Page 249 - PGM Compendium

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Of
M⸫W⸫ Stephen J. Chadwick: 1900-1901

Most Worshipful Brother Stephen James Chadwick was born at
Roseburg, Oregon, on April 28, 1863, to pioneer parents in the
Oregon country. At that time, his illustrious father, Stephen
Fowler Chadwick, was Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge
of Oregon, from which station he became Grand Master, served
his Grand Lodge for many years as chairman of the Committee
on Correspondence, and from 1889 until his death in 1895 was
Grand Secretary. Most Worshipful Brother Stephen Fowler
Chadwick also served as Governor of the State of Oregon from
February 1, 1877 to September 11, 1878.

Stephen James Chadwick was educated in the Oregon schools,
and liked to refer in his later years in discussing any given subject
to what was said in "McGuffey's Reader." He studied at
Willamette University in Salem and at the Oregon State
University at Eugene.

He was admitted to the practice of law in 1885, and early in his professional career went with young Mark
A. Fullerton to Colfax, Washington, where these two as partners opened their humble law office. Young
Chadwick became layor of the town and also served as chairman of the State Board of Land
Commissioners; while in 1898 his partner, Fullerton, was elected to the Supreme Bench of the state. In
1900 "Steve", as everyone at Colfax and in Whitman County by then referred to Bro. Chadwick, was
elected to the superior court judgeship, which position he efficiently held until he was appointed on
December 3, 1908, to a place on the Supreme Bench of the state by the side of his former partner.

Stephen J. Chadwick came to our State Supreme Bench at a most opportune time. He was permitted
through his selection to become associated with those outstanding thinkers, Justices O. R. Dunbar and
Frank H. Rudkin. Almost at once he took a place at their sides as the third distinguished justice in our
state's judicial history. His first reported decision is the case of Anderson v. Mitchell, 51 Wash. 265,
decided December 24, 1908; his last, a dissenting opinion as Chief Justice, is Miller v. Kemper, 107 Wash.
274. During the span between these two cases, in the eleven years that he served can be found much of
that substantive law declared by our Supreme Court which has stood the scrutiny and now bears the
approval of other state jurisdictions and of federal courts.

By his bench associations Justice Chadwick had knit into his very being the native practicality of Justice
Dunbar, the stolid fortitude of Justice Rudkin and the geniality of his later associate. Justice Mack F. Gose,
He was a leading influence and an impelling force with his fellow justices and he became permanently
endeared to each.

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