Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-06-30

The people of South Paris were shock
ed last Thursday afternoon by the new
Of the sudden death Of Hon. William 4
Rockingham, which occurred at hi.
home ON Park Street. Although Mr.
Frothiugham had been i'll for severa
days With cold affecting the lungs anC
lsrynN. he appeared TO be on the road 3,
recovery, and the serious nature of hi
malady was not known in the comm u
nifty until the news of his death.
Mr.. rockingham has for the past
forty years been prominently identified
with the business interests Of South
Paris, aud his death breaks another linl
10 the circle OF our leading citizens aud
business men.
William A. rockingham was the sec
oud son of Bradbury and Eliza Froth-
ingham Of Haverhill. Mass. He was born
in New Hampshire on Jan. -, 1880, be-
ing In his sixty-seyenth year at the time
of his decease.
lie lived with an uncle In Gray, In this
state, where he learned the blacksmith s
trade, aud after working at II In Massa-
chusetts and New York, he came %
South Paris, arriving here March L.,
l>54. He purchased half interest with
John Farr in the shop on the east side of
the river, the one that Was burned az the
same time with the old shoe factory.
The following year he built a shop OPP
posite the savings bank the building
that has since been converted into Davis
Block and added carriage making to the
business, taking as partner, William
III. Newhall. They afterwards sold the
new shop, aud returned To the old one
east Of the river After continuing the
business about eighteen years Mr.. New
hall retired from the firm, snd the shop
WAS sold 10 Jacob Dresser.
In 1874 Mr.. rockingham purchased
the G. h. Smith shoe store, where he has
continued the business until his death,
adding TO the shoe business, trunks, har-
nesSes, and agricultural implements, and
taking his two sons, William q. and
George W, into the firm as partners In
December, 1895
In company with Judge Geo. \. Will
son, and the Richardson's, Mr.. Frothing-
ham bought up the stock Ia the old shoe
factory and put the plant In operation.
After the old factory Was burned they
were the leading spirits in erecting the
new one opposite the depot. The bust
ness here was carried on under the firm
name OF VIM. \. rockingham 4 Co.
Mr.. rockingham was one Of the orig
inal organizers and trustees OF the South
Pari, savings bank aud was its vice-pres-
ident AT the time Of his death, succeed
ing the late David y. True in that posi-
ton.
lie was the sgeut for the Burnham 4
Morrill, Co. al their South Paris factories
for over twenty years. ard WAS for sew
cral wears trustee OF the oxford County
Society.
In politics Mr. rockingham WAS q
leading aud lifelong sdheren, Of the
Democratic party. aud was held in re-
,pect for his ourspoken opinions by
those who did not, a. well as by those
" no agreed with him politically.
He Was con siderably in public life and
his record is an honorable one. lie serv-
ga upou the board OF Selectmen of Paris
from 1870 10 lS75. He represented this
district in the Maine House Of Represent
atives In 1874, and when the change FROM
annual 10 biennial elections was made,
GOV. Plaisted appointed him county
commits sioner for oxford County, which
Office he held from January, lSS2, TO Jan
uary, lsS3. Mr.. rockingham was post
master at south Paris during the first
Cleveland administration and II was AZ
thi. time that il became a presidential
office.
He married for his first wife, Lois ~,
daughter OF Moses Merrill OF Paris, and
the children of this marriage are the two
daughters. hate T., wife OF W. ii. Hoop
er OF Ivuu, Mass, and Lois A., wife OF
=. II. Rice of East Saugus, Mass. The
first wife died in lSj1. and he made n
second marriage with Ellen j., daughter
of Geo. ". Everett of Norway. -Four
children are the result Of this marriage,
OF whom William q. and George W.
survive. and two daughters, Nellie and
Ads. died at the ages OF and . years.
Mr.. Rockingham was man oil ex-
ceptional force of character, outspoken
in all things. vet OF a social and agree
able nature, and his qualities have en-
deared him 10 very wide circle of &C
ouaintauces who mourn with his family
the loss Of Il prominent citizen and a
good man.