The San Francisco call., 1904-11-25

OAKLAND. Nov. "a. - Just ss
Thanksgiving morning dsWned Frank
J. Monitt gave I'D the fight that
he had been wagiug against death for
three weeks and quietly passed away
His death occurred al s:25 o'clock
There had been 2 slight rally yester-
day, but the hear, which rad been
weak and uncertain. finally gave out
this morning and there pL-sed away
one Of the best known men. not alone
of Oakland. but Of California
Er NofItt's illness had extended
over several years. but il was not until
within the last few weeks that any
Thing serious was expected. He had
been suffering from both kidney and
liver troubles and was compelled 70 be
very careful with his diet. A few
weeks ago ne dined with friend and
q slight indiscretion in eating intensi-
. fed his troubles He took 70 his bed,
his heart began 70 fail and ne was
never able 70 rally.
For some time M Mofitt had been
Convinced that his end was approach
ing and he met death quietly. He sent
for many of his old friends and bade
them all good-by. His family was at
his bedside when death came. The
funeral viii take place on Saturday
from the late home al the corner Of
Filbert and Eighteenth streets and
services viii be held later at the
Church Of St Francis de Sales. Inter-,
nent VIII be IN the Mof1tt family plat
ia St Msry's Cemetery.
Just before his death Mr.. Mofitt ar
ranged all Of his business affairs. He
had accumulated a considerable for
tune IN the last fifteen years, which is
vsriously estimated at from $3.50. 900
70 $500, 900. Most Of this money was
invested in stocks and bonds, he be-
ing z heavy holder Of Contra Costa
Water Company's securities.
Prank J. Mof1tt was born in Oakland
IN 1899. His father was James Mof1tt,
one Of the pioneers and a famous fire
chief Of the early days. Young Mofitt
was educated in the public schools Of
Oakland. Journalism was his bent, and
while yet IN young manhood he was at
trscted TO the newspaper field His first
attempt IN serious effort was to estab-
lieh the Enterprise at Newark, where
II had been expected large city would
grow as a center Of the old South Pa
cffc Coast Railroad. James G. Fair,
the principal owner OF that system. had
planned 70 make Newark large com
rnunity. But after Fair failed in his
fight 70 run the road through Tele-
graph avenue in Oakland he abandoned
development schemes and subsequently
sold out the South Pacific Coast line
70 the Southern Pacific Company.
8dofitt conducted the Newark Enter
prise for some time, and after the boom
burst returned 70 Oakland, where he
engaged in newspaper work, sometimes
as correspondent for San Francisco
dsilies and later as proprietor and ed
itor Of the Oakland Weekly Independ-
ent- This paper was the beginning Of
the Oakland Enquirer, for the Inde-
pendent was purchased by Frank A.
Leach and turned into the Enquirer.
Later Mofitt secured the Oakland
Morning Times. which he ran for some
years and which also fell into the
hands Of Frank A. Leach.
Politics engaged Mofltts attention
early In life, and in this field Of activ-
fly he developed an ability that placed
him for years In the forefront Of Demo-
cratic party councils. His Initiation
was in 1884 as a candidate for the AS
sembly, when he defeated r. NJ Apgar
IN heavily Republican district Mof-
ftt served through the session Of 1856,
and In 1887. after defeating H. A.
Powell for the Senate, served a term as
State Senator. In that capacity Moffitt
became one Of the leading men Of the
state crfcI n the To-
the election Of a United States Senator
IN 1881 the Democrats had control of the
Legislature. George Hearst was a can
oidste and his fight was handled by
Senator Moffitf- Hearst was elected.
After completing a term in the Sen
ate Aofhtt retired and Was aDDoinfed