USA > Maine > Oxford County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 76
USA > Maine > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 76
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91
Waldo Pettengill attended the common schools and the academies at Farmington and Auburn, He was twenty-one years old when
539
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
his parents settled in Rumford. He was afterward engaged in farming and surveying for a number of years. In 1881 the ground where the city of Rumford Falls stands was a wilderness, and the great body of water, which falls one hundred and eighty feet in less than a mile, practically unused. Impressed with the industrial possibilities of the local- ity, Mr. Pettengill began to buy land on both sides of the Androscoggin. Later he suc- ceeded in interesting capitalists in the place, and helped to organize the Rumford Falls Water Power Company, a corporation with a capital stock of five hundred thousand dollars. A stockholder in this company himself, he acted as its agent; and under his energetic direction the plans of the company soon began to take form. In August, 1890, the building of a number of dams was started; and in the winter of 1890-91 large areas of the land were cleared. In the early part of 1893 .the Rum- ford Falls Paper Company's factory, the first in the place, was completed. This is a large place, costing, with the. plant, upward of a million dollars. In the same year the Electric Light Water Company was ready for business. Of this company Mr. Pettengill was, and is now, the Treasurer and Manager. He is a large stockholder in the Portland & Rumford Falls Railroad, of which he is Vice-President and Manager; a Director of the woollen-mills; a Director of the Rumford Falls Trust Com- pany ; President of the Rumford Falls Build- ing and Loan Association; and President of the Rumford Falls Publishing Company. He is now one of the wealthiest men in the State.
Mr. Pettengill was married June 1, 1870, to Miss Sarah E. Briggs, of Mechanic Falls, Me., and has now three children. These are : Oliver, a clerk in the railroad office here ; George W., an electrician in the employ of the Electric Light and Water Company of Rumford Falls; and Huldah E., who is at home. An active Republican, Mr. Pettengill has distinguished himself in public affairs as well as in business. He served on the School Committee for six years, on the Board of Se- lectmen for eleven years, was County Commis- sioner for six years, was elected State Senator in 1890, and was a member of the Governor's Council in 1893 and 1894. He is well ad-
vanced in Masonry, belonging to Blazing Star Lodge, No. 30, of Rumford Falls; Rumford Chapter; the Council at Norway, Me .; St. Albans Commandery; and the Maine Consis- tory at Portland. As an Odd Fellow, he be- longs to Pennacook Lodge, No. 130, of Rum- ford Falls, and the Encampment at Dixfield. A Knight of Pythias, he is a member of Met- talluc Lodge, No. 99, of Rumford Falls; and he has membership in Wawanunka Tribe, No. 41, I. O. R. M., of this place.
RANVILLE W. HARNDEN, a highly respected resident of Den- mark, Oxford County, Me., son of Reuben and Anna (Mackay) Harnden, was born October 19, 1843, upon the farm he now owns and occupies. His grandfather, Joseph Harnden, who was the first of the family to settle in Denmark, was a native of Wilmington, Mass. He made the first clear- ing upon the farm where his grandson now resides, and resided here until his death.
Reuben Harnden, son of . Joseph, was born in Denmark, Me., and inherited the home- stead. He continued the improvements begun by his father, bringing the land to a good state of cultivation; and he was one of the most prosperous general farmers of his day. He died August 25, 1894. His wife, Anna Mackay, who was a native of Saccarappa, Me., was the mother of three children; namely, Sarah Ann, Granville W., and Lyman P. Sarah Ann Harnden, who be- came the wife of Alonzo B. Warren, is no longer living. Her husband married for his second wife Isabella Ames, and is now resid- ing at the homestead. Lyman P. Harnden married Abbie Sparks, a native of Vermont ; and they make their home in Middletown, Conn. Mrs. Anna M. Harnden died in Oc- tober, 1893.
Granville W. Harnden acquired a common- school education in his native town, and from his youth up has been engaged in agricultural pursuits at the old homestead. After his mar- riage he took charge of the farm, which con- sists of one hundred and sixty acres, and is devoted to the raising of hay, corn, oats, and potatoes ; and he also runs a saw-mill.
540
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
In June, 1866, Mr. Harnden married Ma- tilda Lord, a native of Lovell, Me., and a daughter of William Lord, then a prosperous farmer of that town. Mr. Lord is now eighty- four years of age. He makes his home alter- nately with two of his daughters - Mrs. W. W. Berry and Mrs. I. H. Berry, both of Denmark, Me. Mr. and Mrs. Harnden have three children, namely : Charles L., who was born March 17, 1867, and is now residing at home with his parents; Esther Evelyn, who was born October 20, 1872, and is now the wife of Freeman H. Day, an operative in a leather board factory in Miltou, N. H. ; and Marian Lulu, who was born January 1, 1888.
In politics Mr. Harnden is a Democrat, and has served with ability in some of the town offices. He is an industrious and upright business man; and, although his lumber opera- tions absorb a great deal of his time, he finds sufficient opportunity to improve his home- stead, and keep the property in first-class condition.
USTIN A. NELSON, First Selectman of the town of Hebron, was born in Oxford, March 9, 1855, son of Addison and Mary A. (Nelson)
Nelson. Addison Nelson was a native of Ox- ford County. He owned a good farm situated in the town of Oxford, and during a greater portion of his life was engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was an energetic and industri- ous man; but his active period closed in the prime of life, and he died at the age of forty- six years and six months. Honest and up- right, he was highly respected and esteemed by his fellow-townsmen, and he was ever ready to assist his neighbors in the time of need or aid in any movement for the good of the gen- eral community. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Baptist church. To him and his wife, Mary, were born two children, namely: Austin A., the subject of this sketch; and Lillian L., who died at the age of sixteen years. Mrs. Mary A. Nelson, who is a native of Oxford County, is still living, and resides with her son.
Austin A. Nelson was educated in the dis- trict schools and at Hebron Academy, and
grew to manhood as a farmer in Oxford. He owned a good farm in his native town, where he resided until 1881, when he bought his present property of two hundred acres in He- bron, and has since given his attention to gen- eral farming and dairying. His farm, which is located within the limits of three towns, is well adapted for the raising of hay and the pasturing of cattle; and he keeps a herd of twenty-five cows, consisting of full-blooded Holsteins and grade animals, the product of which supplies a well-equipped dairy.
On March 21, 1878, Mr. Nelson married Emily L. Buckman, who was born upon this farm, daughter of Calvin and Lorinda Buck- man. She is a descendant of Captain Daniel Buckman, an early pioneer of Hebron, who made the first clearing, and built a log house . on this farm when the locality was mostly a dense wilderness. His descendants have oc- cupied the estate ever since, and the family is one of the oldest and best known in this part of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are the parents of two children, namely: Addison C., who was born in Oxford, September 3, 1880; and Laura C., who was born in Hebron, Janu- ary 13, 1893.
Mr. Nelson supports the Republican party, and in local public affairs he is a leading spirit, being at the present time First Select - man of the town. He is a stirring and pro- gressive agriculturist of the self-made type, and he is regarded as one of the most success- ful farmers in this vicinity. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson attend the Universalist church at Me- chanic Falls.
E COSTER BROTHERS .- Among the men who have achieved success and prominence in the field of agri- culture in the vicinity of Hebron, Me., the De Coster brothers, James P. and Almon, occupy a leading place. They are sons of Cyrus and Mary A. (Prescott) De Coster. James P. De Coster was born in Brighton, Mass., March 19, 1844; and Almon was born in the same place, September 4, 1850. They belong to an old Hebron family, their grand- father, Roger De Coster, having been one of the early settlers of this town. He was an
54 J
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
energetic and progressive farmer and a promi- nent citizen. He was active in local affairs, taking precedence by his intelligence and force of character; and he represented the town in the State legislature.
Cyrus De Coster, son of Roger, was born in Hebron, November 2, 1812, and was reared and educated in this town. When a young man, he went to Brighton, Mass., where he engaged in butchering; and, finding this occupation quite lucrative, he followed it until 1871, making his home in Brighton. In 1871, buying a farm in Hebron, he moved back to his native town, where he is now living. In politics he is a Democrat. His wife, who was born in Sanbornton, N.H., died in Brighton in 1868. Mr. De Coster attends the Baptist church, which was his wife's chosen place of worship. He has four children living -James P. ; Ellen L., who was born in Brighton in November, 1846, is now the widow of George Goodrich, and lives with her father in Hebron; Verin, who was born in Brighton, July 12, 1848, now a salesman in Boston; and Almon. Verin De Coster is married. His brothers are single.
James P. and Almon De Coster were reared and educated in Brighton, Mass. The elder has been engaged in butchering, but now with his brother devotes his energies to farming and dairying in Hebron. They own over three hundred acres of land, and raise abun- dant crops for market; and they have a large and choice dairy, keeping twenty head of fine Jersey cattle.
Their farm is furished with good buildings; and the whole appearance of the place indi- cates sagacious management, plenty, and pros- perity. Both brothers are members of the Democratic party. They are liberal in relig- ious matters, questioning no man's creed, and disposed to give each one his due according to character and ability.
FC OWARD PEASE, one of the promi- nent citizens of West Farmington, Me., is a successful farmer and president of a large insurance com- pany. He was born in the town of Wilton, this county. His father, Stephen Pease, was born October 7, 1817; and his grandfather,
Isaac Pease, was born at Martha's Vineyard, Mass., September II, 1777, and was the eld- est son of Stephen and Mary Pease, the former born April 15, 1749, and the latter January 3, 1756.
Isaac Pease was a striking type of the early New Englander, tireless in manual labor, and filled with a strong sense of the importance of religious belief. Born at Martha's Vineyard, he went to Maine when about fourteen years of age, and worked as a farm hand for a num- ber of years. In early manhood, having saved some money, he purchased one hundred and fourteen acres of wild land in the town of Wilton, then a pioneer settlement, and, erect- ing a log house, developed a homestead. He afterward erected a good set of frame build- ings. Gifted with natural eloquence and a strong belief in the doctrines of John Wesley, he became quite noted as a Methodist preacher, and was often called upon to fill pulpit vacancies. He lived to be over ninety years of age, and was active to the last. He married Temperance Moor, who was born in Kittery, Me., July 22, 1774. Their children were: Dorcas, born September 6, 1812; Joanna, born June II, 1815: Stephen, above named; Sewall, born August 1, 1820. Mrs. Temperance M. Pease died 1846.
Stephen Pease, the eldest son, inherited the homestead in Wilton, and managed it for a number of years, subsequently selling it, and purchasing a farm in Farmington. Later he disposed of that property, in order to buy a farm adjoining the one now owned by his son : and this also he sold in a few years, purchas- ing a house and store in Wilton. The last venture proved satisfactory, and he was in trade in Wilton up to the time of his death. In politics he was a Democrat, in religious belief a Methodist. He died at the age of seventy-three. His wife, who is a daughter of Samuel and Annie (Wilson) Knowles, of South Chesterville, was born March 3, 1828, and is nearly seventy years of age. Six chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Pease, four of whom grew to maturity, namely : Howard, born January 31, 1849; Ella A .. now Mrs. Wilkins; Charles R., a merchant in Nashua, N.H., born February 3, 1852; Bertice A., born October 30, 1853, now prac-
512
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
tising law at Nashua, N. H. Twin sons died in infancy.
Howard Pease, who is the eldest of the fam- ily, acquired his education in the public schools of Wilton and Farmington. He left home at the age of twenty-two, and obtained employment in a weaving factory in Lewiston ; but he decided that outdoor life suited him best, and eventually purchased the George Butterfield farm, an estate of one hundred and fifty acres. For some years he has been suc- cessfully engaged in general farming and stock raising ; and he owns eighty acres of land in the town of Wilton, in addition to his Farm- ington property. He has made many im- provements on his land, remodelling and re- pairing the buildings, and has greatly in- creased the value of his property. He has been president of the Home Mutual Fire In- surance Company ever since it was organized.
In 1872 Mr. Pease married Lizzie A. Wil- son, daughter of William and Mary E. (Carlow) Wilson. William Wilson was born in the town of Castle-Wellan, County Down, Ireland, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, son of Isaac and Margaret (Stewart) Wilson. He went from his native land to St. Andrews, New Brunswick, and from there to Red Beach, Me., on the St. Croix, where he owned and managed a large farm. Starting without cap- ital, his only resources a strong constitution and thrifty disposition, he attained wealth and position. He was made a Mason in 1827, and took thirty-two degrees. In religious be- lief he was a Baptist. He attained the great age of eighty-nine years. His wife, who was a daughter of Jacob C. and Lizzie (Turner) Carlow, both of English birth, died at the age of forty-five. This couple had several chil- dren - Lizzie A. (Mrs. Pease) ; Martha J. and Margaret J., twin sisters; William F., who died in infancy; Sadie S .; William M., who died when fourteen; John and James, twin brothers, who died in infancy; Mary E. ; George T .; and Viola E. Four children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Pease - Gertie M., born January 12, 1874, who lived but eight months; Oscar E., born June IO, 1876, who is a student at Bowdoin Col- lege, now in his third year in that institution ; Locke H., born December 1, 1883 ; and Guy
W., born June 16, 1886. Mr. Pease is an esteemed member of the Republican party. Mrs. Pease is an Episcopalian, having joined that church at Calais, Me.
A" LBION L. TUBBS, an active and thriving young agriculturist of the town of Greenwood, Oxford County, Me., was born December 12, 1868, in, Casco, Cumberland County, a son of Har- land P. and Martha M. (Maxfield) Tubbs.
Harland P. Tubbs, a son of Luther Tubbs, was born in Litchfield, Kennebec County, this State, and there grew to manhood. On attain- ing his majority, he started in life for himself.
Following the tide of emigration westward, he went as far as Cooper County, Iowa, and . there engaged in farming four years. Not satisfied with the results, he returned to his native State, and settled in Casco, where, with the exception of the time that he was in the Federal army during the war of the Rebellion, he has since been engaged in agricultural pur- suits. His first wife, formerly Miss Martha Maxfield, died 1875, leaving five children, as follows: George M., a farmer, in Greenwood, who married Cora Swan; John L., of Casco, Me., who married Lucy Nason; Mary A., who died in 1888, the wife of William Davis, of Rumford, Me .; Albion, the subject of this sketch; and Frederick Engene, who died at the age of ten years. After the death of his first wife the father married Miss Belinda Stone, of Otisfield township; and they became the parents of three children - Charles and Emma, and an infant unnamed, all deceased.
Albion L. Tubbs received his education in the public schools of Casco, remaining at home until nineteen years old, when for about a year he worked out in Greenwood. He soon married, and with his bride settled on the farm where he now lives. He has two hun- dred acres of land, much of it being in a good state of cultivation, well adapted for raising the crops common to this section of New Eng- land. He is carrying on general husbandry after the most approved modern methods, being enterprising and progressive, and a worthy representative of the up-to-date Eastern farmer. He has a small dairy, and gives some
543
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
attention to stock raising, which he considers a profitable branch of his business.
On March 14, 1889, Mr. Tubbs married Anna Kinsley, who was born in Greenwood township, a daughter of Welcome and Lucy Kinsley. Welcome Kinsley was born in Auburn, Me., son of Azel Kinsley. He married Lucy Hathaway, of Paris, Me., and lived for some six years in Woodstock, where he was Postmaster. He then sold his store, and bought the farm, where he ever after lived, and where his daughter, now Mrs. Albion Tubbs, makes her home, she being the only child of her parents now living. Mr. and Mrs. Tubbs have no children. Politi- cally, Mr. Tubbs uniformly supports the Re- publican ticket and the temperance cause, and has served his fellow-townsmen in some of the smaller offices of the place. He is a member of the grange of Patrons of Husbandry at Bryant's Pond.
LBION K. P. GOOGINS, an exten - sive farmer and fruit-grower of Hiram, Oxford County, Me., who has long been prominently in local public affairs, was born in Old Orchard, York County, this State, December 29, 1827, son of Nathaniel and Lucy (Thurston) Googins. Mr. Googins's paternal grandfather was David Googins, a prosperous farmer and lifelong resident of Old Orchard. He was the father of nine children - Nathaniel, Richard, Henry, David, John, Betsey, Jane, Susan, and Sarah. Of these, John died young; and the others all lived to reach maturity, but none are now living.
Nathaniel Googins, the first named of the five sons, was born in Old Orchard. In his earlier mature years he followed the sea; but he finally settled upon a farm in his native town, where for several years he was diligently and prosperously engaged in tilling the soil. His last days were passed in Lyman, Me. His wife, who was before marriage Lucy Thurston, and was a native of Scarboro, Me., became the mother of ten children, as follows : Louisa, who was born May 9, 1825, and mar- ried Francis A. Dearborn (both deceased) ; Albion Keith Paris, the subject of this
sketch; Francis B., who was born August 26, 1829, married Mary Taylor, and resides in Saco, Me. ; Ellen Hannah, who was born Sep- tember 1, 1831, and is now the wife of Joseph G. Libby, a machinist of Biddeford, Me. ; Christiana Plummer, who was born September 13, 1833, and married William D. Guilford (both deceased) ; Daniel Thurston, who was born December 7, 1835, and died August 6, 1837; William Hayes, who was born August 20, 1838, married for his first wife Priscilla S. Prescott, and for his second Cora Lothrop, and is now a carpenter of Scarboro, Me .; Lydia Ann, who was born December 4, 1840, married James Barry, and resides in Dakota; Lucy Abbie, who was born August 13, 1843, and is now the wife of Cyrus M. Lunt, super- intendent of the Lewiston water-works; and Charles Sumner, who was born February 24, 1846, married Clara A. Moore, of Somers- worth, N. H., and died August 9, 1896. Mrs. Lucy T. Googins, died November 7, 1870.
Albion K. P. Googins acquired a common- school education, and resided at the parental home until he was twenty years old. He then followed the sea for eight years; and in 1856 he settled in Hiram upon the old Stephen Wentworth place, where he has since resided. His farm, which is one of the finest and best managed in this vicinity, consists of one hundred acres, is well improved, and pro- duces excellent crops of hay, corn, and pota- toes annually. Mr. Googins also raises a large amount of fruit, which is the source of considerable income.
On March 12, 1856, Mr. Googins was joined in marriage with Ruth Healy Bensley, who was born in Scarboro, Me., July 29, 1833, daughter of George A. and Rachel W. (Bowe) Bensley. George A. Bensley was a native of Malden, Mass., and followed the sea until his death, which took place in 1835; and his wife, who was a native of Cape Elizabeth, died in 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Googins have three chil- dren, as follows: Mary Louisa, who was born November 27, 1857, and is now the wife of John B. Eaton, a prosperous farmer of Tren- ton, Me .; Edith Cressy, who was born Febru- ary 2, 1865, and is now the wife of Benjamin S. Hoyt, a successful farmer of Newington, N.H. ; and Fred Carlton, who was born Feb -
511
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
ruary 27, 1868, married Ellen Haven Dow, of Baldwin, Me., and is now a millman in Rowley, Mass.
Politically, Mr. Googins is an earnest sup- porter of the Republican party, and has con- tributed much toward securing its success in this locality. He has been Chairman of the Board of Selectmen three years, Town Clerk four years, and Highway Surveyor twenty years, besides holding other town offices; and he is now serving upon the Board of Health. He is connected with the Grange and the Pa- trons' Aid Society; and Mrs. Googins is a member of the Universalist church. As a progressive farmer and citizen of ability and worth, Mr. Googins ranks among the foremost residents of Hiram ; and he enjoys the sincere esteem and good will of his neighbors and fel- low-townsmen.
AMUEL A. BUMPUS, a promi- ment and respected resident of He- bron, Oxford County, is prosperously engaged in general farming, stock- raising, dairying, and fruit-growing. He was born in Hebron, May 24, 1829, son of Samuel and Rebecca L. (Kinsley) Bumpus. His grandfather, Maurice Bumpus, who was a pioneer settler of Hebron, reclaimed a farm from the wilderness, and in the course of time attained a place of prominence in the com- munity. Maurice died in Hebron at a ripe age, October 13, 1837; and his wife, Huldah, passed away December 18, 1841.
Samuel Bumpus, a native of Hebron, born May 23, 1788, succeeded to the home farm, which in his time covered one hundred and fifteen acres. He was very successful in farm- ing, and was also profitably engaged in stock- raising. Mr. Bumpus served in the War of 1812, and received a pension for his services. He cast his maiden vote with the Whigs; and, when the Republican party was formed, he naturally gave his adhesion to that organiza- tion. In religious belief he was a Univer- salist. He died on the home farm at the advanced age of fourscore and six. His wife, who was born in Auburn, Me., March I, 1799, was also over fourscore when she died at Hebron. Their domestic circle included
eleven children, namely : Azel K., now resid- ing in Norway, Me. ; Martha H., the widow of Captain Horatio LeBaron, residing in Hebron ; Martin K., in Turner, Me. ; Samuel A., the subject of this sketch; Laura E., the wife of Horace Tribou, in Machias, Me .; Horatio, in Wakefield, Mass .; Dulcina R., the wife of Joseph Hibbs, of Hebron; Amanda E., the wife of H. Nelson Hood, of Greene, Andro- scoggin County; Columbia A., in Hebron; Harriet Eleanor, who died June 3, 1842; and Mary, the widow of H. N. Hood, who died aged about fifty years.
Samuel A. Bumpus was reared and educated in his native town. When he attained his majority, he started in life for himself, choos- ing agriculture for his chief occupation. His first land purchase was a part of the old home -. stead in Hebron. He added to this property until at one time he owned three hundred acres in Hebron and Turner. In October, 1872, he purchased the farm on which he now resides. This is a valuable estate of one hun- dred and forty-three acres. On it he has made many improvements, erecting substantial build- ings and developing the best qualities of the land.
Mr. Bumpus was married February 25, 1856, to Miss Nancy H. Bowles, who died January 24, 1857, leaving one daughter, Gustie N. This daughter is now the wife of Ansel Bow- man, of Hebron. On June 2, 1859, he con- tracted a second marriage with Miss Sarah H. Goodhue, who was born in Deerfield, N. H., May 28, 1834, daughter of Sewall and Hannah (Jenkins) Goodhue. Mr. Goodhue, who was a native of Deerfield, N. H., was engaged in farming in the early part of his life, and in re- tailing wood in the latter part. In politics he was a Republican, and he served two years in the State legislature. He died at the age of sixty-seven. Mrs. Goodhue, who was a native of Greenland, N. H., and a member of the Congregational church, passed away in her fifty-fifth year. They reared four other chil- dren - James W., Samuel G., Langdon, and Mary A. Mary A., now deceased, was the wife of Alden Stone. Mr. and Mrs. Bumpus have two children - James L. and Grace E. James L. was born in Turner, Me., March 21, 1861. He was reared in Hebron, finishing
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.