USA > Maine > Oxford County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 38
USA > Maine > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 38
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the surroundings pleasant; and this estate, which is called "The Birches," taking its name from a beautiful grove of white birch- trees, affords an agreeable retreat for many city people, who avail themselves of its genial hospitality during the heated term.
Mr. Sawyer's first wife, formerly Huldah J. Delano, a daughter of John Delano, of Abbot, Me., died at the age of thirty-four years, leav- ing four children, as follows: Lelia E., who was born January 6, 1857, was graduated at the Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Kent's Hill, and is a teacher of French and German; Willard E., who was born August 23, 1859; Ida M., who was born November 25, 1861, and is now the wife of R. W. Poor, Cashier of the Garfield National Bank of New York City ; and Charles E., who was born January 7, 1864, and is now railroad station agent at Chisholme Mills, Me. By his present wife, Mrs. Ellen Blake Sawyer, daughter of Zebulon Blake, of Carmel, Me., Mr. Sawyer has no children. In politics Mr. Sawyer supports the Republican party, and while residing in Bangor he served in the City Council and as Assistant Assessor. He is a comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic, and he and Mrs. Sawyer are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Willard E. Sawyer, eldest son of Charles G. Sawyer, and a prominent young business man of Wilton, was educated in the public schools of Bangor and at the Wilton Academy. In 1885 he opened a large store devoted to dry goods, groceries, crockery ware, agricultural implements, and other merchandise; but in February, 1886, his place of business was de- stroyed by fire. He erected another store, and in 1893 sold it to the town for a public building, In 1887 he bought the canning factory carried on by his father; and, after conducting it successfully until 1892, he with- drew from the business. He wedded Lillian Whittier, daughter of Daniel E. Whittier, of Chesterville, Me., and they have had five chil- dren, namely : Ralph E., who was born May 28, 1885; Earl W., who was born December 17, 1886; Willard H., who was born in Sep- tember, 1889; Gladys, who died in infancy ; and Philip D., who was born May 17, 1895.
Willard E. Sawyer and his family occupy a
handsome residence on Prospect Street, which he erected in 1890.
ARLTON H. WALKER, a promi- nent farmer of Fryeburg, Oxford County, Me., who carries on busi- ness to some extent as a lumber manufacturer, was born in this town, April 12, 1836, son of Colonel James and Susan (Colby) Walker. He is of substantial Eng- lish stock, and comes of long lines of worthy Colonial ancestry, the blood of Puritan and Pilgrim mingling in his veins.
This branch of the Walker family is de- scended from Samuel Walker, born in Eng- land in 1595, who in early manhood crossed the Atlantic, and settled in the vicinity of Boston, Mass., his elder brother Richard, who accompanied him to these shores, locat- ing in York, Me. Samuel Walker, second, son of Samuel, first, was born in Reading, Mass., in 1643, and became a resident of Woburn, Mass., where he was a Deacon of the church. His son Samuel, the third in direct line, born in Woburn in 1668, who also was a Deacon, was the father of Captain Samuel Walker, who was born in 1694, and settled in Wilmington, Mass. Deacon Timothy Walker, son of Captain Walker, was born in Wilming- ton in 1732. He married, in 1758, Eunice Brewster, then twenty-eight years of age, daughter of Joseph Brewster, of Duxbury, Mass., near Plymouth, her father being a grandson of Elder William Brewster, of the "Mayflower " company, who has been called the chief of the Pilgrims.
James Walker, son of Timothy and Eunice (Brewster) Walker, was born in Wilmington, Mass., January 3, 1772. He was married No- vember 20, 1794, to Anna Harnden, of Wil- mington, born August 1, 1775. It is now nearly one hundred years since James Walker came to Fryeburg, Me., accompanied by his wife and two children, and settled on the farm where his grandson, Carlton H., now resides. Grandfather Walker cleared and improved the property ; and, although meeting with the usual disadvantages and drawbacks of a pio- neer, among which was the total destruction by fire of his first residence, he persevered,
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and became a prosperous farmer. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, and possessing a considerable literary ability he wrote a history of the family. He died Octo- ber 18, 1852, survived by his wife, Mrs. Anna Harnden Walker, who attained the ad- vanced age of nearly ninety-one years, her death occurring March 30, 1866. They were the parents of eleven children, as follows : Anna, who was born November 3, 1795; Eliz- abeth, who was born December 12, 1796; Sarah, who was born February 14, 1799, and died October 3, 1885; Colonel James, who was born March 3, 1801, and died July 16, 1891; Rebecca, who was born February 24, 1804, and died April 15, 1826; Brewster, who was born January 26, 1806, and died No- vember 1, 1807; Miranda, who was born De- cember 3, 1808, and died November 4, 1881 ; Samuel, who was born August 10, 1811, and died August 29, 1863; Clarissa, who was born January 9, 1813; Henry, who was born July 30, 1816, and with his wife, Caroline Frye, daughter of John Hancock Frye, is residing in this town; and Timothy, who was born March 3, 1819, married Hannah Harnden, of Denmark, Me., and, now a widower, resides in Quincy, Mass.
James Walker, the younger, born in Frye- burg in the first year of the century, as already noted, later known as Colonel James Walker, at the age of twenty-one succeeded his father in the management of the farm. He was mar- ried on November 25, 1833, to Susan Colby, a native of Brownfield, Me., born November 19, 1803. She was a daughter of Asa Colby, a pioneer farmer of Brownfield, who later re- moved to the adjoining town of Denmark, where he passed the rest of his life. Colonel Walker and his wife reared four children, namely : Rebecca, who was born August 21, 1834, married John Seavey, of Brownfield, and died January 16, 1862; Carlton H., the sub- ject of this sketch; Granville, who was born December 16, 1837, and died December 31, 1861 ; and Ann, who was born February 20, 1840, and is now the wife of William H. Tar- box, an architect of Fryeburg. Mrs. Susan C. Walker died November 16, 1883.
Carlton H. Walker, whose personal history we are now to trace from his boyhood, ac-
quired his education in the common schools and at the Fryeburg Academy. He remained at home assisting his father in carrying on the farm until he reached manhood; and he then went to Fryeburg village, where he was em- ployed as clerk in a general store for two years. Returning to the homestead he took charge of the farm, and eventually inheriting the property has since resided here. He owns one thousand acres of land, and his farm is exceedingly fertile and well improved. In connection with agricultural pursuits he car- ries on a large saw and grist mill located near his residence, doing some business in manu- facturing lumber of all kinds ..
On May 2, 1863, Mr. Walker was united in marriage with Sarah E. Tarbox, who was born in Denmark, Me., January 28, 1841. She is a daughter of Dominicus G. and Sally (Paine) Tarbox, the former of whom was a native of Kennebunkport, and the latter of Standish, Me. Mrs. Walker's father was a clothier by trade, also a surveyor of lumber; and, settling in Denmark, he operated a clothing-mill in that town many years. He died January 22, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have three daughters, as follows: Eva D., who was born June 2, 1867, and is now supervisor of draw- ing and teacher of manual training in schools in Bristol, Conn .; Susan M., who was born December 6, 1871, and is now a teacher of oratory at the North Bridgton Academy: and Sarah T., who was born March 30, 1879, and is now attending the academy here in Fryeburg. The Misses Eva D. and Susan M. Walker are ladies of marked ability, and have acquired a notable reputation in educational work.
In public affairs Mr. Walker has rendered efficient service to the town, having been Chairman of the Board of Selectmen several years, and at various times the incumbent of other town offices. In politics he acts with the Republican party. He is actively inter- ested in the Fryeburg Agricultural Society, of which he has served as President and Secre- tary ; and he is a leading spirit in all measures introduced for the general improvement of the town. He is a Master Mason and a member of Pythagorean Lodge, No. 1I, of Fryeburg. Mr. and Mrs. Walker and family attend the Congregational church.
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RANK A. HILL, clothing manufact- urer, one of the leading young men of Fryeburg, Oxford County, Me., his native town, was born on August 14, 1866, son of Dr. Charles E. and Susan (Osgood) Hill. His grandfather, Captain Jonah Hill, who was born in Biddeford, Me., June 3, 1784, became a resident of Chatham, N. H., and was promi- nent in the early State militia. He married on April 27, 1807, Sally Stimson, who died March 4, 1840.
Dr. Charles E. Hill was a native of Chat- ham and a graduate of Bowdoin College. He first settled in North Fryeburg, from which place he moved to Bridgton, Me., where he remained for some time; and he finally re- moved to Fryeburg, where he resided until his death, which took place April 16, 1884. Ar able physician, he enjoyed a large practice in this vicinity; and he occupied a prominent position in the community. His first wife, whose maiden name was Marinda P. Wiggin, died in May, 1863. She left one son, Charles E., who was adopted by his aunt, and is now a successful practising physician of Newton Centre, Mass. * He is known as Dr. Charles E. Fessenden. Dr. Charles E. Hill wedded for his second wife Susan Osgood, of Fryeburg. She was a daughter of Caleb and Dolly (Wiley) Osgood, the former of whom was a native of Fryeburg, and the latter of North Fryeburg. Caleb Osgood was a blacksmith by trade. His last days were spent in Con- way, N. H. By this union there are two chil- dren : Frank A., the subject of this sketch ; and Edwin Ray, who is now engaged in the meat and fish business at Fryeburg village.
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Frank A. Hill acquired his education in the common schools and at the Fryeburg Academy. At the age of eighteen he started in life as a clerk in the store of Charles T. Ladd, with whom he remained for three years; and he then engaged for some time in the corn-pack- ing business. He first entered the clothing business as an employee of J. I. Greenlaw, later filling a position with A. E. & F. Thompson, large manufacturers of this town, with whom he remained until 1895, when, in company with Ira Warriner, he bought out the above named firm. He continued the business in connection with a general store for a year,
and at the expiration of that time he purchased his partner's interest in the manufacturing business, which he is now carrying on alone. Ile manufactures coats for the Rhodes Ripley Company of 72 Lincoln Street, Boston, and employs an average of eighteen hands.
On April 20, 1892, Mr. Hill was married to Dora A. Brickett, who was born in Stow, Me., 'May 1, 1874, daughter of Gardner and Angeline (Emery) Brickett. Mrs. Hill's father was a native of Stow, where he was prosperously engaged in farming until his death, which took place in Fryeburg in Octo- ber, 1888. Her mother, who was born in Jackson, is still living, and resides with her.
In politics Mr. Hill supports the Republi- can party. He is connected with Pythagorean Lodge, No. II, A. F. & A. M .; Fryeburg Lodge, No. 49, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and Pequaket Lodge, No. 34, Knights of Pythias. He takes an active in- terest in these organizations, and may be said to be a leading spirit in all important social events in Fryeburg.
J OSEPH C. CALDWELL, M.D., the oldest practising physician in Buck- field, Oxford County, was born in Topsham, Vt., December 3, 1842, a son of James and Nancy (Chamberlain) Cald- well. The Caldwell family is of Scotch
origin. James Caldwell, whose birth oc- curred at sea, was an industrious farmer, and resided for the greater part of his life in Ver- mont. He took a deep interest in the politi- cal movements of his day, and belonged to the anti-slavery party. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian. He died at the age of fifty- five. Mr. Caldwell was twice married, and his second wife is now living in Topsham. He had seven children, four of whom are liv- ing. These are: Mary, the wife of Gustavus Tibbetts, of Neponset, Ill .; Joseph C., the subject of this sketch; James R., a resident of Vermont; and Eliza, the wife of James Lang, of Topsham, Vt.
Joseph C. Caldwell grew to manhood in Topsham, obtaining his first knowledge of books in the schools of that town. After finishing his preliminary course of study, hav-
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ing been an industrious student, he was able to take up the profession of teacher, which he followed successfully in his native State, Michigan, and Illinois. In his twenty-third year he began the study of medicine, and sub- sequently pursued it at Bowdoin College, from which he received his medical diploma in 1870. In the fall of that year he started in his profession at Buckfield, and for over a quarter of a century has been here engaged in ministering to suffering humanity. Dr. Cald- well has a large practice, and has the confi- dence and esteem of all who know him. He is a member of the State Medical Society.
In December, 1870, he was united in mar- riage with Elizabeth, daughter of Nathaniel Stanwood, of Brunswick, Me, She was born April 14, 1852, and died June 7, 1888. Of her children one, Wilbur, is deceased. The others - Josephine, Bessie M., and Wilbur C. -are still with their father. Dr. Caldwell is a member of the Republican party. He is a Mason in good standing, belonging to Even- ing Star Lodge, No. 180. In religious matters he is liberal. His wife was a mem- ber of the Baptist church.
ANNIBAL G. BROWN, of the firm Hannibal G. Brown & Son, manu- facturers of clapboards, lumber, and wooden bicycle rims, at West Paris, Oxford County, was born December 18, 1829, in Plymouth, Penobscot County, Me., son of John and Huldah (Gardner) Brown. His grandfather, Aaron Brown, was an early set- tler of Wilton, Me., whence he subsequently removed to Livermore, Me., and lived there for a number of years. Aaron Brown was an officer in the War of 1812, and had charge of a fort at Portland. The latter part of his life was spent at the home of his son James, in the town of Grafton. He lived seventy years; and his wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Thompson, also attained a good age. The latter bore him eight children, the youngest of whom, a daughter, Abigail, living in Port- land, is the only survivor. The others were : James, John, Reuben, Orrin, Larnard, Re- becca, and Arthur.
John Brown was born in Wilton, Me. He
was a skilful mechanic as well as a farmer, and followed his trade throughout the active years of his life. He resided for a number of years in the towns of Livermore and Grafton; but his last years were spent in West Paris, Me., and in Errol, Coos County, N.H. He died at the age of eighty-seven years. In politics he was a Republican from the forma- tion of the party. His wife, Huldah, who was born in Buckfield, Me., died in West Paris, aged seventy-six. He was a member of the Universalist church, and she of the Baptist. Seven children were the fruit of their union, three of whom have passed away. These were : John Q. A., Orrin H., and Joanna. Orrin H., who served in the First Maine Cav- alry during the Civil War, died from the effects of confinement in Libby Prison. The others are: Hannibal G., the subject of this sketch; Aaron B., a mechanic residing in Worcester, Mass., who served in the late war with Colonel Shaw's Massachusetts regi- ment ; Bartlett J., a pianoforte finisher, living in Hyde Park, Mass. ; and Miss Maria E. Brown, a milliner in Boston, Mass.
Hannibal G. Brown received his rudimen- tary education in the schools of Livermore and Grafton, where his early years were passed. After coming to Paris. at the age of twenty, he attended the schools and academy here, and acquired a good business education. On starting out in life for himself he pos- sessed no cash capital, and for nine years fol- lowed various occupations. After a time he was able to start in farming for himself. He purchased his first land in 1855. where the village of West Paris now stands. The fol- lowing year he took possession of this place, which has since been his home: and there he was actively engaged in farming up to 1869. During the first few years he was the only resident here in the locality. The present owners of lots in West Paris bought them for the most part from Mr. Brown. He has furthered the building up of the village by donating lands to induce manufacturers to lo- cate their plants here. In 1869 he engaged in manufacturing on his own account ; and four years later, in 1873, his present mill was erected as a co-operative concern for manu- facturing chairs. In 1877 or 1878 Mr. Brown
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with others engaged in manufacturing lumber. This business he still continues with his son, turning out large quantities of lumber, making a specialty of clapboards, and planning to en- gage more largely in making wooden bicycle rims. They are the leaders in their line of manufacture at West Paris.
On May 3, 1853, Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Miss Mary Parlin, who was born in Paris, September 25, 1832, daughter of Robinson Parlin. Their children are: Edwin H., born May 26, 1856; and Jennie M., born July 10, 1870. Edwin H. Brown, who is in business with his father, married Miss Cora Judkins, by whom he has one son, Charles H. Brown.
In town affairs the elder Mr. Brown has always been very active. For some time he has been Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. During war times he held the office of Assist- ant Assessor of Internal Revenue. Although rejected for active service in the field on ac- count of physical disability, he did good work, assisting in recruiting men for the service. He is-one of the leading Republicans of Paris, and a zealous temperance worker. From 1853 to 1875 he served as Justice of the Peace. He is a member of West Paris Lodge, No. 15, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of Home Commandery Lodge, No. 79, Order of the Golden Cross, both of West Paris. In religious belief he is a Universalist.
A® SA G. STOWERS, a well-known resi- dent of New Sharon, Me., was born here on July 12, 1836, son of Rich- ard and Susan D. (Follansbee) Stow-
ers. His mother was a daughter of Joshua and Sarah Follansbee, and was the eldest of their five children.
Richard Stowers, the father of Asa G. Stowers, was born April 2, 1810. During his early years he lived in Farmington, his native town, and was educated in the common schools. Upon arriving at a maturer age he took up the trade of carpentering; and after carrying it on for some years there he went to Boston, where he worked at his calling for twelve years more. Later he came to New Sharon, and bought a farm of seventy-five acres. The house built
by him in a handsome and substantial manner stands to-day, very little the worse for wear. Mr. Richard Stowers continued to work at his trade of carpenter, together with his farming in his adopted place of residence, and was, quite naturally, a very busy man. When he went away from home to do a job of carpentering or to take a trip for some other purpose, he would leave, his son in charge of the farm; and thus the young man acquired considerable experi- ence in agricultural labors.
In politics Mr. Richard Stowers was a stanch Republican, and his religious views conformed to the tenets of the Congregational church. He had five brothers and sisters, of whom John, Samuel, and Eben, were older than himself, and his sisters, Sarah and Mary, younger. Not one of these is now alive. Mr. Richard Stowers died at his son's farm in New Sharon village on February 24, 1879, at the age of sixty-eight. He and his wife, Susan D. Follansbee, whom he married in 1835, were the parents of three children, namely : Asa G., the subject of this sketch; Augusta A., born May 6, 1839, who married J. F. Dyer, of racing fame, and died August I, 1880; and Alifair, born October 1, 1845, who died March 17, 1847.
Asa G. Stowers spent his boyhood on the old farm in New Sharon, and was educated in the public schools, including the high school of the town. At the age of seventeen he went to California to engage in the mining busi- ness, and remained there until he was nearly twenty-one years of age, coming back to New Sharon just twelve days before attaining his majority. He attended school again for a short time, but soon grew restless and began to make preparations for a return to Califor- nia; but, as he was the only son, he was finally prevailed on by his mother to remain at home. Soon after, his father, selling the old homestead, bought another farm about one mile north of the village on the Industry road. Here he stayed for about six years with his family. Again selling out he removed to New Sharon village, where he became Tax Col- lector, and also filled several other minor offices. At this time his son, Asa G. Stowers, went to the northern part of the town of New Sharon to live, buying a farm of one hundred
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and forty acres, where he settled down. This was in 1864. A year later he sold out and took up his habitation farther down the river on a new farm of about one hundred and twenty-five acres in extent. After staying there for three years he sold that farm and bought the place now owned by Mr. L. A. Greenleaf, in New Sharon village. It was on this place that Mr. Stowers's father died.
Mr. Stowers was married on September 3, 1862, to Miss L. Anna. Hardy, the daughter of Arnold and Lois C. (Vaughan) Hardy, of New Sharon. They have two children : Wal- ter L., born September 8, 1865; and Mabel A., born October 5, 1869.
Walter L. Stowers spent his early boyhood on his father's farm, getting his first education in the common schools of New Sharon, later attending the high school of the same place, and later still studying at Farmington, Mon- mouth, and Lewiston. At the age of twenty- four he went to Nebraska, where he taught school for the short period of six months. Di- rectly after this he went into the employ of a large Nebraska nursery stock house, and re- mained identified with this company for a year and a half, travelling in the interests of the business over almost all the western part of the North American continent. He then be- came connected with the Fidelity Building and Loan Association of Denver, Col., and has since remained with them, being now the man- ager of the field forces of the company. He was married June 12, 1895, to Miss Mamie Coleman, of Aledo, Ill. They have one child - Ralph Leslie, born May 14, 1896.
Mabel A. Stowers, who is now the wife of Charles H. Gordon, of her native town of New Sharon, received her early education at the common and high schools of that place. After spending a season at Bar Harbor and one at Portland, Me., she went to Boston, Mass., and learned dressmaking, a business which she carried on for about two years, or until she was married.
Mr. Asa G. Stowers is, as was his father before him, a good sound Republican in politi- cal faith ; and his religious belief is also like his father's, that professed by the Congrega- tional church. His present little competence has been laboriously made by the exercise of
that industry, patience, and earnestness for which he is known and respected in the com- munity in which he lives, and by the cheerful co-operation and thrift of his faithful wife.
A JUDSON BLAKE, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen of Gilead, Me., comes of two of the old families of Oxford County, which he worthily represents. A son of David and Olive (Adams) Blake, he was born May 10, 1856. on the farm where he now resides, once the homestead of his maternal grandparents, David Blake, his father, was born in Bethel, this county, and reared and educated there. He was a millwright, and followed his trade for a number of years, also working at farm- ing. In 1850 he moved to Gilead to the farm occupied by his wife's parents, which he man- aged for them until they passed away. The estate then became his wife's property, and Mr. and Mrs. David Blake spent the rest of their lives here. David Blake was actively interested in town affairs, voting . always on the Republican side. Gifted with a good voice and a talent for music, he taught sing- ing-school here for some time; and he led the choir of the Baptist church, of which he was a member. He died August 8, 1856.
His wife, Mrs. Olive Adams Blake, was born on this farm. Her parents, Isaac and Olive (Wight) Adams, were among the early settlers of Gilead. Mr. Adams was a promi- nent man in his day, a connoisseur in horse flesh : and he was particularly proud of the fact that he sold a horse to Daniel Webster. He lived to an advanced age. Mrs. Olive Adams Blake died at the age of seventy-six. Like her husband she was an active member of the Baptist church. The following chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. David Blake: Ellen M., wife of Boyle Chandler, of Bethel : David Newton, a farmer of Bethel; Isaac A .. the oldest locomotive engineer on the Maine Central Road, plying between Portland and Waterville; Lizzie H., wife of James Hodson, of Bethel; Eliphalet, an engineer on the Grand Trunk Railroad, whose home is at Island Pond, Vt. : B. Frank, part owner of the old homestead, on which he resides; A. Jud-
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