USA > Maine > Oxford County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 22
USA > Maine > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 22
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Dr. Howard and Miss Ella L. Wilkins, daughter of Abial and Elizabeth (Howe) Wil- kins, of Wilton, Me., were married on April 30, 1870, and now have three children. It was to give these children better educational advan- tages that he removed to Farmington. The eldest, Guy C., who was born December 29,
1873, and is at present a Junior in Bowdoin College, has taught sixty-four weeks as first assistant of the Farmington High School; the 'next, Maud E., who was born January 16, 1875, is a graduate of the State Normal School at Farmington in the class of 1894, and is now teaching in Groveland, Mass. ; and the young- est, Ethel L., born December 12, 1879, is in the classical department of the Farmington High School, fitting for college. In politics Dr. Howard favors the Republican party.
OHN C. PIKE, formerly a resident of Waterford, where he will be long re- membered as a man of sterling worth and character and a prominent agri- culturist, was born here, September 28, 1827. He was a son of John and Hannah (Prince) Pike, respectively natives of Waterford and Massachusetts. Grandfather Pike was the first of the name to settle in this town.
John Pike, who was engaged in farming here throughout the most of his lifetime, was one of the leading agriculturists of the town. He subsequently removed to Sweden, Me., where his busy life closed. His first wife, Hannah (Prince) Pike, died December 21, 1833; and he afterward married Miss Esther Richardson, of Sweden, who was born May 10, 1804. The fruit of his first marriage was four children, namely: Mary A., deceased, born April 8, 1825; John C., the subject of this sketch; Susan Augusta, born July 29, 1829, and Hannah M., born December 21, 1833, who died September 27, 1844. By his second wife he had: Elias, born June 28, 1837, who died December 28, 1862; Alvin, born April 28, 1841, now living in Sweden ; and Gilman, born February II, 1845, who died December 17, 1862.
When seventeen years of age John C. Pike left home, and went to California and to other points in the West, where for several years, until 1858, he was engaged in mining and logging. After his marriage he settled .on the farm now occupied by his widow, and was there successfully engaged in general farming until his death, which occurred December 6, 1891, at the age of sixty-four years. The farm, which is now carried on by one of his
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sons, contains about three hundred acres of productive land. It came to its present owners in a high condition.
On June 28, 1854, Mr. Pike was married to Miss Eliza A. Williard, who was born in Waterford, August 16, 1821, daughter of Louis and Mary (Plaisted) Williard. Mr. and Mrs. Williard were respectively natives of Harvard, Mass., and Gorham, Me. When Mr. Williard came to Waterford, he settled on the farm where his daughter, Mrs. Pike, now lives. She has had two sons and a daughter, namely : Sarah M., born July 7, 1855, now the wife of Henry Wentworth, of Waterford; Bion H., born March 18, 1858, who married Miss Edith Nevers, and is living near the old homestead; and Ernest L., born November 24, 1859, who resides on the homestead farm with his mother, and is successfully engaged in general farming, lumbering, and stock busi- ness. The latter is now one of the leading men of the town, a member of the grange at Waterford, and a stanch Republican, having always voted with that party.
EORGE A. VIRGIN, a lumber man- ufacturer of Hanover village, Oxford County, was born here, November 15, 1851, son of Jonathan A. and Nancy K. (Elliott) Virgin. When a young man Rufus Virgin, the father of Jonathan A., came to this county from Concord, N. H., and settled in Rumford Falls. Jonathan A. was born at Rumford. Falls, and there spent his early years, receiving his education in the common schools. He began his business career as manager of a grist-mill at Rumford Falls. About the year 1844 he came to Hanover, and . purchased the old grist-mill and rebuilt it. At a later date he bought the old saw-mill and refitted it. He ran both successfully, and carried on a successful business until about 1874, when he bought the old woollen-mill. This he tore down, and erected the mill now owned by his son. After renting it one year he sold out. In 1892 he again bought the woollen-mill, and, in company with his son, altered it into a saw-mill. He died Septem- ber 1, 1893, at the age of seventy-six years. In politics he was an adherent of the Republi-
can party. His opinion on matters pertaining to the public welfare was much valued, and for several years he served as Treasurer of the town of Hanover. Although not a member of any church, he rendered material assistance in the erection of the Universalist church at Rumford Point. Nancy K. (Elliott) Virgin, his wife, who was born in Livermore, Me., died at the age of forty-five years, leaving two sons - George A. and Rufus J. R. J. Virgin resides now at South Bethel, this county, where he is engaged in manufacturing lumber.
After attending the schools here in Han- over, George A. Virgin took a supplementary course at Gould's Academy in Bethel and at Hebron Academy. After attaining his legal majority, he rented his father's saw-mill for a few years, and then bought it. He leased the grist-mill some time later, and thereafter conducted the two together until 1892. Since his father's death he has purchased the new saw-mill here in Hanover village, where he carries on quite an extensive business in gen- eral lumber and box manufacturing.
On May 30, 1874, Mr. Virgin was united in marriage with Miss Emma G. Brown, who died January 26, 1887, leaving two children - George Lee and Dwight M. Both are now employed with their father in the mill. In politics Mr. Virgin is a Republican. He is a member of Blazing Star Lodge, No. 30, of F. & A. M., at Rumford Centre; and of Oxford Bear Lodge, No. 54, Knights of Pyth- ias, of Hanover.
LIAS H. MORSE, one of the most pro- gressive farmers of Jay, Franklin County, was born September 7, 1830, upon the farm he now owns and culti- vates, son of John and Sally (Monroe) Morse. Nathan Morse, his grandfather, an English- man by birth, after following the sea as mas- ter of a vessel in his younger days, settled upon a farm in Weld, Me., still owned by a member of the family, and resided there for the rest of his life. John Morse, who was born in Weld, settled at the age of eighteen in Jay upon the farm where his son, Elias H., now resides, and spent the remainder of his active period occupied in its cultivation. He
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died February 18, 1872. His wife, Sally, who was a daughter of Abel Monroe, a prosperous farmer of Livermore, Androscoggin County, bore him six children, as follows: Sally and Julia M., who are no longer living; Martha M., the wife of Dr. Bartlett, of East Dixfield ; Elias, also deceased; Elias H., the subject of this sketch; and Melvina C., who died Novem- ber 6, 1842. The mother's death occurred on February 23, 1879.
Elias H. Morse was educated in the common schools of Jay, and has always resided at the homestead. He succeeded to the property, which is now a well-improved farm of two hun- dred acres. Besides the usual farm products, he makes a specialty of raising fruit. His prosperity has been achieved by good sense, industry, and perseverance. On October 8, 1857, Mr. Morse was first united in marriage with Ann Coolage Phinney, who was born in Jay, September 21, 1838, daughter of Deacon Jonas and Eliza (Lampkin) Phinney, late of this town. She died May 28, 1885, leaving four children, as follows: Mary Eliza, born August 19, 1858, who married Wilbur Libby, and resides in North Falmouth, Me. ; Jona- than Everett, born January 3, 1864, who mar- ried Carrie Bolster, and resides in Lynn, Mass. ; Carrie P., born January 13, 1867, who is now the wife of Stillman B. Harlow, of East Dixfield, this county; and Ernest Clifford, born December 8, 1877, who resides at the homestead. On April 2, 1890, Mr. Morse wedded Mrs. Eleanor (True) Ramsdell, widow of Augustus Ramsdell. She was born in Phil- lips, Me., January 31, 1843, daughter of the late Captain John True, formerly a well-known and highly respected citizen of that town. Mr. Morse is numbered among the stanch Re- publicans of Jay, having upheld the principles of that party since reaching his majority. He has always given his close attention to his farm, and is held in high estimation by his neighbors and fellow-townsmen.
A LBION EMERY BRADBURY, one of the largest real estate owners and most prominent residents of the town of Canton, Oxford County, Me., was born in Byron, Me., in the same county, on
March 8, 1822, son of Thomas and Dolly (Morse) Bradbury. He comes of old Colonial stock, being a worthy representative of the family founded in America by Thomas Brad- bury, who emigrated from England in 1634, and, settling in the District of Maine, became the possessor of a large tract of land. Some of his descendants were men of note during the Colonial period.
Mr. Albion Bradbury's grandfather, Daniel Bradbury, who was a native of Buxton, Me., and was a Quaker, settled in early manhood in Athens, Me., of which town he was a pioneer farmer and one who made good progress. An upright man and a highly respected citizen, he labored diligently and without selfish motives to secure the development of the town. He died in Athens at the age of eighty-six years. He reared a family of fourteen children, of whom Thomas, Mr. Bradbury's father, was the second-born.
Thomas Bradbury grew to manhood upon a farm in the town of Buxton, his native place. He early displayed a capacity for both agri- cultural and business pursuits, and aside from tilling the soil he became a very prominent cattle dealer. He made his home in Byron for a time; but on March 25, 1828, he settled in Canton upon the farm where his son now re- sides. He was very successful both as a farmer and a business man, becoming one of the wealthiest men of this town; and he re- sided here until his death, which took place October 15, 1857, at the age of sixty-six years. In politics he was originally a Whig, but joined the Republican movement at its forma- tion, and was one of the first supporters of that party in this section. His wife, Dolly Morse, who was a native of Concord, N. H., became the mother of four children, two of whom are living, namely : Albion E., the subject of this sketch; and Fannie, who is the wife of Amos Childs and resides in Canton. The others were : Cynthia, who died April 29, 1857, aged thirty-two years; and Charles D. Bradbury, M. D., a successful physician, who died in 1893, aged sixty-one years. Mrs. Dolly M. Bradbury lived to reach the age of eighty- seven years, and died November 4, 1882. Both she and her husband were Universalists in their religious belief.
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ALBION E. BRADBURY.
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Albion Emery Bradbury accompanied his parents to Canton when but six years of age. He was educated partly in the public schools of this town, including the high school, and partly under the direction of a private tutor. Having grown to manhood he still continued to live with his father and mother, and for some time previous to his father's death he had entire charge of the business affairs of the es- tate. He now carries on general farming at the old homestead, of which he has come into possession, and where he has been a resident for nearly sixty-nine years. His agricultural operations are not necessarily on a very lim- ited scale, as he is the owner of over five hun- dred acres of valuable land. Mr. Bradbury has, however, not confined himself to labor in the fields, but has travelled extensively through the United States, visiting all notable points of interest to an intelligent sightseer; and he is well-informed in regard to the natural resources and the industries of this country. Mr. Bradbury is unmarried. In politics he acts with the Republican party, but has never aspired to public office. In his re- ligious views he is a Universalist.
ON. SAMUEL P. CUSHMAN, one of the town fathers of Hebron, Me., born March 16, 1829, on the farm which is now his home, is a son of Ansel and Eliza (Pratt) Cushman. His grand- father, Caleb Cushman, an active and indus- trious farmer in his lifetime, was one of the early settlers of Hebron. Caleb died on the homestead at an advanced age. His family consisted of nine children, five daughters and four sons, all of whom have long since passed away. Ansel Cushman spent his life on his father's farm, and was one of the representa- tive farmers of the town. In politics he was originally a Whig. Upon the formation of the Republican party he gave his adhesion to its principles. He was a member of the Bap- tist church in Hebron. His death occurred in his eighty-third year, and that of his wife at the age of eighty-two. Six children were born to them, namely: Nancy, the widow of the late Lauren A. Bumpus; Henry M., deceased; Samuel P., the subject of this
sketch; Horatio A., a resident of Hebron; Charlotte P., the wife of Jacob M. Drew, of Auburn; Maria E., now in Los Angeles, Cal., the widow of Henry Ricker, who died in the late war.
Samuel P. Cushman grew to manhood in Hebron, acquiring an education in the com- mon schools and the academy. After leaving the academy he taught school for a short time, and then turned his attention to agriculture on the home farm. This property covers some eighty acres of land, and has neat and sub- stantial buildings, which Mr. Cushman him- self erected.
Mr. Cushman was married September 5, 1856, to Mary B. Cushman, daughter of Major Albert and Rosetta H. (Curtis) Cushman. She was born in Hebron, September 7, 1833. She has borne her husband three sons - Fred- erick W., Hartley F., and Albion K. P. The eldest, who was born December 1, 1858, acquired a good education, studying at Hebron Academy. For some time he has given his attention to carpentry and general farming in his native town, where he owns a farm of one hundred acres. He is a member of Hebron Grange, No. 43, Patrons of Husbandry, of Hebron. In politics he is a Republican, in religious belief a liberal. He was married February 4, 1891, to Edith L., daughter of Zibeon L. Packard, and has two children - Dwight P. and Edelle. His wife is a member of the Baptist church. Hartley F. Cushman, born July 24, 1864, who is in trade in Auburn, Me., married Miss Lillian E. Thomas. Al- bion K. P. Cushman, born February 11, 1870, who is as yet unmarried, and lives with his parents, follows the pursuit of agriculture. Mr. Samuel P. Cushman, who is a Republi- can, has been elected several times to the Hebron Board of Selectmen, and has served for a number of years as Chairman of the Board. He was Town Clerk and Treasurer for ten years, having previously filled minor offices. He has been a Justice of the Peace for many years, and in 1874 he represented the district in the State legislature. He is a member of Evening Star Lodge, No. 147, A. F. & A. M., of Buckfield, and is very prominent in social circles. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cushman are members of Hebron
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Grange, No. 43, Patrons of Husbandry, of Hebron. They are also members of the Bap- tist church at Hebron.
LFRED A. OAKES, a member of the Board of Selectmen of Chestervillc, Franklin County, Me., was born at the Oakes homestcad, where he now resides, April 16, 1851, son of David and Marinda (Arnold) Oakes. Mr. Oakes is a de- scendant of a Revolutionary patriot, his great- grandfather, John Oakes, having been among the minute-men who took part in the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill, and died from the effects of exposure some three months after the last-named struggle.
The wife of John Oakes married for her second husband Jonathan Knowlton, a native of Massachusetts, whoni she met while he was on one of his trips to Maine, which he made by packet from Salem, being five months on his last voyage from that place to Hallowell. In 1780 Mr. and Mrs. Knowlton settled upon a tract of new land in Farmington. John Oakes, Jr., who was born in Massachusetts in 1770, son of the first-named John, accom- panied his mother and step-father to Farming- ton, being, it is said, the first white boy brought by any settler to that town. Shortly afterward he removed to New Vineyard; and he eventually settled upon one hundred and sixty acres of wild land, which he improved into a good farm. He resided there for a few years, and then removed to Chesterville, where he bought of his brother Eben and John Corbett the farm of three hundred and twenty- five acres, which has since been known as the Oakes homestead. A hard-working, thrifty farmer, he survived the vicissitudes of a pioneer's life, and lived to see the locality become a thriving agricultural district. He died at the homestead in Chesterville, Sep- tember 7, 1839, aged sixty-nine years. In politics he acted with the Democratic party. He was widely and favorably known through- out this section as Deacon John Oakes, from his official connection with the Baptist church. He married Wealthy Crapo, a native of Massachusetts, who was born in 1771, and they reared a family of eight children ;
namely, Wealthy, John, Mary, David, Jere, and Elkanah, who were born in New Vine- yard; and Frances and Weighty, who were born in Chesterville. Grandmother Oakes lived to be eighty-three years old, dying May 8, 1854.
David Oakes, Mr. Oakes's father, was born April 13, 1802, and was the second son. His boyhood and youth were spent at the home- stead, acquiring a practical knowledge of farm work and attending the district school; and at the' age of twenty-one he became his father's hircd help. On the death of his father he and his brother John inherited the homestead, which they carried on together till 1854, when he bought his brother's interest; and John went to Minnesota, where he died ten years later. Continuing to improve the property, David Oakes became a prosperous general farmer and stock raiser; and, as he was especially partial to good-blooded ani- mals, he always kept the best of horses and oxen. The active period of his life was spent in toiling industry. He died October 21, 1879, aged seventy-seven years. In politics he was in his last years a Republican, and on religious matters he held broad and liberal views. His wife, Marinda Arnold, whom he married in 1833, was a daughter of John Ar- nold, of Augusta. They reared four children, namely : David, who died at the age of twenty ; Augusta, who is living at the present time; Alfred A., the subject of this sketch; and John. The mother died April 5, 1855, aged forty-two years.
Alfred A. Oakes was educated in the town schools of Chesterville, and resided at home until he was twenty-one years old, when he went to Foxboro, Mass., where he was en- gaged in the manufacture of straw hats for three years. He then returned to the home- stead, a third of which he inherited; and, hav- ing purchased the interests of the other heirs, he has since carried on the farm with energy and success. He deals largely in stock, keeps sixteen Durham and Guernsey cows, sending his milk and cream to the Turner creamery at Auburn; and for some years he was quite an extensive breeder of Durham cattle for the market.
On October 17, 1875, Mr. Oakes wedded
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for his first wife Georgia A. Goodrich, daugh- ter of David Goodrich, of Wilton. She died March 17, 1879; and in 1885 he was united to his present wife, who was before marriage Brendena L. Russell, being a daughter of Charles A. Russell, of Temple. By this union there have been four children, namely : Arthur A., who was born May 5, 1886; Ralph G., who was born November 28, 1887; Percy B., who was born October 14, 1890, and died April 19, 1891 ; and Fannie E., who was born February 25, 1892.
In politics Mr. Oakes is an active supporter of the Republican party, and his natural abil- ity has placed him in a position of promi- nence in public affairs. Besides serving in the various minor town offices he was a mem- ber of the Board of Selectmen during the years 1881, 1882, and 1883, and has served in the same capacity for the past three years. He is highly esteemed by his fellow-townsmen both as an agreeable, kind-hearted neighbor and as an able and faithful public official.
EORGE LEVITT MELLEN, a re- tired resident of Paris, Me., who was for many years identified with the Oxford Democrat, was born at Paris Hill, January 28, 1823, son of Alanson and Mary (Bisco) Mellen. Mr. Mellen's father, who was a native of Hopkinton, Mass., came to Paris at an early date in the town's history, as agent for the Bemis family, who were at that time the owners of a large estate in this county.
Alanson Mellen was an exceedingly able and upright business man. He took a promi- nent part in developing the natural resources of Paris, it being through his instrumentality that the great possibilities of this town as an agricultural centre were brought to the notice of investors and farmers. Soon after his settlement here he became connected with public affairs, and his valuable official ser- vices extended through a period of many years. For several years he was Town Clerk, and for thirty-five or thirty-six years he was the Registrar of Deeds of Oxford County, being the second man to fill that position. He was also County Treasurer for a number of
terms. A man of advanced ideas, he labored diligently and effectively in securing the growth and prosperity of this section of the State, his active endeavors for the general good of the community being maintained until his death. He entertained broad and liberal views upon religious subjects; and, politically, he was an earnest and influential supporter of the Democratic party, in which he figured as a recognized leader in this county. Alanson Mellen died at his home in Paris Hill, December 9, 1851. He and his wife, Mary Bisco, whom he survived some twenty-five years, were the parents of six children, as fol- lows: Leonard, who was born January 20, 1813; Jonas B., who was born December 7, 1814; Eunice F., who was born October 17, 1816; Mary M., who was born November I, 1818; Charles T., who was born November 20, 1820; and George Levitt, whose birth is mentioned above. Mrs. Mary B. Mellen died March 12, 1826.
George Levitt Mellen, the fourth son, who is the subject of this sketch, acquired his early education in the district schools of his neigh- borhood, and advanced in knowledge and men- tal discipline by attending the Yarmouth and Bridgton Academies. After completing his studies he served an apprenticeship at the printer's trade in the office of the Oxford Democrat, later being engaged at various places, including Lowell and Boston, Mass. While residing in the New England metropo- lis, he, in company with Mr. C. A. Putnam, purchased in 1849 a literary newspaper, called the Boston Museum, which they conducted for a short time, and then sold. Returning to Paris, Mr. Mellen early in 1850 bought a half-interest in the Oxford Democrat, the office and publishing-room of which had been destroyed by fire in December, 1849. Re- establishing that journal upon a firm running basis, Mr. Mellen, in company with George W. Millett, carried it on until October, 1850, when he with others purchased Mr. Millett's interest in the enterprise. The Democrat continued to flourish under his management, with Mr. Emery, of Portland, as editor, until after the election of Franklin Pierce as Presi- dent of the United States in 1852, when Mr. Mellen sold his interest in the paper, and re-
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tired permanently from journalistic enter- prises.
Soon after President Pierce took his seat, Mr. Mellen was appointed United States mail agent between Portland and Waterville, later having his route extended to Bangor upon the completion of the Maine Central Railway to that city; and he continued in the postal service until the change in the federal administration which accompanied the elec- tion of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. He was subsequently appointed freight and ticket agent and depot master of the Portland & Rochester Railroad at Portland, in which po- sition he continued a few years. In 1868 he formed a partnership with G. G. Waterhouse for the purpose of opening and carrying on the Dewitt House in Lewiston, which was at that time one of the largest and best appointed hotels in Maine. He was connected with the Dewitt House for about six years, at the ex- piration of which time he withdrew; and after spending two years in Pensacola, Fla., he en- gaged with Mr. Burgess in the lumber business. Since retiring from active business pursuits, about the year 1878, he has resided in Paris.
On July 5, 1852, Mr. Mellen married Nancy Norris Wing. She was born in Wayne, Me., February 19, 1821, daughter of James and Nancy (Norris) Wing. Her father was born in Wayne, September 9, 1792; and his wife was born May 24, 1794. James Wing was a prosperous farmer and prominent resident of Wayne, being an up- right, conscientious man, possessing intellect- ual ability of a high order. He represented the district which included Wayne and Leeds in the Maine legislature during the years 1840 and 1841. The date of his death was March 20, 1864, he having survived his wife, who died November 24, 1836. Of their six children four are living, namely: James M., a resident of Wayne; Orrin, residing in Har- vard, Mass .; Eliza Seaver, wife of John R. Miller, of Concord, N.H .; and Frances Charlotte, whose home is in Paris. The others were Mrs. Sally Wing Burgess, who died September 2, 1874; and Nancy Norris, who became Mrs. George L. Mellen, and died November 8, 1890, leaving no children.
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