The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-07-26

| MS 1eet. Ihls speedily developed into gan
greene He took to his bed four weeks ago
suffering intense pain which lasted till within
| few hours OF his death. Nothing could be
| done to save his life. All that could be done
TO relieve his suffering W as done, by the physi-
clan and his devoted family. Last Thursday
signs OF speedy death were seen. Hiccoughing
sat in which continued nearly to the last.
Saturday spasmodic contraction of the muscles.
Stimulating commissions made its appearance.
his passed Off Sunday, as he began to grow
niue weaker. At O'Clock yesterday morn
ing it was announced that he was dying Att
O'Clock he tried to speak to his wife, but was
unequal to the effort. At 9 o'clock he ceased
to breathe
Judge Clifford's remains were brought to
this city last night. The funeral will take
place Wednesday.
Nathan Clifford was born in Rumney, Graf
ton County, New Hampshire, August Is,
1903. His ancesto rs-of well known Eng
lish famiy-emigrated to this country early in
colon ial times, and settled in the southern
part of New Hampshire. His grandfather re-
moved to R umney and lived there during his
l1fe He served as an officer during the Rev
olutionary war, and was in all the important
battles from Bunker Hill to Yorktown The
father of the Judge also Ii we'd in Rumney until
1920, the time of his death. Nathan was the
only son. FL is father, although man much
esteemed in the community where he lived.
was poor, farmer, and able to do little more
than provide comfortable subsistence for
his family. The mother was woman of I'M
usual strength and energy of cha racter, and of
great singleness and earnestness of purpose
and action. The early formative in fluences to
which the boy was subjected, were of tn
purest and heal thiest nature, for his was
home, altho ugh quite humble, in which the
principles of honor and morality were both
exemplided and taught. Paternal affection
had, however, il seems cherished no further
expectations for the son, than that he should
succeed to his fathers place and pursue the
life which he had led. But, from an early
age, different purposes had secretly filed the
mind Of young Clifford, who from his youth
was impelled bya wish to acquire such knowl
edge as might qualify him for some more ele.
waited station in life He received the rudi-
ments OF ordinary education in the common
oShOOio u lilo idtlfc GOWu DuU the instruction
was OF course meagre, and the terms com
prised only those few months of the wear in
which farmers could spare their children from
the duties and services of home Such ware
the sources OF the'boy's learning until, at the
age OF fourteen years, he made known 10 his
parents a desire OF obtaining an education
more liberal than was within the reach of their
means to afford him. Having overcome their
resistance to his departure from home, and
having obtained their reluctant consent 70 ha-
a mini! in HaUnrhin 40,
tuition OF considerable standing in those DAYS
ne found means to enter the school, and re-
NAMED. there for three years, that is, until
1920. '1
said to have begun at tue time, when. bent
upon the pursuit of knowledge, this youno
man hrst broke away from his home, and, re-
lying almost exclusively upon his own efforts.
entered upon course Of academical study.
The expedient adopted by him for obtaining
the necessary means of support was the COM
mon one OF school teaching il the common
schools OF the country towns of his native
State. The proceeds were small but thew
were sufficient. The three wears of school
life at Haverhill were subject to interrnntions
from this cause, but unfagging industry made
up lor the absences and brought rapid progress
and high mental discipline Subsequently, to
tins. year spent at the Literary Institution
at New Hampton, completed the young mans
academlcal career, and at the expiration of
that time, at the age of eighteen Years. he
entered the office of Hon. Josiah Onincv. a
leading lawyer OF Grafton county, as a stu
dent at law. This choice of the profession of
law was no accident Or sudden decision. but
The result OF a fixed and settled preference.
The years of preparation had been wears of
close and intense study, and they had borne
their fruit IN mind much matured, and in
the production OF practical views of life The
Instructions OF the Academy had been supple
mented by considerable stock of general
reading, SO that in spite of many difficulties.
Mr.. Clifford had well fitted himself for the
study OF his chosen profession. To this he de-
voted himself with what had already become
characteristic aSsiduity. AT the time of which
we are writing, admission to the bar of New
Hampshire could only be obtained, by a can
dldate not a college graduate, after a laborious
preparation OF five years; but this, although
interrupted, still by the necessary resort to
school teaching. Mr.. Clifford had faithfully
accomplished In 1927. He had also unaided.
and to very large extent by himself, pur-
sued the course of classical and other stI1dy
then prescribed for New England college.
With no little disappointment, he had relin-
pushed the desire to pursue a college course.
from the privileges of which, bv the circnm,,
stances OF his life at that time, he considered
himself excluded.
In May, 1927, he was admitted to practice
IN the Supreme Court Of his native State, and
at once removed to the western part of Maine
and established himself in the town of New
field, in the county of York Here his pro-
fessional life really began, although. while
studers, his intelligence and practical knowl
edge had led to his being not unfrequently en-
trusted with the management of cases of nolittla
importance and intricacy. In consequences of
early acquired habits of study and reflection.
and memory of remarkable strength and ac-
curacy, the young lawyer had brought with
him into his newly chosen field of practice. a
substantial fund of legal knowledge and a ca
pacity trained to apply it to the questions
arising out OF the business Of men. He soon,
consequently, made his way to the condolences
O. ire people among whom he lived, and
1ound himself In the possession of lucrative
and increasing business. Not long after his
settlement in Newfeld, Mr.. Clifford v as mar
rled to Hannah, the eldest daughter of Cant.
James aver, at that time a leading citizen of
the town,
Like those of her husband, Mrs. Clifford,s
ancestors participated in the struggles and
sacrifices of the Revolution. Hannah Aver
was quite youthful when she was married, and
for over fifty years has been the constant
companion OF her husband throughout all the
leading passages of his career.
Mr.. Clifford was early led toward nol;tical
life, and has always been Democrat. Not
withstanding at the time of his coming to New
field hardly score Of Democrats could be
found IN the town, he was, in 1880, elected by
a large majority, to represent it in the State
Legislature, and three times was reelected to
the same Office. In 1888, he was chosen
Speaker OF the House Of Representatives. and
in the following year again received the same
honor. Continued successes attended him in
thespractice Of his profession, and in 1884 he
was appointed Attorney General of the State.
This office was then one recurring the exer.
else of the highest order of legal ability and
requirement, but this enlarged and more con-
spicuous stage of professional action served
only in higher measure to illustrate and ex-
emplify the young attorneys talents and learn
ing.
In the severe and exciting political contest
of 1888, Mr.. Clifford was nominated and elect
ed to Congress from the first congressional
district of Maine, and was reelected in 1910.
He left Congress with an established reputa-
| for thorough and accurate knowledge of par
| liamentary law. Although originally in favor
| OF the reelection of Mr.. Van Buren,, he sup
| ported the nomination of Mr. Polk with ardor
| and entered with great earnestness into that
| campaign. Mr. Clifford was in the conduct of