Niles Searls
Niles Searls (December 22, 1825 – June 18, 1907) was an attorney, politician, and the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court.
Early years
Searls was born in Coeymans, New York. His father, Abraham Searls (born 1802), of English descent, worked as a farmer. His mother, Lydia Niles, was of Scottish descent. Searles had three brothers, Wilson (born 1823), John (born 1832), and Abraham (1844-1877/80, as well as four sisters, Johanna (born 1827), Alice (born 1829), Theresa (born 1835), and Lydia Jane (born 1839/40).[1][2]
When the family moved to Prince Edward, Ontario, Canada, Searls attended school in Wellington for five years before returning to New York to study at Rensselaerville Academy for the next three years. From here, he spent a year in the law office of O.H. Chittenden, preparing himself for the practice of law before attending John W. Fowler's newly established State and National Law School with fellow students Chancellor Hartson and Tim N. Machin. He was admitted to the New York bar May 2, 1848.[2]
Searls travelled to Kentucky and Illinois before settling for a short time in Missouri to practice law, leaving there in 1849 for California with his friend Charles Mulford to join the California Gold Rush. Arriving in California in October 1849, they sold vegetables and prospected for gold.[1]
Career
In 1850, he settled in the town of Nevada (which later became known as Nevada City) where he practiced law. Two years later, he was elected district attorney of Nevada County. Elected on the Know Nothing ticket, from 1855 through 1862, he was a judge of the 14th judicial district.
In 1864, Searls moved back to New York and became a farmer for the next six years before returning to his mountain home in California, and retiring. However, in 1877, Searls was elected to represent Nevada County in the California Senate, and later became Chairman of the Debris Commission.[3][2]
He was appointed California State Supreme Court Commissioner in 1885, serving in this office until April 19, 1887, when he became the 14th Chief Justice of California's Supreme Court. He was defeated for re-election in November 1888. He was again a Supreme Court Commissioner from 1894-1897.[4][2]
- Author
Searls wrote a short book: "Coast to coast by railroad: The journey of Niles Searls--May, 1869",[5] in 1869 about his experiences during the arduous trip to California.
Personal life
In 1853, Searls returned to New York to marry his first cousin, Mary Corinthia Niles (1830-1910) of Rensselaerville, New York, and brought her back to Nevada City. They had two children, one of whom, Fred Searls engaged in the practice of law.[3] Searls' grandson, Fred Searls, Jr., and great-grandson, Carroll Searls, were also attorneys.[4]
Searls' first cousin, and Mary's brother, Addison Niles, was an Associate Justice on the California Supreme Court during the period of 1872-1880.[1]
Legacy
Searls' office, across the street from the Nevada County Courthouse, was converted into the Searls Library, containing the historical documents collection of the Nevada County Historical Society.[4]
References
- ^ a b c Niles, Allen (November 20, 2008). "Abraham Sarls/Searles of NY/ONT". genealogy.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference
Shuckwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Fariss & Smith (1882). "Plumas-Nevada County CA Archives Biographies". usgwarchives.org. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ a b c "The Searls Library, researcher's gold mine". nevadacountyhistory.org. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ Coast to coast by railroad: The journey of Niles Searls--May, 1869
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