The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-04-28
OBITUARY.



Dol. william Harrison MotIsy. the
well known attorney at law. who for
twenty years or mors prAet's sd Ian with
an ofiies 81 Portland and woodfords. died
al his summer cottage, Iona Island, ~
go o'clock. THURSDAY Afternoon. after
an illness Of over . year.
He was affected By stroke Of paralysis
about year aeo and hes been slowly fail-
ing, death resulting from Brishs's dis
ease. Mr.. Motley rssided - Woodfsrds
until week ago. when he went TO his
summer cottage on Long Island. hoping
that change Of alf and sosnsry would
prove beneficial. For day or 20 he
seemed brighter, but this WAS only tenn
pernry, % he commenced 10 fail rapidly
until death took him pescsfuily away.
Col. William Harrison Motlsy Was born
ct Gardiner, Me-. Dsosmbsr l, 1910. being
the son Of Nathaniel Motley and Rachel
(Horton) Motley. His father, Nathanisl
Motley, was bora in aorham, Ne, and
was grandson OF John Motley, who
settled In 0orham, and was the
first Of the family In this country, John
Lothrop Motley. the distinguished his
torian, being one Of the dsscsudants.
Nathaniel Motley. father Of william H..
rscei we'd liberal education in the place
Of his birth, ana after his marriage
resided for some time In Vermont whils
there representing his town in the state
legislature. He married Miss Rachel
Horton, daughter OF Hufus Horton. one
Of the leading mem bers Of the Friends
society Of Portland. Eleven children
we're borubo them, William II. bsiss the
eighth In the order Of birth. Both ra--
ents are now dead, the mother having
died Bsb. 2. 1858.
william H. Motley assisted his father
In his mercantile pursuits until tbs
breaking out Of the Civil War, when. In
August, 1851, be enlisted In his couptry's
servios, Joining Co. @, Seventh Maine
Volunteer Infantry, and being sent at
once with his regiment to Virginia. 70
Joan the Army Of the Potomac.
He was at the front In many severe en-
gagsments. being present at the seven
days' battle on the Peninsula, there re-
esiving wound In the right foot and
another in ths LIFT knes. and later. at the
battle OF Antietam, bsing wounded
through the mouth, and also receiving
fissh wound under the chin. Aftr this
LATHE, the regiment being practically an
Initiated, 1t was ssnt home to recruit it,
ranks and on Its organization Mr.. Mot
lev was made lisutsnant Of Company ],
Thlrtieth Maine Voluntsee Infantry,
which was sent to join the Red River
expedition, there participating In the
battles OF PLEASANT Hill. Grand Eoore.
Grim River crossing, and In the action
ct Mausura Plains. At THE time Lieut..
Motley was acting adjutant Of his rsgi-
nent, and 1T Alexandria, La. just before
the last battle, while his men were
guarding the river. In order that dam
might be constructed to facilitate the
passage Of the gunboats down the stream,
he receivsdl severe wound at the
base Of the spine. Notwithstanding
bis hard experience, this pluoky
soldier was In the hospital bot
twenty days during his entire service.
The regiment was then ordered to Viz
glnia. FORMING a part Of Grants oom-
mand, going to Dssp Bottom. and
thence to the Shenandoah Valley, being
static nsd ut Cedar Greek when, on o.
tobsr 10, 1864. Early surprised the Unio n
forces, causing . stampede. Lieut.. Mot
ley WAS then in command OF line Of
skirmishers, and was one Of the first
to see the gallant Sheridan when he gal
loped to the front to retrieve the last
ground and save che day.
~. -
Motley remained In service several
months. being located In Savannah,
Georgia, until August 20. 1865, when he
received his discharge. On his return
home ne pursued his studies at the He
bron Academy and the Norway Literary
Institute, subsequently becoming law
student In the office OF d. II. Bsaros, Of
Norway, aud being adm tilted to the bar
In 1879. He then read law for q year
with the Hon. Thomas b. Reed, after
ward commencing the practice Of his
profession In Portland. He first prsctised
aions, meeting with excellent success,
and was then In partnership for time
with H. A. Blsthsn, under the firm
name Of Motley g. Blethen, .subse lusnt-
ly be coming seniar membr Of the firm OF
Motley g. Sylvester.
Mr.. Motley was always an ardent Re-
publican taking very active interest in
political matters but never q seeke for
office. For twenty five years Mr.. Motley
had made his home at Woodfords and
during the summer season has sought
recreation with family At his cottage on
Long Island.
In December. 1891, he was appointed
postmaster ct the Woodtords ofiioe, where
be served for four years. Mr.. Motley was
married October 1872. to Miss Elizabeth
E.lWhitney, daughter OF George p. Whit
nsy Of Oxford. His wife died some years
ago. but he 10 survived By two children,
Mrs. Ada Whitney Horton Sawyer, the
wife OF Mrs. Charles u. Sawyer of this
city, and a son, VIM. II. Motley Jr., Of
South Paris besides several other near
ralnfiVaa