The Somerset reporter., 1899-01-19
Hon. Nelson Dingley.

The favorable condition Of Congress
man Nelson Dinghy, reported fhuredat.
unfortunately did not continue. H.
suffered relapse, carly Friday morning.
and steadily failed during the DRY. death
taking place at 10 30 Friday nigh. liz
family were at the bed at the end.
Following il "a brief sketch Of this man
whose career has beeI one remarkable
for ability displayed in many ways ana
with great success:
Nelson DngleY, Governor OF Maine
1910 and member of Congress from the
I'd Congressional district Of Maine since
| 1881, MAS born in Durham, AndroscoV.
GIN county, Maine, in his grandfather
Lamberts farmhouse on the banks of the
A droscoggin river, Feb. Is. 1892 son Of
Nelson and Jane fLamberi) Dingley.
The year following his firth his parents
moved to Parkman, Piscataquis county,
where they lived on farm tor a short
time and then took charge OF the village
tavern. with which n store was connect
ed. ln 1888 the family moved to Unity.
Waldo county, and then in 1854 to
Auburn, Androscoggin county.
lie Tilted for college In WaterVille
academy and in 1850, at the age Of Is.
he entered Wdterville college where he
remained one year and a half when be
went to Dartmouth college from which
he graduated in 1856.
After leaving college MIR. Dinglev
studied law in 1866 with Merrill &
Fessenden of Auburn, and In the latter
year he WIS admitted to the bar. IT,
stead of entering upon the practice of
law he decided to become a journalist :,
for which profession he always mani
Tested a decided taste. In September
1856, he purchased the Lewiston Journal,
published in the adjoining city of Lewis
ton, of which he had been practically
the editor while studying law, and to
which, in 1861, he added daily edition.
The paper rapidly increased in circula-
ton and Influence under his manage
ment.
His Hrst vote WAS cast in 1854 for
Hon. Arson =. Morrill,, the. anti-slavery
and temperance candidate for Governor,
a political combination from which arose
the Republican party of Maine during
the following winter. He threw him
self into the Fremont campaign in 1886
with all the ardor of youth and ability of
age. In 1861, at the age of 20, he was
NINNith lIOul huDuius W
the State Legislature, in which body he
at once took high rank. was reelected in
1862 and chosen Speaker of the House at
the session of 1868. In 1863 he removed
to Lewiston. where few months after
he was elected 20 the Legislature and at
the opening Of the Legislative session of
1864 was unanimously reelected Speak
er. Al the State election of 1864 he was
ell cted TO the House fourth time, and
at the session of 1868 was again tender
ed the position of Speaker, which he de-
clined, preferring to take his place on
the floor. He was also representative
to the Legislature from Lewiston in 1865
and 1873.
In 1873 Mr.. Dingley was nominated as
the Republican candidate for Governor
of Maine and WAS elected by about 10, 900
majority. In 1874 he was reelected by
over II 900 majority, declining third
nomination in 1878. He was one of the
delegates at large from Maine to the Re-
publican national convention in 1876, and
served on the committee on resolutions
aud was one of the subcommittee of five
who drafted the platform. He actively
participated in the Presidential campaign
of 1876 and in the State campaigns of
1S77-S-9. In 1879 80 ne was chairman of
the Republican Legislative committee.
In 1881 Mr.. Dingley was nominated by
the Republicans of the I'd Congressional
district of Maine to fill the vacancy of
Congress caused by the resignation in
Hon. VIM. Z. Frye. He was elected by
a majority of over 5000, nearly twice as
large as ever given TO any candidate in
that district. lie served on the commit
tee on banking and currency and as a
member of the select committee on alco-
holic liquor traffic, and during the ses-
sion he presided several times over the
House in committee of the whole.
MIR. Dingley very early took high rank
in The House. His first speech was on
"Protection to American Shipping. He
made speech on "Revival of American
Shipping" in reply to Congressman Cox
of New York, which gave him a national
reputation.
He has been reelected to every Con-
gress since 1881 with 10 sign Of opposi-
ton tor the denomination and his recent
remarkably efficient course as chairman
of the ways AMI means committee and
floor leader of the House is too fresh in
the minds of the people of Maine to need
rehearsing.
In forming his cabinet prior to enter
ing on the duties of Chief Executive.
March 4, 1897, President Mckinley ten
dered the position OF secretary OF the
treasury to Mr.. Dingley but he declined
the offer, preferrng TO remain In his po-
sition as chairman of the ways and
means committee and floor leader of the
Republican majority OF the House.
Under his lead, the House within Is
days after the 18th Congress Was con
vened in extraordinary session on the
18th of March, 1897. by President Me
kinley. passed bill revising the tariff
Mr.. Dingley was a Congregationalist
in religion. He was married, June Il,
1857, to Miss Salome Mckenney Of
Auburn, Maine; they have had six child
rem, Harry NJ, Charles l.. (deeeased),
Ed" ard N, Arthur H., Albert q. aud
Edith Dingley.
Somerset Pomona.