Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-01-13
SENATOR JONATHAN ROSS.
Gov. Smith Appoints Chief JUS
tice of the Supreme Court.

Hon. B. +. Fiheld, who Was First Ten.
dered the Appointments. Declined on
Account of Family ReasonA---senstor
ROss's Public Career.
Hon. Benjamin F. Fifed of Montpelier
to whom on Saturday last. Gov. Smith
rendered the appointment of United States
senator to succeed the late Justin S. Nor
rill, notified the governor Wednesday. that
owing to family reasons, he was compelled
to decline the honor The senatorshin
was thereupon rendered to Hon. Jonathan
Ross of St. Johnsbury, chief Justice of the
supreme court of Vermont. He accepted
the appointment, resignng his office as
chief justice
Mr.. Fifeld's letter of declination is as
follows:
"MoNTPELIER, VI Jan 10, 1898.
nor. etc: i' SO'eI-
Sir'-You lid me the distir guished honor Iast
cStatuIuay OIL oHtrlng me the position Of United
states senator TO II the vacalcy caused by The
death Of the late Senator Morrill, and / then ex
pressed to you verbally my probable nsbility to
accept the appointment on account of tba nro
uacted and painful lness Of NV vyiIe ~
sine That time have given the matter fur
ther consideration and now feel obliged to second
my former decllnation. have not words to ex-
press to you sufficiently the gratitude 1 feel fo,
the conspicuous consideration which the offer i'm
ptltSf anu regret Dey Ond measure that nv sftu
atoh cofnpels me 10 say cannot accept the Dcsi-
TN. am dear sir, your obedeDt servant
"B F FIFIELD"
The first lntimation that Judge Ross had
that his name was being considered for the
position was when Gov. Smith called him
up by telephone and rendered him the an
pointment. Judge Ross took the matter
under advisement and later in the dav tele-
graphed his acceptance. He sent his res
lgnatlon as chief justice of the supreme
court by special messenger. Senator Ross
Will leave for Washington Friday and will
take his seat in the Senate Monday. Sena-
tor Ross is not an eloquent speaker. but he
presents his thoughts in such a logical
manner as to win the attention and respect
OF his hearers. He refused to be inter
viewed on national issues after his appoint
ment was announced, and his views on the
question OF Imperialism are not known.
The New Senator'S History.
Jonathan Ross was born in Waterford
April 80, 1926 He attended the common
schools, fitted for college in St. Johnsbury
academy, and graduated from Dartmouth
college in 1851. While gaining his educa-
tion he worked on his fathers farm in
summer and in winter taught school in
Vermont, New Hampshire and Massa-
dc1UHIQV
at Chelsea he studied law with the late
Judge William Hebard. He was admitted
to the Orange county bar Jan. is, 1856
In 1856 he formed a partnership foN
the practice of law with -, j. w
lard iof St. Johnsbury. pr
nership continued only ty ~ mh
until 1865 Judge Ross pFacsre--L----,-4.t,sS
self. &. A. Burbank was then associated
with Mr.. Ross one year. Mr.. Ross and
w. z. Smith formed partnership in 1869
which continued until Mr.. Ross's appoint.
ment to the bench in 1870 He was elect
ed chief judge in 1890.
Judge Ross has always taken a promi-
nent part in the public affairs of his town.
county and state. He was treasurer for 10
years, 1858 to 1868, of the Passumpsic
savings bank, and has been a director of
the First national bank and the Fairbanks
scale company He was states attorney
for Caledonia county in 1862 63 He rep
resented st. Johnsbury in the legislature
in 1865, 1866 and 1867, and was for a
number of years a member of the state
board OF education. He was, in 1869, a
member OF the last council of censors held
in the state. He represented Caledonia
county in the state senate in 1870. csel
year he was elected to the state supreme
bench. Judge Ross was the oldest in SER
vice on the bench, Judge whose opinions
are highly valued for their common sense.
as well as for their good law.
Judge Ross has been twice married.
His first wife was a sister of Judge Alonzo
p. Carpenter, chief justice of New Hamp-
shire for many years, and of her children
i've daughters and two sons are living.
His present wife was Miss Helen Daggett.
Gov. Smith will now be called upon to
fill vacancy on the supreme court bench.
Among the candidates already mentioned
are Henry G. Ide of St. Johnsbury, ex-
chief justice of Samoa, and Hiram A.
Huse of Montpelier, law partner of ex-
Gov. Dillingham;.