Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-01-23

honored and distinguished sons was Step
hen Henry Chase, esq, who was in his
day one Of the most brilliant Of young
men and whose mind was . rich volume
Of natural ability. Strong in debate and
eloquent in speech, be possessed rare
gifts. which eminently fitted him for .
leader. He was early in public life and
at one time President of the Maine Sen
ate, removed to California in lS49, and
in that new country was elected to places
Of trust being elected Judge Of the Cir.
cult Court of Esmaralda county. He
died in that town about 1868 or 1870.
"0reen be the turf above thee, friend Of
my early days; none knew thee but to
love thee, none named thee but to
praise" Henry B. Osgood. esq, son OF
Major James, was also . learned and
brilliant young man, VAS for . time
partner Of the late Judge Harvard, under
the firm name Of Harvard and Osgood,
and for time resident Of Portland.
In Mr.. Osgoods early death. Maine lost
a most able and promising Councillor.
Jas. Ripley Osgood. the well known
publisher, and son of Col. Ed. L Osgood,
needs no words Of mine to more fully en-
dorse the house Of James r. Osgood &
Co., for it is indeed not only the pride Of
Boston but Of New England. Kate Put
nam Osgood, another Of the same family,
ha. gained for herself more than an Ordi.
nary reputation As q writer Of both prose
and poetry, both at home and abroad.
while her choicest poem Of driving
home the cows" has filled many head
with melancholy delight. We will
again return to the old "Oxford."
After Madame Osgood gave up the
House, Philip c. johnson. esq, after.
wards Secretary Of State. became the
first lanlord, but only remained one year.
He was the father Of Eastman Johnson,
one Of the most distinguished Of Ameri-
can artists. From that date We pass all
Others up to the present date.
The "Oxford House" is now under q
five years lease to Messrs. Ingalls, & Gee.
Mr.. A. B. Gee is q gentleman OF many
years experience and we do not hesitate
to say, fully understands catering for the
comforts Of his guests. We predict that
no pains will be spared to this end, and
that summer visitors to this charming
village will find "Welcome Home" un.
der the sunny roof Of the famous old
"Oxford House." May its shadows
never be less and while the old ancestral
elms wave their branches high in air,
along the Saco bright and fair, may
peace and plenty smile within. the pleas
ant halls Of this old "Inn."
We had almost forgotten to state that
the noble elm just on the bank by the
"Oxford House," was planted in 1894,
by Mehitable Osgood, then IA years OF
age, her sister Mary, and Major James
Oseood. Its dimensions are 2s feet
round, I feet through and height over
one hundred feet, and stands to-day
most beautiful green and living monu-
ment, TO the memories of that large fam
lily Of children, who played beneath its
wide spread branches.
One of the incidents Of early days was
related to US by the late Thomas A. De-
blois ESQ.,, of Portland himself in com.
pany with Hon. Levi Cutter, (Portiands
frs. Mayor were jOurneying to the White
Mountains to meet some friends at the
"Old Crawford House." Arriving at
the Oxford House by noon, they asked
Madam O.good if she could &c. dinner
for them in half an hour. and if she could
give them chicken , she answered 9Th
try to-" and upon looking out Of the win
dow they saw her with her rufied cap
blowing in the wind running to the barn.
and with corn calling the fowls around
her, caught chicken and then wrung its
neck. and in less than thirty minutes
"had one of the very best Of dinners and
departed. In those days as well as at
the present time, Fryeburs people were
of decidedly musical tastes, and had
quite q number Of fine musicians, among
them, General /. w. Ripley LIST violin,
and flute, Capt. John L. Eastman I'd vio-
lin, Major James Osgood, clarionet' and
Col. James Walker, bassoon. This
quartette we are told by Philip Eastman,
ESQ.,, still living in his native will age hale
.ad hearty in his 18th year, was very
nouulsr. and did much "to drive dull
Gaze away"
We have sat this afternoon in the same
room which Daniel Webster occupied
when he was Preceptor of Fryeburg
Academy in 1902, and had q pleasant
chat with the present occupant. that vet.
eran "Knight Of the Whip" Uncle