Windham

DAVENPORT, Charles Newton

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 95-96

Charles Newton DAVENPORT was born 20 October 1830 at Leyden [Franklin 
County], Massachusetts, son of Calvin N. and Lucy W. DAVENPORT. He received 
a common school education in his native town, which he afterwards 
supplemented by study at the Sherburne Falls Academy [Chittenden County, 
Vermont], and the Melrose Academy in West Brattleboro [Windham County, 
Vermont]. Electing to follow the legal profession, he prepared to do so by 
entering the office of Oscar L. SHAFTER, of Wilmington [Windham County], 
Vermont, where he continued for three years. At the April term of 1854 he 
was admitted as an attorney to the Windham County bar, and immediately 
entered into a copartnership with his preceptor, but this association was 
soon dissolved and Mr. SHAFTER removed to California. Mr. DAVENPORT 
purchased his law library and practice and succeeded to his position among 
the legal fraternity. In 1856 he was admitted to practice in the Vermont 
Supreme Court.

Mr. DAVENPORT was studious, careful, earnest and ambitious to attain 
professional distinction, and quickly took position as a leader of the bar in 
Windham and Bennington Counties, which he vigorously maintained for more than 
a quarter of a century. In April 1851 he received his former law pupil, 
Kittredge HASKINS, into partnership, and this connection continued for ten 
years. In March 1868 he transferred his residence and practice from 
Wilmington to Brattleboro [both in Windham County, Vermont], which town he 
thenceforward made his home. In June 1875 he received his friend, Jonathan 
G. EDDY, into copartnership. In the Federal courts of the Vermont district 
Mr. DAVENPORT gained great distinction and frequently appeared before the 
Supreme Court at Washington [Orange County, Vermont], where he was admitted 
to practice in 1876.

Mr. DAVENPORT was a Democrat, but always erratic, and in his later years 
usually styled himself an Independent. In the campaign of 1860, the 
distinction between the DOUGLAS and BRECKENRIDGE faction was most clearly 
marked and bitterly fought among the Vermont Democrats. Mr. DAVENPORT rose 
to the leadership of the DOUGLAS wing until it gained the control of the 
party in the state. Several times he was the Democratic candidate of his 
district for election to Congress. In 1863, and again in 1868, he was the 
Democratic nominee for Governor. Painful and deep-seated disease brought him 
[Charles Newton DAVENPORT] to his deathbed on 12 April 1882. His funeral 
from the Baptist church of Brattleboro [Windham County, Vermont] was largely 
attended by the citizens and by members of the Masonic fraternity, to which 
he had long belonged.

On 12 December 1854 Charles Newton DAVENPORT was married to [Miss?] Louisa 
HAYNES, of Lowell [Middlesex County], Massachusetts, who bore him six 
children, of whom four died young. Two still survive: Charles H. and 
Herbert. Mrs. [Louisa] DAVENPORT died 30 September 1870. On 06 November 
1871 Charles Newton DAVENPORT contracted a second alliance, with [Mrs.] 
Roxanna J. [DUNKLEE], widow of Henry DUNKLEE, of Brattleboro [Windham County, 
Vermont]. She [Roxanna J. DAVENPORT] died 22 May 1881.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly