Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-06-08
Alfred Sanders Kimball.
mortal services of the Oxford Bar as Rum
ford, May H.

Il ohL0u oono0Ao AAta4oeht eA
member of this Bar, died at his homo y
Norway, Monday, April 18th, OF chroni
nephritis. he was born In Waterford
December 20, 1912. he attended th
common schools of Waterford in hi
younger days, and was graduated from
Bridgton Academy at North Bridgton, II
1862; was admitted to the Oxford Ba
in 1854, and opened law office In hi
native town, Waterford, practicing ther
till 1882, when he moved to Norway
where he continued the general practic
OF law to the date of his death, being
full half century. Yet at the date OF bi
death he was, in certain sense, In tn
prime OF life. He was In full possession
of all bis mental faculties until within
day or two prior to his decease; and wa
one of the most faithful, honest and In
dustrious attorneys OF the bar.
Mr.. Kimball was not what would b
regarded as an advocate, although whel
he argued cases before the court, 1t VA
done In clear, concise and convincing
manner. he was a good counsellor
His main effort was to keep bis olient'
out of litigation, and when they got In
volved, to get them out as chesply ano
as safely and consistently as possible
These habits and this style Of practice
brought many clients to him, and ht
soon won reputation for honesty, in
tegrity, and fair dealing. He was always
modest and consistent in bis charges tC
clients, and no person, to my knowledge
ever had occasion to find fault with any
of his acts or any of his dealings with
his fellows or with bis clients.
Mr.. Kimbsll was very prominent 10
fraterual orders. He had received the
highest degree in Masonry, being the
only thirty third degree member in OK.
ford County. He was made Mason In
Oxford Lodge in 1854; was charter
Mt. Tirem Lodge In Waterford, which
was chartered in 1855. and served many
years az Master. He was also Grand
Master of the Masons in Maine in 1902
and 1908, and succeeded Hon. Josiah q.
Drummoud as chairman of the Grand
Lodge Committee on Masonic Jurispru.
dence, serving from that time until bis
death. He was member of the Royal
Arch Chapter at Cornish; charter
member and first High Priest of Oriental
Chapter at Bridgton, and later trans
ferred to Oxford Chapter at Norway.
He was also Past Grand Scribe of the
Grand Chapter of Maine, and President
of Maine Council of high Priesthood
since 1908, and Past Grand Master of the
Grand Council of Maine.
In Odd Fellowship he reached the
highest position in the Order In Maine,
being Grand Master in 1889, and was for
a long period of years Grand Represent
ative of the Grand Encampment OF
Maine to the Sovereign Grand Lodge,
and at the time of his death was the
chairman of the leading committee In
that body. As Grand Representative
he had occasion to visit quite extensive
ly in different parts of the country, and
he and his wife visited many Of the Sow
eign Grand Lodges.
In politics he was q Democrat; and
taking into consideration the fact that
the Republicans have been the dominant
party In Maine for the past fifty years,
with one or two exceptions, Mr.. Kimball
had held numerous important Offices.
He was representative to the Legisla-
ture in 1874, 1879 and 1878; was county
attorney from 1880 to 1882; was deputy
collector Of internal revenue under Presi.
dent Cleveland's first administration,
and appraiser of customs at Portland
under President Cleveland's second ad.
ministration; and in 1911 and 1912 was a
member of Governor Plsisted's Council.
During his residence in Waterford he
was a member of the board OF select
men, and treasurer of that town; and for
more than forty years he was moderator
of the town meetings in Waterford and
Norway, and at the time of bis death
was president of the Norway Savings
Bank, and intimately identified with
many other industries In his adopted
town.
Brother Kimball was living illustra.
tration OF that manly pluck and perse.
verance that comes out of the long
struggle with adversely aud misfortune,
the victor; and an example of the coun-
try farmers boy who, by industry and
self-reliance won an honorable place at
the bar and foremost place in the great
order of Masonry, having reached the
highest honor that the order can be-
stow.
Not favored with the rich gifts of in.
heritance, but in the humble and modest
walks of life he was early taught the In
fluence of industry and good character,
yet always possessed that modest and
retiring disposition which endeared him
to large mass of the common people.
While he was at the head of two of the
most prominent secret orders In the
state, and prominent at their national
councils, at the last sad rites no bands
Of music, no marching and parade OF
those secret orders to which he belong
ed formed part of the funeral service
but in full accord with his oft expressed
wishes, the services were in keeping
with his modest, unostentstious life
and in the silence of sorrowful com.
munity, amid countless wreaths of bios
SONS, he was buried midst the scenes OF
his childhood and in the neighborhood
of bis birth.
The record Of an honorable life is thai
life's best eulogy; the history of the
deeds of worthy men their most lasting
epitaph. Men die, but principles live.
These memorial services are for the liv
ing. not for the dead. If we, the living
actors on this scene, profit not by study
and example Of the lives of those who
have won their crown of honesty ani
worthy conduct, this service were worse
than useless.
OF the active members of the Oxford
Bar at the time Brother Kimball was ad
mitted, in 1884, but two are now living
At that time in active practice we're Vir
gin, D. R. Hastings, Hammons, Black
Bolster, Harlow, Andrews, Gibson
Frye, and many others who might con
sistently be named, but these have don,
their work and passed on. These were
all men of character, men who left ;
mark behind them.
1t has been said that character is {
coin that passes current, and at pal
value, In all countries. 1t is more sub
stantisl and more lasting monumen
than brass or marble. OF our deceased
brother l think we can truly say that h
was honest, capable, incorruptible, ant
faithful to every public trust.
"Life! I know not what thou art,
| But this know, that thou and l must part;
| And when or where or how we met,
l own to mes secret yet.
"Iifei We've been long together,
Through pleasant and through cloudy weather
'Tis hard to part when friends are dear,
Perhaps twin cost Sigh. tear
/ Then steal away-gtve little warning;
Choose thine own time, say not, Good nightr
But In some brighter cline bid me Goo
morningP"
Charles A. Lander of the Madison
II 4 lAl