Story by John Vonderlin
Email John: benloudman@sbcglobal.net
Loren Coburn / Henry Cowell, Birds of a Feather?
Hi June,
Here’s some more Loren Coburn info I ran into. Being curious, while I was websearching his name, I clicked on Wikipedia’s “Coburn, California” article, wondering where that is. Well, it is an unincorporated community, sitting along the Southern Pacific Railroad line, five and half miles south of Greenfield, the self-promoted “Broccoli Capitol of the World.” Surprise! Surprise! It is named Coburn in honor of Loren Coburn. They did so because he “donated” some of his land for a railroad right-of-way. For those not familiar with Greenfield, it sits off Highway 101, about 33 miles south of Salinas.
While I was working through the numerous articles in the Newspaper Archive and Chronicling America websites dealing with Loren’s seemingly endless court battles, I came on one that included Henry Cowell’s, the Lime King, testimony in Mr. Coburn’s incompetence trial. Mr. Cowell had known Loren for thirty years, frequently having business dealings with him and felt he was competent.
Remembering the highly successful and highly private Mr. Cowell, from an earlier set of postings, I did a search of him to see if there were any other relevant Coburn connections. So far, nothing more about Mr. Coburn and him, but I did find a “Birds of a Feather” circumstance, as many of the articles dealt with various legal suits, by him or against him, through the years. Being a rich and famous capitalist apparently had its negative aspects, particularly in that laissez-faire era of monopolistic practices, something Mr. Cowell seems to have been a practioner of, in regards to his lime business.
Mr. Cowell, as you know, was not only the Lime King, he was a real estate baron, with land in dozens of counties, including San Mateo. Fifty years later, upon the death of S.H. Cowell, his son, that real estate, worth more then 12 million dollars, was donated to a foundation to continue the family’s previous philanthropic efforts. (Lighthouse for the Blind, Visiting Nurses Association, San Francisco Earthquake Relief Fund, etc.) Since then the foundation has distributed $242 million dollars, in over a thousand grants, yet is still worth $126 million.
I also found some interesting stuff about Mr. Cowell’s 84th and final year of life, 1903. It may have been a case where his extensive real estate contributed to his death or was it a broken heart?
This first article is from the March 3rd, 1903, issue of the “San Francisco Call.”
MAKES TARGET
OF MILLIONAIRE
AND LABORERS
Special Dispatch to The Call.
MERCED, March 2.— A sensational shooting affray took place on the Cowell ranch, about sixteen miles from this city, this forenoon. Henry Cowell, the millionaire president of the Cowell Lime and Cement Company of Santa Cruz, a resident of San Francisco, and owner of a 2000-acre ranch on the Merced River, was severely wounded and narrowly escaped death.
The information was telephoned to the county seat, and the Sheriff, District Attorney and two physicians went to the scene. Sheriff Swan returned this evening, and gives the following particulars: The shooting was done by Leigh Ingalsbe, manager of the Ingalsbe ranch, which adjoins the Cowell property. A short time ago some of Cowell’s cattle trespassed on the Ingalsbe ranch and destroyed some corn. Ingalsbe wrote to Cowell demanding $500 damages. Cowell replied by letter, characterizing the claim as out of proportion to the loss, which he declared was trifling.
Cowell came to his ranch a day or two ago and today Ingalsbe was passing by the place on the county road near which was Cowell, his foreman, Milton Thomas, and a number of laborers. After a few incoherent words Ingalsbe opened fire with a revolver. One bullet passed through Cowell’s left shoulder, making a flesh wound. Another passed across
Thomas’ stomach, cutting his watchchain and button from his waistcoat, but not wounding him. . Other shots were aimed in the direction of the hired men, but none struck.
Ingalsbe went to his home. On the arrival of the officers and physicians he was found to be a raving maniac. A physician and two special deputies were left in charge of him. The other physician took charge of Cowell and will accompany him to San Francisco in the morning.
The aggressor is about 30 years of age. His father, who owned a large ranch, died a few months ago. and the son has since been manager of the property.
The next day the newspaper had a small article noting :
Millionaire Cowell Improves Rapidly
Stockton March 3–The condition of millionaire Henry Cowell who was shot at his ranch yesterday near Snelling, Merced county, by Leigh Ingalsbe, is not at all serious. The wound was a flesh wound only and Cowell is able to move his arm about to-day. Ingalsbe is still at his own ranch, under guard, a raving maniac. Ingalsbe is a brother-in-law of William H. Lewis, a cashier at Wells, Fargo and Company in Stockton.”
Just two months later after this near tragedy, real tragedy visited Henry, an extremely family-oriented man, as this ‘San Francisco Call” article from the May 15th, 1903 issue details:
MISS COWELL MEETS DEATH IN RUNAWAY
DAUGHTER OF MILLIONAIRE ACCIDENTALLY KILLED IN SANTA CRUZ
Mrs. Frank George, Her Companion, Receives Severe Injuries
Horse Becomes Frightened and Dashing Along Rough Road
Throws Occupants Out of a Cart on Pile of Rocks
SANTA CRUZ May 14–Miss Sarah Cowell of San Francisco, a daughter of Henry Cowell, the millionaire lime and cement dealer, was killed this morning by being thrown from a cart on top of a pile of stones. Her friend, Mrs. Frank George, was badly injured and is in critical condition. Miss Cowell had been visiting Mrs. George, whose husband is superintendent of the Henry Cowell Lime and Cement Company. The George family resides in the old Cowell home, where the millionaire’s daughter was born.
Mrs. George and Miss Cowell left for an outing in a cart this morning, and were
above the upper kilns, which are about six miles from this city, when the accident happened. The road at that point is very steep, rough and rocky. Just how the accident occurred is not known, as Mrs. George has not fully regained consciousness. It is believed, however, that the horse became frightened and ran away, throwing the occupants out of the cart.
The first known of the accident was when Nate Bowers, a workman at the kilns, saw a cloud of dust on the road. He at first thought it was caused by one of the big teams coming down the grade. Later he saw Mrs. George staggering in the road and ran to her assistance. Near by, lying on a pile of rocks, was Miss Cowell. She was still breathing, and Patrick Dorsey, the foreman of the kiln, came to this city for medical attendance. He returned with Dr. H. H. Clark, but when the physician reached the scene of the accident Miss Cowell was dead. Her death resulted from a fracture of the skull.
Mrs. George was removed in a carriage to the George home, about two miles distant from the place where the accident happened, and the body of Miss Cowell was subsequently taken to the same place. George was at Felton at the time and it was nearly noon when he reached home.
Mrs. George is badly cut on the face and left temple and is badly bruised on the body. Her condition is considered critical. Miss Cowell recently returned from a European tour. She was about 40 years of age and was born in Santa Cruz, where her schooldays were spent. She leaves a father, two sisters. Misses Belle and Mamie Cowell. and two brothers,
Ernest and Harry Cowell.
This tragedy was followed just a few months later with Mr. Cowell’s own death. In this initial article the five month old bullet wound was blamed. Note that it is said to have “completely wrecked his nervous system.” I’d suggest that an 84 year old man who had ruled his world and his family totally, only to have cruel fate show him who is master of this world, may have died of a broken heart.
WELL-KNOWN MERCHANT
IS CALLED BY DEATH
Henry Cowell Succumbs to the Effects of a Wound in the Shoulder.
Henry Cowell, for many years a prominent merchant in this city, passed quietly away at an early hour yesterday morning at his late residence, 413 Hyde street. The cause of death is said to have been a bullet wound received in the southern part of the State several months ago. At that time Mr. Cowell had been visiting his ranch in Merced County. He had
some trouble with a man named Ingoldsby (sic) over land. The latter shot Cowell with a revolver, the bullet taking effect in the shoulder.
The injured man apparently recovered from the effects of the wound, but lately it had bothered him and is said to have completely wrecked his nervous system. He was taken ill several days ago and became worse till he passed away yesterday morning. No arrangements have as yet been made for the funeral.
Just a few months later the final chapter of this account was detailed in a November 12th, 1903 article in the “Call”
JURORS ACQUIT LEIGH INGALSBE
FIND HIM NOT GUILTY OF KILLING MILLIONAIRE COWELL
TRIAL OF DEFENDANT COSTS MERCED COUNTY MORE THEN $10,000
MERCED Nov. 11–The jury in the case of Leigh Ingalsbe, in the murder of Henry Cowell, the millionaire lime manufacturer, returned a verdict of acquittal this morning after being out all night. The lawyers for the defendant sprang a surprise yesterday by submitting the case without argument. Hiram Johnson of San Francisco and F. H. Farrar of Merced assisted District Attorney Hoar in the prosecution. The defense was conducted by F.G. Ostrander of Fresno, G.G. Goucher of Madera, and W. M. Gibson of San Francisco. Ingalsbe shot Cowell last March and was acquitted on a charge of assault to murder charge on the ground of insanity. Cowell’s death followed in August and now his assailant is acquitted of the murder charge. The defense in the murder trial claimed that Cowell’s death did not result from the bullet wound. The trial lasted a month and cost the county more then $10,000.
Seven years later, there was a small article mentioning a Leigh Ingalsbe of Oakland was charging a musician with embezzlement of a cornet. It seems an odd bit of synchronicity in that a coronet is the small crown worn by princes and princesses or other nobles just below the sovereign, as well as the upper part of a horse’s hoof. Enjoy. John
The highway in northern San Mateo County.
