Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-02-20
THR MEN OF VERMONT.
2S. HILAND HALL.

sons, while residents OF the state, nave
been at different times called TO that high
position. The government of the United
States had been organized at the COM
mencement Of the present administration,
some seventy-two years. OF this period,
Virginia has furnished the Chief Magis-
trate of the Republic thirty-six years--or
one half Of the time. With the present
incumbent, sixteen different individuals
have filed the Presidential chair, and five
Of them, or nearly ono third have been
taken from Virginia.
In an equally appropriate manner, is
Bennington County entitled to the appel
lation Of the Mother of Governors of Yer
mont. Vermont having declared herself
of right, Free and Independent State,
organized her government by the election
of Governor and other State officers,
and by the assembling of her first Legis-
lature in March 177S,- eighty-three
years have now elapsed. OF which the
sons of Bennington County have filled the
Gubernatorial Chair twenty-seven years,
or about, one third of the time. Vermont
was admitted into the Union, and became
one of the United States of America in
1871; some seventy years ago; about
three-eighths of the time, Bennington
County has furnished us with our Gov
ernors. Since 1878, including the pres
ent incumbent, twenty-four different indi-
viduals have been elected to the office of
Governor of Vermont Of these, six, or
one quarter, have been selected from that
County, and four of them have been resi-
dents of the town of Bennington.
HILAND HALL, the twenty-third Gov
ernor of Vermont, was born at Benning-
ton on the goth day of July, 1895. His
boyhood and youth was passed on his faith
er's farm in Bennington. His early edu-
cation was limited, having only the benefit
of a common school education.
He studied law, and was admitted to
the Bar in Bennington County in 1919.
He established himself in practice at Ben
nington. He has continued to reside in
his native town from that time to the
present, except when engaged in official
duties. ...-.g .Ir-rr s...s va1rcr 1ge
He was Clerk of the Supreme and
County Courts for Bennington County in
1928. He remained as such but single
year. The year following he was elected
States Attorney for that County and was
reelected in 1880, 1881 and 1882.
In 1927 he represented the town of his
nativity in the House of Representatives
of Vermont. Since which time, he has
been, almost constantly, in public life, till
his retirement from the Gubernatorial
chair. -.7is .s,a5as.e .s
In 1883, he was elected Member of
Congress from the Southern District of
Vermont. He represented that District
| in the United States House OF Represen-
tatives ten years, receiving five different
elections. During portion of this time,
he was Chairman of the House Commit
tee of Revolutionary claims. He gained
an enviable reputation for his course in
resisting certain claims from Virginia, for
pay for alleged services during the Rev.
dictionary War. An appropriation for
their payment had, il we are not mistaken,
passed the Senate, omparatively without
| opposition, and was before the House for
concurrence. They were referred to the
| Committee, of which Mr.. Hall was Chair
man, and upon close investigation, he
found and so reported, that they were I'M
founded and fraudulent. Through his ex-
ertions the claims were finally rejected.
During his Congressional career, he acted
and voted with the Wing Party. e. + !
He was from 1S43 to 1916, Bank
Commissioner. he duties of which office
the examination of the condition of the
several Banks in Vermont, he discharged
in a very acceptable manner. hgrfy +
l. In 1916, he was elected one of the
Judges OF the Supreme Court of Vermont
! He was annually reelected till 1850
when new judiciary system was estab
lished, by the organization of Crcu
Court and the reduction of the number o
Judges of the Supreme Court from six t.
three. wEE#n swHs EHr 81.
He was appointed by President FILL
MORE, in 1850, second Comptroller OF tn,
United States Treasury at Washington
with a salary of three thousand dollar
per annun. The accounts settled by tn
Second, Third and Fourth Auditors, ar
taken to this officer for examination an,
certifcaton and to him appeals from tn
decisions of those Auditors are carried 70
decision. He continued in this office un
til 1851, when he was appointed by Pre-:
ident FILLMORE one OF the Commission
> ers to ascertain and settle private Ian
3 claims in California, in accordance wit
s the provisions of an act of Congress, az
proved March Sd, 1851. In the di
charge of the duties of this commission
II he went to California, and remained thel
!. until 1858 or 1854, when he was remove
by President Pierce, and he returned
Vermont v-sa
b He was nominated by the Republics
s. Party, as their candidate for the office
| Governor of Varmout in 1879 ond uy