San Francisco County
Biographies
WILLIAM
ABRAHAM DAVIES
Conspicuous among the business men and public servants of San Francisco and of northern California, and ranking among the most prominent men in Freemasonry in the state, was the late William Abraham Davies. He was born in Utica, Oneida county, New York, February 5, 1827, and was a son of Thomas Davies.
Thomas Davies was a native of Cardigan, Wales, where his birth occurred in June, 1800. He was a watchmaker by trade, and in the year 1818 he came to the United States. Two years later he settled in Utica. In the schools of Utica, William A. Davies obtained his education, and while a very young man learned the jewelry trade with his father. Having mastered the details of the business, he established himself in Newport, Herkimer county, New York, in 1844. In 1846, he moved his business to Little Falls, also in Herkimer county. While in this community, in 1850, he served as deputy United States census marshal for the northern district of Herkimer county.
In the year 1852, Mr. Davies became inspired by the call of the great west, and accordingly he disposed of his business in Little Falls and started for California. He came by the Cape Horn route, making the long voyage on the good ship Harriet Hoxie. He disembarked in San Francisco, August 4, 1852. His first occupation was in the capacity of watchmaker and jeweler in Sonora, Tuolumne county, but after a time he became engaged in mining on Murphy’s Flat in Calaveras county. He was appointed receiver of and had charge of the Big Tree Grove of Calaveras county from 1854 to 1857, and in the latter year he re-entered the jewelry business in Columbia, Tuolumne county. He was assistant United States internal revenue assessor, deputy county clerk of Tuolumne county and member of the California state legislature in 1867-68. In 1872, he was named as assessor of internal revenue for the third district of California, and in this position served until the office was abolished. From that time until 1879, he was deputy internal revenue collector in San Francisco, having come to this city with his family in 1875. He was deputy state controller from 1879 until 1882, and county clerk of San Francisco in 1890-91.
While Mr. Davies was a resident of Little Falls, New York, he was united in marriage with Miss Katherine Staring, who was a native of that city. They became parents of four children, as follows: Katherine Elizabeth, William S., Laura H. and Thomas A. A separate biography of Thomas A. Davies, the only survivor of the family, follows this.
In Masonry, William A. Davies was one of the most prominent members in California during his generation. During his long life, he gave his best efforts toward the interests of this fraternity. He was first made a Master Mason in Little Falls Lodge, No. 181, in Little Falls, New York, on St. John’s Day in 1849. He became connected with Columbia Lodge No. 28, in Columbia, California, in 1859, and was chosen master in 1860, which position he filled until 1866. He then demitted and became a member of San Joaquin Lodge No. 19, in 1870, was elected master in 1871, and was yet a member of this lodge at the time of his demise.
He was appointed grand senior deacon of the Grand Lodge in May, 1862. He was elected junior grand warden in May, 1863; senior grand warden in October, 1864; deputy grand master in October, 1865; and grand master in October, 1867, in which place he served for one term.
Mr. Davies received the capitular degree in Oneida Chapter No. 40, R. A. M., in Utica, New York, in 1850. He became a member of Columbia Chapter No. 8, in Columbia, California, in 1859, and served as secretary. He was elected king in 1860 and high priest in 1861. He demitted and became connected with Stockton Chapter No. 28, in 1871, and then again demitted in 1876 and in the same year joined the California Chapter No. 5. He was appointed grand captain of the host of the Grand Chapter of California in May, 1862; elected grand scribe in May, 1863, and October, 1864; grand king in 1865; deputy grand high priest in 1866; grand high priest in April 1873, and grand secretary in 1899, serving as such continuously until 1915. He received the Order of High Priesthood, May 14, 1861; was elected conductor of the California convention of high priests October 10, 1864, and served until 1871; and was elected vice president April 11, 1883, and president April 8, 1884, in which latter station he remained until his death.
Mr. Davies received the cryptic degrees in Sonora Council No. 5, R. & S. M., in Sonora, California, in the year 1860. He was recorder in 1865. He demitted and became affiliated with Stockton Council No. 10, in 1870, and served as thrice illustrious master from 1870 to 1876. He was grand illustrious master of the Grand Council of California in 1862; deputy grand master in 1863; grand master in 1864; and grand recorder in the periods of 1878-79 and 1899-1905.
Mr. Davies received the Orders of the Red Cross, Temple and Malta in California Commandery No. 1, K. T., in San Francisco in 1866. He demitted and became affiliated with Pacific Commandery No. 3, in Sonora, California. He was elected captain general in 1866, and commander in 1867. He served as prelate in 1868. He became affiliated with Stockton Commandery No. 8, in 1873, and Sacramento Commandery No. 2, in 1881. He was elected grand captain general of the Grand Commandery of California in April, 1871; grand generalissimo in 1872; deputy grand commander in 1873; grand commander in 1874; and grand recorder in 1899, in which position he served continuously until 1914.
The Scottish Rite degrees were conferred upon Mr. Davies by Ebenezer H. Shaw in 1869. He was chosen to serve in the organization of the Grand Consistory in 1870 as lieutenant commander. At the end of a three-year term as commander-in-chief of the Grand Consistory, the Supreme Council ordered conferred upon him the thirty-third degree, which was accordingly done in 1885.
During his career, Mr. Davies was also interested in military affairs. He was first active in the reorganization of the California Inilitia, and also in the organization of the national guard, having been a member of the first board and later commissioned brigadier-general of the Third Brigade by Governor Low. He was recommissioned by Governor Haight and Governor Booth, and served until 1876, when he resigned on account of removal from brigade limits.
The death of William Abraham Davies occurred in San Francisco on June 20, 1916. In tribute to his fine character and noteworthy career, a contemporary Masonic publication published an appropriate memorial, a portion of which follows as a conclusion to this brief biography:
“It is neither strange nor to be wondered
at, that a man of more than four score years, who has fought well the battle of
life, and whose sun sinks to rest in a cloudless sky, should undergo the
universal fate …………While
our last solemn ceremonies speak hopes of another life and hints of a
resurrection, we ought to learn more from the deserved honors which we
sincerely and heartily pay to one who in his lifetime was neither king,
conqueror, nor great statesman, nor ever knew the isolation nor fed upon the
bitterness of power and greatness; who wore no high honors, except those of
Freemasonry; whose death no melancholy guns announced and to whom no statues
will be erected. We should learn more than one lesson from the affectionate
estimation in which a community hold the memory of such a man; from the words
of praise gladly spoken by many mouths, and the tears of sorrow that have
dropped from many eyes. We should learn that one has lived to the best and
wisest purpose, when his life has been one of good deeds, of unobtrusive
charities, of kindness done and benefits bestowed—a
life of acts fit and worthy to be remembered with gratitude and admiration ………Our well beloved Brother, faithful
companion, loyal friend, useful and honored citizen, has passed behind the veil
that separates the known from the unknown. The impress of his character and his
worth is stamped upon the past, present and future welfare of Masonry in
California. He was ever at the post of duty. We cherish his memory and bow to the
Divine Will and in sorrow recognize the wisdom of His Providence.”
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Byington, Lewis Francis, “History of
San Francisco 3 Vols”, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1931. Vol. 2 Pages 210-216.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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