The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-05-05
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The Regular spring Meeting Held at Bax-
ter Hall Yesterday.


ter Hall Yesterday.
-.----- >
At the regular spring meeting of the
Maine Historical Society yesterday after
noon, there was a smaller attendance
than usual, because of the inclement
weather. President Baxter called the
meeting to order for the first time in the
new quarters. All of the contents of the
old room have been removed to the hall
above, where they appear to much bet
ter advantage. The libraries line both
sides of the hall. the cabinet is at the
rear, and there is ample room between
for some SO handsome and convenient
chairs. The Knox room'' is under the
gallery, and contains an open stove for
wood. that came from the Knox man
sion, and was recently received, and 9TH
er interesting relics.
Mr.. II. W. Bryant, the curator. made
the following report of donations:
Through DR.. FL. c., Levensaler of
Thomaston, from Captain Herbert H.
Williams, a Franklin stove, formerly
owned by General Henry Knox, and tax
en- from the Knox mansion at the time of
its demolition.
Original portrait of Commodore Ed
ward Preble, received from his grand
niece, Miss Katherine P. Wormely, of
Newport. r. l.
Autograph letter of Nathaniel Haw-
thorne, written to his friend, Horatio
Bridge on the completion of the Scarlet
Letfer,'
Robert C. Winthrop, Jr., apartment
deed Of Kennebec lands, signed by John
Winslow in 1868.
A proof portrait of Washington Irving,
bearing the written signature of the en-
inent author, from Mr.. P. II. Brown.
From Professor Hall of Waterville. a
broadside, dated Portland, 1882, and
bearing the names of 500 prominent citi-
zens who were dissatisfied with Presi-
dent Jackson's administration. The
document is headed by Joseph Adams, a
prominent lawyer.
A little army document from Mr.. R. K.
Galley bears the names of Col M. B.
Lakeman, Col L. w. Egan, Gen. D. B.
Birney, Gen. w. S. Hancock, Gen. Geo.
G. Meade, Gen. Thos. NJ. Vincent, Gen.
Francis A. Walker.
Mr.. Edward Floyd Of Waterville sends
an Indian iron tobacco pipe which he
unearthed at Old Point.
DR. Pratt of Chelsea, sends a copy of
Springs plan Of the Pepperell lots in
Saco In 1899, from the Massachusetts
archives. y
From j. E, Davis Of Freeport, commits
sions and documents relating to the war
of 1912,
Mr.. Charles B. Rogers presents four
Revolutionary commissions signed by
Hancock, Huntington and the Council Of
Massachusetts, 129
From B. B. Thatcher Of Bangor. a por-
trait of his grandfather Samuel Thatcher
In. 1904, also photograph of the same
taken in 1859, when 90 years of age.
Mr.. j. Il. Manley of Augusta, sends
framed q fine, engraved portrait of Geo.
Cony.
From Ex-Governor Williams portraits
of Ruel Williams and Daniel Cony.
DIR. Fordyce Barker.
The first paper was read by Hon. Geo.
F. Talbot. His subject was his former
classmate, the late DR. Fordyce Barker
Of New York. He read portions of
papers that had come into his posses
sion. He said that probably the class in
Bowdoin, second in Importance to 1925
was that which contained Gov. Andrew
and DR.. Fordyce Barker-the class of SO.
DR.. Barker was Maine born and bred.
His father was a surgeon and served two
years as such in the war of 1872 The
boys home was in Kennebec county, in
the time when the farmers ideal was
George Washington, not "Sockless'
Simpson.
At II years of age he went to school at
Pennington. In 1882 he was sent to
Limerick for further instruction and
entered Bowdoin in 1888, at the age of
IL.
Barker as astudent was handsome
winning fellow, with a beautiful tenor
voice. He was only Is years of age
when he delivered a Fourth of July
orator at the town of Wilton, and at 21
was a foreeful speaker in the political
campaign.
He graduated from the Maine Medical
School in 1S41. Owing to feeble health
he was advised to seek warmer climate.
He accordingly started in the summer on
horseback and rode to Norwich, Conn,
and there established his home, and met
the lady whom he married IN 1S43. In
1874 he sailed for Europe with his
young bride and attended lectures
in Paris. After the return home he es-
! tablished large practice IN Norwich,
where he was generally beloved, both
professionally and socially, as he was
singer and musician of unusual abilities.
In 1916 he was appointed professor of
obstetrics at Bowdoin, but retained the
position but short time.
In 1850 the chair of obstetrics was off
cred to him in the New York medical
college, which he retained till 1857. That
was the beginning of his distinguished
career, in the metropolis, which was
succession of triumphs that gave him
ehe worldwide reputation that was his
when he died. a
A communication Of Rufus King Sew
: ell Of Wiscasset, vice president of the
society, was read, eulogizing DR.. Barker.
Mr.. Talbot added few "reminiscences of