St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-24
PECKHAM IN ST. PAUL.
Early Day Settlers Give Theil
4 RecoiIectious

Early Day Settlers Give Their
Recollections.
Hon. Wheeler II. Peckham, President
Cleyeland's appointee for justice of the
supreme court, is well remembered by
the early-dayf settlers of st. Paul, and
AL speak ofhfm in the highest terms.
both as a lawyer and citizen.
& II remember his career in st. Paul
very WELL" said Capt. r. L. German
yesterday. .'He arrived in st. Paul in
1858 and formed law partnership with
my father. the firm style being German
q Peckham. When my father became
the colonel of the First Minnesota in
1861 the partnership was dissolved, and
Mr.. Peckham became the partner of
Lorenzo AlliS, now dead. L studied law
in the office of German & Peckham.
and thus became intimate with
Mr.. Peckham. He was then some
what past thirty years old. stood
five feet ten inches in height, was
spare, weighing not more than
16o pounds. His hair was black, and he
wore a black muStache. He was all
affable and straightforw gentleman,
and a powerful lawyer. He was devoted
to his profession, and took no interest in
politics. He was fond of wing-game
shooting, and he and l used to go out
hunting together quite often. Hunting
was his only recreation.
"Shortly after he arrived in st. Paul
he bought the property where the Wis
itation convent now stands, opposite
William Dawson'S. ON Robert street,
and built a fine residence. He lived
there until he left the city, some time in
the sixties. don't remember just the
year. He came to st. Paul On account
! of his wires health.
Il certainly hope the senate will con-
firm his appointment. He would be al
ornament to the supreme BENCH
w. p Murray spoke OF Judge Peck
ham i'll the highest terms.
ST remember him very WE'LL" said
Mr.. Murray. He stood at the very top
notch of the bar OF this section of couu-
| try. He was an educated man, aud Il
conscientious and thorough lawyer"
John M. Gilman also spoke of him in
the most complimentary terms.
'Wheeier II. Peckham. though a
young lawyer in st. Paul." said Mr..
Gilman, was remarkably clear
headed and powerful member of the
bar. He had legal mind, and was as
we'll grounded in the general principles
of law as any man L ever knew. Per
Sonally he was a gentleman and thor
oughly upright He came to st. Paul
on account of his wife's health. She
had a bronchial affection, and in every
other locality of the country she was
unable to speak aloud. In Minnesota
she recovered her voice, and this was
the only climate in which she found re-
lief. l have been the guest OF Judge
Peckiiam number of times in New
York in recent years. He was about
the head and front of the famous Tweed
prosecutions in New York. When he
lived in st. Paul he had no ambition
Tor politics, but devoted his entire time
to his profession. In his old age. l see.
he has gone to some extent into politics.
He was always Democrat.
81 fear the senate will not confirm his
appointment owing to the rule so long
adhered to by that body of requiring
that appointees to the supreme bench
shall be under sixty years old. How
ever, the extraordinary ability of Judge
Peckham may induce the senate to
break over the rule. [ certainly hope
he will be confirmed"