Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-10-23
f.. washburn and the Press.

Independent, giving so much of his autobiog-
raphy as relates to his experience as print
| er's devil" portion of which has appeared
the mysteries of the "Art-preservative of all
| Arts as having been taken in the Office OF
| the Christian Intelligencer at Gardiner, OF
which I was editor at the time and for seven
| wears Whereabouts, and bestows upon me the
Renaissance of personal regard, which, now
| in nv old age is exceedingly refreshing, rs il
awakens the memory of other days not ever
TO be forgotten. OF me he says, 1.-THE Rev.
William A. Drew, the lifelong friend Of onr
family, and who is still living in Augusta,
was the editor. In the summer Of 1884 the
concern went to pieces. l then went to my
home in Livermore, and pursuing my studies
in the office of my uncle, the late Hon. Reuel
Washburn, preparing myself for teaching
school the following winter" lie speaks of
James Dickman AS publish er of the paper at
the time. | think he is mistaken in this.
The Intelligencer went to pieces under
the proprietorship of the late Hon. p. Shell
don, who employed Rev. n. c. Fletcher in
my stead; and it went down only because
started the present Gospel Banner in Au-
gusta, which drew the general patronage to
my support
/ confess to a lifelong friendship for the
nv agency that he was induced to learn the
printers trade, and accept a situation as APP
prentice in the Intelligencer office, measura-
bly under my patronage and care at the re-
quest of his parents.
Nv friendship for himself and his fathers
family happened and matured on this wise
In 1920 | resided in Pennington as Prcceptor
of the Academy in that place, andcommencd
my clerical profession in October Of that year.
For several years | fulfilled appointments
in LivermOre, and generally was the well
coined guest of Israel Washburn, Esq. His
children were young and eager for knowl-
edge In training up their offspring in the
way they should go" he had a most excellent
hclp-meet in most devoted wife and mother.
shall never forgetthe wise system of dOmes-
tic discipline which she insured for her sons
Being an editor, connected with the news
paper press, was supposed (alas what
mistake) to know everything; Witnessing
their eager desire for general knowledge, and
especially for current politics, ] generally
took pleasure when l went to Livermore
to preach to carry with me budgets
of news papcrs and various periodicals, from
which their young minds could gather the
elements of their future character. No better
school for general knowledge can be found
than in newspaper office.
Mr.. Washburn, the father, was politician
of the Jefferson School, nor was his talented
wife less. He kept a store and pOst-ofiice,
and went to the Massachusetts, Legislature
as representative. OF course, his store and
office was the general resort where all mat
tiers of public interest were discussed in the
hearing of listening ears. Herein to great
extent may be traced that wonderful success
in political life which has filled the world
with surprise.
Mr. Washburn had the perfect number of
seven sons, and three daughters. The first,
Irsael, Jr., was member of Congress twelve
years, afterward Governor of his native State,
during the first years of the Rebellion. Elihu
b. was member of Congress sixteen years,
afterwards Secretary of State of the United
States and Minister to France eight years, a
position which he sustained with more credit
than any Minister from other nations. He,
it should be remembered, was, like Benjamin
Franklin, United States Minister to the
French court. His brother, Gen. C. C. Wash
burn was member Of Congress six or eight
years, a Maj General in the Union army, and
since. Governor Of Wisconsin and now a
millionaire-owner of the largest manufactO-
~ of -four in the known world. Charles A.
was California elector of President Lincoln,
Minister Resident to Paraguay,-the vOlumin-
GUS history of that nation he has lately COM
posed and has published. Algernon s. was
once merchant in Boston, afterwards a
banker in HallOwell, where he died q few
weeks since. Capt. Samuel Is. was in COM
mand OF a United States gun-boat during the
Rebellion. william Drew, the youngest son
and child was named as one before him who
died in infancy, also was. He is now menu
Der elect of Congress from Minnesota and
said to be millionaire.
OF all these sons, seven, only one died in
childhood, concerning whom l may be per-
mitted to say, that he bore my name from his
birth and when he died attended his funer-
al. On that sad occasion could myself but
feel TO be a mourner with the family. In ex-
pressing to the bereaved mother my sorrow,
especially, as the beautiful form encofined
laid before me, carried my humble name to
the grave, with womanly dignity she respond
ed to my disappointment by the remark:
"Such, brother Drew, is the will of his Heav-
emily Father who has thus called his Young
spirit home to himself; but l assure you
should Providence ever bestOw another male
child to my heart and my arms, shall GER
tainly hold up the name in the family, and
call him for you" Contrary to human prob
abilities, she did. in her old age, give birth
to an eighth and last child-viz. her beloved
babe, who is now the fourth son of her womb
who has been elected by an in
of the United States. He was educated in
Bowdoin College, as was also his senior broth
er, Charles.
After the Intelligencer went down, l may
say it was exceedingly pleasing to me to rec
Ommend him to Mr.. Severance Of the Kenne-
bee Journal Office, in which he worked at the
types between two and three years. think,
Messrs. Editors, that you may take just
pride in the graduates of your Office.
As no parents in the United States can
boast of such family as the Wsshburn, so,
believe, there Is TO printing Office that has
graduated SO many distinguished public men,
as your own, here in Augusta. Let us see
there is Hon. Luther Severance, founder of
the paper, Representative and Senator in the
Maine Legislature, member Of Congress from
the Kennebec District, and afterward, Com
missioner to the Sandwich Islands; Hon.
James G. Blaine, who has been Representa-
tive and Speaker In the Maine Legislature,
also the same In Congress, now United States
Senator, who is acknowledged to be the head
of the republican party in the nation; Hon.
John l.. Stevens, Representative and Sena-
tor in Maine, Minister to South America and