San Mateo-San Francisco County CA Archives Biographies.....Howard, William D. M. 1818 - 1856 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 24, 2006, 5:04 pm Author: S. J. Clarke (1928) WILLIAM D. M. HOWARD The records of California's pioneer settlers prove again the old adage that truth is stranger than fiction. Of him whose name heads this record it has been written: "In all the history of personal heroism and self-sacrifice that surrounds the early annals of California no name shines with purer luster than that of William D. M. Howard. It is difficult to tell whether he should be admired most as the great hearted man of charitable deeds or the shrewd and public-spirited citizen." It was in his honor that Howard street in the western metropolis was named and in one of the issues of the Sunday Oregonian appeared the following: "The casual visitor to San Francisco sees a long thoroughfare, and a wide one, called Howard street, extending from the bay to a point nearly a mile beyond the Mission Dolores. But not one person in ten thousand who walks along that broad and useful thoroughfare knows whence it derived its name. More than a quarter of a century has passed away since he, whose name it bears, ceased to be one of the busy, energetic throng and yet, there are a few survivors of the argonautic era who recall the stout and sturdy Yankee skipper, with his round muscular figure and his benevolent face in which all cardinal virtues seem to have been engraved by the chisel of the Superior Sculptor. Captain Howard was born in Boston in 1818, and as many another boy of poor parents had done before him, he took to the sea before he was sixteen years old. His studious nature and good habits greatly assisted him in the brig trading between his native city and Para, on the coast of Brazil. He returned from his second voyage to Para to become the recipient of an offer which must have been a flattering one to his honest pride. It was the position of first officer on a ship already fitting out for a trading voyage to the coast of California, then a province of Mexico. The ambitious young officer hesitated a moment and then reflected that in the remote future the Pacific coast might offer greater opportunities for money-making than the trade in which he was then engaged. If he remained in the Brazil trade and did not die of the coast fever he might amass five thousand dollars in the next ten years. Howard could not afford to wait that long. He therefore accepted the offer and was installed as mate of the hide-drogher." San Francisco in 1838 was a tiny town called Yerba Buena and the bay was known as the Bahia de San Francisco. The town was so called from the herb Yerba Buena which was used as a substitute for tea and which still grows wild over Goat island and on some of the hills back of Sausalito. In the little village, later to become the western metropolis, the Hudson's Bay Company operated its property commencing at the line of Howard street and extending northward to Merchants street. The operations of the company at this point, however, were not as profitable as in the north, where better furs were to be found. In the meantime, Mr. Howard was making his way on the hide-drogher around the Horn, being chief mate of a vessel of primitive build which was nearly seven months in reaching California. The captain when at home practiced the strictest sobriety but was a fearful drunkard at sea and upon the chief mate devolved the duty of navigating the ship. On reaching Yerba Buena he left the vessel with the intention of engaging in business for himself and later was made agent for the Boston firm for which he had sailed, remaining their representative for several years. In 1845 he returned to Boston, making an overland journey through Mexico. He left his ship at Mazatlan and traveled on horseback to Vera Cruz, where he embarked for the Massachusetts port. He had accumulated nearly thirty thousand dollars during his connection with business affairs on the Pacific and it was his ambition to secure the position of "ship husband" for the firm which had sent him to the west. About that time, however, the Mexican war broke out, continued for about two years and then ended with the result that California, hitherto Spanish, was ceded to the United States. Mr. Howard recognized the business opportunities that must grow therefrom. Moreover, he had gained a sufficient knowledge of the Spanish language not only to conduct business in that tongue but also to carry on conversation and correspondence. His knowledge of the western country, too, was considerable for he had travelled up the Sacramento river as far as the old Russian fort, long since abandoned, at Monument Bend, and up the San Joaquin to a point near the mouth of the Tuolumne. On these trips he learned much of the country and its possibilities and he knew, too, that gold had been discovered in small quantities at least twenty years before the finding of the rich nugget in Captain Sutter's mill race at Coloma. All these things determined Mr. Howard to return to California and a few months after the state had been ceded to this country he again became a resident and thus linked his name forever with its history. The year of his return was 1847. Not long afterward he became associated with Henry Mellus, likewise a man of nautical education. He soon recognized a splendid opportunity for speculation. The Hudson's Bay Company had not been realizing any great profit here and Dr. Rae, its local representative, recommended the abandonment of the San Francisco post. The parent concern in England agreed to the sale and the firm of Howard & Mellus were the purchasers. They deeded to Leidesdorff that portion of the land lying between Sansome and Montgomery streets, retaining the balance. The sale had scarcely been consummated when by accident James W. Marshall discovered a large gold nugget at Coloma and the commerce of the world was revolutionized. Thousands flocked to California and the newly acquired purchase of Howard and Melius as a result became of almost untold value. From the time of his return to San Francisco Mr. Howard was closely associated with its progress along many lines. Recognizing the fact that there must inevitably some time be a large city on the Pacific coast and not certain where it would be situated, Mr. Howard purchased a quarter-of Sacramento, a quarter of Vallejo and a quarter of what was then San Francisco. He owned an entire block from Russ to Clay streets and from Dupont street to the bay. He borrowed money to erect buildings upon this property and was receiving two hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars a month in rent when fire destroyed the buildings and Mr. Howard was obliged to sell a great part of the property to repay his debts. In 1848 he built the first brick building in the city at the corner of Montgomery and Clay streets, and this was occupied by the firm of Howard & Mellus. The building passed through two fires which devastated the city and stood until the great disaster of 1906, when it was destroyed. With the influx of settlers, Mr. Howard in 1849 imported twenty-five knock-down frame dwellings, thirteen of which he sold while the remaining twelve he set up on property which he owned. In the meantime, in 1847, he was elected a member of San Francisco's first city council and was a member of its committee of three which framed the code of laws adopted by the council. He thus became a factor in shaping the early municipal policy of the city and in times of lawlessness, crime and strife he ever stood fearlessly for law, order and progress. The partnership of the firm of Howard & Mellus continued until 1850, when Captain Howard purchased his partner's land interests in San Francisco and thus laid the foundation for the princely fortune which was afterwards his. At the same time he continued his active interest in and support of public measures affecting general welfare. On the 16th of July, 1850, he presided over the meeting which resulted in the organization of a police force two hundred and thirty strong, to suppress The Hounds, an organized band of ruffians who were terrorizing the city, committing robbery and all sorts of depredations, especially against the foreign population. This action of law-abiding citizens resulted in breaking up the band. In June of the following year, 1851, Captain Howard was a member of the committee of fourteen citizens which passed resolutions and took steps that resulted in the formation of the famous "Committee of Vigilants." In the previous year he organized and was captain of a military company primarily formed for the suppression of the squatter riots at Sacramento and though these so-called riots were of no moment and the militia was not needed, Captain Howard's company continued in existence with him as its commander for a number of years and still exists today as a part of the National Guard of California. It was in 1851 that Captain Howard, recognizing the city's almost defenseless position against fire, imported a second size Hunneman tub from Boston, presenting it to Company 3, which at that time in honor of the giver adopted the name of the Howard Company and was so known until the volunteer fire department passed out of existence. In 1857 Samuel Brannan brought to San Francisco a large engine, silver-plated and decorated in the highest style of art, which he offered to "Three Fellows" on condition that they would change their name from Howard to Brannan. This they declined to do because of their love for Captain Howard and the memory of his philanthropy. The public school system of San Francisco and California had its inception in the great heart of Captain Howard. The whole city was engrossed in money-making yet every week the Panama steamers brought scores of children to the coast, for whom there was provided no educational opportunities. Dr. Nevins took the matter in hand but the city council had no funds for the work. Again, as on many other occasions, Captain Howard came to the front in the hour of need. A building which he had just completed he placed at the disposal of Dr. Nevins, rent free for a year, and when the further question of paying teachers came up he also agreed to advance the salaries until such time as a tax could be levied and collected. His work in cooperating in the establishment of San Francisco's public school system again entitled him to have his name placed high on the roll of fame in this city. There was no one who aided more actively in matters relating to the city's welfare along all the varied lines which constitute a city's life. In 1851 there was much cholera among emigrants arriving by the isthmus route and the disease manifested itself malignantly even in Sacramento and Stockton. San Francisco had no city hospital and to meet the emergency Captain Howard offered a building, which he had just completed, for hospital purposes. In the same year both the schoolhouse and the cholera hospital were destroyed by fire and he never received a cent for the use of his two large and costly buildings. In connection with his generosity thus displayed it was written of him: "In receipt of a large income, his kindly hand moved in unison with his great heart and his money was forthcoming on all occasions at the call of the suffering. On one occasion while the cholera was raging in Sacramento, Howard loaded a sailing propeller with provisions, medicines and clothing and actually piloted the vessel to Sacramento himself. This act brought forth donations from others and the sufferers were soon cared for. But poor Howard was too active in doing good to others to do good to himself. His great vitality had been severely taxed by those long protracted watches in behalf of those who suffered and he had recoursed to stimulants to recruit his wasted energies. This began to make inroads upon his strong constitution and laid the foundation of a malady which brought the most acute suffering as a recompense for deeds that would have added a new lustre to the halo of a saint." Captain Howard was married in San Francisco to Miss Agnes Poett, a daughter of Dr. Joseph Henry Poett, a pioneer physician of this city, and they became the parents of a son William Henry Howard. His widow afterward became the wife of his brother, George H. Howard. The year 1853 found Mr. Howard with seriously impaired health and in hope of gaining benefit he started on a trip to Europe but became infected with the Panama fever, which never afterward left his system. Although he traveled for a year, leaving his business to the care of his younger brother, George H. Howard, he returned home without having recovered his health. In 1854 he once more arrived in California. He had previously purchased the old San Mateo rancho from Caystano Arenus, the secretary of Pio Pico, to whom this Mexican governor of California had granted it. There he established his residence in a house which he had caused to be brought around the Cape on shipboard from Boston. This residence he named "el Cerrito." It stood near what is now the city of San Mateo within the present area of Hillsborough. The greater part of the territory of the present cities of San Mateo, Burlingame and Hillsborough is within the limits of his San Mateo ranch. It was his hope that the twenty-one mile drive from his home to the city would accomplish for him what European travel had not done. The same year in which he took up his abode on his San Mateo ranch he introduced the first lot of high-grade cattle imported to California, consisting of the bulls, Orion and Harold IV, and five cows, thus founding one of the purest herds in America. He directed that all money derived from outside sources for these bulls should be kept and paid out at interest until it reached thirty thousand dollars, which sum should then be invested in at building with bulls' heads around the eaves. His instructions were followed and Howard block, between Clay and Commercial streets, on Sansome was built in the style indicated. Mr. Howard gave attention to his stock-breeding interests on his San Mateo ranch and at the same time controlled his extensive interests in San Francisco, hoping, as previously indicated, that his trips between his country place and the city would prove beneficial. All to no avail, however, and "for eighteen months the gallant fellow suffered tortures which he bore with the stoical fortitude of a Sioux chief. He had alleviated the sorrows of countless hundreds, men whom he scarcely knew, but when he came to suffer there was no one to bring surcease of pain to noble Bill Howard. At last the end came and he met it in a characteristic way. Austin E. Smith, an attorney and son of 'Extra Billy' of Virginia had a quarrel with Henry B. Truett, a pioneer merchant, who gave him the lie and was knocked down for it by a blow from a heavy cane which Smith carried in his hand. A challenge to mortal battle came from Truett and was accepted by Smith, who named revolvers as weapons. The duel was to be fought near San Mateo on land then owned by an old German named Doebris, now known as Hayward Park. It was about nine o'clock on the morning of a drizzling November day when the fields were lying brown and bare. The principals and their seconds had arrived and were just tossing up for choice of ground. They had just received the weapons from the hands of their seconds when a voice was heard calling 'Stop, oh do stop! Stop, for God's sake, till I get there.' The eyes of everybody were turned toward the creek whence came a man running as fast as he could, in his shirt sleeves and nearly exhausted by short breath. It was poor Howard who had heard of the quarrel and had been told of the party's being in the adjoining field to his own. He was lying on the lounge when his servant told him of the meeting in Doebris' field and catching up his hat he rushed to the scene of hostilities in the hope of preventing them. All argument was futile and the brave man at last said, 'Well, then, please don't fire till I get out of sight!' The request was obeyed and not a shot was fired till Howard had waded the creek for the second time. At the second fire Smith was shot in the thigh and fell to the ground. The parties then returned to the city where a surgeon extracted the ball and Smith got well. He was killed in the Confederate ranks while fighting at Malvern Hill. Howard had just reached home cold, wet and exhausted, when the first shot rang out on the air. He tottered into his house and fell upon the sofa exclaiming, 'Oh, they have killed poor Hank Truett!' His fears were groundless in that respect, however, for his friend had escaped unharmed. But the severe exposure had taken a fatal hold upon the gallant Yankee sailor. That afternoon he had a congestive chill from which he was saved only by the greatest medical skill and on the following day he had a second attack which carried off one of the grandest characters in all the rude but chivalric pageant of that era." This was on January 19, 1856. No more fitting tribute to his memory can be paid than by quoting again from the Oregonian: "The name of William D. M. Howard is an ever-green vine twined around the hearts of the people of his adopted state. His pure example abides and endures. He was a type of that great and vigorous New England element that has marched in the van of America's progress for upward of a century and written its name in letters of light, law and wisdom on every rock from Maine to Oregon. Brave as a lion, Captain Howard was as modest as a school-girl and never was a man more sedulously guarded about wounding the feelings of others. His good face, smooth shaven in an era when everybody wore beards except priests and actors, shines out from the veil of the past with the radiance of an evening star, calm, and serene in its noble carriage and pure love of mankind. Had William D. M, Howard lived till today it might have been a dispute as to whether he or Peter Cooper was entitled to be considered the foremost of American philanthropists. But Howard is at rest and California weeps heavily at the portals of his tomb. But his gallant spirit stems the shock of the plague and baffles the fire fiend. His noble charity survives him and the great heart of his adopted state will not let his memory die." Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF SAN MATEO COUNTY CALIFORNIA VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED CHICAGO, ILL. THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1928 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/sanmateo/bios/howard971nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 18.8 Kb