Philadelphus

by | Mar 14, 2018 | Philadelphus

How Can We Help?
You are here:
< Back

Elliot M. Sutton (October 13, 1841 - March 5, 1908) was a Vermont businessman and politician. A Democrat, among the offices in which he served was mayor of Burlington (1898-1899) and member of the Vermont Senate (1902-1904).

Early life

Elliot M. Sutton (sometimes spelled "Elliott" and frequently abbreviated E. M. Sutton) was born in Oxford, Connecticut, on October 13, 1841.[1] His family moved to Burlington, Vermont in 1850, and Sutton was educated in the public schools of Burlington and Burlington High School.[1]

Sutton was working as a photographer when he registered for the Union Army draft during the American Civil War.[2][a] In 1864, he moved to South Carolina, where he purchased a plantation and lived for a year.[3]

By 1865, Sutton had returned to Burlington, where he owned and operated a restaurant, the City Coffee House.[4][5] He was later involved in several other business ventures, including owning apartments and commercial buildings, working as a real estate broker, and operating a lumber dealership.[6][7] He also took part in civic activities, including joining the volunteer fire department's Hook and Ladder Company Number 1, of which he served as auditor.[8] Sutton later sponsored another fire company, which was christened E. M. Sutton Hose Company in his honor.[9]

Anti-prohibition activist

Sutton was both a supporter of the Temperance movement and an opponent of Prohibition.[10] He was investigated on several occasions for violating Vermont's law prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcohol.[10] In August 1867, the city constable searched his home and confiscated three pints of whiskey.[11] Sutton defended himself in a trial before the city recorder and won a dismissal of the charges and return of his liquor.[11]

In January 1869, he was found guilty on four counts of selling liquor at the City Coffee House, and paid an $80 fine.[12] In February 1869, he was convicted of one count, and fined $20.[13] In May 1869, he was again charged for violating the law, and the charges were dismissed.[14] In October 1869, he once again faced charges for selling alcohol at his restaurant.[15] He pleaded guilty and was fined $20.[15]

In August 1873, law enforcement officers searched his home in the early morning hours and discovered a workman leaving the premises with two jugs of liquor.[16] Upon entering Sutton's basement, they found him packing bottles of whiskey for transport and observed him emptying a washtub and another container.[16] Police seized bottles and other supplies and equipment.[16] In January 1874, police again searched Sutton's home, but found nothing incriminating.[17]

In 1882, Sutton paid a $50 fine after pleading guilty to five counts of illegally selling liquor.[18] In 1889, a search of his barn uncovered a secret tunnel with a concealed entrance in the cellar, which led to a hidden storage room.[19] Authorities discovered several containers of high wines, as well as bottles, coloring, flavoring, and other ingredients, all of which they seized.[19] As Vermont began to market itself as a tourist destination, the prohibition on alcohol sales was subject to lax enforcement.[20] For example, by the 1890s Urban A. Woodbury, the owner of Burlington's Van Ness House hotel, was openly serving alcohol.[20]

Political career

Early activity

Sutton developed an interest in worker's rights.[21] He was a member of Burlington's first Workingmen's Union, and served as its president.[21] In September 1867 he was appointed to a committee that attempted to enlarge the organization, first to the rest of Chittenden County, and then statewide.[22]

In the 1860s, Sutton became active in local politics and government as a Democrat, and took part in several of the party's local and state nominating caucuses and conventions.[23][24][25] He also served for several years as chairman of the Burlington and Chittenden County Democratic Committees.[26][27]

In 1874, Sutton was nominated for alderman from Burlington's fifth ward.[28] He won the March election with 212 votes to 170 for Republican candidate S. M. Pope.[29] He was nominated for reelection to a two-year term in 1876.[30] In the general election, Republican E. R. Hard won with 205 votes to 202 for Sutton.[31] He ran again in 1877, and was defeated by Archibald Taylor, 217 to 183.[32]

In 1884, Sutton was again a candidate for alderman, and lost to Republican J. W. Goodell, 235 to 214.[33] In March 1886, he was elected again to the board of aldermen, receiving 292 votes to 191 for J. W. Goodell.[34] In September 1886, Sutton was an unsuccessful candidate for the Vermont Senate, placing fourth in the race for three at-large seats.[35]

In March 1887, Sutton was an unsuccessful candidate for mayor, losing to Republican William W. Henry by a vote of 1084 to 769.[36] In April 1887, he was elected president of the board of aldermen.[37] He completed his term as alderman and board president in April 1888.[38] In 1890, Sutton was the Democratic nominee for mayor and lost to William A. Crombie, 1041 votes to 817.[36] In April 1893, the board of aldermen elected Sutton as street commissioner and he served until May 1896.[39][40]

In June 1893, Sutton was appointed as U.S. Inspector of Chinese Immigration for Vermont, a position created as part of the Geary Act.[41] He succeeded John Halstead and was based in Richford, near the Canadian border.[41] He served until June 1897, when the position was discontinued.[42]

Mayor of Burlington

Sutton was the Democratic nominee for mayor in March 1898, and defeated Republican Hamilton S. Peck by a vote of 1351 to 1312.[43] His term was marked by a contentious relationship with Burlington's Republicans, who opposed many of his initiatives, including suing to prevent the police chief Sutton appointed from assuming his duties.[44] Sutton's appointment was overturned and the previous chief resumed serving.[44] In March 1899, Sutton was defeated for reelection by Republican Robert Roberts, 1491 to 1464.[45]

Later in 1899, Sutton spoke publicly in opposition to the court decision concerning the chief of police, and was indicted for defaming the Vermont Supreme Court.[46] His appeals against the indictment were overruled in 1901 and the case was remanded for trial.[47] Motions and appeals kept the case active until March 1904, when the State's Attorney of Washington County declined to prosecute and the charge was dismissed.[48]

State Senate

In 1902, Sutton was one of the Democratic nominees for Chittenden County's three at-large seats in the Vermont Senate.[49] In the September general election, Democrats in Chittenden County were aided by the anti-establishment Republican supporters of Percival W. Clement and succeeded in electing Sutton, who was the third-place finisher.[49][50] He served one term, October 1902 to October 1904.[51] Sutton was a member of the committees on elections and railroads, and chairman of the committee on printing. He was not a candidate for reelection.[52]

Death and burial

In the last three years of his life, Sutton was often in ill health and was cared for by his daughter.[1] He died at her home in Johnson, Vermont on March 5, 1908.[1] Sutton was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington.[53]

Family

In 1863, he married Martha O'Brien of Burlington.[54] Sutton paid a $7 fine in early 1882 after pleading guilty to assaulting her.[55] She sued for divorce on the grounds of intolerable cruelty, won her case in late 1882 and received both a divorce and the right to resume using her maiden name.[56] In 1886, Sutton married Hattie L. (Ballou) Hurlburt of Worcester, Massachusetts.[57] They were married until September 1907, when Elliot Sutton obtained a divorce on the grounds of desertion.[58]

In January 1884, Sutton had a daughter, Inez, with Alice Guyette.[59][60] Inez May Sutton (1884-1916) graduated from Edmunds High School in 1902 and became a teacher.[59] In 1905, she married Dr. Lyndhurst P. Holcomb of Johnson.[59] They were the parents of a son, Harold (1906-1976).[59][61]

Notes

  1. ^ Obituaries and some other biographical sources indicate that Sutton served in the Union Army, but provide no pertinent details. A thorough search of relevant sources shows his name is not included in muster rolls, payrolls, pension records, or any other Civil War-era military documents.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Death of E. M. Sutton".
  2. ^ "U.S. Civil War Draft Registrations Records".
  3. ^ "The Department of the South".
  4. ^ "Proceedings of the City Council".
  5. ^ "City Coffee House".
  6. ^ "Building -- E. M. Sutton".
  7. ^ Manual of the Legislature of Vermont, p. 88.
  8. ^ "Hook and Ladder Company".
  9. ^ "The Firemen's Parade".
  10. ^ a b "Choosing Delegates to the Temperance Convention".
  11. ^ a b "Every Man His Own Lawyer".
  12. ^ "City Court: E. M. Sutton".
  13. ^ "Justice Court: E. M. Sutton".
  14. ^ "Before Judge Shaw".
  15. ^ a b "Chittenden County Court: Elliot M. Sutton".
  16. ^ a b c "The Liquor Law".
  17. ^ "Search was Made".
  18. ^ "Domestic Secular News".
  19. ^ a b "Found at Last".
  20. ^ a b "1903: Regulating the Traffic in Intoxicating Liquor".
  21. ^ a b "Workingmen's Union".
  22. ^ "Workingmen's Union Working Committee".
  23. ^ "The Democrats of Chittenden County".
  24. ^ "Democratic Convention".
  25. ^ "Democratic Caucus".
  26. ^ "Chittenden County Democratic Town Committees".
  27. ^ "Chittenden County Democratic Convention".
  28. ^ "Lawrence Barnes for Mayor".
  29. ^ "The Results for Alderman".
  30. ^ "Democratic City Nominations".
  31. ^ "Sweeping Republican Victory".
  32. ^ "City Election: Ward Five".
  33. ^ "Our City Election was the Most Lively".
  34. ^ "Our City Election".
  35. ^ "The Vote for State Senators".
  36. ^ a b "City Election".
  37. ^ "Burlington's New City Government".
  38. ^ "The City Government".
  39. ^ "Election of City Officials: E. M. Sutton".
  40. ^ "Personal Mention: E. M. Sutton".
  41. ^ a b "E. M. Sutton Appointed Commissioner of Immigration".
  42. ^ "General Vermont News: E. M. Sutton".
  43. ^ "Sutton Triumphant".
  44. ^ a b "Smith Gets the Decision".
  45. ^ "City Elections".
  46. ^ "Indictment of Ex-Mayor Sutton".
  47. ^ "Case of E. M. Sutton was Remanded for Trial".
  48. ^ "Case Against E. M. Sutton Nol Prossed".
  49. ^ a b "The County Ticket" (1902).
  50. ^ "Fusion in Burlington".
  51. ^ Manual of the Legislature of Vermont, pp. 16–17.
  52. ^ "The County Ticket" (1904).
  53. ^ "The Late E. M. Sutton".
  54. ^ "Marriage Entry for Elliot M. Sutton and Martha O'Brien".
  55. ^ "Come to Grief".
  56. ^ "Sutton vs. Sutton".
  57. ^ "Marriages: E. M. Sutton and Hattie L. Hurlburt".
  58. ^ "Divorce E. M. Sutton".
  59. ^ a b c d "Death or Mrs. L. P. Holcomb".
  60. ^ "Marriage Entry for Inez M. Sutton and Lyndhurst P. Holcomb".
  61. ^ "Obituary, Howard Elliott Holcomb".

Sources

Newspapers

Internet

Books

Categories
Table of Contents