The Portland daily press., 1877-01-16

Clucr ouepicy, ILL., ~, cA-OuleI JustlCo VI
| Maine, died at his residence on State Street
| yesterday morning after an illness of but few
days, at the great age of 81 years, 2 months,
| and ID days. This eminent jurst was born
Nov. 2, 1889, at Groton, Mass, the birthplace
OF many distinguished men, including Amos
and Abbott LawreEce the well remembered
merchants and phlanthropsts of Boston.
The Shepleys were settled at Grotonl as early
as 100. Judge Shepley's father, John Shep-
ley, was an Orderly Sergeant and clerk of a
company in the Revolution. Ether was the
second of three sons. The oldest was the late
John Shepley of Saco, who was for many
years reporter of decisions of the Supreme
Court of Maine. The christian name Ether
was adopted from city of the tribe of judah.
Mr.. Shepey received his elementary education
at Groton Academy. From thence he pro-
ceedei to Dartmouth College, from which he
took his degree in 1911. Among his classmates
were Prof Nathaniel H. Carter, Bezaleel Cush-
man and Nathaniel Wright, who were after
wards all instructors in Portland. Amos Ken
dali, Postmaster General in 1885, was also of
this class.
On leaving college Mr.. Shepley entered the
office of Dudley Hubbard of South Berwick,
where he remained two years. Afterwards he
read law successfully with q. B. Adams of
Lunenburg, and Solomon Strong of Westminis-
ter. On being admitted to the bar in 1914, MIR.
Shepley came to Saco and entered into law
partnership with VIM. P. Preble, then q. S. Dis
trict Attorney for Maine. This partn ership con-
tinued one year by Limitation. The principal
To- - III
Mellen of Biddeford, Nicholas Emery of Par
sonsfeld, Cyrus King Of Saco, and John
Holmes Of Alfred, all eminent in their pro-
fession. Mr.. Shepley afterwards wrote that
latter few contests with the shrewdness of
one, the wit and ingenuity of another, the
vehement and flashing eloquence of third,
and the placid arguments and special pleading
of fourth, / was allowed to stand "rectus in
curia'
In 1916 Mr.. Shepley married Miss Anna
Foster with whom he had become acquainted
while in College
The separation of Maine from Massachusetts
now became the exciting public topic and Mr.
Shepley's first efforts outside of his profession
we're in advocating that measure, and he was
elected to the Massachusetts, Legislature in 1919
on thatissue, and was the same year elected
delegate to the convention to form constitution
for the new state. On looking over the roll of
the 304 delegates. who met in September 1919 in
the old Westinghouse of the First Parish, in
Portland, think Judge Shepley was the last
sarvivor OF that body.
In 1921 Mr.. Shepley was appointed U. S.
Attorney for the Maine District, successor to
VIA. P. Preble, who was appointed Judge OF
the Supreme Court. This office he held until
1888, when he was elected U. s. Senator to sue
coed John Holmes. While in Congress, he
was warm supporter of the admins
ton of President Jackson. In 1886,
Judge Paris resigned his seat on the
Supreme bench, and Senator Shepley was ap-
pointed by Governor Dunlap to the vacant
Judgeship. In 1S4s Judge Shepley was made
Chief Justice by Gov. Dana, to succeed Judge
Whitman. He continued in this Office until
1855, when his constitutional term exeiied.
During the year 1888, Judge Sbepley was
importuned by his political friends to accept
nomination as candidate for Cover nor, and
the same year he had an informal offer of
the office of Attorney General of the United
States, both OF which he declined. In 1856 he
was appointed sole commissioner to revise the
public laws of the State, and the Revised
Statutes" of 1857 with full index, is mopu-
mens to his industry and legal knowledge.
This was his last official lahor for the State
He was thirty-three years trustee of Bowdoin
College, having been first chosen in 1922 AZ
ter an unsulied official life of thirty-six years,
be retired to private life with the respect of all
who knew him He received from Dartmouth
College, the honorable degree of LII. D.
Judge Shepley became a communicate of the
Church at Saco, in 1928 He
removed from SacO to Portland, in 1887. and
Joined the communion of the State Street
Church, and has been an exemplary Christian
to the time of his death For fifty years there
have been no doubts in his mind as to his duty
to his Creator and his fellowmen. Within a
few years he wrote as follows: when strong
y inclined to cast it from me as painful and
subject, it seemed to be mean and
OF a thinking man to avoid full
and impartial investigation of his relations to
his Creator and to his fellow creatures, and the
manner in which be fulfilled them.
I desire to leave my testimony that life of
devotion resting upon repentance and faith in
Christ, is life of higher enjoyment than can
be found without it,
Mrs Shepley died in 1867. Their remain.
ing children are John r :, educated at Bowdoin
College, from which he has received the hon.
orary degree of L L. D.; he is now proni-
nent lawyer in st. Louis, Missouri; George
Foster, Judge of the U. S. Circuit Court; and
Leonard D., of the Portland Water Company.
The last time Judge Shepley spoke in public,
it was the privilege of the writer to hear him.
He was the last Of the original members of the
Maine Historical Society, which was organized
in 1922. Judge Peleg Sprague .of Massachu.
sets, was one of the corporators. but by his
removal from the State in 1885, he ceased to be
member-he is yet living at the age of SO.
In February, 1874, the Historical Society held
a meeting in the City building, Portland, at
which Judge Shepley was present. During
the forenoon the President alluded to the pres
ence of the venerable Judge and invited him
to address the society, which after some hesita-
ton he concluded to do. While he was pre-
pairing to speak all eyes were turned to his
patriarchal figure, which was most striking.
On his commencing to speak there was gen.
eral feeling of reverence, and from common
impulse the whole audience rose, and remained
standing until he closed. He alluded to his
associates half a century before, to his long
membership, and expressed regret that he had
given the society so little assistance in their
researches. He closed with an expression of
his interest in the objects aimed at. This was
the last time he spoke in public, and the scene
will ba long remembered by those present.
w. G.