Stanley C. Wilson

Stanley C. Wilson was born in Orange, Vermont, on September 10, 1879, the son of William W. Wilson (1835–1912) and Lydia (Browning) Wilson (1841–1923).{{cite book |last=Stone |first=Arthur F. |date=1929 |title=The Vermont of Today |volume=III |url=https://archive.org/stream/vermontoftodaywi03ston#page/n23/ |location=New York, NY |publisher=Lewis Historical Publishing Company |page=7 |ref={{sfnRef|The Vermont of Today}}}} He graduated from Goddard Seminary in Barre in 1896, and then taught school for a year to save enough to begin attending college.{{sfn|The Vermont of Today|page=7}} In 1897, he became a student at Tufts University, from which he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1901.{{sfn|The Vermont of Today|page=7}}

After college, Wilson was a reporter for the Montpelier Daily Journal and worked as Deputy Clerk of the Washington County Court and Reporter for the Vermont House of Representatives.{{cite web |url=https://scfindingaids.uvm.edu/repositories/2/resources/939 |title=Biographical Note, Stanley C. Wilson |website=Stanley Calef Wilson Papers |publisher=University of Vermont Libraries |location=Burlington, VT |access-date=July 22, 2018 |ref={{sfnRef|"Biographical Note, Stanley C. Wilson"}}}} In addition, he served in the National Guard for three years as a private in Company H, 1st Vermont Infantry Regiment.{{sfn|"Biographical Note, Stanley C. Wilson"}} Wilson also studied law, first with the firm of William P. Dillingham and Fred A. Howland, and later with Zed S. Stanton.{{sfn|The Vermont of Today|page=7}} He was admitted to the bar in 1904,[https://books.google.com/books?id=tt2_3hTQxFMC&dq=stanley+calef+wilson+tufts+university&pg=PA360 Encyclopedia of Vermont Biography], by Prentiss Cutler Dodge, 1912, page 360Newspaper article, Stanley Wilson, Former Governor of Vermont Dies, by Associated Press, published in North Adams Transcript, October 6, 1967 and went into partnership with Benjamin Gates of Montpelier.{{sfn|The Vermont of Today|page=8}} Wilson later moved to Chelsea to become the partner of Joseph K. Darling, and took over the practice after Darling died in 1910.{{sfn|The Vermont of Today|page=8}} He later practiced with other partners, and for several years maintained offices in Chelsea, White River Junction, and Montpelier.{{sfn|The Vermont of Today|page=8}}

A Republican, Wilson served in local offices including town meeting moderator and selectman.{{cite news |date=October 6, 1967 |title=Former Gov. Wilson Dies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/200003827/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |pages=1, 14 |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Former Gov. Wilson Dies"}}}} He was elected State's Attorney of Orange County in 1908, and was reelected in 1910.{{sfn|The Vermont of Today|page=8}} From 1914 to 1917 he was chairman of the Vermont Republican Party.{{sfn|"Former Gov. Wilson Dies"|pages=1, 14}}

He served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1915 to 1917 and was chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.Who's Who in Government, published by Biographical Research Bureau, Inc., Volume 1, 1930, page 676 In 1917 he served as Speaker following the resignation of John E. Weeks, who was appointed Director of State Institutions.{{sfn|The Vermont of Today|page=8}} He resigned from the House upon being appointed to the bench.{{sfn|The Vermont of Today|page=8}}

From 1917 to 1923 Wilson served as Judge of the Vermont Superior Court, filling a vacancy created after Chief Judge Willard W. Miles was appointed to the Vermont Supreme Court, and the other superior court judges advanced by seniority.American Legislative Leaders in the Northeast, 1911–1994, by James Roger Sharp and Nancy Weatherly Sharp, 2000, page 226 He resigned from the bench to campaign for the Republican nomination for United States Senator following the death of William P. Dillingham, but lost to Porter H. Dale and John W. Redmond, with Dale going on to win the general election.{{cite news |date=October 12, 1923 |title=Porter H. Dale Sweeps the State in Senatorial Primaries |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/404771954/ |work=Middlebury Register |location=Middlebury, VT |page=1 |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |date=November 8, 1923 |title=Porter H. Dale U.S. Senator |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/365705239/ |work=Essex County Herald |location=Island Pond, VT |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |page=1}}

From 1924 to 1925, Wilson was president of the Vermont Bar Association.{{sfn|"Former Gov. Wilson Dies"|pages=1, 14}} In 1925, he returned to the Vermont House, holding office until 1927.The International Who's Who, published by Europa Publications Limited, 1943, page 917 During this term, Wilson served as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.{{sfn|"Former Gov. Wilson Dies"|pages=1, 14}}

Wilson served in the Vermont Senate from 1927 to 1929.{{sfn|The Vermont of Today|page=8}} He was chairman of the Judiciary Committee, which considered appointments to Vermont's state courts as well as review of and updates to Vermont's statutes.{{sfn|"Biographical Note, Stanley C. Wilson"}} While serving in the senate, Wilson also carried out a gubernatorial appointment as chairman of a commission that developed plans for construction of a bridge over Lake Champlain.{{sfn|"Biographical Note, Stanley C. Wilson"}} In addition, Wilson carried out with Hale K. Darling an appointment as special counsel to defend the state's newly-enacted intangibles tax in court.{{cite news |date=September 28, 1927 |title=Intangible Property Case Up In November |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/197395841/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |page=2 |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com}}

In 1928 Wilson was elected Lieutenant Governor, and he served from 1929 to 1931.[https://books.google.com/books?id=D-cCeOEXGyoC&dq=%22stanley+c+wilson%22+lieutenant+governor+vermont&pg=RA1-PA336 10,000 Famous Freemasons], by William R. Denslow and Harry S. Truman, Volume 3 (K to Z), 2004, page 336[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BZNdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nVwNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5158,961370&dq=stanley+wilson+vermont&hl=en Newspaper article, Weeks Picked in Vermont], by Associated Press, published in Biddeford Weekly Journal, September 12, 1930 During his tenure as presiding officer, the state senate took the lead on legislation reorganizing the Central Vermont Railway, providing a loan to the West River Railway so that it could continue operations, modernizing the state banking system, appointing a commission to reduce and standardize electric rates, regulating billboards, and increasing the governor's salary.{{cite news |date=March 18, 1929 |title=3-Way Tax Bill Will provide $17,000,000, Appropriations for Next Vermont Biennium |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/197339207/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |page=3}}

In 1930 he won election as Governor and served two terms, 1931 to 1935.[http://www.nga.org/cms/render/live/en/sites/NGA/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_vermont/col2-content/main-content-list/title_wilson_stanley.html Biography, Stanley Calef Wilson], National Governors Association, accessed December 18, 2011 Wilson's two terms were marked by efforts to recover from the Flood of 1927, and to deal with the effects of the Great Depression.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120415001433/http://vermont-archives.org/govhistory/gov/govinaug/farewells/pdf/Wilson1935.pdf Farewell Address of Stanley C. Wilson]}}, Journal of the Vermont Joint Assembly, published by Vermont State Legislature, January 10, 1935, pages 1 to 10 He was also a delegate to the 1932 Republican National Convention.{{sfn|"Former Gov. Wilson Dies"|pages=1, 14}}

In attaining the governorship, Wilson adhered to the provision of the Republican Party's "Mountain Rule," which required candidates to alternate between the east and west sides of the Green Mountains.{{cite book |last1=Clifford |first1=Deborah Pickman |last2=Clifford |first2=Nicholas Rowland |date=2007 |title="The Troubled Roar of the Waters": Vermont in Flood and Recovery, 1927–1931 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=66quV-lupsgC&pg=PA131 |location=Lebanon, NH |publisher=University of New Hampshire Press |pages=130–131 |isbn=978-1-58465-654-8 |ref={{sfnRef|"The Troubled Roar of the Waters"}}}} However Wilson also ran for a second term, as had his predecessor John E. Weeks.{{sfn|"The Troubled Roar of the Waters"|pages=130-131}} A second term violated the Mountain Rule provision that limited governors to two years in office.{{sfn|"The Troubled Roar of the Waters"|pages=130–131}} Weeks argued that there needed to be continuity in office so that the state could continue its efforts to recover from the 1927 flood.{{sfn|"The Troubled Roar of the Waters"|pages=130–131}} Wilson argued that he needed to both continue flood recovery efforts and to combat the negative economic effects of the Great Depression, and his reelection served to modify the Mountain Rule.{{cite book |last=Hand |first=Samuel B. |date=2002 |title=The Star That Set: The Vermont Republican Party, 1854–1974 |url=https://archive.org/details/starthatsetvermo0000hand |url-access=registration |location=Lanham, MD |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |page=126 |isbn=978-0-7391-0600-6 |ref={{sfnRef|The Star That Set: The Vermont Republican Party, 1854-1974}}}} Beginning with Weeks and Wilson, two terms (four years) in office became more or less standard. Along with changes including the direct election of United States Senators and party primary elections, Weeks's and Wilson's willingness to go against tradition were seen as further eroding the Mountain Rule, one of the primary tools for maintaining discipline within the ranks of the Republican Party.

Wilson stated in later interviews that he regarded the passage of the state income tax as his greatest accomplishment as governor because it added stability to the state's economy.{{sfn|"Former Gov. Wilson Dies"|pages=1, 14}} The income tax was preferred to other means of raising revenue because personal income was easier for the state to locate than other sources.{{cite magazine |last=Gilles |first=Paul |date=Winter 1997 |title=The Evolution of the Vermont State Tax System |url=https://vermonthistory.org/journal/misc/EvolutionTaxSystem.pdf |magazine=Vermont History |location=Montpelier, VT |publisher=Vermont Historical Society |page=3` |ref={{sfnRef|"The Evolution of the Vermont State Tax System"}}}} As a result of the income tax's success, the state was able to eliminate the state highway tax, education property tax, intangibles tax, and general statewide property tax.{{sfn|"The Evolution of the Vermont State Tax System"|page=31}}

After leaving the governor's office Wilson practiced law in Chelsea with F. Ray Keyser Sr., Deane C. Davis and J. Ward Carver.{{cite news |date=March 15, 2001 |title=Obituary, F. Ray Keyser Sr. |url=https://www.ourherald.com/articles/f-ray-keyser-sr/ |work=The Herald |location=Randolph, VT |ref={{sfnRef|"Obituary, F. Ray Keyser Sr."}}}} Their firm has been referred to by historians as Vermont's best ever collection of legal talent, in that it included two Governors (Wilson and Davis), one state Attorney General (Carver), and one state Supreme Court Justice (Keyser).{{sfn|"Obituary, F. Ray Keyser Sr."}} After this firm dissolved, Wilson continued to practice law in Chelsea.{{sfn|"Former Gov. Wilson Dies"|pages=1, 14}}

Wilson owned and operated a working dairy farm.{{sfn|"Former Gov. Wilson Dies"|pages=1, 14}} He was also active in numerous business ventures throughout his career, and a partial list includes: member of the board of directors of the National Bank of Orange County and Hartford Savings Bank and Trust Company; vice president and director of the Brocklebank Granite Company and Brocklebank Manufacturing Company; board member of the Green Mountain Mutual Fire Insurance Company, the Vermont Flood Credit Corporation, and the Orange County Creamery Company.{{sfn|The Vermont of Today|page=8}} Wilson was also president of the Gates Realty Company.{{sfn|The Vermont of Today|page=8}} In addition, he was a partner in the reorganization of the Vermont Copper Company, and served as its Secretary and President.[https://books.google.com/books?id=uTBCXqOou0YC&dq=%22stanley+c+wilson%22+vermont+company&pg=PA302 The Vermont encyclopedia], by John J. Duffy, Samuel B. Hand and Ralph H. Orth, 2003, page 302[https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0611FA3F5E167B93C5A8178FD85F468485F9 Copper Company Formed To Operate in Vermont], by Associated Press, published in New York Times, April 17, 1942

Wilson was an officer or director of numerous civic and professional organizations, including member of the board of directors of the New England Council, and director of the Vermont Dairymen's Association, Vermont Maple Sugar Maker's Association, Vermont Forestry Association, and Orange County Farm Bureau.{{sfn|The Vermont of Today|page=8}} He was also a member of the executive committee for the Owl Council, Boy Scouts of America.{{sfn|The Vermont of Today|page=8}} In addition, Wilson was active in Modern Woodmen of America and the Chelsea Grange organization.{{sfn|The Vermont of Today|page=8}}

Long active in Freemasonry, Wilson's membership included: Chelsea's George Washington Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Whitney Chapter of Royal Arch Masons (Randolph); Mt. Zion Commandery, Knights Templar (Montpelier); and Mt. Sinai Temple, Shriners International (Montpelier).{{sfn|The Vermont of Today|page=8}}

In 1952, Wilson was the driving force behind the establishment of a community hospital, the Chelsea Health Center, the first community-owned nonprofit health center in the nation.[http://www.ourherald.com/news/2009-03-26/Front_page/f02.html Newspaper article, Chelsea Health Center To Build a New Home By Cornelia Cesari], by Cornelia Cesari, Randolph Herald, March 26, 2009

Wilson was also interested in higher education, and was an officer of the Tufts College Alumni Association.{{cite book |last=Miller |first=Russell E. |date=1966 |title=Light on the Hill: A History of Tufts College 1852–1952 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9aNBAAAAIAAJ&q=%22stanley+c.+wilson%22 |location=Boston, MA |publisher=Beacon Press |page=437}} He served for over 50 years on the Norwich University Board of Trustees, including 15 years as Chairman.{{cite web |url=http://bicentennial.norwich.edu/the-bicentennial-stairs-honorees/ |title=About the Honorees |date=2017 |website=The Bicentennial Stairs |publisher=Norwich University |location=Northfield, VT}} In addition, he was an executive committee member for the Goddard Seminary board of directors.{{sfn|The Vermont of Today|page=8}}

Wilson died in Chelsea on October 5, 1967.[https://www.nytimes.com/1967/10/07/archives/exgov-sc-wilson-of-vermont-is-dead.html Ex-Gov. S. C. Wilson of Vermont is Dead], New York Times, October 6, 1967Newspaper article, Former Governor Dies at 88, by United Press International, published in Bennington Banner, October 6, 1967 He was buried at Highland Cemetery in Chelsea.Vermont Death Records, 1909–2008, entry for Stanley Calef Wilson, accessed December 18, 2011

In 1909, Wilson married Grace Goodwin Bacon Wilson (1879–1968).{{sfn|The Vermont of Today|page=8}} They were married until his death and had no children.{{sfn|"Former Gov. Wilson Dies"|pages=1, 14}}

Norwich University's Wilson Hall is named in his honor.[http://cdi.uvm.edu/findingaids/collection/wilsonsc.ead.xml Biography, Stanley C. Wilson], University of Vermont, Stanley C. Wilson Papers Collection, accessed December 18, 2011[http://www.norwich.edu/campus/residencehalls.html Residence Halls page], Norwich University web site, accessed December 18, 2011 In addition, Wilson received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Norwich University (1927), Tufts University (1931), and the University of Vermont (1932).{{cite book |last=Schwarz |first=Julius Caesar |date=1937 |title=Who's Who In Law |volume=1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iI8jAQAAMAAJ&q=%22wilson,+stanley+calef%22+%22ll.d.%22 |location=New York, NY |publisher=J. C. Schwarz |page=1029}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/wilson8.html#RKL09K7NH The Political Graveyard]
• [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Wilson&GSiman=1&GScid=1095308&GRid=13195672& Find A Grave page, Stanley Calef Wilson], accessed December 18, 2011

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{{s-ttl|title=Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont|years=1928}}

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{{Governors of Vermont}}

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Category:Lieutenant governors of Vermont

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