USA > Maine > Oxford County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 65
USA > Maine > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 65
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Joshua R. Howard, the second son as the names are here recorded, received in his early years a common-school education to fit him for the duties of life. He remained at home until eighteen years of age, then began working at the carpenter's trade in Manchester, N. H., where he was employed until after the begin- ning of the Civil War. September 10, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-third Maine Regiment. A short time after he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant; and still later he became Second Lieutenant, Henry B. Cleaves, the present Governor of Maine, being First Lieutenant in the home company. Lieu- tenant Howard was out about eleven months,
two months beyond the term of his enlistment. Seven months were spent in guard duty be- tween Harper's Ferry and Washington, D. C. ; and the remainder of the time he was at Alex- andria, Va. On his return from the war he settled in Gorham, N. H., where he worked at the carpenter's trade until about 1871, then went to Stark, N. H., and for eleven years had charge of the repairs on a large mill. At the expiration of that time he came to Oxford County and purchased the farm on which he still resides, the implements of carpentry hav- ing been laid aside and the years profitably spent in agricultural pursuits.
On April 10, 1877, Mr. Howard was mar- ried to Miss Mary E. Ryerson, a daughter of Nathan P. Ryerson, of the adjoining town of Newry. In 1884, about seven years after their marriage, Mrs. Howard had the great misfortune to lose her eyesight.
Mr. Howard has always taken a deep interest in local political matters. In 1892 he was the Democratic nominee for Representative from this district to the State legislature, but was defeated, owing to the strength of the Repub- lican party. He has filled the office of Select- man very acceptably for ten years, has served on the School Committee and as Chairman of the Board of Health. Although not a church member he contributes freely toward church work, and is a member of the choir of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has taught singing-school in this vicinity for sev- eral years.
ILBRIDGE DILL, one of the largest real estate owners and most extensive
farmers of Phillips, Franklin County, Me., was born in Berlin, Me., October 4. 1834, son of Orrison and Mary J. (Hammond) Dill. Mr. Dill's grandfather, James Dill, was a native of Greene or Lewiston, Me., who settled in Berlin, and there spent his active years in farming, being quite a prominent man in his day. He died May 12. 1867, aged eighty-four years and ten months. He was three times married; and by his union with his first wife, formerly a Miss Eliot, there were three children, of whom the only sur- vivor is Seward, a resident of California, who
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is now eighty-six years old. By his union with Mary Goff, his second wife, there were twelve children, two of whom are living, namely : Ansel, a resident of Phillips; and Delany, widow of William Lake, late of Farmington. The family name of his third wife was Hodsdon.
Orrison Dill, Mr. Dill's father, was born in Berlin, and was reared to agricultural pur- suits. A stirring and industrious farmer and a worthy, upright man, he served the town of Berlin two years as a Selectman; and he was Highway Agent for some time. In politics he was a Whig. He died at the age of seventy-nine years. Ilis wife, Mary J. Ham- mond, was a native of Avon, Me. They had four children, three of whom are living, namely: Lettice, who is the wife of Joseph Fairbanks, of Granite Falls, Minn. ; Charles O., who resides in Phillips; and Elbridge, the subject of this sketch.
Elbridge Dill acquired a common-school education in his boyhood, and after completing his studies he assisted his father for two years on the home farm. He then engaged in agri- cultural labors upon his own account, first buying the present Graffam place, where he resided for three years, and then buying the Benjamin Wilbur farm in Phillips, where he has since lived. He has been exceedingly prosperous from the start, and owns at the pres- ent time a large amount of valuable real estate in this town, consisting of five farms, two of forty acres each, one of thirty acres, one of seventy acres, and one of one hundred acres. He has made various improvements in his homestead property, both upon the land and buildings, having one of the finest residences in this town; and his large barn, which is one hundred and twenty-eight by forty-four feet, is tested to its fullest capacity in holding his hay and cattle. He cuts an average of one hundred tons of hay annually, and his last year's hay crop amounted to one hundred and fifty-six loads. He also raises large crops of grain and other products. He keeps an aver- age of over thirty head of registered Hereford stock, making a specialty of this breed; and he has eight horses.
Mr. Elbridge Dill and Octavia H. Bangs, a native of Phillips, were married on March
10, 1860, and are the parents of eight children, as follows: Myra B., who is living at home with her parents; George B. and Seward E., both residents of Everett, Mass. ; Charles E., who lives in Strong, Me. ; Lizzie M., Robert O., Willie A., and Joseph H., all of whom are living at the homestead.
In the capacity of Highway Surveyor, for a number of years Mr. Dill rendered good ser- vice to the town. In politics he is a Demo- crat ; and during the recent campaign, 1896, he supported the sound money wing of that party. He is one of the Trustees of the Frank- lin Agricultural Society, and was instrumental in placing it upon a sound financial basis. His ability to persevere and succeed is fully demonstrated by the position he now occupies among the most prominent and wealthy resi- dents of Phillips, his success being the result of his own personal energy. Mr. and Mrs. Dill attend the Union and Methodist churches, but are Universalists in religious belief, trust- ing that good will come at last to all.
ILLIAM B. BRADLEY, formerly a successful stock raiser in the Far West, who is now living in retire- ment in his native town, Fryeburg, Me., was born August 20, 1843, son of Alexander R. and Mary O. (Barrows) Bradley. Mr. Brad- ley's paternal grandfather, Robert Bradley, a native of Concord, N. H., settled in Fryeburg in 1801 ; and he was engaged in agricultural pursuits here for the rest of his life.
Alexander R. Bradley, son of Robert, was a prominent lawyer of his day. He was a man of sterling ability, possessing brilliant legal attainments; and he practised successfully in the courts of New Hampshire and in Oxford County, Maine. He resided in Fryeburg for many years, and died in this town in February, 1862. He married Mary O. Barrows, of Yar- mouth, daughter of William Barrows, and a sister of Judge Barrows, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Maine. She became the mother of thirteen children, as follows : Samuel A., who is no longer living; Alexan- der Stewart, who is now a lawyer in Chicago, Ill. ; Mary F., who died in February, 1896; William B., the subject of this sketch; Rich-
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ard, who is now a resident of the State of Washington; Frank Y., who died in 1890; George P., a surgeon in the United States Navy; Daniel W., who is conducting a real estate business in Denver, Col. ; John J., who was drowned in Lovell's Pond in 1876; and four others who died in infancy. Mrs. Mary O. Bradley died in December, 1861.
William B. Bradley, the third of the eight sons above mentioned, when he was two years old went to live in Bridgton with his uncle, Thomas F. Perley. He accompanied his rela- tives to St. John, Fla., where he remained until he was about seventeen years of age; and he then returned to Fryeburg. He acquired a college education; and some time after his return from Florida he went to reside with an uncle in Washington, D.C., where he re- mained about thirteen months. After another visit to his native town he went to Washington Territory, where he engaged in sheep raising, a business which proved exceedingly profitable ; and in 1882 he retired with a fortune sufficient to make him independent for the rest of his life. Returning once more to Fryeburg, he purchased his present residence, which is one of the handsomest dwellings on Main Street ; and he has since passed his time in managing his investment interests. He also owns a large farm, which is carried on by hired assist- ants; and he is to-day one of the most wealthy residents of this town.
In December, 1882, Mr. Bradley was united in marriage with Almira T. Blake, who was born in Bridgton, Me. Her father, Dr. Josiah Blake, who was formerly a well-known phy- sician of that town, is no longer living. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley have one daughter, Annie Carey.
In politics Mr. Bradley has supported the Democratic party since becoming a voter until the recent election in the autumn of 1896, when, on account of his views in regard to the money question, he felt compelled to act with the Republicans. As one of the native-born citizens of Fryeburg and one whose family has had an abiding-place here for nearly a cen- tury, he takes an active interest in the general welfare of the town; and he is highly re- spected by all. Mrs. Bradley is a member of the New Church at Fryeburg village.
BEL SANBORN, an able and success- ful farmer of Fryeburg, was born in this town, February 23, 1834, son of Jonathan and Betsey (Lord) Sanborn. Mr. Sanborn's father, who was a native of Limerick, Me., settled in Fryeburg when he was twenty-one years old, and, selecting a tract of wild land, improved it into the farm now owned by his son. He continued to till the soil as a general farmer during his years of activity, and he lived to the advanced age of eighty-nine years. His wife, Betsey Lord Sanborn, was a native of Denmark, Me. She became the mother of twelve children, of whom four are living, namely : Jonathan, who resides in Windham, Me. ; James C., now of Has- tings, Minn. ; Elias, a resident of Buxton, Me. ; and Abel, the subject of this sketch. The others were: Eliza; Joanna; Mary L. ; Lorana; Daniel, who died while serving as a soldier in the Civil War; Deborah; Laura ; and Job L., the last named being killed in the Rebellion. Mr. Sanborn's mother died at the age of sixty-four years.
Abel Sanborn received a common-school education, and upon finishing his studies began to assist his father upon the farm. Continuing to reside with his parents, he cared for them during their declining years, and eventually succeeded to the ownership of the homestead. Besides the original property of one hundred acres cleared and cultivated by his father, he has added one hundred and fifty acres of adjoining land, thus making a large farm, which gives him ample scope to display his energy as an agriculturist. The improve- ments he has made upon the land and buildings have greatly enhanced the value of the prop- erty and increased his facilities for raising large and superior crops. He makes a spe- cialty of raising sweet corn, apples, and hay.
On March 27, 1859, Mr. Sanborn wedded Amelia Thompson, who was born in Liming- ton, Me., January 19, 1836, daughter of Sewall and Statira (Libby) Thompson. Her father resided for many years in Limington, where he followed the carpenter's trade in connection with farming.
Mr. and Mrs. Sanborn have had four chil- dren, as follows: Sewall T., born August 30, 1861, died July 26, 1862 ; Sewall T., second,
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born February 21, 1863, married Lucy E. Warren, of Conway, N. IL., and is now in the grocery business in Chelsea, Mass. ; Frank M., born September 6, 1867, married Mary A. Howe, and is now engaged in the bakery busi- ness in Chelsea ; and Walter L., born Decem- ber 6, 1869, is residing at home.
Politically, Mr. Sanborn is a Republican, but is connected with Fryeburg Lodge, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, Pequaket Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and with the grange at Fryeburg Centre. He is well known as a capable, industrious farmer and an upright, worthy citizen, and enjoys the good will of his neighbors and fellow-townsmen. Mrs. Sanborn is a member of the Congrega- tional church.
OUIS VOTER, a rising young lawyer and the present efficient Town Clerk of Farmington, Me., is a represent- ative of the fourth generation of his family in this State. He was born in Madrid, Franklin County, Me., March 14, 1862, son of Gilbert and Nancy (Bangs) Voter.
His paternal grandfather, whose name he bears, Louis Voter, first, was born in 1774, in Freetown, Mass., being, however, of French extraction. At the age of nineteen he accom- panied his uncle, John Voter, to Maine, and, settling upon lot No. 23 in the town of Farmington, he built a primitive log cabin. He cleared a good farm from the wilderness, later erecting a set of frame buildings; and he continued a prosperous tiller of the soil until his death, which took place in 1840. On No- vember 28, 1799, he married Sally Backus, daughter of Nathaniel Backus; and she was a most valuable and faithful helpmate in the establishment of their home and their later progress. The family of Louis and Sally B. Voter consisted of eleven children, as follows : Mary S. ; Nathaniel B .; Louis, Jr. ; Warren ; Sarah B .; Gilbert; Keziah; Elmina C. ; Franklin ; Julia A. ; and John B. Mr. Voter's grandmother lived to be eighty-two years old.
Gilbert Voter, fourth son of Louis, first, was born in Farmington, Me., March 20, 18II. When a young man he bought a small farm near his father's property; but later he
sold it and moved to Salem, Me., where he settled upon uncultivated land. After clear- ing a good farm and erecting a set of buildings, he sold that property, and, removing to Ma- drid, cleared and improved another farm from the wilderness. But, having accomplished all this, he did not live much longer to enjoy the fruits of his toil. Overwork had injured his health ; and he died of dysentery on September 12, 1863. He was respected as an exceed- ingly industrious and worthy citizen. His wife, Nancy Bangs, whom he married Novem- ber 29, 1838, still survives. She has reared eight children, namely : Sally; La Forest G. ; Imogene; Warren S .; Allen B .; Calista E. ; Flora A. ; and Louis, the subject of this sketch.
Louis Voter attended the town schools of Phillips until he was nine years old, when he continued his education in Lewiston. He prepared for his collegiate course at the Nich- ols Latin School in that city, and after pursu- ing his studies two years in Bates College he taught eighteen terms of school. He began the study of law in the office of F. E. Timber- lake, of Phillips, later coming to Farmington, where he continued his studies with E. O. Greenleaf ; and, being admitted to the Frank- lin County bar in June, 1894, he located here permanently, and has acquired a large and profitable general law practice ..
In politics Mr. Voter is an active supporter of the Republican party, which his father joined at the time of its formation; and, hav- ing been elected Town Clerk in 1894, he has ably and satisfactorily filled that office ever since. He is a member of Franklin Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the encampment. He is also connected with the Good Templars, being now District Templar of Franklin District Lodge, and has rendered much valuable assistance to the cause of tem- perance and total abstinence.
SAAC F. JEWETT, of Waterford, Ox- ford County, Me., unites in his veins the blood of two old and highly respected New England families. £ The son of Eben and Tabitha (Frye) Jewett, he was born in Waterford, November 24, 1843. His
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grandfather, Eben Jewett, Sr., was born in Massachusetts in 1772. In 1790, with his father, Captain Stephen Jewett, an officer of the State militia, he removed from Rowley, Mass., to Waterford, Me., where they engaged in agricultural pursuits. Eben Jewett, Sr., married Miss Susan Stickney, of Rowley.
Their son, Eben Jewett, Jr., was born in Waterford, and spent his life there as a tiller of the soil. He died in the spring of 1861. His wife was the grand-daughter of General Joseph Frye, the founder of Fryeburg, Me. She was called to rest in 1871. This couple were the parents of nine children, namely : Henry A., born December 22, 1820; Isaac F., born January 30, 1822, who died in in- fancy; Nathaniel, born October 27, 1824, who died young; Samuel, who also died before attaining maturity ; Abbie, deceased; Samuel S., born February 20, 1830, who died in May, 1881; Noyes F., born July 5, 1834, who died in 1852; Susan P., born April 7, 1836, who died in 1867; and Isaac F., the subject of this sketch.
Isaac F. Jewett acquired his education in the common schools of his native town, and spent the early part of his life, with the excep- tion of one year, on the home farm. In his nineteenth year, May 31, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Sixteenth Regiment of Maine Volunteers, and was mustered in at Waterford with the rank of Corporal. After reaching the seat of war in the South he was in several skirmishes and important battles, and on De- cember 13, 1862, he was shot through the left thigh. The wound was a severe and painful one; and he was not able to leave the hospital until October, 1863. As soon as he was able to move about he was assigned to the Veteran Reserve Corps on detached service, and was on guard duty about Washington, D.C., until July, 1865, when he received his discharge. Returning to Waterford he was employed for a year in the general store of Rand & Jewett, and then purchased a farm in North Waterford, which he was engaged in cultivating for ten years. Selling his farm he worked for four years in a spool-mill, and next took charge of C. D. Morse's general store at Waterford Flat. He was in trade for a number of years, but was finally obliged to retire on account of
rheumatism and trouble from the wound re- ceived while in the army.
Mr. Jewett was married November 5, 1870, to Nancy B., daughter of John C. C. and Eliz- abeth (Brown) Warren, of Waterford. She was born in Waterford, July 7, 1849, and has one sister and two brothers - Jennie L., wife of L. G. Stone, of Waterford, a carpenter ; George L., who married Miss Jessie Bennett, of Bridgton, Me. ; and Jesse W., an attorney in Wilton, Me., who married Miss Lucy Mayo. Mr. Jewett has many social affiliations, be- longing to Mount Tire'm Lodge, No. 132, A. F. & A. M., of Waterford; Oxford Lodge, No. 61, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of North Waterford, the Order of the Eastern Star, and the Daughters of Rebecca. He is widely known and holds the regard of a large circle of friends.
OHN J. CALHOUN, a leading mer- chant of Rumford Falls, was born in Orwell, Vt., June 20, 1865. He is the eldest of the eleven children of David Parker and Sylvia Ann (Witherbee) Witherbee. As his opportunities for attend- ing school were few, young Witherbee at the age of eleven years left home and walked eighteen miles to the village of Orwell with the view of earning the means to educate him- self. He found employment at the house of a physician, for whom he worked mornings and evenings and during the summer vacations, for his board and clothing, with the privilege of attending school. After remaining there four years he was employed as a farm assistant for a year. Then the Rev. S. F. Calhoun, a Con- gregational preacher, who had no children of his own, becoming interested in the struggling youth, adopted him, at the same time having his name changed to Calhoun by act of legis- lature.
John J. Calhoun graduated with honor from the Orwell High School. He subsequently taught school for several terms in that locality. and then entered Phillips Exeter Academy, where he pursued a four years' course, retain- ing a position at the head of his class all the way through. It had been his intention to enter Harvard University; but on account of
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impaired sight, caused by prolonged study, he was obliged to change his plans, and he decided to turn his attention to mercantile pursuits. In furtherance of this purpose he took a com- mercial course at Eastman's National Business College in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he graduated second in his class. He then went to Boston, and secured a position as travelling representative for the Gurney Hot Water Heat- ing Company. For this firm he travelled through the New England States until the fall of 1892, when he discovered what he con- sidered a good opening in Rumford Falls. Thereupon he started a furniture store here, and established himself in trade, becoming the third merchant doing business in the place. His stock now includes house furnish- ings of every description, and he has a profit- able trade. He is a Director of the Odd Fel- lows Building Association and of the Rumford Falls Building Association.
On August 4, 1891, Mr. Calhoun wedded Grace E. Mallon, of Exeter, N. H., who grad- uated from the Robinson Female Seminary after a course of eight years. They have one daughter, Mae Mallon.
In politics Mr. Calhoun actively supports the Republican party, and is Treasurer of the Republican Club, having also served as ballot clerk. A man of much ability and scholarly attainments, he takes great interest in the moral and educational advancement of the community. He is connected with Blazing Star Lodge, No. 30, A. F. & A. M., and is Vice-Grand of Penacook Lodge, No. 130, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of this town. In his religious belief he is a Methodist, and he has official connection with the local society as Trustee and recording secretary of the Board of Stew- ards. Mrs. Calhoun is a member of the Bap- tist church.
LARENCE E. FOSTER, who culti- vates a large farm in Buckfield, Me., and is also interested in stock deal- ing and lumbering, was born in East Machias, Washington County, Me., February 12, 1848, son of Moses and Elizabeth (Com- stock) Foster.
Mr. Foster's father was a native of East
Machias, and upon reaching manhood engaged as a lumber operator. He carried on business in different localities, finally settling in Ox- ford County; and he continued to reside in this part of the State until his death, which took place in Paris when he was fifty years old. An able and industrious business man and a worthy citizen, he took a liberal view of re- ligious matters ; and in politics he was a Dem- ocrat. His wife, Elizabeth Comstock, who was a native of Eastport, Me., became the mother of six children, as follows: Sarah O .; Clara O .; Mary L. ; Clarence E., the subject of this sketch; Lucian W. ; and Alma M. Mr. Foster's mother lived to reach the age of seventy-six years.
Clarence E. Foster grew to manhood in ' Paris, where his education was commenced in the town schools, his course of study being completed at the Hebron Academy. At the age of twenty-one he began to work by the month as a farm assistant, receiving for his services the highest wages of any young man in the neighborhood; and by carefully saving his earnings he soon realized a sufficient sum with which to engage in agricultural pursuits upon his own account. Buying a farm of seventy acres in the town of Buckfield, he car- ried on general farming so energetically and with such good results that in 1888 he was able to purchase a much larger piece of. prop- erty, his present farm, to which he removed in that year. He owns three hundred acres of land, which includes some of the richest soil and most desirable property for general agri- cultural purposes in this locality; and he is not only one of the most extensive farmers here, but also one of the most diligent, saga- cious, progressive, and successful. Aside from tilling the soil and dealing in live stock he has utilized his otherwise unoccupied time during the winter season by carrying on lum- bering operations, in which his capacity for hard work and his good judgment have been fully demonstrated; and he is still actively engaged in conducting a profitable business.
On August 20, 1880, Mr. Foster was united in marriage with Lelia Winslow. She was born in Buckfield, September 23, 1855, daugh- ter of Kendall and Melissa (Jordan) Winslow, well-known residents of this town and repre-
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sentatives of highly reputable families. Mr. and Mrs. Foster are the parents of seven chil- dren; namely, Maud A., Mary L., Amos C., Melissa Leora, Stanley E., Bessie Agnes, and Florence L.
Although not in any way an aspirant for public office, Mr. Foster takes more than an or- dinary interest in local affairs and the general progress of the town. A few years ago he was elected a member of the Board of Selectmen, in which capacity he served with ability for one term. He supports the Democratic party in politics, and both he and Mrs. Foster are liberal in their religious views.
NSEL T. MASON, one of Franklin County's prosperous practical farmers, a highly respected citizen of New Sharon, was born in Norridgewock, County, Me., on the 9th of May, 1835, son of John and Cynthia (Curtis) Mason.
Somerset
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