Supreme Court Chief Justice, 1864 Election

General

Share
Date: November 8, 1864
Cycle: 1864
Office: Supreme Court Chief Justice
State: Minnesota
District: Statewide
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent Margin
Thomas (Thos.) Wilson Incumbent Man Nonpartisan 25,216 59.41 +18.94
Andrew G. (A.G.) Chatfield Man Nonpartisan 17,175 40.46

Associate Justice Wilson was elected to a second term and first as Chief Justice. He was appointed to the Supreme Court by Governor Stephen Miller following the resignation of Isaac Atwater on July 1, 1864. Wilson was an attorney from Winona, eventual state Representative (HD 08, 1881-1883), state Senator (SD 15, 1883-1887), and U.S. Representative (CD 01, 1887-1889). Wilson resigned in July 1869 to run for the U.S. Senate. Governor William Marshall appointed St. Paul attorney James Gilfillan to fill the vacancy on July 14, 1869.

Chatfield was an attorney from Belle Plaine, former New York state legislator, Associate Justice of the Minnesota Territorial Supreme Court (1853-1858), Democratic nominee for the 1st CD in 1862, and nominee for Treasurer in 1867.

Sources

  • Journal of the House of Representatives of the Seventh Session of the Legislature of the State of Minnesota, 1865 (p. 16). Secretary of State election records, Microfilm Reel SAM 66, Roll 1, Image 42, Ronald M. Hubbs Microfilm Room, Minnesota Historical Society.