Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-09-27
VALUABLE LETTERS.
Collection Of Autograph Epist|es Of
Governors of Maine.
They Have Been Gathered by Burton
Smith of Portland.

Burton Smith of Portland, deputy
United States marshal, who is we'll
known in this city being Il son of Maj.
A. L. Smith. treasurer of the Soldiers
Home at TogIIs, has a complete collec-
ton of the autograph letters Of the
Governors of Maine, from William
King, the first Governor to John F. Hill,
the present Chief Executive. In speak
ing about the matter Mr.. Smith recent
ly said to the Portland Sunday Tele-
gram:
There" said Mr.. Smith, taking up a
book about j. by II inches in size and
handsomely bound in Russia leather,
| that book contains a complete set of
autograph letters, not autographs
merely, you understand, of the SO diff
| ferent Governors and acting Governors
| of the State Of Maine, as well as por-
| traits of all of them with a biographi-
! cal sketch printed on the back of each
| likeness. i think / can truJhfully say
| there is no other complete collection of
| these autograph letters in existence. 1t
mas been a long and Iaborious task to
| complete the collection, | assure you.
| 1t has taken me over two years to get
! all these letters. Some of the letters
have been traced through a dozen diff
| ferent channels, even into Europe. SO
| you see my labor of collecting them
was not confined to this country alone.
| Strange to say the letter easiest to find
was that of Names first Governor,
| William King. and the one hardest TO
get was that of Acting Governor Ben
| jamin Ames. Other letters almost
| equally as hard to get were those of
Governors Lincoln and Hunton, and
| Acting Governors Cutler, Kavanagn
and Dunn. have written hundreds of
| letters, and my friends have written
probably as many more to aid me in
| my quest
The letters and portraits are very
neatly arranged i'll the large book, made
expressly for the purpose. Inserted in
one page is letter and in the opposite
page is likeness, containing on the re-
verse side = sketch of the life of the
original. Though securely held in place
| the letters can be read easly--that is,
if the handwriting will permit for evi
IDENTIFY not all of our past Governors
would have made good copy-book writ
ers The larger number of the letters
|
ance. that OF Governor Hill, for ex-
ample, being merely politely worded
note of invitation to dinner. On the
other hand. the letter of Coy. Hubbard
concerns q matter of consequence. The
reporter wished to copy this strong,
! logical letter for publication. but Mr..
Smith said he had promised the person
who furnished 1t to him not to permit
it's getting into print. But the reporter
got a copy of the letter written by Cow
ernor John Fairfield, in Washington in
1885 to his friend Hon. Rufus McIntire
of Parsonsfield. The letter is dated
March II, and from the endorsement on
the back Mr.. McIntire received it
March 25 Evidently GA years ago mail
transportation was slow as compared
with that of today. The letter reads as
follows:
Washington, March 18th.
Dear Sir:
II the last letter I wrote you had to
discharge the painful task of announc-
ing the death of our friend Cilley. l
am now obliged to inform you that an
other Of our delegation has gone. Car
ter died, last night, at 10 O'Clock, at his
lodgings in this city. He has been COM
planning all the session, but has been
confined only about two weeks. Com
plant supposed to be an affection of the
brain. Fe had his wife and three
brothers with him. so that everything
has been done for him that could be
|. done His death was announced, to-
day. by Mr.. Evans in the House, and
the House adjourned over to later
day when the funeral is TO take place
, Your letter from Augusta was duly
received. j am pleased WITH the ar
rangement Let Parks be marshal
,-- must be Governor, and Albert
Smith. we must look out for him. Fol
, one l shall be glad to do something FOL
him. In great haste, / am
Very truly yours,
JOHN FAIRFIELD.
y The Cilley spoken of in this letter was
the Hon Jonathan Cilley, representa-.