ANDREW J. GUNNISON

 

 

ANDREW J. GUNNISON is certainly one of the best known citizens of San Francisco, not that his practice has been of that nature to attract attention,--that is, criminal practice,--that he has been engaged in so many matters of great importance, that owing to this fact, he is well-known.  Mr. Gunnison is certainly a California pioneer in the true meaning of the term, coming here in 1851, but the progress of the city made from 1849 to that date was meagre.

 

He was born in New Hampshire, and was brought up in Massachusetts.  He belongs to the good New England stock, and from New England forefathers are certainly descended not only much of the bone and sinew of the land, but very many of the brainy, talented men and women.  Mr. Gunnison's forefathers were English, but in America he can trace his ancestry back to 1622, when many of Puritans came to this country for greater freedom of worship.

 

After completing his ordinary education, Mr. Gunnison read law with Knowles & Beard, of Lowell, and was submitted in 1847 by the Supreme Court of the State.  He practiced for a time in the East.  When the news of the gold discovery here was trumpeted so loudly East, however, his ambition was excited and he determined to make the voyage.  Gold-mining was not the only inducement, however.  Apart from this he hoped to make for himself a credible name in his profession, and grow with the growth of the new country.  He sailed from New York, crossed the Isthmus, where he was detained for a time, unable to get a vessel on this side, but finally reached here forty-two days after starting.  Shortly after his arrival here he went to the mines in Mariposa County, where he engaged in placer mining with the ordinary crude implements of the time--pan, shovel and rocker--for about a year in a half.  In 1853 he assumed the practice of his position.  That year he brought out his wife.  The very fact that he had every confidence in the future of the country, and was determined to make this his home, is shown from this.  He continued in the general practice of law, and soon built up for himself a favorable name as an advocate.  His ability soon found recognition.  In handling of cases he showed great thoroughness, shifted the law bearing on each case to the bottom, and in argument left nothing to be desired.  In argument, too, he aimed at conciseness and the use of forcible language, but while eloquent he rarely found assistance from flowery speech.  In fact, he spoke to the point, and considering the men of early California, this speaking has the greater weight.

 

In this practice, if Mr. Gunnison has a specialty, when we consider his care in all cases, we might cite as real estate.  Some twenty years ago he was retained as counsel for the Central Railroad, and has been its attorney ever since, having in the meantime also been retained by the City Railroad and the Geary street line.  During the Vigilante times here in the early days he was in accord with the committee.  During the war he was heart and soul for the Union, and contributed largely to the sanitary fund.  Political office he has never sought, being the more content with the activity of his practice.

 

In 1862 he started East, taking passage on the ill-fated Golden Gate.  It will be remembered she was burned and ran ashore.  Some 200 or more lives were lost in the disaster.  Mr. Gunnison, being an excellent swimmer, jumped overboard and after strenuous exertions succeeded in reaching the shore, completely exhausted.  When he returned here in order to make the start afresh, he found he had been elected to the Legislature on the Union Republican ticket.  He served the term, and this was the only office he has ever held, and it certainly came to him unsought.

 

No gentleman stands higher in the esteem of the people, and the position is certainly deserved.  His ability, too, is fully recognized by his professional brethren.  He has made a most honorable record.  From the past he brings no regrets, and the retrospect of his industry is therefore an entirely peaceful one.  Than the fact of such a record, therefore, no man could hope for greater gain.  That Mr. Gunnison, by his work and his example, has done much to advance the city and State, is shown in the above facts.  Among our pioneers, therefore, in the opinion of our people, he is justly held in high esteem, for his record is in every way worthy of this.

 

 

Source: "The Bay of San Francisco" Volume I. Lewis Publishing Company 1892. Page 433-435.

Submitted by: Nancy Pratt Melton.