
He soon after went to mining in Holcomb Val- ley in this county. He remained there two or three years, and it is safe to say that he made no great strike financially. He then worked at mining on Lytle Creek for a year or two, in the capacity of superintendent. With but a common school education he was nevertheless bright and ambitious. He became quite well and favorably known, and in the fall of 1865 was elected to the legislature as a member of the assembly from this county and served in the session of 1865-6. Having for several years devoted much of his time to picking up such knowledge of the law as was within his reach, with a view of sometime becoming a lawyer, also having had some justice court practice at JOHN W. SATTERWHITE Holcomb Valley, he, on his return from the ses- sion of the legislature, commenced devoting his time to the study of law as a regular student at San Bernardino, with such as- sistance as a young man of his natural ability and aspirations will generally re- ceive from members of the profession under like circumstances. The next year he was admitted to practice. As a speaker he was logical and quite fluent, and in both respects had profited much by his recent legislative experi- ence. As a statesman, he in after years, used to laugh about it, and say that during his first experience in the assembly he came to a knowledge of how little he knew. But he was a man of strong convictions and had courage to act upon them. He was one of the few members of the legislature who voted against ratifying the thirteenth amendment to the United States Constitution, prohibiting slavery.
Though still young, he soon established a good standing as a lawyer. In 1870 Mr. Satterwhite was appointed by the board of supervisors to fill the unexpired term of district attorney, made vacant by the death of Hulett Clark. At the next ensuing election in 1871, the people of the county showed their appreciation of his services in that office by electing him without opposition to continue in the same office for another term of two years. Con- tinuing his law practice during that time and after his second term had ex- pired, he was engaged in some of the most important litigation in the county. With additional years of experience he greatly gained in reputation as a law- yer, and the confidence of the people as a legislator. In 1875 he was elected
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
to the state senate from the senatorial district composed of the counties of San Bernardino and San Diego, for a term of four years, which included the session of the legislature for 1875-6 and 1877-8.
Though of strictly temperate and steady habits, his health about this time began to give way, compelling him eventually to withdraw from any part in politics. His health still declining, he had to quit the practice of law en- tirely for a year or two before his death, which occurred in February, 1885. A widow and several children survive him.
Byron Waters, for many years a resident of San Bernardino, was born in Canton, Cherokee county, Georgia, in June, 1849. His father was a native of New York, and his mother a native of Georgia. He passed his boyhood in his na- tive state and witnessed the hor- rors of the civil war, since his home was in line with Sher- man's "March to the Sea." In 1867 he came to California and for a time resided with the late James Waters, his uncle, at Old San Bernardino. The young man decided to make law his profession and in 1860 entered the office of Judge H. C. Rolfe, and later continued his studies with Judge H. M. Willis. He was admitted to the bar of Cali- fornia in January, 1871, and soon took rank as a lawyer of unusual acumen and good judg- ment.
In 1877 Mr. Waters was BYRON WATERS elected to the general assem- bly to represent San Bernar- dino county, and while serving his term was recognized as one of the demo- cratic leaders of that body. In 1879 he served as delegate-at-large in the constitutional convention and aided in preparing the present constitution of the state. In 1881, he organized the Farmer's Exchange Bank, now one of the solid financial institutions of San Bernardino, and acted for several years as its president, handling its affairs with marked success. On retiring from the bank he again took up the legal profession and has since gained the reputation of being one of the ablest lawyers in the state. In 1886 he was the democratic nominee for supreme judge, but was defeated with the state
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
ticket by a small majority. Mr. Waters is now engaged in the practice of his profession in Los Angeles.
John Lloyd Campbell was born in Illinois in 1855. He was a descendant of Gen. Wm. Campbell, a distinguished American officer of the
Revolutionary war. His father. John Lewis Campbell, a Ken- tuckian by birth, served all through the civil war and re- turned home to die, leaving a large family in dependent cir- cumstances. John Lloyd, after serving a year as page in the U. S. Senate Chamber, com- pleted his preparatory course in his own state and entered Col- umbia Law School. He gradu- ated in 1878 and was admitted to the Illinois bar. In 1879 he came to California and located at San Bernardino, forming a partnership with Col. A. B. Paris. After a year in this city he removed to St. Paul, Minn., where he practiced his profes- sion until 1883, when he re- turned to San Bernardino. He JOHN LLOYD CAMPBELL joined the Hon. James A. Gib- son in practice until he entered upon the duties of district attorney in January, 1885. At the expiration of his term of office he resumed the legal practice until he was elected superior judge for San Bernardino county, in 1888. At the end of his six years' term he was re-elected and thus served the county upon the superior bench for twelve years.
The litigation in the superior court of this county has involved many important legal questions, particularly in the legal status of mining cases, water and land titles. Judge Campbell has without doubt tried more import- ant cases bearing upon water rights than any other judge in the state, and many of these cases have involved perplexing and unsettled points of law. His judgments have rarely been reversed by the superior courts.
In 1888, he married Miss Harriet Muscott of this city, and he has two children.
As a citizen, Judge Campbell has taken a large interest in all questions of public interest and welfare.
JAMES A. GIBSON
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
James A. Gibson, now of Los Angeles, but for many years a resident of San Bernardino county, is a native of Boston, Mass., born August 21, 1852. His father, Thomas Gibson, was of Scotch-Irish descent and a mechanic by trade. He enlisted in the ranks in the civil war and was mortally wounded during Gen. Bank's Red River expedition. His mother, who was of English- Irish parentage, died while he was still a child. He received his education in the public schools and while still but a lad began to learn the printer's trade. He later entered the employ of a large manufacturing establishment and remained with them until he came to California in 1874, and soon there- after located at Colton, then but the beginning of a town. He studied law in the office of William Gregory, formerly of Philadelphia, and in 1879 was ad- mitted to the bar. He at once entered upon the practice of his profession, soon associating himself with Hon. Byron Waters and later forming a part- nership with Hon. John L. Campbell. In 1884 he was elected to the superior bench in San Bernardino county and retained the office until he resigned to accept the position of supreme court commissioner, to which he was ap- pointed by the supreme court in May, 1889, a position which he held until 1801.
On resuming private practice he located in San Diego, joining the firm of Works, Gibson & Titus. In 1897 he removed to Los Angeles and entered into the firm of Bicknell, Gibson & Trask, one of the strongest law firms in Los Angeles.
Judge Gibson married in 1882, Miss Sarah Waterman, of Colton, a native of St. Joseph, Mo. She died December 2, 1889, leaving two children. Mary WV. and James A., Jr. He afterwards married Miss Gertrude Van Norman, of Ohio, by whom he has two children, Martha and Horace V.
William Jesse Curtis is the eldest son of Hon. I. C. and Lucy M. Curtis ; his father was a prominent member of the bar of Marion county, Iowa, for many years, and represented that county in the state legislature for several terms. His mother is the daughter of Jesse L. Holman, one of the early jus- tices of the supreme court of the state of Indiana, and a sister of Hon. Wil- liam S. Holman, who for more than thirty years was a member of Congress from that state.
Mr. Curtis was born in Aurora, Indiana, on the 2nd day of August 1838. In 1844, he moved with his parents to the then territory of Iowa, and settled in Marion county near the present city of Pella. He was educated at the Cen- tral University of Iowa, studied law in his father's office, was admitted to the bar in 1863, and became a partner of his father. In 1861 he married Miss Frances S. Cowles, of Delaware, Ohio. In 1864 he crossed the plains with ox and mule teams, came to California and settled in the city of San Bernardino, where he has resided ever since.
The first five years after his arrival in California, he devoted to teaching school. In January 1872, he opened a law office in the City of San Bernardino.
BENJAMIN F. BLEDSOE
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
In 1873 he was elected district attorney of San Bernardino county and was re-elected in 1875.
He has been associated at different times during the practice of his profes- sion with Judge H. C. Rolfe, Hon. J. W. Satterwhite, Judge Geo. E. Otis and Judge F. F. Oster, and is now associated with his son, Jesse W. Curtis. The various firms with which Mr. Curtis has been connected all occupied promi- nent positions at the bar of Southern California, and were retained in many important civil cases tried in San Bernardino county, and frequently in cases tried in adjoining counties, and the United States circuit and district courts.
Mr. Curtis has always taken an interest in matters pertaining to the wel- fare of the city, county and state, and especially in the subject of education. and served for a number of years as president of the city board of education. He is president of the bar association of the county, and one of the trustees of the law library.
Benjamin F. Bledsoe was born in San Bernardino in February, 1874. He attended the public schools of this city and graduated from the High School in 1891. He entered Stanford Ut versity in 1892, and graduated in the de- partment of History, Economics and Law. in 1896. While in Stanford Mr. Bledsoe took an active interest in inter-collegiate debating, and was one of the participants in the Stanford-California debate during his junior year.
He took his bar examination before the supreme court in Los Angeles in October, 1896, and immediately entered upon the practice of his profession in his native city, and in partnership with his father. R. E. Bledsoe. Their prac- tice has been general and extends over all the southern counties of the state. In 1898. Mr. Bledsoe was appointed referee in Bankruptcy by Judge Wellborn.
In August, 1900, at the solicitation of his friends, he became a candidate before the Democratic Convention of the county for the nomination for super- ior judge. There were three candidates, Hon. J. W. Curtis, Hon. Byron Waters and Benj. F. Bledsoe, characterized as the "boy lawyer". Both Mr. Curtis and Mr. Waters were old democratic "war horses": each had a strong and determined following, and the claims of each were presented to the con- vention by men of ability, and of great influence in the party. Young Bled- soe was nominated by Dr. James P. Booth and Thos. Doffelmeyer in speeches which aroused wild enthusiasm for the "boy lawyer" and secured his nomina- tion.
The contest was an unusually exciting one, and the fight centered mainly upon the judgeship. Although the county is strongly republican, and there was disaffection among the democrats, the vote which resulted was a tie-a most unfortunate result for both parties, as in such case the ordi- mary statutory election contest could not be made. It was contended that there was no means of reaching a recount, nor any remedy for any wrong that might have been done by the precinct officers in counting the ballots: and
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
that Judge Campbell who was then on the bench might hold over until the next general election.
The law firm of Bledsoe and Bledsoe took a different view of the law and after a long delay, and a persistent fight, secured from the Attorney Gen- eral of the State permission to commence a contest. The action came on for trial before Judge Lucien Shaw, holding court for Judge F. F. Oster. He decided that the ballots should be re-counted, which was done, and it was found that Bledsoe had received a major- ity of the legal votes cast. In consequence he was declared elected to the office of superior judge. An appeal to the supreme court was taken. The supreme court in due time af- firmed the judgment in favor of Mr. Bledsoe. The judgment of the lower court was ren- dered on the 27th day of July, 1901, and on the 29th day of July, 1902, Mr. Bledsoe qualified and took possession of the office, and from that ROBERT E. BLEDSOE time until the rendition of the decision of the supreme court in April, 1903, performed the duties of the office without pay, as the disbursing officers of the county were unwilling to pay until the final decision was rendered.
Owing to the delay in trying the case, Judge Campbell held the office and collected the salary for a number of months. It was conceded on the final ren- dition of judgment, that Judge Bledsoe could collect the salary for this time : but believing that the money had been paid to Judge Campbell in good faith, and that to compel the county officers to refund it, would be a hardship to the officials and to Judge Campbell, Judge Bledsoe decided not to contend for the amount.
Judge Bledsoe has presided in department two of the supreme court since July 9th, 1901, and during that time has tried several very important cases in the counties of Riverside, Orange and Los Angeles, in addition to his work in this county. He is a cautious and studious judge, always courteous, but firm and dignified in the conduct of trials before him, and he has won the respect and confidence of the lawyers and people generally.
Frank Frederick .Oster, presiding judge of department one, su- perior court of San Bernardino county, was born June 3, 1860, at Sparta. Wis. He graduated from the High School of his native city in 1878, and at once entered the University of Wisconsin, at Madison, graduating from the classical course in 1882. His first employment was city editor of the "Winona. (Minn.) Daily Tribune," which position he held for three months, resigning to become traveling correspondent for the "La Crosse Chronicle," which he con-
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
tinued one year. He then entered the law office of Morrow & Masters, and was admitted to the bar in 1885, by the supreme court of the state of Minne- sota. In the same year coming to California, he opened a law office at Colton, and on the incorporation of the city was elected city attorney, holding that of- fice for four years. January 1, 1891, he formed a law partnership with W. J. Curtis of San Bernardino, and in the fall of 1892 was elected district attorney for the county. On January 4, 1897, he took his seat as judge of the superior court, a position to which he had been elected the preceding November.
Judge Oster's success in his profession is but the reward of his ability and merit. His knowledge of the law and eminent attributes render him well qual- ified for the important position he now holds.
On October 15, 1891, Judge Oster married Miss Elsie Donald, daughter of Rev. William Donald of Colton.
George E. Otis was born in Boston, Mass., in 1847. He attended the Boston Latin school and later Norwich University, Vermont, but before completing his university course he enlisted in the Sixth Mass. Volunteers, Co. H. and served throughout the Civil war. After returning to Bos- ton, he studied law for two years in the office of Richard H. Dana, author of "Two Years Before the Mast," and then en- tered Harvard Law School, graduating with the degree of L. L. B. in 1869. After his ad- mission to the bar he practiced his profession in Boston until 1875. when he removed to Cali- fornia and located in San Ber- nardino. Here he formed a partnership with Hon. W. J. Curtis, the district attorney for the county. Two years later he removed to San Francisco and there was a member of a GEORGE E. OTIS firm made up of Charles E. Wil- son and John J. Roche. Upon the dissolution of this firm in 1887, he returned to San Bernardino and re- sumed practice with his old partner, Mr. Curtis, until his election to the superior bench in 1891. L'pon the expiration of his term as superior judge
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
he entered into partnership with F. W. Gregg, a relation which he still sustains.
Judge Otis has won a wide reputation in the state as a lawyer of fine mental qualities and of deep learning. As a jurist he was noted for the fair- ness and soundness of his decisions. He is a man of unusual social gifts, and has taken a telling part in the public and political interests of the county.
Andrew B. Paris was born in Virginia in 1839. After attending the Vir- ginia Military Institute, at the age of twenty-one, he enlisted as a soldier in the defense of his native state. He entered as a private, and emerged therefrom as a colonel, hav- ing been at the head of artillery of General Hoke's division of Gen. Johnston's army.
ANDREW B. PARIS
After the close of the war, he studied law at the University of Virginia, and after graduating. practiced for several years in his native state. In 1874, he came to San Bernardino and entered up- on the practice of his profession. In 1886 he was elected as district attorney. In 1889 he was married to Miss Kate Brown Smith of Virginia, but his wedded life was brief, as she died the next vear.
In 1894, he was nominated for the office of Attorney General of California. In 1896, he was nominated for the office of superior judge of San Bernardino county, and during this campaign, he contracted the cold which resulted in his death in November, 1896.
Colonel Paris was a man of unusual gifts, of broad mind and humane heart. He had won the love and respect of his fellows at the bar, and was a valued member of many fraternal societies of the city.
( For other members of the Bar see Index.)
JUDGES.
County Judges.
1853-7. Daniel M. Thomas.
1871-9 H. M. Willis.
District Judges.
1853-63 Benjamin Hayes.
1863-8. Pablo de la Guerra. 1858-1871 A. D. Boren.
1868-71 Murray Morrison.
1871-72 R. M. Widney.
1872-75 H. C. Rolfe.
1875-9 W. T. McNealy.
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
Superior Judges.
1879-85 H. C. Rolfe.
1886-1891 .James A. Gibson .Department One.
1886-1889 H. M. Willis. Department Two.
1889-1902
John L. Campbell
Department Two.
1891-1897
George E. Otis.
Department One.
1898 -
Frank F. Oster. .
Department One.
1902
Benjamin F. Bledsoe. .. Department Two.
COUNTY ATTORNEYS.
1853-5 William Stout.
1880-2 C. W. C. Rowell.
1856-7 . Ellis Ames.
1859 .A. H. Clark.
1888-9 .A. B. Paris.
1860-I S. R. Campbell.
1890-1 T. J. Fording.
1862-5 .H. C. Rolfe.
1892-6. .F. F. Oster.
1866-1871 Hewlett Clark
1897-1900. F. B. Daley.
1872-3. J. W. Satterwhite.
I90I-2. .J. W. Curtis.
1874-7. .W. J. Curtis.
1903 - L. M. Sprecher. 1878-9. .W. A. Harris.
ATTORNEYS OF RECORD, JUNE Ist, 1904.
Allen, A. W. Redlands.
Allison, C. L .. San Bernardino.
Annable, E. R .. San Bernardino.
Bailey, C. F. Redlands.
Bledsoe, R. E ..
San Bernardino.
Brown, John Jr . San Bernardino. Bryne, Walter. San Bernardino.
Campbell, E. L.
. Redlands.
Campbell, J. L. ..
San Bernardino.
Campbell, W. M. Redlands. Chapman, C. E. Redlands.
Connor, H. San Bernardino.
Curtis, W. J
San Bernardino.
Curtis, J. W.
San Bernardino.
Daley, F. B.
San Bernardino.
Damron, C. N. . San Bernardino.
Duckworth, T. W. . San Bernardino. Elv. H. B Redlands. Felter, A. J. San Bernardino.
Field, K. H. . Redlands. Foster. A. MI Redlands.
Goodcell, H. San Bernardino
Goodcell, Robert. San Bernardino
Gregg, F. W. San Bernardino.
Haskell, C. C. San Bernardino.
Hight, Percy ..
San Bernardino.
Hornby, F. C ... Redlands. Hutchings, James. San Bernardino .. Joliffe, E. F . Ontario.
Katz, E. E. San Bernardino.
Leonard, F. A.
San Bernardino.
Light, J. E.
San Bernardino.
Mack, J. L.
San Bernardino.
Morris, C. B.
San Bernardino.
Meyers, R. H.
Redlands.
Nisbet, H. W. San Bernardino.
Otis, George E.
. San Bernardino.
Oster, F. F.
San Bernardino.
Parke, T. E
. Ontario.
Pierson, T. B.
Dale Citv.
Pollock, J. R.
. Ontario.
Prescott, Frank C. . San Bernardino. Rolfe. H C. San Bernardino. Smith, C. M. . Redlands.
Sprecher, L. M .... San Bernardino.
Stephenson, J. W .. San Bernardino.
Swing. Ralph.
San Bernardino.
Surr, Howard ..
. San Bernardino.
Tisdale, Wm. M.
Redlands.
Truesdell, C. E.
Redlands.
1883-5. .. R. E. Bledsoe. 1858 Samuel Surrine.
1886-7 J. L. Campbell.
FRANK F. OSTER
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
LAW LIBRARY.
In the year 1891 the legislature of the State of California passed an act entitled "An Act to Establish Law Libraries." This act provides that on the commencement in, or removal to, the Superior Court of any county in the state, of any civil action, proceeding or appeal, on filing the first papers there- in the party instituting such proceeding, or filing first papers shall pay to the clerk of the court the sum of one dollar, to be paid by the clerk to the county treasurer who shall deposit the same in the "Law Library Fund." This fund is to be used for the purchase of books, journals, publications and other per- sonal property, and is to be paid out by the county treasurer only on orders of the "Board of Law Library Trustees". By the terms of this act it is made discretionary with the board of supervisors of any county to provide by or- dinance for the application of provisions of said act to such county.
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