Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-06-23

The late DANIEL UrDIKE. Esq, who died
at his residence in East Greenwich, on the
18th instant, at the advanced ago of eighty
one years, was extensively known to the
people of this State. He was the eldest son
of the late Lodowick Updike. one of the most
accomplished gentlemen Of the times in
which he lived; and grandson of Daniel Up.
dixie, for many years Attorney General under
the colonial government. According To
somewhat prevalent fashion at that day, his
early education was superintended by skilful
private tutors, who resided in the family, and
were, ut the same time, the instructors and
the companions Of their pupils. Mr.. UPdlke
was bred to The bar, and ut the time OF his
death, was the Oldest lawyer in Rhode Is.
land oil his professional contemporaries
having long since departed this life, with
the exception of Ray Greene, who was ad-
mitted TO the bar after hiin. Both Mr.. Up.
dixie and Ray Greene studied law with
James Mitchell Varpum, probably the most
eloquent man to whom Rhode Island has
given birth. In 1884, he was admitted TO the
bar, and commenced, IN Washington county,
the practice ofhis profession, which, however
he did not continue alter the year 1895.
| Mr.. Updke was repeatedly honored with
public trusts. For many years, he was elect.
ed Clerk OF the House Of Representatives,
and he likewise was chosen, for several terms
to represent North Kingstown, his native
town, in the General Assembly. In 1900, he
was Secretary TO the Convention which, on
part of the people of Rhode Island, ratified
The Constitution of the United States. In
the same year, he was elected the Attorney
General of this State. To this Office he dc.
clined reelection. In 1876, he was up.
pointed by the Electoral College Of this State
to carry it's vote to Philadelphia, then the
seat OF the National Government. Since that
time, il is not known to the writer that Mr.
UpdIke has sustained any public office.
Mr.. Updike was a gentleman Of the old
school, both in manners and dress. Ills ur'
bane ind courteous department was on all
occ asions remarkable, and it left upon every
mind tho most grateful impression in regard
To his character. 1t is no mean praise to add
that. in politics, he was a Federalist Of the
old school.
lie possessed good library, and he found
in books both solace and companonshp.-
Ills memory, upcommonly accurate and re.
tentive, was well stored with facts in relation
to events long since passed, ard to person
ages known to the present generation, only
through the medium Of tradition. With all
the old lawyers of his day, he was well ac-
quainted. He preserved distinct recollections
of Honeyman, Mathew Robinson, Augustus
Johnson, Oliver Arnold, and Henry Mar
chant. At the bar, he was associated with
Bradford, with Bourne, with Goodwin, and
with Claiming. A pupil Of Gen. Varnum,
frequently his companion in his circuits, and,
for three years, an inmate OF his family, he
had an intimate knowledge Of the habits and
character of that remarkable man. Having
listened 10 all his great efforts at the bar,
aud before the Legislature, he was better
qualified than any other man 10 estimate his
powers as an orator.
Among The interesting relics Of the pnst,
in the possession Of Mr.. Updike, at the time
of his death, is a well wrought silver coffee
pot, which wns presented by Bishop Berkeley
to Daniel Updikc, who was for twenty seven
years the Attorney General Of the Colony Of
Rhode. Island. This coffee pot, being inlen.
ded as mark Of the personal friendship OF
the Bishop for their ancestor, is likely to be
preserved, as sort ofheirloom in the family
Of the Updkes.
The longevity Of Mr.. Updike and of his
family, speaks well for the salubrity of the
Narragansett country. His father and moth
or died, at very advanced ages. Ills snrvl
wing brothers and sisters are eight in num-
Der. The youngest Of them has seen more
than fifty years and the eldest is an octo-
genarian, whose natural force seems hardly
abutcd.