The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-08-11
Hnratin Sonthgate.

Hofatio Southgate.
How true it l., that when man ceases to
mingle ia the hustle of affairs, and withdraws
from public observation, his name aud his
acts, however useful and honorable they may
have been, fade from the memory, not only of
the passing generation, but even from that of
his contemporaries who mingled with him In
the struggle OF events. As / look around.
and recall the figures of those knew in early
life, who were then filing high parts in the
drama of time, perceive that over most of
them, retirement has cast his oblvious shad-
ow. And yet | am not announcing new
truth, only reviving an old one: for Shaks
peare, three hundred years ago, set forth, in
his quaint language, the same sentiment:
"Time hath my lord, wallet at his back
Wherein he puts aims for oblivion"
And the Bible was before Shakespeare in il
lustration of the same truth.
Here now lies one, just put into the silent
grave, who in his early days mingled bravely
and gaily in the worlds affairs, an active mem
Der of the Bar of Cumberland sixty years ago,
a most accurate and faithful Register OF Pro-
bate twenty-one years, and the author OF an
excellent Probate Manual, which has guided
many dull administrator through the mazes
of the Probate Court And yet in this day
not three fourths of the people of this city, or
Of the county, remember or know who Hora-
tic Southgate was. Mr.. Southgate was the
son OF DR.. Robert Southgate, of Scarborough.
where he was born in August, 1871. His
father, skillful physician, an honored magis-
trate, and Judge of the Court OF Common
Pleas, died at the age of ninety-two, in 1888.
The sisters of Horatio were renowned for
beauty and grace, aud were everywhere the
observed of all observers. Their mother wss
the sister OF the celebrated Kings, Rufus,
William and Cyrus, who in their time were
conspicuous among distinguished statesmen
aud politicians.
Mr.. Southgate was educated at Exeter
Academy, the most celebrated institution OF
its kind then opened for instruction. aud un
der the care OF the excellent DIR. Abbott. 1t
was the favorite resort, in the early part OF
this century and the close OF the last, for the
young men of Maine to prepare for college
aud other pursuits in lite; many went there
from Portland Mr.. Southgate entered 1t in'
1894, and continued there several years, and
then entered the Office OF Salmon Chase, OF
Portland, where he completed his course of
legal study, was admitted to the Cumberland
Bar at the October tern in 1872, and immedi-
ately opened an Office in Portland. He then
found in full practice at this Bar, John Froth-
ingham, Daniel Davis, VIM. Symmes, the late
Chief Justice Parker, james ID. Hopkins,
Chief Justice Whitman, Stephen Longfellow,
Benjamin Orr, Barrett Potter, and three or
four other lesser lights; of these Chief Justice
Whitman and Judge Potter, the seniors Of Mr..
Southgate, still survive, both at the age OF
lightweight.
But there is living still older member of
the Cumberland Bar, Samuel Thatcher, OF
Brewer, Sin this State, born July l, 1176, a
graduate of Harvard in the class of 1893, and
having the rare distinction OF being the old
est living graduate since the death of Josiah
Quincy, he entered the Cumberland Bar ia
l79S, when he established himself in New
Gloucester. Within two years after, he re-
the late Judge Wilde, who had removed to
Hsllowell.
Into the fellowship Of such society, so in
teligent, so dignihed, so courteous, our young
aspirant entered, and honoraby acquitted
himself in the honorable profession OF his
choice. In 1915 he was selected by that wise
aud honored statesman, Gov. Strong, as Reg
ister of Probate Tor this county, aud faithful
ly discharged the duties of that Office under
Judges freeman aud Potter 81 years, through
various political changes OF government.
In 1885, he retired from Office TO his pater-
nal iarm in Scarborough, where he spent the
remainder OF his life in the peaceful pursuits
OF agriculture, calmly and sereneiy awaiting
! the summons for his departure, which came
at length, in the midst OF suffering, on the 7th
instant, and was welcomed with the joyful an
ticipation of higher and better life.
Mr.. Southgate had, by his three wives, six
teen children, OF whom five are living. o.
his sons, i've were educated at Bowdoin Col
lege, and all became clergymen; of these
but three survive; Robert at Ipswich, Bishop
Horatio In New York, and William s., a mis-
sionary of the Episcopal Church.
With calm and patient resignation, this
aged aid venerable IN IN received The welcome
message "Come up higher"
''The st ream is catmest VIII en- it nears the tide
The fosefs are sweetest at tAe even-tlde,
The biz Is most musical at close Of day
Add saints diyinrst when ey pass away