William Pierce Frye, who, since 1861, has been United States senator
from Maine, was born at Lewiston, Maine, September 2, 1831. His
father was Colonel John N. Frye and his mother Alice N. (Davis) Frye.
Graduating from Bowdoin college in 1850, he subsequently carried
out the wishes of his family and the trend of his own inclinations
by following a legal career, in which he was eminently successful.
Becoming a member of the Maine legislature in 1861, he was mayor of
Lewiston from 1866 to 1867, and afterward held a variety of political
offices, including the attorney-generalship of Maine from 1867 to 1869,
presidential elector 1864, was made a member of congress in 1871, which
office he held for ten years, was chairman of the commerce committee
of the senate and member of the peace commission in Paris, 1898; was
president pro tem, of the senate from 1896 to 1901, and after the death
of Vice-President Hobart discharged the duties of that office during
the Fifty-sixth congress. He is now acting chairman of the committee on
foreign relations. Mr. Frye married Caroline Spears, who died in 1900.
His life history is one that has for its moral the power of integrity
when welded to unceasing effort.