Fletcher D. Proctor

Fletcher D. Proctor
51st Governor of Vermont
In office
October 4, 1906 – October 8, 1908
Lieutenant George H. Prouty
Preceded by Charles J. Bell
Succeeded by George H. Prouty
Member of the Vermont Senate
In office
1892-1893
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office
1890-1892
Personal details
Born Fletcher Dutton Proctor
November 7, 1860
Cavendish, Vermont
Died September 27, 1911(1911-09-27) (aged 50)
Proctor, Vermont
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Minnie Robinson Proctor (1865 - 1928)
Children Emily Proctor, Mortimer Proctor, Minnie Proctor
Profession Executive, Vermont Marble Company

Fletcher D. Proctor (November 7, 1860 – September 27, 1911) was an American businessman, a Republican politician, and the 51st Governor of Vermont, who served from 1906 to 1908.

Personal life

Proctor was born in Cavendish, Vermont on November 7, 1860. He was raised in Proctor, attended Middlebury College, and graduated from Amherst College in 1882. Proctor was the son of Vermont Governor Redfield Proctor and brother of Governor Redfield Proctor, Jr., and the father of Governor Mortimer Proctor.[1] He married Minnie E. Robinson, daughter of Asher C. Robinson, on May 26, 1886, and they had three children, Emily Proctor, Mortimer Proctor, and Minnie Proctor.[2]

Career

Proctor was employed at his family's business, Vermont Marble, becoming President in 1889.[3] He also served as President of the Clarendon & Pittsford Railroad[4] and the Proctor Trust Company.[5]

Proctor enlisted in the Vermont National Guard in 1884 and was promoted to First Lieutenant before resigning in 1887.[6]

Proctor served in several local offices, including town selectman and school board member. A Republican, from 1886 to 1888 he was Secretary of Civil and Military affairs (chief assistant) for Governor Ebenezer J. Ormsbee.[7]

Proctor was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1890 to 1892, and served as Speaker. He served in the Vermont Senate from 1892 to 1893, and in the Vermont House again from 1904 to 1905.[8]

Elected Governor of Vermont, Proctor served from October 4, 1906 to October 8, 1908.[9] As governor, rejecting his father's fiscal conservatism, he declared that the state had "a higher duty than to live cheaply." Proctor advocated progressive forestry policies, reorganized Vermont's courts and reformed the commission that regulated utilities and railroads.[10]

As governor, it also fell to Proctor to appoint a temporary replacement to the United States Senate seat left vacant by the death of his father, Redfield Proctor. He named former governor and congressman John W. Stewart, who served until a special election could be held to fill the remainder of Redfield Proctor's term. Fletcher Proctor was presumed to be prepared to follow in his father's footsteps, but declined to run for the Senate seat, which was won by Carroll S. Page.[11][12][13]

During his term as governor, Proctor's executive clerk was Aaron H. Grout. Aaron Grout was the son of former Governor Josiah Grout.[14]

After completing his term as governor, Proctor returned to Vermont Marble and his other business interests in the town of Proctor.

Death

Proctor died in the town of Proctor on September 27, 1911 after an illness of several weeks.[15][16][17] He is interred at South Street Cemetery, Proctor, Rutland County, Vermont.[18]

References

  1. ↑ William Doyle, The Vermont Political Tradition: And Those Who Helped Make It, 1984, pages 150 to 151
  2. ↑ Fletcher D. Proctir. The National Cyclopedia of American Biography. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  3. ↑ Vermont Secretary of State, Legislative Directory, 1892, page 323
  4. ↑ Vermont Board of Railroad Commissioners, Biennial Report, Volume 6, 1898, page 203
  5. ↑ Charles S. Forbes, History of the Republican Party, The Vermonter magazine, June, 1906, pages 178 to 179
  6. ↑ Vermont Men of Today, Fletcher Dutton Proctor, The Vermonter magazine, May, 1902, page 448
  7. ↑ The Legislature of 1900, Speaker Fletcher Dutton Proctor, The Vermonter magazine, November, 1900, pages 58 to 60
  8. ↑ Vermont Historical Society, Annual Meeting Proceedings, 1918, pages 139 to 140
  9. ↑ "Fletcher D. Proctor". National Governors Association. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  10. ↑ John J. Duffy, Samuel B. Hand, Ralph H. Orth, The Vermont Encyclopedia, 2003, page 241
  11. ↑ Atlanta Constitution, Stewart Goes to Senate, March 25, 1908
  12. ↑ New York Times, "Calfskin" Senator From Vermont Now, October 25, 1908
  13. ↑ New York Times, Ex-Senator Stewart Dead, October 30, 1915
  14. ↑ Vermont General Assembly, Acts and Resolves Passed by the Vermont General Assembly, 1906, page 781
  15. ↑ Fitchburg Daily Sentinel, Fletcher Proctor Sick, September 6, 1911
  16. ↑ Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, entry for Fletcher Dutton Proctor, accessed August 5, 2012
  17. ↑ Newport Mercury, Fletcher Proctor Dead, September 30, 1911
  18. ↑ "Fletcher D. Proctor". Find A Grave. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
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Political offices
Preceded by
Kittredge Haskins		 Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
1900 – 1902 		Succeeded by
John H. Merrifield
Preceded by
Charles J. Bell		 Governor of Vermont
1906–1908 		Succeeded by
George H. Prouty
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