Sacramento County
Biographies
In
the best sense of the term, the late John S. Chambers was one of the notable
men of his day and generation, for he was one of the leading men of industry and
public service whose lives reflected honor and dignity upon the state in which
they lived. For many years an able and widely known editor, followed by a
period of valuable service in a responsible and exacting public office, and
later the head of one of this state’s large banking institutions, he was
necessarily much in the public eye, but at no time during his busy career did
he in any degree disappoint those who were cognizant of his ability and
character. He possessed the elements that make men successful, having the
ability to grasp facts and recognize their practical significance with almost
unerring certainty. Few men were more sought for counsel than he and the
correctness of his opinions in practical matters was proverbial.
John
S. Chambers was born in Covington, Kentucky, November 4, 1867, a son of Vactor
Tousey and Nannie (Pryor) Chambers. He came from a family of lawyers and
jurists, for his father was a lawyer, his paternal grandfather, Charles
Chambers, was a judge, and his maternal grandfather was on the bench in
Kentucky for twenty-six years. Though he never attended the public schools, Mr.
Chambers received a good education through private tutors and, being of a
studious and inquiring disposition, became an unusually well informed man on a
wide range of subjects. In his early twenties, after the death of his father,
he took a trip through the Alaskan northwest and ended his journey in the
Sacramento valley, where he accepted the editorship of the Appeal at
Marysville. At the end of four years of able and intensive service there, Mr.
Chambers went to the Sacramento Bee as editor of the Superior California
department, of which he was the originator, as he was also the author of the
phrase “superior” California, in reference to the northern part of the state.
Subsequently he was made managing editor of the Bee, and while filling that
position he was appointed by Governor Hiram Johnson to fill out the unexpired
term of the late A.B. Nye as state controller. He entered at once upon the
duties of the office, to which he was elected in 1914 and reelected in 1918. In
selecting Mr. Chambers for that position, Governor Johnson made a happy choice,
as his admiration was marked by a clear and complete comprehension of its
purpose and functions, as well as of his opportunity for real service to the
commonwealth. As state controller, he raised a danger signal almost as soon as
he had entered the office that economy and care must be exercised in the
management of the state’s finances, or the tax rate would rise too high for
endurance by the taxpayers. He became the author of various tax inheritance
laws that have added millions of dollars to the state treasury. He strenuously
opposed all extravagance in appropriations, and he fought at the head of the
state controllers of the United States against the efforts of the federal
government to absorb all the inheritance and other taxes for its use, to the
detriment of the financial resources of the several states. He served in a
manner that won for him the highest encomiums on the part of the press and
people, without regard to party lines.
On
the expiration of his second full term Mr. Chambers voluntarily retired from
public life and accepted an appointment as vice president and manager of the
Sacramento branch of the Bank of Italy, which position he filled in a very
capable and satisfactory manner until his death, November 19, 1923.
On
July 28, 1903, in Marysville, California, Mr. Chambers was united in marriage
to Miss Della Parks. Politically, he was a lifelong supporter of the republican
party and always took a keen interest in public affairs. He was a thirty-second
degree member of the Masonic Order, and belonged to the Mystic Shrine, the
Ancient Egyptian Order of Sciots, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the
Rotary Club, the Sutter Club and the Chamber of Commerce, all of Sacramento.
His religious connection was with the Westminster Presbyterian Church. Among
his outside affiliations he was secretary of the Northern California Editorial
Association, and a member of the Del Paso Country Club, the Commonwealth Club
of San Francisco, the Indoor Yacht Club of San Francisco, and the State
Association of County Auditors, Assessors, Treasurers and Tax Collectors.
During
his active life Mr. Chambers found time to write a number of valuable articles
and made various addresses on vital subjects relative to public affairs. While
serving as controller he wrote and published a pamphlet entitled “War, Peace
and Reconstruction,” in which he discussed very fully many problems which were
the outgrowth of the late war. In 1918 he delivered an address before the
Bankers Institute; presented an able discussion of “Desert Land Reclamation,”
and in 1917-18 wrote on “Federal Tax Encroachments.” He was an active advocate
of Japanese exclusion, in which he presented every aspect of the question, to
which he had given exhaustive study. At the time of his death he was vice
president of the California emigration and housing commission, to which he was
appointed by Governor Richardson. He was recognized as one of the country’s
greatest experts on questions of taxation and revenue, made an extensive study
of inheritance taxation and at one time was chairman of the inheritance tax
committee of the National Tax Association. He had served as chairman of the
executive committee of the Oriental Exclusion League and of the home service
section for civil relief of the local chapter of the American Red Cross
Society, in which service he was greatly interested. He was a member of the
national publicity committee of the republican party. He rendered appreciated
service as president of the board of trustees of the Napa State Hospital, and
was a director of the Farmers and Mechanics Bank. On February 22, 1918, Mr.
Chambers delivered before the Cherry Tree Club of Sacramento an address on
“California Pioneers,” many copies of which were printed and distributed among
the members of the Native Sons and Daughters organizations and to the various
schools and colleges of the state. In 1917 he wrote “The Organization of State
Government of California,” and in March 1920, “The Meaning of Real Thrift.”
Among
the many appreciative references to the life, character and services of Mr.
Chambers, the following appeared in the editorial columns of the Sacramento Bee:
“Not only Sacramento, but the whole state of California, has suffered a
grievous loss in the death of Colonel John S. Chambers, and those who knew and
loved him were not confined to the circle of the city in which he made his home
for many years. Throughout the state the news of his sudden taking off will
come as a personal bereavement, causing the deepest regret, for he was of that
group of public spirited citizens who can illy be spared by the commonwealth.
His life was given to the advancement and progress of the finest and best
ideals of citizenship; to doing that which his hand found to do in a manner
which was always to his credit; to use his influence toward making the world a
better place to live in. When he was called upon to do it, it was known that
the task would be carried through to a satisfactory conclusion. He was a good
newspaper man, an efficient state controller and a capable banker. But it was
his unfailing rectitude, his high sense of honor, his constant devotion to
duty, whether public or private, which in the hour of his death stand out as
those things by which he will be remembered, and death cannot touch the record
of fine and noble living which he left behind. It stands secure. The good that
men do lives after them and the influence of the service which they have
rendered continues to work in the hearts of others long after they have become
forever silent. So his friends will not dwell so much upon his death, but on
the life he lived, on the kindly and gracious manner of his walk among men.
They will think of him as belonging to that bright company of whom it can be
truly said, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ For of such was John S.
Chambers, Sacramentan, Californian, American.”
The
Bankitaly Life, a bank periodical, published the following testimonial: “When
the death of Vice President Chambers, in charge of our Sacramento branch, was
announced on the 19th, thousands of his friends throughout
California were profoundly shocked and genuine grief was manifested everywhere.
Edward E. Leake, one of the many very dear friends of Colonel Chambers and a
distinguished editor, made the following reference to our highly respected vice
president on hearing of his demise. This is an eloquent expression of the
feeling borne by everyone in the Bank of Italy organization towards our
departed coworker: ‘Ever since Colonel Chambers’ appointment as the successor
of the late A.B. Nye as state controller, the Sacramentan has been a
conspicuous and influential figure in California’s affairs. Mr. Nye had the
reputation of being one of the best public officials the state ever had and Mr.
Chambers was equally efficient and capable and his administration will go down
in the history of the state as one worthy of emulation. After serving an
unexpired term, he was a candidate for election and was elected by an
overwhelming majority. During Mr. Chambers’ official life he was frequently
mentioned as an available candidate for governor and there seems to be no doubt
that he could have rounded out an honorable political career as our chief
executive if he had made any effort in his own behalf. But his physical
condition was such that he could not stand the hardships of a strenuous
campaign, and at the end of his second term he voluntarily retired from
political life and accepted an appointment with the Bank of Italy which he was
filling very acceptably until he died.
“‘Colonel
Chambers loved all California, but as he cast his lot in the northern and
central sections it was his pride to see these sections grow, develop and
become prosperous, and no man contributed more to these achievements while he
was the spokesman for “Superior California,” a phrase which he coined and which
will always live in the lexicon of California activities in promotion work.
During his whole life Colonel Chambers enjoyed the respect and esteem of all
with whom he came in contact. He was gentle in manner, exceedingly kind in
disposition and his persuasiveness and forcefulness were great factors in the
success he achieved. Having met him, you respected him; having known him, you
loved him. One of the most eloquent tributes that could be paid him is to say
that he was always kindly, always just, always willing to help and encourage
his fellowmen, and that he scattered flowers along life’s pathway and made the
world better as he went. His wife has lost a devoted husband; his associates,
acquaintances and intimates have lost a loyal friend and California has lost an
able, honored and respected citizen.’”
Transcribed by Debbie Walke Gramlick.
Source: Wooldridge, J.W. Major History of the Sacramento Valley California, Vol. 2 pgs. 5-8. The Pioneer Historical Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2005 Debbie Walke Gramlick.