Ona Sanford Searles (1890-1977), Ona Lark Bell (1904-1994)

Ona S. Searles as he looked during his legislative service.

   Another in a long line of unusually named Vermont state representatives featured here, Ona Sanford Searles was a lifelong resident of the Green Mountain State. Despite the dearth of sources mentioning him at great length, Searles was for many years a leading business and political figure in Newport City, serving as president of the Vermont Retail Jeweler's Association, city mayor, and a one-term member of the Vermont legislature. Searles reached his highest degree of political notoriety in 1940 with his unsuccessful bid for Democratic U.S. Senator from Vermont. Born on November 14, 1890, in Bristol, Ona Sanford Searles was the son of Chester Emerson and Nina (Jones) Searles.

  Searles early education was obtained at the "graded school in Bristol", as well as the Spalding High School. He later attended the Goddard Seminary in Barre, and after deciding to pursue a career as a jeweler, enrolled at the Philadelphia College of Horology, then remarked as the "most thorough and practical engraving college in the country." He graduated from that school in 1914, and then established himself as a merchant jeweler in Newport City, having first located there in 1910. Ona Sanford Searles married in Newport on October 24, 1917, to Marjorie Nelson (1893-1975). The couple were wed for nearly sixty years and had three children, Robert Nelson (1919-2003),  Ruth Searles Dillon (1921-2009), and Richard S. (1924-1968).

  During his long career as a jeweler in Newport City, Searles owned and operated Searles and Co., dealing not only in jewels but also fancy glassware, silverware, china, rings, ivory pyralin, clocks, and watches. Through the 1910s and 20s, advertisements for Searles's business could be found in newspapers throughout Orleans and Caledonia County, such as the Christmas advertisement below.

From the Orleans County Monitor, December 20, 1922.

  For an indeterminate period, Ona Searles served as president of the Vermont Retail Jeweler's Association, and also made inroads into the civic life of his community, serving as president of both the Newport Rotary Club and the Newport Merchant's Association. He also held the directorship of the Newport Chamber of Commerce. Later, Searles would chair the Orleans County Development Association, and was active in scouting leadership, being affiliated with the Willoughby District Boy Scouts, and was director of the New England Council.

  Searles entered the political life of his city when he won a seat on the Newport board of aldermen, and in 1936 was elected as a representative from Orleans County in the Vermont House of Representatives. Taking his seat at the start of the 1937-39 session, he would be a member of the Aviation and General committees during his term and was chairman of the last-named committee. Searles entered into national politics in 1940 when he was an unsuccessful candidate for U.S. Senator. Following his win in the Democratic primary, Searles opposed two-term Republican incumbent Warren Robinson Austin in the general election that November. On election day it was Austin who emerged victorious, besting Searles by nearly 50,000 votes.

From the Newport Daily Express, March 5, 1941.

  Despite his senatorial ambitions being dashed, Searles was afforded a measure of consolation with his service on the Vermont State Planning Board from 1941-45, and this period saw him pull political double duty, as he had won election as mayor of Newport in 1940. He would serve in that capacity from 1941-45, and during his term witnessed the marriage of his daughter Ruth in January 1943.

  In 1952 Searles entered the political field once again when he announced his candidacy for state auditor. After winning the Democratic primary he went on to face incumbent Republican David V. Anderson, and that November lost to him in a lopsided contest, polling 48,223 votes to Anderson's 93,559. Little else could be found on Searles' life after this candidacy. Widowed in 1975, he continued residence in Newport until his death on February 16, 1977, at age 86. He was survived by his children Robert and Ruth, with burial occurring at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Newport.

From the Paducah, Texas Post, April 5, 1962.

   An obscure one-term state representative from Texas, Ona Lark "O. Lark" Bell also served as Hardeman County Judge and County Attorney. Born in Chillicothe, Texas on November 18, 1904, Bell was the son of A.T. and Maude Bell. Recorded by most sources under the names O. Lark Bell, or Lark Bell, his full name was discovered via ancestry.com. In addition to that listing, Bell is recorded as a six-year-old in the 1910 U.S. Census under the name Ona L. Bell.

  Bell's formative years were spent in Hardeman County and after attending Abilene Christian College decided to pursue a career in law. He enrolled at Baylor University and following graduation was admitted to the Texas bar in 1929. Bell married in June 1933 to Berta Stevens (1907-1999), to who he was wed until his death. The couple had two children, Lark (1946-1984) and Steva Bell Brinkerhoff. Bell would practice law in Quanah, Texas, and in 1942 was the incumbent county judge for Hardeman County. Bell had also served as County Attorney for Hardeman County, his full dates of service remaining unknown at this time.

  In November 1951 O. Lark Bell won a special election for a seat in the Texas House of Representatives, this election being occasioned by the resignation of John E. Morrison that June. Bell served until January 1953 and in the previous year had been appointed as general attorney for the Quanah Acme and Pacific Railway. In 1959 he has succeeded to post of general counsel and served until retiring in 1969.

  Little else could be located on Bell's life post-1969, except notice of his death in Quanah on March 22, 1994, at age 89. His wife Berta survived him by five years, and following her death in 1999 was interred alongside him at the Quanah Memorial Park Cemetery.

Elzear Oliver Mitiguy (1874-1934)

From the Burlington Free Press, September 9, 1931.

  Burlington, Vermont business figure Elzear Oliver Mitiguy was a leading name in that city's civic life in the first half of the 20th century, being the longtime president of the Burlington Drug Company and president of the city chamber of commerce. A former member of the Burlington Board of Aldermen and water commission board, Mitiguy reached his highest degree of political prominence in 1932 when he became the Democratic nominee for Vermont state auditor. The son of Quebec natives Andrew and Elodie (Reeves) Mitiguy, Elzear Oliver Miiguy was born in Enosburg, Vermont on October 17, 1874. 

  A student in schools local to the Enosburg area, Mitiguy graduated from the local high school in 1893 and soon after took employment as a bookkeeper and clerk at a general store in Enosburg. After nine years in that position, Mitiguy relocated to Burlington in 1902, and in that year married to Anna Foran (1880-1951). The couple were wed until Mitiguy's death in 1934 and had three children, Arthur (1905-1974), John Foran (1908-1970) and Mary (died in infancy in 1917).

   In the same year as his marriage, Elzear Mitiguy joined the Hobart J. Shanley and Co., a Burlington bookbinder and seller, in an executive  capacity. He remained with that company for nearly a decade, and in 1910 took work with the Burlington Drug Company as its accountant. He quickly advanced through that company's hierarchy and two years after joining it had assumed the post of secretary. In 1923 he was made president, continuing in that role from 1923-26, and again from 1928 until his death. Mitiguy's previous business dealings and stewardship of the Burlington Drug Company were later lauded in the September 9, 1931 edition of the Burlington Free Press, which noted that:

"His climb to success, while not spectacular, has been steady and his career has been enhanced through his constant work for his community and his fellowmen. For thirty-six years Mr. Mitiguy has been engaged in commerce in Vermont. His efforts have contributed to the continued growth and progress of his firm, his achievements bearing staunch testimony to his faith and belief in Vermont."

  In addition to his business successes, Mitiguy also made headway into the civic, political and religious life of Burlington. A devout Catholic, Mitiguy attended the local Catholic church, was a past Grand Knight of the local Knights of Columbus Chapter, and was a member of the Burlington Country Club. A director of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce beginning in 1922, Mitiguy began his political career at the local level, being a member of the city board of water commissioners and for two years sat on the city board of aldermen.

From the Burlington Free Press, January 31, 1934.

  In 1932 Elzear Mitiguy announced his candidacy for Vermont state auditor of accounts and in that year's Democratic primary won the nomination, polling 3,556 votes. In the general election that November Mitiguy would face Republican nominee Benjamin Gates, who would emerge victorious at the ballot box, polling 79,679 votes to Mitiguy's 42, 935. Following his defeat, Mitiguy continued with his business interests in Burlington and continued to serve on the board of water commissioners until his death at a local hospital on January 30, 1934, aged 59. He was survived by his wife and children and was interred at the St. Joseph Cemetery in Burlington.

From the Burlington Free Press.