Santa Clara County Biographies


This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


          
STEPHEN W. DE LACY
 
            Stephen W. De Lacy was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, May 3, 1843.  
Here he learned the trades of ship carpentering and steam engineering.  In 1863 
he removed to New York City, and in the summer of that year sailed via Panama 
for California, arriving in San Francisco July 2.  Proceeding at once to Santa 
Clara County, where his parents resided, he first settled in Almaden township, 
and remained for two years in the employ of the company then managing the 
celebrated quicksilver mines.  He then removed to the city of San Jose, and went 
into the business of contracting and building, which he followed for several 
years.  In 1870 he entered the ranks of journalism, as a reporter with the San 
Jose Daily Independent, and shortly, in conjunction with his brother, Hugh A. De 
Lacy, started the San Jose Weekly Reporter.  In 1872 he joined the Daily Record 
at Pioche, Nevada, remaining as its city editor for nearly a year.  Returning to 
San Jose in 1873, he became the city editor of the Daily Evening Patriot, and 
continued in the position when the name of that paper was changed to Herald.  
Resigning in 1879, Mr. De Lacy began the publication of the Daily Morning Times, 
believing that the field was good for an independent newspaper.  In that 
enterprise he was associated with J. G. Murdoch, formerly foreman of the Herald; 
the editorial department being intrusted [sic] to F. B. Murdoch, a veteran 
journalist, formerly proprietor of the Patriot, who subsequently became a 
partner in the newspaper.  The firm name was Times Publishing Company.  Their 
first issue was on July 15, 1879, and the paper was favorably received.  On the 
first of January, 1880, Mr. De Lacy became sole proprietor by purchase of the 
interests of his partners.  From that time the success of the Times was 
remarkable.  The aim of the owner and manger was to present a paper which, in 
its treatment of local events, should be equally readable and reliable; in 
general, the implacable foe of wrong, the inflexible champion of right, and at 
all events independent in opinion, and fearless in its expression beyond the 
possibility of clique, faction, or sinister interest to influence.  In the 
realization of that ideal, his success was decisive and permanent.  But at the 
height of success, Mr. De Lacy conceived the idea that a daily newspaper founded 
and conducted on the principles of the Times would flourish in San Francisco.  
Accordingly, on the sixth of September, 1883, he sold to C. M. Shortridge, 
proprietor of the San Jose Mercury, his entire interest in the Times, binding 
himself not to resume journalism in San Jose for three years.
            On the sixteenth of February, 1884, in connection with James H. 
Barry, a popular printer of San Francisco, Mr. De Lacy began, under what seemed 
favorable auspices, the publication of the Daily Evening Star.  Its principle 
was�in the expressive phrase of the day��anti-boss, anti-monopoly.�  But 
powerful enemies and journalistic rivalry, and especially the spurious fidelity 
of the industrial classes, in whose interest the paper was conducted, proved too 
much for the enterprise.  On the nineteenth of June, 1884, having lost heavily, 
the Star Company suspended, promptly discharging all its obligations to a penny. 
 Mr. De Lacy returned to San Jose and engaged in various business.  On the sixth 
of September, 1886, upon the expiration of his bond, he pluckily re-issued the 
Daily Morning Times, meeting with great success in the enterprise of 
re-establishing it, conducting it upon its original plane, and pushing it up to 
its former position as a generous advocate of the rights of the people.
            Mr. De Lacy married, September 10, 1875, Clara J., daughter of J. W. 
Haskell, and has five children:  Edith Viola, Walter Haskell, Stephen Percival, 
Edward Ralph Merlin, and Clara Estelle De Lacy.
 
Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, 
Illustrated. - Edited by H. S. Foote.- Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 
1888.
Pg. 104-105
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler