From Historical Rutland: an illustrated history of Rutland, Vermont, from the granting of the charter in 1761 to 1911 by Rev. F. E. Davison, Rutland, Vt.: P.H. Brehmer, 1911, page12:
Eminent Men
Among the eminent men who have made Rutland their residence, the following is but a partial list. Nathaniel Chipman, one of the ablest lawyers and statesmen of New England; his brother, Daniel, pre-eminent for conversational powers; John A. Graham, the first lawyer located in Rutland. and author of the first history of Vermont, a series of letters inscribed to an English Duke and published in London; Jesse Buel, founder of the Albany Cultivator; Thomas Green Fessenden, founder of the New England Farmer and the friend of Hawthorne; John Mattocks, unlearned but capable and eccentric judge; Samuel Williams, philosopher and historian, founder of the Rutland Herald; Governor Israel Smith; James Davie Butler, mechanic, merchant, scholar, wit; Moses Strong. great landholder, who it is claimed, married a descendant of Cotton Mather; Robert Pierpont, descended from a favorite officer of William the Conqueror; Robert Temple, a descendant of Governor Bradford of the Mayflower; George T. Hodges, polished and successful merchant; William Page, attorney, safe and upright cashier; Walter Colton. popular author, announcing the discovery of California gold: James Meacham, eloquent preacher; F. L. Ormsbee, pioneer of marble and railroad enterprise; Solomon Foote, prosperous politician, president of conventions and senates; James Porter, physician; Jesse Gove, gentlemanly clerk; Rodney Royce. popular young lawyer, and a host of others whom we have space only to name, Gersham Cheney, John Ruggles, Edward Dyer, Avery Billings, Samuel Griggs, Benjamin Blanchard, the Meads, Chattertons, Reynolds, Purdeys, George A. Tuttle, who established the Rutland Daily Herald in 1861 and the Tuttle Company in 1832; Sheldons, Smiths, Reeds, McConnels, Barnes, Greens, Kelleys, Thralls, William Fay, Charles Burt, Benjamin Lord, Nichols Goddard, Nathan Osgood, Osgoods, Greenos, Parmiers, Clements, John Bissel, Alansom Clark. The above comprises the unique description given by John A. Graham.
The first practicing attorney in Vermont, it will be seen, was John A. Graham.
Robert Pierpont was one of the most eminent of the Rutland County bar. He was born in Litchhfield in 1791 and was admitted to the bar in 1812, the same year he removed to Rutland.
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Israel Smith was born in Suffield, Connecticut, in 1759, removed to Rutland in 1791, and in the fall of that year was elected to Congress from the district west of the mountains and reelected in 1793 and 1795. In1797 he was elected Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. In 1801 he was elected U. S. Senator and in 1807 he was elected governor of the State. He died in Rutland, December 2, 1810.
Solomon Foote, one of Rutland's most distinguished citizens, was born at Cornwall, November 19, 1802, settled in Rutland in 1831, and at once entered upon a successful career, holding various offices in the gift of the State. He was elected to Congress in 1843, was chosen U. S. Senator in 1850 and served twenty years until his death in 1866. He was president of the Senate during a part of the thirty-sixth and the whole of the thirty-seventh Congress. He was among the great war senators during the rebellion. He died in Washington March 28, 1866, and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery with most impressive ceremonies, addresses being delivered in the United States Court House by Senator Luke Poland, James R. Doolittle, of Wisconsin, and a Eulogy by Rev. Dr. Norman Seaver.
In 1870 Rutland had about 2,000 families with a population of 10,000. but that included what is now Proctor, West Rutland, Town and City of Rutland.
Space does not permit of more than a mere mention of such worthy names as Charles K. Williams, author of an eminent judicial history of Vermont; Leonard. Charles, Chauncey and Samuel Williams; E. L Ormsbee, Moses Strong, A. A. Nicholson, Frederic W. Hopkins, Colonel Jesse Gave, Wiliiam Page, Darius Chipman, Ambrose L. Brown, J. T. Nichols. Rodney C. Royes, Nathan B. Graham. This is but a brief record of some of the more conspicuous members of the county bar who attained positions entitling them to notice and have passed away. It is enough to say that the present bar of Rutland County includes in its membership many who are eminent in their profession and will compare favorably with that of any other county in New England.