Chauncey W. Brownell (October 7, 1847 – February 4, 1938) was a Vermont attorney and politician who served as President of the Vermont State Senate and Vermont Secretary of State.

Chauncey W. Brownell
President pro tempore of the Vermont Senate
In office
October 1, 1902 – October 3, 1904
Preceded byFrederick W. Baldwin
Succeeded byGeorge H. Prouty
Member of the Vermont Senate from Chittenden County
In office
October 1, 1902 – October 3, 1904
Serving with Charles J. Russell, Elliot M. Sutton
Preceded byWilliam H. H. Varney, Rufus E. Brown, William J. Fuller
Succeeded byCalvin S. Isham, Charles S. Ashley, Albert T. Stevens
Secretary of State of Vermont
In office
October 2, 1890 – October 4, 1898
Preceded byCharles W. Porter
Succeeded byFred A. Howland
Secretary of the Vermont Senate
In office
October 6, 1880 – September 30, 1890
Preceded byFrederick W. Baldwin
Succeeded byGeorge M. Powers
State's Attorney of Chittenden County, Vermont
In office
1884–1886
Preceded byJulius W. Russell
Succeeded byDavid J. Foster
Personal details
Born(1847-10-07)October 7, 1847
Williston, Vermont
DiedFebruary 4, 1938(1938-02-04) (aged 90)
Williston, Vermont
Resting placeLakeview Cemetery,
Burlington, Vermont
Political partyRepublican
SpouseElva Maria Brigham (m. 1875–1920, her death)
Children4
EducationUniversity of Vermont
Albany Law School
ProfessionAttorney

Biography edit

Chauncey Wells Brownell was born in Williston, Vermont on October 7, 1847, the son of Chauncey Wells Brownell (1811–1892) and Laura Chapin Higbee Brownell (1815–1852).[1] The elder Brownell was a farmer who served in both the Vermont House of Representatives and Vermont Senate.

 
Chauncey Wells Brownell (1811–1892) – father

The younger Brownell graduated from the University of Vermont in 1870 and Albany Law School in 1872. Brownell received a Master of Arts degree from UVM in 1873.[2]

Brownell became a lawyer in Burlington. He was also active in local businesses, including serving on the board of directors of Burlington's electric street railway, board of directors member of the Burlington Building and Loan Association, Vice President of the city's Home Savings Bank, and President of the Burlington Mutual Fire Insurance Company.[3][4][5]

A Republican, he was Burlington's Grand Juror (municipal court prosecutor) for two years, and State's Attorney of Chittenden County from 1884 to 1886. He served as Assistant Secretary of the Vermont Senate from 1874 to 1880, and Senate Secretary from 1880 to 1890. In 1890 Brownell was elected Secretary of State, serving until 1898.[6][4]

In 1900 Brownell was elected a Burlington Alderman.[7] In 1902 he was elected to one term in the Vermont Senate and was chosen to serve as President pro tempore.[8]

Brownell died in Williston on February 4, 1938.[9] He was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington.[10]

Family edit

In 1875, Brownell married Elva Maria Brigham (1850–1920).[4] They were the parents of four children – Carl, Elva, Chauncey, and Henry.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ Vermont Secretary of State, Joint Rules, Rules and Orders of the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Vermont, 1878, p. 115
  2. ^ Hiram Carleton, editor, Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont, Volume 2, 1903, pp. 219–221
  3. ^ A.M. Best Company, Best's Insurance Reports, issue 9, 1909, p. 310
  4. ^ a b c d Jacob G. Ullery, editor, Men of Vermont Illustrated, 1894, p. 47
  5. ^ Case, Lockwood & Brainerd Printing (Hartford), The Annual Cyclopedia of Insurance in the United States, 1898, p. 72
  6. ^ Vermont Secretary of State, Manual of the Legislature of Vermont, 1902, p. 88
  7. ^ City of Burlington, Annual Report, 1901, p. 4
  8. ^ Prentiss Cutler Dodge, editor, Encyclopedia of Vermont Biography, 1912, p. 131
  9. ^ Vermont Death Records, 1909–2008 about Chauncey W. Brownell, accessed May 23, 2012
  10. ^ "Funeral Notice, Chauncey W. Brownell". Burlington Free Press and Times. Burlington, VT. February 7, 1938. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.

External links edit

Political offices
Preceded by President pro tempore of the Vermont State Senate
1902–1904
Succeeded by
Preceded by Secretary of State of Vermont
1890–1898
Succeeded by