USA > Vermont > Lamoille County > Morristown > History of Morristown, Vermont > Part 15
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
1
الطلب
CHAPTER X
MORRISTOWN BENCH AND BAR
TN the life of Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams, it is said that her family was opposed to her marrying the future President of the United States on the ground that he was only a farmer's son and a lawyer, a profession which was not then comparable to the ministry in social prestige. Whatever may have been the status of the law in the middle of the eighteenth century, a hundred years later it was recognized as one of the learned professions which many a farmer's son aspired to enter.
The law school is a comparatively modern institution, as it was formerly the custom for the young attorney-to- be to study in the office of some well known barrister, where he not only became familiar with the contents of Blackstone and Coke, but also with the practical side of preparing and presenting cases. In this way, in addition to the young men who were born or settled here to prac- tice, a large number received their training in whole or in part here in the offices of such well known attorneys as Thomas Gleed, Luke P. Poland and Powers & Gleed. Some of these students have occupied such conspicuous places that they will be discussed elsewhere, but here are brought together several who in this state or elsewhere have re- flected credit upon their chosen profession and upon Mor- ristown as the place of their birth or training.
The first member of the legal profession in town was Charles Meigs, of whom little is known except that he settled at the Corners as early as 1818, possibly sooner. A contemporary of his was George Mason, who came to Morrisville from Craftsbury, but remained only a year or two. Another attorney of that early period was Edward L. Mayo, who settled here in 1827 and served for a time as postmaster.
The first lawyer to become prominent in his profes- sion was Samuel A. Willard, who studied in the office of Isaac Fletcher of Lyndon, was admitted to the bar in Cale- donia County early in 1828, and moved to this town in June of the same year. He was a nephew of Daniel Cahoon, the first settler of Lyndon and of William Cahoon of that
160
HISTORY OF MORRISTOWN
town who was a major-general in the War of 1812. and a member of the national House of Representatives from 1827 to 1833. Mr. Willard lived in Morrisville about twenty years, during which time he was judge of probate for the district of Lamoille in 1838, 1840, 1841 and 1843, and was register of probate in 1838. It was a distinct loss to the community when he decided to return to the northern part of the state. After moving to Barton Land- ing, as it was then called, he served as representative, as state's attorney, and as a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1857. He died in 1864, and he and his wife are both buried in Riverside Cemetery in this village. It was in his office that Luke P. Poland, who may be consid- ered his successor, got his professional training.
Judge Poland's most conspicuous services to the state and nation were rendered subsequent to his residence here, yet the town has always been proud of the fact that the foundation for his successful career was laid in Morris- town. Mr. Poland was a splendid example of a self-made
man. Born in Waterville in 1815, he attended the dis- trict schools of his native town until he was twelve years old and when seventeen went to the Academy at Jericho for five months. The rest of the time he clerked in a store in Waterville or worked in his father's saw-mill or on his father's farm. Yet he improved his meager oppor- tunities to such an extent that he was hired to teach the winter term of school in Morrisville and was so successful that he was engaged to teach it again the following winter. In the meantime he had entered Judge Willard's office and showed such aptitude for the law that before he was ad- mitted to the bar he was sent to take charge of an office in Greensboro. He was admitted to the Lamoille County Bar at the December term in 1836, the first term after the organization of the county.
For three years he was a partner of Judge Willard and then he was in business alone, his office being on the site of the Sweet & Burt filling station, north of the Drowne block. He was register of probate for Lamoille District in 1839 and 1840, member of the State Constitu- tional Convention in 1843, state's attorney in 1844 and 1845. In 1848 he was a candidate for the office of lieutenant-governor on the Free Soil ticket. His election as judge of the Supreme Court at the age of thirty-three was a personal triumph since the majority of the Legis-
4
161
HISTORY OF MORRISTOWN
lature was of the opposite political belief. He served as judge until 1865, when he was elected senator to fill out the unexpired term of Senator Collamer and later was a member of the House of Representatives. As a legislator and as a jurist Judge Poland was undoubtedly one of the most gifted men the state has produced.
The greatest work of his congressional career was the revision and consolidation of the statutes of the United States. "The ultimate decision of what was and was not law, the sifting out of statutes that over-lapped, the con- struing of difficult phrases, and the re-arrangement of the Statutes by subject were all guided by him."
He left Morrisville for St. Johnsbury in 1850, but the virile years of his young manhood were spent here; here was gained the legal training which served him so well in- later life; and he was elected a judge, the beginning of his broader public career, while a resident of the place. In later years his daughter, Mrs. Isabelle Poland Rankin, testified to her continued interest in the town by giving generously for the establishment of its public library.
Judge Poland's successor was J. Charles Robinson, who was practicing here as early as 1849. He was educated at Peacham Academy and studied law with William Baxter of Brownington, who was one of the leaders of the Orleans County Bar for the first part of the nineteenth century. Mr. Robinson was one of a family long and vitally associated with the town and for years was a prominent figure, acting as postmaster as well as attorney.
Among the successful lawyers who got their legal training in Judge Poland's office was Levi Underwood, one of the leaders of the Chittenden County Bar of his day, and lieutenant-governor of the state from 1860 to 1862.
Another brilliant student in the Poland office was Thomas Gleed, who, with his brother, Philip, made the name of Gleed an honored one in the town and county. Born at Lyme Regis, Dorset County, England, in 1826, he came to Canada when only a small boy. In 1837 the family moved to Vermont, where the father preached for a time in Berkshire and then settled at Waterville. His formal education was meager if judged by the standards of today, but he improved the opportunities given to such a degree that in 1844 he came to Morristown to teach school. Having made up his mind to follow the legal profession.
----
162
HISTORY OF MORRISTOWN
he studied with W. G. Ferrin of Wolcott and in the office of Judge Poland and was admitted to the Lamoille County Bar in 1849. He first began to practice in Waterville, but upon his election to the office of state's attorney, in 1853, he moved to Morrisville, where he remained until his death in 1861. . During those few years he was a member of the Council of Censors in 1855, county senator in 1856 and 1857, and represented Morristown in the General Assembly in 1859 and 1860.
In politics he early identified himself with the cause of freedom so associated himself from the first with the newly formed Republican Party. His untimely death from typhoid fever in August, 1861, cut off- a man of bril- liant intellect, sound judgment, and rich personality .. No . greater tribute could have been paid him than the fact that it was estimated that 2,500 people attended his funeral, and the members of the Lamoille County Bar met informally after that service to express their sorrow at the passing of "a man who was an honor to himself and his profession."
Two sons, Charles S. and J. Willis, both born in Morris- ville, carried on the legal prestige of their father. The former not only practiced law, but was interested in a variety of other activities. For a time he was editor of the "Denver Daily Tribune," president of the "Kansas City Journal," a director of the Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, and associated with the Bell Telephone Co., besides serving his home city, Topeka, and his adopted state in many ways. James Willis, besides being a practicing attorney, did considerable literary work and was professor of law in the University of Kansas.
Another student in Thomas Gleed's office was Charles Heath, who was admitted to the Lamoille County Bar in 1858, but his connection with the town was closer through his work as principal of Peoples Academy, and a brief sketch of his life is given in connection with that institution.
Still another young man who proved a credit to his training in the Gleed office was LaFayette Wilbur, who was born at Waterville in 1834 and attended the public schools of that town and the Academies of Fairfax, Bakers- field, Underhill Center, and Morrisville. Through his untiring efforts he gained a liberal education and, having decided upon law as his profession, came to the Gleed
163
HISTORY OF MORRISTOWN
office. He was admitted to the bar in 1856 and followed his profession for the most part in the town of Jericho and for a time in Burlington. In addition to his success in law he was a historian of merit, having written a work of four volumes, entitled the "Early History of Vermont." He was also one of a committee to prepare the comprehen- sive history of Jericho.
In Philip K. Gleed, younger brother of Thomas, the town had one of its outstanding attorneys and citizens. Born. in Granby, Quebec, in 1834, he came to Vermont with his family and after his brother settled in Morris- ville he came here as a student at Peoples Academy and later attended Bakersfield Academy and Troy Confer- · ence Academy. In 1859 he was graduated from Union Col- lege, New York, and came to Morrisville to teach and to study in his brother's office. His first term of school was in District No. 8, or the Lamson District.
After his admission to the bar he practiced for a time in Richmond, until the death of his brother in 1861, when he moved to Morrisville. The year following he formed a partnership with H. Henry Powers, which continued until 1874, when Mr. Powers was elected judge. The firm of Powers & Gleed was one of the best known in Northern Vermont, their practice extending far beyond the bounds of this county. For more than a decade these two men were associated, Mr. Gleed preparing the cases while Judge Powers did the trial work. In addition to his law prac- tice, Mr. Gleed was given many positions of trust and responsibility, as a list of the different offices which he held shows. He was state's attorney in 1867-1868 and again in 1880-1882; representative to the General Assembly in 1868-1869; trustee of the Reform School in 1869; assessor of internal revenue, 1870-1874; president of the Vermont Bar Association in 1888; senator from Lamoille County and president pro tem of the Senate in 1880-1881; member of the committee to revise the state laws in 1893-1894; and yet he was never too busy to serve his own town in different ways. For years he was a member of the School Board and one of the selectmen, also one of the first village trustees. He was a director of the local bank as well as of the two banks at Hyde Park. Yet he never allowed business and public cares to take precedence of his duties to his God. For sixteen years he was a deacon in the First Congregational Church and for twenty-six years superin- tendent of its Sunday School. Many a man and woman
201205
164
HISTORY OF MORRISTOWN
carry a distinct mental picture of his slight form and re- fined student's face as he came into church, his Bible in his hand, and made his way to the Gleed pew well in the front of the structure.
It is said that his father intended that his son should follow his own calling, the ministry, and without doubt he would have been eminently successful in that profession, but he also worked effectively as a layman, and the town and state were distinctly the poorer with his passing in 1897. In his remarks at the funeral Judge Wendall P: Stafford of St. Johnsbury spoke of Mr. Gleed as the repre- sentative type of the general all-around lawyer who relied upon his own investigations, whose cases were always thoroughly prepared and were tried on their merits. As a public speaker he was much sought after as his remarks were clear, direct, logical, eloquent, and enlivened with apt quotations and illustrations.
The Gleed brothers have a distinct and honored place in Morristown history.
Joseph Burke came here from Westminster, Vt., in 1800 and settled on a farm.on the Wolcott road beyond the Tenney Bridge, where he lived until his death, in 1846. He had a family of twelve children and his oldest son, Sam- son, who married Levisa Haskins, raised a family of ten so that for more than a century the name of Burke was a common and honored one. Three Burkes were admitted to the Lamoille County Bar, O. S. and A. M. in 1860, and Carlos C. in 1862. The second of the above mentioned was so closely connected with town affairs that more than passing mention should be made of him.
Asahel M. Burke was educated in the public schools of the town and at Bakersfield Academy. In 1857, like so many other young Vermonters, he went to Kansas and, together with George W. Doty and C. W. Fitch, helped to organize the town of Mapleton and served as its first town clerk. In two years' time, however, he returned to Ver- mont and took up the study of law in the office of W. G. Ferrin of Johnson. Directly after his admission to the bar he settled in Craftsbury, but soon moved back to Mor- ristown. In 1870 he was elected town treasurer and in 1871 town clerk, which office he filled very creditably until he had rounded out a quarter of a century, when he re- signed, in 1896, and his death occurred seven years later.
-
165
HISTORY OF MORRISTOWN
Another Morristown attorney was Charles J. Lewis, a Civil War veteran with a gallant war record, who was admitted to the bar in 1869 and settled in Morristown to practice his profession. He soon entered into partnership with the Hon. George W. Hendee and in 1869 was elected state's attorney for Lamoille County. Some years later he left the state for Hannibal, Mo., where he spent the remainder of his life.
George L. Waterman, a leader of the Lamoille County Bar for twenty years, was the son of Vernon and Adaline . Cady Waterman and a brother of Mrs. H. Henry Powers. Born in Morristown in 1838 he received his education in the public schools, at Peoples Academy, and the University of Vermont. .He pursued his legal studies in Hyde Park and settled there to follow his profession.
C. Herbert Slocum was a native of Morristown and was educated in its public schools and at Peoples Academy and was admitted to the Lamoille County Bar in 1869, but, like many other Vermont boys, decided to try his fortune in the West. He went first to Kansas and later to Colo- rado, where he was engaged in mining for eleven years. Then he returned to Morristown and kept a store for several years until he sold out to become associated with C. C. Warren and H. C. Fisk in the tanning industry, under the name of the Warren Leather Co. This business was sold in 1926, and Mr. Slocum retired from active partici- pation, although he remained a director in the new firm. Mr. Slocum was a member of the Water and Light Board from the organization of that enterprise until his death and held many other local offices, and was one of the town's most respected citizens when he died, in 1934.
Still another man connected with the bar and with other activities also was Henry C. Fisk, who was born in Morristown in 1852 and was educated at Peoples Academy and at Peacham Academy. He was admitted to the bar in 1875. After being connected for two years with the United States Patent Office as an examiner of interferences he returned to Morristown and in 1877 entered into part- nership with his half-brother, George W. Hendee. Mr. Fisk served as register of probate for the district of Lamoille and was representative for both town and county at Montpelier. He also became associated with his brother-in-law, L. H. Lewis, in the Lamoille Publishing Co., producing in the "News and Citizen" an excellent
السوق
J
166
HISTORY OF MORRISTOWN
country newspaper. In 1869 President Harrison appointed Mr. Fisk consul at St. John, New Brunswick, where he remained until 1893.
After his return he resumed his law practice and his business connection with other enterprises, such as the Warren Leather Co., of which he was treasurer. After going to Florida for the winter a few years, he took up his permanent residence there in 1921. He later moved to California, where his son, Carroll, was located, and died there in 1928.
One of the lawyers long and closely associated with the later history of the town was Albert A. Niles, son of Salmon Niles, who lived at the intersection of the roads near the corner of the fairgrounds. . Born in 1842, Mr. Niles was in school at Peoples Academy when the Civil War broke out and enlisted in 1862, serving until the close of the war.
Upon his return to Morristown he completed his studies at the academy, graduating in 1869, and at once entered the law office of Powers & Gleed. He supple- mented his studies there by a course in the law school at Ann Arbor, Mich. He was admitted to the bar in 1870 and began his practice in Johnson, but with his election as state's attorney he moved to Morrisville, where he resided until his death, in 1922.
While the Hon. G. W. Hendee was serving as repre- sentative at Washington, Mr. Niles occupied his office and in 1876 Edgar Thorpe, who was admitted to the Lamoille County Bar the year previous, formed a partnership with him. Mr. Thorpe was state's attorney in 1876, but later went West, and died in Jamestown, N. D., in 1904.
Mr. Niles remained here and became more intimately associated with the life of the town than as a lawyer. He filled most of the local offices, but his peculiar contribution was his clerical services. He was secretary of the Lamoille Valley Fair Ground Co. more than. twenty-five years, secretary and collector of the trustees of Peoples Academy more than twenty years, secretary of the Board of Village Trustees, town and village clerk, and treasurer from 1900 to 1918, in addition to his activities, in the G. A. R., and the local Methodist Episcopal Church.
Among other students in the office of Powers & Gleed was Charles P. Hogan, a student at Peoples Academy until he enlisted in Company E, Seventh Vermont. After being
167
HISTORY OF MORRISTOWN
mustered out of the service he studied at Johnson for a time, then came to this office. He was admitted to the bar in 1868 and settled in St. Albans, where he was a prom- inent attorney until his death, in 1915.
At the same session of the Lamoille County Court there was admitted a fellow student of Mr. Hogan, M. A. Bing- ham, who, for a time, practiced at North Hyde Park, but in 1873 moved to Essex Junction.
Another young student with Powers & Gleed was Frederick W. Baldwin, a native of Lowell, who was ad- mitted to the Lamoille County Bar in 1872 and settled in Barton, where he held many local offices and became known as a man of letters.
After Judge Powers withdrew from the firm the Gleed office was no less popular with students, among whom was Frank S. Rogers of North Troy, who was admitted to the bar in 1880 and settled in his home town.
Hollis S. Wilson studied in this office while acting as principal of Peoples Academy and was admitted to the bar in 1886 in the same class as Chief Justice George M. Powers, with whom he entered into partnership here.
Melvin G. Morse, a native of Elmore, was educated at Peoples Academy, being a member of the Class of 1897. He completed the law course at Boston University in 1899 and then studied with Mr. Gleed and also with Bates, May & Simonds of St. Johnsbury. Besides carrying on his legal work, Mr. Morse has filled many state offices, having represented his town and county in the State Legislature and served as commissioner of taxes.
Melville P. Maurice was a native of Cambridge, Vt., and studied law in the offices of P. K. Gleed and of L. F. Wilbur of Jericho, and was admitted to the bar in 1898. He settled at Montgomery for a time, but in 1907 he moved to Morrisville, where he practiced for twelve years. Dur- ing his residence here he held many local offices, was state's attorney from 1908 to 1919 and senator from Lamoille County in 1919. He resigned this position and moved to Brattleboro to enter the law firm of Harvey, Maurice & Fitts.
This does not complete the roll of men who in the earlier days studied here and then went away to be an honor to themselves and their profession. Among such might be included Chief Justice Dixon of Wisconsin, Ex-Governor Glick of Kansas, and Levi Vilas of Wisconsin.
168
HISTORY OF MORRISTOWN
Mr. Vilas was the postmaster here and after completing his studies moved to Johnson, then to Chelsea and in 1851 to Madison, Wis. He was mayor of that city and demo- cratic candidate for governor and for United States sen- ator. Henry E. Boardman, son of Ralph Boardman of Cadys Falls, was admitted to the bar in 1878, but went elsewhere to practice his profession.
In later years the following admissions to the bar from Morristown have been made: F. G. Fleetwood in 1894; Leon J. Thompson in 1894; Thomas C. Cheney in 1895; Preston A. Smith in 1908; Dean A. LaFountain in 1912; Leon E. Ellsworth in 1923; Helen L. Anair in 1927.
Of this number Mr. Thompson maintained an office here until failing health compelled him to give up practice. Mr. Ellsworth practiced here a few years before going to Enosburg Falls, while Miss Anair opened an office here, but later returned to her home in Hardwick. The Rev. P. A. Smith never practiced law and Mr. Cheney gave up the law to enter the insurance business. Mr. Fleetwood, Mr. LaFountain and Clifton Parker represent the legal profession here at present.
Since the organization of Lamoille County the follow- ing residents of Morristown have been state's attorney: Luke P. Poland, 1844-'46; Thomas Gleed, 1853-'55; George W. Hendee, 1857-'59; H. Henry Powers, 1861-'63; P. K. Gleed, 1863-'65, 1882-'84; Charles J. Lewis, 1867-'69; Albert A. Niles, 1872-'74; Edgar W. Thorpe, 1876-'78; George M. Powers, 1888-'90; Frederick G. Fleetwood, 1896-'98; Leon J. Thompson, 1898-'00; Thomas C. Cheney, 1900-'02; Melville P. Maurice, 1908-'16; Leon J. Ells- worth, 1924-'28.
.
٢
CHAPTER XI
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION
W HEN one considers the vigor of the pioneer stock and their scattered location, he wonders that a physician should ever have had the courage to try to earn a living in one of the new towns. Yet before the first resident minister had been called or the first lawyer had sought a client, Dr. Ralph Tinker had settled near the old Center on a lot which afterwards became the first minis- terial lot, known for many years as the Collins farm, now owned by Mr. Elmer Gallup. This was in 1802 when the population of the entire town could scarcely have exceeded 200 people. Here he remained for at least eight years, and here three sons and one daughter were born to him.
Dr. Ralph Tinker was the son of Elihu and Lydia Huntington Tinker of Worthington, Mass., and was born in 1778. Unpromising as the opening here must have seemed when viewed from the present day standpoint, there seem to have been some encouraging features, for his younger brother, James, having studied here for a time later returned and entered into partnership with Dr. Ralph. . This business relation lasted a few years and was then dissolved, and the senior member of the firm removed to the still more remote settlement of Ashtabula, Ohio, where he died.
His brother, Dr. James, however, elected to cast in his lot permanently with Morristown. He was born in Worthington, Mass., in 1785, and lived there with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age and ready to start on a career for himself when he chose to come to study with his brother in the new settlement. He later returned to Massachusetts and completed his medical studies with Dr. Holland, the father of Dr. J. G. Holland, the author. After a year and a half with Dr. Holland he returned to Morristown about 1809 and began to prac- tice medicine first, as previously stated, with his brother and then alone. He became a skillful and successful physician whose services were in demand, not only here, but in the neighboring towns. His native ability supple- mented by wide experience and his strong personality made him a well known figure in the early days.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.