The Portland daily press., 1883-07-24

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he proceeded to that part of Wales Planta-
ton that was Incorporated as the town of
Monmouth, Jan. 20, 1902. Here he took up
two hundred acres of land, for which he paid
four hundred dollars. He returned to New
Hampsh and married Mary Whittier at
Nottingham. She was the daughter OF Ben
iamin Whittier, who lived on what was
known as 'The Ledge Farm With his
young bride Chandler came to his new home,
and began carrying on his farm and keeping
a country tavern. A few years after he
took his aged mother al his sister Hannah
to his home in Monmouth. His mother had
married for a second husband John Bartlett
of Epping, who died short time previous to
her removal. She resided with her son from
this time until her death, March 9th, 1920,
when she was "a years old. To show the
hardships endured by our early settlers 1t is
related that this aged lady crossed the An
droscoggin river, using log for bridge, she
crawling on her hands and knees.
In 1896 the Rev. Paul Coffin, in his Jour
nal of Missionary Tour through Maine,
spCdha Vi NtloibtuG OViOhCA SuahdiCA hio
noble house in Monmouth, calls him a
handsome man and tells of his interesting
family. He had risen rapidly in military
rank, having begun as an ensign. He had
also commenced that career in civil life
which so distinguished him afterwards He
began with the honors conferred upon him
in the townmeeting, which is not only the
corner stone of our Democracy, but Its glory.
He was Plantation Assessor and Clerk in
Wales, and Deputy United States Marshal
under the famous Henry Dearborn, who was
his lifelong friend. When Monmouth was
ircorpor ated, he was its Town Clerk, First
Sc lectman and Assessor for nine years in
succession, and held the position of First Sc
lectman twelve years.
He was appointed Postmaster of the town
in 1894 by George Washington. His commits
sion was signed by the famous Timothy Pick
ering, who was Postm aster- General, and he
ontinued in the office twenty-four years.
He was appointed Surveyor Of Revenue in
1897. He was elected to the Massachusetts
General Court in 1890. 1900, 1901 and 1902,
and to the Senate of Massachusetts for the
y ears 1908. 1904 and 1919.
During his service in the latter body in
1903 he procured the passage of the act to
incorporate the famous Monmouth Acade
my, and for nearly thirty years was Presi-
dent of its Board of Trustees.
Elected to Congress in 1904, he took his
seat the year Jefferson's second term COM
menced, and with Jefferson's administra-
ton he was in full accord. He was re-elect-
ed in 1906. 81 e was appointed by that noble
patriot, James Sullivan, who was Governor
in 1907 and 1903, Chief Justice of the Court
of Sessions. In 1908 Governor Sullivan APP
poin ted him Sheriff of Kennehec County,
He resigned his seat in Congress after ser
vice of three years.
During his term as Sheriff he was called
upon to take part in one of the most impor
tant criminal trials known to our history.
No eve nt save a war, ever created such an
excite ment in our Commonwealth. / allude
to the trial of the Malta Indians for the
murder of Paul Chadwick, the Land Survey
or, in what is now the town of Windsor,
Kennel &c County When / was a young
lad, listened to old people with great inter
est as they rehearsed the tragedy. The
magnitude of the trial may be inferred when
1t is known that the famous Daniel Davis
was prosecuting attorney, while the prison
ers were defended by PreDtiss Mellen, Sam
uel S. Wilde, Thomas Rne and Philip
Leach. Williamson gives good account of
the matter, in his History of Maine, vol. 2.
pages 613-616. Any one acquainted with
the section of country in which this homi-
eide occurred, and with the traditions con-
corning the feeling of the people at that
of the law who could enforce process upon
them, even with regiment of soldiers at
his back. Their descendants are the hardi-
est men in Maine, and never used gloves
when developing their muscle.
March Both, 1872, Governor Elbridge Ger
ry commissioned him Major General of the
14th Division of the Militia. William Don
nison was Adjutant General of the Com
monwealth. June nth, 1912, war was de-
clared aga inst Great Britain by President
NJ adison. General Chandler was an ardent
advocate of this policy. He was
appointed by the President Briga-
der General, Nov. Sth, 1872, and
assigned to the Division commanded by Ma
jor General Henry Dearbon, with whom he
had served in the Revolution. He joined
his brigade at Greenbush, New York, was
at the surrender of Fort George by the Brit
ish May 27, 1918. June 9th, 1913, the Brit
ish attacked the American camp at Stony
Creek, Canada West, in the night and were
repulsed. 1t was very dark, and in the con-
fusion Gen. Chandler mistook one of their
regiments for his own, and giving an order
to its Colonel, he, with Gen. Winder, were
made prisoners. His horse was shot from
under him and he was severely wounded
When peace was declared, February 18th,
1915, he returned to his home in Monmouth
and attended TO his farm, which is said to
have been one Of the best in the county
He was by no means indifferent to what was
agitating the public mind. The question of
separating the District of Maine had engaged
the minds of the people as early as 1885,
when convention was held in Falmouth to
consider the matter. Another was held in
1856 at the same place. The movement
failed there; but the discussion was contin
ued in the papers Of that day The agita-
tion of the questions, out Of which grew the
war of 1912, caused this matter to be in abey-
ance until the close of the contest. The
course of Gov. Strong aud the Federal party
towards Madison's administration during
the war had reused the Democrats of the
District, who were in the majority, to great
activity to procure separation and estab-
lish Stale government.
The papers of that time are full of the dis
cussion. William King, John Holmes, John
Chandler, Mark Langdon Hill and James
Bridge we're the conspicuous leaders. Gen.
Chandler was one of the committee that
called the convention in 1916. In the Ar
gus of Nov. 25th that year may be found an
address to the people of Maine signed by a
al.