The Mankato free press., 1923-10-05

university OF minnesota IIo"
which, heIwas graduated in
1896 with Jan LIB degree. He
was admitted to the state barr
the same year.
Samuel B. Wilson Of Nankato, one
of the best known lawyers in Min
nesota. is the new chief justice of
the Minnesota state supreme court,
having been appointed to that posi-
ton late yesterday Dy Governor j. A.
o. Preus to succeed Chief Justice
Calvin l.. Brown, whost death oc-
Cured on last Sunday night.
The appointment came to Mr. VIII
son entirely unsolicited. To be
named for the highest judicial honor
in Minnesota was most remote from
Mr.. Wilson's thought. Yesterday he
was out of the city, having been cal
led away on legal business. Arriv-
ing at his. office late in the after
noon he received a telephone call
from Governor Preus who notified
him that he had been named chief
justice or the Minnesota state su-
preme court. Mr.. Wilson replied
that he wanted time to consider the
matter Of acceptance. Mr.. Wilson
went to st. Paul this morning and
after a brief interview with Cover
nor Preus he decided to assume the
responsibilities of the position which
has been rendered him.
Is Signal Honor
This is the first time that Man
kato attorney has been so signally
honored. Twice have lawyers from
this city been on the supreme bench
a 70 t,tuf hut hn
fore has a member of the local legal
fraternity been named for chief jus :
tice. 1t is high honor and has been
bestowed on a lawyer Of ability and
one worthy of the position.
Mr.. Wilson has never sought pub
Tic office at the hands of state
executive. Shortly after begin
ming the practice of law in Mankato
he served for brief period as Judge
Of probate, following the resignation
of Judge George w. Mead, who par
ticipated in the Spanish American
war, holding the rank of major. Then
came Mr.. Wilson's election to the
county atorneyship which he held
three terms. He made an envible
record as a. prosecutor Of law-vto-
lators and was a vigorous aad con ;
scientious official, having the well
fare and interests Of the county at
heart at all times: During the World
war, Mr.. Wilson, served as the Blue
Earth county representative on the
State Safety commission.
Governor His Personal Friend
Governor Preus and Mr.. Wilson
have I long been close personal
friends and it was Mr.. Wilson, who
placed the name OF Jake Preus be-
fore the state convention. which in
dorsed him for governor. Notwith-
standing their intimacy, Mr.. Wilson
had never sought any political pre-
ferment at the hands of the gover%
nor, and the fact that the chief JUS
iceship comes to him without solic-
itation on his part makes 1t all the
more pleasing to Mr.. Wilson.
Graduate Of University
Mr.. Wilson is native of Missouri
He has attended = the public schools
at Mexico, Mo-, is a graduate OF what
was then the Mankato Normal in
the early nineties; graduated from
the University Of Minnesota In 1894
with the L. L. B. degree. He was ad
mitted to the bar in 1896 was Judge
of probate In 1898 and was three
times elected county attorney. He is
a member Of the Minnesota and Blue
Earth County Bar association. In
connection with his membership Of
the Minnesota state safety commits
sion. Mr.. Wilson was, during the
World war, United States food com
missioner, the duties of which he
carried out admirably. He is thirty
second degree Mason, member Of
the Shrine, also an Elk. He is presi-
dent of the Mankato Golf club.
Mr.. Wilson lis married and has
one son, S. Bailey, and two daugh
ters, Phyllis and Corol. The family
home is on Clark street.
Mr.. Wilson has not only been a
successful practitioner at the bar
but he has devoted considerable time
to livestock interests. He has been
for several years Spresident of the
Blue Earth County Guernsey Breed
era association.
Mr.. Wilson is essentially the arch
itect OF his own meritorious career
He was poor boy, and whGn at
tending the old Normal school in this
city, he worked for-An uncle. Lender
Wilson, who 0vned Tarm in Ic