Sacramento County
Biographies
HON.
WILLIAM HENRY BEATTY
HON. W. H. BEATTY,
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of California, is one of those who have
attained a deserved pre-eminence both as a pleader and as a counselor, is
worthily considered to stand at the head of his profession. He is a native of the State of Ohio, but
removed with his father, Hon. H. O.
Beatty, a sketch of whose life appears on another page, to Sacramento in
February, 1853. He was born in the year
1838, and hence is practically a Californian in every sense, having been but
fifteen years of age when he came to these shores. Two years later, or in 1855, he returned
again to the East for the purpose of pursuing his academic studies. In September, 1858, he came back to this State
and in the office of his father in this city completed his legal studies, being
admitted to practice at the bar of the Supreme and other courts of this State,
in January, 1861. After practicing here
until March, 1863, he went to the then “booming” country of Reese River,
Nevada, and at Austin opened an office, and began a residence in Nevada which
lasted for eighteen years. Upon the
organization of Nevada as a State, in 1864, and the adoption of a State
Constitution, Mr. Beatty was elected District Judge, it being a peculiar and
interesting fact that at the same time his father, who had also gone to Nevada,
was elected a Justice of the Supreme Court.
Justice Beatty held the position of District Judge until 1874, or for a
term of ten years, when he was elected Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
that State, a position filled by him during the balance of his residence
there. Finally, in January, 1881, he
returned to Sacramento, since which time he has been a constant resident of
this city. In the fall of 1888 he became
a candidate upon the Republican ticket for the Chief Justiceship
of the Supreme Court of California, and although opposed by a deservedly
popular candidate on the Democratic ticket, was elected by a large majority,
and assumed the duties of his office at the first of the year. To the accomplishment of this result, the
known high character of the Justice, both as a lawyer and a citizen, as well as
his personal popularity and the confidence reposed in him by all whether in
political accord or not, contributed chiefly.
But it is not alone in matters connected with his profession or the
judiciary that Justice Beatty has taken a prominent part. He is now president, and leading member of
the voluntary organization formed for the purpose of discussing, maturing and
advocating plans for the improvement of the city, which have already had a
material effect toward the betterment of the place, and is one of them most
useful organizations formed here. He has
also taken an active interest in all matters that tend to the public benefit,
contributing liberally of time, counsel and means to their advancement. In conclusion it may be stated that Justice
Beatty is a man of large-hearted and generous instincts, and is possessed of
great force of character and the quick decision so necessary to the legal
man. As an advocate he is trenchant and
effective, and as a judge he is fearless and impartial, his rulings being
founded on justice and a deep knowledge of the law. In each department of his duties, he is an
indefatigable student, and in the higher walks has merited the confidence and
esteem reposed in him alike by client and people. He was married in 1874, to Miss Elizabeth M.
Love, of North Carolina. They have two
children, a son and a daughter, both at home.
Transcribed by Karen Pratt.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California. Pages 571-572. Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2006
Karen Pratt.