STAFFORD, WENDELL PHILLIPS, son of Frank and Sarah (NOYES) STAFFORD,
was born at Barre, Vermont, May 1, 1861. His grandfather, John Stevens
STAFFORD, was an active and original abolitionist, and his father cherished
the same principles, and was an ardent admirer of the great apostle of
freedom for whom his son was named; Wendell graduated from Barre academy
in 1878, and from St. Johnsbury academy in 1880, and three years later
graduated with the rank of cum laude from the law department of Boston
university. With Hon. Henry C. IDE he formed in 1884 the firm of IDE &
STAFFORD, which continued until 1890, after which he practiced alone.
He married Miss Florence S. GOSS, daughter of John and Martha (SINCLAIR)
GOSS, in February, 1886, at St. Johnsbury, where he has resided since May,
1879. In 1892 he was elected to the legislature from St. Johnsbury, on
a citizens ticket, after a spirited canvass, and served in that body as
a member of the judiciary committee and advocated weekly payments and municipal
suffrage for women. He was reporter of the decisions of the supreme court
of Vermont from December, 1896, to July, 1900, and as such edited the 69th,
70th, and 71st volumes of Vermont Reports. He was president of the Vermont
Bar association 1898-1899.
In June, 1900, he was a candidate for the Republican nomination
to congress in the second district convention. He was appointed a judge
of the supreme court of Vermont July 2, 1900, and has continued to fill
that position by successive elections. He delivered the oration at the
unveiling of the statue of Robert Burns at Barre, Vermont, July 21, 1899,
was a speaker at the banquet of the Republican club in New York in February,
1902, and has lectured frequently in Vermont and occasionally in Boston
and New York. There have been two children of said marriage, a son, Edward,
born September 11, 1889, still living; a son, Robert Sinclair, born September
20, 1894, who died May 24, 1901.
Source: Successful Vermonters,
William H. Jeffrey, E. Burke, Vermont, The Historical Publishing Company,
1904, page 52.
Prepared
by Tom Dunn January 2003
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