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During his Academical course, he had experienced much difficulty in using his eyes
by artificial light, owing to a weakness caused by night reading while on the farm; and this
became so serious, that it necessitated an entire suspension of study, and he was obliged to
abandon his college course at the close of the first term.
After leaving college, light employment was temporarily offered in the law office of
Hon. B. H. Steele, at Derby Line, Vermont, and while so employed, he became interested
in the study of law. For two years, the condition of his eyes did not allow more than one
hour of reading each day. In February, 1862, he entered the law office of Hon. T. P.
Redfield, of Montpelier, Vermont, and continued under his instruction until the Summer
of 1863, when he was admitted to the bar. In the Fall of 1862, while reading with Mr.
Redfield, he received a position as Assistant State Librarian. In the Spring of 1863, he
was appointed Assistant Clerk in the Circuit Court, at Montpelier, and also in the Supreme
Court of the State, which positions he held while in Montpelier.
In the Fall of 1863, he accepted a clerkship in the United States District Court, at
Springfield, Illinois, from which position he was, six months later, transferred to the United
States District Attorney's office, where he acted as Assistant District Attorney until
after the assassination of President Lincoln, taking an active part in the administration of the Internal
Revenue Laws, both in the court and criminal cases.
Retiring from this office, he commenced the general practice of law in the Federal
Courts, in company with A. Campbell, Esq. A month later, Hon. Lawrence Weldon,
ex-United States District Attorney, became associated with them, under the firm name of
Weldon, Campbell & Harvey. The death of Mr. Campbell occurred in 1867, and the firm
of Weldon & Harvey continued two years later, when Mr. Weldon's removal from the city
necessitated a change, and the new firm of Harvey & Wolcott continued the business until
1876.
At this time, overwork compelled a suspension, and he found that both change of
climate and occupation was now imperative.
He then started West, and located on the Pacific Coast, and, with a new climate and
a new occupation, made a fresh start in business. Naturally inclined to mechanics, and
having previously made some study of the theory of warming and ventilating buildings as a
science, he made it a practical study, using the hot-water system in preference to air or
steam.
Having perfected the system, it was difficult to introduce, being expensive and
unknown on that coast. Little progress was made during the first two years, but having been
practically tested, it soon became the popular system, and rapidly developed into an
extensive business, and for the past two years has been more extensively used than any other
system on the Pacific Coast. The manufactory is in San Francisco, and his residence is across
the bay, in Oakland, California. With the active out-door life and the bracing climate, the
change of employment has brought health and strength, to his entire satisfaction.
In religion, he is a Congregationalist, and in politics, he is a Republican.
He was married May 30, 1867, to Miss Margaretta A. Slemmons, of Cadiz, Ohio.
They have had six children: S. Slemmons, born May 29,1868; Silas Antrim, born
February 26, 1870; Amanda M., born December 17, 1872; Alice, born May 31, 1875; Charles
H. W., born April 12, 1878, and Amie, born September 22, 1882.
Silas Antrim died August 19, 1872. Alice died January 28, 1879, and Charles W. died
February 3, 1879.
Source: "Memorialia
of the Class of '64 in Dartmouth College" complied by
John C. Webster, Shepard & Johnston, Printers, 1884,
Chicago
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