USA > Maine > Oxford County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 27
USA > Maine > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 27
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Mr. Haskell is a stanch Democrat. Though not a seeker for public place, he has held a number of minor offices in the town. He is widely known in this section of the county and highly esteemed.
ENDON W. COUSINS, an extensive lumber manufacturer of Fryeburg, Oxford County, was born in Winne- conne, Wis., September 20, 1849, son of Richard and Cordelia P. (Nutter) Cousins. His grandfather, Enoch Cousins, a
native of Porter, Me., having followed the sea in his younger days, subsequently set- tled upon a farm in his native town, where he died at the age of ninety years.
Richard Cousins was born in Porter. He learned the trade of a blacksmith, and after- ward followed that calling in Porter until 1846. He then went to Wisconsin, and set- tled upon a farm in Vineland. After spend- ing a short time there he removed to Winne- conne, where he resumed his trade, and resided until his death, which occurred in December, 1894. He married Cordelia P. Nutter, a na- tive of Porter and a daughter of Charles Nutter, a prosperous farmer of that town. By her he became the father of six children, namely: Henry A., a successful farmer of Morris, Minn., who married Annie Shaver, and has four children; Hendon W., the sub- ject of this sketch; Olive Jeannette, who mar- ried Daniel Gaffner, a prosperous farmer of Winneconne, and has one son, Richard, for some years employed by his uncle in Frye- burg; Noyes Jackson, an ice dealer in Winne- conne, who married Hattie Van Dyke; and has one son, Archie, born in 1888; Mary E., the wife of William Morenus, a farmer in Chadbourn, N.C .; and Charles E., who mar- ried Alice Purchase, a native of Prince Ed- ward Island, and is now a member of the Port- land police force. The mother died October 2, 1894.
Hendon W. Cousins acquired his education in the common schools of Winneconne. When nineteen years old he came east to Raymond, N. H., where he was engaged in operating a saw-mill until 1875. He then came to Frye- burg, and a short time later became a member of the firm of Shirley & Cousins, who carried on a saw-mill here. In 1888 he bought his present mills, the business of which has since steadily grown in importance. Here he man- ufactures all kinds of lumber for building pur- poses, beside shooks, spool stock, etc., which he ships to Portland, employing an average of fourteen men. He also does a large business as a dealer in corn, meal, flour, and feed, coal, wood, and brick.
Mr. Cousins has been three times married. His first marriage was contracted July 10, 1873, with Mary A. Parker, of Cape Eliza-
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beth, Me., who died July 19, 1875. By his second marriage, performed June 30, 1877, he was united with Ella M. Heath, of Fryeburg, who died in December, 1882, leaving two children. These were: Mary E., born No- vember 25, 1878; and Ralph W., who was born November 3, 1881. Mr. Cousins's pres- ent wife, in maidenhood Eliza D. Osgood, whom he wedded October 20, 1884, was born in Fryeburg, May 2, 1864. She is a daugh- ter of Elbridge G. and Emily M. (Osgood) Osgood, who were both natives of Fryeburg, born respectively on August 31, 1827, and March 18, 1830. Mrs. Osgood now resides with her daughter. Her husband died No- vember 8, 1890. Mrs. Cousins's paternal great-grandfather was Samuel Osgood. Her grandfather, Asa Osgood, who married Mary Hardy, was a well-known farmer and bridge builder in his day. Upon the maternal side her great-grandfather was James, known as "straight-haired Osgood," who married Abi- gail Evans, and for many years owned and conducted the old Oxford Hotel in this town. The maternal grandparents were James and Eliza (Lovejoy) Osgood, both of whom died in Fryeburg. Mrs. Cousins is a member of the Congregational church.
In politics Mr. Cousins is a stanch sup- porter of the Republican party, though too much engrossed in business to desire or accept office. He is a Mason of Pythagorean Lodge, No. II, of this town. His present prosperity is entirely due to his personal energy and ability.
OHN A. RICHARDS, M.D., the old- est and most successful medical practi- tioner in Farmington, Franklin County, Me., was born September 26, 1829, son of John and Mary (Thomas) Richards. His parents were then residing in the town of Strong, which was his birthplace.
Dr. Richards's paternal grandfather, John Richards, Sr., at an early age began to follow the sea. He witnessed the burning of Fal- mouth, now Portland, during the Revolution- ary War, that event having occurred when he was sixteen years old; and later in life he be- came one of the early settlers of Durham,
Me., where he owned a good farm, upon which he resided for the rest of his days. He was a progressive, industrious, and successful farmer and a man of extraordinary physical powers, retaining his usual strength and activity until he was ninety-eight years old, when he be- came somewhat crippled from the effects of a fall. He continued to be otherwise vigorous and healthy, possessing perfect control of his mental faculties to the last; and he lived to attain the unusually advanced age of one hun- dred years, eight months, and ten days. His wife also lived to reach a good old age. Their children were: John; Barzilla; Moses ; and Ira, who is still living.
John Richards, Dr. Richards's father, was born in Durham, Me., and in early manhood settled upon a farm in Phillips, Franklin County. Selling his property a short time later, he removed to Strong, where he bought two hundred acres of wild land covered with heavy timber, cleared and improved a produc- tive farm, planted an orchard, and erected a good set of buildings. He was one of the sturdy pioneers whose persevering toil paved the way for the future development of the vast agricultural resources of this county; and he lived to see the work of progress attain an advanced and flourishing condition. He held several important town offices, supporting the Whig party in politics until the advent of the Republican movement, and subsequently act- ing with that party until his death, which took place when he was seventy-nine years old. His wife, who was before marriage- Mary Thomas, was a native of Durham. She became the mother of eight children, as fol- lows: Isaiah; James; Abbie M .; Louise; John A., the subject of this sketch; Eliza; George; and Elbridge. The children were carefully educated, being thus enabled to fill useful positions in life. Mrs. Mary T. Rich- ards lived to reach the age of sixty-five. Both parents attended the Congregational church.
John A. Richards acquired his early educa- tion in the district schools ; and, after complet- ing an academic course, he began the study of medicine with Dr. Edward Russell, of Strong and later of Lewiston. He graduated from the medical department of Bowdoin Col- lege with the class of 1854; and, returning to
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Strong, he bought the practice of Dr. Russell, which he maintained and increased, and con- tinued to reside there for sixteen years. In 1876 he moved to Farmington, where his prac- tice increased to such an extent as to necessi- tate his covering a very wide circuit. He acquired and maintained an enviable reputa- tion for reliability and punctuality, but labored much beyond his strength. He con- tinued to attend to his professional duties steadily and faithfully, without neglecting a single call, no matter how great was the dis- tance or how inclement the weather, until the present year, when bodily injuries of a more or less serious nature have caused him some annoyance in pursuing his daily routine of work. His practice in this town, although attended with severe labor and self-sacrifice, has been exceedingly successful, both profes- sionally and financially; and he occupies a position of high standing among his fellow- townsmen, by whom he is regarded as one of the most able physicians who ever practised in this locality.
On June II, 1855, Dr. Richards was united in marriage with Sophronia Hillman, daughter of Gilbert R. and Mary (Pettingill) Hillman, of Farmington. Gilbert R. Hillman was born in Tisbury, Mass., on the island of Martha's Vineyard, March 16, 1802, and at the age of nineteen began to follow the sea. He became captain of a whale-ship; and after twenty-five years of seafaring life he relinquished it to become one of the early pioneers of California, where he was for some time engaged in farm- ing and in transporting freight along the Sac- ramento River. He finally returned East, and settled upon a farm in the northern part of Farmington, where during the remainder of his active period he displayed energy and thrift, serving as a worthy example for others to follow. He married Mary, daughter of Abel and Doris (Davis) Pettingill, and reared eight children, namely: Robert; Sophronia, who is now Mrs. Richards; Marie; Margaret ; Rebecca; Mary E .; Gilbert R., first, who is no longer living; and Gilbert R., second.
Dr. and Mrs. Richards are the parents of four children, as follows: Edward Russell, who was born June 27, 1857, and is now pub- lisher of the Wood River News-Mirror in
Hailey, Idaho; Elmer Ellsworth, an account of whom will be found appended to this sketch; Effic May, who was born March 16, 1866, and is now an accomplished and successful music teacher; and Frank Morrison, who was born December 13, 1868, and is now a taxidermist.
In politics Dr. Richards is an carnest sup- porter of the Republican party ; but his profes- sional duties have always prevented him from taking an active part in public affairs, and he has necessarily declined the nomination to various town and county offices. He was formerly connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he is a member of the Unitarian church. He occupies a cen- trally located residence at 7 High Street, which he has remodelled, refitted, and other- wise improved.
Elmer Ellsworth Richards, a leading attor- ney of Farmington and a prominent member of the Franklin County bar, son of Dr. Rich- ards, was born in Strong, August 24, 1860. He was graduated from Bates College, Lewis- ton, in 1880. Deciding to adopt the legal profession, he studied law in the offices of J. B. Severy, Sr., and J. C. Holman, Esq., and later at the law school of Michigan Uni- versity. He has advanced rapidly in his profession, having a numerous clientage, and conducting a very successful general law busi- ness ; and in 1884 he was elected Register of Probate for this county.
ARSHALL SANDERSON, whose death occurred February 9, 1878, was for many years a conspicuous factor of the farming and indus- trial interests of Waterford, Oxford County, Me. He was a man of solid worth, and pos- sessed in a high degree those traits that com- mand respect in the business world and win the esteem and confidence of neighbors and associates. He was a son of Joseph Sander- son, and was born July 10, 1821, in the town of Sweden, this county, joining Waterford.
Joseph Sanderson, son of Stephen Sanderson and the father of Marshall, was born, reared, and married in Waterford, his union with Polly Bryant being the first marriage of native-born bride and groom solemnized in this town.
MARSHALL SANDERSON.
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He settled in Sweden, where he was engaged as a farmer and mill operator during the larger part of his life, although he died in Dedham, Mass. His wife, who died in 1876, bore him five children, namely: Joseph, who married Mary French, of Waterford, and was for sev- eral years Chief of Police in Cambridge, Mass., where both he and his wife died; Will- iam, a lumberman and farmer, who married Ruth Dresser, of Lovell, Me., both passing their last years at Pomona, Cal. ; Marshall, who is the subject of this sketch; Charles, a speculator and farmer living in Massachusetts, who married Almeda A. McWain ; and Mary J., now deceased, whose husband, Oliver Hapgood, was killed in the late Rebellion.
Marshall Sanderson, who was the third child born to his parents, obtained his educa- tion in the common schools, and from his early years was engaged in industrial activities. From the time of his settlement in Waterford he was numbered among the foremost agricult- urists and business men of the place, his mill- ing operations being as extensive and lucrative as his farming interests. He was a promi- nent member of the Democratic party, genu- inely interested in the welfare of his adopted town, which he served as Selectman several years. He was a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, belonging to a lodge of Waterford.
Mr. Sanderson was married November 25, 1847, to Miss Angeline McWain, who was born in this town, April 13, 1829, a daughter of David and Laura (Willard) McWain, both natives of New Hampshire. Her father's birth occurred in 1784, and the mother's in 1793. Mr. McWain removed from the Granite State to Oxford County, settling in the town of Waterford, where he was an extensive farmer and mill-owner, being at one time the proprietor of a section of land in this locality. Mr. McWain was twice married. His first wife, Hannah Bailey, of New Hampshire, bore him four children - Jane, William, and two that died in infancy. By his union with Miss Laura Willard five children were born, as fol- lows : David, now living a retired life in New York, who has been twice married, his first wife having been Melissa Potter, and his sec- ond Mrs. Harriet Tracy, widow of Albert Tracy, of Lewiston, Me. ; Andrew, who died
when young; Leavitt B. (deceased), who mar- ried Lorinda Gould, and was a farmer and mason in Milan, N.H .; H. Angeline, who is now the widow of Mr. Sanderson, and resides at South Waterford; and Almeda A., now deceased, who married Charles Sanderson, of Dedham, Mass.
Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Sanderson had two children - Leroy and Josephine A. Leroy Sanderson, who is a prosperous farmer and a prominent citizen of Waterford, married Miss Florence Shaw. Josephine A., who died June 8, 1884, was the wife of Robinson Hastings, a native of Bethel.
ON. TIMOTHY JARVIS CARTER, for several years County Attorney of Oxford County, Maine, residing at Paris Hill, and later a member of the Twenty-fifth Congress, was born August 18, 1800, in the town of Bethel, Me., son of Dr. Timothy and Frances (Freeland) Carter.
He was a descendant of the Rev. Thomas Carter, who was the first settled minister in Woburn, Mass. From the history of that town we learn that Thomas Carter was born in England ; was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge; came to America in 1635, being then a divinity student; lived for a time in Dedham, later in Watertown; and a church, the First Congregational, having been gath- ered, "with much solemnity," in Woburn in August, 1642, he was ordained, and settled as its pastor on November 22, O.S. (or Decem- ber 2, N. S.), of that year. He died in 1684, in the forty-second year of his ministry, sur- vived by his wife, Mary Dalton, who died in 1687. They had reared six children, includ- ing three sons, one of whom, named Samuel. received a college education.
Among the posterity of the Rev. Thomas Carter living in New England at the close of the century following his death, was Dr. Tim- othy Carter, above mentioned, born November 29, 1760, who was the first of the family to settle in Oxford County. He began the prac- tice of his profession in the town of Bethel in 1798. He was very successful for many years, occupying a leading position among the promi- nent physicians of this county; and many
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young men who subsequently acquired fame in their profession studied with him. He con- tinued his residence in Bethel until his death, February 25, 1845, retaining to the last his active influence as physician, citizen, and counsellor. Dr. Carter was a strict Congre- gationalist in religion, and for many years served as Deacon of the church. In politics he was a Whig, and in his later years was a strong advocate of the temperance cause. For several years he was Justice of the Peace, and in this capacity much of the legal busi- ness of this county passed through his hands.
Dr. Carter was twice married. His first wife, born September 4, 1771, was Frances, daughter of Dr. James Freeland, of Sutton, Mass. Her father was a surgeon in the Conti- nental army in the Revolution, and subse- quently became a member of the Cincinnati Society. Mrs. Frances F. Carter died No- vember 14, 1815, having borne her husband seven children, as follows: Lawson, born No- vember 20, 1793; Galen, born June 19, 1795 ; James F., born May 12, 1797; Timothy Jar- vis, the special subject of this sketch; Luther C., born February 25, 1805; Frances F., the only one now living, born September 1, 1809, the widow of Robert A. Chapman, of Portland ; and Elias M., born September 10, 1811. Dr. Carter's second wife, Lydia, daughter of Theo- dore Russell, of Bethel, was the mother of three daughters and two sons, namely: Lydia D., born March 22, 1823; Sarah W., born May 8, . 1824; Abigail A., born April .9, 1825; Theodore R., born July 12, 1827; and Benjamin, born July 4, 1832. Of these three are living - Mrs. Abigail A. Gould, of Worcester, Mass. ; and the two sons, both residents of Montclair, N. J.
Timothy Jarvis Carter, Dr. Carter's fourth son, received his early education in some of the best schools of Oxford County. He pur- sued the study of law under Governor Enoch Lincoln at Paris Hill, and later at Judge Howe's Law School in Northampton, where he was graduated in 1824. Mr. Carter then entered the law office of Fessenden & DuBlois, and remained with them until his admission to the bar in February, 1827. Locating him- self first in Rumford, Me., he practised there for a year, then came to Paris, Oxford County,
in 1829; and from that time until his death he was one of the most successful lawyers of this part of the State, standing high among his as- sociates. For several years Mr. Carter was County Attorney ; and in 1836 he was elected a member of the Twenty-fifth Congress, in which he served two terms, dying while in Washington, D.C., March 14, 1838. In pol- itics he was a stanch Democrat, and he was liberal in his religious belief.
On September 11, 1828, Mr. Carter married Arabella Rawson, who was born in Paris, Ox- ford County, Me., February 22, 1807, and is still living in the house in which she first opened her eyes to the light of this world. Her father, Samuel Rawson, was born Septem- ber 4, 1771, in Sutton, Mass. ; and his wife, Polla, daughter of Dr. James Freeland, was born in Sutton, Mass., September 17, 1778. For further history of Mrs. Carter's ancestors see the "Rawson Genealogy and Memorial."
The only child born to Mr. and Mrs. Carter was Samuel Rawson Carter, whose birth oc- curred June 22, 1829, in the house in which his widowed mother now lives. This house was built in 1789, and, bought by Samuel Rawson in 1804. Samuel Rawson Carter was graduated at Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., in the class of 1852, and was admitted to the bar of Oxford County in 1854. He took an especial interest in having that bar sup- plied with a good law library, and was libra- rian and member of the bar as long as he lived. In politics he was a lifelong Democrat, firm and unchanging in principle, also an active supporter of every measure he thought would benefit the farming community and his native town. He was for many years a communicant of the Episcopal church and always ready to give his best efforts to aid that church. He devoted much of his time to scientific pursuits, especially to mineralogy and geology. He was one of the original owners of Mount Mica, noted for valuable tourmalines; and he left a valuable cabinet of Mount Mica minerals, also a large collection of other minerals and Indian relics. Samuel Rawson Carter was an asso- ciate member of the Boston and Portland So- cieties of Natural History and a correspond- ing member of the Academy of Natural Sci- ence in Philadelphia, and received diplomas
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from both of those societies. He was married February 26, 1857, to Julia, daughter of the Hon. Elijah L. and Eliza Choate Hamlin, resided in Paris, and died April 24, 1893. His wife, Mrs. Julia Hamlin Carter, died August 12, 1894. They had previously been bereft of their son, a very capable and promis- ing young man, whose brief record follows.
Jarvis Livermore Carter, born February II, 1858, died August 4, 1892, only child of Sam- uel Rawson and Julia Hamlin Carter. He was graduated at Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., and, having finished his education at Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., afterward became connected as a partner with the commercial and exporting house of W. E. Smith & Co. of New York City. He was an expert accountant, and managed in a most successful manner the finances of the firm, doing the business of a million dollars annually. He was a communicant of the Episcopal church and, like his father, a stable Democrat. June 12, 1883, he married Mary Blanche, only child of Cullen L. and Fannie A. Carter, and after his marriage resided in Brooklyn, N. Y. Jarvis Livermore and Mary Blanche Carter were the parents of three chil- dren, namely : Julia F., born September 5, 1884; Dorothea M., born April 8, 1887; and Jarvis Freeland, born July 20, 1889, who died May 6, 1895.
These two great-grand-daughters are the only living descendants of Timothy Jarvis and Arabella Rawson Carter. Mrs. Carter has preserved much interesting data relating to the Rawson and Carter families.
A woman of cultivated mind, well-read and thoughtful, notwithstanding that she is nearing the ninetieth milestone of life's journey, she retains the capacity of her earlier years and takes an active interest in passing events.
Some choice spirits of earth happily grow not old, but, filled with childlike trust and broad human sympathy, pass as cheerily down the sunset slopes " as up the hills of morn."
ILBERT MILLER, Sheriff of Frank- lin County, proprietor of the Wilton House, and one of the most promi- nent business men in this town, was born in
Wilton, October 20, 1826, son of David and Betsey (Pierce) Miller. The family is of early Colonial origin, its founder having, no doubt, emigrated from England or Scotland ; but his name, as well as the place of his na- tivity and date of arrival in America, cannot now be ascertained.
The first ancestor of whom there is any authentic knowledge was Robert Miller, who resided in Fall River, Mass., where he fol- lowed ship-carpentering and farming. He was the father of seven children, including four sons - namely, John, Job, Robert, and David - all of whom were carpenters and farmers, and resided upon the Taunton River. David Miller, son of Robert and grandfather of Gil- bert Miller, settled upon a large farm in Fall River, which is now the property of his grand- son, another Gilbert Miller, a cousin of the subject of this sketch. David Miller served as a soldier in the French and Indian War, and participated in the siege and capture of Quebec under General Wolfe. He married Hannah Merrick, and reared a family of nine children; namely, John, Ebenezer, Job, Isaac M., Gilbert, David, Hannah, Abby, and Polly.
David Miller, son of David and Hannah (Merrick) Miller, was born in Fall River, February 22, 1787. While still young he shipped as a cabin boy, and, later becoming an able seaman, remained in the merchant service for fifteen years. Tiring of sea life, and not desiring to rear his sons in a locality where they were liable to become sailors, he visited his sister, Mrs. Macomber, who was living in Wilton, Me., and, being favorably impressed with the country, decided to settle here. Purchasing the Goodell farm of eighty acres, which he improved by remodelling the house and erecting a new barn, he continued to reside here until his death, which took place March 15, 1849. The property is now occu- pied by John Miller. Although for many years a sailor, he readily adapted himself to agricultural pursuits, developing a capacity for tilling the soil and raising stock which enabled him to attain a degree of prosperity equal to the majority of his neighbors who had been reared and trained to farm life; and he was esteemed and respected by the entire
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community. He was a Whig in politics and liberal in religious vicws. His wife, Betsey Pierce, whom he married June 20, 1813, was born in Somerset, Mass., August 26, 1794. She became the mother of eight children, namely: Julia A .; David; Eliza; Bctsey ; John; Gilbert, the subject of this sketch; James C. ; and Nathan R. Mrs. Betsey P. Miller possessed a remarkably strong constitu- tion, and lived to reach the advanced age of ninety-three years.
Gilbert Miller, the third son as here enu- merated, and the-special subject of this sketch, was educated in the schools of his native town, and resided with his parents until he was twenty-one years old. He then engaged in peddling confectionery, cigars, tobacco, and Yankee notions for E. J. Smith, later repre- senting J. Richards in the same line of trade; and after travelling through the country with a team for seven years, during which time he realized good financial results, he bought a farm of one hundred and fifty acres in the town of Temple. Selling this property a year later, he moved back to Wilton, where he purchased the M. Luffkin farm, upon which he resided from 1857 to 1876. He remodelled the residence, and built a new stable; and, besides keeping well forward in the line of progress as a general farmer, he dealt largely in cattle, sheep, and horses, most of which he bought in the home market. Having pur- chased his present hotel property in 1873, he began to manage it in 1876, coming here with his family. Having sold his farm build- ings with five acres of land, he still retains the remainder of his farm, which he carries on in connection with the house. Since becom- ing proprietor of the Wilton House, he has made various improvements, including the en- largement of the building, which now contains eighteen light and well-furnished sleeping- rooms; and connected with it are a good stable for baiting purposes and a spacious hall for public use. He also owns a valuable farm of one hundred and fifty acres in the town of Jay, which he rents to good advantage; and, be- sides attending to a great amount of private business, he has been intrusted with the set- tlement of many estates, and has held various town offices. Mr. Miller served as High
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