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The Supreme Court of Minnesota.

September of that year nominated a com paratively unknown man for that position. Prior to that time the higher judicial offi ces had been, by consent of all parties, kept out of politics. In this instance this salu tary rule was broken, and the nomination of Christopher G. Ripley, of Fillmore County, was the result of political trading in the con vention. As Mr. Ripley was not well known,

his nomination caused much dissatisfaction throughout the State, and he was the subject of very bitter attack by political enemies. The St. Paul "Daily Pioneer," the leading Democratic paper of the State, referred to him as a " fourth-class country pettifogger, fitted possibly to con duct a limited practice in a justice's court," and asserted that a party which would af flict such nomina tions upon the people "ought to be debarred from holding conven tions." The Demo crats nominated Judge Flandrau, but Ripley JOHN M. was elected by a large majority. Christopher Gore Ripley was born in Waltham, Massachusetts, on Sept. 6, 1822. His father was Rev. Samuel Ripley. His mother, Sarah Alden Bradford, was a direct descend ant of Governor Bradford of Plymouth Col ony, and of John Alden. After graduating from Harvard University, and also from the Law School, Mr. Ripley continued the study of the law in the office of Franklin Dexter of Boston. In 1855 he removed to Minne sota, and located first at Brownsville and later at Chatfield, where he continued to live until 1874. Judge Ripley was a quiet, schol-

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arly gentleman and a good lawyer; but dur ing his term as Chief-Justice he was suffering from ill-health, which prevented him from acquiring the reputation which doubtless he otherwise would have established. In 1874 he resigned, and returned to his former home in Massachusetts, in the hope of regaining his health, but died at Concord in 188 1. Samuel J. R. McMillan, who succeeded Ripley as Chief-Jus tice in 1874, was born at Brownsville, Penn sylvania, Feb. 22, 1826. After gradu ating at Duquesne College in 1846, he entered upon the study of the law, and was admitted to the bar in 1849. In 1852 he located at Still water, Minnesota, where he engaged in practice until elected Judge of the First Ju dicial District at the first State election. This position he held until July 6, 1864, when he was appointed Associate Justice of ' . ..i the Supreme Court. Upon the resignation BERRY. of Chief-Justice Rip ley, Governor Davis appointed Judge McMillan Chief-Justice, and George B. Young Associate Justice, to fill the vacancy thus created. Judge McMillan was Chief-Justice from April 7, 1874, to March 10, 1875, when he was elected United States Senator, to succeed Alexander Ram sey. He served as Senator two terms, but was defeated for a third term by Dwight M. Sabin, and is now engaged in the practice of law at St. Paul. George B. Young and Greenleaf Clark were members of the court for a short time by appointment. Judge Young was ap-

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