USA > Maine > Androscoggin County > History of Androscoggin County, Maine > Part 70
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Captain Seth Howard came from West Bridgewater in 1801, and purchased of Roger Stinchfield the farm opposite the Otis place on the northeast. He was baptized by Rev. Isaac Backus, and is said to have been the first person in that town to have received apostolic baptism. The Howards of Leeds descend from John Howard, who came from England prior to 1643 and settled in Duxbury, and, in 1651, became one of the proprietors and original settlers of West Bridgewater. Captain Howard was a man of dignity, a good presiding officer, and was frequently moderator. His wife was Desire Bailey of West Bridgewater. They had seven sons and two daughters: Stillman, the oldest son, married Lydia Lothrop and settled in Leeds, and was a successful farmer, an important man of affairs, a captain in 1814, was representative when Maine was made a state, and later; justice of the peace and quorum ; county commis- sioner of Kennebec county, and one of Governor John W. Dana's council in 1849. He died in 1861, aged 76. He had two sons, Stillman L. and Seth. Everett died in Georgia. Ward was collector of customs in New York City for four years under Van Buren's administration. Seth died in Mississippi. Row- land B. settled on the homestead. Valentine R. was a physician in Alabama and died there. Benjamin F. settled in Leeds (he died in 1882). His daughter married A. J. Foss. Aurelia married first, Dr Thomas M. Bridgham ; second, Samuel Leadbetter. Lucretia married Jabez Leadbetter.
Stillman Lothrop Howard, eldest son of Hon. Stillman and Lydia (Lothrop) Howard, was born March 3, 1810, in Leeds, and died in Wayne, November 9, 1890. He was a teacher many years and taught navigation. For over 40 years he held prominent town offices, and was the first justice commissioned in Androscoggin county and held a commission 42 years. He was selectman, treasurer, etc., and for 30 years was a trustee of Monmouth Academy. The historical sketch of Leeds in the " Atlas" was written by him. He married, in 1833, Julia A., daughter of Joseph and Deborah (Gilbert) Turner. Children : Ward B., Howland, Daniel H., Lucius, Florence, Julia, Henrietta (Mrs John Clark Stinchfield). Mr Howard did much probate business, was a valuable counselor, and his efforts brought about many public improvements. He
moved to Wayne in 1875.
Seth Howard, son of Hon. Stillman and Lydia (Lothrop) Howard, was born in Leeds. He married Amanda Additon and has seven children, Elsie A.
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(Mrs H. W. Lincoln), Fletcher and Florilla (Mrs James C. Pike)-twins, Lydia A. (Mrs Charles S. Pike), Seth A., Dora L., and Lucretia L. He has been often in positions of public trust-member of school committee, selectman, treasurer, representative, and justice of the peace. He is a deacon of the Baptist church, an active member of the Grange, and a strong Republican. He is one of the best types of the intelligent and well-read farmers of Maine, liberal of his time and means in religious and educational causes.
Major-General Oliver Otis Howard, A.M., LL.D., born in Leeds, November 8, 1830, was graduated from West Point in 1854 as lieutenant of ordnance, and in 1861 was made colonel of the Third Maine. He was promoted to brig- adier for distinguished services ; was twice wounded at Fair Oaks, losing his right arm ; commanded his division at Antietam ; was made major-general in 1862; commanded the Eleventh Corps at Chancellorsville and in the Peninsula campaign ; received a letter of thanks from the President for skill and bravery at Gettysburg ; was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, where he won distinction ; commanded one of the three grand divisions of Sherman's army in its march to the sea, and, March 13, 1865, became brigadier and brevet major-general U. S. A. In May he was made Chief of the Freedman's Bureau, which he resigned in 1872 to become commissioner to the Apaches. From 1874 to 1881 he commanded the Department of the Columbia, in 1877 con- ducted the war against the Nez Perces, in 1878 the Piute and Bannock wars, in 1881 and 1882 was in command of the Department of West Point, then was transferred to the Department of the Platte. He has been now for several years in command of the Division of the Atlantic. In civil life General Howard is noted for high Christian character and as an author of ability.
General Charles H. Howard, born in August, 1838, was a lieutenant in the Third Maine, later aide-de-camp to General O. O. Howard, rose by promotion to brevet brigadier-general. After the war he was made assistant commissioner of the Freedman's Bureau. He has been editor of the Chicago Advance, and is now editor of the Farm, Field and Stockman, of Chicago.
Rev. Rowland B. Howard, formerly a pastor at Farmington, is secretary of the American Peace Society, Boston.
Stephen R. Deane, born in Leeds, September 4, 1816, descends from John Deane, born in Chard, England, who emigrated to Taunton, Mass., in 1637, and is son of Zebulon and Esther (Millett) Deane. Mr Deane married, first, Elvira Pratt. Children : Rose E., Henrie H., Abbie E. Mr Deane married, second, Victoria H. Turner, April 8, 1859. Children : S. Homer, Stillman H., Phillips H., Percy H. Cyrus Deane, of Taunton, Mass., settled in Greene early, and his brother Zebulon, born in Taunton, Mass., June 12, 1773, came about 1793, and finally settled on a farm in West Leeds, where he passed his life. This farm is owned and occupied by his descendants. The farm adjoining it on the south is owned by Truman Deane; the next farm south, containing
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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.
100 acres, is the property of Stephen R. Deane, who, with two of his sons, conduct it. They keep cows, young cattle, usually oxen, horses, sheep, etc. An important part of their business is the making of cheese. Mr Deane was educated in Maine, and Boston, Mass., and was a school teacher in many towns in Maine; in 1844 and 1845 he taught a commercial school in New Bedford, Mass .; was clerk and paymaster of the Merrimack Lumber Co., of Lowell, Mass., for 12 years; was in trade in Leeds several years ; postmaster of West Leeds 15 years ; was on the school committee 13 years; when 18 years of age he joined the Leeds Rifle Co. Mr Deane favors the Republican party politically, and religiously believes that "upon that one word, Love, hang all the Law and all the Commandments."
Thomas C. Foss, a merchant at North Leeds, was born in Leeds, March 18, 1829. He is a son of the late Rev. Walter Foss, who for 50 years was a well- known Baptist preacher. His grandfather was Uriah Foss, one of the early settlers in Leeds, prominent in town affairs, and selectman for several years. Mr Foss's mother was Dorcas, daughter of John Morrison, of Wayne. She was the honored and loved mother of seven sons and eight daughters. Both parents lived the allotted "threescore and ten years," ending lives of marked usefulness. Mr Foss married, first, Elizabeth L., daughter of Ebenezer Cobb, of Leeds ; second, Abbie J., daughter of George T. Cox, of Farmingdale. By the first wife six children were born : V. Richard, of Portland, has served two years in the city council of that city, the last year being president of the lower board, and is now holding other important official positions; Belle P. and Grace D., of Portland; Kate M .; Thomas C., Jr, of Leeds; and Preston W. (dec.). Mr Foss has always lived in Leeds, and has been engaged in mercantile pursuits for over forty years, being particularly connected with the wool trade in his section. He has held the position of postmaster at North Leeds. He has always been a Republican.
Wallace L. Francis, born at Leeds, May 12, 1850, is the son of Davis and Rosamond Francis, of Leeds. He is a descendant of Rev. Thomas Davis Francis, who was born in Hay, Breconshire county, South Wales, November 23, 1764, and came to America in 1778. He came to Leeds with the Stinch- fields to give instruction to their children, and was the first teacher in the town, and was so pleased that he remained here, married Eunice, daughter of Thomas Millett, and permanently located in 1784. He became a noted theologian and local statesman and exerted a salutary and powerful effect in moulding the institutions and giving character to the town. He was the first representative (in 1804) to the General Court and was for a time in the State Senate and stood the peer of the ablest in that body, and his memory is revered in the town. In 1804 he was ordained pastor of the First Baptist church, which relation he sustained until his death, May 9, 1836. Wallace L. Francis married, in 1879, Miss Georgia A. Francis, of Concord, N. H. They
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have two daughters, Gard R. and Gladys H. He is a merchant and postmaster at Leeds. He is a Democrat in polities, and a Free Mason and an Odd Fellow.
Albert Barker, son of David and Priscilla Barker, was a native of Lewiston. His ancestors were among the earliest settlers of that town, his great-grand- father having located at Barker's Mills, now Barkerville. Mr Barker served in the army from September 10, 1862, to March 2, 1863, and is a member of the G. A. R., and has attained the rank of adjutant in the order. He is a member of the I. O. G. T., and has been Chief Templar in Stony Brook Lodge, of North Leeds. He is an enterprising farmer and builder, a Republican in politics, a Universalist in religion, and performs his duties of justice of the peace, faithfully and promptly.
Charles A. Lovejoy, son of Jonathan and Ruth (Benjamin) Lovejoy, of Livermore, was born in that town. He married Clara E. Greenwood, of Leeds. They have had two children, Arthur N. J., who is now employed in the E. C. Allen publishing house at Augusta, and Minnie A., who died in 1879. He moved to Leeds, and in June, 1879, commenced farming on the farm where he now carries on a prosperous business, making a specialty of raising fine cattle, mostly Durham. In religious preferences he is a Universalist, in politics a Democrat, and was chairman of the board of selectmen of Leeds from 1884 to 1889.
Rev. Samuel Boothby was born in Leeds, April 17, 1808, and died July 9, 1884, in Lewiston. In 1830 he was baptized into the fellowship of the Baptist church at Wayne, and in 1840 was ordained pastor of the Baptist church at Turner Bridge, and after four years became pastor of the church at Wayne for five years. He labored for a year in Aroostook county in the employ of the Maine Baptist Missionary Convention. He then entered the service of the American and Foreign Bible Society and gave earnest labors in that field till 1883. In his last years he was engaged as a missionary in Lewiston. He was an energetic and a thoroughly Christian worker, whose labors met substantial results. He married, in 1831, Sarah, daughter of Samuel and Betsey Lead- better. Their sons were Stephen and Roswell C. Lieut-Colonel Stephen Boothby was born in Leeds in 1833, was graduated from Waterville College, and studied law at Bangor, where he was admitted to practice. He opened a law office in Portland with Hon. Mark H. Dunnell. In 1861 he enlisted in the First Me Cav., was ultimately promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and died June 6, 1864, at Point Lookout, from wounds received at Beaver Dam Station.
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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
HON. LEAVITT LOTHROP.
H ON. LEAVITT LOTHROP,7 son of George and Polly (Thayer) Lothrop,1 was born in Vassalborough, May 19, 1793. In 1816 he married Betsey, daughter of Elias and Mary (Lawrence) Lane. He settled in Leeds, and in 1826 moved to the farm now occupied by D. F. Lothrop, where he resided until his death, April 17, 1849. Mrs Lothrop died January 12, 1878, in Auburn. Mr Lothrop was an energetic man of business, and in all the various activities of the community worked diligently and well. He was nominally a farmer, and carried on agriculture extensively and profitably, owning at the time of his death 800 acres of land in Leeds, 200 acres in Canton, 100 acres in Greene, and 50 acres in Hallowell. He took keen interest in all enterprises that promised to do well for the people, and his personal services were freely given to their development and improvement. He was active in procuring subscriptions to the stock of the Androscoggin & Kennebec Railroad, and subscribed to the extent of his means. He assisted in procuring the charter of the Leeds & Farmington Rail- road, subscribing $1,000 to its stock. He lived to see the Androscoggin & Kennebec road built, cars running to Auburn, and the road partly graded to Waterville. In civil and political life his good common sense, sound judg- ment, and honesty of purpose rendered his presence in public positions most valuable to his constituents and the community, but although often called to office he did not seek it or need its emoluments. He was often chosen select- man, agent, and to other responsible offices in town, represented Leeds in the legislature, and was state senator in 1846 and 1847. He was appointed county commissioner of Kennebec county in 1841, and held that position three years. He was prominent in the state militia, serving in its successive grades to that of colonel, by which title he was generally known. In this service he was engaged for a short time on the lower Kennebec in the military operations of the War of 1812. In these and numerous other places of responsibility, such was his wise sagacity, pleasing urbanity, and thoughtful consideration that his associates in councils and labors became lasting friends. A working man through life, he was a liberal and true friend of the laboring man, who always received honest consideration at his hands. Generous and social, his house was an abode of hospitality and friendship, while his life was dominated by integrity and uprightness. He was a Baptist in religion, and liberal in sus- taining Christian institutions. In the home circle he was kind and affectionate.
1 See page 571.
Levitt Lothian
G codings Vame
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The children of Hon. Leavitt and Elizabeth (Lane) Lothrop were: Elias, married Jane Morse of Lisbon, went to California in 1849, and died in 1853; Davis Francis, who was born in Leeds, September 11, 1820, and educated at the town schools and Monmouth Academy. He inherited many of the char- acteristics of his father, has held with ability, and to the satisfaction of his constituents, the offices of selectman and representative, and from 1870 to 1876 was county commissioner. His first political faith was that of the Whigs, with whom he affiliated until that party ceased to exist. He has since been a Republican. In 1849 he sailed to California from Boston in the ship Capitol, arriving at San Francisco July 6, so he is one of that historic band (day by day growing smaller, but more and more venerated), "The Old Forty-niners." The story of his life in California sounds like a romance. He was there nearly three years, and was financially successful. Since his return he has occupied the old homestead and been an agriculturist. He is a member of the Baptist church, a liberal supporter of all enterprises tending to the betterment of the community, and a highly respected citizen. He married, in 1846, Caroline S., daughter of Jonathan and Jane (Libby) Morse, of Lisbon. Their children are Flora (Mrs Frank Higgins); Elias and Irving S., who reside in Louisiana, where they own adjoining plantations on the Mississippi, 24 miles below New Orleans. Elias married Lucile Piazia, daughter of the Swiss consul at New Orleans at the time of the Civil War; Olive M. married John Turner, M.D., lives in Bangor ; and Ralph ; Caroline L. married Augustus Foss. She resides in California and has seven children, five living in California (one of whom, Warren L., graduated from Bowdoin in 1891), and two in Manchester, N. H .; Col Warren L. Lothrop enlisted in the U. S. army in 1845 and was stationed at West Point. On the breaking out of the Mexican War his company was ordered to Mexico and joined General Scott at Vera Cruz. ' Col Lothrop was in every battle fought from Vera Cruz to the capture of the City of Mexico, at the close of the war received a lieutenant's commission in the Fourth Artillery for "meritorious conduct," and was stationed at Forts Kearney and Randall on the western frontier. In April, 1861, he was at St Louis and was commis- sioned major of the First Missouri Light Artillery under Col Frank Blair, who was chosen to Congress, and Major Lothrop promoted to colonel. At the close of the war he was made chief quartermaster of the Department of the Gulf with headquarters at Tallahassee, Fla, where he died in 1866; Mary Jane married Charles Lane who died in 1858. She resides at Pendleton, Oregon, where her daughter Neva is a teacher.
GIDDINGS LANE.
Giddings Lane, grandson of Daniel Lane, the pioneer, and son of Deacon Giddings and Jemima (Norris) Lane,1 was born in Leeds, August 16, 1802, and
1 See page 570,
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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.
died November 15, 1879. His early life was passed in acquiring a common school and academic education, assisting in farm labors summers, and teaching on the sea-coast winters. He soon developed rare business qualities, and in 1833 made a profitable tour through the South, introducing the agricultural novelty, Pitt's horse-power and separator. Energetic, persevering, and possessed of a magnetism that attracted people and won friends, his business life was a uniform success. Marrying, January 1, 1834, Cassandra, daughter of Dr Cyrus and Lydia (Wood) Benson, of Bridgewater, Mass., an estimable lady and a descendant of two notable families of Plymouth county, he made his home in his native town and was ever after one of the most prominent factors of the business, social, and religious life of the town. (Their children attaining maturity were Cyrus B. and Gustavus W. Cyrus B. was for many years a merchant of North Monmouth, and is now a farmer on the homestead farm, and selectman. He married Lydia A., daughter of Solomon L. and Hannah (Turner) Lothrop. They have one daughter, Cassie B. (Mrs C. C. Farmer). Gustavus W. is a manufacturer and merchant. He married, first, Helen M. Snow; second, Susan E., daughter of Willard and Emeline L. (Boothby) Lothrop. Mr Lane's politics are of the Jeffersonian type ; in religion he is a Universalist. He has served the town as clerk, treasurer, and school super- visor, is treasurer of Leeds Dairying Association, and a member of Monmouth Lodge, F. & A. M., and is one of Leeds's most enterprising citizens.)
From 1843 to 1850 Mr Lane was town treasurer, and captain of militia and with his company served in the Aroostook War. He was one of the originators and prime movers in organizing the Androscoggin Railroad Company in 1850, and as director of the road for thirteen years infused his energy into its construction and operations. He was elected representative in 1854 and was active in bringing about the organization of Androscoggin county. In 1862 he organized a gold-mining company with Maine and. Massachusetts capital, and in 1863 crossed the western plains with a train of ox and mule teams loaded with quartz-crushing and other machinery. He located his plant fifty miles west of Denver, and for five years gave his personal superintendence to the operations of the company, bringing success. In 1869 he built a portion
of the Knox & Lincoln railroad. He was a man of rapid thought, quick decision, unbounded enterprise, and had a rare quality of bringing his labors to successful completion. In everything tending to the growth and prosperity of his section, and the improvement and uplifting of the people among whom his lot was cast, his time, labor, and money were freely given. The culmination of his business life was the erection of the beautiful house of worship of the Universalists at Leeds Center, which was completed and dedicated in 1872, the result in a great measure of his untiring energy and peristent efforts, which were only stimulated to new exertions by opposition. In the varied relations of business life, in the church, in neighborhood and family circles, he was the
Source Boothly For.
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same genial nature, the center of life and activity, the wise counselor, the loved husband and parent. For half a century he was a leading spirit of his native town, and never did envy or malice whisper aught against his integrity, while the poor and unfortunate ever found him a kind friend and sympathetic adviser. It is said of him that he had not an enemy in the world. His pastor, Rev. Otis H. Johnson, said: "Brother Lane was one of the most distinguished citizens of Leeds. For many years he was untiring in his exertions in every public enterprise within his reach which had for its object the welfare of his fellow-men. As a Christian he was a firm and decided Universalist, always outspoken and faithful in his duties to the canse he deemed of unparalleled excellence in the moral elevation of the world. His pleasant greetings and hopeful suggestions will long be remembered." Mr Lane belonged to that class of New Englanders who are benefactors of the community in which they live, add to the material prosperity of their respective localities, and leave behind them tangible results of their life's work.
ISAAC BOOTHBY.
Isaac Boothby, Sen., one of the early settlers of Leeds, came from Saco. In the olden days the best progressive factors in the settlement of a town were the strong arms, willing hands, and brave hearts of the bold pioneers. Mr Boothby soon accomplished the work of clearing the place on which he located, north of Leeds Center, near Boothby hill, which bears his name, and bringing his farm into a good state of cultivation. (This farm is now owned by his grandson, Thomas H. Boothby.) He married Hannah Foss. Their children were Cyrus, Isaac, Walter, Betsey, Hannah. After some years Mr Boothby engaged in the cattle business, and took many a drove to Brighton market. He was a vigorous man of strong physique, positive, yet of a jovial tempera- ment. Although his advantages for education had been limited, his mind was very active, and there was not an example in Kenney's arithmetic that he could not perform mentally quicker than most men could do with pencil and paper. He was successful in his enterprises, and died when little more than 60 years of age, a good type of the energetic men of that period.
Isaac Boothby, Jr, born November 20, 1809, passed his life on the homestead farm, which he inherited, and succeeded to his father's cattle business, which he conducted for several years. He was also a prosperous farmer, acquired wealth, and at the time of his death, December 12, 1887, he had 250 acres in his farm, and owned about as many more acres in the town, principally timber land. Mr Boothby married, first, Jane Graves, of Wayne; they had 13 children ; second, Mary Jennings, by whom he had three children. Mr Boothby was a Whig and Republican in his politics, never an office seeker, but always took an intelligent interest in the public movements of the town, and served as selectman in the years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1847, 1848, 1849, 1853, 1854, 1858.
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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.
He was one of the original stockholders in the Androscoggin railroad. Universalist in his religious affiliations, he took an active part in the society. His health was never robust, but his close attention to business, industrious and thrifty habits, combined with honesty and integrity, brought him satis- factory results. In person he was of medium height, dark complexion, weighing at the most but 135 pounds. He was of a positive temperament, of quick decisions, but careful, shrewd, and conservative, and often said that if he followed his first impressions he would always come out right. Although he enjoyed society, he yet preferred his home, with his favorite newspapers, the New York Tribune and Lewiston Journal, which he carefully read and digested, and his original ideas, intelligently expressed, made him an interesting conversationalist. As a business man successful, as a citizen respected, and as one who furthered the progress and prosperity of the town by his labors, Mr Boothby stands among the representative men of the past generation.
Thomas Henry Boothby, son of Isaac and Jane (Graves) Boothby, was born April 24, 1845. He was educated at district schools and at Monmouth Academy. He married, December 28, 1867, Sarah, daughter of Tillotson and Mary (Hart) Libby, a descendant of Eben Libby, an early settler. Their surviving children are Lizzie L. and Horatio R. Mrs Boothby died October 28, 1888. Mr Boothby is a farmer and resides on the Eben Libby farm. He is a member and treasurer of Leeds Grange, a Republican in politics, in religion a Baptist, and a good and respected citizen.
Walter Boothby, an older brother of Thomas H., was sergeant in Co. K, Third Maine, in the Civil War, and was killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862.
FRANCIS D. MILLETT.
The Milletts belong to the early families in America. Thomas, the emigrant, son of Henry, came with his wife, Mary Greenoway, and son, Thomas, in 1635, and settled in Dorchester, Mass. In 1655 he was a resident of Gloucester and performed ministerial service for the first church. He subsequently removed to Brookfield, and, with his daughter and three grand- children, was killed by the Indians in 1676. Elder Thomas Millett was an Englishman of good family; his great-grandfather, John Myllet, was a gentleman of Redwood, in Hereford county, and his grandfather and father were lawyers. Thomas, Jr, had two sons attaining maturity, Thomas and John. John resided on the homestead in Gloucester, married Eunice Babson, and died in 1745. Their sons were David, who settled in New Gloucester, Me, about 1750 (his father being one of the proprietors of the town), John, and Thomas. David's sons, David, Jr, John, Thomas, and Solomon, located in Poland, Minot, and Turner. Thomas, son of John and Eunice (Babson)
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