The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-06

incident to his age. He has not been
i'll. but has been gradually falling for
the past six or eight weeks and the
end, which came yesterday, was not a
surprise to his relatives and friends.
He was unconscious the greater part
Of last week and only able to recognize
his friends during short periods of
consciousness.
oldest living ex-member of the state
supreme bench but he served in that
capacity longer than any other encum-
bent. He took his seat on the bench
January, 1859, and occupied the place
continuously until January, 1893, when
ne was succeeded by Judge S. H. AL
len, who was elevated to the bench
by the Populist upheavel of that
period.
To Justice Valentine is due much
of the credit for the construction and
Interpretation of the constitution and
the laws of the state, for the state was
new when he took his place on the
bench and there were but few prece-
dents to govern the action of the SUI
.preme judges. Throughout his career
on the bench he was known an in
defatigable worker and during his per-
iod of service delivered 1872 opinions
of his own besides assisting in a large
number Of per curtain opinions, which
are contained in the Kansas Supreme
Court reports, commencing with vol
ume five and ending with volume
thirty.
Following his retirement from the
supreme bench, Judge Valentine re-
entered the practice of law in Topeka.
RSSociating with his son and SOn-in-
law under the firm name of Valentine.
Goddard & Valentine, and was a MEM
Der of the firm at the time of his
death. For the past two years Judge
Valentine has not been able to devote
his attnetion to his law business on
account Of his failing health, though
- - I,fG
office.
Since hi retirement from the supreme
bench he has found time in which TO
prepare a digest on the decisions of the
the state which he has kept up to date,
having worked on 1t up to within the
past three months when his health fail
ed him entirely.
Judge valentine was one of the pio-
neers OF the state. having first set foot
on Kansas soil in 1858 when he travelled
over the eastern section in a buggy, re-
turning to Iowa to complete a term as
county attorney of Adair county. The
following year he returned to this state
and settled at Leavenworth where he
remained about year and little later
moved to the county seat of Franklin
county. Ohio City, which was located
about eight miles south of the present
ute of ottawa though not trace of the
town remains at this time.
A little later the county seat was
moved to Ottawa and Judge Valentine
moved to that place where he resided
for the next ten years when he moved
to Topeka purchasing the property at
625 Polk street which has been his home
since that time. Prior to his elevation
to the bench Judge Valentine held sew
eral positions of trust in the state. being
representative from Franklin county in
1853 and 1864 and state senator from
the same county from 1853 to 1864 From
January 1865, to January, 1869, he was
Judge Of the district court in the district
in which Franklin county was included.
This district included most Of the
counties in the southeastern part of the
state and he made the county seats
where court was held either on horse
back or in a buggy as there were no
railroad facilities IN the state worthy
of the name Six years later he became