Albert MANSFIELD

Albert MANSFIELD, who is engaged in the practice of law at Redwood City, is one of the able and successful members of the bar of his native county.  He was born in the village of Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County, on the 21^st of October, 1884, and is a son of Joel H. and Mary Alice (MARTIN) MANSFIELD, the former of whom was born in the City of Baltimore, Maryland, and the latter of whom was born in California, a representative of one of the sterling pioneer families of this state.  Joel H.  MANSFIELD was reared and educated in his native city, and he was a young man when he subordinated all personal interests to the call of patriotism and went forth as a soldier of the Union in the Civil war.  He became a member of the Second Massachusetts Calvary, took part in many engagements and continued in active service during virtually the entire period of the war.  In a comparatively short time after the close of his military career Mr. MANSFIELD came to California, where for a time he followed his trade, that of painter.  He was a pioneer in the movement to develop the oil industry in San Mateo County, he having been one of the first to sink an oil well here, the supply having been found plentiful and of high grade, but years having elapsed ere through development work was carried forward in this oil district.  Joel H. MANSFIELD became one of the influential and highly esteemed citizens of the county at the time of his death, in 1916.  He was active in political affairs in the county, and was affiliated with the Grand Army of Republic.

Albert MANSFIELD gained his preliminary education in the public schools of his native county.  In preparation for his chosen profession he entered the Hastings College of Law in San Francisco, and in this institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1907.  After thus receiving his degree of Bachelor of Laws, with virtually coincident admission to the bar of his native state, he engaged in the practice of law in San Francisco, where he became associated with James H. BUDD, a former governor of California, this professional alliance having continued but a short time, however, as his distinguished confrere died in 1908.  Since that year Mr. MANSFIELD has established in successful practice at Redwood City. Here he served ten years as city attorney, and for seven years he held the office of judge of the Police Court.

In 1911, on the 27^th of August, was recorded the marriage of Mr. MANSFIELD and Miss Elizabeth P. WINTER, who was born and reared in San Francisco.  The children of this union are five in number; Joel A.; Elizabeth R.; Dorothy A.; and Alice and Albert Jr., who are twins.  The widowed mother of Mr. MANSFIELD still maintains her home in San Mateo County.

S. M. MEZES

S. M. Mezes. Born of pure Spanish lineage and early identified with the beginning of history in California, S. M. Mezes was one of the pioneers whose life expresses all that is most characteristic in the moulding of the state. He was one of the typical grandees of old Spain, and carried his chivalric ideals far in colonizing the new country and casting it for all time in the spirit of romance. Having come to Porto Rico while a boy, he became, at the age of twenty-one, the president of the largest and most influential bank in the island. Forced by the climate to leave Porto Rico, he came to California, arriving on February 22, 1850. It was an exciting era for one of his traditions with the magnificent spur of the work of the great Spanish discoverers, explorers and world builders. The gold of the Indies sought for in Columbus’ time was now visible, like a fabulous dream come true, while the new Republic of the United States of America and the old Spanish dynasty joined forces and interests on the far western shore of discovery.

Upon his arrival in California, Mr. Mezes organized the firm of Ranke, Cipriani & Mezes for the purpose of distributing the great Spanish ranchos and he soon became a leading figure in the history of the state. Distinguished by his unusual energy and administrative ability as well as by his rare knowledge of the law, he was largely responsible for the satisfactory settlement of the questions arising out of the Spanish land grants. He was one of the original patentees of the Rancho de los Pulgas and played part in the disposition of the claims of squatters. The prestige of his birth and strong personality, combined with his control of extensive land interests, made him one of the political dictators of the day. Redwood City was at first named Mezesville after him, but its name was changed later at his own request, because of his dislike of publicity. To this aristocratic aversion for public acclaim is due the fact that he is less generally known than others whose influence on early California history was far less vital than his. Nevertheless he was a man of rare courage and decided character, typically Spanish in his aims, a part of the old dominion which sought to make the magnificence and splendor of California civilization equal the exceptional gifts of her climate and land resources.

Mr. Mezes chose Belmont for the location of his home and he gave to his home county the land in Redwood City which was used for the courthouse, the adjoining park and the cemetery, and he also contributed most of the cost of erecting the courthouse itself. Had he lived to old age, he doubtless would have influenced the destinies of California politics to a far wider extent than he did, but he died in 1884.

Mr. Mezes married Miss Juliet Johnson, the daughter of Sidney L. Johnson, one of the most prominent members of the early bar, who was chosen, in conjunction with the late Justice Field, to revise the codes of California. Mrs. Mezes, who survived her husband, was a woman of the highest culture and attainments, widely traveled, a distinguished linguist and a charming social leader. They had four children; Isabel, buried in Perth, Scotland; Juliet Louise, buried in Paris, France; Sidney Edward, now president of the College of the City of New York, one of the most eminent of American scholars and educators, an author of distinguished works on philosophical subjects and the director of the Territorial, Economic and Political Section of the American Commission to Negotiate Peace after the World War in 1919; and Carmelita, who married an Englishman, Ernest M. Phillips-Wynne, of and old and distinguished diplomatic family. In addition to these two living children, Mr. Mezes has two grandchildren who rendered signal service in the recent world war: Edward Cyril Wynne and Sidney Mezes Wynne. The former graduated cum laude from Harvard University, finishing a difficult course in three years. He entered the army at the outbreak of the war and after having reached in a very short time the rank of captain and having seen continuous active service during the war, he was assigned for duty at the Peace Conference. He was decorated by both the United States and French governments for bravery in action and distinguished service. Since the war he has been in the Diplomatic Service, where he has already won promotion and recognition. Sidney Mezes Wynne attended the University of California and served in the navy during the war. Having his grandfather’s business ability and energy, he is now engaged in business in San Francisco in association with the firm of Ingrim, Rutledge & Company.

The aims of the Spanish aristocrat, imperfectly realized in his own life, have thus been carried to distinguished fruition in the son and grandsons, whose pride it is always to be in the forefront of national endeavor, leading the thought and progress of both the state and nation of which they are a part. They are exponents of that fine Americanism, which has drawn from the best blood of the old world, yet retained its integrity in the ideals of the great republic.

Transcribed by Elaine Sturdevant

George Henry RICE

George Henry RICE was a resident of California for more than half a century, and was one of the venerable, honored and influential citizens of Redwood City, San Mateo County, at the time of his death in 1908.

The sterling pioneer to whom this memoir is dedicated was born in Herkimer County, New York, on the 27^th of March 1833, and he was reared and educated in the old Empire state, where he continued to maintain his home until 1855, when, shortly after attaining to his legal majority, he set forth to seek his fortunes and win pioneer honors in California.  He made the long and weary voyage around Cape Horn, and during virtually the entire trip, which was one of tempestuous order much of the time, he was confined to his berth on the little vessel.  On arriving in California, he passed an interval in the gold mining districts, but the life of the mining camps did not appeal to him, and he soon made his way to Redwood City, where his marriage occurred soon afterward, and where he established his permanent home.  He became one of the pioneers of San Mateo County, and did well his part in the civic and material development of this favored section of his adopted state.  Mr. RICE was the founder of the first abstract and title business at Redwood City, made his records  complete and authoritative and his concern continues to the present time as a veritable court of final resort in determining and authenticating all real estate titles in San Mateo County.  He continued his active association with this business until the close of his long, worthy and useful life, in the fullness of years and well earned honors.

Mr. RICE maintained much of leadership in the directing of popular sentiment and action in his home city and county, and was influential in community affairs in general.  He served from 1884 to 1888 as county clerk of San Mateo County, and was for a number of years a member of the municipal Board of Trustees of Redwood City.  His character was the positive expression of a strong, noble and unselfish nature, and it shone most effectively in the ideal associations with his family, and his home.  Mr. RICE was seventy six years of age at the time of his death on the 23^rd of April 1908, and in the attractive old home at Redwood City still reside his widow and only daughter, Miss Mary Laura RICE, the one son, George Stanley, being now a resident of San Francisco.  Mr. RICE was an earnest member of the Congregational Church, as are also his widow and daughter,  who are popular figures in the representative social and cultural life of the community.

Upon coming to Redwood City, Mr. RICE here formed the acquaintance of Miss Mary L. TIGUE, and within a short time thereafter their marriage was solemnized.  Thus was formed a companionship that was to continue its ideal relations until death severed the gracious ties many years later.  Mrs. RICE can vividly call to memory the incidents and events of the weary journey which she made across the plains in the pioneer days in company with her parents, both of whom passed the remainder of their lives in California.  The company of eight persons made the trip from Springfield, Missouri, with ox teams, and 180 days passed before the weary immigrants arrived at their destination in California.  The TIGUE family established residence at Redwood City, and here Mrs. RICE has maintained her home during the long intervening years, freighted with many hallowed memories and associations.  Like her husband, she has an inviolable place in the affection and esteem of the community which was the center of their devoted companionship until the death of the revered husband and father.

George Carlos ROSS

George Carlos ROSS is one of the veteran and distinctly representative members of the bar of San Mateo County, where he has been established in the practice of law at Redwood City, the county seat, since the Centennial year, 1876.

Mr. ROSS was born at Vermont, Fulton County, Illinois, on the 16^th of March 1854, and is a son of Harvey Lee ROSS and Jane (KIRKPATRICK) ROSS, the former of whom was born in the State of New York and the latter in Missouri, where her parents were pioneers.  The subject of this review is one of the four survivors in a family of five children: Harriet is the wife of Thomas W. HALL; Frank W. ROSS, now deceased; Mary F. is the wife of William A. CHILDS; George C., of this sketch, was the next in order of birth; and Dr. Joseph L., a leading physician at Redwood City, is individually mentioned elsewhere in this publication.

The public schools of his native state afforded George C. ROSS his preliminary education, which was advanced by his attending Illinois College, at Jacksonville.  In preparation for his chosen profession he entered and was duly graduated from the law department of the celebrated University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and thereafter he was engaged in the practice of law in Illinois until 1876, in July of which year he established his home at Redwood City, California, where he has continued his active professional services during the long intervening period and where for many years he has enjoyed a substantial, representative and lucrative practice.  As a vigorous and resourceful trial lawyer he has appeared in connection with many important litigations in the various courts of this section of the state, and he has high reputation also as a consulting lawyer of broad and accurate knowledge of law and precedent.  Mr. ROSS was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of San Mateo County and the San Mateo County Savings Bank, respectively, the first commercial bank and the first savings bank incorporated in the county, and is now a large stockholder in and the president of both banks.  Mr. ROSS is a republican, but has no ambition for political preferment.  His has been an helpful influence in connection with community affairs and he has served as school trustee of his home city. Two of his sons are now associated with him in practice, and the firm is one of the strongest at the bar of San Mateo County.  Mr. ROSS is affiliated with the Sons of the American Revolution, the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

In the year 1879 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. ROSS and Miss Mary DONALD, who was born and reared in California, where her parents were pioneer settlers.  Mr. and Mrs. ROSS have three sons.  The eldest, Donald H., is a prominent dentist at San Jose.  The other two are representative younger members of the bar of their native county, where they are associated with their father in practice, as noted previously.  Donald H. married Miss Lina BRADLEY of Los Angeles, and they have three children: Dorothy, Virginia and Mary.  Hall C. married Miss Julia BEEGER, and their one child is a winsome little daughter, Betty, named after the maker of the first American flag.  Lee, the youngest son, still permits his name to remain on the roster of eligible young bachelors in San Mateo County.

Joseph L. ROSS,  M.D.

Joseph L. Ross, M.D. has the distinction of being the Dean of his profession in San Mateo County, is one of the able and representative physicians and surgeons of this section of the state and is established in successful general practice at Redwood City, the county seat.  Both in years and period of consecutive practice he is now the oldest practicing physician in the county.

Doctor ROSS was born at Vermont, Illinois, on the 27^th of May 1856 and after a collegiate education along academic lines in the state college at Champaign, Illinois, he entered the celebrated Rush Medical College in the City of Chicago, in which institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1879.  After thus receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine he engaged in practice at Macomb, the county seat of McDonough County, Illinois, and in his native state he continued his successful professional activities until 1881.  He then came to California and established his residence at Redwood City, where he has built up a substantial and representative professional business that marks him as one of the leading physicians and surgeons of San Mateo County.  For the past eighteen years he has been district surgeon of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company.  The doctor is actively identified with the San Mateo County Medical Society and the California State Medical Society, and he has insistently kept in touch with the advances made in medical and surgical science.  He has given effective service as the chief executive of the San Mateo County Board of Health, and his civic loyalty has been shown in his hearty support of measures and enterprises tending to advance the general well-being of the community.  Doctor ROSS was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Redwood City, served fully a quarter of a century as its president, and recently resigned this office in order to give his undivided time and attention to his large professional practice.  He assisted in the organization of the Redwood City Building & Loan Association, and still continues as vice president of this well ordered organization, which has done much to advance local progress and prosperity.

The maiden name of the first wife of Doctor ROSS was Louise BACON, and she was reared in Illinois.  She is survived by two children: Harvey L., M.D., who is engaged in the practice of his profession in the City of Honolulu, Hawaii, and Sarah Frances, who resides at Dayton, Ohio.  For his second wife Doctor ROSS wedded Miss Blanche Emily STAFFORD and the two children of this union are Joseph L., Jr., and Blanche E.