Charles Wesley Walton (December 9, 1819 – January 24, 1900) was an American lawyer, politician, and jurist who served as a U.S. Representative from Maine from 1861 to 1862 and as an Associate Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court from 1862 to 1897. A member of the Republican Party, he represented Maine’s 2nd congressional district in the 37th Congress.
Early Life and Education
Walton was born on December 9, 1819, in Mexico, Massachusetts (now part of Maine). He attended common schools and received instruction from private tutors. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1841 in Oxford, Maine. He began practicing law in Mexico, Maine, in 1843.
Legal and Political Career
Walton quickly established himself as a capable attorney and was appointed county attorney for Oxford County, serving from 1847 to 1851. In 1855, he moved to Auburn, Maine, where he continued his legal practice. He served as county attorney for Androscoggin County from 1857 to 1860, further building his reputation as a skilled prosecutor and legal advocate.
Congressional Career
Walton was elected as a Republican to the 37th Congress, serving from March 4, 1861, to May 26, 1862, when he resigned to accept a judicial appointment. His brief but consequential tenure in Congress coincided with the outbreak of the Civil War, and he supported the Union cause during a critical period in American history.
Judicial Career
In 1862, Walton was appointed Associate Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, a position he held for 35 years until his retirement in 1897. During his long tenure on the bench, he became one of the most respected jurists in New England, contributing significantly to the development of Maine’s legal framework.
Death
Charles Wesley Walton died on January 24, 1900, in Portland, Maine. He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Portland.
Congressional Record
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