USA > Maine > Oxford County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 34
USA > Maine > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 34
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ALEB W. GILMORE, a successful farmer of Industry and formerly a member of the Board of Selectmen, was born in this town, August 29, 1831, son of James and Rachel (Wade) Gil-
more. Mr. Gilmore's parents were natives of Woolwich ; and his father was born October 17, I 798. Mr. Gilmore's paternal grandparents, William F. and Mary (Tront) Gilmore, re- sided in Woolwich, his grandfather being a civil engineer and a farmer.
James Gilmore, Mr. Gilmore's father, who was the first of the family to settle in Indus- try, arrived in March, 1830. He bought the Elisha Drew farm, which is now owned by his son, Caleb W., and he resided here for the rest of his life. He died August 14, 1868. In 1840 he was elected a member of the Board of Selectmen, to which body he was twice re- elected ; and he was a Deacon of the Baptist church in Starks. He was twice married; and his first wife, whom he wedded November 6, 1823, was before marriage Lucy Wade. She was born in Woolwich, May 21, 1795 ; and she died January 21, 1827. By this union there were two children: Mary H., who was born February 1, 1825, and is now the widow of Amasa Works, who died August 1, 1866; and Lucy Wade, who was born January 21, 1827, married William B. Tibbetts, and died No- vember 12, 1867. On September 1, 1828, James Gilmore married for his second wife Rachel Wade, his first wife's sister, and she became the mother of eight children, namely : David, who was born in 1829, and died October 29, 1892, survived by his widow, Mrs. Emma Gardner Gilmore, who resides in Sangerville, Me .; Caleb W., the subject of this sketch; Hannah Preble, who was born August 5, 1833, and died April 13, 1857; Betsey Jane, who was born March 25, 1836, married Titcomb Collins, and died November 25, 1866; Johanna Payson, who was born Feb- ruary 29, 1839, and died March 8, 1863 ; Will- iam James, who was born July 12, 1841, married Margaret Broderic, and is now a prosperous farmer of Industry ; Abner Wade, who was born January 30, 1843, and died June 7, 1850; and Bradford, who was born January 8, 1845, and died in 1862, while serving in the Civil War. Mrs. Rachel Wade Gilmore died July 27, 1853.
Caleb W. Gilmore, the second son born to his parents, James and Rachel Gilmore, ac- quired his education in the schools of his native town. At the age of nineteen he went
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to sea, but after remaining away from home three years he returned and took charge of the farm. He has since resided here with the ex- ception of a year spent in Starks, and owns besides the home farm of one hundred and. twenty-two acres some valuable outlying land. He carries on general farming, making a spe- cialty of producing corn, hay, and potatoes ; and he also raises sheep.
On November 6, 1856, Mr. Gilmore wedded Nancy N. Manter. She was born in Industry, November 25, 1831, daughter of William W. and Betsey W. (Norton) Manter. Her par- ents, who were natives of this town, afterward engaged in farming in New Sharon. They are no longer living. Mrs. Gilmore died June I, 1895, leaving no children.
Politically, Mr. Gilmore affiliates with the Republican party. He has served with abil- ity as a Selectman and as a member of the School Board. He has been an active and in- dustrious man, but of late his health is some- what impaired as the result of overwork ; and he employs Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo L. Pomeroy to assist upon the farm and manage his household. In his religious belief he is a Baptist.
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RANKLIN PORTER, a well-to-do farmer of Paris, Oxford County, Me., was born here, October 18, 1829, son of John and Eunice (Hicks) Porter. His father was born in Yarmouth, Cumberland County, Me., October 7, 1793, and his mother in the same place, September 27, 1790. The first representative of this branch of the Porter fam- ily in New England was Richard Porter, who settled in Weymouth, Mass., in 1635. (A full account of the family may be found in the Porter Genealogy by the Hon. Joseph W. Por- ter, of Bangor. )
Nehemiah Porter, father of John, was born in Scituate, Mass., December 14, 1758; and his wife, Joanna Barber Porter, was a native of Gray, Me. They had thirteen children, and all grew to maturity ; namely, Sylvanus, Su- sanna, Lucy, Lydia, Stephen, John, Charles, Benjamin, Joanna, Mary, Leonard, William Barber, and Rufus. None of the family now survive. Their father, who was a hard worker
and successful farmer, died in Yarmouth at a good age.
John Porter grew to manhood in Yarmouth, where he learned the trade of a shoemaker. He was in the War of 1812, and that year or the year following he came to Paris and set- tled on the farm where his son Franklin now lives. It was then covered with timber, which he cut and sold to pay for the land; and game was plentiful. Although he came here a poor man and was obliged to buy his land on credit, he was industrious and acquired considerable means. He was prominent in town affairs, and the Baptist church edifice on Paris Hill was erected by him. He died October 12, 1855 ; and his wife, Eunice Hicks Porter, died April II, 1886, at the venerable age of ninety-five years, six months, and fourteen days. Her parents, Joseph and Eunice Hicks, both lived to a good age, her father dying November 4, 1844, at ninety-seven years and four months ; and her mother November 18, 1834, aged eighty-two years and four months. Mr. and Mrs. John Porter were consistent members of the Baptist church. In politics he was a Democrat. They had six children, as follows : Sylvanus, born March 31, 1817; Ezekiel L., born October 3, 1819, who died January 14, 1869; John B., born August 12, 1821, who is living in Norway and engaged in farming ; Harriet, born August 20, 1823, now the wife of Solomon I. Millett, a farmer of Norway ; Joseph H., born March 4, 1826, who is en- gaged in the real estate business in Wiscon- sin; and Franklin, who is the special subject of this biographical notice.
Franklin Porter, the youngest child, grew to manhood on the old homestead. He was edu- cated in the district schools, and at twenty- one started out for himself as a farm laborer, receiving but a small compensation for his ser- vices. For two or three years thereafter he was engaged in construction work on the Grand Trunk Railroad and for one summer in Wy- oming County, New York State, on the Alton & Erie Railroad. He was next employed for a year as a truckman in the city of Boston. About the time of his father's death he re- turned to Paris, settled up his father's affairs, and purchased the old homestead, the place where he now resides, and where he is success-
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fully engaged in general farming. He owns all together about three hundred acres. On the home place are good buildings and a fine orchard set with apple and pear trees. He enjoys well-merited prosperity, having ac- quired his property by hard work and honest dealings.
On September 15, 1858, Mr. Porter was united in marriage with Miss Martha M. Mil- lett, who was born in Norway, Me., March 31, 1839, daughter of Nathan and Mercy (Samp- son) Millett. Her father, who was an enter- prising farmer, was born in Norway in Sep- tember, 1800; and her mother was born in the same place in September, 1804. Mr. and Mrs. Porter have four sons, all living : Francis E. Porter, born October 5, 1861, is engaged in farming with his father, married Miss Olive Walker, and has one child - Helen M., the only grandchild; Junot N. Porter, born May 5, 1865, is a farmer in Eureka, Wis. ; Joseph H. Porter, born June 23, 1869, is employed on the electric railroad in Boston; and John A. Porter, born July 3, 1876, lives at the parental home. Only the eldest son is married.
Mr. Porter is independent in politics. He was Selectman for three years, and has held other offices. Since 1862 he has been a mem- ber of Paris Lodge, No. 94, A. F. & A. M., at South Paris; is a member of West Paris Lodge, No. 15, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and he and his wife are charter members of the Patrons of Husbandry at South Paris and charter members also of the Rebecca Lodge at West Paris. Mrs. Porter is a com- municant of the Baptist church at Paris Hill. He is liberal in his religious views.
ILLIAM D. BRETT, of South Paris, Oxford County, Me., who has in his day been one of the hard- working, progressive farmers of this county, but is now living in comparative retirement from business cares and the toil of the har- vest fields, was born in the town of Paris, November 9, 1822, son of Martin and Ruth (Durell) Brett.
The first ancestor of the family of whom there is any mention in Colonial history was William Brett, a native of Kent, England, who
emigrated to America about 1640, and first settled in Duxbury, Mass. He became one of the original proprietors of the town of Bridge- water, Mass., where he was prominent in both church and town affairs, often filling the pul- pit in the absence of the regular minister ; and he was frequently chosen to represent the town in the General Court of the colony. He died in 1681; and the descent continues through Nathaniel and Sarah (Hayward) Brett, Seth and Sarah (Alden) Brett, to Mr. Brett's great- grandparents, Simeon and Mehitable (Packard) Brett, the former of whom was the first ances- tor of the family to visit Maine. He came to Oxford County probably upon a prospecting tour, accompanied by his son, Amzi; and the latter bought a tract of wild land situated about one mile from the present village of South Paris.
Amzi Brett, Mr. Brett's grandfather, was born in Bridgewater, May 3, 1762; and while still a mere youth he served as a private in the Continental army in the Revolutionary War, for which in his old age he received a pension. Some years after his marriage to Phebe Pack- ard, which occurred in 1788, he settled in Paris, as previously mentioned; and with the aid of his son Martin he built a, small frame house and cleared and improved the land into a good farni, where he resided for the rest of his life. He died at the age of eighty, having survived his wife many years. His children were : Sophia, Martin, Charlotte, Ira, and Phebe. Mr. Amzi Brett was a member of the Congregational church.
Martin Brett, son of Amzi and Phebe, was born in Bridgewater, March 26, 1794. He assisted in clearing the homestead farm in Paris, having accompanied his parents here when a young man ; and, inheriting the prop- erty, he continued to till the soil until his death, which took place when he was seventy- two years old. His wife, whom he wedded January 13, 1819, was Ruth, daughter of David Durell. She became the mother of five chil- dren, as follows: Apphia; William D., the subject of this sketch; Sophia P. ; Mary Ann ; and Henry M., who served as a soldier in the Civil War, and died at the hospital in Wash- ington, January 16, 1864. Mrs. Ruth Durell Brett died at the age of thirty-three years.
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William D. Brett, the date of whose birth has been made known to the reader, passed his childhood and youth in his native town, attend- ing the public schools, where he acquired a practical knowledge of the ordinary branches of study ; and he resided at home, assisting his father in carrying on the farm, until reaching the age of twenty years. He then worked for some time in the mills, carefully saving his earnings ; and when he had accumulated a suffi- cient sum with which to start in life for him- self he bought the homestead property, erected a new set of buildings, and improved the farm generally. For many years he industriously applied his energy and ability to agricultural pursuits, which he conducted with exceedingly prosperous financial results until 1888, when he sold his property to a Mr. Churchill, with the intention of retiring permanently from ex- tensive labors. He bought the H. Richardson place in South Paris, where he has since re- sided, owning a small farm adjoining; and, to avoid irksome leisure, as anything like idle- ness is far from being congenial to his nature while he has strength to work, he cultivates the land.
On May 7; 1855, Mr. Brett was united in marriage with Ruth B., daughter of Jonas and Abigail (Bradbury) Hamilton. Jonas Hamil- ton was a native of North Yarmouth, Me., who settled in Paris in 1821, and for many years drove a four-horse team engaged in hauling freight between that town and Portland, the customary charge being fifty cents per hundred- weight. After the opening of the railway he retired, and resided in Paris until his death, which took place when he was eighty-five years old. His wife, who lived to be eighty- two, died in 1870. She was the mother of six children, all of whom grew to maturity, as fol- lows: Rachel L .; William; Phebe Ann; Ruth B., who is now Mrs. Brett; Jonas and Nancy, the last named being twins.
Mr. and Mrs. Brett have had three children, namely : Charles E., an express and freight teamster of this town, who was born April 3, 1856, married Jennie L. Briggs, and has one child, Ava; Herman P., foreman in a shoe factory at Beverly, who was born November 19, 1859, married Sarah Moody, and has one daughter, Georgia May; and Joseph W., who
was born February 8, 1862, and died June 25, 1865.
In politics Mr. Brett is a Republican, and has served the town well and faithfully in some of the important offices. In his religious faith he is a Congregationalist.
APTAIN GEORGE R. FERNALD, one of the most prominent business men and influential residents of Wilton, an ex-State Senator, a member of Governor Robie's Council in 1885 and 1886, and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in South Levant, Penobscot County, Me., June 25, 1835, son of Robert and Roxanna (Buswell) Fernald. Captain Fernald is a de- scendant of an old New Hampshire family, representatives of which resided in Loudon ; and his grandfather, David Fernald, who owned and cultivated a good farm in that town, died at about middle age.
Robert Fernald, Captain Fernald's father, was born in Loudon; and in young manhood he learned the trade of a tanner. In early life he went to Penobscot County, Maine, where for a time he owned and operated mills and a tannery at Exeter ; and he later became propri- etor of a mill in South Levant. Besides carry- ing on these mills he bought large tracts of timber land, and was engaged in lumbering for several years, or until his death, which took place when he was fifty-five years old. In politics he supported the Democratic party, and in his religious views was a Methodist. His wife, Roxanna Buswell, survived him many years, attaining the age of eighty-eight years, four months, and eight days. His children were: Charles G .; George R., the subject of this sketch ; Merritt C. ; and Mary.
George R. Fernald attended the common and high schools, and completed his studies at the East Maine Conference Seminary at Bucks- port. After finishing his education he re- turned home, and, taking charge of the home- stead farm, carried it on until August 21, 1862, when he enlisted for service in the Civil War, going to the front as Second Lieutenant of Company F, Eighteenth Regiment, Heavy Artillery. On February 28, 1863, he was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant, and
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on November 7, 1864, was commissioned a Captain, and served as such until the close of the war. During his long and honorable term of service with the Eighteenth Maine, whose record occupies a prominent place in the his- tory of the Rebellion, he participated in many important battles, including Spottsylvania, Petersburg, North Anna River, Cold Harbor, Sailor's Creek, and others, and took an active part in the campaign which resulted in the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox Court- house. At the battle of Petersburg he re- ceived a serious wound in the foot, from which he has never fully recovered. He was mus- tered out with his regiment in September, 1865.
Taking his father's mills after reaching home, and adding grist-mill facilities, he op- erated them for three years, when he sold the entire plant and removed to Wilton, where he has since found ample opportunities to display his energy and business ability to profitable ad- vantage. In 1886 he bought of Seth Bass the Wilton grist-mill, which he has improved by developing the water-power and putting in new machinery; and his full equipment is kept constantly busy. He handles all kinds of grain and feed by the carload, which he grinds, and supplies to farmers and dealers in Wilton and the adjacent towns; and he also does a great deal of custom grinding. In 1881 he bought and built upon the A. Mosman place, but later sold it, and, in company with R. C. Fuller, purchased a saw-mill, which they im- proved and operated for some time; and he then sold his interest to Mr. Holt.
As a progressive citizen Captain Fernald is always to be depended upon for his aid and influence in securing any desired public im- provement ; and the Wilton Fire Company, of which he is President, owes its existence and success largely to his energy and instrumental- ity. This movement was organized for the purpose of protecting the business centre of the town against fire; and a large sixty-horse- power pump has been placed at the Wilton grist-mill, where sufficient force is always available to supply the water for extinguishing fires. The wisdom and success of the scheme was fully demonstrated in July, 1896, when the apparatus proved its usefulness by putting
out a fire which originated in the Masonic Building and threatened to destroy the entire central portion of the village.
Captain Fernald has been twice married. His first wife, Jane Blake, daughter of Zebu- lon Blake, of Carmel, Me., died at the age of thirty-three years, leaving one son -- Gardner, who married Fanny Fenderson. The son is now engaged in business with his father.
Captain Fernald's second wife, Eliza Wood- bury, daughter of James Woodbury, of Dover, Me., died in 1896, aged sixty-three.
Politically, Captain Fernald is a Republi- can; and while residing in South Levant he was three times elected a member of the Board of Selectmen. He represented this district in the lower branch of the legislature during the years 1875 and 1876, was a member of the State Senate for the years 1880 and 1881, and was appointed to serve in Governor Robie's Council in 1885 and 1886. In Masonry Cap- tain Fernald has advanced to the Royal Arch degree, being a member of the Blue Lodge of Wilton, and of the chapter in Farmington ; and he is a comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic Post here in Wilton. As an enter- prising, public-spirited citizen he ranks fore- most among the leading residents of this town ; and his zeal for the general welfare of the com- munity is heartily appreciated. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
J OHN FOX, Third Selectman of Lovell, Me., a veteran of the war of the Re- bellion, is one of the most extensive land-owners in Oxford County, and has achieved his present prosperity by persevering application to useful labor. He was born in Porter, Me., October 29, 1838, a son of John and Clarinda (Stanley) Fox.
John Fox, the father, was born in Gilman- ton, N. H., December 7, 1795, and lived there for a number of years. He subsequently re- moved to Porter, where he managed a grist- mill, and was engaged in general farming until 1848. In that year he settled in "the Fox neighborhood" in Lovell, where he fol- lowed agricultural pursuits. He died May 6, 1859; and his wife, who was born in Shap- leigh, Me., February 4, 1809, died January
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اتها مراجبعيد
٨,١٥٨
MR. AND MRS. JOHN FOX.
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29, 1873. They were the parents of ten chil- dren, namely : Sarah S., born May 23, 1830, who died September 24, 1848; Nathaniel, born February 12, 1832, who died January 3, 1849; Melissa, who was born November 28, 1833, is now the wife of William Le Baron, and lives in Lovell near her brother John; Serena H., born October 18, 1836, who be- came the wife of Edward Wells, and died in September, 1860; John, the subject of this sketch; Lewis, born November 22, 1841, now residing in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and who married for his first wife Maria Stanley, and for his second Ellen Dale; Jane, born in Porter, February 28, 1844, now the wife of Josiah D. Hatch, and resid- ing on a farm near North Lovell; Mary, born February 19, 1846, now the wife of Moses Harriman, of Berlin, N.H .; William S., born July 30, 1848, in Lovell, who married Miss Harriet McAllister, and resides in Nor- way, Me. ; Nathaniel, the youngest, born May II, 1851, who married Miss Caroline An- drews, and resides on a farm in Lovell, near the old homestead.
John Fox, who was the second son born to his parents, John and Clarinda Fox, acquired a good practical common-school education. His first journey from home was a long one, taken in the.eventful year 1861, when so many stalwart sons of Maine bade farewell to home and kindred, a farewell that for some was final. Enlisting November 15 in Company E, Twelfth Maine Regiment, under Colonel George F. Shepley and Captain Enoch Knight, he was soon in active service, and before his term was finished had taken part in twenty-seven engagements, including the battle of Irish Bend, La., the siege of Port Hudson, the battle of Malvern Hill, Va., and the battles of Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, and Winchester, and saw many of his com- rades fall around him. He received his dis- charge at Portland, Me., December 7, 1864, and, returning to Lovell, settled on the farm where he is now living. Since that time he has been prosperously engaged in general farming, and has managed a saw-mill, also working at times at carpentry. He owns about five hundred and thirty acres, wild and improved land.
He was married in 1861 to Marietta Horr, a native of Lovell, born June 30, 1842, daugh- ter of Josiah and Hannah C. (Heald) Horr. Mr. Horr was born in Waterford, Me., January 29, 1804. He settled in Lovell at an early date on the farm now occupied by Mr. Fox, which he cleared and developed; and he died here, December 29, 1877. His wife was born in Lovell, February 23, 1810, and died here April 22, 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Horr were the parents of ten children, namely: John P., who was killed October 19, 1864, in the battle of Cedar Creek; Josiah H., born De- cember 26, 1831, who died in September, 1860; Isaac P., born April 13, 1834, a resi- dent of Hudson, Mass., who married first Miss Phobe Hill, of Denmark, Me., and second Miss Samantha Moore; Moses H., born April 12, 1836, who died December 27, 1842; Eliza Ann, born July 20, 1839, who died March 23, 1856; Lucy H., born July 18, 1840, who died April 20, 1845; Marietta (Mrs. Fox) ; Au- gusta Maria, born April 4, 1844, who died July 17, 1846; Steward B., born February 28, 1846, a resident of Waterford, Vt., who married Miss Celia Church; and Sarah S., born May 30, 1848, now wife of Albra K. Lord, a farmer of Lovell.
Mr. and Mrs. Fox are the parents of seven children - Hannah C., born February 1, 1862, who died April 22 of the same year ; Josiah H., born December 19, 1867, now re- siding in Lovell, who married Miss Martha A. Dyer; Charles H., born April 17, 1870, who died August 25, 1892; William S., born July 19, 1872, a farmer living near Lovell Centre, who married Miss Corinna Lord: John Walter, born January 2, 1874, who married Miss Mabel Gray, of Lovell, and re- sides with his father; and Lewis Edwin, born February 10, 1878, and Guy R., born June 3, 1880, both at home with their parents. Mr. Fox's three sons, Josiah, William S., and Walter, now attend to the business at the saw- mill.
Mr. Fox is a stanch Republican. Though he has never sought office he has served on the Town Board of Selectmen several years, and was elected Third Selectman in March, 1896. He is a member of Parker Post. No. 151, Grand Army of the Republic, at Lovell
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Centre, also of the grange of Patrons of Hus- bandry at Fryeburg; and he and his wife are members of the Christian church at the Centre.
IDWARD E. WITT, one of the leading 6
young men of the town of Norway, Ox- ford County, was born October I, 1864, on the farm where he now resides with his widowed mother and sisters. He is of Massachusetts ancestry, his paternal grand- father, Benjamin Witt, having been born and bred in Lynn, Essex County, that State, where he learned the blacksmith's trade. On coming to Oxford County, Maine, he settled in Nor- way, near Rustville, which was named for his uncle, Henry Rust, Esq.
The grandfather was among the early set- tlers of this section of the county, and the first to set up a smithy in Norway, where he subsequently worked at his trade and carried on general husbandry until his death, October 28, 1842. He was four times married. His first wife, Betsey Parsons, bore him four chil- dren - John, Henry, Daniel, and Benjamin. To him and his second wife, Lucy Cobb, two children were born - Lucy and Betsey. His third wife, Hannah Parsons, died leaving him three children : Thomas, father of Edward E. ; William ; and Abigail, all of whom have de- parted this life. Of his union with Patty House, daughter of L. Hathaway, of Paris, this county, there were no children.
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