Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-04-10
His Short Illness Ended In Death
at Washington Yesterday.
RESULT OF A SEVERE COLD.
For Thirty.scur Year, Sc Was
Member Of the United states IN.
pseme ourt-skcsch Of Life.

d
court. retired. died at his home ON Cap
itol hill In this city at $50 o'clock this
evening. Of kidney complications. About
his bedside were his wife and her sister.
Mrs. J. c. Smith. MIR. Justice David J.
ur,wor. his nephew; Mrs. Edgerton Of
California: Mr.. Lawton. his private Sec
rotary. Rev. Edward NJ. Mott. rector OF
the church OF tho Advent. and the fam
lily servants. He had been unconscious
since Saturday morning. and death
came painicssiy.
Ever since Justice Fields retirement
from the supreme bench In December.
1921. he had enjoyed comparatively good
health. and. being relieved from the
responsibilities which he had borne for
20 many years. he became more cheer
full than formerly and nccmed TO enjoy
the society Of HID friends and acguaint-
nncen more thWn ever before. During
the winter. when the weather was fair,
It was his custom 10 take daily drives
about the city or through the grounds
OF the Soldiers home. and he always re-
turned refreshed. About two weeks ago.
however, he took longer ride than
usual In an OPEN chfriaRc ana contract
ed severe cold, which rapidly d.vcl-
had suffered. though but slightly. for
some time.
Tho disease readily yielded 10 treat
mcnt. and on Thursday last he sat up
Tor u 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 6.1o o'clock this evening.
No ARRANGEMENTS have yet been made
for the funeral. nor u u now known
where he will be buried. II IL probable
that his remains viii be taken TO
Rtockbridgr. Mass, where are buried
his father and mother and his brothers.
Cyrus. Dudley and Jonathan. two sis
tiers ana other members OF the Field
family. n II possible. however. that
Mrs. Field may decide 10 take his re-
mains to California. whore connidcr-
able part OF his active life was passed
before President Lincoln appointed him
member OF the Supreme bench.
Justice and Mrs. Field never had any
children and the only surviving mcn-
her Of his fathers family II the Justices
youngest brother. DIR. Henry Field, the
editor OF the Evangelist. During sew
.ral years prior To his retirement from
the bench the justicc's health at times
seemed on the point % breaking. but he
usually recovered promptly and In u
few days would again resume his judi
cini duties. For the past year and more
those most intinYio with him knew his
mental powers ewerc becoming some
what Impaired. Tho results Of his long
career OF great mental activity were
beginning 10 show themselves In a fall
Ing memory after his retirement from
the bench. though his physical health
seemed to Improve little.
HIS LIFE.
stephen johnson Field was born az
Haddam. Conn. Nov. 4, 1916, He was
the son Of David Dudley Field and one
OF four brothers who became 80 famous.
David Dudley, Cyrus W. and Henry N.
Field being the other members OF the
great aunrtctto that made their names
known throughout the world. His early
boyhood was spent at Stockbridgc.
Mass
At the age OF -, stephen ]. Field
went 10 Smyrna. where his sister had
married missionary, the Rev, Josiah
brewer, who Ind undertaken an edu-
catlonal mission 20 the Greeks and here
acquired a knowledge OF oriental Lam
gunEcr. Returning 10 this country
after two and half years. he later en-
tered Williams. from which he gradu-
ntei In 1887. at the head of his class.
Ho then went 10 New York. whore he
entered the law office OF his brother.
David Field. He was admitted 10 the
bar and became partner In the flrm.
remaining aa such for seven years.
In ists he went 10 Europe and spent
some time there travelling. In Novcm-
Dor, 1919. he sailed for IAN Francisco
around Cape Horn and entered upon
the practice OF law In the occidental
metropolis. After short time he
moved 10 Marysville. a small mining
camp and became one of the founders
Of what afterward grew TO be n ihriv-
Ing town.
when the little city was organized.
Justice Field was elected alcaide OF the
Ia. .aa laI o l..
dignity OF mayor and at the same time
Imposed all the duties OF the bench.
Here the future juriHt dispensed justice
and made his name widely known
throughout the length and breadth Of
the growing commonwealth. lie was
fond Of talking OF his early days In
California and often said that the
hnpplcnt days OF HIS life were when he
dealt out Justice IN Marysyilie behind
dry goods box.
Justice Field. In a sketch prepared by
himself for the congressional directory
gave this brief outline OF the duties of
his office Of alcalde;
Under the Mexican law. the aicalde
was an officer Of limited Jurisdiction.
but IN the anomalous condition Of ar
fhirn he was called upon 10 administer
Justice. punish crime and TO enforce
POLES regulations until relieved by oif-
GERS under the new constitution"
He was elected n member of the first
legislature OF the Stnto ana was made
q member OF that body. He was In
fuential In securing legislation favor
able to the miners and aided In the
passage OF laws regulating the clvil and
criminal procedure ~ the State. Al
the close OF the session he returned 20
haryryiile and devoted six years TO
the practice Of his profession. He was
elected q Judge OF the supreme court
os California In 1851. for the term OF six
years. In 1859 he became chief Justice.
succeeding Chief Justice David =. Ter
ry. In 1868, President Lincoln appoint
ed him associate Justice OF the Supreme
court OF the United States ana he held
that position until his retirement on
Dec. I. 1897
During the latter years OF his service
on the bench he was In very feeble
health. His term was the longest In
the history OF the tribunal. The great
chief Justice. John Marchall, wore the
ermine for a period extending over
thlrty-four years. II was the ambition
OF the late Justice Field 10 pass this
record and he succeeded In doing no by
n few months His friends. fearing
that the strain ~ hard work would
retire from his 'nrduoua duties. hut
with indefatigable Perseverance he clung
20 his task until the latter part Of
1891, when he had the satisfaction OF
having fuihlled the ambition Of his life.
During the term OF more than third
OF q century he was concerned IN some
Of the most Important cases ever
passed upon by tho supreme court