Santa
Clara County
Biographies
HON.
LOUIS ONEAL
HON. LOUIS ONEAL. The distinction of being the youngest member
of the California state senate, in the sessions of 1901 and 1903, belongs to
Mr. Oneal, the well-known attorney of San Jose. Although precedence in legislative councils
would naturally be taken by those claiming priority in years and in experience,
yet his ability was recognized and in the latter session he was appointed
chairman of the committee on corporations, a position that he filled in such a
manner as to attract the attention and command the respect of older
senators. From the first his influence
was given to aid in the election of Senator Perkins. A movement in which he has been interested
and for which he presented a bill, but without favorable results, was the
securing of the removal of the capital from Sacramento to San Jose. The ability displayed in the senatorial
office has been gratifying to the Republican party
which nominated him and to the entire population of his home city as well.
Near Winnemucca, Humboldt county, Nev., Senator Oneal was
born November 24, 1874, being second among three children comprising the
family of G. W. and S. G. (Trousdale) Oneal,
natives respectively of Missouri and Illinois, but both resident of Nevada
since about 1851. At the time of
crossing the plains G. W. Oneal was only a
boy, but he at once began to mine at Gold Hill.
Later he engaged in the cattle business in Paradise valley, in which he
continued for a long period, but of recent years has
given his attention more especially to the raising of horses. During all of his residence in the west he
has had mining interests. Louis Oneal was reared in Nevada until about fifteen years of
age, when he came to California and has since lived in San Jose. For eighteen months he attended the public
schools here, after which he took a course in the San Jose Business
College. Later he resumed work as
delivery clerk for a grocery house, in which he had previously been employed. While working from daylight to dark he did
not devote his evenings to recreation, but began the study of law in his room
of evenings, and continued until he was admitted to the bar April 25,
1895. With B. L. Ryder as a
partner he opened a law office in the Ryland block and later was in Howell &
Moon’s office. In 1896 he was appointed
deputy district attorney under B. A. Herrington and filled the
position for two years, after which he became a member of the firm of
Herrington & Oneal. The county board of supervisors appointed him
city justice in January, 1900, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of
John W. Gass, and he remained in the position
until November, 1900, when he resigned subsequent to his election as state
senator. In addition to his professional
and official interests he is interested in the cattle business in Santa Clara county.
The marriage of Mr. Oneal took place in San Jose and united him with Miss Anna Hatman, who was born in this city and received a thorough
education abroad in the University of Leipsic.
In that famous institution her special studies were music and art, in
which she had the advantage of the training of the best masters that Germany
affords.
From boyhood Mr. Oneal has been a believer in Republican principles. The opinions formed in childhood years have
been confirmed by the studies of manhood, which have convinced him that the
platform adopted by the Republican party is conducive
to the highest progress of the nation and the greatest prosperity of its
citizens. The Santa Clara County
Republican League, when under his leadership as president, took an active part
in campaign work and proved a valuable aid in local party work. In the midst of all his other duties he has
found leisure to identify himself with various organizations of a fraternal
nature, and has been an active worker in the Knights of Pythias,
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in
which latter he is an officer.
Transcribed by Donna Toole.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 538. The Chapman Publishing
Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Donna Toole.