Santa Clara county. In 1856, upon the organization of the Republican party, and the nomination of Col. Fremont for the Presidency, Col. Pico united with that party, and did much to secure the California Spanish vote to the support of the Republican ticket. On the first nomination of Mr. Lincoln for the Presidency, the California Republican State Convention selected Col. Pico as one of the Republican candidates for Presidential Elector, to which office he was chosen by the people at the subsequent election. Mr. Lincoln, after entering upon the duties of his office, appointed Mr. Pico Receiver of publie moneys at the land office in Los Angeles; but as the duties of the office required him to be much absent from his family, he soon resigned it.

Col. Pico died at his residence at San José on Sunday morning, May 23d, 1869. Four months thereafter, his mother died at Castroville-having attained the great age of ninety-eight years. The old lady left more than a hundred descendants and probably a thousand relatives to mourn her death.

Like so many of the race to which he belonged, Señor Pico was physically an extremely handsome man. Of commanding presence and courtly address, he impressed the stranger as one of the finest samples of that noble Spanish type which is yearly becoming more rare. Upon the more intimate acquaintance which was enjoyed with his generous hospitalities, one was impressed by the goodness of heart, simplicity of character, fine sense of honor, and that sweetness of disposition which is the perfection of manliness, rather than by the dignity of exterior which first commanded attention. These very virtues and excellences in Señor Pico contributed to cast a shadow over the closing years of his life. In the early American days, by abuse of his confidence and betrayal of his trustfulness, he was stripped of his princely possessions, and was subjected thereafter to feel the mortifications and bitterness of one who had been despoiled through the means of all which he knew to be best and noblest in his being. He held aloof, as far as his strong human feelings. and nature would permit, from Americans, to whom his

misfortunes were due, never learning their language nor associating upon a basis of intimacy save with a proved and chosen few. Although he opposed them patriotically upon their invasion of his country, he was one of the first of prominent and influential Californians to come forward, upon the conclusion of the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, to accommodate himself and those of his countrymen who looked to him for example and counsel, to the new order of things. It is believed that his many troubles aggravated the heart disease to which he finally succumbed. He left a reputation unsullied, a name which has been honored in his life, a wide circle of deeply attached friends, nor-as we believe-an enemy on the face of the earth.

WILLIAM MORRIS STEWART.

MR.

R. STEWART was born in the State of New York, in the year 1827. He is the oldest son of a numerous family of brothers and sisters. His parents are nativeborn Americans, of remote English or Scotch ancestry. During the War of 1812, his father enlisted as a volunteer from the State of New York, serving during a portion of the war, and until honorably discharged. He is now a pensioner of the government, and in the enjoyment of faculties still unimpaired by the ravages of time.

In early youth, Mr. Stewart worked upon his father's farm, his ordinary avocations and every-day life being little different from that of other boys under similar circumstances. An ardent desire for the acquisition of knowledge was one of his leading characteristics, and for the accomplishment of this end, all his spare time was employed in the study of such books as could be procured in the neighborhood of his home.

After passing through the usual routine of work and study, (at a time when public schools were neither so numerous or so thorough as now) Mr. Stewart, by combining his own earnings with judicious pecuniary assistance furnished by friends who took an interest in his progress, was enabled to enter Yale College as a regular student. At this seat of learning he remained for about three years, managing in that time, by close study, to master a course which generally occupied a longer period. Mathematics was his favorite pursuit, and in this branch he acquired such extraordinary proficiency that his assist

ance was required in the preparation of a mathematical work upon which one of the professors was at that time employed. His Alma Mater afterwards conferred upon him an honorary degree, in recognition of his early diligence and subsequent eminence.

When Mr. Stewart left Yale College, the excitement concerning gold discoveries in California was at its height, and he caught the contagion. After making a few necessary preparations, he started for California in 1849, arriving at San Francisco in that year, in time to take an active part in those measures which prepared the way for an admission to the Union. Mining was then the occupation to which a large part of the population were devoted, and in a short time Mr. Stewart found himself at work in the mines. He followed this pursuit for some years. Then, having determined to study law, he made application to Hon. John R. McConnell, then in the full tide of a lucrative practice at Nevada City, Cal. The enthusiasm and zeal of the young man was a sufficient earnest of that unflinching energy and close application so essential to the successful prosecution of legal studies. His personal appearance at the time of this application was anything but prepossessing: he was attired in buckskin pants, heavy boots, slouch hat, and such other garments as generally completed a miner's costume; but this rough exterior could not conceal that native hue of resolution which animated his whole appearance. Arrangements, satisfactory both to pupil and preceptor, were made, and preparations for the bar were commenced immediately. These were carried on with characteristic perseverance for the space of three months, at the end of which time he applied for admission, was subjected to a rigorous and searching examination, was declared to be qualified, and a license to practice granted forthwith. Shortly after becoming a full-fledged attorney, he was elected a Justice of the Peace, and discharged the duties of the office without "fear, favor, or affection." Though the questions that came before this petty tribunal were generally unimportant, they were always decided on principle; and the correctness of these decisions is evi

denced from the fact that they were rarely reversed on appeal.

After serving one term as a Justice, the ambition for more exalted fields of labor, together with an aptitude for business which had already been exhibited, led to the formation of a partnership between Mr. Stewart and his old preceptor. During a portion of the time which this partnership lasted, Mr. McConnell held the office of Attorney General of the State, and being at one time compelled to be absent, he selected his partner to fill his place until his return.

For the successful conduct of important criminal cases before the highest judicial tribunal of the State, and for the preparation of sound legal opinions upon mooted constitutional questions, no mean order of ability is required. It is therefore no small tribute to say that he performed his duties in a manner such as to meet with the universal approval of the people, and to add increased lustre to a rapidly advancing reputation. At about this time, Mr. Stewart was married to the third daughter of Gov. Henry S. Foote, of Mississippi, and shortly after this event the partnership between Mr. McConnell and himself was dissolved by regular limitation of time.

Mr. Stewart then commenced to practice for himself. That there is always room at the top of the ladder of fame, however much its approaches may be crowded, was with him an appreciated maxim, and it is no matter of wonderment that we see him disputing the place for precedence with older and more experienced practitioners. Force of will, celerity of action, indomitable perseverance, strict integrity, and a restless energy that could never be quieted, are qualities which Mr. Stewart possessed, and it was these attributes which enabled him to take a high place at the bar, even at the very outset of his career-a place which he always maintained, never losing an inch of ground once gained, but steadily pushing forward towards the very front ranks of the profession. At this time business was becoming somewhat stagnant at Nevada City; many important mining suits