Sonoma-San Francisco County CA Archives Biographies.....Temple, Jackson 1827 - ************************************************ 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 March 3, 2006, 5:45 pm Author: Alley, Bowen & Co. (1880) Temple, Judge Jackson. Whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Franklin county, Massachusetts, August 11, 1827. He removed with his parents to Berkshire county when quite young, attended the common schools, and there laid the basis of a liberal education, which he completed at Williams College, entering this institution at the age of nineteen years. After graduation, he studied law in the office of Judge Whitehead of Newark, New Jersey. He afterwards taught a Latin and Grammar class in a young men's boarding school in Monmouth county—very wisely employing an interval of time between his collegiate and regular professional course in teaching, an admirable mental discipline. Mr. Temple next attended a law school in New Haven, Connecticut, completing there his professional studies, so far as they were to be acquired from text books and regular instructors. He did not, however, cease to be a student, fully realizing the important fact that he had only laid the foundation for and had not finished his education. In the Spring of 1853 Mr. Temple determined to seek his fortune in California, then the Mecca of the hopes of so many enterprising and ambitious young men. Some of these adventurers were destined to win favors of fortune, which rival in reality the fabulous transformations wrought by the "Slave of the Lamp" for its fortunate owner. More of them, alas how many thousands more, were doomed to meet with countless difficulties and disappointments, or to disappear in a whirl of unaccustomed dissipation. To neither of these extreme classes does the subject of this notice belong. Mr. Temple arrived in San Francisco, via the Isthmus of Panama, on the 15th day of April, 1853. In October of that year he went to reside with his brother, since deceased, on a farm in Vallejo township. There was at that time but little inducement in the sparsely populated county of Sonoma to engage in the practice of law, and Mr. Temple remained on the farm about a year. He then moved to the town of Petaluma, and there established himself as an attorney. The year 1855 marked a new era in the history of Sonoma county. After a hot contest the county-seat was removed by a majority vote of the people, from the town of Sonoma to Santa Rosa, then only a city of "great expectations." Mr. Temple changed his residence from Petaluma to the new county-seat, and formed a co-partnership with the late Judge William Ross, an able, experienced, and successful attorney. Two years later, in 1857, he formed a partnership with Ex-County Judge Charles P. Wilkins, a man of rare genius, to whom forensic debate as a congenial field, whether he contested with an opponent an intricate question of law, or swayed the minds of men by a masterly command of words irradiated with brilliant imagery. This partnership continued until 1860. Mr. Temple then practiced his profession with Judge A. Thomas, still an eminent lawyer in Santa Rosa, continuing this connection until 1867, when, he determined to remove to San Francisco. The high reputation of Mr. Temple as a lawyer preceded him to his new home, and he was invited to a partnership with H. H. Haight, then among the foremost lawyers at the Bar in San Francisco. Shortly after Mr. Haight was elected Governor of the State of California, which terminated for the time this professional connection, Mr. Temple continuing the business alone until 1870. A vacancy occurred in the Supreme Court during the administration of Governor Haight. The appointment was tendered to Mr. Temple, an appreciation of his legal attainments, and his worth as a man, as creditable to the Governor, as it was to his former professional associate. Judge Temple fulfilled the duties of the high position to which he had been assigned with signal ability. His reputation as a jurist is second to none of his predecessors, nor is it surpassed by any of the eminent gentlemen who have succeeded him. On the expiration of his term of office, Judge Temple resumed the practice of law with his former partner, Governor Haight, continuing with that firm until 1875 when, on account of the health of his wife, he returned to, and resumed the practice of law in Santa Rosa. In March, 1876, the Twenty-second Judicial District, composed of the populous and wealthy counties of Sonoma, Mendocino and Marin, was created by act of the Legislature, Judge Temple was appointed by Governor William Irwin, Judge of the new district. He served two years under this appointment, and succeeded himself, having been elected at the regular judicial election, without opposition, for a full term of six years. He had served two years of this term, when the new Constitution was-adopted. Under its provision the Courts were re-organized, the County, and District Courts were abolished, and Superior Courts created. Judge Temple was nominated for Superior Judge by the Democratic party; the Republicans made no nomination, he was supported without regard to party, and was elected by the largest majority of any candidate on the county ticket. The question of the adoption or rejection of the new Constitution had created unexpected, and unprecedented excitement. The fact that the people of all parties supported Judge Temple without regard to their own, or his views on that question, is a high tribute to his' ability and integrity. Judge Temple is well read in standard, and current literature. He is partial to the study of Political Economy, and is well versed in that science. His high conception of the standard of thoroughness will in all probability limit his acquired knowledge and original thought on this subject to the circle of his acquaintance, though well worthy of much wider discrimination. As a lawyer, Judge Temple is best known. He has an exact and thoroughly disciplined mind, is quick of apprehension, and goes to the root of a principle of law or question of fact submitted for his determination, with a directness that is very embarrassing to those who have only examined superficially the subject at issue. As a speaker, he is argumentative and logical, relying on a forcible presentation of the strong points of his case rather than oratorical display. He exhausts his subject, and concludes without peroration when he has nothing more to say. Judge Temple is a positive man. He has not, nor will he assume that sleek and supple manner which passes with the credulous for good nature. He is sometimes thought to be reserved, bat only by those who do not know his true character. He has many friends, because, once made, his sterling worth retains them. Sonoma county is fortunate in having at the head of its judiciary a man whrin private life is without spot or blemish; who is learned in the law; incorruptible and fearless in the discharge of his public trusts. It is not too much to say that all these excellent qualities are combined in the subject of this notice, Jackson Temple. Additional Comments: Santa Rosa Township Extracted from: HISTORY —OF- SONOMA COUNTY, -INCLUDING ITS— Geology, Topooraphy, Mountains, Valleys and Streams; —TOGETHER WITH— A Full and Particular Record of the Spanish Grants; Its Early History and Settlement, Compiled from the Most Authentic Sources; the Names of Original Spanish and American Pioneers; a full Political History, Comprising the Tabular Statements of Elections and Office-holders since the Formation of the County; Separate Histories of each Township, Showing the Advancement of Grape and Grain Growing Interests, and Pisciculture; ALSO, INCIDENTS OF PIONEER LIFE; THE RAISING OF THE BEAR FLAG; AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF EARLY AND PROMINENT SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN; —AND OF ITS— Cities, Towns, Churches, Schools, Secret Societies, Etc., Etc. ILLUSTRATED. SAN FRANCISCO: ALLEY, BOWEN & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1880. 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