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RUFUS WILLIAM PECKHAM
legal knowledge and ability were recognized in 1883 in his elevation to the bench of the Supreme court of the state, and in 1886 by his election as justice of the Court of Appeals of New York. He thus succeeded to the two judicial positions held by his father. He married Harriette M. Arnold, daughter of D. H. Arnold, president of the Mercantile Bank of New York. They have two sons. His final judicial honor came on December 3, 1895, when President Cleveland appointed him associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Justice Peckham's eminence in his profession has been recognized by the honorary degree of LL.D. from several institutions. Union college in 1894, Yale university in 1896, and Columbia university in 1901.
