Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1919-10-15

Fifty-six years, or more than half a
century ago, this October, / can here
from another county at twenty-three
years of age TO enroll myself as a member
OF the bar OF this county and begin here
the practice of my profession as a lawyer
l found here an able and honora BILE
bar that welcomed me cordially. its
members were few in number compared
with its present mem bership, so few, in
deed, That / may be pardoned for re-
calling their names, AT Bucksport were
Theodore c. Woodman and Parker Tuck,
at Castine Charles j. Abbott, at Deer Isle
Charles A. Spofford. at Bluehill Bushrod
W. Hinckley, at Gouldsboro Benjamin NJ.
Sargent, at Ellsworth Arno Wisw ell,
George 5. Peters, Arthur F. Drinkwater,
Joseph A. Deane, Samuel Waterhouse,
Albert F. Burnham, and two younger
men, brothers and partners, Eugene and
Frederick Hale. There were then nc
lawyers at Sullivan or on the island OF
Mount Desert. One member, Mr.
Burnham, long ago removed to another
state. All the others have now passed
from this life, leaving = e the only MEM
Der OF this bar that knew them all, the
only link connecting the bar oil
that day with the present. The last
of that bar to leave our ranks was the
one whose life and service we have met
here to-day to commemorate.
Eugene Hale WAS born June 9, 1896
in Turner, Me-, the oldest son of James
Sullivan Hale. He grew up on the
paternal farm, helping in the farm work
while obtaining his primary education
IN the public schools of the town. Aftel
course of study in Hebron academy
he, without delaying for course il
college, began at once the study of tn,
law in the Office of those distinguished
lawyers, Howard & Strout, in Portland
He was admitted to the bar in that cit
in January, 1857, and Immediately CANT
to Orland in this county to practice hi
profession. In few months, however
he removed to Ellsworth to become thu
partner of Thomas Robinson, promi.
nent lawyer of that time. Upon MIR
Roblnson's death soon afterward, be
took into partnership his brother
Frederick, and upon my joining the bal
in October, 1868, the two were associated
in the practice of the law under the firm
name of E. & F. Hale.
Almost Immediately upon his opening
an Office in Orland he was appointed
county attorney to fill vacancy, and held
that office by successive elections until
taking mis- seat as member OF the legis-
lature from Ellsworth in January, 1867
The next year he was elected TO Congress
from this district, and from then on, with
but one very short interruption, he re
manned in public life and service until
1911, a period Of more than forty wears
Nearly thirty years of that time he was a
distinguished member of the Senate OF the
United States.
About the time OF his first election re
Congress he was afflicted by the untimely
death OF his partner and brother, Fred
erick, and as, by that time, had acquired
some experience in practice and some &C.
quaintanee in the county, he invited me
to unite my practice with his and form
with him the law firm of Hale & Emery
an invitation that was priced and accepted
during the early years of our partner.
ship, such was his mental vigor he wa,
able, without neglecting his congressiona
duties, 10 be present and try cases at most
OF the terms of this court, and carry OF
much of the office work. Later, however
increasing public duties, cast upon him b,
reason of the eminence he had ACQUIRED in
public service, absorbed SO much of hi.
time and strength he was obliged to con
tent himself with being little more thar
consulting counsel, but that service, al
well as his name, was Of great value to the
partnership.
In 1882 Hannibal E. Hamlin was taken
into the firm, and the business was con
tinued under the firm name of Hale
Emery 81 Hamlin until my appointment
to the bench in October, 1883, from which
time it was continued under the firm
name of Hale & Hamlin, until the death o.
the senior partner in October, 1918. Thu.
Mr. Hale was directly connected with the
legal profession and the bar of this count,
for period OF more than sixty years
During that half century and more his
name was writ often and large in our
Maine Reports, and upon the records OF
this court.
His great services to the State and ma
tion as legislator and statesman are COM
memorated and made of record in our
country's history Of half century. Here,
before this court and bar, I will speak
only of the lawyer and the man knew Sc
we'll
He was a lawyer by nature, temper
ament and study. He early rose to the
acknowledged leadership Of this bar and
to eminence in the bsr OF the State. Had
be chosen metropolitan practice, he
would undou btediy have ranked high
among the great lawyers Of the nation.
He mad high sense Of the duty of the