Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-02-29
Gen. Winfield S. Choate.

The Republicans of Augusta made no
mistake, last evening, in their choice OF a
standard bearer. General Winfield :,
Choate is gentleman in every way quail
depended upon to bring to the perform
ancc of its duties the same faithfulncss
and efficiency that has characterized his
discharge of every public trust that has
ever been confded to him. General
Choate is gentleman of sound and con
sentative judgment, He is careful and
painstaking, and in his hands the affairs
of our city are sure to be well cared for
He is a gentleman of fine presence, IL good
public speaker, and has wide acquaint-
ance with men and affairs.
General Choate was born in Whitciield,
Lincoln county, Me-, April 49, 1850 His
father was Ebenezer Choate, I'd, and his
mother, who is still living, was Jane j.
(Chisam) Choate. He was the youngest of
five children, and has one brother and
two sisters now living.
General Choate is a member of the
fourth generation of his family in this
State His great grandfather was mem
Der of the Choate family of Massachu-
sets, and came from that state to settle
in Whitefeld.
The education of General Choate was
secured In the common schools of his ma
tive town and at the Kents Hill semi
nary. AT the age of l6 he commenced
teaching school, and continued to teach
| In each of the four succeeding years, de-
| fray ing largely in this way the expenses
of his eduation.
In 1870 he came to Augusta and began
the study of law in the Office of the late
Judge Libbey. He entered the Harvard
Law school in 1871, and graduated in
June, 1872 with the degree of LII. b. He
was admitted to the Kennebec bar. March
| II, 1872. After his graduation from the
Harvard Law school he returned to Au-
gusta and entered into partnership with
Judge Libbey, and continued in the prac-
tice of his profession in Augusta until
| 1889. He was city solicitor for nine
years, and has served for the same length
of time as member of the superintend-
ing school committee November ~, 1877,
be married Charlotte r. Wyman, daugh
ter Of the late Josiah Wyman of this city
In 1888 he was appointed United States
commissioner for this district He was
elected clerk of courts in 1855. which posi-
ton he still continues to fill to the gen.
eral satisfaction of the public
General Choatc attends St. Mark g
| Episcopal church and has been for Is years
member of the vestry. Since 1888 he
has been one of the wardens Of the parish.
| The construction Of the present church
was entirely under his supervision.
For the past IA years General Choate
has been actively identified with the mill
tary service of the State. He enlisted as
private in the Capital Guards in 1882
serving afterward as sergeant and cap
tain, and in 1889 was elected lieutenant
colonel of the 1st Regiment. In 1898 he
was appointed by Governor Cleaves as in
spector general on his staff, with the rank
Of brigadier general. He is also mem
Der of the Ancient and Honorable Artil-
lery Company of Boston.
For a number Of years General Choate
has been actively interested In Masonry
He is past master of Bethlehem Lodge
and is at the present time senior grand
warden of the Grand Lodge of Maine He
is also member of Trinity Commandery
kcnnebec Valley Lodge of Perfection,
and the Augusta Council OF Princes OF
Jerusalem, holding offices in each body
In the building of the new Masonic TEN
pie, General Choate bore a conspicuou:
part. He was member of the building
committee ana is one of the directors Of