The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-01-06
DEATH OF REV. S. L. HANSCOM.
A Former Pastor Of the M. E. Church
Belfast,


Belfast.
| MARS HILL. December %. Rev. Svl
vanus L. Hanscom, one Of the best know,s
Methodist clergyman in Maine. retired
after "A years in the ministry, died las1
night at the home of his son, Rev. 3. ID
Hanscom. in this village. Death CAM
suddenly from paralysis, Mr.. Hanscon
having sustained two previous attacks
and been in impaired health for the pasi
two years.
| Sylvanus L. Hanscom was born in Eas,
Machias, January 8, 1845, the son II
Luther and Mary Hanscom.. He enlist.
ed from that town in Co. F., First Maine
Cavalry, near the close of the war. IL
was ordained to the ministry in 1868 and
began his life work, as pastor of the M.
E. church at Deer Isle. He became one
of the most successful and prominent
members of the East Maine Conference
and served in succession in Cutler. Luhec
Vassalboro, Clinton, Newcastle, Boot.
bay Harbor, Thomaston and Belfast. n
went to Birmingham, Ala, for Yea,
and upon his return to Maine was an.
pointed to the pastorate of the church h
Bar Harbor, where he served eight wears
his last charge.
In all the fields where he labored he is
well remembered and the news of his
death will be received with profound 70
gret by thousands of his former parish
toner's. Both in and out of the pulnit he
endeared himself to his people wherever
he was. AS a preacher he was eloouent
earnest and convincing, and as a pastor
always thoughtful and untiring in the in
terests of the community where he la
bored. He had high ideals of good cit.
zenshlp and was an ardent temperate
advocate and believer in prohibition. H
was also friend of the laboring mar
and interested in the problems Of labor
questions.
In 1902 Mr.. Hanscom's sense of duty
led him to participate in one of the mos
memorable chapters in the history o.
Hancock county politics when he plunge
into canvass for sheriff on a prohibition
ticket, making triangular contest witt
the nominees of the regular parties. Mr.
Hanscom made an aggressive and earnest
campaign of three weeks, making NAM
speeches and entering into the canvas
with much zeal. He said, in defining his
position, that he had been unable to obtain
definite statement from Sheriff HowarI
F. Whitcomb, the Republican candidate
for reelection, as to whether Mr.. Whit
comb intended to adhere to the Repubi-
can platform adopted in the Portlanl
convention demanding a faithful and
enforcement of the prohibitorv
law.
The vote for sheriff showed on the face
OF the returns plurality of II for Whit
comb, while Mr.. Hanscom claimed to be
elected by about 200 plurality, alleging
that many returns thrown out as defec-
tive were intended for him; also that the
returns from two wards in Ellsworth
were illegal and should be thrown out.
Mr.. Hanscom made a hard fight, con-
testing the election, retaining ex-Juige
Enoch Foster and O. H. Hersey of Port
land as counsel. The counsel examined
the returns before the governor and
council, claiming that ballots were cast
intended for Mr.. Hanscom that would
have given him plurality of 381 votes.
The governor and council declined to
grant the petition to issue election pa
pers to Mr.. Hanscom and Howard F.
Whitcomb was declared elected.
Mr.. Hanscom is survived by four sons,
ali in the ministry: Rev. Warren A. Hans
com of Castine, Rev. Albert H. Hanscom
Of Houlton, Rev. Benjamin D. Hanscom
Of Mars Hill and Rev. Frank l. Hanscom
Of Creston, Iowa.
The funeral was held in hte Methodist
church in Houlton at 2 p. m. Friday and
the interment will be in the family lot in
Belfast.