John Gilfillan
Encyclopedia
John Bachop Gilfillan, known as J.B., was a Minnesota politician and lawyer active in the late 19th century. Gilfillan was born on February 11, 1835 in Caledonia County, Vermont
. He attended school there, first Caledonia County Grammar School and then Caledonia County Academy, until 1855, when he moved to Minnesota. He was later admitted to the bar and began law practice in 1860. Although not certain, he probably worked as a teacher at some point between 1855 and 1860. Once he became a lawyer, he began his public life.
In 1860, the year he was admitted to the bar, he began his political life. Gilfillan's first political position was as a member of one of the region's first school boards. Long a proponent of education, Gilfillan helped to found the grade school system in Minneapolis. Over then next decade, Gilfillan was a prominent member of the Minneapolis legal establishment.
Gilfillan served four terms as the municipal attorney for St. Anthony, Minnesota
. By 1863, he was the county attorney for Hennepin County. He remained in that position for 10 years, although was briefly replaced by George Robinson (from 1867 to 1869). From 1865 until 1869, Gilfillan was also a city alderman. Before seeking higher office in 1875, Gilfillan practiced law with Lochren, McNair and Gilfillan.
Voters placed Gilfillan in his first statewide office in a special election for state senate
in 1875. He served as a state senator for 10 years, first representing Minnesota's District 25 and later District 28. During his time in the state senate, Gilfillan became a regent of the University of Minnesota
. He left the senate in 1885 to pursue national office.
In 1885, Gilfillan was elected to the United States Congress
to represent Minnesota's 4th congressional district
. He served one term and was replaced, in 1886, when he lost the election to St. Paul mayor Edmund Rice.
After losing the 1886 election, Gilfillan returned to Minnesota. He endowed the University of Minnesota with $50,000 in 1901. By 1903, he was president of the First National Bank. Gilfillan continued to work with the bank as a member of its board of directors from 1905 until at least 1907.
Gilfillan was married twice and had four children. His first marriage, to Rebecca Corse Oliphant in 1870, left him a widower 1884. Nearly a decade later, he married Hannah Lavinia Coppock, a woman 25 years his junior, in 1893 in Chicago
. Gilfillan had four children, three sons and one daughter. He was a member of the Minneapolis Club
until his death in 1924. He is interred at Lakewood Cemetery
in Minneapolis.
Caledonia County, Vermont
Caledonia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 31,227. Its shire town is St. Johnsbury.The county was given the Latin name for Scotland, in honor of the many settlers who claimed ancestry there....
. He attended school there, first Caledonia County Grammar School and then Caledonia County Academy, until 1855, when he moved to Minnesota. He was later admitted to the bar and began law practice in 1860. Although not certain, he probably worked as a teacher at some point between 1855 and 1860. Once he became a lawyer, he began his public life.
In 1860, the year he was admitted to the bar, he began his political life. Gilfillan's first political position was as a member of one of the region's first school boards. Long a proponent of education, Gilfillan helped to found the grade school system in Minneapolis. Over then next decade, Gilfillan was a prominent member of the Minneapolis legal establishment.
Gilfillan served four terms as the municipal attorney for St. Anthony, Minnesota
St. Anthony, Minnesota
St. Anthony is the name of more than one place in the U.S. state of Minnesota:*St. Anthony, Stearns County, Minnesota*St. Anthony, Hennepin County, Minnesota-See also:*Saint Anthony Park , a neighborhood in Saint Paul, Minnesota...
. By 1863, he was the county attorney for Hennepin County. He remained in that position for 10 years, although was briefly replaced by George Robinson (from 1867 to 1869). From 1865 until 1869, Gilfillan was also a city alderman. Before seeking higher office in 1875, Gilfillan practiced law with Lochren, McNair and Gilfillan.
Voters placed Gilfillan in his first statewide office in a special election for state 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...
in 1875. He served as a state senator for 10 years, first representing Minnesota's District 25 and later District 28. During his time in the state senate, Gilfillan became a regent of the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. He left the senate in 1885 to pursue national office.
In 1885, Gilfillan was elected to the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
to represent Minnesota's 4th congressional district
Minnesota's 4th congressional district
Minnesota's 4th congressional district covers Ramsey County including all of St. Paul and several St. Paul suburbs. The district is solidly Democratic with a CPVI of D + 13. It is currently represented by Betty McCollum, of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.-List of...
. He served one term and was replaced, in 1886, when he lost the election to St. Paul mayor Edmund Rice.
After losing the 1886 election, Gilfillan returned to Minnesota. He endowed the University of Minnesota with $50,000 in 1901. By 1903, he was president of the First National Bank. Gilfillan continued to work with the bank as a member of its board of directors from 1905 until at least 1907.
Gilfillan was married twice and had four children. His first marriage, to Rebecca Corse Oliphant in 1870, left him a widower 1884. Nearly a decade later, he married Hannah Lavinia Coppock, a woman 25 years his junior, in 1893 in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Gilfillan had four children, three sons and one daughter. He was a member of the Minneapolis Club
Minneapolis Club
The Minneapolis Club is a private club with its clubhouse at 729 Second Avenue South Minneapolis, Minnesota.- History :The Minneapolis Club was founded in 1883 by leading Minnesota business and civic leaders, including John Pillsbury and Charles Loring. In its first 25 years, the club changed...
until his death in 1924. He is interred at Lakewood Cemetery
Lakewood Cemetery
Lakewood Cemetery is a large private, non-sectarian cemetery located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is located at 3600 Hennepin Avenue at the southern end of the Uptown area...
in Minneapolis.