Windsor

MARSH, Charles Phelps

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 255-256

Charles Phelps MARSH, late of Woodstock [Windsor County, Vermont], was born 
07 January 1816 in Wethersfield [Weathersfield, Windsor County, Vermont], son 
of John and Amstis [Anstis?] MARSH. He came of distinguished ancestry, the 
first progenitor of the family being John MARSH, who organized a colony in 
Connecticut in 1635. The subject of this sketch graduated from the 
University of Vermont in 1839, commenced the study of law in the office of 
Chandler & Billings of Woodstock, and was admitted to the bar in 1843 at the 
Mary term of the Windsor County court. A year later Mr. MARSH formed a 
partnership with Peter T. WASHBURN, Esq., which continued for a quarter of a 
century. During these years of active professional life he held several high 
positions of honor and trust, and for four years was state's attorney for 
Windsor County; in 1870 a member of the Constitutional Committee; in 1886 and 
1888 represented Woodstock in the House of Representatives; was for many 
years one of the assistant judges of Windsor County court, and the bar of his 
own county and lawyers from other counties having cases at Woodstock were 
content with his judgment and rulings as with those of a regular presiding 
judge from the supreme bench. A stranger would have hardly selected him as 
one to lead in an "end of the century" body of legislators, yet in the House 
of 240 members, made up largely of farmers, this faultlessly dressed lawyer 
of courtly but not new-fashioned manner did lead, and the secret was an open 
one; he was a clear-headed, candid gentleman, one fit to represent Woodstock.

Politically an original Harrison and Clay Whig, and became an adherent of the 
Republican party when it was formed in 1854. He was a member of the Masonic 
fraternity and the society of Odd Fellows. In 1842, while a law student, he 
edited the "Whig Advocate," a campaign paper, and with such care and ability 
that it attained a great circulation and won him deserved praise. Was always 
a strong friend of education, an earnest advocate of morality and whatever 
tended to the promotion of the public good. His talents both in business and 
in a judicial way were particularly administrative, and he ever evinced a 
mastery of the situation whatever might be the emergency. His life was such 
in all his relations with his fellowmen that it is not to be wondered at that 
his [Charles Phelps MARR's] death, which occurred 13 January 1893, was so 
generally mourned in Vermont. On 05 [02?] July 1844 he [Charles Phelps MARR] 
was married to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Worthington WRIGHT. Four 
sons were born to them, the oldest of whom alone survives: John W. MARSH, 
Esq., a lawyer now residing in Chicago [Cook County, Illinois]. Mrs. MARSH 
died in 1854 and Judge [Charles Phelps] MARSH contracted a second alliance, 
in 1859, with [Miss?] Amelia BRAYTON, of Swanton [Franklin County, Vermont], 
who survives him.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly