The New York herald., 1876-10-02
OBITUARY.
JAMES LICK.

JAMES LICK.
Tho death OF James Lick tho California philanthro
pist, Is announced by telegraph this morning,
the nnal scene in his lifc having taken
place In San Francisco yesterday morning at
one o'clock. He had been gradually sinking. and
death resulted from the mere decay OF nature His
remains lying in state at Pioneers Hall Tho
funeral will be held on Tuesday afternoon.
James Lick was born at Fredericksburg, Lebanon
county, Pa, August 20, 1896 Hc went through
the usual routine of study that then prevailed
in the interior towns, and In 1919 be-.
gan his business in the establish.
ment OF James Hicksey, piano manufacturer,
OF Baltimore. In 1920 te undertook to engage
in business for himself in New York, but
not having sufficient capital he abandoned this idca
and sailed for Buenos Ayres, where no began
the piano business, entering al the same time into
various speculations. From Buenos Ayrcs he went
to Valparaiso, wherc he remained four years Then
receiving good advices from Peru, he determined to
settle in Lima Ten years later he made up his mind
to dispose OF his property in Peru and take his ros
dcnce San Francisco He reached that city at the
end OF 1S47, and began purchasing real estate The
gold lever did not lure hm away seeing vast streams
his money, buying vacant lots and erecting thereon
dwellings and business structures.
In 1852 he bought property San jose and erect ed
flour mill on it, which, for solid, expensive work and
fnish has been aquaed by any mill In the State
Tho WOOD work was OF mahOgany ana the machinery OF
the finest description. Tho entire cost OF the construc
ton was $780, 600. II was called Licks Folly, but IL
turned out tho finest flour in California, and Lick's
brand commanded the marKet Round the mill be
planted, with his own hands, splendid orchard Of
fruit trees, which In tho carly days Of itself
| fortune While Mr. Lick has been reluctant to sell
any Of his real estate he has been lavish in his gfts
The land which the hall oil the Pioneer Society
| stands was presented by him.
figure of Mr. Lick, attircd in suit Of black-not too
often rcnowed-consistins OF swallow-talled coat
pantaoons-not of the most fashionable cut-and tall
collar, supported BY wealth OF neckerchieL The
style OF his garments never changed with the tickle
fashions. Quite number OF clcrgynen Of San Fran
CISCO among them the Revs. Williams, Stone and Stcb-
bns have been at his on several occasions but
his conversation at such times has nevor inclined
toward religious topics. His views were confined to
that plane Of rationalsm OF which Tom Paine tho
best exponent, and they thoroughly ngrained in
his character reelhinker closely crowding four
| store hardly impressiblc as those gathered
within tho ecclesiastical pale tho dew OF THAR youth
HIS talk with the friends admitted to his was
the Of the day and such points as related 10
! bis Immediate business.
The Lick House was begun In 1885, but as originally
nnished was small and dngy !, a!srward became ans
the new dinng-room should he In all respects
worthy Of the hotel So he sent an agent TO cx-
anime and report upon tho similar accommoda-
tons OF the principal hotels Of Eastern cities, and
the result of the most elegant dining halls In
tho country. Failing to find mechanics sufficiently
skilled to make the frames Of tho pictures and
mirrors that adorn tho room, no had them
done by his own workmcn at San Jose under
Mr.. Licks life and what made his reputation world
wide the ccssion of his immcnsc property
to trustees for benevolent and scientific
purposes The principal objects specified wcre
$1,000 for an immense observatory, $500, 900
10 found and endow the California school
of Mechanical Arts $3.50, 600 for group Of bronze
stauary representing the history OF California;
$780, 900 for an Old LADIES' Homo IN San Francisco
900 for building and maintaining FREQ baths
$780, 900 for bronze mon ument TO Key, author OF
Thc Star.Spangled Banner" $25, 900 In gold to tho
Protestant Orphan Home Of San Francisco. $25, 900
In gold 10 found orphan home in the city OF
San jose and $4,000 to purchase scientific and
mechanical works for the Mechanics Institute
OF San Francisco Mr Lick afterwari changed his
regard to the method OF dispensing his money,
ana aithculh the changes made tho bequcst
werc mainly in detail, tho trustees under
original plan rendered their designations asking
bc relieved. These differences OF opinion have led
many unpleasant incidents, but the grand
ann OF tho old pentleman's lie has not been
charitable fund the deceased had frequently
himself better satisfied with the condition OF affairs,
but has manifested considerable concern at hearing
nothing from his son, John Lick, OF Fredericksburg
Lebanon county, Pa, to whom both letters and tse-
grams had been sent requesting his resig gnation
OF the trustees. All tho rest of the old Board have
rendered thor resignations, though they have
not yet been confirmed by the Court. The
trustees say the business is in such shape
that no complications In carrying
out Mt Lcks charitable designs, though there is some
expressed that the action Of John Lick implies his
intention Of contcsting matters IN the courts.
The total value OF the trust fund estimated at
about s5,O00,000