BOWERS

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 05:10:11 :

Marin Journal
Thursday, August 31, 1893

DEATH OF T. J. BOWERS
Former Superior Judge of Marin County
Heart Failure The Cause

A great many people in this county on Monday heard with sorrow the announcement of the death of Ex-Judge T. J. Bowers, formerly of San Rafael, and recently of San Francisco, where he died at his residence, 1825 Hyde street, on Saturday.

He was born in Nashville, Tenn., in 1828, where he studied law and was admitted to the bar.

He came to California in 1850 and settle in Nevada County for a time, removing from there to Sierra county in 1854, where he practiced law until 1868, when he was appointed Chief Justice of Idaho by Johnson, He presided in that court until relieved of the position in the year following by a change in the administration, when he returned to this state and settled in Marin county. Here he was for three successive terms district attorney, and, upon the adoption of the new constitution in 1879, was elected Superior Judge, and upon the expiration of his term, in 1884, he came to San Francisco and practiced law there up to the time of his death.

Last year Judge Bowers was a candidate for the nomination for Superior Judge on the Democratic ticket and subsequently was before the people for a police judgeship, but was unsuccessful in both instances.

He was one of the leaders in the movement known as the Butte county compromise in 1865 when the Democratic party was divided into two factions, the Douglas and Breckinridge, and through the instrumentality of which harmony was restored in the party ranks.

Although Judge Bowers came to the state during the early days of its settlement, and was a resident while many stirring events were taking place, his life was quiet and unobtrusive, his genial manner and unassuming ways being marked characteristics.

He was a leading Mason, and had held high and frequent office in the lodges of that order, which had charge of the funeral exercises from the Masonic Temple on Tuesday at 1:30 o’clock.

Heart failure, which he had long anticipated, was the cause of his death. He arose Saturday morning feeling comparatively well, but was soon compelled to return to his bed and the end came shortly afterward.

When the Superior Court met Monday Attorney H. Wilkins informed the Court of the death of Judge Bowers in San Francisco. Judge Angellotti made a few touching remarks concerning the deceased’s ability as a judge, a lawyer, and a citizen, and then appointed ex-Judge Mahon, Atty. H. Wilkins, Dist. Atty. James W. Cochrane to draft resolutions respecting the memory of the Judge and report the same to the Court. The Court was ordered adjourned out of respect to the deceased.