The Portland daily press., 1870-02-18
Hon. William Willis. LII. ID,


took place at twenty-five minutes past
nine O'CLOCK Of Thursday forenoon, Feb
ruary 18th, 1870, comes upon us, with
such sudden surprise, as to afford no
opportunity to speak at any considerable
length of his public services, or the extent of
the public loss. In almost daily intercourse,
We had observed the gradual wearing out of
an elastic frame of delicate texture; but more
than once during the last seven years he had
seemed nearer the end of his race, than at the
time of our last interview, employed as he
then was in completing his Bibliography OF
Maine. "This is my last work., he quietly
said, handing me interwritten pages of his
former edition p9e 1 se 5 a HssTS hSS
ry or enfeebled mental power. "My hope u.s."
said Mr.. Willis, shat may not outlive my
intellectual strength" and fortunately for his
fame, his wish was granted. Unwilling to re-
linquish his desire for usefulness, he laid aside
for moment work upon his book, to write a
sketch full of pathetic interest of native of
Portland, who had just departed this life,
died at last, of pure physical exhaustion, in
duced by unceasing activity of brain, without
the slightest abatement in the clearness of
his intellectual powers.
Mr.. Willis was in many respects a remark
able man, and fortunately for the community
in which he lived, his ambition, which was
very great, took the form of desire to be
useful. A faithful observer and annalist of
passing events, he had an instructive fondness
for everything calculated to promote the pub
lie welfare; and the good he has accomplished
by the unceasing use of his pen for more than
fifty years, in that direction, can never be
measured or estimated, though fully recog-
nized by those Of his own age who participant
ed in the events of the period. Educated to
the bar, in which he had success and for TWEEN
ty years law-partner of Senator Fessenden.
as Willis d Fessenden, his mind gradually
turned itself to history and general learning,
so that his reputation as writer on historical
questions, and the recorder of passing events,
is much more enduring than as writer on
law and its kindred subject legal biography.
While not entirely free from the personal
prejudces which come of the rivalships of
professional and political life, all these were
forgotten when the duties of the historian and
the annalist were called for, and, as one after
another OF the prominent men of our State
departed this life, the genial pen of Mr.. Will
lis embalmed their memories in apt and appro-
pirate phrase, while he cast mantle of char
ity over personal defects. And it is difficult
to lind, in all the wide domain of our ac-
quaintance, any one adequate TO supply his
place.
10 the historical men of the country
Mr.. Willis was universally known, by his
contributions to history, and his long
and arduous labors in connection with
the Maine Historical Society, over which
he performed the duties of President, for
many years, retiring ON account of declining
health, against the unanimous desire of all
his associates-expressed in the most affec.
tionate and cordial terms. He held various
public offices, Bank Commissioner, State Sem
ator, Railroad Commissioner, Mayor of Port
road, and other trusts, which came to him
without solicitation, and generally against his
wishes. He was nominated and elected May
n OF Portland, while absent in the South, and
would not have accepted the nomination, had
he been able to decline before election. He
never sought Office, and resigned it as soon as
The particular necessity which he was called
TO meet had passed away,-avoiding always
the notoriety and prominence which come of
official position. Though a man of refec-
lion rather than Of action, he achieved with
great rapidlty and success whatever was al
Gifted to him, and acquired a facility and an
elegance in writing, remarkable to those mcst
expert in this most difficult department of la
Dor. AS editor of the Documentary History
If Maine, now in process of publication, his
to the great work of DR.. Kohl
Which constitutes the first volume, is model
IT elegant scholarship.
The cordial sympathy of Mr.. Willis in all
he great enterprises of our State, for the |
asst twenty-five years,-for the introduction
# which his own elaborate writings had
moothed the way, calls for an expression of |
egret from us, that his services in this direc-
ion have ceased. Practical and sagacous, in
he last years of his life be gave to the great
abroad projects, to Montreal, to Halifax and |
the West, the support of his name and |
haracter, when most needed; and, though in |
ellcate health, attended railroad conven- |
on at Rutland in June last, and started on |
Is way to Oswego in October, when the great |
tom intercepted his progress, with hundreds
f younger men, and his last words of coun-
ell were, "Persevere in the great project of a |
irect line to the West"
MIR. Willis was most remarkable for his af- |
actionate nature, and genuine kindness of |
ceiling, and enjoyed, more than most men,
and sympathy; while his interest |
/ religious truths, always strong, increased
18th advancing years, regardless of sect or de-
omnational differences.
A son of Benjamin Willis, for many wears
wealthy and prominent merchant of Port
md, he was born at Haverhil, Mass, August
|, 1894, studied at Exeter Academy, GRADUATE
d at Harvard College in the class of 1913. and
'ent the remainder of his days in Portland.
MIR. Willis visited Europe when a young
ian, in company with his intimate friend.
dwin Bartlett, afterwards an eminent mer-
lant of New York, who died few years
nee, and to whose memory he contributed
'aceful tribute, which forms part of the ell
,ant volume issued in memoriam by Mr..
artlet's friends.
Mr. Willis collection of facts and bioeraph-
al notes will form a storehouse of knowledge
some future historian. He was an honor
y member of the Historical Society of Mas
chusetts, that of New York, and many 9TH
States, and was, at the time of his death,
resident ofthe Portland Institute, which he
so much to establish, after the loss of the
'rtland Atheneum Library by the great fire
1866.
The space allotted 10 us in the columns of
daily newspaper forbids us to enlarge upon |
r. Willis character, much less to attempt
y list or statementof his published writings.
he various public bodies with which he has |
en- officially connected will see to it, that a
IN Dir of his life and public services, shall be
zen to the public in proper and enduring
m; for the number of persons in our State. !
d throughout the country, who sympathize a
lh us in his loss, will call for an elaborate t
'graphy, with collection of his writings.
The elegant young student whom 1 met /,
ire IMAM fifty years ago, taking notes of
vel among the mountains of Oxford couu-