San Francisco County
James Andrew Waymire
James Andrew Waymire.—In the midst of a four-acre tract of land in Alameda is situated the beautiful and attractive home of Judge Waymire. His long residence on this coast, and the active and prominent part he has taken in public affairs entitle him to consideration on these pages. A detailed account of his interesting experiences would fill a whole volume, and it is with regret that, on account of limited space, we are permitted to publish only a succinct review of his life.
James Andrew Waymire was born in Buchanan county, Missouri, December 9, 1842, son of Stephen K. and Mahala E. (Gilmore) Waymire, the former a descendant of German, and the latter of Irish, ancestry. His father was a carpenter and farmer, owning 160 acres of land on the Missouri river, near St. Joseph. In 1845 he started overland to Oregon with his family, and after crossing the Missouri river was thrown from his horse and died from injuries caused by the fall. His widow, with her son James, returned to her father, James Gilmore, a resident of Buchanan county. Two brothers of Stephen K. Waymire, Frederick and John, who with their families started in the same company, continued their journey to Oregon and became prominent there. The former was elevated to the Legislature, and was a member of the convention that formed the State Constitution in 1857.
In 1852 James Gilmore, with his family, including the widow Waymire and her son, emigrated overland to Oregon and settled near Rosenburg. Young Waymire spent his early life on the farm, and devoted his leisure moments to study, at the age of seventeen having acquired a fair knowledge of mathematics and Latin, with the rudiments of Greek, and learned phonography. He then engaged in teaching, and was thus employed when the war broke out, having in the meantime been reporter for several newspapers. He at once enlisted his services for the Union, was promoted as Corporal, then as Second Lieutenant, and afterward as First Lieutenant, distinguishing himself in an engagement with the Indians, remaining in the service five years and a half. During this time and afterward he studied law, and was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of Oregon in September, 1870. He spent the winter of 1869-’70 and 1871-’72 in reporting the Senate proceedings at Sacramento, and during that time formed the acquaintance of many prominent men.
In July, 1874, he removed to San Francisco, and has been engaged in the practice of law since May, 1875, when he resigned his office of reporter. October 17, 1881, he was appointed by Governor Perkins to fill a vacancy on the bench of the Superior Court, and his appointment was greeted with general favor by the bar. He made an enviable record as a judge, and at the end of his short term—fourteen months—was nominated by his party for re-election, and although defeated received the highest vote of all the Republican candidates in that contest, running over 3,000 votes ahead of his party candidate for Governor. As a lawyer he has met with eminent success, has been connected with many important litigations, and among his clients are some of the most prominent men and corporations of this coast.
In February, 1883, Judge Waymire was elected by the encampment of the G. A. R. a member of the Veterans’ Home Association of California, for the term of five years. In March the same year, he was chosen a director of the association named, and served as chairman of the executive committee until March, 1885, when he was elected president of the association. He was been four times re-elected as president. It was chiefly through his influence that an appropriation of $150,000 was made by Congress for the erection of the Soldiers’ Home at Santa Monica.
Judge Waymire was married at Lafayette, Oregon, June 22, 1865, to Miss Virginia Ann Chrisman, a Virginia lady, who, like her husband, is of German ancestry. They are the parents of two sons and two daughters.
Transcribed
by Joyce and David Rugeroni.
Source: “The Bay of
San Francisco,” Vol. 2, Pages 386-388, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
© 2006 Joyce & David
Rugeroni.