Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

and enduring fame in Congress, and
when his second term expired in
1S47 he was for the sixth time elected
to the Maine Legislature. In 1S4S
he was a delegate to the national
Wing convention. During this decade
of political activity he was never neg
ligent of his editorial duties on the
Journal and never let the paper suf-
fer for need of his fertile and force
full pen. When General Taylor be-
came President, the friends of Mr..
Severance urged him to ask some
thing of the new administration. For
quarter of Il century he had been
constantly engaged as an editor, ana
though often suffering from ill
health he had at all times performed
an extraordinary amount of mental
labor. A change of scene and en-
ployment seemed to him desira BILE
and even necessary, and it was with
pleasure that he received from the
new administration his appointment
as United States commissioner to the
Sandwich Islands.
Retirement of MFR. Severance-New
Owners Z.
Having received this appointment,
Mr.. Severance at once made prepa-
rations to set out for the distant
tneater of his official action. In the
issue of August Is. 1850, he took
formal leave of the patrons of the
Journal, that great circle of friends
formed by % years of association.
For three years he performed with
success and credit the duties of his
position, but the mildness and salu-
brity of the Hawaiian climate did
not restore his health. In the spring
Of 1854 he resigned and came back
to his Augusta home to die. Until
the very last he exhibited an almost
supernatural activity and vigor OF
mind, and under the head of Brief
Remarks" contributed constantly to
the Journal.
Luther Severance died January 20,
1855, and every mark of respect was
paid his memory by the Legislature
of Maine, then in session, and by his
fellow citizens of Augusta. 1t was
the close of a noble and useful life.
Our city, our State. and our nation
have many reasons to be proud of
the great man who founded the
Kennebec Journal, and to keep his
memory green.
When Mr.. Severance went to Ha-
waii in the summer of 1850, he and
Mr.. Dorr sold the kennebec Journal
to William II. Wheeler and William
Fl. Simpson. The latter took charge
of the business management, and
Mr.. Wheeler, an able young writer,
assumed the editorial chair. SO well
filled by Luther Severance for a
quarter Of a century. He had been
educated in the Journal office and
had drunk in it's spirit from the pro-
duction of his predecessor. The is
sue of September -. 1850, was the
first under the new owners. Mr.. Dorr
remained in the office for some years
as clerk and bookkeeper. The short
administration of Messrs. Simpson
and Wheeler was prosperous, but
was not marked by any great
changes or important incidents.
On June 8, 1853, Mr.. Wheeler sold
his half interest to his partner, Simp-
son, who continued the sole propri-
etor and publisher. Mr.. Wheeler,
however, remained with the paper
as editor about a year longer, and
then with the issue of May II, 1854,
he was succeeded in the editorial
chair by Joseph Baker of Augusta,
then and for many years later
prominent leader of the Maine bar,
and the father of Hon. o. d. Baker.
James G. Blaine, and the journal
1t was on the railroad train when
Mr.. Blaine was returning to Phila-
delphia from a visit to Augusta, that
he was Joined by John Dorr, who
was still connected with the Journal.
and then and there the idea of en-
tering Maine journalism was first