The Indianapolis journal., 1891-02-20
DEATHS OF EMINENT MEN
Judge John G. Berkshire, of the Indiana
Supreme Court, Dies of Pneumonia.
Sketch Of His Career and Tributes from His Col
leagues on the eBench-Prof Alexander VIM
chell, the Famous Geologist, Expires.


JUDGE BERKsHIRE DEAD.
The Indiana Supreme Court Loses Another
Able Member-Sketch OF His Life.
Special TO the indianapolis Journal
NORTH VERNON, Ind, Feb. 19.-Judge
John Griffith Berkshire of the Indiana Su-
preme Court, died at 5 o'clock this evening.
For year past Judge Berkshire has been
in poor health. induced. presumably by the
hard labor attendant upon his duties as
Supreme judge He was most industrious
and during vacation was hard worker,
often continuing his labors far into the
night. For some time past he had been un-
der treatment of Dr.. Hayes; OF lndianap-
oils. He came home two weeks ago with
severe cold and almost immediately took
his bed, from which from the first he never
arose. His right lung filled and 1T was
known that pneumonia had attacked him.
He had the almost constant care of three
able physicians but the disease gained
strength and the left lung was affected four
days ago. Since then the approach of
death has been rapid, and for two days
none had hope of his recovery. The end
came peacefully this evening.
The funeral will be held next Monday at
10 o'clock.
Judge John G. Berkshire was born in
Ohio county. this State. in 1852. and during
early life learned the trade and worked at
blacksmithing with his father. In the lat
ter part of the fifties ne began the study OF
law at Versailles, and later was admitted
to practice. In 1864 he was the Republican
candidate for Judge of the Circuit Court,
and was elected. He was reelected to the
same position in $780, and again in 1876.
which terms of office he filed with credit
to himself and those who had chosen him.
He was candidate for the Supreme Court
judgeship in 1882, but the opposing party
had the State in the election that year. In
cessful, and performed his duties since in
the old-time satisfactory manner He had
been resident of North Vernon for the
past fourteen years. and was held in high
esteem by every body. His loss will be felt
there and throdghout the State, as ne has
been widely known as q good man and an
impartial Judge. He was not connected
with church or society. but was ,iberal in
his views. allowing all to follow sheir own
the time-of his death he was director in the
North Vernon State Bank. new enter
prise which he was largely interested in.
Tributes from His Colleagues.
A Journal reporter called upon the col
leagues of the dead jurist and asked them
as to their estimate of his ability as MEM
ber of the Supreme Bench of the State, and
as to his worth as a friend and as man.
Judge Berkshire" said Judge Elliott,
'was q gentleman of good, strong, hard
sense; man of very positive convictions
and high courage. His Judgment was good
and his object in his judicial career was al
ways to do justice. He may not rank in
legal learning with some others who have
been on the bench of this court, but he was
Ilxyn lo In al lrfc ha
most pleasant and agreeable. He was q
man of generous impulses. and an unusual
ly tender and sympathetic heart. Last
year Judge Coffey induced him to take q
fishing excursion or two to the Michigan
lakes, but Judge Berkshire himself seemed
to prefer work to recreation"
Judge Berkshire worked hard" said
Judge Olds lin truth, he was the hardest
worker on the bench. He did not do his
work easily, and he was ambitious to do as
much as any other member of the Supreme
Bench. He was a fine lawyer and had a
thorough judicial mind. He was man of
thorough research and his opinions
reason and law. His findings were usually
thoroughly elaborated, with every point
made clear. Some of his opinions are
among the most valuable contributions to
the Supreme Court reports. Aside from
his profession be was one of the best men
in the world. He was frank, open-hearted,
the soul of honor, and you always knew
where to find him. knew him Intimately,
and never detected a flaw in his character.
With his kindly and GENIAL qualities he
was at the same time firm, earnest and de-
termined, in all things a thoroughly manly
man."
"He was one of the noblest men ever
met" said Judge Coffey, between whom
friendship. He was fine lawyer. and
found him a choice companion. He was on
the Circuit bench for eighteen years. / be-
lieve, and ne bore always the reputation
of most scrupulons honesty | never knew
him until met him at the State conven-
tion. in 1888. at which be was nominated,
but became intimate with bim after that.
In the summer of 1889 the Judge and my
self; with our families; spent the vacation
mind was always in his work"
my acquaintance with Judge Berkshire
was slight" said Judge Mcbride, until /
came upon the bench. i first met him at
the State convention. in August. 1888. when
particularly since our closer acquaintance
as members of this bench, / came
to think q great deal of him.
1 found him q man of very
MP his mind that he was in the right he was
exceedingly firm in adhering to his view.
He was a very pleasant and agreeable COM
paniOn and associate. i always found him
very kind and considerate of others. mover
Intentionally wounding the feelings of any
one."
Governor Hovey was also asked last
evening as to his acquaintance with Judge
Berkshire. ''My acquaintance with the
judge" said the Governor, has only been
since my occupancy of my Office. He was q
strong man. He had fine legal mind and
was thoroughly honest in his convictions
do not believe that in the sense of being
good man we have had purer one
on the Supreme Bench since it's organiza-
tion. / always found him q very pleasant
stinctively gentleman"