Hoyt Henry Wheeler (August 30, 1833 – November 19, 1906) was an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court and later a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont.

Education and career

Wheeler was born on August 30, 1833, in Chesterfield, New Hampshire, a son of John Wheeler and Roxana (Hall) Wheeler. He was raised and educated in Chesterfield and Newfane, Vermont, including attendance at the Chesterfield Academy, where he later taught. He also taught at schools in Dummerston, Vermont, Newfane, Townshend, Vermont and Westminster, Vermont. Wheeler began to study law while teaching, and learned under the tutelage of attorneys Charles K. Field, Jonathan Dorr Bradley and

George Bradley Kellogg George Bradley Kellogg (November 6, 1826 – November 12, 1875) was a Vermont military and political figure who served as Adjutant General of the Vermont Militia and a Lieutenant Colonel in the 1st Vermont Cavalry during the American Civil War. ...

. He was admitted to the bar in 1859, and practiced in Jamaica from 1859 to 1867, first in partnership with John E. Butler, then as senior partner with Lavant M. Reed. A Republican, he was a member of the

Vermont House of Representatives The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members, with each member representing around 4,100 citizens. Representatives ar ...

in 1867. He was a member of the Vermont Senate from 1868 to 1869. He was an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court from 1869 to 1877, succeeding Justice John Prout.

Federal judicial service

Wheeler was nominated by President Rutherford B. Hayes on March 15, 1877, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Vermont vacated by Judge David Allen Smalley. According to contemporary accounts, Wheeler had not sought the appointment, but received it because he had made a favorable impression on Hayes when Hayes visited Newfane. (Hayes's family was originally from nearby Dummerston.) He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 16, 1877, and received his commission the same day. He retired in October 1906, following the confirmation of

James Loren Martin James Loren Martin (September 13, 1846 – January 14, 1915) was a Vermont lawyer, politician, and United States federal judge. The notable positions in which he served during his career included State's Attorney of Windham County, Speaker of th ...

as his successor.

Death and burial

Wheeler died in Brattleboro on November 19, 1906. He was buried at Morningside Cemetery in Brattleboro.

Family

In 1861, Wheeler married Minnie L. Maclay of Lockport, New York. They had no children, but raised as their own a nephew, John Knowlton, the son of Mrs. Wheeler's sister Elizabeth and her husband Benjamin L. Knowlton.

Honors

In 1886, Wheeler received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the University of Vermont.

References

Sources

Books

* * * *

Newspapers

* * * * * *

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Wheeler, Hoyt Henry 1833 births 1906 deaths People from Chesterfield, New Hampshire Vermont lawyers Republican Party members of the Vermont House of Representatives Republican Party Vermont state senators Justices of the Vermont Supreme Court Judges of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont United States federal judges appointed by Rutherford B. Hayes 19th-century American judges Burials in Vermont United States federal judges admitted to the practice of law by reading law