Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-02-13
THE MEN OF VERMONT,
81. STEPHEN ROYCE.


Major Stephen Royce came to Tin
mouth in the County Of Rutland about
The year IVA, and Immediately became
prominent and leading man among the
many able men Of that town, who were
distinguished in tho early history OF the
State. He was one of the delegates from
Tinmouth to the Convention which met
at Cephas Kent's in Dorset, in July IVA,
to declare Vermont free aud independ-
ent State. His son Stephen moved TO
Berkshire in the Coumy Of Franklin, and
for many years represented that town IN
the General Assembly of Vermont. lie
married a daughter Of Hon. Ebenezer
Marin. Judge Marin occupied lead
ing place in our early history. He was
member of the first Council of Censors,
and respectively Chief Judge If the
! County Courts for the Counties OF HUT
land, Chittenden, and Franklin.
STEPHEN ROYCE, the twenty-first Gov
ernor of Vermont, was the Oldest son OF
Stephen Royce, the second above named,
and was born at Tinmouth on the Eth
day of August, 1887 He prepared for
College at the, then, widely known Addl-
son County Grammar School, and gradu-
ted at Middlebury College in 1907, in the
same class with Governor Slade. OF this
class we have more particularly spoken
in another article.
He studied law with his maternal I'M
Gle, Ebenezer Marvin, Jr., ESQ.,, at Shell
don. After reading the usual length OF
time he was admitted to the bar In Frank
lin County. He first commenced the
practice of his profession at East Berk-
shire in Franklin County, After remain
ing there a short time, he removed to
Sheldon, in the same County, where he
continued in practice about six years.
After this, he removed to St Adams, and
continued in active practice till 1879, ex'
cept during the years 1926 and 1897
when he was one Of the Judges OF the
Supreme Court In 1929, he, again, re-
moved to East Berkshire where he still
resides. --
He represented the town of Sheldon IL
the Legislature of Vermont in 1915 anc
1916. He s,also, Representative from
St. Adams in 1922, 1928 and 1924 anc
was the delegate from that town TO The
Constitutional Convention Of 1922.
During the years 1916 and 1917, whil
residing at Sheldon, he was States Attor
ney for the County of Franklin. 1
In 1925 he was elected one of the AS
} sociate Judges of the Supreme Court o
, Vermont and was reelected in 1926
The next year he declined recollection
and resumed the practice of his profession
In 1929 he was, again, elected one of tn
! Judges of the Supreme "eprl, muu We
continued on the bench till 1852, thus re
ceiving twenty-three successive annua
, elections, which together with his forme
service, makes twenty-five years, as Judg
: of the Supreme Court of Vermont -"
longer term of service than any othe
i person has ever held that office in thl
: State ON the retirement of Judge Wi
liams in 1916, he was unanimously elect
2 ed Chief Justice and was reelected i
1847, 4S, 40, so and 81. In 1852 h
= declined reelection and returned to hi
farm in East Berkshire, with the intention
of passing the rest of his days in retire
ment, ......... .... rsa......-
During the same year 1882 he wa
t appointed by Governor Fairbanks, Chair
, man of Board of Commissioners, au
, thorized by resolution OF the Legisla
} ture, to report such provisions and amend
ments in regard to pleadings and practic
in our courts, as in their judgment woult
; be beneficial. sA 70 F#*r
: Soon after the passage OF the Territori
: al Bills, SO well known as the hansas-Ne
|, 6rasko BIZ, by Congress, in 1854, tn
!. Wings of Vermont met in Convention
for the purpose of declaring their view
in reference to principles contained i
! those measures, and for the further pun
pose of nominating candidates, to be sur
/ ported by that party, in the ensuing Stat
i. election. Stephen Royce, who had a
= ways been Wing, with great unanimit
b was nominated for Governor. Oscar l
I, Skater was in like manner nominate
. for Lieutenant Governor. He subst
!, auently declined the nomination, and Ry
lduu lcICHcI Wdo pishSCu vi tuS tiSh0t
/ his stead. Both of these gentlemen ha
/ of late years acted with the ultra Ant
J Slavery party. In the resolutions adop
y ed by the Convention, was the following
!, which was adopted, by nearly unan
nous vote:
# RESOLVED, That we hereby invite tb
a cooperation of all the freemen of We
d mont, who agree with us in the principle
y and purposes herein set forth, offering 0
e our part, most cordially, to give our col
}, fdence to those who confde in US"
'e By this course, all those who believe
:. that it was the right and duty of Coz
> gress, under the Constitution, to prohib
If by. positive enactment the extension
st Slavery into the Territories of the I'm
u ted States, then free, were consolidated
lie one party. Although this was, nominal