The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-02-19
FREDERICK FOX.
Memorial Exercises of Cumberland
Bar.

Bar.
Addresses by Judges Peabody and Sy-
monds, Jehn #. Fogg, Esq, and Judge
strout. 4
The exercises of Cumberland Bar in
memory of the late Frederick Fox. occurred
Monday afternoon before Judge Strout.
Judge Haskell occupied seat with Judge
Strout.
In the absence of the president of the
Bar, Gov. Cleaves, who was detained at
home by a cold, Hanno W. Gage. Esq, an
nounced for the bar the death of their late
associate. He was followed by
JUDGE OF PROBATE HENRY G. PEA
BODY.
who presented the resolutions accompany
ing them by an appreciative eulogy of the
life and character of the deceased. After
reviewing his life and work, he concluded
as follows:
HE was public spirited citizen and
sincere believer in religion. but in politics
and religion he was an independent of the
independents. He has been a member of
the city government OF Portland. and at
one time president of the City Council. He
was for many years a member of the board
Of school committee, and did much to intro
duce pro.re ssiye ideas of education into our
school system. He has ably represented the
city of Portland in the State Legislature.
He was for several years a trustee of Ever
green Cemetery, and in this Office performed
public service which will be grateful ito
those whose affection leads them to be fire.
quent visitors 10 that beautiful city of the
dead.
ut was not so much as a lawyer or man
of business that Frederick Fox deserves
highest eulogium, but as the friend of the
friendless. In the consistency of unheIalied
deeds Of charity and benevolence i shall
not look upon his like again.
1.-THE estate of the late Joseph Walker.
with which his name will always be associ-
ated. has perhaps attracted greater public
attention than any which has come under
the jurisdiction of our probate court. The
will was a notable legal document drawn by
him with great precision and elegance of
phraseology... Its provisions were numerous
and the important trusts and especially
that which was created by the residuary
clause for the promotion of education and
charity at the discretion of the trustees,
devolying upon Brother Fox upon the death
of Mr.. Albert B. Stevens, his joint trustee,
taxed to the utmost his time and strength.
He told .me in his matter Of fact wayia few
months before his death that he should not
be about the court house year from that
time. and feared his life was entering the
shadow ofsthe coming event which he so
truly predicted.
otria 10 rfor n
vice which to him was sacred duty, the
public dedication of tho Memorial Library
building which the munificence of Mr..
Walker had given to the city of Westbrook
The work had been completed under his
supervision and it was proper that the dedi-
cation should be public and formal. Though
he shrank from publicity and ceremony,
and the premonitions of disease ha 1'warned
him against unusual effort and excitement.
yet 90 conscious duty now as always per-
sonal considerations yielded. and while hia
voice was speaking the words of his benevc-
lent friend, establishing by his last will this
noble gift. words which had, been minted
from his own heart, his feet touched the
border land between life and. death. His life
work was finished.
Nearly ten years before met Brother
Fox school boy friend in New Hampshire
made his waysto Portland where he passed
profitable winter. On his return he told me
of young lawyer by the name of Fred Fox,
who had been more than kind to him, and
when heard the name again among the
members of this bar it seemed like that of
an old friend. wish to place the tribute.of
that school hoy with my own upon the grave
of Frederick Fox.
IA good man has gone higher. True
greatness vaunts not itself. Frederick
Fox was as mCdest7as he was pure and true.
He did not want his name SIP oxen in con-
nection with his kind acts. Two evenings
each week through the long winter he gave
the evening school. Others gave money; he
gave time and money.
1t was my good fortune 10 be a member
OF his class at Preble street chapel in 1888.
Storm or lot he was in his place. He would
give an encouraging word here. a needed
book there ard good instruction always.
His presence was an influence and the boys
loved him. With bare and bowed head
say peace
AS we stood with those who loved him by
his flower stIewn grave in the beautiful
cemetery where the memorials of his taste
and pious care will long remain. we realized
the grandeur of human life whose good
ness was at its close esta blished by so great
a cloud of witnesses. Grateful hearts keep
the names of such men In remembrance,
and
sc Sculpture in her turn
Gives bond in stone and ever-duIing brass
to guard them and immortalize her
trust."
JUDGE SYMONDS
followed. After referring to the great loss
the court and community had sustained in
the death of Mr.. Fox, and of his profession
al life, the Judge said:
1T would be difficult to mention man in
our times in whom larger or more varied
truse was reposed or reposed more absolute
ly. The will, the wish, of the dead, CON-
mitted to him. was in sacred keeping. There
was 10 limit to the care, labor CT sacrifice
he would endure to keep faith with his
ideal of truth and duty He illustrated in
his own person the high legal standard of
what is meant by trusteee.
There was distinct, genuine flavor Of
original personality about him. He was A
man of wit and humor. He was likely to
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