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 36
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against the Indians. When Sherman by his march to the sea broke the backbone of the rebellion, Waymire felt the war was virtually over, and tendered his resignation, returning to civil life, becoming private secretary to the Governor of Oregon. During the two years which followed, in addi- tion to his duties in the office of the executive, he studied law, wrote for the press, and occasionally appeared upon the lecture platform. In Feb- ruary, 1867, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the regular army, and remained in the army un- til September, 1869, having been promoted to first lieutenant in the meantime, when he tendered his resignation, saying that he wished to establish a home for his family. He had tired of the monotonous existence of army life in a period of peace. He resumed his law studies at Salem, Or., and in September, 1870, was ad- mitted to practice. During the ses- sion of the California Legislature in 1869-70, and again in 1871-2, he re- ported the proceedings for the old Sacramento Union. In May, 1872, he was appointed phonographic reporter for the California Supreme Court, in which position he served three years. In 1873 he delivered the oration on Memorial Day at Sacramento. In May, 1875, Mr. Waymire began the practice of his profession in San Francisco, in which he continued un- til his appointment to the Superior Court, to fill a vacancy, in October, 1881. During his service on the bench, extending over a period of more than a year, Judge Waymire evinced an excellent knowledge of the law, and his industry was re- markable. He rendered 1100 decis- ions, and of thirty appeals from his judgment, only three were sustained by the Supreme Court. At the end of his term he was nominated for the position of Judge, but a split in the ranks of the Republican party re- sulted in his defeat by a small major- ity.
Judge Waymire has a large and
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lucrative practice, having been coun- sel in many cases of great public im- portance. He is prominent in Grand Army circles, and is now serving his fifth term as President of the Veterans' Home Association of California. It was chiefly through his efforts that a branch of the National Home for dis- abled volunteer soldiers and sailors was established in California.
Though not a politician in the ordinary sense, he has always taken an active interest in public affairs, being a zealous Republican. He
wrote the platform of the party in 1890, and is a member of the State Executive Committee.
Judge Waymire was married in June, 1865, to Miss Virginia Ann Chrisman, a lady whose parents were born in Virginia and came West by way of Kentucky and Missouri to ·Oregon. The fruit of this union is two sons and two daughters. At his lovely home in Alameda the Judge puts off the cares of his professional life, and in the domestic circle is a devoted husband and father.
ADOLPH C. WEBER.
ADOLPH C. WEBER.
F those men at the head of the different banking institutions of San Francisco, none are more possessed of the differ- ent qualifications necessary in fill- ing such a position of trust than Mr. Adolph C. Weber, the sub- ject of this brief sketch, whose ca- reer of twenty years at the head of one institution, which he has placed upon a financial footing equal to that of any in the country, has marked him as one of the city's most capable and eminent financiers.
Mr. Weber was born in Homburg, Rhenish Bavaria, May 29, 1825. He was brought up amidst the influences of a refined and happy home, and his father, who was the presiding Protestant Minister of a district com- posed of fifteen parishes, looked after the education of his childhood. When he arrived at a capable age he entered college, pursuing his studies for eight years, at the end of which time he was prepared to take up the study of a profession, and of the many branches open to him he concluded to adopt that of engi- neering. Accordingly, in 1844, he entered the Polytechnical school of Munich, from which institution he graduated four years later. Realiz- ing then the necessity of practically furthering his knowledge of the sci- ence of engineering, he voluntarily offered his services to the military branch of the government. Being accepted he was appointed to the corps of Royal engineers, serving as an officer until 1853. At this time his parents became very solicitous as to the welfare and whereabouts of his oldest brother, who had embarked for America, in 1836, and from whom
they had not heard since he left the Missouri River in 1841, on his way to Sutter's Fort in California.
After 1848, meager reports of the first returning gold seekers from Cal- ifornia had led them to believe he was the Weber located in the south- ern mines and at Stockton, which city he had laid out at the head of the navigable waters of the San Joa- quin River. This news increased their anxiety, and being unable to bear up under this long silence any longer, the parents conferred with their younger son, Adolph, upon the advisability of his going in search of his brother. He at once con- sented, and obtaining a furlough, in 1853, for one year for this purpose, he started for the United States. Upon his arrival in New York he lost no time in obtaining passage on the steamer "Union," which, after an un- eventful trip, landed him at Aspin- wall. Crossing the Isthmus he en- dured all the inconveniences which were then incident to that journey, and on this side took the steamer "California" for San Francisco, where he arrived in July, 1853. The same day he set out for his brother's home in Stockton, reaching there the next morning. The meeting between the two brothers, who had been so long separated, may be better imagined than described.
His brother, Capt. Charles M. Weber, had emigrated to California in 1841 with the first train leaving the Missouri River that separated from a regular Oregon caravan, for the purpose of coming to California. With the party were Gen. Bidwell, Capt. Bussell, Josiah Belden, Henry Huber, and others, and after arriv-
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ing here, Capt. Weber entered the employ of Capt. Sutter, to whom he had letters of introduction. He re- mained during the winter season with Capt. Sutter, and in 1842 en- gaged in San Jose in the merchan- dising business which he followed until 1845. He then purchased and located on the Rancho Campo de los Franceses, a Spanish grant, where is now the present site of Stockton, which city, in 1848-9, he had laid out in conjunction with Major R. P. Hammond. Many immigrants had pronounced the San Joaquin country entirely barren, fit only for mining and stock growing, and that all ef- forts to cultivate it would be futile, but Capt. Weber believed otherwise and practically demonstrated the fer- tility of the soil, by planting around his home a great variety of imported vines and fruit trees, and fine flowers and berries, and as early as 1852 produced excellent wine from his grapes. He was untiring in his efforts to encourage those cultures by distributing plants, trees and cut- tings, gratuitously, to settlers, and thereby advance the agriculture of the young State of California. His death, which occurred at Stockton in 1881, removed from our midst one of California's brightest and most progressive men. His friends were legion.
Soon after his arrival in California Mr. Adolph C. Weber concluded to stay and make it his home. He, as well as his brother, was very favor- ably impressed with the climate and the State's natural resources, and so well contented was he to stay that he at once sent in his resignation to the Bavarian government which was at once honorably accepted. Unable to find much employment in his line in San Francisco, there being little demand for his profession, he en- gaged in ranching and stock raising in Santa Clara County, on his broth- er's land grant, San Felipe y Las Animas, from 1853 to November, 1855, He then returned to San Fran-
cisco, and found employment in the assay office of the U. S. Mint, of which Judge Lott was then Superin- tendent, and Major Jacob R. Snyder was Treasurer. In 1859 he resigned his position, owing to ill health, and went to Geyserville, Sonoma County, to regain it; there engaging in mer- cantile pursuits until 1861, when he went to Stockton, his brother desir- ing him to take charge of his affairs there, so that he could visit his old home in Germany. The disastrous floods, however, of 1861-2 frustrated the proposed visit and it had to be indefinitely postponed. For six weeks the property where Mr. Weber lived was under water. During this time he assisted in saving and right- ing matters till the flood was down. He then again returned to San Fran- cisco to rejoin his family, whom he had sent down by the steamer during the highest stage of the flood, this time to make this city bis permanent home. A short time after his arrival he engaged in the real estate busi- ness, especially in the management of property for both resident and non- resident owners and friends. In this business he has continued ever since.
Itis as a banker, however, that Mr. Weber has attained an honored prom- inency in financial affairs in San Francisco. In 1868 he was promi- nently identified in the founding of the German Savings Bank, and was one of the original stockholders. In November, 1869, Julius George and he, with some friends, withdrew from this bank and incorporated the Humboldt Savings and Loan Society of which, as a stockholder and in- vestor, he was made President, and has since held that position. In January, 1870, the Humboldt Bank was first opened for business in tem- porary quarters, on Kearny street, near Market, awaiting the comple- tion of its own bank building which was commenced on the lot purchased by the company and situated on Geary street, near Kearny. The same year the new building was occupied;
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since then the bank has remained in that location-its own property.
The many friends and founders of the institution comprised pioneers and early residents of this city, like Gen. E. D. Keyes, H. Luchsinger, C F. Glein, W. J. Lowry, David Porter. Rudolph Jordan, Joseph Frank, F. J. Thibault, John Wieland, John Pforr, Charles Mayne, M. J. Dooly, M. Rosenbaum, H. Barroilhet, A. Hoelscher, Rudolph Herold, S. A. Drinkhouse, Isaack Kohn, M. Wa- terman, B. E. Tittel, F. Grasshoff, W. H. Schmidt, A. Gansl, Charles and F. Lemme, Theodor Koehler, B. Schweitzer and others. They, with their elected directors, and assisted by their able attorneys, first the late Julius George, Esq., and at present Alexander H. Loughborough, Esq., have supported the enterprise stead- ily. The line of deposits increased constantly until it had reached at the last semi-annual period the sum of $2,607,505 26, with a reserve fund of $66,000. The present direc- tors are: Adolph C. Weber, Presi dent; Henry Luchsinger, Vice-Presi- dent; W. S. Keyes, A. H. Ryhiner and W. J. Lowry. As the head of this flourishing institution, Mr. Weber is deserving of much credit, and the immovable financial rock upon which the Humboldt Bank stands is due to his executive ability and management in financial affairs.
Mr. Weber is a life member of the German Benevolent Society, and a member of the Deutscher Verein. He was also one of the firs' members of the San Francisco Verein, and afterwards of the Thalia Verein. He has, at times, interested himself in various corporations in the city, and has contributed liberally to every object tending to the advancement of the city of his adoption. Though repeatedly urged to do so by his friends he has never accepted office. Of a retiring disposition, he has always avoided notoriety, being con- tent to live unostentatiously and true to his friends, within the sphere of usefulness he had laid out to follow, doing such good as within his power. In his ideas he is progressive and liberal and his friends are numerous. As one of the builders of a great city he deservedly takes rank.
Mr. Weber was married in 1857, the result of which union was three children. The first is dead, while a son and daughter are living. His second son, Adolph H. Weber, a promising engineer and a graduate of the State University of Berkeley, and of the Royal Saxon School of Mines, Freiberg, was assistant under Professor E. W. Hilgard, in the Agricultural Department of the State University at Berkeley, Cal., and now attached to the State Mining Bureau.
CHAS. H. WETMORE.
CHARLES A. WETMORE.
ject
NE of the most public-spirited, energetic and progressive of San Franciscans is the sub- of this sketch. He is not but only a man of affairs, a man of ideas as well. Endowed by nature with an active, vigorous mind, he has done much to advance the interests not alone of San Francisco, but of the whole State.
Charles A. Wetmore was born in Portland, Maine, January 20, 1847, but came to California when he was nine years of age with his mother and other members of the family, whither his father, Jesse L. Wetmore, who was of the pioneers of the State and prominent in the early days in the development of San Francisco, had preceded them.
In 1859 Charles, then twelve years old, while a student in the Hyde Street Grammar School, in company with R. L. Taber, edited, printed and published the Young Californian, which was the first juvenile paper on the coast. He afterwards attended the Oakland College School prepar- atory to entering the College of California in 1864, from which he graduated, being valedictorian of his class, in 1868, at the age of twenty- one. During the last year of his college course young Wetmore's act- ive intellect was drawn to the labor problem and he became Secretary of the House Carpenters' Eight Hour League. He soon succeeded in or- ganizing all the leagues of Alameda county into a Mechanics' Institute, of which he was elected President, During the last two years of his col- lege course he was the Oakland re- porter of the Evening Bulletin of this city. His vacations were spent in exploring the State on practical mis-
sions. In 1866 he took charge of the leveling party of an expedition which was conducted under a State appro- priation directed by the Hon. Chas. F. Reed, in the Sacramento Valley, to determine the practicability and cost of bringing the waters of the Sacramento from Red Bluff along the Coast Range, through the coun- ties of Tehama, Colusa, Yolo and Solano. In 1867 he devoted the sum- mer, at the request of the college authorities, to canvassing the central, northern and mining counties on be- half of the proposed creation of a State University. His success in awakening the public sentiment was so great that, when at the next ses- sion the question came before the Legislature, there was practically no opposition to the plan of the founders of the College of California, whose magnificent property was accepted by the State as the first endowment of what is now the State University. As a testimonial of their appreciation of his labors the trustees refused to accept any further payment of dues from Mr. Wetmore. He was also honored by having the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts conferred upon him. On the day of his graduation he was elected Secre- tary and Treasurer of the Associated Alumni of the Pacific.
In 1868, immediately after his graduation, Mr. Wetmore went to San Diego, which it was then whisp- ered was to be a future commercial metropolis. He had a strong taste for journalism and he intended to publish a newspaper, but changed his mind and established a real estate agency, the first one in the new city. He had printed an outline map of the harbor and had copies of it placed
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conspicuously in San Francisco of- fices to attract attention. Studying law and searching records led him into partnership with Solon S. Sanborn, a very able lawyer then practicing there. The members of the firm devoted themselves to un- ravelling and perfecting old land ti- tles. There were a horde of squatters there then, who, influenced by un- principled lawyers, were misled into seizing the property of absent owners with the hope of defeating their ti- tles. They claimed that the city lands had been improperly disposed of, and a reign of confusion was threatened. Mr. Wetmore was one of the organizers and a leading mem- ber of the Pueblo League, whose mission it was to protect the inter- ests of bona fide holders of property from the raids of these sharks. An attempt was made to steal Cleve- land's Addition, and Mr. Wetmore, in company with Clarence L. Carr and Major Swope, armed for defense, rode up from Old Town, destroyed the string fences before they were completed, and stood guard all day to prevent further aggression. On another occasion, by his prompt and energetic action, he thwarted the scheme of a party of real estate pi- rates who attempted to steal one hundred and forty acres, including the present site of the courthouse, and all the land from the bay to Horton's Addition, on the north side of D street.
The unequal contest became un- pleasantly warm for all parties, and a bill was drawn up by Messrs. Wetmore and Sanborn, confirming the acts of the old Alcaldes and city trustees, and urged before the Legis- lature so strongly by Mr. Wetmore that it was passed. This put an end to the squatter controversy and laid the foundation for public confidence in land titles in San Diego.
In 1871 Mr. Wetmore joined his father in his railroad work in the Cor- dilleras of Peru, for one year. Upon his return to California he became
attached to the editorial staff of the Alta California. He was soon sent to Washington as the special corre- spondent of that paper, and while at the national capital "he had frequent opportunity to aid San Diego in her infantile development. He secured for the ex-mission lands the United States patent. During his stay in Washington he was a member of the Land Attorneys' Association.
In 1875 he was appointed by the Government special commissioner to report upon the condition of the Mission Indians in San Diego coun- ty, and during a flurry of excitement along the Mexican border he secured an order of the War Department es- tablishing the military post which is still maintained in the city of San Diego.
In 1878, he was appointed delegate for the California Viticultural Asso- ciation to the Paris Exposition. The letters written during his studies of vineyards in France to the Alta Cali- fornia created a sensation throughout the country, and aroused the people to the importance of developing viti- culture on a grander scale than had been dreamed of before.
On his return from Paris he mar- ried a young lady of Washington and abandoned journalism, returning to California to reside permanently. He perfected the organization of the State Viticultural Commission and for several years devoted his whole time and all his energy to the devel- opment of the industry which he had aroused. As one of the members of the State Board, Vice-President, Chief Executive Officer, now Presi- dent, and President also of the Na- tional Viticultural Association organ- ized in Washington in 1866, Mr. Wet- more has accomplished an amount of benefit for California's viticultural interests that it is almost impossible to estimate. He was the main agent in the reconstitution of the vineyards of the State. It was eight years ago, in the Livermore Valley, at what is now his charming home, Cresta
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Blanca, that Mr. Wetmore began his own vineyard. This was done in accordance with the theory of adap- tation of certain vines for certain grades of wine. There was not a single vineyard then planted that produced high grade wines except- ing those of Rhenish type. There were no medocs or sauternes. After eight years of careful experi- menting, the vineyardists of Califor- nia have succeeded in reproducing the medocs, sauternes, burgundies, sherries, ports, madeiras and cognacs of the old world. That these are rec- ognized for what they claim to be by European taste and judgment was made manifest when, at the late Paris Exposition, a gold medal was Awarded to the California State Viticultural Commission for its cognac, while a similar reward of merit was bestowed upon Mr. Wet- more personally for his exhibit of medoc and sauterne, made at Cresta Blanca. These wines, by the way, were but two and a half years old, and were brought into com- petition with those produced in the most famous wine districts of France. If wines as young can thus be classified with the best wines in The world, it can readily be seen that After age has matured and ripened their quality they will achieve a rep- ntation equal to any ever acquired by the most famous productions of The vine wherever grown.
This consummation is a practical proof of the soundness of the propo- pition long since laid down by Mr. Wetmore, that by using the same variety of vines as in the old coun- fries, and in suitable locations, we (an approximate and in time, may
even surpass in excellence the models we follow. Two years ago Mr. Wetmore advanced the theory that the hygrometric condition of the atmosphere was of the ut- most importance in the maturing of wine, and here has experi- ment substantiated its accuracy. Unlike many other cellars in the State, Cresta Blanca's are not venti- lated ; the dry atmosphere so char- acteristic of our climate is not sought to be introduced, but rather ex- cluded, and they are dark and mouldy as any cellar in Bordeaux. As a re- sult his wines are devoid of that pungency and headiness which have so long proved detrimental to the reputation of California clarets. Mr. Wetmore is a firm believer in the opinion that the educated American gentleman has the finest taste in the world and is willing to pay to have it gratified. He is capable of judging when wine is good whether it be made in California or on the banks of the Garonne. He believes it is for the best interests of the California wine growers to cater to the American taste, and to make high priced wines rather than quantities of lower grade. At an auction sale of his wines held in this city, Mr. Wetmore received better prices for those sold than ever were obtained in the United States, and higher than the same brands of foreign wines usually sell for. The development of the Livermore dis- triet has proved the wisdom of Mr. Wetmore's selection, and the beauti- ful valley is now dotted with healthy, productive vineyards. It received the gold medal at the Paris Exposi- tion and its future is assured.
J. N. E. WILSON.
J. N. E. WILSON.
EW members of the San Fran- cisco Bar have been more suc- cessful in their profession, or made more rapid progress in popular preferment, than the subject of our sketch. Elected District Attorney at the age of 28, sent to the State Senate two years later, and, before the expi- ration of his term, appointed Insur- ance Commissioner, it is certain that his career has been a brilliant one.
J. N. E. Wilson was born in this city, December 4, 1856. His pa- rents had emigrated to this city from Ohio, but his family origin- ally came from Massachusetts. The uncle of Mr. Wilson's father, Samuel Lewis, was a distinguished lawyer in the Buckeye State, and from him it is possible he inherits his legal tastes. Mr. Wilson was educated in the public schools here, and after graduating from the High School entered the State University at Berkeley. While at the University he devoted particular attention to legal matters, intending to fit him- self for that profession, and after being graduated he entered upon his law studies in the office of E. B. Mastick. He passed an excellent examination in the Supreme Court, and was admitted to practice in 1878. His extended acquaintance secured for him from the start a goodly num- ber of clients, and the successful manner in which he conducted their causes not only retained them but attracted others, and he soon found himself in the enjoyment of a fine practice.
In 1883, at the earnest solicitation of his party friends, he allowed his name to be presented before the Re- publican Municipal Convention, for the office of District Attorney. He
was successful in the convention, and at the polls was elected by a hand- some majority, running ahead of his ticket, and during the ensuing two years he conducted the duties of the office, one of the most important in the gift of the people, in a manner to win credit from even his political opponents. In the Fall of 1885, be- fore his term of office as District Attorney had expired, Mr. Wilson was nominated and elected to repre- sent the Twenty-second District in the State Senate. While a member of that body Mr. Wilson's industry and ability bore good fruits, and he secured much important legislation. He was the author of the Park Bill, by the provision of which the com- missioners were given authority to expend large sums to beautify San Francisco's charming pleasure re- sort. He also introduced the bill providing for the opening of streets, the condemning of private property for street purposes, etc. A conspic- uous result of the value to the citi- zens of this law is found in the open- ing of Van Ness avenue through to Black Point, where it connects with the grand boulevard, about to be built by government aid, along the shore of the bay to the Presidio. Another important bill drawn by Mr. Wilson was that making the obtaining of goods under false pre- tenses a felony, where it had previ- ously been but a misdemeanor.
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