Frank L. Fish

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
From 1912's Encyclopedia of Vermont Biography

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.

Early life[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

  1. ^ Vermont, The Green Mountain State, p. 187.
  2. ^ a b "Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, Marriage Entry for Frank Leslie Fish and Mary "Minnie" Jane Lyon".
  3. ^ a b c d Vermont, The Green Mountain State, p. 188.
  4. ^ a b c d "Vermont Men of Today: Hon. Frank Leslie Fish", p. 318.
  5. ^ a b Norwich University, 1819-1911, p. 20.
  6. ^ a b "Fish Resigns Position", p. 10.
  7. ^ "Fish Withdraws from the Field", p. 1.
  8. ^ "Prouty Elected Governor By Old Time Republican Majority", p. 1.
  9. ^ a b Vermont, The Green Mountain State, p. 189.
  10. ^ "Judge Frank L. Fish", p. 7.
  11. ^ a b "Judge Fish To Succeed Taylor", p. 2.
  12. ^ "Chase Named To Supreme Bench", p. 1.
  13. ^ a b c "Justice F. L. Fish Dies Suddenly", p. 1.
  14. ^ "Justice F. L. Fish Goes To His Rest", p. 11.
  15. ^ a b "Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, Birth Entry for Sarah Katherine Fish".
  16. ^ "Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, Marriage Entry for Sarah Katherine Fish and William Atherton Knight".
  17. ^ "Connecticut Death Index, 1949-2001, Entry for Sarah Katherine Fish Knight".
  18. ^ "Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Frederick L. Fish".
  19. ^ "Connecticut Death Index, 1949-2012, Entry for Prudence B Bussey".

Sources[edit]

Books[edit]

  • 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[edit]

Newspapers[edit]

Internet[edit]

External links[edit]

Political offices
Preceded by Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
1926–1927 		Succeeded by
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