Windsor

FRENCH, Warren Converse

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, p 148 
(portrait p 147)

Warren Converse FRENCH, of Woodstock [Windsor County, Vermont], was born 08 
July 1819 in Randolph [Orange County, Vermont], son of Joseph Wales and Polly 
(CONVERSE) FRENCH. He was educated at the common schools and the Orange 
County grammar school at Randolph. His father was the oldest son of Gen. 
John FRENCH, one of the early settlers of Randolph, who was brigadier general 
of state militia at the time of the last war with England [War of 1812] and 
marched with his brigade to Burlington [Chittenden County, Vermont] at the 
time of the British invasion in 1814, Jacob COLLAMER, then a young lawyer of 
Randolph, being one of his aids-de-camp.

He studied law with Tracey & Converse at Woodstock and was admitted to the 
bar of Windsor County court at the May term, 1844, commencing practice at 
Sharon, where he remained until 1857. Upon the election of Hon. James 
BARRETT to the bench, he was invited by his uncle, Mr. CONVERSE, to remove to 
Woodstock and succeed Judge BARRETT in the firm of Barrett & Converse. In 
this firm he remained a partner until 01 July 1865, when Mr. CONVERSE retired 
from the profession and was succeeded by Mr. William E. JOHNSON. This 
connection lasted until July 1868, after which for some time Mr. FRENCH 
continued the practice of his profession by himself. In July 1879 he formed 
a partnership with his son-in-law, Frederick C. SOUTHGATE, and this 
arrangement still exists. He has been in full and active practice, mostly in 
Windsor and Orange Counties, from his admission to the bar, and has been 
engaged in many important civil and criminal cases.

In politics he was a Whig until the organization of the Republican party 
[1854], of which he has since been a steady adherent. He was a member of the 
Constitutional Convention of 1850; the first state's attorney for Windsor 
County elected by the people under the amended constitution of 1850, and 
state senator in 1858 and 1859. He represented Woodstock [in the Vermont 
Legislature] in 1876 and was the same year a member of the national committee 
which nominated Mr. [Rutherford B.] HAYES. In religious belief he is a 
Congregationalist, and was superintendent of the Sunday school for many years. 
On 19 September 1849 at Sharon [Windsor County, Vermont] Mr. [Warren 
Converse] FRENCH was married to Sarah A., daughter of Hon. William and Lydia 
(GLEASON) STEELE. They have been blessed with six children: (1) Mary, Mrs. 
William H. BROOKS, deceased; (2) Anna, Mrs. Frederick C. SOUTHGATE; (3) 
Lillie, Mrs. Harold S. DANA; (4) Warren C. Jr.; (5) William Steele; and (6) 
John.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly