Bio of JEROME, Waldron M. (b.1877 d.1918), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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Vol III, pg 290-294
WALDRON M. JEROME
The character of Waldron M. Jerome typified those qualities which, throughout
the story of the development of America, have played such an important part in
that development-qualities which carried the pioneer over the long trek to the
wilderness of the west and made it possible for him to lay the foundations for
the growth which has followed; qualities which would have made Waldron Jerome,
himself, fifty years earlier, a pioneer, a builder of new territory. But Waldron
Jerome has done an even greater service to his state and to his nation by
helping to shape the destiny of that new territory and to produce the smoothly
running or­ganization and institutions of today.
Waldron Jerome was born August 25, 1877, in a house still standing, at the
corner of Chestnut avenue and Twelfth street, in Minneapolis. The city of his
birth, which was also the city of his residence, was ever also the city of his
affection and loyalty; and surely and ineffaceably has the influence of his life
been woven into the fabric of its growth. But though his activities centered in
Minneapolis, his influence was most far-reaching, as it is displayed in the
lives of those who had come under his instruction as a teacher, under his
influence in college, and in association with him in his law practice.
His father, Charles J. Jerome, was one of the earliest settlers of the city and
was prominently connected with the earlier history of Minneapolis. Living as a
boy in the midst of the active growth of the city, he early conceived a
realization of the problems of citizenship and civic obligation.
Waldron Jerome sprang from stock wholly Puritan-men and women who came to the
American wilderness not at all to better their material condition but that they
might have a large measure of civil and religious liberty. The racial and family
tradition was well maintained throughout the intervening years and from his
Puri­tan ideals Waldron Jerome never swerved.
He graduated from the Central high school in 1896 as salutatorian of his class
and matriculated that fall in the State University, from which he graduated in
1900. During his college life he was active in oratory and debate work and his
high scholarship won him membership in the Phi Beta Kappa honorary scholarship
fraternity, which represents one of the highest honors that can be paid to a
college graduate. In his extra-curricular work he mas managing editor for one
year of the "Ariel," at that time the University weekly.
Upon graduating from the State University he spent two years as superintendent
of schools at Herman, Minnesota, and then occupied a similar position for a year
in Long Prairie. These three years made it possible for him to realize his
cher­ished ambition of preparing for the bar at Harvard, and he entered the law
school at the University in 1903. As before, he was prominent in both
scholarship and activities and for one year was associate editor of the Harvard
Law Review.
He graduated from Harvard with honors and was married on the 19th of Octo­ber,
1910, to Kathryn Libby. They became the parents of a son, Waldron, who wa? but
four years old when his father died, on the 22d of December, 1918.
Shortly after his graduation from Harvard, Waldron Jerome entered the law office
of one of the oldest Minneapolis firms, and took up the work that naturally
falls to a law student. He had not been admitted to practice in the state at
that time, but his associates say that he showed such unusual care and capacity
for handling any work assigned to him that at the end of the first year he had
proved himself practically indispensable to the firm and was taken into the
partnership. Those who knew him during those years often mention his innate
modesty and air of dignified reserve, which won for him the respect of all with
whom he came into contact.
One who was long closely associated with him in his law practice and the
deep­est friendship has said:
"Waldron Jerome was an untiring student, and I never knew a young man to read
and study reported cases with more care or discriminating judgment than he did.
He was intelligently industrious in conducting the office work and he never
spared time or effort to solve such legal problems as arose from time to time.
His progress as a practical lawyer was very rapid, owing largely, I think, to
his Harvard training, which had endowed his mind with a clear and profound
conception of the fundamental principles of the common law.
"His strength as a lawyer lay in the keenness of his analysis of any concrete
proposition of law or fact submitted to him. The trend of his mind was judicial,
and no judge can say that in his case he ever presented a legal proposition as
the law in which he did not have implicit confidence.
"He was a good all-around lawyer, a most able and conscientious counsellor, and
admirably fitted by training and temper for the judicial office. His honesty and
worth as a man imparted a real dignity, which was always tempered by a true
spirit of democracy. To some he seemed distant, aloof, but even slight personal
ac­quaintance dispelled that feeling and those who knew him were invariably
impressed by his sincerity, graciousness and gentleness.
"He was a true democrat in the broad, human sense that demands justice and
equality of opportunity for all men. This attitude in his case was not
emotional. It seemed to me to be an intellectual conviction and it was the
dominant factor in shaping all his views on public questions. He was intensely
interested in politics, independent and courageous, and willing at all times to
sacrifice his time and means for the public good. He never sought personal
preferment but worked in­cessantly in furthering the cause of good government.
And yet, with all his in­terest in public affairs, I never heard him engage in a
personal controversial discussion of political affairs."
Waldron Jerome possessed that character which dares always to choose firmly for
the right "as God gives us to see the right," even, if need be, in the face of
popular opposition. It may be said of him that he was neither markedly radical
nor markedly conservative. When others became exasperated and in despair at
reactionary tendencies in government, Waldron Jerome always looked beyond the
hour. He never despaired, was infinitely patient in his labors for civic welfare
and won fitting distinction for his services. Of distinction for itself he cared
little. Whatever value he placed upon it was as assurance to himself that his
work had been well done and that it had been instrumental in winning and holding
the friendship and affection of kindred spirits.
As indicative of the high spirit of patriotism which he ever displayed in
con­nection with all public affairs, there came at his death a letter written by
order of Brigadier-General Rhinow expressing deep appreciation of "your
particular service with respect to the Selective Service system in assisting in
your community with the volume of work which was necessary in the preparation
and organization of the National Army."
To quote again from one who knew him well:
"Waldron Jerome was passionately fond of teaching and he carried on his work in
the law school under circumstances which involved long hours of work and great
physical sacrifice. He did it all for the mere love of the work. He loved to
meet and be with students and to help them solve their problems.
"He indulged in few pleasures or pastimes. A stroll through the woods, his
summer vacation in the northern forests and his books constituted his
recreation. His was truly a noble nature."
He inherited that fine love of forest and field and stream which is the rich
heritage of our northern races, and never, though his studies and his work were
of books and indoors did he lose that love. Indeed, whenever possible he escaped
from the confining routine of urban life and sought peace and quiet in nature.
Bishop Charles B. Mitchell of the Northern Minnesota conference of the
Metho­dist Episcopal church said of him: "Of few men do we expect as much as we
did of Waldron Jerome; his brilliant mind, his dedication of all his powers to
his life work, his high sense of honor, his fidelity to the principles of
right-all these led us to believe in him and to look for the unusual in him. We
were not disappointed.
"Waldron Jerome was an unusual man. To meet him was to feel his in­fluence. His
life was right. His ambitions were worthy, his ideals of the highest, his
thoughts as clean as his speech and his whole life the soul of honor. Many a
school fellow was helped by him in his studies and in his life plans; there are
men practicing law today who would never have been graduated from law school had
it not been for Waldron Jerome. Boys and girls have become men and women with
the whole of life changed because they came under his influence while he was
their teacher.
"And ever after he came back to this city to practice law he had the civic
inter­ests at heart and put his power against the wrong; he lined up with the
forces of clean government, fought evil untiringly and left the city a better
community be­cause he worked and fought in it."