Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine, Part 1

Author: Biographical review publishing company
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Boston, Biographical review publishing company
Number of Pages: 644

USA > Maine > Oxford County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 1
USA > Maine > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 1

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OGRAPHICAL

EVIEW

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GENEALOGY COLLECTION

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

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Biographical Review

THIS VOLUME CONTAINS BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF

LEADING CITIZENS OF

FRANKLIN AND OXFORD COUNTIES

MAINE

"Biography is the home aspect of history"

BOSTON BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY

1897

PREFACE.

I N all this wide earth there is nothing else so interesting and important as human life; and the history of individual lives is recognized as, at its best, one of the most attractive and valuable forms of literature. It behooves every generation to write its own records, to leave behind its own memorials. The present volume of local biographies, carefully prepared from materials furnished by the patrons of the work, is issued by the publishers in the confident hope that it will prove satisfactory as the fulfilment of promise and a work of permanent value. These pages treat of earnest toilers of to-day and of yesterday, workers with hand and brain, who have been largely instrumental in the industrial, social, and political development of Franklin and Oxford Counties -men and women who, taking life in "earnest," have made "footprints on the sands of time." The conquests here recited are of mind over matter and circumstance.

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To preserve the memory of local worthies, as well as of national celebrities, is to foster home ties, local attachments, and patriotism, and to encourage good citizen- ship. Furthermore, to borrow the words of an eminent speaker, " Whatever fame great achievements may bestow, whatever honors the world may give, it is ever the most cherished hope of every seeker after fame and fortune to be kindly remembered and lovingly honored on the spot which gave him birth."

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY.

. FEBRUARY, 1897.

HERRICK C. DAVIS.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

ON. HERRICK C. DAVIS, attorney-at-law and Judge of the Municipal Court of Nor- way, Oxford County, Me., was born in the neighboring town of Woodstock, on No- vember 5, 1833, a son of Ben- jamin and Ruhamah (Chase) Davis, and is a representative of the third generation of his family in this vicinity.

. His paternal grandfather, Aaron Davis, came from Salem, Mass., to Poland, Me., Androscoggin County, and there bought and cleared a tract of land, but subsequently re- nioved to Woodstock, where he was one of the most energetic and progressive men of his day and the owner of four hundred acres. He had previously served as a private during the Rev- olutionary War. His wife was Thankful, a daughter of Stephen Strout, a farmer who lived and died in Penobscot County. Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Davis had eleven children - Han- nah, Aaron, Thankful, Sally, Polly, Phoebe, Benjamin, Eliphalet, Eliza, Nehemiah, and Julia. Grandfather Davis lived to the age of eighty-two, but his wife died younger.

Benjamin Davis, son of Aaron, was an ex- tensive land-owner in Woodstock, and cleared his own farm. In politics he was at first a Democrat, but he affiliated with the Republi- cans after the formation of that party. He was prominent in town affairs, efficiently serving in different offices, including that of Select- man. He married Ruhamah Chase, daughter of the Rev. Stephen Chase, a Baptist minister who was the first Town Clerk of Woodstock, and they became the parents of ten children, namely : Richard L., who died at the age of nine years; Emeline; Herrick C. ; Benjamin ;

Stephen ; Ruhamah ; Nehemiah ; Cyrus ; Emma J. ; and Henry. The parents gave their spiritual influence and material aid to the Methodist Episcopal church.

Herrick C. Davis, after obtaining his com- mon-school education in Woodstock, pursued a course of study in some of the higher branches of learning at the Norway Liberal Institute. He then placed himself in the ranks of the world's toilers with hand and brain, working for some considerable time at the carpenter's trade, meanwhile keeping his intellectual powers in a state of healthful activity by teaching school for ten winter terms. He subsequently read law with Gen- eral J. J. Perry, of Oxford, and, after his ad- mission to the bar of Androscoggin County in 1862, began practice at Bryant's Pond. While in that place, where he bought a fine residence, he supplied the Grand Trunk Rail- road with' wood. Ten years later, being elected Registrar of Probate for Oxford County, he closed his successful legal business and career in Bryant's Pond, and took up his residence at Paris Hill. Having filled the office of Registrar creditably for twenty con- secutive years, in January, 1895, Mr. Davis was appointed Judge of the Municipal Court, and removed to Norway. Wherever he has lived, Mr. Davis has shown himself a public- spirited citizen. He here takes an active in- terest in town affairs, as formerly in Paris, being a desirable acquisition.

In politics Judge Davis is a stanch Republi- can; and while a resident of Woodstock he held various town and county offices, serving as Assessor, Overseer of the Poor, a member of the School Board, and Selectman, simul- taneously, for several years. Mr. Davis was also Town Treasurer, and in 1864 he was

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BIOGRAPHICAL, REVIEW

elected Representative to the State legislature. During the late war he acted as paymaster for the government, settling the claims of soldiers, widows, and orphans. Fraternally, he is a member of the Jefferson Lodge, A. F. & A. M. ; Past Grand Master of Mount Mica Lodge, No. 17, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and also Past Chief Patriarch of the Wildey Encampment of Norway.

The maiden name of his wife, to whom he was married on December 1, 1850, was Lucy M. Felt. Her father was Jeremiah Felt, a resident of Woodstock, Me. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have two children - Samuel F. and Car- rie. The son resides in South Paris, and the daughter is at home with her parents.

ILLIAM C. CHAPMAN is one of the representative farmers of Oxford County, owning a fine estate of a thousand acres and a beautiful home at the foot of the mountain, facing the Androscoggin River, in the town of Gilead. He was born in Newry, this county, November 13, 1842, a son of Granville and Eliza (Chapman) Chap- man. Granville Chapman, who was a son of George W. and Polly (Greenwood) Chapman, both natives of this county, was born in Gilead and reared on a farm, receiving a common- school education. When a young man he was engaged for some time as clerk in Portland, but he devoted the greater part of his life to the pursuit of agriculture in Gilead and Newry. A stanch Republican, he took an active and intelligent part in town affairs, and served as Selectman both in Gilead and Newry. He died at the age of eighty-one. Mrs. Granville Chapman was born in the town of Bethel, this county, being a daughter of Timothy Chapman. She lived to be fourscore years of age. She and her husband were the parents of eight children, two of whom are living : William C. ; and Agustus F., a mem- ber of the firm of T. A. Chapman & Co., of Milwaukee, Wis.

William C. Chapman acquired his education in the common schools of Gilead and at Bethel Academy. He has never been away from the homestead for any length of time; for he learned the secrets of agricultural success

when a boy, and, inheriting the farm on his father's death, has continued to develop its resources. Ilis broad acres include fertile meadows and wide stretches of upland pasture, and he raises bountiful crops and a large amount of live stock. His house and barn are among the best in Oxford County, and his whole domain bears the stamp of affluence and thrift. In 1871 Mr. Chapman was united in marriage with Martha, daughter of Alger Bald- win, of North Stratford, and six children have blessed their union - Hannibal H., a student at Colby College; Alger B., who died at the age of nineteen; Marion E., who is attending Smith College, Northampton, Mass. ; and Granville, Cecil F., and Christie, children at home. In politics Mr. Chapman is, like his father, a Republican. He is well known throughout this section, and is very popular socially. His family are members of the Con- gregational church. .

HARLES M. RICHARDS, an es- teemed resident of Jay, Franklin County, extensively engaged in farming and fruit growing, was born in Temple, Me., January 23, 1834, son of Moses A. and Judith (North) Richards. Both his parents were natives of Temple. His pater- nal grandfather, Mitchell Richards, who was a Revolutionary soldier and participated in the battle of Bunker Hill, leaving Massachusetts, his native State, became an early settler in Tem- ple, where the rest of his life was passed upon a farm cleared by him from the wilderness.

Moses A. Richards resided upon the home- stead farm until he was fifty years old. He then went to East Templeton, Mass., and there resided until his death in March, 1894. By his wife, Judith, he became the father of ten children, of whom five are living. These are : Charles M., the subject of this sketch ; Lovell A., who resides in California; Leonard M., now of Fort Fairfield, Me. ; Daniel F., who resides in Worcester County, Massachusetts; and Georgiana, the wife of Wilbur Potter, of the same county and State. The others were : Eunice, Ora, Noah, Alvin, and one child who died in infancy. The mother died in Worces- ter County, Massachusetts, in 1863.

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

Charles M. Richards attended the common schools of Temple. At the age of fifteen he began life for himself as a farm assistant. After following that occupation for four years in Temple, Farmington, Me., and Wilton, N. H., he went to Templeton, Mass., where he was employed in a chair factory for several years. In 1866 he returned to Maine, and, settling in Wilton, resided there for two years. He then moved to his present farm in Jay, formerly known as the Bass place, where he has since carried on general farming and fruit growing with remarkable success. His prop- erty, which is desirably located, consists of sixty acres of fertile land, well adapted to the raising of staple products and fruits.

On August 19, 1855, Mr. Richards wedded Frances D. Dillingham. She · was born March 1, 1836, in Temple, daughter of Reu- ben and Mary L. (Clough) Dillingham, natives respectively of Fairfield and Alna, this State. Reuben Dillingham subsequently became a prosperous farmer of Temple, and there with his wife resided for the rest of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Richards have had three children, namely : Ola, born December 4, 1861, who married Frank B. Small, and resides at the homestead; Nellie F., who died at the age of six years; and another child who died in in- fancy. In politics Mr. Richards holds him- self independent of parties. His natural abil- ity and industrious habits have placed him in a comfortable position, and his many com- mendable qualities are duly appreciated by all who know him.

IDWARD W. PENLEY, a wealthy farmer of Greenwood township, was

born December 12, 1845, in Paris, this county. His great-grandfather, Joseph Penley, who came from England, was the founder of the family. The grandfather, Jo- seph (second), removed from Auburn, Me., to Paris, this county, and was there engaged in farming during his remaining years.

James F. Penley, the father of Edward W., was born and reared in the town of Paris. He was a farmer by occupation, and had a good homestead, situated about three miles from the village of South Paris, where he carried

on mixed husbandry until his death, Novem- ber 25, 1888. He married Loduska Swan, a native of Paris, who died in 1879, leaving six children, as follows: Edward W., the subject of this sketch; John L., a farmer, living in Paris township; Charles R., also residing in Paris, who married Jennie Holden; Lucetta, who is the wife of Edwin Chase, of Lynn. Mass. ; Almon J., who married Estelle Chase, and owns and occupies the old homestead in Paris; and Luella, the wife of A. L. Dyer, of Lynn, Mass.

Edward W. Penley received his elementary education in the common schools of Paris and the academy at South Paris. With the excep- tion of a year or two spent as a brakeman on the Grand Trunk Railroad, running from Portland, Me., to Island Pond, Mr. Penley has followed agricultural pursuits on the farm where he now lives, and has been closely identified with the highest interests of his adopted town. He is the possessor of seven hundred acres of land, much of it in high cultivation. Besides carrying on general farming he raises some stock, and keeps a dairy of twelve or more cows. He is a thor- ough-going farmer, skilled in all branches of agriculture, and has met with the success due to a man of his energy and ability. He is very prominent in local affairs, and is at the present time serving as Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, of which he has been a member for eight years Politically, he is a true-blue Republican, faithful to the interests of his party, which has this year, 1896, elected him to the State legislature. Socially, Mr. Penley is a member of the West Paris Lodge, No. 15, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of West Paris; of the Daughters of Rebecca Lodge, No. 42, of the same place ; and of the grange at Norway.

Mr. Penley was married December 20, 1868, to Miss Abbie Richardson. She was born October 30, 1854, in Greenwood town- ship, on the farm of her parents, William and Hannah (Barrows) Richardson, both natives of Oxford County, born respectively in Green- wood and Albany. Mr. and Mrs. Penley are the parents of twelve children, of whom the following is recorded : Vina R., born October 31, 1870, died October 8, 1873: Angie E.,

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

born April 30, 1872, is a teacher in the pub- lie schools; Hannah R., born May 24, 1874, died May 6, 1875; Walter E., born April 29, 1876, assists his father on the farm; Lula M., born February 15, 1878, also teaches in the public schools; Lester II. was born January 1, 1880; Frederick R., August 20, 1881; Alice, July 21, 1883; Blanche, March 22, 1885; Joseph Irving, September 8, 1886; Leona Belle, July 20, 1888; and Marion, June 18, 1895.

ILBERT WARDWELL, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen of Albany, Me., was first elected to that office in 1862, and has been honored with rc-election at intervals several times since. He was born in this town, August 11, 1828, the son of Colonel Isaac and Mary (Adley) Wardwell.

Colonel Isaac Wardwell was born in Otis- field, Me., and was engaged in farming in that town in his youth, leaving there at the age of twenty-one to locate in Albany. Here he took up a tract of unimproved land in the southern part of the town, and, clearing a farm, improved and developed it into a valua- ble homestead, following the pursuit of agri- culture until his death, January 24, 1837. He was one of the leading men of the place in his day, an officer in the State militia and a member of the Albany Board of Selectmen. His wife died in 1869, at the advanced age of eighty six. She was the mother of ten chil- dren, of whom only the two youngest-born are living. These are : Charles A., who married Miss Abbie Witham, and resides with his wife in Biddeford, Me .; and Gilbert, the subject of the present sketch. The departed are the following: Mary, who was the wife of Luther Bisbee; Dorcas F., wife of Hiram Stone, who also has passed away; Betsey F., who was twice married, her first husband being Abner Holt, her second Perley French; Sallie, who was the wife of the Rev. Marcus Wight; Isaac, who married Miss Sarah King, now deceased ; Jacob, whose wife, Martha Lovejoy, survives him, living with one of her daughters in Mas- sachusetts; Emmeline, who was the wife of Dr. Stephen Coburn; and Harriet, who died in infancy.

Gilbert Wardwell was left fatherless when he was eight years of age. Ile received a common-school education, helping about the farm between school times until he was six- teen ; and then he began to work for wages as a farm hand. He was employed in this way for several years, spending one year in Lancas- ter, Mass. ; and he also taught during the win- ter terms, taking charge of schools in Milan, N. H., and North Norway and Albany, Me. About 1851 he settled on the farm where he now resides ; and in 1862, answering his coun- try's call, he left his pleasant home and en- listed in the Federal army. He was enrolled as a private, September 10, 1862, in Company C, Twenty-third Regiment, Maine Volunteers, under Colonel W. W. Virgin and Captain C. H. Prince, which, during the greater part of its ten months' period of service, was on picket duty along the Potomac River, guarding the fords. The thrilling cxperience of expos- ure to the fire of lurking Confederates is re- called by the poet's lines :

" All quiet along the Potomac to-night, Except now and then a stray picket Is shot, as he walks on his beat to and fro, By a rifleman hid in the thicket."

Unscathed at the end of his term of enlist- ment, Mr. Wardwell received his discharge at Portland, Me., July 15, 1863, and again took up the work of agriculture. He has a well- improved farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres, and has been very successful in his chosen work. Mr. Wardwell is a member of Round Mountain Grange of Albany.

On May 11, 1851, he was married to Rhoda Jane, daughter of Jacob and Betscy Robbins. She was born in North Yarmouth, Me., May 26, 1826. Her mother died when she was a child; and her father, who was a farmer, took the little girl to Guilford, Me., remaining a few years and then returning to North Yar- mouth. He died at the home of his son-in-

law. Mrs. Wardwell died June 10, 1888. She was the mother of five children, namely : Isaac and Jacob, twins; Nellie Augusta ; Am- brose; and Eugene A. Isaac Wardwell has been twice married, his first wife being Lilla G. Flint, and his second, Frances H. Brown. Jacob died at the age of twenty-two, leaving

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a widow, Martha L. Morrill, who is now living with her third husband in Bethel, Me. Nellie Augusta died at the age of twenty-six; Ambrose is engaged in the manufacture of paper boxes at Maltville, Conn. ; and Eugene A. is an instrument tuner in a large organ manufactory in Derby, Conn.

Mr. Wardwell has voted the Democratic" ticket since he was qualified to exercise the right of suffrage. He was elected Chairman of the Albany Board of Selectmen in 1862, 1864, 1865, 1869, 1870, 1871, 1872, 1875, 1877, 1878, 1881, and again in 1896; and he served as Town Treasurer two years.

ILLIAM HENRY McDONALD, one of the best-known hotel men in the State, proprietor of the Stoddard House, Farmington, and Secretary of the Ho- tel Proprietors' Association of Maine, was born in North Windham, Me., May 1, 1845, son of Thomas W. and Hannah P. (Proctor) Mc Donald. Mr. McDonald is of Scottish ancestry.

His grandfather, James McDonald, who pos- sessed many of the characteristic traits and preserved the traditions of his nationality, served as a soldier in the Continental army during the Revolutionary War. He was dur- ing his life a farmer, a merchant, and a hotel- keeper in North Windham, where he owned a good farm; and being an able business man of progressive tendencies he amassed a comfort- able fortune. Though not an aspirant for public office, he was one of the most prominent and influential men of his day, and was highly respected as an honorable, upright, and high- minded citizen. He married Rachel Webb, and reared a family of eight children ; namely, Edward, Seth, Eli, James, Abner, Thomas W., Sally, and Jane.

Thomas W. McDonald, the sixth child, being the youngest son, remained at home with his parents, and after his father's retire- ment from business took charge of the farm and hotel property. Succeeding to the posses- sion of the estate by purchasing the interests of the other heirs, he conducted the hotel, and did a large livery business for many years. Later in life he bought the rival hotel, which

he closed up; and after that he kept the only public house in North Windham until 1871, when he sold the property and retired to his farm, where he died of pneumonia at the age of sixty-seven years. He was a genial, kind- hearted man, especially well adapted by nature to welcome and entertain the travelling public, with whom he was a great favorite; and he was equally popular with his fellow-townsmen. In local public affairs he was a prominent figure, serving with marked ability as a mem- ber of the Board of Selectmen. He was a Republican in politics from the formation of that party until his death, and in his religious views was a Free Will Baptist. His wife, who was before marriage Hannah Proctor, and was a daughter of William Proctor, of New Gloucester, Me., became the mother of four children, as follows: Flora J .; Lucinda E. ; William Henry, the subject of this sketch ; and Abbie L. Mrs. Hannah P. McDonald died at the age of fifty-seven years.

William Henry McDonald was educated in the common schools of his native town and at the Bridgton High School. After the comple- tion of his studies he taught school for a time ; but, as he was needed at home to assist his father in managing the hotel, he resided in North Windham until the property was sold, when he secured a position as night clerk at the St. Julian Hotel in Portland. Being soon advanced to the position of second clerk and later to that of head clerk, he remained at the St. Julian for three years, and then went to the Preble House, where he acted as chief clerk for the succeeding seven years. For the next eight years he was proprietor and manager of the United States Hotel, Portland, which he conducted in such a liberal and satisfactory manner as to become one of the best-known and most popular landlords in Maine, a fact which was amply attested by the numerous commercial men and other travellers who made the United States their headquarters while in Portland; and the high reputation he acquired there was sufficient to ensure his future success wherever he might choose to locate.

After leaving the United States Hotel, Mr. McDonald was clerk at the Ottawa House on Cushing's Island for one season, the following

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summer acting in the same capacity at the Fisk House, Old Orchard Beach ; and in 1888, coming to Farmington, he leased the Willows, which had previously been a large private boarding school. Remodelling the interior and putting in modern conveniences, he fur- nished it throughout, and conducted it success- fully for five years as a summer hotel. On May 8, 1893, Mr. McDonald leased the Stod- dard House at 20 Broadway. This centrally located hotel he has completely refitted and re- furnished, introducing modern conveniences in the way of heating, bath, and other accommo- dations; and his thirty-eight well-ventilated rooms are occupied the year round. Con- nected with the Stoddard is a first-class livery stable, which affords commercial men the means of reaching those of their customers who are not accessible by rail ; and the great popu- larity of Proprietor McDonald causes many of them to make his house their centre of opera- tions while in this county.

Mr. McDonald wedded Emma Davis, daugh- tcr of Lemuel and Abbie I. (Larrabee) Davis, the former of whom was a shoemaker by trade; and both were natives of Limington, Me. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald have been the parents of six children, as follows : Frank S., who was born January 1, 1874; Edith, who died in infancy, March 18, 1877; Howard, who was born May 22, 1878; George, who was born April 19, 1891 ; Philip H., who was born October 29, 1883; and Arthur L., who was born January 11, 1885.

In the various fraternal orders to which he belongs Mr. McDonald is a general favorite, being a member of Ancient Landmark Lodge, No. 17, A. F. & A. M., of Portland; Har- mony Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, of the same city ; and Bramhall Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of which he is Past Chan- cellor, and has occupied the other important chairs. He is a member of the Grand Lodge of Maine, and since residing in Farmington has served as District Deputy. For the past eleven years he has acted as Secretary and Treasurer of the Hotel Proprietors' Association of Maine. Politically, he supports the Repub- lican party, and in his religious views is a Unitarian. Mrs. McDonald is a Congrega- tionalist.

ILLIAM W. WATSON, a box man- nfacturer and mill owner of Water- ford, was born in this place, Febru- ary 2, 1841, son of Samuel S. and Ilarriet A. (Anthoine) Watson, the former of Waterford, the latter of Windham, Me. His grandfather, Ebenezer Watson, who was also born in Waterford, and spent his life in this town, followed the occupation of farmer.

Samuel S. Watson learned the shoemaker's trade in his youth, and followed it for a while; but in the later years of his life he devoted his energies to general farming. He resided in the eastern part of the town, and was for many years a well-known figurc therc, living to the advanced age of eighty-two. His death occurred in 1886, and that of his wife in 1878. Their children were: George L., who died in October, 1895; William W., the subject of this sketch; Mary Louisa, now residing in Worcester, Mass .; Lucy E., the wife of Churchill Leary, of Shelburne, N.H .; John N., residing in Worcester, who married Miss Tammy Griffin; Charlotte Elizabeth, the wife of Louis Holden, of Otisfield, Me .; James N., living in Worcester, who married Miss Emily Leary; and Charles W., a resident of Westbrook, Me.

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Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine, Part 1

Author: Biographical review publishing company Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Boston, Biographical review publishing company Number of Pages: 644

Author: Biographical review publishing company
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Boston, Biographical review publishing company
Number of Pages: 644