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Charles Edwin Searls, B.A. 1868.
Born March 25, 1846, in Pomfret:, Conn
Died July 14, 1925, in Thompson, Conn

Father, Edwin Clark Searls, a merchant in Pomfret and later a broker in New York; son of Bela and Hannah (Wolcot) Searls, descendant of Robert Searls, who came from Dorchester, England, was admitted to the community of Dorchester, Mass , in 1662, and later moved to Brooklyn, Conn.

Mother, Caroline (Mathewson) Searls; daughter of Darius and Mary (Smith) Mathewson; descendant of John Mathewson, who came to America from Scotland in 1658 and settled at Providence, R I.

Cousins: Dr. Arthur Mathewson, '58, Albert McC. Mathewson, '84 L., Dr. Henry S. Mathewson, '90, and John P Grosvenor,

Private academy in Thompson. Dissertation appointment Junior year; first dispute appointment Senior year; member Phi Theta Psi, Kappa Sigma Epsilon, Psi Upsilon, and Wolfs Head. Had lived in Thompson since graduation; studied law with Gilbert M. Phillips in Putnam, Conn ; had practiced in Putnam since his admission to bar in August, 1870; formed a partnership with Frank F. Russell, £#-'89 L., under firm name of Searls & Russell in 1892; in 1910 Howard C. Bradford was admitted to the firm, which then became Searls, Russell & Bradford, of which Mr. Searls was senior member until his death; admitted to practice in Urn ted States Supreme Court in 1907; one of the oldest members of the Connecticut Bar in length of service, and oldest practicing member of Windham County Bar; had declined two appointments to Superior Court bench; counsel for Hemingway Silk Company of Putnam (originally the Hammond-Knowlton Silk Company) from its incorporation about 1885 until his death; director of Derry (N. H.) Water Company until the works were sold to the city and of Thompson National Bank until its liqudiation; special counsel to Comptroller of the Currency in 1898 and 1899; member Connecticut Legislature in 1871 and again in 1886 (candidate for speaker during last term, but defeated), secretary of state during 1881-82; in convention of 1884 received a large vote for member of Congress from his county, in 1886 his name was prominently mentioned as a candidate for governor; delegate from Connecticut to Republican National Convention in 1896; member State Senate in 1909 and 1910, serving as chairman of Judiciary Committee and of Joint Committee on Rules, town clerk of Thompson in 1869 and 1870; school visitor for a number of years, justice of the peace 1867-1916; former officer of American Bar Association and president Connecticut State Bar Association in 1918 (member of its committee on jurisprudence and of executive committee); director Connecticut Branch, National Citizens' League; member National Economic League; regular attendant at Congregational Church in Thompson.

Married October 8, 1902, in Boston, Mass , Sarah ALce, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Fairclough) Fell. No children.

Death due to myocarditis, had been in failing health for two years,* his illness becoming acute about three months before his death. Buried at Pomfret Survived by wife.
http://mssa.library.yale.edu/obituary_record/1925_1952/1925-26.pdf

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