Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-11-24
The Late Judge and Gov. Royce.

In the death of Judge Royce, Yer
mont has lost one of its men OF mark
one of those most honored and trust |
ed in her history; one who, as a just
and upright judge, adorned for twen-
ty-fve years the Supreme Bench of
Vermont; and who was one of its
most respected Governors.
Stephen Royce, the twenty-hrst
Governor of Vermont, was the oldest
son of Stephen Royce. and was born
at Tinmouth, in the County of Rut-
land, on the 9th day of August, 1887.
His father was the son of Major Ste
phen Royce. of Tinmouth. who was
one of the delegates to the Conven-
ton which met in Dorset in July,
TIA, to declare Vermont free and
independent State, Stephen Royce,
the second above named, moved from
Tinmouth to Berk shire, in the Coun-
ty of Franklin, and i,r many years
represented that town in the General
Assembly of Vermont He married
daughter of Hon. Ebenezer Marvin,
who was a member of the first Coun-
Gil of Censors, and Chief Judge of the
County Courts for the counties of
Rutland, Chittenden and Franklin re-
spectively.
Judge Royce was thus of honored
ancestry on both sides. He fitted
for College at the Addison County
Grammar School; graduated at Mid
dlebury College in 1907, in the same
class with Governor Slade; studied
law with his maternal uncle, Ebenez-
er Marvin, Jr., Esq, at Sheldon; was
admitted to the bar iu Franklin coun-
ty; and commenced the practice of
his profession at East Berkshire
After remaining there a short time,
he removed to Sheldon, in the same
county, where he continued in prac-
tice about six years. After this he
removed to St. Adams, and continued
in active practice till 1929, except du-
ring the years 1926 and 1927, when
he was one of the Judges of the Su-
preme Court. In 1929 he again re,
! moved to East Berkshire. He repre-
sented the town of Sheldon in the
| Legislature of Vermont, in 1915 and
, 1916. He was also Representative
from St. Adams in 1922, 1928 and
' 1924, and was the delegate from thai
!. town to the Constitutional Conven
+ ton of 1922. During the years 1915
| and 1917, while residing at Sheldon
q he was States Attorney for the coun
4 ty of Franklin.
n In 1925 be was elected one of the
o Associate Judges of the Supreme
Court of Vermont, and was reelected
!. in 1926. The next year he declined
A a reelection, and resumed practice
4 In 1929 he was again elected one of
!. the Judges of the Supreme Conrt, anC
# was continued on the bench till 1852
receiving twenty-three successive an
n nual elections. and serving in all TWEEN
"a ty-tive years as Judge of the Suprem
: Court Of VermOnt-longer than an
a other person has held that Office i
10 this State On the retirement o
10 Judge Williams, in 1916, he wa
m unanimously elected Chief Justice, an
a. was reelected in 1047, AS, 40, 5
h and 81. In 1852 he declined a r
rs election, and retired to his farm
y; East Berkshire.
ID During the same year 1882
40 was appointed by Governor Fai
i banks Chairman of a board of Cor
m missioners, authorized 10y resolutic
40 OF the Legislature, to report such pr
on visions and amendments in regard
" pleadings and practice in our court
RI as in their judgment would be bene
or cial.
Id In 1854, and during the exciteme
,ut which followed the passage of Il
III. kansas-Nebraska Bill, Judge Roy
he was nominated for Governor, at t
as time of the organization of the +
publican party in this State. I
Convention which nominated b
81. was called as a Wing Conventio
a. but it by formal resolution invited t
a. cooperation of all who believed
n to be the duty of Congress to prob
r | it The extension of slavery into t
.;n territories of the United States, a
n it placed on the ticket with him a N
Nm of the Free Soil or Liberty" par
,ad as Lieutenant Governor, viz, Csc
,os l.. SKATER, who subsequently declin
+on the nomination, and Ryland Fetct
H. was placed on the ticket in his ste;
,uo The next year the State Commit
"a appointed by that Convention cal
~ Republican Convention, and no
hn, mated the same candidates. JUG
nr Royce was elected Governor by so
ona eIeUem thousand majority, and was
sat elected in 1855 by an equally de,
am i've majority.
sd The University of Vermont,
oUa 1887, conferred on him the honor'
no degree of Doctor Of Latos.
, to The time when Gov. Royce '
called to the Executive chair of
State was one of great public exc
lion ment from the condition of aft;
this west of the Mississippi, to which
toto have alluded, and the action of
% 20 United States government in relat
aro thereto. What was to be the {
all and by what means the end woulc
reached, caused great solicitude
the minds of all considerate mer
In this State-where the popl
.he mind was perhaps more generally
acc deeply than in any other State of