ENOCH LINCOLN.

Read before the Maine Historical Society, December 23, 1882.

BY EDWARD H. ELWELL.

WHEN, after an agitation extending through a period of more than thirty years, the District of Maine, then known as the "three Eastern Counties," separated itself from Massachusetts and set out on an independent career, the question might well have arisen, Has she among her sons, men capable of taking the new ship of state out of port, and safely guiding her over the untried waters of local self-government? For more than a century and a half her people had been in the leading-strings of Massachusetts, and although they had contributed their full share of able men to the councils of the state, it was thought by many a dangerous experiment to intrust to them the entire management of their affairs. Besides, the people were poor and dreaded the expense of a state government. It was estimated that the whole cost of a separate government would be one thousand nine hundred and seventy-two pounds, and this was enough to deter many from favoring the project; yet there were large-souled, patriotic men in those days. In the debate, a citizen of Portland, very zealous in the cause of separation, in order to obviate the objection of increased expense, replied that he would serve as governor two years for nothing.

When the time came governors were not wanting. The new state was especially fortunate in the selection of the three men who filled the executive chair during the first decade of her existence. Two of them were her own native sons, and the third was not surpassed in devotion to her interests by either of the others. The three form a trio of able men, diverse in character and gifts, but one in patriotic purpose.

William King, the man of affairs, active, energetic, distinguished in the legislature of Massachusetts by his efforts in

behalf of religious freedom, an early and ardent advocate of the separation of Maine from Massachusetts, presiding over the convention which formed the constitution of the new state-brought to the administration of her affairs a wide experience in practical matters of business as well as of legislation.

Albion K. Parris, the jurist and administrator, without brilliant talents, but a man of great industry, promptness, fidelity, sagacity, and so courteous in manner that he was the most popular man of his day-attested at this hour by the great number of citizens bearing as their front initials the familiar letters A. K. P.-succeeded to the gubernatorial chair at the early age of thirty-three years, and held it for five years—a longer term than that of any other of our chief magistrates.

Enoch Lincoln, the scholar and statesman, had the remarkable fortune to follow Mr. Parris as member of Congress from Oxford, to take his place in the town of Paris when he left it, and to be his successor in the gubernatorial chair and was of the same

age.

It is of the last of these three eminent men that I purpose to speak on this occasion. Mr. Lincoln differed from his predecessors in office in that, while not falling behind them in the management of practical affairs, and in devotion to public interests, he was a man of more scholarly attainments, of wider reading, of finer sensibilities and more comprehensive views of society, possessing in short some sparks of the divine fire of genius. My sketch of his life must necessarily be meager, from the lack of materials at hand. Although brief notices of him have appeared in the publications of the Maine Historical Society and in the cyclopedias, no complete memoir of his life has yet been written. He died more than half a century ago, and those yet remaining who remember him are not many. In this paper my purpose is rather to dwell on his scholarly attainments, and broad and liberal views, than to sketch his public career, and more especially to call attention to the fact that he was a poet, and probably the first to publish in this state a poem of considerable length and of no inconsiderable merit.

Enoch Lincoln came of distinguished lineage. He was one of a family of governors. His father, Levi Lincoln, served in Jefferson's cabinet as attorney general of the United States, was

and on

lieutenant governor of Massachusetts in 1807 and 1808, the decease of Governor Sullivan, in December of the latter year, he discharged the duties of chief magistrate from that time till the following May. Enoch's elder brother, Levi Lincoln, jr.six years his senior an eminent lawyer and statesman, was in 1825 selected by both the political parties in Massachusetts as their candidate for governor of the state, and was elected with great unanimity by the people. In 1834, he was elected representative in Congress, serving three terms.

Enoch Lincoln, the subject of this sketch, was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, December 28, 1788. He was the fourth son of Levi Lincoln. Entering the sophomore class of Harvard College in 1806, he subsequently received the degree of Master of Arts from Bowdoin College, studied law with his brother Levi, at Worcester, and was there admitted to the bar in 1811. He began practice in Salem, but soon returned to his native town, where he practiced with considerable reputation, but in 1812 removed to Fryeburg in Maine.

The choice of a remote inland village, on what might be said to be the border of civilization, as the starting-point of his professional career, may at this day seem a little strange. But it is to be remembered that at that period, before the railroad had concentrated nearly all social and professional life in a few great centers, such villages as Fryeburg had a local importance far exceeding that which they possess today. Besides, Fryeburg was comparatively an old and interesting town. It had been incorporated as early as 1777, and had been the scene of one of the most memorable and important combats with the Indians which ever took place in our state. It is not improbable that this fact had some influence with the young lawyer in determining his choice of residence, since he ever took great interest in all that related to the aborigines of our state, and made the study of their customs and languages one of the chief pursuits of his leisure hours. Fryeburg has had the distinction of numbering Daniel Webster among the preceptors of her famous academy; she has given the state many eminent men, among whom may be mentioned the Fessendens and John W. Dana, governor of the state from 1847 to 1850; but it may be accounted not the least among her claims to consideration that it was amid her beautiful

scenery that our poet-governor conceived and executed his poem of "The Village." It is her scenery that is described in this poem, and its pictures of rural life are drawn from the pursuits and occupations of her people.

As a young practitioner, just entering upon his career at the bar, Mr. Lincoln, then in his twenty-fifth year, would not unlikely have much leisure upon his hands. With his studious habits these hours could not be idly spent, and he made the aboriginal inhabitants still remaining in the neighborhood, the subject of his researches. It was his custom to spend some weeks or months in each year rambling in the woods, and holding converse with nature and her simple children. His hatred of oppression led him to sympathize with the Indian in his fallen condition, and he spent much time in collecting all those objects and documents, which might throw light upon the manners, customs, habits and dispositions of the ancient lords of the soil. His study bore testimony to his zeal in this direction, being ornamented with the branching antlers of the moose, the caribou, and the deer, with a map of the Umbagog lakes drawn on birch bark by one of the natives, over which hung a full-length portrait of an Indian chief. While residing at Fryeburg he delivered a poem at the centennial celebration of the fight at Lovewell's pond, and he also made an imitation of a Penobscot song in welcome of the French, whom he always considered to have been the truest friends of the Indians.

But that while thus pursuing his favorite studies, and dallying with the muse of poetry, he did not neglect his professional duties and opportunities, is manifested by the fact that he soon gained a prominent position at the bar, and was thought of as a suitable person to be sent to Congress. It is said that the people of the shire town of Paris, and of the eastern section of the county, promised to send him to Congress, if he would take up his residence in that town. However this may be, he removed to Paris in 1817, and March 16, 1818, was elected to Congress to fill out the unexpired term of the Hon. Albion K. Parris, who had been appointed judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maine.

Paris was at that time a village of local importance, and not without attractions of scenery and society. Yet, although he

extended his professional practice and reputation while living there, it seems not to have had the charm for him which Fryeburg possessed. In a letter written at Paris, May 9, 1819, he says: "I have long anticipated the pleasure of visiting Fryeburg, to which I remain as much attached, and to some of the inhabitants of which I retain as partial recollections as when I left it for a place which will never be a home to me." Mr. Lincoln some time after removed to Portland, though at what precise date I have not been able to ascertain.

Mr. Lincoln served eight years in Congress, viz., 1818 and 1819, the unexpired term of Mr. Parris; then three full terms, 1819 to 1825, and also 1825 and 1826, when he resigned because of his election as governor of Maine to commence January, 1827. I have not had the opportunity to trace his congressional career, but there can be no doubt that the records of Congress would show that he performed with ability his full share of legislative labors. Certain it is that his congressional career brought him into such prominence in his own state, that in 1826, he was chosen with great unanimity to succeed so popular a governor as Albion K. Parris, and this before he had arrived at the age of thirty-eight years. He was twice re-elected, serving from 1826 until 1829.

As governor of the state, he was distinguished by a zealous devotion to its interests, and the scholarly character of his state papers. His messages were noted for their suggestiveness, point, brevity and good taste. One of his Thanksgiving proclamations was so brief and comprehensive, and was so popular, that it was printed on satin by his admirers for preservation.

During Mr. Lincoln's administration as governor, the question of the northeastern boundary of our state acquired serious and alarming dimensions. He vindicated the rights of the state to the territory in question with great energy and earnestness. He took strong state sovereignty ground, boldly and decidedly denying the right of the national government to cede any portion of the territory of the state without its consent. Had his counsels prevailed, the historian of Maine would have had no such chapter of concessions, submissions and humiliation to record as that written by another governor of Maine-a distinguished member of this society and printed in the eighth volume of its collections.