Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-12
JUDGE MAXWELL Is CONE
Prominent Old Eebrs,kAn Dies at HI,
Home in Fremont
HIS CAREER IS STATE HISTORY
cast the Vote that Ended the Effort
90 BIsck Nebraska's Progress
from Territorial TO
state DigBity.

FREMONT. Neb. Feb. ii.-iSpec Ial. i--
The entire community wss startled this
morning BY the news OF the sudden death
% Judge Maxwell. He got up this morn
ing at his usual hour. went down 70 the
basement OF his house arranged the fur
mace and ate a heavy breakfast with his
family as usual After breakfast he com
plsined OF a severe pain In his chest. His
physician was at once summoned. but IN
less than an hour from The time be was
trst taken sick he was dead. His son.
andrew. had left home TO take the train
For Norfolk. A messenger was sent after
him and be returned Just a. bis father
breathed bis last. Mrs. Maxwell. his son.
samuel jr, and two Of his daughters.
Marilla and Grace we're also with him.
The cause OF his death is thought 70 have
been heart disease.
Practically ever since coming 20 Nebraska
a 1863 he has been prominent figure in
the politics and affairs Of the territory and
state. He has many times been honored
with election 20 Office and always discharged
the duties devolving upon him with strict
fidelity. He first located in Csss county.
here he took up a homestead. At that
TINE the land Ia Csss county was not sur
-tyed. there were only four dwellings and
ore store in the present city Of Plsttsmouth.
II was a candidate for the legislature. or
rather he vas put UP by his friends but
declined TO make . canvass and de-
fested. He returned TO Michigan and com
pleted his law studies and returned 10 Ne
brsska. taking Up the practice Of his pre-
fession. He ran for the legislature again
and this time was more successful. This
vas the legislature which voted on the
question Of statehood. TO which there was
tF~EiNerahIn nurnaf4frf "a order n defg AZ
it motion was made 10 adjourn the senate
sine die. 1t was Msxwells vote which de-
fcated the motion and started Nebraska on
the way to statehood He was at one time
a Law partner OF Hon. Samuel Chapman,
which was continued until his removal TO
Fremont in 1871
Up TO recent years Mr.. Maxwell was al
WAYS a republican and during the political
ccrtests waEed in The past vas classed as
bn snti-monopoly republican. He was a
man Of strong character. and even his poll
ticsi enemies never questioned his honesty
O. purpose or personal and political in
tegrity.
HI. Life. Public and Private.
Briefly his career Is as follows
Was born at Lodi then a suburb Of
Syracuse y. " May %. 1926. was educated
In the common schools and in the higher
branches under private tuition. removed
with his fathers famit> TO Michigan in
1874: here be taught school and fsrmed
in 1853 was elected township clerk and the
following year school Inspector; in 1855
removed TO Nebraska and pre-empted $50
acres OF government land. which be i'm
proved returned TO Michigan In 1855 and
completed course in Law: admitted
to the bar in 1859 and Immediately returned
10 Nebraska and began practice. was
elected a delegate to the first republican
territorial convention; was elected rep
resentative from Cass county 10 the terri
torial legislature: was elected to the drst
constitutional convention, held in 1874 . Was
elected 10 the legislature in the same year
and re-ele-ted IN 1866; assisted in framing
the constitution OF 1856; was elected to the
first state legislature IN 1856 in the follow
ing year was appointed by the governor a
commissioner 10 select the capitol building