The Portland daily press., 1899-12-28
A NOTABLE MAINE FAMILY.


the Chambers OF Fryeburg, arr among
the old we'll known families of the Sac o
valley. DIR. Moses Chandler, q Revolu-
tionary soldier and physician, moved
there from Concord, N. H., over a Gen.
tnry ago. He raised q family Of eleven
children and Daniel Webster was his fire.
quent guest, when teacher Of FryeDurg
Academy. Of his family, one survives,
Joseph Chandler, ESQ now ninety years
old. He 10 twin and his mate. Moses,
Jr, died ut Fryehurg Centre less than a
year ago. The survivor. Joseph. moved
to Pembroke, Mass, Sixteen years ago,
and his ninetieth birthday has just been
celebrated with remn kabls interest. A
genuine fets was accorded him by his
FRIENDS and relatives and numerous con-
gratulatory letters wers received from
various notables and relatives, including
ex-President Cleveland, Senators Frye OF
Maine and Hoar of Massachusetts, Presi-
dent Elliot Of Harvard college, DIR. y. O.
Gordon Of Portland, and Miss Cornelia
Dow, who wrote In memory OF her. Ia
mented father, Hon. Neal Dow, Mrs.
Mary S. Chandler, widow of Samuel L.,
of North Fryeburs, Hon. George Bar
rows of Fryeburg and others. OF the
letters from family descendants the fol-
lowing was received from James K.
Chandler, Esq of South Portland. and
evoked spe cial appreciation from the two
hundred guests:
Portland. Me., Dec. 20. 1899.
My Dear Uncle and Aunt-In glancing
at the family record, / notice on the 9th
you will he ninety years Of age l trust
you are yet well, and descending the ze
NTH of lie, In the comfort you 40 richly
deserve. Generations come and CO. You
as the last survivor of numerous New
England family are already passing the
score mark beyond the allotted age of
man, and l hope you will pass q goodly
mum Der Of ctner milsstonts Of life.
Descended from Old revolutionary
stock, you have the rare honor OF m an
cestur who fought under STARK, at Ben
nington, and another who was president
of the first university Of the continent.
Well and nobly have you II maintained your
heritage. In like circumstances no Ro-
man Pa rlcian could have done more.
Ninety years this carl1es US back to
WITHIN ten years Of Wsshingtoni The
immortal author Of the Declaration of In
DEPENDENCE was president Thousands of
Revolutionary patriots were then living.
Tho war Of 1872 mad not occurred. The
battle Of Matarloo had not been fought
Napoleon was about retreating from
burning Moscow. America, Africa and
A uslralia were scarce explored. No
steamer had ever crossed the Atlantic.
No railroad had been built No telegraph
exiated Education was limited to the
few. Universal liberty was not to be
thought Of. New York was as far from
Boston as the Rocky Mountains ara to-
lay. Old Plymouth was day from Bos-
ton, and the latter contained less popu-
lation than most any Of her suburbs
now. All our country beyond the Allie
ghanies was but little known. Most OF
the Louisiana purchase was q vast in
coguita terra. The source of the Missis-
sippi was unknown. The present site of
Chicago was blank wilderness The
common friction match was scarcely
known; the flint look the only gun.
The spinning wheel and loom were in
every household. The crane that swung
In the fire place the only means OF cook
ing. Everybody wore homespun. Print
and 'factory cloth" were sold at 0 tents
per yard. For labor housework, girls got
80 cents u week. Potatoes. salt pork and
beans were staple articles of diet There
was scarce stove In the country. The
log school house wss frequent, and the
pupil who could cipher TO the "rule o.
three was fnt to teach" Instead of
the Brussels carpet. the best room was
sanded. lnstsaI Of kerosene, gas, and
electricity the best domestic light WAS the
candle dip, or birch torch. Your early
home was then portion of Massachusetts.
Inc younger Adams, the Immortal Web
ster. Clay, Calhoun and Benton. were
just ascending the horizon Of mighty po-
litical eminenos. The "Missouri Com
promise" had not been adopted. No ao-
curate census had been taken, hut our
entire population soarce exceeded seven
million. Popular government aud our
constitution were yet an experiment.
The country was In q raw and inchoets
state.
10 outline the mighty evolution of
these ninety years would exhaust an his
torian's pen. In science the progress is
astounding. Even the evolution OF the
cosmos from an original nebula through
interminable processes, COMBINATIONS,
cataclysms. geologic eras and vast periods
OF rock qualification, can be traced to
tho quarternary state, and world fit for
mind and mani The greatest triumph Of
human contemplation
In discovery. invention, culture.
wealth. the arts, researches In the ar
ohives OF man since the glacial period,
progress Is squally startling.
But, dear uncle, must not weary you
with zoo extended reflection. You left
your old home. Fryeburg, with the re-
gret and benediotion OF everyone, You
had not an enemy. While you associated
only with the best no one was too poor
to receive . helping hand and kind
wcrd.