Very Important Passengers
Charles Lux
Died, 1887, at his residence in San Francisco, California
Charles Lux was born in Alsace. He emigrated to New York city in boyhood. There he worked for a retail butcher in Fulton Market fur some years as a delivery boy. He came to San Francisco in 1857 and opened a retail butcher shop at 931 Washington street. In this business he was very prosperous, and in 1862 he formed the partnership which was destined to continue auspiciously through the many long years to the close of his life. This was with Henry Miller, under the firm name of Miller & Lux, as cattle dealers and wholesale butchers.
Shortly after this firm was established it commenced the far-sighted policy of investing in public lands, or buying out early locators. It maintained this policy through the 1800s; its landed possessions covered an area of 700,000 acres. These lie in the counties of San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Monterey, San Beuito, Merced, Stanislaus, Fresno, Tulare, Kern aad San Luis Obispo, in California, and in the counties of Washoe and Humboldt, in Nevada, and also in Oregon, The cattle herds of the firm, scattered in many parts of this vast territory, number between 70,000 and 80,000 head. The firm had an aggregate annual tax of $50, 000, and the total value of its land, improvements and cattle is estimated to be (not a close estimate) $10,000,000. Over 700 miles of private telegraph lines connect their ranches.
When Lux entered into business with Mr. Miller, his home was at Baden in San Mateo County. He then fixed his residence at No. 45 South Park in Los Angeles, where he maintained it for fifteen years. He then returned to Baden and lived there some two years.
May 30, 1893, San Francisco Call, San Francisco, California
A FALSE RUMOR.
Miller & Lux Will Not Withdraw From the Baden Plant.
It has been rumored that the firm of Miller & Lux, wholesale butchers, was about to withdraw from the Baden slaughter-houses. Yesterday the rumor took the form of a positive assertion that this firm had withdrawn. The rumors were absolutely false, and Mr. Miller says originated and were circulated for the purpose of depressing stocks. Said Mr. Miller to a Call reporter yesterday: "You may say auihoritatively that the firm of Miller & Lux has not withdrawn from Baden. Not only that, you may also say that our firm will not withdraw from Baden. We went into that scheme to stay. We are going to remain."
August 23, 1893, Los Angeles Herald, Los Angeles, California
PACIFIC COAST NEWS CLEANINGS.
Sensational Sait Filed Against Millionaire Miller.
Charged With Attempting; to Defraud His Partner's Widow.
By the Associated Press. San Francisco, Aug. 28. A suit in equity has been filed in tbe United States circuit court against Henry Miller, the millionaire partner of the late Charles Lux, by John A. Barclay of London and Gothold Frankel of New York, to compel Miller to deed them for $300,000 the Buena Vista ranch of 150,000 acres in Kern, Tulare and San Luis Obispo counties. There are several other defendants, including the widow of Charles Lux. Plaintiffs charge that Miller planned an attempt to cheat his late partner's widow. They claim that Miller agreed, through James Morton, to sell the lands to plaintiffs at $20 an acre, but that he never intended to sell them, and has used the plaintiffs and others as catspaws to defraud the heirs of Lux.
April 14, 1894, San Francisco Call, San Francisco, California
MILLER & LUX.
The Great Partnership Suit Is Set for Trial.
Hearing of the suit brought by Jesse Potter, executor of the Charles Lux estate, and Miranda Lux to compel Henry Miller to wind up the affairs of the great Miller & Lux firm has been set for May 25. It was ordered that an accounting be taken of all the property, the referee to be appointed by Judge Sanderson, before whom the case will be heard.
A motion made by Mrs. Lux to compel Miller to lodge enough money in court to pay pressing demands, and also for the payment of the sum of $25,000 per month from the assets of the firm, was taken under advisement. It is claimed that since Miller took charge of the properly the profits have averaged $1,200,000 a year. The other side says it is only half that. The property itself is worth somewhere about $20, 000,000
October 6, 1894, San Francisco Call
Miller & Lux Fees.
In the suit pending between tbe executors and heirs of the estate of the late Charles Lux and Henry Miller, for an accounting and se tiement of the affairs of the firm of Miller & Lux, Judge Sanderson yesterday ordered Henry Miller to pay $1000 on account of referees and stenographer's fees.
October 16, 1897, Los Angeles Herald, Los Angeles, California
The Lux Estate
All the Litigation Disposed of by Compromise
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 15 Judge Coffey today signed a decree of final distribution in the estate of the late Miranda W. Lux, thus disposing of all the litigation commenced after her death. At the time the will of Mrs. Lux was admitted to probate the estate was worth $3,654,423. The executors now hold $3,000,000 worth of real and personal property, after settling all outstanding claims. The decree ratifies the compromise made with Henry Miller, the surviving partner of the firm of Miller & Lux, who brought suit for an accounting, and also ratifies the compromise of the contest of the will of Mrs. Lux, commenced by Jesse S. Potter. The claim of Henry Miller for $217,388 was allowed, and the interests of Azro N. Lewis and Thomas B. Bishop, the executors, and Jesse S. Potter, were consolidated. It was ascertained that the legatees of Charles Lux had withdrawn in the copartnership funds of Miller & Lux $103,608 in excess of the amount drawn by Mrs. Lux, and secured notes were given to the executors of her will for that amount. The acts of the executors in compromising the litigation commenced against the estate were ratified. The executors are allowed $40,486 for fees; Judige Spencer, $5000 for services rendered in the litigation, and Robert Y. Hayne $1500 for like services.
March 5, 1898, Los Angeles Herald, Los Angeles, California
Land for Beet Growing
SAN FRANCISCO. March 4. Claus Spreckels has purchased the rancho Tesquisqulto, near Gilroy, from the Miller & Lux estate. The property consists of 10,000 acres, and the deal is one of the largest kind made ln Central California in several years past. Both parties decline to state the purchase price. It is stated that Spreckels will devote the land to the culture of beets.
March 27, 1900, Los Angeles Herald, Los Angeles, California
Fresno River Water
San Francisco, March 26. The California Pastoral and Agricultural company sued Miller & Lux today to prevent them from maintaining a dam in the Fresno river and diverting water by a canal, and for $5,000 damages. The complaint states that on Aug. 12, 1899, Miller & Lux posted a notice, stating that they claimed 50,000 inches of rhe water flowing in the Fresno river, measured under a four-inch pressure. Immediately afterwards Miller & Lux began building a canal to divert the water to their land. A dam was also built in the river. The plaintiff says that the quantity claimed by Miller & Lux is greater than the entire flow of the Fresno river. Judge Bahrs granted an injunction prohibiting the diversion of all the water in the river by the dam and canal.
March 20, 1887, Los Angeles Herald, Los Angeles, California
DEATH OF CHARLES LUX.
A Short Sketch of His Early Career.
Charles Lux, the millionaire land-owner and cattle dealer, died at 4 yesterday morning, at his residence, on the northwest corner of Jackson and Gough streets, in this city. He died of typhoid pneumonia, on the nineteenth day of his illness. His last hours were attended with little pain.
Mr. Lux had been sick all this winter, suffering from cold and asthma. He had not entirely recovered from the effects of a severe fall from a wagon on his private estate at Baden, San Metro county, more than a year ago, and, while attending personally to his outdoor business on one of his ranches in the recent snowstorm, he contracted a head cold. He was a man of very large build and had attained the age of 64 years.
Tbe deceased leaves a widow, but never had any children. His immediate relatives consist of a brother at San Jose and a brother and sister at Hatten, in Alsace. He made his will a few years ago. The names of Mr. Lux and his partner, Mr. Miller, will forever be associated in our legal annals with what has thus far probably been the most important litigation in the history of this State. This was the great water rights suit of Miller & Lux vs. Haggin & Carr, in which our Supreme Court in recent elaborate decisions upheld the English doctrine of riparian rights as established in California. Miller & Lux were the prevailing parties. (Bulletin, March 10.)
The Annals of San Francisco
Frank Soule, John H. Gihon, Jim Nisbet. 1855
Written by three journalists who were witnesses to and participants in the extraordinary events they describe. The Annals of San Francisco is both an essential record for historians and a fascinating narrative for general readers. Over 100 historical engravings are included. Partial Contents: Expeditions of Viscaino; Conduct of the Fathers towards the natives; Pious Fund of California; Colonel John C. Fremont; Insurrection of the Californians; Description of the Golden Gate; The Presidio of San Francisco; Removal of the Hudson's Bay Company; Resolutions concerning gambling; General Effects of the Gold Discoveries; Third Great Fire; Immigration diminished; The Chinese in California; Clipper Ships; Increase of population; and Commercial depression.
San Francisco, You're History!
Politicians, Proselytizers, Paramours, and Performers Who Helped Create California's Wildest City
J. Kingston Pierce
Seattle-based freelance writer Pierce presents a fascinating view of a variety of colorful people and events that have molded the unique environment of San Francisco. He chronicles historical highlights along with a focus on current issues. Pierce touches on the gold rush, earthquakes, and fires and introduces the lives of politicians, millionaires, criminals, and eccentrics. Pierce sparks the imagination in relating the stories of yesterday to today.
The Naval Order of the United States
The San Francisco Commandery meets the first Monday of each month in San Francisco, California and holds two formal dinners each year:
Copyright ~ 1998-2018. 
