USA > Maine > Oxford County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 72
USA > Maine > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 72
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Mr. Ross and Hannah Welch, of Rangeley,
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were married on February 14, 1864, and are the parents of six children, as follows: Blanche, who is residing in Brockton, Mass. ; Julia, wife of Willis Hoar, of Phillips; Abram W. ; Evelyn, who lives in Brockton; Gertrude and Warren, who, with Abram W., are at home with their father and mother.
In politics Mr. Ross is a Democrat. He served with ability as a member of the Board of Selectmen for upward of fourteen years, a part of which time he was Chairman of that body; and as Representative from this district to the legislature during the session of 1886 and 1887, he served upon some of the impor- tant committees. He is highly spoken of by his fellow-townsmen as an honorable, liberal- minded, and progressive citizen, who has made his way in life through his own personal energy, and as a self-made man he fully de- serves the success he has acquired The fam- ily have no preference in regard to churches.
ATHAN S. BAKER, a highly re- spected citizen, and one of the oldest farmers of Newry township, was born in Mexico, Oxford County, Me., January 7, 1835, son of Otis and Melinda (Silver) Baker. Otis Baker was a native of Litchfield, Me., where he lived until twenty-two years of age. Coming to Mexico, he purchased land, and resided here a few years, then removed to Rumford, where he lived to a good age. The last years of his life were spent with his son, and he died when eighty-three years old. In politics he was a Republican. His wife, Melinda Silver Baker, was born in Rumford, and died in her native town at about eighty-one years of age. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Nathan S. Baker, after attending the com- mon schools, took up a course of study in the high schools at Dicksfield and South Paris, this county. Soon after reaching his majority he purchased a farm in Rumford, and carried it on until 1866, at which time he bought the farm that he now owns. The latter con- tains about two hundred and fifty acres of well improved land, and Mr. Baker carries on gen- eral farming successfully. Mr. Baker is also
a man of literary ability, and has contributed articles to the local press, the Oxford County Democrat, and other county papers, on politi- cal and general topics, besides an occasional poem.
In 1858 Mr. Baker was married to Miss Mary Anna Bryant, of Milton Plantation, Ox- ford County. Nine children have been born to them, two of whom died in infancy, and one in early youth. The others are: Addie, wife of Charles O. Moore, of Bethel, Me .; Charles A., a carpenter, residing in Methuen, Mass .; James H., who is now at work in Methuen, Mass. ; Otis E. and Mamie N., still residing at home; and Sadie H., who married John S. Allen, and died at twenty-nine years of age.
In political affiliation Mr. Baker is a Re- publican. He has taken quite an active part in local politics. For some years he has been a member of the School Committee, and he has served as Selectman several terms, also as Town Clerk and Treasurer. He is now serv- ing his fourth term as Tax Collector.
YLVANUS PORTER, a well- known citizen of Paris, Oxford County, Me., engaged in farming, was born here, March 31, 1817, eldest son of John and Eunice (Hicks) Porter. His father was born October 7, 1793, his mother September 27, 1790, both parents being natives of Yarmouth, Cumberland County, Me.
This branch of the Porter family is de- scended from Richard Porter, who emigrated to this country in 1635, and settled in Wey- mouth, Mass. The paternal grandparents of Sylvanus Porter were Nehemiah Porter, born in Scituate, December 14, 1758, and Joanna Barber Porter, born in Gray, Me. They had thirteen children, eight sons and five daugh- ters; namely: Sylvanus, Susanna, Lucy, Lydia, Stephen, John, Charles, Benjamin, Joanna, Mary, Leonard, William Barber, and Rufus.
John Porter, third son as here recorded. whose early years were spent in Yarmouth, learned the trade of a shoemaker. About the year 1812 he settled on the farm in Paris, where his son Franklin now resides. He
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came a poor man, with his axe on his shoulder, but ready and willing to undertake any honest labor that offered. Buying his land on credit, he sturdily set to work at the task of clearing it up, and in a comparatively short time had paid for the land with the timber which he got off. A well-to-do farmer, and a Demo- crat in politics, he was prominent in town affairs. He had served as a soldier in the War of 1812. The Baptist Church on Paris Hill was erected by him, and he and his wife were among its most active members. His marriage with Miss Eunice Hicks took place January 22, 1816. He died October 12, 1855, and she on April 11, 1886, aged ninety- five years. Five sons and a daughter were born to them, namely: Sylvanus, March 31, 1817; Ezekiel L., October 3, 1819, who died January 14, 1869; John B., August 12, 1821; Harriett, August 20, 1823; Joseph H., March 4, 1826; Franklin, October 18, 1829. John B. Porter lives in Norway, Me., and is engaged in farming; Harriett is the wife of Solomon I. Millett, also a farmer of Norway; Joseph H. is engaged in real estate business in Wisconsin; Franklin is a prosperous farmer of Paris.
Sylvanus Porter, the eldest of the five sons, was educated in the schools of Paris, and grew to manhood here, living at home until twenty- two years of age. For his first wages he re- ceived ten dollars a month. He followed working out for about three years, and pur- chased his first land, about sixty acres, where he now lives, in 1840. For a number of years he followed the business of a pump-maker, but he has principally engaged in farming. On this farm stood one of the early stores of Paris, built by Jarius Shaw, Esq., who carried on business here for several years, and who did the first clearing on the land. In 1842, the year of his marriage, Mr. Porter set out in his dooryard four elm trees. To-day three of them remain, and, by actual measurement one foot from the ground, one is nine feet, eight inches in circumference.
Mr. Porter was joined in marriage on No- vember 10, 1842, with Miss Esther C. Millett, who was born in Norway, Me., Au- gust 11, 1818, daughter of Israel and Esther (Coy) Millett. Her father was an early set-
tler of Norway, and a successful farmer. He died there May 18, 1826; and his wife died in October, 1858. Of their seven children, three grew up, but Mrs. Porter is now the only survivor. Mr. and Mrs. Porter have had four children, and, with the exception of John, born April 27, 1843, who was killed in the woods, February 27, 1866, all are living, namely: Eliza J., born November 28, 1844, who is the wife of George Ward, of Bowdoin, Me. ; Fatima M., born January 27, 1853, who married W. H. Lovejoy, and resides in New Hampshire; and Ezekiel L., born November 13, 1857, who owns the homestead farm, and carries on general husbandry. He was mar- ried April 8, 1882, to Mrs. Mary A. Brooks, who died November 5, 1883, leaving one daughter, Lena May Porter. On November 22, 1892, he married Miss Emma J. Cobb. A son, Harold Lester, was born to them De- cember 31, 1895. In religion Ezekiel L. Porter is liberal; in politics he is indepen- dent.
Sylvanus Porter is politically a Democrat, and in religion he and his wife are of the Universalist faith. They are members of the Patrons of Husbandry, No. 44, of South Paris.
ENRY W. GILMAN, the genial Postmaster of West Farmington, and a well-known dealer in fancy and draught horses, was born in Anson, Me., January 18, 1842, son of John and Lydia (Benson) Gilman.
His paternal grandfather was Samuel Gil- man, who was born in the State of New Hampshire, and who early in life settled down in Mount Vernon, Me., where for some time he did business. He then bought a farm in the town of Vienna, where he devoted a few years to agriculture, but he finally sold his farm, and bought a place in Anson, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying there at the ripe old age of ninety years. His wife, Deborah Cobb, died at eighty-two years of age. They left twelve children - Stephen, Sally, John, Samuel, David, Emily, Ben- jamin, Vernon, Lorinda, Lovina, Celia, and Mary. Samuel Gilman was a successful man in everything that he undertook, and he held
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several offices in the different towns that he lived in, being a Selectman in almost every one. He was a Whig in politics, and a Methodist in religious faith.
John Gilman, second son of Saumel, re- ceived a good district-school education in his native town; and afterward, except during the time that he was engaged in working out as a farm laborer, stayed with his father on the old farm until he became of age. He then bought a farm in Anson, already partly cleared, and, finishing up this part of the work, he built a house and some other buildings upon it, and there spent the rest of his life. He married Lydia, the daughter of Bartlett Benson, of the town of Benson, and they became the parents of eight children - William B., John E.,, Irvin D., Addison, Cleary, Albion, Henry W., and Eugene. William B. and Henry W. are the only two of these now living. John Gilman died at the age of eighty-two years, one of the most prominent and highly re- spected citizens of his adopted town. He was at first a Whig in politics, but later became a Democrat. A self-made man, and one who had struggled hard for the success that he finally attained, he set his sons an example that was worthy of the closest imitation, and the suc- cess that they themselves have had proves that they took it to heart. His wife died in her eightieth year, after a long and useful life.
William B. Gilman, the elder of the two surviving sons, was born on the 13th of Janu- ary, 1830. He received a district-school edu- cation, and when he was fifteen years old he went into the woods, and was employed for a while in the lumbering business. Buying a farm of one hundred and fifty acres of land in this town in 1856, he carried it on for about seven years, then sold out, and ran the Elm House at West Farmington for three years. In 1868 he sold that and bought the Knowlton farm, where he has lived ever since. He has bought some outside lots, and he now owns a good farm of about three hundred and seventy- five acres. He improved the buildings upon it, and built new ones, including some stock barns, where he keeps some fine cattle. He has been one of the largest sheep dealers in the State, having sometimes over two hundred head on hand, and has also been an extensive
horse dealer. He is accounted one of the model farmers of the vicinity, and has de- cidedly earned the enviable reputation that he is the possessor of.
He was married on the 4th of September, 1856, to Mary, the daughter of Stephen Wes- ton, of Madison, Me., and is the father of four children - Ella May, who died at the age of nine years; Lydia R., born on the 6th of No- vember, 1858, who married, first, Fred Soule, (now deceased), and is now the wife of Joseph Ham, and lives in Portland; Ruel I., born March 8, 1862, who married Florence Conner, and resides with his father; and Addison F., born February 27, 1870, who is now a book- keeper by profession. Politically, a Demo- crat, William B. Gilman has been a Selectman of his town for seven years. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Henry W. Gilman, the younger of the two brothers, and the leading subject of this sketch, devoted himself to an agricultural life from the time of leaving school until 1862, when he felt that his country needed him else- where. He enlisted in Company A, Twenty- eighth Maine Regiment, for the period of nine months; was sent to the South, and was in the fight at Port Hudson, and in several other battles. He received a wound in the ear, which deprived him of a part of that organ. He also at one time had a narrow escape from instant death, a hostile bullet cutting a furrow through his hair across the top of his head. After he returned home he went to Santa Clara County, California, where for a while he ran a large hay press. He also interested himself in prospecting, spending two seasons in Oregon, mining at Canyon City, where he was very successful. He then returned to farming, which he followed in California until he returned home in January, 1867. Going to New Sharon, in this county, he there ran the hotel for a year, afterward buying a farm on Sandy River, where he remained for two years. Then he turned his attention to railroad re- pairing. His next move was to Minnesota, where he settled down for eight years in Wabasha County, buying a quarter of a sec- tion of land, and turning himself into a farmer again. He also dealt largely in live stock,
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shipping a great number of horses to Dakota. In 1891 he came back to West Farmington, where he engaged with his brother, Eugene F. Gilman, in shipping horses from the West. On the Ist of October, 1893, he was appointed Postmaster at West Farmington, where he is still engaged in the discharge of his official duties, to the great satisfaction of the com- munity. He has likewise continued his lucra- tive business as a dealer in horses.
Mr. Gilman married Miss Anna Porter, the daughter of William B. Porter, of West Farm- ington, their nuptials being celebrated on the 18th of January, 1868. They have had three children - Fred B., born on the 16th of May, 1871, who married Emma Porter, and is a merchant of Madison; L. Edith, born August 18, 1872, now a teacher and a milliner; and one child, who died in infancy. The family residence is a house that Mr. Gilman bought on Winter Street.
Postmaster Gilman is a Democrat in poli- tics, and has served on the School Board of his town. In religion he is a Congregation- alist. He belongs to several fraternal orders, among them being the Maine Lodge, A. F. & A. M. ; and Plainville Lodge, No. 35, Royal Arch Masons.
ILLIAM FAUNCE, a prosperous farmer of Oxford, and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Poland, Me., January 3, 1837, son of John H. and Martha (Sawyer) Faunce. His grandfather, William Faunce, a native of Massachusetts, who came to Oxford as a pioneer, and settled upon Pigeon Hill, cleared a good farm, which he carried on with energy during the rest of his active period, and died when about eighty years of age. He was twice married, and had a family of fourteen children, three by his first marriage, and eleven by his second. Of the whole number three are now living, namely: Moses, a resident of Salem, Mass. ; Nathaniel M., who lives in Poland, Me .; and Captain Isaac Faunce, of Lewiston, Me.
John H. Faunce was born in Oxford. Thrown upon his own resources at an early age, he adopted farming as an occupation. For several years he lived in Poland, where
by hard work he became the owner of a good farm. In 1844 he purchased eighty acres, and thereafter resided on it until his death, which occurred when he was eighty-one years old. He was an industrious farmer, a good citi- zen, and a Democrat in politics. His wife, Martha, who was a native of either Gorham or Otisfield, Me., had five children, as follows: Eliphalet, who died in 1880, aged forty years ; Andrew J., a resident of Hamilton, N. J. ; John, who occupies the old homestead in Ox- ford; William, the subject of this sketch; and Martha A., who is the wife of Arthur Mal- colm, and lives at Roach Harbor, Washington. The mother died at the age of fifty-two years.
William Faunce was reared to farm life, re- ceiving his education in the district schools of Oxford. In July, 1862, he enlisted as a' private in Company C, Seventeenth Regiment, Maine Volunteers, with which he served until the close of the Civil War. He saw his due share of active service, having participated in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellors- ville, Gettysburg, and the memorable fight of the Wilderness. At Gettysburg he received a gunshot wound in his side. In the battle of the Wilderness he was severely wounded in the head, and was left upon the field among the dead. He was honorably discharged June 16, 1865, after which he returned home, and has since been engaged in farming. At the present time he owns a good farm of fifty acres. A good set of buildings erected by him were destroyed by lightning in 1882. These he has since replaced with others of a very substantial appearance.
On December 24, 1866, Mr. Faunce wedded Fidelia M. Swift, who was born in Oxford, November 19, 1848, daughter of Samuel and Leonicy (Russell) Swift. Samuel Swift, who was born in Paris, February 2, 1791, became a successful farmer of this town, where he died December 30, 1870. His wife, who was born in June, 1809, in Bethel, Me., reared two other children, namely: Charles O., deceased; and Orin F., who lives in Massachusetts. She died March 22, 1893. Both parents of Mrs. Faunce attended the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics the father was a Demo- crat.
Mr. Faunce has fought his way in the world
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manfully, and has every reason to look with pride and satisfaction upon his achievements His war record is a good one, including as it does his narrow escape from death. He is a comrade of T. A. Roberts Post, No. 49, Grand Army of the Republic, of Oxford. His polit- ical principles are Republican. He and Mrs. Faunce are connected with the West Poland Grange, No. 24, Patrons of Husbandry, and belong to the Methodist denomination.
LMER L. LOVEJOY, the well-known superintendent of the Portland & Rum- ford Railroad at Rumford Falls, was born in Bethel, Me., on October 27, 1862, son of Charles B. and Celia D. (Bishop) Lovejoy. The father was a farmer, and was greatly respected for his personal worth. The early life of Elmer L. was spent
in Bethel. When he was fourteen years old he removed with his parents to Aroostook County, where he lived on the farm and at- tended common school. He subsequently took a course of study in Gould Academy at Bethel. On attaining his majority he went to Boston to learn telegraphy. During the spring of 1884 he served as telegraph operator at Sabat- tus for the Maine Central Railroad. In June of that year he was appointed ticket agent at Winthrop. After holding this position for nearly ten years he was appointed in February, 1894, the station agent at Mechanic Falls for the Portland & Rumford Falls Railroad. On May 1, 1896, his faithful services to the road were duly recognized by his promotion to the office of superintendent. He then came to Rumford Falls, which is the headquarters of the corporation. While Mr. Lovejoy is liberal in his politics and is well posted in govern- mental affairs, he does not actively participate in political contests. He is a Mason, having affiliation with the Blue Lodge, the Winthrop Chapter of Winthrop, and Trinity Comman- dery, Knights Templars of Augusta. The other fraternities of which he is a member are the Improved Order of Red Men and the Independent Order of Foresters at Mechanic Falls. His religious belief is that of the Universalists. Personally, Mr. Lovejoy is bright and genial, having a large circle of ad-
miring friends. When he started out in life he was at the bottom of the ladder and without means. That he has since climbed to his present position of honor and usefulness is very much to his credit. On October 20, 1887, he married Miss Lena A. Flanders, of Winthrop. They have two children - Marie F. and Hazel M.
EZEKIAH TOLMAN, who owns and occupies the old Tolman homestead in New Sharon, Me., and is one of the most able and energetic agri- culturists of this town, was born where he now resides, October 27, 1841, son of John S. and Ann G. (Collins) Tolman.
The Tolman property here was first settled . upon by Mr. Tolman's grandfather, a Revolu- tionary soldier who cleared and improved it as a pioneer, his original tract consisting of one hundred and sixty acres. As he advanced in prosperity he replaced the log cabin with a substantial frame house, and he carried on general farming for the rest of his years of activity.
His son, John S. Tolman, the father of Hezekiah Tolman, was born November 17, 18II, previous to the 'erection of the frame house; and, having assisted his father in im- proving the property, he eventually succeeded to its ownership. He tilled the soil success- fully, adding three hundred acres to the origi- nal tract; and he also dealt largely in live stock. Industrious, thrifty, and progressive, he was one of the prominent citizens of his day ; and his death, which took place in 1870, at the age of fifty-nine years, was the cause of general regret. His wife, Ann G. Collins, whom he married in 1840, became the mother of the following children : Hezekiah, the sub- ject of this sketch; Nancy Ann; Alonzo; Ar- della; John W. ; Mary M .; George M. ; and Hannibal B.
Hezekiah Tolman, the first-born, was edu- cated in the common schools of New Sharon, and resided with his parents until he was twenty-three years old. He then bought a farm of one hundred acres situated upon the road leading from Weeks Mills to Farmington Falls; and, selling this property, two years
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later he bought another farm of one hundred acres, located north of New Sharon village, where he resided for twenty years. Purchas- ing of his uncle, Ezekiel Tolman, the old homestead, he has since occupied the place, and, having sold one hundred and sixty acres, is now the owner of three hundred acres of val- uable land, the tillage portion of which is exceedingly fertile. Since coming into pos- session of the ancestral estate, he has made various improvements, placing his property upon a level with the best farms in this sec- tion, and by the exercise of careful judgment and superior agricultural knowledge has made general farming and stock-raising a very profit- able employment. He keeps an average of one hundred and fifty sheep and lambs, thir- teen head of cattle, three standard Jersey cows, and five horses, and has an orchard of one hundred and fifty trees. His buildings are in a fair state of repair.
At the age of twenty-three Mr. Tolman married Evelyn M. Brainerd, daughter of William Brainerd, a prosperous farmer of New Sharon. Mrs. Tolman is the mother of five children, as follows: John W., who was born August 27, 1865, married Emma B. Noble, of Farmington, and is now foreman in a shoe shop at Haverhill, Mass .; Gertrude E., who was born July 1, 1867, married Charles H. Crimmin, of Eastbrook, and is now residing in Bradford, Mass., having one child, Royce B. ; Grace E., who was born August 3, 1870, was educated in the common schools of this town and at the State Normal School in Farmington, and is now engaged in business in Boston ; Rose A., who was born December 19, 1871, married Lester A. Crimmin, a grocer of Brad- ford, Mass., and has one daughter, Gladys E. ; and Lillian M., who was born November 22, 1878, has completed her elementary course in the common schools of New Sharon, and is at present attending the State Normal School at Farmington.
As a self-made man Mr. Tolman deserves much credit for the genuine success he has attained in life, and, although he is advancing in years, he is strong and active, still possess- ing the vigor and ambition of a much younger man. In religion he is a Congregationalist, and in politics a Republican.
B YRON C. WAITE, one of the largest real estate owners in Canton, and an extensive dealer in horses, cattle, and country produce, was born in Dixfield, March 14, 1834, son of Aaron and Charlotte (Chesley) Waite. His grandfather, William Waite, who was a native of Massa- chusetts, fought for independence in the Revo- lution. At a later date he settled upon a farm in Dixfield, and took a prominent part in de- veloping that place. He died at the age of eighty-four years. He was a Universalist in his religious views, and his wife was a Baptist. She lived to a good old age.
Aaron Waite, Mr. Waite's father, was born in Sutton, Mass., January 13, 1799. He was reared a farmer, and inherited the home farm in Dixfield. After an industrious life, re- warded by a good measure of prosperity, he died at the age of seventy-three years. In his later years he was a Republican, and he at- tended the Universalist church. His wife, Charlotte, who was born in Paris, Me., April 21, 1797, became the mother of five children, as follows : Charles, born February 7, 1826, who died June 20, 1877; Arvilla H., born June 6, 1824, who is the wife of Luther H. Ludden, of Dixfield; Charlotte A., born Feb- ruary 7, 1826, the wife of Henry Abbott, of East Rumford; Catherine K., born June 30, 1828, who married Warren Severy, and lives in Dixfield; and Byron C., the subject of this sketch. The mother was eighty-four years of age when she died.
Byron C. Waite was educated in the common and high schools of Dixfield, and grew to man- hood in that town. His principal occupations in addition to farming have been the buying and shipping of farm products, and horse and cattle dealing. He owns over five hundred acres of land. His homestead in Canton is one of the finest pieces of agricultural property in this locality. On July 4, 1858, Mr. Waite was united in marriage to Louisa Treat, who was born in Canton, April 22, 1838, daughter of Sylvanus R. and Louisa (Paine) Treat. The Treat family, which is of English origin, was founded in America by three brothers, and Mrs. Waite's great-grandfather was Ezekiel Treat, who settled on Cape Cod. Sylvanus R. Treat, who was born in Truro, Mass., June 18,
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