Lamoille

POWERS, Horace Henry

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 323-325

Horace Henry POWERS, of Morrisville [Lamoille County, Vermont], was born 29 
May 1835 in Morristown [Lamoille County, Vermont], son of Horace and Love E. 
(GILMAN) POWERS. He is a descendant of Walter POWERS, who emigrated to this 
country in the early part of the seventeenth century. He prepared for his 
college course by study in the People's Academy at Morristown, entered the 
University of Vermont, and graduated therefrom in 1855. The two years 
immediately following his graduation were passed in teaching school at 
Huntingdon, Canada East, and in Hyde Park [Lamoille County, Vermont]. 
During this period he began the study of law under the direction of Thomas 
GLEED of Morristown, and subsequently continued it under that of Child & 
Ferrin of Hyde Park. Admitted to the bar of Lamoille County in May 1858, he 
settled in Hyde Park, and there practiced his profession until March 1862. 
He then formed a law partnership with P. K. GLEED at Morrisville, and 
continued with him until December 1874, when he was elevated to the bench of 
the Supreme Court. Throughout the whole of these years his firm enjoyed a 
large and comparatively lucrative practice in the counties of Lamoille, 
Orleans, Caledonia, and Franklin. His professional standing was fully equal 
to that of the best in northern Vermont.

Independently of his high judicial position, Judge [Horace Henry] POWERS has 
worthily and satisfactorily filled many other public offices. He represented 
Hyde Park in the Vermont Legislature of 1858 and was the youngest member of 
the House; in the session of 1872 represented Lamoille County in the Senate, 
where he served on the judiciary committee and was chairman of the committee 
on railroads; in 1861 and 1862 was state's attorney for Lamoille County; in 
1869 a member of the last Council of Censors; and in 1870 was a member of the 
state Constitutional Convention which effected the change from annual to 
biennial sessions of the Legislature. He acted as chairman in committee of 
the whole. His sole connection with financial institutions is that of 
director of the Lamoille County National Bank, an office he has held since 
1865.

In 1874 he represented Morristown, was chosen speaker of the House and 
received his first election to the bench. In 1890 Judge POWERS was elected 
to the Fifty-second Congress from the first Vermont district, and in 1892 was 
chairman of the Vermont delegation to the Republican national convention at 
Minneapolis, and was elected to the Fifty-third Congress. As lawyer, 
legislator, or jurist, Judge POWERS has always commanded the admiration of 
his fellow citizens. On 11 October 1858 Judge Horace Henry POWERS was 
married to Caroline E., daughter of V. W. and Adeline WATERMAN, of Morristown 
[Lamoille County, Vermont]. Two children are the issue: Carrie L., and 
George M.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly