USA > Maine > Oxford County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 23
USA > Maine > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 23
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In his younger days Mr. Mellen was promi-
nently identified with local politics, which made him an eligible candidate for public office; and he served as Town Clerk in Paris, and was Postmaster for two terms at different times. Although he has not covcted political notoriety, he has been a firm supporter of the Democratic party since attaining his majority. In his religious belief he is a Universalist. He has had a long and successful career as a business man, and is now enjoying a well- earned period of rest and recreation at his pleasant home in Paris, where he is regarded by his fellow-townsmen with the utmost re- spect and esteem.
OLOMON S. HALL, who died at his homestead in Waterford, Oxford County, Me., January 8, 1896, was identified with the agricultural in- terests of this vicinity for nearly three dec- ades, having removed here in 1868 from the neighboring town of Norway, where he was born June 10, 1821. He was the eldest son of Jonathan Hall, and was a grandson of Jedediah Hall, a lifelong resident of Fal- mouth, Me.
Jonathan Hall, after arriving at man's es- tate, left his native place and came to Oxford County to engage in agricultural pursuits. Buying land in the western part of Norway, he labored with tireless energy to clear a homestead, meeting with such success that before his death, whose date was April 30, 1842, he had a well-improved farm. His wife, Mary Smith, whom he had married after settling in Norway, survived him a few years, passing away January 18, 1845. They had seven children, as follows: Emeline Maria, who was born December 12, 1818, and died in March, 1887, the wife of Daniel Pierce; Solo- mon S., the special subject of this brief bio- graphical sketch; Aaron Oliver, born Febru- ary 8, 1823, who died August 1, 1824; Oliver A., who was. born March 28, 1825, and mar- ried Clara A. Stanley, who has lived in Cam- bridge, Mass., since his death, which occurred February 6, 1890; Albert Edwin, born March 29, 1827, who died July 29, 1827; Helen, born June 3, 1828, who died the following day; and Albert Edwin, the second, who was
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born July 31, 1829, and died November 28 of the same year.
Solomon S. Hall, the first-born son, grew to maturity, and was educated in Norway, this county, and subsequently was there engaged in shoemaking and market gardening for a number of years. He resided in the village of his native town until October, 1868, when he purchased the old McWain farm in Water- ford, where he engaged in general farming, dairying, and raising garden produce until his decease, by good management realizing a handsome yearly income from his well tilled fields. Politically, Mr. Hall was a steadfast Republican, true to the interests of his party ; and, religiously, he and his wife were es- teemed members of the Universalist church of Norway.
Mr. Hall was three times married. His first wife, formerly Miss Ruth B. Smith, died leaving no issue. His second wife, Emily A. Warren, was born April 22, 1834, and died August 29, 1861. His third wife, Olivia G. Warren, a sister of his second wife, was born September 16, 1836, and died in June, 1894. He had three children by his second marriage, namely : Mary, born March 6, 1854, now the wife of G. H. Shedd, M.D., a prominent phy- sician of North Conway, N. H., and mother of one child, George Harold, born November I, 1882; Julia, born October 2, 1856, who died December 24, 1891 ; and Lizzie E., born Au- gust 26, 1859, who lives with her brother on the old homestead. This brother, Sidney S. Hall, born June 21, 1866, was the only child of the third marriage of Mr. Hall. He is one of the leading young men of Waterford, and with his sister now owns the old farm of two hundred and thirty-three acres. They are carrying on the various branches of agricult- ural industry with unquestioned success, keep- ing some stock, but making a specialty of raising and marketing garden truck and fruit.
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J OHN MINOT SOULE . HUNTER, the well-known editor of the Farming- ton Chronicle, of Farmington, Me., was born in this town on the 14th of De- cember, 1846, the son of Thomas and Sarah C. (Soule) Hunter.
The Hunter family is of Scotch descent, and settled in Sandy River Valley in 1767. James Hunter, the grandfather of the editor, was born in Bristol, Me. Later he removed to the town of Strong, where he finally set- tled, taking up a large tract of new land, clearing it and building upon it. Mr. Hunter was of a very strong constitution, and lived
to a ripe old age. His wife, Rachel Dodge, was equally vigorous. Her death at the age of eighty-three years was caused by an acci- dent. She was about to step from her car- riage at the door of her church, when the horse, startled by the ringing of the church bell, ran away, and she was thrown out and fatally injured.
Their son Thomas, the editor's father, was born on the 30th of April, 1807, in the town of Strong. Arriving at a mature age, he began to earn his living by teaching school; but preferring a more active life, and being possessed of considerable mechanical ingenu- ity, he gave up this profession, and devoted his time to various trades. Diligent and versatile, as a blacksmith, stone cutter, car- penter, millwright, and house joiner, he was a skilled workman.
He became a "boss" builder in Farmington in a few years; and several houses which he built are still stand- ing to-day, witnesses of his skill and thor- oughness. At one time he took a contract, and erected a large sugar-mill, which was taken to Hawaii, Sandwich Islands. He framed the mill in Farmington, and got it all ready to set up, then transported it by teams to Hallowell, where it was loaded on a sail- ing-vessel, and thence carried to its destina- tion. Mr. Hunter went with the mill, and set it up on its arrival there, and ran it for one year. At the expiration of the term of his contract he returned to Farmington, and followed his trade of a master builder until his death.
He married Sarah C., the daughter of Zach- ariah Soule, and by this union he became the father of six children - James T., who died in infancy; Marcia S .; Julia S .; Susan C .; John Minot Soule, of whom this short biogra- phy is written; and James T. Mr. Thomas Hunter was a stanch Republican in his poli- tics, and in religious belief followed the doc-
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trines of the Congregational church, of which both himself and wife were active and consist- ent members.
John Minot Soule Hunter received his edu- cation in the public schools of his native town and at Farmington Academy. He early in life entered upon a business career, becom- ing a clerk in Farmington and at a later date in Bath and in Boston. He continucd thus engaged until September 15, 1867, when he entered the Chronicle office in Farmington, in order to learn the printer's trade and the profession of a journalist. Shortly after this he temporarily left the office of the Chronicle,
having been appointed Deputy to Andrew C. Phillips, Esq. (then editor of the paper), who was appointed United States Consul at Fort Erie, Ontario. Later he resigned, and re- turned to the Chronicle, where he became fore- man of the office under editor A. H. S. Davis; and, upon the sale of the Chronicle by the latter to Captain C. W. Keyes, Mr. Hunter became foreman and general assistant, occu- pying those positions several years, or until June 20, 1877, when he removed to Portland, where he became foreman of the Portland Daily Press composing-room and later tele- graph editor of the same paper.
In June, 1886, Mr. Hunter resigncd his position on the Portland Press, and returned to Farmington, having bought one-half of his old paper, the Farmington Chronicle, and leased the other half, of Captain Keyes. Four months later -- in the great fire of October 22, 1886 -the office and its fine machinery were completely destroyed. The paper was, how- ever, published regularly every week, the pub- lishers of the Lewiston Journal generously volunteering to print and send the papers to Mr. Hunter, which they did for two weeks. In the meantime he had a new office and outfit prepared, and in a little while the paper was on its feet again. The Farmington Chronicle is now in the fifty-seventh year of its existence, has a circulation of about three thousand copies, and is universally admitted to be not only the largest but the best paper in the county; and it ranks among the leading weekly papers of Maine. The Chronicle al- ways has been and still is the organ of the Republican party in Franklin County, though
many of its firm friends and patrons are found in all the parties. It is, perhaps, needless to say Mr. Hunter is a Republican in politics.
Mr. Hunter was marricd on the 14th of De- cember, 1874, to Miss Eldora Nichols, the daughter of Walter Nichols, of Searsport, Waldo County, Mc. They have had three
children - John Walter, Mabel E., and Charles W. Keyes; but only the daughter is living, their two sons having died in infancy.
Mr. Hunter is a very popular man, not only in his native town, but wherever he is known. His friends and acquaintances are many, both in the social and business world; and all speak of him in the pleasantest manner. He is a member of numerous societies and frater- nities, among them being the following: Past Master, Maine Lodge, No. 20, A. F. & A. M .; Franklin Chapter, No. 44, Royal Arch Masons; Jephthah Council, No. 17, Royal and Select Masters; Pilgrim Command- ery, No. 19, Knights Templars; Kora Tem- ple, N. M. Shrine; Maine Consistory, An- cient and Accepted Scottish Rite; P. N. G., Franklin Lodge, No. 58, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; also P. C. P., Sandy River Encampment, No. 9, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is also one of the incor- porators of the Franklin County Savings Bank ; a Trustee of the Public Library, as well as Secretary of the Library Association; and in 1894 he was appointed by Governor H. B. Cleaves a Trustee of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home in Bath, Me.
RTHUR E. MORRISON, Trial Jus- tice of Rumford Falls and an enter- prising real estate dealer, was born in Rollinsford, N.H., January 27, 1862, son of John W. and Abbie (Cates) Morrison. The father, a native of Alton, N. H., was reared upon a farm in that town. He is now a successful stone contractor of South Berwick, Me., an able, conscientious, and progressive man ; and he enjoys the respect of all with whom he has dealings. His wife was born in Groveland, N.H., and she is the mother of five children, as follows: George E., who is in the marble and granite business in Saco, Me .; Arthur E., the subject of this
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sketch; John H., a business man of South Berwick; Nancy, the wife of George W. Tib- betts, of South Berwick; and Mary Etta, who resides at home. Both parents are members of the Baptist church, of which the father is a Deacon.
Arthur E. Morrison began his education in the common schools of South Berwick. At the age of twelve years he commenced to. work in a store, devoting to his duties therein his mornings and evenings and the summer vaca- tion. With his earnings here he paid his tuition at the Berwick Academy, from which he graduated in 1882. In the autumn of that year he went to Biddeford, Me., where he se- cured a position as clerk in a dry-goods store. A year later the firm for which he worked es- tablished at Norway, Me., a branch store, of which he was appointed manager; and he re- mained in that capacity four years. He then went to Dover, N.H., where he clerked for a year; and in the spring of 1888 he opened an insurance agency in Sanford, Me., remaining in that town two years. Having sold out his business there, he returned to Norway, and was employed by Freeland Howe in the in- surance business. In 1892 this firm estab- lished a branch office in Rumford Falls, erect- ing the first business block on Congress Street, which is now the principal thorough- fare of the town. Under Mr. Morrison's able management the business has been placed upon a firm and profitable basis. Since tak- ing up his residence here he has been identi- fied with the business development of the town; and his ability and sound judgment have been instrumental in forwarding several important enterprises, which are of much ben- efit to the general community. He was one of the organizers of the Rumford Falls Publish- ing Company, of which he is a Director, was a principal mover in the formation of the Vil- lage Corporation, and is an incorporator and Director of the Rumford Falls Building and Loan Association.
On March 10, 1885, Judge Morrison was united in marriage to Fannie Robertina Howe, daughter of Freeland Howe, of Nor- way. They have now two sons - Robley Howe and Freeland John. In politics Judge Morrison is a Republican. He was appointed
Trial Justice here in 1892, being the first to hold that office in Rumford Falls. He is connected with Oxford Lodge, No. 18, A. F. & A. M., of Norway; and with Penacook Lodge, No. 130, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of this town. Both he and Mrs. Morrison are zealous workers in the Univer- salist church. The Judge is a progressive and active business man. His courteous and affable manners have made him popular, and he has already laid the foundation of a suc- cessful career.
ARROLL E. PROCTOR, M.D., the only physician in the town of Weld, Franklin County, was born in Can- ton, Me., July 20, 1858, son of the Roscoe A. and Betsey R. (Smith) Rev.
Proctor. On the father's side he is of Eng- lish descent, and on the mother's side he is of Scotch origin. The Proctor family was founded in America by two brothers who came from England and settled either in Salem or Merrimac, N.H. One of the brothers was the great-great-grandfather of Dr. Proctor. The grandfather, Uriah A. Proctor, was born in Merrimac, July 18, 1791. In early man- hood, leaving Bethel, Me., he descended the Androscoggin River upon a raft, and settled at Jay Bend, where he engaged in farming. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812. In January, 1813, he was married in Jay by Seth Carpenter to Abigail Fenno, who was born in Bethel, Me., August 18, 1791. He was a prominent man in his day in Canton, and was a member of the Baptist church. His children were: Mary F., Rebecca B., Emeline B., Oliver F., Charles A., Uriah A., Abi- gail, Abigail (second), Anna L., Uriah (sec- ond), and Roscoe A. Abigail (first) died in infancy.
Roscoe A. Proctor was born in Hartford, Oxford County, Me., November 10, 1833. He became a clergyman, and preached in Can- ton and Sumner, Me., for some time. He was subsequently called to Rangeley, Franklin County, where he remained eleven years. His last years were passed in Weld as pastor of the Free Will Baptist church: and he died December 2, 1891. He was a Republican in
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politics, and was quite prominent in public affairs. His wife, Betsey, whom he married in Canton, July 20, 1852, was born in Liver- more, Me., in 1834. She was a daughter of Jesse and Betsey A. (Knowles) Smith, the former of whom was born at Moose Hill, Liv- ermore, Me., in 1800. Jesse Smith was a son of Deacon Jessc Smith, who was born in 1764, and died at Moose Hill, Livermore, Me., No- vember 18, 1843. Deacon Smith's wife, Bet- scy A., was born in 1767, and died at Canton, Me., aged seventy-one years. Roscoe A. and Betsey R. (Smith) Proctor were the parents of two children, namely: Carroll E., the subject of this sketch; and Gerry A., a merchant who lives in Rangeley. The mother died in Weld, June 7, 1896.
Carroll E. Proctor acquired his early educa- tion in the common schools of Canton and at the Hebron Academy. He began the study of medicine with Dr. Yates, of West Paris, and subsequently entered Dartmouth College Med- ical School, from which he graduated with the class of 1880. He entered upon his profes- sion at Weld, where he has since resided. He is the only medical practitioner here, and attends patients over a territory within a radius of twelve miles. On February 14, 1876, Dr. Proctor was united in marriage to Martha E. Bradeen, daughter of Theodore Bradeen, of Wilton, Me. Mrs. Proctor has had four children, three of whom are living, namely: Roscoe G., aged nineteen, who is fitting for college; Eva B., aged seventeen, who is also attending school; and Bessie, aged six years. In politics Dr. Proctor is a Republican, and has been superintendent of schools for the past three years. He is highly respected both socially and profession- ally, is connected with Mystic Tie Lodge, No. 154, A. F. & A. M., of Weld, and is a member of the Free Will Baptist church.
AMUEL B. LOCKE, wholesale and retail dealer in flour, grain, and feed at West Paris, Me., where he is accounted one of the most stir- ring and enterprising citizens, was born at Locke's Mills in the adjoining town of Green- wood, April 18, 1840. He is the third in
direct line to bear the name Samuel B. His grandfather, Samuel Barron Locke, first, set- tled in Bethel, Mc., about 1796. He mar- ried Hannah Russell, of Fryeburg, and was the father of nine children who grow to matu- rity, five sons - John, Luther, Samuc] B. (sec- ond), James, and Charles Russell -and four daughters. All have now passed away. Grandfather Locke was a communicant of the Methodist Episcopal church and a Whig in political affiliation.
Samuel Barron Locke, second, the father of the special subject of this sketch, was born in Bethel in 1801. He was a self-made man. A millwright by trade, he became a mill- owner; and he also followed farming to some extent. He settled at Locke's Mills about the year 1839. Many of the mills for miles around were built by him, the one now con- ducted by his son having been erected in 1857. During the last years of his life; which were spent in West Paris, where he settled about the year 1860, he carried on a large milling business. His death took place in 1870. In politics he was a Republican, in religion he was liberal. His wife, Mrs. Lucetta Edgerly Locke, who was born in Buxton, Me., in 1806, died June 1, 1888, aged eighty-two years. Their six children are all living, namely: Mary Ellen, wife of C. M. Morgan, of Portland; John Locke, a trader, residing in Fryeburg, Me .; Charles R. Locke, a mill-owner and lumber manufact- urer at North Chatham, N. H .; Frank Locke, a millwright in Fryeburg; George W., resid- ing in Norway, Me. ; and Samuel B., third, of West Paris.
Until sixteen years of age Samuel B. Locke, third, now to be further mentioned, lived at Locke's Mills. His education was completed at Gould's Academy in Bethel. He first went to work as a clerk for his brother John, whom he afterward bought out ; and he was then in trade here for seventeen years, keeping a general store. After dispos- ing of that he removed to Norway, Me., where he went into company with W. H. Whitcomb, and carried on quite a large mer- cantile business. Two years later, in 1885, he sold out, and returning to West Paris took up the milling business. He owned the mills
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for a number of years. He does custom grind- ing, besides keeping feed, flour, grain, and fer- tilizers for sale at both wholesale and retail.
Mr. Locke was first married in June, 1865, to Miss Linnie H. Plummer, who died in 1868; and second, in 1875, to Miss Elva E. Libby, who was born in Standish, Me. By the first marriage there were no children. By the second there are three children, a son and two daughters. They are: Linnie E., born March 2, 1876; Mary L., born September 6, 1882; and Samuel B., born October 2, 1885.
Mr. Locke was elected on the Republican ticket as a Representative to the lower house of the State legislature for the term of 1874- 75, and served very creditably. He has also served as Selectman of the town one term. He is President of the Oxford County Loan Association, and is a member of Granite Lodge, No. 182, A. F. & A. M., at West Paris; Lewiston Commandery, No. 6, Knights Templars; and of West Paris Lodge, No. 15, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at West Paris. His wife is a member of the Universalist church. Mr. and Mrs. Locke have a pleasant, attractive home, and are es- teemed members of society.
EORGE M. ATWOOD, of Paris, senior member of the firm of Atwood & Forbes, publishers of the Oxford Democrat, was born in Buckfield, Oxford County, Me., October 6, 1860. His parents were William H. and Helen M. Atwood; and it appears that they were ambitious for their son, giving him the best educational advan- tages within their reach.
After assimilating the benefits to be derived from the public schools and Hebron Academy, he entered the Law School of Columbia Col- lege, New York, having determined to adopt the legal profession as his life work. With this end in view he also read law under the di- rection of Messrs. Bisbee & Hersey, both well- known lawyers, and was admitted to the Ox- ford bar in October, 1885.
Very shortly afterward he purchased a half- interest in the Oxford Democrat, associating himself in this enterprise with Arthur E. Forbes, of Paris, Me., under the firm name of
Atwood & Forbes. Messrs. Atwood & Forbes have been more than ordinarily successful as journalists and editors, and since they moved their office to the Billings Block in South Paris, have enjoyed increased facilities in their special line of journalism. This change was made November 1, 1895 ; and they now occupy the handsomest newspaper office in the State of Maine.
Mr. Atwood has not confined himself en- tirely to editorial work since his residence in his present home, but has been actively inter- ested in business and educational affairs, and has filled a number of important offices as a result of his energetic efforts in behalf of the community's welfare. He was elected County Treasurer of Oxford County in 1888, and was re-elected in 1890, 1892, 1894, and again in 1896. He is also President of the Trustees of Paris Hill Academy and Chairman of its Executive Committee, Trustee of the South Paris Savings Bank, and a member of the Paris School Board. In 1894 Mr. Atwood and Mr. John Pierce, of Paris, constructed the Paris-Norway and Buckfield telephone lines and exchanges, under the name of the Paris Electric Company, and now own and operate them.
Mr. Atwood was married to Miss Anna Har- low, a daughter of the Hon. Elbridge G. Har- low, of Dixfield, April 5, 1886. Two chil- dren were born to bless this union: William E., whose birth date was January 9, 1888; and Raymond L., who made his advent May 8, 1895. A successful business career, a promi- nent and honored place in the regard of his fellow-citizens, and a happy home life leave little to be desired by the senior member of the editorial firm of Atwood & Forbes; while both gentlemen may justly feel that they, through the organ of their paper, have been, and are, able to accomplish much for the com- munity whose best interests they advocate and support.
RTHUR E. FORBES, of Paris, Me., the junior member of the firm of At- wood & Forbes, was born near Paris Hill, May 30, 1862, son of Elbridge and Angeline (Thayer) Forbes. His father
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was at one time a printer, but afterward be- came a farmer in Paris. Mr. Forbes learned the printer's art in the Oxford Democrat office, working up to the position of foreman and afterward proprietor of the paper. He was educated in the public schools and at St. Lawrence University, Canton, N. Y. After finishing his education he became engaged in editorial work, and has been active in behalf of the Democrat's interests. Although an unmarried man, Mr. Forbes is influential in social as well as business circles, and is a favorite in Paris, where he has served with credit upon the School Board. He is also prominently identified with the Universalist denomination, and is a highly respected citizen.
OHN JANETT MORTON, an es- teemed resident of South Paris, Me., his birthplace, and conductor and freight agent of the Grand Trunk Rail- road between South Paris and Norway, Me., was born on October 20, 1830, son of Richard and Hannah (Perry) Morton. His father, who is supposed to have been a native of Raymond, Cumberland County, came to South Paris from Otisfield, in that county, two brothers, Joseph and Ebenezer, accompanying him.
A good mechanic, Richard Morton engaged in the manufacture of ploughs. At first, in deference to the popular belief that iron ploughs were easily broken, he made wooden ploughs furnished with steel points, the mould- boards being of wood plated with thin strips of sheet iron. Later he substituted a cast-iron mould-board. The first plough used on many of the farms of this county was the handiwork of Richard Morton. After having carried on this industry alone for a considerable time, he entered into partnership with Hersey Brothers, who were engaged in the same manufacture, he taking into his special charge the woodwork department. He continued occupied in this way until his health failed, when he retired from active employment, taking up his resi- dence on a farm previously purchased by him. Here he died September 28, 1861, at the age of sixty-seven years. His wife, who was a daughter of James Perry, survived him until January 24, 1867, when she died at the age of
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