The Portland daily press., 1893-01-23
JUDGE VIRGIN
Passes Away at an Early Hour This Morn
ing.

| IA ing.
Judge Virgin died at his residence this
morning atfiye minutes past IL. His
funeral will take place at Congress
Square church, Wednesday afternoon
next at o'clock.
Judge William Writ Virgin comes of
of an English family, his great grand
father, Ebenezer Virgin, having come
over from England to Salisbury, Mass,
| in 1922, and became later one of the first
| settlers of Concord, N. II. There, in
| 1888, was born grandson, Peter c. Vir-
gin, son of Ebenezer Virgin. This grand
son moved to Rumford, Me-, in 1906, and
there married Sally, daughter of Francis
Reyes, one of the first settlers of Rum
ford. Peter G.. Virgin had the advan-
tage of two years of study at Harvard
College, and soon became prominent
man in his new home. For go years he
| was a practising lawyer at Rumford, serv-
ing as county attorney, as a member of
the Massachusetts General Court before
the separation of Maine and Massachu-
sets, and was otherwise identified in
public affairs, being staunch Federal
list. He died in 1872. His son, William
Writ Virgin, was born at Rumford, Sept.
Is, 1928. He fitted for college at Bridg-
ton and Bethel Academies, and GRADUATE
ed from Bowdoin Collegein 1874. Among
his classmates are found the names of
Gen. Samuel j. Anderson, of Portland;
H. K. Bradbury, of Hollis; Henry P.
Dean, formerly Of Portland, now de-
ceased; Judge Charles w. Goddard, now
deceased: David r. Hastings, for SO
many years sheriff of Essex county,
and ex-Postmaster J. S. Palmer, of Port
land.
Judge Virgin studied law with his
father at Rumford, and was admitted to
the bar in 1s47. He began practice in
Norway, where he had his Office until
1871. During the war of the Rebellion
he took an active interest in the Union
cause, and in 1852 he raised the Esd
Maine Regiment, five companies from
Oxford and five from Androscoggin
county. This regiment he commanded
through the nine months of its service,
which was spent in the defence of
Washington. He gained high reputa-
ton for the discipline and efficiency of
it's command, although no very trying
service fell to its lot.
While practicing in Norway Judge
Virgin was three times elected county
attorney of oxford county, and was
member of the State Senate in 1865,
the latter year as its President. The
same year he was appointed reporter of
decisions, a position which heheld until
1872, when he was appointed one Of the
judges of the State Supreme court He
has been upon the bench almost con-
stantly since that time, his last appoint
ment having been made March 30, 1887,
for the term of seven years.
AS a Judge he has always been distin-
guished for dignified and courteous
department, and independence and inn
partially in his decisions. His indie
pendence of character was tested in the
trying time OF the count OUT when he
decided the mandamus case connected
with that affair against the Republicans.
although the whole force of his sympa-
thies and his associations must have
strongly 1mpelled him towards a con-
trary decision.
John N. Lord.
Mr. John Nelson Lord died at his res
idence on Deering street, Saturday
morning, after an illness of several
weeks.
. Mr.. Lord was born December a., 1917
in Freedom, N. H., being the oldest of
family of nine children, four of whom
survive him. In early life he was in
business in Freedom, removing to Port
land in 1859 to engage in the wholesale
grocery trade with Mr.. Franklin Craw-
ford, now of Kankakee, ILL.,, under the
firm name of Lord & Crawford. This
firm disposed of its business in 1867 and
the firm Of Lord, Haskell & Co. was es-
tablished to carry on the wholesale boot
and shoe business. Mr.. Lord continued
as the head of this firm until two years
ago when, by its consolidation with the
A. Fl. Berry Shoe Company, he retired
from active business.
He was at the time of his death, presi-
dent of the A. H. Berry Shoe Company;
of the Deering Land Company; vice
president of the Cumberland Loan and
Building Association, and director in
the Canal National Bank,
In politics Mr.. Lord was always a |
Democrat and was a member of the FaI-
mouth club
Mr.. Lord will be greatly missed by his |
family and all who knew him. His gen
ial, social disposition attracted to him
all with whom he came an IN contact on and all |
leave6 wiaow and one daughter, the
wife of Mr.. Philip T. Turner OF this