USA > Maine > Oxford County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 35
USA > Maine > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 35
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Thomas Witt, son of Benjamin and Hannah (Parsons) Witt, was born in Norway, June 3, 1808, and was here educated, attending the district school near his home and the village high school. At the age of fifteen years he entered the office of the Oxford Observer in the village, in order to learn the printer's trade, working there and in the Paris Hill printing- office several years. In 1830 he went to Bos- ton, where he was engaged on a daily paper for eight years. Going thence to Richmond, Va., he was on the staff of the Southern Churchman two years, when he returned to Boston to take charge of the printing-office of the Christian Freeman, a weekly paper published in the interests of the Universalist denomination by the Rev. Sylvanus Cobb, father of Sylvanus
Cobb, Jr., the noted writer, and of the tal- ented artists, Cyrus and Darius Cobb. In 1845 he returned to Norway, and, buying a farm, engaged in agricultural pursuits two years. Desiring to resume his carlier occupa- tion, he sold his land, and, moving into the village, bought the Norway Advertiser, which he published for two years. He then bought the farm now occupied by his widow and her children, and here, with the assistance of his son, Edward E., carried on general farming until his death, October 20, 1884. He was a man of extensive acquaintance, winning and retaining friends wherever he went, few men of this locality having been better known or more popular.
Thomas Witt and Rachel Porter were mar- ried on December 9, 1845. Mrs. Witt was born February 11, 1824, in the town of Paris, Oxford County, a daughter of Charles and Ra- chel (Hamilton) Porter, both natives of North Yarmouth, Me. Mr. Porter was a farmer by occupation ; and after his marriage he settled in Paris, where both he and his wife spent their remaining days, his death occurring in his sixty-ninth year, and hers in her eighty- fourth year. Mr. and Mrs .. Thomas Witt had the following children : Mary Ellen, who died at the age of forty-two years, being the wife of Hezekiah Brown; Charles Thomas, who mar- ried Ella Hathaway, and is engaged in the milk business in Boston; Elizabeth, living at Leominster, Mass., the widow of George W. Foster; Sarah H., living with her mother and brother on the homestead; George H., a gro- cer in Dorchester, Mass., who married Mary T. Baker, of East Boston ; Abbie L., also liv- ing on the home farm; Willie B., who died at the age of nine months; and Edward E., the special subject of this sketch.
Edward E. Witt, in common with his brothers and sisters, enjoyed in his early years excellent educational advantages. Being the youngest son he stayed at home after attaining his majority, to assist his father, who was in feeble health for some time; and for the past twelve years he has had entire charge of the farm. He has one hundred acres of land, well improved, and much of it through his energetic efforts in an excellent state of cultivation. Here he and his mother and sisters have an
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attractive home, which is a hospitable centre of social activity, its rooms ever being open to receive their many friends. Mr. Witt is a stanch Republican in politics, in which he takes an intelligent interest, and since 1894 has been a member of the Board of Selectmen of Norway. He belongs to the grange of the Patrons of Husbandry of Norway village. Mrs. Witt and her daughters are members of the Congregational church, whose house of worship is located near their home.
ILAS POWERS BARTLETT, M. D., a venerable physician of East Dixfield, Me., now living in retire- ment at his home in this town, is widely known as one of the leading mathema- ticians of the State. He was born in Bethel, Oxford County, Me., February 3, 1817, son of Ebenezer and Lois (Powers) Bartlett. . Dr. Bartlett's great-grandfather, an elder Ebenezer Bartlett, was a native of Newton, Mass., where the active period of his life was passed in till- ing the soil. He reared a family of six chil- dren, as follows: Enoch, Jonathan, Moses, Thaddeus, Stephen, and Peregrine.
Stephen Bartlett, the fifth son, as the names are here recorded, was born in Newton, Mass. In young manhood he took up a tract of wild land located within the Androscoggin valley in the town of Bethel, Me., and there cleared and improved a farm, upon which he erected a large two-story residence. He lived to reach the age of seventy years. His wife, whose maiden name was Dorcas Barbour, lived to be eighty years old. Their children were : Eben- ezer, Elhanan, William, Beulah, James, Dor- cas, Sarah, and Sophia.
Ebenezer Bartlett, eldest son of Stephen and Dorcas, was reared to agricultural pursuits in his native town. When a young man he bought a piece of unimproved land located near his father's property, and cleared a farm of one hundred and forty acres. In connection with carrying on his farm he did quite a profit- able business in getting out and finishing pump logs, a large number of which he disposed of to the inhabitants of Bethel and the adjacent towns. After a considerable period of toil- some activity, selling his property in Bethel
he removed to Hanover, Me., where he re- sided a few years, and then returning to Bethel bought another farm, which he culti- vated until his retirement. His last days were passed with his children ; and he died in 1851, aged sixty-nine years. His wife, who was before marriage Lois Powers, became the mother of seven children, namely: Joanna ; Silas Powers, the subject of this sketch ; Stephen ; Ebenezer N. ; Lusylvia; Artemas ; and Warren. Mrs. Lois P. Bartlett lived to reach the age of seventy.
Silas Powers Bartlett acquired his early ed- ucation in the public schools and at the Bethel Academy. After completing his elementary studies he taught school for a time; and, hav- ing read a course of medicine with Dr. Thomas Roberts, of Rumford, he subsequently entered the Maine Medical School at Brunswick, where he was graduated with the class of 1841. Lo- cating for practice in Gorham, N. H., he re- mained there two years; and in 1845 he moved to East Dixfield, where he succeeded to the practice of Dr. Z. W. Bartlett. Soon after his arrival he bought the Samuel Allen property, consisting of a residence and thirty-five acres of land, which he improved and beautified; and there he established his home and office. Dr. Bartlett is regarded as one of the best qualified and most experienced physicians and surgeons in this county, having enjoyed a large and suc- cessful practice until the feeble condition of his health prevented him from taking long rides.
On March 17, 1847, Dr. Bartlett was united in marriage with Martha M. Morse, who was born February 15, 1825, daughter of John and Sally Morse, of Jay, Me. Mrs. Bartlett has had five children, as follows: Florus, who was born February 7, 1848, married Lydia E. Brown, who is no longer living, and he is now engaged in mercantile pursuits; Julia M., who was born May 12, 1854, and died August 28, 1886; Silas, an ice dealer of Lewiston, who was born January 29, 1857, married Lucy Page, and has one daughter, Beulah; Addie M., who was born September 10, 1860, and died May 10, 1866; and Addie, who was born January 28, 1866, married J. E. Hiscock, of Wilton, and died August 24, 1895.
Dr. Bartlett is a Democrat in politics. He
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has always displayed a deep interest in educa- tional matters, and for a number of years he served as superintendent of schools. His wide reputation as a mathematician has been acquired by his success in solving numerous difficult problems sent to him for solution, and for the past fifty years he has furnished original problems to the Maine Mathematical Almanac. Both he and Mrs. Bartlett are sincerely esteemed and respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, as well as by the community in general.
AIRFIELD FARRAR, who is engaged in tilling the soil of a good farm in the town of Sumner, in the eastern part of Oxford County, and is one of the prosperous residents here, was born in Paris, the shire town of the county, October 19, 1839, son of Bela and Lydia Farrar. An account of his parents will be found in a sketch of Harri- son Farrar, which appears elsewhere in this work.
Fairfield Farrar was educated in the district schools of his native town, and was reared to farm life. Since becoming of age he has given his undivided attention to agricultural pursuits, in which by his industry and close application to every detail he has attained marked success. He now owns seventy acres of as fertile land as can be found in this local- ity. On February 18, 1888, Mr. Farrar mar- ried Delma L. Buck, who was born in Buck- field, near by, daughter of Henry M. and Ro- setta J. (Doble) Buck, and a representative of the family for whom the town was named. Mr. and Mrs. Farrar have no children. Mr. Farrar is a Democrat in politics, and liberal in his religious views; and Mrs. Farrar is a member of the Baptist church.
Henry Mellen Buck, Mrs. Farrar's father, was born in Buckfield, September 10, 1839, son of James and Lydia (Austin) Buck, the former of whom was born in Buckfield; and his wife was a native of Canton, Me. Mr. Buck's great-grandfather, Jonathan Buck, is said to have been the first settler and founder of the town of Buckfield, which was originally called Bucktown. From the then almost unbroken wilderness he cleared a farm, upon which he
resided for the rest of his life. The property is now owned by Elmer Austin.
Jonathan Buck, Jr., Mr. Buck's grandfather, who was classed as one of the leading agricult- urists of his day, was born upon his father's farm in Buckfield, and passed his whole life there, dying at the age of sixty-seven years. He was a Democrat in politics and a Univer- salist in his religious views. He was twice married, and reared a family of seven children, most of whom fell victims to consumption before reaching middle age.
James Buck, one of the seven, having a more vigorous constitution, lived to be eighty-four years old. He began life as a farmer, but later engaged in trade at North Buckfield. The greater part of his life was spent in his native town ; but his latter days were passed in Paris, Me., this county. He was a well-known citizen, a man whose honorable character won for him the esteem and good-will of all with whom he came in contact ; and his entire life was one of useful activity. In his later years he acted with the Republican party in politics. His wife, Lydia Austin, who lived to be fifty- eight years old, became the mother of seven children, as follows: Lorenzo J., Roscoe G., Mrs. Mary J. Stetson, and Austin, who are no longer living; Augustus W., who resides in Minnesota, where he is engaged in carpenter- ing and farming; Henry Mellen; and Hannah C., who is now the wife of Julius A. Record, and lives in South Paris, Me. Mr. Buck's par- ents were Universalists in their religious belief.
Henry Mellen Buck, the date of whose birth is mentioned above, was educated in the town schools of Buckfield. When a young man he learned the tailor's trade; and he also became skilled in mechanical pursuits, first entering the employ of Morton & Bates at West Sum- ner, later engaging with the South Paris Man- ufacturing Company. For ten years he carried on his tailoring business more or less, in con- nection with his other industrial occupation. In 1879 he bought the home farm of seventy acres, which he continued to cultivate with un- usual activity and success till 1895, when he sold out to his son. In 1861 Mr. Buck mar- ried Rosetta J. Doble, who was born in Buck- field, and is a daughter of Solomon Doble, of that town. Mr. and Mrs. Buck have had ten
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children, five of whom are living, namely : Delma L., who is now Mrs. Fairfield Farrar, of Sumner; Lulie A., Mrs. Dammon ; Charles A. ; Myrtie B. ; and Emogene. The others were: Lorenzo, first; Lorenzo, second; Gar- field; Percy A. ; and Mary Emma. In addi- tion to the home farm Charles A. Buck has bought other real estate in this locality, own- ing at the present time about one hundred and fifty acres in all ; and he devotes considerable attention to dairying.
In politics Mr. Buck is a Republican, and, though not caring to hold office, is deeply interested in the general welfare and improve- ment of the community. The family is a dis- tinguished one in this locality, and its repre- sentatives of the present day are all filling useful positions in life.
APTAIN WILLIAM K. BICKFORD, proprietor of the Beal's House, Nor- way, Me., and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Dresden, Me., November 8, 1836, son of William, Jr., and Mehitabel (Hathorn) Bickford.
William Bickford, Jr., like his son a na- tive of Dresden, Me., was born January 29, 1794. Upon assuming the responsibilities of life he purchased a farm adjoining that owned by his father, William Bickford, Sr .; and there he spent the remainder of his days. He became a stirring, progressive citizen and successful farmer. During the War of 1812 he served as a private. In politics he was a Democrat, in religion a Methodist. He died December 1, 1889. His wife, Mehitabel Hathorn Bickford, born February 9, 1800, died in August, 1864. They were the parents of seven children, four sons and three daugh- ters, namely: Mary C., born March 4, 1825; Joseph T., born January 29, 1827; Maria L. T., born November 5, 1829; Nathaniel H., born April 4, 1832; Eliza A., born No- vember 7, 1834; William Kendall, the date of whose birth is mentioned above, and whose personal sketch is to follow; and Frank W., born April 16, 1841.
When his school days were over, William Kendall Bickford, at sixteen years of age, went to Gardiner, Me., as a clerk for Charles
Stone, with whom he remained a year. After that he worked a short time in a dry-goods store, and then learned the tailor's trade; but, not liking this occupation, he went to Boston, where for two years he had a position as clerk in a shoe store. During the next two years he was clerk in the Maine Hotel at Damariscotta, Me., which he subsequently conducted for the owners for a time. He was next employed till 1862 as clerk at Knox Hotel, Thomaston, Me. Enlisting in Company I, Twentieth Maine Regiment, he served seven months as a private, was then commissioned as Second Lieutenant in Company H, and still later was made First Lieutenant. In 1864 he received a commission as Captain of Company E, being Lieutenant in command of Company H; and he took part in the following battles: Antie- tam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilder- ness, Spottsylvania, Petersburg, Weldon Rail- road, Peeble's Farm, Appomattox, Va., Five Forks, and Fredericksburg, besides numerous other engagements. He was wounded in the left breast by a piece of shell at Spottsyl- vania, and has never entirely recovered from his injury. His war record is a most credit- able and honorable one, and he has in his pos- session medals bestowed in recognition of his bravery.
On his return to Maine he purchased in company with E. R. Ellis, who was afterward succeeded by Seth O. Henderson, the Barnum Eating-house at Portland, and conducted a very successful business up to July 4, 1866, when they were burned out in the big Portland fire. Mr. Bickford then went to Hudson, Me., and bought the Hudson House. Two years later he sold out, and went into the Fal- mouth House, Portland, as clerk; and he sub- sequently held the position of head clerk at leading hotels in Rockland, Bangor, and Thomaston, Me.
Mr. Bickford returned to Thomaston in Oc- tober, 1871, and opened the Georges Hotel, which he leased until the spring of 1877, when he moved down town and leased the Knox House, where he remained until 1893, when he leased the Beal's Hotel in Norway, the largest and best equipped in Oxford County, This house has fifty finely furnished rooms, heated by steam and lighted by elec-
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tricity. Its patronage has been large from the start, and its present proprietor is one of the ablest to be found in many miles' travel. He not only gives excellent satisfaction to his guests, but has won many warm friends among the citizens of Norway.
On November 1, 1863, Captain Bickford was united in marriage with Miss Emma J. Henderson, daughter of Seth O. and Octavia (Lovejoy) Henderson. She was born in Calais, Me., December 2, 1845. Her father, who was born at St. George, September 14, 1819, son of Captain Robert and Eliza (O'Brian) Henderson, was a direct descend- ant of Captain Thomas Henderson, one of the first settlers of Upper St. Georges, and the commander of a garrison and block-house in the war of 1744. Captain and Mrs. Bickford have had four sons and five daughters, namely : William S., born in Portland, March 26, 1866; Ella L., who was born in East Bangor, June 27, 1868, and died May 19, 1869; Inez M., born in Thomaston, December 13, 1871, who died December 21, 1872; Robert F., born in Thomaston, June 14, 1873, who is preparing for a dental course; Ross L., born in Thomaston, August 21, 1875, now a clerk at the Beal's House; Octavia H., born in Thomaston, August 12, 1877; Mary M., born in Thomaston, September 30, 1879; Grace, born in Thomaston, February 25, 1883 ; and Henry Knox, born in Thomaston, April 27, 1889. William S. Bickford married Luella May Jones, of Reading, Mass., in August, 1890, engaged in the drug business until fail- ing health led him to scek other employment, and he is at the present time an express agent on the Boston & Maine Railroad, Lawrence branch.
In political affiliation Captain Bickford is a Democrat. He is a member of Orient Lodge, No. 15, A. F. & A. M., at Thomaston. Both he and his wife are communicants of the Epis- copal church.
HARLES L. GREEN, a prosperous farmer and an extensive fruit grower of Wilton, was born in the house he now occupies, June 20, 1859, son of Leonard F. and Mary A. (Farnum) |
Green. He is a descendant of Jonas Green, a resident of Dunstable, Mass. ; and the family is, no doubt, of carly Colonial origin, though but little authentic information can be ob- tained in regard to its original antecedents.
The placc and date of Jonas Green's birth cannot with certainty bc ascertained, but he is known to have lived in Dunstable; and the principal fact concerning him of which there is any record is that he was the father of nineteen children, among whom there were triplets. Their names and dates of birth are as follows: Betsey, February 1, 1760; Na- thaniel, March 3, 1762; Jennison, March 31, 1764; Lydia, October 19, 1765; Jonas, Jo- siah, and another child, who were born Octo- ber 5, 1767; Abigail, September 5, 1769; Rachel, July 12, 1771 ; Joshua, August 23, 1776; Guy, August 23, 1778; Hannah, March I, 1780; Asa, January 31, 1782; Joshua, March 7, 1784; Hannah, second, February 19, 1786; Polly, September 2, 1788; David, May 6, 1791; Rebecca, April 26, 1793; and Nathaniel, second, July 10, 1795.
Josiah Green, the sixth child above named, was born in Dunstable, Mass. Penetrating the wilderness of Maine when a young man, he became the first settler of Wilton. Erect- ing a log cabin upon the westerly side of Wil- ton Lake, he began the work of clearing the land; but before he had gained much headway his hut was burned, and he gave up the idea of locating there. Taking up a smaller tract near where his wife's parents had settled, he constructed another cabin, the foundation of which is still visible; and after clearing a good farm he erected a set of substantial frame buildings. He is said to have been the first settler here who attained success in agricult- ural pursuits beyond the ordinary pioncer ; and he was the first to raise apples in this locality, his fruit becoming a great luxury in the neigh- borhood. He later set out quite a large orchard, and was an exceedingly energetic and thrifty farmer, considering the limited oppor- tunities for advancement in his day. He died in 1814, survived by his wife, formerly Lydia Butterfield, who was born February 22, 1769, and died in 1819. They were the parents of nine children, as follows: Polly, who was born January 22, 1795; Hannah, who was born Oc-
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tober 6, 1796; Lydia, who was born July 15, 1799; Josiah, who was born October 27, ISOI ; Asa, who was born February 14, 1803; Jonas and Samuel, twins, who were born June 6, 1805; Luther, who was born May 16, 1807; and Harrison, who was born July 1, 1813.
Jonas Green, son of Josiah and Lydia (Butterfield) Green, was reared to farm life in Wilton, and became one of the stirring and progressive farmers of his day. His first wife, who was before marriage Hannah J. Farmer, was killed by lightning. She left two chil- dren, namely: Leonard F., who was born April 8, 1828; and Martha K., who was born March 17, 1831. For his second wife he
married Harriet Farmer, a sister of his first wife; and by this union there was one daugh- ter, Lydia H., who was born March 12, 1850, and died in infancy. Jonas Green wedded for his third wife Sarah Morrison, and his fourth wife was Margaret Orr.
Leonard F. Green was an only son, and as such remained at home to assist his father in carrying on the farm. He eventually bought the homestead, upon which he erected new buildings; and he later purchased the property cleared and improved by his grandfather. He tilled the soil with more than usual energy, possessing one of the most desirable pieces of agricultural property in town ; and his activity continued until his death, which took place in October, 1884. His wife, Mary A. Farnum, who was born May 5, 1833, became the mother of three children, as follows: George K., a successful agriculturist of Farmington, who was born December 8, 1855, married Cora H. Allen, daughter of William N. Allen, and has two children - Elsie M. and Edith ; Charles L., the subject of this sketch; and Willie, who died at the age of nearly nine years. Mrs. Mary A. Farnum Green lived to reach the age of fifty-three years.
Charles L. Green, the younger of the two sons who reached maturity, was educated in the public schools and at the Wilton Acad- emy. At the age of nineteen he commenced teaching school, and continued engaged in that profession for eight terms. Succeeding to the possession of the homestead after his father's death, he has since devoted his atten- tion to stock farming and fruit growing. He
owns two hundred and sixty-five acres of land, including his father's farm and the property formerly owned by his great-grandfather, Jo- siah Green ; and he has the largest number of acres under cultivation of any farmer in town. He keeps a herd of excellent cows and a large flock of sheep; and besides attending to his stock and the cultivation of his crops he has an orchard of three thousand grafted apple- trees, one thousand of which he set out him- self, the yield of 1896 being eight hundred barrels.
On April 16, 1890, Mr. Green wedded Julia M. Adams, daughter of Charles N. and Flora A. (Walker) Adams. Mrs. Green's father was born August 3, 1840, and is now engaged in the butchering business in Wilton. His wife, Flora A., is a daughter of Jeremiah and Sally (Gould) Walker. They have had a fam- ily of five children, namely: Harry, who died young ; Halcyone G .; Herman C .; Julia M., who is now Mrs. Charles G. Green; and Guy W.
In politics Mr. Green supports the Republi- can party ; and, though not an aspirant for po- litical honor, he takes a keen interest in local public affairs, and has served with ability upon the School Board. He is deservedly popular as one of the rising young men of this locality, and is rapidly attaining the position of prominence to which his energy and pro- gressive tendencies are sure to lead him. It is worthy of note that the Green homestead. which he now occupies, has never been out of the Green family from the time it was first settled by Josiah Green. It is now about one hundred years since.
T IMOTHY H. CHAPMAN, a farmer and dairyman of Bethel, resides on the farm staked out by his grandfather in 1795. He was born April 29, 1818, on this farm, son of Timothy and Betsey (Barker) Chap- man. His grandfather, Eliphaz Chapman, a native of Massachusetts, was a Congregational minister. Settling on this farm in 1795. Eliphaz soon took a leading part in town affairs. It was he who proposed that the place should be named Bethel when the town was organized,
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Timothy Chapman, who was also born in Massachusetts, had reached his ninth year when his parents came to Bethel. His life from that early period was spent on the homestead, and he died there at the age of eighty-eight. He was a member of the Congregational church. In politics he was a Republican, but took no active part in public affairs. Mrs. Betsey (Barker) Chapman was born in Bethel, and died here when about thirty-five years old. She, too, was a member of the Congre- gational church. Of her seven children the subject of this sketch is the only one living. After her death her husband entered a second marriage, contracted with Miss Abigail Blan- chard, of Bethel. By this union he had one daughter, Hannah, who is now the wife of Charles A. Chapman, of Mankato, Minn.
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