Alameda County Biographies

STEPHEN G. NYE

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

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

 

	Was born in January, 1834, at Westfield, New York.  His father, John Nye, was among 
the first settlers on the Holland Land Company�s Purchase in western New York, when there were 
no roads and all was forest west of Buffalo, and he and his family suffered the privations and 
toils incident to pioneering. The children were two sons; one of whom met his death in the 
Union Army in Virginia in 1862.  The subject of this sketch received such education as the 
common school could give until the age of sixteen, when he commenced teaching, and with his 
earnings pursued his studies until his graduation at Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania, 
1858.  For the next year and a half he was principal of Westfield Academy, and he then entered 
the law office of Hon. T. P. Grosvenor, at Dunkirk, New York where he pursued his studies until 
November, 1861, when he came to California. His first bread was earned by teaching the district 
school at Centreville in this county for three months.  He then entered the law office of Janes 
& Lake as clerk in the spring of 1862, and there remained until the death of Mr. Janes broke up 
the partnership.  He was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court in April, 1862.  In 1863 he 
returned to this county, where he has ever since resided.  In the fall of 1863 he was elected 
District Attorney of this county, and served two years.  On the resignation of Judge Noble 
Hamilton as County Judge, in August, 1867, he was appointed by Gov. Low to fill the vacancy and 
was successively elected thereafter to the same office until his resignation, which took effect 
September 1, 1878.  He then resumed and has ever since continued the practice of his profession.  
In 1879, after the adoption of the New Constitution, he was elected to the State Senate, where 
he served in the sessions of 1880 and 1881.  He was married in January, 1863, to Miss Emma M. 
Hall, daughter of Asa Hall of Westfield, New York.  In 1865 they purchased a block of land in 
San Leandro, and built a house, where they have ever since resided.

History of Alameda County, California�, Oakland, M.W. Wood Publ., 1883, p. 954-955