Hiram F. Stevens
Encyclopedia
Hiram Fairchild Stevens was an American
lawyer
, politician
, and academic from Minnesota
. He was one of the five co-founders of William Mitchell College of Law
and a charter member of the American Bar Association
.
to a family with deep ties to the state. His great-grandfather Stephen Fairchild had fought with the Vermont Milita during the American Revolutionary War
. His father, also Hiram Fairchild Stevens, was a well-regarded doctor who had served as a state legislator and president of the Vermont State Medical Society. When the elder Stevens died prematurely from an illness contracted during his service with the Union Army in the U.S. Civil War, the family's loss of income forced the son to work to support his mother and three siblings. Despite the hardship, Stevens eventually graduated from the University of Vermont
in 1872, and then Columbia Law School
in 1874. During that time he also read law with former Judge John K. Porter
of the New York Court of Appeals
in the offices of Porter, Lowrey, Soren and Stone.
at the University of Minnesota Law School
from 1892 to 1900. Stevens argued at least three cases before the U.S. Supreme Court: Northern Pacific Railway v. Smith, 171 U.S. 260 (1898), Scott v. DeWeese, 181 U.S. 202 (1901), and Gertgens v. O'Connor, 191 U.S. 237 (1903).
Throughout his life, Stevens was extremely active in public affairs. He was not only a charter member of the American Bar Association
(1878) and a long-serving member of its General Council, but also a charter member of the Vermont State Bar Association (1878) and the Minnesota State Bar Association
(1883). In 1901, he was elected president of the latter after it had been reestablished. Politically, Stevens served in the Minnesota House of Representatives
from 1889 to 1891, and then in the Minnesota Senate
from 1891 to 1899.
In 1900, along with Ambrose Tighe
, Moses Clapp, Thomas D. O'Brien
and Clarence Halbert
, Stevens founded the St. Paul College of Law, the first predecessor of William Mitchell College of Law
. The group had asked former Justice William B. Mitchell
of the Minnesota Supreme Court
to become the first Dean of the school, but the judge died from a sudden stroke before assuming office and Stevens took his place.
Despite their educational partnership, Stevens had a publicized falling-out with Clapp after the latter had been elected to the U.S. Senate. Clapp categorically refused to consider him when Stevens' name was bruited as a potential nominee to the new seat on the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. Because he and many others in the Minnesota legal community thought the move unjustified, Stevens retaliated by openly discussing a challenge to Clapp for his Senate seat in the 1904 elections. Stevens died that year, before he could officially declare his candidacy.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and academic from Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. He was one of the five co-founders of William Mitchell College of Law
William Mitchell College of Law
William Mitchell College of Law, or WMCL, is a private, independent law school located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Accredited by the American Bar Association , it offers full and part-time legal education in pursuit of the Juris Doctor degree....
and a charter member of the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
.
Early life and education
Stevens was born in St. Albans, VermontSt. Albans, Vermont
Places named St. Albans, Vermont:*St. Albans , Vermont, town in Franklin County, Vermont, established in 1763**St. Albans Raid, 1864*St. Albans , Vermont, city in Franklin County, Vermont, established in 1902...
to a family with deep ties to the state. His great-grandfather Stephen Fairchild had fought with the Vermont Milita during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. His father, also Hiram Fairchild Stevens, was a well-regarded doctor who had served as a state legislator and president of the Vermont State Medical Society. When the elder Stevens died prematurely from an illness contracted during his service with the Union Army in the U.S. Civil War, the family's loss of income forced the son to work to support his mother and three siblings. Despite the hardship, Stevens eventually graduated from the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
in 1872, and then Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
in 1874. During that time he also read law with former Judge John K. Porter
John K. Porter
John Kilham Porter was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
of the New York Court of Appeals
New York Court of Appeals
The New York Court of Appeals is the highest court in the U.S. state of New York. The Court of Appeals consists of seven judges: the Chief Judge and six associate judges who are appointed by the Governor to 14-year terms...
in the offices of Porter, Lowrey, Soren and Stone.
Career
Stevens was admitted to the Vermont bar and practiced there for five years before moving to St. Paul, Minnesota. Upon his arrival, he associated with two other attorneys in the firm of Warner, Stevens, & Lawrence. He withdrew from the firm in 1886 to become general counsel for the St. Paul Estate Title Insurance Company. He also taught property lawProperty law
Property law is the area of law that governs the various forms of ownership in real property and in personal property, within the common law legal system. In the civil law system, there is a division between movable and immovable property...
at the University of Minnesota Law School
University of Minnesota Law School
The University of Minnesota Law School, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, is a professional school of the University of Minnesota. The school offers a Juris Doctor , Masters of Law for Foreign Lawyers, and joint degrees with J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.P.A, J.D./M.A., J.D./M.S., J.D./Ph.D.,...
from 1892 to 1900. Stevens argued at least three cases before the U.S. Supreme Court: Northern Pacific Railway v. Smith, 171 U.S. 260 (1898), Scott v. DeWeese, 181 U.S. 202 (1901), and Gertgens v. O'Connor, 191 U.S. 237 (1903).
Throughout his life, Stevens was extremely active in public affairs. He was not only a charter member of the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
(1878) and a long-serving member of its General Council, but also a charter member of the Vermont State Bar Association (1878) and the Minnesota State Bar Association
Minnesota State Bar Association
The Minnesota State Bar Association is a professional association of lawyers, judges, and other legal practitioners, such as clerks, registrars, and paralegals. The MSBA is one of the oldest state bar associations in the United States. The association was organized in 1883 and claims a membership...
(1883). In 1901, he was elected president of the latter after it had been reestablished. Politically, Stevens served in the Minnesota House of Representatives
Minnesota House of Representatives
The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house in the Minnesota State Legislature. There are 134 members elected to two-year terms, twice the number of members in the Minnesota Senate. Each senate district is divided in half and given the suffix A or B...
from 1889 to 1891, and then in the Minnesota Senate
Minnesota Senate
The Minnesota Senate is the upper house in the Minnesota Legislature. There are 67 members, half as many as are in the Minnesota House of Representatives. In terms of membership, it is the largest upper house of any state legislature. Each Senate district in the state includes an A and B House...
from 1891 to 1899.
In 1900, along with Ambrose Tighe
Ambrose Tighe
Ambrose Tighe was an American lawyer, politician, and academic from Minnesota. He was one of the five co-founders of William Mitchell College of Law.-Early life:...
, Moses Clapp, Thomas D. O'Brien
Thomas D. O'Brien
Thomas D. O'Brien was an American lawyer, judge, and academic from Minnesota. He was one of the five co-founders of William Mitchell College of Law and a justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court....
and Clarence Halbert
Clarence Halbert
Clarence Wells Halbert was an American lawyer and academic from Minnesota. He was one of the five co-founders of William Mitchell College of Law....
, Stevens founded the St. Paul College of Law, the first predecessor of William Mitchell College of Law
William Mitchell College of Law
William Mitchell College of Law, or WMCL, is a private, independent law school located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Accredited by the American Bar Association , it offers full and part-time legal education in pursuit of the Juris Doctor degree....
. The group had asked former Justice William B. Mitchell
William B. Mitchell
William Mitchell was a distinguished American lawyer and judge from Minnesota. He was the namesake of William Mitchell College of Law and father of William DeWitt Mitchell, U.S. Attorney General during the Hoover Administration.- Early life :Mitchell was born to Scottish immigrants in Ontario,...
of the Minnesota Supreme Court
Minnesota Supreme Court
The Minnesota Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Minnesota and consists of seven members. The court was first assembled as a three-judge panel in 1849 when Minnesota was still a territory. The first members were lawyers from outside of the region who were appointed by...
to become the first Dean of the school, but the judge died from a sudden stroke before assuming office and Stevens took his place.
Despite their educational partnership, Stevens had a publicized falling-out with Clapp after the latter had been elected to the U.S. Senate. Clapp categorically refused to consider him when Stevens' name was bruited as a potential nominee to the new seat on the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. Because he and many others in the Minnesota legal community thought the move unjustified, Stevens retaliated by openly discussing a challenge to Clapp for his Senate seat in the 1904 elections. Stevens died that year, before he could officially declare his candidacy.