USA > Maine > Oxford County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 2
USA > Maine > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 2
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William W. Watson attended a common school until he was fourteen years of age. After that he was first employed in a bucket factory in South Waterford. He had spent six years here when, on October 16, 1861, he enlisted for service in the Civil War in Company G, Twelfth Maine Volunteers, under Colonel Chapley and Captain M. M. Robin- son. In the course of the three years he spent in the army he participated in the siege of Port Hudson, in the battle of Winchester, and in several skirmishes. At Ship Island he received a permanent injury, on account of which he is now in receipt of a pension from the government. . Receiving his discharge at Portland, December 8, 1864, he returned to Waterford, and shortly after purchased thc saw-mill which he is now operating. He manufactures spool strips and a variety of pine boxes, including those used for packing salt, the most of which he ships to Boston, Mass. He has invented two labor-saving ma- chines, which have proved great successes.
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They are a box edger and a device for cutting box boards. Besides attending to his mill business Mr. Watson is engaged in general farming to some extent. He has had some reverses in business, but on the whole he has been successful.
Mr. Watson was married in April, 1868, to Marietta Hamlin, a native of South Water- ford, born in 1851, daughter of George K. Hamlin, who was a farmer. Mr. Hamlin and his wife are buried in Waterford. Mr. and Mrs. Watson have two children - Edith May and Harry W. The daughter, born 1874, who is a graduate of Douglass Seminary, and later attended the North Bridgton Academy, has taught school, and is now resting at home; Harry W. was born in 1879, and is a graduate of North Bridgton Academy. When Mr. Watson was first qualified to vote he joined the Democratic party. He subsequently be- came a Republican. Though he was never an office-seeker, he was appointed Postmaster of Waterford village, under President Harrison, and served efficiently for four years. He is a member of Harry Rust Post, No. 54, Grand Army of the Republic, of Norway village; of No. 132, A. F. & A. M., of Waterford City; and of Oxford Lodge, No. 61, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of North Waterford. Mr. and Mrs. Watson attend the Universalist church in South Waterford.
J OHN HENRY MILLETT, widely and favorably known as one of the substan- tial farmers of Oxford County, is pros- perously engaged in his chosen occupa- tion in the town of Norway, where his birth occurred April 4, 1825. His parents, Colonel John and Abigail (Parsons) Millett, were both lifelong residents of Norway. The former died here, June 3, 1875, aged eighty-four years, and the latter August 29, 1865, in the seventy- second year of her age.
Colonel Millett, who was a representative of the fifth generation in descent from the emigrant ancestor, Thomas Millett, an early settler in Massachusetts, received his military title dur- ing the War of 1812, although he never took part in any of the battles, his regiment going only as far as Portland. He was by occupation
a farmer and drover. He and his wife had a family of eight children. The eldest, a daugh- ter Dorothy, married Thomas Cousins, of Po- land, Me. ; and both she and her husband are now dead. Martha, who died in 1852, was the wife of Otis True, of Norway; and Abigail is the wife of E. C. Jackson, a farmer living in Norway. John Henry is the special subject of this sketch. Jonathan Sawyer, the next son, died in California. The sixth child, Mary W. P., who died some time since, was the wife of A. F. Jackson of this town. Isaac P. and Jocl, who were twins, are deceased.
John Henry Millett, the first born son, is the only one of the four now living. He re- mained a member of the parental household throughout his childhood and youth and during a short period of his early manhood. Gold being discovered in California in February, 1848, he shared in the excitement that fol- lowed, and with his brothers started for that "El Dorado of the West," going directly to Sacramento, where he tried mining for two years. Not being very successful in his search for the precious metal, he returned to Norway and engaged in farming, convinced that "there was no place like home." After his marriage he bought the farm he now occupies, and which by his persistent efforts has become in point of improvements and equipments one of the finest in the town. He owns about five hundred acres of land ; and with the assistance of his sons he carries on general farming, and is also engaged in stock raising and dairying. A part of the cream is sold in the village of West Paris, while in the home .dairy Mrs. Millett makes butter and cheese.
Mr. Millett was married November 25, 1858, to Miss Sarah Elizabeth Rice, who was born December 6, 1827, in Waterford, this county, where her grandfather, Eben Rice, Sr., was a pioneer settler. Her parents were Eben Rice, Jr., a lifelong resident of Water- ford, and his wife, Elizabeth Frye, who was a native of Fryeburg, Oxford County. During the first sixteen years of their wedded life Mr. and Mrs. Millett became the parents of six children. With two of these little ones they were soon called to part, namely : Harry, born May 16, 1865, who died at the age of nine months; and Frances Allen, born December
:
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11, 1867, who died July 19, 1868. The four who grew to maturity and are now living were well-educated, completing their studies in the high school. The following is a brief record : Mary A., born in 1860, is her mother's helper at home; Jonathan S., born August 15, 1862, and John Henry, Jr., born March 25, 1869, assist their father in the care of the farm; and Sarah Elizabeth, born September 22, 1872, is engaged in teaching in the town of Norway.
Mrs. Millett is a communicant of the Con- gregational church. Mr. Millett and all his family are members of the Norway Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. A Democrat in politi- cal affiliation, he cast his first Presidential vote in 1852 for the Democratic nominee, Franklin Pierce, who received the election.
ON. FRANCIS GOULD BUTLER, for many years one of Farmington's most noted citizens and enterprising business men, died at his residence in this town, December 6, 1891. He was born in Farmington, March 3, 1811, son of Francis and Mary (Blackstone) Butler, and was a great-grandson of Benjamin Butler, a native of Martha's Vineyard, who made his home at Edgartown in the eastern part of the island.
There his son, Ephraim, Mr. Butler's grand- father, was born, December 9, 1758. Ephraim Butler began to follow the sea in his youth, shipping before the mast. After a time, find- ing that his education was not sufficient to in- sure promotion, he returned home, and applied himself to study, pursuing a thorough course in mathematics and navigation. Upon its completion he became mate of a whale-ship under Captain Trowbridge, later serving in the Continental forces, both naval and land, in the Revolutionary War. After the close of the struggle for independence he acted as a pilot along the coast of Massachusetts and Maine; but, having drawn a tract of wild land situated in the town of New Vineyard in the District of Maine, he decided to settle there. He began the task of clearing it off in 1792, taking up his residence with his family in Sandy River township, from which place they removed the
following year to their new home in the wil- derness. He improved his grant into a good farm, and, selling the property in 1801, set- tled in Farmington, where he resided until his death, which took place April 3, 1832. He married Lovie Sherman Lease, who was born in 1759, and they reared a family of seven children ; namely, Jeremiah, Francis, Oliver, Betsey, Lovie, Abigail, and William. Mrs.
Lovie S. Butler died in 1843.
Francis Butler, the second of the four sons, who has already been mentioned as the father of Francis Gould, was born in New Vineyard, Me., October 12, 1782. Possessed of an en- ergetic nature, he began life for himself when a mere lad; and for several years he resided with his Uncle Joseph in Portland. Upon his return to Farmington he engaged in mercantile pursuits, carrying on a general store in Fair- banks village from 1827 to 1832; and, besides owning and operating mills and cultivating several farms, he was extensively engaged in buying cattle for the Brighton market. He' was one of the most stirring and successful business men of his day ; and in public affairs he displayed the same activity and tact which characterized his private business operations, serving as a member of the Board of Select- men from 1829 to 1834, Town Treasurer in 1835, and as Representative to the legislature in 1823. He died January 1, 1845. For his first wife he married Mary Blackstone, who died in 1823, aged thirty-seven years, leaving two children, namely: Francis Gould, the subject of this sketch; and Mary Jane, born August 29, 1822, who married Deacon R. Cut- ler, and died within a year or two, the mother of a son, who did not long survive. By his union with Rebecca Knowlton, his second wife, Francis Butler had three children, namely : Caroline E., who was born March 28, 1828; Hiram A., who was born August 29, 1831 ; and Margaret J., who was born March 10, 1836.
Francis Gould Butler, the eldest son of Francis Butler, acquired his education in the common schools and at the Farmington Acad- emy. While still a youth he was for a time employed as a clerk in the store at Farmington Falls; and as he grew older he became of val- uable assistance to his father, whose business
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enterprises were widely scattered. For a short time he engaged in mercantile pursuits in Bos- ton ; but, not finding indoor occupation congen- ial, he returned to Farmington, and availed himself of the advantages of his practical knowledge of surveying to busy himself in the open air. Aside from being employed by residents of this town and its vicinity to settle disputed boundary lines, he was commissioned as a land surveyor by the State; and nearly if not quite all the government lands in this part of the county were located and set off either by him personally or under his di- rection.
The exceedingly able and business-like manner in which he settled his father's estate won for him a high reputation as a financier ; and his fellow-townsmen, seeing in him a man abundantly qualified to administer public affairs, secured his valuable services by elect- ing him to the Board of Selectmen and to the post of Town Treasurer, also to other local offices. He was a member of the legislature in 1854, and on account of the illness of the speaker was chosen Speaker pro tem., a posi- tion which he ably filled for nearly the entire session ; and in 1856, which was the last year in which the Democratic party was in the ma- jority in Maine, he was a member of the State Senate. Mr. Butler also served as Clerk of Courts, as High Sheriff of Franklin County, and for many years was a delegate to the local and State conventions of his party. He was an accomplished parliamentarian and a skilful presiding officer, having the ability to state clearly and concisely the question for debate ; and the forcible arguments he used in sustain- ing a point which he had undertaken to cham- pion were the means of weakening his oppo- nents and winning many votes to the support of his cause.
He was instrumental in securing the incor- poration of Franklin County, thus making Farmington a shire town; and he also worked diligently and subscribed generously toward bringing the town into connection with the railroad system of the State. In 1859 he was chosen a Trustee of the Franklin Academy, being a member of the last board of govern- ment of that institution ; and he rendered val- uable aid in bringing about the measures
whereby it was handed over to the State in return for the establishment here of the first Normal School in Maine. In 1861 he became President of the Sandy River National Bank, being also appointed Treasurer of the County Savings Bank ; and he not only handled the affairs of these institutions with prudence and sagacity, placing them upon a firm basis, but his private operations were always of such a nature as to prove beneficial to the general business interests of the town.
Deeply interested in the growth and devel- opment of Farmington, looking upon its ad- vancement as a part of the history of Maine, in 1882 Mr. Butler began the task of com- piling a biographical and genealogical history of the town, which he completed in 1885. This work, which contains six hundred and eighty-three pages of valuable records, dating from 1776 and relating to the early explora- tions and settlements, family history, early military operations, church annals, mechanical industries, railroads, and other matters of deep concern to the residents here, is profusely illustrated and had a large circulation in this locality. It is now especially prized by those fortunate enough to possess a copy, as the re- maining one thousand volumes of the issue were destroyed by the conflagration which oc- curred here in 1886. The Butler homestead was also swept away by that disastrous fire, but was immediately replaced by a more mod- ern and commodious residence, which is with- out doubt one of the finest in the county. Mr. Butler led a regular and exceedingly temperate life, his health remaining good up to the ill- ness which resulted fatally. He died as be- fore mentioned, leaving an honorable record as a legacy to his posterity, his untiring labors in behalf of the general community forming a bright spot in the history of the town he loved so well.
On July 23, 1842, Francis Gould Butler was united in marriage with Julia Wendell, who survives him. She was born in Farming- ton, July 20, 1815, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Eaton) Wendell, the former of whom was in his day one of the energetic farmers and prominent residents of this town. Thomas Wendell was born in Marblehead, Mass., July 13, 1770, and was a son of Thomas
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Wendell, Sr., of that town. In 1786, at the age of sixteen years, young Wendell, who had previously followed the sea as a cabin boy, came to Farmington, where he learned the carpenter's trade; and in early manhood he bought a tract of wild land, which he cleared into a good farm, thus establishing a com- fortable home for his family. llis upright, manly principles, carnest picty, and strict adherence to habits of temperance caused him to lead a most exemplary life. He died of old age, November 19, 1862. He served as Se- lectman during the years 1807 and 1808; and, when the academy was built, he not only assisted in its erection, but subscribed liber- ally toward its endowment. In religious views a Congregationalist, he was one of the principal promoters of that church in this town; and he acted as clerk of the parish for many years, or until his death. He married Elizabeth Eaton, and had a family of eleven children, of whom Mrs. Julia Butler is the only survivor. Mrs. Butler has been the mother of four children, as follows: Mary Elizabeth, who was born May 6, 1843, and died May 21, 1858; Julia Page, who was born December 1, 1847, and died September II, 1851 ; Apphia Stanley, who was born April II, 1851, and died October 1, 1860; and Carrie Frances, who was born April 30, 1855, married Charles F. Thwing, President of Adelbert College, Cleveland, Ohio, and has three children - Mary B., Frances B., and Apphia.
Mrs. Butler, who enjoys unusually good health for one of her years, has been a leading spirit in religious work in this community, having throughout her active life assisted the various societies connected with the Congrega- tional church, both by liberal contributions and personal services. Her deeds of kindness and unostentatious charity have endeared this estimable woman to the hearts of her many friends and acquaintances.
OHN C. GERRY, for some time a member of the State legislature, a cus- tom-house official, and Deputy Sheriff of Oxford and Cumberland Counties, was long an esteemed and influential citizen of
South Waterford, Me., where his widow and daughter are still socially prominent. He was born in Waterford, November 25, 1808, the son of Peter and Polly (Cutler) Gerry. His father was a native of Harvard, Mass., his mother of Sudbury, Mass.
Nathaniel Gerry, father of Peter, spent his life in the old Bay State, his birthplace being Stoneham, and his place of residence for many years the pretty country town of Harvard. Peter Gerry, who was born in 1776, settled in the south-west part of Waterford in 1797. Ile devoted much of his time to agricultural labors, but worked also at his trade of shoe- making. An intelligent man who took an active interest in public affairs, he was elected to the State legislature and served for four terms. He died June 16, 1847, having sur- vived his wife, who breathed her last on March 16, 1830, seventeen years. Their five children, who have since joined them in the world beyond, were: Mary; John C., afore- named; Roland H. ; Abbie; and Elbridge.
John C. Gerry was reared on a farm, and in the years of his mature manhood followed the pursuit of agriculture on an extensive scale. He was also interested in trade, and for thice years was a member of the firm of Gerry & Turner, marble dealers, of Portland, Me. In politics he took an active part, voting the Democratic ticket ; and his ability and ster- ling character won the respect and confidence of his fellows, who elected him to a number of offices. He was Town Treasurer of Water- ford eight years, was Deputy Sheriff of Oxford and Cumberland Counties for one or more terms, occupied a seat in the legislature in 1851, and was in the custom-house four years. In the latter part of his life, his health being poor, he retired from business and public affairs, living quietly in the village of Water- ford until his death, November 19, 1887. Mr. Gerry was well known in Oxford and Cumber- land Counties, and had a host of friends.
He was married March 15, 1847, to Nancy W. Sawin, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Temple) Sawin. She was born in Waterford, November 30, 1819. Her parents were na- tives of Sudbury, Mass. They lived for a while after they were married at Waterford Flat, Me., Mr. Sawin being driver and agent
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of the stage-coach running between Waterford Flat and Portland. About 1824 he removed to Freeport, Me., where he was stage agent until 1842; and after retiring from business he lived with his daughter in Waterford until his death on September 8 of that year. Mrs. Sawin died at the home of her daughter in 1849. She was the mother of thirteen chil- dren, only two of whom are now living, namely : Jane, who resides in Hyde Park, Mass. ; and Nancy W., Mrs. Gerry. The others were : Betsey, Phoebe, William, Julia, Harriet, Lyman, Jabez, Mary A., Mary A. (second), Lydia, and one who died in infancy. Seven children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Gerry, the record being as follows : John Melville, who lived but . three years; Mary Elizabeth, wife of C. C. Briggs, a resident of Pittsburg, Pa., employed in the iron and steel works; Josephine, residing with her mother on the homestead in Waterford; Anna Sin- clair, wife of John Haynes, a music dealer living in Mount Vernon, N. Y. ; Helen, who `died at the age of thirty ; Roland, in Pittsburg, Pa. ; and John Cutler, who lived but ten years. The children who grew up were well educated, attending Bridgton Academy and taking high- school courses. Mrs. and Miss Gerry exer- cise a graceful hospitality at their pleasant home in South Waterford village.
UGENE NELSON, a retired manufact- urer of Waterford, now engaged to some extent in market gardening, belongs to one of the oldest families in New England. The son of Chaplin and Emily (Hicks) Nelson, he was born in Waterford, April 9, 1849. He is descended from Thomas and Joan Nelson, Thomas being the ancestor of the Nelsons in Maine, New Hampshire, and the northern part of Massachusetts. Thomas Nelson was one of the twenty-seven friends that emigrated with the Rev. Ezekiel Rogers from Rowley, Yorkshire, England, in December, 1638. In the spring of 1639 this party settled on land situated between Ipswich and Newbury, Mass., subsequently known as "Mr. Rogers's Plantation, " but named Rowley by the General Court in the following Septem- ber. Thomas Nelson, who was one of the
able men of his time, was made a freeman May 23, 1639, was Deputy to the General Court in 1640 and 1641, and in 1643 was chosen chairman of a committee to make a survey of the town, and lay out and register house lots. In October, 1644, he was author- ized to join persons in marriage within the limits of Rowley. In January, 1644, the town granted to him thirty-six acres in the "Mill Field," ten acres of which were de- signed to encourage him to build mills. Eu- gene Nelson's grandparents, Moses and Hitta (Pingree) Nelson, were the first of the family in Waterford, to which they came from Rowley, and where Moses devoted the last years of his life to agriculture.
Chaplin Nelson was born in Waterford, and was employed there in his youth as a sur- veyor. He was later engaged in the sale of general merchandise in the village of Water- ford. His death occurred at the age of thirty- five. His wife, a native of Westbrook, Me., who was afterward married to D. W. Noble. of Waterford (also deceased), died in 1881. By her first marriage she had four children, namely : Georgia A., born February 16, 1846, the wife of Cyrus S. Tucker, of Norway; Llewellyn K., born June 23, 1847, a book- keeper in Leadville, Col .; Eugene, the sub- ject of this sketch; and Charles W., born Sep- tember 21, 1850, a resident of New York City, and engaged in the railroad business.
Eugene Nelson received a good education, attending the common schools near his home and Bridgton Academy. At the age of nine- teen he obtained employment as clerk in the office of the water department at Boston, Mass., where he remained a year. Returning then to his native place, he was engaged in the manufacture of woodenware in Waterford City for two years. Subsequently in the village he developed a large business in gen- eral manufacturing, and became one of the prominent men in the place. He retired from active business some time ago. It was, how- ever, impossible for a man of his disposition to remain entirely unoccupied, so he turned his attention to market gardening. in which he has since found recreation and some profit.
In October, 1871, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Lottie M. Stanwood, who was
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born in Boston, Mass., February 2, 1853. Her parents, who are living on the Stanwood homestead in Waterford, are Albert and Matilda (Morse) Stanwood, the former a na- tive of Newburyport, Mass., and the latter of Waterford. They have five children, namely : Albert E., born November 10, 1873, now in Bridgton, Me. ; Edward C., born June 1, 1875, in Portland, Me .; Ethel M., born May 1, 1877; Bertha S., born July 28, 1883; and Charles M., born January 13, 1887. The three last named reside with their parents. Mr. Nelson takes an active interest in poli- tics, voting the Democratic ticket. He has served on the Township Committee for a num- ber of years, and has held the office of Super- visor of Schools three years. He is well known and highly esteemed in the vicinity of his home.
RASTUS T. ABBOTT, of Farmington, Franklin County, Me., who was for- merly identified with the saw-mill business in this section of the State, and is now a successful agriculturist, was born in Milan, N. H., October 17, 1849, son of Eras- tus I. and Lydia (Eckley) Abbott. His pater- nal grandfather was Luther Abbott, a resident of Lancaster, N. H. ; and that town was his father's birthplace.
Erastus I. Abbott in early manhood learned the wheelwright's trade, in which he became exceedingly proficient, and was known as one of the best workmen in this locality. Settling in Milton Plantation in this county, he engaged in operating saw-mills, also owning some valu- able farming lands, which he carried on with prosperous results. Later, from Milton he moved to Rumford Falls, Oxford County, where he is now residing, and is the proprietor of saw-mills. He is an active and very capa- ble business man, whose . enterprising spirit has been productive of excellent financial results ; and he is to-day among the most useful and progressive citizens of Oxford County.
Erastus T. Abbott, to whom was given his father's name with a distinctive middle initial, acquired the principal part of his education in the schools of Oxford County; and when his studies were finished he began work with his
father, first as a wheelwright and later as a mill-man. Being a natural mechanic, he took up the business of filing and fitting saws, in which he became an expert, and continued thus employed for several years, being frequently called to different localities for the purpose of putting in order and adjusting mill saws. In company with his father he bought a small farm in Franklin Plantation ; and, after remod- elling the buildings and otherwise improving the property, he sold it and purchased the J. Butterfield farm of one hundred acres, situ- ated in Farmington, where he has since resided.
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