The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-05-05
JOHN 4. FLAee
A Forceful and Eloquent Speaker and
Graceful Writer

John II. Flagg, native OF Will
mington, but for nearly 30 years a
prominent lawyer OF New York City,
died early Monday morning at his
home at ia West seth street, follow
ing a long Illness He was in his 6Sth
! year.
John Henry Tlagg was born in Will
mington Windham county July II,
1843. being son of Stephen 2. and
| Lucinda (Brown) Flagg OF that town,
TO which man descendants of the or.
igina English families of that name
migrated at the close Of the reyolu-
ton from their earlier settlement in
| Worcester county. Mass.
lie was educated In the public
schools OF his native town; at the
Wesleyan, Academy, Wilbraham,
Mass, and by private tutor With
out availing hineelf Of college
Course, he at once, at the early age
OF eighteen years began the study
OF law, for the first two years in his
fathers Office, subsequently entering
the Albany law school, from which
he was graduated in 1864 Thereaf
ter and until his admission to the bar
he continued his studies in the Office
this firm then being composed of his
father and the Hon. James NJ. Tyler
formerly a Judge on the bench of the
supreme court of Vermont. Having
completed his preparatory course Of
study, Mr. Fagg was admitted to the
Vermont bar in Windham county at
the September term 1864 at once be.
ginning practice, succeeding Mr.. Ty-
Ter in his fathers firm, but two years
thereafter removing to the historic
old town of Bennington, where he
Immediately became conspicuous at
the bar, building up large and lucra-
tive practice. This came TO him not
only from the clients in southern Yer
mont but with those in the adjacent
parts of New York and Massachusetts
also During his FIVE years practice
at Bennington, II is said that of the
cases taken on appeal to the supreme
court, he never lost one-this fact
appearing by the dockets and report
ed decisions of the court for that
period
Impaired in health by overwork
and being thus early in life afflicted
by pronounced rheumatic tendency
his doctors advised a radical change
of climate in order to avoid the rigors
of the Vermont winter. At this time
the fall of 1S69-while contempla-
ting winters sojourn in the south,
he was offered, through the Vermont
senators, Edmunds and Morrill, but
wholly unsolicited and unexpected,
the position of principal legislative
clerk OF the United States Senate
these senators acting in behalf OF the
Republican majority of the chamber
which prefer, not without hesita-
ton, he accepted, feeling that the
change even to the mider climate of
Washington might prove beneficial to
his health
Once installed in Washington Off
cial life. he continued in this office
for four succeeding congresses, dis
charging its important duties with
exceptional efficiency. until 1873 when
he submitted his resignation and in
sisted upon its acceptance. notwith-
standing a unanimous expression OF
regret OF both the political parties
in the chamber and their repeatedly
expressed hope that he might be in
duced to reconsider his action. Pre-
vious to his acceptance of this posi-
ton he had been a close student of
parliamentary law and legislative pro
cedure, and had had no small expert
ence with its practical application.
having been for five successive years,
1S64-lS69, clerk OF the house of rep
resentatives in his native state, being
by the way the youngest person who
ever held such an Office in the legis-
lature OF any New England state and
probably of any other
Having in 1870 been admitted TO the
bar OF the Supreme Court OF the Uni
ted States. he at once, on the aocep-
lance of his resignation, resumed his
law practice, having for a time an
Office both in Washington and New
York giving special attention TO com
mercial questions arising under treat
les between the United States and
various foreign powers, tariff cases,
and the like. He was prominent in
formulating the earlier legislation of
Congress defining the relation of our
government TO the Geneva Award
Fund (paid by Great Britain under
the treaty of Washington and sub
sequently prosecuted to a successful
termination many important cases
arising under that treaty. In 1880 he
discontinued his Washington office
and thereafter confined his practice
to New York. For eighteen years or
from 1882 up to his enforced retire
ment from practice in 1900, he was
counsel to the STANDARD Oil company,
and it's affiliations, and so preoccu-
pied with the affairs Of this one in-
/ terest as to leave him little opportu-
nifty for general practice in the courts
where except for that company, he
was seldom seen.
! In the winter of 1900 Mr. Flagg
was severely injured by an accident
I in the street near his home, where he
had since been confined Here he
had shown marvellous endurance and
fortitut hopeful even when his doc
tors, ~ repeated consultation, had
/ been able to hold out little.or no en-
couragement OF an ultimate recovery.
/ Throughout all. his optimistic tenn
nerame 1t and determined will power
I had bu Eyed him up and carried him
/ through various crises, such as weak
er men could not have withstood,