The Somerset reporter., 1899-04-20
Names War Governors.
Bangor Com mercial.

New England Magazine has been carry
ing out its mission of placing upon rec
ord the histories OF New England towns,
the statistics of her great industries and
the biographies of her worthy citizens,
the April number opens with an article
on the governors OF the several New
f gland states during the period OF the
civil Wr. or course IL cannot he tx
pected that Il magazine article of uoz u
or fifteen pages. can give very com
plete account of the biographies OF the
twenty gentlemen who were prominent
rs State governors in New England dur
ing that exciting period OF tive years;
| but at the same time one would nalutllV
expect to find there something adequate
and satisfactory In the way OF personal
biographies and historical matter.
/ is true that Maine does not suffer IN
a comparison with her sister states, put
al the same time there is feeling OF dls-
appointment aud n sense OF inad' quate
treatment of the personalities Of the dis-
tingui-hed men who were Names ClVll
War governors. vi h n noticeable alb
sence of few leading facts and Stats
tics.
When the Civil War broke out Israel
w shburn, Jr., of 0rono, WAS governor
northern States, aud Ike the entire eoun'
try WIS wholly unprepsred for war.
Gov. Washburn Immediately called an
extra session OF rhp Legislature which
appropriated 81, 900 900 for war purposes
ard statutes were passed authorizing the
raising OF ten regiments. During the
fl ting out of these regiments me state
House at Augusta presented more the
appearance of Urge government bar
rack than IL did State capitol. week
in and week out during the pressure OF
| the public business upon the executive
and his council, Gov. Washburn ate MS
dinner in his private room at the state
House, and was hardly relieved for an
hour from public care during his term al
office in the years 1861 and 1862. He
worked l6 and often 20 hours day.
gave himself no recreation, and absolute
" spent himself In the public service.
| During his term of office Gov. wash
burn saw fitted out for the war tetal
of so 900 of the noted sLalwart men OF
Maine.
Abner Coburn OF Skowhegan, succeed
ed Israel Washburn, Jr., as governor,
and served but single year. The few
words given to him by the writer In the
| New England Magazine, fail to do JUS
tlce to his great lberaity, his sterling
common-sense, his supreme business
ability, his answering integrity, and
his love and regard for the people OF
Maine. This writer says: FIFTY years
success 10 lumber and railroads had
made him wealthy and 1T his death he
left large btquests to the Baptist
Church." Aud that ia all. The writer
should have known that Abner Coburn
was one Of the grandest philanthropists
which this Sta'e or New England has
ever known. He did make considerable
requests 'tO the Baptist Church"-but
he also gave $50 900 to the state insane
o-pital; 800 600 10 the University OF
Maine; $500 900 TO Colby University;
$500 900 10 three mission societies; 800
600 10 Wav,and Seminary, Washington,
d. g.. 800, 900 to the Waterville CLASH
cal Institute, and $40 900 for Freedmen's
schools, besides more than $1,000 900 to
academies, schools, libraries and other
public measures-nOt to mention Ma
large private btquests and charities
These are noble gifts, and deserve to
cause the memory OF Abner Coburn to
be held dear to the people OF this coun-
try for all time Splendid buildings at
two universities, a State classical insti-
tute, a public library public hall, a
court house and public park also per
petuate his name before the people OF
Maine. VT the writer we are criticising
saws that she left Urge bequests TO the
Baptist Church" She should have stud
led her subject better.
During the year in (which Abner Co
burn WAS governor, Maine sent 5000
able bodied men to the front Aroostook
nj bonnp,inn uolI NIGH do
populated through this drain upon her
men for the army. Gov. Cohurn took
great interest in our Maine soldiers, Wis
tied them Ia camp and hospital several
times during his term, aud was generous
in his personal assistance and gifts to-
them and their families.
Samuel Conv OF Augusta. was govern
or during the years lS64-66 which wit
messed the close of hp war and the mus
teripg out Of the Maine troops. He was
a graduate OF Brown University, prom
inent lawyer, had been State treasurer,
mayor of Augusta, and had served In
! the State Legislature. The "brunt OF
the battle" did not fall upon him, as 1t
had done on his predecessors, but his
work in closing up the service OF the
regiments demanded much official care
in addition to the usual duties OF the
executive, and were performed to the
commentator of the people.
No mention OF the war governors OF
Maine seems at all complete without a
reference to that magnificent war gov
ernor which Maine gave to Massachu-
setts, John Albion Andrew Of Windham.
He was elected governor Of Massachu-
setts in 1860, by the largest popular vote
that had been cast 10 that State for any
public candidate since the adoption OF
the constitution in 1880, and was gov
ernor during the entire duration of the
war-his term closing Jan. 5, 1865.
During his term as governor, Massa'
chusetts gave to the national service
l60, 900 men and raised 1928, 900, 900 for
war purposes not to mention what was
done by towns, cities and individuals.
He was one OF the noblest men which
our State ever gave-of the many dis
tinguished ones she has given-to the
Mother commonwealth. His statue by
Thomas Ball occupies a conspicuous po-
sition Ia Doric hall OF the State house on
Beacon hill
Rheumatism Cured.
NV wife has used Chamberlain's Pain