The Portland daily press., 1881-01-29

block which went with the great fire, and has
since been rebuilt by his sons. The old wood
en- structure was removed to land east and ad-
joining old Friend Horizons on Maine (now
Congressl street, and was afterwards owned by
Gen. Neal Dow: it was afterwards destroyed
by fire. Gen. Dow has since built an ele-
CANT three story brick house on this site.
Next below Boyd's block, on Exchange
street. john Cox kept a first class groc-
cry. Next, the Maine Bank, old Cumper-
land Bank and Joseph Pope's office. We next
come to Seth Clark's tailor shop, famous
place for news; then passing a door or two we
come to Judge Widgery's mansion. His
grounds were spacious and the house large
three story wooden one; the same premises
which were occupied for many years by Wal
ter Corey as furniture establishment and un-
TIL he was driven away by the great conf1agra-
tion. Our venerable and much respected fel-
low citizen, Elias Thomas, Esq.,* now over 10
years old, married daughter of the Judge.
W. was Judge of one our State courts; he was
man of strong mind and good judgment, al
though of limited education. He once had
newspaper warfare with Mr.. e., merchanG
of Long wharf, who, among other things, had
accused the Judge of being illiberal in the mat
ter of bestowing aims. The judge in retorting
said, "To be sure brother G. hand is dLaodys
open, but there is never anything in it, Next,
Eliphalet Wharf's tailor shop; tnen Robert
Smith, usually called Bob. He was tobac-
conist, had deformed foot and very grum
voice. Eben Mayo, Esq. had an office herea-
bouts. He was a naughty and austere man.
and became very poor before his death, and L
believe ended his days in the elmshouse.
Next was the office of Oliver Bray, Esq; this
was famous place for Justices trials after
Squire Freeman had given up that part of his
business and now for two anecdotes and an
epitaph Joseph Pope, for many years
town clerk and a neighbor, called on brother
Bray one morning for some fire to kindle his
own; brother B. anwered that he had nothing
but the;fre of genius. Squire P. answered that
he did not want that, for it had been burning
so long that it had burnt to COAL Squire B.
was of very dark skin and complexion.) Again,
on another occasion, there was a trial going on
in Squire B. IS office, where the parties were all
colored, and there being quite cloud of wit
nesses present. William B. Peters, q very
gentlemanly and interesting man and withal
quite wit, as we'll as wag, who formerly oc-
cupied the clerks desk in St. Paul's church on
School (now PearD street, and who faithfully
repeated the loud amen, called into the squire's
office during the progress of the aforesaid trial
and looking around made the inquiry, 'tCan
any OF you gentlemen tell me which is Squire
Bray 2; kept livery stable on Silver
street, lived on Cumberland street, and did a
considerable business in trucking and was a
great favorite with the public, and was crier
OF our courts for many years. A General R.,
lawyer here, once joked P. of being nothing
but crier OF our courts. P. answered that
~.
the General Court, which he really proved to
have been, but short time before, after re-
ceiving severe caStgation from Massachu-
setts Representative. N. D. has the reputation
of having written the following posthumous
epitaph concering p, viz;
Here lies VIM. B. Peters,
The queerest of all creatures;
Death has altered his features
From long to short meters.
Next, 70 years ago, more and less, kept
Master George, small, lame man, who used
to be hauled from his residence on King (now
India) street in a small carriage by lame boy.
He kept books and stationery, &c. I recollect
well OF stuffed alligator and other curiosities
hanging from the ceiling of his rooms. Next
below was the insurance Office, of which James
Neal was president for many years, and here
comes in another small anecdote. 'Tis rela ted
that when our respected fellow citizen,
j. N, ESQ.,, nephew of James. who is now
nearly 70 years of age and hale and vigorous
at that was asked in his younger days, who
his father was that he universally answered
his ''uncle Jim." Next was the confectionery
OF Stephen Deland, he was Frenchman and
a very humorous character. His shop was the
resort Of many of the cold school" who
were fond of jokes aud the good things he
kept to eat and drink. He was frequently an
noyed by goat that belonged to Capt. Peter
Warren, who was daily visitor which prob
ably Jared well. In telling some of his
iiI0uuS VI HIS ouCOuulerS WIN the animal he
said he "drove him out and he couldn't 90
out" that he "then took him up and carried
him out and he wouldn't go out" AS Mr.
Wilson and wife, English Quakers brought
in here as prisoners in 4he Peter Waldo during
our last wars with Great Britain, afterwards
occupied this shop as confectionerS. They
afterwards moved into Middle street in Hop
kins' building, or near there; they were very
excellent people. Next came Jones' Row; the
first store then occupied by the old Maine
Bank, and long afterwards it WAS occupied for
many, years by Stephen Little, auctioneer, and
built by Parson Kellogg, with
stores in front, and mostly finished off into
dwellings in the rear, with entrance from
Exchange ttreet. Anthony Knapp, Stephen
Little, Enoch Moulton, Henry Pearson and
others occupied the dwelling houses The
Eastern Argus was started in this building,
up chamber, below the bank, by Nathaniel
Willis, who afterwards removed to Boston,
selling out his paper to Francis Douglass, who
afterwards removed the office to Fore street.
Next Euoch Moulton's jewelry shop, Eben
Griffin & Son and Leonard's shoe store. This
shop was afterwards bought by Robert Barbour,
father of John and Charles j., who have ever
since occupied the premises, carrying on a
fourishing business in boots Shoes &c. Next,
Oliver Gerrish, jeweller, III. G.. Quincy kept
the first victualling cellar in town under this
building: He had wooden leg; was much
Next the large auction office of
3: q. Atwood q Co., and Mcclellan &
Fletcher. This store was previously occupied
by Lord & Thomas, W. 1. goods. Next the
store, corner Fish and Fore streets, occupied
by Quincy & Dix, long afterwards bou ght by
Goold q Webster, and kept by them as hat
shop; afterwards BY Benz. Fogg as a hat and
shoe store. c. B.
Since deceased. + W. G. Twombly now has