Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-01-03
From the Bangor Wing and Courier.
Sudden Death of Hon. Elisha A.
Allen

painful shock was experienced in this
community at the tslegraphc announcement
yesterday that Hon. Elisha II. Allen, Minister
from the Sandwich Islands, who was for so
many years distinguished citizen of Bangor,
had died suddenly at the White House dur
ing the Presidential reception on New Year's
Day. Mr. Allen, as the oldest member. has
been for several years the Dean of the Diplo-
matte Corps, and was doubtless engaged in
presenting them to the President when he
was overcome by the illness that proved so
suddenly fatal.
Although nearly eighty years Of age, Mr..
Aliens temperament was so genial and his
bearing so alert and vivacious that he seemed
q much younger man. and it is but a few
weeks since he was seen walking our streets
with elastic tread and every appearance of
excellent health. His mental faculties were
equally bright and fresh, and we shall always
retain most pleasant recollections of his
breezy, buoyant conversation at our last
personal interview with him, which seems
but few days ago.
He was a man of remarkable ability, OF
peculiarly ripe culture, and his manners had
all of the polish and refinement of the old
school, embellished by a cosmopolitan ease
and keen sympathy with the progress Of the
times. His public career has been exception.
ally successful and distinguished, and after
having enjoyed high honors under two gov
srnments. his life has almost dramatically
closed amid the full blaze of the distinctions
he had won, and beneath the roof of the Chief
Magistrate Of his native country.
Deceased was born in New Salem. Mass,
Jan. 2sth, 1904. He graduated from Will
liams College and moved to Brattleboro.
VT, where he commenced the practice Of
law and there married Miss Henderson. He
came to Bangor in 1880. in 1881 was admit
ted to practice before the Supreme Judicial
Court. and in 1882 formed partnership with
Hon. John Appleton, under name of Allen &
Appleton, which was continued up to Mr.
Aliens entrance to Congress. He was .
member of the City Council at its first organ
ixation in 1884. From 1886 to lS4l he re
presented Bangor in the Maine legislature,
being Speaker of the Maine House of repre-
eentatives in 1888. From 1S4i to lS43 he
was representative in Congress, being elected
. Wing over Hannibal Hamlin, democrat
He served on the Committee On Manufactures
In 1886 he was again member of the Maine
Legislature. In ls47 he moved from Bangor
to Boston and in lsA9 he was elected 4 menu
Der Of the Massachusetts Legislature in the
lower house. Shortly after this he was
appointed by President Taylor a. Consul
to Honolulu. After serving out his term
he WAS chosen Secretary Of the Treas-
ury of the Hawaiian Kingdom and subse-
quently was elected Chief Justice and Chan
cellor. He finally returned in 1878 or 70 ~
Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States
from the Sandwich Islands and has since
then resided in this country. Mr.. Allen re-
ceivsd the degree Of Ii. D., from Colby
Unworthy. BY his fret wife he had two
sons and two daughters, three of whom sur
vive ~ follows: Elisha II. Allen, Jr., of n.
T., VIM. F. Allen of Honolulu, Mrs. Vessel
hoeft Of Boston. The other daughter, Mrs.
Harris of Honolulu, is dead. BY his second
wife, Miss Mary Hobbs of Bangor, there
were tive children; Frederick II. Allen, now
in Washington, ID. c., and Miss Mary H.
Allen. who has been in Boston during the
past few weeks,
Minister Allen was held in high regard in
Washington, and by q very wide circle Of
acQuaintances and friends in various parts of
the world. Here in his old home he was held
in the warmest esteem, and his death will be
counted - = severe loss. The sympathy of
all will 60 out toward the sorrowing family
upon whom has fallen this sudden blow Of
eMiction.