USA > Maine > Oxford County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 55
USA > Maine > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 55
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Mr. Bass married Mary Louise Streeter, who was born in Austinburg, Ohio, March 9, 1847, daughter of Sereno W. and Sarah Jane (Willard) Streeter, and grand-daughter of Major John H. Willard, who was of an honored and highly reputable family. Mr. Willard had the honor of proposing the name Republi- can for the designation of the new political party, originated at a convention held in Strong in 1854, which has since written the grandest pages of American history. Mrs.
Bass died May 2, 1896, leaving four children, as follows: Willard Streeter, who was born July 27, 1876, and was graduated from Bow- doin College with the class of 1896; John Russell, who was born September 6, 1878; Elizabeth, who was born August 4, 1881 ; and Annie Louise, who was born November 26, 1888. In politics Mr. Bass is a Republican, and has served as Town Treasurer with ability for twelve years. He is an active member of the Congregational church.
OHN BACHELDER, a retired farmer and cattle dealer of North Fryeburg, Oxford County, Me., was born in Stone- ham, this State, April 8, 1820, son of Richard and Martha (Bryant) Bachelder. Mr. Bachelder's paternal grandfather, Henry Bach- elder, was a native of England, who, upon his arrival in America, resided in Massachusetts for a time; and he later settled in Fryeburg, where he spent the rest of his life.
His son, Richard Bachelder, was born in Chelsea, Mass., and in young manhood he settled in the northern part of this county upon what is known as Batchelder's Grant. He was a carpenter by trade, but about the year 1822 he removed to North Fryeburg, and here spent the rest of his life in tilling the soil of the farm which is now owned by his son. He
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died September 8, 1862: He married Martha Bryant, a native of New Market, N. H., and she became the mother of three children, as follows : Henry, who died in January, 1893; John, the subject of this sketch; and Martha, who is the widow of J. L. Farrington, and re- sides in Fryeburg. Mrs. Martha B. Bachelder died August 22, 1858.
John Bachelder was brought by his parents to North Fryeburg when he was two years old, and he was educated in the common schools of this town. At the age of twenty-two he began farming upon his own account, advancing in prosperity as he grew older in experience ; and he also engaged extensively in the buying and shipping of cattle. At the time of his retirement, which took place in 1866, he owned and cultivated one of the best farms in Oxford County, and harvested annually seventy tons of hay, five hundred bushels of oats, and the same quantity of potatoes. Besides his tillage land in this vicinity, which is worked by hired assistants, he owns several village lots, together with a pleasant residence in North Fryeburg, and some timber land in Stoneham and Lovell, Me., and in Chatham, N. H.
In 1846 Mr. Bachelder wedded Ann B. Wiley, of Fryeburg, daughter of George and Ellen (Charles) Wiley, early settlers of this town, who are no longer living. Mrs. Bachel- der died October 18, 1885.
Although Mr. Bachelder has been frequently solicited to become a candidate for public office he has always refused nomination ; but he takes a live interest in political affairs, and has voted with the Republican party ever since its formation. He is a Master Mason, being a member of Pythagorean Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of this town. He has long occupied a leading position among the farmers and busi- ness men of this county, where he is well known and highly respected. With the ex- ception of an occasional attack of rheumatism, which was brought on by hard work and ex- posure, he enjoys good health for one of his years.
Mr. Bachelder was a member of the State Board of Agriculture for two years, and he has served a number of different times both as grand juryman and also trial juryman.
AMES EVERETT HISCOCK, of Wil- ton, Me., manufacturer of and dealer in long and short lumber, and a member of the Board of Selectmen, was born in this town, June 16, 1855, son of James M. and Leonora (Parker) Hiscock.
Mr. Hiscock's great grandfather, Samuel Hiscock, moved with his family to Wilton among the earliest settlers, and cleared the farm which is now owned by F. S. Gammon. He attained prosperity as a general farmer, and died at about middle age. He married Betsey Teague, and she reared five of her seven children by this union; namely, John, Jesse S., Thomas, Samuel, and Matthew C. Mrs. Betsey Teague Hiscock married for her . second husband, John Wheeler, and lived to be eighty years old.
Jesse S. Hiscock, son of Samuel, and the next in this line, carried on the homestead farm some time after his father's death, but he later removed to Dixfield, Me., and there bought and operated a saw-mill. He finally returned to Wilton, where he built the residence now owned by Dr. Rowell; and he followed the carpenter's trade until his death, which took place when he was forty-seven years old. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and was a Whig in politics. He married Jennie Wheeler, who was a daughter of John Wheeler by his first wife, her husband's mother, widow of Samuel Hiscock, being her father's second wife. Jesse S. and Jennie (Wheeler) Hiscock, had a family of eight children, namely: Mary J .; Charity; Samuel; James M .; Sarah; Charles; Betsey; and Rosamond, who died young. Mrs. Jennie W. Hiscock died at the age of forty-seven years.
James M. Hiscock, son of Jesse S. Hiscock, was born in Wilton, and at the age of seven- teen he began to learn the trade of a black- smith. After serving his apprenticeship he relinquished it for a time, during which he worked at the tinner's trade; but eventually he resumed the former occupation, and, buy- ing the property where his son now resides, he erected a building, the lower part of which he used for a shop, the upper part for a dwelling. With the assistance of his son he later trans- formed the old building into a handsome cottage, laying out and beautifying the
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grounds: and, putting up a new shop near the street, he was for the rest of his active period engaged in ironing carriages. He was widely and favorably known throughout this section as a worthy, upright man, a reliable workman, and a useful citizen; and at his death, which took place June 14, 1895, when he was sixty- eight years old, he was deeply mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. I politics he was a stanch Republican from the formation of the party, and he served as Town Clerk for three years. He was connected with Williamson Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Wilton, and in his religious be- lief he was a Universalist. His wife, Leonora Parker, who was a daughter of Enoch Parker, of Jay, Me., became the mother of six chil- dren. The youngest of these, a daughter, died when five months old. Five are now liv- ing, namely: Joseph H .; Ora S .; James E., the subject of this sketch; Lester P .; and Jennie L .- all of whom were educated in the public schools and Wilton Academy. Mrs. Leonora P. Hiscock is now sixty-seven years old.
Joseph H. Hiscock, when twenty years old, went to New York City, where he worked for his uncle, Orin Parker, who was a member of the firm of E. W. Baxter & Co., which did a large furniture business. From there he went to Indiana, thence to lowa, and later to Min- neapolis, Minn., where he now resides. He has been connected with the furniture busi- ness nearly all the time since he left home, and has been superintendent of the Minne- apolis Furniture Company for a number of years. He is married and has two daughters. Ora S. Hiscock, after his school-days were ended, went to work in the peg-mill at Wil- ton, owned by B. F. Sturtivant, where he re- mained until the business was moved to Con- way, N. H., more than twenty years ago. He then went to Conway to continue in the same business, and has lived there ever since, work- ing for the same firm all these years. He is married and has one daughter.
Lester P. Hiscock began his work in life for G. H. Bass, in the boot and shoe business. After a time he became a member of the firm of G. H. Bass & Co. In 1890 he was elected Representative to the legislature, and at about
this time he and Mr. Bass dissolved partner- ship. In 1891 he opened a furniture and undertaking business in Wilton, which he conducted successfully about two years. He then closed out the business in Wilton, and moved to East Brookfield, Mass., going in company with W. G. Keith, formerly of Chesterville, Me. ; and they are now running a hardware business in connection with furni- ture and undertaking. He was Town Clerk in Wilton quite a number of years. He married Ida M. Miller, a native of Wilton.
Jennie L. Hiscock, after leaving Wilton Academy, took the course of study at West- brook Seminary, and was graduated with the class of 1883. After that she worked in the Wilton Record office. She devoted quite a good deal of time to music, taking lessons in Portland and Boston, and giving lessons in Wilton and Livermore. She also sang in church at Livermore about four years. She married in 1892 W. C. Hobbs, then a teacher of Providence, R.I., who fitted for college at Wilton Academy, and was graduated from Bates College. Since they were married Mr. Hobbs has been Supervisor of Schools at North Attleboro, Mass., where they now re- side. They have one son, James Beecher Hobbs.
James Everett Hiscock assisted his father until reaching the age of twenty-four, when he entered the Ploughkeepsie Commercial College, where he was graduated in 1879. After his return to Wilton he engaged for a time in the manufacture of cans. He also for several years acted as superintendent of Leavitt's corn packing factory in Livermore. He then bought the Sawyer packing factory in Wilton, where for some years he put up the well-known Gilt Edge Corn and the famous Wilton Apple, which acquired a high reputa- tion and a large sale in the metropolitan markets. In 1885 he leased the Wilton saw- mills, which he has since operated with energy, manufacturing over two hundred thousand feet of logs annually into all kinds of lumber for building purposes ; and his busi- ness ability is making this enterprise a most gratifying success. He has remodelled and enlarged his residence, and since the great fire of 1893 has bought the vacant land oppo-
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site, which adds much to the pleasantness of the location.
Mr. Hiscock married Addie Bartlett, daugh- ter of Silas P. Bartlett, of East Dixfield, and she died August 24, 1895, at the age of twenty-nine years. She was a graduate of Farmington State Normal School, class of 1887, and was a successful school teacher.
Politically, Mr. Hiscock is one of the ac- tive members of the Republican party in this section, and his ability in local public affairs has been of great value to the town, which he is now serving for his fifth term as clerk; and he is also a member of the present Board of Selectmen. He is Past Grand of Williamson Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Past Chief Patriarch of the encampment. In religious faith he is a Universalist.
OHN A. TWADDLE, M.D., who has followed his profession in Bethel for nearly twenty years, was born in Weld, Me., August 14, 1849, son of John and Irene H. (Phelps) Twaddle. John Twaddle was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and came to America when about thirty years of age. He settled in Weld, and was engaged in agricult- ure up to the time of his death, which happened when he was about eighty-five years old. His wife, who was born in Weld, is living on the homestead in that town where her wedded life was passed. Of her three children Dr. John A. Twaddle is the eldest. The second, Joseph B., is a physician practising in South Norridgewock, Me. The youngest, William V., is a graduate of Bates College and Yale Law School, and is now a lawyer in El Paso, Texas.
John A. Twaddle was reared on the farm in Weld; and, while becoming familiar with agricultural work, he attended the common schools near his home and completed a four years' course at Kent's Hill Seminary. Tak- ing charge of a district school when seventeen years of age he taught it in the winter season for some time, while he engaged in farm work in the summer. Then for three years he read medicine with Dr. J. R. Eaton, of Wilton, Me., attended Bowdoin College for three terms, and graduated from the medical depart-
ment of that institution on June 6, 1877. Shortly after receiving his degree he opened an office in Bethel, and has been here since. In the years that have passed he has built up a large and lucrative practice. Having ample means he indulges a liking for good horses by keeping some handsome animals.
On May 1, 1878, Dr. Twaddle was married to Harriet L., daughter of Deacon Joseph Brown, of Bethel, and has now three children. These are: Eva V., born April 19, 1880; Widd V., born March 1I, 1884; and Gard W., born January 31, 1890. In politics the Doctor favors the Democratic party. He has been a member of the Bethel School Board for two years, and of the Board of Pension Exam- iners for Oxford County for three years. Well advanced in Masonry he is a member of Bethel Lodge, No. 97, and of the Blue Lodge at Weld, Me.
PHRAIM WIGHT, of Gilead, is spend- ing the sunset of life in quiet retire-
ment among the scenes of his boy- hood. He was born in Gilead, May 6, 1820, son of Ephraim and Susanna (Patch) Wight. Ephraim Wight, Sr., who was a native of Dublin, N. H., settled in Gilead in early man- hood, purchasing the farm now occupied by his son, and died at the age of fifty-five. His wife, a native of Massachusetts, lived to be seventy-four years old. Both were members of the Congregational church. They had a family of eleven children, who have all passed away except the subject of this sketch.
Ephraim Wight had good educational oppor- tunities, attending the common schools of Gilead and Gould's Academy at Bethel. By the time he attained his majority he was a competent farmer, and he then left home to make his own way in the world. Locating in Gorham, N. H., he engaged in farming and lumbering, both of which he followed for thirty years, broken only by a term of service in the army. In August, 1864, he enlisted in Company L, First New Hampshire Regiment of Heavy Artillery, which, on reaching the capital, was assigned to duty there. Mr. Wight was honorably discharged in June, 1865, and returned to his business in Gorham.
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After a time he disposed of his business there and purchased the homestead in Gilead, where he has since resided. His health has been very poor for the past seven years, but lie still enjoys a chat with an old friend.
Mr. Wight was married March 31, 1841, to Priscilla D. Burbank, who was born in Shel- born, N. H., September 29, 1821. Four chil- dren have grown up in his home, namely : Elizabeth, now the wife of Benjamin F. Hicks, of Gilead; Lifert, a shoemaker of Lynn, Mass. ; Osman C., a farmer in Leeds, Me. ; and Albert D., who is with his parents. Mr. Wight votes the Republican ticket. Though he was away from Gilead for a num- ber of years he is looked upon as one of the old residents of the place, many of the com- panions of his boyhood being yet alive, as well as others who remember his parents and his brothers and sisters.
ALVIN D. SEWALL, late an influ- ential and highly esteemed citizen of Farmington, Me., who died Novem- ber 5, 1883, was born in the town of Chesterville, Me., June 12, 1822. He was a son of Oliver and Betsy (Sylvester) Sewall, and a grandson of the Rev. Jotham Sewall, who was the son of Henry, grandson of Nicho- las, great-grandson of John, and great-great- grandson of Henry and Jane (Dummer) Sewall, of Newbury, Mass. The last named Henry Sewall was a grandson of Henry Sewall, first, who was the Mayor of Coventry, England, in 1589 and 1606. Mayor Sewall's son Henry, second, and his grandson Henry, third, above mentioned, both emigrated to America, and settled in Essex County, Mass.
Jotham Sewall was born in York, York County, Me., January 1, 1760. Somewhat early in life he learned the trade of mason, and by his own exertions later he educated himself for the ministry. On the 18th of June, in the year 1800, this good man was ordained as an evangelist. He had a wide field of labor, being employed as a missionary until near the close of his long life. He was much vener- ated and beloved. When he settled at Lake Hill, Chesterville, he bought land that was for the most part wild and uncultivated; but he
was as full of practical energy as of spiritual zeal, and he went to work and put the land under cultivation. His first house was a log cabin. He afterward erected a comfortable frame dwelling on the same situation. He died in 1850, in the ninety-first year of his age. His wife, Jenny Sewall, lived to be seventy years. Their children were: Oliver, Nathan, Jotham, Jennie, Julia, Sarah, Mary, Otis, Rachel, Betsy, and David.
Oliver Sewall, son of the Rev. Jotham, was born July 10, 1788. He learned and practised surveying ; was also a conveyancer and wrote deeds, following the carpenter's trade between whiles. He bought a farm of seventy acres in the town of Chesterville, Me., where he lived until his death on the 29th of August, 1861. His wife, Betsy Sylvester, was born in 1788, and died in 1878. In politics Oliver Sewall was a Whig and later a Republican; and he served as a Representative in the legislature. For twelve years he was a Selectman, and he was also Town Clerk and Deacon in the Con- gregational church. The children of Oliver and Betsy (Sylvester) Sewall were: Harriet G., Eliza J., Maria S., George O., Calvin D., and William S.
Calvin D. Sewall having obtained his edu- cation in the district schools of his native town learned the trade of tempering axes, fol- lowing this for some time as a means of living in Massachusetts. Returning to Chesterville he engaged in the manufacture of carriages and wagons. He afterward removed to Farming- ton, where he purchased a farm on the south side of Sandy River, at the corner of River and Wilton roads. This estate consisted of sixty acres, and here he had a handsome resi- dence and a shop in which his manufacturing business was conducted, the machinery in use being run by horse power. Mr. Sewall served as a Representative in the legislature and as a County Commissioner. He was a man of keen perceptions, and his advice was often sought in deciding difficult questions. At the time of his death, which occurred in the sixty-second year of his age, he was Dea- con of the Congregational church.
Mr. Sewall was first united in marriage with Miss Eliza Mayhew, of Chesterville, their nuptials being solemnized January 1, 1847.
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Mrs. Eliza M. Sewall was a woman of great moral worth and strength of character. She died January 8, 1873, leaving six children - Elmer, Carrie, Willis, Alice, Lucy, and Oliver. Mr. Sewall's second wife, whom he married on February 10, 1874, and who sur- vives him, was Miss Eliza T. Moore, daughter of John S. and Lucinda (French) Moore, of Canterbury, N. H. She was educated in the public schools of her native town, Canterbury, N. H., and in the high schools of Concord and Haverhill, Mass., and early adopted the pro- fession of teaching. A young woman of un- usnal mental ability and most estimable traits of character, she won for herself an excellent reputation in her chosen field of effort. For some time previous to her marriage she was an assistant teacher in the State Normal School at Farmington. Of her faithfulness and com- petence in her new relations as wife and mother it is not needful here to speak. Mrs. Sewall enjoys the esteem and good-will of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
After the second marriage of Deacon Sewall his family was increased by the birth of two daughters : S. Belle, who was born January 6, 1876; and Helen A., born on March 10, 1877. Both are graduates of the Farmington State Normal School, like their elder sisters afore- mentioned, and both are now engaged in teach- ing. It may be said of the Sewall children in brief that they are all well educated and are worthy sons and daughters of such parentage.
The youngest son, the Rev. Oliver D. Sew- all, is a graduate of Bowdoin College and of Andover Theological Seminary, and is at the present time pastor of the Congregational church in Durham, N. H.
G ON. JAMES S. WRIGHT, an emi- nent lawyer of South Paris, was born in the town of Jay, Franklin County, July 17, 1845, son of Reu- ben and Sarah (Putnam) Wright. His grand- father, Oliver Wright, who was a native of Keene, N. H., removed to Jay, and bought a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, where he resided, and was engaged in farming for the remainder of his life. He died at the age of eighty-one years, having been one of the pro-
gressive men of the town. His wife, Sally (Butterfield) Wright, lived to the age of eighty-six years. Their children were : Oliver, Sally, Reuben, Thomas, Jonathan, and Betsey. Oliver died when forty years old. The rest lived to ages varying from seventy-five to eighty-three years.
Reuben Wright was a native of Jay, born December 3, 1803. He also followed farm- ing' as an occupation. When the opportunity offered he bought the homestead farm, re- modelled the original buildings and erected others, and enlarged the land acreage by further purchases. Energetic and intelligent, he was a leading man in the community. In politics he was successively a Whig and a Republican, and he was Tax Collector for a time, besides serving in minor offices. His wife, Sarah, bore him nine children, namely: Frederick W .; Arvilla; Melvina; Augusta; James A., who died young; James S .; Emery V .; Silas ; and Reuben F. Both parents were supporters of the Free Will Baptist church. The father died in September, 1885. The mother lived until 1892, when she passed away at the age of eighty-six years.
The Hon. James S. Wright, after attending the district school for the usual period, subse- quently pursued the more advanced studies at the high schools of Wilton, Livermore Falls, and Dixfield. Upon leaving school he read law with William W. Boster and E. B. Rich- ardson, of Dixfield, and was admitted to the bar in September, 1868. Mr. Richardson having died, he entered into a partnership with Mr. Boster, lasting three years. After this he spent a year in partnership with S. F. Gibson, of Bethel, Me., when he was elected clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court. He had filled this office with distinguished ability for ten years, when he was elected to the more important position of County Attorney. At the end of four years he resumed private prac- tice, coming in 1891 to South Paris, where he has since become one of the leading lawyers. Mr. Wright is a Director of the Paris Manu- facturing Company, and was the first President . of the corporation that erected the Billings Block in Market Square, considered the finest structure of the kind in the county.
On May 2, 1869, Mr. Wright was married
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to Miss Hannah E. Woodbury, daughter of William Woodbury, a prosperous farmer of Sweden, Me., who afterward resided at South Paris. His children are: Lena Frances, who died at the age of seventeen; and Fred N., born August 6, 1874, a graduate of Shaw's Business College at Portland, who is now em- ployed as a clerk. Mr. Wright takes an earn- est and influential part in public affairs. He represented the town in the lower chamber of the State legislature in 1887, and in the Senate in 1889. In 1890 President Harrison appointed him Census Supervisor for the western half of the State of Maine. As a member of the School Board for four years he did much for the educational interests of the town. While his law offices are located in the Billings Block, he resides at 15 Pleasant Street, which, since he purchased it from F. A. Thayer, he has transformed into a hand- some dwelling by remodelling.
APTAIN ERNEST H. MARWICK, the well-known proprietor of the hand- some furniture store on Broadway, Farmington, Me., was born on Oc- tober 13, 1852, in Berlin, Prussia, son of Wilhelm v. Grantzow, a Lieutenant in the German army. His name, originally Ernest H. Grantzow, was afterward changed by adop- tion to Ernest H. Marwick.
At the age of fourteen, stimulated with a desire for adventure and novelty, Ernest H. Grantzow left home, and took ship to America. He sailed on board the ship "Wheeland," bound for Quebec, Canada, and was landed at Montreal after a long voyage, without one cent of money or any other property, except the clothes he wore. Moreover, he could not understand a word of English or French. Nevertheless, with indomitable pluck, he started out to find work, and after persistent efforts obtained employment as driver of a butcher's wagon. He remained in this posi- tion for eight months, during which time he picked up quite a little English. The busi- ness being uncongenial for a boy of his spirit, he then got a berth as a sailor-boy on board the brig " Agenora, " Captain F. White, and made the voyage to Montevideo, and back to
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