Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1897-06-04
TWICE MADE MAYOR
FavOrite Son of Maine Dies at
His Home.
Lawyer, Business Man, Musician
and Linguist.

BANGOR. Me-, June l-Frederirb NJ
Laughton, eN-mayor of the city, has Just
died here al his home. Mr.. Laughton was un-
married. For many years he had lived with
his father and mother and was deeply de-
voted to them. His mothers death occurred
a year before his own to an hour, aad
since that time the bcreaved son had
been steadily failing in health. His en-
tire constitution was undermined. The
attending physicians named Bright's dis
ease as the immediate cause his death.
For the past ten years Mr. Iaughton, "a
president of the Public Works company.
had been closely confined TO business, and
the care had proved n heavy den for him.
This, combined with the great grief Of his
mothers death, resulted in his final break
inS down. Mr.. Laughton was a great social
favorite. Although Democrat, he was
chosen mayor of the city in 1873 and again
in 1898 as the young mems candidate.
He was born in Fuxcroft Me-. in 1874.
His fathers family came to Bangor when he
was a child. his father. DIR. Samuel Laugh
ton, having been in active practice here ever
since. In 1864 he began reading law aud in
1866 graduated with high honors from the
Harvard law school, having previous
ly been admitted to the Penobsco.
bar. He began practice Immediately in
partnership with b. IL. Mace who had mar
ried his sister, the widely-known poet. Mrs
Frances l.. Mace. In 1871 they dissolved
and Mr.. Laughton was in practice alone un-
til 1850. when he formed co-part-
nership with L. II. Clergue He early
of his father. and has been an un-
compromising and earnes. Democrat,
though far from an unpopular partisan.
He was chosen to the city council in 1868,
when only q years OF age, and served two
full terms and in 1873 was elected mayor,
the first Democrat ever thus honored in Ban
gor. In 1892. had his consent been given.
he would probably have been tn"
Democratic candidate for governor.
Having remained bachelor he took
unusual interest in fraternal organizations.
He was knight Templar aud 3ld degree
Mason, has been grand master Of the Maine
Odd Fellows and grand chancellor of the
Maine Knights Of Pythias. For two years
he was Names representative to the soyer-
eign grand lodge of odd Fellows and the
same length Of time represented the
state at the supreme lodge Of knights
Of Pythias He was an accomplished linguist
and musician, member Of the leading
clubs OF the city and great fayOrite
with all classes Of Bangor people.
Always Interested in seeing Bangor boom.
he broke away some years ago from an OK
tensive law practice to plunge into business
enterprises Of vast importance. He. with
tIn htlp Ot MS pdttIl'I' nj N"ISu'' 'Stab-
llshed Bangors street railway system, its
electric light and power system, aud, not
content with this they gave similar systems.
together with complete wHterwDrk-, t.
the city Of Brewer and town Of N"aliC.
waterworks and electric light to Oidtown,
Orono and Saltwater. and were interested in
project to connect these places with eath
other and Bangor by an electric railway net
work. These and dozen other cntcrprisn x.
one of them being the Bangor & Bar iiarbor
Steamboat company, Of which he was presi-
dent engrosscd Mr.. Laughton's attention
until his final illness.