Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-04-13
Was Appointed by Lincoln and
Wore the Ermine for "a Years
...Passed on Many Fam
GUS Cases.

ud.V morning., anu uedtH came pam
lessly.
Ever since Justice Fields retirement
from the supreme court bench Decem-
Der ], 1897, he had enjoyed compare
lively good health. About two weeks
ago he took u long ride in an open car
riage and contracted a severe cold,
which rapidly developed the kidney
troubles from which he had suffered,
though but slightly, for some time.
The disease rapidly yielded to treat
ment and on Thursday last he sat up
for a time and seemed quite himself
again, but on Saturday morning a
change for the worse took place and
about noon he lost consciousness.
From that time he sank rapidly and
expired at $3.50 o'clock.
No arrangements have yet been made
for the funeral, nor is it now known
where he will be buried. Justice and
Mrs. Field never had any children and
the only surviving member of his
fathers family is the Justices young
est brother, DR.. Henry Field, editor of
the Evangelist.
One of Famous Family.
Stephen johnson Field was born at
Haddam, Conn, November 4, 1916. He
was the son of David Dudley Field, and
one of four brothers who became
famous, David Dudley, Cyrus w. and
Henry M. Field being the other men,
bers of the great quartet who made
their names known throughout the
world. His early boyhood was spent
at Stockbridge, Mass. At the early
age of 10 Stephen j. Field went to
Smyrna, where his sister had married
missionary, Rev. Joseph Brewer, who
had undertaken an educational mis-
sion to the Greeks, and he there ac-
quired knowledge of oriental Ian
guages. Returning to this country
after two and a half years he later en-
tered Williams college, from which he
graduated in 1897, at the head of his
class. He went to New York, where
he entered the law Office of his broth
er, David Dudley Field. He was adj
mitted to the bar and became part
ner in the firm, remaining as such for
seven years. In 1S4S he went to Eu-
rope and spent some time there trav-
cling. In November, 1S49, he sailed
for San Francisco around Cape Horn,
and entered upon the practice of law
in the occidental metropolis. After a
short time he moved to Marysville, a
small mining camp, and became one
of the founders of what afterward
grew to be a thriving town. When the
was elected the alcade of the peace.
This Office carried with it the dignity
of mayor and at the same time i'm
posed 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 elected a member of
the first legislature of the state and
was influential in securing legislation
favorable to the miners and aided in
the passage of laws regulating the
civil and criminal procedure of the
state. At the close of the session he
returned to Marysville and devoted
six years to the practice of his profess
sion. He was elected a judge of the
supreme court of California in 1857
for the term of six years. In 1859 he
became chief justice, succeeding Chief
Justice David S. Terry. In 1863 Presi-
dent Lincoln appointed him associate
Justice of the supreme court OF the
United States, and he held that posi-
ton until his retirement on December
1. 1897. During the latter years of
his service on the bench he was in very
feeble health. His term was the long
est in the history of that tribunal. The
great chief justice, John Marshall,
wore the ermine for period extend
ing over thirty-four years. 1t was the
ambition of the late Justice Field to
surpass this record, and he succeeded
i'm doing so by few months. His
friends, fearing that the strain of hard
work would shorten his useful life,
advised him to retire from his ardu-
Gus duties. But with the indefatiga-
bic perseverance he chung to his task
until the latter part of 1897, when he
had the satisfaction of having fulfilled
the ambition of his life.
His Career on the Bench.
During that term of more than &
third of century he was concerned ir
some of the most important cases evel
passed upon by the supreme court
Among the prominent decisions was
the famous test oath case, in which hi
| gave the casting vote, and wrote the
opinion of the court annulling the
validity of ''ironclad' oath. His dis
sentng opinions in the confiscatior
cases, the legal tender cases and in the
New Orleans slaughter house case at
tracted the widest attention.
During this long service on the
bench he was also before the public
eye in other ways than as a Judge o.
| the United States supreme court. Ht
was a member of the Hayes-Tilder
| electoral commission i'm 1877, and voted
with the democratic minority. In 1885,
he received siNty-five votes for tn.
presidential nomination at the Cincin
natl democratic convention on the frs
ballot. In 1873 he was appointed by
the governor of the state of Californi;
one of the commission to examine thu
code of laws of that state. In 1856.
| Williams college conferred upon hin