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 23
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CHARLES D. BURRILL, of Litchfield, was born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1854. He entered the class of 1878, Yale, and after studying at the Columbia Law School, was admitted to the Hartford bar in 1884. He removed to Litchfield in 1891.
CALVIN BUTLER, born in Waterbury in 1772. He began to study at Williams College but left at the close of the sophomore year and began the study of law at Norfolk. He was admitted to this bar in 1799, and finally located at Plymouth in 1806, where he died in 1845. He held many of the town offices, was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1818. In 1839 he was appointed a Judge of the County Court for Litchfield County.
CALVIN R. BUTLER Was a son of Calvin Butler, Esq., and born in Plymouth August 6, 1809, and was admitted to this bar in 1843. He died October 16, 1844.
MALCOMB N. BUTLER was another son of Calvin Butler, Esq., and was born in Plymouth, June 26, 1826, and admitted to this bar in 1846. He died in Plymouth February 29, 1848.
S. MCLEAN BUCKINGHAM, born in Brooklyn, N. Y. October 3. 1876. Graduated at Yale 1899 and at Harvard Law School1902. Admitted to this bar 1903. Resides and practices at Watertown.
CURTISS W. CABLE was admitted to this bar in 1828.
DANIEL W. CADY, a native of Petersboro, New York, and a graduate of Cornell in 1878, was admitted to this bar in 1884. He removed to Kansas and was engaged as a law instructor until his death in 1885.
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DAVID S. CALHOUN, born in Coventry, Connecticut, in 1827, graduated at Yale College in 1848. Studied law with Judge O. S. Seymour at Litchfield 1850-51, and was admitted to this bar Decem- ber 18, 1851. Has practiced in Hartford County to the present time and for many years was Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for that county. He resides in Hartford.
GEORGE W. CAMP was admitted to the bar in 1882 from New Milford.
SAMUEL G. CAMP is a native of North Canaan. He was admitted to the bar in 1902. Resides and practices in his native village, and is largely interested in lime manufacturing.
EZRA CANFIELD was admitted to the bar in 1802 from Salisbury.
EDWARD T. CANFIELD was born in Thomaston, graduated at Yale College and Yale Law School in 1903, and admitted to this bar 1903. Practices his profession at Ilartford, but resides in his native town, which he represented in the Legislature in 1907.
JOHN CANFIELD was born in New Milford in 1740 and graduated at Yale College in 1762; admitted to this bar in 1763 and settled in Sharon as the first lawyer who established himself in practice there. He was ten times sent from that town to the General Court and in 1786 he was a member of the Continental Congress and died the same year. He was State's Attorney for the county from 1772 until his death.
JOSEPH CANFIELD, JR., born in 1767 in Lyme, Connecticut, and removed with his father when he was young to Salisbury. He studied law with Colonel Strong and at the Litchfield Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1786. He located and practiced in Salisbury until his death in 1803.
JUDSON CANFIELD, born in New Milford January 24. 1759, and graduated at Yale College in 1782. He was admitted to the bar in 1785 and located and practiced in Sharon. He held many import- ant official positions and was for many years one of the judges of the County Court. He was one of the purchasers of the school lands in Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County was named after him. He died in New York City February 5. 1840.
HENRY J. CANFIELD was a son of Judson Canfield, born in Sharon, 1780, graduated from Yale College in 1806 and was ad- mitted to this bar in 1810. In early life he removed to Ohio to take care of his father's interests in that State. Died November 27, 1856, at Canfield, Ohio.
SAMUEL CANFIELD was born in Milford and removed to New Milford early in its settlement. For many years he was the Justice
GEORGE CATLIN.
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BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
of the Peace and Town Clerk. Upon the organization of the county in 1751 he was one of the justices of the quorum for the county, and in 1754 was appointed the agent of the county for the building of the court house at Litchfield. He died December 14, 1754, aged 52. He was the father of Colonel Samuel Canfield, whose picture is shown on page 18. " But few men have a higher record than he at his age in the olden time."
ALBERT M. CARD, born in Amenia, New York, in 1845 and re- moved to Sharon while quite young. He was admitted to this bar in 1889. He represented Sharon in the Legislature in 1866 and in 1891. Is deceased.
LYMAN W. CASE was admitted to this bar in 1849 and resided in Winsted. Ile died May 9. 1892, at the age of 64, and the disposal of his large estate can be seen in the case of Pinney v's. Newton et al. in the Sixty-sixth Connecticut Reports.
ORRIN S. CASE, born in Canton and admitted to this bar in 1849. He practiced in Collinsville. In the war of the rebellion he was an officer in the Thirty-first Connecticut Volunteers and was killed before Petersburg, Virginia, August 6, 1864.
URIAH CASE, born in Canton in 1828, studied law with Elisha Johnson and was admitted to this bar in 1851. He practiced in Pine Meadow and Plainville, but finally removed to Hartford, where he now resides.
ABIJAU CATLING, of Harwinton, appears upon the records of the County Court as a practitioner in 1752.
GEORGE CATLIN, was a son of Putnam Catlin and was born in Wilkesbarre, Penn. He studied law in the Law School and was admitted to the Bar in 1817. After a few years practice in Penn- sylvania he quit the profession and went to painting Indian portraits for which he has gained a world wide reputation. Our portrait of Judge Reeve is from Catlin's painting.
GEORGE SMITH CATLIN, born in Harwinton August 24th, 1808, and admitted to this bar in 1828. He practiced in Windham County from 1829 to 1853. He was a representative in Congress in 1843-45.
PUTNAM CATLIN, was born in Litchfield April 5, 1764 and ad- mitted to the bar in 1786 and soon after removed to Pennsylvania and died at Great Bend in that state in 1842. He served in the revolutionary war and received a "Badge of Merit." He was the father of George Catlin the Indian painter.
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ABIJAH CATLIN, born in Harwinton, Conn., April 1, 1805. Graduated at Yale in 1825 and was admit- ted to the bar in New Haven County in 1827. He practiced a few years in Georgia but returned in 1837 to Harwinton where he lived until his death, April 14, 1891. He held various pub- lic offices, representa- tive to the General Assembly ten times, member of the Senate in 1844, Comptroller of the State 1847, 1848 and 1849, School Fund Commissioner 1852. Was Judge of the County Court a number of years. He was Chairman of the Bar Association for many years prior to his death and all his life an active participant in all reform matters of good citizenship. See his obituary in 60 Conn. Report.
JOHN D. CHAMPLIN, was born in Stonington, Conn. January 29, 1834, but in early life removed to Litchfield. He was admitted to this bar in 1859. After a very brief practice he engaged in news- paper work, publishing the Litchfield Sentinel, but disposing of that enterprise he removed to New York City, and has ever since been engaged in literary work.
ELMORE S. CHAFFEE, was born in Sharon April 26, 1810 and ad- mitted to this bar in 1833, and died in 1834.
CHARLES Y. CHASE, was born in Sharon in 1784. Admitted to this Bar in 1808 and after a short practice abondoned his pro- fession for the ministry, and removed to Ohio.
THOMAS CHIPMAN removed from Groton, Conn. to Salisbury in 1740 with five sons. He was a practioner of law and was ap- pointed a Judge of the first County Court, but died before its first term. He was the grand-father of Hon. Nathaniel Chipman of Vermont.
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BIOGRAPHIICAL NOTES
FREDERICK CHITTENDEN was born in Kent, but died in Litchfield August 12, 1869, aged 65 years, and with one exception was the oldest practicing member of this Bar. He possessed good legal attainments, and at one time did a very extensive law business. He was of a very impulsive tempement, and sometimes inade enemies, but he also had warm friends. He was given to acts of kindness and generosity. He resided at Woodville in the town of Washing- ton and carried on a large Iron Works making bar and slitted iron.
AARON CHURCHI, admitted to this Bar from Hartland in 1802.
LEMAN CHURCH, born in Salisbury, and was admitted to this Bar in 1816. He settled in Canaan where he died in 1849. He had an extensive practice and was State's Attorney for a number of years. (See Boardman sketches and Sedgwick's Address.)
Many years ago Truman Smith was called to try a case in North Canaan. The affair was one which called together a good many witnesses and others, and the rooms at the hotel were all taken. Mr. Smith, in his absentmindness had neglected to have a room assigned to him, and toward midnight, having spent the evening in preparation for the trial of the morrow, he made ap- plication to the landlord for a room. The host was quite taken back to find that more room was wanted, for every bed was oc- cupied. It was finally decided that Mr. Smith would have to occupy the same bed with Judge Leman Church. Judge Church, as will be remembered by the men of those days, was of very small stature, not larger than the average boy of fourteen of fifteen ; his head was round and small, albeit he was a very able jurist. Accepting the situation, Mr. Smith disrobed for sleep, turned down the bed- clothes, and there beheld the Judge, up over on the back side of the couch, like a crooked-necked squash. "Humph !" said the senator, glancing around at the host, who was waiting to carry away the tallow-dip of those early days, "this is the first time I ever had to go to bed with an interrogation point!" (See Warner's Address.)
SAMUEL, CHURCH, LL. D., born in Salisbury February 4, 1785. Graduated at Yale in 1806. Studied at the Litchfield Law School and was admitted to the Bar in 1806 and soon began practice in his native town. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1818. a Judge of the Superior Court in 1832, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1847. The latter part of his life he resided in Litchfield, where he died in 1854. (See Sedgwick's Address.) See Portrait on page 3.
GREGG CLARK was born in Iowa City, Iowa, February 5th, 1872. Graduated at Harvard 1893. Engaged as a teacher at "The Gun- nery" in Washington, Conn., and studied law with Hon. Geo. A. Hickox. and was admitted to this Bar in 1899. Removed to New Jersey.
THOMAS M. CLARK, born in Winsted. January 4, 1830. Never
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LITCHFIELD COUNTY BENCH AND BAR
practiced. Noted as being a long time the spicy editor of the Winsted Herald, and afterwards a prominent manufacturer. He died at sea November 13. 1887. while returning from a voyage taken for his health.
CHESTER D. CLEVELAND, born in Barkhamsted, served in the 2nd. Conn. Heavy Artillery in the Rebellion, gaining the rank of Major. AAdmitted to this Bar in 1866. Removed to Oshkosh, Wis. where he was County Judge.
FRANK E. CLEVELAND, born in Salisbury May 18, 1853. Gradu- ated at the University of Michigan and was admitted to the Bar at Ann Harbor, Mich. in 1873, and also to this Bar the next year. After a short practice he became totally blind. He moved to Hart- ford and was the publisher of law blanks and stationery. He was the secretary of the State Board of Education for the blind. He now, 1907, resides in Washington, D. C. and is engaged in education of the blind.
WILLIAM G. COE, born in Winchester September 10, 1829, ad- mitted to this Bar in 1851, began his practice at New Britain, Conn., but in 1856 removed to Winsted and engaged in manufacturing. Hle was an active promoter of the then Connecticut Western Railroad Company and was its secretary. He died in Winsted May 31. 1872.
CHURCHILL, COFFIN, born in Salisbury, admitted to this Bar. Died in Chicago in 1873.
GEORGE W. COLE, born in Warren, Conn. September 6, 1850. Was admitted to this Bar in 1876 and practiced about two years in Plymouth and removed to Torrington in 1878. He remained there until 1885 when he left the practice of law and became a professional librarian. He is now engaged in Bibliographical work in New York City.
RICHARD COOK, admitted in 1835 from New Hartford.
ROGER W. Cook, born February 10, 1797 in Litchfield. Admitt- ed to this Bar in 1819 from Litchfield. Died at sea November 4, 1823 on a voyage to the West Indies for his health.
WILLIAM COGSWELL, was a native of Washington and admitted to this Bar in 1791. Was a Presidential elector in 1824 and died in 1825. He took great interest in military matters and was Colonel in the Militia. (See Sedgwick's Address. )
WILLIAM COTHREN, born in Farmington, Maine, November 28, 1819. Graduated at Bowdoin College in 1843. Came to Woodbury and studied law with Hon. Charles B. Phelps, and was admitted to this Bar in 1845. Hle located and always resided in Woodbury hav- ing an extensive practice until his death March 11th, 1898. His fame will rest principally upon his historical investigations and especially his History of Ancient Woodbury.
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BIOGRAPHIICAL NOTES
STEWART W. COWEN, born in Middlebury, studied law with James Huntington, of Woodbury, admitted to the Bar in 1885. now in practice in Mt. Vernon, N. Y.
EDWARD P. COWLES, born in Canaan January 16, 1815, admitted to the Bar in 1849. Practiced in Hudson, N. Y. and in New York City ; was appointed in 1854 Justice of the Supreme Court of New York.
WALTER S. COWLES, born in Canaan February 23, 1819, admitted to the Bar in 1851. Located and practiced in Bridgeport, and re- moved to New York City, where he died in 1897.
SAMUEL COWLES, admitted to the Bar in 1803 from Norfolk.
EDWARD H. CUMMING, admitted in 1830.
ELI CURTISS, was born in Northbury, (now Plymouth ) Febru- ary 10, 1748. Graduated at Yale College in 1777, was active in the Revolutionary War where he reached the rank of Captain. He lost an arm in the service for which he received a pension. He was admitted to the Bar in 1781, and practiced in Watertown, but finally removed to Bristol, where he died December 13, 1821, and was buried in Plymouth east burying ground.
HOLBROOK CURTISS, born in Newtown, Fairfield County July 14. 1787. Graduated at Yale College 1807, admitted to this Bar in 1800. Began his practice in Litchfield County in 1815 at Water- town. Hle died February 21. 1858. (See Sedgwick's Address. )
WILLIAM E. CURTISS, was a son of Holbrook Curtiss, born in Watertown September 20. 1823. graduated at Trinity in 1843, studied law with William Curtiss Noves in New York City and was admitted to this Bar in 1846. He practiced in New York City and was a Judge of the Superior Court of that State in 1871, and its presiding Judge in 1876. He died in Watertown July 6, 1880.
MEDAD CURTISS, admitted to this Bar in 1797 from Norfolk.
GEORGE Y. CUTLER, born in Watertown April 6, 1797. Gradu- ated at Yale in 1816. admitted to this Bar in 1820 from Watertown. Ile practiced at Watertown till about 1828, when he removed to Illinois, where he was land agent, lawyer, merchant and farmer at Commerce, the place where the Mormons located in 1838 and changed the name to Nauvoo. He died there September 3. 1834.
SPENCER DAYTON, born in Winchester in 1820, and admitted to the Bar in 1846. Resides in Philippi, W. Va.
GILBERT DEAN, born in Dutchess County, N. Y. in 1819. Gradu- ated at Yale College in 1841. Admitted to the Bar in 1842. Died in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. in 1870.
LEE P. DEAN, born in Canaan October 18, 1838. Admitted to the Bar in 1864. In 1886 he removed to Bridgeport, where he now resides engaged in other pursuits.
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LITCHFIELD COUNTY BENCH AND BAR
EUGENE C. DEMPSEY, born in Barkhamsted January 7, 1864, ad- mitted to the Bar in 1886. Located in Danbury, where he now resides.
JEREMIAH W. DEXTER, a native of Salisbury, served in the war of the rebellion and was admitted to the Bar in 1866. Located and resides at Waverly, N. Y.
WILLIAM E. DICKINSON, was born in New York City May 30, 1824, but came to Litchfield when a child. He was admitted to this Bar in 1846. Located and practiced at Stonington, Conn., until 1850, when he removed to the Lake Superior regions and was en- gaged in important mining operations. Subsequently he went to Cuba in the same business and while there had charge of building the Daiquria Pier for loading ore, the same pier used by the United States to unload troops during the Spanish-American War. He then removed to Wisconsin where he was District Attorney of Florence County for a number of years. He died at Florence, Wis., June 15, 1899.
WHEATON F. DOWD, born in New Hartford, August 21, 1867. Graduated at Yale Law School in 1894 and was admitted to this Bar the same year, and was appointed Assistant Clerk of the Superior Court. In 1901, after the decease of William F. Hurlburt, he was appointed Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for Litch- field County which office he has since held. He resides in Winsted.
THEODORE W. Dowxs was admitted to this Bar in 1870 from Bridgeport. The following is taken from a Bridgeport paper of September 24th1, 1907. "Former Consul dead. Theodore Waldren Downs former United States Consul to Quebec and prominent in national Democratic politics, died at his home in this city yesterday after a sickness of about seven weeks following a shock."
WILLIAM DRINKWATER, came to New Milford about 1730 from Ridgefield and for nearly thirty years was a prominent man there and was in the practice of law in 1753. He died in 1758.
DANIEL DUNBAR, was a native of Plymouth, admitted to this bar in 1798. Located and practiced in Berlin, Conn., 1803 to 1841.
MILES DUNBAR, was a native of Plymouth but was admitted to this bar in 1810 as from Sharon. The history of Ellsworth a part of the town of Sharon gives this notice of him. "Our first Dunbar was hardly representative of the household, for he came and went more like a comet than the staid and planetary bodies since represen- tative. That was Miles Dunbar of Plymouth, Conn., lawyer, music teacher and jack-at-all-trades. About 1812 he departed from Sharon."
..
WHEATON F. DOWD.
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BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
HENRY M. DUTTON, was a son of Ex-Governor and Judge Dutton (who was born in Litchfield ), and practiced law in Litchfield in 1861 with his uncle Henry B. Graves, Esq. Upon the breaking out of the war he entered the service of his country and received a commission as Lieutenant in the 5th Connecticut Infantry, and was killed in the battle of Cedar Mountain, Va., August 9th, 1862.
RUFUS EASTMAN, admitted to the Bar in 1796 from Washington. DAVID EDMUNDS, admitted to the Bar in 1806 from Newtown.
OGDEN EDWARDS, born in 1781, a student of the Law School in 1801, admitted to the Bar in 1802 as from New Haven. He re- moved to New York where he was a prominent man and a lead- ing attorney for many years ; a Judge of the Superior Court, Sur- rogate, etc.
FREDERICK EGGLESTON, admitted in 1834 from Cromwall.
NATHANIEL B. ELDREDGE, admitted in 1811 from Salisbury.
JOHN ELMORE, was a son of Col. Samuel Elmer of Revolution- ary war fame, and born in Sharon. Settled in Canaan in 1793 and died in that town December roth, 1849, aged 84 years.
JOIN ELMORE, JR., was admitted to the Bar in 1819 from Canaan. He died at East Canaan, June 12th, 1857, in his 65th year. See Warner's Reminisences.
HENRY LOOMIS ELLSWORTH was a son of Chief Justice Oliver Ellsworth, and after studying with Judge Reeve in the Law School, he was admitted to this Bar in 1812 from Windsor. After a prac- tice in Hartford he was appointed Commissioner of Indian affairs under President Jackson. He was also Commissioner of Patents for ten years. He died in 1858.
WILLIAM H. ELY, admitted to the Hartford Bar in 1879, but located at Winsted and then removed to New Haven, where he now resides and has a large practice.
JAMES ENSIGN, born in Canaan February 2, 1819, graduated at Yale 1842, and admitted to this Bar in 1848, from Canaan. He practiced law but a short time when he engaged in farming. He died in Salisbury, February 3. 1883.
FRANK W. ETHERIDGE, of Thomaston, was born in Montville in 1858. He was educated at the Hartford High School and pursued his law studies with the late firm of Johnson & Prentice, of Hartford. being admitted to the Bar in 18So. He settled in Thomaston and has held a number of town offices. He has been Judge of Probate since 1890. In 1896 he was appointed Health Officer for the County which office he has since held. He was a member of the last Constitutional Convention. He is also the publisher and editor of the Thomaston Express, a weekly newspaper.
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LITCHFIELD COUNTY BENCH AND BAR
WILLIAM W. ELLSWORTIL was born in Windsor in 1781. the third son of Oliver Ells- worth, the second Chief Jus- tice of the United States, graduated at Yale in 1 8 1 0, studied law with Judge Reeve and was admitted to this Bar in 1813, and began his practice in Hartford, where he died January 15th. 1868. He was a member of Congress five years; Gover- nor of the State four years ; a judge of the Superior Court and the Supreme Court four- teen years. Rufus Choate said of him "If the land of the Shermans and Griswolds. and Daggetts and Williamses -rich as she is in learning and virtue-has a sounder lawyer, a more upright mag- istrate, or an honester man in her public service, I know not his name." (See obitu- ary in 34th, Conn. )
DANIEL EVERETT, born in Bethlem in 1748, and began practice of law in New Milford in 1772, where he resided until his death in 1805. ( See Boardman's Sketches. )
SHERMAN EVERETT, was admitted to this Bar in 1801 as from Cornwall. He seems however, to belong to Sharon, where he was born April 20, 1781, lived there and died October 5. 1870. The Ellsworth History says, "The major became captain of militia was early sent to the legislature, surveyed almost every bit of this town, and much of other towns, was a justice of no mean record, rose to the rank of major in the war of 1812. was treasurer of this ( Ells- worth ) society, commissioner of the common land and founder of the library which now bears his name.
JOHN R. FARNAM, was admitted to this Bar in 1871, practiced a short time at Litchfield and also published the Litchfield Sentinel. In 1877 he located in Danbury, Conn., from whence he removed in 1884 to Washington, D. C.
AMOS H. FARNSWORTH, was admitted to this Bar in 1849.
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BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
AUGUSTUS H. FENN, born in Plymouth January 18. 1844. In the Civil War he gained the rank of Major of the 2nd Conn. Heavy Artillery. At the battle of Cedar Creek he was wounded and suf- fered the amputation of his right arm at the shoulder. He was a graduate of Harvard Law School and was admitted to this Bar in 1867 and began his practice at Plymouth removing to Waterbury and thence to Winsted at which place he resided at his death. Sep- tember 12, 1897. In 1887 he was elected Judge of the Superior Court, and in 1893 he was promoted to the Supreme Court of Errors. (See his obituary in Vol. 67, Conn. )
The following tribute to Judge Fenn was given by his associate Judge David Torrance at the Annual Meeting of the Army and Navy Club in 1898:
"I trust, that you will pardon me if I say a few words about him who was my friend and companion for some years in the highest court of this state, whom all of you know and loved, and who, when he died was the honored president of this club.
The best legacy that a man can leave to his children and to his fellow men, is the inspiring example of a well spent life ; a clean life, nobly lived for noble ends. Happy the man who dying leaves be- hind him the record of such a life : and to the full measure of such felicity, as far as human facility will permit, my friend and yours attained.
His war record, young as he was, is as brilliant as it is inspiring. Entering the army in July, 1862, when he was eighteen years old, as a member of the gallant Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery, he served with distinction as lieutenant. as captain. as brevet major and brevet lieutenant-colonel, till the close of the war and after.
When wounded and disabled by the loss of his arm at Cedar Creek in 1864 he refused to be discharged and reported for duty within seven weeks after he was wounded. Most men would have regarded the loss of a good right arm as sacrifice enough for one's country, but our comrade. in this respect. as in some others, was not like most men. Since the war what a busy useful life he led. as student, as lawyer, as the trusted judge of probate for years in Ply- mouth and Winchester, as member of the Legislature, as member of important committees for the revision of our laws, as an active participant in political contests,'as lecturer in the Yale Law School. as the eloquent orator on Memorial Days, and at Grand Army meet- ings innumerable, as the trusted friend, the wise counsellor, and burden bearer, in local matters and affairs, and finally as judge of the superior court and of the supreme court of errors of this state. What a deal of work he crowded into his fifty-four years of life. What a useful life it was to his country and to his fellow men ! How unselfishly and unstintedly he gave himself to all things that tended to help men and make them better citizens, and in the midst of all its stir and activity and storm and stress, what a clean and noble life
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