San
Joaquin County
Biographies
HON. JAMES HERBERT BUDD
The ideal life is measured not by
years but by intensity, and truly “that life is long which answers life’s great
end.” Gauged by years alone, the career
of ex-Governor Budd was all too brief; but estimated by the amount he
accomplished for the welfare of his fellowmen, the upbuilding of the
commonwealth, and the attainment of needed reforms, his life was long, as it
was also brilliant and eventful. In the
annals of California his name is entitled to perpetuation. Every station that he held was distinguished
by his loyal service. Of him it may be
said that he promoted the prosperity and exalted the reputation of the state.
He was born at Janesville,
Wisconsin, May 18, 1851, and passed away at his residence, 1239 East Channel
Street, Stockton, California, July 30, 1908, after a vain struggle of years
against a fatal disease. With his
parents he resided in California after 1858 and in Stockton after 1860, the
father, Hon. Joseph H. Budd, becoming one of the successful attorneys of this
city and eventually winning distinction as one of the most learned jurists of
the state. Upon completing the studies
of the Stockton schools, the youth was sent to the Brayton
College at Oakland in 1869, after which he entered the first class of the
University of California, from which institution he was graduated in 1873. Immediately he took up the study of law in
his father’s office at Stockton, and in 1874, at Sacramento, he was admitted to
practice before the supreme court of California. Returning to Stockton, he engaged in practice
with his father for a time, and also with Judge J. G. Swinnerton
for a brief period. During 1873 – 1874
he served as deputy district attorney under A. W. Roysden.
A nomination in 1882 for Congress at
the hands of the Democratic Congressional convention seemed but to invite
defeat, for the district was overwhelmingly Republican and his Republican
opponent was Hon. Horace F. Page, who for years had represented the district in
Congress with distinction and efficiency. Only the remarkable ability and
personal magnetism of the Democratic candidate could have won in the face of
such odds. His defeat was everywhere
predicted, but he persevered in his campaign and in every locality won staunch
friends. It was he who originated what
became known as the “buckboard canvass,” so called from his habit of riding
over the country in a buckboard. The end
of the campaign brought him and his party victory, to the surprise of those who
believed the Democrats could never win in this district.
In Congress Mr. Budd was very active
and influential, serving on the committees on education and invalid pensions,
and also securing a large appropriation for dredging Stockton channel, and
introducing and carrying through a measure in the interest of the settlers on
the Moquelemos grant.
To his efforts was due the passage of an amendment to the Indian
appropriation bill, making the Indians amenable to the state and territorial
laws. Chinese matters,
interstate-commerce law, fortification measures, and appropriation bills were
his chief interests while in the house of Congress. Upon his return to Stockton from Washington,
at the expiration of his term, he was given an ovation surpassing anything of
the kind ever witnessed in the city. He
was renominated without a dissenting vote, but declined a second term. Again and again he was renominated, with
appeals to accept, but each time he was firm in his refusal. While he declined the honor for himself,
however, he was eager to aid his party, and in 1888, by acting as chairman of
the city and county central committees, he carried the county for the
Democrats.
When twenty-three
years of age, Mr. Budd served on the staff of Governor Irwin. As a cadet in the University of California he
became connected with the National Guard, and at graduation held the rank of
first lieutenant. Later he received
successive promotions to the ranks of major of brigade staff, lieutenant-colonel
on the governor’s staff, and major of the line; and when Governor he was
entitled brigadier-general. During 1889
he became a member of the board of police and fire commissioners to
Stockton. For six years he was a trustee
of the Stockton city library, which was made a depository for public books and
documents covering an issue of ten years.
In 1894 the Democratic convention,
assembled at San Francisco, nominated Mr. Budd for governor, his Republican
opponent being the late Morris M. Estee, afterward appointed United States
circuit judge in the Hawaiian Islands.
The popularity of the Democratic candidate was shown by the fact that he
was the only man on the Democratic ticket elected, and ran over 33,000 votes
ahead of his ticket. Spencer G. Millard,
the Republican nominee for lieutenant-governor, was elected, but died ten
months after his inauguration and was succeeded under appointment by William T.
Jeter, who had been the governors’ running mate for the office of
lieutenant-governor. The campaign of
1894 will long be remembered in California.
It was almost unbelievable that Budd should defeat Estee and should be
able to overcome a 20,000 Republican majority.
But this is precisely what happened.
The year 1894 was a year of political upheaval. Budd was elected governor and Sutro was
elected mayor of San Francisco.
During the executive administration
of Governor Budd, the taxes were reduced, and many reforms were brought about
in the interests of economy and good government. His term was one of the most successful of
any of the governors. Upon retiring from
office he practiced law in San Francisco, and it is said that the returns of
his large and important practice enabled him to accumulate a fortune in a
comparatively short period. The failure
of his health, however, caused him to retire from professional labors, and
during 1907 he traveled extensively in Europe, hoping to be benefited by the
change, but only temporary relief was secured.
In the spring of 1908 he returned
from abroad and, feeling restored in part to his former health, announced his
intention of residing in Stockton and maintaining his principal offices in that
city, with a branch office in San Francisco.
The illness of his brother, John E. Budd, caused him to plan an
automobile trip to Lake Tahoe, and the brothers spent several weeks at mountain
health resorts; but meanwhile the ex-Governor contracted a cold that brought on
a recurrence of rheumatic and kidney troubles.
Treatment under a specialist in a San Francisco hospital proved of no
avail, and he was brought to his Stockton residence, where the end came.
Mrs. James H. Budd was formerly Miss
Inez A. Merrill, born near Hartford, Connecticut, on August 2, 1851; in 1856
she was brought to California by her parents, Marcus H. and Celinda
A. (Clough) Merrill, natives respectively of Connecticut and Massachusetts. The
marriage of Mr. Budd and Miss Merrill was solemnized in Stockton, October 29,
1873, and was the consummation of a romance begun when they attended the same
school in Stockton. In every respect Mrs.
Budd was fitted to be the wife of a man of genius and brilliant mind.
One of the most brilliant men ever
in California was lost to the state in the death of Mr. Budd. Nature had liberally endowed him, and to this
endowment he had added by industrious application. Supplementing a brilliant mind, were great
generosity of disposition, earnest philanthropy, a sincere love of children,
and unfailing courtesy toward the aged, and the utmost consideration for
others. Wherever the need might arise,
there was the helpful hand, there was the kindly act. Many remember him less as the influential
governor or the brilliant Congressman than as “Jim” Budd, the devoted
friend. His genial disposition won to
him even those of different political opinions, and he never permitted
differences of opinion to interfere with his friendships. It was said of him that he would travel a
thousand miles to do a friend a favor, and none of his friends were dearer to
him than the comrades of his early days in Stockton, the men who then admired
and now remember with affection the generous, witty, genial “Jim” Budd, a
friend unchanged toward them by manifold successes of a brilliant career.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
579-580. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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