John F. Philbrick, assistant attorney-general of North Dakota, and one of the most prominent and successful lawyers of Bismarck, was born in Pittsfield, New Hampshire, June 9, 1855, a son of Richard N. and Olive J. (Green) Philbrick, also natives of that state. His father is a harness-maker and is now a resident of Concord, New Hampshire.
Our subject was reared in his native state and acquired his early education in its public schools. Later he spent one year at Collinsville, Illinois, and in 1877 entered Dartmouth College, from which he was graduated in 1881. The following year be commenced the study of law in the office of ex-Governor John P. Altgeld in Chicago, Illinois, and remained there some months. In December, 1882, came to Bismarck, North Dakota, where he continued preparing for his chosen profession, and in 1885 was admitted to the bar. He has since successfully engaged in practice in Bismarck, and is now a member of the well-known firm of Boucher, Philbrick & Cochrane.
In 1889 he was elected judge of probate and filled that office for two years, and in 1895 was made assistant attorney-general, in which capacity he is still serving with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. In politics he is an ardent Republican, has been chairman of the county central committee of Burleigh County for the past ten years, and has taken an active and prominent part in the state campaigns. He is a most successful lawyer and popular official, and is widely known throughout the state.
Source: Compendium and History of North Dakota 1900 Page 202