The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-02-28

George FranlIin Fsdmunds, Hireal
States senator finm x,efn01t f115 years. |
from 1866 to 1901, when he retired yoi,ins /
tarily, received all of his early fedueatton.
in the private schools of Richmond, Nts, 4
where he was born Feb. | , 1928. and from
a private tutor Yet he was only p
years old wien the, University of Yer
mont gave him the honorary degree of
master of arts and Al when Middlabury
college conferred upon hinsthe title of
LID. So
IS He was considered the. best authority
IN the country on parliamentary and con.
stitutional law.
During the presidency of Gen. L. S.
Grant he-swas one of the four most init
mate and confidential friends and unoffi-
cial advisers of the hero of the Wilder
ness and Appomattox, the others being
Hamilton Fish, George s. Boutwell, and
Admiral Ammen.
Mr.. Edmunds' father was Ebenezer Ed
munds, sturdy and thrifty farmer who
had emigrated from western Afassachu-
sets, and had a great influence with his
townsmen. His mother was Naomi
Briggs, woman of strong intellect and
noble traits.
Young Edmunds began the study of
law at 1t very early age. and after being
admitted to the bar, in 1919, settled in
his native town to practice his chosen
profession.
Two years later Young Fdmunds re-
moved to Burlington, where he continued
to reside until his retirement from poll
tics, in 1891, when he removed to Phila-
delphia Since then he has had a luera-
tive practice in the supreme courts of the
United States and in those of several
states Mr.. Edmunds won a pronounced
success at the bar, his studious habits.
acute intellect and loyalty to clients VIM
ming lucrative practice. Several years
ago he gave up active. business and viz
tuallv retired to private life i'll Califor
MIA.
His earliest ventures in politics were
in the Burlington town meetings, where
as very young man he was chosen mod
orator for several years. He had not
only an intimate knowledge OF parliament
tary rules but faculty of prompt and
accurate decision that carried him far in
his later years. Mr.. Edmunds always ac-
claimed the town meeting as the best pos
Isible school OF the politician.
i He was representative in the state
Legislature from 1854 to 1850, speaker in
the last three years: state senator in
1861 and 1862, and in 1866 was appointed
United States senator by the governor to
fill the linexpired term of Solomon Foot
He was elected when the time came and
for four successive terms. His first
speech in the senate was an eulogy of his
predecessor,a which won him a place il
roll OF orators. He readily held his owl
in a senate where Charles Summer. vii
liam Pitt .Fessenden, LYMAN Trnmbul
and Benjamin F. Wade were the eadinl
, Republicans, Reverdy johnson. Thoma!
A. Hendricks and Eli Salisbury, leading
Democrats.
He was in charge of the tenure-of
Office act, which was pushed through con
gress. during President Johnsons term
: was active in the Impeachment proceed
: ings; secured the passage of the recon
struction act; eo-operatcd on Paciti
!, Railroad Funding bill; was almost con
!, stantly on the Judiciary committee am
: won an enviable reputation rs legisla
tor who could get things through con
: gress.
He got 81 votes for nomination TO
president at Chicago and in 1880 and tn
:, following year when President CARTEL
i died and Vice President Arthur succeed
: ed, Mr. Edmunds was chosen presiden
: pro tempore of the senate. lie sect.
the passage of the Anti-Polygamy &C
: known as the Edmunds bill.
In 1859 Mr.. Edmunds married Mis-
L Susan NJ Lyman. daughter of Hon. Wi
O lis Lyman of Burlington. They had tw
!, daughters The Burlington home wa
one of the most beautiful in Vermont
ie filled with rare books and works OF ar
u and surrounded by splendid trees, all ns
n tiyes of the state.