The builders of a great city : San Francisco's representative men, the city, its history and commerce : pregnant facts regarding the growth of the leading branches of trade, industries and products of the state and coast, Part 21

Author:
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: San Francisco : The Journal
Number of Pages: 556


USA > California > San Francisco County > San Francisco > The builders of a great city : San Francisco's representative men, the city, its history and commerce : pregnant facts regarding the growth of the leading branches of trade, industries and products of the state and coast > Part 21


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37


discoveries in California in 1848 stirred up the enthusiasm of all the Western youth, and Mr. Haven was not long in following the Argonauts. Taking the route via the Isthmus, he reached San Francisco March 26, 1850. He has, consequently, been a worker in the ranks of our California builders more than forty years. Mr. Haven at once went to the mines in Butte County, on the north fork of the Yuba River, and mined for several years with vary- ing success.


He was admitted to the practice of the law and followed his profession in Sierra County, Cal., for several years, removing from there to San Francisco.


In his early manhood he was iden- tified politically with the free soil movement, and during the Civil War was active in the maintenance of the Union Party. He held offices of responsibility under the general Government being at different times Collector of Internal Revenue and Deputy Provost Marshal. During the war he was Secretary of the Union Party organization in Sierra County. After the close of the war he held the offices of District Attor- ney and Superintendent of Schools of Sierra County, showing his popu- larity there.


He came to San Francisco early in 1868, and has since devoted himself exclusively to the practice of law. For over twenty-one years he was associated with Giles H. Gray in the well-known firm of Gray & Haven of this city. On the first of August, 1889, Mr. Gray withdrew finally from the practice of the law, and the firm of Haven & Haven is now the suc- cessor of that long-established firm.


186


BUILDERS OF A GREAT CITY.


Mr. Haven is an earnest member of a Congregational Church, and Treasurer of the Pacific Theological Seminary in Oakland. He is an in- defatigable worker in any cause that he deems for the benefit of his fel- low-men. He is at home in every department of the law, but devotes his time principally to civil practice. His clientage has been steadily grow- ing and extending for years. In argument he is close, clear and logi-


cal. He does nothing for show or theatrical effect, and may be regard- ed as a safe and able legal adviser. He is deservedly respected in legal circles and out of them. His char- acter is honest and unimpeachable, and he is one of those who add dig- nity and honor to the noble profes- sion of the law. The firm of which he is a member can boast of an honorable career, and has built up an extensive practice.


MARGUS C. HAWLEY.


MARCUS C. HAWLEY.


ARCUS C. HAWLEY, the head of the great hardware and implement house of Hawley Bros. Hardware Company, was born in Bridgeport, Conn., January 9, 1834, being now therefore in his fifty- fifth year. Connecticut has long had the reputation of being the birthplace of some of the best business men in America, and, indeed, if we are to take any note of popular sayings, it is to the superior tact and business in- telligence of thenatives of the Nutmeg State that New England's reputation for acuteness and the faculty of mak- ing good business bargains is mainly due. The success of so many of her sons in the various walks of business life is further proof, if proof were wanting of this. Mr. Hawley was educated in good private schools in Bridgeport. When barely sixteen years of age his father, who was a hardware merchant in the city, deem- ing that the best further education that a business man's son could re- ceive was in the store and counting rooms, took young Marcus under his own care, and here he received a thorough business education. He must have had an especial adaptabil- ity to commercial pursuits for he started out at that early age to make regular daily trips between Bridge- port and New York, and during the long period of forty years' hard ser- vice he has traveled more than three milliou miles over one railroad-the New York and New Haven. He is, as he may well be, the senior commuter of that road, having lived to see every official in service at the time of his first trip either retired or


sleeping the sleep that knows no waking. While continuing to reside


in Connecticut Mr. Hawley's place


of business since 1849 has been in New York City. The business in which he is senior partner has had an existence on this coast since 1849. In that year the old firm, which boasts an existence dating back to 1826, commenced shipping hardware and agricultural implements to San Francisco in the Fall, consigning them to David N. Hawley, one of the early pioneers. Afterward they shipped to the firm of Hawley, Ster- ling & Co., until in 1856 the style and title was changed to that of


Hawley & Co., then located on the corner of California and Battery Streets. Mr. Hawley has been a leading member of the firm all the time, having made his first trip to this coast in its interest as early as 1852. Since then he has made a trip about every year. His first trip was made as a matter of course via the Isthmus, but since the overland road has been pushed through he has always traveled by rail. In 1868 the firm was changed to that of Marcus C. Hawley & Co., and was composed of three brothers-M. C.


Hawley, W. N. Hawley and George T. Hawley, the two last mentioned gentlemen being residents of San Francisco since early in the fifties. For fifteen years the firm continued under the style and title noted, when it was incorporated as Hawley Bros.


Hardware Company, with a paid up capital of eight hundred thousand dollars. Located on the corner of Market and Beale streets in this city it has a branch in Los Angeles un- der the firm name of Hawley, King & Co., with business connection with firms in Santa Barbara and San Diego. The house takes its origin from the widely known house of


188


BUILDERS OF A GREAT CITY.


Thomas Hawley & Co., which was established in Bridgeport, Conn., just sixty-three years ago. It is still in existence, and was founded by Thomas Hawley, the father of the various members of the Hawley family in San Francisco. There has never been a single change in the personality of the house during all these long years, the brothers having been associated from the start. Having always been a successful man there has been but little room in Mr. Hawley's career for any un- usual or exciting episodes. He has simply gone on from year to year improving his business, extending its connections, and has laid abroad an enduring foundation for increased success in the coming year. He was married in 1856 to the daughter of Dr. C. H. Booth, of Newtown, Conn.,


who is still living. He has had many requests made to him to accept public positions of trust but has always declined, and though he is a strong Republican and has been in active service in the last campaign both in New York and Connecticut, has steadily refused all offers of office. He is largely identified with various railroad and steamship interests on this coast, among the number are the Oregon Improvement Com- pany, Oregon Railway and Navi- gation Company, Oregon Short Line Company, Northern Pacific Railroad, together with Union Pacific and Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Rail- roads. Though having passed the half century mile-stone, he is yet both physically and mentally a young man, and has still a long and useful bus- iness career before him.


COL. GREED HAYMOND.


CREED HAYMOND.


. ONSIDERED as an orator, a legislator, a politician, or a law- yer, there are few men in Cali- fornia to-day who are the peers of Creed Haymond. It is seldom that we meet with a character which com- bines in an equal degree his qualities of brilliancy, industry and tenacity of purpose.


Creed Haymond is a Virginian by birth, having been born in Beverly, Randolph County (now in West Virginia), fifty-four years ago. When he was a child his parents removed to Fairmount, where he resided un- til he came to California in 1852. His father, Hon. W. C. Haymond, was a distinguished lawyer, and it was from him the son inherited that legal talent which afterward shaped his own career. Between the father and son there existed a remarkable affection ; from the latter's earliest years the two were almost insepar- able. As the boy grew his father made a companion of him and when, in the course of his practice, he rode the circuit, he took Creed along, the latter riding on the saddle in front. Thrown as he was in the society of his father, and surrounded' a good part of the time by other lawyers, listening to their arguments in the court-room, he gradually absorbed the germs of that legal knowledge and erudition which, many years later, on the shores of the distant Pacific, were to fructify and bring forth abundant fruit.


When Creed was 17 his ardent imagination became inflamed by the stories he heard of the wonders of California, and he longed to visit the El Dorado. The course pursued by him was characteristic. Having obtained his father's permission to


undertake the journey, he induced five of his associates to accompany him, the eldest not being 20 years of age. They left the little town of Fairmount on the 29th of March, 1852, and arrived at Rabbit Creek Diggings (now L porte), about 75 miles north of Marysville, on the 26th of August following. The little party met with many adventures on the way, but reached their destina- tion in safety, though one of the number, James D. Lamb, died a couple of months later.


Haymond brought some ready money with him, and he was soon engaged in business on his own ac- count. He became interested in mining, packing and merchandising in the northern part of Sierra County. He also carried Wells, Fargo & Co.'s mail and express mat- ter for a year and a half.


It was at this time that he was sketched by Thomas B. Merry in his story "Sandy's Vindication," under the name of Creath Harthana, as the mail rider and conductor of the saddle train, "who would fight at the drop of a hat, so that no one ever dared to stop the train or rob the express while he was in charge."


In 1859, he began the study and practice of the law with Hon. James A. Johnson, afterward Lieutenant- Governor, and Alexander W. Bidd- win, later appointed U. S. District Judge of Nevada. In his new voca- tion the effect of his early associa- tions, combined with his inherited taste for the legal profession, served to advance him rapidly and he soon achieved a reputation at the Bar of which any lawyer might be proud. His first successes were gained in criminal cases. One of


190


BUILDERS OF A GREAT CITY.


the first and most interesting of these was the defense of an Irish- man who had killed an Englishman in a quarrel which arose over the Heenan-Sayers prize fight. In this case the Court summoned Leland Stanford who had been Justice of the Peace at Forest Hill, and in whose Court Reagan had been a constable. The last important crim- inal case in which Colonel Hay- mond was engaged was the defense of the men charged with the murder of T. Wallace More, a wealthy land owner of Ventura County, in 1877. Seven men were indicted for tho offence, but only one, Sprague, was convicted, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment, but was re- leased by executive pardon a few years since.


The catalogue of leading civil cases with which Colonel Haymond has been associated is a long one, and comprise some of the most impor- tant litigation in the history of jurisprudence in this State.


Perhaps the work with which his name will ever be most prominently identified is the preparation of the Code of California. He was Chair- man of the Commission appointed for the purpose, and with his asso- ciates prepared the first complete code of laws ever adopted by any State in the Union. It is no dis- paragement to his associates to say that to Colonel Haymond is due the credit of having performed the major portion of this great work. In par- ticular, every line of the election law was prepared by him.


Although Colonel Haymond has been in no sense an office-seeker, he has occupied several public positions of honor and trust. He was appointed Tide Land Commissioner by Gov- ernor Haight, but did not serve, and he represented the Sacramento District in the State Senate for two terms. In this body he at once took rank among the leaders, both as a worker and a debator. He declined a re-election at the close of his sec-


ond term. While in the Senate he proposed the appointment of a spe- cial committee to investigate and prepare a report regarding the evils of Chinese immigration and its effects upon the industries of the State. The report was an exhaustive one, and did more to educate the minds of the people in the East and to en- lighten national legislation on the subject than anything before at- tempted. The subsequent anti- Chinese legislation by Congress may be directly attributed to it. He was an earnest opponent of the New Constitution, foreseeing and predict- ing the difficulties over tax questions which have followed its adoption.


Colonel Haymond was sent by the Republicans of California to the National Convention which nomi- nated Garfield, in 1880, and also to that of 1888, when Harrison was selected as the party's standard bearer. On both occasions he at- tracted wide attention for his elo- quence of speech and skill in de- bate.


His first professional connection with the Central Pacific Railroad Company was in 1881, when, at the request of Governor Stanford, its President, he took charge of the cases brought to compel the pay- ment of taxes upon stock certificates after the Assessor had laid an im- post upon the property represented by them. He argued the matter be- fore the Supreme Court and obtained a decision in his favor. The same year he was tendered the position of Associate Solicitor of the Railroad Company, and upon the death of Judge Sanderson was promoted to the position of General Solicitor. In his capacity as chief legal adviser of this great corporation, Colonel Haymond has had entire control of all the important litigation which has arisen over the question of State taxation of railroad property. The wonderful success that has attended his efforts in the Supreme Court of the State, the Federal Circuit Court,


191


BUILDERS OF A GREAT CITY.


and finally the tribunal of last re- sort, is sufficient evidence of his rare legal talent. To the student of constitutional law, a perusal of Col. Haymond's arguments in these cases will prove a liberal education.


Colonel Haymond for a long time commanded the First Artillery Regi- ment National Guard of California. In 1860 he was Captain of the Sierra Grays, and was engaged in active campaign against the Indians of Ne- vada, after the Pyramid Lake massa- cre. Two severe engagements took place, in one of which he was slightly wounded.


When Governor Stanford decided to rear to the memory of his son that noble monument, the Leland Stanford Jr. University, Colonel Haymond was one of the first upon whom he called for advice and assist- ance. The latter not only acted as his legal counsel, but as his sincere


friend. His sympathetic mind has become thoroughly imbued with the grandeur of the Governor's under- taking, and he takes a lively in- terest in its development. He has purchased a farm near the Univer- sity, where he expects to make his future home, and as he recently said, " I shall be willing and most desir- ous to contribute all that I have left in me to its interests."


Colonel Haymond married in 1872 Miss Alice Crawford, an ac- complished and beautiful young lady, a native of Auburn, Placer County. They journeyed along life's pathway in happiness until four years ago when she was called away, leaving him childless.


Personally Creed Haymond is one of those noblest of men. Thoroughly unselfishı, kind and considerate of the feelings of others, his friends are knit to him with bands of steel.


E. P. HEALD.


E. P. HEALD.


HILE we justly claim pre- eminence in the commercial world for the rapid advance- ment of our trade and industry during the past forty years, we have not been behindhand in educational matters, and San Fran- cisco's schools, both public and pri- vate, contribute not a little to the pride and glory of her progress. They have developed a class of edu- cators second to none in their attain- ments and their acquirements in the art of teaching-an art esteemed from all times as one of the most glorious; as by it the mind of the nation is formed and the proper di- rection given to its future course. Not one of the least distinguished amongst the educators of our State is Edward Payson Heald, who has, for so many years, been at the head of. Heald's Business College.


Mr. Heald was born in Oxford County, Maine, in 1843, where his father conducted the business of a merchant, also owning several exten- sive farms in that vicinity. These early associations have naturally given Mr. Heald a love for the coun- try and for agricultural pursuits. Al- though a resident of San Francisco for twenty-seven years, he has, al- most from the first, held extensive interests in the country and managed several large farms, giving employ- ment to many people.


Mr. Heald comes of thorough Amer- ican ancestry, extending back in an unbroken line of American residence two hundred and sixty years. His ancestors, both on the father's and the mother's side, came from Eng- land with Governor Winthrop, and were among the first of the Puritans to land at Massachusetts bay. They


settled near Boston in 1630, and the family has resided continuously in New England ever since, where it has become quite numerous and is universally respected. It will thus be seen that the subject of our sketch is of English extraction, but belongs to one of the oldest American fami- lies.


After spending some time at the ordinary public schools, where he began the study of Latin and the higher mathematics, Mr. Heald at- tended Gorham Seminary, near Port- land, Maine, where, in addition to his former work, he took up French and Greek. Later he attend- ed the Bridgeton Collegiate Institute for three years, where he continued the studies of mathematics, Latin, Greek, French and English litera- ture. He went thence to the Port- land (Maine) Business College, where he also taught for a period. This was in 1862, when only nineteen years of age. He came next year to Califor- nia, making the journey by way of Panama, and arriving in San Fran- cisco on the steamer "Golden City."


Satisfied that San Francisco should support a business college, he started one immediately on arriving. His first classes were taught in Platt's Hall. The enterprise was new-Mr. Heald was altogether unknown here, and he did not escape the struggles incident to those who endeavor to benefit the world by teaching it, or adventuring beyond the old and well- worn paths, which so many genera- tions have trodden. He first opened in a small way, but after awhile the school grew apace, and the pioneer experiment took root and prospered, until it ranks to-day as one of the leading commercial colleges of the


194


BUILDEKS OF A GREAT CITY.


United States. Its reputation ex- tends far beyond the Pacific Coast, and it is almost as well known to ed- ucators in the Atlantic States as in San Francisco. Students now come to it, not only from the interior of the State, but from Oregon, Nevada, Washington, Idaho, Montana, the Hawaiian Islands, Mexico, and even South America, and its graduates are numbered by thousands. These, it may be said, include a large pro- portion of our leading citizeus, and it is not an infrequent occurrence to enroll as students the sons and daugh- ters of men who graduated from the college twenty years or more ago. Its attendance sometimes reaches as high as five hundred pupils, and never falls below three hundred.


Mr. Heall has visited every large city of the United States, and nearly every State in the Union, in search of knowledge regarding business training. Ho has repeatedly visited the leading commercial schools and institutes of technology in America, for the purpose of studying their sys- tems of instruction. He also spent nearly a year in Europe examining the methods of practical education in vogue there.


Practical education in all its forms has been his constant study for twenty-eight years. It will thus read- ily be seen why Mr. Heald has be- come an authority on useful educa- tion throughout the United States, and why Heald's Business College ranks as the foremost school for busi- ness training on the Pacific Coast.


Outside of the story of the suc- cessful establishment of his College there is little to be said in giving the history of Mr. Heald's life. His school has been his inspiration, his hope, his pride. To it he has devoted the ardor of youth and the strength of manhood, and he has never once swerved from the attachment. A quarter of a century ago the under- lying principles of the business col- lege were little understood and less appreciated, but now those who labor


in the field take equal rank with other educators, and business colleges are recognized as a most valuable adjunct to our educational system. The change in public opinion has been greatly due to the high standard of efficiency exacted and maintained, and to the moral power exerted by a few of these schools in the large com- mercial centers, chief among which has been the one founded by the sub- ject of this sketch.


The name of Mr. Heald has been frequently mentioned for political preferment. He has repeatedly been asked to allow his name to go before the conventions as a candidate for office in the Board of Education, in the Board of Supervisors and to the State Legislature, but has invariably refused. While generally perform- ing the duty of an American citizen, in voting for whomsoever he consid- ers the best man for the office, he absolutely has no political ambition, but pursues the even tenor of his way in a quiet and unostentatious man- ner.


As mentioned before, Mr. Heald has given much attention to agricul- tural interests, and has great love for stock-raising. He has now two good- sized stock ranches in Napa County, where he has made a specialty of fine roadsters, trotters and carriage horses. He also owns an interest in a large raisin vineyard near Fresno, and in an extensive stock ranch in Tulare County, where a specialty is made of raising fine draft horses. All his enterprises have been in the di- rection of developing the resources of California, and the interior of the State has been an equal sharer in them with the city.


In form Mr. Heald is tall, as be- comes a native of that State which is represented here by so many hardy sons. He is courteous in manner, affable and kindly to all, and of course deeply interested in every- thing that concerns practical educa- tion and the advancement of young people. His valuable labors in the


BUILDERS OF A GREAT CITY.


195


important field that he has chosen are now thoroughly recognized, for San Francisco, in common with the rest of the world, knows that there is no higher office than the direction of


a good school, which, in the words of Whittier, is


Giving out, year by year, Recruits to true manhood and womanhood dear.


S. HERRMANN.


SIGISMUND HERRMANN.


HE German fatherland has given to San Francisco many of her most worthy citizens -. men who were identified with its commercial and industrial interests in early days and who still continue to give the benefit of their experience and capital to the development of both. Of such was Sigismund Herr- mann, who was born in the proud and ancient county of Mecklen- burg, July 12, 1816. He came of a family trained to commerce, and early received a practical commer- cial education. When a mere lad he went to Manchester, England, and there as a clerk entered one of its great cotton manufacturing establishments.


The story of California's great wealth was not long in reaching Albion's shores, and drew its due proportion of adventurous spirits to join the hosts that hastened hither. Mr. Herrmann, in the first flush of manhood, determined to try his for- tunes in California. He came here in the sailing ship "Zealous"-Capt. Wilson. It took 167 days to com- plete the voyage, and the good ship was riding at anchor in San Francisco. Bay on the 24th day of August, 1849. He came out here with Mr. Bell, of Faulkner, Bell & Co., and was for a long time their insurance agent. Mr. Herrmann brought with him an assortment of general merchandise, which was disposed of at a good profit. In the second year of his


arrival he started in the drygoods and general merchandising business, on Sacramento street, opposite the present location. Here he continued until 1870. Besides his business in this city he had also a store in Sac- ramento. He was engaged in the hop trade, which he had followed successfully since 1870.


Mr. Herrmann was also very for- tunate in his real estate transac- tions, and realized a handsome for- tune from a few lots that he pur- chased in the early days at the corner of Montgomery and Pine streets, where the San Francisco Stock Ex- change now stands. He died in this city March 24, 1890.


He was married in this city in 1853 to an amiable lady who has borne him four sons, William, Oscar, James and George Herrmann, one of whom is engaged in banking, another is a rising lawyer, while the remaining two conduct the business founded by their father. Mr. Herr- mann was a member of the Board of Trade, and had been since its organization.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.