San Francisco County
Biographies
JOSEPH ROTHSCHILD
ROTHSCHILD, JOSEPH, Attorney at Law, San
Francisco, California, was born
in that city October 5, 1857, the son of Henry Rothschild and Hannah (Mossheim) Rothschild.
He married Hannah K. Tauber at Cincinnati,
Ohio, July 31, 1907.
Mr.
Rothschild received his preliminary education in the public schools of San
Francisco and was graduated from California
State University. He then entered Yale
University and was graduated in the
class of 1879. His college career was
characterized by an unusual popularity and at the conclusion of his course he
was voted the most popular member of his class, being presented with the Scales
of Justice, an honor peculiar to Yale.
Following
his graduation, Mr. Rothschild was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of
Connecticut, but did not enter upon his career there, returning shortly
afterward to San Francisco, where he was admitted by the Supreme Court of
California. In 1895, when he had
attained a position among the leading attorneys of the West, he was admitted to
practice before the Supreme Court of the United
States.
Mr.
Rothschild’s career in the legal profession has been one of uninterrupted
success, marked at frequent intervals with brilliant victories in the courts of
California and the United
States.
He has practiced in all branches of civil law, but from the beginning of
his career made a specialty of commercial litigation and in this latter field
is recognized as one of the leading authorities. His clientele is made up of some of the
largest and most important mercantile houses of the Coast, many of which he has
represented for twenty years.
In
March of 1911, the law firm of Rothschild, Rosenheim,
Schooler & Miller was
formed, he being the senior member.
In
his professional work, Mr. Rothschild is noted for his clear analyses of
problems involved in litigation and for the absence of decorative phraseology
in his pleadings. His arguments are
confined to facts, delivered in clear, concise language, devoid of
bombast. To his simple, but forceful
oratory and the extraordinary power of logic he possesses, is attributed a
great deal of his success.
His
professional career has been one of almost ceaseless activity, but withal Mr.
Rothschild has been a public-spirited citizen, interested at all times in the
growth and advancement of his city. In
1906, when San Francisco was bowed by calamity and gripped
by chaos, Mr. Rothschild was one of the first men to start upon the work of
rebuilding which has placed a new city,
within a few years, on the site of the ruins.
He was one of the moving factors in the organization of the South of
Market Street Improvement Association, which played an important part in the
rejuvenation of the flame-swept district, and has served as President since its
organization.
He
serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the San Francisco Civic League
and the Greater San Francisco Committee and is Vice President of the Exposition
Committee of Improvement Clubs. In all
of these bodies Mr. Rothschild is an enthusiastic worker.
He
was elected and served as a member of the San Francisco
board of Education in 1889 and 1890. He
served as President of the Democratic County Committee, and as Vice President
and Acting Chairman, State Central Committee from 1902 to 1906.
As
one of the leading Jewish citizens of San Francisco,
Mr. Rothschild has been honored by his people on frequent occasions by election
to positions of trust. He is Past
President of the Independent Order B’nai B’rith, Past President of the Unity
Lodge, B’nai B’rith; Past President of the Free Sons of Israel, Past President
of the Board of relief, B’nai B’rith, and ex-Vice President of the Young Men’s
Hebrew Association. He went as a
Delegate of the district to the Constitution Grand Lodge, B’nai B’rith, the
International Congress of the Order at Richmond, Virginia,
in June, 1890, and was there elected Judge of the Court of Appeals of the
Constitution Grand Lodge, B’nai B’rith, and in May, 1895, at Cincinnati,
Ohio, was re-elected. He served in this office ten years in all,
and also has served for ten years as President of the B’nai B’rith Hall
Association.
He
devotes time to business interests, being a stockholder or officer in various
enterprises.
He
is a member of San Francisco Lodge, Royal Arch Masons; Doric Lodge, No 216, F.
& A. M.; Native Sons of the Golden West (ex-Pres.); Golden Shore Council,
No 5, United Friends of the Pacific (ex-Pres.); the
Yale club and Concordia Club.
Transcribed by Betty Vickroy.
Source: Press Reference Library,
Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page
322, International News
Service, New
York,
Chicago, San
Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta. 1913.
© 2007 Betty Vickroy.
California Biography Project
San Francisco County
California Statewide
Golden Nugget Library