Samuel Davies Schultz: First Hebrew in the Dominion of Canada Named to the Judiciary

Samuel Davies Schultz

Values Codes I – H – E – L – P

 

Samuel Davies Schultz was born in 1865, in Victoria, Vancouver Island, to Elizabeth (Davies) and Herman Schultz.

After his mother’s demise Samuel was raised by his grandparents, Judah and Miriam Davies.

 

Education

Samuel Davies Schultz was an outstanding student, receiving the Governor General’s Medal when he graduated Victoria High School in 1883.

Samuel excelled at sports especially baseball, and was captain of school teams that were victorious.

In 1885, Samuel left Victoria to attend the University of Toronto, where he became a star pitcher for the University’s Base Ball Club.

Samuel pitched his team to victory against competing clubs, and they were winners of the Toronto City Championship.

South of the border, Samuel pitched the victory over Cornell University which was the first Canadian-American inter-varsity game.

“As their ace pitcher on the mound, they won all the games Sam Schultz pitched.”

 

Schultz graduated in 1888, with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Back in Victoria, he continued playing amateur baseball with the Amity baseball team.

In 1888, Samuel “pitched the first shut out game in British Columbia, the Vancouver teams being the victims,” and the team went on to be declared “Champions of British Columbia and the Northwest.”

 

Barrister, Solicitor & Pitcher

Samuel Davies Schultz returned to Toronto to attend lectures at Osgoode Hall Law School.

In 1892, according to The Law Society of Upper Canada, Samuel Davies Schultz was called to the Ontario Bar.

In 1893, Samuel was in Nelson, British Columbia, where he articled, was called to the British Columbia Bar, and established his law practice in Victoria.

While practicing law in Victoria, Samuel was pitcher for the Victoria Lawyers baseball team.

In 1895, the Victoria Amity Base Ball Club retained amateur status under the stewardship of Samuel Davies Schultz, who would be their manager, participant, or umpire.

A newspaper write up about a game:

“There are seven first class pitchers in the Victoria nine, one of these, Schultz is undoubtably the star.  This reputation dates back to his college days when he was known as the Demon of the West.  His speed at that time was wonderful . . .”

 

Vancouver, BC

In 1902/3, Samuel D. Schultz left Victoria for Vancouver.

While practicing as a Barrister-at-law, Schultz continued his newspaper journalism he had begun in college for the Province and The World in Vancouver and for the Colonist in Victoria.

He continued playing baseball and was pitcher for the Vancouver Lawyers Baseball Team.

In 1908, his co-authored a book: A Digest of Canadian Criminal Case Law.

 

Civic

Samuel Schultz, in his youth, was a member of the first British Columbia Amateur Military Band.

In 1896, Schultz was in charge of the City of Victoria’s Games Committee for the annual celebration of the Queen’s birthday.

In 1896, as a member of the Macdonald Club, with politico-social affiliations, he participated by contributing readings, recitations, and musical interludes, as well as fund raising.

He was noted for his rousing political speeches, to rally fellow members of the Conservatives.

In 1900, Schultz composed the march, The Charge at Dawn, dedicated to the Canadians who fought at Paardeberg Drift in South Africa.

In 1909-1910 Schultz was involved in local civic politics and served as Alderman of North Vancouver.

In 1912, he was President of the North Vancouver Conservative Association. Biographers described him as:

“. . . a consistent and enthusiastic worker in the ranks of the party for the past eighteen years during which time he served on the executive of various associations in Victoria and North Vancouver.  He was concerned with promoting the best and higher interests of the party [rather] than seeking personal reward and recognition.”

He also held membership in the University and Commercial Clubs of Vancouver.

In 1913, Samuel Davies Schultz, Barrister-at-law and senior partner of Schultz, Scott & Goodstone, was appointed a Judge of the County Court of Vancouver and a Local Judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

Schultz was the first Jew appointed in the province of British Columbia and the “first Hebrew in the Dominion named to the judiciary.”

 

Community

In 1899, Schultz was elected Vice-President of Temple Emanu-El.

In 1901, when Queen Victoria died, he gave the oration at Temple Emanu- El, in remembrance of “the glories and achievements” during her reign.

At the beginning of the new century, Schultz helped form a choir “composed of ladies and gentlemen.” Samuel and his cousin, Elizabeth Sylvester, participated.

 

Fraternal

In 1910, Schultz was founding President of Vancouver’s Independent Order of B’nai B’rith.

In 1917, Justice Schultz attended the Canadian National Zionist Convention, held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and was elected to the National Zionist Council.

Samuel Schultz was a member of Lodge #668 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He had been a member of Victoria’s Lodge No. 365, which was organized in 1886, the third such group in Canada.

Schultz was a charter member of  the Native Sons of British Columbia, and a charter member of the Connaught Masonic Lodge. 

 

Family

In 1903, Samuel D. Schultz married Maude Dunwell Squarebriggs.

Together they had three sons: Carl Joshua Davies Schultz born 1904; William Arthur Schultz born 1912; and Robert Dunwell Schultz born 1914.

 

His Honor, Justice Samuel Davies Schultz collapsed and died, not yet 52 years of age, in 1917.

He was buried in the heritage Jewish cemetery of his ancestors in Victoria.

Funeral services were performed under the auspices of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons (A.F. & A.M.).

Sources

• Cyril Leonoff, editor, “Pioneer Jews of British Columbia,” Western States Jewish History 37/3&4.
• Sarah H. Tobe, “Lured North of the 49th, Jewish Colonial Roots,” Western States Jewish History 46/2&3.
• Archives of Sarah H. Tobe, Cyril E. Leonoff, Christopher J.P. Hanna, and David Rome. 

Sarah H. Tobe is curator of this Samuel Davies Schultz exhibit.