Ignatius Cooper Grubb
Ignatius Cooper Grubb | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Assoc. Justice, Delaware Court of Appeals and Assoc. Justice at large of the Delaware Supreme Court | |
| In office 1886–1909 | |
| Nominated by | Charles C. Stockley |
| Personal details | |
| Spouse | none |
| Alma mater | Yale |
Ignatius Cooper Grubb (April 12, 1841 - June 20, 1927) was a Delaware politician, jurist and historian who served as an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals from 1886 to 1897 and as the Associate Justice at large of the Delaware Supreme Court from 1897 to 1909.[1] As Secretary of State under Governor John P. Cochran from 1875 to 1879, he became involved in a boundary dispute with New Jersey that was not resolved until 1935.[2] He is best remembered as the champion for legislative reapportionment in Delaware in the 1880s and 90s and as the author of a 1896 history of the Delaware judiciary from colonial times. [3]
Biography
Born in Brandywine Hundred, Delaware, Ignatius was the son of Wellington and Beulah (Allmond) Grubb, farmers north of Wilmington on the Delaware River. His family lived in the area since the early 1680s when John Grubb settled at a place still known as Grubb Landing. Orphaned at age 11, Ignatius and his sister Louisa where under the guardianship of Wilmington lawyer, Victor du Pont. After graduating from Yale, Grubb studied law under his guardian and was admitted to the bar in 1862.[4]
A Democrat, Ignatius Grubb was elected clerk of the Delaware Assembly in 1867 and was appointed as Wilmington City solicitor in 1871. Three years later, he was John P. Cochran's campaign manager and was appointed Secretary of State after Cochran was elected Governor. During the Corhran administration, New Jersey and Delaware disputed fishing rights in the Delaware River south of the state's boarder with Pennsylvania. At Grubb's suggestion, the controversy was referred to the Supreme Court,[4] but the issue was not finally settled until 1935.[2]
After his term as Secretary of State, Ignatius became a party leader and a member of the Democratic National Committee. He took up the cause of legislative reapportionment. At that time, Delaware's three counties had equal representation even though New Castle (which includes Wilmington) had a substantially larger population than the other two. Grubb drafted a constitutional amendment that was adopted by both houses in 1883. However, to become law the amendment also had to be approved by the Assembly elected the following year. In 1884, the amendment was unanimously endorsed at the party convention, but was defeated by one vote after the election when downstate members defected. Even though Governor Stockley appointed Ignatius to the non-political post of Associate Justice on the Court of Appeals for life in 1887, Grubb continued to call for a new constitutional convention. When the convention was finally held in 1897, Wilmington was given additional representatives.[3]
Personal life
Ignatius, a bachelor and a world traveler, was asked by the President of Hawaii in 1895 to intercede with his political friends to help reduce senatorial opposition to the annexation of Hawaii. In 1902, he made a trip on the first modern submarine, the Holland. During WWI, despite being in his 70's, he served in a gun crew on a British merchant ship. In 1919, he flew to Wilmington on an early seaplane. Ignatius' tomb has become a stop on the tours given at Old Swedes' Church.[2]
References
- ^ Johnson, Rossiter (1904). The 20th Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans. Boston, Mass.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ a b c Grubb, David (2008). The Grubb Family of Grubb's Landing, Delaware. Higginson Book Co.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ a b Wilson, Emerson (1969). Forgotten Heroes of Delaware. Cambridge, Mass.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ a b Scharf, John T. (1888). History of Delaware 1609 - 1888. Philadelphia.
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