San Francisco County
Biographies
THOMAS HUBBARD CASWELL
THOMAS HUBBARD CASWELL is one of San
Francisco’s well-known and highly respected citizens.
He is of English ancestry and was born in Otsego County,
New York, in 1825. His early education was
received in his native state, but at the age of eighteen years, on account of
ill health, he went to Arkansas
in search of a milder climate. After a year he was strong enough to re-enter
school, and went to Kentucky and
became a student at St. Mary’s College, where he finished his education. He
then returned to Arkansas and
began the study of law; he was admitted to the bar in October, 1848. For a
short time before leaving New York he filled the
position of associate editor of the Cooperstown Freeman’s Journal, and evinced a marked
ability in newspaper work. He had worked at the printing business in that
office.
In
1849, when the news of the discovery of gold in California
had been verified in the east, Judge Caswell joined a party of young men who
crossed the plains, arriving in San Diego in October, 1849
there the party chartered a British bark and sailed to San
Francisco. First he was stevedore, in partnership with
a man named Johnson; in January, 1850, he determined to establish a law
library, book and stationery store at Sacramento,
but the great flood of that year caused him to abandon his plan. He next turned
his attention to journalism, and became associate editor of the Pacific News.
When this publication was sold he made a trip to Sacramento,
Marysville, and other places, re-turning to San Francisco.
Then came the announcement of the discoveries of gold at Deer creek (Nevada
city), whither he went and engaged in mining, merchandising and the legal
profession. When the county was divided there was an election of judges, and
the result was the election of our subject by the handsome majority of 634
votes. This was May 26, 1851, and about the first of the following month Judge
Caswell saved Nevada County
from the disgrace of a lynching scene. His great will power and courage were
clearly shown at that time, and he heeded not the cries of the mob to hang the
prisoner, nor was he daunted when the cries changed to “Hang the Judge.” In
April, 1852, he was granted leave of absence by the Legislature, and went East. He was married to Miss Mary Jones, January 9, 1853.
She is the second daughter of Dr. Isaac N. Jones of Washington,
Arkansas. Soon after his marriage, Judge
Caswell returned with his bride to California.
After serving his first four years on the bench he was re- elected and served a
second term, resigning the candidacy to other hands at the end of that time. He
began the practice of his profession and continued it until 1866, when his
active duties in connection with Freemasonry led to his retiring. Some years
ago he removed to San Francisco,
where he has made his home.
There
have been born to Judge and Mrs. Caswell five sons and two daughters, of whom
two sons and two daughters survive. The Judge’s Masonic career began in Nevada
City in 1850. He was exalted to the
Royal Arch Degree in 1855, and created Knight Templar in the same year. He was
crowned an Active Inspector-General, Thirty-third Degree, of Supreme Council
for Southern Jurisdiction of the United States.
He was Master of Nevada Lodge, No. 13, for four years, and High Priest of
Nevada Chapter, No. 6, for nine years; he was Commander of Nevada Commandery,
No. 6, for three years; he was elected Grand High Priest in 1858, Grand
Commander in 1873, and Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter and Grand Recorder
of the Grand Commandery of California in 1878 which positions he still
occupies; he was elected Grand Recorder of the Grand Council in 1880, and he
has been Chairman of the Committees on Correspondence of all these bodies. At
the recent session of the Supreme Council of the thirty-third Degree of A.
& A. S. R., held at Washington City,
Judge Caswell was elected Grand Chancellor ad vitam of that body. His name has been
mentioned as a possible successor of General Albert Pike to the office of Grand
Commander of the Supreme Council for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United
States, a fact that indicates his very high
standing among Masons. He is a fine representative of the early settler of California,
and has taken a deep interest in her growth and development during his
residence here, which covers a period of forty-three years. Here his children
and grandchildren were born, and here all his hopes are centered. The wife of
his youth is still spared to him, and are both well preserved in health. That
they may yet spend many years in the enjoyment of home, family and friends is
the earnest desire of a wide circle of acquaintances.
Transcribed by Kim Buck.
Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2, Page 623, Lewis
Publishing Co, 1892.
© 2007 Kim Buck.
California
Biography Project
San
Francisco County
California
Statewide
Golden
Nugget Library