Lewis Francis Byington

Lewis Francis Byington (May 24, 1868 – May 7, 1943) was an American lawyer, historian, civic leader, and Democrat politician who served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors (1890–1892), and California and District Attorney of San Francisco (1890–1905).[1][2]

Lewis F. Byington
District Attorney of San Francisco
In office
1890–1905
Preceded byDaniel J. Murphy
Succeeded byWilliam H. Langdon
San Francisco Supervisor
In office
1990–1892
Personal details
Born(1868-05-24)May 24, 1868
DiedMay 7, 1943(1943-05-07) (aged 74)
San Francisco, California
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic
ProfessionAttorney, Politician

Early life

Byington was born on May 24, 1886, in Downieville, California, one of the historic mining towns in Sierra County, northern California. He was a son of Lewis Byington, one of the early pioneers of Sierra County and Catherine (Freehill) Byington. His grandmother was Abigail Webster, a cousin of Daniel Webster.[3]

His sister, Mary Emma Byington, was married to Tirey L. Ford, 18th California Attorney General from 1899-1900 and General Counsel for the United Railroads.[4]

Byington went to public school in Downieville. He graduated from Santa Clara College, now the University of Santa Clara, where he received the degree of Bachelor of Science. In 1887 he earned his Bachelor of law degree at Hastings College of Law, and went into private practice in San Francisco.[1]

Professional life

Lewis Byington was a member of the California bar and practiced his profession in San Francisco. His practice was in the Supreme Court and Federal Courts of California.[5]

Lewis F. Byington caricatures
1906
1910

In 1898 he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He was an advocate of lower taxes, support of public schools, and a reduction of water and gas rates.

In 1989, Byington became a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, and 12 years later became grand president of the organization. He was vice president of the California Historic Landmarks League, a member of the University of California Club, a member of the National Geographic Society, and an officer of the San Francisco Lodge, No. 3, a Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He was the principal speaker for the celebration of California's admission to the Union.[1]

Botkin and Byington

In 1899 he was elected as San Francisco District Attorney from 1900–1905.[6] As District Attorney of the Seventh Ward, he prosecuted the murderer Cordelia Botkin.[7]

On December 7, 1906, in a letter by Governor George C. Pardee to Lewis Francis Byington, in response to letters sent by Byington, which asked that Docia Nolan, a woman convicted of robbery be pardoned since Henry Milton made a confession exonerating her and Michael Dolan for any participation of the crime. Pardee requests Byington's opinion on the guilt of Docia Nolan and requests that he send evidence upon which she was convicted. The letter is signed on Executive Department, State of California, Sacramento letterhead. The letter included a two-page typewritten copy of Henry Milton's confession.[8]

In 1929, Byington headed a committee appointed by the Native Sons of the Golden West to organize financing for the construction of a statue at the summit of Pioneer Park. The stock market crashed and relatives of the pioneers could not come up with the money.[9] Perhaps this was Coit Tower, completed in 1933 or the bronze statue of Christopher Columbus completed in 1957.

Byington was president of the San Francisco civil service commission for major James Rolph.[10]

In 1935, Byington became president of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, which provides water and electric power services to the city. He held this position until his death in 1943.

Byington was unmarried. He made his home at 1412 Post Street, San Francisco.[2]

Death

On May 7, 1943, Byington died of pneumonia at Stanford Hopital, San Francisco. He was 75 years old. Funeral services were held at St. Mary's Cathedral. He was buried at the Holy Cross Mausoleum.[2]

Publications

Byington wrote the following books:

  • Byington, Lewis Francis (1931). The History of San Francisco. S. J. Clarke. OCLC 9592779. OL 6768917M.
  • Byington, Lewis Francis. Downieville and its Historic Past. OCLC 83751114.
  • Byington, Lewis Francis. Sierra County and its Historic Past. OCLC 54234050.
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References
  1. San Francisco and its Municipal Administration 1902, Hon. Lewis F. Byington, page 46
  2. "L. F. Byington Dies in S.F." Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California. 1943-05-07. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  3. Byington, Lewis, The National Cyclopædia of American Biography, 1941
  4. Bailey Millard (1924). "History of the San Francisco Bay Region". The American Historical Society, Inc. pp. 83–84. Retrieved 2013-01-08.
  5. San Francisco: its builders, past and present, pictorial, Page 249
  6. Municipal Reports for the Fiscal Year 1898-99 By San Francisco (Calif.) Board of Supervisors
  7. TWO LEADING FIGURES IN THE RECENT BOTKIN MURDER TRIAL, in the Tacoma Times; published April 30, 1904; retrieved August 16, 2015 (via Chronicling America)
  8. George C. Pardee letter to Lewis Francis Byington, 1906, December 7.
  9. Pioneer Park Chronology Issue No. 136, 1996, Internet Archive at archive.org
  10. Reno Evening Gazette, Sept. 14, 1931, p. 15.
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