Abraham Lincoln Frick, who is successfully engaged in the practice of law in Oakland, belongs to an old California family, his father, George Washington Frick, having settled here many years ago. He was a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and a son of Abraham Frick, a descendant of early German settlers of Pennsylvania. The paternal grandfather died in 1888 and his wife some years earlier. In their family were eight children, six sons and two daughters. The parents sought the opportunities of the middle west, going to Illinois about 1839 and settling on a farm near Moline. With them was George Washington Frick, father of our subject. There he attended the district schools, supplementing his knowledge by private study and subsequently taking a course in the Mount Morris Seminary when he was about twenty years old. In Galena, Illinois, in 1852, he married Mary Elizabeth Bryant, and before the year was out the young couple started for California, being accompanied by Mrs. Frick's parents. Arriving in the Golden state in 1853, Mr. Frick taught school in Santa Cruz for two terms, at the end of which time he removed to Centerville, Alameda county, there following the same profession. He was a republican of strong convictions and from the beginning took an active part in political affairs. In 1857 he removed to Sonoma county, purchasing a ranch of one hundred and twenty acres, to the cultivation of which he gave some time, while during the winter months he taught in Bethel school. In 1860 he was the nominee for sheriff on his party's ticket but withdrew before the election in favor of a union democrat, in order to promote the chances of the union party, which was then formed between the Douglas democrats and republicans. He was active in the Union League movement and was elected president of the Bethel Union League. Becoming more and more prominent in his party, he was chosen chairman of the Sonoma county delegation to the state convention in which George C. Gorham was selected as candidate for governor. Twice Mr. Frick served as supervisor, being elected in a county in which a democratic majoriity prevailed. This may be taken as a testimonial of his integrity and the confidence which even his political opponents had in his ability. For fifteen years he served as a school trustee and was an officer in the Methodist Episcopal church practically throughout his life.
In 1871 he sold his interests near Petaluma and located in Mendocino county, where he remained until 1874, when he made his home in Santa Barbara county, identifying himself with the Lompoc Temperance Colony, being one of the pioneers of that movement. He kept the first general store in Lompoc and while holding the office of school trustee there assisted in making possible the erection of the five thousand dollar schoolhouse, which was erected within the first year of the settlement. He also took great interest in building the church for the Methodist Episcopal denomination. After selling his store in Lompoc he bought a dairy ranch of one thousand acres in San Miguelito canyon, about 1876, and three years later took up his permanent residence thereon. He subsequently rented this property and removed to Oakland in order to give his children better educational advantages. He died while on a visit to Lompoc, July 12, 1889, at the age of sixty-four years, his wife having passed away May 3, 1884. She was a daughter of William Cowper Bryant, a New Englander, who had removed to Illinois early in that state's history, becoming a merchant of Galena. He made several trips to California by way of Mexico and the Isthmus, and while crossing the plains was shot by Indians, although he was not fatally wounded. He turned his attention to the draying business in San Francisco and while so occupied sustained injuries which crippled him for life. His wife, Anna (Sterret) Bryant, was of German extraction, deeply interested in church and charitable work and known throughout the state as "Mother Bryant." She lived to be about seventy years old and had the respect of all who knew her. Two of her sons, John and William, both became ministers. Mrs. Frick was president of the Women's Christian Temperance Union of Lompoc at the time of her death and always took part in movements for the upbuilding and betterment of humanity along moral and intellectual lines. In the family of George W. Frick were the following children: George W., a well known educator of Alameda county; Laura A., who died December 3, 1888; Abraham Lincoln, of this review; John Frederick, who was born October 23, 1869, and is a lawyer; and Blanche, born October 9, 1874.
Abraham L. Frick was born in Sonoma county, California, February 21, 1866, and there attended the public schools until 1875, when he went to Santa Barbara, where he completed his course and subsequently entered the high school, which he attended until the age of eighteen. He then became a student of the San Jose high school, in which institution he remained for six months, subsequently improving his knowledge by private study. His professional education was acquired in Hastings College of the Law, from which he was graduated, and in 1888 he was admitted to the bar by the supreme court. He immediately established himself in practice in Oakland and has remained in this city ever since, being connected with legal matters in a private and public capacity. He served as deputy district attorney under George Reed for two years and then became chief deputy district attorney under Charles Snook, with whom he also served for two years. On December 10, 1894, he was appointed superior judge of Alameda county, filling the unexpired term of Judge Henshaw. Upon the bench he proved himself a man of highly trained, judicial mind, rendering decisions which established him firmly as a man deeply versed in the law. Mr. Frick now enjoys a large and profitable practice, representing a number of important interests of Oakland and Alameda county. He is a man of clear, logical mind who readily grasps the salient points in any case and presents his arguments convincingly before court and jury. His services are also sought as advisor, and he has a large consulting practice.
On May 21, 1896, Mr. Frick married Miss Matilda M. Bader, and both are very popular in social circles of their city. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, in the local councils of which he is influential. He is entirely in accord with the aims of that organization and has done much toward increasing republican prestige in Alameda county. He is a Protestant in religious faith and is fraternally a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Loyal Order of Moose, being popular in these societies. Mr. Frick has at heart the welfare of the people and the growth of his city and county and has contributed in various ways to these aims. He enjoys in full measure the confidence and respect of his fellow members of the profession and stands high in the eyes of the general public.
Past and Present of Alameda County California, Vol. II
Published in Chicago by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1914
Pages 258-261
Transcribed by Linda Jackson 6/10/2008
Alameda County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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