Extractions from
JOURNALISM IN CALIFORNIA
by John P. Young
Pacific Coast and Exposition
Biographies
CHRONICLE PUBLISHING COMPANY
San Francisco, California, 1915
Thank you to Beth Humphrey for
transcribing and submitting this material.
Charles F. Humphrey (page 9)
Several thousand miles separate California from
the Philippine Island, and one does not commonly associate the two so widely
different regions together. But they are linked closely in the mind
of Charles Franklin Humphrey of San Francisco, for not only is he a farmer
in California, but a plantationist in the southern islands also.
All of Mr. Humphrey’s interests today are
of a development nature. He has acquired large acreages of land, not for
speculation purposes but to make it bare and produce useful commodities.
Until recently a practicing lawyer, he has turned away from this phase
of his career and all of his time and attention is now devoted to the advancement
of his private projects.
Mr. Humphrey was born November 23, 1872, at Belleville,
Kansas, the son of James Cobin Humphrey and Annie Sophia (Counter) Humphrey.
His parents removed to Kansas from Canada, where the elder Humphrey published
several newspapers. Therefore, while receiving the groundwork of
his education in the local public schools, Charles Franklin Humphrey naturally
spent his spare time working in his father's newspaper office.
In this way Mr. Humphrey gained a thorough knowledge
of the newspaper "game," from both the mechanical and editorial standpoints.
When he entered the University of Kansas at Lawrence in 1888, he continued
to go back to the newspaper work during his vacations periods, working
at different times on the Omaha Bee, the Lincoln State Journal and the
Kansas City Star.
During all this time, however, Mr. Humphrey was
looking forward to a career in the law. Accordingly, following his
graduation from the University of Kansas with the class of 1892, he entered
the law institution of the University, taking his degree in 1894.
In the same year he was admitted to practice in Kansas, but instead of
opening an office there're he came west and spent a year in Portland, Oregon,
par of the time with Bradstreet's Mercantile Agency and the remainder in
the law offices of EMMONS & EMMONS. The year 1895 brought him
to San Francisco.
He practiced law independently until some time later,
when he became a member of the partnership of HUMPHREY & HUBBARD, a
partnership that was continued until 1914, when it was dissolved.
At the same time Mr. Humphrey ceased the practice of law entirely, the
better to manage his private interest.
For about eight years Mr. Humphrey lived with his
family in Europe, at different periods residing in Germany, France and
Spain. That his children might learn the various languages first-hand
and otherwise have the best opportunities for an extensive education.
On August 1, 1915, he brought his family back to San Francisco, where he
will henceforth make his permanent residence, spending his summers at Belvedere.
Mr. Humphrey’s Philippine interests are in the Cagayan
Valley, Island of Luzon. He owns there a large tract of land, which
he has developed to the raising of tobacco. He has taken a deep interest
in the furtherance of this enterprise and in addition to the growing of
tobacco is experimenting with sugar. Although he now raises only
enough sugar for the plantations own consumption, he may increase his acreage
in the future so as to enter the field commercially.
The fact that Mr. Humphrey owns about five thousand
acres of excellent land in California makes of him a California farmer
also. His products are highly diversified, running from fruit to
cattle. All of his operations are of a private nature and he has
formed no corporations to exploit his projects.
Socially, Mr. Humphrey is a member of a number of
clubs, among them the Royal Polo and Golf Club of Madrid, Spain, the Golf
Club of Montrieaux, Switzerland, and the Bohemian, Union League and Olympic
Clubs of San Francisco. He also is a Shriner and a Knight Templar
in the Masonic Order. He was married January 16, 1899, to Elizabeth
Warren, daughter of John Schooley Warren, Esq., of Cheshire, England.
He is the father of two sons, James and John HUMPHREY, the former of who
is now at Phillips Exeter Academy, preparing for Harvard University.
Alfred Hertz (page 276)
It was a distinct compliment to California and the
West when Alfred Hertz consented to come here to direct the San Francisco
Symphony Orchestra. He has been called "the big man of the Metropolitan
Grand Opera," and as a big man he was welcomed to San Francisco last July.
Perhaps it is well to introduce Hertz with the same
words used in The San Francisco Chronicle, upon the occasion of his initial
appearance in San Francisco August 6th last, directing the Exposition Orchestra,
augmented to more than 100 musicians, in the great Beethoven concert at
the Civic Auditorium. Said The Chronicle: "A giant of
energy, Hertz employs his forces in quantities to be estimated only in
terms of superlative power. It seemed as though by sheer application of
his own vigor he himself played everything from tympani to contrabasso.
He epitomized the energies of one hundred men and in the climaxes exposed
a Dionysian joy in their tumultuous shoutings; he summed up in his person
the efficiency of all and added thereto a surplus of force which directed
them all and controlled them; or, once or twice, condemned them all when
in the failure to ride as fast and as far and as high as he willed, the
members of the great orchestra faltered. At such moments Hertz was not
to be regarded as a being of sartorial propriety, nor even as one amenable
to the conventions which politely ignore sweat. He wrestled with a god
on the mountain, and he did not let him go until he had the victory."
A native of Germany, Alfred Hertz was born July
15, 1872, at Frankfort-on-the-Main, the son of Leo Hertz and Sara (Koenigswerther)
Hertz. Following his preliminary education at Frankfort Gymnasium, he began
his so fruitful study of music at Raff Conservatorium, Frankfort. How rapidly
he advanced in this great conservatory founded by Joachim Raff and Hans
von Buelow as president, may be gathered from the fact that upon his graduation
from his courses in piano, theory, instrumentation and musical history
he was appointed, when not yet twenty years old, to the directorship of
the Hoftheater at Altenburg in Saxony. Here, at the age of twenty, he was
decorated with the Order of Art and Science of Saxony. Here, also, he produced
for the first time anywhere Humperdinck's "Hansel and Gretel."
Until 1895 Mr. Hertz filled this position at Altenburg
with ever increasing success. Then he was called to Barmen-Elberfeld, where
for four years he was conductor of opera and concerts at the Stadttheater.
In the spring of 1899 the works of Fritz Delius, then somewhat obscure,
were to constitute a program at St. James' Hall, London. Delius had heard
Hertz in Elberfeld, and prevailed upon him to conduct the rendition of
Delius' works.
By this time Hertz' fame as a conductor had spread
all over Europe. During his London engagement Maurice Grau
offered the young man the baton that Anton Seidi had laid down. It was
a distinct honor, but one which Hertz was unable to accept just at that
time, as he had a three-year contract to fulfill at the Stadttheater, Breslau.
This contract he carried out.
In 1902 the way was clear to bring Hertz to America.
Grau re- newed his offers and the brilliant young conductor accepted, assuming
at once the musical direction of the Metropolitan Grand Opera forces in
New York. On December 24, 1903, Hertz directed the first performance of
"Parsifal" ever heard outside of Bayreuth, and on January 22, 1907, the
first and only performance at the Metropolitan Opera House of Richard Strauss'
"Salome." He directed the first performance of "Konigskinder" December
28, 1910, at the Metropolitan, and he was responsible for first production
of important American novelties, such as "Pipe of Desire" by Converse,
"Mona" by Horatio Parker, and "Cyrano de Bergerac" by Walter Damrosch.
One of his chief triumphs was the first production of Richard Strauss'
"Der Rosencavalier."
For thirteen successive and successful years Hertz
remained at the Metropolitan as conductor, and then resigned. His departure
was the occasion for one of the greatest demonstrations ever ac- corded
a musician. But he left, he said, in order to devote himself to "the higher
things in music,"
His next move was to convert the loosely organized
Los Angeles Sym- phony Orchestra into a compact band capable of the greatest
and nicest effects, in order to produce Parker's new $10,000 prize opera,
"Fairyland." Then he was brought to San Francisco and given the musical
directorship of our Symphony Orchestra with practically unlimited powers.
And the fruits of his endeavors are soon to be seen.
Joseph Martin (page 295)
One of California's principal industries is the
shipping of per-ishable fruit in refrigerating cars across the Sierra and
Rockies to Eastern markets, and depositing it, thousands of carloads a
year, fresh and tempting on the breakfast tables of Chicago, New York and
a score of other cities.
Joseph Martin, general manager of the National Ice
and Cold Storage Company of California, in the early eighties was respon-sible
for the first shipment of California fruit under ice to the East. How much
good has resulted to California through this project may readily be conceived.
Thousands of men and women to- day are provided with employment by the
State's fruit industry. California's greatest advertising asset is her
ability to place her fruit on the Eastern markets in a season when the
East itself is shivering under snow and Ice—and this asset is directly
trace- able to Mr. Martin's launching of the refrigerating scheme.
With the success of this project assured Mr. Martin
turned about and laid the foundation for another great industry by shipping
to Australia the first ice and cold storage machines ever used in the Antipodes.
This has made it possible to ship Australian meat to the United States,
to the British Isles and to Continental Europe, and the trade has gone
on unceasingly ever since.
Joseph Martin was born in Frodsham, Cheshire, England,
April 21, 1854, the son of Joseph Martin and Mary (Grice) Martin. He was
educated at Overton College in Frodsham and in 1868, when fourteen years
old, came to San Francisco by way of the Cape Horn passage. He arrived
here October 21, 1868.
It is significant that his first employment was
in the ice business. He advanced rapidly. In 1872, when only eighteen,
he was sent on an important mission to England and Europe, where he remained
nearly a year. Returning to California he became, like others, interested
in the gold mining possibilities of this State and Nevada. He entered the
new field, locating for a time at Virginia City, Nevada, during the boom
there.
The year 1875, however, brought Mr. Martin back
to San Francisco. He organized the Mountain Ice Company in 1878, operated
it with profit for five years and in 1883 launched the Floriston Ice Company.
Later he helped form the Union Ice Company, and about this same time started
the shipping of California, fruit overland. At different times Mr. Martin
has organized and operated a score or more of ice manufacturing concerns.
In his building up of the ice and cold storage business he has come to
be known as one of the leaders in the industry here and elsewhere.
By an amalgamation of the smaller plants in 1912
was organized the National Ice and Cold Storage Company of California,
with an authorized capital stock of $15,000,000. The company's
charter is the most comprehensive ever granted any ice and cold storage
enterprise. With an eye to the opening of the Panama Canal the corporation
mapped out an extensive field. It is authorized to buy, sell and deal in
ice and all kinds of refrigeration and to carry on an export and import
business upon the broadest lines with several States and foreign countries;
to maintain offices and stores in the United States and foreign countries;
to construct and operate refrigerating plants anywhere; to buy, sell and
deal in securities of other corporations and to buy, obtain and hold patent
rights and trade marks.
Joseph Martin has been characterized as the man
who started the ice business on this coast "with a single cake of ice"
and nursed it into a great industry. But while doing this he was not neglecting
to look about him for opportunities of other kinds. He invested in several
oil and mining properties with good success.
In addition to his very responsible position as
general manager of the National Ice and Cold Storage Company of California,
Mr. Martin is vice-president of the Fresno Consumers Ice Company, vice-president
of the Nevada National Ice & Cold Storage Company, a director of the
Commercial Petroleum Company and the Atlas Wonder Mining Company, and secretary
of the Sparks-Reno Electric Railroad.
Mr. Martin is one of those men who believe that
to attain real success in any enterprise, one must absorb just as much
knowledge as possible of his business. It was with the view of furthering
his education in this way that, in 1909, he toured the world in- specting
the ice and cold storage plants of every foreign city in which they could
be found. His two sons, Joseph Martin, Jr., and Chester Miller Martin,
accompanied him and the trip was a combination of business and pleasure.
James Horsburgh, Jr. (page 279)
To do one-tenth of what James Horsburgh, Jr., has
accomplished in the interests of California, were to merit everlasting'
honor as the builder of an empire. And to write it, doing justice to a
myriad of details, were to begin the task of compiling a veritable library
of history.
For it is history that James Horsburgh, Jr., has
made. It is the history of California. Its growth from a little-known
section to one of the strongest and most wonderful States in the Union.
And it is written in millions of printed pages, a product of un- remitting
effort and a fertile brain.
When, just a few months ago, Mr. Horsburgh resigned
as general passenger agent of the Southern Pacific Company to handle Willys-Overland
auto-mobiles in the San Francisco district, the San Francisco Chronicle
paid him this tribute: "The friends of James Horsburgh, Jr., predict
that this peculiar genius, his never-failing, hearty good nature and his
immense energy will find a wider and better expression than ever before
as, one of the officials of the Willys-Overland organization."
James Horsburgh, Jr., is father of the famous "Raisin
Day"; Sunset Magazine was conceived and started by him; due to his preliminary
efforts Imperial Valley was transformed from desert into a fertile spot;
tons of literature advertising California and the West have been written
by him and distributed to the four corners of the world; he first brought
Luther Burbank into public notice; farmers’ institutes. State farms and
agricultural demonstration trains by the dozen owe their being to him;
convention after convention has he brought to San Francisco, entertained
the delegates and Sent them back home rejoicing; he has fostered as many
colonization projects as perhaps any man in California.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Mr. Horsburgh removed
with his parents to Hamilton, Canada, when he was but two years old. He
began railroading when he was still a mere youth, first as office boy in
the office of the general manager and treasurer of the Great Western Railway
in Canada, later becoming a clerk in the same department.
In 1873, still a boy, Mr. Horsburgh came to California
and became a rate clerk in the general passenger department of the Southern
Pacific. Head quarters were then In Sacramento, but soon they were moved
to San Francisco and Mr. Horsburgh came here with them. From clerk
he became chief clerk and, in October 1884, was appointed assistant general
passenger agent. In April 1906, three days before the great San Francisco
fire, he was made general passenger agent upon the retirement from that
position of General T. H. Goodman. Immediately Mr. Horsburgh was
thrown into a situation that was almost unprecedented. Under the most trying
conditions in the days following the fire he moved 244,000 persons out
of stricken San Francisco without cost to them and without injuring a single
one.
It was upon the realization that California differed
from other sections of the country, that people had to be brought here
to see for themselves before they could understand its advantages, that
Mr. Horsburgh based his entire publicity campaign. He went after and secured
for San Francisco the great convention of the Grand Army of the Republic,
followed by that of the Knights Templar and then by that of the Christian
Endeavor. For the last-named gathering were brought 23,000 delegates from
east of the Rocky Mountains. And by their means the gospel of California
was spread amazingly wide.
At another time, when such things were sorely needed,
he had his field agents organize improvement associations throughout California;
then he got all the clubs in the Sacramento Valley to amalgamate and did
the same with those in the San Joaquin Valley and elsewhere. By a publicity
campaign he helped the prune growers sell the 90,000,000 pounds surplus
of their crop. When the raisin growers got into deep water he did the same
for them the result was "Raisin Day," which saved the situation. Sunset
Magazine, a monument to his ability and progressiveness, speaks for itself.
The Southern Pacific building at the Panama-Pacific Exposition was the
evolution of his idea; and in dozens of other ways did he assist in the
great world show.
And now, believing the automobile to be the coming
transportation factor, he has entered this new field and his future, as
The Chronicle has pointed out, is assured.
Charles R. McCormick (page 292)
Looking back over the passage of time, twelve years
does not seem at all long to the most of us. Why, twelve years ago
we weren't much different than we find ourselves today. But, if time may
be measured by activities, this period must appear unusually extended to
Charles R. McCormick. For it was only a dozen years ago that he established
in San Francisco a lumber business which today is one of the largest on
the Pacific Coast.
In 1903 Charles R. McCormick, with little back of
him other than practical experience, opened offices in San Francisco and
began selling lumber, on a commission basis. He then had but one employee,
a stenographer. Today his employees are numbered by hundreds. He is at
the head of Charles R. McCormick & Co., lumber manufacturers and dealers,
and of a number of subsidiary concerns, whose annual business runs into
the millions. And lumber shipped from his mills goes to all parts of the
world.
Born July 6, 1870, at Saginaw, Michigan, Mr. McCormick
is the son of A. W. McCormick, a pioneer lumberman of Michigan. The elder
McCormick went to Saginaw—which was for years the greatest lumbering district
in the world—in 1858, when it was a small village, and grew up with the
town. Mr. McCormlck's mother was Harriet (Frisbie) McCormick.
After attending the public schools of Saginaw, Mr.
McCormick followed his parents to New York State, where his father purchased
a farm and retired from business. Later on he attended the military academy
at Albany, N. Y., leaving there when eighteen years old and for two years
thereafter working: in the Albany lumber district.
As in the case with so many successful men, Mr.
McCormick began at the very bottom. With the experience thus acquired he
went to Ontonaeron, Michigan, on Lake Superior, and became grader in the
mills of the Diamond Match Company. Five years later he went into the lumber
inspection and shipping business for himself. In 1896 a forest fire destroyed
Ontonagon and its mills and Mr. McCormick removed to Menomlnee, Michigan,
and established himself. In 1901 he came west to Portland, and a few months
later came to San Francisco to accept a position as San Francisco manager
for the Hammond Lumber Company. He remained with the Hammond people until
he opened his own offices in 1903.
Since then Charles R. McCormick & Co. have built,
and now operate, ten lumber steamers. Mr. McCormick is president of the
companies that own and operate the steamers Klamath, Willamette, Yosemite,
Multnomah, Celilo, Shoshone and Wapama, and also operates the steamers
J. B. Stetson, Temple E. Dorr and Nehalem and the schooner Forest Home.
Besides this, the company is now building a wooden schooner of record size,
capable of carrying 2,000,000 feet of lumber and with semi-Diesel engines
as auxiliaries. The McCormick steamers carried in excess of 20,000
passengers up and down the Pacific Coast in 1915.
Mr. McCormick and his associates have practically
made the town of St. Helens, Oregon, 30 miles down the Columbia River from
Portland. He is president and control-ling stockholder, not only of Charles
R. McCormick & Co., but also of the St. Helens Lumber Company and Columbia
County Lumber Company, which operate two huge lumber mills at St. Helens.
He is president of the St. Helens Creosoting Co., which has there the largest
plant of its kind in the West; of the St. Helens Shipbuilding Co., which
has its own shipyard for constructing the McCormick vessels; and president
also of the St. Helens Light & Power Co. and other related concerns.
St. Helens has several miles of waterfront, besides 12 miles of railroad
running back into the timber, and it is Mr. McCormick's idea to make the
place a real manufacturing center, with the erection of additional factories
to handle the by- products of the lumber mills, which now are manufacturing
100,000,000 feet of lumber a year.
The Charles R. McCormick interests handled 201,000,000
feet of lumber in 1914. Sales offices are maintained at San Francisco,
Los Angeles, Portland and New York, and yards at San Diego, Riverside,
San Bernardino, Oceanside and Escondido, besides a 1,000-foot loading dock
at San Pedro. The large yard at San Diego carries a lumber stock of 10,000,000
feet, and the San Pedro dock a stock of 4,000,000 to 6,000.- 000
feet of mining timbers; from San Pedro are supplied nearly all the mines
of Arizona. This San Pedro mining- timber business alone averages $1,500,000
a year in volume.
In 1907 Mr. McCormick was married in San Francisco
to Miss Florence C. Cole, daughter of the late Edward P. Cole, a prominent
attorney. The couple have two children, Charles R., Jr., and Florence C.
McCormick.
John Ginty (page 271)
Confidence in a public official follows only after
it is proved that the office is efficiently and honestly conducted. This
is particularly true of the Assessor's office, which is the real financial
agency of the city.
In San Francisco 84 percent of the entire expense
of the city is raised by taxation. San Francisco has been "fortunate in
the selection of its Assessors during the past sixteen years; not a suspicion
has been voiced against their ability or integrity. Doctor Washington Dodge
served four consecutive terms and John Ginty, present Assessor, was appointed
on Doctor Dodge's recommendation. In a letter to the mayor Doctor Dodge
said: "I know of no one in the city that could begin to discharge the duties
of the office as efficiently as John Ginty. He is thoroughly informed on
the laws governing taxation and had always taken a deep interest in matters
relating to this subject previous to his connection with the office. I
engaged him as my Chief Deputy on account of his expert knowledge."
Mr. Ginty has carried out all the good features
of Doctor Dodge's administration and has added further improvements which
will save the City and County thousands of dollars annually. To aid in
the work of appraising property he keeps a ledger account of each block
in the city, and posts to the account the sale of property as reported
each day, also all building permits or contracts affecting building operations
in each block.
Notwithstanding that 80 per cent of the deeds recorded
state only a nominal consideration, Mr. Ginty always ferrets out and finds
the true consideration paid. On completion of a building it is inspected,
measured and appraised by a set of tables covering different classes of
buildings showing an average cost per cubic or square foot to build. These
are compiled from architect tables and from actual cost prices of thousands
of houses erected since the great fire of 1906. The assessed
values of land are based on a unit front foot value in each block, with
table calculations for varying depth of the lot and corner influences,
similar to the Somers system but based on compilations made from sales
in this city for a number of years and reflecting the community idea of
values as expressed in sales since 1906.
Mr. Ginty also is the inventor of an ingenious map
and street guide by which a stranger in the city could, inside of one minute,
locate on the map any block of land, public, building or given address,
and the street car line that would carry him there. Travelers familiar
with the Baedeker guide used in most European cities and with the street
guides of the principal cities of the United States, declare that Mr. Ginty's
map and street guide is superior to any guidebook they have had occasion
to use.
Quiet and unassuming, Mr. Ginty is always ready
to listen to complaints of taxpayers and to investigate alleged errors
and grant reductions in assessments that the law or the circumstances will
permit.
Socially, he prefers the quiet of his own home and
the company of his family. At the early age of fourteen he left school
to enter a printing office, with the intention of making journalism his
life work. Not liking it, however, he drifted into railroading and after
learning telegraphy rapidly advanced until he was a station agent, superintendent
clerk and acting train dispatcher. The wanderlust born in him led him to
come in 1868 to California. Here he has been for the past forty years actively
engaged in business, most of the time in banking. He has filled with credit
important executive positions in National banks, savings banks and loan
and mortgage companies in various parts of the State, giving him an experience
in land appraising, as a credit man and as an expert accountant that has
been valuable in his present work.
This is the first political office held by Mr. Ginty,
although he has always taken an interest in public matters and is a member
of several charitable societies, fraternal organizations and clubs organized
for the study of civic conditions. His father and three brothers
served in the Civil War, two of the brothers being killed in battle.
An Assessor is, in many respects, the most important
official the people elect. His discretion, judgment and honesty vitally
affect every taxpayer. It is of vast consequence to the progress and welfare
of the people that they choose a competent and upright Assessor since one
either incapable or wanting in integrity may do incalculable harm. Measured
by this standard, Mr. Ginty has no rival in the hearts of the people.
Leon E. Morris (page 303)
There are at least three essentials any man's success
intelligence, perseverance, speed. With these three thing's as attributes,
and with the determination that goes with them, no problem is too great
nor no obstacle too big. The wide-awake and aggressive individual will
be found, when the smoke of battle clears away, to have won the point for
which he set out.
Leon E. Morris, San Francisco attorney at law, has
just such a character; and by reason of it he has made for himself in the
comparatively few years he has been practicing a record of accomplishment
that many an older man in his profession might well envy.
Born February 24, 1884, in San Francisco, Mr. Morris
is the son of Henry E. Morris and Henrietta (Levy) Morris. His father has
been in the draying business in this city since 1876 and is well known
and liked in San Francisco business circles. The younger Mr. Morris, after
attending the public schools, was graduated from Lowell High School in
1901 and the same year entered the University of California. He received
his degree of A. B. in 1905 from-the University, and his LL.B. in 1907
from Hastings College of the Law.
The beginning of Mr. Morris' law practice really
dates from 1905, the year he entered Hastings College, for it was then
he entered the law offices of Bishop & Hoefler as clerk and all around
handy man. He was formally admitted to the bar May 1, 1907. Meanwhile,
in 1906, Thomas B. Bishop had passed away, and on March 1, 1909, Mr. Morris
became a partner in a new law firm known as Hoefler, Cook, Harwood &
Morris. When, on August 1, 1913, this association was dissolved and the
new firm of Hoefler & Morris was organized, Mr. Morris became its manager.
This in turn was dissolved January 1, 1915, since which time Mr. Morris
has been practicing alone, as the head of a highly efficient personal organization.
It is not an abuse of the superlative to say that
Mr. Morris has made a phenomenal record for a man of his years. Confining
himself to a general civil law practice he is general counsel for a number
of corporations and holds officerships or directorships in a score or more
others. Included among these are the Brunswick-Balke- Collender
Company of California, the Steiger Terra Cotta and Pottery Works, the Howard
Cattle Company and other interests of the late Edward W. Howard and of
the Whitwells of Boston.
One of his recent coups, in which the necessity
for speed was paramount, was the mandamus proceedings, in 1914, against
the trustees of City of Hanford. The removal by the trustees of an initiative
measure from the ballot at the last minute was involved. Mr. Morris had
but three hours to frame proceedings that covered 40 typewritten pages.
But he accomplished it, rushed the case to court and succeeded in establishing
the point of law that city trustees cannot halt the voting on an initiative
measure as it is a matter having to do with the State cons-titution. Incidentally,
in this instance, the initiative proposition won.
In a recall against two trustees of Vallejo in 1914,
Mr. Morris won another notable victory. The trustees refused to canvass
a vote in which it appeared that at least one of them had been ousted from
office. The appellate court in Sacramento was appealed to for an alternative
writ of mandate to compel the trustees to make the canvass, and from there
the case was taken to the Supreme Court. Mr. Morris disclosed the tact
that the two "reform" candidates had run for the office of trustee indiscriminately
instead of specifying which of the terms, the long or the short, each sought.
In winning his case, Mr. Morris caused it to be established that two terms
comprise two offices instead of one, and that there should have been two
distinct recall elections.
The success of Mr. Morris' legal career has largely
been made possible by the very efficient office organization he maintains.
He has expended not a little effort in building up this organization, until
today its superior cannot be found in San Francisco.
Politically, Mr. Morris is a Republican, though
he is held by no narrow party ties, nor has he ever sought or held office.
He belongs to the Union League, San Francisco Commercial an Merchants'
Exchange Clubs, to Islam Temple of Shriners and to San Francisco bodies
of the Scottish Rite. He was married August 27, 1912, in San Francisco
to Elede Prince and is the father of one daughter, Eleonor, aged 2 years.
E. J. Kingsbury (page 286)
The world owes much to the inventor—how much, one
can readily conceive by gazing about at the innumerable "necessities of
life" which our forefathers knew nothing of and were forced to do without.
Inventions have made earth more livable; they have lifted man from the
gloom of ignorance and made him master of all he surveys.
Primarily, E. J. Kingsbury is a mechanical and electrical
engineer. But he also is an inventor and today he has to his credit at
least three really big accomplishments along this line, with innumerable
others of lesser importance.
His latest coup is the electrograph. This is an
electrical advertising device whereby, through patented mechanisms known
as the "unit control," letters, characters and illustrations may be shown
extemporaneously either by night——or by day. The "unit control" allows
any number of different currents of electricity to pass over the same wire
at the same time without Interference, thus making it possible for a single
contact and a single wire to control an unlimited number of points. By
means of a standard typewriter the different characters may be written
on one or more signs with only one key for each letter or character and
one wire per character. The advantages of the electrograph over any other
electrical advertising device are extemporaneous control as compared with
previously prepared "copy," low cost of construction and operation, and
the fact that it is the only device whereby pictures, cartoons and colored
illustrations may be flashed on an electrical sign at will, different pictures
appearing on the same space at different periods.
Mr. Kingsbury invented the electrograph while he
was in Juneau, Alaska, and has been devoting his time to its development
since 1914. He incorporated in Alaska under the firm name of the Kingsbury
Electrograph Company, of which he is president and manager. The initial
financing of the concern was completed in Alaska and the first unit of
the electrograph is now being built. Since early in 1915 the general offices
have been in the Merchants National Bank Building, San Francisco.
E. J. Kingsbury is a native of Minnesota. He was
born July 12, 1878, at Le Roy, the son of Dr. E. J. Kingsbury, a physician
and surgeon, and M. H. (Hard) Kingsbury. He attended the public schools
of Cannonsburg, Pa., was graduated from the high school of Knapp, Wis.,
and later from McAllister College at St. Paul. He took post-graduate work
in mechanical and electrical engineering at Armour Institute, Chicago,
and was awarded the degrees of M. E. and E. E. in 1899.
His first work was with the Atwood Lumber Company
in Minnesota, where he installed power stations for something more than
two years. Then for four years he installed and operated power stations
for the Great Northern Rai1way. At the end of this period he became superintendent
of power and light for the White Pass & Yukon Railway at Skagway, Alaska,
and after three years went with the Alaska-Treadwell Gold Mines Co. at
Treadwell, with whom he remained four years in the installation and operation
of hydro- electric machinery.
Among Mr. Kingsbury's other inventions is an electrical
safety device for railroad bridges and culverts. In case of fire, washout,
strain or stress to the bridge, the device throws the semaphore signals
and automatically calls up the train dispatcher and gives him the number
and name of the bridge. All this is accomplished on existing telegraph
wires and in operation it has proved eminently successful.
Mr. Kingsbury also invented and perfected a mechanical
refrigeration sys- tem through the use of electro-chemistry. This is to
be used in homes in small units; the current required being less than that
consumed by a 60-watt Mazda lamp. Another of his inventions is an automatic
cut-off for steam engine governors, which will, for instance, make Impossible
the running away of an engine. Mr. Kingsbury is also secretary treasurer
of the Quertier Machine Co. of San Francisco.
In 1900, at Willow River, Minn., Mr. Kingsbury married
Miss Eva Thompson, and is the father of one son, Orval H. Kingsbury, who
is now attending Lowell High School.
Charles Frederick Horner (page 278)
One of the first things that impress the visitor
to California is the intense loyalty of its citizens. Whatever is indigenous
to whatever pertains to—the State is dear to the heart of every Californian.
Of all things loved the best is the "native son," the one who from his
earliest days has lived in the environment of its mountains and sunshine
and bounteous harvests; and it is worthy of note that a large percentage
of the men who now direct the destinies of the State, in» politics
and business, belong to this class.
In this regard, the story of Charles Frederick Horner,
assessor of Alameda County, is worth the telling. Mr. Horner is a native
of the Golden State. His father came "West with the rush of '49, and subsequently
was a flour miller for many years. The elder Horner was a native of New
Jersey, where he spent the early part of his life. His brother, J. M. Horner,
had preceded him here by some years, and it was in conjunction with this
brother that he entered the flour milling business. In fact, the honor
of founding the first flour mill in the State belongs to J. M. Horner.
It was located at Union City and continued to be the largest producing
mill in California for a long while. The two brothers prospered and among
other things received a Spanish land grant now known as Homer's Addition,
San Francisco.
Charles Frederick Horner was born at Irvington,
Cal., November 11, 1858, the son of W. Y. and Anna Ernley Horner. He attended
the primary schools of that city and then became a scholar at Washington
College, Irvington. Some time after leaving college he became interested
in the culture of sugar and determined to try his fortune in the Hawaiian
Islands, where he went in 1879. The islands, then as now, depended on sugar
as their main crop and the field of opportunity open to Mr. Horner was
one of exceptional advantages. He was not slow to make use of every favorable
circumstance and soon won a competence from the trade. With the advancing
years his holdings in- creased and he became a man of the largest influence,
doing an annual business of big proportions. He also interested himself
in public questions and served two terms (1887-8) as a member of the Hawaiian
Legislature. His business continued to prosper and he was looked upon as
one of the leading figures in the sugar industry of what is now among our
richest insular possessions. Owing to a thorough study of the subject,
Mr. Horner was able to Introduce many improvements in the planting of the
cane and its handling, which resulted in important economic
advance. In short, he entered into all departments of the industry
and helped materially in its expansion.
Returning to the United States in 189C, Mr. Horner
established himself at Centerville, Cal, and lent his support to its growth,
assisting every under-taking with the public welfare as its aim. He is
well known in a political way, and was elected Supervisor of the County
for three terms on the Republican ticket, discharging the duties of that
office in a way that has received general approval. Under his administration
a rule of economy and efficiency was obtained, resulting in a substantial
saving to the community. This county is one of singular wealth, being located
in a district blessed with every advantage of Nature and having excellent
transit facilities in all directions, and its industrial importance has
also enhanced in recent years until there are few counties in the State
which can point to a finer record of growth in all departments. In July
1911, Mr. Horner was appointed by the Board of Supervisors of Alameda County
assessor to fill a vacancy, and upon assuming the duties of assessor moved
to Oakland, where he has since resided. Coming to the office at this critical
stage of the county's development, Mr. Horner has met with a complete measure
of success and is certainly one of the most popular men in the county.
Mr. Horner is an active member of the Native Sons
of the Golden West and a supporter of all the ideals for which that organization
stands. He is also affiliated with the Masonic Order, the Knights of Pythias,
Woodmen of the World, Druids, Odd Fellows, Moose and B. P. 0. Elks. Although
a busy man he finds times to take an active part in the affairs of all
and stands high among fraternal lists of the State.
Emilio Lastreto (page 287)
If it were necessary to describe, in one word, the
character of Emilio Lastreto, that word would be "versatile." For not only
is Emilio Lastreto a successful practicing- attorney but he also is a linguist,
a notable interpreter of Shakespearean roles, a writer, and a fencer of
national reputation. And, aside from all this, he is active
in a civic way as well as socially and fraternally.
Mr. Lastreto is a native of San Francisco. He was
born February 25, 1869, the son of Luigi Felix Lastreto, who for half a
century carried on here a commission business with Central and South American
countries. His mother was Charlotte (Parrain) Lastreto. After passing through
the Washington Grammar School, Mr. Lastreto entered the Boys High School,
from which he was graduated in 1885.
For two years following this he was enrolled at
Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco. Because he was below the
age of 21, however, the institution could not graduate him. Not to be forestalled
by a mere matter of age, Mr. Lastreto and several other youths in the same
situation clubbed together and completed their studies independently. Then,
on May 5, 1890, Mr. Lastreto was admitted to the bar before the Supreme
Court of California at Sacramento. Several years later, on December
23, 1898, he was admitted to practice: before the United States Circuit
and District Courts also. Immediately after securing his credentials
Mr. Lastreto began practicing alone In San Francisco, and has continued
so ever since. His law work is of a general civil nature. He speaks French,
Spanish and Italian fluently, in addition to English, and his clientele
is largely composed of members of those three races resident in this section
of the State. Mr. Lastreto has assisted in several probate cases of importance
and has also practiced some in mining law, although his interests in mining
are largely those of an Investor. He has also been admitted to practice
before the United States Land Offices.
As a Shakespearean actor Mr. Lastreto is widely
and favorably known. On the top story of his home on Russian Hill he has
fitted up a small, but no less complete, private theater. It has everything
in scenery, lighting effects and properties-that the regular stage has.
Four years ago he organized the Lastreto Shakespearean Players, whose productions,
presented before private audiences only, have elicited much praise. Speaking
of Mr. Lastreto's portrayal of lago in "Othello," a reviewer said: "Brobdignagian
in the superb manner in which he pictured lago on his Lllliput stage, Lastreto
won the encomiums of his audience by his enthusiasm and disclosed why,
for the mere love of acting, he has been willing single-handed to equip
his playhouse and bear the financial burden of the series of Shakespearean
shows that have made it locally famous."
For twenty-five years Mr. Lastreto has been playing
Shake-speare. Though always as an amateur, he has appeared o n several
occasions with famous professionals. In 1893 he appeared with Sarah Bernhardt
in "Cleopatra," "La Tosca" and "Jeanne d'Arc" at the old Grand Opera House.
In his private theater he has played Shylock in "The Merchant of Venice,"
Othello and lago in "Othello," Cardinal Wolsey in "King Henry VIII," and
the title roles in "Hamlet," Richard III," "Macbeth," and "King Lear."
For years Mr. Lastreto has been an exponent of fencing,
and has done more different kinds of fencing than any other amateur in
the West. His efforts have won for him a number of championship medals.
In the early nineties he gave a series of exhibitions 'at the Olympic Club
with Professor Tronchet, then champion of America, and for years he has
been the club's fencing leader. He was chairman of the department of athletics
for fencing of the Panama- Pacific International Exposition and was judge
and director of the exposition tournament, held at the Olympic Club in
May 1915. On different occasions he has written articles on fencing for
the magazines; his writings also include dramas, several of which were
produced here before the 1906 fire, at the old Columbia Theater,
Ever since it was organized, Mr. Lastreto has been
chairman of the Orphan's Board of the Independent Order of Red Men. He
is past-sachem of Yosemite Tribe No. 103, I. 0. R. M., past-president of
Alcalde Parlor No. 154, N. S. G. W., vice-president of the North Beach
Promotion Association, and a member of the Players Club of San Francisco.
He was married June 6, 1906, in San Francisco to
Goldie Cuffield and has three children, Eva, Emilio and Carlo Lastreto.
Mr. Lastrato's offices are in the Chronicle building
where he has been established since 1892. He is the Chronicle building's
oldest tenant.
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