Elliot M. Sutton (October 13, 1841 - March 5, 1908) was a Vermont businessman and politician. A Democrat, among the offices in which he served was mayor of Burlington (1898-1899) and member of the Vermont Senate (1902-1904).
Early life
Elliot M. Sutton (sometimes spelled "Elliott" and frequently abbreviated E. M. Sutton) was born in Oxford, Connecticut, on October 13, 1841.[1] His family moved to Burlington, Vermont in 1850, and Sutton was educated in the public schools of Burlington and Burlington High School.[1]
Sutton was working as a photographer when he registered for the Union Army draft during the American Civil War.[2][a] In 1864, he moved to South Carolina, where he purchased a plantation and lived for a year.[3]
By 1865, Sutton had returned to Burlington, where he owned and operated a restaurant, the City Coffee House.[4][5] He was later involved in several other business ventures, including owning apartments and commercial buildings, working as a real estate broker, and operating a lumber dealership.[6][7] He also took part in civic activities, including joining the volunteer fire department's Hook and Ladder Company Number 1, of which he served as auditor.[8] Sutton later sponsored another fire company, which was christened E. M. Sutton Hose Company in his honor.[9]
Anti-prohibition activist
Sutton was both a supporter of the Temperance movement and an opponent of Prohibition.[10] He was investigated on several occasions for violating Vermont's law prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcohol.[10] In August 1867, the city constable searched his home and confiscated three pints of whiskey.[11] Sutton defended himself in a trial before the city recorder and won a dismissal of the charges and return of his liquor.[11]
In January 1869, he was found guilty on four counts of selling liquor at the City Coffee House, and paid an $80 fine.[12] In February 1869, he was convicted of one count, and fined $20.[13] In May 1869, he was again charged for violating the law, and the charges were dismissed.[14] In October 1869, he once again faced charges for selling alcohol at his restaurant.[15] He pleaded guilty and was fined $20.[15]
In August 1873, law enforcement officers searched his home in the early morning hours and discovered a workman leaving the premises with two jugs of liquor.[16] Upon entering Sutton's basement, they found him packing bottles of whiskey for transport and observed him emptying a washtub and another container.[16] Police seized bottles and other supplies and equipment.[16] In January 1874, police again searched Sutton's home, but found nothing incriminating.[17]
In 1882, Sutton paid a $50 fine after pleading guilty to five counts of illegally selling liquor.[18] In 1889, a search of his barn uncovered a secret tunnel with a concealed entrance in the cellar, which led to a hidden storage room.[19] Authorities discovered several containers of high wines, as well as bottles, coloring, flavoring, and other ingredients, all of which they seized.[19] As Vermont began to market itself as a tourist destination, the prohibition on alcohol sales was subject to lax enforcement.[20] For example, by the 1890s Urban A. Woodbury, the owner of Burlington's Van Ness House hotel, was openly serving alcohol.[20]
Political career
Early activity
Sutton developed an interest in worker's rights.[21] He was a member of Burlington's first Workingmen's Union, and served as its president.[21] In September 1867 he was appointed to a committee that attempted to enlarge the organization, first to the rest of Chittenden County, and then statewide.[22]
In the 1860s, Sutton became active in local politics and government as a Democrat, and took part in several of the party's local and state nominating caucuses and conventions.[23][24][25] He also served for several years as chairman of the Burlington and Chittenden County Democratic Committees.[26][27]
In 1874, Sutton was nominated for alderman from Burlington's fifth ward.[28] He won the March election with 212 votes to 170 for Republican candidate S. M. Pope.[29] He was nominated for reelection to a two-year term in 1876.[30] In the general election, Republican E. R. Hard won with 205 votes to 202 for Sutton.[31] He ran again in 1877, and was defeated by Archibald Taylor, 217 to 183.[32]
In 1884, Sutton was again a candidate for alderman, and lost to Republican J. W. Goodell, 235 to 214.[33] In March 1886, he was elected again to the board of aldermen, receiving 292 votes to 191 for J. W. Goodell.[34] In September 1886, Sutton was an unsuccessful candidate for the Vermont Senate, placing fourth in the race for three at-large seats.[35]
In March 1887, Sutton was an unsuccessful candidate for mayor, losing to Republican William W. Henry by a vote of 1084 to 769.[36] In April 1887, he was elected president of the board of aldermen.[37] He completed his term as alderman and board president in April 1888.[38] In 1890, Sutton was the Democratic nominee for mayor and lost to William A. Crombie, 1041 votes to 817.[36] In April 1893, the board of aldermen elected Sutton as street commissioner and he served until May 1896.[39][40]
In June 1893, Sutton was appointed as U.S. Inspector of Chinese Immigration for Vermont, a position created as part of the Geary Act.[41] He succeeded John Halstead and was based in Richford, near the Canadian border.[41] He served until June 1897, when the position was discontinued.[42]
Mayor of Burlington
Sutton was the Democratic nominee for mayor in March 1898, and defeated Republican Hamilton S. Peck by a vote of 1351 to 1312.[43] His term was marked by a contentious relationship with Burlington's Republicans, who opposed many of his initiatives, including suing to prevent the police chief Sutton appointed from assuming his duties.[44] Sutton's appointment was overturned and the previous chief resumed serving.[44] In March 1899, Sutton was defeated for reelection by Republican Robert Roberts, 1491 to 1464.[45]
Later in 1899, Sutton spoke publicly in opposition to the court decision concerning the chief of police, and was indicted for defaming the Vermont Supreme Court.[46] His appeals against the indictment were overruled in 1901 and the case was remanded for trial.[47] Motions and appeals kept the case active until March 1904, when the State's Attorney of Washington County declined to prosecute and the charge was dismissed.[48]
State Senate
In 1902, Sutton was one of the Democratic nominees for Chittenden County's three at-large seats in the Vermont Senate.[49] In the September general election, Democrats in Chittenden County were aided by the anti-establishment Republican supporters of Percival W. Clement and succeeded in electing Sutton, who was the third-place finisher.[49][50] He served one term, October 1902 to October 1904.[51] Sutton was a member of the committees on elections and railroads, and chairman of the committee on printing. He was not a candidate for reelection.[52]
Death and burial
In the last three years of his life, Sutton was often in ill health and was cared for by his daughter.[1] He died at her home in Johnson, Vermont on March 5, 1908.[1] Sutton was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington.[53]
Family
In 1863, he married Martha O'Brien of Burlington.[54] Sutton paid a $7 fine in early 1882 after pleading guilty to assaulting her.[55] She sued for divorce on the grounds of intolerable cruelty, won her case in late 1882 and received both a divorce and the right to resume using her maiden name.[56] In 1886, Sutton married Hattie L. (Ballou) Hurlburt of Worcester, Massachusetts.[57] They were married until September 1907, when Elliot Sutton obtained a divorce on the grounds of desertion.[58]
In January 1884, Sutton had a daughter, Inez, with Alice Guyette.[59][60] Inez May Sutton (1884-1916) graduated from Edmunds High School in 1902 and became a teacher.[59] In 1905, she married Dr. Lyndhurst P. Holcomb of Johnson.[59] They were the parents of a son, Harold (1906-1976).[59][61]
Notes
^Obituaries and some other biographical sources indicate that Sutton served in the Union Army, but provide no pertinent details. A thorough search of relevant sources shows his name is not included in muster rolls, payrolls, pension records, or any other Civil War-era military documents.