WILLIAM HENRY METSON

San Francisco County

Biographies

WILLIAM HENRY METSON

METSON, WILLIAM HENRY, Lawyer, San Francisco, Cal., was born in that city, March 18, 1863, the son of John E. Metson and Elizabeth Wigglesworth (Fanning) Metson. His paternal American ancestors were Quakers, while on the maternal side he is of combined Irish and German descent. In April 1893, he was married, in San Francisco to Miss Josephine Kercheval, and is the father of Wilfred Graham Metson.

For a while he attended the public schools of San Francisco, but when very young moved to Virginia City, Nevada, where he entered the Gold Hill High School. In 1879, at the age of sixteen, he went to Bodie and began the study of the law in the office of the Hon. Patrick Reddy. When the latter opened offices in San Francisco Mr. Metson accompanied him, and while continuing his studies under Mr. Reddy’s direction he also became a student in the Hastings College of the Law, from which he was graduated in 1886. Immediately thereafter he began the practice of his profession in Mr. Reddy’s offices.

In November 1889, Mr. Metson became a member of the firm of Reddy, Campbell & Metson, and until 1900 was an active partner of this successful combination. During these years, although he sought no political preferment, he was honored by appointments under both Democratic and Republican Governors. He was Yosemite Park Commissioner under Governors Budd, Gage and Pardee. Subsequently he was President of the San Francisco Park Commission, through the administrations of various mayors, and still holds this position. During these years also he was a lieutenant in the National Guard.

His reputation as a successful mining lawyer created a demand for his services in the extensive litigation that followed the opening of the Nome gold fields, and in the spring of 1900 he went to Alaska. There he not only acquired valuable mining interests, but also helped to make history as the leading counsel for the Pioneer Mining Company in the famous cases that grew out of the attempt of some politicians, headed by Alexander McKenzie, to defraud the holders of certain claims of their property. His decision and firmness, especially in rejecting all overtures for a compromise, had much to do with the ultimate triumph of his clients.

Since this experience in Alaska Mr. Metson has considerably enlarged his field of operations and established a reputation not only as an able lawyer but also as a successful financier. His mining interests include valuable holdings in California, Nevada, Washington and Alaska. Beyond this he has branched into farming and agriculture, and as principal owner of the Goetjen-Metson Company he is possessor of rich farmlands on the Sacramento River, supplying asparagus, beans and other vegetables to the markets of the world.

Through the various changes of the firm’s title he has retained his partnership, until today he is senior member of the present firm of Metson, Drew & McKenzie. Conspicuous among his celebrated cases was his defense of ex-Mayor Schmitz, during the so-called “graft prosecution,” and it was largely through his efforts that the indictments against Schmitz were declared invalid.

His extensive financial, as well as legal connections, have led to directorships in a number of important corporations in and out of the State, among the latter of which may be mentioned the Scandinavian Bank of Seattle. Like other active men, he has his hobbies and recreations. Horses, riding, fishing and hunting are chief among these, and in the pursuit of the last mentioned he is a member of a number of gun clubs. His other clubs are the Pacific-Union, Bohemian and Union League of San Francisco. He is also a past president, as well as a past grand trustee, of the Native Sons of the Golden West.

Transcribed by Gloria (Wiegner) Lane.

Source: Press Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 341, International News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta. 1913.

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