Charles E. Hibbard

Charles Edmund Hibbard
Born	Farmington Falls, Maine, U.S.
Died	11 August 1922(1922-08-11) (aged 78) Pittsfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Attorney, financier, public official
Known for	District Attorney for Western Massachusetts; first Mayor of Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Charles Edmund Hibbard (March 15, 1844 – August 11, 1922) was a prominent American attorney, financier, and public official who held the position of District Attorney for Western Massachusetts and became the first Mayor of Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Early life and education

Hibbard was born on March 15, 1844, in Farmington Falls, Maine. He pursued his education at Phillips Andover before earning his degree from Amherst College in 1867. His legal studies began under William Collamer in Woodstock, Vermont, and were completed with William M. Rogers in Methuen, Massachusetts.

Family life

On February 2, 1870, Hibbard married Henrietta Hayden in Montpelier, Vermont. The couple had three children: Charles Lovejoy Hibbard, Mary Page Hibbard, and Frederic Walbridge Hibbard.

Legal career

After gaining admission to the Massachusetts Bar on April 21, 1869, Hibbard started practicing law in Tama, Iowa. Approximately two years later, he moved to Boston. Subsequently, in 1881 he relocated to Lee, Massachusetts, and eventually settled in Pittsfield, Massachusetts in 1887.

Banking

In addition to his legal work, Hibbard was involved in the banking sector. He held the role of trustee at the Lee Savings Bank and served as president of the Berkshire Loan and Trust.

District Attorney

Hibbard first campaigned for the District Attorney position of the Western District (covering Hampden and Berkshire Counties) in 1884 but was defeated by Andrew J. Waterman. He secured the office in 1887 by overcoming Judge James R. Dunbar and was reelected three years later against William H. Brooks. His tenure lasted six years altogether.

Mayor of Pittsfield

In 1890, Hibbard was chosen as the inaugural mayor of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, holding the office for a single term during 1891.

1917 Massachusetts Constitutional Convention

After legislative approval in 1916, Hibbard was elected to represent Massachusetts' 1st Congressional District at the 1917 Massachusetts Constitutional Convention.

Massachusetts Bar Association

In 1917, he served as president of the Massachusetts Bar Association.

Death

Charles Edmund Hibbard passed away at his residence in Pittsfield on August 11, 1922.