USA > Maine > Oxford County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 63
USA > Maine > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 63
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Ira Fuller, son of Nathaniel and Julia (Holmes) Fuller, was born in East Oxford, September 24, 1786. He grew to manhood upon the farm which his father had cleared, and in his turn became an energetic and indus-
trious farmer, and a highly respected resident of this town. In politics he supported the Democratic party, and in his religious views he was a Methodist. The greater part of his mature life was spent in useful and honorable toil; and his last days were passed at the house of his son, Charles P., where he died December I, 1855. His wife, Sally Merrill, who was born in Hebron, March 15, 1796, and died September 21, 1874, was the mother of eleven children, as follows: Merrill W., who was born January 13, 1817; James O., who was born February 11, 1818; Charles Porter, the subject of this sketch; Prescott H., who was born February 29, 1822; Harriet N., who was born June 6, 1824; George C. W., who was born February 15, 1826; Augustus I., who was born April 19, 1828; Sarah J., who was born May 25, 1830; Jabez H., who was born September 17, 1832; Janette H., who was born April 7, 1835; and Edward H., who was born August 1, 1838. The surviving sons are: Charles P., Prescott H., George C. W., and Edward H., and a daughter, Janette H .. it is thought is still living also.
Charles Porter Fuller was the third-born son of his parents. As he grew toward man- hood he attended the district schools of his native town, and, when old enough to be of use in assisting upon a farm, he began work for Zebulon Cushman, of East Oxford, who paid him eighteen dollars for six months' ser- vices. He continued as a farm laborer for several years, giving the greater part of his earnings to his father. During the years 1836 and 1837 he was in the steamboat service be- tween Portland and Boston, being employed on the steamers "Portland " and " McDon- ough," commanded by Captain J. Howe and Captain Stanley, respectively. He enlisted in the militia at the time of the North-eastern boundary trouble in 1839, known as the Aroo- stook War, also serving the State in an incipient Indian uprising. The first real es- tate bought by him consisted of a farm known as the Joseph Swift place, situated upon the Rumford road in the town of Paris. He re- sided there until 1861, when he moved to his present farm in Oxford, where he has fifty acres of excellent tillage land, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation; and he
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has also made various improvements upon the buildings. As a general farmer he has made the most of his facilities and opportunities, raising large and superior crops, which he markets to good advantage, and his untiring industry has always been attended with pros- perity.
On May 8, 1842, Mr. Fuller was united in marriage with Abbie A. Swift, who was born in Oxford, June 13, 1820, daughter of Samuel and Statira A. (Gammon) Swift. Her father, Samuel Swift, was born in Paris, Me., Febru- ary 2, 1791. The greater part of his life was passed in Oxford, where he was a prosperous farmer and a worthy citizen. He lived to reach the age of eighty-four years. His wife, Statira Gammon, who was born in Oxford in 1802, died July 25, 1837, aged thirty-five years.
Mr. and Mrs. Fuller have had two children, as follows: Charles B., who was born in Paris, December 30, 1844; and Augusta S., who was born in the same town, December 16, 1846, married Eugene E. Record, and died March 5, 1871, leaving two children - Abbie L. and Mabel A., neither of whom is living. Charles B. Fuller resides with his parents. He owns a farm of fifty acres, and in addition to general farming he gives special attention to raising fancy poultry, and keeping bees of the Italian variety, of which he usually has from twenty-five to fifty stands. He is a pro- gressive and useful citizen, and in politics acts with the Democratic party.
Charles Porter Fuller and his wife have for many years been members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Fuller has taken an active interest, and has been a class lcader. Politically, he is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Fuller are among the best-known residents of Oxford. In May, 1892, their friends assembled in large numbers at their home, to congratulate them on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding, and to wish them "many more of quiet years."
ESSIUS FLORUS JENNINGS, now living in retirement, who was station agent of the Maine Central Railroad Company at Farmington for twenty
years, was born in Leeds, Me., January 28, 1829, son of Perez S. and Joanna (Lane) Jen- nings. Mr. Jennings's grandfather, Samuel Jennings, born in Sandwich, Mass., November 15, 1762, came to Maine in carly manhood, and bought a tract of wild land. Samuel erected a log house, cleared a portion of the land for cultivation, and, returning to Massa- chusetts, induced his brother John to take half of his purchase. Dividing the tract between them, the brothers made two good farms, erecting on them substantial buildings. Sam- uel Jennings died March 23, 1842. He mar- ried Olive Tupper, who was born in Sandwich, Mass., February 10, 1763, daughter of Enoch Tupper. Her children by him were: Samuel, who was born February 7, 1787; and Perez S., Mr. Jennings's father. She died April 20, 1848.
Perez S. Jennings was born in Leeds, March 2, 1792. When a young man he en- gaged in mercantile pursuits, which he carried on successfully for several years. He retired from trade in order to care for his aged par- ents. Succeeding to the homestead, he con- tinued to reside there until his death, which occurred June 19, 1853. A worthy, upright citizen, whose ability both as a farmer and a business man was of the highest order, he had the esteem of his townsmen. Originally a Whig, he later supported the Republican party ; and he was a member of the Free Will Baptist church. His wife, Joanna, who was born in Leeds, October 18, 1794, daughter of James and Abigail Lane, became the mother of six children, as follows: Orville, born Jan- uary 14, 1825, who graduated from Bowdoin College in 1849, became United States Attor- ney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and died at the age of forty-three years; Gustavus A., born June 13, 1827; Gessius F., the sub- ject of this sketch; Eliza Ann, who was born October 9, 1831 ; Roscoe G., M.D., born June 17, 1833 ; and Rollin F., born June 15, 1837. The mother died April 9, 1863.
Gessius Florus Jennings attended the Mon- mouth and Litchfield Academies. At the age of twenty-one he went to Massachusetts, where he was for a year and a half engaged as an operative in a- shovel factory. Upon his re- turn he settled at the homestead for the pur-
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pose of caring for his parents during their de- clining years, and for the succeeding twenty years he tilled the soil during the summer season, and taught school in the winter. In 1872 he came to Farmington as station agent for the Maine Central Railroad Company, a position which he ably filled for twenty years, giving the most complete satisfaction to the general public, as well as to his employers. Upon his retirement in 1892, the company lost the services of a faithful and popular official.
On May 24, 1860, Mr. Jennings wedded Orra M. Foss, daughter of Uriah and Mary (Leadbetter) Foss, both of whom were natives of Leeds. He has since become the father of two children, namely: Elmer E., a popular young man, who succeeded his father as sta- tion agent here; and Flora M., April 9, 1865, who is now the wife of Eugene Brown, a printer of Farmington, and has two children - Zilda J. and Leo J., born respectively No- vember 27, 1891, and August 10, 1895. Upon retiring from the railroad service, Mr. Jennings bought the Stillman Tarbox House, situated at the corner of High and Middle Streets, and has since resided there. In poli- tics he is a Democrat, and in religious belief a Baptist. He takes a lively interest in the progress of the town. While in Leeds he was Town Clerk and superintendent of schools. He is connected with Franklin Lodge, No. 58, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is Past Grand.
TEPHEN R. PARSONS, who owns and cultivates a large and exceedingly productive farm in Paris, Oxford County, Me., was born in the adjoining town of Norway, August 15, 1830, son of John and Apphia (Robinson) Parsons.
The family of which Stephen R. Parsons is a representative was founded by Jeffrey Par- sons, a native of Ashprington, County of Devon, England, who emigrated first to the Island of Barbadoes, and from there to Gloucester, Mass., where he settled perma- nently. He married Sarah Vinson. The line of descent continues through their son,
John, Sr., and Isabella (Haines) Parsons ; John, Jr., and Elizabeth (Haskell) Parsons ; William and Sarah (Rust) Parsons; to John, third, and Dorothy (Stevens) Parsons who were Stephen R. Parsons's grandparents. From Gloucester, Mass., some of the family removed to New Gloucester, Cumberland County, Me., where they were among the early settlers.
Grandfather John Parsons was born in that town. In 1787 he settled in Norway, Oxford County, upon a large tract of unimproved land, from which he cleared a good farm. The rest of his life was passed in Norway, where he died December 5, 1847, aged eighty-two years and nine months. He was an attendant of the Baptist church. He was three times married, his first wife being Esther Smith. His second wife, Dorothy Stevens, who was a daughter of Deacon Stevens, of New Gloucester, died February 11, 1809, having been the mother of nine children, as follows: Esther, who was born December 26, 1791; Abigail, who was born April 13, 1793; John, fourth, who was born April 21, 1795; Jacob, who was born February 22, 1797; Dorothy, who was born February II, 1799; Joel S., who was born February 5, 1801; Betsey, who was born December 22, 1803; Olive, who was born De- cember II, 1805; and Isaac, who was born April 2, 1808. Grandfather John Parsons wedded for his third wife Eunice Witham, and to this union there were born four chil- dren, namely : Charles, who was born Febru- ary 9, 18II ; Moses, who was born March 29, 1812; Eunice, who was born September 19, 1814; and George W., who was born May 16, 1816.
John Parsons, fourth, son of John and Doro- thy (Stevens) Parsons, was born in Norway, on the date above mentioned. He acquired a good education in the schools of his native town and at the Hebron Academy. When a young man he was a schoolmaster of consid- crable note, and presided over schools in Paris and other towns in this vicinity, in Freeport, Cumberland County, Me., and also in Massa- chusetts; and he later engaged in farming. Purchasing the Tubbs farm in Norway, located about two and one-half miles from the village. he there carried on general farming for a num-
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ber of years, and about 1845 moved to the Robinson farm in Paris, which was the prop- erty of his wife's father, and which is now owned by his son. Here he continued to till the soil, diligently laboring to obtain the best results; and he retained his customary activity until his death, which took place in April, 1868. In politics he was originally a Whig, later acting with the Republican party ; and while residing in Norway he served one year as a member of the Board of Selectmen. In his religious views he was liberal. His , wife, Apphia Robinson, whom he married October 26, 1829, was a daughter of Stephen Robinson, of Paris. She died in November, 1861, having been the mother of but one child - Stephen Robinson, the subject of this sketch.
Stephen Robinson Parsons began his educa- tion in the schools of Norway, and, removing with his parents to Paris when he was fourteen years old, he completed his studies in the schools of this town. Since reaching manhood he has given his attention to agricultural pur- suits, owning the old Robinson homestead of two hundred and fifty acres, which is a desir- ably located and valuable piece of property. The substantial buildings were erected by his grandfather, Stephen Robinson, about the year 1802. Mr. Parsons is one of the most success- ful general farmers and well-to-do residents in this section of the county, his long-contin- ued activity having produced such satisfactory financial results as to place him in easy cir- cumstances, while his well-known energy and capacity for hard work are still unabated.
On January 3, 1865, Mr. Parsons was mar- ried to Mary Chase Thomas, who was born in Oxford, Me., February 10, 1843, daughter of George W. and Margaret Ann (Blankenburg) Thomas, neither of whom is now living. Mr. and Mrs. Parsons have six children, as fol- lows: Apphia J., who was born November 2, 1865; John T., who was born February 12, 1868; Annie I., who was born December 30, 1869; Dora A., who was born October 15, 1871; Mary T., who was born June 29, 1875 ; and Oscar W., who was born January 18, 1879. The children have been well educated. All are still single, except Apphia J., who, on August 19, 1886, became the wife of Wallace
K. Clifford, and now has four children: Wal- lace, who was born June 30, 1887; Carrie M., who was born July 16, 1889; Earl R., who was born October 13, 1893; and Stephen Longley, born June 28, 1896.
Politically, Mr. Parsons supports the Re- publican party, and though not an aspirant for office he takes an active interest in all matters of public importance. He is a member of the Congregational church in South Paris, of which he has been Deacon for a number of years ; and both he and Mrs. Parsons are among the most highly esteemed and best known residents of their neighborhood.
AMES J. ABBOTT, a retired farmer and produce dealer of Sumner, Oxford County, Me., and an ex-member of the Maine legislature, was born in this town, March 3, 1824, son of Daniel and Sally (Tripp) Abbott. His grandfather, George Abbott, was an early settler of Falmouth, Me. Later, however, he removed to Sumner, where the rest of his active days were passed in industriously tilling the soil. He lived to reach a good old age, esteemed and respected by all who knew him. He married and was the father of six children, namely: Daniel; Amos; George; Hannah; Levi ; and Andrew, who died young.
Daniel Abbott, who was the eldest of the five sons of George Abbott, was born in Fal- mouth, July 11, 1790. Accompanying his parents to Sumner, when a young man he settled upon a farm in the north part of the town near Black Mountain; but, after carrying on general farming in that locality for a num- ber of years, he removed to Franklin Planta- tion, and there made his home for a time. His last days were passed in Sumner, where he died August 16, 1872. By his first marriage he had one child; and by his second wife, Sally Tripp, who was born in Gloucester, Me., June 3, 1792, he was the father of seven chil- dren, as follows: Margaret C., Lucy C., and Andrew, who are no longer living; Allen G., a prosperous farmer of Sumner; Marian, who is now the widow of Barney Rowe, and resides in Sumner; James J., the subject of this sketch; and Alpheus A., who lives in Frank-
.
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lin Plantation. Mrs. Sally Tripp Abbott died June 7, 1888, having lived to the advanced age of ninety-six years. Both parents were active members of the Free Will Baptist church ; and the father was a Republican in politics from the formation of that party until his death.
James J. Abbott, whose antecedents have thus been made known to the reader, passed. his boyhood and youth in Sumner and Franklin Plantation, and acquired his education in the schools of his native town. He has followed various occupations, giving his principal atten- tion, however, to farming and the buying and selling of country produce, having been suc- cessfully engaged in this latter business for many years, or until his retirement from active pursuits.
Mr. Abbott's first wife, Nancy R. McAllis- ter, with whom he was united in marriage on November 29, 1850, died March 26, 1854, leaving one daughter, Ella R., who died in December of the same year. His present wife, whom he married January 16, 1855, was before marriage Clementia Buck. She was born in Sumner, March 13, 1832, daughter of Charles A. and Charlotte (Heald) Buck, both natives of Sumner. Her father was born De- cember 24, 1806; and her mother was born February 23, 1808. Mrs. Abbott's maternal grandfather, Captain Benjamin Heald, was one of the first settlers in the town of Sumner, where he owned more land than any other man of his time. To-day the family name stands high in the list of summer residents.
Mrs. Abbott's great-grandfather on her father's side, Moses Buck, first, was one of the early pioneers of Sumner, where her grand- father, also named Moses, was born March 12, 1781. His wife, whose maiden name was Polly Warren, was born in Paris, Me., Novem- ber 25, 1790. Grandfather Buck passed the active period of his life as an industrious gen- eral farmer; and he died in Sumner, November 22, 1840. His wife died October 6, 1857. Charles A. Buck, Mrs. Abbott's father, was one of the stirring and successful agriculturists of his day, and resided in Norway, Me., thir- teen years preceding his death, which took place November 10, 1878. In politics he was originally a Whig, and later joined the Repub- lican party. He and his wife Charlotte reared
three children, as follows: Clementia, who is now Mrs. Abbott; Harriet J., who was born March 17, 1837, and is now the wife of Hiram Howe, of West Sumner; and James M., who was born November 22, 1838, married Alice Leighton, of Monmouth, and resides in West Sumner. Mrs. Charlotte H. Buck died Au- gust 20, 1854. Mrs. Abbott's parents were Universalists in their religious views. Mr. and Mrs. Abbott have one daughter - Ella C., who was born May 31, 1857, and is now the wife of Dr. C. M. Bisbee, of Rumford Falls.
Mr. Abbott is an earnest worker in uphold- ing the principles of the Republican party ; and, being a man who possesses great natural energy and ability, he has necessarily attained a far-reaching influence in the political affairs of the county. While residing in Franklin Plantation he served as superintendent of schools and in other offices ; and in Sumner he has been a member of the Board of Selectmen four years, and has also held office as Collector and Treasurer. As Representative to the leg- islature during the session of 1892 he dis- played careful judgment and a due regard for the interests of his district. He is connected with Tyrian Lodge, No. 73, A. F. & A. M., of Mechanic Falls, having joined it in 1853; and he is also a member of the lodge of Odd Fellows at West Paris. Both he and Mrs. Abbott attend the Universalist church. He is highly respected as a public-spirited citizen and a representative of an old family, a man whose success in life is the result of steady application to business.
HOMAS HUNTINGTON BROWN, M. D., who was widely known and honored throughout Oxford County, was actively engaged in the practice of medi- cine for more than twoscore years at Paris, Me., where his death occurred August 3, 1880. His life record was a praiseworthy one, ren- dered notable by professional skill, integrity, and sterling worth ; and his memory will long be cherished throughout this community. He was born August 27, 1813, in Minot, Andros- coggin County, a son of Thomas Brown, a resident of that town.
Thomas Brown was born in Newbury, Essex
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County, Mass., and there grew to years of maturity. In the early part of the present century he came to Maine, settling in Minot, where he was engaged in mechanical pursuits until his death. He married in 1811 Mrs. Mary Rawson Bridgham, the widow of Sulli- van Bridgham. She was born in Sutton, Mass., July 5, 1780, daughter of Ebenezer and Sarah (Chase) Rawson.
Thomas H. Brown acquired his elementary education in the common schools of Minot and Paris, this county, later attending academies in Buckfield and Readfield. At the age of twenty years he began the study of medicine with Dr. Levi Rawson, of Grafton, Mass. He attended his first course of lectures at the Maine Medical College in Brunswick, Me., subsequently further pursuing his studies at Pittsfield, Mass., and being graduated from the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, Pa., in 1837. On May 15 of that year, just after receiving his diploma, Dr. Brown established himself in Paris, Me., which had been his early home, and here met with such eminent success that he continued to practise here during his life. He became identified with the best interests of the town and county, and was very prominent in professional, political, military, and religious circles. He belonged to the Maine Medical Association, of which he was at one time President, and for five years was Judge of Probate. He was Surgeon of the First Regiment of the First Division of the Maine State militia, receiving his honor- able discharge after seven years of service, and for eleven years was Examining Surgeon for the Pension Department. He was a stanch Republican in politics, and in religion was a conscientious member of the Baptist church. He was a clear and forcible writer, ably filling the chair of political editor of the Oxford Democrat from 1853 until 1856 and from 1874 until 1876.
Dr. Thomas H. Brown was twice married. His first wife, Maria S. King, daughter of Samuel King, was born in Paris, Me., in 1813, and died in this town in November, 1846. Of their three children all died in infancy. On December 7, 1847, the union of Dr. Thomas H. Brown with Juliette Ham- mond was solemnized. Mrs. Brown was born
in Paris, a daughter of Moses Hammond. Her great-grandfather, Benjamin Hammond, Sr., who held the rank of Captain in the Rev- olutionary army, is said to have been the thir- teenth of the original settlers of this town. He died from sickness at Ticonderoga, while in the service of his country. His son, Ben- jamin, second, was born in New Gloucester, Cumberland County, Me., July 15, 1760. About the year 1785 he came to Oxford County, locating in Paris, where he took up a tract of heavily timbered land, on which he erected a log house, and in the years of inces- sant toil that followed won from the wilder- ness a comfortable homestead, where he re- sided until his decease, February 28, 1838. He married Rebecca Smith, who was born October 13, 1763, at Cape Ann, Massachusetts, and died in Paris, Me., on the home farm, Feb- ruary 10, 1843. They reared a family of eight children, namely: Rebecca; Esther; Benja- min, third; Moses; Sally; Ezra; Olive; and Bela. In politics Benjamin Hammond was a Whig and in religion a Baptist.
Moses Hammond, son of Benjamin and Re- becca (Smith) Hammond, was born on the old homestead, about a mile and a half from the village of Paris, June 2, 1791, and died April IO, 1871. He was a man of great enterprise, an expert mechanic and draftsman, and in his younger days was engaged in trade at Paris Hill. He subsequently became extensively engaged in the lumber business, buying large tracts of timber in both Oxford and Penobscot Counties, and owning large saw-mills. He selected the site of his home on Paris Hill, and there built a fine residence, in which he spent his remaining days. He was liberal in his religious beliefs and a stanch Republican in politics. A man of fearless honesty, he was prominent and popular in public life, and for many years was one of the Selectmen of Paris. His wife, whose maiden name was Mehitable Keith, was born in Bridgewater, Mass., in December, 1794, and died in Paris, Me., July 13, 1867. They had eight children, three of whom died in infancy, the others being as follows : Mrs. Elizabeth S. Prince, of Paris Hill; Jairus Keith, who died in 1892; Mrs. Juliette H. Brown, widow of the late Dr. Brown; Albert M., of South Paris; and Miss
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Frances A., who lives on the Hammond home- stead.
'Dr. Thomas H. Brown left three children, namely : Edward Thomas, born June 7, 1849; Agnes Mary, born September 7, 1850; and Gertrude Juliette, born February 12, 1855. Edward Thomas, who is a Lieutenant in the Fifth United States Artillery, married Ange- line Watson, of Ohio; and they have two chil- dren - Thomas W. and Edith. Gertrude J. is the wife of Major J. R. Brinckle, who was born at Wilmington, Del., and is now an officer in the Fifth United States Artillery. Major and Mrs. Brinckle lost their only son, John R., who died in infancy, and have now three children living - Julia B., Gertrude, and Frances H.
YLVANUS PORTER STEARNS, one of the leading farmers of Ox- ford County, an extensive land- holder in the town of Paris, was born March 20, 1832, on the farm where he is now residing, awaiting the completion of his handsome residence at South Paris. He comes of old Colonial stock and of substantial English ancestry, being a direct descendant of Isaac Stearns, who came from England in 1630 in the same ship, it is thought, with Governor Winthrop, and settled at Water- town, Mass., where he was admitted as a free- man, May 18, 1631. He served several years as Selectman. The next in line was his son, Samuel Stearns, who in turn was succeeded by three bearing his name, Captain Samuel of the fifth generation having a son William, who was the grandfather of Sylvanus Porter.
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