Searls, whose last name is also sometimes spelled as Searles, was born in Coeymans, New York. His father, Abraham Searls, of English descent, worked as a farmer. His mother, Lydia Niles, was of Scottish descent. Searles had three brothers, Wilson, John, and Abraham, Alice, Theresa, and Lydia Jane. When the family moved to Prince Edward, Ontario, Canada, Searls attended school in Wellington for five years before returning to New York to study at Rensselaerville Academy for the next three years. From here, he spent a year in the law office of O.H. Chittenden, preparing himself for the practice of law before attending John W. Fowler's newly established State and National Law School with fellow students Chancellor Hartson and Tim N. Machin. He was admitted to the New York bar May 2, 1848. Searls travelled to Kentucky and Illinois before settling for a short time in Missouri to practice law. When he decided to join the California Gold Rush, he chose the wagon train company endorsed by the Daily Missouri Republican, the Pioneer Line. He traveled with his friend from law school, Charles Mulford. Arriving in California in October 1849, they mined and traded.
Career
In 1850, he settled in the town of Nevada where he practiced law. Two years later, he was elected district attorney of Nevada County. Elected on the Know Nothing ticket, from 1855 through 1862, he was a judge of the 14th judicial district. In 1864, Searls moved back to New York and became a farmer for the next six years before returning to his mountain home in California, and retiring. However, in 1877, Searls was elected to represent Nevada County in the California Senate, and later became Chairman of the California Debris Commission. At the 1884 Democratic National Convention, Searls nominated General William Rosecrans for Vice President of the United States, but Thomas A. Hendricks went on to be selected as the running mate to Grover Cleveland. Searls was appointed California State Supreme Court Commissioner in 1885, serving in this office until April 19, 1887, when he became the 14th Chief Justice of California. Defeated for re-election in November 1888, he became a Supreme Court Commissioner for a second time during the period of 1894-1897. Searls sat on the Board of Directors of the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad.
Personal life
In 1853, Searls returned to New York to marry his first cousin, Mary Corinthia Niles of Rensselaerville, New York, and brought her back to Nevada City, traveling by steamer with their friends, Charles Mulford and his new bride, Deb. They had two children, one of whom, Fred Searls engaged in the practice of law, and the other was a mechanical engineer. He kept a diary about his experiences in 1869 during an arduous rail trip from New York to California and wrote a book about it, "Coast to coast by railroad: The journey of Niles Searls--May, 1869". Searls was Vice President of the Society of California Pioneers. Along with Aaron A. Sargent, Searls was a Freemason of the Nevada Lodge, No. 13. He retired to Berkeley, California in 1899, and died at his home eight years later. He was a Protestant. Searls' grandson, Fred Searls, Jr., and great-grandson, Carroll Searls, were all attorneys. Fred Searls, Jr. was president of the international conglomerate mining concern, Newmont Mining Corporation, which operated, among many others, the Empire-North Star mine complex in Nevada County, California, after 1929-1950s. His great-grandson, Frederick Searls, also an attorney, was Vice President of Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Searls' first cousin, and Mary's brother, Addison Niles, was an Associate Justice on the California Supreme Court during the period of 1872-1880. Burial:
Historic recognition
Built in 1872, Searls' brick, two room, single story law office on Church Street, across from the Nevada County Courthouse, was converted into the Searls Library, containing the historical documents collection of the Nevada County Historical Society.
