Niles Searls
Encyclopedia
Niles Searls was an attorney, politician, and the Chief Justice of California.
. His father, Abraham Searls (born 1802), of English descent, worked as a farmer. His mother, Lydia Niles, was of Scottish descent. Searles had three brothers, Wilson (born 1823), John (born 1832), and Abraham (1844-1877/80, as well as four sisters, Johanna (born 1827), Alice (born 1829), Theresa (born 1835), and Lydia Jane (born 1839/40).
When the family moved to Prince Edward
, Ontario
, Canada
, Searls attended school in Wellington
for five years before returning to New York to study at Rensselaerville
Academy for the next three years. From here, he spent a year in the law office of O.H. Chittenden, preparing himself for the practice of law before attending John W. Fowler's newly established State and National Law School
with fellow students Chancellor Hartson and Tim N. Machin
. He was admitted to the New York bar May 2, 1848.
Searls travelled to Kentucky
and Illinois
before settling for a short time in Missouri
to practice law. When he decided to join the California Gold Rush
, he chose the wagon train company endorsed by the Daily Missouri Republican, the Pioneer Line. He traveled with his friend from law school, Charles Mulford. Arriving in California in October 1849, they mined and traded.
) where he practiced law. Two years later, he was elected district attorney of Nevada County
. Elected on the Know Nothing
ticket, from 1855 through 1862, he was a judge of the 14th judicial district.
In 1864, Searls moved back to New York and became a farmer for the next six years before returning to his mountain home in California, and retiring. However, in 1877, Searls was elected to represent Nevada County in the California Senate, and later became Chairman of the Debris Commission.
At the 1884 Democratic National Convention
, Searls nominated General William Rosecrans
for Vice President of the United States
, but Thomas A. Hendricks
went on to be selected as the running mate to Grover Cleveland
.
Searls was appointed California State Supreme Court
Commissioner in 1885, serving in this office until April 19, 1887, when he became the 14th Chief Justice of California. Defeated for re-election in November 1888, he became a Supreme Court Commissioner for a second time during the period of 1894-1897.
Searls sat on the Board of Directors of the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad
.
, and brought her back to Nevada City, traveling by steamer with their friends, Charles Mulford and his new bride, Deb.
They had two children, one of whom, Fred Searls (born 1854) engaged in the practice of law, and the other was a mechanical engineer.
He kept a diary about his experiences in 1869 during an arduous rail trip from New York to California and wrote a book about it, "Coast to coast by railroad: The journey of Niles Searls--May, 1869",
Searls was Vice President of the Society of California Pioneers
. Along with Aaron A. Sargent, Searls was a Freemason
of the Nevada Lodge, No. 13.
He retired to Berkeley, California
in 1899, and died at his home eight years later. He was a Protestant.
Searls' grandson, Fred Searls, Jr., and great-grandson, Carroll Searls, were all attorneys. His great-grandson, Frederick Searls (1912-1998), also an attorney, was Vice President of Pacific Gas and Electric Company
.
Searls' first cousin, and Mary's brother, Addison Niles
, was an Associate Justice
on the California Supreme Court during the period of 1872-1880.
Early years
Searls, whose last name is also sometimes spelled as Searles, was born in Coeymans, New YorkCoeymans (town), New York
For the community within the town, see Coeymans , New York.Coeymans is a town in Albany County, New York, USA. The population was 7,418 at the 2010 census. The town is named after an early settler, who was the patent-holder for the area. The town is in the southeast part of the county, south of...
. His father, Abraham Searls (born 1802), of English descent, worked as a farmer. His mother, Lydia Niles, was of Scottish descent. Searles had three brothers, Wilson (born 1823), John (born 1832), and Abraham (1844-1877/80, as well as four sisters, Johanna (born 1827), Alice (born 1829), Theresa (born 1835), and Lydia Jane (born 1839/40).
When the family moved to Prince Edward
Prince Edward County, Ontario
Prince Edward County is a single-tier municipality and a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario.-Geography:Prince Edward County is located in Southern Ontario on a large irregular headland or littoral at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, just west of the head of the St. Lawrence River...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Searls attended school in Wellington
Wellington, Ontario
Wellington is a farming community located in Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada. Wellington's population is roughly 1700 people. Once called Smokeville after a local First Nations elder, the name was changed in the 1860s to Wellington....
for five years before returning to New York to study at Rensselaerville
Rensselaerville, New York
Rensselaerville is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. The population was 1,843 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Stephen Van Rensselaer...
Academy for the next three years. From here, he spent a year in the law office of O.H. Chittenden, preparing himself for the practice of law before attending John W. Fowler's newly established State and National Law School
State and National Law School
State and National Law School was an early practical training law school founded in 1849 by John W. Fowler in Ballston Spa, New York located in Saratoga County. It was also known as New York State and National Law School, Ballston Law School, and Fowler's State and National Law School. In 1853 the...
with fellow students Chancellor Hartson and Tim N. Machin
Tim N. Machin
Timothy N. Machin was the tenth Lieutenant Governor of California from 1863 to 1867. He previously served in the California State Assembly, representing Tuolumne and Mono counties for two terms in 1862 and 1863....
. He was admitted to the New York bar May 2, 1848.
Searls travelled to Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
before settling for a short time in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
to practice law. When he decided to join the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
, he chose the wagon train company endorsed by the Daily Missouri Republican, the Pioneer Line. He traveled with his friend from law school, Charles Mulford. Arriving in California in October 1849, they mined and traded.
Career
In 1850, he settled in the town of Nevada (which later became known as Nevada CityNevada City, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Nevada City had a population of 3,068. The population density was 1,399.7 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Nevada City was 2,837 White, 26 African American, 28 Native American, 46 Asian, 0 Pacific Islander, 40 from other races,...
) where he practiced law. Two years later, he was elected district attorney of Nevada County
Nevada County, California
Nevada County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of California, in the Mother Lode country. As of 2010 its population was 98,764. The county seat is Nevada City.-History:Nevada County was created in 1851 from parts of Yuba County....
. Elected on the Know Nothing
Know Nothing
The Know Nothing was a movement by the nativist American political faction of the 1840s and 1850s. It was empowered by popular fears that the country was being overwhelmed by German and Irish Catholic immigrants, who were often regarded as hostile to Anglo-Saxon Protestant values and controlled by...
ticket, from 1855 through 1862, he was a judge of the 14th judicial district.
In 1864, Searls moved back to New York and became a farmer for the next six years before returning to his mountain home in California, and retiring. However, in 1877, Searls was elected to represent Nevada County in the California Senate, and later became Chairman of the Debris Commission.
At the 1884 Democratic National Convention
1884 Democratic National Convention
In 1884, the Democrats gathered in Chicago for their National Convention. The leading candidate for the nomination was New York Governor Grover Cleveland. Cleveland's reputation for good government made him a national figure. The Republican Party nominated James G. Blaine for president in 1884,...
, Searls nominated General William Rosecrans
William Rosecrans
William Starke Rosecrans was an inventor, coal-oil company executive, diplomat, politician, and United States Army officer. He gained fame for his role as a Union general during the American Civil War...
for Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
, but Thomas A. Hendricks
Thomas A. Hendricks
Thomas Andrews Hendricks was an American politician who served as a Representative and a Senator from Indiana, the 16th Governor of Indiana , and the 21st Vice President of the United States...
went on to be selected as the running mate to Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
.
Searls was appointed California State Supreme Court
Supreme Court of California
The Supreme Court of California is the highest state court in California. It is headquartered in San Francisco and regularly holds sessions in Los Angeles and Sacramento. Its decisions are binding on all other California state courts.-Composition:...
Commissioner in 1885, serving in this office until April 19, 1887, when he became the 14th Chief Justice of California. Defeated for re-election in November 1888, he became a Supreme Court Commissioner for a second time during the period of 1894-1897.
Searls sat on the Board of Directors of the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad
Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad
The Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad was located in Northern California's Nevada County and Placer County, where it connected with the Central Pacific Railroad. The Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Company incorporated on April 4, 1874, and was headquartered in Grass Valley, California...
.
Personal life
In 1853, Searls returned to New York to marry his first cousin, Mary Corinthia Niles (1830-1910) of Rensselaerville, New YorkRensselaerville, New York
Rensselaerville is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. The population was 1,843 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Stephen Van Rensselaer...
, and brought her back to Nevada City, traveling by steamer with their friends, Charles Mulford and his new bride, Deb.
They had two children, one of whom, Fred Searls (born 1854) engaged in the practice of law, and the other was a mechanical engineer.
He kept a diary about his experiences in 1869 during an arduous rail trip from New York to California and wrote a book about it, "Coast to coast by railroad: The journey of Niles Searls--May, 1869",
Searls was Vice President of the Society of California Pioneers
Society of California Pioneers
The Society of California Pioneers and its members are listed in the Annals of San Francisco of 1855. The key stipulation seems to be that they arrived in California prior to December 31, 1849. Since this was a membership organization, it lists only a portion of the pioneers that came to...
. Along with Aaron A. Sargent, Searls was a Freemason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
of the Nevada Lodge, No. 13.
He retired to Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
in 1899, and died at his home eight years later. He was a Protestant.
Searls' grandson, Fred Searls, Jr., and great-grandson, Carroll Searls, were all attorneys. His great-grandson, Frederick Searls (1912-1998), also an attorney, was Vice President of Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
The Pacific Gas and Electric Company , commonly known as PG&E, is the utility that provides natural gas and electricity to most of the northern two-thirds of California, from Bakersfield almost to the Oregon border...
.
Searls' first cousin, and Mary's brother, Addison Niles
Addison Niles
Addison Cook Niles was an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of California from 1872-1880. The town of Niles in Fremont, California is named after Addison Niles, who was once a railroad attorney for the Western Pacific Railroad....
, was an Associate Justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth...
on the California Supreme Court during the period of 1872-1880.
Historic recognition
Built in 1872, Searls' brick, two room, single story law office on Church Street, across from the Nevada County Courthouse, was converted into the Searls Library, containing the historical documents collection of the Nevada County Historical Society.Partial bibliography
- Niles Searls diary : ms. S, 1849 May 9-Oct. 1.
- (1869), Coast to coast by railroad: the journey of Niles Searls--May, 1869.