St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-05-13
JUDGE WILKIN is DEAD.
THE EMINENT JURIST CALMLY SLEEPS
HIS LIFE AKnE.
STORY OF AN UPRIGHT LIFE.

The Accident Which Ended in
Death-A Detailed Sketch of
His Career-Incidents OF His
Early Life The Record He
Made in Minnesota-Belov
and Esteemed by All Who
Knew Him-Arrangements for
the Funeral.
With the death Of Judge Westcott
Wilkin. who passed away at 10 o'clock
last night, there goes from our midst
one of the most notable men in the his
tory of the state and city, and one who,
although occupying for the greater part
OF our city's history position superior
to the mass of our citizens, has always
been one of them-democrati in all
things. and with kindly greeting and
genial grasp of the hand for the
humblest in our midst who could lay
claim to an honest heart and an upright
life.
Judge Wilkin vas of Welsh descent.
his ancestors having emigrated to this
country late in the seventeenth century,
andJocated in Central New York. He
waA born at Goshen jana. 1924. His
father Was a lawyer of ability, aud
represented his district in congress dur
ing the presidential term of Andrew
JACKSON. His mother was the daughter
OF David Vaudeville Westcott. promi-
nent jackson Democrat, and with his
earliest intelligence the future jurlst
lmbibed the doctrines of pure Democ-
racy. Both of his parents were en-
dowed with a high order of intellect,
and their early teachings did much TO-
ward directing the bent of their sons
mind into wholesome channels.
After attending the district school at
Goshen. N. Y. young Wilkin was given
instruction under private tutor for
some time. He was of frail physique,
and his parents feared to intrust him to
the rigors of collegiate training. His
thirst for knowledge was unquenchable.
however. and he finally obtained his
parents consent to his attending Co.
lumbia college, and he graduated from
the grammar school there and prepared
himself for collegiate course at Prince
ton. He attended the law school at
New Haven, Conn.,, in 1916, and studied
law with his father, and began the
practice of his profession at Sullivan.
He was county judge there for three or
four years.and came to st. Paul in 1856,
forming partnership with l. V. d.
Heard. he was elected judge of the
Ramsey county district court in 1864,
and was successfully reelected for four
terms, without opposition, serving the
people ably ; and satisfactorily for
twenty-seven years. Shortly before the
close of his last term he made tour of
Europe In company with Judge Flan-
drau, and on his return retired to pri.
vate life.
Though never robust, Judge Wilkin
enjoyed fair degree Of physical health
during his entire residence in st. Paul.
On last New Years day he slipped on
an icy sidewalk and broke his right leg
at the hip. Since that time he has
been confined to his room at the Wind
sor, where he has been daily visited by
large numbers of his friends.
While many friends feared that his
age Seventy years. would preclude his
recovery. he seemed for time to i'm.
prove, and after many weary weeks in
bed was able to walk about his room
and the Railways of the hotel by the aid
OF clutches. He even gained so much
that he took one : or two carriage
rides. bnt about a week ago his
stomach refused to perform its
natural function, aud with this the
Judge seemed to loose his courage
and rapidly failed until death came. For
several days he has slept most of the
time, occasionally arousing, but when
awake his mind was clear as usual,
Death came quietly and painlessly, and
he simply passed away in natural
sleep. to that sleep which knows no
human waking.
He has maintained throughout a uni,,
fornly cheerful demeanor, and up to a
few days before his death manifested
keen interest in public affairs. He
possessed a kindly heart, and many
were the deeds of charity he performed
without ostentation. He was inf1exible
IN his administration of the law, being
swayed by neither fear nor favor. A
man reared among good influences who
was convicted Of crime before him
always received the extreme penalty of
the statute, for he often declared that
while there might be excuse for the Of
lenses of the ignorant and those reared
amid healthful surroundings, there was
no circumstance that could be urged