Benjamin F. Fifield

Benjamin Franklin Fifield was born in Orange, Vermont, on November 18, 1832,{{sfn|Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont|pages=3–4}} the son of Orange Fifield and Melissa (Nelson) Fifield.{{sfn|"Noted Lawyer Dead"|pages=1-2}} Orange Fifield moved his family to Montpelier when Fifield was a youth, and he was educated in the public schools of Montpelier, Montpelier Academy, and Plattsburgh Academy in New York.{{sfn|Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont|pages=3–4}} He then attended the University of Vermont, from which he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1855.{{sfn|Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont|pages=3–4}} Fifield studied law at the Montpelier firm of Lucius B. Peck and Stoddard B. Colby, and was admitted to the bar in 1858.{{sfn|Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont|pages=3–4}}

Fifield practiced law with Peck and Colby.{{sfn|Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont|pages=3–4}} After Colby left Vermont in 1864 to serve as U.S. Register of the Treasury, Fifield became Peck's partner, and they practiced as Peck and Fifield until Peck's death in 1866.{{sfn|Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont|pages=3–4}} After Peck's death, Fifield continued the law practice as the firm's sole partner.{{sfn|Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont|pages=3–4}} His later partners included Charles W. Porter and Clarence H. Pitkin.{{sfn|"Death Came Today to C. H. Pitkin"|page=1}} Beginning in 1869, he served as counsel for the Central Vermont Railway, and his effective representation of corporations became so well known that he acquired clients from throughout the northeastern United States.{{sfn|Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont|pages=3–4}}

A Republican, in 1869, Fifield was appointed United States Attorney for the District of Vermont, and he served until 1880.{{sfn|Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont|pages=3–4}} When U.S. District Judge David Allen Smalley died in 1877, Fifield was the leading candidate to replace him, but withdrew in order to continue representing the Central Vermont Railway and other clients in pending litigation, which he did in addition to his U.S. Attorney's duties.{{sfn|"Noted Lawyer Dead"|pages=1-2}} In 1880 and 1881 he was Montpelier's member of the Vermont House of Representatives,{{sfn|Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont|pages=3–4}} and served as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.{{sfn|"Noted Lawyer Dead"|pages=1–2}}

From 1883 to 1884, Fifield served as president of the Vermont Bar Association.{{sfn|"Noted Lawyer Dead"|pages=1–2}} In 1884, Fifield was a delegate to the Republican National Convention.{{sfn|"Noted Lawyer Dead"|pages=1–2}} In 1885, he was one of the federal commissioners appointed to select a site in Montpelier for a new post office and courthouse.{{sfn|"Noted Lawyer Dead"|pages=1–2}} In 1893, Fifield was one of Vermont's commissioners for creating and operating the state's exhibits at the World's Columbian Exposition.{{sfn|"Noted Lawyer Dead"|pages=1–2}} Fifield was also a longtime trustee of the University of Vermont.{{sfn|"Noted Lawyer Dead"|pages=1–2}}

In the mid-1890s, Fifield retired from most legal business, but continued to serve as counsel for the Central Vermont Railway.{{sfn|"Noted Lawyer Dead"|pages=1–2}} In January 1899, Governor Edward Curtis Smith offered to appoint Fifield to the United States Senate seat left vacant by the death of Justin Smith Morrill.{{sfn|"Noted Lawyer Dead"|pages=1–2}} Fifield initially gave his tentative acceptance, but declined several days later, informing Smith that he felt obligated to turn down the appointment so he could care for his wife during her final illness.{{sfn|"Noted Lawyer Dead"|pages=1–2}} Smith then offered the appointment to Jonathan Ross, who accepted.{{sfn|"Judge Ross Appointed by Gov. Smith as Successor to the Late Senator Morrill"|page=1}}

After Fifield's wife died in March 1899, he retired and continued to reside in Montpelier.{{sfn|"Noted Lawyer Dead"|pages=1–2}} He died in Montpelier on July 23, 1918,{{sfn|"Noted Lawyer Dead"|pages=1–2}} and was buried at Green Mount Cemetery in Montpelier.{{sfn|"Mr. Fifield's Funeral"|page=5}}

In 1865, Fifield married Lucy Hubbard (1838–1899) of Montpelier.{{sfn|Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont|pages=3–4}} They were the parents of three daughters. Fanny (1865–1948) was the wife of Burnside B. Bailey. Arabella ("Belle" (1870–1963) married Julius F. Workum. Ellen (1875–1949) was the wife of Carlisle J. Gleason.{{sfn|Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont|pages=3–4}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |last=Carleton |first=Hiram |date=1903 |title=Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont |volume=II |url=https://archive.org/stream/genealogicaland00compgoog#page/n18/mode/2up |location=New York, NY |publisher=Lewis Publishing Company |ref={{sfnRef|Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont}}}}

• {{cite news |date=January 12, 1899 |title=Judge Ross Appointed by Gov. Smith as Successor to the Late Senator Morrill |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113904124/judge/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Judge Ross Appointed by Gov. Smith as Successor to the Late Senator Morrill"}}}}
• {{cite news |date=May 31, 1901 |title=Death Came Today to C. H. Pitkin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113904188/pitkin/ |work=The Evening Argus |location=Montpelier, VT |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Death Came Today to C. H. Pitkin"}}}}
• {{cite news |date=July 23, 1918 |title=Noted Lawyer Dead: B. F. Fifield for Years Leading Corporation Attorney of the State |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113904270/lawyer/ |work=Montpelier Evening Argus |location=Montpelier, VT |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Noted Lawyer Dead"}}}}
• {{cite news |date=July 25, 1918 |title=Mr. Fifield's Funeral |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104822758/fifield-funeral/ |work=Montpelier Evening Argus |location=Montpelier, VT |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Mr. Fifield's Funeral"}}}}

• {{Find a Grave|154294152}}

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Category:1832 births

Category:1918 deaths

Category:People from Orange, Vermont

Category:Politicians from Montpelier, Vermont

Category:University of Vermont alumni

Category:Vermont lawyers

Category:United States attorneys for the District of Vermont

Category:Republican Party members of the Vermont House of Representatives

Category:Burials at Green Mount Cemetery (Montpelier, Vermont)

Category:19th-century American lawyers

Category:19th-century members of the Vermont General Assembly