Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-01-30
THE MEN OF VERMONT.
IS. CHARLES X. WILLIAMS.

Cambridge, in the County of Middlesex,
Massachusetts, on the oath day OF Janua-
ny 1882, He was the youngest son of
that eminent philosopher and historian
Rev. Samuel Williams, LII. d.. by Jane,
daughter of Eliphalet Kilbon. His grand
father was Rev. Warham w., of Waltham,
who was son of Rev. John Williams, of
Deerfeld, $50 widely known as the re-
deemed captive,) by Eunice, daughter of
Rev. Eleazer Mather, and granddaughter
of Rev. John Warham."
He came to Vermont, with his father,
in 1890, and conti2ued to reside in Rut-
land from that time till his dealt. After
graduating at Williams College in 1900,
he commenced the study of Law with
Cephas Smith, Jr., ESQ.,, of Rutland, then
Clerk OF the United States Courts for the
District of Vermont. Having completed
his studies under the direction of Mr..
Smith, he was admitted to the bar in
Rutland County in March 1903.
He was appointed Tutor in Williams
College, Massachusetts, in 1902, and
about the same time, received a similar
appointment from Middlebury College,
both of which he declined.
He represented the town of Rutland
in the General Assembly of Vermont for
the years 1907 IL, ID, Is, 20, 2l, and
again, in lS49, after his retirement from
the Bench, by the general concurrence of
all political parties in town.
In reference to his military services, we
extract, from brief sketch of his life, by
Chief Justice Redfeld, the following:
I" In 1908 he was called upon by Gov
ernor Smith, to take command, as major,
of detachment of militia called into SER
vice by draught, to enforce the Embargo
Law, as it was called. That law had be-
come so obnoxious to the people on the
frontier, that it was found impossible for
the ordinary municipal authorities to en-
force its observance. The odium attach
ing to the law was unfortunately somewhat
connected with the acrimony and animos-
ity OF the political divisions of the time
and it is creditable to Governor Williams,
that ne was selected, at the early age of
twenty-six, for SO delicate an office, by
Governor Smith who was of the opposite
political party,'an when he major w.
himself was known to belong to the party
opposed to the passage of the act of Con-
gress which he was thus called upon to
enforce at the point of the bayonet. It
shows in a strong light the confidence felt
by Governor Smith in his patriotism, Ca
pacity and purity of character. .r a.a
" Governor Williams also served his
country during one campaign, in the war
OF 1872, as major of militia, in a regiment
called into service to protect the northern
frontier !"
He was States Attorney for the County
of Rutland in 1914 and 1916; and az
such, in behalf of the State, conducted the
prosecution against James Anthony, for the
murder of Joseph Green, on the night of
the 18th of February 1914.
He was elected Judge of the Supreme
Court of Vermont in 1922, 20 and "a,
and held the Office for the two former
years, but declined the last election. He
was appointed Collector of Customs for
the District of Vermont in 1926 and held
that office till October 1929, when he re-
signed, being again elected one of the
Il
Judges of the Supreme Court of Vermont.
To this Office he received seventeen sue
cessive annual elections, usually receiving
an unanimous vote; and during the last
thirteen years, he held the position of
Chief Justice--a longer term than any
other has ever held that office in this
State. He retired from the Bench in
1916, having peremptorily declined a
reelection.
In the spring of 1848, he was uaani-
mously elected member of the Council
of Censors, and upon the assembling of
that body, was, in like manner, elected its
President. " This election" says Chief
Justice Redfeld, :" is the more noticeable,
as, at the time, the State was divided into
| three political parties and his name was