Frank L. Fish
Frank Leslie Fish (September 17, 1863 – September 7, 1927) was a Vermont attorney and judge. He was most notable for his service as an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court from 1926 to 1927.
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Early life
Frank L. Fish was born in Newfane, Vermont on September 17, 1863,[1] the son of Sarah Moore Gates and Frederick Appleton Fish.[2] He studied at Leland and Gray Academy in Townshend and the Vermont Academy in Saxtons River.[3] After his 1886 graduation, Fish taught school in Londonderry, and began to study law, first with Milon Davidson of Newfane, and later with Addison E. Cudworth of Londonderry.[3][4] Fish studied with James Manning Tyler of Brattleboro until Tyler's appointment as a judge, after which he completed his studies under Lavant M. Read of Bellows Falls.[3] While studying under Reed, Fish served as register of probate for Windham County, and edited the Bellows Falls Times newspaper.[5] Fish was admitted to the bar in 1889, and practiced in Windham County until locating to Vergennes in 1890, where he continued to practice law.[3][4]
Start of career
A Republican, from 1890 to 1896, Fish served as the collector of taxes for both the Vergennes city government and its school district.[4] He served as state's attorney of Addison County from 1891 to 1900.[4] Fish resigned as state's attorney to accept a federal appointment as a national bank examiner, a post which he held until 1908.[6] In 1908, Fish became a candidate for the Republican nomination for Congress in Vermont's 1st District, but withdrew after local party caucuses indicated a preference for incumbent David J. Foster, who was renominated and reelected.[6][7] He was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives in 1908, and served from 1908 to 1909.[8]
Fish served as a trustee of Norwich University and Middlebury College.[9] He also edited a memorial volume on Horace W. Bailey (1852-1914), a resident of Newbury, Vermont who served as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives, a member of the state railroad commission, and the U.S. Marshal for Vermont.[9] In 1911, Norwich University conferred on Fish the honorary degree of Master of Arts.[5]
Judicial career
In 1912, Fish was appointed as a judge of the Vermont Superior Court, succeeding Alfred A. Hall.[10] He remained on the court until 1926.[11]
In April 1926, Fish was appointed to succeed William H. Taylor as an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court.[11] Fish remained on the court until his death, and was succeeded by Harrie B. Chase.[12]
Death and burial
Fish served on the court until his death.[13] He died in at the home of his brother-in-law in Palmer, Massachusetts on September 7, 1927.[13] Fish was buried at Prospect Cemetery in Vergennes.[14]
Family
On March 15, 1892, Fish married Mary Jane "Minnie" Lyon (1862-1949) of Waterbury, Vermont.[2][13][15] Their children included: Sarah Katherine (1893-1995), the wife of William Atherton Knight;[15][16][17] Frederick Lyon (1895-1980);[18] and Prudence Hopkins (1902-2000), the wife of Stanley C. Bussey.[19]
References
- Vermont, The Green Mountain State, p. 187.
- "Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, Marriage Entry for Frank Leslie Fish and Mary "Minnie" Jane Lyon".
- Vermont, The Green Mountain State, p. 188.
- "Vermont Men of Today: Hon. Frank Leslie Fish", p. 318.
- Norwich University, 1819-1911, p. 20.
- "Fish Resigns Position", p. 10.
- "Fish Withdraws from the Field", p. 1.
- "Prouty Elected Governor By Old Time Republican Majority", p. 1.
- Vermont, The Green Mountain State, p. 189.
- "Judge Frank L. Fish", p. 7.
- "Judge Fish To Succeed Taylor", p. 2.
- "Chase Named To Supreme Bench", p. 1.
- "Justice F. L. Fish Dies Suddenly", p. 1.
- "Justice F. L. Fish Goes To His Rest", p. 11.
- "Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, Birth Entry for Sarah Katherine Fish".
- "Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, Marriage Entry for Sarah Katherine Fish and William Atherton Knight".
- "Connecticut Death Index, 1949-2001, Entry for Sarah Katherine Fish Knight".
- "Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Frederick L. Fish".
- "Connecticut Death Index, 1949-2012, Entry for Prudence B Bussey".
Sources
Books
- Crockett, Walter Hill (1923). Vermont, The Green Mountain State. Vol. 5. New York, NY: Century History Company.
- Ellis, William Arba (1911). Norwich University, 1819-1911: Her History, Her Graduates, Her Roll of Honor. Vol. 3. Montpelier, VT: Capital City Press.
Magazines
- Forbes, C. S. (September 1901). "Vermont Men of Today: Hon. Frank Leslie Fish". The Vermonter. St. Albans, VT: Charles S. Forbes.
Newspapers
- "Fish Resigns Position: National Bank Examiner Will Devote Entire Attention to His Candidacy For Congress". St. Johnsbury Caledonian. St. Johnsbury, VT. May 27, 1908 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Fish Withdraws from the Field". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. June 27, 1908 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Prouty Elected Governor By Old Time Republican Majority". Bennington Banner. Bennington, VT. September 2, 1908 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Judge Frank L. Fish". Vermont Phoenix. Brattleboro, VT. February 16, 1912 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Judge Fish To Succeed Taylor". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. April 1, 1926 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Justice F. L. Fish Dies Suddenly". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. September 8, 1927 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Justice F. L. Fish Goes To His Rest". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. September 11, 1927 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Chase Named To Supreme Bench". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. September 19, 1927 – via Newspapers.com.
Internet
- Smith, J. C. (Vergennes City Clerk) (March 15, 1892). "Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, Marriage Entry for Frank Leslie Fish and Mary "Minnie" Jane Lyon". Ancestry.com. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC.
- Smith, J. C. (Vergennes City Clerk) (October 2, 1893). "Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, Birth Entry for Sarah Katherine Fish". Ancestry.com. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC.
- Stone, George (Vergennes City Clerk) (September 6, 1917). "Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, Marriage Entry for Sarah Katherine Fish and William Atherton Knight". Ancestry.com. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC.
- "Connecticut Death Index, 1949-2001, Entry for Sarah Katherine Fish Knight". Ancestry.com. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. April 18, 1995.
- "Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Frederick L. Fish". Ancestry.com. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. April 17, 1980.
- "Connecticut Death Index, 1949-2012, Entry for Prudence B Bussey". Ancestry.com. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. October 30, 2000.