Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 7.djvu/19

 HON". JOHN CHANDLER.

��it is related that this aged lady crossed the Androscoguin river, using a log for a bridge, she crawling on her hands and knees.

In 1796 the Rev. Paul Coffin, in his Journal of a Missionary Tour througl"! Maine, speaks of visiting Col. Chandler at his noble house in Mon- mouth, calls him a handsome man, and tells of his interesting family. He had risen rapidly in military rank, hav- ing begun as an ensign. He had also commenced that career in civil life which so distingm'shed him afterward. He began with the honors conferred upon him in the town-meeting, which is not only the corner stone of our Democracy, but its glory. He was plantation assessor and clerk in Wales, and Deputy United States Marshal under the famous Henry Dearborn, who was his life-long friend. When Monmouth was incorporated he was its town-clerk, first selectman and assessor for nine years in suc- cession, and held the position of first selectman twelve years.

He was appointed postmaster of the town in 1 794, by George Washing- ton. His commission was signed by the famous Timothy Pickering, who was postmaster-general, and he con- tinued in the office twenty-four years. He was appointed surveyor of revenue

��in 1797,

��He was elected to the

��Massachusetts General Court in i 799. 1800, i8or, and 1802, and to the senate of Massachusetts for the years 1S03, 1804, and 1S19.

During his service in the latter body, in 1803, he procured the passage of the act to incorporate the famous Monmouth Academy, and for nearly thirty years was president of its board of trustees.

Elected to congress in 1804, he took his seat the year Jefferson's se- cond term commenced, and with Jefferson's administration he was in full accord. He was re-elected in 1S06. He was appointed by that noble patriot, James Sullivan, who was governor in 1807 and 1808, Chief Justice of the Court of Sessions, In

��1808 Gov. Sullivan appointed him sheriff of Kennebec county. He re- signed his seat in congress after a ser- vice of three years.

During his term as sheriff he was- called upon to take part in one of the most important criminal trials known to our history. No event, save a war, ever created such an excitement in our commonwealth. I allude to the trial of the Malta Indians for the murder of Paul Chadwick, the land surveyor, in what is now the town of Windsor, Kennebec county. When I was a young lad I listened to old people with great interest as they rehearsed the trage;]y. The magnitude of the trial may be inferred when it is known that the famous Daniel Davis was pros- ecuting attorney, while the prisoners were defended by Prentiss Mellen, Samuel S. Wilde, Thomas Rine, and Philip Leach. Williamson gives a good account of the matter in his History of Maine, vol. 2, pages 613-616. Any one acquainted with the section of country in which this homicide occurred, and with the traditions con- cerning the feeling of the people at that time, can not doubt the courage of an officer of the law who could enforce a process upon them, every with a regiment of soldiers at his back. Their descendants are the hardiest men in Maine, and never used gloves when developing their muscle.

March 30, 181 2, Governor El- bridge Gerry commissioned him major- general of the 14th division of the militia. William Donn'son was adju- tant-general of the commonwealth. June 17, 181 2, war was declared against Great PJritain by President Madison. General Chandler was an ardent advocate of this policy. He was appointed by the president a brigadier general, Nov. 8, 181 2, and assigned to the division com- manded by Major General Henry Dearborn, with whom he had served in the Revolution. He joined his brigade at Greenbush, New York, was at the surrender of Fort George by the British, May 27, 1813. June 6,.

�� �