doc241 - Schoenherr Home Page in Sunny Chula Vista

his old neighbors. From this time onward he was a resident and active worker for the
new city.
In 1852, he was elected and served as associate justice of the court of sessions.
He also became secretary of the board of trade and held the office twelve years. April
21, 1856, he was admitted to the practice of law. In 1858-9 he served as county treasurer,
and again in 1861-2-3. In 1866-7 he was city trustee and in the latter year was instrumental
in selling the city's lands to A. E. Horton. He had shown his faith in the new
town by settling there upon his first arrival; and he now stood by Horton and did everything
in his power to aid in building up the new addition.
From the time of his removal to Horton's Addition he began to prosper and became
a vital element in the life of the new town. In 1870 he was a leading spirit in the
organization of the first bank in San Diego, the Bank of San Diego, which later was
merged in the Consolidated National Bank, in both of which, as well as in the San Diego
Savings Bank, he was continuously a director and officer. In 1871, he went to Washington
city to represent San Diego in the matter of its pueblo lands, and argued the case
with skill and ability. In company with James M. Pierce he built the handsome and substantial
Pierce-Morse block on the northwest corner of Sixth and F Streets, and, in company
with Messrs. Whaley and Dalton, the Morse, Whaley & Dalton block. At one time
he was quite wealthy, but the collapse of the great boom hit him very hard, and he never
fully recovered.
He was one of the prime movers in the organization of the San Diego & Gila Railroad
and acted as a director and officer as long as the organization continued. He was
also prominently connected with all other railroad projects from that time until his death,
and probably knew the story of San Diego's struggle
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[Ephraim W. Morse, the ideal citizen]
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for railroad facilities better than any other man. At the time the representatives of the
Santa Fe came to San Diego, in October, 1879, he was secretary of the Citizens' Committee,
charged with the duty of furnishing the visitors with information. This duty he performed
in a remarkably efficient manner, promptly producing everything called for, and
answering all questions clearly and accurately. His associates testify that his great
knowledge and untiring energy on this occasion were among the strongest elements
contributing to the bringing of the railroad.
Among other activities, he was a member of the real estate firm of Morse, Noell &
Whaley from 1880 to 1886, and for about a year longer of the firm of Morse, Whaley &
Dalton. He was also connected with the San Diego Flume Company and made a considerable
investment in it. He was public administrator in 1876-7. He had little taste for
office, however, and only served when he felt it to be a duty. One of his greatest services
was in connection with the park, which he was instrumental in having set aside.
With characteristic steadfastness, he was a friend of the park to the end and stood up
for its preservation and improvement, even when others weakened. He was a truly public
spirited citizen, to whom no worthy enterprise or charity appealed in vain. He was an