Charles Bayley Adams (September 2, 1887 – February 6, 1961) was a Vermont politician, judge and attorney who served as President of the Vermont State Senate and a justice of the Vermont Supreme Court.

Early life

edit

Charles Bayley Adams was born in Randolph, Vermont on September 2, 1887, a son of Jairus B. Adams and Effie (Thurston) Adams.[1] He was educated in the public schools of Randolph, and graduated from the State Normal School in Randolph in 1905 and Montpelier Seminary in 1907.[1]

Adams received his bachelor of laws degree from the University of Maine School of Law in 1913 and settled in Waterbury, Vermont, where he established a law practice.[2][3][4][5][6]

Start of career

edit

A Republican, Adams served in local offices including town lister (1917–1918), and town clerk and village clerk (1919 – 1937).[1] From 1920 to 1926 he served as Washington County State's Attorney.[1]

Adams was elected to the Vermont Senate in 1930 and served two terms, 1931 to 1935.[1] From 1933 to 1935 he was the Senate's President Pro Tem.[7]

In 1934 Adams was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives.[1] He was reelected in 1936, and served from 1935 until 1937, when he resigned.[8][9]

Judicial career

edit

Adams resigned from the House to accept appointment as a Judge of the Vermont Superior Court, where he served from 1937 to 1949.[10]

In 1949 Adams was elevated to the Vermont Supreme Court, succeeding the retiring John S. Buttles, and he served as an associate justice until retiring in 1959.[11][12]

Death and burial

edit

Adams died in Burlington on February 9, 1961.[13][14] He was buried at Hope Cemetery in Waterbury.[15]

Family

edit

In 1916, Adams married Jeanette Metzger of Randolph.[1] They were the parents of two children, Charles and Catherine.[1]

Adams' son Charles J. Adams served as Vermont Attorney General from 1962 to 1963.[16][17]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Charles Adams, Retired State Supreme Court Justice, Dies". Rutland Herald. Rutland, VT. February 7, 1961. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Vermont Secretary of State, Legislative Directory, 1947, page 589
  3. ^ James Clark Fifield, The American Bar, 1918, page 674
  4. ^ Phi Kappa Phi fraternity, Journal of Phi Kappa Phi, Volumes 1-6, 1915, page 44
  5. ^ University of Maine at Orono, Annual Catalog, 1913, page 240
  6. ^ University of Maine Alumni Association, Alumni Directory, 1921, page 108
  7. ^ Vermont Secretary of State, Legislative Directory, 1955, page 594
  8. ^ Vermont Secretary of State, Legislative Directory, 1935, page 484
  9. ^ Vermont Secretary of State, Legislative Directory, 1941, page 620
  10. ^ Vermont Secretary of State, Legislative Directory, 1957, page 606
  11. ^ University of Maine at Orono, The Maine Alumnus, Volume 30, Issue 5, 1949
  12. ^ George Derby, James Terry White, The National Cyclopædia of American Biography, Volume 49, 1966
  13. ^ Vermont Bar Association, Annual Meeting Proceedings, 1961, page 24
  14. ^ Vermont Death Records, entry for Charles Bayley Adams, accessed July 4, 2012
  15. ^ "Funeral of Judge Adams". Barre Montpelier Times Argus. Barre, VT. February 11, 1961. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Mrs. Jeanette Adams Dies, had Active Life". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. November 25, 1975. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Obituary, Charles J. Adams". Times Argus. Barre, VT. May 17, 2008. Archived from the original on February 8, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
Political offices
Preceded by President pro tempore of the Vermont Senate
1933 – 1935
Succeeded by
Preceded by Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
1949 – 1959
Succeeded by