St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-01-26

In the death of Mr.. Rankin the bar
has lost an esteemed friend, the court
faithful officer, earnest in work, hon
est of purpose, quick of apprehension,
of a discriminating and analytical
mind and trained lawyer, he had few
equals and no superiOrs in the deter
minatiOn of questions of fact, and as
referee and special master he rendered
valuable service to the bar and to liti
gants.
But above all we bear candid testi-
mOny of esteem for his memory as a
man, pure in thought, of spotless char
acUer, he has left an example of in
valuable influence. He whose best en-
joyment was in the family circle, of
pure life, an affectiOnate husband and
father, he has left the best legacy to
his family that man can leave. The
loss of such man, the loss of such
husband and father, brings great grief
to the family circle. We desire to ex-
tend to them our earnest and heartfelt
sympathy in their bereavement. While
they mourn the loss of husband and
father, we mourn the loss of dearly
esteemed friend and brother. The bar
requests that this testimonial of their
esteem be spread upon the records of
the court and that copy thereof be
transmitted to the family by the clerk.
Signed by Elisha May, George w.
Cahoon, Albro F. Nichols, committee
of the bar.
The limited space at command pre-
vents any but the briefest summary of
bar that followed the presentation of
these resolutions. Judge Jonathan
Ross, whose recOllections of. Judge Po
land dated from 1850, was the first
speaker. He recalled not only the
Judges grasp of mind and remarkable
ability but his uniform kindness and
courtesy to everyone. Born in the
humble ranks of life, of limited educa-
ton, coming to the bar at 81 and to
the bench at 35, Judge Poland was
from the first marked man. The
speaker briefly sketched his career as
chief justice and the active and nota-
BILE part taken by him in congress. A
man of large make and strong sense of
justice, he was one to be remembered,
whose equal will long be looked for in
this bar and state. Judge Ross's rec
objections of Mr.. Rankin dated from
the latter's first work in st. Johnsbury
in 1853. While Mr.. Rankin did not re-
veal himself SD freely to others as did
Judge Poland, he had the same ster-
ling integrity. Mention was made of
his ripe scholarship and of the untir-
ing energy and faithfulness with which
he worked.
HI. G. Ide, Esq, spoke Of Judge Po-
land as neighbor, one most willing to
help younger members of the bar, al
ways frank, open, kindly, friendly,
sympathetic, helpful. Special refer
ence was made to the confidence mem
bers of the bar had in his ability, in
tegrity and fairness when their causes
were referred to him. Mr.. Ide spoke
of his warm personal attachment for
Mr.. Rankin, whose integrity was no
less marked than was Judge Poland's.
Indeed the latter used to jocosely say
of the former that "he stood so straight
he leaned over backward and that he
(Judge Poland) could not always get
justice at his son-in laws hands," for
fear it might be considered favoritism.
Elisha May endorsed all that had
been said of the deceased, specially
emphasizing the eulogies that had been
pronounced on the father of the bar.
He spoke of Mr.. Rankin as a type
of the cultured gentleman and made
touching allusion to that last ride into
the Lamoille valley from which he was
never to return alive.
H. c. Bates, Esq, first saw Judge
Poland at Irasburg, in 1860, the Judge
presiding in court and the speaker a
boy. The impressions of that day had
never been effaced and his respect and
attachment for the great Judge in
creased and strengthened ever after
with each succeeding year. He spoke
with equal earnestness of his friend
ship and regard for Mr.. Rankin, in
many respects like Judge Poland, and
whose genial and social qualities were
best known to his intimate. e.friends.
Judge w. P. Smith made special
mention of the grace with which Judge
Poland, when at the height of his
fame and influence, was wont to re-
turn to his St. Johnsbury home, meet
ing members of the bar and other
friends on the same common level as
nf old Nh social destinations were
observed by him; rich or poor, it made
no difference; friends were friends
from first to last. Judge Smith noted
two characteristics of Mr.. Rankin's,
his intense individuality and his hon
esty of speech and purpose. He cop
led no other man; he was himself.
He meant what he said and said what
he meant; he was honest with himself
and with you.
w. P. Stafford spoke for the younger
members of the bar, warmly and elo
quently eulogizing both Judge Poland
and Mr.. Rankin. At the conclusion of
his remarks Mr.. Stafford read letter
from Hon. P K. Gleed of MorrisviIle.
so filed with warm expressions of re-
gard for his old friend, Judge Poland,
that it stirred the hearts of all present.
Referring to the death of Mr.. Rankin
he said:
"On the evening of the 9th of this
month he entered our home as a most
welcome guest, and ON the morning of
\ a., H.,