John H. Senter | |
|---|---|
.jpg) From 1894'sMen of Vermont Illustrated | |
| Member of theVermont House of Representatives fromMontpelier | |
| In office 1906–1907 | |
| Preceded by | George O. Stratton |
| Succeeded by | Frank A. Howes |
| State's Attorney forWashington County, Vermont | |
| In office 1903–1904 | |
| Preceded by | Frank A. Bailey |
| Succeeded by | Hollister Jackson |
| Mayor ofMontpelier, Vermont | |
| In office 1898–1900 | |
| Preceded by | George H. Guernsey |
| Succeeded by | Joseph G. Brown |
| President of theVermont Bar Association | |
| In office 1902–1903 | |
| Preceded by | John Young |
| Succeeded by | Wilder L. Burnap |
| United States Attorney for theDistrict of Vermont | |
| In office 1894–1898 | |
| President | Grover Cleveland William McKinley |
| Preceded by | Frank Plumley |
| Succeeded by | James Loren Martin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1848-11-11)November 11, 1848 |
| Died | January 20, 1916(1916-01-20) (aged 67) |
| Resting place | Green Mount Cemetery, Montpelier, Vermont |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Addie G. Martin, m. 1875 |
| Children | 5 |
| Profession | Attorney |
John H. Senter (November 11, 1848 – January 20, 1916) was an American attorney and politician fromVermont. He is most notable for his service as United States Attorney for theDistrict of Vermont (1894–1898) and Mayor ofMontpelier (1898–1900).
John Henry Senter was born inCabot, Vermont on November 11, 1848, the son of Dearborn Bean Senter and Susan C. (Lyford) Senter.[1] He was raised inEast Montpelier, Vermont andConcord, New Hampshire. Senter graduated from high school in Concord and received his qualification as a school teacher.[1] He taught at schools inDover, New Hampshire,Garland, Maine and locations throughout Vermont.[1] In the mid-1870s, Senter settled in Montpelier, where he clerked in several stores while studying law withClarence H. Pitkin.[1] He was admitted to the bar in 1879 and began a practice inWarren, Vermont.[1]
In 1885, Senter moved to Montpelier, where he practiced law in partnership with Harlan W. Kemp, while they simultaneously operated an insurance brokerage.[1] Senter served as secretary of the Union Mutual Fire Insurance Company, while Kemp was treasurer.[1] While living in Warren, he served as the town's school superintendent.[1] After settling permanently in Montpelier, he served as the village attorney and secretary of the village's board of trade.[1]
Senter was aDemocrat in an era when theRepublican Party dominated Vermont, including a streak of winning every statewide election from the 1850s to the 1960s. Senter had a long career in Democratic Party politics, and despite party affiliation, he served in numerous elective and appointive offices.[1] He served as assistant secretary or secretary of theVermont Democratic Party for more than 20 years, and was a delegate to the1888 Democratic National Convention.[1] He served as chairman of theVermont Democratic Party, and was succeeded byEmory S. Harris in 1900.[2] From 1900 to 1904, Senter represented Vermont on theDemocratic National Committee.[1]In 1900, he was the Democratic nominee forGovernor of Vermont.[1] In the 1904 election forU.S. senator, Senter received the courtesy votes of Democrats in theVermont General Assembly, while RepublicanRedfield Proctor was easily reelected.[3]
Even though he was a Democrat, in the 1880s and 1890s, Senter was habitually chosen for nonpartisan local positions.[1] He was the chairman of Montpelier's village caucus, and he served as a justice of the peace, school superintendent, and in other local offices.[1] Montpelier was incorporated as a city in 1895, and Senter served as mayor from 1898 to 1900.[1]
Senter served on the state Tax Commission from 1896 to 1897, and during the same period he served on the commission that oversaw planning for and construction of a new county jail.[1] From 1903 to 1904, Senter served asState's Attorney forWashington County.[1] From 1906 to 1907, he represented Montpelier in theVermont House of Representatives, and he served as chairman of the House Committee on Corporations.[1]
During the first administration ofGrover Cleveland (1885-1889), Senter served as a federal bank examiner for Vermont.[1] In 1886, he was appointed a commissioner of theUnited States Circuit Court that included the Vermont district.[1]
In 1894, Senter was appointed United States Attorney for theDistrict of Vermont, succeedingFrank Plumley.[4] He served until 1898, when he was succeeded byJames Loren Martin.[5]
Senter was a longtime member of theIndependent Order of Odd Fellows, and was active in the local Montpelier organization.[6] In addition, he was a member of theElks,Masons,Knights Templar, andShriners.[1] Senter served as president of theVermont Bar Association from 1902 to 1903.[1]
Near the end of his life, Senter moved his law practice toWaterbury while continuing to reside in Montpelier.[1] In 1915, he was treated for several times forangina.[1] He suffered a fatal heart attack and died at his apartment in Montpelier on January 20, 1916.[1] Senter was buried atGreen Mount Cemetery in Montpelier.[7]
In 1875, Senter married Addie G. Martin.[1] They were the parents of five children, including Frank, Clarence, Mabel, John Jr., and Clara.[1]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Thomas W. Moloney | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Vermont 1900 | Succeeded by Felix W. McGettrick |
| Preceded by Burton E. Bailey | Democratic nominee forVermont Attorney General 1914 | Succeeded by Frederick L. Webster |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
