THE SUPREME COURT OF MAINE. IV. By Charles Hamlin.
WILLIAM PENN WHITEHOUSE, the sixth associate justice, is a na tive of Vassalborough, Kennebec County, Maine, where he was born April 9, 1842. His parents were John Roberts and Hannah (Percival) Whitehouse. His first American ancestor was Thomas Whitehouse, who set tled at Dover, N. H., in 1658, married the daughter of William Pomfret, town clerk, and died December 3, 1707. His mother was a descendant of John Percival, of Barn stable, Massachusetts. Besides attending the common school of his own district, working on his father's farm, and attending the high school at China, he began at the age of six teen to fit himself for college at the Waterville Academy in February, 1858. Here he made such rapid progress that he was able to enter Colby University in the following September without conditions. He was graduated in 1863, with first-class honors, delivering an English oration at commence ment and for which he chose as his subject, "Esprit sans esprit partisan." On receiv ing his degree, Master of Arts, he was again appointed from the two of those who had attained the first honors to deliver a Master's oration, for which he selected as his subject: " Practical Scholarship." Among his classmates' in college were Gov. Marcellus L. Stearns, of Florida; Col. F. S. Hesseltine of the Boston Bar, and Dr. John O. Marble, Worcester, Mass. Among his contemporaries were Alfred E. Buck, of Alabama, member of the forty-first Con gress; J. Manchester Haynes, of Augusta, Speaker of the Maine House in 1883, and president of the Senate in 1879; Richard Cutts Shannon, of New York City, member of Congress; Col. Z. A. Smith, of Indian apolis, soldier and journalist; Col. H. C.
Merriam, of the U. S. Army, and George Gifford, journalist and now U. S. Consul at Basle, Switzerland. He began soon after graduation to teach and was the principal of Vassalborough Academy for a while. Having decided upon the profession of law, he first entered the office of the late Sewall Lancaster, Esq., of Augusta, and afterwards continued his studies with Senator Hale, at Ellsworth. He was admitted to the Bar in Kennebec County in October, 1865. His first year's practice was in the city of Gardiner, with Lorenzo Clay, Esq., as a partner. In December of 1866, he removed to Augusta, ever since his residence, and where he formed a part nership with Mr. Gifford which lasted for a few months, until June, 1867, when the lat ter entered journalism on the staff of the Portland Daily Press, and subsequently be came editor-in-chief. Entering upon a general practice, for which he was well fitted both by aptitude and diligent application, he soon gained the confidence of clients and the community for integrity and ability. In 1868 he was elected city solicitor. During his incumbency in that office he defended the city successfully in several important cases, establishing his reputation for legal ability by his skill and power as an advocate. In October, 1869, he was appointed county attorney by Gov ernor Chamberlain, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Francis E. Webb, Esq., of Winthrop; and was twice elected afterwards to the same office, thus serving more than seven years in all. The experience acquired by a prosecuting attorney is invaluable to himself, since he thereby competes with many able lawyers; and equally so to the State when, as in this case, Judge White-
