Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-10
DEATH OF VETERAN JUSTICE
Stephen j, Field Dies at Washington, Aged
Eighty-Three Years
JURIST IS ONE OF FOUR FAMOUS BROTHERS
From the Humble Duties of Alcnide
in California Mining Village. lie
Rises to supreme Bench of
United states.

United states.
/ WASHINGTON, April 9.--Justlce stephen
J. Field of the United States supreme court
retired. died at home on Capitol hill in
this city at $50 o'clock this evening of kid
ney complications. About his bedside were
his wife and her sister, Mrs. J. Condit
Smith, Justice David j. Brewer, Mrs. Edg-
erton of California Mr. Linton, his private
secretary; Rev. Edward NJ. Mott, rector of
the Church of the Advent, and the family
servants. He had been unconscious since
Saturday morning and death came pain
lessly.
Ever since Justice Fields retirement from
the supreme court bench on December l,
1897, he had enjoyed comparatively good
health and being relieved from the respon-
shllities which he had borne for so many
years, he became more cheerful than for
mery and seemed to enjoy the society OF
his friends and acquantances more than
ever before. All during the winter when
the weather was fair it was his custom to
take daily drives about the city or through
the grounds of the Soldiers Home and he
always returned fresh. About two weeks
ago. however, he took a longer ride than
usual in an open carriage and contracted a
severe cold, which rapidly developed the
kidney troubles from which he had suffered,
though but slightly, for some time.
The disease yielded readily to treatment
and on Thursday last he sat up for time
and seemed quite himself again, but on
Saturday morning a change for the worse
took place and about noon he lest conscious
ness. From that time he sank rapidly, and
expired at $50 o'clock.
No arrangements have been made for the
funeral nor is it known where he will be
buried. 1t is probable that his body Will
be taken to Stcckbridge, Mass, where ar.
buried his father and mother and his
brothers Cyrus, Dudley and Jonathan, aud
his sisters and other members of the Field
family. 1t is probable, however, that Mrs.
Field may decide to take the body to Cali
fornia, where considerable part of his
active life was passed before President Lin
coin appointed him member CT the supreme
bench.
Justice and Mrs. Field never had any
children, and the only surviving members
of his fathers family is the Justices young
est brother, DR.. Henry Field, editor of the
Evangelist.
During several years prior to his retire
ment from the bench the Justices health
at times seemed on the point of breaking,
but he usually recovered promptly and in
a few days would again resume his judicial
duties.
Mental Powers Weaken.
For the last year and more those mcst
intimate with him knew that his mental
powers were becoming somewhat impaired.
The results of his long career of great
mental activity were beginning to show
themselves in a failing memory, after his
retirement from the bench, though his physl-
cal condition seemed to improve.
Justice Stephen Johnson Field was born
at Haddam Conn, November A. 1916. He
was the son of David Dudley Field and
one OF four brothers who became famous,
David Dudley, Cyrus W., and Henry NJ.
Field being the other members of the
great quartet that made their names
known throughout the world.
His early boyhood was spent at Stock
bridge, Mass. At the age of IS Stephen j.
Field went to Smyrna, where his sister had
married a missionary, the Rev. Josiah
Brewer, who had undertaken an educational
mission to the Greeks, and he there
acquired a knowledge of Oriental lam
guages. Returning to this country after
two and half years he later entered
Williams college, from Which he was grad
uated in 1887, at the head of his class. He
then went to New York, where he entered
the law office of his brother, David Dudley
Field. He was admitted to the bar and
became partner in the firm, remaining for
seven years. In 1S4S he went to Europe and
spent some time there travelling.
In November, 1S49, he sailed for San Fran
cisco around Cape Horn and entered upon
the practice of the law in the occidental
After short time ne moved to
Marysyllc, small mining camp and be-
came one of the founders of what afterward
grew to be thriving town. When the little
city was organized Justice Field was elected
the alcalde of the place. This Office carried
with 1t the dignity of mayor and at the same
timo imposed all the duties of the bench
Here the future jurist dispensed Justice and
made his name widely known throughout the
length and breadth of the growing common
wealth. He was fond of talking of his early
days in California and often said that the
happiest days of his life were when he deal,
out justice in Marysvile behind a dry
goods box.
sphere of an AIcaIde.
Justice Field, in sketch prepared by him
self for the congressional directory gavel
his brief outline of the duties of his Of |
ice of alcalde: Under Mexican law the
llcalde was an officer of limited jurisdic- |
lion, but in the anomalous condition ofl
affairs he was called UPON to administer |