Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-05
STATE HOUSE.
Sketch of Albion K. Paris
Statesman and Jurist.
Was -Four Times Governor Of Maine
in Early Days.
Another !nstaiImcnt OF Stetson's
Thoughts by the Way"

Mrs. Sarah 2. Tracey of New York,
who is the only living child of the dead
statesman. The following is a brief
sketch of his life:
Albion Keith Paris was born in
Hebron, Maine, January 18th, 1888.
The only child of Samuel Paris, an
officer Of the Revolution. He worked
on his fathers farm until he was four
teen years old, when he began to pre-
pare for college (at Hebron Academy
ana entered in advanced standing at
Dartmouth, Hanover, n. H., III 1903.
He gradua ted i'll 1906 ard soon after
commenced the study of law with
Chief Justice Whitman who was then
in practice at New Gloucester He
pursued his studies with great dill
gence, ana was admitted to the Cum
bertrand bar in September 1909. He i'm
mcdiately established himself in the
practice Of law III Paris, oxford county.
From that period his course was one Of
uninterrupted success. III 1911 he was
appointed county attorney for oxford;
IN 1913 h WAS elected to the general
court in Massachusetts from Paris: in
1914 he was chosen a Senator for the
counties of oxford and Somerset, and
i'm November, 1914, he was elected to the
18th Congress of the United States for
the years 1915 and 1916 ANA again to
IN 18TH Congress. While holding the
office of Representatives To Congress ne
was appointed judge of the district
court NJ the Uniled States from Maine
IN lSls. on receiving this appointment
h- removed x Portland, from which
place the next wear. 1919. he was chosen
q mrmh,r of the convention to form r.
constitution fo~ the new state then
seeking ADMISSION into the Union
Judge Farris took au active part in its
pr". ceilings AMI debates ami was a
member II the committee which
lrttted the constitution. ON the adop-
tinu ~ the constitution ana the ad-
mission Of the State into thu Union NJ
which ID became the tw-uty-sccOud
I'D mbcr, Mr.. Paris. then holding TIL.
office 81 district judge, was appointed
Judge Of probate for Cumberland
county under the new dynasty. While
ia the enjoy ment OF these honorable
and responsible trusts public opinion
dt signated him for the highest onic" III
The state. as succ' ssOr to Governor
King. lie WAS elected and entered
upnn the discharge Of the duties before
he had quite attained the ag" Of 81
years. and was continued in the office
by successive elections five years. In
his annual message in 1876 he per-
omptorily declined another nomination.
IN 1872 General Lafayette visited the
State when his reception was most
his old companions in arms to wei
come their illustriOus friend and ally.
He was the guest of the State and his
visit extended as far as Augusta. He
was warmly greeted ana entertained by
The Governor. Governor Paris was
not permitted to enjoy reposc from
Official life. Tho last year Of his adj
ministratinn htl not expired when he
was elected to the U. S. Senate. but he
haG scarcely become familiar with his
new position, Whan in June, 1928, he
was N pointed associate justice in the
Supreme Court of Maine. He was not,
however. destined to grow old upon the
bench. In 1896 he was appointed by
President Jackson second comptroller
Of the treasury of the United States.
I'f' b'litF Ht itiI ID yctLs, uiII 1917,
through the administrations of Mr..
Van Buren,. General Harrison, MIR.
Tyler ANA MIR. Polk. On retiring, he
returned to Portland. Of which city he
was chosen mayor in 1852, declining q
second nomination. For the remainder
Of his life he reposed quietly upon his
many and well won laurels. For sew
eral years previous to his death he
had hcen troubled with an affection Of
the heart. This increased the last
years of his life. and terminated in his
sudden death on the morning Of
February 18th, 1851. The city council
Of Portland and the bar Of Cumber-
lanu promptly exprcsscs~their sense OF
their own and the public loss and
their sympathy on the occasion; and
| q general and honorable sentiment
went up from the press OF Maine, and
from citizens throughout the State, in
his honor.