The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-05-09
FORMER MEMBER OF
| n. D. SUPREME court
SUCCUMBS in MlN0T
Judge c. J. Fisk Had Held Many
important Offices Of
Public Trust
GUARANTY FUND REFEREE
Left High Tribunal After Ele-
walton to Chief Justice
ship in 1917

Minot, N. D., May 9.-(R-Judge
Charles j. Fisk, 10, Of Minot, former
justice Of the North Dakota supreme
court, former district Judge and per-
sonal friend of the late william Jenn-
ings Bryan, died Sunday at a. m.
after lengthy illness.
AS boy aged IL, Judge Fisk began
earning his own living. and in the As
years he lived in North Dakota his
name was ever prominent in the work
Of the bench and bar.
Funeral services will be held in
Minot Wednesday.
1t was 40 years ago on April that
Judge Fisk came to Dakota territory.
at once won admittance to the bar and
began to practice at Larimore. His
ability, however, soon brought him in
to prominence and he removed to the
larger city Of Grand Forks, where he
entered into a partnership with At
torney Tracy r. Bangs, who is still
practicing there.
Professional honors and advance
ment came to him rapidly. In 1893,
he was made secretary of the state
commission to revise the seven codes
Of the state and continued to act in
that capacity until 1895. He served as
city attorney of Grand Forks from
1893 to 1895, and also as assistant
United States district attorney. He
launched into wider judicial service
with election to the bench of the first
judicial district In 1897.
Served With Distinction
For 10 years, Judge Fisk served with
distinction on the district court bench
and the people of North Dakota then
honored him with election to the su-
preme court. where he served 10 years.
In 1915 he was chief justice. When
his term expired in 1917 Judge Fisk
retired to private practice, locating in
Minot.
In 1923 Judge Fisk was appointed
referee for the State Guaranty Fund
commission to hear claims against the
state guaranty fund and served in
that capacity until the position was
dissolved by legislative act about four
years ago.
Born on March II, 1862, at Morri-
son, ILL.,, Charles Joseph Fisk was the
son of Clark and Adelia Fisk. both of
whom were typical New Englanders.
After attending the common and high
schools at Morrison, Fisk. attracted
by the bar, decided to pursue legal
study at Northern Illinois college at
Fulton, Ill.,. where he completed his
course in 1883. Dissuaded in his de-
sire to try his fortunes in the north
west, he stayed in the vicinity of
his home, working In law offices and
studying. Soon. however. the lure of
the new northwest was too impelling
and he came to Dakota territory
which was henceforth to be his home.
Married in 1886
Later In the year Of 1886. when he
came to Dakota territory. Judge Fisk
went back to Sterling, ILL.,, where he
was united In marriage to Miss Ida
M. Meyers of Sterling.
To them two daughters were born
Helen, Mrs. George E. Walker Of
Minot and Doris, Mrs. Earl Draper,
Detroit Lakes. MINI.
Mrs. Fisk died in July, 1919, the
victim of an airplane accident.
In addition to the two daughters he
leaves three sisters and one brother.
The sisters are Mrs. william McFar-
land, living at Mound, MINI. and In
California: Mrs. George Dodd and Ida
M. Fisk, both Of Norman. Okla, and
the brother Is Judge Frank E. Fisk,
who practices law at Williston.
Judge Fisk was Scottish Rite Ma
son, a Shriner and an Elk. He was a
member of KEN Temple Of Shriners
at Grand Forks and was a charter
member Of and the first exalted ruler
Of the Grand Forks Elks lodge.
He was identified with the Metho-
dist Episcopal church.