Robert M. Widney

Robert M. Widney was a prominent American lawyer, judge, and educator who played a significant role in the development of Los Angeles, California. He is best known as the founder of the University of Southern California, which was established in 1880 with the help of Isaac Newton Van Nuys, Ozro William Childs, and John Gately Downey. Widney's contributions to the city of Los Angeles were recognized by the Los Angeles City Council, and he was honored by the University of Southern California for his dedication to higher education. He was also a member of the California State Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

● Early Life and Education

Robert M. Widney was born in 1838 in Jackson County, Missouri, to a family of pioneers who had settled in the American West. He spent his early years in Missouri and later moved to Iowa with his family, where he attended Iowa City High School and developed an interest in law and politics. Widney then enrolled in the University of Iowa, where he studied law and philosophy under the guidance of Professor Samuel Tyler, a renowned jurist and scholar. After completing his studies, Widney was admitted to the Iowa State Bar and began practicing law in Des Moines, Iowa, where he became acquainted with prominent lawyers such as Chester A. Arthur and James A. Garfield.

● Career

Widney's career as a lawyer and judge spanned several decades and took him to various parts of the United States, including California, where he settled in 1869 and became a prominent figure in the Los Angeles community. He was appointed as a judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court and served in that capacity for several years, earning a reputation as a fair and impartial jurist. Widney was also a member of the California State Legislature and played a key role in the development of the California State Constitution. He was a strong supporter of education and worked closely with educators such as John Wesley Powell and Charles Eliot Norton to establish the University of Southern California.

● Personal Life

Widney was married to Mary M. Widney, and the couple had several children together, including Robert Maclay Widney Jr., who became a prominent businessman in Los Angeles. The Widney family was active in the Los Angeles community and supported various charitable organizations, including the YMCA and the Red Cross. Widney was also a member of the Masonic Order and the Knights of Pythias, and he was a strong supporter of the Republican Party. He was friends with prominent politicians such as Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft, and he was a frequent guest at the White House.

● Legacy

Widney's legacy as a lawyer, judge, and educator is still celebrated today, and he is remembered as one of the founders of the University of Southern California. The University of Southern California has recognized Widney's contributions by naming a building in his honor, and the Los Angeles City Council has designated a street in his name. Widney's work in the field of education has also been recognized by the National Education Association and the American Council on Education. He was a pioneer in the development of higher education in California and worked closely with other educators such as Leland Stanford and Jane Addams to establish the University of California, Berkeley and the Stanford University.

● Later Life and Death

Widney spent his later years in Los Angeles, California, where he continued to practice law and remained active in the Los Angeles community. He died in 1929 at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy as a lawyer, judge, and educator. Widney's funeral was attended by prominent politicians and educators, including the Governor of California and the President of the University of Southern California. He was buried in the Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery in Los Angeles, where many other notable Californians are also buried, including Harrison Gray Otis and Phineas Banning. The University of Southern California has established a scholarship in Widney's name, and the Los Angeles City Council has designated a park in his honor, recognizing his contributions to the city of Los Angeles and the state of California.