The Portland daily press., 1878-06-11
Clement SkolfeId.

Friday afternoon many sincere mourners fol-
lowed the remains Of Capt. Clement Skolfield
of Harpswell, to his last resting place; near
relatives, neighbors who had known him all
their lives, and friends from a distance, who
felt his death as public loss, gathered about
him and looked their last upon his familiar
face. In the old cemetery, ,on Harpswell Neck,
which is situated on the summit of high hill,
commanding glorious panorama Of sky, sea,
and the numbsrless islands of Casco Bay, low
ing hands laid him to rest.
Capt. Skol6eld was IS years and months old.
He leaves daughter and two sons to whom he
has been most indulgsnt father, and by whom
his loss will be long and deeply felt; while the
many characteristic anecdotes OF his life, as
ship master, ship owner, in public life and by
his own wide hospitable fireside, where it was
the privilege of so many to congregate, will
keep his memory fresh in the hearts of all who
knew him. The Rev. Elijah Kellogg of Bos-
ton, who spends his summers on his farm in
Harpswell officiated at the funeral. He said
he felt much more like coming as mourner
than to officlate. He recounted anecdotes of
Capt. SkolfeId's sea-faring life to illustrate
how humane he was to those under him, and
others showing his generous hospitable nature.
At times he was original and eloquent, as,
when in speaking of the transitory life of man
compared to nature, he alluded to the trees
which have withstood the blasts of thousands
of years and sheltered generations and genera
tions of wayfarers. He lifted his thoughts to
the mountains and menti oned Sinai, which
stands today exactly as it stood when the eyes
of Moses rested upon it.
Capt. okolfeld was the Oldest ship-m aster in
that locality, and one Of the last of the old
school of politicians strong Republican, he
inhuercsd his party in Harpswell and Bruins
wick more than any other one man. During
his active life he took vital personal interest
in politics. He represented his native town at
Augusta in 1858 aud 1866, and was State Sena-
tor in 1859 and 1860. He knew little of book
learning, and had rather contempt for those
who possessed it; heshad so much originality
that hs preferred to depend upon himself for
everything, and, with wonderfully retentve
memory he was able to acquire and retain a
vast amount of available knowledge He
thought Harpswell the best place in the world
and Harpswell people the best people living.
He was a warm personal friend Of Senator
Fessenden, and it IS related that on one occa
sion when that distinguished man was seeking
particular speech for some important purpose
and failed to find it in Washington, he told his
friends that if there was a man in the country
who could tell him where to find it, it was
Capt Glenn. Skolfield of Maine. So he wrote
to him for the information, and back went q
paper containing it, which the captain had dug
out of his garret.
The townspeople have many quaint anecdotes
to tell of him. though the ons who was mos
fond of relating them, the younger DIR. Johr
Lincoln, his warm personal friend, died jus
one year before him. But the old captain, wht
| suffered intensely in his last illness, although
wandering in mis- mind, had his old friend il
his thoughts, for he told his attendant physi
| clan, "Doctor, if Doctor JOHNNY had been here
he would have killed me in half the tlme."
His wife, Elizabeth Giyeens died some n year: an5
there among the graves of his ancestors and olC
friends, in that lovely spot which looks dow
upon the scenes he knew and loved from In
fancy to age, may the old captain sleep il
| peace. .. W. ID.