Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-11-05
.GUILDHALL.

.GUILDHALL.
BY MILTON CUTLER.
ELIJAH FOOTE,
who first appears on the county
court docket as a lawyer of Guild
hall seems to have been very re-
spectacle attorney and esteemed
either, and repl esented the town five
years.
JOSEPH BERRY'S
name first appears on record as one
G seven who were first formed
into a church organization in the
wear 1899, and was appointed deacon
in 1903. He represented the town
in 1916; was states attorney in the
wears 1915, IT, Is, '23, PA; and
chief Judge of the county court IN
1929. '23. He removed with his
family to Newbury, Vt.
HON. ISAAC CUSHMAN,
descendant of Robert Cushman,
who came over in the Mayfower, IN
the wear 1920, resided in Connecticut,
and married Sarah Paine, sister to
the Hon. Elijah Paine. They had
two sons-Seth and John-who were
both bred to the law. Seth studied
with a lawyer acquaintance who then
resided in Vermont; and, at the
close of his studies, was recommend
ed TO Guildhall, and came here about
the wear 1905. Not long subsequent
" his father removed here with his
family and resided on the farm now
owned and occupied by Messrs. Jose
& Small. He was frequently en-
trusted with the duties and respons-
Utilities of various town offices, and
was Judge Of probate from 1918 to
'22. In his cid age he went to live
with his son. the Hon. John Cush-
man. who had, after remaining a
short time in Guildhall, removed to
Troy, N. Y.
GEN. SETH CUSHMAN
continued his residence in this town,
with the exception Of one year, till
March, 1845, when he died, of paraIy'
sis, at the age OF 63.
Probably few men in this state
possessed a greater amount and varle'
ty of talent than Gen. Cushman;
and, had his moral and religious
principles equaled his natural ablll-
ties. he would have been the pride
of his friends, bright ornament OF
the Church and of his state anC
country. He was equally graceful
and entertaining at home, in the
social circle, at the bar, and as ar
officer in the field. At the bars OF
the several counties in this part OF
the state. he was the associate anc
peer of such men as John Mattocks
James Bell and Isaac Fletcher, al
ackno Hledged" giants of their time,
The Hon. James Bell, in address
inc the court and jury of Orleans
County in a certain murder case, anC
referring to "his fallen brethren
whom his eye missed from then
woDted seats" (see sketch Of Mr.
Bell in his history of Walden, il
No. a of Historical Magazine, Vol.D
says:
May it please your honor, anC
gentlemen of the jury stoot
among giants, though not of then
my comrades at the bar have fallen
Fletcher! the untiring and laboriou
councillor, the persuasive advocate
the unyielding combatant, is where
Eternity echoes, here! Cushman
the cOurtly and eloquent lawyer, tn
kind and feeling man, the poIishe
and social companion and friend
where now is he? The world unseeI
alone can say. Mattocks lives, than
God; but is withdrawn from prote'
sionaI toll, from the clash of mind o
mind, the combat of intellect an
wit, the flashing humor and graV
debates of the courtroom" &C.
Soon after, Mr.. Bell received trol
Gov. Mattock, a complimentary lie
ter, in the course of which he say
You have justly called our tW
lamented friends giants; and, wit
the discrimination of a revleWe
have given to each the distinguishir
traits Of excellence" &C.
JOHN S. WELLS
was from New Hampshire, ar
practiced law in this place for son
years-between 1880 and 1910
whence he removed to Lancaster, ar
subsequently to Exeter, N. h. t
was a man of ability and eloquenc
of high standing as lawyer, al
was if we remember rightly, sever
times a candidate for the Unit
States Senate, and received the vot