The Republican journal., 1881-07-28
The Death of Justice Nathan Clifford

HE HISTORY OF HIS SlNGULARlY PROSPEROUS
CAREER.
Justice Nathan Clifford of the United
States Supreme Court, died in Cornish at
9o'clock Monday morning July 25th The
Portland Advertiser, to which we are in
debted for the following sketch eff the life
of the venerable jurist, says: "Judge
Clit1ord's life has been memorable ex-
ample of the effective force of diligence
and unWearying industry. His unvary-
ing and brilliant success was achieved by
sheer hard work, which perhaps shorten
cd his days, but gave him life better
worth living than thousand years of
torpid vegetation"
Nathan Clifford was born in Rumney,
New Hampshire, August Is, 1903. His
grandfather was an officer in the ReVO-
lutionary army, and served through the
war from Bunker Hill to Yorktown His
father was a farmer. His mother was
woman OF unusual strength Of character.
Nathan was an only son. When he was
II years of age he had strong desire for
a better education than could be obtained
at the town school, and by his mothers
| intcrccssion secured the advantage Of a
course Of study ut lIave!hil academy,
where he remained for three years, until
! he was called home bl the death Of his
father IN lo2O. lie had previously sup
| ported himself to some extent, by teach
ing school, and with his own earnings
| paid his way for another year ut the Lit
erary Institution at New Hampshire
Then at the age OF + years, he entered
the office OF the Hon. Josiah Quincy, a
| leading lawyer in Grafton county, as a
student ut law. \ five Years course of
study was then required Of candidates
for admission TO the bar, Who were not
college graduates; and during this proba-
ton, MIR, Clifford went alone through the
whole course OF college study.
In May, Icy, Mr.. Clifford was admit
ted to the bar and at once removed to
NeWheld, Malnc, where he began the
practice of his profession, and soon after
! ward married Hannah Aver, daughter of
one Of the leading citizens IF the town.
| Mr.. Clifford was always a Democrat, and
though in 1897 there We're hardly twenty
Democrats in NeWtield, he was elected Il
Representative in the Legislature in 1880,
by Il large majority, and Was thrice re
elected, serving as Speaker III 1893 and
lS:}l. In 1881 he was appointed Attorney
General OF Maine, and filled the Office
successfully and credltably for four years.
In the exciting political contest of l~:}-
Mr.. Clifford was nominated and elected
to Congress from the first district of
Maine, and was reelected in $50. Dur
my his term OF four years in Congress, he
established mis- reputation as an accom-
pIished debater and skilled parliament
tartan.
In l0tl, Mr. Clifford took an active
part in the campaign which resulted in
the election OF President Polk, and in
lS46 be was called to the place OF AttOr-
ncy General OF the In1ted States. While
a member OF the Cabinet, ne was appoint
ed Il commissioner to exchange latltca-
tons OF peace with the Mexican govern
ment, and was alter"ard appointed envoy
extraordinary amt minister plenlpOtcntl-
|
va MS return lp tllc nllctl states. Mt
| ClliOrd removed TO Portland, and resumed
| the Or1rtirp nf law In lSIS hp was an
| nointoa ooo,ci,tn i,,s+i,., AZ +i,,, ,,,,,.,,ii
| 7, w INV up Any
| Noui VI lllc ! Hltcu NlaltS ny lFcSlQcAl
| Buchanan, He has filled that important
office for nearly quarter Of a century.
n, III 'o'7' tlle JuSt,ee7 Oh inc supreme
which b1ye sinrn baen issiannn tn ,iranit
Judges. For several wears. judge CIf1i.rd
had scarcely day OF vacation, eNehang-
nv INSTITUTES IN " ''Sil!li8toll Only Iof SINH