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Society of Old Friends was founded in 1864.

1873
May 24, 1873: “Local Brevities. The fourth annual Encampment of the Society of Old Friends meets at Alameda to-day and to-morrow, ending Monday.”

1885
February 26, 1885: "The Society of Old Friends held an entertainment and ball at Platt's Hall on Monday, Feb. 23d, in honor of Washington's birthday. We acknowledge receipt of an invitation from the Secretary J. E. Slinkey, Proprietor of the 'El Monte' Hotel, and sorry we could not participate, having a previous engagement. No doubt all present had a good time. We understand a branch of the society is soon going to be started in Sausalito, and the meeting will be held in A.O.U.W. hall, secured for that purpose. (Sausalito News, February 26, 1885, page 3, column 2.)

March 12, 1885: "About 40 or 50 members of the Society of Old Friends have ordered a bull's head breakfast for Sunday, March 29th, to be prepared by mine host, J. E. Slinkey of the El Monte." (Sausalito News, page 3, column 1.)

March 26, 1885: "We acknowledge receipt of an invitation to the Bull's Head Breakfast which will be held on Sunday next in Read's Pavilion adjoining the 'El Monte' Hotel, and which is under the management of Col. J. E. Slinkey, Secretary of the Society of Old Friends. The Breakfast will be presided over by Judge T. J. Bowers of San Rafael and Col. R. H. Taylor, F. F. Jones and Judge Robert Ferrall of San Francisco. Barney Galindo of Novato will be chef de cuisine." (Sausalito News, March 26, 1885, page 3, column 2. Column 3 has mention of a St. Patrick's Day ball at Barney Galindo's in Novato too. Apparently an in-demand restaurateur.)

April 2, 1885: "The Bull's Head Breakfast held last Sunday in Read's Pavilion was in every way a grand success. A large attendance of the Society of Old Friends from San Francisco were present. Barney Galindo preserved his laurels as a bull's head cook, and George Davis and Jim McCue with their white aprons as carvers. The host Col. Slinkey, Secretary of the order looked happy and was frequently toasted for his efficiency as such officer and particularly for the excellent manner in which the breakfast had been conducted." (Sausalito News, April 2, 1885, page 2, column 3.)

April 9, 1885: "A Branch of the Society of 'Old Friends' will be established this summer in Sausalito. The annual picnic and re-union of the Society will be held this year on Sunday, May 24th, at Stevens' Park, Oakland." (Sausalito News, page 3, column 1.)

May 7, 1885: "The Society of 'Old Friends' which is well represented in Sausalito and San Rafael, will hold its annual election at Platt’s Hall, San Francisco, on Thursday, May 21st, from 3 to 9 p.m." (Sausalito News, May 7, 1885, page 3, column 1.)

May 21, 1885: "The Society of Old Friends will hold its annual election in the Alcazar building this evening and its picnic Sunday next, at Stevens Park, formerly Badger’s at Brooklyn. Many Sausalito brothers and friends will doubtless be present." (Sausalito News, May 21, 1885, page 3, column 1.)

August 9, 1885: "The Bulls-head breakfast given on the ‘El Monte’ grounds last Sunday by Colonel Slinkey under the auspices of the Society of True Friends was in every particular one of the most jovial and successful social occasions ever held in Sausalito. A large canvas covered salle a manger had been put up adjoining the hotel, with canvas furnished by Captain Mallandaine of the ship Imberhorn, and in this three long rows of tables were set. At about 12 o’clock the steaming hot bulls heads had been dug up and taken in charge by the three carvers of the occasion, George Davis, A. Barbier and A. Meyer, and the waiter lost no time in serving the 130 members of the Society and invited friends who had taken their seats. A good bull-headed menu was before them Spanish-America bulls head and dressing, with beans side dishes of Sausalito lamb, chicken, and hard-boiled eggs, French Claret two apiece, and Japanese napkins. The order ‘send back your plate empty for more’ was cheerfully obeyed and it took several hours of good cheer and speech-making before the participants felt the spirit move them to leave their seats.

"Communication of regret at being unable to attend were received from Judge S. H. Dwinelle, one of the directors of the Society, J. B. Nagle, its vice-president, and others. We are sorry that lack of space has crowded out until next week the names of those present. W. F. Norcross, editor of the Golden Age was master of ceremonies and opened the speech-making by calling upon Judge A. Craig, president of the society. Speeches were also made by Judge Bowers of San Rafael, Judge Taylor, Judge Pennie, Judge Waitz, Judge Wheeler, Dr. Harris of Grass Valley, Dr. A. F. McClure, W. F. Norcross, Capt. W. F. Swasey, Dr. F. M. Biber, Osgood Hilton, C. H. Gough, Colonel Slinkey and others, after which the entire company arose to sing the closing ode of the society to the air of ‘Auld Lange Syne’ and then all departed from the impressive scene of their festivity happier and truer friends.

"Among those present were the following: Judge R. H. Taylor, W. Helmuth, Armand Barbier, Thomas Sawyer, Judge T. J. Bowers, Dr. W. Jenningson, W. H. L. Corran, Rudolph Pahlman, J. D. Cramer, Mark Ettling, H. G. Sieberst, W. F. Wells, Judge A. Craig, W. F. Norcross, Capt. W. F. Swasey, Jas. O’Conner, Pete Crane, Jas. Pullman, W. H. Douglass Jr., W. O. Farnswooet, Jas. L. Nagle, J. H. Jones, T. T. Cook, Sam Benjamin, Chas. H. Gough, Aaron Meyer, Robert Craig, Dr. Harris, C. W. Wentworth, Henry White, W. A. Brown, Osgood Hilton, Dr. W. F. McClure, L. H. van Schaick, A. Sloan, Dr. F. M. Biber, I. V. Scholfield, J. Ross Jackson, Nat Taylor, Professor W. Winter, A. D. Bell, Jos. Davis, A. C. Bell, Geo. W. Davis, A. W. Bode, C. D. Maguire, H. A. Conrad, L. E. Frechette, M .B. Moraghan, Henry Krill, Adam Magee, F. J. Hofleng, Con Sullivan, W. K. McGrew, J. M. Ward, Philo Jacoby, Jos. S. Kohn, J. P. Loomis, C. H. Goodwin, Major W. D. Barton, Frank J. Burns, Professor B. Bassini, Fred Safried, Judge E. D. Wheeler, Charles Cox, Thomas Gressley, Hon. A. G. Booth, F. E. Udell, F. W. Leimbach, Judge A. Waitz, M. Hartman, George Fritch, Chris. Schmidt, M. Heverin, P. Schramm, Thos. Loessell, Judge J. C. Pennie, John Carruthers, W. A. Schultz, Andrew McKenzie, M. C. Hamlin, C. H. Eaton, Richard Mehrtens, S. S. Cohn, Sam Appel, W. A. Cornwall, C. G. Butler, Capt. Jas. Brooks, Charles Ley, Judge J. S. Bellrude, C. W. R. Ford, Geo. W. Smith, Dan Slinkey, R. J. O’Reilley, Dr. J. S. Knowlton, John Kreling, Col. Chas. E. Travers, W. B. Wilshire, Reese Llewellyn, C. Mikerhick, J. W. Wissinger, Geo. Burgess, B. Ring, Geo. W. Gregory, Henry Walton, John W. van Horn, Col. J. E. Slinkey." (Sausalito News, August 20, 1885, page 3, column 2.)

1893
January 19, 1893: Annual banquet of the Society of Old Friends was held at the Occidental restaurant. J. E. Slinkey among a long list of attendees. It was a stag party (no ladies), and it was decided to hold the annual picnic and social reunion of the society on Sunday, April 23rd, at the Germania Gardens, Harbor View, for the benefit of the cemetery fund of the society. Speeches, stories, songs and recitation wound up the evening’s entertainment. (San Francisco Chronicle, January 20, 1893, page 10.)

February 10, 1893: "The installation of officers of the Society of Old Friends took place last night in Butler’s Hall, Pine street. Ex-Judge Robert Ferral, president of the society, introduced the new officers in a very graceful speech. Following are the names of those installed: President, Judge A. Craig; vice-presidents, Theodore G. Cockrill, Thomas Sawyer, J. S. McCue, W. A. Scollay, Phil Hartman, Henry Borneman, J. Niessen, Judge A. Barbier, W. McIntyre, Dr. J. S. Knowlton; secretary J. E. Slinkey; assistant secretary, Charles Burrey; treasurer, Arthur McGurren; marshall, M. C. Brydges; attorney, Clarence Gray; undertaker, C. B. J. Metzier; gravedigger, Aron Meyer; organist, R. L. Yanke; chaplain, W. S. Brown; carver, Dr. J. S. Knowlton; photographer William Shew; bandmaster, Charles Alpers; grand marshall, Major Edwin Lewis; master of ceremonies, Harry Nieman; commissary, Charles Butler; medical examiner, F. F. Lord; sergeant-at-arms, Colonel Alfred Perrier; director of amusements, Louis Imhaus.

"After the ceremonies of installation had been concluded the members participated in a well-served collation, enlivened by songs and speeches. After the banquet it was decided to have a bullshead breakfast on next Washington’s birthday. Arrangements were also made to hold the annual picnic and social reunion at the Germania Gardens, Harbor View, on Sunday, April 23, for the benefit of the society’s charity fund.

"Since their last consolidation the “Old Friends” have increased their membership to over 2500, and the cry is still they come.

"After a resume of the general condition of affairs by the retiring officers, more songs and speeches carried the festivities in to the small hours of the morning." (San Francisco Morning Call, February 11, 1893, page 7, column 1.)

March 23, 1893: Advertisement for April picnic: The Annual Picnic and Social Reunion of the Society of ‘Old Friends’ will be held on SUNDAY, April 23, 1893, at the Germania Gardens, Harbor View, San Francisco. [This was located in today’s Marina District, near the present site of the Palace of Fine Arts.] Admission 25c. Ladies and children free. Games and prizes for all. Lunch baskets permitted. By order J. E. SLINKEY, Sec., A. CRAIG, Pres. Ex-Presidents—Judge J. C. Pennie, Charles H. Gough, Judge Robert Ferral, Theodore G. Cockrill, Henry Borneman. Vice-Presidents—Thomas Sawyer [namesake inspiration for character in Mark Twain’s books], Phil Hartman, W. A. Scoliay, Dr. James McCue, J. Niessen, William McIntyre, Dr. J. S. Knowlton. Treasurer—Arthur McCurren. Executive Committee—John Diemer, C. W. Childs, Arthur McGurren, P. H. Hink, Charles H. Gough, J. E. Slinkey.” (San Francisco Morning Call, March 23, 1893, page 11, column 8.)

August 19, 1893: At meeting of Society of Old Friends in Social Hall, 102 O'Farrell Street, a committee is formed to get up a benefit at a theater for the California Midwinter International Exposition in Golden Gate Park. Committee is Dr. F. F. Lord, Henry Bornaman, R. L. Yanke, Judge A. Craig and J. E. Slinkey. (San Francisco Chronicle, August 19, 1893, page 5, column 3.)

1895
March 8, 1895: "The annual banquet of the Society of Old Friends took place last night at the Commercial Hotel [corner of today's Kearny Street and Columbus Avenue]. Everybody was acquainted and everything was delightfully informal and social. The Old Friends is a social and fraternal association, of which ex-Governor James A. Johnson is president and J. E. Slinkey secretary. A. Craig acted as master of ceremonies and the ladies and gentlemen who sat down at the table, members of the the society and their families, numbered 125. The spread was supplied by Edward Holland, the proprietor of the hotel. There were speeches by the chairman, J. A. Johnson, J. J. Coffey, A. Craig, J. S. McCue, J. E. Slinkey and Charles Alpers. Songs, serious and comic, were given by Tom Sawyer, Charles Ward, E. C. Hirgen and N. Fess. Among the gentlemen present, in addition to those already named were: Dr. F. F. Lord, J. M. Nougues, R. H. Taylor, Arthur McGurren, Ernest Heymans, W. A. Lane, F. W. Crondace, A. D. Bell, F. W. Kaufman, J. H. Riley, J. E. Tucker, R. P. Lewis, J. P. Forner, J. M. Rademaker, T. R. Tilley, Colonel W. St. Paul Seitz, Captain Lueders and many others. The clam-bake of the society will be held at Sausalito next May." ("Society of Old Friends," San Francisco Chronicle, March 8, 1895, pg. 8.)

1896
October 11, 1896: "The society of Old Friends is to have a clambake and general good time to-day at Birds Point, Alameda. Dr. F. F. Lord, Thomas Sawyer, John Diemer, J. J. Coffey and J. E. Slinkey compose the committee of arrangements and have done all in their power to render the occasion enjoyable." ("Old Friends' Clambake," San Francisco Call, October 11, 1896, page 18.)

1897
August 29, 1897: “OLD FRIENDS” SECEDE / Two Meeting Places and Two Sets of Officers Are Maintained / Each Faction Claims to Be the Old and Original Organization and Offers Proof

“There is a row in 'The Old Friends,' a society of erstwhile congenial spirits organized in 1864, and two loving-cups are passed around at two meeting places and two sets of officers make loud their claim to the old and original jurisdiction of the organization.

“The cause of the trouble is a long story and an old story. Tom Sawyer, one of the presidents, recalls an incident of fourteen years ago, which he holds has a direct bearing on the controversy, and Dr. F. F. Lord, also president, admits that there has been a ‘faction’ in the society for some time.

“The immediate cause of the split in the organization seems to the choice of a meeting place. The society or part of a society, to take a neutral stand, of which Dr. Lord is the presiding officer, is meeting in one hall on Bush street and Tom Sawyer's society is meeting in another. The latter place is where the society before the ruction had been meeting for some time. Dr. Lord, who was then vice-president, says that at a regular meeting which Sawyer had failed to attend it was decided for sufficient reasons to move, and the society has been meeting at its new quarters ever since.

“Tom Sawyer says that Dr. Lord, Secretary J. E. Slinkey, Ernest Heyman and a few others took the club’s box of paraphernalia without authority and moved into the new quarters. The society, he says, has been meeting as usual at the old stand.

“At a meeting at the old place held last night, Dr. F. F. Lord, J. E. Slinkey and Ernest Heyman were expelled. Tom Sawyer says he will have them arrested if necessary to recover the box of property belonging to the club. Dr. Lord says the club incorporated a couple of months ago and the body which he represents is composed of the incorporators. This he holds to be indisputable proof that his following is the old and original ‘Old Friends.’ Sawyer supports his claims with equally plausible arguments.

“The society which Lord champions will hold a bullshead breakfast at Sausalito to-day, and they promise to have a swell time. Bullshead breakfasts are not an incident exactly of ‘Old Friends.’ They are nearer the whole thing. There have been such affairs in the past which the old members cherish as treasured memories with which to make younger members envy the gray hairs of the re-counters. And there are some members in each faction without which no bullshead breakfast would be complete.

"That is why the less impassioned members predict that the breach in the ranks will not endure long. That is why even the most vigorous opponents stop in the midst of their denunciations to qualify their remarks and express a hope that the other side will soon come to see things in the proper light. Some day there will be another breakfast. The entire society will gather about the board, and there will be but one loving cup. But there are a lot of differences to be settled first, and in the meantime the war wages merrily.” (San Francisco Call, August 29, 1897, page 10.)

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“Old Friends Divided.

“The Society of Old Friends, of which F. F. Lord is president and J. E. Slinkey secretary, will give a bullshead breakfast at 1 o’clock today at the French Hotel, Sausalito. The members of this society say that the meeting of another organization of the same name at Normann’s Hall on Friday night, at which the names of three members were reported as having been dropped from the roll, was illegal. It is claimed that those who were present at that meeting are seceders from the original society, which is incorporated under State laws.” (San Francisco Examiner, August 29, 1897, pg. 23.)

1898
April 27, 1898: “'Old Friends’—Regular meeting Wednesday Night, April 27, in Old Friends’ Hall, 14 Third st. All members hereby invited. By order of Judge J. A. Campbell, President. J. E. Slinkey, Secretary.” (San Francisco Call, April 26, 1898, page 14.)

May 4, 1898: “The Society of Old Friends will give its annual picnic and barbecue on Monday, May 30, in Wildwood Glen, Sausalito. This will be in celebration of the thirty-fourth anniversary of the organization of the society. The committee of arrangements, of which Ed L. Head is chairman and J. E. Slinkey secretary, has in hand the arranging of a programme of game for old and young.” ("Old Friends' Picnic," San Francisco Call, May 4, 1898, page 8.)

May 17, 1898: While planning the annual picnic and barbecue for the Society of Old Friends, the president, Judge James A. Campbell, has a stroke and dies playing cards in Slinkey's boarding house at 110 Ellis Street. (San Francisco Call, May 17, 1898, page 12, column 1.)

October 13, 1898: J. E. Slinkey is one of the new members elected to the Bear Club. (San Francisco Call, October 14, 1898, page 5.)

1900
April 14, 1900: Having been evicted by the City of San Francisco from using the society's cemetery, where 130 Old Friends were already interred, the Society of Old Friends holds a masquerade ball at the B'nai B'rith Hall to raise funds for a new cemetery in San Mateo County. J. E. Slinkey serves on the committee of arrangements. ("Old Friends Make Merry As In The Days of Yore," San Francisco Call, April 15, 1900, pg. 36.)

1904
October 24, 1904: “'Old Friends' Organize. Preliminary Steps Taken to Form New Social Club. At a meeting called at the Diller Hotel yesterday, preliminary steps were taken to organize a ‘Society of Old Friends,’ after the plan of the San Francisco organization perfected in 1864. F. Van Norman was appointed temporary chairman and J. E. Slinkey temporary secretary. S. S. Atwood, Dr. J. E. Tucker and J. E. Slinkey were appointed a commission to draft a constitution to be presented for adoption at a meeting to be held October 30—George M. Stewart was suggested for president of the society, and his name received the unanimous approval of those present. The object of the organization is to promote friendship and sociability, it being proposed to give picnics, excursions, barbecues and Bull’s Head breakfasts. The first public entertainment will be on New Year’s day.” (Seattle Daily Times, page 7, column 2.)

1913
September 21, 1913:“'Old Friends—' a Reminiscence.”

“After having been organized in 1864, the “Old Friends,” a famed society of friendship and sociability, is still in active existence and has established commodious headquarters on Market street, near Eighth. General H. Schaffner heads its list of officers and the venerable Colonel J. E. Slinkey still attends to the duties of secretary. In the eighties and early nineties Slinkey had a hotel in Sausalito on the high hill near the railroad ferry landing. In those days the society had many a meeting and bull’s head breakfast in the caravansary and on its grounds, and a lot of prominent men, now gone, were always at those functions as felicitous speakers and happy participants. Those were the times when Colonel David Bank Sickels put into verse the significance and motto of the society, a sentimental rhyme which is still cherished by its members and the first verse of which, I believe, runs as follows:

There are no friends like “Old Friends,”
And none so good and true;
We greet them when we meet them.
As roses greet the dew;
No other friends are dearer,
Though born of kindred mould;
And while we prize the new ones,
We treasure more the old.”

There have gone never to return to its sociable feasts and pow-wows the genial and brave Admiral A. Walker, Nat S. Britton, the millionaire and one of the best authorities in California on Spanish dishes, and particularly the bull’s head breakfast; the old Grand Army veteran and first governor of Washington State when it was a territory Gov. E. S. Salomon; the fastidious but gentlemanly Dr. F. I. Lord, Judge Robert Ferral, John Lord Love, the most popular police judge San Francisco ever had; J. A. Campbell and a hundred and more hood old souls. Today Justice H. A. Melvin is one of its treasured members, and the bench and bar, the medicos and commercial life, are well represented to maintain a good history and splendid traditions.” (Oakland Tribune, Sunday, September 21, 1913, page 25, column 2: in weekly “The Knave” column. )

1914
February 18, 1914: Society of Old Friends holds its annual meeting and J. E. Slinkey is again elected secretary-treasurer. Plans are made for a 50th anniversary party of the society on May 15. (San Francisco Chronicle, February 22, 1914, page 32.)

1918
May 4, 1918: “Old Friends" Will Hold Stag Party. The Society of Old Friends will celebrate the 54th anniversary of the organization Sunday evening May 19, with a stag party, instead of the annual banquet and dance, as previously announced. The affair will be free to all members and invited guests, and will be held at the club rooms, 549 Turk street. [Likely really 459?] The committee in charge comprises H. C. Robinson, Charles F. Boyd, Lew F. Thom, O. O. Oates, A. J. McCormick, Alfred Anderson, Wm R. Harrison, J, Stegeman, Theo. Reinke, and with President A. A. Ritter and Secretary Colonel J. E. Slinkey ex-officio.” (San Francisco Bulletin, May 4, 1918, page 2.)

1919
June 1, 1919: San Francisco Chronicle columnist Edward Morphy recounted the history of the Old Friends in his popular series on San Francisco thoroughfares, although he gets the colonel's first name wrong:

“One of the oldest associations, and one of the few such social organizations that have survived since the early sixties, was that of the Old Friends, which was originally established in the Blue Wing Saloon, on the east side of Montgomery street, north of Clay, in 1864.

“It became famous beyond all other institutions of its kind because of the magnitude and splendor of its picnics and bullshead breakfasts, which Lucullan in their prodigal abundance.

“Among its founders were many of the noted bon vivants and politicians of the day, though the organization itself was wholly non-political

“Charles H. Gough, the contractor, after whom Gough street was named, was one of these bullshead breakfast philanthropists, and his brother, Attorney H. Dorsey Gough, then of the Montgomery block, was another. Others among the founders were Judge James C. Pennie, in whose courtroom the club’s officers used subsequently to foregather and arrange their wondrous picnics; Steve Merritt of the Eureka billiard hall; Garry H. Hopper, Frank Cunningham, W. A. Skidmore, the printer; Captain Bernard Bassini, the singer and baseball player of the old Eagles, better known on the diamond as Barney Bennett; Uncle Ned Deaves, the actor; Captain C. H. Eastman, who caught ‘the first California sea lions ever in captivity,’ and sold the pair of them to P. T. Barnum for $15,000.

“Judge Robert Ferral was one the first presidents of the Old Friends, and justly regarded himself a high authority on barbecues and bullshead breakfasts.

“Another eminent jurist who shone at such festivals and held high place as one of the founders of the club was Judge Leander Quint. Police Judge R. R. Provines, Judge Sam Dwinelle and Phillip A. Roach, at one time Public Administrator, a newspaper proprietor and wholesale wine merchant, were other charter members of the Old Friends.

“Colonel Sam [sic] Slinkey, then proprietor of the Overland House, which stood next to the What Cheer House, on Sacramento street, was elected secretary in 1869, and still holds that office. But the duties thereof are not now so onerous as they used to be in the old days.

“Over 2000 members actually attended and voted at the annual meeting and election of officers at Platt’s Hall as late as 1887, but that was a trifle compared to the crowds that used to attend the bullshead breakfasts and picnics of the club at Sausalito. Butchers, brewers and merchants vied with one another for the high privilege of purveying materials for refreshing the Old Friends on this occasion. Philanthropic politicians surged into popular favor on the fumes of its barbecues.

“Dr. C. C. O’Donnell once presented a whole ox for the roasting and delivered one of his regular orations, condemnatory of the Chinese, over its smoking remains.

“No tickets were issued for such festivals. Everybody that had a friend—old or new—invited him to the breakfast or barbecue or whatever it happened to be. Everybody was a host and guest unto himself and everybody was happy. In the evening everybody got back to San Francisco and every house of call on Montgomery street re-echoed the memories and praises of the day until the milkman came around on Sunday morning.

“Old Knickerbocker No. 5 Engine was on the north side of Sacramento street, near Leidesdorff, and practically every member of it was an Old Friend.” (Edward Morphy, "San Francisco’s Thoroughfares: Montgomery Street, Part VI," San Francisco Chronicle, June 1, 1919, page E7, column 2.)

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