The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-07
HANNIBAL HAMLIN.
"Reminiscences by His Grandson, Arthur
Hamlin, OF Seattle.

FRANKLIN, July Especial. Arthur Ham
In, grandson OF the late vice president, is
here in camp with Company B, of which he is
member, and received telegram this morning
informing him of the old gentlemsn's death.
he leaves for Seattle this morning, but will not
go to the funeral as he could not reach Bangor
in time. He said to PosT-INTELLIGEScER re-
porter this evening:
Ny grandfather leaves three sons, II. G. Ham
lin, of Ellsworth, Me-, who is a law partner
OF Senator Hale; Frank Hamlin, senior member
OF law firm in Chicago, who has been there
about year, and Charles, the oldest, who il q
lawyer at Bangor. He also had a son Cyrus,
who was brigadier general and died of yellow
iever at New Orleans soon after the war He
mad q daughter, Sarah Jane, who was my
mother aud died when l was u years old.
Ihe Old gentleman probably had more to do
with getting through the emancipation procla-
nation than any other man except Lincoln him
self. He once said that Carrolfs history of his
life was the best ever written, and Carroll says
ne Kept constantly at Lincoln to issue the eman-
cipation proclamation, until at last one day Lin
coin said to him: .'Well, Hamlin, I've done what
you wanted me to do" and showed him the doc
ument He was the first man TO see it after it
was signed.
When he was appointed minister to Spain, he
had retired and had refused an offer to run for
the Senate again. He did not wish to accept
this appointment, as he was growing old and
wanted TO live in retirement, but his wife aud
family thought it would be good change for
him to go, and he went on the condition that he
was the last public document Gar
held signed before he was shot. Ar
thur went in Immediately, and made no
change. Hamlin stayed in Spain about a year
and then retired. He said he liked ii very well,
but did not like the pomp of the court and 20
much dress. When King Alfonso died he took
it much to heart, because the king had been
very kind to him and he liked him very much
de never discussed outside matters with his
family; for ne dropped them altogether when he
izers of the Tarrantine club where he died.
He was man OF very simple habits and had
no pretenee- One OF his peculiarities was that
ne seldom locked his door on the principle that
II a man wanted to get in he would get in anyhow.
One night when he was boarding at Willard's
hotel at WASHINGTON City, burglars went through
Two hoors OF the house, opened every door except
his and stole all the yaluables from the guests
They took little pair of pincers, pushed it be-
tween the door and the jamb and pushed back
the lock. When they came to his door they did
not try il 10 see whether il was locked but tried
TO open II with the pincers, but could not make
them work because there was nothing for the
pincers to take hold OF. They therefore passed
on to the next in their hurry.
He lived in the city, but had farm of about
TWENTY-FIVE acres about two miles out, where
ne raised ali the hay for his horses and
the vegetables for his house. He made farm
ing his hobby, for his early life was spent
on farm in Hampden and he had been accus-
TONED 10 home grown vegetables, etc. He made
1t principally a seed farm and would try seeds
from the agricultural department, and Distribute
them among the neighboring farmers. He had
nice horses ana cows. but had no trotters, for he
was not really stock tancier. His great boast
was that he raised nearly everything on his table
himself One day when he had Senators Blame
Frye, Hale and other distinguished men 10
dinner he remarked that he had produced
everything himself except the pepper, salt and
wine
An instance OF his hardy constitution is that
three years ago, when was at home, he would
go fishing with Senator Hale and Judge Strong
in the dead of winter, when the Thermometer
showed % degrees below, though he was then
70 years old.
Alter his second marriage he took bridal
tour in California, but don't know whether he
was ever as far north on the coast this.
Mr.. Hamlin was until three weeks ago with
the Booth & Hanford Abstract Company, but
left there 10 go out prospecting. He had Just re-
turned to the city when the troops were called
out. and he has since been in camp with his
company.