Stanford University - Quad Yearbook (Palo Alto, CA)

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What was formerly known in California as Stanford luck, but which is really Stanford pluck and perseverance, followed this member of the family across the Pacific. He prospered steadily and founded among his English cousins an honored name and flourishing business, both of which are his to-day. His success was not due to fortunate speculations in stocks or mines, but to perseverance, industry and good judgment. Some years ago he was appointed Vice-Consul of the United States at the port of Melbourne, a position which he still holds. What has been said of nations may be said aptly of human beings- happy those who have no history. Mr. Stanford's life, from the time he landed in Australia until the present, has been-save for one tragedy-unevent- ful. The tragedy was one that is not unusual, one that is permitted by Providence to invade many a home. In Australia Mr. Stanford married an accomplished English lady, and after one year of married life felt the hand of the Angel of Death in his household when she who had been its chief orna- ment was called to a higher existence. It has been said that this University has its origin in the shadow of a great sorrow: so, too, the origin of our beautiful new library building lies in the shadow of a sorrow no less lasting and over- whelming. Mr. Stanford's young wife left no child behind her and he has not married again. Since his loss he has devoted his leisure to the encouragement of the arts, science and literature. We have evidences of this in the remarkable collection of Australian landscapes which he has presented to our Museum, and in the library of Australiana upon our University book shelves. A biographical sketch of Thomas Welton Stanford must, of necessity, be brief at present: over thirty years have passed since he was in this State, and of those who knew him but few are among us now, he himself prefers to describe his experiences in Australia as uneventful, and in answer to a recent request for some biographical data he writes: Ido not care to speak of myself, for it seems to me that I have nothing to tell that will interest the general public. , But our stately library building speaks for him in a language that goes straight to every heart in Stanford University. 8

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THOMAS WELTON STANFORD. 1 'xx HOMAS WELTON STANFORD, to whose generosity we fffi' V t em- Pl f-'-rw-if fre... ist 'Y f sz,-547s I fl fl rf.. W, fist QQ., 'gr' V ff' ...fa i Er. 4' s . ,x 4 - -xx 4 Y ca? . 'ff 7 jggf . i, Ml ,- 1' . ,Al 1 I! Q, 1 '1 , . ' , -, N '3-'Z l 'l, f'- .I K it 'l'- I A A X A :tif L-5,--' fi - . l 'Xl 1 Y . gillrl X 'Zi ,Q X Q.. 'I , l are indebted for our new library building, was born in 1833, in the small town of Watervliet, in New York State, about eight miles from Albany. His father, Josiah Stanford, was a prosperous farmer, originally from New England, but who settled when a young man in the Mohawk Valley. Here were born and brought up the six Stanford brothers, of whom Thomas Welton is the youngest. The boys worked on the farm in summer and attended school in winter, and as they outgrew the public schools of the neighborhood, were sent to higher- grade colleges, thus Leland went to Clinton and Thomas Welton to Pulteney College, Vermont. The California gold excitement was at its height when he graduated from college, three of his brothers had caught it and were already on the Pacific Coast, and the young man concluded to follow their example and try his fortune in the gold mines. His brother Leland, at this time, was engaged in what was known as general merchandise business, i. e., the supplying to mining camps of equip- ments, outfits and the necessaries of life. His principal store was at Michigan Bluffs, in Placer County. To Michigan Bluffs, therefore, Thomas Welton journeyed, and shortly after his arrival started in business on his own account. His business prospered, but his health broke down and he soon found it necessary to seek a change of climate. He tried the Sandwich Islands first, but, not finding there the relief he hoped for, he took ship for Australia. The voyage was a stormy one, and Mr. Stanford suffered to an unusual degree from sea- sickness, in fact,' the trip almost cost him his life. On arrival at Melbourne he had to be carried ashore in a precarious condition. He has never left the mainland of Australia since. Upon the recovery of his health Mr. Stanford started in business in Mel- bourne, his first venture being as agent for American sewing machine companies. In this he was so successful that he branched oh' for himself in the hardware business, having for partner the late C. H. Livingstone of San Francisco. 7

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FOUNDERS. 'I4LEI.AND S'l'ANI ORD. JANE I.A'I'I-IROI' S'I'ANI ORD. BOARD OF TRUSTEES. 'ITHE HON. FRANCIS E. SPENCER, Chnirmzin - - San joise THE HON. CHARLES GOODALL - - - - Sun Francisco TCOL. CHARLES F. CROCKER - - Sun Francisco MR. TIMOTHY HOPKINS - - Sun Francisco THE HON. HENRY L. DODGE - - San Francis-:co DR. HARVEY W. HARKNESS - - San Francisco THE HON. HORACE DAVIS - Sun Francisco TTHE HON. JOHN BOOGS - Colusa THE HON. T. B. INICFARLAND - - Sacramento TTHE HON. ISAAC BELCHER - - San Francisco THE HON. GEORGE If. GRAY - - - San Francisco THE HON. NATHAN W. SPAULDING Q - Oaklamcl THE HON. WILLIAM M. STEWART - Virginia City, Nev TTHE HON. STEPHEN I. FIELD - - THE REV. HORATIO STEISBINS, D. D. - MR MR MR DR MR MR MR MR JOSEPH D. GRANT --.. S. if. LEIB - - mow s1-oss - . EDWARD R. 'rAvi.oR - - - 'ri-ioMAs wEl.ToN s'rANifoRn - FRANK Mn.Li4:R - - . CHARLES cs. 1.A'rHRoP - RUSSELL 1. WILSON - - - - - - HERBERT C. NASII, Secretary. 'Died june 21, 1893. 'flu-ceased. 9 Washington, D. C - San Francisco - San Ifrzmcisco - San jo:-ae - San Francisco - San Francisco Melbourne, Au:-ztralia - - Sacrzimento - San Francisco San Frrmcisco