Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-11-28
The Governors of vermont-22.
RYLAED FLETCHER.

early as June, 1850, we find them and
very few others at that town, clearing
the land and making improvements. and
thus fulfilling the conditions OF the char
ter of that town, in order that the bene-
Ats to be derived from the liberal pro-
visions of the charters granted by Ben
ming Wentworth, Governor Of New |
Hampshire, might be saved to the pro-
prietors and their posterity,
or this name have been some OF the
most distinguished and useful men of
Vermont, and the descendants Of the
Fletcher family have received the high
est honors that State can give in other
States. Among them we may mention
General Samuel Fletcher, one of the early
settlers OF Townshend, who was the
first Representative from that town in
the General Assembly OF Vermont q
Councillor, Judge and Sheriff of Wind
| ham county, and who was afterwards
elected Judge of the Supreme Court of
| Vermont, but refused TO serve. OF him
we intend hereafter to speak in detail,
and perhaps OF some Of the other mem
bers of the family. Hoa. Isaac Fletcher,
an eloquent and distinguished lawyer,
who represented the Fifth District of
Vermont in the Congress OF the United
States, from 1887 to 1841. OF the de-
scendants of the female branches OF the
family, we will mention only two-the
Hon. Epaphr0djtas Rans0W, Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court and Governor OF
Michigan, who recently died at Fort
Scott, Kansas, while Receiver Of Public
Moneys for the Territory and Hon. Isaac
Fletcher Redfeld, LID, for many years
Judge and Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court of Vermont.
Ryland Fletcher, the twenty second
Governor Of Vermont, was born at Cav
endish, in the county Of Windsor and
State Of Vermont, on the 18th day OF
February, 1899. like all the other Gov
ernors of Vermont, with single excep-
ton, who have beea natives of the State,
he has always continued to reside in the
town of his nativity
His immediate ancestors were among
the first settlers OF the town Of Cayen-
dish. The history OF sthat particular
branch of the Fletcher family is, in q
measure, the history OF not only that
town, but also of the southwestern por-
ton OF Windsor county. The first Towr
Clerk of Cavendish of which we have
any record, was Josiah Fletcher. HI
was also one of the first Board of Select
men. This family also furnished one o
/ the first Representatives from that towr
5 to the General Assembly of Vermont.
: Ryland Fletcher had only the benef
S of common school education. Hi:
, early life was passed on 8 farm, and h
has ever since almost exclusively devoted
himself to agricultural pursuits.
: He has always been an earnest advo
cate of the anti-slaVery cause, and early
p allied himself to what was then called
p the Liberty Party, and later in life became
8 member, if we mistake not, Of thu
Free Sol Porty. He was frequently sup
ported by the members of those parties
for the various important offices in tn
gift OF the people, but they being largel.
in the minority, he was, OF course, un
successful.
+. In 1854, after the passage OF the Kas
q sas- s-Nebraska Act the Wings Of Vermont
n in order to unite in one party all thos
:, who were opposed to the principles o
e that act, nominated Oscar L. Shafter 70
Lieutenant-G He being abou
to remove to California, declined tn
nomination, and R,yland Fletcher be
: came the candidate for that position !
l his stead, and was the representative, o
t the State ticket, Of the ultra Antl,Siaver
t Party. He was elected Lieutenaut-GoS
D. ernor by large majority Of the popnla
+ vote, and was reelected in 1856.
= A. Lieutenant Governor he becam
= President of the Senate. The duties {
/ this station be discharged with ability
Courtesy auA ALI PaA SA"AaIgi 0AA aS VA
1t close Of both sessions the Senate unap'
e mously bore their testimony to that e
e feet. This is the more noteworthy frot
. the fact to use his own language in a
address to the Senate, that he "w'
called from the walks Of private liit
s. without theoretical or practical know
IS edge o. parliamentary law or practic'
le and place here to discharge the cOmpl
h Gated duties of this position" 1t is ev
Is dent "that such transition would b
2. attended with serious embarrassments.
In 1856 he was the candidate OF th
- Republican party, and was elected Go'
~ ernor o, Vermont by t,ceaty tco tRossas
20 sngjmity. He was reelected in 1857 by
" similar vote. He received at each elet
d tion the largest msjority ever gtven to
q Governor Of Vermont, when elected o
70 regular party issues. At tae time OF hi
~ ~.