Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-07-30
STATE HOUSE.
Sketch Of the Life Of Governor
John Hubbard.
he Signed Names First Law Against
the Sale Of Liquor.
General Farnham Inspects PortIand's
New Rifle Range.

One Of the most expensive portraits
in the collection of paintings of Mainas
public men hanging in the State House
rotunda is that of Gov. John Hubbard
which was presented to the State nv
his son, Col Thos H. Hubbard of New
York. 1t hangs on the east wall of the
rotunda almost over the main entrance
to the Capitol building.
John Hubbard was born in the town
of Readfield, March %, 1894, his par
ents having moved to that town from
New Hampshire, their native state. in
| 1884. His father was country doc
tor. John was his eldest son and the
.ather desired him to study medicine
with him at home, but he felt that. in
order TIC become thorough physician,
he must obtain n more perfect educa-
lion than he could thus obtain. So, by
teaching pupils at their homes in Al
| bany, N. Y, and elsewhere ne was able
to graduate from Dartmouth College in
the class of 1916 and in 1922 he re-
ceiVed his diplomas as doctor of medi-
| cine and as fellow of the Philadelphia
| Medical school.
During his struggles in securing Il
medical education he taught school,
/
principal of the academy ard about the
same length of time in Dinwiddie
county in the state of Virginia. After
| his graduation from the medical school
he took up the practice of his profess
1 sion III Virginia and remained there
even years. Then he spent n year in
the medical schools and hospitals OF
] Philadelphia and in 1880 settled in Hal
/ lowell. Here he remained for the rest
| of his life, where his large experience
vigorous intellect and immense energy
of mind and body gave him alros;
/ from the outset a leading professional
| standing throughout the State.
| His convictions led him to unite with
the Democratic party in Maine, and in
iS43, quite UNEXPECTEDLY to himself, DR..
| Hubbard was elected to the Senate of
| strongest Wing districts. Without
previous experience as a legislator or
! practice as debater. he Immediately
| took a prominent position in the Sci
ate and at once applied himself with
his accustomed energy to the business
before him, sparing no pains to obtain
thorough knowledge Of the varied
matters which come up for discussion.
|
| length. but when he participated in the
| debates he always commanded atten-
| ton by a compact and logical presenta-
| ton of the question at issue, and by Il
| frank and Independent expression of
| his views.
| In 1S49. Dr. Hubbard was nominated
| by the Democratic party as it's candi-
| date for Governor of the State, and
was elected to that office over the OPP
posing candidate. In 1850 he was re-
elected for a second term. At this
time the Maine Legislature COM
menced it's session in May, but an act
approved August q, 1850, provided for
submitting to the people a ccnstitu-
tional amendment fixing the annual
meeting the first Wednesday in
January. and also provided thai the
governor and other State officers elect
ed for the political year commencing
on the second Wednesday of May,
1851. should hold their offices till
January. 1853. BY this amendment
Governor Hubbard's term of Office was
extended from May, 1852, to January,
1853.
Among the measures to which he
early directed the attention of the
Legislature were the establishment of q
reform school for juvenile offenders,
distinct from the State prison and from
contact with the older class of criml-
nails the establishment of an agricul-
tural school: provision for a college or
seminary for the education of females
in the more advanced departments OF
study; suitable endowment for acade-
mics and colleges, and proper system
for the instruction of teachers.
He laid especial stress upon the sub
ject of education to which he always
assigned that first Importance due TO
it in a country where the will of the
majority makes the law; and where IL
the ma iority be ignorant or VICIOUS.
the laws must take similar COM
plexion. He urged with constant
earnestness the acquisition by the
state of the public lands within It's
own limits, the encouragement or set
tiers. and the development OF the
northeastern portion of the State. Inc
result of his efforts was to give d
marked impetus to the settlement Oh
| the public lands, and the Improvement
| of the richest agricultural district IN
| Maine.
The subject of State action which
most absorbed public attention during
| Governor Hubbard'S administration
| was temperance legislation, and ne
signed, as Governor, the 1irst act
| known as the Maine Proh'bitory
| Law.
Upon retiring from the Gubernatoriai
| chair he at once resumed the act,Ne
| practice of his profession, but In 1921
he was appointed a special agent OIL inc
United States treasury department 10
examine the several custom houses III
| Maine looking to the economical en-
| forcement of the revenue laws lie
was subsequently made commission
er under the reciprocity treaty con-
cluded between the United States and
Her Brittanic Majesty. During tbs
time he held this last official position
he made a careful examination of The
coast-line from Maryland to the
northern shore of the st. Lawrence
and joined the commissioner appointed
by Great Britain in defining, for tht
purposes of the treaty, the mouths OF
the various rivers within those rivers.
| Tn IuIv 1S95 he had married Miss