USA > Maine > Oxford County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 87
USA > Maine > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 87
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ANIEL HOLT, a retired farmer of Norway, Oxford County, was born in this town, April 7, 1823, and comes of early Colonial ancestry. His grandfather, Darius Holt, Sr., a native of Andover, Mass., migrated to Norway, Me., a few years after the Revolution, in which he had served, being with General Wayne at Stony Point. He settled on the Buck farm, which was then in its original wildness, and, having cleared a homestead, resided here until his death, in August, 1854, aged ninety-one years. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Chloe Holt, had fourteen children, none of whom are now living.
Darius Holt, Jr., one of this large family, was a lifelong farmer in Norway, his native town, engaging in his occupation first at the Centre, then at Swift's Corner, but finally set- tling not far from the home of his son Daniel, residing there for the remainder of his life. He was a natural mechanic, and in addition to farming worked considerably at the carpenter's trade. He married Miss Sarah Manson, a native of Kittery, Me., and they were the parents of seven children, as follows: Sophia, deceased ; Daniel, the special subject of this biographical sketch; Jonathan, the first, who died in infancy; Jonathan, second, now over- seer in the car shops at Aurora, Ill. ; Darius, third, deceased; Ann, the wife of Cyrus Good, of Yarmouth, Me. ; and William, a soldier in the late Civil War, was killed at the battle of . Baton Rouge. Mrs. Sarah M. Holt died some years after her husband.
Daniel Holt obtained his education in the district school, trudging two miles each morn- ing through the intervening woods, and on the home farm received a practical knowledge of pioneer farming. When twenty years of age, desirous of trying some new employment, he went to Somerville, Mass., where he worked six months in a brick yard. Coming back to the parental homestead, during the next year he assisted his father in clearing a portion of the land. The succeeding year Mr. Holt spent in Medfield, Mass., working about eight months on a farm, and some four months in Mr. Partridge's shop, making rakes and other farming tools. Finding no occupation more congenial than farming, he returned to Norway,
and soon after was married and settled with his young wife on the homestead which they now occupy.
In November, 1861, Mr. Holt enlisted in his country's service in Company G, Four- teenth Maine Volunteer Infantry, under Cap- tain Cheney and Colonel Nicholson; but, un- able to endure the hardships and privations of army life, he was discharged on account of physical disability, May 16, 1862. Resuming the task of clearing his land, Mr. Holt worked with persistent industry, and in due course of time redeemed a well-improved homestead from the dense forest which he had purchased. He has one hundred and fifty acres of land, devoted to general farming, dairying, stock- raising, and fruit-growing, the farm being now managed by his son and son-in-law.
On April 6, 1850, Mr. Holt married Louisa D. Hill, who was born October 2, 1824, in Yarmouth, this State, a daughter of Jacob and Phobe (Manson) Hill. Mr. Hill, who fol- lowed the sea during his active life, being for many years Captain of a vessel, was born in Yarmouth, and there died. Mrs. Hill was a native of Kittery, Me., but spent her last years in Yarmouth. Mr. and Mrs. Holt have five children - Amanda S., Rufus Henry, Samuel G., Jennie Ella, and Minnie. Amanda S. Holt married Alexander Lafarier, and both died, leaving two children, namely : Ida M., born November 23, 1871, now the wife of Manley McFarland; and Ella Louise, born August 17, 1873, who is at present teaching in Norway. Rufus Henry Holt, a resident of Aurora, Ill., is married and has two children : Louisa, born October 24, 1886; and Daniel, born January 1, 1892. Samuel G. Holt assists in the management of the home farm. Jennie Ella Holt married Walter Buck, a farmer in Norway, and they have seven children - Oli- ver C., Albion Leroy, Lucia Ella, Walter Sidney, Elsie Minerva, Lena May, and Clif- ford M. Minnie, who, with her husband. Henry N. Brown, lives on the homestead, has two children : George Leroy, born March 4. 1886; and Ida Estella, born February II, 1894. Politically, Mr. Holt is a steadfast Republican, and has held several of the minor offices of the town and county. He is a mem- ber of the Harry Rust Post, No. 54, Grand
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Army of the Republic, of Norway village, and formerly belonged to the Norway Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, but has withdrawn his membership from that organization. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
HARLES T. HODGKINS, an enter- prising merchant and lumber manu- facturer of Temple, Me., was born in this town, August 20, 1864, son of William and Mary (Locklin) Hodgkins.
The family is one of the oldest in Temple, Joseph Hodgkins, Charles T. Hodgkins's great- grandfather, having come here from Minot, Me., when the region was mostly a wilderness. The farm which he cleared and improved in the northern part of the town is now occupied by George Hodgkins. He took up a tract of one hundred and sixty acres, part of which he brought to a state of cultivation ; and, after fol- lowing the shoemaker's trade here in connec- tion with farming for several years, he sold his property, and, removing to Douglass, Mass., took charge of one of the departments in a cloth-mill. He married Rhoda Hodgkins, and both he and his wife lived to reach an ad- vanced age.
Alpheus Hodgkins, son of Joseph, was born in Minot, Me., September 27, 1813, and came with his parents to Temple at the age of nine- teen. When a young man he bought a farm in the neighborhood of his father's property ; but, after clearing off some eighty acres he sold it to his son William and went to Avon, Me., where he purchased another farm, and resided there for a few years. From Avon he removed to a farm situated upon Sandy River, and re- sided there until his death. He married for his first wife Caroline Wyman, who was born in Temple, October 12, 1812, and died in 1850. By this union there were born nine children, as follows: William, Mr. C. T. Hodgkins's father; Rufus, who was born March 8, 1836; Alpheus, who was born June II, 1837; Elizabeth, who was born September 23, 1838; Emma, who was born May 3, 1840; Martha, who was born October 17, 1841; Beulah, who was born March 13, 1843; Julia L., who was born June 13, 1845; and Rhoda
E., who was born January 26, 1849. Alpheus Hodgkins wedded a second wife, and she bore him five children, namely: Aaron, who was born June 3, 1853; Jessie V., who was born March 25, 1854; Sarah C., who was born June II, 1856; Mary, who was born June 8, 1861; and Elbridge G., who was born January 25, 1862.
William Hodgkins, eldest son of Alpheus, was born in Temple, Me., November 22, 1834. In young manhood he engaged in logging, which occupation he followed for five years ; and he then bought the tract of two hundred acres which was being cleared by his father. After improving the farm and carrying it on for fourteen years he sold sixty acres of it, still owning the balance of one hundred and forty acres, and from there moved to the Z. Smith farm of one hundred and forty acres, where he now resides. He successfully conducts gen- eral farming, having a well-equipped dairy and keeping an average of one hundred and fifty sheep. In politics he is a Republican, and has served the town with ability as a member of the Board of Selectmen for five years. In his religious views he is a Baptist. His first wife was Mary Locklin, daughter of Josiah and Ab- igail (Carley) Locklin. She became the mother of nine children, as follows: William F., who was born August 22, 1857; Abbie L., who was born October 17, 1859; Mary L., who was born March 27, 1861; Eddie I., who was born July 10, 1863; Charles T., the subject of this sketch; Sheridan G. ; Rufus; Mattie; and Clarence. Mrs. Mary L. Hodg- kins died at the age of fifty-six years. Will- iam Hodgkins's present wife was before their marriage Mrs. Frances Wood, widow of Will- iam Wood.
Charles T. Hodgkins was the fifth child born to his parents. He began his education in the district schools, and, after finishing his studies at the Wilton Academy, when he was seven- teen years old, he taught school four years. He then bought the H. and J. Russell Mills in Temple village, where he engaged in gen- eral sawing and the planing business and the manufacture of excelsior; and, taking his brother, Sheridan G. Hodgkins, into partner- ship later, he bought the E. Thurston Mills. This firm has rebuilt the dam, put in entirely
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new equipments for sawing and planing, to- gether with improved machinery for making laths, shingles, and spool stock, and are doing an extensive and exceedingly profitable busi- ness. They have purchased seven hundred acres of woodland, the clearing of which re- quires the services of a large crew of men and several teams; and the manufactured products are sold at home and shipped to Portland and Boston. In 1895 the Hodgkins Brothers bought the general mercantile business of W. W. Small, which is the only store in town ; and they carry a large stock, including gro- ceries, hardware, paints, oils, dry goods, ready-made clothing, and other merchandise. The mercantile branch of the business is under the immediate supervision of Charles T. Hodg- kins; while Sheridan G. has charge of the mills, and the entire enterprise is thoroughly organized and conducted upon a sound basis.
On August 22, 1885, Charles T. Hodgkins was married to Belle Sylvester, daughter of John and Jennie (Vinning) Sylvester, of Avon, Me. Mr. and Mrs. Hodgkins have three chil- dren, namely : Hattie, who was born October 10, 1885 ; Paul, who was born September 20, 1894 ; and one younger, as yet unnamed.
Mr. Hodgkins is an able, ambitious and exceedingly alert business man, and, having succeeded in establishing himself upon a firm footing, is now well advanced upon the road to competence. Since reaching his majority he has acted with the Republican party in pol- itics, and for six years has served with ability as Supervisor of Schools. He occupies the E. Thurston residence, which is situated in close proximity to his business and has been remodelled and improved since coming into his possession. In his religious views he is liberal.
ILLIAM G. MORTON, one of the most prominent business men of Woodstock, Oxford County, Me., was born in Needham, Mass., August 25, 1864, son of William H. and Mary A. (Teb- betts) Morton. His paternal grandfather was Cornelius B. Morton, who was born in Middle- boro, Mass. He moved to Winthrop, Me., where his son, William H., was born. Will- iam H. Morton was a carpenter and builder.
He moved to East Boston, and subsequently to Needham, Mass. He was a member of the Forty-fifth Regiment, Massachusetts Volun- teer Infantry. His wife, Mary, was a native of Boston.
William G. Morton, the special subject of this sketch, was very young when his father died, and his mother was left a widow with several children and very little to live on except what they could make for themselves. But Mrs. Morton was determined that her chil- dren should have education; and by dint of hard labor she managed to keep them in school, even though she was at last obliged to sacrifice her home for the purpose.
After leaving the Needhan High School William Morton went to work in the office of the Needham Chronicle, where he remained for a year, and then he went to Boston to get a better position. In that city he found a chance to work for the Beacon Press, and kept at this for three years. During these years he also did composition work for the Boston Sunday Mail, thereby earning a little extra money. After leaving the Beacon Press, young Morton went to work for W. B. Mendum & Co., who were wholesale and retail grocers in Boston. He began his business career with them as cashier at their South Boston store. In this position he remained for a year, after that time going to their Washington Street store, where, after serving as book-keeper and salesman, he was given charge of the store. He then went out on the road in the interests of the firm for a couple of years more, thus making his term of employment with them about four years in all.
When he was twenty-one, at the expiration of these four years of experience in the grocery business, he started in for himself, buying a little corner grocery at the corner of Cam- bridge and West Cedar Streets in Boston. After conducting his business for a year, and very successfully for so small an enterprise, he bought a creamery to run in connection there- with. But the former owner had, as subse- quently was proved, grossly inisrepresented the "Vermont Creamery," so called; and, as an investment, it proved for the time being almost fatal, Mr. Morton losing about five hundred dollars by the transaction. In buying
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the creamery he had gone into debt, and in consequence had to sell his whole business out in order to free himself from this encum- brance. After paying his bills with the pro- ceeds of the sale, he took a pleasure trip to Maine in order to get a little rest and recuper- ation from the worry that his business troubles had brought upon him.
In the town of Woodstock he met an old friend, who told him that the hotel at Bryant's Pond was for rent, and suggested that he should take it for the next season. Favorably impressed with the place on further investiga- tion, Mr. Morton leased the hotel and ran it very successfully for a year. He then sold out his interest and engaged in the general mer- chandise business with Ansel Dudley, for whom he worked two years in the capacity of clerk and book-keeper. Shortly after that, Mr. Morton, with his usual energy, started up another business for himself as a dealer in fur- niture, crockery, and glassware, making a great success of it. At first his stock was quite small, and he ventured only with a stock of holiday goods ; but he has been increasing it year by year, making large additions and gain- ing in every way, until now he is one of the leading and best known business men of Woodstock.
Fruitful in expedients Mr. Morton makes his place as attractive and striking as possible in, every way. He was the originator of the Bryant's Pond souvenirs, reproductions on crockery and spoons of local scenes. Mr. Morton's patrons come from various distances, some from twenty-five miles away; for he car- ries the most complete stock of general house- hold goods in this part of the State of Maine. At the present time he has over five thousand dollars' worth of goods in his store. He has made quite a little money, and is the owner of a little peninsula that stretches out into Lake Christopher, containing about two and a half acres of ground, and commanding a beau- tiful view of the lake and the surrounding scenery, where he proposes to erect a summer cottage. He does a thriving business in boat- letting summers, this place being a favorite resort for the lovers of nature.
Mr. Morton is an active worker in the cause of temperance, being an enthusiastic member
of the Supreme Lodge of Good Templars of Oxford County, and having filled all the offices from the lowest to the highest in the Bryant's Pond Lodge and the Oxford County District Lodge, a worthy branch of this asso- ciation. He is a member of the Christopher Lake Lodge of the U. O. G. C., a charter member of Bryant's Pond Camp of the Sons of Veterans, and likewise an earnest member of the School Board. While in Boston he be- longed to the local Young Men's Christian Association for three years previous to his coming to Maine. He is a Republican in politics, and a Congregationalist in religious belief.
While Mr. Morton is a self-made man of the real stamp, and is justly a little proud of the fact, lie attributes all the good that is in him and all that he has done for himself and others to the teachings and love of his mother, who made such a sacrifice to give to him and his brothers and sisters an education in order to fit them for the work of life. Mrs. Morton is now, at sixty-three years of age, living in Everett, Mass., enjoying good health and com- fort, besides the pleasure she takes in the con- templation of the success of her children.
AMUEL PLUMMER, an enterpris- ing farmer of Sweden, Oxford County, and a representative of a prominent family of this town, was born here, February 14, 1817, son of Samuel and Abigail (Porter) Plummer. Mr. Plum- mer's father, who was a native of Farmington, N. H., in his younger days was engaged in the butchering business in Portsmouth, N. H. Soon after his marriage he settled upon a farm in Sweden, and was prosperously engaged in tilling the soil during the rest of his active period. He died April 12, 1868. His wife Abigail, who was born in Conway, N. H., was a daughter of Nathaniel Porter, one of the first settlers of Conway. She became the mother of seven children, as follows: John, at present a resident of Sweden, Me., who mar- ried Sarah Holden, now deceased; Samuel ; Sally, who is no longer living; George, who married Jane Holden, and resides in Bridgton, Me. ; Martha, who died November 10, 1842,
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at the age of twenty-one years; Mary, who died January 8, 1846, at the age of nineteen ; and Abby, the wife of James Osgood, a prom- inent resident of Fryeburg. Mr. Plummer's mother died February 24, 1853.
Samuel Plummer was, educated in the com- mon schools, and resided at home until reach- ing the age of twenty-one. He then worked upon farms in the neighborhood for two years, and was employed for one year at a stone quarry at Cape Ann, Mass. Upon his return to Sweden he resumed farming at the home- stead, where he remained until 1867. He then settled upon the John Hamlin farm, upon which he has since resided. He has followed both farming and lumbering with success, and now owns about five hundred acres of valuable land. This property, which was originally cleared by his second wife's father, he has greatly improved, and it is considered one of the best homesteads in Sweden. It is now in charge of his youngest son, S. Lyman Plum- mer, who has managed the property of late in order to relieve his father from care during his declining years. He carries on general farm- ing, dairying, and stock-raising with energy and success.
In 1843 Mr. Plummer wedded Esther E. Nevers, who was born in Sweden, Me., March 5, 1821, daughter of William and Hannah (Holden) Nevers. Her parents were prosper- ous farming people of this town. William Nevers died July 22, 1865, and his wife, Hannah, on March 3, 1857. Mr. Plummer's first wife died September 22, 1852. On March 21, 1854, Mr. Plummer married for his second wife Mary E. Hamlin, who was born in Sweden, January 31, 1838, daughter of John and Mary (Evans) Hamlin. Her father was born in Waterford, Me., and for many years resided upon the farm in Sweden where his daughter and son-in-law now live. He died in Harrison, Me. Mrs. Plummer's mother, who was a native of Fryeburg, died in Sweden, Me. By Mr. Plummer's first union there were four children, namely: Lyman, who died January 15, 1850, at the age of five years ; J. Felman, who married Annie Marshall, and lives in South Paris, Me. ; Mary Ann, who was born January 3, 1848, and now resides with her father at the homestead; and S. Ly-
man, who was born March 1, 1850, and is now a prominent resident of this town. The last named, on March 17, 1877, married Carrie M. Stone, of Sweden, Me., daughter of James Stone, of Sweden, and Maria Wilcomb, of Bethlehem, N. H., and has had four children, namely : Alice C., born April 8, 1882 ; Flossie, born September 6, 1885, who died at the age of two years and four months; Gracie L., born November 6, 1887; and James Samuel, born May 9, 1893.
Mr. Plummer is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and he has served with abil - ity as a member of the Board of Selectmen and as Road Surveyor for several terms. He is known as a genial, kind-hearted and hospitable gentleman, who is always glad of an opportun- ity to entertain his friends and acquaintances at his comfortable home. He and his family are members of the Congregational church.
ORACE C. OXNARD, a prominent and progressive agriculturist of Nor- way, Oxford County, was born Au- gust 4, 1840, in the city of Port- land, son of John and Catherine (Stuart) Oxnard, who were also natives of Portland. He is of English descent on the paternal side, his grandfather, John Oxnard, Sr., having emigrated to America from England in the early part of this century. Grandfather Ox- nard was a general merchant in Portland, where he subsequently died. His wife, who was of Scotch origin, bore him five children - William, Edward, John, Lucy (Mrs. Fox), and Mary Ann (Mrs. Moseley), none of whom are now living.
John Oxnard, father of Horace C., was well known in the business circles of Portland for many years. . He was cashier of the old Port- land bank, and afterward occupied the same position in the Merchants' Bank, which was the former institution reorganized. After the great fire of Portland in 1866, which laid a large part of the city in ashes, he spent a few years in Norway township; but he returned to his former home prior to his death, which occurred in December, 1887, at the age of ninety-two years, eight months, and eighteen days. His wife died while living in this
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town, at the age of fifty-seven years. They had five children, namely: George A., a banker, and the United States Consul at Guelph, Ont., Canada, who married Louie Scobel; John E., the purchasing agent of the Michigan Central Railway, residing in De- troit, Mich., who married Miss Maria Pome- roy, of Portland; Horace C., the subject of this sketch; Frank A., now deceased, who married Alice Tucker, now a resident of Nor- way village; and Mary E., the wife of E. P. Staples, a member of the firm of Bolster, Snow & Co., wholesale dry-goods dealers in Portland, Me.
Horace C. Oxnard was educated in his native city, completing his studies in the Portland High School. At the age of seven- teen years he went to Minneapolis, Minn., where he had two brothers living, and for a year was there engaged in the grain busi- ness. He subsequently clerked a year for J. A. Merrill & Co., wholesale and retail jew- ellers, of Portland, and then came to Norway, where he has since been engaged in agricult- ural pursuits. On July 12, 1860, Mr. Oxnard bought his present farm. It contains one hun- dred and seventy-five acres of land. The ex- tensive improvements made on it since then entitle it to rank among the best-equipped estates in this part of the county. Mr. Ox- nard carries on general agriculture, including dairying and stock-raising to some extent. He is a man of influence in his town and county, and has served to the satisfaction of his constituents as Selectman of Norway for several terms. In politics he is a firm sup- porter of the principles of the Republican party. He is a member of Norway Lodge, No. 16, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Grange at Norway. Mr. Oxnard attends the Congregational church, of which Mrs. Oxnard is a member.
Mr. Oxnard has been twice married. By the first marriage, performed November 28, 1860, he was united with Miss Nancy Lunt, who was born in Portland, daughter of Charles H. Lunt, a carpenter of that city. She died May 4, 1874, leaving two children - Frank A. and Lena G. Frank A., who is a milk dealer in West Medford, Mass., married Alma Lover- ing. Lena G. is the wife of J. Wesley Sav-
age, an expressman, of West Medford. The second marriage was contracted April 19, 1875, with Miss Mary A. Shedd, daughter of James P. and Mary Ann ( Proctor) Shedd, formerly of Norway, now deceased. Born of this union Mr. and Mrs. Oxnard have one child, Hattie C.
AURICE G. FULLER, an enter- prising general merchant and ex- tensive fruit-grower of East Dix- field, Me., was born in the neighboring town of Wilton, December 18, 1867, son of Charles H. and Mary A. (Stone) Fuller. He is a great-grandson of Thomas Fuller, a native of Newton, Mass., who was the first ancestor of the family to settle in Maine.
In young manhood Thomas Fuller bought a tract of wild land in the town of Winthrop, Kennebec County, where he cleared a farm, upon which he resided for a time; but later he sold that, and, purchasing another tract in Jay, brought it to a high state of cultivation and erected a good set of buildings. He lived to reach the advanced age of ninety years. His first wife, who was before marriage Elizabeth Bond, died at the age of thirty-six. The chil- dren by this union were : Thomas, Nathan A., Charles, Henry, Betsey, and Salome. For his second wife he wedded Martha Sterns, who lived to be eighty years old, and was. the mother of seven children; namely, John, Washington, Isaac, Salome, Malance, Maria, and Catherine.
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