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 24
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it was! He was the architect of his own fortunes. About all he inherited from the past was the blood of a vigorous ancestry, but blood will tell, and in him it made the desert of adverse circum- stances the very vantage ground of succeess, and caused its barren wastes to blossom as the rose.
He was successful because he merited success. He won his promotions in the army, without the aid of influential friends, by sheer force of character, by his bravery, and his proved fitness to fill every position to which he was assigned.
In civil life he attained position and influence by his sterling integrity and his own unaided ability. He worthily filled every of- fice he ever held, and worthily fulfilled every one of the many trusts that were reposed in him. His was on the whole a successful life, in a high sense a joyous victorious life, and now that death has put a period to it, while vet the infirmities of old age were afar off, he may, with the wise old Greek, call it a happy life, worthily ended."
ELLIOTT J. FENN, was born in Plymouth September 1, 1855, and studied law with Augustus H. Fenn in Plymouth, and was admitted to this Bar in 1874. He began practice in Waterbury in 1875, and died there in 1888.
FREDERICK J. FENN, was a native of Washington, Conn., but was admitted to this Bar in 1821 as from Canaan. He removed to Harrisburg, Penn.
LINUS FENN, was a native of Plymouth and studied with Judge Reeve and was admitted to practice in 1794 and persued his pro- fession in his native town. He died in 1852.
GEORGE L. FIELD, was born in Watertown December 4, 1828. He studied law with John W. Webster in Waterbury, and was ad- mitted to this Bar in 1856, and after a brief practice in Watertown he opened his office in Waterbury. He was one of the earlier Judges of the city court, and also the Mayor of the city. During the last few years of his life he was totally blind. He died in Watertown, October 22, 1879.
JOHN A. FOOTE, was admitted to this Bar in 1825, having at- tended the Law School. The following taken from Howe's His- torical Collections of Ohio, is of interest regarding Mr. Foote :
"Much gratification was derived at this time in Cleveland by a call upon Mr. John A. Foote, an old lawyer an octogenarian, of whom I had all my life heard but never met until now. He was a brother of Admiral Foote and a son of that Governor Foote of Connecticut who introduced a resolution, historically known as 'Foote's Resolution' which led to the debate between Daniel Web- ster and Mr. Hayne, of South Carolina.
"Mr. Foote first came here from Cheshire, Connecticut, in the summer of 1833, and was for years a member of the eminent law firm
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of Andrews, Foote & Hoyt. He was born in 1803 on the site of the Tontine Hotel in New Haven, but his home at the time of leav- ing was in Cheshire. That town was overwhelmingly Democratic, and he was a Whig, but as the State Legislature was in session but for a few weeks his townsmen irrespective of politics gave him and a Mr. Edward A. Cornwall, prior to their departure for the distant wilds of Ohio, as a parting compliment the privilege of representing them in that body. So they went down to Hartford and passed a few weeks pleasantly among the 'Shad Eaters' as in the humorous parlace of the time the members were called, from the fact that they met in May, the season of shad-catching in the Connecticut.
"The year 1883 came around when Foote and Cornwall, after a lapse of fifty years, in company visited the Legislature of Connecti- cut at Hartford and were received with great eclat.
"The House passed some complimentary resolutions, signed by the speaker (Charles H. Pine) and by the clerk ( Donald H. Per- kins) expressive of their high gratification. . Passed February 22. 1883. Washington's birthday.' These Mr. Foote with commend- able pride pointed out to me framed on his parlor wall."
EBENEZER FOOTE, was born in Watertown (then Westbury) July 6, 1773. Studied law at Judge Reeve's school and was ad- mitted to the Bar in 1796. He located at Lansingburgh, N. Y., and with the increase of his business moved to Troy and later to Albany. He was one of the leading attorneys of the state, an active and in- fluential politician. He was the founder and promoter of the cele- brated Albany Female Academy. He died July 21, 1814, at Troy, New York.
JARED B. FOSTER, born in Albany, N. Y., 1820, was admitted to this Bar in 1848 and located and practiced in New Hartford until his death in March 3, 1895. He held many town offices and was Judge of the District Court for Litchfield County for the term of three years. He was a very bright man and a witty lawyer and a great many pleasant stories and recollections are told of his prac- tice. ( See picture, page 107.)
WALTER S. FRANKLIN, born in Lancaster, Penn. in 1799. Stud- ied at the Litchfield Law School and was admitted to this Bar in 1820 and practiced law in York, Penn. He was Clerk of the House of Representatives in Washington, D. C. from December 2, 1833 to his death September 20, 1838. Major General Wm. B. Franklin was one of his sons.
GEORGE A. FREEMAN was born in Boscowen, N. H. in 1876. fit- ted for College at Phillips Academy, Andover, graduated at Yale Scientific School in 1897, studied law with Huntington & Warner, and was admitted to the Bar in 1901. Mr. Freeman resides and practices in Waterbury.
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SAMUEL FRISBIE, admitted to the Bar in 1811 from Waterbury, where he practiced a few years and then removed to Indiana.
HENRY I. FULLER, admitted in 1846 from Kent and removed to the State of New York.
JEROME FULLER, admitted in 1832 from Kent.
RUFUS FULLER, born in Plymouth in 1810, graduated at Union College in 1835, was admitted to this Bar in 1836, located in Kent, where he practiced his profession for a quarter of a century, and retired therefrom in consequence of ill health.
FLORIMOND D. FYLER, born in Torrington in 1834, graduated at Yale Law School in 1860, admitted to this Bar in 1864, located at Winsted, was a Judge of the District Court for Litchfield County, 1878-1882. Returned to Torrington, and from ill health quit his practice and became extensively engaged in the poultry business on his ancestral home, where he died after a protracted illness, August 22, 1905.
FREDERICK GAYLORD, admitted to the Bar in 1853 from Goshen.
AMIMHI GIDDINGS, born at Sherman, Conn., in 1822 and graduated at Yale Law School and was admitted to this Bar in 1849. He practiced at Plymouth until 1866, when he removed to Kalamazoo, Mich., returning to Connecticut in 1872. He died at his birth-place, February 13. 1882.
VAN RENSSALNER C. GIDDINGS, born in New Milford in 1833 and after attending Yale Law School was admitted to this Bar in 1861. After practicing in this County a while he removed to Bridgeport in 1869 and was the City Attorney for Bridgeport.
JAMES P. GLYNN, a native of Winsted was admitted to this Bar in 1895. Practices in Winsted and was for some years the Town Clerk of Winchester, and also Prosecuting Attorney of the Town Court. In 1901 was appointed by President Roosevelt, Postmaster of Winsted, which office he now holds.
GEORGE R. GOLD, admitted to the Bar in 1856 from Cornwall and removed to Michigan.
THOMAS R. GOLD, born in Cornwall in 1764, graduated at Yale College in 1786, admitted to this Bar in 1788 and removed to Cen- tral New York, where he held a leading position as a lawyer. Was a member of Congress for twenty years. He died in 1827.
JAMES GOULD, born in Branford, Conn. December 5, 1770, grad- nated at Yale College in 1795, attended the Litchfield Law School and was admitted to this Bar in 1798. He assisted Judge Reeve in the Law School and after the retirement of Judge Reeve con- ducted it himself until its close in 1833. He died in Litchfield May
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II, 1838. He was a Judge of the Supreme Court of Errors, and author of Gould's Pleadings, published in 1832. (See Boardman and Sedgwick Sketches. )
JAMES REEVE GOULD, a son of James born in Litchfield Novem- ber 2, 1803. Graduated at Yale College in 1824, was admitted to this Bar in 1826, and removed to Augusta, Georgia, where he died October 11, 1830.
GEORGE GOULD, a son of James born in Litchfield September 2. 1807, admitted to this Bar in 1829. Removed to Troy. N. Y., where he died February 11, 1868. He had been Mayor of Troy and a Justice of the Supreme Court of New York from 1855 to 1863.
WILLIAM TRACY GOULD, another son of James and born October 25. 1799, graduated at Yale College in 1816, and admitted to this Bar in 1820. He removed to Augusta, Georgia, where he became a distinguished Judge and prominent citizen. Died July, 1882.
HIRAM GOODWIN, born in New Hartford May 5. 1808, admitted to the Bar in 1830. Located at Riverton in the town of Barkham- sted. Was a Judge of the Litchfield County Court 1851 to 1855. Died February 5, 1885. His obituary is in 52d Conn. Reports.
LYMAN GRANGER, admitted to the Bar in 1821. He was a native of Salisbury or Canaan, and graduated at Union College in 1820. AAfter a short practice in Salisbury he removed to Rutland, Ver- mont and associated with Moses Strong, having a large law practice. Hle died in 1839.
ELIJAH PHELPS GRANT, born in Norfolk, 1808. Practiced in Winsted in 1835 and 1836, when he removed to Canton, Ohio, where he died December 21, 1874.
FRIEND GRANT, born in Litchfield September 14, 1740. Gradi- ated at Yale 1761, and practiced in Litchfield a year or two, and died in 1764.
MILES TOBEY GRANGER, was born August 12, 1817 in New Marlboro, Mass. By his own exertions as a farmer boy and at country school teaching he graduated at Wesleyan College at Middletown in 1842. The next year he went to Louisana as a fam- ily teacher and began studying law and was admitted in that State in 1845. Returning to the North he was admitted the same year to this Bar, and soon located in North Canaan, making that his residence. until his decease October 21. 1895.
Judge Granger was a Democrat in his political views, and in 1857 represented his town in the General Assembly, and in 1867 and 1868 he was State Senator from his district and chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and was appointed a Judge of the Superior Court. In 1876 he was advanced to the Supreme Court of Errors
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LITCHFIELD COUNTY BENCH AND BAR
which office he held until 1887, when he resigned to accept an election to Congress. In 1893 he was appointed a State Referee, which position he held at the time of his death.
Bro. Hickox in his obituary of Judge Granger published in the 66th Conn. Reports, ends with a sentence with which every mem- ber of the Bar fully concurred. "A grave, honest, shrewd man, he inspired confidence and respect, while his sense, wit and kindly nature won him general esteem, and his loyalty, many lasting friends." (Picture on page 156.)
HENRY B. GRAVES, born in Sherman, Conn. in 1822 and admitted to this Bar in 1845. He began his practice in Plymouth, but after a couple of years removed to Litchfield where he had for more than forty years a large and lucrative practice, frequently representing the town in the General Assembly. The Judicial History says of him, "He was a typical lawyer of the old school. In figure he was tall, handsome and striking. He had great keenness of preception, splendid capacities for analyis and was a compact and logical thinker. He was a man of most kindly feelings warm and ardent in his friendships, generous and helpful to all and never vindictive even to his opponents." He died in Litchfield August 10, 1891. Obituary in 60 Conn. Reports. Picture, page 152.
G. W. GRISWOLD, was in practice in Winchester in 1831, but was not admitted at this Bar.
FREDERICK GUNN, admitted in 1813 from New Milford. Died in New Milford November 23, 1852, aged 65.
WARREN W. GUTHRIE, admitted to this Bar in 1855, began prac- tice in Seymour, Conn., but in 1856 removed to Atkinson, Kan., and was Attorney General of Kansas for a number of years.
NATHAN HALE, was an Attorney at Sharon in 1777 and an as- sistant Judge of the County Court for eighteen years.
BENJAMIN HALL, admitted to this Bar in 1797.
ELANATHAN S. HALL, admitted in 1846 from Fairfield County.
GIDEON HALL, born in Winchester May 1, 1808, graduated at Litchfield Law School and was admitted to the Bar in 1832. He always resided in Winsted and had a large practice until 1866, when he was appointed a Judge of the Superior Court, which office he held at the time of his death December 8, 1867. (See Warner's Reminiscences.) Picture, page 113.
ROBERT E. HALL was born in Morris, Conn. in 1858. graduated at Yale Law School in 1882 and was admitted to the Bar in New Haven County, has practiced principally in Waterbury. Is not now in practice.
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JACOB B. HARDENBURGHI, born in New York State in 1833, was admitted to the Bar in 1854 and practiced at Kingston. In the war of the rebellion he served nearly five years and was Colonel of the Soth N. Y. Vols. In 1867 he located at North Canaan taking Judge Granger's practice. In 1883 he was appointed County Coroner which office he held at the time of his death, April 4, 1892.
JOHN HARPER, admitted to this Bar from Winsted in 1850. He removed South and located at Alpalechicola, Fla. about 1851. He was an officer in the Confederate service during the rebellion.
JULIUS B. HARRISON, was born in Cornwall in 1819, was ad- mitted to this Bar in 1843 and located at New Milford. Was State Attorney in 1852 and died in New Milford October 10, 1854, aged 35 years.
MOSES HATCH was born in Kent in 1780, graduated at Yale in 1800, admitted to this Bar in 1802, settled in Danbury where he died in 1820.
CHARLES R. HATHAWAY, a native of Winchester. Admitted to this Bar in 1880, now in practice in Manchester, Conn. Is now the Record Commissioner of Connecticut.
WILLIAM HAWLEY, born in Redding, Conn , graduated at Yale College in 1780, was admitted to this Bar in 1791 : he removed from Fairfield County in 1798 to Woodbury, and soon thereafter aban- doned his legal practice for mercantile pursuits.
CHARLES GORDON HAYES, eldest son of the Rev. Gordon Hayes, born in Washington, Conn. January 20, 1830. Graduated at Yale in 1851. Admitted to this Bar in 1855. Removed to Rock Island. Ill., and to Muscatine. Iowa. Died at DesMoines, Iowa, April 8, 1878.
LOUIS M. HEMINWAY was born in Watertown in 1875. Was fitted for College at the Cheltingham Military Academy, graduated at Lafayette College in 1896 and at the Law School of the Univer- sity of Virginia in 1899 and admitted to this Bar in the following year. He is largely engaged in the hotel business.
JOSHUA HENSHAW, was admitted to this Bar in 1797, from New Hartford.
PIIILO M. HEACOCKS, born February 8, 1784, admitted to the Bar in 1810, and practiced in New Milford until his death April 20, 1825.
SAMUEL A. HERMAN, born in Canaan 1855, and was admitted to this Bar in 1878. He located at Winsted in company with the late Judge Fenn, and they had a large and lucrative practice. He has attended strictly to his profession, doing very little non-pro-
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fessional work. He was State Senator in 1897. He was an active promoter of the Torrington & Winchester Electric Road, and its Secretary. He resides at his farm residence in the town of Tor- rington, but continues his practice at Winsted.
GEORGE A. HICKOX was born in Washing- ton in 1830, graduated at Trinity College in 1851, was admitted to this Bar in 1853 and located at Litchfield. In 1866 he purchased the Litchfield Enquir- er, which he publish- ed for a quarter of a century, editing it with marked ability and profound scholar- ship.
In 1895 he remov- ed to his ancestral home at Washington, where he died, June 6, 1903.
RICHARD T. HIG- GINS was
born in Washington in 1865, was educated at St. Francis College. Brooklyn, New York. Studied law with GEORGE A. HICKOX. Hon. James Hunting- ton of Woodbury and admitted to this Bar in 1890. Resides in Winsted and has for several years been the County Coroner. (See Coroner page 165.)
BERNARD E. HIGGINS, born in Woodbury January 31, 1872, ad- mitted to the Bar June, 1897. Resides and practices in Torrington, Conn. Was Borough Clerk for three years. Is now ( 1907) Prose- cuting Attorney for the town.
HOMER HINE was admitted to the Bar in 1800 from New Milford.
CHARLES W. HINMAN, born in Southbury in 1829, admitted in 1853. Before he had begun to practice he received an appointment as one of the librarians of Congress and removed to Washington, D. C.
EDWARD HINMAN was born in Southbury, then a part of Wood-
SAMUEL A. HERMAN.
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BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
bury in 1740 and practiced in Southbury. He was familiarly known as Lawyer Ned. He is said to have been a very able lawyer. He was very corpilent man, weighing something over four hundred pounds.
ROBINSON S. HINMAN was born in South Britain in 1801. Was admitted to this Bar in 1825. In 1827 he removed to Utica, N. Y., but returned to Connecticut in 1828 and was appointed Clerk of the Superior Court for New Haven County in 1831. holding that office seven years. He died in New Haven in 1843.
ROYAL R. HINMAN was born in Southbury, graduated at Yale College in 1804 and was admitted to practice in 1811 and practiced for twenty years at Roxbury. In 1835 he was elected Secretary of State and held that office for seven years. He was largely en- gaged in compiling and publishing matters relating to the early history of the State. and in other historical and genealogical labors. He subsequently removed to New York City.
SIMEON HINMAN, graduated at Yale College in 1784. was ad- mitted to this Bar in 1790 and engaged in his profession in South- bury, where he died in 1825.
ROLAND HITCHCOCK, one of the Judges of the Superior Court. was a native of Burlington in Hartford County. He was admitted to this Bar in 1844 and located in Winsted, where he died on April 28th, 1880. Picture, page 114.
The following was published at the time of his death :
"Roland Hitchcock. ex-judge of the Superior Court. died Sun- day afternoon at his residence in Winsted, aged 66. He was a native of Burlington and wrote the history of that town for the Memorial History of Hartford County. He studied law with Lien- tenant-Governor Holabird in Winsted, which town he afterward made his residence. He was clerk of the House of Representatives in 1852 and 1853. postmaster from 1853 to 1861, and judge of pro- bate six terms. He was appointed on the Superior Court bench in 1874, by Governor Ingersoll. and served until 1882. His last pub- lic service was as representative from Winchester in 1883, when he served on the judiciary committee. Since that time he has been en- gaged in the practice of law in Winsted."
ELKANAH H. HODGES was born in Torrington in 1812 and was admitted to this Bar in 1837. He was one of the pioneers of Cali- fornia and died in that State in 1862.
WILLIAM S. HOLABIRD was born in Canaan in 1794 and attended the Litchfield Law School. Was admitted to this Bar in 1816 and commenced his practice in Colebrook, removing to Winsted in 1824. He was District Attorney under President Jackson's administration. In 1842 and 1844 he was Lieutenant Governor of this State. Died May 22, 1855.
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LITCHFIELD COUNTY BENCH AND BAR
MARCUS H. HOLCOMB was born in New Hartford, Litchfield County November 28, 1844. He received his higher education at Wesleyan Academy and studied law with the late Judge Jared B. Foster. He was admitted to the Litchfield County Bar in 1871 and soon after removed to Southington, where he has since resided. He has been Judge of Probate for more than thirty years and Treas- urer of the County of Hartford since 1893; a Commissioner of the State Police since its creation ; was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1902 : he has been representative and senator several times in the General Assembly and was unanimously elected speaker one term. He holds many offices of trust and responsibility in Southington and is closely identified with all its business interests. Is now the Attorney General of Connecticut. (See page 167.)
WALTER HOLCOMB, born in New Hartford October 13, 1853. Admitted to this Bar in 1881, removed to St. Paul, Minn., where he practiced until 1896 he then returned to Connecticut and located in Torrington, where he now resides. Is Judge of the Borough Court.
DAVID F. HOLLISTER, born in Washington March 31, 1826, grad- uated at Yale in 1851 and was admitted to the Bar the same year. He commenced practice in Salisbury, removing in 1854 to Bridge- port, where he resided and died May 4, 1906. He held the office of Collector of Internal Revenue for Connecticut a number of years. The following notice is from the Bridgeport Standard :
The death of the Hon. David F. Hollister removes another of the older citizens of Bridgeport who had been a prominent factor in its development and in all the reputable and admirable elements of its progress. Mr. Hollister distinguished himself by his probity and ability in every station which he filled and as a government official, occupying an important place for many years he made a record that is hardly paralleled in that department for accuracy, efficiency and thoroughness. As a citizen he answered every obli- gation ; as a professional man he was honorable and able and in every walk in life he set an example to be emulated. He lived a long and useful life and he leaves a memory to be cherished with affection and respect by all who were associated with him.
JOHN B. HOLLISTER, born in Litchfield in 1860, the only son of Gideon H. Hollister ; was admitted to the Bar in 1884. Has never practiced.
JOHN M. HOLLY, born in Salisbury and graduated from Yale Col- lege in 1820 and was admitted to this Bar in 1824. He removed to western New York, became a member of Congress and died in Florida while holding that position.
GEORGE B. HOLT, born in Norfolk in 1790, attended the Litch- field Law School and was admitted to practice in 1812 and removed to Dayton, Ohio in 1818, where he became a very prominent man
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BIOGRAPHIICAL NOTES
in the prosecution of its system of internal improvements. He was Judge of the Circuit Court of Ohio and its President Judge for fourteen years.
GIDEON H. HOLLIS- TER, born in Washing- ton in 1817, and grad- uated from Yale Col- lege in 1840, and was admitted to this Bar in 1842, and soon after located in Litch field, but has resided and practiced at var- ious times in other places. He was Clerk of the Courts 1844 to 1845, and from 1847 to 1850. Under Pres- ident Andrew John- son he was the United States Minister to Hayti. He is best known of from his literary work, being author of several His- torical novels and plays. He was sin- gularly gifted in mak- ing and delivering addresses on public celebrations and anniversary occasions. In 1855 he published the History of Connecticut in two large volumes. He died at Litch- field March 21, 1881. His obituary is in Vol. 48, Conn. Reports.
URIEL, HOLMES, born in Hartland in 1765, graduated at Yale in 1784 was admitted to the Bar and located at Litchfield. He was State Attorney from 1807 to 1814. A member of the General As- sembly from Litchfield nine times ; Judge of the County Court from 1814 to 1817 : a member of Congress in 1817 and 1818. He died May 18, 1827.
SAMUEL MILES HOPKINS, L. L. D. was born in Waterbury 1772, but in early life removed to Goshen, studied at Yale, but refused graduation, studied at Judge Reeve's Law School and was admitted to this Bar in 1793. He removed to the State of New York and was engaged in large real estate transactions. He was a member of Congress and held many other high official positions. He died at Geneva, N. Y. October 8, 1837.
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LITCHIFIELD COUNTY BENCHI AND BAR
SAMUEL B. HORNE, of Winsted was admitted to the Bar in 1869 from that town, having served through the Civil War where he gain- ed the rank of Captain. He was an aide on the staff of Governor Phineas Lounsbury and was Commander of the Connecticut Dept., G. A. R. He was United States consul under President Harrison. Labor Commissioner for Connecticut from 1895 to 1899. He now resides and practices at Winsted; holds a Medal of Honor Badge. His practice is mostly confined to recovering estates from foreign countries.
F. H. HORTON, admitted to the Bar in 1846.
ISAAC M. HORTON, admitted to the Bar in 1882 from Harwinton.
SAMUEL C. HOSFORD, admitted to the Bar in 1850 from Canaan : never practiced; became a teacher and removed to New Jersey, where he died.
JOHN D. HOWE, studied law with Judge Hitchcock in Winsted, admitted to the Bar in 1866 from Winsted and soon after his ad- mission removed to St. Paul, Minn. where he holds a large practice as a railroad attorney.
EDWARD J. HUBBARD, born in Bethlehem, studied with Wm. Coth- ren, was admitted to this Bar in 1864 and removed to Trimdad, Colorado, where he is now in practice.
JOHN T. HUBBARD, born in Litchfield in 1856, graduated from Yale College in 1880, studied law at Yale Law School and was ad- mitted to the New Haven Bar in 1883. Now resides at Litchfield. Represented his native town in the General Assembly 1901 and 1903 ; is now, ( 1907) Judge of Probate for District of Litchfield.
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