Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-05-20
the OLD II NIB
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repa,r. This has never been vOuchsafed
him but he is now having substantial
caskets made and in these the remains
If the departed statesmen will be rev.
.rentlv placed and the floor OF the
tomb cleared from the debris of years.
I'VE ought to have a thousand dol
lars TO properly fix up the tomb and its
.urroundings." says Col. Stevens, but
7 am going to devote to the work all
the money l can spare from the other
concentrations and before the summer
is over l hope to have made material
improvements 1t is a work which it
seems to me is our duty 10 attend 10
and that at once.
In his labors in this direction Col.
Stevens will have the communication
of the entire State. for the remains OF
the brilliant young Governor who died
in 30 have been too long neglected.
The history of the old tomb is par
ticularly interesting to Augusta and
TO the State, because 1t was in Gov.
Iincolns administration that the cor
ner stone of the present state House
was laid. This notable event too place
JuIv 1899. Governor Lincoln then be-
ing a young man just beginning his
forties. and in the ordinary course OF
events likely to see the State House
completed and the commonwealth
grow for n quarter or half a century.
The corner stone of the State House
was laid. as your histories will tell you.
by the Grand Masonic Lodge of Maine
in the presence of Enoch Lincoln. Gov
ernor: Andrew Jackson, President OF
the United States: John Marshall,
chief justice. being represented by
proxy. Standing on the corner stone
that Fourth of July and speaking with
a vigor and force which ever char
acteriZed his public utterances. it was
little thought that the next gathering
on the newly dedicated grounds would
assemble to pay earth's last honors TO
the speaker of the day.
Hut thus it was that fate willed it.
On Monday. the 9Th of the following
October. Governor Lincoln came to Au-
gusta to deliver an address before the
Young ladies of the Cony Female Sem
mary. He commenced his address but
during its delivery was obliged by
weakness to resume his seat. At the
conclusion of the exercises he was
taken to the home of General Samuel
Cony and the Thursday following he
died. His death made Hon. Nathan
Cutler of Pennington. president of the
Senate, acting governor. and orders
were at once issued directing General
Joseph Chamberlain to provide suit
able escort for the funeral to take
place at Augusta on Thursday, the
18th. with appropriate military honors.
The death of Lincoln at the age of 30,
with apparently so many years of use
fulneSS and honor before him. created
profound sorrow throughout the State.
When the news reached Portland the
city bells were tolled and all flags in
the city and on the shipping in the
harhor We're lowered to half mast. II
Augusta the citizens gathered in town
meeting and voted to close the stores
and suspend all business till after II
O'Clock on the day of the funeral.
Messrs. Ruel Williams, Henry w. Full
Ter and William Emmors We're appoint
ed local committee of arrangements.
On Thursday. the 18th, the funeral!
procession formed in front OF Tappan's
hotel, Samuel X. Gilman of hallowell.
being marshal of the day. The process
sion marched to Tappans meeting
house. where the funeral Grafton was
delivered by DIR. Nichols of Portland
and prayer offered by Rev. Mr.. Ford of
Augusta. The funeral procession was
most impressive display of military
and civic honor. The pall-bearers We're
Judge Bridge. General King. Judge
Weston. Peleg Sprague. Robert =.
Dunlap, r. Fl. Gardiner. Mark Harris
and Isaac Reed. The Gardiner rifle
company acted as body guard. The
Governors horse. with empty saddle
and boots reversed, was led by his SER
want. The body guard was preceded
by light infantry companies from Au-
gusta, Hallowell, Winthrop and Wa
tervillc. forming battalion which was
commanded by Major Amos Stickney.
During the progress of the procession
the Hallowell artillery. stationed on the
public grounds, fired minute guns. The
procession marched slowly on to the
public grounds where the body was de-
posted in the tomb and the soldiery
fired the customary volleys of mus
kerry. Colonel James r. Bachelor Of
Readfield. was in command of the mill
tia which participated.
Thus with the most imposing funeral
hOnors ever given within the State, was
the first interment made in the little
Gods acre on the State House grounds.
That was the 18th of October and on
the 9th of that month the council fig
ured up what was due the estate of the
late Governor. Acting Governor Cut
Ter was instructed to draw a warrant
in favor of the administration of the
Lincoln estate for $32.SS. Being the
amount of salary due the late Enoch
Lincoln, Governor, from the 30th of
September, current, to October s, cur
rent inclusive" Two days later the
council again took up the matter and
the following transcript ON the coun-
Gil records of October %, 1929, shows
what action was taken:
The committee of council to whom
was referred the communication of
William Lincoln, Esquire, administrator
of the estate, Of the late Governor Lin
coin in relation 10 the settlement with
the officiating Governor and Council
for n warrant drawn in favor of said
Governor Lincoln on the trea SIrer of