San Francisco County
Biographies
LYMAN I. MOWRY
LYMAN I. MOWRY,
attorney and counselor at law, San Francisco,
is a native of Rhode Island, born
at Woonsocket Falls,
in 1848. His ancestors were among the
founders of New England.
His father, Lyman Mowry, was a native of Rhode
Island, and his ancestors were the founders of the Smithfield
plantation in 1643. His mother’s family
name was Whiting, whose ancestors were natives of Massachusetts
since the seventeenth century. The
father, Lyman Mowry, upon the discovery of gold in California,
came to the Pacific coast in 1849, was among the early pioneers and engaged in
contracting. He was one of the early
contracting stevedores, and for many years loaded and discharged every
important cargo arriving and departing.
When he came here he bought house and stables on the ship and erected
the same on Pine street, where the Stock Exchange is now located, and the
family resided there until 1875. His
death occurred in January, 1855, being murdered in his own house. His violent death aroused the indignation of
all classes, and his funeral was the largest that had ever been held in the
city. His death was one cause of the
organization of the Vigilance Committee.
He left a widow and three children – two daughters and one son. The death of Mrs. Mowry
occurred December 24, 1878. The elder daughter, now Mrs. Dr. Welch, is a
resident of this city.
Lyman I. Mowry, the only son and the subject of this mention, came
here with his mother and family in 1854.
He attended school during boyhood and received his preparatory education
here, went East and entered Harvard
College, and graduated in the law
department in 1871, taking the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Upon his return he was admitted to the bar
and for the past twenty years he has successfully practiced his profession in
the city, State and Federal courts. He
has a large Chinese practice, has tried more homicide cases among them perhaps
than any other attorney in the State-- He was also largely instrumental in the
exposure of the corruption in what is known as the “Little Pete” bribery cases,
and spent more than six months in doing so, and was several days before the
well-remembered Menzies grand jury.
Mr. Mowry is in political views a Republican, but in no sense
an office-seeker.
Transcribed 8-24-05 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2, Page 266-7, Lewis
Publishing Co, 1892.
©
2005 Marilyn R. Pankey.
California Biography Project
San Francisco County
California Statewide
Golden Nugget Library