The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-07
JUDGE SHAW DEAD
ONE OF THE EARLIEST SETTLERS
AND A PROMINENT MEMBER
OF THE BAR.
SUMMONS CAME SUDDENLY.
THOUGH AN INVALID FOR SOME
TIME, HEART FAILURE
CAUSED DEATH.
MOsHIK TRIAL NEAR THE END.
Case Will Go to the Jury Today
Twin City Lutherans Will
Organize.

Judge John Melville Shaw, one of the
leading lawyers of Minneapolis and also
one of it's early citizens, died at 5
o'clock yesterday morning at his resi-
dence, 1405 Tenth avenue south. The
summons was unexpected, but Judge
Shaw passed away surrounded by mem
bers of his family and conscious almost
to the last. For several months his
health had been failing, and for the last
three months he has not attended to
any active practice. He visited his Of
flee occasionally to look after private
matters, the last visit being but two
or three days ago. His system seemed
to have broken down completely and
a visit south was planned. This eXcur-
sion in search of health he had in mind
all day Sunday, when he appeared to
be having the best day for long time.
He talked with everybody who called
to see him, joking and laughing and
went to bed in good spirits.
Early in the morning he awoke with
a terrible pain above his heart, some
thing that he had felt before, and the
members of the family were summon
ed. He then fingered until nearly day
break The immediate cause of death
was heart failure.
Funeral services will be held
Wednesday from the late residence, the
interment being at Lakewood.
Judge Shaw was born Dec. IS, 1893, at
Exeter, Me-, being sxtyfour years of age
when he died. He was a se,f-educated man,
receiving a common school education and a
few months schooling at the East Corinth,
Me-, academy, which he left at the age of
eighteen years. The family moved West
when he was nineteen years of age. Mr..
Shaw then taught school for a few months,
and later became head bookkeeper for the
grocery firm of R. S. Harris & Co., Galena,
ILL.,. and it was during the four years that he
worked for this firm that he burned the mid
night oil studying law. He was admitted to
the bar in Chicago in 1858, and practiced in
Galena until 1861, when he moved to Platte
vile, Wis. He practiced there until cary in
1862 when he enlisted in the Twenty-ffth
Wisconsin infantry. He was elected second
lieutenant of Company E, was promoted to
first lieutenant and then to captain. For one
year he was judge advocate on the staff of
Gen. A ]. Smith. He was with Sherman on
the march to Atlanta, then to the sea, and
then to Washington, where he participated
in the grand parade at the close OF the war.
He was mustered out in 1865, with the rank
Of captain.
In 1864, after the Atlanta campaign, Judge
Shaw secured thirty days leave of absence,
and he came to Minneapolis, where he was
married to Ellen A Elliott, eldest daughter
of DR.. ]. s. Elliott one of the best known
and earliest settlers in Minneapolis. 1t was
this marriage that led to JUDGE Shaw's re-
moval to Minneapolis in 1865 1t was
place with which he well acquainted, as
in 1852 he made visit here In 1868 Judge
Shaw formed a partnership with F. Beebe,
under the firm name of Beebe & Shaw, which
continued until 1875, when Judge Beebe re-
moved to California. The firm of Shaw IL
Levi was then formed and in a few years
w. R. Cray was admitted to the partner
ship of Judge Shaw and A. L. Levi. In 1882
Judge Shaw was appointed Judge by the gov
ernor, and in the fall of that year he was
elected to the position for seven years, in
company with Judge Lochren. Several
months experience, however, convinced
Judge Shaw that the close confinement of the
court room was beginning to tell seriously
on his health and in February, 1885, he re-
signed and resumed practice first in PARTNER
shin with Mr.. Cray, ard later ]. l. Best, of
Indiana. the firm going by the name of
Shaw, Best & Cray. At the time of his death
Judge Shaw was the senior member of the
firm of Shaw Crav & Lancaster, the latter
having been recently appointed to the bench
to succeed Judge Jamieon. Mrs. Shaw sur
wives her husband. and other relatives are
the oldest dauchter, Mrs. Cavour Iangdon.
Miss Bertha Shaw. a DAUGHTER: John E.
Shaw a son: George K Shaw. an only
brother. Miss Frances A. Shaw the writer
Miss Clara V. Shaw. the artist. and Miss
Marion Shaw, the teacher, all sisters.