The Portland daily press., 1869-11-15
Amos Kendall.

We announced in Saturdays paper the death
OF the venerable Amos Kendall at the adyanc
ced age OF eighty-one years. He was a man
well known to the politicians of the last
generation, and his name is familiar to every
body at all acquainted with the political his
tory Of the country.
Mr.. Kendall was born at Dunstable. Mas
sachusetts, on the 10th ofAugust, 1882. He
was farmers son, and enjoyed limited CD
portunities for instruction in early life. Yet
at the age of Is, with but year of prepare
ton, he entered Dartmouth College: and he
maintained himself there, by teaching school
of winters. In 1911 he graduated the first
in his class. He studied law with W..B.
Richardson at Groton, Massachusetts, after
ward Chiet-Justice of New Hampshire. i
80 In 1914 he emigrated to Kentucky, and en-.
gagged in teaching. Falling sick, he was gen.
erously entertained in the house of Henry Clay
where he had been employed as tutor. For
many years bis relations with the Clay family
were very cordial; and, as late as 1924, he
supported Mr.. Clay for the Presidency.
In 1916 he became an editor of the Argus
Of Western america, repu blcan journal
published at Frankfort. He was the advo-
cate Of a system OF common schools, and suc-
ceeded in procuring the passage of law es-
tabllshing system of school districts and
creating from the profits of the Bank of the
Commonwealth state school fund He was
regarded as leader in the politics of Ken
lucky.
In 1928 Mr.. Clay cast the vote OF Kentucky
in the House Of Representatives, for John
Quincy Adams, and became his Secretary Of
State. This estrahged from him many OF his
warmest friends; among them Mr. Kemball,
who after that became a lifelong friend Of
General Jackson. Upon the accession Of the
later 10 the Presidency he appointed Mr..
Kendall Fourth Auditor Of TIE Treasury De-
partment He soon attained greater Intimacy
with the President, and had toe reputation
81 couuselling several o. the boidest and most
fAmo % acts Of Geserai Jacksons adminlstra-
ton. PROBABLY II an the friends Of the Presi.
dent. Mr.. Kraaaa was the most obroxloas 10
the vbig~
in Isss BE- became PostmaSier-C General. and
was ne trs' holding that cgice Who regularly
tsok part IN CAbinei eoBsulizlions. lie found
hls department. Ia debt and confusion. and M
STORED d b soiseDey and order. He Also pro
c Hed q iaw e1r hs reorganization IN lssG.
M Van Bareu eoutiuaed hin In oasoe; bat
h. rssisfed In June. lsi0, that be might be-
CO ~ more eftcient Laborer for the discern.
ipaiion q The pfinslPies Of the Democratic
party.
H. nos uniied himself with Mr.. Blair In
TIE editorial department II the Washington
Giose. In isi5 Mr. Polk offered him a foreign
Nilsson, which he declined; bat devoted him.
seli Instead 20 the management OF Morse.
Interest In the electro magnetic telegraph.
He employed himself In political writing and
educational matters; and for many years was
empsoled upon a Life Of General jackson,
which has never been published.
During the war he was very taciturn. but
was understood To affect the cause of The
South. He was opposed 30 the changes which
grew outof the war; but the lion of the Dem
oeratic party had become old, and he was no
longer feared.
@ai' ne"udh was q very serlons man, mat
Ter oi-faet, and seldom INDUCED in jest.
Oace asking rSSrinsy -postmaster in Alabama
w---~oer the Tombigbee flowed up to a Ger.
tam place, the facetious functionary renlied
that The river did not flow up at all. The rub
Oh that joke consisted in Mr.. Kendalrs an
swer, removing him from Office.
A new postofiice was TO be established in
~. a.
North Caroline. The inhabitants of the place
oou'a not agree upon name, and finally de-
lernnned to let the Postmaster-General. Their |
letter informed him that the location Of tho
new office was midway between Polecat and
Stlnklng water. Mr. Kendall named the new
postoffice Hartshorn. .
Mr. Kendall was emphatically self.made
man; and bis great influence and distinction
are an admirable commentary upon the char
acter of our institutions.