Charles E. Hibbard

Charles Edmund Hibbard (March 15, 1844 – August 11, 1922) was an American lawyer, banker and politician who served as the Western Massachusetts District Attorney and as the first Mayor of Pittsfield, Massachusetts.[2]

Charles Edmund Hibbard
Delegate to the 1917 Massachusetts Constitutional Convention[1]
In office June 6, 1917 – August 13, 1919
Mayor of Pittsfield, Massachusetts[2]
In office 1891–1891
Preceded by	Board of Selectmen
Succeeded by	Jabez L. Peck
District Attorney for Hampden and Berkshire Counties, Massachusetts
In office 1888–1893
Preceded by	Andrew J. Waterman
Succeeded by	Charles L. Gardner
Personal details
Born	March 15, 1844[2] Farmington Falls, Maine[2]
Died	August 11, 1922[3] Pittsfield, Massachusetts[3]
Political party	Democratic[2]
Spouse(s)	Henrietta Hayden[4][5]
Children	Charles Lovejoy Hibbard;[4][5] Mary Page Hibbard;[4] Frederic Walbridge Hibbard[6]
Alma mater	Phillips Andover, Amherst College[2]

Early life and education

Hibbard was born on March 15, 1844[2] in Farmington Falls, Maine, he attended Phillips Andover and graduated from Amherst College in 1867.[2] After he graded from Amherst College Hibbard began his study of the law in the Woodstock, Vermont office of William Collamer. Hibbard later finished his course of legal study with William M. Rogers of Methuen, Massachusetts.[7]

Family life

On February 2, 1870[7] Hibbard married Henrietta Hayden in her hometown of Montpelier, Vermont,[7] they had three children,[7] Charles Lovejoy Hibbard[4][5] and Mary Page[6] Hibbard,[4] and Frederic Walbridge Hibbard.[6]

Business career

Legal career

Hibbard was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar on April 21, 1869[7] however he first worked as a lawyer in Tama, Iowa after about two years in Iowa Hibbard moved to Boston, and then in 1881 moved to Lee, Massachusetts, finally in 1887 he moved to Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Banking

In addition to his work as a lawyer, Hibbard was also involved in banking, he served as a trustee of the Lee Savings Bank, and as the president of the Berkshire Loan and Trust.[2]

Public service career

District Attorney

In 1884 Hubbard ran for the office of the District Attorney for the Western District (which consisted of Hampden and Berkshire Counties), he lost that election to Andrew J. Waterman.[4] In 1887 Hibbard ran once again for the District Attorney position this time he won defeating his opponent Judge James R. Dunbar, Hibbard was reelected three years later defeating William H. Brooks, Hibbard served a total of six years as District Attorney.[4]

Mayor of Pittsfield

In 1890 Hibbard was elected the first mayor of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, serving a one-year term[2] in 1891.[7]

1917 Massachusetts Constitutional Convention

In 1916 the Massachusetts legislature and electorate approved a calling of a Constitutional Convention.[8] Hibbard was elected as one of the representatives of the Massachusetts 1st First Congressional District to the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1917.[9]

Massachusetts Bar Association

Hibbard served as the president of the Massachusetts Bar Association in 1917.[2]

Death

Hibbard died in his apartment in Pittsfield, Massachusetts[3] on August 11, 1922.[10]

Notes

1. Bridgman, Arthur Milnor (1919), A Souvenir of the Massachusetts Constitutional convention, Boston, Stoughton, MA: A. M. (Arthur Milnor) Bridgman, p. 60
2. Bridgman 1919, p. 75.
3. The Hartford Courant (August 12, 1922), "CHARLES E. HIBBARD DIES IN PITTSFIELD", The Hartford Courant, Hartford, Ct, p. 6
4. Alumni Council of Amherst College (November 1922), "Amherst Graduates' Quarterly, Number 45", Alumni Council of Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts, p. 49
5. Reno, Conrad (1902), Memoirs of the Judiciary and the Bar, Vol III, Boston, Massachusetts: The Century Memorial Publishing Co., 1901, p. 552
6. Flagg, Charles Alcott (1903), "The Descendants of Eleazer Flagg: And His Wife Huldah Chandler of Grafton, Mass.", Charles Alcott Flagg, Boston, Massachusetts, p. 191
7. Reno, Conrad (1902), Memoirs of the Judiciary and the Bar, Vol III, Boston, Massachusetts: The Century Memorial Publishing Co., 1901, p. 551
8. Journal of the Constitutional Convention of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA: Wright & Potter printing co., state printers, 1919, pp. 7–8
9. Bridgman, Arthur Milnor (1919), A Souvenir of the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention, Boston, 1917-1919, Stoughton, Massachusetts: A. M. (Arthur Milnor) Bridgman, p. 75
10. Alumni Council of Amherst College (November 1922), "Amherst Graduates' Quarterly, Number 45", Alumni Council of Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts, p. 48