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SLACK, LEIGHTON P., son of Joel B. and Mary (FULLAM) SLACK, was
born in Woodstock, Vermont, June 18, 1867. He is a descendant from William
SLACK, who came to Massachusetts from Yorkshire, England, in the latter
part of the seventeenth century. Through his father's mother, Prudence
BARTLETT, he traces. his ancestry to Josiah BARTLETT of Declaration of
Independence fame. His maternal ancestry is directly traceable to Hon.
Francis FULLAM, who moved to Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1683 from Fullam
Place, near London, England, and was for many years a judge of the superior
colonial court of Massachusetts and for seventeen years a member of the
colonial legislature of the same colony.
He received his early education in the common schools of his native
town and at Black River academy at Ludlow, Vermont; studied law with Hon.
S. C. SHURTLEFF and Judge M. E. SMILIE, at Montpelier; was admitted to
the bar of this state at the October term, 1892, and two years later to
the district and circuit courts of the United States. During his years
in the academy and while pursuing his legal studies, he taught school successfully
in various towns in Windham and Washington counties. Soon after his admission
to the bar he located in Barre, where he formed a partnership with Frank
J. MARTIN, Esq., of that city. This arrangement continued until May, 1895,
when he moved to St. Johnsbury and formed the partnership with Hon. Alexander
DUNNETT, which still exists. The firm of DUNNETT & SLACK is one of
the leading law firms of the state, and enjoys an extensive practice in
both the state and federal courts.
Mr. SLACK is a careful, studious, and painstaking lawyer; thorough
in the investigation and preparation of his cases, and frank and candid
with his clients and with the court. During his term as state's attorney
of Caledonia county, -- from 1898 to 1900, -- he won the confidence and
admiration of all law abiding people by his thorough and fearless enforcement
of the law. During this term he prepared the first indictment, under our
so-called Bucket-Shop law, ever sustained by the supreme court of the state.
The appreciation of his services was shown by the almost universal demand
for his reelection. This he, however, declined, in order that he might
devote his entire time to the general practice of his chosen profession.
He married in August, 1894, Estelle H., daughter of W. H. H. and
Emily MEARS of Marshfield, Vermont. She died in April, 1896. He contracted
a second alliance July 11th, 1899, with Leah E. MEARS, a sister of his
former wife. They have one child, Ruth Estelle. In his religious views
he is a Congregationalist, and is a member of the North Congregational
church of St. Johnsbury. He is a past chancellor of Apollo lodge, Knights
of Pythias, a member of the Grand lodge of Vermont, and of the Grand Tribune
of the latter body. He is also a member of Passumpsic lodge, No. 27, F.
& A. M.; Haswell chapter, No. 11, of Royal Arch Masons; Palestine Commandery
and the Mystic Shrine. He is at present high priest of Haswell chapter.
Source: Successful Vermonters,
William H. Jeffrey, E. Burke, Vermont, The Historical Publishing Company,
1904, page 50-52.
Prepared
by Tom Dunn January 2003
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