Fletcher D. Proctor

Proctor was born in Cavendish, Vermont, on November 7, 1860, the son of Vermont Governor Redfield Proctor and brother of Governor Redfield Proctor Jr. He was raised in Proctor, attended Middlebury College, and graduated from Amherst College in 1882. He received honorary degrees from the University of Vermont in 1907, Middlebury College in 1908, and Norwich University in 1908.

He married Minnie E. Robinson on May 26, 1886, and they had three children, Emily Proctor, Mortimer R. Proctor (who later served as governor), and Minnie Proctor.{{cite book|title=Fletcher D. Proctor|year = 1910|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZToOAQAAMAAJ&q=Fletcher+Dutton+Proctor+university+of+vermont+biography&pg=PA448|publisher=The National Cyclopedia of American Biography|access-date=14 November 2012}}

Proctor was employed at his family's business, Vermont Marble, becoming President in 1889.Vermont Secretary of State, [https://books.google.com/books?id=Tg1QAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22fletcher+d.+proctor%22+cavendish&pg=PA323 Legislative Directory], 1892, page 323 He also served as President of the Clarendon & Pittsford RailroadVermont Board of Railroad Commissioners, [https://books.google.com/books?id=hJwpAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22fletcher+d.+proctor%22+clarendon+railroad&pg=PA203 Biennial Report], Volume 6, 1898, page 203 and the Proctor Trust Company.Charles S. Forbes, [https://books.google.com/books?id=BYseAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22fletcher+d.+proctor%22+proctor+trust+company&pg=PA179 History of the Republican Party], The Vermonter magazine, June, 1906, pages 178 to 179

In 1883, Proctor was elected head of the Vermont division of the Sons of Veterans with the honorary rank of colonel, and he was often addressed by that title in contemporary newspaper accounts.{{cite magazine |last=Partridge |first=Frank C. |date=September–October 1911 |title=Death Notice: Fletcher Dutton Proctor |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ykE5AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA350 |magazine=The Vermonter |location=White River Junction, VT |publisher=Cas. R. Cummings |page=350 |via=Google Books}} Proctor enlisted in the Vermont National Guard's Company A, 1st Infantry Regiment in 1884 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He was promoted to first lieutenant and inspector of rifle practice on the regimental staff before resigning in 1887.Vermont Men of Today, [https://books.google.com/books?id=nLETAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22fletcher+dutton+proctor%22+%22first+lieutenant%22&pg=PA448 Fletcher Dutton Proctor], The Vermonter magazine, May, 1902, page 448

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.The Legislature of 1900, [https://books.google.com/books?id=hY8eAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22proctor%2C+fletcher%2C+d.%22&pg=PA58 Speaker Fletcher Dutton Proctor], The Vermonter magazine, November, 1900, pages 58 to 60

Proctor was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1890 to 1892 and the Vermont Senate from 1892 to 1894. He served in the Vermont House again from 1900 to 1902 and 1904 to 1906 and was Speaker from 1900 to 1902.Vermont Historical Society, [https://archive.org/details/proceedingsofve191819verm/page/139 Annual Meeting Proceedings], 1918, pages 139 to 140

Elected governor in 1906, Proctor served from October 4, 1906, to October 8, 1908.{{cite web|title=Fletcher D. Proctor|url=http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_vermont/col2-content/main-content-list/title_proctor_fletcher.html|publisher=National Governors Association|access-date=14 November 2012}} 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.John J. Duffy, Samuel B. Hand, Ralph H. Orth, [https://books.google.com/books?id=uTBCXqOou0YC&dq=%22fletcher+d+proctor%22+governor+ormsbee+civil+affairs&pg=PA241 The Vermont Encyclopedia], 2003, page 241 During his term as governor, Proctor's executive clerk was Aaron H. Grout, the son of former Governor Josiah Grout.Vermont General Assembly, [https://books.google.com/books?id=yxtEAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22aaron+h+grout%22+proctor+executive+clerk&pg=PA781 Acts and Resolves Passed by the Vermont General Assembly], 1906, page 781

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.Atlanta Constitution, [https://archive.today/20130131140803/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/ajc_historic/access/544619402.html?dids=544619402:544619402&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&date=Mar+25,+1908&author=&pub=The+Atlanta+Constitution&desc=STEWART+GOES+TO+SENATE&pqatl=google Stewart Goes to Senate], March 25, 1908New York Times, [https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1908/10/25/105014108.pdf "Calfskin" Senator From Vermont Now], October 25, 1908New York Times, [https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1915/10/30/106788563.pdf Ex-Senator Stewart Dead], October 30, 1915 After completing his term as governor, Proctor returned to Vermont Marble and his other business interests in the town of Proctor.

Proctor died in the town of Proctor on September 27, 1911, after an illness of several weeks.Fitchburg Daily Sentinel, Fletcher Proctor Sick, September 6, 1911Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, entry for Fletcher Dutton Proctor, accessed August 5, 2012Newport Mercury, Fletcher Proctor Dead, September 30, 1911 He is interred at South Street Cemetery in Proctor.{{cite web|title=South Street Cemetery, Proctor|url=http://www.voca58.org/cemeteries/cemetery.php?Town=Proctor&Name=South%20Street|publisher=Vermont Old Cemetery Association|access-date=24 November 2017}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Fletcher D. Proctor}}

• [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/proctor.html Political Graveyard]
• {{Find a Grave|13138717}}
• [http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_vermont/col2-content/main-content-list/title_proctor_fletcher.html National Governors Association]
• [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZToOAQAAMAAJ&dq=Fletcher+Dutton+Proctor+university+of+vermont+biography&pg=PA448 The National Cyclopedia of American Biography]

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Category:1860 births

Category:1911 deaths

Category:People from Cavendish, Vermont

Category:People from Proctor, Vermont

Category:Amherst College alumni

Category:National Guard (United States) officers

Category:Republican Party governors of Vermont

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