The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-04-12
aged AND FAMOUS JUSTICE DEAD.
STEPHEN ]. FIELD.
Had Worn the Robe Of the United States su-
preme Court for More Than Thirty-iour
Years-one Of Four Famous Brothers.

Justice Stephen j. Field, OF the
died at his home In Washington Sun
day evening OF kidney complications,
aged SO. About his bedside were his
wife and her sister, Mrs. J. Condit
Smith; Justice David ]. Brewer, his
nephew: Mrs. Edgerton. OF California;
Mr.. Linton, his private secretary; Rev.
Edward M. Mott, rector of the Church
of the Advent, and ,he family serv-
ants.
Ever since Justice Fields retirement
from the supreme court bench, Decem-
ber !. 1897, he had enjoyed compare
lively good health. and being relieved
from the responsibilities which he had
borne for so many years. he became
more cheerful than formerly. All dur
Ing the winter. when the weather was
fair. II was his custom to take daily
drives about the city or through the
grounds of the Soldiers home, and al
ways returned refreshed.
About two weeks ago. however, he
took n longer ride than usual in. an
open carriage and contracted n s~vere
cold. which rapidly developed the kid
ney troubles from which he had suf-
fered, though but slightly, for some
time. The disease readily yielded TO
treatment, and on Thursday last he
sat up for time and seemed quite
himself again but Saturday morning
a change for the worse took place and
about noon he lost consciousness.
From that time he sank rapidly.
stephen Johnson Field was born
Mt Haddam, Conn, November 4, 1916.
He was the son OF David Dudley Field
and one of four brothers who became
so 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 Stockbridge, Mass.
At the age OF 13 stephen J. Field
went to Smyrna, where his sister had
married n missionary, the Rev. Josiah
Brewer. who had undertaken an edu-
catlonal mission to the Greeks, and he
there acquired knowledge of oriental
languages. Returning to this country
after two and n half years, he later
entered Williams college. from which
he was graduated in 1897 at the head
of his class.
He was elected a member of the first
legislature of the state of California
and was made a member of that body.
He was influential I'm securing legisla-
tion favorable to the miners and aided
civil and criminal procedure of the
state At the close of the session he
returned to Marysville, Cal. and de-
voted six years to the practice of his
profession. lie was elected n judge Of
the supreme court of California in 1851
for the term of six years.
In 1859 he became chief Justice sue
ceeding Chief Justice David S. Terry.
In 1863 President Lincoln appointed
him associate Justice of the supreme
court of the United States, and he held
that position until his retirement on
December /, 1897.
During the latter years of his serv-
ice on the bench he was i'm very feeble
health. His term was the longest in
the history of that tribunal. The great
chief justice, John Marshall, wore the
ermine for a period extending over "a
years. 1t was the ambition of the late
Justice Field to surpass this record.
and he succeeded in doing so by n few
months. His friends, fearing that the
strain of hard work would shorten
his useful life, advised him to retire
from his arduous duties. But with in
defatigable perseverance he clung to
his task until the later part of 1897,
when he had the satisfaction of hav-
ing fulfilled the ambition of his life.