The sun., 1899-07-23

died on July 4. 1871. being then nearly ~
years old. and having been in public life up
ward OF sixty years. That is the bare outline
Of q life which was sufficiently filled with in
torsstinR and important Incidents TO justify
the volume OF over 600 pages which his
grandson has devoted to him.
Most OF the American Hamlins are descended
from James Hamlin OF Devonshire, who some
years after the landing of the pilgrims at Plym-
outh. made voyage to Cape Cod. unaccom-
panied by his family, and there arranged home
for them at Barnstable. He then returned to
England and in 1889 brought back his wife and
several children. descendant Of this frat
American progenitor was Elca2er. born about
1737. the grandfather Of the subject of this
biography. Elea2er Hnmlin appointed
Captain in a Massachusetts regiment in ITO
and after leaving the Continental army he was
made major in the State militia. After the
Revolutionary war was overthc Massachusetts,
General Court gave Major Eamlin and his
sons. three Of whom had served during the
contest. some grants Of land in tho dis
trict OF Maine. one Of the sous. DIR.
Cyrus Hanlin. settled in Maine. at the
town OF Livsrmore. not far from Wator-
ford. in oxford county There he married
Miss Livermore. niece Of Samuel Iivcrmore.
member Of the Continental Congress. for many
years United States senator. and. finally. Chief
Justice OF New Hampshire Their sixth child.
Hannibal. was born on Aug. 81. 1909. at Paris
Hill. the shire town of Oxford county. to which
his parents had removed. During his boyhood
Hanniba! attended the village school at Paris
Hill. ana at tho age of II proceeded TO Hebron
Academy. in order to prepare himself to enter
Brown or Watervlc College The ill-health Of
his brother Cyrus. however. compelled him to
renounce the plan OF n college education. and
he returned TO Paris Hill TO take charge OF his
fathers farm. At this date therefore. that
part OF his education which was due to
professional Instructors came to end.
1t should. at the same time be noted
that he had begun the study OF H"brcw.
had read Caesar. Virgil and some orations
OF Cicero besides little Greek. and had mas
tered algebra and plane geometry. After his
return to the farm he gave his evenings to
books. which he procured from his fathers
friend. Gov. Enoch Lincoln. who had one OF
the best private libraries in Maine. We may
here mention that when Maine became a State
In 1920 Lincoln was elected to Congress. md
held his seat until 1S2',. when he resigned it to
become Governor He was twice chosen Gov
ernor of Maine By an almost unanimous vote
1t was due to Lincoln that young Hannibal
grew up in strong antl-slavery atmosphere
and imbibed while n youth ideas about human
servitude which he was ultimately to express
In action as an auti-slavery leader When DR..
Cyrus fiamlin died in 1929. his Han
hibal was 20 years old: for three years
he eked out a living ms well as he could
As farmer and Il printer In 1892 he
entered the office Of Gen. Samuel Fessenden
In Portland as a law student. II is significant
that FrSsenden. who disputed with Simon
Greenleaf the leadership Of tho Cumberland
hor mic 81,
circumstances, it was inevitable that slavery
should become a subject OF constant discussio
between him and the young student In his
Office. Hamlin had already been made a con-
vert by Lincoln, and in one OF his converSa-
tions with Fcsscnden he said: General. |
hate slavery. and | would fight 1t II ever got
q chance. | believe in abolition and hone IL
will come. but do not believe in the aho-
tionists. with the exception OF yourself" That
was the practical view which the young man
took OF the subject. and he lived up to IT, lie
never became an abolitionst in the sense that
Garrison was ono. He made his fight against
slavery within the bounds OF the Democratic
party up to 1854 50. and. afterward. within the
ranks OF the Republican party
After his adm ission to the bar and his mar
riage. both OF which events took place in 1893.
the young lawyer opened an Office in the town
OF Lincoln. in Penobscot county. whence he
presently removed to Hampton. which was
then already thriving town OF several thou
sand Inhabitants. 1t is five miles below Bangor
on the Penobscot River. IIamlin quickly
made reputation In Hampden as an advocate
and was often required to argue cases in
Bangor Eventually his practice extended
pver the whole county OF Penobscot. and.
within ten years. he was called to Boston to
take charge Of an admiralty case. While In
the capital of Massachusetts he was urged by