The Republican journal., 1909-01-14
OBITUARY..

Col Fred Atwood died Wednesday morning,
January 9Th, at his home in Winterport. AL
though his friends had noticed for some time
past that he was failing physically, his last ill
ness was of but few weeks duration. Only
a few days before his death business letter
was received from him in which he promised
early attention to matter, and added "am
going SLOW"
Fred Atwood was born in Frankfort (now
Winterport), Waldo county, November II,
1888, son of John and Mehitable (Stubbs)
Atwood. His father, Capt. John Atwood, born
July IL, 1904, was native of Frankfort, in
which town he resided until his death, October
80, 1859. A year or two ago, at the request of
the writer, Col. Atwood wrote the story of his
boyhood. He later asked its return for revis-
ion and it did not come again into our posses
sion, much to our regret. 1t was the story of
an honest. Industrious, ambitious Maine boy.
His early education was obtained in the schools
of his native town, and from the first his bent
was for mercantile pursuits. He was for a
time in the hat business in New York, Boston
and Providence, but in 1857 was called home by
the death of his brother, Byron, chemist
whose place he took, and with another brother
John, conducted drug business for some
years. In his spare moments he studied medi
cine under the tuteage of the late DR.. Abbott
a noted practitioner of the section. In the
midst of his preparatory studies the death of
his father necessitated his abandonment of
professional career His services were requir-
ed in the management of his fathers business
and the son became his successor as dealer in
masts, spars and ship stock The breaking out
of the Civil war brought change in the bust
ness, and after supplying quite extensively
various materials for government vessels, in
cluding the new Ironsides, he entered largely
into the furnishing of forage and other supplies
for government contractors He later engaged
in the sale of agricultural machinery and i'm
plements and built a large warehouse in Win
terport in which he conducted an extensive
business. He was the New England agent for
many manufacturers and handled among other
things the Meadow King moving machine, and
was often himself called the Meadow King
He was firm believer in advertising, as the
files of The Journal for many years past will
testify and used other advertising devices that
kept his name and his goods before the public
On the desk at which this sketch is written is
paper weight in the form of an anvil on which
is inscribed, "Compliments of Meadow King
Mower" and a metal match box in the form of
a potato bug which bears the words "F At
wood, Winterport, Me-" In 1889 Col. Atwood
became financially involved through his efforts
to sustain local industry that was expected to
be help to the town and to the farming COM
munity; but while he felt this misfortune
his many friends and the confidence of the
public in his strict integrity and high sense of
honor. Of late years his attention had been
given mainly to insurance and probate busi-
ness and he was regular attendant at the
sessions of the Waldo county probate court.
This with his public duties and attention to
town affairs kept him busy. A personal letter
dated August 2, 1907, has this in relation to his
daily life and methods: 81 read certain num-
ber of papers to keep in touch, but not as many
as used to, as l am trying to save my eyes.
get my supper about O'clock fill my pipe and
have a little smoke. My clerk comes with the
mail at 6.45 and look it over to see if there
are any matters that must have attention. l
then lay it aside and play solitaire for half an
hour or more. By doing this wipe out all my
matters and have, SO to 9peak, flushed my
brain. l go to bed from $50 to 10. | arise
from to $50, and take my breakfast of shred
ded wheat or grape nuts, warm roll and a
cup of coffee. l then take my pipe and smoke
a little and am ready for business. (ln fact l
am always ready for business.) | then fix up
my morning mail, which my clerk takes to the
post office at 745. My stenographer comes at
8 l unload the work and then if | have time
go to the Ferry Co.'S wharf, look after matters
there and come back to get my morning mail
about g. then unload that to my stenographer,
giving me an opportunity to work up details
etc Dinner at H. which is modest. | am not
eating as much as used to, but what do eat
l try to have good. ! am away one-fourth to
one-half of my time. | go from the steamer
direct to Judge johnson in Belfast, have dinner
at l.45 and catch the 1925 train. stop at one
or two places on the road, landing in Portland
at night usually with one or more appointments
for the evening. get my 6 o'clock breakfast
as usual wherever l am. l usually catch the
515 train for Hallowel; supper at 7.3O, break
fast at 545, catch the 6.13 train for Newport,
changing to the Moosehead train, arriving in
Bangor at $40 a. M, which gives me time to
do business in Bangor and catch the 11.sO train
home This is my life. have about 80 boy
correspondents. Many who live 1000 miles
away are writing me to learn something of
their great grandfather; and 1t does seem that
if anybody is in trouble they ever feel free to
consult your country friend" Col. Atwood's
boy correspondents came through his long con-
nection with the State school for boys, of which
further mention will be made.
Every one knows that Col. Atwood was a
lifelong active and earnest Republican. In
this connection we quote from personal letter
of October H. 1907: early in life l attended a
Republican convention in Belfast. The Demo-
Gratis had convention the same day in Pierce's
hall-the Treat and Smart fight. ! met Hanni-
bal Hamlin, who came to the hotel and spoke
to me and sat by my side. l attended the meet
ing in the Methodist vestry and he invited me
to ride home with him. We were 81 hours
coming 18 miles. He gave me the history of
the Democratic party, the Wing party and of
the Republican party-the history of the ad
mission of Texas, when Congressman could get
Texas bonds for few cents on dollar, etc.
When got out of the carriage he said: You
are young man, remember that political in
tegrity is as sacred as that required in any
business transaction. Be careful of a promise,
but always fulfill it, That was my kinder
garten teaching of politics. l have carried it
out from that day to this absolutely. Mr..
Hamlin did not at that time think, nor did /,
that later on his boy friend would save him
from defeat as U. S. Senator.
"At that convention met Seth Milliken and
Asa Howes. Mr.. Howes asked me to vote for
Mlliken went to Mr.. Kaler, who was chair
man, and he finally said, you may tell him he
may have the whole delegation 1t was i'm
portant and had much to do with Seth's nomi-
nation From that day was his friend. l
became acquainted with his family and stood