Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-03-23
Judge wheeler.

On Thursday evening last the pleasant,
though entirely unlooked-for, announce
ment was made that Hon. Hoyt II. Wheel
er OF Jamaica bad been appointed by Pres
ident Hayes to succeed Judge Smaley as
United States District Judge for Vermont.
AT the time the news of his appointment
was received Judge Wheeler was holding
court at Rutland, and the intelligence was
as much surprise to him as to the people,
for the reason that he had not solicited the
position, or even so much as seen his name
mentioned in connection with it. The APP
poin tment is one which unreservedly COM
mends itself 10 the people and TO the bar,
aud wo believe there is no man in tho State
who is more worthy Of this high honor.
Judge Wheeler was born in Chesterfield,
N. H., and removed, with his fathers fam
lily, TO Fayetteville about the year 1915. AS
a young man lie had an unusual taste for
reading and research, and his study of law
was begun with Chas. X. Field, Esq, now
OF this town, but who then lived in Fay
e;teville. After studying with Mr.. Field
for about two years, Mr.. Wheeler came, in
the spring of 1859, TO the law office of Brad
ley & Kellogg of Brattleboro, and, alter
pending the summer with them, was ad-
mitted 10 The bar in the fall of that year.
Soon alter, Mr.. Wheeler entered into part
nership with John Z. Butler, ESQ.,, of ia
maica, at that gentlenIan's solicitation,
and the large practice and experience which
this business connection gave him was of
great beneft in developing and perfecting
hia L. nnyulahna Of ha 10, Ha N
Der OF the legislature in 1867 and Slate
Senator in 1859. At the session of 1869
he was elected TO the Supreme Bench-a
position which he has since filled with
marked ability and unquestoned integrity.
During this time Judge Wheeler has de-
livered numerous important opinions, sew
eral Of which have been adopted as prece-
dents in the courts of other States, and one
of them, at least-that in the case of Wiley
y. The First National Bank of Brattleboro.
at the February term, ls75-has received
favorable notice from Chief Justice Waite.
From the beginning of his legal course
Judge Wheeler has shown himself great
lover OF the law and close, industrious
student. In politics he is consistent Re-
publican, without being in any sense a par
tisan. 1t is greatly 10 his credit that he has
never identified himself with any railroad
complications.
Much speculation has been INDUCED in
as to the means by which Judge Wheeler
was brought 10 the Presidents favorable
notice. Nothing is definitely known on
this point, but it is by no means improba-
BILE that certain prominent son of Yer
mont, who is now member of the South
ern Claims Commission, may have been in
strumental in introducing the Judges
name to Secretaries Evarts and Deyens.
and through them 10 Mr.. Hayes. We may
also well imagine that the President, re-
membering his own ancestry, and his per-
sonal acquaintance hereabouts, was not
averse 10 the selection of a Windham
County man. In any case IL is an appoint
ment in the line Of true civil service re-
form, and one which does honor alike to
the President, TO Judge Wheeler, and to
the people and Judiciary of our State.