California Biographies Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time. Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905 Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176 LEWIS LINCOLN CORY. A man of literary and scholastic attainments, possessing a vigorous mentality and a well-trained mind, Lewis Lincoln Cory holds an assured position among the leading attorneys of Fresno, his legal ability and knowledge being recognized and appreciated. A son of the late Dr. Benjamin Cory, he was born, May 4, 1861, in San Jose, where his earlier years were spent. The descendant of a New Jersey family of prominence, Benjamin Cory was born and bred in Oxford, Ohio. With a natural aptitude for learning, he was given excellent educational ad- vantages, and after receiving the degree of A. B. at the Miami University was graduated from the Cincinnati Medical College with the degree of M. D. Migrating to California in 1848, Dr. Cory settled in San Jose, then the capital of the state, becoming the first American physician to locate in the Santa Clara valley. He took a prominent part in local affairs, being active in the capital fight, and was influential in advancing the industrial, social and business growth and pros- perity of city and county, being the first person to set out a vineyard for commercial pur- poses. For a number of years he served as county physician, and until his death, in 1899, at the age of seventy-three years, was the leading physician of Santa Clara county. In his pro- fessional career, the doctor traveled extensively through the valley and mountains, his practice extending to Santa Cruz and Monterey. Dr. Cory married Sarah Braly, who was born in Mis- souri, near St. Louis, a daughter of Rev. John Braly. With his family, Mr. Braly came west- ward to Oregon, being at Whitman station just prior to the massacre. From there he came to California, locating near Santa Clara, where he improved a farm, on which he brought up his family. He also continued his ministerial labors in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, being the first Presbyterian minister of this part of the state, until his death, at the age of seventy-three years. He married a Miss Hyde, who was of English descent. Of the union of Dr. and Mrs. Cory, eight children were born, Lewis L., the subject of this sketch, being the fourth child in order of birth. After completing the course of study in the grammar and high schools of San Jose, Lewis Lincoln Cory fitted himself for college at the University of the Pacific, after which he attended Rutgers College, at New Brunswick, N. J., for two years. In 1879 he entered the junior class of Princeton University, from which he was graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1881. Becoming a student then in the Columbia Law School, he studied there for two years, when he was gradu- ated with the degree of LL. B. Being admitted to the bar in New York in 1883, Mr. Cory began the practice of his profession in that city, for two years being in the office of Judge William Fullerton. Returning to California in 1885, he practiced law in San Jose until 1886, when he opened an office in Fresno, where he has since been located. As a general practitioner, he has built up an extensive and lucrative clientage. Making a specialty of civil law, Mr. Cory has been associated with some very important land cases, and is now attorney for the Southern Pa- cific Railroad Company, the First National Bank, the Street Railway Company, the Water Com- pany, and the Electric Light Company. Well versed in legal lore, wise and firm in his decisions, Mr. Cory inspires people with the greatest confidence in his judgment and uprightness, and is highly respected alike by his brother members of the bar, and by all with whom he is brought in contact, either in a business or a social way. In New York City, Mr. Cory married Caroline A. Martin, a native of Rahway, N. J., and they are the parents of five children, namely : Edith M., attending the Leland Stanford, Jr., University, being a member of the class of 1907; Catherine H., a student in the Fresno high school ; Margaret E. ; Martin and Benjamin. Politically Mr. Cory is a steadfast Republican, and socially he belongs to Delta Upsilon Fraternity of Rutgers College. He is also a member of the Fresno County Bar Association.