Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-10-06
Robert Pierpoint.

We publish below the promised sketch
of the life and character of the late
Judge Robert Pierpoint. 1t comes from
source which ensures the accuracy of
its statements of facts and adds weight
to its estimate Of the character of the
lamented dead.
Robert Pierpoint died at his residence
on the morning of Sept. 23d, at the ripe
age of 70. Without personal enemy
loved, respected, full of years and full of
honors, he went down to the grave with
a Christians fait h, leaving to the COM
munity in which he had lived, the rich
legacy of his influence and example.
His character and opinions command
ed implicit confidence and respect. 1t
was the natural order of cause and eff
feet. Men respected his simple, austere
honesty and put faith in his opinions,
which from the rapidity of his reasoning
seemed almost intuitiye. Endowed by
nature with keen, subtle and compre-
hensive mind, he rose to the first posi-
ton in society by his own industry,
energy and integrity. No fortuitous
advantages Of birth, wealth or education
aided his early struggles in the doubt
full, trying times which decide and stamp
the character of every young man.
He was born at Litchfeld, Conn, May
4, 1871. His father, David Pierpoint,
had family of nine children--seven sons
and two daughters. His mothers mai
den name was Sarah Phelps, sister to
the father Of the Hon. Samuel s Phelps,
the late gifted Senator from this State.
Robert left home at seven years of age,
and came to live with his uncle Robert
Pierpoint, at Manchester, Vt. Here,
during the succeeding nine years, though
much of the time sick and almost
cripple from a rheumatic affection, and
occupying the humble position of boy at
a country inn, he learned to study char
aCter, and gained such a knowledge of
books as occasional attendance upon
the common schools, and spare moments
occupied in reading, could give him, aid
ed by an iron memory. 1t was his pre-
paratory and collegiate course, but he
illustrated the old maxim that the
best scholars are their own tutors"
At the age of sixteen he entered the
law Office Of Gov. Richard Skinner, and
began the study of the profession with
the enthusiasm of a boy, with the steady
persistent faith which discloses in the
future that talismanic vision-success.
He remained with Gov. Skinner during
the remainder of his minority, and to
Judge by the written volumes of notes
and comments upon the texts of various
authors, during that time, or to judge
by his ready application of principles
in his professional practice, he must
have been an indefatigable student. He
began the study STRIPPING and continu-
ed it till early manhood. When Just
turned Of his majority, in june 1912, he
was admitted to the bar in Bennington
county. The same year he came to Rut-
land to reside. He had been here but a
few months when the office of Deputy
Collector of the direct tax was confer
red upon him unsolicited and unasked.
1t was position which required energy
and tact. The war had been denounced,
it was not popular with New England,
it had swept her shipping from the seas,
and the direct tax was deemed an out
rage upon Americans. Many protested
that they would never pay it, and some
men never did, but their wives paid it
for them to save the farms from the
auction hammer. He succeeded in col
Letting the tax and it made him person
ally acquainted with the land holders
of his district. 1t was an useful ac-
quaintance in professional point of
view. When he returned to his practice
the people knew him, they liked him and
they employed him. His business soon
became large. To be a good lawyer is
an honor, but to gain a high position, to
be ranked among the first, at bar
which at that time and subsequently
contained such men as Phelps, Bates,
Royce, Foot, Williams, Ormsbee, Mallo-
ny, Kellogg, Langdon and Others Of that
stamp, was no mean success
The limits of this article do not allow
an extended analysis Of style, manner or
professional character, but it is no dis
arrangement to the best to say, that
whoever in particular departments of
the profession. may have been superior,
upon the whole field Robert Pierpoint
was second to none. IF an adversary
had more eourtly style and easy diction
he had way of saying in effect if not in
words, :" am no orator as BrHtus is
but as yah know me all, plain blunt
man -. 49,. only speak right on"
If an opponent had invective he could
parry it with ridicule-if he was met
with an insinuating sophistry, his plain
Statement would lift it from all entan-
clements to dissipate itself in the clear
LIGHT of rpaSOn-if Onnospd nv nrece-