Kittredge Haskins
Encyclopedia
Kittredge Haskins was a Vermont
lawyer and politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives
.
Born in Dover, Vermont
, Haskins attended the public schools and received instruction from a private tutor.
He studied law and was admitted to the bar
in 1858. Commencing private practice
in Wilmington, Vermont
, he moved to Williamsville
in 1861 and continued the practice of law.
During the American Civil War
, Haskins enlisted
as a private
in Company I, 16th Vermont Infantry
on August 23, 1862. He was commissioned first lieutenant
on September 20 of that year and served until March 19, 1863, when he resigned on account of disabilities. Haskins returned to Vermont and settled in Brattleboro
. He entered the government service as a civil employee in the office of the assistant quartermaster
of Volunteers and served in that capacity until the close of the war.
After the end of the war Haskins resumed the practice of law. He was appointed colonel
and chief of staff
to Governor
Peter T. Washburn
in 1869 and served as member of the Republican state committee
from 1869 to 1872.
Haskins served as a state's attorney
from 1870 to 1872 and as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives
from 1872 to 1874. Haskins served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont from October 1880 to July 1887 and was a member of the Vermont Senate
from 1892 to 1894. Haskins served as chairman of the Vermont Board of Commissioners to establish the boundary line between Vermont and Massachusetts
from 1892 to 1900.
Haskins returned to the state House from 1896 to 1900, serving as speaker
from 1898 to 1900.
Haskins was elected as a Republican
to the 57th
and to the three succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1901 to March 3, 1909. He served as chairman of the Committee on War Claims during the 60th Congress
. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1908.
Haskins served as judge of the municipal court in Brattleboro in 1910 and as postmaster
of Brattleboro from 1912 to 1915. He died in Brattleboro on August 7, 1916 and is interred in Prospect Hill Cemetery.
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
lawyer and politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
Born in Dover, Vermont
Dover, Vermont
Dover is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,410 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 35.3 square miles , all land...
, Haskins attended the public schools and received instruction from a private tutor.
He studied law and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1858. Commencing private practice
Practice of law
In its most general sense, the practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents for clients, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings such as lawsuits, and is applied to the professional services of a lawyer or attorney at law, barrister,...
in Wilmington, Vermont
Wilmington, Vermont
Wilmington is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,225 at the 2000 census.-History:The town was chartered in 1751 by Benning Wentworth, colonial governor of New Hampshire. It was named in honor of Spencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington...
, he moved to Williamsville
Williamsville, Vermont
Williamsville is an unincorporated community in the town of Newfane in Windham County, Vermont, United States. Baker Brook River passes through the community, which lies in the Green Mountains. Williamsville has its own Volunteer Fire Department, Post Office, and General Store....
in 1861 and continued the practice of law.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Haskins enlisted
Enlisted rank
An enlisted rank is, in most Militaries, any rank below a commissioned officer or warrant officer. The term can also be inclusive of non-commissioned officers...
as a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in Company I, 16th Vermont Infantry
16th Vermont Infantry
The 16th Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry was a nine months' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the eastern theater, predominantly in the Defenses of Washington, from October 1862 to August 1863...
on August 23, 1862. He was commissioned first lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
on September 20 of that year and served until March 19, 1863, when he resigned on account of disabilities. Haskins returned to Vermont and settled in Brattleboro
Brattleboro, Vermont
Brattleboro, originally Brattleborough, is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States, located in the southeast corner of the state, along the state line with New Hampshire. The population was 12,046 at the 2010 census...
. He entered the government service as a civil employee in the office of the assistant quartermaster
Quartermaster
Quartermaster refers to two different military occupations depending on if the assigned unit is land based or naval.In land armies, especially US units, it is a term referring to either an individual soldier or a unit who specializes in distributing supplies and provisions to troops. The senior...
of Volunteers and served in that capacity until the close of the war.
After the end of the war Haskins resumed the practice of law. He was appointed colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
and chief of staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
to Governor
Governor of Vermont
The Governor of Vermont is the governor of the U.S. state of Vermont. The governor is elected in even numbered years by direct voting for a term of two years; Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every two years, instead of every four...
Peter T. Washburn
Peter T. Washburn
Peter Thacher Washburn was a lawyer, politician and Adjutant and Inspector General of the State of Vermont during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
in 1869 and served as member of the Republican state committee
Vermont Republican Party
The Vermont Republican Party is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Vermont. Patricia McDonald serves as Chairwoman of the Vermont Republican State Committee.-Current elected officials:...
from 1869 to 1872.
Haskins served as a state's attorney
State's Attorney
In the United States, the State's Attorney is, most commonly, an elected official who represents the State in criminal prosecutions and is often the chief law enforcement officer of their respective county, circuit...
from 1870 to 1872 and as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives
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. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
from 1872 to 1874. Haskins served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont from October 1880 to July 1887 and was a member of the Vermont Senate
Vermont Senate
The Vermont Senate is the upper house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Senate consists of 30 members. Senate districting divides the 30 members into three single-member districts, six two-member districts, three three-member districts, and one...
from 1892 to 1894. Haskins served as chairman of the Vermont Board of Commissioners to establish the boundary line between Vermont and Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
from 1892 to 1900.
Haskins returned to the state House from 1896 to 1900, serving as speaker
Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
The Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives is the Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives, the lower house of the Vermont Legislature....
from 1898 to 1900.
Haskins was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the 57th
57th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:*Democratic: 151*Republican: 200 *Populist: 5*Silver : 1TOTAL members: 357-Leadership:-Senate:* President: Theodore Roosevelt , until September 14, 1901, vacant thereafter....
and to the three succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1901 to March 3, 1909. He served as chairman of the Committee on War Claims during the 60th Congress
60th United States Congress
The Sixtieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1907 to March 4, 1909, during the last two years of...
. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1908.
Haskins served as judge of the municipal court in Brattleboro in 1910 and as postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
of Brattleboro from 1912 to 1915. He died in Brattleboro on August 7, 1916 and is interred in Prospect Hill Cemetery.