Martin S. Vilas

Martin S. Vilas (March 1, 1870 – November 19, 1953) was a Vermont lawyer, politician and author who served as President of the Vermont State Senate.

Biography

Martin Samuel Vilas was born in Colchester, Vermont on March 1, 1870.[1] He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1894, studied at Harvard University, and received a Master of Arts degree from the University of Vermont in 1899. Vilas taught school and served as a school principal while studying law, and attained admission to the bar in 1902. He practiced in Burlington until 1912, when he relocated to the west coast, living first in California, and later in Washington. He returned to Vermont in 1915.[2][3]

A Republican, Vilas served in several local offices, including Burlington City Attorney and Chairman of the Burlington Republican Party.[4]

In 1916 Vilas was elected to the Vermont Senate. He served two terms, 1917 to 1921, and was Senate President from 1919 to 1921.[5][6]

Vilas was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States House of Representatives (1926, 1930); Lieutenant Governor (1932); and the United States Senate (1938).[7][8][9][10][11]

Career as author

He wrote magazine articles and short stories on historical topics, many of which were printed in pamphlet or book form. His published works include: Charles Brockden Brown: A Study of Early American Fiction (1904); The Reorganization of the Republican Party, (1915); The Barbary Coast of San Francisco, (1915); Municipal Railway of San Francisco, (1915); and The Veterans of the National Soldiers' Home, (1915).

Relatives

Vilas was the nephew of Levi Baker Vilas and cousin of William Freeman Vilas.[12]

Death

Martin S. Vilas died in Burlington on November 19, 1953.[13]

References
  1. Hiram Carleton, Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont, Volume 1, 1903, pages 416 to 418
  2. Walter J. Bigelow, Vermont: Its Government, 1919, page 41
  3. Harvard University Alumni Association, Alumni Directory, entry for Martin Samuel Vilas, 1913
  4. Vermon Bar Association, Memorial to Martin Samuel Vilas, Annual Meeting Proceedings, 1954, page 64
  5. Vermont General Assembly, Journal of the Vermont State Senate, 1917, page 32
  6. Vermont General Assembly, Journal of the Vermont State Senate, 1919, pages 4 to 5
  7. Vermont State Archives and Records Administration Archived April 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Presidents Pro Tempore of the Vermont Senate Since 1870, 2011, page 4
  8. Boston Globe, Race for Governor Leads Vermont List, September 14, 1926
  9. Associated Press, Weeks Picked in Vermont, Biddeford Weekly Journal, September 12, 1930
  10. Boston Globe, Sharp Vermont Contests Today, September 13, 1932
  11. Boston Globe, Vermont G.O.P. Names Officials, September 14, 1938
  12. Magazine article, Harrison Martin Vilas, The Vermonter magazine, January 1914, page 75
  13. Vermont Death Records, 1909–2008, entry for Martin S. Vilas, accessed July 3, 2012
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