The Portland daily press., 1890-11-17

Talbot. having vast shipping interests and
insurance business. The sons. of Pope &
Talbot. have succeeded them 10 the man
agement Of affairs, and are, worthy sons Of
these distinguished Maine lumbermen.
Hon L. X. Wilson, former resident OF
Bangor, Is distinguished lawyer, auo
achieved much honor while presiding as
Superior Judge In this county.
Fairfield gave us the Hon. A. p. Williams,
formerly U. S. Senator from this State. Sen
ator Williams is leading Republican polit-
ician, and one Of our merchant princes.
Hon. Marcus p. WigSin came from Bel
fast. He has been Superior Judge in one Of
the interior counties Of this State, and is
now on the editorial staff Of the San Fran
cisco Chronicle. He Is vigorous political
writer, and of much assistance to the RepuD-
lican party here. Mr.. Wigvih was recently
elected President of the San Francisco Press
Club.
Fulton G. Berry, formerly Of Belfast, but
now a leading man in Fresno County, Cali
fornia, Is the proprietor OF the Grand Cen
tral HOtet in Fresno City. He Is large
real estate owner, and heavily interested In
the Industries Of Southern California.
There Is another man hailing from the
State Of Maine who Is a type Of these
characteristics which have made your sons
great in California. Doubtless many citizens
of Belfast remember bright faced, rugged
lad named James Z. Whittier, son oil VIM.
K. and Mary. Il. Whittier, and brother Of L.
L.. Whittier. who was the first shipper Of Ice
to Southern ports from Maine. He was one
Of twelve brothers and sisters. and like most
sons of large families in the Pine Tree State,
was compelled in early youth to begin, un-
aided, the struggle of life; but the boy who
could drive an OK. sled through the snow in
to Bangor at daybreak, and sell his load OF
wood In time to be in school at nine O'Clock,
Is not made OF material that succumb5 easily
TO adverse circumstances. lie would have
been successful anywhere. Fate cast his
lot In California. where he arrived in 1874.
landing in San Francisco total stranger,
with but little education without a Trade.
and penDiless. What was he to do for bread
1t was vital question to him, but he
answered In Maine fashion. Work Tor II,
as he had been taught to do. Fortunately.
as it proved afterwards, he made application
to the late Commodore III. b. PlatI for en-
ployment. "NO matter what" he said, Il
am only boy. but am strong; only please
try me-" Tne Commodore, deligted with
an opportunity, promising him two dollars
day for his labor.
Two years latter the great fire Of 1876 in
this city destroyed more than one hundred
buildings erected by the Commodore on
leased ground. He never recovered imam
cialy from the blow he then received.
Young Whittier was now without an EN-
pl0yer, and again without money; but the
Maine grit asserted itself, and before the
ashes had grown cold at this great Brannan
street fire the boy-laborer had hired an old
kettle of his employer, borrowed wheel
barrow of some one, and with few brushes
and small stock Of asphaltlm had startedinto
business for himself. People were pleased
more work than he could do. In short
time, with little acquired capital, young
Whittier began to employ assistance. ana
following the example of COmmodor Platt,
took contracts for taking down old build
lDgs, and dealing in secondhand brick, lum-
Der, etc.
His career ever since has been one Of al
most unexampled prosperity. He Is the
largest contractor In his line In the State,
and developed business far beyond that
ever contemplated by LIS old master. he
now employs daily force Of one hundred
men and fifty horses, with the prospect OF
being compelled to increase their number
The apothegm that nothing succeeds Ike
success" fitly applies to this fortunate man
from Belfast. cite this gentleman's case
particularly because l am personally ac-
quainted with the facts. He Is. however,
only an illustration Of what your people
have done here.
Most of them came to California without
fortune, and have acquired at least COM
petence. They have made their homes In
California, and 1t speaks well for their do
meSticity that, though most OF them are ac-
tive Republican politicians, Free Masons,
ETC., there are but few bachelors among
them.
They all love home life greatly. and al
ways speak fondly Of the old homestead
away done East" visit to which Is one
of their happiest anticipations.
This idea was expressed at an annual re-
union of the State of Maine Association OF
California in poem delived by the orator
of the occasion, and from which l note the
following
s'Prolihc Nature has bestowed
On our adopted land
The rarest gifts her boundleSS wealth
And genius can command;
Yet. while our bodies revel here,
Our hearts turn back again
TO iOys that only cluster round
The rugged hills OF Maine.
"These novel charms that lured us here
The senses may control,
But they can never, never check
The yearnings of the soul;
Can never quench the fires that glow
On affairs Childhood reared,
At which we worship still because
Tous by birth endeared.
"And standing sentinels, to-day,
Upon the utmost West,
Surrounded by our new-made friends,
With heal and plenty blest,
We hail the sentinels who guard
The utmost Eastern Shore,
Our watchword stlll undying love,
As In the days OF yOre."