The Portland daily press., 1864-03-26

Hon. Robert III. Gardiner.
We are panied to hear Of the death of Mr..
Gardiner, of Gardiner, and yet we ought not
to regret the event, however painful and sad
i. is to his many friends. For he has been a
great sufferer, and has gone from his bed OF
languishing to home even more happy than
the loved one he has left. His whole life has
been preparation for death; and in the few
last years. he has had admonitions which have
led him TO contemplate the closing scenes OF
life with deeper interest, and become not
only reconciled to his departure, but to anti
cipate il with the serenity and calmness of a
holy resignation.
Mr. Gardiner was the son Of Robert Halo
well and Hannah Gardiner, a daughter of DIR.
Sylvester Gardiner, of Boston, and was born
In Bristol, England, in 1882. His father and
uncle Benjamin Hallowell, previous to the
American revolution, were officers of the
customs in Boston under the British govern
ment, and by their adherence to the royal
cause, became obnoxious to the revolutionary
party, by whom they were ill-treated and
mobbed. They, with Dr. Gardiner, were roy
alists, and sought refuge in England during
the revolution, and their large properties
were partially conflscated. A portion, how
ever, escaped, among which was the exten-
siye landed estate Of DR.. Gardiner, in Maine.
He died in 1886, having bequeathed his Cob
bisseecontee estate on the Kennebec river to
his son William, and on failure of issue from
him, then to his grandson, Robert Hallowell,
the deceased, with the condition that he
should take the name of Gardiner. The con-
tingency happened, and the property was in
herited by the grandson. Mr.. Halowell, the
father, being one OF the executors of the will,
found 1t necessary to return to this country,
TO discharge the important and responsible
duties of the trust. He therefore removed
his family to Boston, consisting of one son,
Robert, and two daughters, who died unmar-
ried. Robert was educated in the best schools
In Bos ton and Andover, and graduated with
honor at Harvard College in 1901, in a
class which contained the names of the late
Thomas Bond, Timothy Fuller, DR.. Gorham
of Boston, and Arch Deacon Stuart of Canada.
At the commencement he had the latin salut-
9sOilt Which, 40 douoAg given " hhC ceSOhd
best scholar. On leaving College he travelled
extensively In Europe during sixteen months
On his return, he at once entered upon the
severe and difficult task Of managing the large
estates bequeathed to him by his grandfather,
which were then very much in state of na-
ture, though in some particulars worse, being
partly occupied by squatters, who had enter
ed without title, and made improvements
which they were not willing to leave. BY ad-
mirable skill and judgment, however, he sue
ceeded where others failed, in quieting those
iawless persons, secured their favor by an
equitable course Of measures, and soon gave
LIE and prosperity TO the wild and rude coun-
Try in which his lot was cast. This was more
than go years ago. If we had time and space
we would like to dwell on comparison of the
then and now Of that now rich and beautiful
country.
In 1905 Mr.. Gardiner married Emma /.
Tudor, daughter or Col. WIN. Tudor, dis
tinguished lawyer and citizen of Boston, by
whom he had nine children, of whom seven,
with their most estimable mother, survive, to
mourn bereavement which to them is ire
parable. 1t is given to few households to en-
JOY so long and unmixed happiness, as it has
been the good fortune of this beloved domes-
tic circle to have experienced. The lofty ex-
ample of Christian parents has had its bene-
hcent effects upon their children. The steady
and calm influence of kindness, beneyolence,
integrity and firm religious principle on the
part Of both the heads of this harmonious
family, has lett its ineradcable impress upon
the hearts, the lives and the characters of
those who have claimed their being from
them.
The Church of which Mr.. Gardiner has
been firm, long-lived and uniailng friend
and patron, will be sincere mourner for the
loss they have sustained. We know not
where or how his place in that communion
can be supplied. His hand was ever open to
Its wants; his person was ever present in its
conventions; his heart and his wise counsels
were always engaged in the great work OF ele-
waiting and sustaining the purity of its wor-
ship and the administration of its service.
Nor will the general society of his town
and county be less affected by the departure
of a worthy, faithful, generous and patriotic
citizen, who was ever seeking to do. good to
his fellow men, and promoting their temporal
IS well as their spiritual welfare.
But life and the best of earthly lives must
terminate, and we may hope that no good
man will leave the world, but another may be
found to flll his place.
"When our souls shall leave this dwelling,
The glory of one fair and virtuous action
ls aboye all the ecutcheons our tomb,
Or silken banners o'erus."
W.
The State Printing.