USA > Maine > Oxford County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 59
USA > Maine > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 59
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William R. Kneeland received a common- school education. On his twenty-first birth- day, November 14, 1861, he enlisted at Sweden, Me., as a private in Company B, Twelfth Maine Regiment of Volunteer Infan-
try, under Captain S. B. Packard. He joined the ranks as a three-years man, and was in active service most of the time. The Twelfth Regiment was organized in Portland, Novem- ber 16, 1861, and under the command of Colonel Kimball was assigned to the Second Brigade, Fourth Division. It left for Lowell, Mass., November 24, and embarked on a south-bound steamer, January 12, 1862. It was consolidated with General Butler's New England Division, and took part in its first battle in the extreme South. In December, 1863, Mr. Kneeland was promoted to the rank of Corporal. On May 27, 1863, during an engagement at Port Hudson, he received a gunshot wound in the left leg below the knee, which confined him to the hospital for three months. On his recovery he went home on furlough for sixty days. Returning to his company at Carrollton, La., December 1, he was honorably discharged December 31, 1863. He re-elisted January 1, 1864, joining Com- pany D, Twelfth Maine Regiment, and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on July 22 of the same year. After receiving his final discharge at Savannah, Ga., April 18, 1866, he returned to Sweden, and, purchasing a farm in that town, he lived there until 1879. In that year he bought the Eastman farm in Lovell, his present home, an estate of forty acres, in the management of which he has been very successful. He also owns other land in the township.
Mr. Kneeland was married July 4, 1861, to Miss Mary Parker, of Lovell, who was born in December, 1840, daughter of Levi Parker, a well-to-do fariner of Lovell. She died May 27, 1864; and on January 25, 1868, Mr. Knee- land was united to Miss Marilla J. Sanderson, of Sweden, Me., who was born in 1849. Her father was Edwin Sanderson, a farmer of Sweden. She died June 11, 1885, leaving two children, namely: Lillian, who was born February 25, 1869, now the wife of Arthur Mason, and residing near her father: and Fred Gustavus, who was born June 5, 1874, now a student in Bowdoin College. Mr.
Kneeland contracted a third marriage, Septem- ber 2, 1886, with Miss Sarah P. Keniston, of Lovell. She was born August 2, 1843, and is a daughter of William and Caroline (Harri-
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man) Keniston, both of Lovell. Her father, who was a farmer, died in December, 1878, while her mother is living in Lovell. Mr. Kneeland, who is a Democrat, has served as Selectman of Lovell. He is a member of Delta Lodge, No. 153, A. F. & A. M., of Lovell village; and of Parker Post, No. 151, Grand Army of the Republic, of Lovell Centre. Well known throughout the locality, he is highly esteemed, and has many friends.
AMES GLOVER, a successful farmer and stock trader of the town of Hart- ford, Oxford County, was born in Hartford, on his present farm, July 19, 1827, son of James and Anna (Bonney) Glover. The family has been American for more than two and a half centuries. Its founder, John Glover, who was born in Eng- land, August 12, 1600, settled in Boston, Mass., about the year 1628. His death oc- curred in that place on November 12, 1653. James Glover, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born September 22, 1748, in Pembroke, Mass., son of Robert and Bethiah Glover. A ship carpenter by trade, and a good general mechanic and industrious, he was successful in his undertakings. He came to this county in 1803, and was one of the early settlers of Sumner, where he reclaimed and cultivated a farm. In politics he was a Whig, in religious belief a Universalist. He died in Sumner, December 12, 1846, lacking but two years of completing a century of life. His wife, Ruth, a daughter of Robert Stetson, of Pembroke, Mass., was born September 29, 1772, and died July 22, 1837. She was the mother of three sons and one daughter, who all attained maturity. They were: Nathaniel S., born March 20, 1793; James, born Sep- tember 27, 1796; Joshua S., born November. 29, 1806; and Caroline, born December II, 1813.
James Glover, Sr., who was also a native of Pembroke, Mass., in 1824, settled on the land now occupied by his son. At that time it was wild and unimproved, and he devoted the rest of his life to its development and cultivation.
The property, which at first covered one hundred and twenty-five acres, was extended
by him from time to time until it became one of the largest estates in the locality. He began to take an interest in politics as a mem- ber of the Whig party, but in the latter part of his life he was a Democrat. Reared a Uni- versalist, he became interested in Spiritual- ism, and died in that belief. This event oc- curred on the homestead May 29, 1873. His wife, who was born in the town of Sumner, April 16, 1797, died on the Hartford farm
June 8, 1885. They had eight children, namely: Susan, born January 29, 1820, now residing in Lewiston, Me .; Charles, born February 27, 1822, now in Hartford; Ben- jamin F., born March 30, 1825, in Illinois; James, the subject of this sketch; John T., . born March 7, 1832, who lives in Hartford; Ruth, who was the twin sister of John T., and died in 1837; Sewell, born April 10, 1835, who died in 1886; and George Q., born Sep tember 4, 1838, who died March 12, 1842.
James Glover was educated in the common schools of his native town. He began to earn his own livelihood when eighteen years of age, obtaining work in a shoe factory in Massachu- setts at very good wages. After five years of steady employment, during which he had care- fully husbanded his earnings, he returned to Hartford, and purchased the old homestead. This was in 1850, forty-six years ago. Mr. Glover has since made many improvements on the farm, and has added to it, so that, with the additions made by his father, it now covers two hundred acres. During all this time he has been successfully engaged in mixed hus- bandry, and in raising and trading in cattle. He is looked upon as one of the leading farmers of the locality.
Mr. Glover was married April 21, 1850, to Miss Cynthia E. Crockett, a native of Hart- ford, born May 4, 1832, daughter of John and Cynthia (Morell) Crockett. They have two daughters - Adaline E., born in Hartford, November 30, 1851 ; and Bertie H., born Oc- tober 2, 1868. The elder is the wife of Israel F. Gammon a farmer and carpenter of Sumner, and has two sons - James Glover Gammon ; and one not yet named. Bertie H. Glover is married to Oscar E. Turner, and she and her husband reside with her parents. Mr. Glover votes the Democratic ticket. He is a believer
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in the teachings of the Universalist church, while Mrs. Glover is a Spiritualist.
REMONT E. TIMBERLAKE, the present Bank Examiner for the State of Maine, was born in Livermore, July 18, 1856, son of Nathan and Adelia (Millett) Timberlake. Mr. Timberlake's family trace their ancestry back to two brothers who came from London at an early date, one settling in Massachusetts Colony, the other going South. James Timberlake, grandfather of Fremont E., came to Maine from Massachusetts in the year 1800, and settled in Livermore. He cleared the farm which has since remained in possession of the family, and at the present time is owned by Asa G. Timberlake, brother of the subject of this sketch.
Mr. Timberlake's early life was spent on the farm, and his early education was obtained in the common schools of his native town and at Monmouth and Wilton Academies. He taught school winters, and was at one time as- sistant in Bethel Academy. Having decided on the practice of law as his permanent pro- fession, he entered the office of Hutchinson & Savage, Lewiston, Me., in 1879, was admitted to the bar early in the summer of 1883, and opened an office in Phillips, Me., where he has since resided. Diligent and capable, it was not long before he built up a large and varied practice, his candor, his fairness, his zeal in the advocacy of the claims of his clients, when assured their claims were just, soon causing him to obtain the respect and confidence of all. Much of his legal work for several years has been in connection with the railroads of this section of the State. He is Attorney of the Sandy River Railroad, and it was largely through his influence that the Phillips & Rangeley Road was built. During the construction of the latter road he was its Treasurer. He has always been its attorney and one of the Directors, and he was recently elected General Ticket Agent, and re-elected Treasurer. As a business man his abilities have been generally recognized, and the public have full confidence in his judgment. For eleven years he was Treasurer of Phillips Savings Bank, and one of its Trustees. In
1895 he was appointed State Bank Examiner. Mr. Timberlake has always been a stanch Re- publican, and has been continuously active in forwarding the interests of his party. He is a member of the Republican State Committee. He was elected County Attorney for Franklin County in 1886, and served three consecutive terms. As a citizen Mr. Timberlake has shown himself to be public-spirited and pro- gressive, having always sought to promote every enterprise that might benefit the village where he resides, that would have a tendency to promote its financial, moral, and social welfare.
The home of Mr. Timberlake is the abode of hospitality. He has a large circle of friends, whom he has won by his liberality, genial nature, quiet and unassuming manners. From his exceedingly busy life he manages occasion- ally to steal a few hours for rest and recrea- tion at his cottage on the shore of Rangeley Lake. Many are the friends who can attest to the happy hours enjoyed under his generous hospitality at this delightful retreat.
June 16, 1883, he married Emma Augusta Grover, of Bethel, Me., only daughter of Leonard A. and Mary A. (Barnes) Grover. Mrs. Timberlake was born August 10, 1862, at Roxbury, Mass., and died in April, 1887, mourned not only as a true wife and loving mother, but by a wide circle of friends, to whom she had endeared herself by her beauti- ful character. She left three children, who are now living - Mellie Grover, Leonard Fre- mont, and Emma Augusta.
EORGE W. RIDLON, one of the prominent residents of Mexico (Rid- lonville), Oxford County, was born in the town of Woodstock, January 23, 1856, son of Ezra and Eliza J. (Thurlow) Ridlon. The father, a native of Cornish, Me., was for many years a farmer and lumberman. He has been an invalid for twenty years, and is now a resident of Mexico. His wife, who is a na- tive of Woodstock, still lives to cheer the evening of his life.
George W. Ridlon received his education in the common schools, and remained with his parents until he attained his majority. He
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was afterward engaged in the poultry and pro- vision business for one season in Washburn and Aroostook County. Subsequently return- ing to his native town, he there carried on farming and lumbering until he was thirty- three years old. Then he became a travelling salesman for the Pioneer Chair Factory, and later a member of the firm. He sold out this interest after two years, and for the three fol- lowing years travelled through Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont for Shaw, Hammond & Curry, a Portland grocery firm. In 1894 Mr. Ridlon's enterprise led him to purchase a large tract of the best land on the Andros- coggin River, and to organize the Shaw-Ridlon Land Company, of which he has since been the manager. This land, which is located in Mexico - a small inland town, containing but two stores - has been laid out in building lots. The company has erected about thirty cottages and Hotel Ridlon. These buildings form a little settlement, which is called Ridlonville in honor of its builder. Mr. Ridlon is also President of the Rumford Falls Brick Com- pany, having been one of the organizers.
In October, 1883, Mr. Ridlon married Miss Gertie Owen, of Woodstock. She died Au- gust 31, 1885, leaving one son, Clarence L. Mr. Ridlon contracted a second marriage in 1891 with Winnie E. Fuller, of Paris. By this union he has a daughter, Bertha A.
His religious creed is that of the Univer- salist church. In politics he is a stanch Re- publican, is Chairman of the Paris Republi- can Committee, and one of the best party workers in the county. In 1894 he was elected County Commissioner. He is a prom- inent Mason, having membership in Granite Lodge, of West Paris, and Union Chapter, No. 36; and he is an Odd Fellow through his connection with Lodge No. 15, in the same town. Mr. Ridlon is one of the most enter- prising men in Oxford County.
ARREN TYLER VOTER, an en- terprising and highly respected resi- dent of West Farmington, Me., was born in his present home March 2, 1839. He is a son of Warren and Lucy (Corbett) Voter, and a grandson of Louis and Polly (Baccus)
Voter. Louis Voter, who was born in Free- town, Mass., when a young man accompanied his uncle, John Voter, to Sandy River, Me. In 1797 he settled on lot No. 23, in the north- ern part of Farmington, comprising one hun- dred and sixty acres, now occupied by a Mr. Partridge, cleared the land, and devoted the rest of his life to its cultivation. He died at the age of sixty-six.
Warren Voter was born in Farmington, De- cember 7, 1806. He, too, was an enterprising farmer, and owned one of the finest estates in the town. It comprised two hundred acres of land, a part of the Page and part of the Stod- dard farms, and commands one of the finest views in this section, overlooking the valley. and the villages. Although the land is so high it is of the very best quality. Warren Voter made a fortune here. He then sold the property to his son, and, purchasing a smaller place in West Farmington, retired, and died December 6, 1881. He was a man who had no fear of hard work. Besides attending to his farm he took contracts for heavy labor of different kinds, including bridge building and road building. In politics he was a Democrat. He was a niember of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife, a daughter of John Corbett, of West Farmington, now eighty-four years old, is yet living. They had three children - Andrew J., Apphia J., and Warren Tyler.
Warren Tyler Voter received a good educa- tion, attending the public schools and Farm- ington Academy. He was thirty years of age when he bought his father's farm. Since that time he has accomplished a great deal as a farmer and a dealer in real estate. His prop- erty now comprises four hundred and twenty- five acres in the home farm, several outlying lots, and the farms formerly owned by J. Hil- man, G. Gower, L. Hardy, and W. Mosher. Besides raising general crops he has several large orchards of fine grafted fruit, and keeps some thirty head of valuable cattle and two hundred and twenty-five sheep. In 1886 he erected, at a cost of two thousand dollars, a barn eighty-six by forty-four feet, with base- ment and modern conveniences. He is now building a fine residence.
Mr. Voter was married March 2, 1861, to Lydia, daughter of Joseph and Betsey (Hobart)
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White, of Temple, Me. Born in 1840 she died in 1873, leaving four children - Cora F., Charles A., Henry B., and Mark L. Cora F., born July 22, 1862, is the wife of Amlin B. Russell, and has three children - Marion, Arline, and Cora. Marion is now deceased. Charles A., born January 9, 1865, married Laura Sherman, and has one child, Hazel. Henry B., born May 8, 1867, married Miss Anna Randall. Mark L. was born June 2, 1871. Mr. Voter was married again June 20, 1875, when Mrs. Ella Eliza (Conant) McLeary became his wife. She is a daughter of Ephraim and Eliza (Doble) Conant, and the widow of Justin E. McLeary. By her first marriage she had two children : Wilfred, born June 6, 1866, who married Miss Affie Butler; and Justin E., born July 5, 1871. By his second marriage Mr. Voter has four children. These are: Nellie G., born December 25, 1876, now the wife of H. G. Jennings; Ernest W., born July 3, 1879; Arthur L., born May 17, 1883; and Pearl C., born April 30, 1889. He votes the Democratic ticket, and he attends the Methodist Episcopal church.
ON. JONATHAN K. MARTIN, once a prominent resident of Rum - ford, who died October 2, 1878, was one of the best-known and most highly respected citizens in the State of Maine. A son of Jeremiah and Nancy (Brown) Martin, he was born in Rumford, January 6, 1829. His father, a native of Concord, N.H., was one of the first settlers in Rumford, locating here about 1820. Jere- miah Martin lived first in that part of the town known as Red Hill, and afterward moved to a farm which was his son's home for a number of years. There he died at the age of seventy-six.
Jonathan K. Martin received good educa- tional advantages, finishing his studies at the high school. He resided during the entire period of his life on the farm in Rumford, which he inherited from his father, and he was extensively engaged in general farming and stock dealing. A stanch Republican, he was very active in political matters, and had the fullest confidence of his constituents. He
was Selectman of the town of Rumford for a number of years, was in the House of Repre- sentatives two years, and in the State Senate two years. Though not a professing member of any religious society, he attended and con- tributed toward the support of the Universal - ist church. He was well known throughout the State, and had a great many friends, standing high in the estimation of all. His death occurred in his forty-ninth year. Mr. Martin married Miss Frances E. Willard, a native of Colebrook, N.H., who spent most of her life in Rumford, her parents moving to this town when she was a child. She died July 30, 1863, at the age of thirty-four, leav- ing four children, namely: Susan E., wife of S. E. Newell, of Hyde Park, Mass. ; Jerry H .; Freelon B. ; and Frances A., the wife of J. W. Doolittle, of New York City. Jerry H. and Freelon B. are now managing the homestead, which is one of the best farms in the township, and besides raising general crops they keep summer boarders. They are brisk and enterprising young men, and occupy a leading position in the town. Politically, they are affiliated with the Republican party. Jerry H. Martin is now serving his fourth year as Selectman of the town, while Freelon B. has entered on his seventh year as Town Treasurer. They have both lived on this farm since birth.
RANCIS H. SKILLINGS, one of the most prominent business men of South Paris, was born in this town, May 2, 1834, son of Robert and Caroline (Ryerson) Skillings. The family is of Scotch ancestry. Its founder, John Skillings, was a native of Scotland who settled in the north of Ireland. He was a weaver by trade, and a devout Presbyterian who officiated as a preacher of that faith. On June 11, 1822, he emigrated with his family to the United States, his des- tination being New York; but, on account of sickness, the entire family landed at Portland. John Skillings eventually went to New York. where he passed the rest of his life; and he lived to the advanced age of one hundred years.
John Skillings, second, Mr. Skillings's grandfather, was born in Tollinagee, County
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Down, Ireland, September 23, 1790. He learned the weaver's trade, and followed it in his native country until he came to America with his father. He and his family remained in Portland. His national dialect was at first an impediment to his progress, as it was diffi- cult to make himself understood ; but, being a Mason, the sign of distress brought immediate relief from his brother craftsmen, and ere long he was placed in a position to follow his trade. He was an expert weaver of muslin, and he subsequently followed that calling in Port- land until his death, which occurred July 13, 1861. He married Eleanor Mum, who was of English ancestry. His children were - Robert, James, Mary, Ellen J., Elizabeth R., Nancy R., James W., and Caroline. Robert Skillings was born in Ireland, February 25, 1812. He learned the carriage-maker's trade in Portland, and in 1833 he came to South Paris, where he was employed as a journeyman by J. Langley. He was an industrious and able mechanic. Purchasing a desirable lot of land here he erected a pleasant home for him- self and family, and there resided for the re- mainder of his days. He took the interest of an intelligent citizen in public affairs, and he served with ability as a member of the Board of Selectmen. His wife, Caroline, a daughter of Colonel William Ryerson, of Paris, bore him four children - Francis H., Augusta E., Sarah P., and Caroline J. She was about fifty years old at her death.
Francis H. Skillings acquired a good prac- tical education. At the age of seventeen he went to Portland, where he filled the position of mailing clerk in the office of the Portland Advertiser for a year and a half. Returning then to South Paris he was employed in the shop with his father for some years, later entering a mercantile business with C. P. Knight. In 1861 he went to California, where he was engaged in mining and carriage paint- ing until 1865. He then returned east, and during the succeeding five years acted as agent of the True Flouring Mills of this town. Be- coming then a member of the firm, a connec- tion lasting six years, he infused a spirit of enterprise into its management that brought it into prominence as one of the leading flour firms of this section, so that its daily product
reached as high as one hundred and twenty-five barrels. In 1876 he engaged in the manufact- ure of gas at Chippewa Falls, Wis., superin- tending the work for one year, after which he sold his interest in the enterprise. Becoming then a general agent for William Deering, of Chicago, a manufacturer of machinery, he trav- elled throughout the United States, South America, and Europe until 1892. Since then he has resided in South Paris, having charge of the old True Mills, and superintending the grinding and handling of flour, grain, and feed.
On December 31, 1855, Mr. Skillings wedded Ellen Dunn, daughter of David Dunn, of Poland, Me. Mrs. Skillings has had three children, namely: Cora, who was born May 13, 1859, and is now the wife of George A. Briggs; Katie, born January 16, 1863, who married L. M. Linder, cashier of the First National Bank of Mankato, Minn., and has four children ; and Roy, who died at the age of seven months.
The father is prominent in the Masonic fra- ternity, being a member of Paris Lodge, No. 94, the Chapter and Commandery in Portland, and the Norway Council. His presence in South Paris, with his prolonged and practical experience acquired in different parts of the world, is regarded as a boon to the business interests of the place.
HARLES THEODORE LADD, a leading merchant of Fryeburg, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Decem- ber 6, 1847, son of Stephen L. and Maria (Hapgood) Ladd. Stephen L. Ladd, who was a native of Starks, Me., in early man- hood engaged in mercantile pursuits. He conducted business in Saco for several years, was similarly engaged in other places, and also resided for some time in Ohio. He died in 1869. His wife, Maria, was a native of East Fryeburg, and a daughter of William Hapgood, who at different times followed farming in Waterford and Fryeburg, dying in the last named town. Mr. and Mrs. Stephen L. Ladd reared two children: Augustus A., who is a carriage ironer by trade; and Charles T., the subject of this sketch. The mother died Oc- tober 25, 1865.
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Charles Theodore Ladd, after attending the common schools, at the age of fifteen began life for himself. His first employment was in a carding-mill at Saco, where he remained for eight years. Going thence to Boston he was a conductor upon the street cars in that city for three years. He then established himself in the gentlemen's furnishing business, which he carried on for some time; but finally sell- ing out his store he came to Fryeburg village, and in the summer of 1875 he opened a barber shop here, which he carried on in connection with the fruit and confectionery business for fifteen years. Subsequently, enlarging the store, he put in a full line of drugs, gentle- men's furnishings, and other articles, and now has one of the largest and best appointed es- tablishments of its kind in Fryeburg. As he gives his personal attention to every detail of the business, he knows just what his customers require, and by meeting their wants has built up a large trade. On November 29, 1887, he was united in marriage with Sarah F. Kimball, a native of Buxton, Me. In politics Mr. Ladd is a Democrat, and has voted with that party since attaining his majority. He is a member of Pythagorean Lodge, No. 1I, A. F. & A. M., and of Peckwankee Lodge, No. 34, Knights of Pythias, of this town. He is a self- made man, having begun life without cash capital, and, with nothing but his own individ- ual resources to aid him, he has attained his present high business standing.
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