Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-09-23
THE LEGAL PROFESSION"

occasion 10 speak Tor the law, ana iOI 'lle
lawyers of Paris, past and present. IL Is
an honor 70 be allowed to represent the
law and the profession, on any OCCASION
great or small. The greatness OF the SUD
iect magnifieS its representative, ana Wha'
earthly subject can be greater than the
law? constituting, as II does, the rules,
established, whether by legislation, the de
ciSionS of the Courts or the DEGREES oil
rulers, for the preservation of order and
the protection of life, liberty and property
Coming down 10 Us through the ages from
different sources, expanded, improved and
purified by the experience and wisdom oil
the learned and able men of all times, II
has well been pronounced the perfection OF
human wisdom. 1t adaptS itself 70 all the
changes OF times, places, circumstances
and conditions, and ever casts its shelter
ing arm about Us, and interpoScs its pro-
tcCting shield when danger asSailS.
In the ordinary pursuits of life we little
realize how entirely dependent we ever are
upon the law, for the safety of our lives,
liberty and property, and for the happiness
OF home and all its blessings Take away
the law and chaos would come again, an
archy and violence would uSurp the place
of order and peace, the law of the strong
est would universally prevail, and savage
ness and deSOlation would settle down ON
the land.
This is no eXaggeratiOn. The expert
ence and observation Of every man furnish
convincing proof of its truth 70 ordinary
intelligence. How important. then, that
the laws shall he wisely administered
The state has done its part. II has pro
vided uS with judges eminent and learned
ami an the requisite officers, and has i0r-
ni>hcd Us with suitable and necessary build
ingS. and all the paraphernalia neediuI 10
the Courts But all the learning OF the
law. AN the wisdom of the Courts would
be of little avail 10 the wants OF the public
without the intervening agency OF the law
yer. His learning, experience, and skill,
are absolutely essential 10 the proper pres
cntation i'm Court of the rights and the
WRONGS of the community and for securing
the ends of Justice. The agency OF the
lawyer cannot be dispensed with IN the
administration OF Justice. Ages of cNpe-
ricnce have taught this. Ignorance aud
incNperieucc cannot with safety enter the
Courts
Paris has been fortunate in is lawyers.
Three quarters of a century u has been The
shire town OF oxford County. from the
time OF its establishment i'm lNO5, and ear
Ia became the headquarters Of the legal
profession for the County. and held that
position tiu q comparatively recent date.
Many LAWYERS have lived here, many who
have been an ornament 20 the har, and
SOME who have adorned the bench. We
have had our Paris, our Lincoln, our Em-
crv. our Cole. and others too numerous 10
mention here. whom the state ana the ma
tiou have delighted 10 honor, and in whom
a. members of the profession We may Just
Is take pride, and none for whom we are
called 10 blush,
would be glad 10 give a sketch OF ALL
and more extended notice OF the more
prominent of our earlier lawyers but time
forbids. will do what l can in noticing
a part OF them in their life aS lawyers ana
citizens here.
The County OF oxford was established
and Paris made il shire town in lo0j. II
had a Court OF Common Pleas AT it. organ
ization. but no separate term of the ;. j.
Court. The business of that court was
done in Portland with the business Of Cum
berland till the separation from MaSSachu-
sets.
The first term OF the c. c. p. was held
al Paris. ON the second Tuesday OF June
A Il. lsUj, by
samuel FRYE. OF Fryehurg. Chief Justice,
samuel Paris OF Hebron. Luther carey "'
Cvrus Hanlin. clerk. who, about that time,
moved here. ana ever after lived here.
The first term OF :. J. Court held here
was holden ON the second Tuesday of sept,
A.D. lS9l, by
Pr,nti.. Nellcu. Chief Justice,
William =. Preble, nathan Weston, IT. Just
ices
Rufus h Goodenow, CLERK, whoever after nv
cJ here
The first lawyer in this town Of whom
there is any tradition was one Lachar!ah
Soule known - Zach Soulc, who was here
at the organization of the county, and soon
AFTER left and went 10 Pennington, and
thence 10 the bad. infer, - the last heard
from him here he was serving out a term
i'm Charle>tOwn State Prison. Willis says
De- became diSSipated and died in poor
house.
His successor was Nathaniel Howe,
known Is Gouge Howe, from his prompt
ness and energy In making collections anu
enforcing the law When he came and
from what place / have not learned. lie
was here in l>uS, and about that time mar
ried Polly. daughter OF Thomas +. Chase,
who lived ON the GOOdenOw place. now
occupied hy Wallace II. Cummings, where
Howe also resided. He had his office over
the store of Russell Hubbard. He len Paris
about 1910 or lSl2, probably, and moved
10 Bridgton. where he lived and praCticed
law several wears. and where We lose sight
OF him Notwithstanding his unprepoS-
SeS>ing Coguomen, he appears 10 have done
A respectable business - lawyer, and 10
have been worthy man, esteemed and
respected by those who gave him no occa-
sion 20 Law his heavy hand on them.
During the time Howe was practising
here, there came a man destined 10 occu-
py much larger space on the world
Stagc-Albion Keith Paris, of Hebron,
only child Of Judge Samuel Paris, OF the
G.. T.. Z. He was born al Hebron. January
lg. l-S>. graduated with distinction at
Dartmouth i'm lNu6, and was admitted 70
the bar. &. &. T.. AT Paris, in sept, 1903.
He soon after settled i'm practice here. and
married a sister OF the late Levi Whitman,
ESQ. of Norway lie lived in the south
part Of the building now Horace Cum
ming> Hotel a. IL then was, the north part
being occupied by DR.. Benz. Chandler.
Soon after he came here, he built the office
now owned and occupied by Samuel K. Car
ter. ESQ, between the Hotels Of MesSrS.
Cummings and Hubbard, which he Occu-
pied while he remained here.
GOV. Paris was man Of commanding
and dignihed appearance and popular man
ners Able and learned in the law, he
soon gained the confidence Of the people,
high position in public LIE and large
practice in the Courts, which he held till
be len Paris, called 70 move in higher
sphere AZ Portland late in lslT, or early
IN ISIS.
Immediately on his departure came, from
Frveburg. where he was then pTactiCing