CHATFIELD, Andrew Gould (1810-1875) — also known as Andrew G. Chatfield — of Addison, Steuben County, N.Y.; Racine, Racine County, Wis.; Belle Plaine, Scott County, Minn. Born in Butternuts, Otsego County, N.Y., January 27, 1810. Lawyer; member of New York state assembly from Steuben County, 1839-41, 1846; justice of Minnesota territorial supreme court, 1853-57. Died October 3, 1875. Burial location unknown.
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The Morgan Library
Department of Literary and Historical Manuscripts
New York, NY
Papers: 1853, 1 item.
A letter from Henry Hastings Sibley to William R. Marcy, written on March 21, 1853. In the letter, Henry Hastings recommends Andrew G. Chatfield for the office of Justice of the Supreme Court of Minnesota Territory.
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Andrew Gould Chatfield
As recorded in the book of the Golden Jubilee and presented January 7, 1904.
The first Worshipful Master of Ancient Landmark Lodge was born at Butternuts, Otsego county, New York, January 27, 1810. His maternal grandfather was Jonathan Starr, a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His maternal grandmother was of the Ruggles family, among whose descendants are some of the most distinguished jurists of New York. His father, Enos CHATFIELD, owing to loss of property through a defective land title, was able to give his children but little aid in securing an education. Andrew, thrown upon his own resources, succeeded in working his way through the academy at Hamilton. He then took up the study of law in the office of Henry T. Colton at Painted Post, New York, and in 1833 was admitted to the bar. He soon after removed to Addison county, where he formed a partnership and was soon in the enjoyment of a lucrative practice.
He was married on June 27, 1836, to Eunice E. Beeman.
He served as a member of the New York assembly in 1838 and again in 1840. While a member of the assemble, he served with the late Samuel J. Tilden on the committee which had under consideration the “Anti-Rent” trouble.
In 1846 he was a member of the constitutional Convention of New York. In 1848 he removed to Southport, now Kenosha, Wisconsin, forming a partnership with Volney French, and soon acquired a lucrative practice. He received the Masonic degrees in Southport Lodge No. 7 in 1849, and subsequently became Master of the Lodge. In 1850 he was elected county judge of Racine county, but later resigned to resume the practice of law.
While in attendance upon the USA Supreme Court in Washington in 1853, he formed the acquaintance of Hon. H. H. Sibley, then serving as delegate in congress for the Territory of Minnesota. Judge Chatfield became so interested in the glowing accounts of the new territory related by the enthusiastic Sibley, that the later recommend him to President Pierce, who appointed him associate justice of the Supreme Court of the Territory. In June 1853, he removed to Minnesota and entered upon the discharge of his duties, which he continued until the close of his term, April 23, 1857.
He held the first term of court ever held in Fillmore county, then in the Second judicial district, and the hamlet where that court sat is now the thriving city of Chatfield – named at that time in honor of the Judge.
In 1854 Judge Chatfield located a claim in the Minnesota valley, which he afterwards laid out and named the village of Belle Plaine. At the close of his term on the supreme bench he resumed the practice of his profession until 1870, when he was elected judge of the Eighth judicial district, which office he continued to hold up to the time of his death.
His health becoming impaired, in the spring of 1873 he visited the Hot Springs of Arkansas in the hope of obtaining the needed relief, but without avail. His health continuing to decline, he died at Belle Plaine on October 3, 1875, his remains were laid to rest in the Episcopal church yard on Sunday, October 6. The Masonic burial services were held under the auspices of the Grand Lodge, Most Worshipful Grand Master Charles Griswold officiating, assisted by officers of the Grand Lodge. The pallbearers were Judge Wescott Eilkin, Gen. H. H. Sibley and Judge Aaron Goodrich of Saint Paul, Judge Brown of Shakopee, Hon. F. J. Whitlock of Belle Plaine, Hon. M. J. Severance of Mankato, and Judge Atwater and J. N. Shaw of Minneapolis. A large number of Masons were present, the Lodges at Belle Plaine, Shakopee, Carver, St. Peter, La Sueur, Mankato, St. Paul and Minneapolis being represented.
Judge Chatfield’s death was widely noticed, and glowing tributes were paid to his worth as a lawyer, as a judge, a Mason and a man.
A. G. Chatfield was named in the charter of Ancient Landmark Lodge No. 5 as its first Worshipful Master. He held that office until the first Annual Communication of the Lodge in June 1854 – a period of six months. Bro. Chatfield’s residence was at Mendota. The judicial district over which he presided was a large one, and he found very little time to devote to the Lodge. In fact he presided at but four meetings. Nevertheless, he ever maintained a keen interest in the Lodge’s welfare.
Maj. T. M. Newson, in his “Pen Pictures,” says of Judge Chatfield: “He was a straight, splendidly-built man, with a florid complexion and elegant address; very genial in his manners; indeed one might say he was a fine American gentleman, all of the olden time.’ He was a judge of the finest purity of character, very careful and very honest, and very sincere, and very conscientious in his convictions of right.”
And this was the first Worshipful Master of Ancient Landmark. May his successors ever strive to maintain the same lofty ideals.
http://www.minnesotalegalhistoryproject.org/assets/Chatfield%20first%20ct.%20session.pdf
1882 history book of 'Fillmore County in Minnesota'
Death of Andrew Gould Chatfield Judge
With one of the early citizens of Minnesota, and an honored man, and as he was the individual in honor of whom the first county seat of Fillmore was named, it is eminently fit and proper that his biography should have a place in this work. He was taken Home from Belle Plaine, where he resided, on the 3rd of October, 1875, after some months illness. His native place was Otsego county, New York, where he remained until grown up to be a good lawyer. He married on the 27th of June, 1836. In 1838, was a member of the New York legislature, and in 1840, while a member of the Assembly, served on a committee with Samuel J. Tilden, in regard to the "anti rent” troubles. While in attendance upon the Supreme Court at Washington, he formed an acquaintance with Hon. H. H. Sibley the Delegate from Minnesota in Congress, whose glowing accounts of the territory very favorably impressed him, and so Mr. Sibley procured his appointment as Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the Territory. His commission was dated in 1853, and in June he came to his new field. His district was very large. He located in Belle Plaine and organised that village.
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Sixth great-grandson of Thomas Welles; second cousin of Phineas Taylor Barnum; third cousin once removed of Charles Robert Sherman and Truman Hotchkiss (1797?-1842); fourth cousin of Charles Taylor Sherman, William Tecumseh Sherman, Lampson Parker Sherman and John Sherman.
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USA Census, 1850
Name: A G Chatfield
Event Place: Kenosha, ward 1, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Gender: Male
Age: 40
Race: White
Birth Year (Estimated): 1810
Birthplace: New York
House Number: 333
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
A G Chatfield M 40 New York
Eunice E Chatfield F 32 Vermont
Celia A Chatfield F 12 New York
Sarah Kelley F 30 Ireland
E A Greenleaf M 40 Maine
Susan P Greenleaf F 38 New Hampshire
Household ID: 362 , Line Number: 30 , GS Film Number: 444987 , Digital Folder Number: 004206486 , Image Number: 00482
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United States Census, 1860
Name Andrew G Chatfield
Event Place Belle Plaine, Scott, Minnesota
Gender Male
Age 50
Race White
Birth Year (Estimated) 1810
Birthplace New York
Page 34
Andrew G Chatfield M 50 New York
Eunice E Chatfield F 42 Vermont
Robert A Irwin M 26 Wi
Celia A Irwin F 23 New York
Frank C Irwin M 3 Minnesota
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United States Census, 1870
Name Andrew J Chatfield
Event Place Minnesota
Gender Male
Age 60
Race White
Birth Year (Estimated) 1809-1810
Birthplace New York
Page Number 12
Andrew J Chatfield M 60 New York
Eunice E Chatfield F 52 Vermont
Robert A Irwin M 35 Michigan
Celia Irwin F 32 New York
Frank C Irwin M 13 Minnesota
Andrew G Irwin M 8 Minnesota
Charles W Irwin M 4 Minnesota
Alexander H Irwin M 2 Minnesota
Kate Buckley F 13 Missouri
