St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-05-08
The 1 ate Judge Dennls0n.
Venerable Washington Jurlst VINO was
porr In Burke.--sketch Of His Career


home in Olympia, Wash, April 10,
aged 7e years. He was a native @, o.
this county and was the last OF his
family of seven sons and one oaus gu
4or The latter was the wife OF the
lote Dr. srlim Newell of ST. johns
hurry, one of the leading physicians
in this section. Judge Denn'son
visited his relatives in St. Johnsoury
recently. Our readers Will DC
;rterested in the sketch OF this
remarkable man-one OF a type Oh
the old school Of gentlemen our
sketch is taken from the Daily o'ym'
plan. r wosh;ro.
+on's leading figures in its terrltoi'a,
history. In 1868 he was appo,mi'eu
nssoc;ate Justice, and in the year 'olIow,
20 president Grant elevated MN 10 Ine
,mS Of CHIEF Justice. He served TWO
"rn,s in the territorial legislature one
os mr. of the council. and the otIgl
,nemher of the lower house he
aossed through all the phases OF pioneer 1.
;fc socially and professionally, ATTENDING
LIFTS in tents. without law DOORS Vi
hr;eCs the Judge upon the bench peIns
I'D With bowie knife and derrihSe';;
nc wasamost varied career, surrouhueu
h., oil the dangers and experiences u an
exciting pioneer life. ,,+s If
deceased was one OF the ArgonauSs W
cal;fornia He was born in Burke, Lac,
dor;a county Vermont, IN loZo, anu
Iyas consequently rs years OF age ~
tho,,gb educated in sciences ana neui-
o;no he was always active IN poit'es,
and during the "Tippecanoe campaign
;nIeAo though not old enough to vote
,mos an active member of the Wing portii-
cal club of his college, and was pa. ~.
pant in the county and state ue''lo" VII.
tons, listening to the speeches. Vi W@o
ster. Choate. Johnson and other s,ea'
orators Of that period. After MS g,auua'
tion from college he went 10 hH'on
Ohio where he read law in the Once y
Reuben Wood, who was Subsequent
elected supreme Judge and governor q
that state, and was admitted TO praI.'e'
in 1S4S. With the discovery oil go'u !,
California however, and imbued VIII
The shirt of adventure, he joined com
nanv of seven Young men, who proceede'
r. louisville Kentucky, purchaser
nra;rie outfit. and in the spring OF 1871
Started across the plains for California
Reinq inexperienced with prairie trave
their progress was iraught with man
dangers and adventures, They wef
chased by Indians, and saved from ma
sacre ONLY bv reaching a camp OF EN-
Grants About 500 miles from Sacri
mento. they were overpowered in u
n;oht robbed of their mules, aud ie
almost destitute. They then made sma
nacks of supplies, and each with Oh
blanket set out on foot. The D,gg
Tnd;ans gave them much trouble
NIGHT, and although caught in the mou
tains by snow, they dared not mass u,
for fear of the Indians. Their food Ill
matelv gave out, and Tor three days III
lived on sugar and water alone
months were consumed IN TINS Wea
tourney, and they arrived in the Sac'
mento valley in half starved condit''
with scant clothing on their pacKs'
financially finished that they were co
pelled to pawn a revolver Tor squi
meal.
Mr.. Dennison began mining upon
south fork Of the American river, [
soon contracted fever and ague, a
became unfit for labor. 1t was then tl
he commenced mercantile career u
showed his business tact and abll'
With about 5000 worth OF goods, cons
ing of sugar, bacon and camp suppl
he hired boat and two men ana star
for Marysyille. There his stock '
quickly exhausted at 100 per cent
nroft, and he thus raised his first sta
Again he returned to the mines ana q
two months went to Los Angeles, the
CITY of adobe houses and vineya
Here he practiced law but soon retur
to mercantile pursuits, and for two "
realized large profits in the whole
grocery and hardware business
then sold out, and by private carr
drove north to Stockton, with a v'eN
returning to Ohio, but learning
cholera was fatal on the lsthi
changed his plans. This time h's pun
was as much out of the common as
previous ones, for he sailed for the 5
wich islands, taking with him cars
California saddles, brides and like
chandise. These sold rapidly IN
market of Honolulu, paying hands
profit, and affording considerable
of ready cash.
About this time the whaling w
were entering that port, and the OF
were anxious to sell drafts on their
Movers in the east, allowing gent
discounts for cash. These he purcl
with profit, and returning to Caltc
he located in Monterey, resumin|
practice of law in that city, Santa
and San lose. In 1858 he came to
sound and located in Whatcom, t
city of three thousand people liv
tents and awaiting the opening OF {
to the Fraser river mines Later he
to Port Townsend where he estab
his home and engaged in practi'
was during his residence in that cit.
he was made chief Justice. In 1877
Judge moved to Olympia subseq
to Portland, Oregon, in partnership
Governor A. c. Gibbs for two year
then to Vancouver, Washington,
he followed generalpractice until
from which place he came to Olym
The first suit ever brought in thi
tory, to establish the right of dove
brought by Judge Dennson, before
William Strong in behalf of Mrs
widow of Col Ely, collector OF Gu
who was massacred on WILDLY
by the Northern Indians. The
defended the widows rights and
lished her claim, and that decisi
since stood upon our statute
Had ,nf oct