The bench and bar of Litchfield County, Connecticut, 1709-1909 : biographical sketches of members, history and catalogue of the Litchfield Law School, historical notes, Part 21

Author: Kilbourn, Dwight C. (Dwight Canfield), 1837-1914
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Litchfield, Conn. : The Author
Number of Pages: 558


USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > The bench and bar of Litchfield County, Connecticut, 1709-1909 : biographical sketches of members, history and catalogue of the Litchfield Law School, historical notes > Part 21


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34


1 807


Mitchell, Louis Connecticut


1813


Mitchell, Stephen M . Connecticut


1800


Moffit, Thomas . Georgia


1816


Morris, Henry New York


1826


Moore, Robert


Georgia


1822


Morrison, James


. New Hampshire


1809


Morse, Sidney E . Mass .- Founder N. Y. Observer . 1814


Morson, Arthur 1 Virginia


1823


Moseley, Charles Connecticut 1806


Mumford, William


. New York 1815


Munger, Warren . Connecticut 18II


Mills, Roger .Connecticut


Miller, Charles . Connecticut


ANJON


Purchased the Judge Reeve Homestead


207


LAW SCHOOL


N


Nash, Lonson Massachusetts 1803


Neill, George P. Pennsylvania 1829


Nesbit, Eugenius A . Georgia-M. C .: Judge Sup. Ct. 1823


Nichols. Joseph H New York 1827


Nichol, Edward New York 1813


Nicoll, John C.


Georgia-Judge: U. S. District Judge 1814


Nixon, Henry G.


South Carolina 1820


Nelson, Armstead


Maryland 1814


Newcomb, Isaac M


New York 1828


Norton, Marcus


Mass .- Judge: Gov. Mass 1806


Norton, James C


New York


1819


North, Theodore . Connecticut 1808


Nutall, William B. North Carolina 1823


O


Oakley, Jesse .New York 1814


Ogden. Matthias B New Jersey 1813


Olcut, Theophilus New Hampshire 180I


Oliver, Henry Maryland 182[


Oliver, Samuel W Georgia


1820


Olmstead, Charles C 18IO Connecticut


Ormsbee, Edgar S.


Vermont


1824


Orne, Henry Massachusetts 1811


Overton, Thomas B. Pennsylvania 1813


O'Hara, Arthur H North Carolina 1814


P


Page. Benjamin


Rhode Island 1805


Page, Henry . Rhode Island 1816


Painter, Alexis Connecticut 1817


Parker, Amasa Connecticut 1 800


Parker, Aurelius D.


Massachussetts 1826


Parker, Charles T


Massachusetts 1828


Parker, William M 1820


Parrott, Abner B. Georgia 1821


Parson, Anson V. Mass .- Judge Sup. Court Penn 1825


Pasteur, Edward G. North Carolina 1823


Patterson, Chris. S Pennsylvania 1821


Patton, Robert 1814


Payne, Elijah, Jr. Vermont 1815


Peck, William \


Connecticut-Judge, Ohio 1824


Pell, Duncan C. New York 1826


Penney, Samuel New York 1828


208


LITCHFIELD COUNTY BENCH AND BAR


Perkins, Charles .Connecticut 1813


Perkins, Thomas S. . Connecticut 1812


Pettibone. Sereno .Connecticut 1802


Petet, Joel T.


. Connecticut


1800


Petet, William W


Ohio


1815


Phelps. Charles B New Hampshire 1806


1828


Phelps, Elisha Conn .- Mem. of Congress. 1801


Phelps. Jedediah .Massachusetts 1810


Phelps, Samuel S .Conn .- U. S. S. : Judge S. C. Vt. 181I


Pickett, Reuben North Carolina


1825


Pickett, William D North Carolina-Judge Sup. Ct. Alabama


1826


Pierce, James .Connecticut


1798


Pierce, Levi


Maryland


1815


Pierce, William Georgia


1809


Pierpont, John


Connecticut-Rev. ; poet


1809


Pierpont, John . Conn .- Chief Justice Vermont. .1825


Pierson, George New York 1830


Pillsbury, William Massachusetts 1813


Pitcher, John New York-Lieut .- Gov. 1815


Pitcher, Phillip New York 1828


Pitt, John R.


Georgia


1816


Player, Thompson T South Carolina 1826


Poe, Washington . Georgia-Member of Congress 1823


Polk, Thomas G.


North Carolina


18II


Porter, George B


Penn .- Gov. of Michigan 1812


Porter, Timothy H New Hampshire-M. Congress 1807


Porteus, John


South Carolina 1800


Post, Albert L


1832


Potter, Ansel


.Connecticut


1805


Potter, Asa


Rhode Island IS26


Prentice, Henry E.


1832


Preston, Isaac T Virginia-Judge S. C. Louisiana . 1812


Price, Benjamin Maryland 1820


Pumpelly, George J


New York 1826


Putnam, Austin New York 1828


Putnam, Charles Massachusetts 1814


R


Rankin, Robert G New York 1827


Raymond, Daniel . Connecticut ISIO


Raymond, David H. Connecticut 1810


Raymond, James . Connecticut 1820


Raynor. Benj. L.


.Connecticut 1824


Read, John, Jr Delaware 1824


Phelps, Edward A


Connecticut


209


LAW SCHOOL


Read. John D.


Delaware 1823


Read. William T


Delaware 1812


Reed. George Delaware 1808


Reed. John H.


South Carolina


1809


Reeve. Aaron B. Connecticut


1802


Reynolds, Walter. New York


1822


Richards, George H. Connecticut


1800


Richards, Henry S. New York 1826


1829


Rideley, Greensburg Kentucky


1816


Ridgate. Benjamin Maryland


1814


Ridont, Addison


Maryland 1813


1817


Robbins, Silas


. Conn .- Judge, Kentucky 1808


1823


Rogers, Artemas


. Connecticut


1811


Rogers, Charles W


Georgia


1829


Rogers, Edward


Delaware


1810


Rogers, Henry A.


. Rhode Island


1821


Rogers, Henry B.


Massachusetts


1823


Rogers, Henry W


. Connecticut 1810


Rogers, Henry


Pennsylvania 1823


Rogers, John


. Delaware


1813


Rogers, Moulton C.


. Delaware-Judge, Pennsylvania. 1807


Rogers, William M. Georgia


1829


Ross, Thomas


Pennsylvania 1827


Ruggles, Heman . Connecticut 1803


Ruggles, Henry J New York 1832


Rutledge. Benj. H.


South Carolina


1817


Rutherford, John Georgia 1829


Rutherford. Robert . Georgia 1806


S


Samuel, Beverly South Carolina 1819


Samson, John P. C. New York 1817


Sankey. Joseph S. . Georgia 1826


Sanford, Rollin


. Connecticut


1831


Sargent. William F. W


Mississippi


1817


Saunders, Curtis H. Tennessee


1833


Schley, John T Maryland 1828


Schell, Augustus . New York


1831


Schuyler. Robert . New York 1818


Scott, John Ray New York 1 807


Scott. Jessup W . Connecticut 1822


Scudder. Phillip J New Jersey 1813


Sedgwick, Harry Massachusetts 1807


Richards, Robert K. New York


Robbins, Samuel H


. Connecticut


Rogers, Archibald G. New York


210


LITCHFIELD COUNTY BENCHI AND BAR


Sedgwick. Philo C. Connecticut 1831


Selden, Ulysses


Connecticut 1802


Sewall, William H Maryland 1816


Seymour, Henry


Conn .- M. of C. ; Gov. of Conn. . 1829


Seymour, Horatio


Conn .- L.L.D ; U. S. Senator Vt. 1798


Seymour, Isaac G. . Georgia


1825


Seymour, Origen S. Conn .- M. of C. ; Judge and Chief


Justice 1824


Seymour, Osias


.Vermont


1821


Shaffer, Joseph L.


Georgia


1825


Shaumburgh, Charles W


. . Louisiana


1827


Shaw, Henry


New York-Mem. of Congress


. 1810


Sheldon, Daniel . Connecticut


1798


Shelden, William .Connecticut


1822


Sheldon, Isaac


Connecticut


1810


Shelton, Stephen Connecticut


1 809


Shepard, Samuel 1799


Sherman, Elkanah C


New York 1825


Sherrell, Joseph


Massachusetts


1815


Sill. Theodore Connecticut


1798


Simkins, Eldred


South Carolina-M. C .; Lt .- Gov. S. C.


1 803


Sims, John G.


Pennsylvania


1812


Simons, Moses


South Carolina 1810


Simmons, Edward P


South Carolina


1815


Skinner. John B


Connecticut


1820


Skinner, Oliver


Connecticut


1800


Skinner. Richard


Conn .- Chief Jus. and Gov \'t. 1798


Skinner, Roger S.


Connecticut


1815


Sloan. Douglass W


Massachusetts 1804


Slosson, Barazilli


New York 1830


Smith, Archibald New York 1814


Smith, Charles Massachusetts 1810


Smith, Henry B. Massachusetts 1 809


Smith James H


North Carolina


1818


Smith, Joseph I


Conn .- Judge Florida : U. S.


1800


Smith, Junius Conn .- L.L.D; Ist ocean steam-


ship, Tea grower 1802


1 800


Smith, Lemuel


Massachusetts 1817


Smith, Levi B.


Pennsylvania


1825


Smith, Nathaniel B


Connecticut


1817


Smith, Perry Conn .- U. S. Senator 1 807


Smith, Truman Conn .- M. of C. ; U. S. Senator . 1817


Smallwood, William A District Columbia 1824


Spaulding, Richard B Georgia 1800


Sparks, William H Georgia 1820


Smith, Ira Connecticut


ORIGEN S. SEYMOUR


2II


LAW SCHOOL


Spaight. Charles G. Georgia 1822


Spires, Bracney T North Carolina 1832


Sprague. Peleg Massachusetts-U. S. Senator 1813


Speed, Robert H. Virginia 1827


Spencer. Alexander ()


New York


1818


Spencer. Oliver M.


. Ohio


1829


Spooner. William Massachusetts 1813


Stagg, Peter New York 1823


Stansbury, G. A. . New York 1827


Stanley, Henry New York 1801


Stark, Caleb, Jr Vermont 1823


Stark. Wyatt


South Carolina 1811


Starr. Ephraim. Jr . Connecticut 1803


Starr. Henry


Connecticut


1809


Steele, William F Maryland 1814


Sterrett. John


Pennsylvania


1822


Sterrett, William P


Georgia


1821


Stewart. Charles S


New York


1817


Stiles, Joseph C. Georgia 1817


Stiles, Richard Georgia 1822


Stone, Gregory D.


New Hampshire 1823


1813


Storrs, Juba 1806


Stevens, Henry W


Connecticut


1801


Stevens, John L New York


Stevens, Thomas


Georgia


1823


Strobel, Martin


. South Carolina


1806


Strong, Elisha B


Conneticut


1810


Strong, Martin


Connecticut


1801


Strong. Moses M


Vermont


1830


Strong, Theron Connecticut


1822


Stuart, Francis


South Carolina 1800


Stuart, Josephus B


Massachusetts


1812


Sullivan. James . Massachusetts 1822


Sutherland. Josiah. Jr New York-M. C. : Judge Sp. Ct . 1825


Sweezy. Thomas Massachusetts 18II


Swift. Benjamin Vermont-U. S. Senator 1801


Swift, William Vermont 1817


T


Tabor, William J.


Connecticut 1813


Tallifero, William F Virginia 1813


Tallmadge, Frederick Conn .- M. C. from N. Y. 18II


Tatnall, Edward F Georgia-Member of Congress. . 1810


Taylor, Edwin M Massachusetts 1832


Stoddart, John T


Maryland


Connecticut


1823


212


LITCHFIELD COUNTY BENCH AND BAR


Taylor. Hubbard Kentucky 1810


Taylor, James S.


. Virginia 1818


Taylor, John Gilman Massachusetts 1803


Taylor. William South Carolina 1828


Teakle, James D.


Maryland


1817


Tellfair, Josiah . Georgia 1804


Tellfair. Thomas


. Georgia


1806


Tenney, William


. New Hampshire-M. of C.


1809


Terry, Alfred


. Connecticut 1823


Thayer, James


Massachusetts


1815


Thweat, Uriah


Georgia


1802


Thomas. Alexander


Georgia


1810


Thomas, Charles, Jr


Delaware


1812


Thompson, Henry


Massachusetts 1814


Thorndike, Larkin Massachusetts 1809


Todd, Charles Kentucky 1810


Tolman, Thomas . Kentucky 1813


Torrey. Charles Massachusetts 1814


Tracy, George H New York


1830


Treat, Selah B


. Connecticut


1825


Trescott, Henry . South Carolina 1815


1800


Troup. Robert R New York


1809


Tucker. George J 1824


Tuthill, Cornelius


New York 1815


Twining, Thomas, Jr


Massachusetts 1814


Tyler. Nathan Connecticut 1825


V


Vandusen, William Connecticut 1803


Vanderheyden, Samuel . New York 1820


Vandyke, Kensey J. New Jersey 1818


Vanmeter. John J. . Virginia 1821


Van Wagener, Gerritt G. New York


1823


Verplank. James D. New York 1827


W


Wager, John. .Virginia 1823


Wakeman, Jonathan Connecticut 1807


Waldo. William B New York 1828


Walburg. George M Georgia 1815


Walker, Charles Massachusetts 1822


Walker, George J. S. Georgia 1826


Wallace, James W


Pennsylvania 1829


Waring, Nathaniel F New York 1827


Trotter, James G. Kentucky


213


LAW SCHOOL


Ward, Isaac New Jersey 1813


Ward, Richard R New York 1817


Ward, Solomon Massachusetts 1802


Warner, Eli


Connecticut


1808


Warner, Thomas


Massachusetts


1809


Waterhouse, Andrew O


Massachusetts 18II


Watson, John B Connecticut


1815


Watson, Samuel Massachusetts


1826


Watson, William


. Connecticut


183I


Webber. Sumner


A


Massachusetts


1823


Weeks, Alfred


New York


1823


Wells, Ralph Connecticut


1812


Welles, Thomas 1 .. New York


1823


Weems, James J.


District Columbia


1820


Wetmore, William


Connecticut


1815


Wheeler, Justice P Massachusetts 1804


White, John P Connecticut


1799


White, Thomas Georgia


1816


White, William New Hampshire 1818


Whiting, John C.


Massachusetts


1823


Whitman, John 1808


Whitman, Lemuel Connecticut-Mem. of Congress. 1805


Whittlesey, Elisha D. .Connecticut-Mem. of Congress . 1813


Whittlesey. Frederick Conn .- M. of Congress: Judge Sup. Court N. Y. 1819


Whittlesey, Thomas T . Connecticut-Mem. of Congress . 1818


Wight, John L Virginia 1824


Williams, David Louisiana 1816


Williams, Henry F


Louisiana


1818


Williams, Jared W 1820


Williams, Lemuel Massachusetts 1806


Williams, Thomas S Connecticut 1797


Williams, William G Massachusetts . 1799


Wilkins, Edmond


North Carolina


1817


Wilkins, John L. North Carolina 1820


Wilson, Andrew P. . Pennsylvania


1825


Winslow, Edward D North Carolina


Winship, John C. M


Massachusetts


1810


Wittich, Lucius L.


Georgia


1824


Wolcott, Oliver S. Connecticut


1818


Wood, James


1798


Woodbridge, William Ohio-U. S. Senator 1802


183I


Woodbury. Levi New Hampshire-Gov. of N. H. : Sec. of Navy and Treas. ; Judge of U. S. Sup. Court. 1809


Woolridge. Thomas


South Carolina


1815


214


LITCHFIELD COUNTY BENCH AND BAR


Woodruff, George C. Connecticut-Mem. of Congress . 1825


Woodruff, Lewis B. . Conn .- L.L.D .; Judge Sup. Ct. Ct. of Appeal N. Y. and Judge of Circuit Ct. N. Y., Conn. and Vermont 1830


Worthington, Perry Maryland 183I


Wright. Augustus R Georgia-Judge Sup. Court. 1833


Y


Yates, Metcalf New York 1821


Yates, William


New York 1824


Young. Charles C. New York 1827


Young. Ebenezer Connecticut-Mem. of Congress. 1809


Number on Catalogue .. 805


Students previous to 1798 210


Whole number


IOI5


Biographies


BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES


OF


LITCHFIELD COUNTY


BENCH, BAR


AND


COUNTY OFFICERS


BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES


In the following sketches the compiler has endeavored to give in most cases only a very brief account of the legal history of the person with no attempt at genealogy, or comments upon the life or character. The information has been drawn from a great variety of sources and is believed to be in the main correct. It is, however, merely an index of the names of those who have contributed their lives and energies to make our Mountain County deserve its high and noble record of the past and to incite our present and future attorneys to uphold and maintain the lofty standard that their sires have bequeathed them.


"The lines of great men all remind ns That we can make our lines sublime And dying leave behind ns Footprints on the sands of time."


217


BIOGRAPHIICAL NOTES


ELISHA S. ABERNETHY, was a son of General Russell Aber- nethy, of Torrington, born October 24. 1805. He entered Yale C'ollege when sixteen years old and graduated in 1825. Admitted to the bar and practiced in Waterbury, removed to Torrington and afterwards to Bridgeport, where he was the Clerk of the Superior Court of Fairfield County from 1859 to the time of his death in 1869.


ANDREW ADAMS, LL.D., was born in Stratford in 1736 and graduated at Yale College in 1760, settled in Litchfield. He rose to the rank of Colonel in the Revolutionary War, was a member of the Council of Safety two years, of the State Council for nine years, a member of the Continental Congress three years and Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1779 and 1780. He was an associate Judge of the Superior Court for four years and the Chief Justice from 1793 to the time of his decease, November 27, 1797.


The Litchfield Monitor mentions it as a sad and singular coin- cidence that Governor Wolcott and Chief Justice Adams ( the two highest official dignitaries of the State), both residing in the same village and on the same street should be lying apparently at the point of death at the same time. Governor Wolcott survived his distinguished neighbor only three days.


Upon a rapidly crumbling marble slab in the West burying ground in Litchfield, is the following epitaph of this eminent man :


" In memory of the Hon. Andrew Adams, Esq., Chief Judge of the Superior Court, who died November 27, 1797, in the 63d year of his age. Having filled many distinguished offices with great ability and dignity, he was promoted to the highest judicial office in the State, which he held for several years, in which his eminent talents shone with uncommon lustre, and were exerted to the great advantage of the public and the honor of the High Court in which he presided. He made an early profession of religion, and zealously sought to promote its true Interests. He lived a Life and lied the Death of a Christian. His filial Piety and paternal tender- ness are held in sweet Remembrance."


ELIJAHI ADAMS, was a son of Chief Justice Adams. He studied law with Judge Reeve and was admitted to this bar in 1795. practiced his profession a few years in Litchfield and then moved to Geneva, New York.


SAMUEL ADAMS, was a native of Milford. Conn., but in early life went to Stratford, where he married Mary Fairchild. He became a prominent lawyer and a Judge of the Fairfield County Court. A few years before his death, which occurred November 12, 1788, in his 85th year, he removed to Litchfield and assisted his son, the Hon. Andrew AAdams, in his extensive practice. His


218


LITCHFIELD COUNTY BENCHI AND BAR


widow died August 29. 1803. in the 106th year of her age, having lived in three centuries.


JOHN Q. ADAMS, born in Cornwall. November 2, 1837. Was admitted to this bar in 1864, and located at West Cornwall, where he practiced until April, 1872, when he removed to Negaunee. Michigan, where he made a fortune by his practice and successful mining investments. He has held many and important political and executive positions and is widely known.


JOHN ADAMS, was born in Canaan June 22. 1785. He was admitted to this bar in 1825. He carried on a very large business in the iron industry at Woodville, in the town of Washington, and was interested in other iron works. It does not appear that lie ever practiced law. He removed to Litchfield and from thence to Falls Village in the town of Canaan, where he died about 1871.


J. HENRY ADAM, only son of John Adams, was born at Wood- ville, town of Washington, December 29, 1822, graduated at Yale College 1842, and was admitted to this bar in 1844. Soon after he removed to New York City and began the practice of his profes- sion, which he relinquished and became interested in the lighting of the city; was president of the gas company and acquired much wealth.


JOHN F. ADDIS, is a native of New Milford, Connecticut. Studied law with his uncle John S. Turrill, Esq., and was admitted to this bar in 1882. Resides and practices in his native town, and is Judge of Probate for the district of New Milford.


EDMOND AIKEN, was admitted to this bar in 1790 from Nor- tolk, Connecticut. He practiced in that town and was also engaged in keeping a country store. He died in 1807.


JOHN AIKEN was admitted to the bar in 1800 from Sharon.


JOHN A. ALBRO was admitted to this bar in 1821. He abandoned this profession and became a clergyman.


JOHN ALLEN .- A long biography of this eminent attorney will be found in Boardman's sketches, page 45 of this book.


On a simple headstone in the East Cemetery in Litchfield ap- pears the following epitaph :


To the memory of JOHN ALLEN, Eso.


Many years during a life of eminent usefulness, highly distinguished for his integrity and patriotism as a member of the Council and Supreme Court of Errors of Connecticut, and no less distinguished during a period interesting and critical to his country as a mem- ber of the Congress of the United States.


Born June 12, 1763. Died July 31. 1812. Aged, 49 years.


219


BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES


HENRY J. ALLEN, Sheriff 1884-1895. He was born in Man- chester, Connecticut, May 26, 1831. He came to Litchfield County in 1859, and engaged in the hotel business in the then village of " Wolcottville " as the proprietor of the well known " Allen House," which he kept until 1880. During much of this time he was em- ployed as an agent or trustee in the management and settlement of large estates, and was very successful therein. He was also a constable and especially noted from his skill in collecting doubt- ful claims. He enjoyed political life and was a shrewd worker. In 1884 his party elected him Sheriff, which office he held until 1895, when he was defeated.


He had the unpleasant duty of carrying into effect the first and only execution of the death penalty of the century. Ilis great executive ability was fully felt throughout the County. After his retirement he was active in the interests of the New York Mutual Life Insurance Company, of which he had been an agent for many years, and also in the management of various trust estates. He lied October 9, 1899. and his funeral at Torrington on October II was remarkable for the attendance of many prominent citizens of the State. See picture, page 164.


CHARLES B. ANDREWS, LL.D., was born in Sunderland. Massa- chusetts, in 1834. Graduated at AAmherst College in 1858. Ad- mitted to the bar of Fairfield County in 1861, and began his practice in the town of Kent.


In 1863 he removed to Litchfield and formed a partnership with Hon. John 11. Hubbard, then a member of Congress. He was elected Senator from the Fifteenth District in 1868 and 1869, and was chairman of the Judiciary committee in 1869. a member of the House of Representatives in 1878, and again chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Was elected Governor of the State of Con- necticut in 1879, which office he held two years. Became a Judge of the Superior Court in 1882 and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1889, which office he resigned October 1, 1901. He was unanimously elected by the electors of Litchfield member of the Constitutional Convention of 1902, of which body he was the presid- ing officer.


He died suddenly at Litchfield September 12, 1902. His legal obituary is in the seventy-fifth volume of Connecticut Reports, from which we quote the tribute paid to him by his successor, Chief Justice Torrance :


" This Court is fully sensible of the distinguished services rendered to this State by Chief Justice Andrews, and expresses its obligation to the Attorney General for the appropriate manner in which he has called the attention of the bench and bar to them on this occasion.


220


LITCHFIELD COUNTY BENCHI AND BAR


CHARLES B. ANDREWS.


" The Practice Act was enacted with the warm approval of Governor Andrews in 1879. Three years later, it became his duty, as a judge of the Superior Court, to aid in its administration,-a work which he continued on the bench of that and of this court for nearly twenty years. But the regulation of legal practice, however important, is but a small part of judicial labor. Chief Justice Andrews was an earnest student of law as a science,-of its fundamental principles, and philosophical development. Only such an one could have written such an opinion, for instance, as that from his pen, in the case of Wildman vs. Wildman, 70 Conn., 700, in which he analyzes with so much clearness and precision the nature of a cause of action.


" He was the seventeenth in the line of Chief Justices who presided in this court during the first hundred and seventeen years of its history, and of this number, only Judges Hosmer, Williams and Park held the office for as long a period.


"In a review of a history of the courts of Connecticut, on a public occasion, he once said this. ' In every government of laws, the courts hold the most important place. The legislature may be nominally higher than the judiciary, but in the actual experience


221


BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES


of life, the courts touch the citizen more frequently and more nearly than the lawmaking power.'


" Acting under his conviction, he was deeply impressed by the responsibility which attaches to a judicial station. It was his ambition to discharge it with fidelity, and none of his associates on the bench failed to remark the earnestness of his convictions and the force and perspicuity with which he was able to set them forth. On the pages of our reports they have become interwoven with the jurisprudence of the State and of all the States."


CHARLES W. ANDREWS, only son and child of Judge Charles B. Andrews, was born in Litchfield November 21, 1874. Was ad- mitted to the bar in 1902. He located in Hartford.


EDWARD WARREN ANDREWS, born at Windham, Connecticut, July, 1811, a son of Rev. William Andrews. Was at Union College but did not graduate, studied law and was admitted to this bar in 1834. He was for a time partner of the Hon. Truman Smith at Litchfield. He gave up the practice of law, studied theology and was settled in 1837 over the Congregational Chruch at West Hartford. About 1841 he went to New York to be pastor of the Broadway Tabernacle Church. After some years he went to Troy as the pastor of a Presbyterian church. He gave up preaching and established a school at Cornwall, Connectient. Ile was sent to the Legislature in 1851. lle then gave up teaching and resumed the practice of law in New York City. In the war of 1861 he was a captain and was made assistant adjutant general under General Morris at Fort McHenry, Baltimore. After the war he practiced law for a short time in West Virginia. He then returned to New York but soon left his profession. He died September, 1895, at Chicago, Illinois.


SAMUEL JAMES ANDREWS, son of Rev. William Andrews, born at Danbury, Connecticut. July, 1817. Graduated at Williams College in 1839. Studied law in Hartford and Boston and was admitted to this bar in 1842, was also admitted in New York City and removed to Ohio and was re-admitted there. In 1844 he left the law and studied theology, and was settled as pastor of the Con- gregational Church at East Windsor, Connecticut, 1848. Dismissed 1855. He became an author and student for some years, and in 1868 took charge of the "Catholic Apostolic " congregation in Hartford. He died in Hartford October, 1906. James P. Andrews the present reporter of the Supreme Court of Errors, is one of his sons.


CURTISS B. ATWOOD was born in Bethlehem in 1845. Was educated at Stamford Academy. New York, and at Brandon Sem- inary, Vermont. Studied law with Webster and O'Neil in Water-


222


LITCHFIELD COUNTY BENCH AND BAR


bury, and was admitted to the bar at New Haven in 1879. Now resides at Watertown but is not in active practice. Represented his town in the Legislature of 1905.


RALSAMON C. AUSTIN, was a son of the Hon. Aaron Austin, born in New Hartford, graduated from Vale College in 1801, and was admitted to this bar in 1808. He practiced a short time at Litchfield and then located in Peekskill, New York. He died at Washington, D. C .. September 19, 1840.


ROGER AVERILL, born at Salisbury, August 4, 1809. Graduated at Union College. 1832. Admitted to this bar in 1834 and practiced at Salisbury until 1849, when he removed to Danbury, where he had a successful practice and held many important offices and was Lieutenant Governor of the State during the four years of the Civil war. He was one of the organizers of the American Bar Asso- ciation. He died in Danbury, December 9, 1883. ( Obituary in 50th Conn. Report.) See Warner's Reminiscences.




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