USA > Maine > Oxford County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 39
USA > Maine > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 39
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son, the subject of this sketeh; and Lillian, unmarried, who is living with her brothers on the ancestral homestead.
A. Judson Blake has lived on this farm since birth, and has naturally followed in his father's footsteps. Besides attending to the farm work, which he shares with his brother Frank, he works in the winter season at carriage-making and blacksmithing, having a shop on his farm. He is one of the promi- nent Republicans of this eounty, and has been Chairman of the town Republican Committee sinee he was twenty-one years of age. As a Selectman of the town he is now serving his third term, this being his first year as Chair- man ; and he has been in office as a Justice of the Peace for ten years. Quiet and unassum- ing in manner, Mr. Blake is recognized as a man of ability, and has won the regard and confidence of all who know him. He is un- married.
EORGE ZOETH HIGGINS, M.D., and his daughter, LELIA HIG- GINS, M.D., practising physicians residing in the village of Strong, Me., are prominent members of their profession, and are favorably known throughout Franklin County. Dr. George Zoeth Higgins was born in Exeter, Me., December 29, 1832, a son of the Hon. Ebenezer and Ruth (Smith) Higgins, both natives of Bueksport, this State.
His parents in 1814 settled on a tract of wild land near the village of Exeter, Mr. Higgins building a log house. He worked industriously to improve his claim, and in course of time it beeame one of the handsom- est estates in the county. A man of strong character and good judgment, Ebenezer Hig- gins served as a Representative in the State legislature, and also as a State Senator; and for sixteen years he filled the office of Deputy Sheriff of Penobscot County. He was a mem- ber of the Board of the Underground Railroad at Exeter contemporary with General Fessen- den and Stephen Thateher. He died in 1853. Mrs. Higgins was a very intelligent lady, such men as Colonel F. W. Hill, of Exeter, finding great pleasure in her friendship. She
died in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Higgins were active in founding the Methodist Episcopal Church of Exeter.
They were the parents of seven children. The eldest, Elijah, who was a prominent citi- zen of Exeter, serving as Chairman of the Board of Education during the war, died in 1865; the second son, Jeremiah P., is a farmer in Exeter, Me. ; the third, Ebenezer A., who resided in Conneaut, Ohio, died at Exeter in 1886; the fourth child, Harriet, lives on the old homestead in Exeter; the fifth, Julia, who died in 1865, was the wife of Captain Cook, a wealthy ship-owner and President of the National Bank of Province- town, Mass., who also has passed away; the sixth child, Ruth P., who is the widow of James Grout, resides with a daughter in Somerville, Mass. ; the seventh and youngest is George Z., the leading subject of the pres- ent sketeh, whose personal history follows.
George Zoeth Higgins acquired his general education in the Bueksport Seminary and in Phillips Aeademy at Andover, Mass., graduat- ing from the latter institution in 1855. Pur- suing his professional studies at the Maine Medical School, he graduated in the class of 1858, and completed his preliminary training with two terms at the Albany (N. Y.) Medieal School. He began to practice in the town of Lubec, Me., and two years later removed to Pembroke, this State, where he remained until the fall of 1863. On October 28 of that year he enlisted as Assistant Surgeon in the Fif- teenth Regiment of Maine Volunteers; and nine months later he was promoted to the rank of Surgeon, and assigned to garrison duty. He received his diseharge at Castle Garden, N. Y., in July, 1866, and returned to his na- tive State a skilful surgeon, sehooled in the trying exigencies of army life, and an experi- eneed physician, with perception sharpened by familiarity with disease. Settling in Lubec, he practised there until Deeember, 1878, when he moved to Strong, Franklin County. Here he has a beautiful home, and is closely identified with the interests of the town. Within call of the eitizens here for nearly two deeades, Dr. Higgins has built up a large practice, and has many patients in the out - lying country.
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He was married July 4, 1858, to Miss Kate Ford Lamson, a native of Lubec, Me., born in . 1834, daughter of John Lamson, a merchant of that town, and niece of Daniel S. Ford, the millionaire proprietor of the Youth's Compan- ion. Mrs. Higgins's parents are both dead. She has borne the Doctor two children - Lelia and Albert R. The latter, who was born in 1868, lived but four years and eight months. Miss Lelia Higgins is a graduate of the Woman's Medical College of Philadelphia, and gained her first experience in practical work at the Lying-in Charity Hospital. A remarkably intelligent lady, with a natural gift for her work, she has a very large prac- tice, and has won the confidence and love of all who have claimed her services. She is a member of the Maine Medical Association. Dr. Lelia Higgins resides with her parents.
Dr. George Z. Higgins, who has been iden- tified with the Republican party since he first took an interest in politics, has held a number of important public offices. From 1872 to 1878 he was a member of the Board of Trus- tees of the State Reform School ; and for eleven years he was a member of the Pension Board of Examining Surgeons for Franklin County, 1892 being his last year of service. He is now a member of the School Board of Strong. A Mason in good standing, he was the first Master of George E. Davis Lodge, No. 78, A. F. & A. M., holding his office five terms; and as a Grand Army man he had much to do with the organization of Edmund B. Clayton Post, No. 134, of Strong, of which he was Commander two years. Dr. Higgins and and his wife are members of the Baptist Church of Lubec.
YLVANUS B. KNOX, who is re- garded as one of the best farmers of North Fryeburg, Oxford County, was born in Limerick, Me., July 7, 1821, son of Samuel and Olive (Lord) Knox. His grandparents were Samuel and Polly (Kimball) Knox, the former a native of Dover, N.H., while the latter was born in Maine.
Samuel Knox, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Cornish, Me. In
early manhood he took up the occupation of farmer in Limerick, Me. In 1821 he moved to Chatham, N.H., and there purchased a farm, which he conducted prosperously for the rest of his active period. He died in 1877, aged seventy-nine years. His wife, Olive, who was born in Parsonsfield, York County, Me., was a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Bradbury Lord, both natives of Parsonsfield. She had eight children, as follows: Alonzo, who was born in May, 1819, and died in 1881 ; Sylvanus B., the subject of this sketch ; Sarah B., who is now the widow of Samuel A. B. Farrington, and is living in . North Fryeburg; Judith C., now deceased, who mar- ried Francis Lord, an extensive farmer and lumberman of this State; Simeon P., who married Sarah Bickford, of Stow, this county, and is now a carpenter of Farmington, Me .; Olive L., now deceased, who married Osgood Watson, now engaged in market gardening at Natick, Mass .; Samuel, who is also married, and is a carpenter in Chicago, Ill .; and Mary,- who married Elmer Stevens, a locomotive en- gineer on the Grand Trunk Railroad, and re- sides in Gorham, N. H. The mother was eighty years old when she died in 1879. Both parents belonged to the Methodist denomina- tion.
1
Sylvanus B. Knox acquired his education in the common schools, and grew to manhood upon his father's farm in Chatham. He as- sisted in carrying on the homestead farm until he was thirty-one years old, when he came to Maine, and settled in Stow. Here for twenty-three years he owned and cultivated a good farm. In 1875 he sold the property and removed to North Fryeburg, where he has since resided. He is now the proprietor of one of the best farms in this locality. On it he raises the customary variety of crops, which are generally of a superior quality. To his natural energy and habits of industry must be largely attributed his success in life.
On March 4, 1852, Mr. Knox was united in marriage to Mary E. Nutter, who was born in Porter, Me., August 24, 1834, daughter of Charles and Dorothy (Moulton) Nutter, both of whom were natives of that town. Mrs. Knox's father, who was for many years a prominent farmer of Porter, for the last ten
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years of his life was engaged in mercantile business at North Fryeburg, where he died September 14, 1874. His wife's death oc- curred January 30, 1890. She was the mother of two children, namely: Mary E., who is now Mrs. Knox; and Charles H., who was born October 22, 1841, and died October 23, 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Knox have had four children, as follows: William M, who was born November 30, 1852, and died February 22, 1872; Frank H., born December 29, 1857, a prosperous farmer of this town, who married Lizzie Chase, of Chatham, N. H., and has one son, Wendell H., who was born November 6, 1893: Emma O., who was born June 26, 1865, and died April 30, 1887; and Olive L., who was born May 14, 1877, and is residing at home. In politics Mr. Knox is a Republican. Al- though an earnest supporter of the principles of that party and a leading spirit in the local organization, he has never aspired to public office. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
ENRY B. HERSEY, one of the best known farmers of Sumner, Oxford County, and an ex-member of the Maine legislature, was born De- cember 10, 1833, upon the farm where he now resides, son of Samuel and Polly (Bradbury) Hersey. His grandfather, James Hersey, who was a native of Massachusetts, and served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, after the close of that struggle sold his property in the latter State, and, moving to Maine, became one of the earliest settlers in Minot. James engaged in agriculture on Hersey Hill, which takes its name from him. After residing there until the year 1800 he came to Sumner, where he spent the rest of his life, and died aged about eighty-four years. He married Althea Poole, who was born in Whitman, Mass., daughter of Deacon Poole. She was the mother of twelve children, and was over eighty when she died.
Samuel Hersey, a native of Minot, born May 14, 1786, came to Sumner with his par- ents, and settled with them upon a tract of new land. This property had been made a good farm when it came into his possession.
Here he carried on general farming, and bought and sold cattle for many years. He became widely and favorably known through- out this section of the State as a drover, in which calling he transacted a larger business than any other person at that time. In 1855 he deeded the farm to his son, Henry A., re- tired from business, passed the rest of his life in ease and comfort at the homestcad, and died November 19, 1867. In politics he followed the majority of the Whigs into the ranks of the Republican party. He occupied a posi- tion of influence in the community as an hon- orable, upright business man and a useful citi- zen. By his first wife, in maidenhood Eunice ' Bradbury, who was born June 9, 1788, he be- came the father of six children, two of whom are living. These are: Moses B., who was born September 26, 1816, residing in Lincoln, Penobscot County ; and Jason, born September 20, 1818, who resides in Whitman, Mass. The others were: William R., Hiram, Sam- uel, and Julia. The mother died May 5, 1830. The father's second wife, whose maiden name was Polly Bradbury, was born July 5, 1792. She had two children, namely: Henry B., the subject of this sketch; and Eunice M., born July 18, 1835, who married A. P. Andrews, of North Paris, Me., and died August 25, 1862. The mother died Novem- ber 15, 1859. Both parents were members of the Congregational church.
Henry B. Hersey is indebted to the district school of Sumner for his early education. He was afterward for some time engaged in teaching school. This occupation he relin- quished to take charge of the home farm at the solicitation of his father, whose health was then failing. Receiving a deed of the home- stead in 1855, he began a series of improve- ments, which included the erection of a new set of buildings. The farm, containing one hundred and sixty acres, is one of the most desirable pieces of property in town. On De- cember 10, 1855, Mr. Hersey wedded Betsey Jane Richardson, who was born in Sumner, June 18, 1836, daughter of Lyman and Mercy Richardson. Their children were: Louella J., born December 14, 1856; George H., born September 14, 1858; Fanny A., born Febru- ary 9, 1861; and Alice A., born July 24,
NATHAN G. MILLS.
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1864. Louella J. married Frank L. Warren, of Hartford, Me., and has three children - Mary A., Hersey, and George L. George H., who is the inventor of improved steam and hot- water apparatus, married Laura E. Lynch, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and resides in Buckfield, Me., having seven children, namely: Herbert C., born January 30, 1883; Raymond A., born October 2, 1884; Grace Z., born July 17, 1887; Bessie W., deceased, born Septem- ber 28, 1889; Henry E., born November 15, 1890; George, born May 21, 1893; and Al- bert, born March 18, 1895. Fanny A., who attended Hebron Academy, is now a book- keeper in Auburn, Me. Alice A. is now the wife of Fred. A. Taylor, the steward of the Westboro Insane Asylum.
Mr. Hersey was for many years a prominent figure in the public affairs of both the town and district. He was elected to all of the im- portant town offices, and in 1879 he repre- sented the district in the legislature. He is highly respected in Sumner, with whose agri- cultural interests he has been closely identified since 185[. Both he and Mrs. Hersey are members of the Congregational church at East Sumner.
ATHAN G. MILLS, a prosperous farmer of Mason, Oxford County, Me., was born on the farm that he now owns, February 20, 1824, son of Cyrus and Abiah (Bean) Mills. The father was born in Bethel, and the early years of his life were spent on a farm and in logging camps. Coming to Mason when a young man, he purchased the farm that his son now owns, and lived here for many years, finally selling the place to his son and returning to his native town, where he bought another farm. He died there at seventy-six years of age. In his younger days he was a Democrat, but he afterward adopted the principles of the Repub- lican party. He was an able public speaker, and took a prominent part in local affairs, serving several years as Selectman. He was a patriot soldier in the War of 1812. Abiah Bean Mills was born in Bethel. She died August 14, 1846, at fifty-three years of age. Thirteen children, ten sons and three daugh-
ters, were the fruit of her union with Cyrus Mills.
Nathan G. Mills was one of the ten sons born to his parents. He lived at home dur- ing his minority, then went to North Hampton, N. H., and engaged in chopping cord wood at forty cents per cord, working at this occupa- tion for five years. Having saved sufficient money he then returned to Mason, and pur- chased the old farm, which has since been his home. It contains about seventy-five acres of land, and is one of the most highly cultivated farms in this township. In addition to this he owns about seven hundred acres of timber and pasture land. Although now past seventy- two years of age he is still able to perform a full day's labor. Mr. Mills makes a specialty of dealing in veal calves, handling as high as one hundred and thirty in a year.
In September, 1849, Mr. Mills was joined in marriage with Mrs. Mary E. (Gordon) Mills, the widow of his older brother, Daniel Mills. Six children have blessed this union, namely : Mary A., wife of Charles Dunham, a farmer of Bethel; Eudora M., wife of Moses M. Mason, of Gilead, Me. ; George E., a resi- dent of Dorchester, Mass .; Bessie Alida, liv- ing at the parental home; Ada, who died at nineteen years of age; and Nathan E., a car- penter in Lewiston, Me.
Mr. Mills, who is a Democrat in politics, has served on the Board of Selectmen five years, also as Town Surveyor. He is a mem- ber of Mount Abram Lodge, No. 31, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of Bethel ; and Pleasant Valley Grange, No. 136, Patrons of Husbandry.
OSEPH S. HOUGHTON, a successful merchant of Weld, Franklin County, Me., and an ex-member of the Maine legislature, was born in this town, July 9, 1851, son of Daniel and Sophia (Parlin) Houghton. His paternal grandfather, James Houghton, who was the fifth settler in the town of Weld, cleared a good farm, upon which he resided for the rest of his life; and he reared a large family of children.
Daniel Houghton, Mr. Houghton's father, son of James, was born in Weld, January 3,
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1812, and was here a lifelong resident. He was prosperously engaged in tilling the soil during the active period of his life, and died June 17, 1856. His wife, who was before marriage Sophia Parlin, became the mother of three children, namely: Florence B., wife of B. F. Metcalf, of Auburn, Me .; Joseph S., the subject of this sketch; and Josephine, wife of D. B. Swett, of Weld. Daniel Houghton was a member of the Congregational church, and in politics he voted with the Whig party.
After the death of Daniel Houghton, Sophia, his wife, married Vincent G. Parlin, a resident of Weld, by whom she had five chil- dren. Three of them died young, but two lived to reach manhood; namely, George Otis and Abel Ezra. The former now resides at Rumford Falls, Me. Abel Ezra Parlin gradu- ated with honors at Maine Wesleyan Seminary, Kent's Hill, Me., after which he took a course of theology at Boston University. He was subsequently pastor of several churches in Maine and New Hampshire. He died at Paris, Me., in January, 1895.
Joseph S. Houghton was educated in the common schools of his native town. After completing his studies he began work in a spool factory, where he remained for nineteen years; and since April 1, 1889, he has been engaged in trade at his present location. He carries a varied line of merchandise, including dry goods, groceries, provisions, and other wares, and has succeeded in establishing a large and profitable business. In politics he is a Republican, and takes a prominent part in public affairs. He was Town Clerk thir- teen years, is now serving his third year as Town Treasurer; and while representing this district in the legislature, during the session of 1885 and 1886, he served on the Committee upon the Reform School. He was Postmaster here for four years; and as Assistant Post- master he now has charge of the office, which is located in his store.
On October 4, 1883, Mr. Houghton was united in matrimony with Lizzie Staples, a native of Carthage, Me., and a cousin of the Hon. Eugene Hale, United States Senator from this State. Mr. and Mrs. Houghton have one child living, a daughter, Madge, aged eleven years.
Mr. Houghton is a member of Mystic Lodge, No. 154, A. F. & A. M., of Weld. He was Master of the lodge for two years, served as Senior Deacon, Junior and Senior Warden, and is a member of the chapter. He has acted as a Justice of the Peace since 1885.
HOMAS SWAN, for many years an es- teemed resident of Waterford, was born in this town, September 11, 1810, son of Dudley and Sallie (Green) Swan. His father was a farmer and a lifelong resident of Waterford. The subject of this sketch resided for many years on an eighty-acre farm just west of South Waterford. Brought up to agriculture he became a practical farmer. He was also a skilled road builder, and many of the best roads in Waterford were built under his supervision. Industrious and thrifty, he prospered ; and, at his death, which occurred in this town, April 15, 1896, he left a fair prop- erty. Widely known, he was equally re- spected, and was chosen by his fellow-towns- men to serve them in various public capaci- ties, including that of Selectman. He was twice married, first to Miss Eliza Sanderson, of Sweden, Me., who died June 6, 1878. Five children were the fruit of this union, namely: Mary E., wife of Albert Caswell, a farmer of Waterford, holding the office of Se- lectman; Nancy O., who died in childhood; Charles, a physician, residing in Iowa; Thomas B., an attorney, in Atlantic City, Ia. ; and John S., a farmer of Livingstone County, California. For his second wife Mr. Swan married Miss Charlotte H. Walker, who survives him, and who was born in Bethel, Me., April 12, 1832, daughter of Joseph C. and Lucinda (Hale) Walker. Her father was a native of Bethel, and her mother of Water- ford. The former, who followed farming in Waterford for many years, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Swan. Mr. and Mrs. . Walker had three children - Caroline M., who married D. B. Willis, a prominent specu- lator and merchant of Lewiston, Me. (both are now deceased) ; Charlotte H. ; and Columbia, who died in infancy. Mrs. Swan's mater- nal grandparents were Oliver and Eunice
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(Fletcher) Hale. Oliver Hale was one of the pioneer settlers of Oxford County, coming here when Waterford was a wilderness. He was a trader, and conducted a store on the spot where his grand-daughter, Mrs. Swan, now resides. He was also engaged quite exten- sively in farming. He and his wife had eight children.
J OHN BLANCHARD, one of the best known farmers of Wilton, Franklin County, Me., was born in this town, August 1, 1826, son of Cyrus and Betsey (Floyd) Blanchard. His paternal grandfather, Timothy Blanchard, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and served at the Battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill, removed from Billerica, Mass., to Litchfield, where he resided for some years; and his last days were passed with his son in Maine. He died at the age of eighty-four years. His children were: Timothy, Hannah, Cyrus, Rhoda, Reuel, Lorina, and Mary.
Cyrus Blanchard, son of Timothy, journeyed from Massachusetts to Maine on foot; and deciding to settle in Wilton he here bought eighty acres of wild land. After clearing a small space and erecting a frame house twenty by twenty feet, he continued to improve the property until, as the result of his labor, he possessed a productive farm, and his first abode was replaced by a large and more sub- stantial house, together with spacious barns and out-buildings. Hc enjoyed a comfortable prosperity as a general farmer, and resided in Wilton until his death, which took place when he was sixty-four years old. In his younger days he was a Whig, later uniting with the Republican party ; and he was a mem- ber of the Free Will Baptist church. His first wife, whose maiden name was Chloe Welch, survived but a short time after mar- riage. She had one child, a daughter, Rhoda, who died young. His second wife, formerly Betsey Floyd, who was a daughter of Samuel Floyd, became the mother of two children, namely: Jessie; and John, the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Betsey Floyd Blanchard lived to reach the age of seventy-five years.
John Blanchard was the only son born to
his parents. As he grew to manhood in his native town he attended the public schools of Wilton when opportunity permitted, and as- sisted his father in the farm duties until be- coming of age. He then bought sixty acres of partially improved land, adjoining his father's estate; but, after residing there for twelve years, during which time he made vari- ous improvements, he sold that property, and purchased the J. Macomber farm of one hun- dred and eighty acres, where he has since lived. He has spent a great deal of time in bringing his land up to a high state of fertil- ity, has set out an orchard, keeps some extra fine cattle and sheep, has remodelled his resi- dence, and besides attending to his farm has been quite extensively engaged in lumbering.
In 1853 Mr. Blanchard wedded Elizabeth Colburn, daughter of John and Sarah Colburn. He and his wife have three children, as follows: Charles F., a large farmer and stock dealer of Wilton, who was born October 16, 1854, married Julia Savage, and has three children - John F., Minnie, and Jeannett ; Frank N., also a farmer and stock dealer, who was born November 17, 1863, married Lillian E. Adams, and has had two children -- Cala C., who died young, and Clifford, who was born December 8, 1894; and Annie May, who was born May 25, 1866, married William Savage, and has two children - Linn S., who was born December 17, 1893, and Clinton B., who was born October 24, 1895.
Although still vigorous and active, Mr. Blanchard is now resting after a long career of useful activity, having given up the more laborious duties of his farm to his son-in-law, William Savage, who resides with him. He has voted with the Republican party ever since its formation, but has never aspired to public office. In his religious faith he is a Free Will Baptist.
HANDLER BROTHERS, who, under the firm name of G. A. Chandler & Co., conduct a large general store at West Sumner, Oxford County. Me., are natives of Sumner and sons of the late Hiram B. Chandler. Their father died October 31, 1888. Their mother, Mrs. Eme-
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