USA > California > San Francisco County > San Francisco > The annals of San Francisco; containing a summary of the history of California, and a complete history of its great city: to which are added, biographical memoirs of some prominent citizens > Part 61
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As an evidence of Mr. Brenham's presence of mind and firm- ness in trying circumstances, we may instance the great riot in the case of Captain Waterman. The person named was in the house of Alsop & Co., in which was crowded a most turbulent set of men. About a thousand persons were assembled outside, who were violent and vindictive, and determined instantly to hang Waterman. The mayor appeared, cleared the house im- mediately, and addressed the crowd, appealing to them to dis- perse. Finding his appeal to the mob disregarded, he next appealed to the law abiding citizens in the vicinity. Feeling
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confident that he could obtain their assistance if necessary, he now spoke to the rioters in a determined and authoritative man- ner ; and pulling out his watch, gave them just ten minutes to disperse, or he would take every man of them to prison. Before the expiration of the time granted, the crowd had left, and there remained no traces of the late scene of violence and excitement.
At the general election following, the whig party, owing to its construction of the law, made no nomination for the city offi- cers. By a subsequent decision of the Supreme Court, Mr. Bren- ham's administration was ejected ; and, after some litigation and delay, the democratic candidates, who had run without opposition -they receiving only about eleven hundred votes in a city which had cast six thousand (the people not generally voting), -were installed into office. As soon as the decision of the Supreme Court was made known, Mr. Brenham promptly and very grace- fully resigned his office to Dr. S. R. Harris, who had been by the court declared elected.
At this period, Mr. Brenham commenced the banking and exchange business, in company with Beverley C. Sanders, under the style of Sanders & Brenham. This firm has been eminently successful in business.
In 1852, during the presidential campaign, Mr. Brenham was appointed one of the Whig State Central Committee, and by the committee was elected president. His exertions and efficiency in this capacity are known and appreciated by the whig party throughout the State. Mr. Brenham was again nominated, and elected, this year, for the mayoralty, and at the same time received from President Fillmore the appoint- ment of " Treasurer of the Mint," and " Assistant Treasurer of the United States," which appointment was confirmed by the Senate. The commission is dated August 31st, 1852. Al- though the office of treasurer of the mint was lucrative, and one of great honor and trust, still Mr. Brenham, preferring the mayor- alty, declined the acceptance of the appointment. In this he was partly influenced by the fact that his partner, Mr. B. C. Sanders, at the very same time received and accepted the ap- pointment of Collector of the Port.
Many important matters arose during the second term of
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CHARLES J. BRENHAM.
office of Mr. Brenham, as mayor, which required great judgment and discretion. In the management of those matters, he dis- played striking ability and integrity. His messages will compare favorably with State documents of greater reputation. He was often obliged to veto the action of the council, and generally his action was to the entire satisfaction of the people and the welfare of the city. During Mr. Brenham's whole official career, not the slightest imputation was ever made impugning the purity of his motives or his strict integrity. He was never interested in any way pecuniarily with any speculation connected with the city. He never availed himself of his position for the purpose of per- sonal aggrandizement. No one ever has performed, or ever will perform the duties of an office with more purity of purpose, and with a greater regard for the true interests of the city, than did Mr. Brenham. He retired from his office without the slightest taint or suspicion.
Satisfied with the honors he had enjoyed, and with a deter- mination to eschew both office and politics for the future, Mr. Brenham declined a reappointment as a member of the Whig State Central Committee, and has since then devoted all his time and energies to the business of his house. Few men have so many personal friends among all classes as has the subject of our sketch. His manner is eminently cordial, conciliatory and com- panionable. In every situation, however trying and untried, in which circumstances and the choice of his fellow-citizens have placed him, he has been found competent and faithful, and has invariably discharged his duty impartially, efficiently and fear- lessly. To be strictly honest and honorable may not ordinarily entitle a man to any extra amount of praise, for that is his duty. Yet when we see one inflexibly pursuing the course of right be- cause it is right, uncontaminated by the surrounding contagion of unlawful speculation which greatly prevailed during much of the time that Mr. Brenham held office, and possessed of the power of turning his position into a medium of great, though dishonora- ble gains, it is but justice to give the due meed of praise, and to say to him who has justly done his duty to his fellow-citizens and himself-Well done, thou good and faithful servant !
GEHL SCHLAGER
STEPHEN R. HARRIS. M. D.,
THIRD MAYOR OF SAN FRANCISCO.
DR. STEPHEN R. HARRIS was born at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in the year 1802. His father, Isaac Harris, formerly a merchant in New York City, took an active part in the war of 1812, and perished on the "Governor Tompkins," of which vessel he was purser. After his father's death, he resided with his grandfather, Captain Randall of Randall's Island. He studied medicine in the office of Dr. Alexander H. Stevens, and graduated at the " Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons " in the City of New York. In 1826, he commenced the practice of his profession in the first ward of that city, where he continued until 1849, when he em- barked for California.
During his residence in New York, he was appointed to various offices of trust and responsibility, all of which he filled
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with uncommon ability and great credit to himself. For six consecutive years he was Health Commissioner of the State, having been successively nominated to the Senate by Governors Wright and Bouek ; Governor De Witt Clinton appointed him surgeon of the ninth regiment of artillery ; he was selected by the common council of the city, with other medical gentlemen, to organize and attend in consultation with its officers, the alms- house medical department ; and during the terrible prevalence of the cholera in 1832-'34, held the position of medical attend- ant of the first ward.
Few men ever enjoyed a larger share of the respect and con- fidence of their fellow-citizens. When an applicant for the posi- tion of health officer of the port of New York, his application was commended to the governor by numerous certificates and letters signed by hundreds of the most respectable and influen- tial men of the place, all urging his appointment by the most flattering testimonials of his professional qualifications and moral worth. The following brief extracts, will afford some evidence of the high estimation in which he was held :-
" We believe him to be a physician of most respectable standing and ac- knowledged abilities-a man of energetic and industrious habits-of unblem- ished honor and integrity, and one in whom confidence can be reposed ; and we doubt not, if he should receive the appointment, would perform the duties of the office with skill, fidelity and devotion to the best interests of the public, and afford entire satisfaction to all persons having business with the quarantine."
" He is a man of pure moral character-an old resident of this city, well known as a firm and consistent democrat, ardent and laborious as such-as a physician his abilities are acknowledged by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance, and they are numerous. His untiring devotedness to the poor during the pestilence which raged here in the years 1832-'34, entitled him to the high character of a disinterested philanthropist and the benefactor of the poor."
These testimonials speak for themselves, and are the more important from the high and creditable sources from which they emanated. They present the early character of Dr. Harris in its proper light. Since his residence in California, he has fully sustained the honorable reputation he had previously won ; hay- ing gained the confidence, respect, esteem, and approbation of the entire community.
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Dr. Harris left New York on the 9th of February, 1849, and reached Panama, on the 7th of March. Here he was detained two and a half months waiting the arrival of a steamer bound to San Francisco. During this time he was actively engaged in attending, gratuitously, his sick countrymen and others, six thou- sand of whom, on their way to California, were, like himself, compelled to remain on the Isthmus. For the sick and destitute no provision had been made. The expenses of rooms, cots, nurses, medicines,-and in cases of death,-of burials, were paid by vol- untary weekly contributions made by the members of Masonic and Odd-Fellows' lodges, to both of which orders the doctor was attached. His generous conduct on this and subsequent similar occasions was reported to his lodges in New York, who signified their high regard for him by the passage, unanimously, of a series of highly laudatory resolutions.
Few sailing vessels entered Panama at the period above named. The ship Niantic, a whaler, and one or two others that had been discharging coal for the Pacific Mail Steamship Com- pany, left, crowded with passengers at very extravagant prices, so anxious were persons to leave ; and the chartering of vessels by a few merchants had become so much a monopoly, that it enabled them to extort enormous rates for passage. A number of Americans joined together and sent to Cruces for an iron boat, of sufficient size to sail down the bay, to intercept and charter such ships as they might meet. For this purpose twenty thou- sand dollars were collected, and placed in the hands of Dr. Harris as treasurer, the persons paying their money to have preference of passage. The iron boat was purchased, and by Herculean labor carried by the natives to Panama. Circumstances rendered her services unnecessary ; she was therefore re-sold and the money returned to its respective owners.
At last the anxiously looked-for day arrived. A steamer was announced. The news spread with electric rapidity. Hundreds rushed to the Battery, and in a few minutes it was densely crowded, each hoping it might prove a conveyance, and a release from a city alone to be tolerated by necessity. The vessel proved to be the steamship Panama, in which Dr. Harris sailed (her first trip up), and arrived in San Francisco, June 6th, 1849. His early
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arrival made him eligible, and he is now a member of the " So- ciety of California Pioneers."
Shortly after reaching San Francisco, Dr. Harris proceeded to Sacramento in a small schooner, the passage occupying six days. He thence proceeded to Smith's Bar on the North Fork of the American River, where he worked forty days digging gold, at the expiration of which time he returned to San Francisco to receive goods that he had shipped previous to leaving New York. With these, valued at $20,000, he commenced the drug business at the corner of Clay and Montgomery streets, in company with Mr. Panton. Their establishment was the most extensive in the country. Here the doctor met with a series of the most dire calamities. In the terrible conflagrations of May 4th, and June 22d, 1850, and May 4th, 1851, his store, with its stock of goods (the former being rebuilt and the latter replenished after each successive fire), were entirely destroyed, amounting in the aggre- gate to a very considerable fortune. Still persevering, he re- moved to Dr. Stout's boarding-house, on Washington street, and again commenced business ; but on the 17th of September, he once more lost all he possessed by the destructive fire that then occurred. No man in San Francisco suffered more by these calamities than Dr. Harris. After the last fire, somewhat de- pressed in spirits, he again left for the mines, and was absent five months, visiting most of the mining districts, north and south, examining quartz leads, and prospecting placer diggings.
In September, 1851, Dr. Harris was elected mayor of San Francisco, and served his term of office to the entire satisfaction of the people. This was during the period when, what has been generally termed the " accidental " council were in power, whose acts had rendered them almost universally unpopular. With this council Mayor Harris frequently came in collision ; and by his judicious use of the veto power, frustrated some of their most obnoxious measures. At the election in September, 1853, he was chosen for the responsible station of city comptroller by a large majority of his fellow-citizens, which office he now holds, and while he performs the business thereof to the entire satisfac- tion of the people, he also continues to practise to some consider- able extent the duties of his profession.
Vivi
C. K. GARRISON,
FIFTH AND PRESENT MAYOR OF SAN FRANCISCO.
IF the history of all men in America who have risen to emi- nence in the various callings of life, as well as those who have missed such position, could be written, read and compared, it would probably be found that the inheritance of wealth is, in a majority of cases, a real misfortune, while the lack of it is the means of making men of those who might have been merely the spoiled pets of fortune. No man knows the real value of wealth unless he has himself earned it. There is no true greatness without self-reliance, and in most cases this is obtained chiefly through the struggles and toils incident to the lives of self-made men. In every course of life, he who works and wins is vastly superior to him who merely retains. In this light, Louis Napoleon is a hero and statesman compared with the hereditary czar, Nicholas ; and so the subject of this biography is entitled to infinitely more
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C. K. GARRISON.
praise for having achieved a splendid fortune than all the inheritors of wealth in the land for being the heirs of rich sires.
C. K. Garrison was born 1st March, 1809, upon the bank of the Hudson, near West Point, on a farm settled by his grand- sires more than one hundred and twenty-five years before. The same property has remained in possession of the family for up- wards of one hundred and fifty years. The ancestors of Mr. Garrison were Hollanders ; on the father's side, the Garrisons and Coverts ; on the mother's, the Kingslands and the Schuylers. Both branches of the family having been among the first settlers of New Amsterdam, they have just claim to the title of "Knick- erbocker." The subject of our sketch was the second of a family of seven (five sons and two daughters), all of whom are living, with the exception of one of the daughters. These were the offspring of Oliver Garrison and Catherine Kingsland his wife. The Garrison family had acquired a respectability from their long residence in the same neighborhood, and for nearly a century had exercised an influence that could only be gained by time over the prevailing class-the Dutch. The paterfamilias was at one time considered quite wealthy, but from heavy indorsements for his friends, he became involved in pecuniary matters, at an early day in the history of the subject of this memoir. Then it was that the latter, as well as his brothers, learned that they must look to their own resources alone for maintenance and support. Accord- ingly, at the age of thirteen, our little hero left home-the first of the name that had ever quit his father's roof before arriving at the age of manhood. His first outset was in the capacity of cabin-boy in a sloop, such being the only craft employed at that day in the carrying trade on the Hudson. It was not, however, without great difficulty, that young Garrison obtained from his parents their reluctant consent that he might leave their home, and accept the situation he sought. This was more particularly the case with Mrs. Garrison, who prided herself greatly upon her family origin. " What," the old lady said, "would the Van Buskerks, the Kingslands, the Schuylers, the host of other respect- able relatives, the thousand and one cousins, &c., &c., say, if it reached their ears, that my son was a cabin-boy."
Neither tears, remonstrances, nor consideration for the feel-
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ings, or failings, of his friends and relatives, his thousand and one cousins, &c., prevailed aught towards a change of mind. The boy had determined on his course. He would be independent, and earn his own bread ; for he plainly saw that his father, in consequence of his misfortunes, was unable to provide for him. From that day forward, he supported himself without any paren- tal aid, excepting, perhaps, the prayers of his beloved mother for his success. He followed his employment on the river during the business season, and through the winter months, when navigation was suspended, went to a country school. After leading this sort of life for about three years, he consented, at the earnest solicitation of his mother, to go to New York, to learn architecture and the building trade. After remaining there about three years, he resolved to migrate westward. For some five or six years afterwards, Mr. Garrison was engaged, principally in Upper Can- ada, in the erection of buildings, and the constructing of steam- boats on the great lakes. During that time he built, in connec- tion with a gentleman from New York, four steamers on Lakes Ontario, Huron, and Simcoe. In the interval, he married in Buffalo, N. Y.
While in Canada, and then a young man and a foreigner, the important trust of the general supervision of the Upper Canada Company's affairs,-that company being one of the wealthiest in England, and owning a large portion of the province,-was con- fided to the subject of our sketch. This trust was afterwards voluntarily surrendered by him on account of the probability of a war ensuing between England and America, arising from the border difficulties existing at the time between the two nations. Mr. Garrison's patriotism forbade his holding office in a company so closely allied with the British government, should a war ensue.
From Canada, Mr. Garrison went to the south-west ; where, for many years, he was engaged in building and commanding steamboats, and in other enterprises. In February, 1849, he met with the serious misfortune of losing his steamer, together with some 1200 tons of cotton and produce, by fire, on the Mississippi river, near Natchez. A short time previous to this the precious metal having been discovered in California, Mr. Garrison determined to remove to Panama, and establish a
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C. K. GARRISON.
commercial and banking-house there, as the important interme- diate point between California and the Atlantic States. This enterprise was successful beyond all that he had dared to hope.
Mr. Garrison left Panama for New York, in the latter part of 1852, with the view of establishing a branch of his house in the latter city. On arriving there, however, his intentions were changed by an offer of the Nicaragua Steamship Company to take the Pacific agency of their line of vessels, at a salary of sixty thousand dollars a year for two years certain. In addition to this appointment, he received, at the same time, the agency of two insurance companies in San Francisco, at a salary of twenty-five thousand dollars per annum. These sums made his future income at least $85,000 a year. He arrived in San Fran- cisco in the latter part of March, 1853, and early in September following, was elected to the mayoralty of the city.
From the first hour of his leaving the paternal roof, to the present day, Mr. Garrison has been actively engaged in various pursuits, during which time he has met with many losses. Among these were two of the largest class of steamers, of which he was the sole owner, and upon one of which there was not a dollar of insurance. These misfortunes left him for a time penniless, with a wife and family depending on him for support. But he never faltered. Energy and perseverance, hope and will were his, and by them he fought and conquered. His career is a very fair illustration of the American character. With a mind com- mercially comprehensive, quick to perceive and to act, adven- turous and speculative, he has taken advantage of circumstances, and bent them to his will. As a business man, he is said, by some, to lack system. But this, if true, is more than compen- sated by the boldness of his ventures, and the pertinacity with which they are pursued. At the age of forty-five, he finds him- self the possessor of a princely fortune, which he knows how to use ; with a salary three or four times greater than that of the President of the United States ; with a revenue besides, from other sources, of as much more ; and occupying one of the most honorable positions politically, as Mayor of the City of San Francisco, the duties of which he has thus far performed with credit to himself and to the city.
EHSUPERA
SAMUEL BRANNAN.
THIS gentleman was born at Saco, State of Maine, on the 2d of March, 1819, at which town he was educated, and passed his earlier years. In 1833, he removed, accompanied by his sister, to Lake County, Ohio, where he entered upon an apprenticeship to letter-press printing. Before the term of his indenture was completed, in 1836, he bought up the remainder of his time. He next went into the great land speculations of the memorable years 1836 and 1837, when the whole Union was seized with the mania of making fortunes without the worrying need of time, trouble or capital. It was rather an early age at which to be- come a land-jobber, but Mr. Brannan had a deal to do in the world, and pretty soon began his eventful career. He came out of his speculations nearly as he went into them-without a cent. In 1837, he turned again to the press, and travelled the country as a journeyman printer. In the course of the five following
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years he visited most of the States in the Union, staying a month in one town, two months in another, and perhaps half a year in some more important place, all which time he was regu- larly pursuing his profession. In 1842, he connected himself with the religious body of Mormons, and for several years advo- cated their principles, and published for them in New York a weekly newspaper, styled the "New York Messenger."
In 1846, he conceived the idea of leading a band of Ameri- can pioneers to the shores of the Pacific, to settle and grow into greatness among the Mexicans of California. At his own risk and expense, he chartered the ship " Brooklyn," of three hundred and seventy tons, fitted it up with state-rooms and cabins, supplied it amply with provisions and all necessaries for the voyage, and invited intending emigrants to take passages for California. Two hundred and thirty-six passengers embarked (mostly Mormons), of which number, upwards of sixty were adult females, and about forty children of both sexes. With the foresight that distinguishes him, Mr. Brannan provided a printing-press, types, and a stock of paper, flour-mill machinery, ploughs and other agricultural implements, and a great variety of such scientific apparatus as would likely be of service in the new country.
On the 4th of February, 1846, the "Brooklyn " sailed from New York ; and about five months afterwards, touched at the Sandwich Islands for refreshments. Here Mr. Brannan landed all the passengers, provided them with lodgings on shore, and was at the whole expense of maintaining them while there. Previously and during the voyage, many of the passengers, considering the uncertain character of the country they were proceeding to, and the probable chances of a war between the United States and Mexico at the time when they would likely reach California, had formed themselves into an association for mutual support and protection, whereby they were to work in common and share together the proceeds of their labor. Mr. Brannan was chosen president of this association. The other members had nothing which they could put into the common stock but their labor ; while the president, patron, projector and leader of the party contributed every thing he possessed-agricultural implements, machinery, tools, provisions and all. There were then only
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twenty-four muskets on board ; but Mr. Brannan purchased at the Sandwich Islands, in addition, one hundred and fifty stand of arms.
Here, a person by the name of Henry Harris, residing in Honolulu, became enamored with a pretty girl among the passen- gers, and wished to join the association, so that he might follow and marry her, which he afterwards did. The proposal of Har- ris, however, to become one of the party, was at first opposed by Mr. Brannan, who foresaw difficulties and future contention in the scheme ; but when much intercession was used by influential
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