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 25
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JOHN H. HUBBARD, born in Salisbury in 1804 and admitted to this Bar in 1826. He began practice in his native town, but in 1854 removed to Litchfield. Was elected member of Congress from his district in 1863 and 1865. Was State Attorney of the County in 1844 and again in 1849. He enjoyed a lucrative practice and was one of the leading lawyers of the State. He died July 30, 1872.
The following notice of the death of this distinguished member of our Bar, is from the Litchfield paper and written by his neighbor and friend, Hon. Henry B. Graves :
The Hon. John H. Hubbard died in this village on the 30th of July, 1872. The deceased was born in Salisbury in November, 1804 and was therefore at his death past sixty-seven years of age. He was admitted to the Litchfield County Bar in April 1826 and soon after commenced practicing law in his native town, in the village of Lakeville, where he continued in a very successful business until about seventeen years since when he removed to Litchfield. Here he was constantly occupied in his profession, being engaged in most of the important causes tried in our higher courts until his election
COL. SAMUEL B. HORNE
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to Congress in 1863, from this District. He was again returned to Congress in 1865. Having served his four years in Congress, he again returned to the practice of the law and continued it till within a few weeks of his death.
He was very industrious, energetic, and perserving; never dis- couraged by an adverse decision, where there was an opportunity to pursue the cause of his client further, and was often victorious in the court of review, where he had been overruled in the inferior courts.
In the course of his professional career he had a lucrative prac- tice and for many years was one of the more prominent lawyers in this county. He served five years as State Attorney of the county in which position he gave general satisfaction : he was also State Senator from the 17th District two terms and served in various other public relations and in all of them acquitted himself with honor. He was a good citizen : liberal, kind. and generous to the poor, and always ready to contribute his full share to all objects of worthy charity. As a husband and parent. he could not do enough for those so nearly connected to him, and his affections knew no bounds or limit. The deceased leaves a widow, three sons, and a daughter, surviving him, to mourn his loss. Though his death had been expected for several days, owing to the character of his disease, yet our community was not prepared to meet with so great an affliction and deeply sympathize with the stricken family in their great sorrow. Picture on page 107.
FRANK W. HUBBARD, born in Litchfield in 1861, graduated at Yale College in 1888 and from Yale Law School in 1890 and was admitted to the Bar. After a few years practice in Torrington he removed to Flushing, N. Y .. and is Attorney for New York City Railway Co.
FRANK L. HUNGERFORD of New Britain was born in Torrington in 1843 and entered the University of Vermont in 1860. From 1862 to 1864 he studied law in the office of Senator Edmunds, and graduated at the Harvard Law School in 1865 being admitted to the Bar in Burlington in 1865 and to this Bar in 1866. He prac- ticed in Torrington for three years, then removed to New Britain, where he has been Judge of Probate as well as City Attorney.
LEVI HUNGERFORD, admitted to this Bar in 1854 from Sherman. He was a Lieutenant in the 28th C. V. and died in service August 9. 1863.
JOSEPH D. HUMPHREY. admitted to the Bar in 1812 from Goshen. He was born in Goshen March 15, 1780. and after admission settled in practice in Torringford, a part of Torrington, for a few years. when he removed to Norton, Summit County, Ohio, where he died February 4. 1839.
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VAN R. HUMPHREY, admitted to the Bar in 1820. Was born in Goshen July 28, 1800. Soon after his admission to the Bar he removed to Ohio, where he became a Judge and a very prominent man. He died in Hudson, Ohio September 5. 1864.
HIRAM HUNT, a native of Canaan, was admitted to this Bar in 1820; removed to New York City.
REUBEN HUNT, a native of Canaan, admitted to this Bar in 1812, and removed to Illinois.
ROBERT HUNT is on Connecticut Register, 1859 as Attorney in Falls Village.
JABEZ W. HUNTINGTON, born in Norwich in 1788, graduated at Yale College in 1806, studied at the Litchfield Law School and was admitted to this Bar in 1810. He located in Litchfield until 1834. when he removed to Norwich. He was a Judge of the Superior and Supreme Courts. He was elected a member of Congress sev- eral terms, and United States Senator in 1840. He died in 1874. ( See Boardman's Sketches, page 64.)
JAMES HUNTINGTON was born in Coventry, Tolland County, Connecticut, June 4th, 1833, the son of Edward G. and Eliza Clark Huntington, and died at his residence in Woodbury, Litchfield County, May 2nd, 1908.
Mr. Huntington received a high school education and taught school in his native town. Later he attended Wilbraham Academy, and the New York Conference Seminary at Charlottsville, N. Y., and in 1857 was graduated, with the degree of L. L. B., from the State and National Law School at Poughkeepsie, at which time he was admitted to the Bar of the State of New York.
Subsequently he entered the law office of Alvin P. Hyde and Loren P. Waldo at Tolland, Connecticut, and was admitted to the Bar of Tolland County in April, 1859.
AAfter being admitted to the Bar in the spring of 1859 he opened an office in Woodbury, where he continued in active, honorable and successful practice up to the time of his death, at which time he was, and for a long number of years had been president of the Litchfield County Bar and Law Library Associations.
In April, 1861 he was elected Judge of the Probate District of Woodbury, comprising the towns of Woodbury, Bethlehem and Southbury, which office he retained continuously, with the exception of one term, until disqualified by age limitations in 1903. His wise and judicious administration of the office of Judge of Probate for a period of over forty years won for him a high standing as a pro- bate lawyer, and the unqualified confidence and esteem of his fel- low men.
On July 4th. 1874 he was appointed State's Attorney for Litch- field County, filling that office with marked ability until June, 1896,
JAMES HUNTINGTON.
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nearly a quarter of a century, and during that time tried many im- portant cases, and became renowned as a States Attorney in his tireless effort to eradicate crime and bring criminals to justice : some of the most bitterly contested cases being in connection with liquor prosecutions, and yet at all times he displayed the commendable dis- position of tempering justice with mercy. At the close of his twenty- two years of service as States Attorney the members of the Bar of Litchfield County presented him with handsomely engrossed reso- lutions expressive of their high regard and esteem for him in the conduct of that important and off-times unpleasant office.
He was appointed a member of the Commission of State Police at the time of its organization in 1903, and took a great interest in the workings of that police power, in the detection and punishment of crime, up to the time of his death.
Mr. Huntington always took an active interest in public affairs, and in politics was a democrat, representing the town of Woodbury in the Legislature in 1874-5. and was Senator from the old sixteenth district in 1877-8. In 1904 he was a candidate for Secretary of State on the Democratic ticket.
Mr. Huntington was married January 6th, 1863 to Miss Rebecca Huntley Hurd, of Honesdale, Pa., who died February 28th, 1865. leaving one daughter, Rebecca. On June 11th, 1868 he married Miss Helen Elizabeth Parker, of Woodbury, who survived him, together with two daughters. Rebecca Huntington and Eunice Huntington Tomlinson, and one grandson, James Huntington Tom- linson.
For over a quarter of a century. Judge Huntington was engaged in nearly all the large legal battles in Litchfield County, and was considered one of the giants of the Litchfield County Bar, always honest with the court, fair to his opponents and faithful to his clients.
He was not a great orator, but his honesty of purpose, integrity of character and thorough familiarity with the law and facts of the case on hand, together with his clear, concise and logical presen- tation, made him a tower of strength in the courts, and especially before a Litchfield County Jury. He abounded in quaint simile, and many times the studied argument of his opponent would fall before some simple homley illustration, delivered at the oppertune time, in his inimitable style.
While always firm, and sometimes stern, in the performance of his duty, he possessed a most generous disposition, and was ever courteous and obliging to his brother lawyers and especially to the younger members of the Bar, to all of whom he became endeared. and was affectionately known as "Uncle Jim." He loved his pro- fession and the members of the Bar, and their honest and oft ex- pressed love and esteem for him, was a matter of great comfort to him in his declining years.
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His commanding form and genial presence were in evidence at nearly every official meeting of the Bar, and were among the most pleasant features of the annual Bar banquets.
Socially, Mr. Huntington was of a domestic nature, and de- lighted in the companionship of his home, family and surroundings, believing in the simplicity of the nineteenth century customs rather than the pomp and glitter of twentieth century fads. He was a great lover of nature and would spend hours at a time roaming through the woods, fields and gardens where every tree, plant and flower had for him a noble sentiment to reveal, and he took an active interest in their growth and protection.
Mr. Huntington was a member of the school board and did much to build up and strengthen the educational system of the town of Woodbury. He was always active in his support of the Episcopal Church to which religious denomination he belonged. The high esteem in which Mr. Huntington was held by the citizens of Wood- bury was in a measure evidenced by the memorial services held in that town on the evening of June 28th. 1908, and the proposed mem- orial fountain to be erected to his memory.
As a practicing attorney Mr. Huntington stood in the front ranks, not only of the Bar of Litchfield County, but also of the State of Connecticut, and vet the characteristics which stand forth most prominently to commemorate his memory, were his nobility of char- acter, sincerity of purpose, lofty ideals and generous disposition ; born of New England ancestors, reared in a New England climate, he lived and died an illustrous example of christian manhood.
WILLIAM F. HURLBUT, born in Winsted, Conn., January 27, 1835, and was admitted to the Bar in 1859. He resided in Winsted and was the Clerk of the District Court and Court of Common Pleas for Litchfield County since 1872, excepting three years during which time he was County Health Officer. He died at Winsted, April II, 1901, aged 66. (See picture on page 142.)
HENRY C. IVES, admitted in 1832.
GEORGE W. JACOBS, admitted to the Bar in 1820.
DANIEL JAQUA, JR., admitted to the Bar in 1819. Practiced in Connecticut about twenty years.
GEORGE P. JENKS, admitted to the Bar in 1856.
EBENEZER JESUP, JR., admitted to the Bar in 1826.
EZRA JEWELL, admitted to the Bar in 1810 from Salisbury.
FREDERICK A. JEWELL, admitted to the Bar in 1881 from Salis- bury. He removed to New Hartford, where he is now in practice. Is Judge of Probate. He represented the town in the General As- sembly, 1907.
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AMOS M. JOHNSON, born in Southbury, October 21, 1816, ad- mitted to the Bar in 1851. Died at the Old People's Home in Hart- ford, April 6, 1879.
ELISHA JOHNSON, born in Barkhamsted, May 1, 1818. Gradi- ated at Trinity College in 1835. Attended the Yale Law School and was admitted to this Bar in 1840. He practiced in Plymouth until 1855 when he removed to Hartford. He was Clerk of this Court from 1850 to 1851. He died in Hartford, February 18, 1891.
SOLON B. JOHNSON was born in Cornwall, admitted to this Bar in 1863. He published the Litchfield Sentinel from 1866 to 1873, then removed to his farm in Cornwall, where he died, May 30, 1890, aged 51 years.
WALTER W. JOHNSON was admitted in 1866. He never practiced.
SYLVESTER JOHNSON, admitted in 1813 from Cornwall, of which town he was a native.
H. ROGER JONES, JR., born at New Hartford, June 22nd, 1882, attended public schools in New Hartford and Gilbert School, Win- sted, graduated from the latter, June, 1901. Entered Cornell Uni- versity Law School at Ithaca, N. Y., September, 1903 and gradu- ated June, 1906. Became a member of the New York Bar in Sep- tember, 1906 and the Connecticut Bar February, 1907. At present is editor and proprietor of the New Hartford Tribune, and engaged in the practice of law at New Hartford.
WALTER S. JUDD was born in Litchfield in 1859, graduated at Yale Law School in 1882 and was admitted to the New Haven Bar that same year. Settled in Litchfield and was Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas from 1894-7. Was in the Legislature in 1891 and 1893, serving on the judiciary committee the last named year. Now resides in New York City.
GEORGE H. JUDSON was a native of Woodbury, admitted to the Bar in 1845 and removed to Texas.
S. W. JUDSON was a native of Cornwall and a graduate of Union College. Was admitted to practice in 1836. He located in New York City. It is said of him, "As a lawyer he is more distinguished for his learning, integrity and honesty, than for his brilliancy as a pleader. If lawyers were more generally of his style, we should have fewer law-suits and more justice."
CHIARLES A. JUDSON was a native of Washington. Held the of- fice of Sheriff from 1835 to 1838. After his term of office he re- moved to New Haven and engaged in mercantile business.
JAMES D. KEESE was born in the City of New York, entered Yale College, but did not finish his course of studies there; came to
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Litchfield and studied law with Judge Seymour, and was admitted to this Bar in April, 1852. He immediately set up practice in Wood- bury, but in less than one year removed to Birmingham, Conn., where he died.
EBENEZER B. KELLOGG was a native of Norwich, Conn., and for some years was a school teacher coming to Litchfield from Nauga- tuck, where he had been Principal of the schools. He studied law with George A. Hickox, and was admitted to the Bar in 1879. After a brief practice in Litchfield he removed to Denver, Colorado, where he died.
WILLIAM KELSEY practiced law in Winchester in 1850, and in 1856 removed to Cheshire, where he died.
DWIGHTT C. KILBOURN was born in Litchfield, October 9th, 1837. Hle read law with Seymour & Seymour and Henry B. Graves, of Litchfield, and after a three years service in the war of the Re- bellion was admitted to the Bar in April, 1866. Practiced in Litch- field until 1887 when he was appointed Clerk of the Superior and Supreme Courts of Connecticut for Litchfield County, which office he now holds.
GEORGE KINGSBURY, admitted to this Bar as of Canaan in 1794. Mr. Boyd in his annals of Winchester, refers to him as being as- sessed in that town in 1796 for his faculty as attorney-at-law, being the "first legal luminary that shed its light on this benighted town. His stay seems to have been as brief as a comet's visit." He re- moved to Poultney. Vt., where he died, April 30, 1803.
JOIN KINGSBURY, born in Norwich, West Farms (now Frank- lin), December 31, 1762. Graduated at Yale, 1786, and 1788 en- tered the Law School at Litchfield, and was admitted to this Bar in 1790, and the next year opened an office in Waterbury and soon became a leading citizen of that town. He was seventeen times in the Legislature. He was Judge of the County Court about twenty years. Ile died August 26, 1844. He was the grandfather of Frederick J. Kingsbury, Esq. of Waterbury, the distinguished banker and historian.
DANIEL M. KING was admitted to this Bar in 1870 from Water- town. He located in the West and died there.
EPHRAIM KIRBY, born in Litchfield in 1756, in a part of the town now included in Washington. See Article "First Law Reports" for his biography.
REYNOLD M. KIRBY was a son of Ephraim Kirby and was ad- mitted to this Bar in 1810.
PHILEMON KIRKUM, admitted to the Bar in 1799, resided at Win- sted. In Boyds Annals of Winchester is a very interesting account of this eccentric man.
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BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
WILLIAM KNAPP Was a member of the Fairfield County Bar, but practiced in New Milford a few years prior to 1880, when he re- moved to Denver, Colorado.
FREDERICK M. KOEHLER, admitted to the Bar in 1885. resided in Litchfield, but soon removed with his family to Montana.
EDWARD A. KUNKEL, practiced at Torrington a year or two prior to 1878 and at a later period was at Thomaston.
JOHN R. LANDON was born in Salisbury, September 14, 1765, and married in Litchfield, Anna Champion, daughter of Rev. Judah Champion, January 10, 1796, and settled at Litchfield. He was Sheriff from 1801 to 1818. After his term of office expired he re- moved to Castleton, Vt .. where he died, February 27, 1851. Mr. Landon during his term alsc had unpleasant duties. Here is sen- tence that he had to execute :
"Whereas Samuel Whitmore, of New Milford, in said county, be- fore the Superior Court holden at Litchfield in said county, on the Ist Tuesday of February 1804, was legally convicted of Adultry. and, on consideration, was by the Judges of said Court sentenced and adjudged to be whipped on his naked body Ten Stripes, and to be stigmatized or burnt on his forehead with the letter "AA" on a hot iron, and to wear a halter about his neck on the outside of his garments during his abode in this State of Connecticut-and as often as he shall be found without his said halter, worn as aforesaid. upon information and proof of the same before any Assistant or Justice of the Peace, to be whipped not exceeding thirty stripes, and to pay the cost of this prosecution, etc." All these sentences were thus executed to the letter, as appears from sheriff's returns. In executions for horse stealing. the prisoners were sentenced to be twice set astride a wooden horse and kept there an hour and then whipped fifteen stripes on the naked body, with an interval of a month between two punishments. A man convicted of forgery in 1788 was sentenced to stand twice in the pillory, and was "dis- enabled to give any evidence or verdict in any court or before any Magistrate or Justice of the Peace."
JOSEPH LAKE. admitted in 1822.
EDGAR M. LANDON of Salisbury, admitted in 1824.
HOWARD F. LANDON of Salisbury was born in Sharon in 1869 and graduated at the Amenia Seminary. He studied law with Hon. Donald T. Warner in Salisbury and graduated at the Albany Law School in 1890. He was admitted to the Litchfield Bar the follow- ing year and formed a partnership with Mr. Warner in Salisbury. As Senator from the 19th district he made an enviable record in the session of 1901.
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LITCHIFIELD COUNTY BENCH AND BAR
HIRAM P. LAWRENCE of Winsted was born at Norfolk in 1833. He fitted for Yale College at Norfolk AAcademy, studied law with Judge F. D. Fyler in Winsted and was admitted to the Litchfield Bar in 1873. Died August 9, 1908.
ISAAC LEAVENWORTHI, admitted to this Bar in 1815. Settled in Roxbury where he practiced for twenty years. In 1837 he removed to New Haven and engaged in other business. (See Sedgwick's fifty years.)
BRADLEY D. LEE, born in Barkhamsted March 24, 1838. Served in the War of the Rebellion as Quartermaster of the Second Connec- ticut, Heavy Artillery. Admitted to this Bar in 1856 and removed to St. Louis, Mo., where he became a leading attorney. Died in that city May 10, 1897.
CHAUNCEY LEE, D. D., born in Salisbury November, 1763. Graduated at Yale College in 1784, was admitted to this Bar in 1786. He practiced a few years and then relinquishing his profession, en- tered the Ministry and became a very learned and impressive preach- er. He was author of "Revival Sermons," "Triumphs of Virtue." a metrical paraphrase of the Book of Job, an arithmetic, and several pamphlets. He died in Hardwick, N. Y., 1842.
REV. ALONZO NORTON LEWIS, M. A., born at New Britain Sep- tember 3, 1831. Graduate of Yale, class of 1852. For several years a teacher of public schools and academies. Principal of Litchfield Academy 1852-4. Studied law with Hollister and Beeman and after- wards with Judge Charles B. Phelps of Woodbury, whose youngest daughter, Sarah Maria he married November 28, 1860. Admitted to the Bar at Litchfield September, 1857. Ordained an Episcopal clergyman in 1866. Rector at Bethlehem, Connecticut, Dexter, Maine, New Haven and Westport, 1866 to 1891. From 1891 to 1907 was rector of Christ Church, Montpelier, Vt. He died in New Haven September 12, 1907. He had been Secretary of the Masonic Veteran Association of Connecticut for many years. Was a mem- ber of the Society of the Cincinnati of Connecticut.
DANIEL W. LEWIS was a native of Farmington. Studied law with Judge Reeve, graduated at Yale College in 1788, and was ad- mitted to this Bar in 1796.
JAMES LILLEY, admitted in 1809 as from Sharon.
FRANK D. LINDSLEY, admitted in 1882 from North Canaan. He located at Philmont, New York.
CHARLES D. LONGFELLOW was a native of Maine, but studied with Mr. Cothren in Woodbury and was admitted to this Bar in 1861. He located in Pennsylvania.
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JOHN J. LORD, admitted in 1823 from Sharon.
LYNDE LORD was the second Sheriff of the County, holding the office from 1771 to 1801, about thirty years. He was born in Lyme, Connecticut, and died in Litchfield June 16, 1801, aged 68 years.
That he had some unpleasant duties to perform the following returns on Executions attest :
The execution in this case is dated 1779 and signed by Geo. Pit- kin. Clerk of the Superior Court. The statute of blasphemy then in force reads as follows :
That if any person within this state shall presume wilfully to blaspheme the name of God the Father, Son or Holy Ghost, either by denying, cursing or reproaching the true God, or his government of the World; every person so offending shall be punished by whip- ping on the naked body, not exceeding forty stripes, and sitting in the pillory one hour ; and may also be bound to his good behavior, at the discretion of the Superior Court, who shall have cognizance of the offence.
The nature of the punishment inflicted will most concisely appear from the following return of the officer setting forth what he did in pursuance of the sentence of the court :
LITCHIFIELD, 23d August. 1779.
Then by virtue of the within Execution took the within named Samuel Tousley from the common Goal in Litchfield to a Gallos, viz, erected for that purpose, and set him thereon with a Rope round his Neck for the space of one full hour, and then I branded him with the capital Letter B with a hot iron on his forehead, and then tied him to a tail of a Cart, and caused him to be whip'd thirty- nine Stripes in his Naked body, in the whole,-at four of the most public places in the Town of Litchfield and then returned him to the Goal from whence he came.
Test. LYNDE LORD, Sheriff.
Three days after execution of the sentence Tousley paid the cost in the case, amounting to £153, 8 shillings and six pence, or $531.42. This would imply that Tousley must have been a man of consider- able property, but these costs were probably payable in paper money worth at that time hardly a twentieth of its face value in specie.
It seems that tramps were not unknown in Connecticut in our early history. A transient person who, "not having the fear of God before his eyes, but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil" burnt some buildings in Sharon, "contrary to the law of this colony and the rights of mankind." The fellow was duly con- victed and sentenced, and the following sheriff's return shows the nature of his punishment. After being duly "bull dozed" at the cart's tail by the sheriff, he was remanded to jail till he could pro-
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cure sureties for future good behaviour and had paid the costs of his prosecution :
LITCHIFIELD, 2Ist Feb., 1776.
Then by virtue of the within Execution I caused the within nam- ed John Thomas to be taken from the common Goal in Litchfield to the place of Execution and there Set upon a Gallos with a Rope Round his neck for the full Term of one hour and Then tied to the Tail of a Cart and Transported to four of the most public places in the Town of Litchfield and there whipped on his naked body Thirty- nine stripes in the whole, according to the within Directions. Fees 40S. Test,
LYNDE LORD, Sheriff.
GEORGE LOVERIDGE was admitted in 1840 and practiced a short time in New Milford.
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