USA > Maine > Oxford County > Norway > A history of Norway, Maine : from the earliest settlement to the close of the year 1922 > Part 22
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ALFRED BARRETT.
Doctor Barrett is said to have been the second physician to settle here. He was in Norway to be taxed in 1800. There all information relating to him ends. Doubtless he soon thereafter went away.
JOHN CASE.
A John Case's name appears on the tax list of 1801. Another John Case appears on the tax list two years later. The latter prob- ably was the physician and landlord at the Samuel Smith house in the village in 1801. He was not a success at conducting a public house, and it may be a poor physician. His stay in Norway was short.
A physician by the name of Heath appears on the tax lists of 1802. A Doctor Swett is said to have succeeded him, but no man by that name appears on any tax list that has come down to us.
MOSES AYER.
Moses Ayer was a tax-payer in Norway in 1805-coming to town probably the year before. He bought and resided on the place now owned by Dr. Charles A. Stephens, near Norway Lake village. He was in the practice of his profession here for about twenty years. Removed to Sangerville, about 1824. He died at the hospital for the insane at Augusta in 1847.
JOHN S. FRENCH.
A skilful surgeon-the first mentioned by David Noyes-by the name of French appears to have been the successor of Moses Ayer. About 1825, he performed two critical operations-one on a child of David Noyes for blindness (cataract removed), and the other the amputation of a leg of Phinehas Whitney, the Revolutionary soldier, then in his 75th year-both successful. Whitney survived the opera- tion five years. Of Doctor French, Mr. Noyes in his history says: "I speak well of the surgeon's skill, but no further." So we are left to surmise that the Doctor's moral character was not what it should
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have been. And this Doctor French is not the only one among those who have practiced medicine in Norway whose character would not bear very close inspection. And this is true also of some of the lawyers and other professional men. When the shortcomings of such men in professional life, are condoned in church or community, and even selected for positions of trust and prominence, the high standard which should be kept to be above reproach, must necessarily be greatly lowered. A blameless life especially in public men is priceless.
ASA DANFORTH.
Asa Danforth came here from his native Tyngsboro in 1821, at the age of twenty-five. His first call was at Daniel Smith's to treat his youngest son, Sebastian S., a youngster, about two and a half years old. The new physician had a quiet, pleasant way, that won the hearts of old and young, and his practice increased by leaps and bounds and extended into all the country around. He married Abigail C. Reed, the oldest child of Wm. Reed, one of the leading and most influential men in the village. He served one term in the Maine Legislature.
Asa Danforth was the ideal country physician. Gen. Virgin in his address at the centennial celebration of the town, named him as one of the three men especially whom he had known and revered while a resident here. Doctor Danforth's practice extended over a period of more than half a century. He died June 16, 1883.
JONATHAN S. MILLETT.
A native son of Norway was Jonathan Sawyer Millett, born Oct. 6, 1794. He married 1, Mary Parsons; 2, Sarah R. Parsons, daugh- ters of Dea. William Parsons. He studied medicine in the office of Dr. Jacob Tewksbury, at Oxford village, and took his degree of M.D. at the Dartmouth, N. H. Medical School. He began the practice of his profession at Norway in 1826, and was very successful, particu- larly in chronic cases. His hard drives and exposure in all kinds of weather undermined his health. He died May 5, 1866.
NATHANIEL GRANT.
Nathaniel Grant appears to have become a taxpayer here in 1830. He began his practice at Fuller's Corner. He married Charlotte S., oldest child of William Hobbs, the first trader at Norway Center. He soon removed to New Hampshire.
THOMAS ROBERTS.
The successor of Doctor Grant at Fuller's Corner was Thomas Roberts, who was on the tax list of 1831, for the first time. He had been a student in the office of Dr. Jonathan S. Millett. In a short time Doctor Roberts removed to Rumford.
LEANDER S. TRIPP.
Leander S. Tripp, son of Elder John Tripp of Hebron, appears to have been the successor of Doctor Roberts at Fuller's Corner, about
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DR. B. F. BRADBURY
DR. CALVIN E. EVANS
DR. H. L. BARTLETT
IVAN STAPLES. M.D.
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DR. O. N. BRADBURY
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1836. He was a graduate of Waterville College and the Maine Medi- cal School. "He remained at North Norway only two years." He afterwards was a preacher and settled in Surry.
JESSE HOWE.
Doctor Jesse Howe, born April 11, 1816, married Rebecca Gibson. Was a student at the Westbrook Seminary, and in the office of Dr. Jonathan S. Millett. He graduated at the Maine Medical School in 1840. He began practice at Patten, removing to Norway in 1850. Doctor Howe was an exemplary citizen whom all that knew him loved and respected. He suffered a long illness and died Feb. 25, 1873.
CALVIN E. EVANS.
Dr. Calvin E. Evans was born in Sweden, March 16, 1841. He graduated at North Bridgton Academy and the Maine Medical School. He began practice in Norway about 1864. He was very successful, and probably the most skilful surgeon who has ever practiced his profession in Norway. He was twice married: 1, to Angelia M. Rich- ardson; 2, to Lillian J. Downer. Children: by 1st w., Alice, b. Sept. 30, 1870; by 2d w., Ida May, b. May 19, 1884, d. Mar. 15, 1885. He died Dec. 30, 1887.
WM. H. JEWETT.
Doctor Jewett was born in Sweden, April 6, 1848. He was a graduate of North Bridgton Academy and the Maine Medical School, He began practice in Norway and soon acquired a large number of patients. He married Miss Nellie A. True. He died at Augusta while attending a session of the Legislature, Mar. 9, 1880.
ANDREW M. PEABLES.
Doctor Peables came to Norway from Waterford about 1869. He had a large practice here, but four years later removed to Auburn, where he became eminent in his profession.
WILLARD C. GEORGE.
Doctor George was born in Norway, May 24, 1812. He early learned the printer's trade here and in Portland and Boston. In the latter city for a period he published a small newspaper. About 1838 he became a Universalist preacher, and had pastorates at Dresden and at St. Stephen, N. B. He quit the ministry and determined to take up the practice of medicine. He went to Europe about 1850, and spent four months in the city hospitals of Paris. Returning home after a year abroad he attended medical lectures at the Maine Medical School and the Eclectic School of Medicine at Worcester, Mass., and graduated from the latter institution. He began practice at St. Stephen, where he met with marked success. He returned to Nor- way about 1865, broken down in health, and died four years after, Oct. 3, 1869. His wife was Ruth Damon of Wiscasset. Their 2d daughter, Susan Damon, b. at St. Stephen, Sept. 19, 1843, married Dr. Fred E. Crockett, an eclectic physician, born in Norway. They . removed to West Newton, Mass. Mrs. George died at Somerville, Mass., Dec. 28, 1900, "aged 86."
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AUGUSTUS N. FRENCH.
Doctor French was born in the north western part of Norway, June 21, 1845. He graduated at the Norway Liberal Institute, was a stu- dent in the office of Dr. A. M. Peables and graduated at the Maine Medical School in 1871. He began practice in Lovell village, where he resided till 1885, when he moved to Norway. He served as School Supervisor for several years. He acquired here a good practice. Doctor French died Jan. 30, 1908.
CLIFFORD L. PIKE.
Dr. Clifford L. Pike was born in Sweden, Feb. 21, 1859. After graduating at North Bridgton Academy and the Maine Medical School, he came to Norway in the autumn of 1881, and purchased the residence and business of Dr. Osgood N. Bradbury. Two years later he married Miss Cora F. Plummer of Sweden, born June 6, 1860. Both took great interest in music and sang in church and were very popular. Doctor Pike had a literary turn and wrote some commend- able poetry. He acquired a good practice here, but after some years removed to Saco into a more promising field, where he died about 1920. He compiled a Pike genealogy. With sufficient hospital prac- tice, he might have been a very skillful surgeon.
OSGOOD N. BRADBURY.
Doctor Bradbury was born in Norway, Oct. 28, 1828. He began life for himself as a school teacher. He went to California during the excitement caused by the discovery of gold, and participated in some of the stirring events of that period in San Francisco and the mines. Returning, he settled in Springfield, Me., and married Miss Ellen R. Scribner. While a resident of Springfield he represented the town in both branches of the Legislature. Doctor Bradbury was appointed surgeon in 1864 at Camp Keyes, Augusta, where many Maine soldiers from the battlefields of the Wilderness Campaign and Petersburg were treated and cared for. In the latter part of 1865 he took charge of the U. S. Post Hospital in Augusta, a position he held as long as an army hospital was needed there. He later returned to Norway and practiced here and on Paris Hill. In the nineties he wrote "Norway in the Forties," for the local paper-a series of sketches very entertaining and of great value for their mention of local historical events and family statistics. Dr. Bradbury was also a good speaker as well as a good writer. He was beyond question the literary genius among Norway physicians. He died Jan. 22, 1897.
FRANK H. TILTON.
Doctor Tilton was born at Great Falls, N. H., July 2, 1856. Grad- uated at the Medical Department of the University of Vermont in 1879; settled in Norway the same year and married Miss Fannie P. Small of Lewiston, who was a native of Norway. He was here in practice some ten years and removed to Massachusetts. Two chil- dren were born in Norway, Winona L., June 18, 1880, and Celia, Jan. 30, 1885.
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SERVILLA A. BENNETT.
Dr. Servilla A. Bennett, b. Norway, Sept. 27, 1829. Student in office of Dr. Jonathan S. Millett; m. Susan H. Willis of Minot; settled in Now Portland. Asst. Surgeon 20th Me. Returned to Norway about 1900. Died Sept. 19, 1908.
B. FRANK BRADBURY.
Dr. Bial Francisco Bradbury, son of Dr. Osgood N. and Ellen R. (Scribner) Bradbury, was born in Springfield, where his parents then resided, Feb. 5, 1861. Though having first seen the light of day in another town he has always been regarded as a Norway boy. He acquired his education in the common and high schools, and his medi- cal education in his father's office and the Medical Department of the Southern University at Atlanta, Georgia. He began practice in Nor- way in 1888. He bought that year the Lucius Denison place. Doctor Bradbury served for a long period as surgeon in the Maine militia with rank of Captain and Major. Was president of the U. S. Board of Examining Surgeons; was Brigade Surgeon with the rank of Lieut .- Colonel in the War with Spain. Served a period as U. S. Surgeon in the Soldiers' Home at Togus and on the outbreak of the Great World War went to Germany in the service of the Red Cross. He is still (1923) in the successful practice of his profession in Norway.
HERMAN L. BARTLETT.
Doctor Bartlett was born at East Stoneham, Oct. 17, 1867. His father was Hon. Jonathan Bartlett, one of the best of men and truest friends that ever lived. During the greater part of his life, he was the mainstay and father of the little community in which he lived. Such a life is beyond all calculation. His good wife, too, was a great helpmeet and loved by all who knew her. Dr. Bartlett gradu- ated at the Maine Medical School and began practice in Norway. He married Miss Edith M. Stearns of Lovell, a sweet dispositioned and intellectual woman. She had been a school teacher in the Norway grammar school. They have raised a fine family of children. Doctor Bartlett for many years held the position of County Medical Exam- iner. He died July 20, 1923.
FRANK N. BARKER.
Dr. Frank Newton Barker b. Rumford, Nov. 8, 1854, graduated at North Bridgton Academy and Medical School University of Vermont. Located in Norway in 1889. Acquired a large practice but died Dec. 10, 1914. He married Dec. 19, 1885, Miss Gertrude Holden of Oxford. 3 ch .- Genevieve, b. Apr. 7, 1891; Hubert, b. July, 1893, dentist in Portland; Margery L., b. Jan. 27, 1895.
L. H. TRUFANT.
Dr. L. H. Trufant came here from Lewiston in 1907, purchased and occupied the brick building on Main Street formerly owned by Dr. Asa Danforth. He was in practice of his profession here for about a dozen years, when he sold out and went away.
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IVAN W. STAPLES.
Dr. Ivan W. Staples was born in Limerick, Oct. 27, 1883. His parents were Freeman and Luella A. (Pike) Staples. He is a mem- ber of the Small family of America. The English emigrant ancestor was Francis Small who came to Massachusetts a few years after the Pilgrims founded Plymouth. Dr. Staples is connected with the Pikes of Bridgton. He married Eunice A., daughter of Josiah M. and Sarah E. (Lane) Hobbs of Biddeford, b. Jan. 27, 1883. He is a graduate of Limerick Academy, class of 1902, and Bowdoin Medical School, 1909, and began practice that year. In 1919 he purchased the stand and practice of Dr. L. Hall Trufant in Norway village. He is at present (1923) a member of the U. S. Board of Pension Exam- iners, which is located here.
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CHAPTER XXXVI.
NORWAY NEWSPAPER MEN.
Asa Barton, born about 1794 in Hanover, in this county, settled on Paris Hill about 1821 and opened a book store there. Three years later he began the publication of the Oxford Observer at the county seat. It was national republican in politics and supported John Quincy Adams that year and also four years later for President of the United States. This was distasteful to the resident county offi- cers there, who were enthusiastic admirers and followers of Gen. Andrew Jackson, the hero of the battle of New Orleans. Mr. Barton didn't propose to conduct the paper to please them and determined to move his press and his business to Norway where he would have a better place for his book store and he more free to express his political sentiments through his newspaper. In 1826 he carried out his pur- pose and located in Norway Village. The material for printing his paper was moved from Paris Hill in the night time. Great was the surprise and chagrin of the people there, the next morning to find that Mr. Barton and his newspaper had gone to Norway, where the leading citizens were as delighted at having a newspaper in the vil- lage as the Paris Hill people were disappointed at losing it.
ASA BARTON
Mr. Barton appears to have found a congenial atmosphere here, both socially and politically, and prospered in business. Three years later, General Jackson having succeeded John Quincy Adams as Pres- ident of the United States, Barton sold his interest in the Oxford Observer to William Goodenow, "a practical printer" who had come here from Claremont, N. H. in 1829. Three years afterwards, he changed the name of the paper to the Politician, with William A. Evans as editor. In 1833, Horatio King of Paris who had bought the plant moved the establishment with the Jeffersonian, a democratic
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newspaper printed at Paris Hill, to Portland. The Politician was a whig paper. The removal of the Politician to Portland left Norway without a newspaper and Asa Barton started the Oxford Oracle. In about two months he sold out and the paper was taken to Paris Hill and changed to the Oxford Democrat-the principal owner of which being George W. Millett, born in Norway, who had learned the printer's trade under Goodenow in the Oxford Observer office.
In 1844 Ira Berry and Francis Blake, Jr., commenced the publica- tion of the Norway Advertiser. At the end of two years it passed into the hands of Edwin Plummer who "made a good family paper of it." In 1848, the paper was under the management of Cyrus W. Brown of Waterford, who became a resident and tax payer here that year. His brother, Charles F. Brown, afterwards a famous wit un- der the name of "Artemus Ward," was employed in the office. Cyrus W. Brown had acquired an interest in the Advertiser through Francis H. Whitman, son of Levi Whitman, the village lawyer, and a cousin by marriage of Brown's mother. Dr. Lapham says in the Centennial History of Norway that Brown sold to Thomas Witt, and Witt to Rev. T. J. Tenney, but took it back after one issue of the paper and then sold it to Mark H. Dunnell who had come here in 1850 to take charge of the Norway Liberal Institute as principal. But Mr. Dunnell himself in a communication to the Advertiser, a few years before his death in Minnesota, told a somewhat different story. It appears from Dunnell's statement that the elder Brown had an in- terest in the newspaper plant that Francis H. Whitman was desirous of getting for him an equivalent. It was shown to him, he stated, that under his management the paper would be a financial success and would give him great prestige with the people and promote his politi- cal advancement, and would not interfere with his duties as principal of the school. A list of names of some thousand subscribers was shown him, and when Horatio G. Cole and Mark P. Smith, two influen- tial citizens of the village, voluntarily offered financial assistance, the proposition seemed a good one and it settled the matter in his mind and the deal was made. Dunnell got married and took the old com- positor, whom he afterwards found addicted to drink, his wife and young Brown, the printer's devil, into his family as boarders. Dun- nell began his career in Norway with high hopes but he soon found that in the newspaper plant, he had quite a financial elephant on his hands.
He had taken at the start the unwise advice of changing the name of the paper to "The Pine State News." His subscribers fell off, and stopped the paper. It took considerable ready money to keep the thing afloat and this he did not have and was greatly embarrassed. At last the situation he was in, forced the conclusion upon his mind that he must either give up his school, or throw overboard the news- paper. He chose the latter alternative. Dunnell had published the paper about four months. He discharged his help and shut up the office and made arrangements for Cole and Smith to take possession of the material till it could be disposed of and they paid what he owed them. He lost several hundred dollars out of the affair. Dunnell was afterwards a member of the Legislature, State Supt. of Schools and
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Principal of Hebron Academy. He served awhile after the war broke out as Colonel of the 5th Me. Regt. He finally settled in Minnesota and was elected to Congress.
Moses B. Bartlett from Bethel having settled here in the practice of the law, before Dunnell had ceased to print the paper, came into the possession of the plant in 1851, but soon disposed of it to Col. George W. Millett, who began the publication of a paper under the old name of the Norway Advertiser. At last the paper had fallen into the hands of a man who thoroughly understood the printing busi- ness, and was a good business man. The Advertiser had hitherto been run as a neutral paper. The Oxford Democrat had gone into the control of the free soil wing of the party. Colonel Millett started the paper as an old-line democratic sheet with Rev. Geo. K. Shaw as editor, and was run as such till soon after the war broke out, when it was discontinued.
In January, 1872, Simeon Drake, a practical printer from Augusta, started a third Norway Advertiser which he published for about four years. The Oxford Register was purchased of Samuel R. Carter of Paris Hill and consolidated with it under the name of the paper pur- chased. It was leased for the Presidential election of 1876 to Paris parties as a democratic county party organ with Percival J. Parris as editor, Mr. Drake continuing to be employed in the office. After the election was decided adversely to the democrats the list of subscribers was sold to the Lewiston Gazette. Mr. Drake soon after began the publication of the fourth Norway Advertiser but in the latter part of 1878 sold the plant to the New Religion Publishing Company, with Rev. J. A. Seitz, pastor of the Universalist Church society, as editor. This paper was published for some four years when the plant was removed to North Conway, N. H.
In May of that year (1882) Fred W. Sanborn from Meredith, N. H., settled in Norway. With Mr. Drake he began the publication of the fifth Norway Advertiser, in June. The next January he bought out Mr. Drake's interest in the paper and has since run it with the assistance of his very capable wife. Mr. Drake was employed in the office as long as he lived. It is one of the largest and best local newspaper plants in New England. There is no better and sharper business man than Fred W. Sanborn. His wife, Laura A. Sanborn, is as able as he is. She is an excellent writer and can do anything about the office that Mr. Sanborn or anyone else can do. (She died lamented by all who knew her, in 1922, following a serious surgical operation.)
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CHAPTER XXXVII.
NORWAY AUTHORS.
CHARLES ASBURY STEPHENS, M.D., A.M.
Charles A. Stephens, son of Simon and Harriet (Upton) Stevens, and great-grandson of Joseph Stevens, a Rev. soldier, pioneer in Rustfield and foremost citizen of the earliest settlers, was born in Norway, Oct. 21, 1847. Graduated at Norway Liberal Institute of which, for a period, he was afterwards principal, and Bowdoin College in 1869. Began writing sketches and stories for the Youth's Com- panion about 1870. Married April, 1871, Miss Christine, daughter of Noah O. and Chloe (Young) Stevens, born Oct. 23, 1846-died May 22, 1911. Married 2d, Miss Minnie Scalar Plummer, a sweet singer.
In the field of juvenile stories, he has no equal among American writers. His "Camping Out Series" are in the same class as Mayne Reid's "Afloat in the Forest," and Hayes' "Cast Away in the Cold," and much more attractive to the young people of our country. To obtain material for his stories and sketches, he has traveled exten- sively over the world. He has made for himself an enduring name in literature.
Among his published writings are: "Camping Out," "Left on Labrador," "Off for the Geysers," "Lynx Hunting," "Fox Hunting," "On the Amazon," "The Moose Hunters," "The Knockabout Club." Vols. on Biology, "Living Matter," "Pluricellular Man," "Long Life," "Natural Salvation," and "Immortal Life." The latter he regards as one of his most important productions. His researches and ex- periments in laboratory work in the department of biology, cover a period of many years and has given him a name among noted physicists. Other books: "When Life Was Young," "A Great Year of Our Lives," and "A Busy Year at the Old 'Squires."
Dr. Stephens' first wife was a second cousin. She had literary tastes and ability, and wrote several entertaining sketches and stories for the Youth's Companion, Golden Days and other publications. One of her principal productions treats of life among the Eskimos.
Mrs. Minnie Scalar Stephens is the daughter of John F. and Zilpha Annie (Marshall) Plummer, born on the old Marshall homestead on High street near West Paris. She is a descendant of Samuel Plum- mer and his wife Elizabeth Jewett, who came from Rowley, Mass., about 1795, and settled in Waterford. (Mrs. P. "had a fine voice for singing," the History of Waterford states.) Also of David and Lucy (Mason) Marshall, who fled from Bethel to escape capture by the savages during the Indian raid into that section in 1781. She is the great-great-granddaughter of Joseph Penley, who when only about sixteen, according to tradition, was impressed into the English army against his bitter remonstrances, to fight against the Independence of the Colonies. He is said to have escaped with a companion situated like himself, at the first favorable opportunity and joined the Ameri- cans. His silhouette may be seen in the genealogies relating to the Penleys. Elias Monk (a settler in Hebron and a soldier in the Revo- lution-pensioned in 1833) was also her ancestor. At nine years of
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age she was a teacher of music and shortly after was playing in church in this vicinity and in Portland. She fitted for college, but had such a passion for music that it was decided she should go abroad and receive instruction from some of the masters. She went, staying some twelve months in England, France and Holland. A year after her return she went again-first to Italy, remaining there about a year, then to Paris, where she made her home for eleven years. Her debut was made at the Royal French Opera House at The Hague, Holland-Queen Wilhelmina and others of the Queen's family being in the royal box. She sang next in Covent Garden, London, then at Nice on the Mediterranean; at Paris in grand opera, and at various other places-two seasons being at Covent Garden-during her stay abroad. Dr. Stephens in dedicating his "Immortal Life" says:
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