Elliot M. Sutton | |
---|---|
Member of the Vermont Senate from Chittenden County | |
In office October 1, 1902 – October 5, 1904 Serving with
Chauncey W. Brownell, Charles J. Russell | |
Preceded by | William H. H. Varney, Rufus E. Brown, William J. Fuller |
Succeeded by | Calvin S. Isham, Charles S. Ashley |
Mayor of Burlington, Vermont | |
In office April 4, 1898 – April 3, 1899 | |
Preceded by | Hamilton S. Peck |
Succeeded by | Robert Roberts |
President of the Burlington, Vermont Board of Aldermen | |
In office April 4, 1887 – April 2, 1888 | |
Preceded by | E. J. Booth |
Succeeded by | E. J. Booth |
Member of the Burlington, Vermont Board of Aldermen | |
In office April 5, 1886 – April 2, 1888 | |
Preceded by | J. W. Goodell |
Succeeded by | J. W. Goodell |
Constituency | Ward 5 |
In office April 6, 1874 – April 3, 1876 | |
Preceded by | G. S. Appleton (from South Ward) |
Succeeded by | E. R. Hard |
Constituency | Ward 5 |
Personal details | |
Born | Oxford, Connecticut | October 13, 1841
Died | March 5, 1908 Johnson, Vermont | (aged 66)
Resting place | Lakeview Cemetery, Burlington, Vermont |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Martha O'Brien (m. 1863-1884, div.) Hattie L. (Ballou) Hurlburt (m. 1886-1907, div.) |
Children | 1 |
Profession | Businessman |
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).
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]