San Francisco County
Biographies
LOUIS PALMER
DUNKLEY
Having entered the practice of law after a diversified experience in other vocations, Louis Palmer Dunkley, has met with well deserved success, and now has offices at 582 Market street in the city of San Francisco. He was born in Grass Valley, California, September 9, 1875, and is a son of the late Thomas and Mary (Burns) Dunkley.
Thomas Dunkley lived an interesting and colorful life. He departed from his boyhood home when he was only eleven years old, and went to sea. He sailed the oceans of the world, was acquainted with every important port in both hemispheres, and when he was eighteen he had attained the position of first master on a sailing vessel. He came to California in 1862, and his wife followed two years later by the Isthmus of Panama route, their marriage having previously occurred in the east. They made their home in Grass Valley, where Thomas Dunkley became chief engineer of the famous Idaho gold mine, and held this position for a period of thirty years. He was active in local affairs of his home county, and served as a member of the board of education in Grass Valley. Both he and his wife are now deceased.
Louis P. Dunkley graduated from the Grass Valley public schools in 1893, then took postgraduate studies, and received a teacher’s certificate. He took up teaching, and was principal of the schools of Weaverville, Trinity county, California. He received a life certificate in teaching. Mining next attracted his attention, and for three years he was superintendent of a mine in Sacramento county. Next, for an interval of three years, he was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Redding, California, but here he met with disaster when fire destroyed all of his property. Mr. Dunkley had studied law for several years, intending eventually to take up the practice, as the occupation appealed to him and he had marked ability in this type of activity. He accordingly took the California state bar examination in 1906, and was duly admitted. He established his law office first in Trinity county, but a year later came to San Francisco, here continuing to the present time. His practice is general in nature, and he now has associated with himself his son, Palmer Dunkley. He is a member of the California State Bar Association. Throughout his career at the bar, he has observed the strictest ethics of his profession and has conducted his cases with sound intelligence and understanding of jurisprudence, all of which have enhanced his reputation, and has brought to him a clientele of most satisfactory proportions.
On December 8, 1896, Mr. Dunkley was married to Miss Hattie Van Metre, who is a native of Trinity county. She is descended from pioneers of that locality, her father having come from Wisconsin to California in 1852.
In politics, Mr. Dunkley has accorded his support to the republican party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and finds his favorite diversions in baseball and hunting. Although he has never sought public office, he has been actively interested in civic movements of various nature in San Francisco, and has been loyal to his citizenship.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Byington, Lewis Francis, “History of
San Francisco 3 Vols”, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1931. Vol. 3 Pages 58-60.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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