USA > Maine > Oxford County > Norway > A history of Norway, Maine : from the earliest settlement to the close of the year 1922 > Part 20
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1899
Geo. L. Curtis appointed Express Agent in January .- Judge C. F. Whitman delivered the Memorial Day address at Peabody, Mass .- The ice went out of the lake, April 29. For some 25 years the dates were as follows:
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1874 May 13, 1875 May 6, 1876 May 11, 1877 April 22, 1878 April 12, 1879 May 7, 1880 April 22, 1881 April 29, 1882 May 1, 1883 May 2, 1884 April 26, 1885 May 2, 1886 April 24, 1887 May 6, 1888 May 10, 1889 April 16, 1890 April 26, 1891 April 28, 1892 April 18, 1893 May 8, 1894 April 24, 1895 April 21, 1896 April 27, 1897 April 27, 1898 April 18.
Mr. John A. Woodman built a lake cottage on the Freeman shore this spring .- Mrs. Izah T. (Howe) .Sanborn returned from a six months visit in California and accepted the position as Matron of the Girls' Home at Belfast .- Miss Agnes Sanborn taught her first school this summer. It was in the "Jones District."-In August the weather was so dry that the lake fell an inch a day. The water fell in October to one of the lowest points ever known.
The author inserts the following with great reluctance, but a true history of the town could not well omit mention of the facts. It is taken from the local paper, Nov. 17, without comment :
"The Norway Savings Bank for the past three months has been undergoing an examination; the court restraining it from receiving deposits, until the affairs and indebtedness of the late treasurer, who died last August, were adjusted. During this time the wildest stories have been current regarding the shortcomings of the late treasurer and the amount of his indebtedness. The following made up from the Bank Examiner's report to the court and the statement of the condition of the bank in other columns fully explain to the public the condition of affairs as they exist.
By order of the court the deposit books were called in and verified with the ledger and all discrepancies noted.
There were 1842 accounts and all the books but 92 have been sent in. These 92 accounts represent on the ledger $3,158.40 and some books come in almost every day. The intention is to get in every book if it takes a year. The true amount of deposits was found to be $308,318.01 and the difference between that and the represented amount was $17,332.27. Of this sum $14,246.97 was from trans- actions of the late treasurer between May 15, 1894 and May 15, 1899 and was made good to the bank by his bond; $8,000 of this came from his estate and relatives, and the balance of $6,246.97 was appor- tioned among the sureties on the bond at $446.21 each. The balance of the difference, $3,085.30 resulted from transactions after May 15, 1899, and prior to the time he was elected treasurer in May, 1894. Of this sum the surety bond from the Union Safe Deposit and Trust Co. of Portland paid $500. The difference of $2585.30, the examination made evident was for deficiencies existing prior to May 15, 1894, and was adjusted by the parties legally responsible. Sixteen of the eighteen sureties on the five year bond (lost according to State Bank Examiner's report) have already settled and steps are being taken to
collect of the other two (one paid and the other never did) so that the depositors' loss in this unfortunate affair may be as light as possible." The Bank Examiner's report was that it would be about one per cent of the deposits. Before the month ended the bank was opened for business and under the able and business man- agement of its officers, the bank has steadily grown in public con- fidence and is now (1923) one of the soundest financial institutions
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in the state with the largest amount of deposits in its history .- A sea bird common to Labrador was shot on the lake in November by John M. Frank. It weighed but half a pound. It had a spread of wing of 30 inches .- Deaths: Jan. 2, Mercy E. Noble, 53; Jan. 5, Wm. A. Marston, about 79; Jan. 13, Mrs. Ezekiel C. Jackson, 75 years 6 mos .; Jan. 26, Mr. Charles B. Cummings, 64; in Portland, Jan. 18, Mrs. Carrie (Farrar) Ames, 34; Feb. 3, Francis Marion Noble, a Civil War soldier, about 54; same day, Gertrude A. Millett, 19 years 5 mos .; in Bangor, Feb. 18, Mr. D. Webster Beal, aged about 65; same day, Arthur M. Swett, about 42; 18th, Oscar D. Wilbur, about 57; in Bos- ton, Feb. 24, Horatio G. Cole, Jr., 65; in Brooklyn, N. Y., Feb. 25, Napoleon Gray; in Oxford, Feb. 23, Nath'l G. Frost, a Civil War sol- dier, about 69; March 17, Azel W. Faunce, 67 years 4 mos .; March 28, Mrs. Adaline A. (Webb) Merrill, 68; April 7, Truman Crosby, 79; April 20, Mrs. Adelaide Stone, 83; April 19, J. F. Lovering, about 81; in Boston, April 17, Mrs. Lydia F. (Gurney) Knowles, 73; remains brought to Norway for burial; same day, Mr. Colman F. Lord, 73, born in 1826, on Frost Hill; same day, Frank P. Libby, 46; April 24, John Woodman, aged 84 years 8 mos .; in Rockport, May 5, Mrs. Henry H. Hobbs, about 72; Mr. Ralph S. Freeman, May 14, 81 years 5 mos .; May 16, Mrs. Martha Jane Sanborn, about 64; May 20, Mrs. Henri- etta Lamrock, about 69; Mrs. Ivory M. Smith, June 9, about 71; in Lake City, Iowa, June 8, Capt. I. Frank Hobbs, a Civil War veteran, about 58; June 27, Mrs. Isaac H. Lord; Aug. 18, Daniel Holt, 2d, 76 years 4 mos .; Aug. 9, Judge Seward S. Stearns, 43; Sept. 7, Mrs. Joel S. Frost; Sept. 22, Mrs. Izah B. P. Tenney, 80; in Framingham, Mass., Sept. 25, Eshburn Towne, 73; Oct. 11, David Burney, about 76; Cyrus S. Tucker, Oct. 31, 58; Nov. 20, Mrs. Sarah Delphina (Parsons) Hawkins, 73; in Spring Grove, Ind., Charles C. Crockett, Dec. 18, about 63; Dec. 21, Mrs. Nellie A. Jewett, about 47; at Mechanic Falls, Dec. 24, Adna S. Needham, 48.
1900
Norway Lodge No. 16, I. O. O. F., had a membership of 191, Jan. 1st, and $6000 invested in real estate and other funds .- The teachers who passed successful State examinations were awarded their certificates in January. Helen S. Swan and Cora B. Shedd received theirs for life; Gertrude Gardner and Jessie L. Dinsmore for five years and Hattie Cragin for three years .- After five months' suspen- sion, passenger service over the Norway Branch R. R. was resumed Feb. 1. Mr. Herman E. Wilson, one of the most popular officials on the Grand Trunk, took his old position as conductor which he has held to the present time (1922) .- In March, H. Denison Cole arrived home from the Philippines where he had been for more than a year in the U. S. Army service, as hospital steward. He stopped for a short time in the Sandwich Islands on his way .- Judge Whitman delivered the memorial address at East Sumner this year .- Prof. C. A. Stephens and daughter Janet, went abroad in May and visited the Paris Expo- sition and many other places of interest .- The water, April 20, at the mill dam was the highest known for 40 years. It rose half an inch above the high water mark of 1898 and an inch higher than in May,
1
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1893 .- Fifteen persons living in Norway, May 1, were over 80: Sam- uel Foster, b. Jan. 1809, Charles Tubbs, b. June 1812, Capt. Amos F. Noyes, b. Dec. 1812, Capt, Jonathan Whitehouse, b. April 1813, Ansel Dinsmore, b. Sept. 26, 1815, Sol. I. Millett, April 1816, Capt. Jonathan Blake, b. June 1817, Sam'l P. Frost, Oct., 1817, David Sanborn, b. Feb. 1817, Ephraim H. Brown, b. Sept. 1818, B. C. A. Pingree, b. July 1818, Simon Stevens, 2d, b. June 16, 1818, John A. French, b. July 1819, Peter B. Buck, b. Oct. 1819, and W. D. Cordwell, Oct. 1819 .- The ice went out of the lake April 29 .- Miss Alice Frost grad- uated from the high school as valedictorian in her class. She entered Bates in the autumn .- James N. Favor purchased the stock and busi- ness of the Cyrus S. Tucker harness shop in May .- The Thompson mausoleum in Pine Grove cemetery was constructed in June. It was built of granite blocks from a Barre, Vt., quarry and was set up with- out use of cutting tools. It loaded 8 cars .- An eclipse of the sun in the morning of May 28. It was nearly total .- Master Ralph Lasselle had such fine curly hair that he had it cut annually and sold to a Portland wig-maker for $35. From the proceeds of the sales he ac- quired a big bank account for a little fellow .- July 15, the corn shop of H. F. Webb Co. was partially burned-loss, $20,000, insured for $16,000 .- It was rebuilt with great improvements in time for the fall run .- Mrs. Izah T. Sanborn resigned in July as Matron of the Girls' Home at Belfast to become Matron of the "King's Daughter's Home" at Bangor, a position she has held to the present time (1918) .- Mr. Don C. Seitz of New York offered $25 in gold to the student in the high school who should attain the highest honors during the next school year .- Aug. 11 was Buckfield's Old Home Week, and several Norway people, natives of Buckfield, attended, Judge Whitman being among the speakers .- Aug. 26, during a thunder shower the barn of the Sol. I. Millett place was struck by lightning and destroyed. A barn on C. A. Pride's meadow farm was struck and burned. Several trees were also hit by the electric fluid during the storm .- In 1864, the "Cobblers" Ass'n. was formed. Only one of the original number was living in 1900, Clarence M. Smith .- Wm. A. Emery stated in Decem- ber, that he and another boy saw George Knight of Poland, throw into the bushes the butcher knife by which he had killed his wife, and that they picked it up and he was a witness at the trial .- Deaths: Jan. 5, Mrs. Eliza A. Starbird, about 75; Jan. 8, Mrs. Matilda (Buck) Watson, about 70; Jan. 9 in Waterville, Levi T. Boothby, 82; Jan. 17, Henry H. Crockett, 46; in Portland, Jan. 24, Judge Charles W. Wal- ton, 80; Jan. 23, Samuel Mains, 87; Feb. 27 in Colebrook, N. H., Miss Emerline P. Lord, about 79; Feb. in Boston, Chas. G. Holt, aged 74; March 3, on town farm, Mina Bodwell, aged 68; she had lived there longer than any other inmate-63 years; March 7, in Malden, Mass., Hiram W. Deering, nearly 87; Mar. 18, Mrs. Eliz. S. (Millett) Cox, 80 years 6 mos .; Mar. 23, Dea. Nathan W. Millett, 65; in Fairfield, March 19, Mrs. Harriet A. Lovejoy, 80; March 23, in Limington, Mrs. Louise (Richardson) Robinson, aged 60; March 25, in Milford, Mass., Mrs. Rosilla C. (Tucker) Morgan, about 72; April 4, Joseph E. Long, a Civil War soldier, 68; in Otisfield, Joseph Holden, "the astronomer," March 30, about 84; March 28, Mrs. Cyprian G. Hobbs, about 80; April 13, Edward H. Morse, about 82; April 21, John L. Horne, 75
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years 4 mos .; April 20, Mrs. John N. Baker, 66; July 7, Edward E. Millett, about 38; in West Paris, July 8, Benjamin Bacon, about 95; July 16, in Lebanon, Mrs. Alpheus E. Durgin, 69; July 19, Mrs. Cyrus Woodsum, about 75; in Hyde Park, Mass., July 12, Mrs. Mary J., widow of Sylvanus Cobb, Jr., 77; in Portland, Aug. 8, Rev. Dr. Cyrus Hamlin, former resident for many years of Constantinople, Turkey, about 90; in Aurora, Ill., Aug. 1, Jonathan M. Holt, about 74; in Waterbury, Conn., Sept. 4, Wm. Tucker, 64 .- The Norway Pine Grove Cemetery Association was formed in 1859. There were 48 shares of stock, of which Ezra F. Beal and Levi Whitman had 13. All the other subscribers to the stock took one share each. Sept. 1 of this year only Capt. Jonathan Blake and Elbridge G. Allen were then living of the original stockholders .- In Newton Highlands, Mass., Aug. 31, Prof. Geo. F. Leonard, former principal of the Norway Liberal Institute, 68; Sept. 10, Charles Tubbs, 88; Sept. 20, Mrs. Josiah Dutton; Sept. 14, in Falmouth, Mrs. Narcissa Bennett, 84; Sept. 22, Mrs. Eben Pottle, 82; at Rumford, Sept. 28, Maj. W. K. Bickford, a Civil War soldier, 64; at Ridlonville, Sept. 23, Amos K. Towne, 56; Oct. 15, David C. Jordan, 23; Oct. 6, at Caton, Mich., Rev. Osgood E. Fuller, 65, born in Norway; Oct. 21, Thos. D. Knightly, about 71; Oct. 19, at Mechanic Falls, Mrs. Martha J. Gilkey, 71; Nov. 4, in San Francis- co, Cal., Mrs. Geo. E. Gibson, aged about 66; Nov. 2, in Arlington, Mass., Jacob F. Hobbs, 78 years 2 mos .; Dec. 6, in Boston, Joel T. Crooker, about 66; Nov. 30, in Colebrook, N. H., Mrs. Elsie Merrow, about 83; Dec. 28, in Somerville, Mass., Mrs. Ruth (Damon), widow of Dr. Willard C. George, 86; Dec. 31, Simon Stevens, 2d, about 83; Dec. 21, in Church Hill, Md., Charles A. Scott, about 80.
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CHAPTER XXXIII.
NOTABLE MEN.
If all Norway citizens who have made a success in life, whether here or elsewhere, were mentioned in a biographical chapter, it would be very voluminous-too much so in fact for the purposes of this his- tory, Nor should a few of them be given prominence and especial mention, just because sketches of them are paid for.
Therefore it has been considered best that the personal notices should be written on a different plan, and to present together in one chapter, sketches of those whom the author conceives to have per- formed some signal service for the town, state or country, making brief mention of those who, going away from the old town, young or later in life have achieved noteworthy success.
It will readily be assented to, that five men who were never resi- dents of Norway, did a great deal for the town, and for convenience and perhaps properly are mentioned first. They are Capt. Henry Rust of Salem, Mass., Jonathan Cummings of Andover, Mass., Edward Little of Newburyport, Mass., Benjamin F. Spinney of Lynn, Mass., and Dr. Wm. B. Lapham of Augusta.
CAPT, HENRY RUST.
Henry Rust, born in Ipswich, Mass., August 23, 1739, served a period in the War of the Revolution. In early life he removed to Salem and engaged in the shipping business and in manufacturing by which he acquired a large fortune for those times. He was a member of the General Court in Boston in 1792-3. In 1787 (date of deed) Captain Rust purchased of the Commonwealth some 6000 acres, now the most populous part of Norway, which was organized as Rustfield Plantation. He had taken prompt and effective measures to settle upon his tract, a class of energetic, thrifty and moral citizens, which have been the characteristics of the people of the town from that period to this. He developed the water power at the head of the future village and built mills upon it. He had also a large two- story house constructed on the northeast slope of what was afterwards called Pike's Hill, a store near the mills and a tannery farther down the outlet of the lake. He gave the lot on which the first meeting- house in the village and town was built, and a burying ground for the dead. Captain Rust sent two of his sons here to settle and another came after his death. All three had been sea captains. He died Sept. 28, 1812.
JONATHAN CUMMINGS.
Jonathan Cummings was probably born in Dunstable, Mass., in 1738. He was a blacksmith by trade, and settled in Andover. He was a Soldier in the Revolution. In 1788 and 1790, he purchased tracts from the state located north of Rust's lands and west of Lee's Grant, comprising some 3560 acres. He, like Captain Rust, instead of holding his lands for speculation, early settled upon them a class of people in no way inferior to those who had made for themselves homes on Rust's tract. Three of his sons lived for a period here but
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HENRY RUST, SEN.
A. C. DENISON
two of them went elsewhere. The other one became the leading citi- zen in his section at least and passed his last days here. Jonathan Cummings died in May, 1805.
EDWARD LITTLE.
Edward Little was born in Newbury, Mass., March 12, 1773. He graduated at Dartmouth College, N. H. in 1793, read law in the of- fice of Chief Justice Parsons at Newburyport, practiced his profession for several years and removed to Portland in 1811. The next year he purchased the Lee's Grant and proceeded to develop it. With one exception the people living there on the tract were tenant farmers holding under yearly leases. He changed all this by giving deeds to those who wished to purchase lots, and taking mortgages for a part or the whole price of those sold. The grant was lotted and put upon the market. A thrifty class of settlers was attracted to the section, and it was quickly peopled with desirable citizens. Mr. Little founded and endowed the Little High School in Auburn where he had removed in the twenties and died there Sept. 21, 1849.
BENJAMIN F. SPINNEY.
Benjamin F. Spinney, the head of the firm of B. F. Spinney & Company, manufacturers of women's shoes in Lynn, Mass., was one of the leading business men and most respected citizens of that city. He never had even a temporary residence in Norway. The larger part of the company's business was brought here to get rid of labor troubles and this it accomplished. Norway greatly benefited, how- ever, by the transfer. Mr. Spinney was a far-seeing business man and was characterized by his high sense of honorable dealings.
WILLIAM BERRY LAPHAM.
William B. Lapham, son of John and Lovicy (Berry) Lapham, was born in Greenwood, Aug. 21, 1828. He married in 1866, Cynthia Ann Perham, born in Woodstock, June 27, 1839. He chose the prac- tice of medicine for his profession, for which he fitted himself, but did not follow it long. On the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion
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WM. B. LAPHAM
DAVID NOYES
CHAS. F. WHITMAN
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he helped raise a company of volunteers at Bryant Pond which was disbanded. He afterwards entered the service as Lieutenant in Co. F, 23rd Maine, and on the expiration of its term of service re-enlisted with the same rank in the 7th Maine Batt'y, participating in many engagements and performing meritorious service.
Doctor Lapham turned his attention to the writing of local history and family genealogies, in which field he was without a rival in his time. He had removed from Woodstock to Augusta where he re- ported for many years the doings of the legislature for the leading papers of the state. He wrote the town histories of Norway, Paris, Woodstock, Bethel and Rumford. He died at Augusta, and his widow in Norway.
Asa Barton began the publication of the first newspaper here, and Fred W. Sanborn has established a weekly journal on an enduring basis. Their biographical sketches appear elsewhere in this volume.
EZRA F. BEAL.
Ezra F. Beal, born in Norway, June 17, 1797, was the son of William and Jerusha (Fluent) Beal, who had settled here, some months before. He acquired a good education in the schools of that period, and probably received instruction as a private pupil of Rev. Noah Cressey. He developed a great liking for mathematics and drawing, and while a young man became a noted school teacher. Afterwards he became a contractor and builder. Entering with great enthusiasm into the project of a railroad through this section from Montreal to Portland, he was selected as one of the two directors in this county of the Atlantic & St. Lawrence R. R. Co., which built this part of the road after it had been decided that Portland should be the seaport instead of Boston. Mr. Beal had the confidence of the managers in a high degree which he retained as long as he lived. He built the most of the old stations on the line of the road, the U. S. Hotel and Falmouth House in Portland and the Beal's Hotel here. He was the prime mover in providing the village with its first public hall (Concert Hall) which was accomplished by raising the Universalist meeting house up one story and finishing up a large room underneath. This also provided a place for the town meetings for many years. He was the most prominent man in obtaining a charter for the Savings Bank and getting it established on a firm basis and was one of the founders of the Oxford County Agricultural Society. No man did more for Norway than Ezra F. Beal. At one time he desired to rep- resent the town in the legislature, but was turned down. It was a sad blow after he had done so much and taken such a deep interest in everything which would be of benefit to Norway. He died soon after, (Dec. 19, 1871).
GEN. GEORGE L. BEAL.
George L. Beal was born in Norway, May 21, 1825. His education was obtained in the common and high schools of the town and at Westbrook Seminary. He first went into business with Robert Noyes, who had a bookbindery, and sold books and stationery. He was appointed express agent on the railroad in 1853, was one of the
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organizers of the Norway Light Infantry of which he was Captain when the war broke out in 1861. His military record is given else- where. Also his service as U. S. Pension Agent for Maine, Adjutant General and State Treasurer. Had he been a skilled politician he might have been Governor of the State and a Member of Congress. The Norway Branch R. R. was chartered and built largely through his efforts. He was President of the company as long as he lived.
SUMNER BURNHAM.
Sumner Burnham was born in Harrison, Nov. 16, 1809. He came to Norway about 1858, and settled first near Frost's Corner but sub- sequently mnoved to the village. Mr. Burnham was a deputy sheriff and detective for many years and served with great distinction in the latter capacity during the Civil War. To him is chiefly due the credit of getting a National Bank located here and establishing it on a firm financial basis. He was its president from date of organization to his death, June 22, 1878.
REV. NOAH CRESSEY.
Rev. Noah Cressey, for the lasting influence he exerted in educa- tional affairs in the town, deserves a place in this chapter. He died in Boston, Dec. 15, 1867, at 90 years of age. His biographical sketch appears elsewhere in these pages.
MAJ. JONATHAN CUMMINGS.
Jonathan Cummings, born in Andover, Mass., Feb. 5, 1771, was the son of the proprietor of the Cummings Purchase, and came here about 1792. A large house and barn were built by his father, into which he moved with his uncle, Job Eastman, who was afterwards, for forty-two years, town clerk. Jonathan Cummings, for a period after the incorporation of the town, was the most influential and the foremost citizen in Norway. He was the first Captain of the Norway military company organized in 1800, and afterwards promoted to Major of the regiment to which this company was attached. He built the Congregational church at Norway Center in 1808-9, and gave it to the society. His disposition "was cheerful, kind and obliging" and up to the time of his death, "there was probably no man in the place who could exercise so great an influence as Major Cum- mings." He employed a large number of people in clearing lands, building mills and various enterprises. He did the Congregational Society and the town a great service in preventing the preacher Stod- dard from being settled as resident pastor, and in promoting the coming of Rev. Noah Cressey, which proved so beneficial to Norway.
Major Cummings' wife was Joanna Cobb, the sister of William Reed's wife. He died much lamented, July 12, 1820. She died June 30, 1844. Their oldest child, Mary, married Josiah Little, who acquired a large interest in the Lee's Grant, after Edward Little had purchased it.
CHARLES BRADLEY CUMMINGS.
Charles B. Cummings was born in Norway, Dec. 18, 1834. He learned the cabinet making business when he was twenty years old, and later built the original structure on Main Street opposite the
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printing office, and became a furniture dealer. He engaged also in the lumber business, and the manufacture of spool stock. Later a grain milling business was established. His boys were brought up in his different branches of business and two of them, George I. Cum- mings and Edwin S. Cummings, developed into as far-seeing, able and successful business men as the town has ever had. The business of the C. B. Cummings & Sons, which the father started and estab- lished, is the third industry of the village and town, and it pays by far the greatest tax in Norway.
Charles B. Cummings was one of the best of men-a tender hus- band, a kind father, a firm friend and an upright citizen. He died Jan. 26, 1899.
LAWRENCE M. CARROLL.
Lawrence M. Carroll was born in Ellsworth in 1869. He has been in the shoe business since 1890. He does things and accomplishes results. Through his efforts largely the Maine State Fair was put on its feet and became able to pay its indebtedness and running ex- penses. He came here in 1914 when the shoe business in Norway was dead. He organized and started a prosperous business which now turns out a daily product of some 3000 pairs of women's shoes. He not only did this but he bought property, has located here permanently and pays taxes, which none of the Spinney Company ever did. He is therefore entitled to a place among our notable men who have done some lasting benefit for Norway.
ADNA C. DENISON.
Adna C. Denison, born in Burke, Vt., Nov. 15, 1815, had many characteristics like Ezra F. Beal. Both were business men of great capacity, and both would compare favorably with many of the men who have been Governors of Maine. Mr. Denison married in 1838, Hannah True of Sutton, Vt. He had entered a store there as clerk at the age of fifteen, and shortly after took charge of the whole busi- ness. He came to Norway in 1842, at the solicitation of Titus O. Brown, Jr., who had married his sister, Nancy Curtis Denison, and had been in business here for about ten years. Mr. Brown built a store at Steep Falls for Mr. Denison's occupancy. A company was formed to carry on business there but Mr. Denison was its able head and general manager. He wrought a revolution in the methods of traffic and made Norway the greatest center for trade in all this sec- tion of country, which it has since maintained. Adna C. Denison in the fifties removed to Mechanic Falls and engaged in the manufacture of paper. He was the founder of the paper making business of that village and served in both branches of the Legislature of the state. His wife died March 23, 1881. He died April 18, 1894.
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