The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-01-31
From the Rutland Herald.
The Men Of Vermont.
10. SAMUEL {. CRAFTS.

nor of Vermont, was born in Woodstock. in
the county of Windham and State of Con-
necticut, Oh the 9th day of October, l.6>,
and graduated at Harvard College, MaSsa-
chusetts. in 1870.
His father. Col Ebenezer Crafts. commenc-
ed the settlement of the town of Ninden, the
name of which was subsequently changed 10
Craftsbury. in honor of him. in the summer
of l1S>. During that summer. in addition
to clearing some ten or twelve acres OF land.
he built house and saw mill. commenced
the erection of grist mill. and opened
road To- Cabot, about eighteen miles distant.
Having everything in readiness for the
reception of his family. he, accompanied by
his son Samuel C.. and the remainder of the
family, moved into Vermont in February,
19l.-the male members. with snow-shoes,
drawing the females on hand-sled> from Cab
0t TO Crattsbury-the snow averaging tour
feet in depth the entire way.
The town was organized by the name of
Craftsburv in March, l.9l. and Samuel {.
Crafts was elected the first town clerk which
office he held til March. lS29-receiviag
thirtv-seven successive annual elections
He WAS, also. the same Year. elected the first
Justice Of the Peace for that town. and WAS
continued in office fifteen years.
In 1893 he was chosen delegate from
the town of Crattsbury TO the Constitutional
Convention which assembled that Year, and
was the only member from that portion of
the State which now constitutes Orleans
County. He was. also, the Youngest memb-
er OF that body, being twenty-four or twen-
ty-tive wears of age. and, during the last
three wears Of his life. was the only surviy-
ing member He was. also, delegate from
the same town 10 the Constitutional Conven-
ton of ISIS, and its President. No ma,eri-
al alteration OF the Constitution was made
by either Of these Conventions.
He represented the town OF Crafisbury in
the General Assembly of Vermont in 1896,
1900. OIL and Oi. and again in l>OJ. and Was
Clerk of the House of Representatives in
l.9S and l.99.
In lSb9 he became a member of the Coun-
ell. and was reelected in 1910, Ii anI r.
He also received majority of the votes
pOlled for that office al the annual election
in 1913, but was dynrei out by tl.e rejection
of the votes from Colchester. mentioned in
another article. Iids MARTIN Cnitten-
dem He Was again elected Councillor III
l>2j and continued a, such till his election
TO the office of Governor.
He was appointed Register Of the Probate
Court for the District OF Orleans in l.e5
and held this office nineteen years.
. In Oc,obec, 1890. being then Town Clerk
and Justice IF the Peic. for Ii. town a.
Cra.tsi,ury, K ,ister OF Probate Tor the Oc-
.eans District and Representative in the
General Assembly from the town of CATS
oury. he was elected first Assi>tan, Jul-e O:
the Orleans County Court. and held thai -
slIion TIL O:tOber. l>lo. when he was e.ect
eJ Chic: JIdse. and was annually Reelected
10 this latter oiiicc in l>lo. IL. l., Il, II
and II. In l>2J. upoa the re-organiz alton
of the Judiciary system in this Si.ie-ih-
Supreme Court furnishing a Presiding
Juige-he WIS again elected IFS, Assist an
Judge q. the County Curt. ami ilrii an
office. a.>o. till he was elected Governor
H. Was sub>"qIentiv-in l>it. 3. and j.
Clerk Of The Supreme and County Courts fol
Orleans County.
Juige Crafts was chosen a Member a
elected in 1919. II and -; Tits was prob
ably the most important period in the hi
tory OF the American Congress. not or!
from the immediate Importance of measure
then adopted. as from >ub>eq lent events. :.
il was during this time t;ar the celebrate
Missouri Compromise was passed
Judge Cats voted with the majority ,
the Representatives of t:t- North N ever
, instance excep, one: when -h,- h:ll for II
admission of Maine and Mi>>nGr:. havin
passed the Senate. without the cilu>. prohi'
king Slavery in Missouri, but with an amen,
ment. now ~ wei known a> the Nilsson
: Restriction -cImc to the H"n>e Cor cot
! currrnce-upon the question Of prohibiill!
I Slavery North al thirty-six degrees thir'
l minutes north latitude. Judge Crafts WIS.
/ first. one uf on.l eighteen VINO voted IN /
= iavnr-thoSe in favor % establishing SLAVE
Il in Missouri. a> well as those IN favor of j
{ entire prohibition, uniting 10 defeat il
!. Judge Crafts was elected Governor or Ne
y mont. 10y majority ni the ponalar vote.
e l>2> and asln in l>29. In 1850 he rccsi
e ed plurality Vote. and was elected. by
d small majority. in loint assembly. nn the I'll
y tv-second ballot.
n During his administration an importa
h step was taken toward the abolition O: II
d prisonment for debt. \ law WAS paSsc
n providing that on all judgments render
,e upon debts contracted after January /
b. 1851, the debtor NAV. within two ho,Irs AT
Judgment. sgbmi; himself 10 an exim;nati,
re on oath. before SAID court. touching ms pro
III erty, &c. and NAV he entitled II the benc
a OF the poor debtors oath, and upon reco
IL being made OF the facts. no execution shou
" he issued. Gov Crafts was again a candid
I'd for the guhernatorial chair in l>:i:,. but "
II defeated. Gov Crafts WAS appointed, ty I
n Governor. on the I'D day of April. l.
lie, and was subsequently elected by the Leg
en- a,ure, United States Senator. in place
. Samuel Pren,iS>, ,e>iyaej. and remained
81 the Senate till the ith of March. l>I:;.
ne Of the character and the ability W
:ts which GOV Crafts discharged the varied
We ties of the many Offices which he WAS cal
ce, tn fill, il is unnecessary TO speak, the f
art that he received orer one hundred anil ftr
An IL elections and appointments to office tr
lat his townsulen and fellow citizens. is M
n eloquent than mere words could be. G
eS' Crafts was. also, Chairman of the "Comn
ns tee to fix on a place in Montpelier for -r'
p ing State House. and 10 prepare p
;h- for The .me," and was one of the Trust
sn of the University OF Vermont from 1910
CO. 1918, and was honored with the degree
1eS Master of Arts from that University a
eF- also from Harvard College.
rt- He died at his residence in Cr2tt>hu
-he November 18th. lsJJ, in the >6th year
! III his age.