Judge & Attorney Biographies

As Printed in the Connecticut Reports, volume 115, pages 736 - 737

Judge Edward Myron Yeomans died December 31st, 1931, after an extended period of impaired health and a long, severe illness. He was born in Andover, Connecticut, November 27th, 1871, a son of Myron Parker Yeomans, a well-known and honored member of the Tolland County bar. He prepared for college at the Willimantic High School and entered Trinity in 1891. He was a Holland Scholar, won the Algebra Prize in 1892, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in his Junior year, was a speaker on Class Day, and was graduated in 1895, valedictorian of his class, with honors in Greek, Astronomy, Mathematics, and Physics.

He studied law with his father, was admitted to the bar in 1895, and engaged in practice in Hartford. He was state auditor in 1906-1907, succeeded his father, upon the latter's decease, as County Health Officer for Tolland County, and was engrossing clerk of the General Assembly of 1913. In 1914 he was appointed referee in bankruptcy for Hartford and Tolland Counties, and in 1922 became chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee. He served capably in both these positions until appointed a judge of the Superior Court, his appointment taking effect February 26th, 1926.

On December 31st, 1902, he married Gertrude Ford Hutchins of Columbia, who died in 1903. January 18th, 1907, he married Clarice Raymond of Hartford, who survives him, as do his five children, Attorney John H. Yeomans, Alice, Ruth, David, and Emily.

Rare facility in insight and perception and a remarkably retentive memory won him honors in school and college and were manifested in his subsequent activities and in his service on the bench, as were qualities of sound common sense and understanding sympathy.

Devotion to his home and his family was an outstanding characteristic. He always lived, and died, in the family homestead in Andover. Although his duties, especially those as a judge, called him to distant parts of the State, he traveled far and spared no inconvenience or hardship in order to be in his home as often and as much as possible.

As a husband and father he was loving and indulgent, and his relations with his children were of ideally intimate companionship. Unassuming and genial in manner, cheerful and optimistic in spirit, he was popular with a wide circle of acquaintances, a most agreeable companion, and a steadfast friend.

*Prepared by Hon. George E. Hinman, of Willimantic, at the request of the Reporter.

As Printed in the Connecticut Reports, volume 71, page 756

SAMUEL AMOS YORK died November 5, 1898, after a short illness. He was born in North Stonington, Conn., May 25, 1839; graduated at Yale in 1863, and at Albany Law School in 1864; was admitted to the Bar of New York and Michigan in 1865, and in New Haven in 1867. He was clerk of the House of Representatives in 1873, of the Senate in 1874; judge of probate for the district of New Haven, 1876-1887; mayor of New Haven, 1887-1888.

Judge York commenced practice in Michigan. He then came to New Haven and was editor of the Register for a short time. He began practice in New Haven in partnership with the Hon. William C. Case. This partnership was of short duration, owing to Judge York's election as judge of probate. Shortly thereafter he was appointed on a commission to revise the probate laws of the State. The work of that commission was known as the revision of 1885. All the best additions and amendments to the then-existing law were largely his work. He brought to it a mind well stored with probate law, and more than any other man in the State, deserves the credit for what is known as our probate practice of to-day. He was the author of our system of probate blanks, which are now used throughout the State. When elected judge, he found a probate office: when he retired, he left a court of probate.

In the administration of this office he exhibited not only a thorough understanding of legal principles, but a kindness of heart and sympathy for the distressed, a broadness of mind and a knowledge of human nature, which made him facile princeps among our judges of probate.

After leaving the bench, he practiced his profession, devoting his time largely to probate law. He was a well-read lawyer. His judgments were always mature and seldom wrong. He was in nearly every prominent will contest in New Haven county after he left the bench. He enjoyed the trial of a case, and had that tact and acquaintance with men which, together with a kindly, dry humor, made him exceedingly effective before a jury.

Judge York married a daughter of the late Minott A. Osborn of New Haven. The widow and four children survive him. The oldest son, Samuel A. York, Jr., is a member of the New Haven County bar.

*Prepared by A. Heaton Robertson, Esqr., at the request of the Reporter.