The Portland daily press., 1864-04-06
Mrs. Fot.

who died Oh the 4th inst, was the widow of
the late Charles Fox and the daughter OF
Major Hugh Mcclellan. She was the second
| wife of Mr.. Fox, and sister Of his first wife
Eunice Mcclellan, to whom he was married
| in 1906, and who died at the age OF % In
1887, leaving large and respected family oil
sons and daughters, who have filed and are
still filling important places in our commune
| ty. The first wife was so highly valued and
cherished by Mr.. Fox that he did not know
how he could supply the loss better than by
marrying her sister. And this sister became
| to him kind and afectionate wife, compan-
ion and friend during the remainder Of his
| life. She was the last survivor but one of a
large family, principally of daughters, who in
the early part Of this century occupied the
foremost rank in the best society of the town.
They were handsome, attractive and intelli-
gent; one married Horatio Southgate, now
living in Scarborough, formerly lawyer in
Portland. another, Joseph Pope, deceased, al
so lawyer; a third, Mary, married Gen. Bal
kan, man of note in Washington county,
now deceased, leaving her who is the only
SutflNOi VI liS aHu S%uuiSV ohH "nhC,
the wives of Charles Fox.
Mr.. Fox was for many years one Of the
most intelligent merchants in Portland, inner
iting considerable property from his parents,
he employed it in connexion part of the time
with his elder brother Daniel in mercantile
operations and in extending the commerce of
his native town. He was much employed in
public life and was always found true, faith
full and reliable in every Office of trust which
he was called 10 hll.
The father of Mrs. Fox, Major Hugh Nc
Lellan, is not known even by name, probably,
to tenth part Of the people OF Portland
And yet sixty years ago, he was one Of the
largest and most diligent merchants of the
town or the State. He was son of Joseph
Mcclellan, and grandson Of Bryce McLel-
Ian who came from the north of ireland to
Cape Elizabeth in 1870, and finally settled in
this town; the house in which he lived is still
standing on York street, near the corner of
High. In that house Joseph, the father of
Hugh, was born in 1913. Capt. William, an
other son OF Bryce, was an active ship-master
and an ardent politician; he was grandfather
of our present respected Mayor. The firm of
Joseph Mcclellan q Son Hugh commenced
business, after the revolution, on Congress st
near where Blalle's bake-house stands; their
business was very successful, having large
country trade.
They soon engaged in shipping, which rem
dered a change of location necessary, and
they were active promoters in the building Of
Union wharf, to which they moved and en-
tered into a wide and extensive foreign trade.
1t was their practice for several years to
build one ship year; these were principally
engaged in the Liverpool trade as importers
and freighters. Hugh Mcclellan was an in
defatigable worker. The rising sun never found
him in bed he was at his counting room before
breakfast, and attended to all The details Of
his extensive business, which was exceeding
ly prosperous. He and his brother Stephen,
also merchant, now INDUCED themselves in
the expensive luxury of building great hous-
es. In 1900, under the supervision of an
English architect they commenced erect
ing the two houses which stand on High
and Spring streets. They still remain monu-
ments Of the taste of the architect and speci-
mems of the best style of that day. The one
built by Hugh, is now owned and occupied
by Mrs. General Wingate, the other by Messrs.
Noyes and Jose. They were the handsom-
est and most expensive houses then in the
State.
But a change such as happens in all human
affairs came over them, as over all the other
IL \.
barge, non-intercourse and restrictions on the
operations Of commerce, fell as a thunderbolt
from clear sky, and Frustrated throughout
the country, in 1907, its whole mercantile
interests. Those who were most largely en-
gagged in them were sunk the lowest and poor
Portland, and all its noble merchant princes
were cast into the dust. The wharves be-
came silent and solitary, grass grew in our
streets, mechanic shops were closed, and the
town. desolated by an utter prostration, was
clothed in sack-cloth. The palaces had to be
abandoned by their luxurious occupants, and
many ofthose who had Jared sumptuously ev-
cry day, were glad to partake of the humble
bowls of soup, which were freely furnished at
the public expense. The McLellans, the
Weekses, the Storers, the Tabers, the Websters
and numerous others fell alike under this CON-
mon, and wide spread distress.
The mother of the deceased lady of whom
we are speaking, was Abigail, daughter of
the ingenious and able Rev. Thomas Browne,
the predecessor of the late eccentric parson
Bradley in the Strondwater parish; and sis
ter of our fellow-citizens, the late Capt. Thorn
as and VIM. Browne, to whom Major McLel-
Ian was married in 1888. She was lady Of
admirable qualities, and the virtues she de-
rived from her excellent parents, she trans
mitted to her children. The highest reward
and satisfaction which parent can receive
for a firm, patient and unremitted course OF
instruction and discipline toward his children,
is to witness their influence pervading the minds
and hearts of the descending generations. II
is here, that the slime upon line" Is, and new
er will be obiterated or lost. W.
NORTHERN NEW HAMPsHIRE.-A cores
pondent in Coos County, n. H., writes us that
the winter has been very mild in that region,
that the snow has averaged about two feet in
depth, that March has been very unusually
moderate, and that at the date of writing,
April I'd, the numbering teams were nearly
all out of the woods. He says the timber con-
trscted for on the Androscoggin and tributa-
ries, chiefly by Messrs. III. Winslow IL Co. and