The Portland daily press., 1885-03-16
RECENT DEATHS.
James IN. Baker.

store where now stands the Falmouth Engine
Company's house. Later he was connected
with the management of the Oxford and Gum
berland canal, but upon the advent Of the rail-
road and the consequent decline Of the canal
business he entered upon the profession in
which he has been we'll and favorably known
for so long q time. In all these pursuits Mr..
Baker has borne an unimpeachable reputation
for unvsrying integrity and business honor.
He was a man of the strictest personal hab-
its. He neither used tobacco nor strong drink
and attributed his vigorous health to this fact.
Until within the last few weeks, his health had
been perfect and he had not lost day from bis
Office for great many years.
Mr.. Baker was a member OF DIR. Hills
church. He was also member of the Maine
Lodge of Odd Fellows and the Odd Fellows
Mutual Relief Association of Portland. His
widow survives him and he leaves thres chill
dren, two daughters and son, James H., Jr.
One daughter has lived with her parents, the
other is the wife of Captain Charles +. John
son Of California.
Daniel Clarke.
Mr.. Daniel Clarke who died at his home in
Park place on Saturday last was for many
years one of the best known of Portland mon.
Mr.. Clarke was born in Portland 81 years ago.
He learned the printers trade and followed 1t
In Boston and elsewhere. In 1854 in compa-
ny with Mr.. Cyrus Lowell he formed the CO.
partnership for the prosecution OF the retail
boot and shoe business, which lasted fer twen-
ty-four years. In 1878, owing to failing health
he was obliged to retire from business.
Mr.. Clarke was a kindly and genial man
who had won many friends throughout the city
and State, and his death will be serious loss
to the community in which be had lived 30
honorably. He leaves a widow and one son,
Charles L., residing in New York, and we'll
known here as a mathematician and electri-
clan.
The Rev. Luther Wiswall
Died at the parsonage of the Congregational
church at Windham Hill on Sunday, the 10Th
inst, the Reverend Luther Wiswsll, in the
S5th year of his age. His ancestor Thomas
Wiswsll, came from England and settled at
Dorchester, Mass, in 1885. Capt. Noah Wis
wall Of Dorchester, who while in command of
company OF Massachusetts scouts, was killed
by Indians with fifteen Of his men at Wells,
July 6, 1880, was the great grandfather of him
whose death is announced above. The history
of the town Marlborough, N. H, CS81) con-
tains portrait of the venerable minister and
notice of his life, Of which the following Is
an extract:
"Rev. Luther Wiswall was born in Marlbor-
ough, January 8, 1901. He was the son of
Major John and Mary (Tayntor) Wiswall. BE
early developed thirst for knowledge, but
had only limited educational privileges, hav-
| ing simply the advantages Of common schools
| till he was seventeen years OF age, when he
began to teach winter schools, aud continued
| to do SO for fifteen years. In the meantime he
attended two terms at the academy, and pur-
sued his studies at home as he had opportunity
In 1929 he purchased small farm, and in 1880
| he married Miss Sophronla Kendall of Athol.
| Mass. Six children were born to them, of
whom only one, son survives
"In 1922, Mr. Wiswall united with the Con-
gregational church. He was soon brought into
active service in the church, and for several
| years superintendent the Sabbath school. In
| studying the Scriptures to Iqualify himself for
the duties of his Office, he became interested in
| the study for its own sake, and the Thought
often arose that he would like to preach the
| gospel. This thought was not easily repressed.
His activity in the church led, much to his sur
| prise, to his election as deacon. In 1884, he
| sold his farm and stock and removed east,
| and entered the seminary at Bangor. His
mind had been turned to the ministry by wit
Messing the great difficulty Of small churchee
| in obtaining ministers hoping to qualify him
| self to meet the wants Of some needy flock Of
| God. Mr.. Wiswall was graduated at Bangor,
IN 1886, and was settled as pastor OF the church
| in Brooks and jackson the following year,
| with house of worship in each town."
In 1854, the pastorate OF the Congregational
church at Windham became vacant by the
resignation OF Rev. John Perham. Mr.. Wis
wall, who had oficiated eighteen years as pas
| tor in his first charge, was invited to Wind
| ham, and accepted. The free soil agitation
was then becoming prominent in church and
| State. Mr.. Wiswall was an outspoken anti
slavery advocate, which had much to do With
his change of pastorates. He did not push his
| free soil doctrine extensively, bat soon made
friends Of all his parish of all political parties.
He won the respect of his denomination
throughout the county and State, and has sew
eral times been chosen ss "visitor" to the Ban
gor Seminary.
A quiet wit, guided by strong common sense,
added much to the pleasure of social inter-
course with him. He was quick to discover
the place for witty remark, even in the pull
| pit His intellectual structure was Of q
marked character. His cool and collected
manner gave him great power in discussion.
An incident comes to my mind in point
From his then unpopular views on the slav-
| cry question: or from his plain appearance and
manner OF delivery, Mr.. Wiswall was not at
| first accorded the place in the county associa-
| ton of ministers to which, as a theoiogian, he
| was entitled. This hesitancy on the part of
| his associates soon gave way, and he was ap-
pointed to read sermon at the next meeting
| fer consideration and discussion, as was the
| custom. A member OF the association who
was present, gave me an account OF Mr.. Wis
walls performance at that meeting 1t was
| held in Portland, and the moderator or chair
| man was city minister in high standing, but
| inclined to be dictatorial. At the proper time
| Mr.. Wiswall was called upon for his sermon.
| He had put in his pocket for the purpose, a
sermon which he had preached in his own pul-
| pit, which he proceeded TO read IN his plain
| way, without any attempt at oratory, and sat
| down to hear the remarks thereon. After 9
| few moments silence, the moderator arose
"in his opinion that was not
/ suitable sermon for the occasion-that his
| congregation would not understand It," After
| the depreciative remarks of the chairman,
none seemed ready to continue the discussion.
| After moments silence Mr.. Wiswall arose In
his deliberate manner, unmovsd by the rebuff,
| and said, "Mr. Moderator did not write that
/ sermon for a city audience. preached IL to my
own congregation n the ordinary course; they
| seemed to have 20 difficulty in understanding
| it." This reply turned the tide in Mr. Wis
| wallis favor and the discussion went on.
| In his new parish Mr.. Wiswall suffered
/ many aInlctlon. be lost the wife OF his youth
and his two only daughters. In 1882, his sec
| ond wife died with whom he had lived nearly
twenty years. She was a woman Of uncom-
mon gifts, and was great assistance to him
| He leaves one son by his first wife, and sever
| al promising grandsons in Massachusetts Not
withstanding Mr.. Wiswall fixed his standard
high, in the thirty and more years Of his min
istry here, he admitted nearly seventy per-
sons to his communion. Mr. Wiswall preached
the doctrine of his denomination as it was
taught in his early days. He was an able de-
Tended of the iaithaof the Plymouth Pilgrims
He believed it thoroughly, and preached IL
conscientiously. In his hand it was not stale
or commonplace, but instinct with life. He
believed that it was the duty OF the people to
seek and believe the gospel, and not his duty
to modify it to suit their varying notions.
"Unpracticed he to power and seek for power
| By doctrines fashioned to the varying hour.'
The Congregational church in Windham
was organized in 1743-Ehe 9th in what is now
Cumberland county; those Of an earlier date
being only the First church in Portland and
one each in Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough and
Yarmouth In these days of short psstorstes 1t
is notable to listen to q minister who had
preached more than thirty years in one pulpit
and at the age OF 81. The last Sabbath IA the