Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1899-04-15
Born in Connecticut.

Justice Field was born at Haddam, Conn,
on November 4, 1916, but after he was three
years old lived for ten years at Stock
bridge, Mass, which place has been more
prominently identified with the remark
able family of which he was only one of
many distinguished members.
His father was Rev. David d. Field, D.
D., whose fame filled all New England and
who was a pioneer in the religious world
of his time. Cyrus w. Field, famous as the
protector of the Atlantic cable: David Dud-
ley Field, the eminent lawyer, and Rev. Dr.
Henry M Field, the noted author and re-
ligious editor, were his brothers. while
their sister was the mother of Justice
Brewer.
The possibilities of the influence of a
single family upon the material, intel
lectual and moral interests of great ma
tion have never been more remarkably ex-
hibited than in the record of the Field
family. Justice Field went to Asia Minor
at the age of 13 with his sister and her hus-
band, Rev. Josiah Brewer, the parents of
Justice Brewer. He remained in Asia Minor
two years and a half and learned to speak
and write modern Greek with the ease of a
native. On returning to America he en-
tered Williams college and was graduated
at the age of 81 with the highest honors
of his class. He entered the law offices of
his brother, David Dudley Field, in this city
and afterward practiced as his partner for
seven years.
A period of travel in Europe was followed
by journey to California. He arrived in
San Francisco on December 2S, 1S49, and
in January following was chosen alcalde
of Marysville, position which in that
transitive period of California's history
carried great powers, both in civil and
criminal matters.
Mr. Field was member of California s
first state legislature, having been chosen a
member of the assembly and of the judi
ciary committee. He did for California
v-b Nia1d
had already done for New York-namely,
framed the laws of the new state.
In 1857, up to which time he enjoyed an
extensive law practice, he was elected
judge of the supreme court, of which he be-
came chief justice two years later. 1t
was from this position that he assembled
to the bench of the supreme court of the
United States in 1863
Narrow Escape from Murder.
Perhaps the most exciting event of JUS
tice Fields life was his narrow escape from
death at the hands OF Judge Terry in the
| railroad depot at Lathrop, Cal. Justice
Field had recently rendered an adverse de-
cision in the celebrated Althea Hill case, by
which she was deprived of enjoying the
result of Judge Sullivan's decision in the
superior court of San Francisco, that de-
cision having established her as the wife
| of Senator Sharon.
Miss Hill, or Mrs. Sharon, as she called
l
Terry, who was the leading counsel in her
case. She, with her husband, entered the
dining-room at Lathrop, and, seeing JUS
tice Field there, pointed him out to Judge
Terry. Terry, who was an intensely pas
sionate man, advanced, at the same time
| drawing his revolver. Before he had time
to use his weapon, however. United States
Deputy Marshal Nagle, who had been
| specially detailed as Justice Fields body
guard, whipped out his revolver and shot
| Terry dead.
| In 1877 Justice Field was one of the /;
members of the commission appointed by
congress to decide upon the counting of the
| electoral vote for president He was one OF
| the seven members who voted that the dis
puted votes should be cast for Mr.. Tilden
the other eight voting for Mr.. Hayes, who
was accordingly declared elected.
| Justice Fields retirement from the SUI
preme court bench occurred December l.
| 1897, and Attorney-General McKenna, OF
California, shortly afterwards was nomi-
mated to succeed him. He rendered his res
| ignation in April, 1897 to take effect De-
| cember l. The president in his letter Of
acceptance of the resignation wrote:
Upon your retirement both the bench
and the country will sustain a great loss
but the high character and great ability
of your work will live and long be remem
bered not only by your colleagues, but by
your grateful fellow countrymen."