Abel Underwood
Abel Underwood | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Newbury | |
| In office 1861–1862 | |
| Preceded by | Henry W. Bailey |
| Succeeded by | William R. Shedd |
| Judge of the Vermont Circuit Court | |
| In office 1854–1857 | |
| Preceded by | Jacob Collamer |
| Succeeded by | None (position eliminated) |
| United States Attorney for the District of Vermont | |
| In office 1849–1853 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Linsley |
| Succeeded by | Lucius B. Peck |
| State's Attorney of Orange County, Vermont | |
| In office 1838–1839 | |
| Preceded by | Edmond Weston |
| Succeeded by | Elijah Farr |
| In office 1840–1841 | |
| Preceded by | Elijah Farr |
| Succeeded by | Elijah Farr |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 8, 1799 Bradford, Vermont |
| Died | April 22, 1879 (aged 80) Wells River, Vermont |
| Political party | Whig (before 1855) Republican (from 1855) |
| Spouse | Emily Rix |
| Relations | Levi Underwood (nephew) |
| Children | 5 |
| Profession | Attorney |
Abel Underwood (April 8, 1799 – April 22, 1879) was a Vermont lawyer, judge, and politician. A Whig and later a Republican, he was most notable for his service as United States Attorney for the District of Vermont (1849-1853) and a judge of the Vermont Circuit Court (1854-1857).
A native of Bradford, Vermont, Underwood attended the academy in Royalton, Vermont to prepare for a university education, and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1824. He read law with Isaac Fletcher, attained admission to the bar in 1827, and practiced in Wells River, Vermont. A Whig, he served as State's Attorney of Orange County (1838-1839, 1840-1841), U.S. Attorney during the presidencies of Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore (1849-1853), and a judge of the Vermont Circuit Court from 1854 until the court was abolished in 1857. He became a Republican when the party was founded in the 1850s, and served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1861 to 1862. Underwood died in Wells River in 1879.
Biography
[edit]Abel Underwood was born in Bradford, Vermont on April 8, 1799, the son of John Underwood and Mary (Fassett) Underwood.[1] Having decided early on a legal career, Underwood attended the academy in Royalton to prepare for a university education, and taught school to help pay his expenses.[2] Underwood then enrolled at Dartmouth College, from which he graduated in 1824.[3]
After receiving his degree, Underwood studied law with Isaac Fletcher in Danville, and attained admission to the bar in 1827.[3] Underwood practiced in partnership with Fletcher for a year, then moved to Wells River to establish his own office.[3] Initially unsuccessful, Underwood relocated to Dexter, Maine, but returned to Wells River a year later.[2] His practice became successful after his return to Wells River, and Underwood became one of Vermont's most prominent corporation attorneys, with his specialty being railroad rights of way and construction.[2] Underwood was also involved in business and finance, and was president of the Bank of Newbury.[4]
Active in politics as a Whig,[5] Underwood served as State's Attorney of Orange County from 1838 to 1839, and again from 1840 to 1841.[3] In 1843, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Vermont Senate.[5] In 1849 he was appointed United States Attorney for the District of Vermont, and he served until 1853.[3] In 1854 he was appointed a judge of the Vermont Circuit Court, succeeding Jacob Collamer following Collamer's election to the United States Senate.[2][3] He served on the bench until 1857, when Vermont abolished its circuit courts and Underwood's position was eliminated.[3] By now a Republican,[6] from 1861 to 1862, Underwood served as Newbury's member of the Vermont House of Representatives.[3] In 1867, Underwood was appointed federal Register in Bankruptcy for Vermont's 2nd congressional district, and he served until his death.[3]
Death
[edit]Underwood died in Wells River on April 22, 1879.[7]
Family
[edit]In 1827, Underwood married Emily Rix of Royalton.[1] Their children included Elizabeth, George, Emily, Mary Ellen, and Susan.[8]
Abel Underwood was the uncle of Levi Underwood, the son of Abel Underwood's brother Silas.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b The Underwood Families of America, p. 91.
- ^ a b c d Gazetteer of Orange County, Vt., 1762-1888, p. 113.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i The Underwood Families of America, p. 92.
- ^ The Underwood Families of America, pp. 92–93.
- ^ a b "Election of Senators -- Official", p. 2.
- ^ "Death of Judge Underwood", p. 2.
- ^ The Underwood Families of America, p. 93.
- ^ The Underwood Families of America, pp. 91–92.
- ^ The Underwood Families of America, pp. 75–76.
Sources
[edit]Books
[edit]- Child, Hamilton (1888). Gazetteer of Orange County, Vt., 1762-1888. Vol. Part 1. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse Journal Company.
- Underwood, Lucien Marcus (1913). The Underwood Families of America. Vol. 1. Lancaster, PA: New Era Printing Company.
Newspapers
[edit]- "Election of Senators -- Official". Vermont Watchman and State Journal. 22 September 1843 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Death of Judge Underwood". Argus and Patriot. 30 April 1879.
- 1799 births
- 1879 deaths
- People from Bradford, Vermont
- Vermont Whigs
- Vermont lawyers
- State's attorneys in Vermont
- United States Attorneys for the District of Vermont
- Vermont state court judges
- 19th-century American judges
- 19th-century American lawyers
- Republican Party members of the Vermont House of Representatives
- 19th-century American legislators