The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-12-20
GIL FIJI Z AN IS D.
MINNEsOTHs CHIEF JUSTICE PAss-S
Ei3 ES AWAY.
After IN Illness Lasting several
Months He Succum BIS to Bright'ss
Dtsease-A sketch OF Justice Gil-
fillan's Life.

St Paul, Dee. 19. fter an Illness OF
a little over four months, Chief Justice:
James Gilfllan passed peacefully
away at 6:O4 yesterday norning His
death was caused by Bright's disease
of the kidneys. Justice Gilfllan was
unconscious for some little time be-
fore the end came. There was no. one,
present when he died nut members of
the family. DR.. Senkler, who attend
ed him throughout his illness, was
with him until midnigh bit, and was con-
vinced when he went away that death
would come before morning. The news
of his death spread rapidly among the
close friends of the family, and all
day yesterday they kept calling at the
residence to extend their consultations
to the surviving members Of the fami-
" and view the remains of their de-
parted friend. Justice Gilfllan was
an ex-commander of the Loyal Legion
of Minnesota, the only society Of
which he was a member. He could
never be induced to join societies, be-
cause he felt that it would tend to
cast discredit on his impartial dispO-
sition on the bench. The commander
of the Loyal Legion has issued a call
for all the members to participate in
the funeral services. Al
James Gilfllan was born in Scotland
IA 1899, and the following year his {
parents came to this country and set
tied on a farm in New York. The, boy
attended common school for three or
four months in the year until he was 4
sixteen years of age, when he began
the study of law. He was admitted
to the bar at Albany in 1850. In 1857
he came to st. Paul, and Immediately
began the practice of his profession.
But when the call for volunteers
came the young lawyer enlisted in the
Seventh regiment, Minnesota volun-
teers, on Aug. 9, 1862 This was one
of the regiments that was ordered out
to defend the settlers Of the state
against the ravages Of the Sioux In-
dams. III
He served with his regiment In the
campaign against the Indians in the
fall of 1862 and summer Of 1868, and
was in the battles of Wood Lake and
Big Mound. He accompanied his regi
ment to st. Louis and was in action
with it at Harrisburg ard Paduca
Oct. 8, 1862, he was promoted to cap
tain, and on Nov. i, 1864, he was
mustered out Of the Seventh regiment.
Two days later, Nov. 3, 1864, he joined
the Eleventh Minnesota regiment and
| was commissioned colonel of that regi-
ment Oct. 13, 1864, having been mus
tered in as colonel.
He was mustered out Of the army
| with an honorable discharge July is,
| 1865. During the last year Of his SER
| vice he was in command of the Third
division of the military Of Middle Ten
nessee. His knowledge Of law came
into service even on the battlefield,
and he served at some Of the most
notable court martial proceedings dur
ing the war.
At the close of the war Judge Gil;
fllan returned to st. Paul and took
up the practice of law. again. In 1869
he. was appointed by Gov. Marshall.
chief justice of the state supreme court
to fill the unexpired term Of Justice
Thomas Wilson, and served on the
bench until 1870. He was again APP
pointed to fill another vacancy in 1916,
and held the office by election ever
since.
He failed to receive the nomination
and Judge Start was elected his sue
cessor It is probable that Justice
Collins will serve as chief justice I'M
til Chief Justice Start is sworD in
next month.