Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-16
CAPITAL CHAT.
CONTINUED from Page One.)

from Maine He was brother of
Thomas Chandler, who was sent to the
National House by New Hampshire
constituency, and an uncle of Zachariah
Chandler. prominent Senator from
Michigan in his day. Mrs Hale, wife
of the Senior Senator from Maine, is L
daughter Of Zachariah Chandler.
Congressional timber has come from
high up in the Kennebec Valley. The
''farthest north Representative was
David Bronson. born at Sutfield, Conn,
and q graduate Of Dartmouth College,
who practiced at Arson and was
elected to the National House in 1870
as a Wing to succeed George Evans. of
UalloWell. who became a Senator and
a colleague Of Webster and Clay. Like
many ether early Congressman from
New England, especially from Maine.
he wandered to other states. After
having been collector of customs at
Bath and probate judge of Sagadahoc,
he went to Talbot county, Md, where
he died.
Coming little farther down the
River, Norridgewock has probably
sent mere men to the National
House than any other town of its
size in Maine. The last was
Stephcr u. Lindsey, born there.
who held several high official places be-
fore h.. served six years as Il Rcpresen-
tatiye, being Il colleague in the House
with the present Maine Senators. the
late Speaker Reed. and with Represent
tative Powers. David Kidder,
native of Dresden. vas the first Nor
ridgeWcck Representative, Il Wing,
who had four years in the House be-
fore he became Il member of the state
legislature in 1929. dying at Norridge-
wock in 1860. Another Norridgewock
man, who was z. doctor by profession
and a physician at the Augusta insane
ASYLUM before he moved farther north.
He was an editor later in life. 1t was
not many years after Congressman
Bates service that Cullen Sawtelle,
another native ana resident CT Nor
ridgewock went to Congrs SIS four years
as Democrat. a member of his fam
iIv. possibly son. was Quar;Grmastcr
general Of the army for some years.
Halloweu has contributed Il United
States Senator, PcleE SpraSna, VINO
was a Wing member of the House for
four years before he was promoted ana
later III life practiced law in Boston.
His grandson, the late Charles f.
Sp:aguc, was q member Of the House
from the Broolkline district Of MaS5a-
chrss.ttS & few wears ago. John OTIS,
Wing lawyer, whO was Il member ot
the 3lst Congress when the late James
". Bradbury, Of Augusta, VAS a
, Democratic Senator from Maine, WAS
also from Hallowell. George Evans OF
Gardiner. long United States Senator,
was one of the greatest men Maine
ever sent to Washington.
The Augusta naIles on the list OF
Maine Senators and representatives,
are very eminent ones. headed by
James G.. Blaine and Lot NJ. Morrill,.
Rnnel Williams, however, was the first
United States Senator from Augusta.
He long practiced law at Augusta and
| served in both BRANCHES of the State
legislature before hF was elected for
| six wears to the Senate to the seat of
| Ether Shepley who had resigned, as
| Maine Senators and Representatives
! did much more frequently in former
| times than now. Senator Williams was
afterward the manager Of railroad
! for twelve years aid was very active
| i'll Augusta affairs where his name is
reverenced to this day as a bcnefactor
| of the city
Luther Severance, Wing, from Au-
| gusta, gained some notoriety 1or MS
| opposition to the Mexican War. 1t was
| the fashion in earlier days for eX-Con-
| pressmen to secure consular appoint
| mants and Mr.. Severance had one to
| the Sandwich Island in the later years
of mis- life He with Russell Eaton,
| had founded the kennebec Journal in
| 1925
Arson p. Morrill,, who was elected to
! Congress from Readticld, died in Au-
| gusta, rs did Senator Lot NJ. Morrill,,
| who was Secretary of the Treasury
Both the Morrils were born IN Bel
| grade Winthrop has had one Represen-
| tativc in Samuel p Benson, who was
| native Of that town. graduate OF
| Bowdoil ana member of the State
| legislature. He had the distinction o?
| changing his; politics between Con-
| crosses, ecrvIng as Wing in the 33rl
| and Il Republican in the 34th congress
! after practiCinG law
| Skowhegan has had one Representa-
tive in Congress. the late Stephen
| Coburn. who was elected to the House
to fill the vacancy caused by the resig-
nation CT Israel Washburn to he COVER
| nor Of Maine. He was d Republican
and had but 4 brief tenure. for one
short session, covering the period
| from January ., 1861. to March 3 fol-
| lowing uc was brother of Names
war governor Winslow. near &c Wat
ervillc, was honored with a member Of
the National House in the first Con-
gressionai delegation Maine. as Il state
ever sent to the Federal Capitol. II.
was Joshua Cushman. licensed
preacher, born at Plymouth, Mass, and
graduated from Harvard. He could
not keep out of politics, in spite Of
his godly calling and had long public
career. He served in both branches of
the Massachusetts legislature before
Maine became a state and was also
member Of the National House before
Maine was admitted to the union. He
died in Winslow, in 1884, after having
served in two Congresses from the
Maine district OF which Winslow was
a part.