The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-02-12
JUDGE MAXWELL No MORE
Prominent Nebraskan Suddenly
Passes From Life.
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.


the Legal Profession His Orig inal Choice.
Cast the Vote Which Started Nebraska
on the Way to Statehood.
Fremont, Neb., Feb. 12.-Judge Sam
uel Maxwell died suddenly yesterday
morning at his home, north Of Ere
mont. He got up feeling as we'll as
lily. Immediately after he complained
of pain in his chest and physician
was at once summoned. Before he
arrived the judge was dead.
Practically ever since coming to Ne.
braska in 1885, he has been a promin.
ent figure in the politics and affairs
of the territory and state He was
member OF the legislature which
voted on the question of statehood, to
which there was considerable opposi
ton. In order to defeat it motion
was made to adjourn the senate sine
die. 1t was MaXwell's vote which
defeated the motion and started Ne
braska on the way to statehood.
Sketch of His Career.
Judge Maxwell was born at Lodi (then q
suburb of Syracuse, n. W May, 20. 1926
was educated in the common schools and
in the higher branches under private tu
ition; removed with his fathers family tc
Michigan in 1874; here he taught schoo
and farmed; in 1858 was elected TOWNSHIP
clerk and the following year school inspect
or; In 1S5o-56 removed to Nebraska and pre-
empted 16O acres of government land
which he improved; returned to Michigan
IN 1898 and completed course in law; was
admitted to the bar in 1859 and immediate
iy returned to Nebraska and began the
practice; was elected a delegate to the Re
publican territorial conventions; was elect
ed representative from Cass county tc
the territorial legislature; was elected to the
first constitutional convention, held in 1864
was elected to the legislature the same
year and reelected in 1865; assisted ir
framing the constitution Of 1866; was elect
ed to the first state legislature in 1866; ir
the following year was appointed by the
governor commissioner to select the can
itol building and university lands; organ
lied the First National bank of Platts
mouth about 1870 and was one of its off
GERS; was elected In 1871 to the second con
stitutional convention and was chairman
of the committee on suffrage; in 1871 the
legislature elected him one of three com
missioners to collect $4,000 insurance fol
the burned asylum at Lincoln and to erec
new building; was elected Judge of tn,
supreme court as Republican in 1872 fo
term Of six years; located in Fremont IL
1873; was elected in 1875 member of tn,
third constitutional convention and wa
chairman Of the. judiciary committee; wa
elected the same year judge of the suprem,
court under the new constitution and wa
reelected in 1881 and 1857; is the author
of Digest of Nebraska Reports" .'Prac
tice in Justice Courts" "Pleading ant
Practice" Criminal Procedure" and "Cod,
Pleading" has been an advocate Of fre,
and unlimited coinage Of silver at the rati,
Of 16 to for 20 years: was elected to tn,
55th congress as a fusionist. His politica
career closed with his retirement from con
gress two years ago, since which time h,
has lived quietly af his home near Fremont
he Is survived by his widow, four sons ant
four daughters.