Frederick E. Woodbridge

Frederick Enoch Woodbridge (August 29, 1818 – April 25, 1888) was a nineteenth-century politician and lawyer from Vermont. He served as a U.S. Representative from Vermont.

Frederick Enoch Woodbridge
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's 1st district
In office March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1869
Preceded by	Eliakim Persons Walton
Succeeded by	Charles W. Willard
11th Vermont Auditor of Accounts
In office 1850-1853
Governor	Charles K. Williams Erastus Fairbanks
Preceded by	Silas H. Hodges
Succeeded by	William M. Pingry
Member of the Vermont Senate from the Addison District
In office 1859-1861
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office 1849 1857–1858
Mayor of Vergennes, Vermont
In office 1844-1849
Member of the Vergennes City Council
In office 1843-1844
Personal details
Born	(1818-08-29)August 29, 1818 Vergennes, Vermont, US
Died	April 25, 1888(1888-04-25) (aged 69) Vergennes, Vermont, US
Citizenship	United States
Political party	National Republican until 1840s Republican after 1855
Spouse	Mary Parkhurst Woodbridge
Children	Enoch Day Woodbridge
Profession	Politician, Lawyer

Biography

Woodbridge was born in Vergennes, Vermont, son of Enoch D. Woodbridge and Clara (Strong) Woodbridge.^[1] His grandfather Enoch Woodbridge served as Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court,^[2] and his grandfather Samuel Strong and great-grandfather John Strong, were prominent military and political leaders of early Vermont.^[3] He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1840. He studied law with his father and was admitted to the bar in 1843. He began the practice of law in Vergennes.^[4]

Woodbridge was elected as a city councilor for two years and the mayor of Vergennes for five. He later served as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives in 1849, 1857 and 1858, and was the Vermont Auditor of Accounts from 1850 until 1852. He was a prosecuting attorney from 1854 to 1858.^[5] He engaged in the construction of railroads and was vice-president of the Rutland and Washington Railroad.^[6] Woodbridge served in the Vermont Senate in 1860 and 1861,^[7] serving as president pro tempore in the latter year.^[8]

Woodbridge was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives in 1862, serving from 1863 to 1869.^[9][10] He was a major proponent of the Expatriation Act of 1868.^[11]

After leaving Congress, Woodbridge resumed practicing law in Vergennes and became mayor in 1879.^[12] Stephen Bates, his coachman and an emancipated slave, served as sheriff of Vergennes for 25 years.^[13]

Woodbridge died in Vergennes on April 25, 1888. He is interred in Prospect Cemetery in Vergennes.^[12]

Personal life

Woodbridge was married to Mary Parkhurst Woodbridge. Their son Enoch Day Woodbridge was a surgeon at Bellevue Hospital.^[14]

References

1. "Woodbridge, Frederick S., b. 1818 VT". genealogy.com. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
2. Ullery, Jacob G. (1894). Men of Vermont Illustrated. Brattleboro, VT: Transcript Publishing Company. p. 176.
3. Grand Lodge of Vermont (1879). Records of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Vermont. Burlington, VT: The Free Press Association. pp. 35–36 – via Google Books.
4. United States Congress (2005). Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-2005: The Continental Congress, September 5, 1774, to October 21, 1788, and the Congress of the United States, from the First Through the One Hundred Eighth Congresses, March 4, 1789, to January 3, 2005. Government Printing Office. p. 2196. ISBN 9780160731761.
5. Proctor, Redfield and Charles H. Davenport (1894). Men of Vermont: An Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters and Sons of Vermont. Transcript Publishing Company. pp. 157. frederick woodbridge.
6. "Frederick E. Woodbridge". Vermont in the Civil War. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
7. "Woodbridge, Frederick Enoch (1818-1888)". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
8. "Vermont Senate Presidents Pro Tempore". Vermont Legislature. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
9. "WOODBRIDGE, Frederick Enoch, (1818 - 1888)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
10. "Rep. Frederick Woodbridge". Govtrack.us. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
11. Erler, Edward J. (2003). "From subjects to citizens: the social compact of origins of American citizenship". In Pestritto, Ronald J.; West, Thomas G. (eds.). The American Founding and the Social Compact. Lexington Books. p. 191. ISBN 9780739106655. OCLC 51726670.
12. "WOODBRIDGE, Frederick Enoch, (1818 - 1888)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
13. Epp, Henry (2021-02-08). "Reporter Debrief: Meet Stephen Bates, Vt.'s First Black Sheriff In Vergennes". Vermont Public. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
14. Yale University. Class of 1868 (1914). History of the class of 1868: Yale College, 1864-1914. The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor press. pp. 307. frederick woodbridge .{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

External links

• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress: WOODBRIDGE, Frederick Enoch, (1818 - 1888)
• Govtrack.us: Rep. Frederick Woodbridge
• Vermont in the Civil War: Frederick E. Woodbridge
• Frederick E. Woodbridge at Find a Grave
• The Political Graveyard: Woodbridge, Frederick Enoch (1818-1888)

• Biography portal

Political offices
Preceded by Silas H. Hodges	Vermont Auditor of Accounts 1850 – 1853	Succeeded by William M. Pingry
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Eliakim P. Walton	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's 1st congressional district March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1869	Succeeded by Charles W. Willard