The Portland daily press., 1897-07-27

Congress and Four Governors Were Born
There.
To the Editor of the Press:
Nestled among the hills of New Eng
land are many picturesque villages noted
alike for their romantic scenery and
memorable histories. None it is believed
possesses so notable record as Paris
Hill, a beautiful village in Paris, the
shire town of Oxford County. Situated
at an altitude of s3u feet above sea level,
the location of this little hamlet is alike
picturesque and salubrious.
In the distance circle of imposing
mountains stand like rugged sentinels
guarding this little gem in it's emerald
setting To the north the White Noun
tain group is plainly visible. On clear
day the eye easily catches the rounded
swell of Mt. Madison. the sharp spurs of
Adams and jefferson, and the lofty head
o Mount Washington
Paris Hill possesses remarkable his
tory. From its centre, within radius of
one hundred and fifty rods, have gone
forth Vice President of the United
States, a Cabinet officer, a foreign Minis
ter, two United States Senators, nine
Congressman and four Governors of the
State of Maine. From the earliest settle
ment of this section of the country, brains
seem to have predominated In 1878 it
was the home of a Representative in Con-
gress, General Levi Hubbard, Of Revolu-
tionary lineage, his father being one of
the patriots under General Arnold, who
yielded their lives in attempting to scale
the walls of Quebec. Maine was organ
lied as separate state in 1890. The fore
most man within her borders for the next
decade was Albion z. Paris, Of Paris.
He was admitted to the bar of that town
at the early age Of twenty-one. Shortly
afterwards he built in one of its quiet
streets a little law office, since famous for
having been the early workshop of many
of Maine's most distinguished barristers.
Its walls have sheltered genius, its thres-
hold has been the stepping stone to the
halls of legislation, the gubernatorial
seat and the jurists bench. It still
this historic town. In 1922 Mr.. Paris
was elected governor of the State. His
reelection, with increasing majorities,
for five successive terms followed. In 1897
he was elected United States Senator,
from which exalted position he resigned
to become Associate Justice of the Su-
preme Court of the State of Maine Sub
sequently his long life of public useful
ness was crowned by thirteen years Of
faithful service as Comptroller of the
Treasury of the United States. Govern :
or Paris was man of commanding ap-
pearance, a high order of intellect and
very learned in law.
No name in the early history of Maine
is more revered than that of Enoch Lin
coin. In 1919 he settled in Paris, occu-
pying the little law office built by Gov.
ernor Paris. He was elected to Con-
gress for four successive terms, ending
1926, when he became the third Cover
in this capacity for three terms. In 1899
he declined reelection, intending to re-
tire from public life and devote his time
to literary work, TOR which he possessed
great talent. In the autumn of that
year he delivered an address before the
Cony Female Academy of Augusta, while
suffering from severe indisposition. At it's
close he grew rapidly worse and passed
away in a few days. His death at the
early age of forty-one was deeply lamen-
ted throughout the State and nation. His
remains repose in tomb erected on the
State domain in front of the Capitol at
Augusta and plain granite shaft marks
and salesman.
Comtemporaneous with Enoch Lincoln
was Rufus K. Goodenow. He was born
in 1880, served as captain in the war of
1872 and at its close came to Paris as the
first clerk of the Supreme judicial Court,
which office he held for sixteen years
In his law practice he occupied the IA
nous little Paris law office. He was
elected to Congress in 1s49 and died in
Paris in 1864 honored and respected by all
who knew him.
The next member of Congress from
this now famous locality was Timothy
j. Carter. He was elected in 1886 and
died in Washington before the close of
his term. He was colleague and friend
of the lamented Jonathan Cilley, and the
tragic end of that talented man was
thought to have hastened Mr.. Carriers
demise. Mr.. Carter as a lawyer and poll
tician was elninently able and popular.
The old Carter mansion still stands on
the quiet village street where 1t was
erected in 1889.
The vacancy caused by the death of
Mr.. Carter was filled by another distin-
guished member of the bar of Oxford
County, Virgil d. Paris, cousin of
Albion K. Paris. Virgil Paris was an
ardent Jacksonian Democrat. In 1927,
before he became voter, he organized
the first jackson club in the State Of
Maine. He was man Of iron will, great
energy and unquestioned integrity. with
decided taste for scientific pursuits.
He filled many State offices and served
two terms in Congress He died in
Paris, where he had resided many years,
in 1874.
In the years 1909, 1911 respectively
were born on Paris Hill two men deS-