Cataract Lodge #2 Memories

John Bachop Gilfillan  8th Master of Cataract Masonic Lodge #2-- 1863

Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Nancy OverlanderGilfillan John B, Minneapolis. Res Clifton av, office 721 guaranty bldg.. Lawyer. Born Feb 11, 1835 in barnet Vt, son of Robert Gilfillan. Married in 1870 to Rebecca C Oliphant. Educated in Caledonia Academy Peacham Vt. Moved to St Anthony 1855 and engaged as teacher. Studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1860. Practiced alone 1860-71. Member firm of Lochren, McNair & Gilfillan 1871-85; Gilfillan, Belden & Williard 1885-94. Organizer of Mechanics Inst for literary culture 1859. Organizer and dir of St Anthony School Board; county atty Hennepin county 1863-67, 1869-71 and 1872-75. State senator 1875-85. Elect of U S House of Representatives 1884. Regent of U of M 1880-88.

The lengthier Story below was digested from a book called Progressive men of Minnesota. (Shutter, Marion Daniel, 1853-ed.) Minneapolis Brother John was a Notable Minnesota Mason and member of Cataract Masonic Lodge #2 in Minneapolis Minnesota.. having been initiated passed and raised a Master Mason in Feb and Mar of 1857.   John Bachop Gilfillan iwas a lawyer in Minneapolis. His grand parents on his father's side emigrated from Balfron, Sterling, Scotland, in 1794, and his mother from Glasgow in 1795, and they eventually settled in Caledonia County, Vermont. As the name indicates the neighborhood was populated by emigrants from Scotland, and here in the town of Barnet, Bro John Bachop Gilfillan was born 11 Feb 1835. His father, Robert Gilfillan, was a farmer, and the early years of his boyhood were spent on the farm, with attendance at the district school in the winter. When he was twelve years old his parents moved to the town of Peacham, and he prepared himself for Dartmouth College at the Caledonia Academy, located in that town. In order to contribute to his own support he began teaching in the district schools at the age of seventeen. His brother-in-law, Captain John Martin, had settled in St. Anthony, Minnesota, and Mr. Gilfillan came to visit him in October, 1855, hoping to obtain a position as teacher, but expecting to return later and enter college. The position as teacher was obtained, and the attractions of the West proved to be so strong that he never returned to college. He began the study of law with Nourse & Winthrop, afterwards with Lawrence & Lochren, and in 1860 was admitted to the bar.  He formed a partnership with J. R. Lawrence, which continued until his partner entered the army. Mr. Gilfillan then practiced law alone until 1871, when the firm of Lochren, McNair & Gilfillan was formed. Judge Lochren was subsequently appointed to the district bench, and Mr. McNair died in 1885. In 1885, the survival firm of Gilfillan, Belden & Williard wasthen formed. Mr. Gilfillan, and the firms with which he has been connected enjoyed a large share of the most lucrative and important law practice in the state. He was engaged as an attorney of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad; Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad, and the Minneapolis Eastern Railroad.   Mr. Gilfillan often took an active interest in educational matters. As early as 1859 he helped to organize the Mechanics' Institute for Literary Culture, in St. Anthony. He drew up the bill for the organization of the St. Anthony school board, under which the system of graded schools was introduced, and served as a director for nearly ten years. In 1880 he was appointed regent of the state university, and served in that position for eight years. Mr. Gilfillan was a Republican in politics and held several offices, beginning with that of city attorney of St. Anthony soon after his admission to the bar. He was elected county attorney of Hennepin County in 1863, and served until 1867; again from 1869 to 1871, and from 1873 to 1875. In 1875 he was elected to the upper house of the state legislature, and served in that capacity for ten consecutive years. In the earlier years of his service in the senate he was chairman of the committee on taxes and tax laws, and raised these laws into a code which constitute the chief body of the revenue system of the state. Perhaps the most important piece of legislation in which he performed a leading part was that providing for the adjustment of the state railroads bonds. He in fact dictated the terms of the compromise bill which became the law upon which the adjustment was made.  In 1884 Mr. Gilfillan was elected to congress from the district then including both Minneapolis and St. Paul. 

 Gilfillian Home built 1905 Minneapolis MN

At the expiration of his term of office Mr. Gilfillan took his family to Europe and having placed his children in school in Dresden spent nearly two years and a half in travel, visiting every country of Europe except Portugal, and extending his travels into Egypt and the Holy Land. He then returned to the practice of his profession in Minneapolis, in which he was engaged.He was a member and an officer of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Mr. Gilfillan was married in 1870 to Miss Rebecca C. Oliphant, of Fayette County, Pennsylvania. He has four children living. The mother died March 25, 1884. In June, 1893, Mr. Gilfillan was married to Miss Lavinia Coppock, of New Lisbon, Ohio, but at the time of the marriage was a resident of Washington, D. C......

Per Biographical Directory of the United States Congress - http://bioguide.congress.gov:   GILFILLAN, John Bachop, a Representative from Minnesota; born in Barnet, Caledonia County, Vt., February 11, 1835; attended the common schools; was graduated from the Caledonia County Academy in 1855; moved to Minneapolis, Minn.; taught school; studied law; was admitted to the bar in July 1860 and commenced practice in Minneapolis, Minn.; member of the board of education 1860-1868; city prosecuting attorney 1861-1864; prosecuting attorney of Hennepin County 1863-1867 and 1869-1873; alderman of the city of Minneapolis 1865-1869; member of the State senate 1875-1885; regent of the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis 1880-1888; elected as a Republican to the Forty-ninth Congress (March 4, 1885-March 3, 1887); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1886 to the Fiftieth Congress; resumed the practice of law; died in Minneapolis, Minn., August 19, 1924; interment in Lakewood Cemetery.

Rebecca Corse Oliphant was the first wife of John Bachop Gilfillan. Rebecca passed away March 25, 1884, 8 days after the birth of their 5th child, David W.