The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-10-03
Killings AND HKYDENFELpr.

The deaths Of Solomon HeyGeBfpldt and
Frederick Billings within few days of each
otter aGuonlsh us that the survivors of the
strong race of men who built up tins State
are gradually passing away and THAT it vi |
not te Ong before 4 fUrty-niner will be as
rare as a Veteran Of tie War Of 1872. Hey
denfcldt and b llings came to California
within few months of each other; the one
in 1850. tie other in 1889; tie me from Ala
bama. the ether from Vermont. Both We're
young men; the Suutherner was 81, the Yer
monttF 70. Beth had studied law and had
been admitted to the lar IL the States from
which they emigraled. Both, within
short tire alitT their arrival in their new
h ONE. became members Of leading law
films. Htydenfeldt ard Mersedid lot con-
thine long together on account Of the for
mer going en- the Supreme Bench for full
term . Billings was an original member Of
a fl III which acquired a national reputation
-Halieck. Ptachy. Billings q Park. OF
this fTni the senior member lived to COM
mand the ar my Of tie United States; the
two Juniors died milliOnaireS.
Both Htydenfedt aud Billings wer4
prom nent in politics, ca oh on the side
which 'hiS home associations inclined him.
The former had a narrow escape of bec0m-
ing United States Senator in 1881 the lat
ter vas an active member Of the Republican
party from tie start, but WAS never an
active slitor FORE flee, although once he was
seTiG usly onsidered for seat in the United
States Sen ale. Heydenftldt, on retiriag
from the b. neh. became a member of the
firm from which Billings was about to retire,
being associated with the Skaters, who
came in after Park. Thus the finn to which
Al. III. I Il /. Al.
rarties. Halletk was a Democrat; the
Skaters were original Aholitionists. Diff
ferences of political epiniun did not inter-
fere with the conduct of the law business
of either Tie original firm or the succession.
Every member If each realized fortune by
lis profession. When the war broke out
Hallerk was appointed by strange freak
of fortune to command the armies of the
United States. Park ana Billings went to
New. York 10 take their part in the scramble
for wealth which the war generated. Hey
denfeidt refused TO take the oath which re-
quired him to swear that he had NO SYM
pathy with the rebellion. He said he did
sym pathize with the rebels, and did not care
vino knew it. This coutumacy bebarred
him from pleading in court, and he volun-
tarily withdrew from his firm, which was
continued blythe Skaters.
: In knowledge of law Hevdenfeldt was the
superior OF Billings; but the latter was far
the stronger intellect and the more energetic
spirit Heydenfeldt's last years were spent
in chamber practice which suited his studi-
Gus habits and his love of quiet; he is under
stood to have accumulated quite consid-
cradle fortune, though his advice WIS al
ways at the service of women who could
not afford to pay fees. When b Kings
reached New York he plunged into the or-
tex Of speculation in which his partner,
Park: had already become lie der, and
speedily quintupled the fortune he had
taken from California. His restless energy
aud his Unsuitable propensity Tor work
pointed him out as the proper successor to
Jay Cooke in the reorganization of the
Northern Pacific; he set the enterprise on
It's feet and realized the fortune which had
been Cookies promised land. H last years
were devoted to deeds OF beneyoleuce and
public usefulness.
In: the gallery of paintings belonging to
Mrs Z. 3. Croker at Sacramento there is a
COLLECTION of portraits of men whose lines
were interviewer with the early history of
California;. Some day this collection will
fail into the hands of the State, and will
tind" resting place in the Capitol Building
Ii VILE be Incompetent it does not include
PORTRAITS of Heydenfedt, Billings, and
:olhers<who still finger among u.s.. A small
annual appropriation for its maintenance,
and for tie addition of such portraits as the
Library Trustees may deem appropriate,
would be jadicious. And time presses. The
founders Of the State are becoming few and
far between. A few days ago Judge Shafter
: of the; Superior Court closed a few eloquent
remarks:oh the demise of his old-time part
ner, Judge Heydenfeldt with the sentence,
u have lad in my profession SIX partners
and six managing clerks; all are dead; l
alone remain,