William Leidesdorff

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William Alexander Leidesdorff (born about 1810 on St.Croix, Virgin Islands, died May 18, 1848 in San Francisco) was one of the earliest settlers in California. His father Wilhelm Leidesdorff, a Danish citizen, was of the Jewish community of Altoona, Schleswig-Holstein, a Danish domain near the free city of Hamburg and was a merchant and sugar factor. His mother Marie Anne Spark was a light complected woman of mixed race who was from Dominica. In census records, Marie Anne Spark was classified Carib Indian.

Contents 1 Early Life 2 In San Francisco 3 In Memoriam 4 The Leidesdorff Estate 5 Bibliography 6 References

[edit] Early Life

While little is known about his early life, William Leidesdorff left his home when about fifteen years of age. After leaving St. Croix, he went to New York, and then to New Orleans, where he held posts with firms associated with his father and the office of "captain of the port." He then arrived at Yerba Buena (later San Francisco) around 1840.

[edit] In San Francisco

On arriving at Yerba Buena he began the establishment of extensive commercial relations with "the States." When the American flag was raised over San Francisco (July, 1846) he became vice consul. He bore a high reputation for integrity and enterprise. He is said to have been "liberal, hospitable, cordial, confiding even to a fault." Leidesdorff became the wealthiest man in San Francisco. During the eight years of his residence there he organized the first American public school, served as alcalde, as a member of the Ayuntamiento, as one of the six aldermen, or town-councilors, and as city treasurer.

Although he adhered to his mother's Roman Catholic faith, he was never a communicant in any church. Some of his intimates claimed to have known that he was of Jewish extraction. He is said to have been a man of fine appearance, "swarthy" (Sweasy), and of an irascible temperament. He never spoke of his relatives; he never married; and, though conducting a great establishment, he practically lived alone.

He died in 1848. On the day of his burial the town was in mourning, the flags were at half-mast, business was suspended, and the schools were closed. His remains were interred in the Roman Catholic graveyard behind the church of the Mission Dolores.

[edit] In Memoriam

Leidesdorff Street in San Francisco was named for him.

[edit] The Leidesdorff Estate

It is certain that William Alexander Leidesdorff of San Francisco and Wolf Leidesdorfer of Szathmar, Hungary, were different persons. But legally, that fact has never been established. The California pioneer died intestate, and the court appointed Captain John L. Folsom temporary administrator of his large estate. Folsom visited St. Croix and found some relatives even Leidesdorff's mother and purchased the claims of all these people. But they obtained no standing in court. The uncertain condition of the probate laws, together with the fact discovered that William Leidesdorff, though he had held federal offices, had never been a citizen of the United States, and the additional fact that these West Indian relatives had sold titles to Captain Folsom which the courts could not approve, created so much confusion regarding the estate that, in 1854, Governor Bigler, in a special message to the senate, recommended the escheat of the estate, then worth a million and a half, and suggested that proceedings be commenced for its recovery (Journal of the Senate of California, 1854). Another reason why the courts refused to admit the title of the Wet Indian relatives was that there were "other heirs, who had never conveyed away their rights in the estate" (Sweasy, Early Days and Men of California). These "other heirs" still lived in Europe at Altoona and Copenhagen.

The following facts appear in connection with his estate: (1) The claims of his West Indian "relatives" were thrown out of court, the relevance of their evidence of relationship being summarily rejected. (2) No Danish family of the name of Leidesdorff ever appeared to claim the estate of William Leidesdorff of San Francisco. Though other members of the family of the name lived on St. Croix well after his death.(3) The statute of limitations covers and protects every title obtained from John L. Folsom and others who acquired possession.

[edit] Bibliography

• California Reports, 1854;
• Journal of the Senate of California, 1854: Soule, Annals of San Francisco;
• Hittell, History of California, vols. ii and iv;
• Sweasy, Early Days and Men of California.

[edit] References

• This article incorporates text from the 1901–1906 Jewish Encyclopedia, a publication now in the public domain.