Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-29

at lIic tllilt VI He, utdllIl Vas '5ti ' III q
his sixth term in the United States
House of Representatives.
He Wa; born at Pittsfield. Me, in
1889 was graduated from the law &c
partment of the University of Albany,
n. y, and was admitted to the bar in
1861
Level yn Powers was born III Pitts
field, Somerset county, Me, in $685. son
of Arba and Naomi (MattheW&) Pow
crs. Many of his fathers relations and
ancestors had been clergymen and col
lege graduates, and one was a grad
uate of Harvard. His mother was a
school teacher before marriage. His ia
ther was q farmer and lumberman, not
rich bus In comfortable circumstances,
who hal settled in Pittsfied az a
pioneer, and there built a log house In
which LIewellyn, the eldest of 10 chill
dren, was born. OF the eight boys six
became successful practitioners Of the
law.
LlcWellyn Powers was eight years OF
age when his family moved out of the
primititc dwelling into more preten-
tious home. Although the parents had
acquired by hard work and earnest eff
fort the fair competence and independ-
ence that comes to the successful farm
er vet they had large family Ia rear
and mainta ain, and the eldest son left
home to make his way in the world at
a time when he had little else than his
birthright of brains, pluck and splendid
rhysiuue to aid him in starting upon
his career.
t1a cah C
of Pittsfield he fitted for college at the
Maine academies of ST. Adams and
Watervile, the later now CObuln Class
zeal Institute, and entered Colby Col
lege in the Glass of 1861, but left in
his second year to enter the Albany
Law School, where he graduated in
December 1860. In 1860, he was admit
ted to the New York bar in Albany,
and in December of that year was adj
mitted t. the bar of Somerset county,
Maine, at Norridgewock. Subsequently
he was admitted to practice in the dis
trct and circuit courts of the United
States, and also at the Suffolk bar OF
Boston.
In January, 1861, he settled in Houl-
ton, Aroostook county, where ne &C
lively engaged in law practice until
shortly before his election as Governor
in 1896, with the exception of a four
years period when he resided III BHook-
line, Mass, practicing his profession IN
Boston The young lawyer soon built
no a large and lucrative practice in
ArooStonll county.
In 1864 he was elected county attor-
ney. and served for six years. In 1869
L., cd rnlIaptnr of customs
for the district of Aroostook and serv-
ed four years, declining re-appoint-
ment rendered him in 1873 In 1874,
1S1i-75. 1S75-76 and 1883 he represented
Hamilton in the State Legislature, where
his services We're of a character ana
Importance that showed him t" be
sagacious political leader and gave
promise Of a more brilliant future. Dur
ing his legislative service he reported
from an evenly divided judiciary com
mittee Of which he was chairman, ad-
yocated and carried through the bill
abolishing capital punishment.
In 1875 he was elected representative
to Congress from the 4th district and In
1878 was re-nominated by acciamatlon'
but owing to the Greenback craze that
swept the State in tina. year, he was
among the Republican Congressman
candidates. including the present Unit
ed states senator, Hale, who failed OF
an election.
Mr.. Powers then determined to give
ND politics and aside from taking an
active part in political campaigns. gave
his attention to his private interests
which had become very extensive, IN
Guiding the ownership and manage
ment of large tracts of timberland'
some of the finest\in the State. In
1892, however, his friends prevailed
upon him to re-enter public HE, ana
he was again elected to the Leglsla-
ture in that year, where his wise coun :
sells. wide experience and leadership
qualities We're at once recognized ana
his influence in shaping legislation re-
suited in some of the best measures
which passed that body On the as
sembling of the Legislature of 1898. to
which he was reelected. he was
unanimously chosen. by the Republic
can members, Speaker of the House
In 1905 he was nominated for gov