History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 190

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co.
Number of Pages: 1100

USA > Maine > Penobscot County > History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 190

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1871-72. * Mayor, Samuel H. Dale. Aldermen: John S. Ricker, Charles Hayward, William C. Crosby, Lysander Strickland, Moses Giddings, Ansel Leighton, Isaac R. Clark. John H. Hayes, City Clerk. Common Council: Newell Blake, President; Percy A. Bridgham, Clerk; Ward I, John McGinty, James Tobin, Joseph W. Taney; Ward 2, Ezekiel Cobb, Bowen Holman, Isaac Strickland; Ward 3, William B. Dole, Sprague Adams, John Goodell, Jr .; Ward 4, Newell Blake, Russell S.

Morison, James Smith, Jr .; Ward 5, Chapin Humphrey, Nathan C. Ayer, Joseph H. Gould; Ward 6, Benjamin N. Thoms, Eugene F. Sanger, Smith P. Hutchinson ; Ward 7, Jonathan N. Dow, Charles B. Morse, David W. Gould. Seth Paine, Treasurer and Collector; Henry C. Goodenow, City Solicitor; George A. Bolton, Marshal ; Daniel P. Wingate, Street Commissioner; Calvin Kirk, Harbor Master.

1872-73. Mayor, Joseph S. Wheelright. Aldermen, John McGinty, Charles Hayward, William C. Crosby, Lysander Strickland, Chapin Humphrey, Ansel Leighton, Isaac R. Clark. John H. Hayes, City Clerk. Common Council: Newell Blake, President; William B. Dole, Clerk; Ward I, Hugh McHugh, Nehemiah H. Colton, Gustavus G. Cushman; Ward 2, Ezekiel Cobb, John H. Crosby, Jesse E. Harriman; Ward 3, Thomas S. Moor, Henry Lord, Joseph P. Bass; Ward 4, Newell Blake, Russell S. Morison, James Smith, Jr .; Ward 5, Nathan C. Ayer, George R. Lancaster, Albion W. Dudley; Ward 6, Smith P. Hutchinson, George F. Godfrey, Gustavus S. Bean; Ward 7, Charles B. Morse, David W. Gould, Scott Dunbar. Seth Paine, Treasurer and Collector; Henry C. Goodenow, City Solicitor; George A. Bolton, Marshal; Daniel P. Wingate, Street Commissioner; Calvin Kirk, Harbor Master.

1873-74. Mayor, Joseph P. Bass. Aldermen: James Tobin, Isaac Strickland, Daniel White, Newell Blake, Chapin Humphrey, Llewellyn J. Morse, Amos Pickard. John H. Hayes, City Clerk. Common Council: Henry Lord, President; John L. Crosby, Clerk; Ward I, Hugh McHugh, Nehemiah H. Colton, John M. Blaisdell; Ward 2, Orin M. Shaw, John McCann, Benjamin S. Crosby; Ward 3, Thomas S. Moor, Henry Lord, Samuel A. Stoddard; Ward 4, Sylvester D. Fogg, Isaac M. Bragg, George A. Davenport; Ward 5, Joseph H. Gould, Elton W. Ware, Charles V. Lord; Ward 6, Benjamin A. Burr, Manly G. Trask, Gustavus S. Bean; Ward 7, William Conners, John Cates, Thomas Williams. John L. Crosby, Treasurer and Collector; A. L. Simpson, City Solicitor; George A. Bolton, Marshal; Alvin W. Dudley, Street Commissioner; S. H. Hasty, Harbor Master.

1874-75. Mayor, Newell Blake. Aldermen : James Tobin, Isaac Strickland, William C. Crosby, Isaac M. Bragg, Nathan C. Ayer, Llewellyn J. Morse, Charles D. Bryant. John H. Hayes, City Clerk. Common Council : Henry Lord, President; John L. Crosby, Clerk; Ward I, Hugh McHugh, Nehemiah H. Colton, John Burke; Ward 2, Orin M. Shaw, John McCann, Benjamin S. Crosby; Ward 3, Thomas S. Moor, Henry Lord, Franklin Rogers; Ward 4, Sylvester D. Fogg, Charles A. Babcock, George A. Davenport; Ward 5, John F. Jordan, Elton W. Ware, Charles V. Lord; Ward 6, Benjamin A. Burr, Manly G. Trask, Gustavus S. Bean; Ward 7, Charles B. Wyman, Daniel Webster, Jonathan N. Drew. John L. Crosby, Treasurer and Collector; Albert G. Wakefield, City So- licitor; George A. Bolton, Marshal; Albion W. Dudley, Street Commissioner; Thomas Shea, Harbor Master.

1875-76. Mayor, Frederick M. Laughton. Alder- men: James Tobin, Isaac Strickland, Thomas S. Moor, Joseph C. White, Thomas N. Egery, Silas S. Low, Wil-

* Died December 24, 1871, and J. S. Wheelwright elected to fill va- cancy.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

liam Conners. John H. Hayes, City Clerk. Common Council: Manly G. Trask, President; Fred V. Wooster, Clerk; Ward I, John S. Ricker, Nehemiah H. Colton, John Burke; Ward 2, Orin M. Shaw, John McCann, Benjamin S. Crosby; Ward 3, James Adams, Frank Hight, George I. Brown; Ward 4, Alfred M. Cowan, Charles A. Babcock, Charles Sinnott; Ward 5, Charles E. Getchell, George W. Merrill, Charles W. Wilson; Ward 6, Frank H. Drummond, Manly G. Trask, Hartford Pond; Ward 7, Aaron D. Watson, Elliott W. Corson, William Phillips. John L. Crosby, Treasurer and Col- lector; Thomas W. Vose, City Solicitor; George A. Bolton, Marshal; Albion W. Dudley, Street Commis- sioner; Thomas Shea, Harbor Master.

1876-77. Mayor, William B. Hayford. Aldermen : John S. Ricker, John C. Thorndike, James Woodbury, Joseph C. White, Albert G. Wakefield, Silas S. Low, Charles B. Wyman; City Clerk, Victor Brett. Common Council: President, Frank H. Drummond ; Clerk, Charles E. Field; Ward I, Frederick W. Hill, Daniel F. Kelleher, Daniel Sullivan; Ward 2, Albert F. Snow, James E. Dougherty, George Savage; Ward 3, James Adams, Frank Hight, Alonzo Morton; Ward 4, Alfred M. Cowan, Charles Sinnott, William C. Holt; Ward 5, Charles E. Getchell, George W. Merrill, John F. Jordan; Ward 6, Hartford Pond, Frank H. Drummond, Lester Dwinel; Ward 7, Aaron D. Watson, Elliott W. Corson, Thomas White. John L. Crosby, Treasurer and Col- lector; Thomas W. Vose, City Solicitor; Simon F. Walker, Marshal; Judson H. Robinson, Street Commis- sioner; Charles V. Lansil, Harbor Master.

1877-78. Mayor, Augustus C. Hamlin. Aldermen : John Smith, John C. Thorndike, James Woodbury, Russel S. Morison, Simon P. Bradbury, Hartford Pond, Benjamin B. Thatcher; City Clerk, Victor Brett. Com- mon Council : President, Frank H. Drummond; Clerk, Charles E. Field; Ward I, John Smith, John Smith, John Smith; Ward 2, Henry D. Williams, Michael J. Desmond, William L. Stewart; Ward 3, Alonzo Morton, Joseph W. Thompson, Warren A. Bragg; Ward 4, Wil- liam C. Holt, Frank Currier, Jeremiah M. Gilman; Ward 5, David Fuller, John C. Cutler, Charles Clark; Ward 6, Frank H. Drummond, Charles I. Collamore, Thomas W. Burr; Ward 7, Kendall P. Forbes, Heman N. Bartlett, Marshall Dyer. John L. Crosby, Treasurer and Collector; Thomas W. Vose, City Solicitor; Elijah Low, Marshal; Judson H. Robinson, Street Commis- sioner; Sewall H. Hasty, Harbor Master.

1878-79, Mayor, Augustus C. Hamlin. Aldermen : Nehemiah H. Colton, Jesse E. Harriman, Charles P. Brown, William H. Brown, Charles P. Stetson, Silas D. Jones, Amos Pickard; City Clerk, Victor Brett. Com- mon Council: President, Henry D. Williams; Clerk, Charles E. Field; Ward I, Owen Moran, Daniel O'Con- nell, William H. Darling; Ward 2, Henry D. Williams, Michael J. Desmond, Wilbur J. Webb; Ward 3, Joseph W. Thompson, Warren A. Bragg, Zebulon Grover; Ward 4, Jeremiah M. Gilman, Frank Currier, Charles B. Brown; Ward 5, Isaac H. Grover, Charles E. Lyon, Daniel M. Howard; Ward 6, Albert F. Merrill, Augustus

E. Pote, Job Collett; Ward 7, George W. Spratt, David A. Garland, Thomas Gillespie. John L. Crosby, Treas- urer and Collector; F. H. Appleton, City Solicitor; Wil- liam F. Reed, Marshal; William P. Wingate, Street Commissioner; Walter Ross, Harbor Master.

1879-80. Mayor, William H. Brown. Aldermen : Daniel F. Kelleher, Stephen Jennings, Warren A. Bragg, Isaac M. Currier, Silas D. Jones, Manly G. Trask, Amos Pickard; City Clerk, Victor Brett. Common Council : President, Charles I. Collamore; Clerk, Charles E. Field; Ward I, Daniel O'Connell, Dennis O'Leary, Charles E. Hill; Ward 2, Owen McCann, James Mooney, Charles L. Snow; Ward 3, Zebulon Grover, Henry N. Fairbanks, Thomas J. Witherly; Ward 4, Charles B. Brown, Moses G. Rice, Isaiah Tozier; Ward 5, Job Collett, Charles Clark, Reuben Bagley, second; Ward 6, Charles I. Collamore, Thomas W. Burr, Hiram P. Oliver; Ward 7, Thomas Gillespie, George W. Spratt, Edward Conners. John L. Crosby, Treasurer and Collector; Thomas W. Vose, City Solicitor; William F. Reed, Marshal; William P. Wingate, Street Commissioner; Charles V. Lansil, Harbor Master.

1880 -- 81. Mayor, William H. Brown. Aldermen: Daniel F. Kelleher, Stephen Jennings, Warren A. Bragg, Isaac M. Currier, Silas D. Jones, Manly G. Trask, Ed- ward Conners. Victor Brett, City Clerk. Common Council: Charles I. Collamore, President; Otto F. Youngs, Clerk; Ward I, Daniel O'Connell, Dennis O'Leary, Bertram L. Smith; Ward 2, Owen McCann, James Mooney, Charles L. Snow; Ward 3, Henry N. Fairbanks, Alonzo K. Rollins, Albert P. Baker; Ward 4, Moses G. Rice, Isaiah Tozier, John Dole; Ward 5, Job Collett, Charles L. Marston, Daniel W. Maxfield; Ward 6, Charles I. Collamore, Hartford Pond, Hiram P. Oli- ver; Ward 7, George W. Fletcher, Mellen T. Cates, Charles E. Field. John L. Crosby, Treasurer and Col- lector; Thomas W. Vose, City Solicitor; William F. Reed, Marshal; William P. Wingate, Street Commission- er; Charles V. Lansil, Harbor Master.

1881 -- 82. Mayor, Lysander Strickland. Aldermen : Daniel F. Kelleher, Frederick A. Cummings, James Adams, Moses G. Rice, Charles L. Marston, Llewellyn J. Morse, Edward Conners. Victor Brett, City Clerk. Common Council: Henry N. Fairbanks, President; Otto F. Youngs, Clerk; Ward I, Whitman M. Thayer, Dennis O'Leary, Dominic Cox; Ward 2, Terence F. Cassidy, Aaron L. Simpson, James E. Rogers; Ward 3, Alonzo K. Rollins, Albert P. Baker, Henry N. Fairbanks; Ward 4, Sumner J. Finson, Albert Bean, William H. Edmunds; Ward 5, Harvey L. Jewell, Francis Garland, Byron Rob- erts; Ward 6, William H. Harlow, Horace W. Chase, Jeremiah S. Bartlett; Ward 7, Jonathan R. Holt, James H. Haynes, George M. Fletcher. John L. Crosby, Treas- urer and Collector; Thomas W. Vose, City Solicitor; William F. Reed, Marshal; William P. Wingate, Street Commissioner; John J. Flynn, Harbor Master.

THE CHIEF MAGISTRATES.

For convenience' sake, a group is here presented of the Mayors of Bangor, from the incorporation of the city in 1834, to 1882 :-

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

Allen Gilman.

.1834-35

Samuel H. Dale .. I863-64-65

Edward Kent.

1836-37

Albert G. Wakefield .. .I866-67

Rufus Dwinel. .1838 Augustus D. Manson. .1868

J. Wingate Carr 1839-40

Samuel D. Thurston I869

Bradford Harlow 1841-42-43

Henry E. Prentiss . 1870

Jacob Drummond. .1844

Samuel H. Dale .1871

Joseph Bryant .. I845-46

Joseph S. Wheelwright 1872

Charles Hayward .. .1847

Joseph P. Bass.

1873

William Abbott.

1848-49

Newell Blake

I874

William H. Mills. 1849-50

Frederick M. Laughton. . 1875

Elijah M. Hamlin, 1851-52

William B. Hayford .I876

George W. Pickering. 1853-54

Augustus C. Hamlin, I877-78

John T. K. Hayward ..

.1855

William H. Brown. I879-80

Hollis Bowman. 1856-57-58

Lysander Strickland. .1881

Isaiah Stetson 1859-60-61-62

THE POSTMASTERS.

We may add here, perhaps as well as anywhere, a full list of Postmasters of Bangor since the establishment of the office here: In January, 1801, Balkley Emerson was Postmaster until January, 1805, with the exception of six months in 1804, when William Fobes was in the office; Horatio G. Balch, from January, 1805; William D. Williamson, from 1810; Royal Clark, from 1821; Mark Trafton, from 1822. From 1836 it became a Presi- dential appointment. Mark Trafton was re-appointed in 1836; Charles K. Miller, 1839 to 1848, and in 1866; Isaac C. Haynes, 1848 and 1853-56; J. Wingate Carr, 1861-65; George Fuller, 1867-71; Colonel Augustus B. Farnham, from 1871 to this writing.

THE COLLECTORS OF CUSTOMS

at Bangor have been : Daniel Emery, 1847-49; William C. Hammatt, 1849-53; George P. Sewall, 1853-57; Dud- ley F. Leavitt, 1857-61; William P. Wingate, 1861-66, and 1871-75; Charles W. Roberts, 1866-67; John H. Rice, 1867-71; Ebenezer T. Fox, 1875-79; and Joseph S. Smith, 1880 to the present time.

CHAPTER XXXVII. BANGOR BIOGRAPHIES.

Hon. Hannibal Hamlin-Governor Kent-Hon. John Appleton-Con- gressman Ladd-Hon. Lewis Barker-Hon. Henry Lord-Captain Charles .A. Boutelle-William H. Brown, M. D .- Dr. E. F. Sanger -Dr. Sumner Laughton-Hon. Frederick M. Laughton-Calvin Seavey, M. D .- Hon. Noah Woods-General Samuel Veazie-Gen- eral S. F. Hersey-Hon. Thomas N. Egery-John Prescott Webber -Colonel Frank D. Pullen-Adolphus J. Chapman, Esq .- Flavius O. Beal-Lemuel Nichols, Jr .- Abel Hunt-Charles D. Bryant.

HON. HANNIBAL HAMLIN.

This renowned citizen of Bangor, for at least a gener- ation the foremost son of the Penobscot Valley, is not, somewhat unhappily for it, a native of this county, but of Paris, in this State. He is of old Massachusetts stock, grandson of Eleazer Hamlin, commander of a company of minute-men when the American Revolution was gath- ering head, and is son of Dr. Cyrus and Anna (Livermore) Hamlin, of Livermore, Oxford county, to which Deacon

Livermore, Mrs. Hamlin's father, had given the name, he being a principal proprietor of it. Upon the Doctor's appointment as Clerk of the Oxford county courts, he removed to Paris, the shire-town, where he thenceforward made his home until his death in 1828. Here Hannibal Hamlin was born, the youngest of six sons, August 27, 1809, the same year in which his great associate upon the Presidential ticket, the late Mr. Lincoln, was born. His elementary education was conducted in private schools in Paris, and at the neighboring Hebron Acade- my. He was nearly ready for college at fifteen or sixteen years of age, when the declining health of his brother Cyrus compelled the retirement of Hannibal from the schools, to labor in his stead on the farm. He shortly also undertook the survey of the township owned by his father and others in the north wilderness, which was suc- cessfully accomplished, though in the face of many diffi- culties and privations. At about the age of eighteen he began to study law with his brother Elijah, who was prac- ticing in Eastern Maine, but was again recalled to the farm by the death of his father, and remained upon it the next two years. He then bought a half-interest in the Jeffersonian, a newspaper at Paris, where his associate in business was Horatio King, afterwards First Assistant Postmaster-General. He wrote in both prose and poetry for its columns, and learned to set type and print the paper, continuing his labors of "composition " with both pen and composing-stick, for some time after he sold his interest to William King in the fall of the same year. The next January he resumed legal studies, at first with Joseph G. Cole, Esq,, since Judge of the District Court of Maine, and then with Messrs. Fessenden, Deblois & Fessenden, of Portland, the last of whom was afterwards colleague of Mr. Hamlin in the United States Senate, and also Secretary of the Treasury. He was admitted to the Bar at Paris in January, 1833, and argued and won a case the same day. The next April he removed to Hampden, Penobscot county, where he opened an office and resided for about twenty years. He commanded a large practice almost from the beginning, and maintained It with remarkable energy and success until public duties absorbed his time and attention. 'Since his return to the Federal Senate in 1851 he has practically abandoned the profession. During his Hampden residence and since, he has been often called to the platform for addresses upon literary, political, and other topics, which he han- dles with accustomed ability and versatility of talent.

Mr. Hamlin's first public service of note was as Repre- sentative of Hampden. to the State Legislature during five successive terms, 1836 to 1840, inclusive. He was then attached to the principles and policy of the Dem- ocratic party, and soon became one of its leaders in the House, and otherwise an influential member. He was chosen Speaker in his second term, 1837, when but twenty-seven years old, and was re-elected to that post in 1839, and again in 1840, at the close of each period of service receiving the unanimous thanks of the House. The latter year he was the candidate of his party for a seat in Congress, but shared the common Democratic defeat in Maine and throughout the country, induced by

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

the popular enthusiasm of that year in behalf of General Harrison, the Whig candidate for the Presidency. He was beaten, however, in a total poll of fifteen thousand, by a majority of less than two hundred. It is said that his joint canvass of the District with his opponent, Elisha H. Allen, still also a resident of Bangor, was the first in- stance of the kind in New England politics. Two years afterwards he again ran against Mr. Allen, and was this time triumphantly elected. He soon made a considerable figure in the National Legislature for a new member, and during his second session made an able and truly elo- quent speech against the resolution for the annexation of Texas, on the ground that it was a scheme for "the strengthening of the Slave Power," "for extending and perpetuating slavery." He was returned to the House in 1844, and made Chairman of the important Com- mittee on Elections, and also a member of the Commit- tee on Naval Affairs. In his speech on the bill to estab- lish a territorial government in Oregon he again announced, most explicitly and emphatically, his opposition to any scheme having a view to the extension of slavery. He anticipated the famous Wilmot Proviso at this time (the session of 1846-47), by offering a similar clause as an amendment to the "Three Million Bill." With this ses- sion his service in the lower House of Congress was closed, and he consented again to take a seat for a single term in the State Legislature as a Representative for Hampden. The next year, in the spring of 1848, Gov- ernor Fairfield, one of the United States Senators from Maine, having died, Mr. Hamlin was appointed to his place by Governor Dana, he being then only in his fortieth year. He served under appointment the remain- ing four years of the unexpired term, and was then re- turned for the full period of six years by the Legislature, although the pro-slavery wing of his party in that body refused to support him. His discussion of all important topics in the Senate was clear and able ; but the "irre- pressible conflict" was now thickening, and he was soon to take a yet more distinguished place in American pol- itics. June 12, 1856, after the Democratic National Convention at Cincinnati, he formally abandoned that party in a speech in the Senate, resigning his place as Chairman of the Committee on Commerce. He has since been a steadfast Republican, without variableness or shadow of turning. The same month in which this speech was spoken he was nominated as Republican can- didate for Governor of Maine, and was elected by more than double the majority to that time ever given a gu- bernatorial candidate in this State .. He resigned his Senatorship to be inaugurated January 7, 1857, but within ten days was re-chosen Senator for the full term, resigned the Executive chair, and resumed his seat in the Senate. Yeoman's service was here to be done during the struggle over the Lecompton constitution of Kansas, and other exciting issues of the period; and he did it. May 18, 1860, at the Republican National Convention in Chicago, he was most unexpectedly nominated as the candidate for Vice-President of the United States, upon the same ticket with Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois. He served with his wonted ability in the chair of the Senate,

also rendering invaluable aid in the counsels of the Gov- ernment during the civil war, until the close of his term, March 4, 1865. During this time, in the spring of 1862, he removed from Hampden to Bangor, where he dwells when at home, in a modest residence on Fourth street, near Hammond. The same year that he ended his Sen- atorial term he was appointed Collector of the Port of Boston; but resigned in 1866. He remained in private life a few years, but was again called into the public ser- vice in 1869, by a return to the United States Senate. He was re-elected in 1875, and at the close of his term, six years afterwards, was appointed by President Garfield Minister of the United States to the Spanish Court, and was unanimously confirmed by the Senate. After a period of rest he made a visit to the home of his child- hood at Paris, and sailed for Madrid in October following, where he is now performing the duties of his distinguished position. He was Regent of the Smithsonian Institution 1861-65, and was re-appointed in 1870, holding the po- sition since that time.

Mr. Hamlin was first married in 1833, at Paris, to Miss Sarah Jane, born November 2, 1815, daughter of the Hon. Stephen Emery, Judge of Probate for Oxford county, and since Attorney-General of the State and Judge of the District Court. The children of this mar- riage were George Emery, born September 30, 1835, died July 14, 1844; Charles, born September 13, 1837, gradu- ate of Bowdoin in 1857, admitted to the Bar October, 1858, practiced law at Orland, Hancock county, till he entered the army during the late war, in which he served as Major of the First Maine Heavy Artillery, Assistant Adjutant-General and Inspector of Artillery, and was dis- charged in September, 1865, as Brevet Brigadier-Gen- eral, since residing at Bangor as an attorney, and for some years Register in Bankruptcy; Cyrus, born April 26, 1839, who also became a lawyer, practiced at Kittery, York county, entered the army as an aid-de-camp on the general staff, served with General Fremont and as one of the first Colonels appointed to the Corps d' Afrique, at- tained finally the rank of Major-General, and died at New Orleans, August 28, 1867, of disease contracted in the service; Sarah J., born January 7, 1842, married Col- onel George A. Batchelder, and died June 28, 1879; and George E., born February 24, 1848, died September 6, 1849. Mrs. Hamlin died April 17, 1855 ; and in Sep- tember of the following year her husband led to the altar her half-sister, Miss Ellen Vesta Emery, whose natal day is September 14, 1835. The children of the second mar- riage are Hannibal Emery, born August 22, 1858, a graduate of Colby University, in the class of 1879, now a law student at Harvard University; and Frank, born Sep- tember 26, 1862.

GOVERNOR KENT.

The Hon. Edward Kent, LL.D., was in his day for many years one of the most distinguished citizens of Bangor, where, and throughout the State which he served so faithfully and well, his memory is cherished as one of the most treasured heirlooms of the present generation.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

Governor Kent was a native of New Hampshire, born in Concord January 8, 1802, youngest son and sixth child of William Austin Kent, a native of Charlestown, Massachusetts. His mother was born in Sterling, in the same State, and was a sister of the Hon. Prentiss Mellen, the first Chief Justice of Maine. His three brothers all became useful and prominent men, and two of them are still living. Three of his sisters married well-known New England clergymen, and the fourth the Hon. James H. Bingham, graduate of Dartmouth and classmate of Daniel Webster.

Young Kent, after due preliminary training, entered Harvard College, and was graduated in 1821, when but nineteen years old, in the class to which belonged Ralph Waldo Emerson, Hon. Josiah Quincy, Congressmen C. W. Upham, of Massachusetts, and R. W. Barnwell, of South Carolina, and Judge Edward G. Loring. His fine scholarship entitled him to membership in the Phi Beta Kappa Society, which admitted less than one third of his class of fifty-nine. He read law with the celebrated Chancellor Kent and with Benjamin Orr, a very eminent Maine lawyer of that time ; and under them acquired a thoroughly competent preparation for his professional career. He came to Bangor in 1824, on a prospecting tour, determined to settle here, and in September of the next year, when but twenty-three years old, he boldly and alone swung out his "shingle" in the brisk little town as an invitation for business. He soon became popu- lar, and was presently elected by his young fellow-towns- men as Foreman of the fire company formed to man the new "Washington" hand-engine, which the town had just bought. He also obtained a fair share of the local business (there were then but six lawyers besides himself in Bangor), but took some of his time for political dis- cussion and writing for the village newspaper. He mani- fested a lively interest in the struggle of the Greek patri- ots for independence in 1827, and served as Secretary of the meeting held here to promote their cause, besides doing other efficient work in their behalf. In 1829 he delivered the Fourth of July oration in Bangor-"a chaste and eloquent production," says the contemporary record. In the former year he was admitted to practice as Counsellor of the Supreme Court of the State, under the rule then prevailing that no attorney should be ad- mitted Counsellor until he had practiced two years in the Court of Common Pleas. He was appointed the same year, being then but twenty-five years of age, Chief Justice of the Court of Sessions, and held the bench for nearly two years.

Governor Kent's first legal partnership was with Hon. Jonathan P. Rogers, of Bangor, Attorney-General of the State 1832-33. About the former year this firm was dissolved, and a new one formed as Kent & Cutting, the junior partner of which (though the senior in years) was Hon. Jonas Cutting, Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court from 1854 to 1875. After filling several minor official stations, he was elected a Representative from the Bangor District to the State Legislature, where he served in 1828-29. He was chosen in 1836 the second Mayor of the young city, and re-elected with an increased ma-

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 190

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co. Number of Pages: 1100

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co.
Number of Pages: 1100