Amador
County
Biographies
CHARLES P. VICINI
California has won distinction for
the high rank of her bench and bar.
Perhaps none of the newer states can justly boast of abler jurists or
attorneys. Some of them have been men of
national fame, and among those whose lives have been passed on a quieter plane
there is scarcely a town or city in the state that cannot boast of one of the
distinguished legal lights of the United States. California certainly has reason to be proud
of her legal fraternity. In Charles P.
Vicini we find united many of the rare qualities which go to make up the
successful lawyer, and he is today regarded as one of the most prominent
representatives of the bar of the state.
He possesses perhaps few of those dazzling, meteoric qualities which
have sometimes flashed along the legal horizon, riveting the gaze and blinding
the vision for a moment, then disappearing, leaving little or no trace behind;
but he has, rather, those solid and more substantial qualities which shine with
a constant luster, shedding light in the dark places with steadiness and
continuity. He has in an eminent degree
that rare ability of saying in a convincing way the right thing at the right
time. His mind is analytical, logical
and inductive, and with a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the
fundamental principles of law, he combines a familiarity with statutory law and
a sober, clear judgment which makes him a formidable adversary in legal combat.
Mr. Vicini is a native son of
California, born on the 6th of September, 1869, of Italian
parents. His father, John B. Vicini, was
born near Genoa, Italy, and when but sixteen years of age came to Calaveras
County, California, in company with several young companions who like himself
hoped to find wealth in the mines of this state. He first engaged in mining at Robinson’s
Ferry, then a rich and prosperous mining camp, in which he obtained a goodly
supply of the yellow metal. Some time
afterward he established a meat market and in that enterprise also
prospered. At a later date he removed to
Angel’s Camp, where he purchased land and was engaged in farming for eight
years, when he sold out and removed to Sutter Creek. There he purchased property and engaged in
the harness and boot and shoe business.
The success which had hitherto attended him did not desert him then, and
he subsequently built a second story to his building and fitted it out for
hotel purposes, the property becoming known as the Sutter Hotel. It is well conducted by E. B. Moore, who
purchased it from Mr. Vicini, who, in disposing of the building, bought
property on the site above Sutter Creek.
There he built a large three-story hotel called the Summit House, and
the enterprise is being conducted by his son, Stephen B., while the father has
retired from active business, he, however, making his home there with his
son. He married Catherine Peirano, a native of Italy but reared in Baltimore. They have had three sons and a daughter,
namely Stephen B.; Henry J., a farmer, stock raiser and freighter; Charles P.;
and Caroline, who is now deceased.
Charles P. Vicini was educated in
Santa Clara College and read law in the office of Armstrong & Hinkson, under whose direction he continued his studies for
two years. He spent one year in the
office of Caminetti & McGee, in San Francisco, after which he came to
Jackson and was for some time a student in the office of Caminetti & Rust,
the former a member of Congress and the latter the supreme judge of Amador
County at the present time. Mr. Vicini
was admitted to practice before the supreme court of the state on the 3rd
of May, 1892, and entered into partnership with Judge Rust, the connection
continuing until the senior member was elevated to the bench, since which time
our subject has carried on a general law practice alone. He has acquired an excellent reputation as a
talented and well-read attorney. In
November, 1898, he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the office of
district attorney, in which position he has since served.
On the 22nd of November,
1892, Mr. Vicini was united in marriage to Miss Frances A. Hoit,
a native of Sacramento, and they now have a little son, Hoit
C. Mr. and Mrs. Vicini are members of
the organization known as the Native Sons and Daughters of the Golden West, and
the Native Sons and Daughters of California, and he is a past president of his
parlor. He also belongs to both blue
lodge and chapter of the Masonic fraternity.
He is a man of high scholarly attainments whose prominence at the bar is
a merited tribute to his ability.
Socially he is deservedly popular, for he is affable and courteous in
manner and possesses that faculty so necessary to success in public life that
of making friends readily and of strengthening the ties of friendship as time
advances.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 506-507. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010 Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Amador County Biographies