USA > Maine > Oxford County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 49
USA > Maine > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 49
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Smart's first wife died May 28, 1869; and on January 17, 1871, he wedded Ellen F. Quincy, his present wife, who is a native of Denmark, Me. Her parents were Joseph and Mary C. (Haley) Quincy. Her father, who was a prominent farmer of that town, died when Mrs. Smart was quite young.
In public affairs Mr. Smart has been actively interested for several years, having served as a member of the Board of Selectmen for two terms while residing in Sweden; and he has rendered valuable service to the town of Fryeburg in a like capacity for the same length of time. In politics he is an earnest supporter of the Republican party. He is a member of Pythagorean Lodge, No. II, A. F. & A. M. ; Fryeburg Lodge, No. 49, Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows; and the Knights of Pythias, No. 34; and is a comrade of Grover
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Post, No. 126, Grand Army of the Republic, of this town. He is an industrious and suc- cessful farmer who has taken advantage of every available opportunity for advancement ; and, while his many estimable qualities make him personally popular, his long and honor- able war record is looked upon by his fellow- citizens with pride and admiration.
EACON JOSIAH T. STETSON is one of the old residents of Sum- ner, Oxford County, Me., his pres- ent home having sheltered him for three-quarters of a century. He was born in this house, January 4, 1821, a son of Hezekiah Jr., and Rebecca (Gowell) Stetson.
His grandfather, Hezekiah Stetson, was born in Pembroke, Mass., December 2, 1752, and settled in West Butterfield (now Sumner), in the District of Maine, November 7, 1782, about the time of the close of the Revolution- ary War, in which he had taken an active part. He was one of the pioneers of this town, mak- ing a clearing first and erecting a log cabin. He owned one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he worked hard to clear and develop; and the house now occupied by his grandson was built by him in 1796. Grandfather Stet- son was one of the leading farmers of his day, and his judgment of live stock, of oxen espe- cially, was deemed infallible. In politics he was a Whig, in religious belief a Congrega- tionalist. He died in Sumner in 1833, aged eighty-one years. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Tilson, was born in Hali- fax, Mass., November 12, 1753, and died at the age of seventy-five. They were the par- ents of eight children, all of whom married and reared families, namely: Elisha, born in Pembroke, Mass., November 7, 1781 ; Zenas, born in Pembroke, Mass., August 4, 1782; Abel, born in West Butterfield, Me., Novem- ber 4, 1784, the third child born in the plan- tation ; Tilson, born in Sumner, Me., October 26, 1786; Hezekiah, September 16, 1788; Lydia, January 7, 1790; Ephraim, August 24, 1794; and Mary, December 17, 1799.
Hezekiah Stetson, the younger, succeeded his father as owner of the homestead in Sum- ner, and devoted his life to the pursuit of agri-
culture. He was actively interested in public affairs, and was for some time the commander of a militia company, being commonly called Captain Stetson. A Republican in political preference, he was Selectman of Sumner for a number of years. He died July 14, 1873, aged eighty-five years. His wife, Mrs. Re- becca (Gowell) Stetson, who was born in Tops- ham, Me., August 11, 1790, died September ' 27, 1868, aged seventy-eight years. Captain and Mrs. Stetson were members of the Congre- gational church. They were the parents of four children, namely : Charles, born March 25, 1813, who died at the age of seventy-six; Solomon M., who was born October 25, 1817, and died at the age of seventy-three; Josiah . T., the subject of this sketch; and Jane, who was born August 10, 1823, and married John R. Bonney, whom she survives. Mrs. Bonney makes her home in Sumner with her son, Charles H., who was born January 1, 1861, and who married Miss Ida J. Newell.
Josiah T., the third and youngest born son of Captain Stetson, was reared and educated in his native town. Having become accus- tomed to farm work in early boyhood, he has continuously followed the pursuit of agricult- ure, working at shoemaking for a short time only in his early manhood in Massachusetts. Diligent in business and faithful to his trusts, he has met with well-earned success, and has won the respect of the community in which he dwells. He was married May 18, 1845, to Cynthia A., daughter of Ezra and Maria (Her- sey) Cobb. She was born in Sumner, Me., December 15, 1822, and died here February 12, 1888. She was a member of the Congre- gational church at East Sumner, of which her husband has been a Deacon for many years.
Deacon Stetson has seven children and six- teen grandchildren. His children are: Ma- tilda J., born November 3, 1846, wife of Free- man C. Merrill, a manufacturer of agricultural implements of South Paris, Me. ; J. Walter, born October 19, 1848, Treasurer of the Me- chanics Savings Bank of Auburn, Me. ; Ezra H., born November 23, 1850, a shoe manu- facturer of South Weymouth, Mass., unmar- ried; Herbert E., born October 6, 1852, Prin- cipal of City Schools, Earlville, Ia. ; Charles H., born October 4, 1854, Principal of High
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School, Ironton, Ohio; Rachel W., born April 13, 1857, wife of W. H. Eastman, President and Treasurer of Eastman Seed Company of East Sumner, Me. ; and Lilla F., born August 29, 1863, wife of Fred S. Palmer, a farmer and box-maker, residing with her father.
The Stetson children attended the public schools of the town with an occasional term at the High School at Buckfield or at Hebron Academy; and all but Ezra, who early de- veloped a taste for manufacturing, taught school. Walter and Herbert took the course at the State Normal School at Farmington, Me. J. Walter Stetson taught in the schools of Maine and New Hampshire for about twenty years, and was Principal of the Ash Street Grammar School at Manchester when called to his present position. He married Miss Agnes Halliday, a native of Calais, Me., and has five children - Mary L., Lilla A., Everett H., Agnes G., and Harold T. Ezra Stetson, the second son, went to South Wey- mouth, Mass., to work in the shoe business, first with L. Heald, and later with H. B. Reed & Co. Faithfully attending to his duties, he soon became superintendent of Reed's large factory, which position he held until he engaged in business for himself as senior partner of the firm of E. H. Stetson & Co., shoe manufacturers.
After graduation Herbert E. Stetson taught for a time in Maine, then accepted the Princi- palship of Earlville, Ia., High School. He later engaged for some years in mercantile business, but at the urgent solicitation of the school officials has resumed teaching. He married Miss Hattie E. Smith, and has had six children - Eugene J., Ralph H., Ruth A., Edna F., Isetta M., and Gladys E.
Charles H. Stetson was graduated at Bow- doin College in 1883. He subsequently taught in the Lewiston High School, employ -. ing his spare moments in the study of medi- cine; but owing to poor health he was obliged to give up his chosen profession and seek relief in a milder climate. He has since had- charge of high schools in Nashville, Tenn., and Ironton, Ohio. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Ella Bothwell, have had two children : a son who died in infancy, and John Hersey. Rachel W. Stetson, Mrs. East-
man, has three children - Leona, Esther H., and Augusta T. ; and Lilla F., Mrs. Palmer, has two children - Richard R. and Muriel F.
Politically, Deacon Stetson is a stanch Re- publican. Some time ago, for six or eight years, he filled the office of Town Clerk of Sumner. A friend of education and social progress, he is a member of Union Grange, No. 80, Patrons of Husbandry at East Sumner.
ILLIAM P. KNIGHTLY, a pros- perous farmer and stock-raiser of Waterford, Me., is one of the self- made men of Oxford County. He was born in County Kerry, Ireland, March 17, 1830, the son of Thomas D. and Mary (Payne) Knightly. His parents were natives of the County Kerry and spent their lives there, the father being a prominent farmer. Several chil- dren were born to them, namely: Catherine, wife of John Evans, living on the homestead in Ireland; John, now deceased; William P., the subject of this sketch; Ann (deceased), who was the wife of Daniel Green, a farmer of Norway village, Me., now retired; Emily, deceased ; Thomas D., Jr., living in Norway, Me., who married for his first wife Ellen Brown, and for his second Mrs. Georgie Doe. Mr. Thomas D. Knightly died in September, 1846, and his wife in 1847, the years of the great famine.
William P. Knightly in his early years received but a limited common-school educa- tion in his native land. He left Ireland at the age of eighteen, not long after the death of his mother, and, with his cousin, Robert Knightly, came to this country, taking passage on the "Arcadia, " which was five weeks and three days making the voyage. Landing in Boston he went from there to Portland, Me., where he obtained work on the Grand Trunk Railroad, and was made head man of the sec- tion between Portland and Yarmouth. The railroad work lasted until October, 1848, and the following winter he hired himself out by the day in Portland, engaging in different kinds of labor. In the spring he went to work as section hand at New Gloucester, Me., re- maining three months, and in the summer he carried water to the help on the section. He
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next let himself as farm hand to James Deer- ing, of Paris, this county, and when the busy harvest season was over began to attend school, studying through the winter. The next sum- mer he was employed as farm hand by Mr. John Parsons, of Paris, Me., and the following winter also he attended school. In this way for three years he worked during the growing season and studied in the winter, acquiring a very good education.
Mr. Knightly was subsequently employed on a farm in Norway village one summer, and for the next three years he was engaged in running a circular saw in a furniture manufac- tory in that town for T. G. Barnard. In 1856 he went to Bath, Me., where he was employed in a cabinet-shop for a year, at the end of that time again taking up the pursuit of agriculture, which he has followed since. He was en- gaged in farming in Oxford village for a season, in the town of Oxford for a year; and he then purchased a small farm in the latter place, which he tilled for seven years. Ex- changing that property for a farm in the north- ern part of Norway, he lived there some three years, - moving next to East Oxford, where also he lived three years. In 1871 he settled on the farm where he now lives in Waterford. He is one of the leading agricultural men of these parts, owning some two hundred acres of land, a well-improved farm, some good stock, and a choice dairy.
While working in the furniture manufactory in Norway village he met his fate in the shape of Miss Lucinda Rowe, the daughter of Zebu- lon and Abigail (Rowe) Rowe. Mr. Rowe, who died some time since, was connected with a saw-mill in Norway; and his wife is still living in that town. Their daughter Lucinda was born in April, 1841, and was married to Mr. Knightly, November 18, 1855. She died March 30, 1884, aged forty-three years, leaving seven children: Mary A., born July 24, 1857, wife of Horace Cole, of Norway village; William H., born July 16, 1859, who married Miss Ella Swett, and resides in the town of Paris; Charles C., born May 30, 1861, who lives with his father and is engaged in farming; James A., born June 5, 1863, a trader at Cascade Locks, Ore .; Lucinda E., born March 3, 1866, wife of Ludwig Gerhard,
a resident of Allston, Mass., superintendent of the Estes & Lauriat printing establishment, 196 Summer Street, Boston; Fred, born No- vember 8, 1868, living with his father; and Emma, born February 1, 1871, wife of Austin Kellogg, of North Warren, Me. Mr. Knightly was again married on January 19, 1887, to Miss Jane M. Keough, of Quebec, Can., who was born January 7, 1847. Her parents, Jamies Q. and Mary (Cox) Keough, were born in England. Emigrating to this country, Mr. Keough was engaged in farming in Canada for a while, and later moved to Paris, Me., where both he and his wife died.
Mr. Knightly has worked very hard to edu- cate himself and to attain his present pros- perity, and has justly won the respect of his fellow-men. He votes the Democratic ticket, and has held several political offices in the town. Mr. Knightly and his wife are es. teemed members of the Advent church at North Norway.
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ENRY K. STEARNS, a successful dairy farmer of Hebron, and one of the leading young men of the town, was born in Paris, Me., November 20, 1862, son of S. Porter and Ruth Stearns. A sketch of his father, with some account of the family ancestry, appears elsewhere in this work. The subject of this article passed his boyhood and youth in his native town, and after being graduated from the Hebron Acad- emy with the class of 1883 he taught school for four winter terms. Subsequently, settling upon a, large farm in Hebron, he at once en- gaged in agriculture, which he still continues ; and he also carries on a good business as con- tractor for the building of public highways and the furnishing of stone work. He owns three hundred acres of well located land, which he devotes to general farming, fruit-raising, and dairying; and he keeps forty head of cattle, including twenty milch cows. His buildings are new and substantial, the resi- dence being finely furnished, and the barn and other out-buildings well stocked with agricult- ural implements of the latest improved pat- tern. An energetic, progressive, and intelli- gent young man, he has become prominent in
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local public affairs, having served as a member of the Board of Selectmen for three years, as Collector and Constable, and in other town offices. His political opinions affiliate him with the Republican party.
On January 1, 1885, Mr. Stearns married Bertha E. Everett, daughter of Hiram M. Everett, late of Hebron. She died June 19, 1888, leaving one child- Ora B., who was born January 20, 1887. On November 20, 1890, Mr. Stearns married for his second wife, Fannie A. Dunham, who was born in Livermore, Me., June. 30, 1872, daughter of Dr. J. C. Dunham, of Hebron. Mr. Stearns is connected with Hebron Grange, No. 43, Patrons of Husbandry ; and he is a member of the Baptist church. The success which has already attended his efforts, both as a business man and a farmer, is indicative of still greater prosperity in the future, and it is safe to assume that his enterprising spirit and good judgment will enable him to surmount all obstacles in his path.
RRIN S. TURNER, a successful in- ventor and manufacturer, of New Vine- yard, Franklin County, was born here November 14, 1831, son of the Rev. David and Jane (Merchant) Turner. His grandfather, Captain David Turner, at an early day came from Martha's Vineyard, Mass., and settled on a farm near the village of New Vineyard. Besides carrying on farming, Captain Turner worked at the trades of car- penter and wheelwright. During the Revolu- tionary War he served as a Captain. His son, the Rev. David Turner, a native of Martha's Vineyard, was at first engaged in farming. He subsequently became a minister, and helped to build the church and organize the society of Congregationalists in this village, officiating as pastor for about thirty years. He married Jane Merchant, a native of Mar- tha's Vineyard, who had six children by him ; namely, Priscilla, Hannah, Mary Jane, Solo- mon, David, and Orrin. Priscilla is deceased. Hannah, now the widow of Otis Corbett, lives in North Paris, Me. Mary Jane, the widow of Solomon Luce, lives in this village. Solo- mon died at the age of nineteen years. David
has also passed away. The father died in 1858, and the mother some years later.
Orrin S. Turner acquired his education in the common schools. At the age of seventeen he left home to teach in Anson, Me., where he remained two years. He then took em- ployment as a. laborer in the Shovel Handle Manufactory in this village. Three years after he started in the same business for himself. Later he began the manufacture of wooden boxes, and continued it for ten years. He then went into the dowel, trunk, and cleat business, and the manufacture of novelties, which he also followed for ten years. Hav- ing leisure, and a large stock of dowels on hand, which he could not sell, he tried to make a chair for himself with a reclining back. This proved such a success that he at once had it patented, and it is now known as the self- adjusting back and reclining rocker. He has made large sales of this chair, and still runs a wagon selling sixty chairs a week to the trade. Mr. Turner now intends to sell the patent right. His chair shop is kept running only through the winter. He also conducts a farm of twenty-five acres, upon which he spends most of his time. In politics, since casting his first vote, he has affiliated with the Demo- cratic party. He has served as Township Clerk for the past thirty-seven years. Com- mercially, he has met several losses by fire. On one occasion, when his factory was burned, he lost seven thousand dollars. At another time his house was struck by lightning, and destroyed. He has, however, done well with his invention, which has enabled him to cope successfully with the difficulties in his path.
Mr. Turner has been twice married. On November 20,. 1856, he first wedded Rebecca E. Luce, a native of New Vineyard, and a daughter of Solomon Luce. She died June 27. 1873, having become the mother of four chil- dren - Herbert, Albion D., Annie L., and Susia L. Herbert married Allie Stone, and lives in this village. Albion D. married Nellie Johnson, and they are also residents of this place. Annie L., who is a milliner, resides at home. Susia L. is the wife of Frank Russell, and they reside near Boston. On September 20, 1875, Mr. Turner con- tracted his second marriage with Miss Lucy
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E. Bixby, a native of Anson, Me., whose par- ents are both deceased. By this marriage there is one child - Frank R., born in 1876, who still resides at home. Mrs. Turner is a member of the Congregational church.
ON. ALBION P. GORDON, one of the most prominent residents of Fryeburg, and a member of the Maine Senate, was born May 20, 1836, upon the farm he now owns and occu- pies, son of Henry and Eliza (Barker) Gordon. Mr. Gordon's great-grandfather, Henry Gor- don, first, was a native of Ireland, and a weaver by trade. His grandfather, also named Henry, was born in Fryeburg, and settled upon the old Buzzell farm in this town.
Henry Gordon, the third of the name, father of Albion P., was born in Fryeburg, and was a lifelong resident of this town. In young manhood he took up his abode on the farni where his son now resides, and industriously tilled the soil until the time of his death, which took place in February, 1882. He mar- ried Eliza Barker, a native of Fryeburg, and she became the mother of seven children, only two of whom grew to maturity, namely : Al- bion P., the subject of this sketch; and Maria E., who is now the widow of Edgar G. Adams, and lives in Fryeburg Centre. Mrs. Eliza B. Gordon, who is now eighty-five years old, resides with her son at the homestead.
Albion P. Gordon's early education was lim- ited to the simple branches of study taught in the common schools of his day; but, being naturally intelligent and progressive, he has through his own personal efforts accumulated a large amount of practical knowledge and gen- eral information. He began at an early age to assist his father in attending to the regular duties of the farm; and after his marriage he took entire charge of the property, which eventually fell to his possession. He owns about two hundred acres, which constitute the homestead farm, the tillage portion being under excellent cultivation; and in connection with farming he has for several years past been engaged in carrying on lumbering operations. For over thirty years he has been a practical land surveyor in this county, and some years
since he was employed by the State to locate the exact boundary line between Maine and New Hampshire from the sea-coast to the Canadian frontier.
On November 16, 1863, Mr. Gordon was united in marriage with Harriet Wiley, of Fryeburg, daughter of the late Enoch Wiley, who formerly carried on a farm in this town, and whose wife is still residing at the home- stead. Mrs. Gordon has had one son - Fred, who was born December 30, 1864, and died January 7, 1878.
As an earnest and exceedingly active sup- porter of the Republican party, Mr. Gordon has long been a potent factor in the political affairs of the town and county. He has served as a member of the Board of Selectmen and . upon the School Board, was County Commis- sioner from 1871 to 1877, and is at the present time a member of the State Senate. His dis- tinguished public services, it is not too much to say, have given him an honorable reputation throughout the State. He is connected with Pythagorean Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Fryeburg ; Oriental Chapter, Bridgton; and St. Alban Commandery, Portland; also with Fryeburg Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and with the Grange at Fryeburg Centre. Mrs. Gordon is a member of the Congrega- tional church.
ASTMAN J. ROSS, a prominent farmer and fruit-grower of Phillips, was born in Rangelcy, this county, February 13, 1839, son of William and Eunice (Hoar) Ross. The family descends from an early explorer named John Ross, who was its founder in America. Its early representa- tives were mostly seafaring men. Several generations of the Rosses lived in Bowdoin- ham, Me. The first representative to appear there was John Ross, who was a mariner. His son, Joseph, the great-grandfather of East- man J., with several of his brothers, was en- gaged in the fishing industry and the merchant marine. Joseph Ross was twice married, had twenty-one sons and two daughters, and lived to the age of ninety-eight years. Eben Ross, the grandfather, who was born in Bowdoinham, became a sea captain, passed his last years
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with his son, and was ninety-six years old when he died. He married Mercy Tooth- acker, and had a family of eight children, none of whom are living.
William Ross, Mr. Ross's father, was born in Bowdoinham in 1816. At the age of nine- teen he went to Rangeley, where he was en- gaged in farming and lumbering. After re- siding there for about six years he came to Phillips, followed the same occupation here for the rest of his life, and died at the age of fifty- seven years. While he took no active interest in politics beyond casting his vote, he gave much of his spare time to religious work, and was a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife, Eunice, a native of Phillips, was still an infant when her parents moved to Rangeley. In making this journey they followed a trail through the woods, marked by blazed trees, hauling their effects and their daughter on a hand słed. That occa- sion was well impressed on the minds of both parents by the shock they received when, on the way, they suddenly missed the child from the sled. She had fallen off a short time be- fore, and was recovered a little distance back. They endured much hardship during their first winter in Rangeley on account of the Indians, who robbed them of their supplies, oblig- ing them to subsist for some time upon such fish and game as the father could catch. A younger sister of Mrs. Ross's mother is said to have been the first white female child born in Rangeley. Mrs. William Ross became the mother of eleven children, eight of whom are living, namely: Eastman J., the subject of this sketch; Sarah, who married Joseph Brackett, and lives on Peak's Island; Annis, the wife of B. D. Whitney, of Gardiner, Me. ; William J., Raymond C., Charles F., Leland D., and Fred M., all residents of Phillips. The others were: Margie S., who died in 1862, aged twenty years; Luther J., who died at the age of twenty-three; and Nellie M., who married John Z. Everett, of Phillips, and died at the age of forty-four years.
Eastman J. Ross came to Phillips when he was eleven months old. He acquired his edu- cation in the common schools of this town. When a young man he went to California, returning after four years spent in mining and
farming. In 1871 he erected a mill, which he operated for about twenty years. His pres- ent farm contains two hundred acres of excel- lent land, which he cultivates to good advan- tage. He has an orchard of eight hundred trees, and makes a specialty of fruit-growing, which is the source of considerable profit. He also keeps graded stock to the average number of twenty head.
On November 8, 1866, Mr. Ross wedded Valora Beal, of Avon, Me., and is now the father of three children. They are: Margie L., Montieze, and Lee E. J. Margie L. is the wife of William Schofield, Jr., of Phillips, and has one child, Margie Wilhelmine. The others are at home with their parents. In politics Mr. Ross is a Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which he is officially connected as Trus- tee and Steward.
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