The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-08

Louise II. Shields, JOIN n SHIELDS.
and one son. John
A. Shields. Jr
The body was shipped tonight to New
York, where the funeral is to be held
from the Shields home In Brooklyn.
John f. Shields was nearly rs years old,
and from the age OF 10 no had been con-
unuously In the service of the United
States Government in this city lie DO
came United States Commissioner forty
five years ago and was tho oldest Commits
sioner In point OF service In the country.
II is not given to many men to experience
at first hand the changes in social and
political life that ne passed through as an
active official.
Franklin Pierce was President OF the
United States when the hoy Shields got a
Job as messenger In the office Of the
United States Circuit Court The problem
OF slavery was fastening to its solution in
the greatest civil war Of all time. Kan
sas Territory was I'm the throes Of a bitter
struggle. From the far corners OF the
world men were hurrying TO the gold
fields Of California Abraham Lincoln was
hardly known outside of Illinois. Grant
was clarking IN store In Galena The
Republican party had not yet held a ma
tional convention. The Atlantic cable
was not yet laid. New York was city of
! n little more than half million inhabl-
| tants.
Was born In Brooklyn.
He was born in Brooklyn on Novem-
| Der 30. 1899. At the age of Is he was
! studying law in the office Of Lewis Hurst
| at II Wall street and striving to support
| himself and his mother by copying the
cour; records at night. The deputy clerk
| az the United States Circuit Court, then
| In tho old Stevens Building. at Murray
street and College place. advertised for
a messenger and Shields got the Job. II,
| picked up n dollar here and there at the
! corving and In that way laid tho founda
tiun Of an acquaintance with procedure IN
the Federal courts that was regarded as
remarkable.
Three years later the Government mad,
I the old Burton Theatre. at ~ Chambers
| street, the Federal Building and Mir
| Shields continued there until 1875, wher
the present Federal Building was com
pleted. So industrious was the young mar
that he was promoted to be- cashier ant
then deputy clerk. In 1869, while he wa,
deputy clerk he was admitted 10 tho bal
and in the same year received his appoint
ment as Commissioner. lie became clerk
Of the Circuit Court in 'SSS.
on the f1fticth anniversary of his GOV.
eminent service Commissioner Shields wa.
honorod 10y the Judges. Presiding Judg,
, Wallace suspended the work of the cour
and addressed the members of tine bal
with respect to the ability. faithful ser
vice and courtesy Of the Commissioner
Court attendants presented him with flora
gifts, and a movement was started amonl
the lawyers to give great banquet IN hi
honor. lie asked them not TO do IT,
Commissioner Shields was Of impressiv,
appearance. He was tall broad shou
dered and erect Of carriage His gray hail
and side whiskcrs added to his dignlhe,
appearance. one of his pecuiarites wa
dread OF pneumonia, This did not pre-
vent him. however. from appearing at hi
office in all kinds of weather
PrOdigious Worker.
He was n prodigious worker He had
habit Of coming In at a, NJ and stayin,
until 800 IN the afternoon. Also he ha,
habit OF forgetting that there wer
sMrh things as hnlldANs. much 10 the cha