USA > Maine > Oxford County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 64
USA > Maine > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 64
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William Stearns was born in Watertown, Mass., and in his early manhood married Mary, daughter of Phineas Stearns, of the adjoining town of Waltham. They subse- quently removed to this State, locating in Paris, where the grandfather bought eight hundred acres of land, a portion of which is included in the present Stearns homestead. With the true pioneer perseverance and cour- age he set to work clearing a homestead. He first built a humble log house, bringing the shingles to cover the roof a distance of six miles on a horse's back. He subsequently
bought a portion of the land under cultivation, and was engaged in general farming until his decease, November 25, 1850, at eighty-six years of age. He was the father of nine chil- dren, namely: Mary; William, Jr., the father of Sylvanus Porter; Phineas; Abigail; Sam- uel ; Thomas ; Marshall ; Nancy ; and Thomas, the second.
William Stearns, Jr., was born in Waltham, Mass., November 8, 1790, and was brought to Paris by his parents when but an infant. In connection with carpentering, a trade which he learned when young, he was engaged in farming throughout his years of activity. He succeeded to the management and ownership of the old homestead, and was known far and wide as one of the sterling farmers of his day, being systematic and progressive in his methods and successful in his various under- takings. In politics he was a Whig and in religion a Baptist. He attained a venerable age, dying March 20, 1877. He married Jo- anna Porter, who was born August 6, 1798, at Yarmouth, Me., a daughter of Nehemiah Porter. Their nuptials were solemnized on January 30, 1819; and their wedded life lasted fifty-eight years. They had eight children, namely : William Porter, born August 22, 1819, who died in January, 1890; Charles H., born October 28, 1820; James, born August 9, 1823, who died in November, 1888; George F., born September 20, 1825; Lucy A., born April 12, 1828; Sylvanus Porter, born March 20, 1832; Lydia H., born June 2, 1835, now the widow of the late J. K. Hammond; and Mary S., born February 11, 1839. The mother survived her husband seventeen years and seven months, passing away on the 8th of November, 1894.
Sylvanus Porter was the sixth child and the youngest of the five sons. He passed his boy- hood days on the old home farm, receiving his education in the public schools of Paris; and since reaching man's estate he has been here engaged in farming, gardening, and dealing in real estate. Possessing foresight and good financial ability, Mr. Stearns has been emi- nently successful in business, accumulating a competency. In recent years he has been especially interested in building projects, and at the present time is erecting at South Paris
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
for his own occupancy one of the most beauti- ful houses in this section of Oxford County. On removing to it with his family he expects to live retired from active pursuits, enjoying the deserved leisure earned by many years of labor. An uncompromising Republican in politics, Mr. Stearns takes a genuine interest in the welfare of his native town and county. He has served as Selectman two years, having been Chairman of the Board one year. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Ox- ford County Agricultural Society, of which he was a Trustee three years; and he also be- longs to the South Paris Grange, No. 44, Patrons of Husbandry. Religiously, he and his wife are Universalists.
Mr. Stearns was married April 29, 1856, to Isabella R. Partridge, daughter of Austin Partridge, of Paris. The following is a record of their eight children: Austin P., born January 20, 1858; Frank P., born October 5, 1860; Henry K., born November 20, 1862; Willie C., born May 10, 1865; Mary I., born September 14, 1868; Emily R., born Novem- ber 24, 1871, died June 14, 1875; George, born November 5, 1877, died January 15, 1878; and Joan, born February 26, 1879. Frank P., the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Stearns, was the State Auditor of Kansas in 1891, and was a candidate for Clerk of Courts at Oklahoma, Ok. Ter., in 1896.
LBERT MELLEN GREENWOOD, who is successfully engaged in the jewelry business in Phillips, Me., was born in Augusta, Me., Febru- ary 2, 1853, his parents being Zina H. and Emily M. (Fellows) Greenwood. He was educated in the schools of Farmington and Wilton Academy. After leaving school he worked a few years with his father and older brother in carriage manufacturing, then learned the jewelry business, and opened a store in Phillips in March, 1880. Six years later he was obliged to give up the business on account of poor health; and for five years he worked at carpentry, after which he again resumed the jewelry business, which he has since successfully conducted, carrying a fine line of watches, clocks, jewelry, optical goods,
etc. In politics he is a Republican, and is now serving the second year as one of the Assessors of the Phillips Village Corporation. He is a member of the Congregational church, and for a number of years has held the office of Deacon and Treasurer.
The family is without doubt of English origin, though the connection has been traced only to a Thomas Greenwood, who was a weaver in Boston, Mass., in 1665, and who soon removed to that part of Cambridge now Brookline. He was made freeman in 1681, was a member of the church, and held the po- sitions of Constable, Town Clerk, and Select- man. He married July 8, 1670, Hanna, daughter of John Ward. She died a few years. later, leaving him two sons. Thomas, the elder, graduated at Harvard College, and was minister of the church in Rehoboth, Mass. John, the second son, became a prominent citizen of Newton, Mass. Thomas Green - wood, Sr., by his second wife, Abigail, had two sons. The younger, William, born Octo- ber 14, 1689, married June 21, 1715, Abigail, daughter of John Woodward, of Cambridge, and removed about 1725 to Sherborn, Mass. Here he held the responsible positions of Deacon, Selectman, Representative, and Town Clerk. He died about 1756.
The ninth child of William Greenwood was Joseph, who was born June 10, 1734. He was a carpenter, joiner, and weaver, living first in Sherborn, afterward in Holden, and still later in Dublin, N.H., where he was the most prominent citizen in the town, serving as Selectman, Treasurer, Town Clerk, school- master, Justice of the Peace, and Representa- tive to the First Provincial Congress of New Hampshire. In 1793 he removed to Maine, and died at Bethel, December 27, 1825. Jo- seph Greenwood married about 1758 his cousin Sarah, daughter of Josiah Greenwood. They had three sons - Ebenezer, born in 1759; John, born in 1760; and Nathaniel, born November 6, 1761. Nathaniel Green- wood married June 24, 1782, Mary, daughter of Moses and Lydia (Knap) Mason. In 1793 he removed to Bethel, Me., where his wife died February 25, 1825. In 1827 he married Mrs. Abigail Irving, of Paris. The later years of his life were spent in Farmington,
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Me., where he died November 7, 1846. He had eleven children by the first marriage and three by the second.
Among the former was Nathaniel, Jr., born December 27, 1790, in Dublin, N.H. When he was three years old his father removed to Bethel, Me., where he spent the early part of his life, and where he married May 11, 1815, Huldah, daughter of Jacob and Betty (Foster) Howe, her father having been a soldier in the Revolutionary War. In January, 1832, Mr. Greenwood moved to Farmington, Me., where he engaged in the lumber business and farm- ing, and where he died April 15, 1867. His wife, Huldah, after that lived with her son Zina until her death, at the age of ninety-six years.
Nathaniel and Huldah (Howe) Greenwood were the parents of ten children; namely, Julia, Mason Knap, Albert Newton, Zina Hyde, Alfred Alanson, Marcia Almeda, Hul- dah Jennie, Alma Esther, Charles Mellen, and Charles. Julia, born March 14, 1816, mar- ried in 1847 George B. Brown, of New Sharon, who died May 4, 1862. They had three children, all of whom died young. Mrs. Brown now lives with her niece at Farmington Falls, Me. Mason Knap, born July 17, 1818, died December 9, 1827. Albert Newton, born August 14, 1820, married Matilda Soule; and they removed to Fairfield, Me., where he carried on farming, buying and selling wool, sheep, etc. He was Justice of the Peace and County Commissioner two terms, besides doing quite a business in fire insurance. He died about 1887. His widow now lives in Nor- ridgewock, Me. They had one child, who married George Kimball, of Pittsfield, Me.
Zina Hyde Greenwood, born September 21, 1824, married November 8, 1849, Emily M. Fellows, born in Athens, Me., June 11, 1829. He settled in Augusta, Me., and pursued his trade as a carpenter until 1854, when he re- moved to Farmington, Me., where he carried on farming, and at one time manufactured carriages. The latter part of his active busi- ness life he was engaged in fire insurance. He served six years as Selectman of the town of Farmington, Me., and is a life member of both the State and County Agricultural Socie- ties. He left the farm in 1885, and now lives
in the village of Farmington. He and his wife have six children - Edward, Albert M., Orville S., Chester, Lizzie A., Emilie.
Edward Greenwood, born November 17, 1850, married January 1, 1880, Emma R. Dutton, born in Phillips, Me., November 27, 1860. He followed the carriage manufactur- ing business for a number of years in West Farmington. In 1890 he came to Phillips, Me., and went to work in the shops of the Sandy River Railroad Company, where he is now foreman.
Albert Mellen Greenwood, whose name ap- pears at the head of this sketch, born Febru- ary 2, 1853, married June 22, 1882, Affie M. Sanborn, born January 7, 1861. Orville Short Greenwood, born July 14, 1855, married April 6, 1882, Cora L. Prescott, and has three children. He is now in the hardware and plumbing business in Malden, Mass. Chester, born December 4, 1858, married October 12, 1884, Isabel S. Whittier; and they have four children. He invented and is manufacturing Greenwood's champion ear protectors, is also engaged in the telephone business, and deals in mill supplies in Farmington, Me. Lizzie Armsby, born April 13, 1861, is a school- teacher in Haverhill, Mass. Emilie, born June 28, 1863, lives with her parents in Farmington, where she does quite a business in selling tomato plants and other products of her hot-house.
Alfred Alanson Greenwood, born February 25, 1827, married in 1851 Eliza Ann Ness, who died in March, 1867, in Attica, Ind., where they had previously moved. He mar- ried the second time, in 1868, Mrs. Amelia Greenwood, and still lives in Attica, Ind. He has five children. Marcia Almeda, born March 28, 1829, married July 1, 1847, Ira Armsby, who died September 20, 1849. She married the second time October 9, 1852. Zadoc Mayhew, of Hampden, Me., who died November 23, 1860; and she married the third time, November 11, 1863, Cyrus G. Morrill, who died in Washington, D.C , April 9, 1869. She had two children, both now deceased.
Huldah Jennie Greenwood, born June 17. 1831, was a school-teacher in Haverhill. Mass., where she died March 28, 1885. Alma
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Esther, born May 11, 1833, married in 1858 James HI. Bullen, and removed to Kansas, and now lives in Oklahoma, Ok. Ter. Charles Mellen, born December 31, 1834, died De- cember 14, 1836. Charles Greenwood, born February 17, 1837, married November 27, 1862, Martha A. Prescott, of Hallowell, Me. He carried on the hardware business, first in Farmington, Me., then in Augusta, and later in Lewiston, Me. He now lives in Malden, Mass., and carries on a wholesale woodenware business at 4 South Market Street, Boston. They have had three children, but only one is now living.
EWIS A. SAWIN, an esteemed resi- dent of Albany township, Oxford County, was born here, March 20, 1855, son of Lewis H. and Lydia M. (Abbott) Sawin. His maternal grand- father was Obed Abbott. His father, who was a native of Waterford, Me., remained in that town until one year after his marriage. Then, with his wife, he came to Albany, the birthplace of the latter, and settled on the farm where his son lives at present. Here he was engaged in farming until the end of his life. He died November 16, 1870, leaving a wife and three children to mourn his loss. The widow now resides on the old homestead with her eldest son, Lewis A. Sawin. The other two children were Merritt and Lottie M. Merritt, born on the 26th of September, 1859, married Nettie J. Hersey, of Waterford, by whom he is the father of two children - Annie L. and Grace. The family live with Mr. Sawin and his mother on the old home- stead. Lottie M., who was born on the 10th of February, 1868, is a dressmaker in Au- burn, Me.
The subject of this sketch received his edu- cation in the common schools of his native place. With the exception of a few years, during which he worked in a laundry at Man- chester, N.H., he has resided on the home farm. After the death of his father he and his brother Merritt took charge of the farm, which they have since both improved and en- larged. They now own about one hundred and sixty acres of land, comprising one of the
most beautiful farms in the locality. Besides carrying on general farming they keep a neat little dairy. On September 2, 1893, Mr. Sawin was married to Miss Martha Brown, who was born May 30, 1863, in Bethel, Me., daughter of Walter M. and Elizabeth E. (Mason) Brown, both of Albany. The mother is now deceased. The father still resides at Bethel, where he has spent his life. Mr. and Mrs. Sawin have one child, D. Holden, who was born June 13, 1894. In politics Mr. Sawin is a Democrat. He was Selectman of the township from 1887 to 1890, and he is now serving as Superintendent of the Board of Supervisors. He is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, Oxford Lodge; No. 61, of North Waterford. Mr. Sawin has been fairly successful through life, chiefly be- cause he has been such a hard-working, ener- getic man. He is both in a business way and socially one of the most prominent men of Oxford County.
ILLIAM BARKER, one of the lead- ing farmers of New Vineyard, was born in this town, November 5, 1860, son of Stephen and Ellen H. (Keith) Barker. Mr. Barker's grandfather, William Barker, a native of Greene, Me., was the founder of the family in New Vineyard, where, after settling, he followed agriculture through- out the rest of his life. Stephen Barker was born in New Vineyard, and always resided at the Barker homestead. He carried on the farm very successfully during the active period of his life, was respected as a worthy and use- ful citizen, and died June 4, 1893. His wife, Ellen, who was born in England, and accom- panied her parents to the United States when she was four years old, became the mother of three children, namely: William, the subject of this sketch ; and Ada E. and Ida E., twins, who were born October 9, 1862. Ada E. married Frederick A. Leavitt, and Ida E. is the wife of Elmore Winslow. Both husbands are prosperous agriculturists of Farmington. The mother is now the wife of George Welch, and resides in Farmington.
William Barker was educated in the public schools of New Vineyard, and resided at home
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until he was seventeen years old. He started in life as a mill hand, later working at the car- penter's and mason's trades for about seven years. He bought the Barker homestead of his father some time before the latter's death, and has since been engaged there in general farm- ing upon an extensive scale. He is especially interested in dairying, and he raises consider- able stock.
Mr. Barker was first married to Emma S. Wilcox, a daughter of Charles and Hannah Wilcox, who were prosperous farming people of New Vineyard. She died March 16, 1893, leaving one son, Almon C., who was born Au- gust 2, 1885. On July 27, 1895, Mr. Barker contracted a second marriage with Mrs. Allie D. (Doyen) Walton, who was born in Lynn, Mass., September 21, 1863. She is a daugh- ter of Charles E. and Carrie Doyen. Her first husband was Herbert Lester Walton, of New Portland, Somerset County, who died September 21, 1889. Mrs. Barker's father, who was a shoemaker by trade, died in 1864. In 1870 the mother married for her second husband Charles E. Parsons, a baker of Lynn, who died in 1881. In November, 1883, she was again married, this time to Wesley Baker, a farmer of New Portland. He died in July, 1890; and on March II, 1892, she wedded her present husband, Fifield Luce, of Farmington Falls. He is an industrious farmer, who was born June 8, 1823; and Mrs. Barker's mother is his third wife. By her first union Mrs. Barker had one son, Everett P. Walton, who was born in March, 1889. In politics Mr. Barker supports the Republican party. Al- though not an office-seeker, he has rendered good service as Road Commissioner. So far he has met with a good share of success.
ILLIAM T. TAYLOR, formerly a respected resident of Porter, Oxford County, and an ex-Representative of the Maine legislature, was born in Freedom, N.H., April 24, 1810, son of Samuel and Sarah C. (Towle) Porter. His father, who was a native of Hampton, N. H., born March 27, 1781, resided in New Hampshire until some time after reaching his majority. Com- ing then to Porter among the early settlers,
Samuel Porter was for several years engaged in mercantile business at the village. He afterward moved to the farm where his grand- daughter, Mrs. Norton, now lives, built a store, which he carried on in connection with farming and lumbering for the rest of his life, and died August 31, 1846. His wife, Sarah, who was born March 26, 1785, in Epsom, N.H., bore him eight children, as follows: William T., the subject of this sketch; Samuel, Simon, and Eliza Ann, who are no longer living; Daniel, who succes- sively married Jane Towle and Mrs. Ann An- drews, and is now residing in Eppingham Falls, N. H .; Josephine, also deceased ; David, likewise deceased ; and Amos, David's twin brother, who married Hannah Andrews, and is residing in Philadelphia, Pa. The mother, who survived her husband nearly twenty years, died April 10, 1866.
Having acquired a good practical education, William T. Taylor engaged in agricultural pursuits in Porter. After his father's death he bought the interests of the other heirs to the homestead, and thereafter made it his resi- dence. He was very prosperous, became one of the most prominent farmers in the district, and died July 26, 1883, at the age of seventy- three years. Mr. Taylor first married Sally Rice, who, born in Buxton, Me., November 2, 1809, died March 16, 1866. By this union there were four children, as follows: Samuel, a real estate dealer in East Somerville, Mass .. born November II, 1835, whose wife, Evelyn M. (Thompson) Taylor, formerly of Cornish, Me., died in August, 1874: Sarah Frances, who, born December 14, 1836, died October 7, 1864, having married Joseph F. Parsons, who is now living in Somerville, Mass .; Ursula, born June 5, 1838, who is now the widow of Gilman A. Norton; and Ruth Rice, born October 17, 1840, who married William Ridlon, and died June 12, 1885, survived by her husband, who now resides in Boston, Mass. By a second marriage Mr. Taylor was wedded to Mrs. Judith F. Libby. She was a native of Porter, born November 13, 1821; and she died April 12, 1892, leaving no chil- dren. In politics the late Mr. Taylor was an active supporter of the Democratic party. At the age of twenty-one he was elected Town
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Clerk of Porter. He was afterward a member of the Board of Selectmen, and represented his district in the State legislature. For a number of years he acted as a Justice of the Peace. He was widely known as an honor- able, upright man and an able public servant.
Mrs. Ursula Norton, who now owns and oc- cupies the Taylor homestead, was educated at the academy in Parsonsfield, York County. On April 3, 1872, she was united in marriage to Gilman A. Norton. He was born in Porter, September 18, 1838, son of Gilman J. and Abra (Fox) Norton, natives respectively of Limington and Porter. Mr. Norton's par- ents, who were well-known and prosperous farming people of this town, are no longer living. After his marriage Mr. Norton took charge of the Taylor farm, relieving his wife's father from all cares; and he successfully man- aged the property until his death, which oc- curred January 1, 1893. He was a successful farmer and a useful citizen, and he served the town ably and faithfully as a Selectman and Town Clerk. In politics he was an earnest advocate of Republican principles. Mrs. Norton has one son, William T., who was born April 19, 1873, and is now residing at the homestead. He is an active and intelli- gent young man. He manages the farm of one hundred and fifty acres with judgment, and his prospects in life are of a very promis- ing character.
AMUEL R. BRADFORD is a pros- perous farmer and fruit grower of Hebron, owning one of the most extensive farms in Oxford County. He was born in Livermore, Androscoggin County, July 4, 1823, a son of Samuel and Mary R. (Loring) Bradford. On the paternal side he comes of Revolutionary stock, his grandfather, Peabody Bradford, who was a Massachusetts man, having served under Washington's banners. Samuel Bradford, who was born in a part of the State then in- cluded in Cumberland County, but now in Androscoggin, removed to Hebron in 1825, and there spent the rest of his life engaged in general farming. He served in the War of 1812, was a member of the Congregational
church, officiating as Deacon for a number of years, and died at the advanced age of ninety- one. His wife, a member of the same church, was born in Hebron, where she passed all her life, and died at the age of cighty-four. Their children were: Samuel R., Mary Jane, and Horace L. The latter, who was born February 26, 1836, died on November II of the same year.
Samuel R. Bradford acquired a common- school education in Hebron. Being the only child of his parents who attained maturity, he remained with them until he was twenty-five years old, when he purchased a farm in his na- tive town. This was the nucleus of his pres- ent estate, which covered about three hundred acres of land. He is engaged in mixed hus- bandry and fruit culture, and his farm is one of the best in the locality. He is a member of the grange at West Minot, Androscoggin County, and was Master of the subordinate grange in that county for ten years and of the Oxford County Grange for five years.
On June 27, 1847, Mr. Bradford was united in marriage with Miss Roxanna Whitamore, of Hebron, who died at the age of forty-nine years, eight months, and six days, leaving one son, Francis W., now in the milk business in Portland, Me. There were two other children by this union, namely: Henry R., who died at the age of eighteen; and Ada, who died at the age of thirteen years and ten months. Mr.
Bradford was again married January 29, 1873, when Miss Martha E. Millett, of West Minot, Androscoggin County, became his wife. By this union he has one son, Samuel E., who is living with his parents. Mr. Bradford, who is a stanch Republican, has taken an active part in local politics. He has served as Selectman for three terms. He is not a pro- fessing church member. Mrs. Bradford is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
OSHUA R. HOWARD, of Hanover, Me., is a man of varied abilities and accomplishments, being a practical farmer, a carpenter by trade, an experi- enced and popular teacher of vocal music, and late a commissioned officer in the Army of the Republic. He was born in this town, which
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was formerly known as Howard Gore, Novem- ber 3, 1835, son of Joseph and Zeruiah (Rob- erts) Howard.
His grandfather, Phineas Howard, was a native of Temple, N. H. Having lived there on a farm during his boyhood years, when quite a young man he came to Oxford County and purchased a large tract of land - in fact, all of that now included in the town of Hanover, he being one of the first to settle here. He erected saw, grist, and carding mills, which he operated for several years. His success in the management of his own affairs caused his judgment to be frequently sought in matters of public interest, and during the active years of his life he was one of the leading men of Oxford County. He lived to be eighty-four years of age.
His son Joseph was born in Hanover, and was a lifelong resident of the town, his death occurring at the age of seventy-five years. He was a successful farmer. In political views he was a Democrat, but invariably refused all official honors. His wife, whose maiden name was Zeruiah Roberts, was born in Hanover, and lived here until her death at sixty-nine years. Both were active and influential mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their seven children are: Arabella, wife of Henry M. Abbott, of Rumford, Me. ; Milton R., a resident of Welchville, Me .; Joshua R. ; Osmond P., a farmer in the town of Rumford ; Philantha L., wife of Isaac C. Wight, of Dummer, Coos County, N. H. ; Neville S., a farmer in Hanover; and Sarah P., wife of Prescott Goud, of Dummer, N. H.
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