The Republican journal., 1902-10-30
JOSIAH HAYDEN DRuMmoND DEAD

|
jurist, politician, mathematician, genealo-
gist and as distinguished member of the
Masonic fraternity, dropped dead on Con
gress street Saturday afternoon.
Josiah Hayden Drummond was born il
Winslow, kennebec county, Me-, August
80, 1927, and is descended from Alexander
| DrummOnd, one of colony of Scotch Irisf
| Presbyterians, who settled in Maine ir
| 1929 He obtained his early education in
the district school and distinguished him.
self by his proficiency in mathematics. He
later attended VaSSalboro Academy, where
he mastered COlburn'S algebra when
| thirteen years old. He was subsequently,
academy. Entering Colby, then Waterville
college, he there also gained high reputa-
tion as mathematician and was graduated
with honors in the class of 1916, receiving
| three years later the degree of A NJ. He
taught school for three years, in the mean
time studying law in the office of Messrs.
Boutelle and Noyes in Waterville, and was
admitted to the bar at Augusta in 1850 In
that year he made a business trip to Califor-
| MIA, then in the midst OF the gold excite
ment, travelling by way of the Isthmus, and
became a member of the bar in that State,
also. After his return to Waterville in the
| following year, Mr.. Drummond rapidly
rose to prominence in the practice of his
profession, and in politics. He was at iii st
affiliated with the Democratic party, but
owing to his opposition to slavery left the
ranks in 1855 and became a Republican.
He plunged with enthusiasm into the sup
port of the doctrines of the young party and
in 1856 took the stump in its behalf for
eight weeks, speaking two and sometimes
three times a day. In 1857, while away
from home, he was nominated for the lower
branch of the State legislature and elected.
The next year he was reelected and chosen
speaker. filling the office with distinction.
In 1850 he was elected to the State senate,
but resigned his seat to accept the position
of attorney general. He was reelected to
that office i'll 1861, 1862 and 1868, and then de-
cllned ii reelection.
Mr. Drummond removed to Portland in
1860 and from this city he was later sent
again to the legislature and again served as
speaker of the House. lie also served the
city as its solicitor Mr. Drummond was a
member of the national Republican conven-
tion which nominated Lincoln for the Presi-
dency and he in later years made many val
nabe contributions to the history of that
great gathering. He was also an active
member of the conventions which nomin-
ated Hayes and Blaine. After 1864, Mr..
Drummoud declined to be candidate for
public office, preferring to devote his time
to the practice of his profession. Had he
remained in public life he might have won
date for governor and United States senator
and was offered a position on the supreme
bench of the State, which, however, he did
not care to accept.
Mr.. Drummond was long connected with
the railways OF Maine. AS early as 1851 he
was connected with the AndroScoSgln and
kennebec railroad, and IN 1864 was elected a
director Of the Maine Central when the two
roads We're consolidated. Mr.. Drummond
resigned as a director in S11 in order to aid
III the consolidation OF the Maine Central
and the Portland and hennebec, in which
he took an active part. lie soon alter be-
came clerk OF the corporation and held the
office until his death. In 1870 Mf. Drum
mund was elected a director OF the Mon
Mutual Life Insurance Company, was
active III It's reorganization, and then be-
came its general counsel. He shaped the
legislation which was followed by the re-
moyal of the offices of the company to this
State Mr.. Drunlnond had also been dl-
rector Of the [ mon safe Deposit and Trust
Company from the date Of its organization
Especially noteworthy We're Mr.. Drum
mOuu : achievements III behalf Of the
Masonic fraternity for after Thomas Smith
Webb, who gave form IT, Masonry in this
country, 40 man dId more Tor Che ancient
craft thaU MI. Drummond. He Joined the
NateIvjle lodge in 1910, and was It's master
lu lS5s-19. From 1850 to 1868 he was Grand
Master IF the Grand Lodge OF Maine and
N',H Itl t'' NFtlA' ttl NIlr tt'N't VI llle
Chapter a3't Grand Ummandery OF Maine,
ami vne yeaI at the head of the Grand
Council of Naj!te.
In 1871 lie WAS elected to the chief position
of the General Grand Chapter of 1he United
States, and in 1850 was Grand Master of the
General Grand ouucil Of the nite,l States,
holding each office three wears. He was
Provincial Deputy Grand Master of the
ROYAL order of scot and under the late
Albert Pike, and after Mr.. Pixies death
was Provincial Grand Master IN 1859 and
1862 he received Jhe degrees of the Scottish
Rite, and in the latter year the thirty-tiiird
degree was conferred upon him, making
him an honorary member of the Supreme
Council Of the Northern jurisdiction of the
United states. He was immediately elected
Lieutenant Grand Commander, and was re-
elected in 1865 and 1s6o In 1861, upon the
union of the supreme ouncils previously
existing, he was elected Grand Commander
OF the nited Supreme Council. the highest
office in the gift Of the fraternity He was
reelected in 1870, 1872 and 1876, but declined
further service. This Office was no snecure,
involving large amount of correspondence
with all parts of the world. AS chairman
of the committee on Masonic Jurisprudence
in the grand bodies of Maine and in the
national bodies, Mr.. Drunnond did more
than anyone else to shape the policy of the
order in the State and nation In his own
Grand Lodge he has since 1865 performed
the duty of reviewing the proceedings of
the other Grand Lodges-over 80 in number
his report often comprising more than
two hundred pages. He also performed d
similar labor for the Grand Chapter, Coun-
oil and umman1,r1- II, thaSa ronortS