USA > Maine > Oxford County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 31
USA > Maine > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 31
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OB PRINCE, one of the early settlers of Buckfield, Me., where he located about 1790, was born in Kingston, Mass., in 1765, and died in 1831. He was a direct descendant of Elder John Prince, of Hull, Mass., who had been a student at Ox- ford, but fled from the persecution of Arch- bishop Laud in 1633. Job Prince was a Dea- con of the Baptist church, of which his wife, Hannah Bryant, was a member. He left nine children.
Noah Prince, the fourth of these, was born in Buckfield, April 13, 1797, and lived on the old farm till 1865, when he removed to Buck-
field village. He received only a common- school education, but was a man of unusual intelligence and force of character, and in re- ligion a Baptist. He was active in politics, and presided over the first convention held in Maine by the Republican party, of which he was always a stanch supporter. Besides hold- ing minor offices, he served as State Repre- sentative and Senator, being President of the Senate in 1841. He died in Buckfield, Feb- ruary. 14, 1872. By his wife, Sarah Farrar, whom he married in 1826, he had six children - S. Louisa, Kimball N., Augusta M., Ar- delia H., Charles II., and Mary R., of whom all but the eldest are now living.
Kimball N. Prince was born in 1828. In 1852 he went to New York City, where he was engaged in business for several years. In 1861 he entered the custom-house, filling im- portant positions, and while there undertook and perfected a system of accounts showing the liability of the collector of the port for duties on bonded merchandise. This had never be- fore been thought practicable at so large a port as New York, where the balance of these accounts averages some twenty million dollars every month. In 1889 he retired, and has since resided in Buckfield. Mr. Prince was married in 1854 to Miss Mary J. Emery, who died in 1872, leaving one child, Leonard K., who is at the head of the Prince & Kinkel Iron Works of New York City. In 1874 he married Miss Sophie E. Dana, of New York. Both he and his wife are members of the Pres- byterian church.
Charles H. Prince, who bears the title of Captain, having served with honor in the Twenty-third Maine Volunteers during the war, is engaged in manufacturing brushes in Buckfield, where he is Town Treasurer and superintendent of schools. While in the State of Georgia, where he lived for some time, he served as Congressman and Post- master of the city of Augusta, besides being a delegate to the Republican National Conven- tions. Both he and his wife, Eunice A. At- wood, are members of the Baptist church. They have had four children, of whom the surviving son, Henry C. Prince, is business manager of the Waterville Mail Publishing Company, of Waterville, Me.
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EORGE BURNHAM, who is one of the old and highly esteemed members of the farming community of Gilead, has been an active political worker for the in- terest of the town at the State capitol. He was born February 2, 1816, on the farm where he now lives, a son of P. P. and Mary (Adams) Burnham. P. P. Burnham, who was born in Bridgton, Me., was one of the first settlers in this town. He reclaimed from the wilderness the farm now occupied by his son, and devoted the rest of his life to its cultiva- tion. His wife died in Gilead. Having suc- ceeded to the farm, George Burnham has spent his entire life on it. In his management of it he displayed good judgment and the right amount of energy, and in other directions he gave frequent evidence of much ability. Though he is too feeble now to take an active part in work of any kind, the memory of what he has done will live long after he is gone. Always a stanch Republican, he has served in nearly all the town offices, discharging his duties ably and honestly. In 1856 he repre- sented the district in the State legislature. At Augusta, as well as in his native town, he won the respect of his associates, presiding as Chairman of important committees. It was
mainly through his influence that the appropri- ation to build the suspension bridge across the Androscoggin at Gilead was granted. While not a member of any church, he has always contributed liberally to worthy enterprises.
Mr. Burnham married Miss Flora Burbank, daughter of James and Susan (Ingalls) Bur- bank. She was born in Gilead, October 23, 1823, and is now seventy-three years of age. An intelligent and amiable lady, she is as charming now as in her youth, and is beloved by all who know her. Bearing the weight of her years lightly, she rules with graceful dig- nity over the kingdom of her household. She has borne her husband nine children, namely : Mellen P., who served as a soldier in the late war, and died at the age of forty-eight ; James V., who assists his mother in managing the farm ; Perley P., a merchant in Bridgton, Me. ; Charles A., a newspaper man, residing in Ber- lin, N. H. ; Mary E., the wife of Charles Gil- bert, of Canton, Me. ; George I., a farmer, whose home adjoins that of his parents; Mar-
tha M., a teacher at Berkeley Temple, Boston ; Stella F., who died at the age of twenty-two; and Fannie R., who lived but four years. While Mr. Burnham's home is a very pleasant one, it necessarily bears the distinctive marks of old age, as the land was broken by his father over a century ago.
IRAM A. CONANT, of Buckfield, Me., has more than one claim on pub- lic interest. He is a lineal de- scendant of Roger Conant, who in 1624 was left in charge of the Colony at Cape Ann, Massachusetts, which afterward under his leadership moved to Naumkeag, now Salem. He is a veteran of the war, in which he re- ceived a painful wound; and he is a member of the Conant Family Band, a most unique musical organization. Mr. Conant was born in Turner, Androscoggin County, Me., Febru- ary 21, 1845, a son of Everett Q. and Lurania (Turner) Conant.
Everett Q. Conant, who was born in Bridge- water, Mass., April 2, 1809, spent a great part of his active life in Turner, Me., where he was prosperously engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a member of the Baptist church, and politically he favored the Republican party. His death occurred in Turner, December 27, 1868. He was survived more than twenty years by his wife, Lurania, who was born in Livermore, Me., January 25, 1813, and died in August, 1892. Eight children completed the household circle of Mr. and Mrs. Everett Conant, namely : Sanford E., now a farmer of Buckfield, Me. ; Howard T., a farmer of Turner; Hiram A., the subject of this sketch ; Edwin W., a carriage manufacturer of Cin- cinnati; Martha J., wife of John A. Wollmer, of Cincinnati; Sylvia A., who died in May, 1870; Mary, who died in October, 1879; and Sarah L., who died in January, 1870.
Hiram A. Conant was reared and educated in the town of Turner. He started to provide for himself at the age of eighteen; and just before his nineteenth birthday, February 16, 1864, he enlisted, being mustered in as a member of Company D, Thirty-second Maine Regiment, under Captain William R. Ham, of Lewiston. In active service somewhat
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over a year, he took part in the engagements at Weldon Railroad and at Poplar Grove Farm, being wounded at the last named battle. He was honorably discharged June 2, 1865; and, returning to Turner, he engaged in farming, lumbering, and retailing wood. His first land purchase was in Turner, where he lived fifteen years and owned at one time one hundred acres, which he eventually sold, moving to his present farm in 1880. He now owns two hun- dred acres in Buckfield, and is one of the most extensive farmers in the locality, his principal products being fruit and hay. IIe also has a choice dairy, owning from twenty to twenty- five head of full-blooded and grade Jerseys.
In 1866 Mr. Conant was married to Flora Adkins, of Turner, daughter of Martin and Abigail Adkins. This union has been blessed by fourteen children, who are all living, namely: Albert A., born September 6, 1866; Everett E., born October 24, 1867; Ellen A., August 14, 1869; Hiram W., May 5, 1871; Walter G., October 5, 1872; John W., July 21, 1874; George I., January 29, 1876; Sylvia L., December 6, 1878; Harry L., January II, 1880; Ida M., June 12, 1881; Charles B., September 9, 1883; Sarah L., January 21, 1886; Florence G., October 8, 1887; and Lena E., January 13, 1890. Mr. Conant and eight of his sons compose the Conant Family Band, which is well known in the State. The leader and cornet player, Charles, who is now twelve years of age, took an active part when he was only nine years old. The entire family are musical.
Mr. Conant votes with the Republican party. He is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Buckfield, and is Commander of Fessenden Post, No. 43, Grand Army of the Republic; and his entire family are members of Hebron Grange, No. 300, Patrons of Husbandry. Mr. and Mrs. Conant are communicants of the Bap- tist church at Turner.
ENJAMIN ROSCOE KEYES, a carpenter and general farmer of Chesterville, was born in Grafton, Oxford County, January 8, 1848, son of Samson W. and Clarissa (Butterfield) Keyes. When he was eight years old his
father moved from Grafton to Woodstock, pur- chased seventy-five acres of land in the local- ity known as Hamlin Grant, and lived there for four years. The family then went to Farmington, where the father had bought the Green farm, containing one hundred acres, situated on the line between Farmington and Wilton, in the northern section. Four years later a third removal was made to Chester- ville, where Samson W. Keyes had purchased the Lothrop farm of eighty acres, and where he still resides.
Benjamin Roscoe Keyes obtained his educa- tion in the common schools of Grafton and at Wilton Academy. Upon reaching his majority he went to work in a tool factory at Fayette Mills, where he remained for three years. He then went to Brockton, Mass., and was en- gaged in carpentering with C. S. Johnson for the next two years. After spending another year in Cambridge and Somerville he returned to Chesterville, where, living at home, he con- tinued to follow his trade until 1880. He then bought his present farm of one hundred acres, formerly known as the Ricker place, where he has since resided, and successfully carried on general farming.
On December 18, 1880, Mr. Keyes was united in marriage with Mary E. Hamilton, daughter of David M. and Matilda F. Hamil- ton. By this union there are two children, namely : Merle R., who was born July 12, 1883; and Lester A., who was born April 26, 1889. Mr. Keyes is active and energetic, both as a farmer and a carpenter. He is known throughout the county as a first-class mechanic.
ELLEN T. DE SHON, a prosper- ous farmer and a well-known resi- dent of Peru, was born May I, 1853, upon the farm he now owns and occupies, son of Charles F. and Janette L. (Mitchell) De Shon. The family is one of the oldest in Peru. Mr. De Shon's great- grandfather was one of its early settlers; and his grandfather, John De Shon, was a native and lifelong resident. John De Shon, who was an able farmer, did much toward develop- ing the agricultural resources of the locality, and lived to a ripe old age.
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Charles F. De Shon, also a native of Peru, became the owner of a good farm, containing one hundred and twenty-five acres, which he cultivated with energy and success. He was an influential man in the town, served with ability as a Selectman and in other offices, and died in 1892. Originally a Republican, he was identified with the Greenback party dur- ing its existence. His wife, Janette, who was a native of Buckfield, bore him nine children, six of whom are living; namely, Albert, Har- riet, Susan, Mellen T., Ida, Lillian, Matilda, Rosamond, and Mary. Ida married Albert B. Griffith, a prosperous farmer of this town. Mr. De Shon's mother still survives, and resides in Peru.
Mellen T. De Shon was educated in the schools of Peru. He has always resided on the homestead. Succeeding to its possession after his father's death, he has since con- ducted it with success. His buildings are well kept, and the fertility of his land enables him to raise large and superior crops.
In 1876 Mr. De Shon first wedded Ada Marsh, who died in 1884, leaving two sons; namely, Wallace S. and Ellis F. In 1890 he was united in marriage to his present wife, Mabel C. (Kidder) De Shon, a daughter of Philander Kidder, of Canton, Oxford County. Born of this marriage were two daughters - Addie and Dot. Mr. De Shon is a Republi- can. He is highly respected by all who know him. Both he and Mrs. De Shon attend the Baptist church. The family residence occupies a delightful situation, overlooking the Androscoggin River and surrounded by mountain scenery.
WARREN BUTTERFIELD, who occupies a prominent place among the successful farmers of Wilton, Me., was born upon the farm which adjoins his present property, November 9, 1828, son of James and Dolly (Lyford) Butterfield.
His grandfather, Isaac Butterfield, who served as a blacksmith and gunsmith in the Revolutionary War, removed from New Hamp- shire to Maine a few years after the declara- tion of peace, and bought a large tract of wild land in the town of Wilton. He cleared a
portion of his purchase for tillage purposes, and lived to reach a good old age. The maiden name of his wife was Ruth Fletcher.
James Butterfield, son of Isaac, was born in Dunstable, now Nashua, N.H., March 17, 1791, and served as a soldier in the War of 1812. When a youth he cleared a portion of the Gardner Chase farm, upon which he erected a log house, and sowed a crop of corn ; but his dwelling and corn were burned, and he relinquished the further attempt to improve that property. He then purchased of Samson Keyes a farm of two hundred and twenty acres which had been partially improved, and, hav- ing constructed a primitive dwelling, cleared more land for cultivation. He eventually be- came a well-to-do agriculturist, and erected a substantial set of buildings. His death took place here, October 16, 1875. In politics he originally acted with the Whig party, but joined the Republican movement at its forma- tion; and in his religious views he was a Uni- versalist. His wife, Dolly Lyford, who was born August 3, 1800, daughter of Nathaniel Lyford, became the mother of six children, namely : Samuel, born June 6, 1821, who died October 6, 1842; Melinda, born February 12, 1824, who died August 12, 1825; Daniel, born January 7, 1825, who served as a private in Company C, Fifty-third Regiment, Massa- chusetts Volunteers, in the Civil War, and died at New Orleans, January 17, 1863; J. Warren, the subject of this sketch; Franklin, born August 25, 1829, and died October 25, 1842; William Wallace Butterfield, a carpen- ter and millwright of Auburn, Me., who mar- ried April 4, 1861, Melvina Wright, daughter of Reuben and Mary Wright, of North Jay, and has had three children, namely: Cora, born in October, 1862, who died in May, 1863; Guy L., born October IS, 1863, now a millwright and saw-temperer of Auburn, Me., who married in August, 1894, Ethel Wagg; and Susan J., born in September, 1865, who died in July, 1866. Mrs. Dolly Lyford Butterfield died December 2, 1884. She was a Baptist in her religious belief.
J. Warren Butterfield was educated in the public schools of Wilton, and in young man- hood began to follow agricultural pursuits upon his own account. Settling upon a farm
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of one hundred and twenty acres, he made various improvements upon the land and buildings; but, after residing there for eight years, he sold the property and bought the Carter farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres. Including a part of the farm formerly owned by his grandfather, he now has two hundred and seventy-five acres. This prop- erty has steadily enhanced in value since coming into his possession, and its thrifty appearance shows the result of energetic and progressive management. He has transformed the roughly cleared land into cultivated fields, has erected a new barn, remodelled the house, has set out an orchard containing twenty-five hundred grafted trees, and with the assistance of his son has constructed a mile of smooth roadway in order to avoid driving over a long hill. He keeps a herd of twelve standard- bred cattle and a flock of sheep, and his crops of fruit and general farm products are always large and of the very best quality.
On June 28, 1855, Mr. Butterfield wedded Huldah B. Sears, who was born in Sackville, N. B., November 18, 1835, daughter of Jere- miah and Mary (McFee) Sears. Mrs. Butter- field's father, who was a native of New York State, in early manhood settled in the Prov- ince of New Brunswick, where he became a prosperous farmer. He lived to be eighty- nine years old, and his wife died at the age of seventy-eight, having been the mother of eight children, namely: Huldah B., who is now Mrs. Butterfield; Cynthia J .; Abbie; Esther; Mary and Martha, twins; John; and Dixon. Mr. and Mrs. Butterfield have had six chil- dren, as follows: George Franklin, who was born March 24, 1857, and is now engaged in farming; I. Imogene, who was born June 14, 1859, married Alonzo Huntington, of Canton Point, a blacksmith, and has four children - namely, Earl, James (who is no longer liv- ing), Blanche, and Fred W. ; Spurgeon W., a carpenter and millwright, who was born June 10, 1861, married Mary Goodwin, and has one son, Ralph W., born May 22, 1894; M. R. Della, who was born March 31, 1863, graduated from Farmington State Normal School, class of 1890, and died October 12, 1892; Carl R., who was born January 18, 1872, and is now a teacher and also engaged
in agricultural pursuits; and James L., who was born February 7, 1876, and died October 23, 1876.
Mr. Butterfield is Past Master of Franklin Grange, as is also his son, George F .; and is connected with the Williamson Lodge, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, as are also his sons, George F., S. W., and Carl R. He sup- ports the Republican party in politics, and his three sons are also Republicans. Both he and Mrs. Butterfield are members of the Baptist church.
REMONT S. VINING, a successful business man and an old resident of Phillips, is the senior member of the firm of Vining Brothers, retail dealers in meat, provision, and groceries in that place. He was born June 18, 1855, son of Seward P. and Martha C. (Thomas) Vining, natives re- spectively of Durham and Strong, Me.
Benjamin Vining, his grandfather, who was an enterprising farmer of Durham, did the probate business of the town, and was often intrusted with the settlement of estates. In politics he was a Whig, and he lived to be about threescore years old. Of his fourteen children, Hiram Vining, of Weld, Me., is the only one living. Seward P. Vining was en- gaged in farming from his youth. His wife, Martha C., bore him twelve children, of whom ten are living. These are: Hattie E., the widow of Mark Harding, of Melrose, Mass. ; Henry C., who resides in Haverhill, Mass. ; Hannibal H., in Phillips; Albion M., in Manchester, N.H .; Ephraim B., in Strong, Me. ; Martha J., the widow of E. E. Sawyer, of Phillips; Nelson E., also a resident of Phillips; Addie S., the wife of John Mc- Knight, of Boston, Mass .; Allie H., the wife of George O. Osgood, of Waltham, Mass .; and Fremont S., the subject of this sketch. The father died February 4, 1893, aged eighty-nine years.
Fremont S. Vining obtained a good educa- tion in the common schools of Phillips and at Milton Academy. He taught school in the winter for five years after, while he spent the summers employed in the express business. Then entering the meat and provision trade,
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he has since conducted the store of the Phillips Meat and Grocery Company, which now em- ploy three teams in delivery of their goods.
On June 25, 1888, Mr. Vining married Ada F. Willard, a daughter of H. L. Willard, of Acton, Mass. In politics Mr. Vining is a Republican. He served three years as Super- visor of Schools in Avon.
ILLIAM H. TRASK, a prosperous agriculturist of Peru, was born June 23, 1840, on the place where he now resides, son of Leonard and Eunice (Knight) Trask, natives respectively of Hart- ford, Me., and Peru. Osmond Trask, his grandfather, was one of the first settlers in Hartford, where he died at an advanced age. About the year 1830 Leonard, a son of Os- mond, came to Peru, and settled on the farm now owned by William H. Trask. It was then principally wild land, but he cleared and improved a large part of it. His death oc- curred here on April 13, 1861. His wife, Eunice, after surviving him over thirty years, died December 10, 1893. In religious faith he was a Universalist, and in politics a Re- publican. Of his seven children, three are living, namely: William H., the subject of this sketch; Catherine E., the wife of Will- iam Quimby, living in North Turner, Me. ; and Albion K. P. Trask, a resident of Peru. The others were: Susan H., Orville K., Sarah E., and Fanny H.
During his early years William H. Trask attended the common schools of Peru. Since that time he has given his attention to general farming. For some time he has owned the homestead farm, which contains about two hundred and forty acres of land, one of the largest estates in this district. Besides rais- ing the usual New England crops he rears some stock, and keeps a dairy of choice cows. In September, 1861, Mr. Trask enlisted in Company H, Tenth Regiment, Maine Volun- teer Infantry, under Captain C. S. Emerson, of Auburn, Me., for service in the Civil War. He was in the battle of Cedar Mountain, August 9, 1862, in which the Union men were victorious. A wound received at Cedar Mountain disabled him for further service,
and in 1863 he was honorably discharged. He is now an esteemed comrade of Hodge Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Canton, Me. In politics he is a Republican, and has served on the Republican Town Committee.
On March 6, 1882, Mr. Trask married Miss Flora E. Philbrick, who was born April 28, 1852, in Roxbury, Oxford County, daughter of Charles H. and Mary E. (Fox) Philbrick, both also natives of Roxbury. Mr. Philbrick is one of the leading farmers of that town. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Trask are: Charles P., born in Peru, December II, 1882; and Bert L., born here. November 13, 1884. In religious faith Mr. Trask is a Universalist, and his wife is a member of the Free Will Baptist church. Their home is very pleasantly located in the midst of beautiful lake and mountain scenery.
ILTON H. MERRIAM, a prosper- ous and progressive agriculturist of Norway township, was born Jan- uary 25, 1840, on the Merriam homestead, which he now owns and occupies, son of Silas Merriam, Jr., and Mary (Coburn) Merriam. His grandfather, Silas Merriam, came to Norway from Massachusetts in 1793. Silas Merriam was born July 3, 1769, in the town of Middleton, Mass., where he lived until his departure for Norway. Here he purchased a tract of heavily timbered land, from which he cleared and improved the homestead farm, and was afterward engaged in mixed husbandry until his death, which occurred August 14, 1844. His wife, in maidenhood Hannah Upton, was born in Massachusetts, July 15, 1779, and died in Norway, March 18, 1835. They had four children, namely : Silas, Jr., born January 10, 1800, the father of Milton H. ; Andrew, born September 30, 1802, who died February 17, 1824; Amos, born February 13, 1807, who married Jane Wentworth, of Greenwood township, now deceased, and died in 1883; and Noah, born November 21, 1810, who went to California many years ago, and has not since been heard from.
Silas Merriam, Jr., who was ushered into the world on the Merriam homestead, inherited the paternal acres, and was there engaged in
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general farming throughout his life. He mar- ried Mary Coburn, who was born in Green- wood township, August 8, 1814. They had seven children, as follows: Andrew M., born May 14, 1836, who died May 5, 1891; Olive S., born July 24, 1837, now the widow of the late John B. Hobbs, of Norway; Frederick R., born July 26, 1838, who now lives in the West; Milton H., the subject of this sketch; Alma E., born January 22, 1842, who married Augustus Morton, of Freedom, N. H., and died June 30, 1873, leaving one child, Della A., now residing in Norway village; Granville R., born March 21, 1843, who died February II, 1844; and Lawson L. R., born January 11, 1849, now engaged in the produce and butcher- ing business in the village of Norway. Neither of the parents is now living, the father having died June 14, 1875, and the mother April 21, 1881.
Milton H. Merriam was educated in his native town, attending the district schools and the village academy. After teaching school for several terms, he forsook that occupation for farming. After the death of his parents he bought the interests in the homestead of the other heirs, and has since conducted it success- fully. The property contains two hundred acres of land. He carries on general farming and dairying after the most approved methods. Mr. Merriam affiliates with the Republican party ; and, while not ambitious of official dis- tinction, he has served the town in some of its minor offices. He is a member of the grange at Norway village, and of the. Golden Cross Lodge, Norway Commandery. Mrs. Merriam is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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