Fred L. Button, City's Oldest Lawyer, Dies

Heart Stroke Fatal to Head of Pioneer's Society and Noted Musician.

Fred L. Button, oldest honor man of the University of California and founder and president of the Society of Pioneers of Oakland, is dead. He succumbed to a heart attack yesterday at his home, 590 Thirty-fourth street at the age of 71 years.

Button was born at Pontiac, Michigan, but came to Oakland in 1863. He attended primary and grammar schools here, McClure's Academy and the College School. He worked a few months as a printer's apprentice, but entered Oakland High school with its first class.

He was graduated from the University of California in 1876, being awarded the University medal and a prize for the best scientific thesis. After serving two years as an instructor there, he entered the office of Vrooman and Davis. He was admitted to the bar in 1879 and in 1881 "hung out his shingle".

He was secretary of the board of freeholders which framed a charter for Oakland in 1888. He twice codified and annotated for publication the ordinances and city charter and served as a school director.

He was an ardent musician and sang in the May Day festival at San Francisco as early as 1870. For several years he was director and in 1880 was president of the original Orpheus Society. He was a flutist of note and for many years played in the Shrine and Knights Templar bands here and the Bohemian Club orchestra in San Francisco. In 1925 he helped to organize the California Flutists' Guild of Oakland. He was a devotee of grand opera and owned a scrap book of opera programs extending through more than a half-century.

Button also was famous as a conchologist and his collection of shells of all varieties is valued at $30,000 and is the largest on the Pacific coast privately owned.

He was active in Masonic circles and was a member and past master of Oakland lodge and was affilliated with the Scottish Rite, Knights Templar and Shriners. He also was grand patron of the Order of Eastern Star in 1891.

Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Emma Button, and three daughters, Mrs. H. A. Merrill and Mrs. N. T. Luning of Oakland, and Mrs. Dan H. Knox of Alameda and two grandsons, David H. and Fred E. Merrill.

Funeral services probably will be held Wednesday.