San
Joaquin County
Biographies
HON. JOSEPH H. BUDD
Associated for almost forty-five
years with the activities of San Joaquin County and the improvement and
development of the city of Stockton, Joseph H. Budd became one of the most
prominent and progressive citizens of that section. He was an eye-witness to the remarkable
growth and prosperity of the city and county, for this had been his home from
the year 1858 until his death, February 21, 1902.
A native of the east, Joseph H. Bud
was born in Dutchess County, New York, January 13, 1822, the son of James and
Ellen Budd, also natives of the Empire state and descendants of families who
had flourished for many generations in that commonwealth. Joseph H. Budd’s boyhood days, like those of
other famers’ sons of his acquaintance, were spent working on his father’s farm
and attending school during the short term it was in session. However, he had no special inclination toward
following farming as a life-work, but on the other hand had a leaning toward
professional life and became interested in the study of law when he was little
more than a boy. With the idea of
preparing himself for the profession of the law, he supplemented his early
school training by a course in Williams College, graduating from that
institution in 1843, at the age of twenty-one years. With this foundation as a basis, he gave his
attention thereafter to the study of law, taking his legal training in
Poughkeepsie, New York, where he was duly admitted to the bar. In 1847 he located in Wisconsin, and during
the ten years he was identified with the state attained high rank in legal
circles. Locating in Janesville, he
opened an office for the practice of his profession, at first carrying on his
practice alone, but later being associated with Lorenzo Sawyer, ex-judge of the
United States circuit court of Wisconsin, and also with John R. Bennett, of the
district court of Wisconsin, both deceased.
After a record of his successful practice in Wisconsin, Mr. Budd came to
California in 1858, locating first in Woodbridge; but after remaining there a
year, he came to Stockton and in this city, he made
his home until his death. Soon after
establishing his practice here he became associated with W. L. Dudley in the
practice of law under the name of Dudley & Budd; and as both were men of
brilliant legal attainments and keen discrimination they built up a large
practice and had as clients some of the most influential businessmen of the
city. Politically, Mr. Budd was a
staunch Democrat, a fact which, coupled with his unique fitness for the
position, led to his appointment as successor to Judge Baldwin; and later was
twice elected to the office of superior judge of San Joaquin County. He also served two terms as the city attorney
of Stockton. At the time of his death he
had served on the bench fifteen years, during which time he gained the
reputation of being one of the best jurists in the state; and it is a
well-known fact that his decisions were seldom reversed. Many of the most prominent legal cases
handled in the county were brought to him for settlement, among them being the
well-known Moquelemos grant litigation.
While a resident of Janesville,
Wisconsin, Joseph H. Budd was united in marriage, June 4, 1849, to Lucinda M.
Ash, who like himself was a native of New York State. Two children were born to them, James H.
Budd, the late ex-Governor of California, and John E. Budd, a resident of
Stockton for many years, but now deceased.
His wife brought with them from the east much of culture and refinement,
and those early days they were leaders in the social life of Stockton. Personally, Mr. Budd was beloved by all with
whom he came in contact. With his wife,
he was a member of the Baptist Church.
His life was a success; and while succeeding in a financial way, he never
neglected his duties as a citizen, and much of the city’s advancement can be
traced to his foresight and substantial encouragement.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
580. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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