Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine, Part 11

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 11
USA > Maine > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 11

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On February 19, 1868, Mr. Everett wedded Ella H. Haskell, of Paris, Me., daughter of Joel and Margaret D. Haskell. Mrs. Everett has had four children, as follows: Minnie, who married O. W. Fernald, resides in Ber- lin, N. H., and has one daughter, Marion F. ;

Ernest L., who died at the age of two years ; Charles H. and Margaret L., who both re- side with their parents. In politics Mr. Everett is a Republican. He is a comrade of Post No. 3, Grand Army of the Republic, of Mechanic Falls. Both he and Mrs. Everett attend the Baptist church, of which she is a member.

OSEPH TREFETHEN, one of Wilton's able farmers and a well-known citizen, was born on Monhegan Island, Mc., September 22, 1833, son of Henry and Ann (Baxter) Trefethen. The family is of French origin, and descends from early set- tlers upon the coast of Maine, who were mostly seafaring men and fishermen.

Mr. Trefethen's father was reared a fisher- man, and in early manhood he engaged in fit- ting out vessels for the cod-fishing banks. He later became the owner of several vessels, and, erecting a fish-house on Monhegan Island, where he received, cured, and prepared the fish for market, conducted a very profitable business for many years. His death occurred at the age of eighty. He was three times mar- ried, and by his union with Ann. Baxter, his third wife, had three children, of whom the first-born, a daughter, died in infancy. The others were: Joseph, the subject of this sketch ; and Abraham Baxter. Mr. Tref- ethen's mother married for her second hus- band George Legrow, and, removing to Wil- ton, died here at the age of about seventy years.

Joseph Trefethen, the elder of her two sons, was reared and educated in Wilton. In young manhood he bought a farm of one hundred and thirty acres, which he improved; but after oc- cupying it for some time he exchanged it for a smaller piece of property located nearer the village. This farm he has also improved, increasing its productiveness, and making va- rious alterations in the buildings; and in con- nection with tilling the soil he has worked at the carpenter's trade to some extent.

On March 12, 1854, Mr. Trefethen was united in marriage with Susan B. Webster, who was born in Wilton, June 29, 1831, daughter of Thomas E. and Lois (Scales)

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Webster. Mrs. Trefethen's father was a native of Weare, N. H. He settled in Wilton when a young man and became one of the most energetic and progressive farmers of his day. The present Webster homestead, which is one of the best estates in town, was cleared and improved by him. He was a man of much political prominence and social worth. He died in 1870, aged sixty-three years; and his wife died at the age of fifty-four years. She was the mother of six children, namely : Susan B., who is now Mrs. Trefethen; Annie M. ; Henry, who is a leading farmer of this town, and occupies the homestead; Volina M. ; Va- nander; and Octavia C.

Mr. and Mrs. Trefethen have six children, as follows : Henry E., Professor of Languages at the Maine Wesleyan Seminary, Kent's Hill, who was born June 10, 1855, married Alice Porter, and has six children - Evangeline, Henry P., M. Louise, Webster, Ruth, and an infant; Fred E., a resident of Wilton, who was born March 19, 1857, married Addie M. Bump, and has seven children - Lavinia A., Verner A., Harry J., Miriam E., Leon B.,

Lawrence W., and Irene F. ; Ella S., who was born November 7, 1858; Annie, who was born March 22, 1861, and is now the widow of C. L. Snow, who died in 1896; William J., M. D., a graduate of the Baltimore Medical School, who was born October 20, 1866, mar- ried Sarah Smith, and is now a practising physician of New Portland, Me. ; and Mel- vina, who was born January 12, 1871, married Herbert J. Ellsworth, and has two children - Vivian and Jennie.

In politics Mr. Trefethen is a Republican, and in his religious views he is liberal. He is a member of Williamson Lodge, Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the en- campment.

HARLES T. MELLEN, who was a lifelong resident of the town of Paris, was born at Paris Hill, November 20, 1820, son of Alanson and Mary (Bisco) Mellen. Alanson Mellen was born in Hopkinton, Mass. In his early manhood he removed to this town, where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits many years. He sub-

sequently made his home on Paris Hill, where he died December 9, 1851. For more than thirty consecutive years he was Registrar of Deeds, and he was Town Clerk for a long term of office. In religion he was very lib- eral, while in politics he was a stanch Demo- crat. His wife, Mary, who spent her life in this town, and died March 12, 1826, had six children, as follows: Leonard, born in 1813, who died in 1843; Jonas B., born in 1814, who died in 1824; Eunice F., born in 1816, who died in 1893 ; Mary M., born in 1818, who died in 1844; Charles T., the subject of this brief sketch; and George L., born in 1823, who is the only one now living.

Charles T. Mellen grew to man's estate in his native town, acquiring his education in the public schools. He worked with his father in the Registry of Deeds for several seasons, and was subsequently Postmaster at Paris for several years. In politics he was an active member of the Democratic party and in his religious views was liberal.

Mr. Mellen was married June 7, 1855, to Lucretia Jackson, who was born in the village of Paris, September 29, 1824, daughter of Joseph and Lucretia (Brett) Jackson. Her paternal grandfather, Lemuel Jackson, was the first person to settle and erect a house on Paris Hill. He cleared a good homestead, on which he and his wife, previously Miss Willis, spent their last days in the peaceful occupations of farm life. Joseph Jackson, who was also a farmer by occupation, after his marriage bought the farm where his son's widow, Mrs. Hiram Jackson, now lives. Here he and his wife spent the rest of their lives, he dying at the age of fifty-five years, and she at the ven- erable age of eighty-six. He was liberal in his religious belief, while she was a member of the Baptist church. They had four chil- dren - Eliza, Hiram, Lucretia, and Isabelle. Lucretia, now Mrs. Mellen, is the only sur- vivor. Mr. and Mrs. Mellen have had two children - Charles J. and Mary I. Charles J., born February 20, 1857, was engaged in teaching until his accidental death by drown- ing while skating, December 17, 1881. Mary I., born May 2, 1860, has always lived at home. She was employed in the Registry of Deeds for thirteen years, but is now Post-

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mistress at Paris, which appointment she re- ceived in November, 1893. The father died February 21, 1893. A man of sterling, up- right character, he was highly esteemed throughout the district. Mrs. Mellen and her daughter attend the Universalist church.

LPHEUS S. BEAN. - Striking in- stances of individual enterprise set- ting in motion wide circles of in - dustrial life are found here and there in the State of Maine. The town of West Bethel, Me., largely owes its present prosperity to Mr. A. S. Bean, a self-made man, who has developed the lumber industry here to colossal proportions, established a large and prosperous general store, stimulated the building interest by erecting cottages for his employees, and increased the attractions of the place as a summer resort by building a first-class hotel, beautifully situated. Be- sides these local interests Mr. Bean is con- nected with financial enterprises in other parts of the State, and what he touches seems always to succeed. He was born in Bethel, January 18, 1846, and is a son of the late Daniel F. and Polly P. (White) Bean.

The Beans are one of the old established families of New England. Daniel F. Bean, who was a native of Bethel, spent his entire life in this town, attaining the advanced age of cighty-four years. He was a well-to-do farmer, and dealt largely in cattle. His wife, who was born in Gilead, this county, died at the age of seventy-five. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel F. Bean were members of the Congregational church. They were the parents of six chil- dren, namely: Roy, who died at the age of fifty; Emily J., who was called to rest in her thirty-sixth year; A. S., the subject of this sketch; Fannie E., wife of Thomas B. Mor- rill, of Charlestown, Mass .; Susie E., wife of Fred W. Perkins, of Worcester, Mass .; and Daniel F.

A. S. Bean acquired a common-school edu- cation in his native town. He displayed some ability as a financier in his youth, man- aging quite a business in eggs and poultry ; and when he was twenty-one years old he en- gaged in mercantile pursuits in West Bethel.

After trying this a year he went to California, but six months' residence in that State de- cided him that he could do better at home. Returning, he purchased the store in West Bethel which is now under his charge, and which under his able management has aggre- gate sales of over fifty thousand dollars a year. He owns twenty thousand acres of timber land in this vicinity, on which are seven mills, four run by steam, three by water. Of these five are birch-mills and manufacture spool stock, and two are saw-mills. He sells quan- . tities of timber from his land for outside manufacture, cutting in one winter four mill- ion feet, two million of which he shipped to Scotland, and eight thousand cords of pulp wood for the Rumford Falls mills. He has lately shipped five million feet of spool stock to Scotland. He owns mills in different parts of this county, and has an interest in a bobbin- mill in Shelburne, N.H. Mr. Bean has a large number of men in his employ; and the cottages which he has built, uniformly painted, make a very pretty village at West Bethel. About three miles away is a charm- ing little pond at the foot of Pine Mountain, and here Mr. Bean has made such improve- ments as have developed the place into a beau- tiful summer resort. He owns several large farms, including three hundred acres of grass land, from which he annually cuts hundreds of tons of hay; and he has the best farmer's barn in Oxford County.

Mr. Bean was married November 14, 1871, to Miss Lucinda Mason, of Gilead, this county, daughter of Moses Martha and (Walker) Mason. It is a notable fact that the wife's influence has much to do with mak- ing or marring a man's career. Mrs. Bean is always alive to her husband's best interests, and her intelligent co-operation smooths the road to success.

In politics Mr. Bean favors the Republican side. He has been Postmaster of West Bethel for twenty years, holding his office under both Republican and Democratic administrations. Though not a church member, he is in sym- pathy with religious enterprises, to which he liberally contributes. There has never been a church in West Bethel, the efforts, made principally by some devoted Christian women,

ALPHEUS S. BEAN.

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

to raise funds to build one having been unsuc- cessful; but the need of a house of worship will soon be met, for Mr. Bean is erecting a substantial edifice, which he intends to pre- sent when finished to the struggling little so- ciety. One of the wealthiest men in the county, he does not hoard the property which he has worked hard to accumulate, but contrib- utes freely toward all worthy enterprises; and his large-heartedness and fine social qual- ities have drawn to him many friends.

ILLIAM M. GREENE, who until 1892 had been an esteemed farmer of Norway township for more than twoscore years, was born February II, 1819, in Portland, Me., son of Captain William M. and Hannah R. (Gould) Greene, both natives of Cumberland County. His father was for many years captain of a vessel, but he eventu- ally settled in Portland, where both he and his wife spent their closing years.

Mr. Greene was bred and educated in Port- land, and was there employed for some years as a clerk in a grocery store. Inheriting his father's love for the sea, he subsequently became master of a vessel. He was engaged in seafaring for more than thirty years, during which he visited many parts of the globe. He was shipwrecked twice, the last time in De- cember, 1848, when he lost "everything." Not discouraged by this misfortune, however, he continued in his calling until 1850, some two years after his marriage. Mr. Greene then came to Oxford County, locating in. North Norway. Here he purchased land, erected a row of buildings, and was afterward engaged in tilling the soil and working at the carpenter's trade for five years. Moving in 1855 to the western part of the town, he bought a farm, on which he lived for twenty- two years, successfully engaged in agricult- ure. Selling out there, he bought the pres- ent home farm occupied by his widow and her son, and here lived until his death, which occurred July 21, 1892. This farm is located near the centre of the town, and contains forty-two acres of land, well suited for grazing and dairy purposes. Mr. Greene was a stanch adherent of the Republican party. He was

a member of the Congregational church at Nor- way Centre, to which his widow still belongs.

On August 27, 1848, Mr. Greene was mar- ried to Miss Abiah L., born in Norway, Jan- uary 26, 1829, daughter of Edmund and Annie P. (Lovejoy) Her parents were esteemed farming people of Norway, where they spent their last years. Her mother came here from Andover, Mass., where she was born and educated. Mr. Greene's children are: Frank T., born No- vember 14, 1849, who married Mary A. Parker, of Waterford, this county, and is now a carpenter in Norway; Herbert W., born June 15, 1855, who married Alfretta Keith, and is now engaged in the grocery business at Boston, Mass. ; Edmond F. C., born May 22, 1859; and Elfannah, born April 25, 1868, now living at home, who is a trained nurse. Edmond F. C. Greene has had charge of the home property for some years, his father's health having been poor a long time before his demise. He carries on general farming, paying a good deal of attention to his dairy. He sells cream throughout the county, and likewise deals largely in stock. In politics he is a Republican, and has held several of the minor offices of the township. He is a member of the grange at Norway village, and is an active worker in the Second Congrega- tional Church. On the maternal side he is descended from a Revolutionary hero, his mother's grandfather, Jacob Frost, who re- ceived a bullet wound in the hip at one of the battles in that famous struggle, and was after- ward pensioned.

J OHN STEVENS, one of the worthy and respected residents of the town of Paris, where he has lived for nearly thirty years, was born January 22, 1818, in China, Kennebec County, son of Daniel and Almira (Stevens) Stevens. His grandfather, Thomas Stevens, served three years in the Revolutionary army, participating in the battles at Brandywine, Monmouth, and other engagements. Thomas subsequently removed to this county, locating at Paris, where for the rest of his life he worked at the carpenter's trade and at farming.

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Daniel Stevens, a son of Thomas, was born in Worcester, Mass., where his father was then living. He came with his parents to Paris, where he resided in his early life. After receiving a general education he studied medicine, and in due time began the practice of it. Shortly after he settled in China, Me., which was then in its infancy, and was there engaged in his profession until his death, at the age of sixty years, having been successful and popular a's a physician. He was a public- spirited and patriotic citizen, and served in the War of 1812. A man of prominence in his adopted town, he was a Selectman and Trustee of the Academy. He was an active member of the Baptist church, in which he frequently preached. His first wife, Almira, who was born in Paris, died in China, aged thirty-two years. She was a daughter of Cyp- rian Stevens, a pioneer physician of Paris, and one of its prominent early settlers. His second wife, whose maiden name was Sally Stimpson, lived to the age of forty-two years. Daniel Stevens became the father of seven children by his first marriage and of five more by his second. Of the whole number two are living, namely: John, the subject of this sketch; and Thomas, a ranchman of California. Of the others, four reached ma- turity ; namely, Stowell, Harriet, Mary, and Jane.

John Stevens remained under the parental roof-tree until nineteen years of age. He then went to Old Town, Penobscot County, where he obtained employment at cutting logs in winter and working in a saw-mill when not otherwise engaged, his compensation being ten dollars a month. He subsequently worked for other people for twenty-five years before settling in life for himself. Being prudent and economical, he accumulated some money, with which in 1863 he bought fifty acres of land in China, where he carried on mixed husbandry four years. Coming then to Paris, he purchased his present farm, containing sev- enty-five acres of land. Here he has made many of the improvements, and has since carried on general farming and fruit growing with marked success, of recent years hiring most of the manual work done.

Mr. Stevens was married in November,

1866, to Mrs. Sarah (Buck) Merrill, who was born in Norway, this county, December 18, 1824. She is a daughter of Jared M. and Sally (Stevens) Buck. By a previous mar- riage, contracted with Charles Merrill, who died, she had one child, Charles D. Merrill, who died at the age of twenty-two years. The only child born to Mr. and Mrs. Stevens was a girl, Sarah L., who lived but seven years. In politics Mr. Stevens is a stanch Republi- can, while regarding religious matters he holds liberal views. He has served his fel- low-townsmen in several of the minor offices of his district, and is a member of the South Paris Grange.

UGENE M. DUDLEY, the enterprising and popular proprietor of the Lake House at Waterford Flat, was born in Bridgton, this State, June 1, 1854. He is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Earle) Dud- ley, both natives of Maine, the former born in Waterford, the latter in Plymouth. Joseph Dudley lived in his native town until after his marriage with Elizabeth Earle, when he established a home in Bridgton. He was a competent farmer, and was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits in Bridgton up to the time of his death, August 20, 1876. His wife passed away in September, 1890. They had seven children, namely: Ada, the wife of Sumner Spurr, now of Otisfield, Me. ; Eugene M., the subject of this sketch; Mary, in North Bridgton; Walter and Albert, residents of Harrison, Me .; Nellie, now deceased; and Fred, residing in Hollis, N. H.

Eugene M. Dudley received a common- school education in his native town. At the age of fourteen he obtained employment as a weaver in a woollen-mill of Bridgton. Sub- sequently he set about learning the tinsmith's trade in Cornish, Me .; but, after six months of his apprenticeship had expired, he took a position in a harness shop, where he continued employed about three years. He then opened a harness shop of his own in Harrison, Me., where he conducted a successful business for ten years, accumulating sufficient money to start in hotel keeping. He did this by pur- chasing the Lake House, an old and famous

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

hostelry. Since then he has made many im - provements in the building and surroundings, developing the place into a model summer hotel. While it is open all the year round, its most prosperous season is the vacation time. Mr. Dudley has a good livery in con- nection with the hotel. He also owns a farm of seventy-five acres, one of the best estates in the locality. An alert and enterprising man, one who does well whatever he under- takes, he also seems to have the enviable faculty of making and keeping friends. Under his management the Lake House has attained a remarkable degree of prosperity, and his fame as a host has spread through Oxford and Cumberland Counties.

Mr. Dudley was married February 14, 1882, to Judith C., daughter of Edwin Jack- son, a farmer now living in North Bridgton, Me. Mrs. Jackson died some time since. Mrs. Dudley, who is a native of Springfield, Me., has two children - Guy E., born March II, 1886; and Annie L., born October 6, 1889. In politics Mr. Dudley is a stanch Democrat. He belongs to one social organ- ization, the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, being a member of Ossipee Lodge, No. 54, of Cornish, Me. He is one of the self- made men of Oxford County, having won his way from a hard-working boyhood to a matu- rity of established prosperity.

ILLIAM A. BOYINGTON, a well- known and respected resident of New Sharon, Franklin County, was born in Stark, Me., November 30, 1828, son of John S. and Jane (Witham) Boyington. His grandfather was William Boyington, a native of Wiscasset, Lincoln County, from which place he removed to New Sharon about the year 1780, being one of the first three settlers of the place. Here the grandfather bought about one hundred and sixty acres of land, built a log cabin, and cleared a patch of about ten acres, which he forthwith proceeded to cultivate. His children were: Jeremiah, William, Joshua, John S., Benjamin, Re- becca, Susan, Sally, and Martha.

John S. Boyington was born in New Sharon in 1801, and was educated at the common

schools of the town. At a maturer age he learned the trade of barn building, and this he carried on for a number of years in connec- tion with farming. When twenty-four years old he went to Stark, and there bought a farm. This he sold in 1837, and moved back to his native town of New Sharon, where he pur- chased another farm of sixty acres in extent. Here he was engaged in general farming for the rest of his life, which closed in 1855, when he was fifty-four years old.

He was joined in matrimony with Jane Witham, a daughter of Jesse Witham, of Fair- field, Me., and by her became the father of eight children, six of whom are living. They were - Jesse, William A., Samuel, Leonard, Elizabeth, Mary J., Perluma, and R. Frances.

William A. Boyington spent his early boy- hood on his father's farm in Starks, and re- ceived his early education in the same town. He went with his father to New Sharon in 1837, and attended school there until he was eighteen years of age. Beginning then, he worked with his father on the home farm until he attained his majority. After this he was employed on adjoining farms and in logging camps until he was twenty-four. After his marriage he took the farm of Almond Saunders for a year, at the end of which he moved with his wife to Lewiston. Here he worked for another year, hauling wood on contract from the forest with his own oxen. During his second summer at Lewiston he helped to haul the stone with which the new court-house and jail of the town were built. A short while after he returned to New Sharon, where he bought a farm of forty-five acres, which he successfully conducted for five years. Then he sold it, and bought the place where he now lives. He tore down all the old barns that stood upon this property, and built more com- modious ones. He also made considerable improvements in the residence, including the flagging of his cellars and laying pipes from his well into the house. The place is now one of the finest and most modern estates in this part of the county. He has carried on general farming for many years. Owing to the fact that he has removed all rocks and stones from the land, the farm is easily worked. He owns eight head of handsome cattle and a large

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flock of sheep. He also moves and builds barns, a business at which he is an expert, and which brings him a good income.

On November 30, 1853, his twenty-fifth birthday, Mr. Boyington married Miss Ada- line S. Gordon, daughter of Ithiel Gordon, a farmer of New Sharon. Like his father he is a Republican in politics. His religious faith is that of the Free Will Baptists. He has been a notoriously hard-working man all his life, and all his success is due solely to his own efforts.

SA PACKARD, a well-known farmer and carpenter, residing in Greenwood township, was born here, June 19, 1830, son of Asa Packard, Sr., and Eleanor (Bradbury) Packard. His paternal grandfather, James Packard, who came from Bridgewater, Mass., was the first of the family to settle in this locality. After carrying on farming here for a few years, Grandfather Packard removed to the adjoining town of Norway, where he spent his last days.

Asa Packard, Sr., was born and reared in Oxford County. In his younger days he worked at the shoemaker's trade, but afterward turned his attention to agriculture, buying the farm on which his son Asa now lives. He subsequently moved to Harrison, Cumber- land County, where he died June 17, 1870. His wife, in maidenhood Eleanor Bradbury, who was a native of Norway, died in 1857. She bore him ten children, namely: James, who died in infancy; Malinda, who died at the age of seventy years; James (second), now engaged in farming in Norway; Nathaniel Morrill, who died at the age of twenty-three years; Charles, also deceased; Amos, an attorney-at-law, who resides in Baltimore, Md .; Asa and Eleanor, twins, the former being the subject of this sketch, and the latter the wife of Henry Porter, of Norway township; George, who lives in Bridgton, Me .; and Henry C., who is a resident of Harrison, this State.

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Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine, Part 11

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