Fred A. Field

Frederick A. Field (usually referred to as Fred A. Field) was born in Brandon, Vermont on June 17, 1850, a son of Minerva (Davenport) Field and William M. Field, who served as sheriff of Rutland County, a member of the Vermont Senate, and president of the Rutland Savings Bank.[1][2][3] His family moved to Rutland in 1862 and Field was educated in the schools of Brandon and Rutland, and graduated from Burr and Burton Seminary in Manchester.[4]

Field began his career as a clerk in the Rutland post office and advanced to become Rutland's assistant postmaster from 1872 to 1884.[1] From 1884 to 1885, he was a U.S. postal inspector, with responsibility for law enforcement and oversight of an eighteen-state district.[1][4] In 1885, he was reappointed Rutland's assistant postmaster, and he served until 1889.[5]

A Republican, Field served Rutland village as a school board member and village trustee.[1] After Rutland was incorporated as a city, he served as its treasurer from 1894 to 1895.[1] He was the chairman of Rutland's Republican committee, and secretary and chairman of the Rutland County committee.[1]

From 1888 to 1893, Field served as Rutland's postmaster.[1] In addition to his work for the post office, Field operated an investment brokerage, which dealt in stocks, bonds, and real estate.[6]

A longtime civic activist, Fields' professional and fraternal memberships included the board of trustees of the Rutland Savings Bank and the Rutland Board of Trade, of which he was a charter member.[1] Field was also a director of Rutland's People's Gas Light Company, treasurer of Rutland's Evergreen Cemetery, treasurer of the State Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and secretary of the Rutland Improvement League.[1] In addition, he was also a member of the Masons, Knights of Pythias, and Elks.[1]

In 1898, Field was appointed U.S. Marshal for Vermont, succeeding Emory S. Harris.[7] He served until 1903, and was succeeded on a temporary basis by Frank H. Chapman.[8]

Field's commission was terminated by President Theodore Roosevelt on October 15, 1903.[9] The termination resulted from a June 1903 incident in which he was accused of dereliction and neglect after three Chinese prisoners he was transporting effected an escape.[9] Field argued that responsibility rested with the transportation company contracted to deport the prisoners, but when the incident became public knowledge, Field was removed from office.[9][10]

After Field was removed, Vermont's federal district judge, Hoyt Henry Wheeler appointed Chapman, then serving as Field's chief deputy, to temporarily fill the vacancy.[8] Chapman acted as marshal for five days, after which Horace W. Bailey was appointed as Field's permanent replacement.[11] Bailey then reappointed Chapman as chief deputy.[11]

After leaving office, Field was the principal of a Rutland real estate and insurance agency, Fred A. Field & Son.[2] Despite his advanced age, he remained active in the business until a few weeks before his death.[2] He maintained an interest in Rutland's civic life; in 1933 he was chairman of a Chamber of Commerce committee that successfully lobbied for construction of new federal building in Rutland.[2]

Field died in Rutland on April 18, 1935.[2] He was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Rutland.[12]

In 1873, Field married Lillie Clark (1854-1942) of Rutland.[1] They were the parents of three sons, Richard, William and Fred Jr.[1][2]

Field's siblings included Henry F. Field, who served as Vermont State Treasurer from 1890 to 1898.[3]

• Fred A. Field at Find a Grave