USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 10
USA > Maine > Aroostook County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 10
USA > Maine > Hancock County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 10
USA > Maine > Washington County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 10
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68
LBERT W. MILLER, the well-known druggist and apothecary of Hartland, Somerset County, was born in Palmyra, Me., December 30, 1835, son of Benjamin and Jane (Davis) Miller. The father, a native of Lincolnville, Me., after settling in Palmyra, was engaged in farming until 1852, when he went to California, re- maining there until 1855. He later made another visit to California for the benefit of „his health, and took up a tract of land, but eventually returned to Maine, and passed the
104
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
rest of his life in St. Albans. Janc, his wife, who is a native of Palmyra, became the mother of cleven children, four of whom are living, namely: Albert W., the subject of this sketch; Frank, who married Loantha Morrill, and is a farmer in Palmyra; Maria, the wife of Charles Hawes; and Annette, who is also marricd. The others were: Israel, who married Loanna Prescott, was a jeweller, and dicd in Arizona at the age of fifty-two ycars; Rozina, who died at the age of nine years; Nehemiah, who died at twenty-one; Uriah; Diantha; Sarah; and Loanna. The mother is still living, and resides in St. Al- bans. She is now eighty-eight years of age.
Albert W. Miller acquired a good educa- tion in Hartland and at Corinna Academy. For a time after the completion of his studies he worked upon a farm, was employed as a clerk for ten years, and taught school in St. Albans, Palmyra, and Dixmont for several winter terms. In 1865, having previously acquired his knowledge of the drug business in Newport and Bangor, he established the first regular drug store in Hartland. He had spent nineteen years in his original location when in 1884 he moved to the spacious store he now occupies. Hc carrics a large stock, including drugs, chemicals, patent medicines, fancy goods, stationery, and paints and oils. He is one of the stirring business men of this town. In politics he is a Democrat, and he served the town in the capacities of a member of the School Board and Supervisor of Schools for a number of years, Selcctman for twelve years, Town Clerk for eleven years, and Post-
master for eight years. He is now Trial Justice.
Mr. Miller married Myra E. Haskell, who was born in Palmyra, daughter of the late Aretus Haskell, also a native of Palmyra. He has no children. He is a member of Hartland Lodge, No. 101, I. O. O. F .; of Twilight Lodge, Daughters of Rebecca; and of the encampment in Pittsfield. Religious services are attended by him at the Methodist Episcopal church.
EORGE E. ROSS, a retired farmer of Caribou, Aroostook County, was born in Bowdoin, Me., January 31, 1825, son of Thomas and Mary (Eye) Ross. The grandfather, Job Ross, who was a Scotch Highlander and a Drum Major in the British army, brought his family to America and en- gaged in mercantile pursuits. Thomas Ross, who was born in Windsor, N. B., followed the shoemaker's trade in Bowdoin, and died there about the year 1840. He married Mary Eye, a native of Holland, who became by him the mother of eight children, namely: John and Ann, who are no longer living; Thomas, Job, and Mary; George, who died in infancy ; George E. ; and Robert Ross. The mother's death occurred in Bowdoin at about the same time as that of her husband.
Thrown upon his own resources at the age of fifteen by the death of his parents, George E. Ross worked as a farm assistant until twenty-one. Going then to Boston, he was for the next few years employed in a box fac-
105
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
tory and planing-mill and on a farm. After this he learned the carpenter's trade, and, lo- cating in Farmingdale, Me., he there worked at house and ship carpentering for the ensuing six years. In 1861 he joined a party of pro- spectors, with whom he came on foot to Aroos- took County, arriving in Caribou after a long and tedious tramp. Then, after wandering through the woods for two weeks in search of a suitable place on which to settle, he pur- chased a tract of two hundred and fifty acres in Woodland township, made a small clearing, and built a log house. Here he and his fam- ily took up their residence. By degrees he cleared a farm of seventy-five acres, erected a frame house, and tilled the soil industriously for thirty-two years. At the expiration of that time he sold the farm, and since 1894 has resided in Caribou village. Besides working at his trade intermittently since coming to Aroostook, he built the house he now occupies and the one adjoining. Through his persever- ing industry he is now in comfortable circum- stances.
On March 18, 1852, Mr. Ross married Lucy J. Boynton, a native of Jefferson, Me., born June 20, 1832. Her parents, James and Eliz- abeth (Trask) Boynton, were respectively na- tives of Jefferson and Camden, Me. Her grandfather, Captain David Boynton, was a soldier and a farmer. His father, also named David Boynton, who was an Englishman and a representative of a wealthy family, emigrated with a brother, and settled in Rowley, Mass., parting thereby with his brother, who went West. Mr. and Mrs. Ross have had eight
children, namely: Albert E., who married Lorella Malcolm, and is a farmer in Berwick, Me. ; George Elmer, who married Mary Wormlight, of Harmony, Me., and resides in Monrovia, Los Angeles County, Cal., where he has a cattle ranch and a fruit farm ; Emma J., who married James Dealy, a foreman in Moore & Co.'s machine shop, Hartland, Me., and has eight children - Zetta, Catherine, Mabel Lucy, Florence, Emma, Clara, Charles, and James; William Henry Ross, who has a cattle ranch in the State of Washington ; Charles F., who married Mrs. Elva Roberts, and is a furniture dealer in Caribou; Abraham Lincoln, an employee on the Union Pacific Railroad ; Mary, who died at the age of sixteen years; and Eva L., who was for many years a successful teacher in the Caribou public schools, and is now the wife of Eben Ells- worth Welts, of Caribou. In politics Mr. Ross is a Republican. He is connected with the Patrons of Husbandry and the Sons of Temperance, and is an earnest advocate of total abstinence. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
APTAIN CHARLES H. PERKINS, the manager of the Co-operative Grange Store at North Brooksville, Hancock County, and an ex-member of the legislature, was born in this town, January 12, 1840, son of Jeremiah and Prudence (Blodgett) Perkins. The first of the family to settle here was Amos Perkins, the Captain's grandfather, a native of York, Me., who cleared a good
106
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
farm from the wilderness in the western part of the town, and resided there for the rest of his life. Besides developing the agricultural resources of the locality, he was useful to the community in some of the town offices, and he lived to be seventy-five years old. The maiden name of his wife was Ruth Wardwell.
Jeremiah Perkins, who was a lifelong resi- dent of Brooksville, for many years followed the trades of a tanner and shoemaker. His last days were sent upon a farm in North Brooksville, and his death occurred at about the same age as that of his father. Prudence, his wife, who was a daughter of Captain John K. and Jane (Avery) Blodgett, became the mother of ten children. Of these, six are living; namely, John K., Charles H., William N., Deborah A., Hannah M., and Mary J. The others were: Amos J., George O., Eben F., and Mercy H. John K. Perkins is a re- tired sea captain, residing in New York State. George O. and Amos J. were lost at sea, the former in 1854 and the latter in 1891. Eben F. Perkins enlisted in Company B, Second Regiment, Maine Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Bull Run. William N., who resides at the old homestead, married Ursula Grindle, and has a large family. Hannah M. is the wife of Kenney Grindle, and resides in Brooksville. Mary J. married Charles Nash, and resides in Lynn, Mass.
After leaving the district schools when twelve years old, Charles H. Perkins began to follow the sea, and became master of a vessel at the age of nineteen. He suffered ship- wreck in 1867, the disaster being attended
with no loss of life, however. He had spent some twenty-eight years in scafaring when he bought a farm and engaged in its cultivation. This was his occupation until 1887, since which time he has been in charge of the Co- operative Grange Store in North Brooksville.
Captain Perkins has been twice married, first to Ruth Grindle, of Sedgwick, Me. The maiden name of his present wife was Hannah Grindle. His children by the first wife were : May, Cora A., Izetta B., Charles M., Emma F., Forrest H., Harvey, Fred J., Morris W., and Eliza A. May married Edgar Roberts, and has one daughter, Bernice. Cora A. died at the age of twenty-three years, and Izetta B. at that of twenty-two. Charles M. Perkins, who is the principal of the high school at Presque Isle, Me., married Alice Benson, and has two children - Newman and an infant. Emma F. died at the age of nineteen. For- rest H. is teaching school in Sherman, Aroos- took County. Harvey married Lila Clauson, and has two children - Henry and an infant. Fred J. and Morris W. are residing at home, and Eliza A. is attending school. The Cap- tain cast his first Presidential vote for Abra- ham Lincoln in 1864, and has since supported the Republican party. The party elected him to the State legislature . in 1885. He has served with ability as chairman of the Board of Selectmen for thirteen years and as Col- lector for one year. In addition to his mem- bership in the Masonic order and the Patrons of Husbandry, he is connected with the local grange, of which he was the Master for eight years.
.
107
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
EANDER F. BUTLER, a practical and progressive farmer of Starks township, Somerset County, Me., was born March 13, 1837, in New Vineyard, Me., the son of Josiah Butler. His paternal grandfather, Henry Butler, was born and reared on the island of Martha's Vineyard, but when in the prime of early manhood he re- moved to Franklin County, Maine, where he settled as a pioneer farmer, and took as a life companion Miss Lucinda Daggett, a buxom lassie that proved herself a worthy helpmate.
Josiah Butler was born August 7, 1807, at the ancestral homestead at New Vineyard, Franklin County, where he resided until 1839. Removing then to Forks plantation, Somerset County, for three years he drove a stage, carry- ing the United States mail from Anson, Me., to the Canada line. The following eight years he was a resident of Norridgewock. In 1850 he purchased the farm on which his son Leander F. is now living, and here he en- gaged in tilling the soil until his death, in September, 1889. His wife, whose maiden name was Lucy J. Waugh, was born July 25, 1810, in Starks, a daughter of Elijah and So- phia (Farrand) Waugh, well-known members of the farming community. Her maternal grandfather, William Farrand, was a soldier of the Revolution. He enlisted at Bennington, Vt., and served a part of the time under Cap- tain Saxon and Colonel Warner. In 1818 he was living at New Vineyard, and at that time was granted a pension for his services in the war for American independence. Active for her age, being now in her eighty-ninth year,
Mrs. Lucy J. Butler makes her home with her son, the subject of this sketch. She has one daughter living, named Sophia, and has been bereft of two - Jane and Helen. Sophia, born in 1844, is the wife of Edwin N. Hall, a re- tired trader of Norridgewock, Me. Jane was born in 1850, and died in January, 1888. Helen, born in 1852, died in September, 1885. She was the wife of Herbert E. Hale, who is now one of the Selectmen of Norridgewock.
Leander F. Butler completed his education at the high school, and has always continued his residence on the home farm, having had its entire management since the death of his late father. He has one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he and his father partly cleared, and on which they made many improvements of a high order, including the erection of new buildings. Mr. Butler has been quite success- ful in his labors, notwithstanding that he was unfortunate enough in 1882 to be entirely burned out, his loss by the fire being esti- mated at two thousand seven hundred dollars. He conducts a good business in general farm- ing and stock-raising, but pays especial atten- tion to his dairy. Among the cereals that he cultivates is sweet corn, of which he has large crops each season.
On December 9, 1868, Mr. Butler was united in marriage with Miss Melvina S. Holt, who was born in Oakland, Kennebec County, Me., October 17, 1839, a daughter of Theo- dore and Betsey (Corson) Holt, the former a native of Canaan, Somerset County, and the latter of Oakland. Mr. Holt worked at the mason's trade in conjunction with farming
108
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
until his death in 1848. Mrs. Holt now lives in Haverhill, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Butler have had three children, namely : Blanche M., born January 26, 1870, who died April 24, 1894; HI. Kate, born October 14, 1871, for some time a teacher in the public schools of Everett, Mass. ; and Bessie B., who was born September 27, 1874, and died December 19, 1893. H. Kate Butler was married June 30, 1898, to Charles W. Hilton, son of B. F. Hil- ton, of Starks. They reside in Starks, Mr. Hilton being an importer and breeder of Ox- ford Down sheep. Mr. Butler is now a Dem- ocrat in politics, although he formerly voted the Republican ticket. He is a member of Quinnebassett Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 109, of Norridgewock; and of the local grange, No. 35, of Starks.
LLEN H. CHAMBERLAIN, M.D., a rising physician of Foxcroft, was born in this town, December 5, 1861, son of Chester and Minerva B. (Spauld- ing) Chamberlain. His great-grandparents were Eliakim and Anna (Stowe) Chamberlain, of Charlton, Mass., an account of whom will be found in the biography of Calvin Cham- berlain. Nathaniel Chamberlain, the grand- father, who was a native of Charlton, settled in Dover about the year 1807.
Chester Chamberlain, Dr. Chamberlain's father, was born in Dover in 1814. When a young man he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for several years, and was engaged in the construction of many wooden
bridges in this section. Later he became a member of the firm of Chandler, Brown & Co., which conducted a foundry in Foxcroft for a number of years, having an extensive business. Ile served as a member of the Board of Select- men, represented this district in the legisla- ture, and was a stirring business man and pub- lic-spirited citizen. In politics he supported the Republican party, and in religious belief he was a Universalist. He died January 7, 1865. The first of his two marriages was con- tracted with Laura A. Warren, who died in 1857. By that union there were two sons : Otis C., now deceased, who served as a soldier in the Civil War; and Mellen B. Chamber- lain, who died at the age of sixteen years.
Minerva B. Spaulding Chamberlain, the sec- ond wife, who was born in Dover in 1834, resides in Foxcroft. She became the mother of one son, Allen H., the subject of this sketch.
Allen H. Chamberlain attended the Fox- croft Academy, the Latin School in Lewiston, Me., and Phillips Exeter Academy. After- ward he graduated from Harvard University, class of 1885, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, studied medicine at the Harvard Medi- cal School until 1888, and then spent two years at the Massachusetts Charitable Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston. Locating for prac- tice in Kansas City, Mo., he spent one year there. Returning to Foxcroft in 1891, he has remained here since, acquiring a large and lucrative practice. The Doctor is a member of the Maine Medical Association. He was appointed United States Pension Examiner by
109
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
President Cleveland. In politics he acts with the Democratic party. He attends the Uni- tarian church.
ARK EMERY, of the well-known firm of Mark Emery & Son, whole- sale and retail merchants at North Anson, Me., was born in the town of Anson, April 14, 1831, son of Mark, Sr., and Olive (Thurell) Emery. His parents were both natives of Berwick, Me., and lived there until after marriage. His father, said to have been a descendant of Anthony Emery, who arrived at Newbury, Mass., in 1635 and later removed to Kittery, Me., was born March 16, ISOI, and his mother June 17, 1804.
Mark Emery, Sr., during his entire life was engaged as a tiller of the soil, working indus- triously to support himself and family. In 1856, after an extended residence in Anson, he bought a small fruit farm in the town of Industry, Franklin County, this State, whither he removed, and there passed his remaining earthly years, dying March 30, 1883. While living in Anson he had an extensive acquaint- ance throughout this part of Somerset County, and was quite active in local public affairs, holding many of the town offices, including that of Selectman. Eight children were reared by him and his wife, Olive, namely : Hannah T., widow of the late H. Thomas, now living in Farmington, Me. ; Hiram T., an extensive farmer and sheep breeder in Anson, who married first Lovisa Bunker and after her death Roxinda Mitchell; Walter B.,
who was born November 23, 1829, and died April 7, 1855; Mark, the special subject of this sketch; Mary J., wife of William Luce, a farmer in Lincoln, Cal .; James M., a mer- chant in Madison, Me., who married Rebecca Gould; Amanda S., who was born April 18, 1838, and died December 10, 1867; and Olive T. (named for her mother), born November 27, 1842, died October 18, 1871. Mrs. Olive Emery, the mother, died January 13, 1891.
Mark Emery had but limited opportunities for obtaining an education, his school life being confined to a few terms within the first eleven years of his existence. From that time until he was nineteen years old he worked for the neighboring farmers. He then learned the shoemaker's trade, at which he was employed in New Portland for several years. In 1854 he followed the tide of emi- gration westward, going to Calaveras County, California, where he followed mining for a time, and afterward engaged in lumbering two and one-half years. Returning then to New Portland, Me., Mr. Emery established him- self first in the shoe trade and later in the hardware business, remaining there until 1862. On disposing of his interests in that locality he came to North Anson, and, building a store in the village, carried on a successful trade in hardware for some time. Selling out at an advantage, he next embarked in the grocery business ; and when the railway was completed in this town he built a store near the station, and, establishing the firm of Pollard, Emery & Co., built up a large local trade. Changes have been made in the firm since that time,
110
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
the former senior and junior members having retired, and Mr. Emery, now the senior men- ber, having admitted into partnership his son, the firm name being Mark Emery & Son. In 188I he erected his present commodious store, in which he is doing a large wholesale and retail business in feed, grain, and general merchandise, keeping on hand a complete stock of all goods demanded by the country trade. He is a wide-awake, progressive man, quick to take advantage of all favorable oppor- tunities for advancing his financial interests. In addition to his regular trade he buys and sells wool and lumber, shipping these com- modities to Boston. He was one of a firm that built in 1891 a saw-mill, which is now operated under the firm name of Emery, Col- lins & Co.
Mr. Emery was married in January, 1858, to Miss Maria Gould, who was born December 13, 1834, in New Portland, Me., a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Spooner) Gould, both na- tives of New Portland. Mr. Gould, her father, was a lumberman and merchant and a successful business man. He died in 1876 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Emery, with whom he had lived since the death of his wife, which occurred in 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Em- ery have but one child now living, a son, Wal- lace, born September 2, 1858, now in business with his father. He is married to Miss Liz- zie A. Fletcher, of Anson. A daughter, Nel- lie, born February 18, 1860, died April 28, 1 864.
Mr. Emery is a stanch supporter of the prin- ciples of the Democratic party, and for some
time was one of the Selectmen of Anson. He is a member of the Northern Star Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 28, at Anson; and of the Lemon Stream Lodge, I. O. O. F., of New Portland. Mrs. Emery is a member of the Universalist church.
AMUEL O. DINSMORE, a pros- perous general merchant of Medford Centre, Piscataquis County, an ex- member of the legislature, and the Postmaster of the town for over thirty years, was born here, June 14, 1843. A son of the late Sam- uel Dinsmore, M.D., he is a grandson of Samuel Dinsmore, who spent his early life in Maine and his last years in De Witt, Clinton County, Ia. The father, who was born in Saco, York County, Me., May 29, 1804, grad- uated from the medical department of . Bow- doin University with the class of 1835. In the following year he began the practice of his profession in Kilmarnock, now Medford, where he resided for the rest of his life. A skilful and reliable physician, his practice ex- tended over a wide circuit, necessitating long rides and continued exposure to inclement weather. A robust constitution, however, supported his devotion to his calling, and he lived to a good old age. Originally a Whig in politics, he later became a Republican ; and in religious belief he was a Universalist. He died at the home of his son in Medford Centre, July 19, 1891. In 1842 Mr. Dins- more married Mary Jane Johnson, who was born in Milo, this county, May 28, 1823, daughter of Elijah Johnson, late of this town.
SAMUEL O. DINSMORE.
II3
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
Her father, born in Clinton, Me., March 17, 1801, accompanied his parents to Milo in 1808. In 1826 he settled as a pioneer in Medford, where he followed general farming throughout the rest of his active years; and he died in Maxfield, Me., January 21, 1895. He attended the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1820 he married Sarah Grover. Their only child was Samuel O., the subject of this sketch. The mother died in 1864.
Samuel O. Dinsmore was educated in the public schools of Medford. When twenty- one years old he engaged in trade. Since 1865 he has kept a general store and culti- vated a farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres. He formerly owned about seven hun- dred acres of land, the most of which he dis- posed of to good advantage. Upon reaching his majority he became an active Republican, and has since been identified with public affairs. He has been a member of the Board of Selectmen for the greater part of the time since 1865, and he is now its chairman. Since 1869 he has been Town Clerk; was Town Treasurer for eight or ten years; was Representative to the legislature in 1880; was a County Commissioner from 1887 to 1893, serving as the chairman of the board in 1891 and 1892; was appointed Postmaster during Lincoln's administration ; and has acted as a Justice of the Peace for thirty-two years.
Mr. Dinsmore contracted the first of his two marriages in 1864 with Hattie A. Sawyer, of Medford. She died in 1874, leaving two children : Geneva J., born August 30, 1867, who is the wife of B. H. Dunham, of Sanger-
ville, Me .; and Lucian S. Dinsmore, born November 26, 1871, who resides in Portland. Mr. Dinsmore's present wife, whom he mar- ried in 1876, was Ida F. Smart, daughter of Joseph E. Smart, of Whitney Ridge, now Seboeis. His children by this union are: Eda L., born August 29, 1879; Winnefred M., born February 27, 1882; Elsie M., born December 11, 1888; Horace M., born Janu- ary 16, 1891; and Joseph S., born September 28, 1895. Mr. Dinsmore is connected with Composite Lodge, No. 167, F. & A. M., of La Grange; and Piscataquis Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Dover. He is a charter member of the lodge of Ancient Order of United Workmen in Milo.
LFRED B. CRABTREE, an enter- prising merchant of Sullivan, Han- cock County, son of Lemuel and Caroline (Stratton) Crabtree, was born in the town of Hancock, February 8, 1848. His great-grandfather, Agreen Crabtree, who prob- ably came from Old York, Me., was the first of the family to settle in Hancock. The grandfather, also named Lemuel and a native of Hancock, owned a large farm on Hancock Point. He tilled the soil industriously dur- ing his active years, and lived to an advanced age. The maiden name of his wife was Lucy Bean.
Lemuel Crabtree, Jr., was a lifelong resi- dent of Hancock. In his youth he began to follow the sea, but soon abandoned that occu- pation for mercantile pursuits, and for many
114
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
years was the leading merchant in this sec- tion. He avoided public affairs, preferring to give his whole time to his business, which fact, in a great measure, was the cause of his long-continued prosperity. At his death he was seventy-five years old. He married Caro- line Stratton, who became the mother of five children; namely, Adelia M., Alfred B., Oscar L., Coleman A., and Carrie L. Adelia M. is the wife of Orestus B. Foss, and resides in Clinton, Mass. Oscar L. married Lizzie Hodgkins, and lives in Hancock. Coleman A. married Lulu Fernald, and also resides in that town. Carrie L. died young.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.