The Portland daily press., 1884-04-23
THE CAREER OF EDMvNDs.
The Vermont Senator'S Modest Heme
His Education and Early Political
History.
correspondence of the New York Times.)

Correspondence of the New York Times)
BURLINGTON April 20-"Who under the
sun is tbat2" asked prominent citizen Of
Burlington generation ago as tall, angular,
rather ungainly young man crossed his field OF
vision.
ellis name is George f. Edmunds" was the
answer, and he is young man who has
come down here from Richmond to study
law"
This was in 1S4S, and Mr.. Edmunds was
then but 20 years old. He came of genuine
New England stock, and his mother in partic-
ular was notably one of the most intelligent
and capable of Yankee house wives. The
family was not in prosperous circumstances,
however, and from early boyhood the future
Senator was dependent upon his own exer-
tions. In this severe school he learned,g like
many another Yankee boy, the useful lesson
of economy, industry, and, above all, self-reli-
anee. He sturdily fought his own battles, and
at that time, as in after life, never asked per-
sopal favor of mortal man. He earned his
own living, and paid his own way, asking
neither favor nor assistance; and when political
honors came, they came unsought and unask-
ed. Arriving at the age OF Is, Mr.. Edmun ds
began the study of the law in his native vii
lage of Richmond, VT, in the Office of A. B.
Maynard, in after years distinguished lawyer
of Michigan, and his legal education was COM
pleted in Burlington, in the office of Smalley
& Phelps, the senior partner OF which hrm
was afterward United States Judge Tor the
District of Vermont, and the junior Is the
present distinguished Professor OF Law III 1alo
College.
Having been admitted to the Bar in 1S49,
Mr. Edmunds practiced law in Richmond for
a couple of years and then, desiring wider
field, removed, in 1921, to Burlington, which
has ever since bean his home. He speedily
reached foremost place among the lawyers OF
the State, and gained a large and valuable CHI
entage In due time he took unto himself
wife-a Miss Lyman, member OF a old and
honored Burlington famiy-a niece OF the
Hon. George P. Marsh, and one Of the bright
est and loveliest of Vermont girls, aid subse-
quently bought the house in which he has for
many years resided. 1t is a plain, old fash
Toned brick structure of medium size, situated
on the slope of the hill on which the city OF
Burlington is built, and its windows command
. beautiful view of Lake Champlain and the
Adirondacks. The grounds embrace three or
| four acres of land, neatly but very unostenta-
tiously laid out in lawn and park. There is
nothing snowy or striking about the place.
Indeed, it admirably reflects It's owners cnaI-
acteristics, being plain, modest and unpretend-
ing. And these qualities mark the home life
of all its inmates.
Senator Edmunds is thoroughly Democratic
| In his tastes and his mode OF life. He keeps
no snowy equipages nor liveried servants. He
| gives no ostentatious receptions. Exaggerated
reports of his wealth have been circulated.
| The fact is, he is by no means rich man, as
| riches CO.. No one in Burlington has ever ra-
| ted him as possessing more than 100000, and
there is little doubt but that this sum will Gov
| or all his property. He has what passes for a
| competence in Vermont, and that is all. And
his mode of life is that Of the ordinary substan
tial citizen-smple and unassuming. OF the
| almost ideal felicity aud contentment OF his
| home-the affection which binds together hus-
only surviving child-this is hardly the place
| to speak. Here, where he is so thoroughly
known as a citizen rather than statesman,
| Senator Enmunds possesses the entire respect
and esteem and confidence of all. He is rec
| ognized by all as a man of pure morals and q
friend and supporter Of all good institutions in
society, of education, religion, and social or
| der. His kindly manners and unassuming
| mode of living commend him TO all classes.
| He is always approachable and always ready
| to give full and patient hearing to everyone.
| He take a deep interest in the welfare OF
| the city and its people, and they take q pardon
| able pride in claiming him as fellow-citizen
| and friend.
AS Just said he rapidly attained eminence
| at the Bar, aud very soon after his admission
| to practice was generally recognized as one OF
| the leading lawyers of the State, and it was
not long before he was called upon for public
service. In 1854 he was chosen to represent
the town of Burlington in the Legislature-an
honor rarely, if ever, conferred on SO young q
| mau-and so acceptably did he serve that he
was continued in similar capacity for four
| years thereafter. For three sessions he was
Speaker of the House, and it Is the genera
testimony that he was the ablest man thai
| ever filled that position. In 1861 and 1862 ht
was a member of the State Senate, and thi
completes the rscord of his public life prior tc
his Congressional career. Senator Foot dice
in office, and, April 8, 1866, being then only 81
years of age, Mr.. Edmunds was appointed by
the Governor to fill out the unexpired term
In October following he was elected Senator
| by the Legislature, and he has by successive
and unopposed elections ever since served the
| State in the Senate.