# Charles M. Start *Minnesota jurist and Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court* Charles Monroe Start (October 4, 1839 – December 19, 1919) was a [[Minnesota]] jurist and Republican officeholder. He was Chief Justice of the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]] from 1895 until he retired in January 1913.[^1] Before joining the court he was Rochester city attorney, Olmsted County Attorney, [[Minnesota Attorney General]], and a district court judge for the Third District.[^1] The only source compiled for this article is a Wikipedia biography.[^1] The record assembled here contains no primary court records, statutes, election returns or filings concerning him. It does not connect him to any particular statute, case or order. ## Biography ### Early life and family Start was a native of Bakersfield, Vermont. His parents were Mary Sophia (Barnes) Start and Simeon Gould Start, a farmer who held local posts such as justice of the peace.[^1] His younger brother, Henry R. Start, later sat on the Vermont Supreme Court.[^1] Start attended school in Bakersfield and at Barre Academy, read law under William C. Wilson, and was admitted to the bar.[^1] In August 1863 he married Wilson's daughter, Clara A. Wilson (1843–1924). They had two children; only their daughter Clara L. (1868–1950) survived to adulthood.[^1] That same year Start relocated to Rochester, Minnesota, and opened a law practice there. In 1866 he went into partnership with Ozora P. Stearns.[^1] ### Public offices Start, a Republican, became Rochester city attorney in 1864. He was Olmsted [[county attorney]] from 1871 to 1879 and Minnesota Attorney General from 1880 to 1881.[^1] He then served as a judge of the Minnesota District Court for the Third District from 1881 to 1895, and as Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court from 1895 to 1913.[^1] When he left the bench in January 1913, Calvin L. Brown took his place as Chief Justice.[^1] ### Death Start died at his residence in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]], on December 19, 1919. He was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Rochester.[^1] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Charles Monroe Start, Republican, Minnesota jurist.[^1] ### What - Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court; earlier Minnesota Attorney General, Olmsted County Attorney, Third District judge and Rochester city attorney.[^1] ### When - Born October 4, 1839; died December 19, 1919.[^1] - Rochester city attorney from 1864; Olmsted County Attorney 1871–1879; Attorney General 1880–1881; Third District judge 1881–1895; Chief Justice 1895–1913, retiring January 1913.[^1] ### Where - Born in Bakersfield, Vermont; practiced law in Rochester, Minnesota; died in Saint Paul, Minnesota; buried in Rochester.[^1] ### How - Admitted to the bar after reading law with William C. Wilson.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Charles M. Start* (revision 1354057133, retrieved 2026-10-25) — biography, family, office history, retirement, death and burial of Charles Monroe Start. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_M._Start