San Francisco
County
Biographies
LOUIS G.
SCHORD
The cosmopolitan character of the people of
California is forcibly illustrated in the membership of our social, fraternal
and beneficiary societies. The occupation and pursuits of a majority of our
citizens have no relation in a large degree to their trade, profession or
education. The subject of this sketch is a striking example of the changed
condition, in his calling and position in the affairs of the body politic,
civic, social and fraternal. At an early age he went to sea, made voyages to
Australia, East Indies, China, California, South America, West Indies,
Mediterranean and Black seas, studied navigation, became a master mariner and
was given a certificate as captain and chief engineer by the National Board of
Navigation of Sweden. At the age of fifty he is a wine and liquor merchant, and
one of the active, enthusiastic and prominent leaders in our fraternal and
beneficiary societies. He was born in Sweden, April 1, 1839, and attended
school at the University of Upsala. In 1861 he came
by sea “Around the Horn” to California, and pleasant associations and
prosperous business have changed the roving sailor to a landsman, who occupies
a leading position socially, politically, and in fraternal society affairs. By
faithful and efficient service he has earned the title of Past Grand, Past
Chief Patriarch and filled many official positions of trust and honor in the I.
O. O. F. He is a P. M. W. of Burns Lodge, 68, A. O. U. W., Past Grand Commander
of the United Endowment Associates, and for the last three years a member of
the Executive Committee. He was one of the organizers, and is now President of
the Eureka Endowment Association of California. In the United Ancient Order of
Druids he has filled all the subordinate official positions, was elected
Supreme Representative to the Supreme Grove at the session of Chicago in 1886,
was made Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, and was elected
Supreme Herald at the session of the Supreme Grove held in St. Paul in 1888. In
all of the societies in which he holds membership he has received the honors as
the chief executive, and his large experience, rectitude and ability in
fraternal and beneficiary societies make him a trusted leader and a sagacious
counselor. As a debater and parliamentarian he has few equals, and while he
seldom indulges in flights of oratory, yet his tenacity of purpose and candor
in speech make him a formidable champion in debate. His popularity has been
gained by his disinterested efforts to assist the weak and unfortunate, and
they have found in him an advocate that dared to fight their battles against
popular clamor. He is a man of warm and ardent friendships and generous impulses.
His nobility of character admits of no compromise with wrong, and he is always
ready to champion the right and assist the weak whenever he can, regardless of
aspersion or personal discomfort.
He is married to a most estimable
woman, Miss Florida A. Shaw, daughter of Captain Benjamin Shaw, a distinguished
family of Baltimore. This union has been blessed with five children, one
daughter and four sons.
In business he has been prosperous,
as a citizen he is highly respected, especially among his associates in the
council room or around the festive board, where by wise counsel or kindly
expressions he has the rare faculty of making every one feel at ease, and the
lodge room a happy society home.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: “Illustrated Fraternal Directory Including
Educational Institutions on the Pacific Coast, Page 261, Publ. Bancroft
Co., San Francisco. Cal. 1889.
© 2012 Cecelia M. Setty.
San Francisco County Biographies