USA > Maine > Genealogical and family history of the state of Maine, Volume I > Part 37
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has even surpassed the demands which the na- tional exigency has made upon it. We have not only sent all the men asked of us, but we have sent good men and brave men. In a contest where all the loyal States have re- sponded so nobly, it would be invidious and indeed positively offensive for any one to arro- gate peculiar and superior merit. We only claim with others to have done our part, and we recur with undisguised pride to the fact that on every battlefield where Maine troops have been called to participate, they have ac- quitted themselves with valor and with honor, making a record of patriotic heroism which it will be alike the pride and duty of the State to cherish and perpetuate. In addition to the men that Maine had furnished to the army of volunteers, we have contributed to the naval and marine service more largely in proportion to our population than any other state. The habits and occupation of a considerable num- ber of our people fit them pre-eminently for this service, and it is gratifying to know that our shipping ports and coast towns have sent forth swarms of hardy and well trained sea- men to maintain the honor of our flag upon the ocean."
His attitude for the public finances is set forth in the following: "I have already al- luded to the fact that within the past year the sum of $30,000 of the state debt was paid. During the present year $50,000 more will mature, and I earnestly recommend that it be paid, instead of being renewed, as has too fre- quently been our custom in the past. The pol- icy of liquidation, in my judgment, is the true, safe and wisely economical one for the State to adopt. Whatever may be the theory or the truth in regard to the advantages of a national debt, I do not think that a state debt should remain unpaid a day longer than the time when the people can discharge it without specially or unduly burdening themselves with taxation." On the subject of education .he said: "The educational interests of the state are fully and ably set forth in the report of the superintendent of schools. It is one of our chief glories that we provide, at the public expense, for the education of all the children of the State. Our fathers wisely imposed it as a constitutional duty, and we are reaping the rich advantages of their foresight and their wisdom. While we may not be in a condition to make any extraordinary expenditures for educational purposes, it will be one of our highest duties to see that our schools are main- tained in full vigor and usefulness, and that while other interests may suffer from the in-
evitable effects of war, the culture of the young shall in no wise be neglected or abated."
In further discussion of the war, he said: "We are well advanced in the second year of a war involving issues of the gravest moment to all of us. The contest was precipitated by those, who, no longer able to rule, were de- termined to ruin the government of the United States. The ostensible reason for secession was one which, if admitted to have any force, would forthwith destroy every clement of Democratic Republicanism which exists in our institutions-for if a constitutional majority of the people cannot have the right to elect the President of their choice, our form of govern- ment is at an end, and its attempted perpetua- tion is a farce. From the day the Southern conspirators made open war on the United States by assaulting Fort Sumter, the question passed to the arbitrament of the sword, and not to have accepted the issue would have been to basely surrender the life of the nation. Thus far we have, with patriotic unanimity sus- tained the President in all his efforts to subdue the rebellion. The people of the loyal states have poured out their treasure and their blood in unstinted measure, and in their devotion to country men have forgotten the prejudices of party.'
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In reference to the newly adopted policy of emancipation, he said: "The rebels are en- titled at our hands during the war to nothing more and nothing less than the treatment pre- scribed by the laws of war, and we can and ought and will seize every legitimate weapon to conquer their military power and reduce them to obedience to the Constitution of the United States. It is on this ground that loyal men can rally with enthusiasm to the support of the President. And it will not abate the force of the new policy that its result is to give freedom to a race long oppressed, and to abol- ish an institution which has been the source of evil dissension at home, and the cause of shame and reproach to us abroad. It will be clearly within the dispensation of God's justice that a system of oppression which violates the natural rights of man, which has always stirred up strife and contention, and which was the direct cause of our present troubles, should wither and perish in the wrathful storm which in its rage it dared to provoke." The message closed as follows: "We enter upon public duty, gentlemen, at a time of unusual responsi- bility, when human wisdom alone may well be distrusted. But relying upon the guidance of that Gracious Being who hath so bountifully
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blessed us as a nation, and who chastiseth but in mercy, let us, in humility and yet in confi- dence, address ourselves to the conscientious discharge of the trusts committed to us by the people of our beloved State." Later in the year, in response to fresh calls for troops by the national government, Governor Coburn ad- dressed the people of the State with earnest ap- peals for patriotic action. From two of these state papers the following extracts are taken :
"Our people, with almost entire unanimity, have determined that the present rebellion shall be suppressed, and that the Union which it was designed to destroy, shall be maintained. For this purpose they entered upon the con- test, and to this end they will persevere until the object be accomplished, and until the world shall be satisfied that free men can endure more, and persevere longer, for the preserva- tion of free government, than can the most desperate and determined traitors for its de- struction. The length of the conflict is not to be measured by years, but by events. Treason is to be put down, and to that end should all the measures of the government be sub- servient." Thus far in our great civil contest Maine has borne a proud part. Her sons have upheld the national banner on the fiercest bat- tlefields, and have earned a fame which we cannot too proudly cherish, and which we should strive to emulate. Let us, in the brief season allowed us, prove that our patriotism is as sincere, our enthusiasm as warm, and our faith in the national cause as firm as at any hour since the contest began. Whoever else shall falter or fail, let the men of Maine prove themselves fully equal to the demands now made on their heroism and their love of coun- try."
In spite of the extent and multiplicity of Governor Coburn's business interests, he found time for many duties such as a public spirited man owes to the community and the state, and for a wide philanthropy. He was very prac- tically interested in the cause of education, and- few men in Maine have done more for the sup- port of our higher educational institutions. He was for forty years a trustee of Colby College, taking his father's place in 1845, and serving until his death, and was President of the Board the last eleven years. He was President of the Board of Trustees of the State College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, now the University of Maine, for twelve years, 1867 -- 1879. To both of these institutions he gave a large amount of attention, and large contributions, and in each of them one of the college buildings fittingly bears his name. Wa-
terville Classical Institute at Waterville, which was renamed for him Coburn Classical Insti- tute, received from him a fine school building, erected as a memorial to his deceased brother, Stephen Coburn, and his nephew, Charles Mil- ler Coburn, and he also provided it with an en- dowment of $50,000. Somerset County was indebted to him for a commodious court house, and the town of Skowhegan was largely in- debted to him for the fine public hall which was called by his name, and which served the people of the community until it was destroyed by fire in 1904. Although not a member, Gov- ernor Coburn was a constant attendant of the Baptist Church, to which he was much at- tached. He doubtless contributed more money for the building of churches and the mission- ary and educational work of that denomina- tion than any other man in the state. His pri- vate charities were almost numberless, and were dispensed so unostentatiously that prob- ably but a small part of them were ever known. His habits and manner of living were simple, even to frugality. Neither Abner Coburn nor his brother Philander were ever married, and they made their home together.
A brief extract from a memorial address de- livered by a personal friend of Governor Co- burn, Colonel Z. A. Smith, at the Colby Com- mencement following his death, will give an idea of his personal habits and character. "In his private life and in his personal relations, Governor Coburn was the same upright and conscientious man that he was in business and public affairs. He was so conspicuously free from the appearance of vice of every nature, that even the idlest village gossip never had the semblance of pretext to trifle with his name. All his life, he was not only a total abstainer from intoxicating liquors, but in all things, he lived an abstemious and frugal life. Although his earlier life was spent much in contact with men of rough habits, he was in his intercourse with all, refined in speech and deferential in act. Impure or profane words never passed his lips. Just to all men, he was, at the same time and in the best ways, kind, helpful and sympathetic. Few men had more occasion to know the wickedness and ingrati- tude of other men, yet he was in speech and act the most charitable of men towards the failings and sins of others. Integrity so per- meated every fibre of his moral and intellectual being, that he often seemed unable to realize that a man could be a rascal."
Governor Coburn was an interesting and in- structive talker. He kept himself acquainted with all current subjects of importance, and
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his opinions on the tariff, the currency and business questions generally were valuable and interesting. On one occasion, he gave his views on the causes of industrial depression as follows: "Business will revive just as soon as there is anything like free employment for the people who depend on wages for a living. There is over-production only because the peo- ple who depend on wages cannot earn them and because, when close times come, those who can employ labor and buy the products of labor make haste to reduce their expenditures. Give the labor of the country employment and good wages, and you will hear no more of over-production. That people will enjoy the greatest degree of prosperity which spend freely within their means. A community which hoards, and spends the least possible, will never be one of business enterprise. What we want now is a market for labor at a fair com- pensation to restore prosperity."
His recollections of his early life were vivid. He could speak in the most entertaining way of the struggles of the early part of the nine- teenth century, of the manner of living, and of the peculiarities of the people of that time. He knew the foremost men of Maine for half a century, and from him one could get a bet- ter idea of their characteristics than from any other source. He was charitable in his judg- ment, and rarely spoke in condemnation of any one. He once said of an adroit man, "If you want to track him sure, go in the opposite direction from that in which his toes point." Of a Maine officer during the war he said, "He wrote so many letters urging his own promotion that he couldn't have done any fighting." When the green-back craze swept over Maine, some one told him that a certain man had become an advocate of fiat money. "That is proper," he replied, "that man always maintained that he had paid a debt when he gave his note for it." He liked direct men. "John B. Brown, of Portland," he said, "is a man who says what he means, so that you can understand him." "Payson Tucker," he said, "is a man of wonderful tact in getting along with people. He is the best railroad man I ever met." "Josiah Drummond is a man you can always believe." Such were his judgments of men with whom he was associated.
Governor Coburn was a sufferer from dys- pepsia during the last years of his life, and for several months before his death showed signs of a breaking up of his vigorous consti- tution. In the early part of December, 1884, he went to Augusta as a member of the Elec- toral College, to cast his vote for James G.
Blaine for President, and while there was taken severely ill. He returned to his home, and after a few weeks of illness, during which he was able a part of the time to attend to business, he passed away January 4, 1885. By his will he left nearly a million dollars for religious, educational and philanthropic work. His public bequests were as follows: To the Maine Insane Hospital at Augusta, $50,000; to the Maine General Hospital at Portland, $100,- 000; to the Maine State College of Agricul- ture and the Mechanic Arts, $100,000; to Colby University, $200,000; to the American Baptist Home Missionary Society, $200,000; the income of one-half to be applied in aid of Freedmen's schools; to Wayland Seminary at Washington, $50,000; to the American Baptist Missionary Union, $100,000; to the Maine Baptist Missionary Convention, $100,000; to Houlton Academy, $5,000; to the Maine In- dustrial School for Girls, $5,000; to the Bap- tist Church in Skowhegan, $18,000; to Bloom- field Academy, $7,000; for a free public li- brary in Skowhegan, $30,000; to the town of Skowhegan, for its worthy and unfortunate poor, $20,000; to the town of Skowhegan, land for a public park.
In his message to Maine the legislature Gov- ernor Robie said of Mr. Coburn: "Another man upon whom the people have wisely con- ferred their highest honors has passed away. Hon. Abner Coburn, the representative man of the best characteristics of New England sim- plicity, integrity and economy, is no more. His life is a monument of great usefulness, of high public spirit and patriotism. Called to the office of governor during the most try- ing period of the late war, he displayed firm- ness, sagacity and patriotism, of the highest order. His life, character and achievements are an honor to Maine, and proud is the State that can claim the birth and citizenship of such a man.'
The following extract from a letter from Hon. James G. Blaine, written a few days after Governor Coburn's death, may here be given as a worthy tribute to his memory, and may serve as a fitting summing up of his character :
"Governor Coburn was altogether a remark- able man. With only rudimentary training in early life, he has proved our most liberal and discriminating patron of classical education. With no gift for public speaking, he has con- stantly exerted a wise and beneficient influence on public opinion. He was, if humanity can ever attain perfection, an ab- solutely just man in all his dealings. And
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beyond the severe demands of justice, he was always kind and even generous to his fellow men. Singularly quiet and un- obtrusive, the world around him had little knowledge of the constant flow of his charity, of the numberless good deeds which adorned his daily life. He was altogether modest and disliked everything which savored of preten- sion or show. His life was, indeed, a model of simplicity. The large fortune which his in- dustry and sagacity had enabled him to ac- cumulate was in his own view a "trust fund," which he held for the benefit of mankind, and the disposition of which was with him a mat- ter of conscience. He never had a dollar to waste, but he always had thousands for a worthy cause.
"In thirty years of personal intimacy with Governor Coburn, I never saw anything in his life and conversation that was not praise- worthy. He was never impatient nor fault- finding nor revengeful. His only form of censure was silence and his friends came to know how much that meant on certain occa- sions, respecting certain persons. To those whom he called friends, he was devotedly true. But he never made professions of at- tachment and was never effusive. In his crisp and pointed correspondence, no matter what the degree of intimacy with the person to whom he wrote, he always began his letters with the stiff "Dr. Sir" of olden times and signed himself "Resp'y" or "truly yours." But with this undemonstrative and formal manner, there was as kindly a heart as ever beat in human breast, and with it a hand as helpful as ever came to a friend's relief."
(VI) Philander Coburn, third son of Eleazer (2) Coburn, was born in Canaan, Maine (now Skowhegan), February 19, 1807. Brought up on his father's farm, he developed by active farm work his unusually fine physique. His education was obtained at the district school and at Bloomfield Academy, and he taught several terms in the district schools of his town. He was early taught the survey- ing business by his father, and became a skill- ful surveyor. The story of his business life, as a member of the lumbering firm of E. Co- burn and Sons, which was established when he was twenty-three years old, and which after the father's death became A. & P. Coburn, has already been told in the sketch of his brother Abner. While in their younger days both brothers went into the woods, in later life Philander took the practical end of the busi- ness, and supervised the lumbering operations of the firm. For this work he was specially
qualified by his great powers of endurance, his energy and daring, and his spirit of enthusiasm in whatever he undertook. When Abner went "down river," Philander went "up river." He was an expert woodsman, and used to say he could tell a fir tree from a spruce three miles away. He was tall and powerfully built, and capable of travelling nights and working days, which he often did. He used frequently to start from his home near nightfall, with his big horse Railroad, famous up and down the river, in the sleigh, travel forty or fifty miles before morning, and be ready to cruise the woods all day. His return trips were some- times made at night in the same way. He would drop the reins in the front of the sleigh, and fold his arms, and if he happened to fall asleep, Railroad would bring him safely home. In the woods there were few men who could keep up with him, for he seemed to require neither food or sleep. His disregard of him- self led him into more perils and hardships than fell to the lot of his associates.
Philander Coburn was a man of keen intel- lect, and contributed fully his share to the suc- cess of the firm in all its departments of activ- ity. He was often the aggressive partner, while Abner was the conservative one. Bold- ness and caution were alike characteristics of his mind. His knowledge of human nature and skill in handling men were large factors in his business success. He treated his workmen with perfect fairness, shared with them the hardships and privations incident to their la- bor, and gave them sympathy and aid in times of misfortune. Thus he never had disagree- ments or misunderstandings with them, but always held their respect, and in many cases won their unwavering and lifelong attach- ment. His associates in business were not treated by him as rivals to be overthrown, but instead were often helped over times of diffi- culty by wise counsel and substantial aid. He was genial and companionable, a most enter- taining talker, and a good story teller, pos- sessing an inexhaustible fund of varied experi- ences to draw upon. Yet in his real nature he was reserved, and he was shy of publicity. The only public office he ever held was when he represented his district in the Maine Senate in 1853. He was, however, deeply interested in political matters, belonging to the Whig party in early life, and becoming an enthusias- tic member of the Republican party at the or- ganization of the latter. He was never mar- ried, but resided with his brother Abner in the "Coburn House." His private life was without reproach, and his personal habits were
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like those of his brother, characterized by the greatest simplicity. The two brothers had a common bank account, and a common purse, and most of their gifts during the life of the younger brother came from "A. & P." Phi- lander himself practiced much unostentatious charity, and assisted generously many philan- thropic and religious enterprises. Though not a member, he was a constant attendant and supporter of the Baptist church, and an active participant in its business meetings. He was strongly interested in the temperance cause, being himself, as was his brother, a total ab- stainer from both liquor and tobacco.
His years of hardship and carelessness of himself finally broke down his superb constitu- tion. His keen vision became impaired and though his sight was restored by a successful operation for cataract, he was never after- wards able to do severe work. He died from a slow disease of the brain, March 8, 1876.
(For ancestry see preceding sketch.)
COBURN (VI) Samuel Weston Coburn, fifth son of Eleazer and Mary (Weston) Coburn, was born in Skowhegan, Maine, July 14, 1815, and died July 30, 1873. His early life was passed on the paternal farm, and he was educated pri- marily in the common schools. He attended Bloomfield Academy, and prepared for col- lege at the China ( Maine) Academy. He en- tered Waterville (now Colby) College, from which he was graduated in 1841. While a student in academy and college he taught school during his vacations, and after gradu- ation from the latter accepted a position as teacher in the academy at Saco, Maine. After being thus occupied for one term, he went to Canada, in company with his brother Alonzo, their purpose being to acquire a more thorough knowledge of the French language, to which they had already given much attention. After some time thus spent, and after making a tour of the states bordering upon Canada, Samuel W. Coburn returned to Skowhegan and en- gaged in a mercantile business, which he con- ducted successfully for about ten years, also conducting the farm, and he devoted himself altogether to the latter after relinquishing his store. In his agricultural pursuits he made a specialty of breeding Durham cattle, and at that early date accomplished much toward raising the standard of live stock not only in his neighborhood, but in the country at large. In 1859 he took a cargo of blooded cattle to his brother's ranch in California, sailing by way of the Isthmus of Panama. After remain-
ing in California for two and a half years hie returned home in 1852, and thereafter lived a quiet life upon his farm, in Bloomfield. He was a man of enterprise and public spirit, and from time to time was called to various posi- tions of honor and trust. He was a member of the Baptist church, and for many years taught a large Bible class in the Sunday school, composed of adults, both male and female, and the largeness of the class and the interest taken by its members bore witness to his deep knowledge and capability in imparting instruc- tion. He was a strong anti-slavery man, and became an original member of the Republican party on its organization in 1856. During the civil war he was loyally devoted to the Union, and labored efficiently in the promotion of en- listments in the army and in providing for the families of the brave men who went to the front. He was a tireless worker in the cause of temperance. Mr. Coburn married, Decem- ber 6, 1842, Sarah Bigelow, daughter of Lewis Bigclow. She was born January 3, 1818, and at the present writing, at the venerable age of ninety years, retains her mental and physi- cal vigor in remarkable degree. Children of Samuel W. and Sarah (Bigelow) Coburn: I. Sarah Frances, born September 15, 1843, mar- ried, April 5, 1866, John Flavel Turner; chil- dren : i. Harry C. Turner, born September 17, 1873, married Marie Burnett and have Bur- nett Coburn and Lucia Frances; ii. Charles F. Turner, born December 22, 1881, married, June 30, 1903, Ethel Totman, and have one child, Louise Bigelow. 2. Charles Samuel, born November 28, 1845, died March 23, 1862. 3. Julia Lowell, born April 23, 1849. 4. Ella Mary, born October 7. 1851, married, Decem- ber 24, 1870, Manly T. Pooler; children: i. Fred Coburn, born March 28, 1872; ii. Flor- ence, May 17, 1880; iii. Mabel J., July 30, 1882.
(VI) Stephen Coburn, sixth son of Eleazer (2) Coburn, was born in Bloomfield, now Skowhegan, November II, 1817. Like his brothers he worked as a boy on his father's farm, and attended the district school. He prepared for college at Waterville and China Academies, and entered Waterville (now Colby) College in the sophomore year, grad- uating in 1839, second in his class. After graduation he went South, and taught for a year in a private family in Tarboro, North Carolina, conducting what was called a planta- tion school, to which several planters sent their children. Returning to Maine, he became principal of Bloomfield Academy, and held this position for four years, 1840-1844. He
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