The Portland daily press., 1869-03-06
WIN. Bartlett sewall,

moved IN our streets, and occupied pfonfi-
nent position as one of our respected citizens;
and now the mention Of his -nane hardly fslls-
upon familiar ear. How strange tits, that
when man passes out Of the busy scenesof
AstaEe--lias, ias,hs--should o-.soon- torgotten.
But that is the ineyitahle fate Of human lives'
and human things. Every man in thronged
cityis, eagerly pursuing bis own, phaptomh1
some Of wealth, some Of fame, some u idle
pleasure, ana other persons are only valued
as they promote the objects of these pursuits.
This strangs lot reminds me Of the expression
of . German historian, who said: ,""The, des-
tiny of the majority of mankind is oblivion,
and a very happy destiny itis.'ue, 1sioa pd1'
pa Our friend sewaif was born in York in 10 De-
eemberY 1852. His father, Daniel Sewalls was
of the fifth generation from the first American
ancestor, Henry sswa1l, son, ,cof the Mayor of
Coventry, who came 10 this country in 1884
and was the ancestor OF that geodly and ven-
erable company of Sewalls, who have adorned
the annals of New England, as lawyers, judg-
.es, clergymen, and in every other useful walk
Of life from that day to this. The family has
been remarkable, too, for its longevity. Tho
father of the deceased died in 1912 at the age
of 81, his uncle, General Henry Sewall of Au-
gusta in 1S45, aged 90, and another uncle, the
Rev. Jotham-"Father Sewall"-as he was
commonly called, died in 1850 aged 80. They
all, with their cousin, Judge David Sewall of
York, who lived to be 80 years of age, spent
their lives and died in Maine, each doing q
large work of usefulness and honor for his ma
49, nrr 4 o% hrao b
the chain of this remarkable family tradition.
Mr.. Sewall entered Harvard college in 1893,
from which he graduated in 1903, having
among his classmates Benjamin Ames, well
known lawyer and polititian in Maine fifty
years ago, the venerable DIR. Asa Eaton of Sa-
lem Street Church, Boston, Prof. John Far
rar, Fl. c., the Rev DR.. Payson of Portland and
James Savage of Boston, the distinguished
historian. OF those forty-two members of his
class, one alone remains on the earth. Mr..
Savage has the painful or satisfactory distinc-
ton, % the case may be, of being the last sur
viyor of these companions and competitors of
his early struggles. And as we look back with
melancholy interest over the long catalogue of
Harvard which bears the record of SO much
worth and eminence, we find NO living repre-
sentative of the classes of 1898, 1900 and 1901,
but one each in the Glasses of 1898 and 1877,
and but two in each of the classes OF 1899 and
1902, the whole number of living graduates oi
that goodly company preceding the class OF
Savage and Sewall, are but six, of whom our
venerable citizen Samuel Thatcher of Bangor
of the class of 1898, now in his 93rd year, is the
eldest survivor. Horace Binney, the eminent
lawyer of philadelphia of the class OF l797, is
the next Oldest. When we contemplate the
host of prominent and distinguished men
borne upon this record of the scholars and
statesmen of our country, there comes over US
the sad thought of our inevitable destiny-ob-
livion-"what shadows we are and what
shadows we pursue"
Mr.. Sewall on leaving college determined to
pursue the profession of law and wisely Sc
lected the Office of the most popular lawyer,
and one of the best, in Maine, that of Isaac
Parker of Portland, afterwards the accom-
plished Chief Justice of Massachusetts. He
found already seated there Samuel d. Free
man and John Wadsworth both of Portland,
and graduates of Harvard in the class of 1900
and his classmate James Savage, who were
soon after Joined by Abraham Eustis OF the
class of 1904, late General Eustis. All these
were young men of fine abilities and great
promise; their classmate, Edward Payson, was
also here as preeeptor in the new academy
They employed most of their leisure hours in
writing for the Portland Gazette over the
name of "the Pilgrim" and other pseudonyms,
which sharpened their own wits and amused
the town. On the appointment of Mr.. Parker
as a judge in the Supreme Court, Mr.. Sewall
entered the Office of Edward st. Los Liver
more at Newburyport, and was admitted to
the Essex bar He Immediately estab-
lished himself in Portland, having for
awhile charge of Mr.. Mellen's business, who
was absent much of his time attending courts
in other counties, as was then the custom Of
prominent lawyers.
Mr.. Sewall was well read lawyer, of good
practical knowledge and sound judgment, but
an innate diffidence always prevented him
from arguing his cases to the jury. He was
one of the most modest and unassuming men
ever knew. He seemed to be asking pardon
of everybody for being in the world. He had
not sufficient confidence in himself to engage
in the rough conflict at the bar and was timid-
ly reserved. Yet he was scholar, ripe and
good one, as well as good lawyer, and had a
fine cultivated taste and thought. He wrote
with great power. simplicity and beauty; was
disciplined mathematician, and for excel
lence in this branch, he was assigned at Com
mencement, an exercise in Mathematics and
Astronomy. In this department he assisted
his father in the preparation OF Almanacs,
which his father published for several years,
and which taste and knowledge found exercise
in the preparation of a Register for Maine
which he published a number of years after
the separation of the State from Massachu-
setts. The first after the separation was a
model Register, such one as is most needed
now, being filled with statistical and historical
information in regard to the new State. In
this he was assisted by Judge Bourne of Ken
nebunk.
Mr.. Sewall had few equals among us in the
fullness and accuracy of his knowledge, which
was displayed in various writings for the press
and more largely as editor of the Portland Ad
vsrtiser in 1928 and subsequent years, during
which time it exhibited more talent, good
judgement and good manners, than usually
characterized it, In 1923, he was chosen 8
member of the Maine Historical Society and
was for time its Treasurer In 1915, he rep
resented the town in the Legislature.
Mr.. Sewall's first wife was Elizabeth the on
ly daughter of Joseph Cross merchant il
this town, a beautiful lady, whose early deatl
| was severe affliction to him. On this bereave
ment he was induced to seek consolation in
the quiet and charming home of his venera
BILE father in Kennebunk, where he remained
three years, assisting him in the duties o
clerk of the Courts and Register of Probat,
| for the county of York, which offices his fa
ther occupied, the former 27, the latter 81
years.
In 1887 he finally established himself in thu
paternal homestead; and here he formed q
second matrimonial connection with Miss Gil
patrick, daughter of Richard Gilpatrick o
Kennebunk. This estimable lady, with sur
viving sister of Mr.. Sewall, have been the sol.
| ace, and comfort and joy Of his declining years
In this society, and blessed with the love and
friendship Of all who knew him, and who were
attracted to him by his pure life, his genia
temper and uniform kindness, his setting sur
has serenely gone down shedding radiance
as mild and gentle as the beautiful eventide
which throws no gloomy shadow.
"The rolling and. trampling of new genera
tions now passes over him, and he hears it not
any more forever" w.
The News.
Gen. Grants father is rapidly recovering
from his injury.
N T. SAWYER editor of the Ellsworth Amer