USA > Maine > Oxford County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 85
USA > Maine > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 85
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bought his present estate, which contains about two hundred acres of good land. Prosperity smiled on his efforts so that under his judi- cious management his farm is now well im- proved, as regards its cultivation, buildings, and equipments, comparing favorably with any in this locality. In addition to general farm- ing Mr. Curtis has made stock-raising a spe- cialty, meeting with good success in this branch also. Politically, he is an uncompro- mising Republican, and during the years 1881-83 and 1888 he served as Selectman. Fraternally, he is a member of West Paris Grange, No. 298, Patrons of Husbandry ; and religiously he is a sound Universalist.
Mr. Curtis was married April 30, 1867, to Cynthia A. Warner, a native of Paris, born March 2, 1841. She died March 3, 1887,- leaving three children - Alton L., George L., and William P. Alton L. Curtis, born May 3, 1868, now a resident of the town of Norway, married Cordelia E. Swett, and they have one child, John E. ; George L., born August 19, 1870, also living in Norway, married Nellie F. Smith; and William P., born January I, 1881, is at home. On November 5, 1889, Mr. Curtis married Georgia A. Gage, who was born in South Paris, May 13, 1849, a daughter of Moses and Huldah (Swett) Gage. Mr. Gage was a carpenter and farmer, and a highly respected citizen of this town. He died at the advanced age of eighty-two years, and his wife at the age of eighty-three. Of their eight children but three are living, namely : Joseph S. Gage, of California; Lucinda E., of Paris; and Georgia A., now Mrs. Curtis.
SGOOD PERRY, a veteran agricult- urist of the town of Norway, Me., was born on the farm which he now owns and occupies Septemher 5, 1824, a son of John Perry. His grandfather, Zebedee Perry, a native of Massachusetts, lived for many years in the town of Paris, this county. He married Judith Tucker, a native of Cape Ann, Mass., and both died in the early part of the present century. He was a natural me- chanic, using tools of all kinds with dexter -. ity ; and an old oak chair that he made more than a hundred years ago is one of the cher-
ished possessions of his grandson, Osgood Perry.
John Perry was born and reared in Paris, from whence, after attaining his majority, he came to Norway, settling on the farmi now owned by the subject of this sketch. Here he worked at the carpenter's trade in his younger days, and was likewise engaged in general farming, living here until his death, May 23, 1869. His wife, whose maiden name was Amelia Bartlett, was born, and lived, in Plymouth, Penobscot County, until seventeen years old, when she came with her parents to Oxford County, making her home in Paris. She attained the advanced age of eighty-nine years, passing away February 13, 1874, on the home farm where her married life had been spent. She bore her husband four children, as follows: Granville, who married the late Elizabeth Turner, and lives in Boston, where, in partnership with his son, he is engaged in the sash, door, and blind business; Osgood, the special subject of this sketch; Lucy Jane, who died at the age of twenty years; and Mercy Amelia, who died when but seven years old.
Osgood Perry received a common-school education, and from his early boyhood days assisted in the manual labors of the farm. After his marriage he continued his residence on the homestead, caring for his parents during their later years, and after their death suc- ceeding to the ownership of the estate. This property, consisting of one hundred and fifty acres of land, is located on Perry's Hill, and is familiarly known as the old Perry farm. Mr. Perry has labored with persevering en- ergy, and has met with well-merited success in making the improvements on his place. In addition to general farming he still works some at the carpenter's trade, which he learned in his youth, having assisted his father in both occupations. Besides the homestead he owns other land in the township. In politics Mr. Perry uniformly supports the principles of the Republican party. Both he and his wife are active members of the Congrega- tional church, which he has faithfully served as Deacon for many years.
On November 18, 1848, Mr. Perry married Miss Emma M. Frost, who was born June 1,
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1826, in Norway, a daughter of Edmund and Anna P. (Lovejoy) Frost, both of whom died on their farm in this township. Mrs. Perry's parents were born and reared in Massachusetts, her mother having been a native of the historic town of Andover, which is two hundred and fifty years old in this year of 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Perry have four children, the following being their record: William O., born March 3, 1851, married Mary L. Burnham, and is engaged in farming ncar the old homestcad ; Horacc S., born May 29, 1855, married Miss Ursula Smith, and lives on the homestead farm; Amelia A. J., born October 29, 1860, is a trained nurse, has worked in a hospital, but is now living at home; and Lcland J., who was born November 14, 1869, died Octo- ber 23, 1879.
AVID McKEEN, of Stoneham, Ox- ford County, a well-known farmer and lumberman of this place, was born here February 21, 1832, son of
David Mckeen. His grandfather, Joel Mc- Keen, was the head of one of the old repre- sentative families of Stoneham. Joel, who was a native of Stoneham, was for several years in business here and afterward in Chat- ham, N. H. He subsequently residcd in Lov- ell, this county, for a few years, after which he removed to Oxford township, where his last days were passed. He and his wife were blessed in the birth of five children - Julia Ann, Roxanna, David, Hiram, and Osina, of whom David is the only survivor. The mother has also passed away. David McKeen, Sr., remained with his parents until after his mar- riage. In 1880 he removed to the farm now owned by his son. Here he and his wife still reside, both now venerable in years.
David McKeen grew to manhood at the home of his parents, receiving his cducation in the district schools. His farm, formerly owned by his father, now contains between four hundred and fifty and five hundred acres, of which a part is wild land. He conducts general farming thereon, and is also somewhat engaged in dairying. Being now unable to perform much of the farm work, he has prac- tically retired from active occupations, leaving
the estate to be managed by his sons. He and his wife have had ten children - Walter, Edward, Everett, Sumner F., Lottie E., Fred F., Willis E., Linnie M., Annie M., and Ava E. Walter resides at homc. Edward is now
deceased. Everett marricd Miss Etta Hib- bard, and they now reside at Shelburne, N. H. Fred F. also lives at Shelburne. Willis E. is still at home. Annie M. and Ava E. still live at the old mansion. Sumner, who wedded Miss Flora Dillingham (now deceased), is a resident of Stoneham township. Lottie is the wife of O. Locke, of Bridgton, Me., where they make their home. Linnie also resides at Bridgton, and is the wife of Samuel R. Allen of that place. Mr. McKeen takes an active interest in the general affairs of the town and vicinity, and he has served in sev- eral public capacities. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a member of the lodge at North Lovell. In national politics he has always supported the Democratic party. His life of industry has received its due meed of prosperity, and he has the cordial respect of a large acquaintance- ship throughout the county.
RNEST E. FIELD, a practical and prosperous farmer, and a well-known representative of one of the old fam- ilies of Paris, Oxford County, was born Janu- ary 17, 1861, in North Paris. This part of the town was also the birthplace of his par- ents, Franklin N. and Sabina J. (Andrews) Field. His father was a grandson of Ephraim Field, who is mentioned in the History of Paris as having settled here in 1786.
Galen Field, son of Ephraim, born in 1788, established his home in North Paris. He was a well-educated man, and for many winters was engaged in teaching. He was Justice of the Peace, and, besides often being employed in other public capacities, did much of the probate work of this locality. He lived to be past the age of threescore and ten years. To him and his wife, formerly Polly (or Mary) Thayer, seven children were born, namely : Jane; William; Laura; Franklin, father of Ernest E. ; Charles; Hiram; and Mary.
Franklin N. Field spent his entire life in
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his native place, being numbered among its most enterprising and active farmers. In 1871 he bought the estate now occupied by his son, Ernest E., and was here engaged in gen- eral farming until his demise, January 30, 1892. His wife survived him a very few days, dying on February 7. They had but two children, namely: Lisa E., born August 1, 1858, who is the wife of Frank E. Gowell, of North Paris, and has one child, Eunice; and Ernest E., the subject of this sketch. The parents were liberal in religion, and in politics the father was identified with the Republican party.
Ernest E. Field passed the days of his boy- hood and youth in North Paris, attending first the district schools and later the high school of the town. He subsequently taught school four terms, but has been employed the larger part of his active life in the prosecution of the calling in which he is now engaged. He owns the old home farm, containing one hundred and ten acres, which he has greatly improved. The family residence is com- modious and comely; and everything about his premises indicates the existence of good management, cultivated tastes, and ample means.
On December 28, 1886, Mr. Field married Emily F. Joy, who was born May 26, 1865, at Prospect Harbor, Me., a daughter of Free- man and Georgia (Moore) Joy. Mr. and Mrs. Field have two children - Ora E., born Janu- ary 2, 1892; and Keith Joy, born September 10, 1893. Politically, Mr. Field is an earn- est supporter of the principles of the Republi- can party. He is a prominent member of several popular organizations, including Gran- ite Lodge, No. 187, A. F. & A. M .; Paris Lodge, No. 15, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of West Paris; and the Patrons of Husbandry, No. 298, of the same place. Both he and Mrs. Field are liberal in their religious belief.
ENRY G. BROWN, a prosperous farmer and wide-awake business man of Hartford, Me., was born in in the town of Rumford, Oxford County, Me., November 22, 1829. His par-
ents were John M. and Martha (Gibson) Brown, the former of whom was a native of Rumford and the latter of Brownfield, Me. The father of John M. Brown was an early settler of Rumford. He owned at one time a part of what is now the site of Rumford Falls village, but subsequently removed to Peru. In religious views he was liberal; in political affiliation, a Democrat. Both he and his wife lived to a good age. They had nine children; but the only one now living is Mrs. Sarah Staples, of Mexico, Me.
John M. Brown took up farming as an occu- pation, and for many years resided in Canton, where he died at the age of eighty-five, and his wife at the age of ninety-two years. They had five children who grew up, and one that died in infancy. Only two are now living, namely : Henry G. ; and Emily R., the wife of Albert Hawes, of Hyde Park, Mass. Mar- garet, who married a Mr. Soule, died at sixty- four years of age. The others were : Martha, who married a Mr. Brown; and Sarah, whose husband's name was Pierce. In politics their father was a Democrat, and in religion a Universalist.
Henry G. Brown grew to manhood in Can- ton, and was educated in the schools of that town. Starting out for himself at twenty-one years of age, he went to Massachusetts and secured a position as foreman on a gentleman's farm, where he remained for eleven years. At the end of that time, in 1870, he returned to his native county and purchased the farm in Hartford where he now resides. He is one of the largest land owners in the town, his estate comprising in all about four hundred and sixty acres.
Mr. Brown has been twice married. His first wife was Olive A. Waldron, by whom he had five children, namely : Charles H. and Minnie A., now deceased; Adella V., the wife of Sidney Peach, of Santa Cruz, Cal. ; Effie V., wife of Sumner Taylor, of Riverside, Cal. ; and Charles H., unmarried, who lives in Hartford, Me. Mr. Brown married for his second wife Mrs. Mary A. Sampson, who was the widow of Elisha T. Sampson. She was born in Hartford, Me., July 5, 1834, a daugh- ter of Levi Cobb. Her four children born of her first marriage are all living, namely : Ella,
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the wife of Fred Allen, of East Wilton, Me. ; Herbert M. Sampson, of Canton, Me. ; Lucy A., the wife of Preston Barker, of Hartford; and Elisha T. Sampson, who makes his home with his mother. Albert V., the only child born of her union with Mr. Brown, also lives at home.
In politics Mr. Brown is independent. He and Mrs. Brown are liberal in religious views. He is not one of those who await a convenient time to achieve a purpose, but one who makes his own opportunity; and the result has been fruitful of the success which every honest and right endeavor merits.
EORGE W. JOHNSON, one of the leading farmers of Industry and an ex-member of the Maine legislature, was born here, July 10, 1821, son of Henry and Catherine (Sullivan) Johnson. The pa- ternal ancestry of Mr. Johnson were residents of Charlestown and Boston, Mass. His grand- father, Zebadiah Johnson, who resided in Bos- ton, married Elizabeth Kneeland, of that city, daughter of Nathaniel Kneeland. Both par- ents died before their son Henry was four years old.
Henry Johnson, George W. Johnson's father, was born in Boston. He was brought up in Wiscasset, Me., by his maiden aunt, Sarah Kneeland, with whom he resided until he was twenty-one. He learned the trade of a block-maker. After his marriage he bought the farm in Industry now owned by his son, George W. Here he was engaged in farm- ing, and worked at his trade during the rest of his active period; and he died June 24, 1870. His wife, Catherine, who was a native of New Sharon, Me., became the mother of fifteen children, named respectively: John Elliott, Henry, Zebediah, Daniel Sullivan, George W., Nathan Smith, Eliza Jane, Cathe- rine, Richard Elliott, Elias Hutchins, Mary Paul, John Elliott (second), Sarah Abbie, and Ann Hutchins. Another child died in in- fancy.
John Elliott Johnson (first), born October 12, 1812, died December 10, 1835. Henry Johnson, born July 14, 1814, died December IO, 1842. Zebediah Johnson, deceased, born
February 18, 1816, married Clarissa T. Swift, May 12, 1839; he died February 1, 1892, at Appleton, Wis., and is survived by his wife and four children. Daniel Sullivan Johnson, born September 25, 1819, married Mrs. Mary Stanford. Both are deceased. Nathan Smith Johnson, deceased, born April 16, 1823, mar- ried Mary C. Butler. Eliza Jane Johnson, born May 18, 1825, married James Sanford Williams, and resides in Hallowell, Me .; Catherine Johnson, born May 7, 1827, who married Isaac F. Mitchell, of Gardiner, Me., died January 15, 1852. Richard Elliott Johnson, who was born in Industry, Me., April 14, 1829, married Louise A. Reed, of Dresden, Me., October 3, 1854. He and his wife had four children - Henry, Harriet M., Gertrude, and Annie Louise, - whose record follows.
Henry, born June 25, 1855, now Professor of Modern Languages in Bowdoin College, re- siding in Brunswick, Me., married Fannie Robinson, of Thomaston, Me., July 26, 1881. Harriet M., born September 3; 1857, married George H. Ray, of Gardiner, Me., October 14, 1880. She and her husband reside in La Crosse, Wis. He is President of the State Bank of La Crosse and Director in the Gem City Saw-mill Company of Quincy, Ill. He has been re-elected Assemblyman to the Wis- consin legislature for 1897-98. Gertrude, born December 6, 1860, died May 28, 1862. Annie Louise, born November 9, 1863, died June 6, 1878.
Elias Hutchins Johnson, born April 7, 1831, died October 22, 1883. Mary Paul Johnson, born November 10, 1833, succes- sively married Harvey Jack and Samuel Will- iams, and resides in Litchfield, Me. John Elliott Johnson (second), born February 9, 1836, successively married Ann J. Roberts and Mrs. Sarah Rackcliffe Hall, and resides in New Sharon. Sarah Abbie Johnson, born May 21, 1838, died August 21, 1844. Ann Hutchins Johnson, deceased, born November 5, 1840, married Z. M. Emery, also deceased. The mother of the fifteen children above named died September 13, 1872.
George W. Johnson was educated in the schools of Industry, and began to assist upon the farm at an early age. In young manhood
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he bought the homestead property, which he has since continued to cultivate. Having been successful from the start, he now owns one thousand acres of land. He has improved his farm by the erection of new buildings, and he follows advanced methods in its cultiva- tion. His principal crops are corn, hay, bar- ley, and potatoes. He also raises cattle and sheep, keeping an average of fifty head of the former and three hundred of the latter. Be- sides these he has fifty hogs and six horses. The Johnson farm includes upland pasturage, wood, and tillage, and is considered one of the most valuable estates in this locality. The proprietor and his son receive further income from a large wholesale and retail meat business, through which they supply both the local and Boston markets. Mr. Johnson also deals largely in wool, and has been extensively engaged in stock trading for many years.
On May 15, 1856, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage with Emily Weston, who was born in Madison, Somerset County, Me., April 12, 1836. She is a daughter of Nathan and Almedia (Pooler) Weston, the former of whom was a native of Madison, and the latter of Bloomfield, Me. Mrs. Johnson's father was engaged in farming and lumbering during the active period of his life, and both he and his wife died in Madison. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have five children, as follows: Viola, who was born April 30, 1857, and is now the wife of Charles E. Weston, of Milwaukee, Wis .; Na- than Weston, born May 25, 1861, who married Inez Watson, resides at the homestead, and has one son, George Kneeland, born July I, 1896; Clara A., who was born November 23, 1862, and is now an accomplished and success- ful teacher in the public schools of Milwau- kee; Bertha Emily, who was born June 7, 1867, and is now the wife of Dr. John W. Nichols, of Farmington; and Georgia F., who was born July 29, 1870, and is now teaching in a kindergarten in Milwaukee. The chil- dren are all graduates of the town graded schools, two of the Farmington High School, two of the State Normal School in Farming- ton, and one of the Wisconsin State Normal School at Milwaukee. All have talents for drawing and painting.
Mr. Johnson has been long identified with the public affairs of Industry. He served as Collector for eighteen years, was Selectman and Assessor for fifteen years, and in 1880 was elected to the Maine House of Represent- ativės. He was an active supporter of the Democratic party until the present year, when he transferred his support to the Republicans. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge of New Sharon, and is a charter member of the lodge of Odd Fellows in North Anson, hav- ing had connection with the order for fifty years.
AMUEL GOULD CRAIG was born on December 16, 1827, in Farmington, where he was a highly successful farmer and a lifelong resident. He died on May 4, 1895, survived by his second wife, Mrs. Susan J. Weathern Craig, and a son and daughter born of his first marriage.
Samuel Gould Craig's great-great-grand- father, Andrew Craig, was a Scotsman by birth, and was the first of the name who set- tled in America. His grandson, Enoch Craig, son of John Craig, was born in Wrentham, Mass., September 11, 1758. He enlisted in the American army in the very outset of the struggle for independence, and served in its ranks until 1780, in which year he came to Hallowell, now Augusta, Me. Enoch Craig was one of a party of explorers on this occasion, who were investigating the regions of Sandy River in quest of a suitable spot for a settlement. Finding what appeared to be a desirable situation, he purchased the tract known as lot No. 22, cleared a small portion of it, and built a cabin of humble di- mensions. Returning then to Hallowell, he remained there until the following spring, when he once more wended his way toward the little clearing on Sandy River. He now fell to work with renewed energy, cleared more land, raised grain, and built a substan- tial log house, and was one of the first who settled the town of Farmington. His wife, Dorothy Starling, whom he married in Feb- ruary, 1789, was born in 1763, and died in 1829. Enoch Craig was a man whose high
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character and moral worth won for him not only the universal respect and confidence of his neighbors, but a prominent position in the town he had helped to create. He was Se- lectman for a number of terms, and for four years Town Treasurer. Enoch Craig and his wife were the parents of ten children, John, the father of the late Samuel G. Craig, being the first-born.
His birth occurred November 14, 1789, in the log house fashioned in his father's youth; and here he grew up, assisting his father in cultivating the land until he was old enough to establish himself as a farmer. Soon after attaining manhood he bought lot No. 8, which he cleared and farmed until his death. John Craig married twice. His first wife was Drusilla, daughter of Daniel Stanley, of Attle- boro, Mass. She was born in 1788, and died in 1823, having been the mother of four chil- dren. Mr. John Craig formed a second mar- riage with his first wife's sister, Charlotte Stanley, who was born June 15, 1792; and by this union also four children were born, namely: Charles S .; Samuel Gould, of whom this brief memoir is written; Charlotte D .; and Virgil L. John Craig was widely known and honored for his integrity and strength of character. He died January 22, 1873, and was followed to the grave by his wife, Char- lotte, July 23, 1874, a year and a half later.
Samuel Gould Craig received a public school education, and remained with his par- ents until he was thirty years old. He then, having already a large experience in agricult- ural arts, bought a farm, which he subse- quently exchanged for the estate known as the Butterfield farm, and at an earlier date called the Hiscock place. This tract of land lay on the South River Road, and consisted of one hundred and twenty-five acres of fertile soil. By the purchase of an equal amount of adjoin- ing land, his estate was doubled in both extent and value, and rendered a most desirable place by the remodelling of the buildings and other improvements. In 1872, however, the dwelling and out-houses were destroyed by fire. This was, of course, a heavy loss; but the energetic owner at once set to work, and had a handsome house and commodious barns and other farm buildings erected. Mr. Craig
was a Republican in politics. He served the town acceptably as Selectman.
Samuel G. Craig, like his father, was twice married. His first wife, with whom he was united July 16, 1853, was Ellen K. B. Abbot, a daughter of Asa Abbot, the mother of two children - Samuel A., born January 26, 1855; and Lizzie E, born November 12, 1856. Samuel A. Craig married Mary F. Atherton, and is the father of four children - John A., Harry, Margaret, and Samuel G. Lizzie E. is the wife of O. P. Whittier, and the mother of four children - Arthur C., Helen A., Earl O., and Don. Samuel Gould Craig's second marriage was celebrated July 3, 1862, when he was united in the bonds of wedlock with Susan J. Weathern.
Mrs. Susan J. W. Craig belongs to a family long known and honored in this locality. Ar- nold Weathern, her great-grandfather, was the son of French emigrants, and a native, it is thought, of Newbury, Mass. He came to Farmington in the early days of its growth, and purchased lot No. 7, on the west side of Sandy River, where he built a cabin. Here he spent his life, dying at an advanced age in the home of his first-born, Benjamin. His children were: Benjamin, Micah, Micah (sec- ond); Arnold, David, and Mary. Benjamin was really the executive head of the family, as his father was an old man when they came to Maine, and it was he who cleared the land of lot No. 7, and made a home there. The high waters gave warning, however, that they were dangerously near the river, and Benjamin found it expedient to move. Accordingly, he built a habitation on the tract of land which was more elevated, and is the present home of the Weatherns. Benjamin Weathern was justly popular among his neighbors. He was a Universalist in religious belief, but, with the broad charity and tolerance that is the mark of true Christianity, he opened his doors' to the gospel services of any denomination, and it is pleasant to think that within his house, which was the first built in this town, members of the Congregational faith were accustomed to gather together to hold services of worship, a beautiful example thus being set of a united fellowship in the faith of a divine Love and Fatherhood.
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