Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-15


granted him q "tract Of land sufficient
for a township In some place between q
river called 0ssipee and running into
the Ssco River and the mountains above
Piqwacket" He chose what Is now
the beautiful town OF Fryeburg which
bears his name. There Judge Frye's IA
ther and grandfather were buried. There
Is At the home OF our late Brother In
Bethel, y silver tanksrd which has come
down from those early days, bearing
this inscription:
"ro JOSEPH FRYE. ESQ,
CoLoSfL AND COMMANDER IN CuiEr OF THE
FORCES IN THE SERVICE OF rHE PROV
INCk OF MASSACHUSETTS BAr
AND LATE MAJOR OF THf IND
BATTALION or GENERAL
sHIRLEr's PROVINCIAL
REGIMENT
THIS TASKtKD
fRoM JUST sKNcE OF THE CARE AND con
MAND AT NOVA SCOTIA, AND fRofER RESENT
NENr or MS fATERSAL REGARD foK THEN
SINCE THEIR RETURN To SEw ENGLAND,
Is PRESENTED BY
HIS MOST HUMBLE SERVANTS,
THE OFFICERS Oh tn. SECOND BATTALION.
BOSTON, APR. :. 1877.
Judge Frye fitted for college at Gould's
tICu pTkah tuN shoay w
law In his fathers Office. He was ad-
mitted to the Bar In 1855 and succeeded
TO the practice OF his fsther who had
died the year before. He practiced at
this Bar for forty years and never missed
a term OF Court. During all that time
he occupied the same office at the corner
OF Broad and Main Streets In Bethel.
His Office became q landmark and the
corner Ia called by everybody "Frye's
Corner" In 1879 he was elected Judge
of Probate and performed the duties OF
that office faithfully and with ability
for four years.
He always took lively interest 10 all
matters affecting the welfare OF his town.
For many wears he was Secretary OF the
Board Of Trustees Of Gould's Academy
and remained trustee until his death.
have read somewhere that an ancient
Greek In consulting the Delphic Oracle,
asked this question: "HOw shall learn
10 live wiselyg" And the answer came
Consult the dead" While we to-day
honor the memory Of our departed
brother, the answer has n peculiar sig
nificance. Consult the dead" We shall
fsil TO grasp the full meaning OF this
service, IL we do not gather from his life
and example something that will inspire
US with desire for wise living.
There WAS always about Brother Frye
during his last years, calm, confident
air which spoke OF obstacles overcome
and victories won; and showed that he
hsd successfully passed the storms and
breakers In the voyage OF life and had
already entered those deep and tranquil
waters which betoken safe anchorage
ahead. When first knew Judge Frye,
he was already we'll established In his
profession. II he had ever possessed
those stern and aggressive traits which
are the mark Of a great ambition, time
with It's experience and disappointments
bad softened them. For to me he WAS
always a gracious, considerable, kindly
man. He never allowed the distrscting
cares OF home or the demands Of business
to wholly absorb his mind. He read
much. He found bis greatest pleasure
in History; and 1t was In quiet con-
versation upon some historical subject
that he showed to greatest advantage.
He never psraded his knowledge but was
always quiet and modest and In public,
sometimes appeared to be embarrassed
He read and thought and, as might be
expected, his power Of reasoning and
analysis was greater than his power Of
expression. He conducted many cases
before jury and with good success
but he did his best work In bis Office and
| before the Law Court. There he had
time to weigh each proposition and tc
bring into service all the forces of well
trained mind. 1t was his calm delibera-
ton upon questions submitted to him
that earned him the reputation Of saft
counsellor. The fact that he maintained
this reputation while In local cOmpeti
ton with such eminent lawyers as Davit
Hammons and Enoch Foster, prove,
that he deserved II.
The members of this Bar have lont
recognized the soundness Of his judg
ment. and In many and important case,
he was appointed referee by agreement
When he came to be Judge Of Probate II
1879, he was well equipped. He con
Quoted the business Of that Office witt
honor to himself and advantage to tn
people of this county. His calm judicia
nature asserted itself and his decision
were always the result Of careful cor
siderstion.
Brother Frye never found pleasure
amusement In the noise and confusion Q
, q crowd. He chose rather quiet stro
along some meadow brook or mountal
stream with rod and line 10 hand. CO
bear testimony that on such occasions B
was most enjoyable companion. A
long as he was able to walk, he delight
ed In this simple amusement; and aftt
, he was first stricken, he would plan wit
: me some expedition TO be undertake
] when he should be better.
He did not seek to participate 10 Il
!. gayeties and much less In the friy0liti
. OF fashionable life. He WAS one OF tho
!. of whom IL WAS written:
2 "Far from the madding crowds isnobie strife
Z Their sober Wishes never learned 70 stray;
Along the cool sequestered vale Of life
They kept the noiseless tenor OF their way"
Such lives form the solid foundatit
of our social structure and furnish %
political balance. They impart TO d
nestle life tone Of harmony, sense
q security and = spirit Of rest.
Judge Frye was regular and metho
lical In his habits and conservative
Thought. He avoided the experiment
= and stepped With caution upon ne
1, ground. He loved best the old famili
= ways Of business and Of life. II his 4
aginstion ever pictured more attract
II