THE SUPREME COURT OF VERMONT.
V.
By Russell S. Taft.
The father of Herman R. Beardsley came from Connecticut to Grand Isle soon after 1800. Herman was placed in charge of Asa Lyon, a more learned and accomplished classical scholar than whom did not live in those times; under his tuition Mr. Beardsley entered the University of Vermont in 1819, but left in his Junior year and studied law with Bates Turner of St. Albans, and afterwards with Asa Aldis, both of whom were judges of the Supreme Court. He settled and thereafter lived in St. Albans. His practice was great for a period of more than fifty years. In 1865, upon the resignation of Judge Asa Owen Aldis, he was appointed judge. His life had been passed in the active engagements of the advocate; and the duties of the judicial position were not congenial. As an advocate, he was successful, and his place was evidently within the Bar, not upon the Bench.
He was a genuine scholar, a brilliant lawyer, and an eloquent advocate. He resigned his position as judge in November, after the election of William C. Wilson as his successor, to take effect on the 1st of December. He never sat in the Supreme Court.
William C. Wilson, a native of Cambridge, studied law with Homer E. Hubbell of Fairfax and afterwards at Mr. Turner's law school in St. Albans. During his professional life he resided in Bakersfield. He was appointed judge in the place of Mr. Beardsley, resigned November, 1865, having at the session of the Legislature that year been elected for the term beginning on the 1st of December. He removed to St. Albans in the summer of 1867, but after a residence of two or three years, returned to Bakersfield. He served as judge until 1870, and then removed to Minnesota, residing there until his death. During his professional life in Bakersfield, he established a law school there, and educated in it, and in his office, a large number of students, probably in the vicinity of eighty. After leaving the Bench, he did not resume professional work. His son, W. D. Wilson, is in the profession in this State, and a son-in-law, Mr. Tyler, in Minnesota, and another son-in-law, Judge Start, holds a judicial position in the latter state.
Benjamin Hinman Steele at the time of his election was the youngest person ever given a seat upon the Bench of the Supreme Court. He was born in the Province of Quebec, the only judge of foreign birth, although not a foreigner, for his parents were of Vermont origin and citizens of the State, temporarily residing abroad.
During youth, he was frail in body, of a peculiar temperament, silent and thoughtful, and at times quite social. His mind was clear and analytic, and when a boy, could state his propositions with remarkable clearness, skill and force. He had a marked fondness for books and study, and when quite young, was a teacher in the advanced schools; was a student at the academies of Stanstead and Derby, had a Catholic priest for a tutor, was months learning French at the college of St. Pierre, was at Norwich University, and then at Dartmouth College, at which institution he graduated at the early age of twenty. He was principal of the Barton academy, studying law at the same time; was compelled to leave his school and studies by typhoid fever, and upon his recovery went to the Law School at Harvard, was examined at Boston for admission to the Bar by Benj. F. Butler, who took occasion, in recommending-
