USA > Maine > Oxford County > Rumford > History of Rumford, Oxford County, Maine, from its first settlement in 1779, to the present time > Part 14
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LIST OF MEMBERS.
The following is a list of the persons who became members of the Congregational church from its organization in eighteen hundred and three : Joshua Graham. Benj. Farnum. Hezekiah Hutchins. Sarah Farnum. Betsey Whittemore. Polly Hinkson. Sally Hutchins, Olive Hinkson, Polly Elliot, Nathaniel F. Higgins. John Whitte- more, Dolly Rolfe. Robert Hinkson, Isabel Knapp. Sally Bunker, Jacob Abbot. Stilson Eastman. Mehitable Eastman, Abigail Elliot. Benjamin Elliot. Elias Bartlett. David Hutchins. Caleb Eastman. Hannah Hutchins, Sally Silver. Nathan Adams. Isaac Walker Cleasby. Molly Glines. Mary Hinkson. Ass Howard, Lydia Howard. Hannah Hall. Dr. Elisha Howe. widow Mary Knight. Chloe Far- num, Sarah Hall, Mary Virgin, Aaron Virgin, Comfort Eastman. Hannah Graham, Dolly Morse. Dorothy Dolly, John Bunker. Abel Wheeler, Cotton Elliot. Ephraim Carter. Mary Cleasby, Gratis Elliot. Lois Elliot. Susanna Hoyt. Eliza Adams. Patty Hemmenway. Daniel Gould. Eunice Gould. John Dane, Sarah Dane. Sally Morse. James H. Withington, Betsey Abbot. Phebe Sutton. Mary Adams. Sarah Virgin, Mary Greenleaf, Betty Farnum, Jeremiah Glines. Mrs. Gurgins, Jeremiah Virgin. Jane Virgin, Moses Gould. John
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Wheeler, Sarah Virgin, Mary Rolfe, Elizabeth Woods, Lucinda M. S. Smith, Elizabeth Ray, Colman Godwin, Keziah Godwin, Henry Martin, Sarah Martin, John Thompson, Jane Thompson, Susan Adams, Sarah Brown, Maria Smith, Charlotte Adams, Francis Hemmenway, Rebecca Hemmenway, Phebe Dolly, Jeremiah Wheeler, Colman Hemmenway, David Elliot, Polly Elliot, Wm. Delano, Abigail A. Delano, Mary Martin, James Godwin, John Godwin, Clarissa Godwin, Lucinda Godwin, St. Luke Morse, Asa Graham. Wm. Frost, Win. Bowen, James Silver, Aznbah Abbot, Alice K. Parker, Judith Morse, Daniel Martin, Betsey Martin, Benj. Morse, Peter C. Virgin, Aaron Graham, Geneva Graham, George Graham, Hannah Graham, Samuel Farnum, Luther Trumbull, Lydia Knapp, Daniel Hall, Dolly Hall, Francis Keyes, Sally Virgin, Abigail God- win, Milla Farnum, Hazen F. Abbot, Hannah Abbot, Polly Pnt- nam, Louisa Farnum, Sarah Crockett, Edmund Abbot, George .J. Farnum, John Farnum, Jr., Simeon F. Frost, Susan Farnum, Achsa Chamberlain, Mary A. Rolfe, Judith Rolfe, Sally B. Graham, Sarah P. Elliot, Maria C. L. Virgin, Catherine Virgin, Ruth Cleashy, Mahala F. Godwin, Chloe Holt, Virtue Howard, Betsey H. Harris, Dolly Frost, Abi Trumbull, Mary Abbot, Dolly Bolster, David Colby, Judith Colby, Susan Sheldon, Samuel S. Snow, Otis C. Bolster, Eliphalet S. Hopkins, Mary Anna Hopkins, Peter Thompson, Ajalon Godwin, Sarah S. Elliot, Malinda S. Elliot, David Holt, Wm. Morse, Francis Cushman, Lydia Cushman, Timothy Holt, Nancy Holt, Joseph Colby, Mary V. Colby, Mary S. Snow, Nathan W. Elliot, John S. Colby, Timothy D. Colby, Henry Abbot, Wm. H. Furness, Elizabeth A. Howe, Dolly M. Abbot, Hannah W. Martin, Lydia M. Carter, Win. Moody, Mrs. Moody, Julian Smith, Sarah A Martin, Jacob Elliot, Betsey Elliot, Sophia Stevens, Mary S. Dearborn, Elizabeth Thompson, Deborah Hntchins, Josiah G. Merrill, Harriet Merrill, Phebe M. Merrill, Josiah K. Elliot, John E. Elliot, Lucetta Abbot, Benjamin Elliot, Nahum P. Moody, Melville Silver, Melinda Moody, Bradbury Rich- ardson, Euthalia W. Roberts, Lucinda G. Howe, Betsey Glines.
The following are the names of persons belonging to the church in August, eighteen hundred and eighty-one. Those marked with a star have since died : Sarah Martin, Hannah F. Abbot, Melinda S. Caldwell, Peter Thompson,* Henry Abbot, Nathan W. Elliot, Timothy Colby, Lydia Carter Elliot, Jane Martin Colby, Hannah W. M. Colby, Loammi B. Peabody,* William Moody,* Lucretia
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Abbot, J. Emery Elliot, Josiah K. Elliot, Charlotte K. Elliot,* Arabella B. Elliot, Lucinda G. Elliot, Isabel Martin, Harriet C. Ray, Jenette J. Peabody, Marie D. Elliot,* Emma A. Elliot, Ara- bella M. Elliot, Martha Elliot, Henrietta W. Smith, Mary M. Ray, Emma S. Atkinson, John F. Elliot, Edwin P. Smith, Charles D. Elliot, Edmund H. Elliot, John J. Elliot, Matthew H. Elliot, Robert T. Howard,* Charlotte M. Elliot, Isabella Elliot, Georgiana B. Abbot, Dorothy D. Howard, Emma B. Pitcher, Pearl M. Elliot, Marshall A. Howard.
The church edifice at Rumford Point, built at an expense of three thousand dollars, was formally dedicated March eighth, eighteen hundred and sixty-five. The following is the order of exercises :
I. Voluntary by the choir.
II. Hymn read by Rev. N. W. Sheldon.
III. Reading of scriptures, Rev. J. B. Wheelwright.
IV. Prayer, Rev. Mr. Southworth.
v. Anthem by the choir.
VI. Sermon by Rev. U. Balkam.
VII. Anthem.
VIII. Dedicatory prayer by Rev. John Elliot.
IX. Remarks by Rev. David Garland.
x. Anthem.
XI. Prayer and benediction by Rev. Mr. True of the Methodist church.
THE METHODISTS.
A Methodist class was the first religious society organized in town, and this denomination has had a strong following ever since, second to none but the Congregational order, which has always had the lead. Early in the year 1798, Rev. Nicholas Snethen, then stationed in Portland, visited Oxford county and preached in Rum- ford. This pioneer of Methodism was of Welsh descent, and was born on Long Island, N. Y., Nov. 15, 1769. He became converted to the new faith in 1791, and entered the itineracy in 1794 from Brooklyn. He was ordained deacon in 1796, and the following year was appointed to the Maine circuit with J. Finnegan. Among the other early preachers were Rev. John Adams and Rev. Joshua Randal. Rumford circuit was formerly a part of Bethel circuit, set off with other towns in 1832, and Rev. Job Pratt was appointed
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preacher in charge. He died in 1833, and was succeeded by Rev. E. Hotchkiss.
John Martin, one of the early settlers, was a local Methodist preacher. Hle died in 1805, and his is the earliest inscription in the Rumford Center cemetery. At the general conference held in Lynn, Mass., in 1800, Rumford was made a separate charge. The first class was organized at East Rumford, and a church and par- sonage were built here in 1825, and this became the headquarters of the circuit. Subsequently a class was formed at Rumford Center. By the decrease of members from their moving from town, the society became weakened, and the meeting house having become dilapidated, it was sold in 1865, and the Methodists united with others in the erection of a union church edifice. The parsonage at East Rumford was also sold, and another purchased at the Center in 1876. The church at Rumford Center was built in 1865, and is furnished with a bell and organ.
An extensive revival prevailed in Rumford in 1843, and the Methodist church especially received large accessions. This revival was largely due to the preaching of William Miller and his followers, who predicted the end of the world and the winding up of all sublunary things during the year 1843. There was a general awakening in religious matters, and all denominations were more or less affected and their numbers increased. Several persons have commenced their ministerial labors in Rumford, and some of them were born in the town. Notably among these were the sons of Benjamin Lufkin, namely, Joseph, Moses and Benjamin. Charles Virgin, son of Ebenezer and Mehitable (Stickney) Virgin, also became a Methodist preacher, and was quite noted in his day. His first station was at Livermore in 1809. He also had settlements in Conway and Grantham, N. H., in New Bedford, Mass., also in Portland in 1818, in Bath in 1819, in Phipsburg in 1820 and in Hallowell in 1821. Later, in 1865, Patrick H. Hoyt, a native of New Hampshire, for some years a trader at the Center, became a preacher, and continued in the work until he died in Monmouth in 1873. In 1886, the Methodist church in Rumford numbered eighty- eight members, and numbered one hundred and seventy scholars in the Sabbath school. Rev. G. B. Hannaford, is the present efficient and popular pastor.
The original class numbered fourteen, but no record has been preserved, and it is impossible after ninety years to give their
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HISTORY OF RUMFORD.
names. The number doubtless included some of the Martins, Vir- gins and Wheelers.
The following list embraces the names of the Methodist preachers who have supplied the Rumford circuit :
1802, Daniel Jones ; 1803, Daniel Stimpson ; 1804, Allen HI. Cobb; 1805, Dan Perry ; 1806, Clement Parker; 1807, Allen II. Cobb; 1808, Jonathan Chauncey ; 1809, Joshua Randall ; 1810, William Hinman ; 1811, Ebenezer Blake ; 1812, Daniel Fillmore ; 1813, Benjamin Jones ; 1814, John F. Adams ; 1815, Joshua Ran- dall ; 1816, John Paine; 1817, John Lewis; 1318, James Jaques ; 1819, James Jaques ; 1820, Job Pratt; 1821, Elijah Speed ; 1822, Joshua Randall; 1823, John Shaw ; 1824, True Page; 1825, Dan- iel Wentworth ; 1826, Ebenezer F. Newell and James Smith ; 1827, Ebenezer F. Newell and Oren Bent ; 1828, Pascal P. Merrill and Caleb Fuller ; 1829, Caleb Fuller and Isaac Downing ; 1830, Win. Farrington and Ansel Gerrish ; 1831, Wm. Farrington, Oren Bent and Mark Trafton ; 1832, Job Pratt, died in Rumford February 22, 1833 ; 1833, Edmund Hotchkiss ; 1834, Jesse Stone ; 1835, Camp- meeting Joli Allen ; 1836, Dan Perry ; 1837, Henry W. Latham ; 1838, R. C. Bailey ; 1839, Huse Dow ; 1840, Huse Dow and Joseph Snell ; 1841-42, D. F. Quimby ; 1842, Charles Mason was with Mr. Quimby ; 1843, Henry True ; 1844, Jonathan Fairbanks ; 1845-46, E. Gammon ; 1847, Samuel P. Blake; 1848-49, John Jones ; 1850, N. A. Soule ; 1851-52, Seth B. Chase ; 1853, Joseph Hastings ; 1854, Joseph Gerry ; 1855-56, Nathan Andrews ; 1857- 58, George Briggs ; 1859-60, Joseph Moore ; 1861-62, Luther B. Knight; 1863, George Briggs; 1864, T. J. True ; 1865-66-67, Patrick Hoyt; 1868-69, Francis Grosvenor; 1870, Benj. Foster ; 1871-72, Richard Vivian ; 1873, Alvan Hatch ; 1874-75, George Briggs ; 1876, George Burbank ; 1877-78-79, G. B. Hannaford ; 1880, Sylvester D. Brown; 1881-82, Thomas Hillman ; 1x83-84, N. D. Centre ; 1885-86, Luther P. French ; 1887-88, G. B. Hanna- ford.
UNIVERSALISTS.
The two leading religious societies in town have always been the Congregational and the Methodist, but quite early there were those here who believed in the doctrine of Universalism, and in later years the number has increased. They have always been among
10
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HISTORY OF RUMFORD.
the most respectable and influential residents of the town. In evi- dence of this it is only necessary to mention such names as Timothy Walker, Moses F. Kimball, Joseph H. Wardwell, Hezekiah Hutchins, Jr., David Hutchins, John Martin, Jeremiah Martin, Calvin Howe, Jeremiah Wardwell, Rufus Virgin, Charles A. Kim- ball and Frank G. Russell. In the neighboring town of Hanover were the following persons who united with the Universalists of Rumford in the support of preaching : Joel Howe, Eli Howe, Reuben B. Foster, Eben Abbot, Joseph Staples, Albion K. Knapp, and Gardiner G. Hoyt. The families of all these persons, both in Rumford and Hanover, are much scattered, but whether at home or abroad, they generally adhere to the faith of their fathers.
There has never been any regularly settled Universalist minister in Rumford, but preachers of other towns have often supplied here. One of the churches at Rumford Point is owned by the Univer- salists, and some twenty-five years ago a place of worship for this denomination was erected at Runford Corner, a large part of the expense of which was incurred by Hon. Timothy Walker. The Universalists have never occupied it much, and it is for the most part used by the Methodists. Mr. Walker was much interested in the cause, and often attended the meetings at Bryant's Pond. This was especially so when Rev. Zenas Thompson and Rev. Absalom G. Gaines officiated there, both of whom were great favorites of Mr. Walker. Among the Universalist ministers who have preached in Rumford have been : Rev. Benj. B. Murray, Rev. George Bates, Rev. Zenas Thompson, Rev. Benj. W. Tingley, Rev. Absalom G. Gaines, Rev. Ezekiel W. Coffin, Rev. Wmn. R. French, Rev. John L. Stevens and Rev. Timothy J. Tenney.
CHAPTER XXIII.
RUMFORD MINISTERS .- REV. SAMUEL R. IIALL.
TRAMUEL READ HALL, the first Congregational minister in Rumford, was born in Sutton, Mass., January 21, 1755. He was the son of Stephen and Mary (Taft) Read Hall, and a de- scendant of John Hall of Medford, Mass., in 1675, and in Cam- bridge in 1652, and who was born in England in 1627. When a young man Samuel R. Hall went to Croyden, Vt., and then to Guildhall, where he resided several years. The people here were destitute of preaching, and Mr. Ilall exhorted, conducted prayer meetings, and finally decided to go into the ministry. Just what time he arrived in Rumford does not appear, but probably about the year 1807. A vote was passed in town meeting in 1811, to extend a call to Rev. Samuel R. Hall to become the minister of the town at a salary of two hundred and fifty dollars, sixty to be paid in money and the balance in produce. Mr. Hall's wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Hezekiah Hall, and she died in Guildhall, Vt., June 14, 1806. Mr. Hall died in Rumford in 1814. Most of his family remained in Vermont. His son, Samuel Read Hall, Jr., came to Rumford and was teaching school in town in 1816. He became a famous teacher and introduced many improved methods of impart- ing instruction, one of which was the use of the black-board, which was used for the first time in an American school, in a district school in Rumford taught by Mr. Hall in 1816. This fact is stated in the Hall Genealogy, and the writer of this volume also heard it from the lips of Abel Wheeler of Rumford, who was a teacher in this town contemporaneons with Mr. Hall. The children of Rev. Samuel R. Hall were :
I. Hannah, b. Dec. 7, 1776, m. Micah Amy.
II. Betsey, b. Sept. 10, 1778, m. John Whitten.
111. Lucy. b. March 12, 1780, m. Caleb Amy.
IV. Samuel, b. April 23, 1782, m. Hannah Swinnerton.
V. Read, b. Dec. 12, 1784, d. Dec. 8, 1787.
VI. Chloe, b. May 11. 1786, m. Asa Swinnerton.
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HISTORY OF RUMFORD.
VII. Hezekiah, b. March 16, 1787, m. Mary Hawes.
VIII. Sarah, b. Feb. 24, 1789, drowned by falling into a spring while in a fit, July 15, 1853.
IX. Josiah Brewer, b. June 14, 1790, mn. Roxanna Basset.
x. Theodocia, b. Oet. 9, 1793, d. Feb. 13, 1795.
XI. Samuel Read, b. Oct. 27, 1795, m. Mary Dascomb.
REV. DANIEL GOULD).
Rev. Daniel Gould, the second Congregational minister in Rum- ford, was born in Topsfield, Mass., Dec. 8, 1753. He was the son of Daniel and Lucy (Tarbox) Gould, and the fifth in descent from Zaccheus Gould, who was born in England about 1589, came to this country in 1638 and settled in Topsfield. He graduated at Harvard College and before entering college, and while a student at Dummer Academy he served a term in the Continental army. Returning, he studied Theology with Rev. Mr. Moody of Byefield. He was admitted to the church in Topsfield, Dec. 7, 1783. He came to Bethel and preached as a candidate in 1798-9, and was installed as the first settled minister in Bethel in October, 1799. He remained here until 1815, when, having received a call, he became the pastor of the church in Rumford and moved here. IIe was installed as such May 31, 1815. While in Bethel he opened a school for young men in his own house, and several who have since become conspicuous, fitted for college under his instruction. He did the same in Rumford after he became pastor of the church here. He brought the first chaise into Bethel, and was himself a conspic- uous figure in his cocked hat, black silk gown and breeches which was the ministerial dress of that day.
He was very social in his habits and popular with all classes. His fund of anecdotes was inexhaustible. He wrote his sermons, and when reading them held the manuscript near his eyes. In his will he left a small sum to Bethel Academy, on the condition that the institution should take his name, which was agreed to by the trustecs. His college text-books and several other volumes from his library were presented to the Academy and are preserved there. An oil portrait, said to be a correct likeness, has also been pre- sented to the Academy by Miss Mary Hurd of Topsfieldl, a niece of Mr. Gould. Mr. Gould married for his first wife, Dec. 24, 1782, Mary, eldest daughter of George Booth of Hillsborough, N. II. She died October 1, 1785. They had one daughter Molly, born
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September 28, 1785, and died the December following. December 25, 1788, he married Mrs. Eunice Perley, daughter of Stephen Foster of Andover, Mass., and relict of Jeremiah Perley of Tops- field. She came with him to Maine and died in this town. She had no children. For a third wife Mr. Gould married Mrs. Anna Poor, widow of Capt. Abner Rawson of Paris, who survived Mr. Gould many years, residing in her native town of Andover, Me. She was the second wife of Capt. Rawson, and step-mother of Lyman Rawson, the well-known Rumford attorney. Mr. Gould departed this life very suddenly, while sitting at the table at dinner, May 21, 1842, aged eighty-eight years. The writer of this vol- ume has in his possession one of Mr. Gould's manuscript sermons, said to be the first one ever preached by him. It is written in a very plain, round hand on a page about three by five inches. Mr. Gould was a man of excellent character, and is still referred to with respect and reverence by the elderly people of Rumford, though he has been dead nearly half a century. His second wife died Aug. 21, 1830, and was buried at Rumford Center.
REV. JOIIN ELLIOT.
Rev. John Elliot was the son of Andrew and Sally (Melvin) Elliot, and was born in West Nottingham (now Mason, N. H.) October 5, 1801. At the age of three years he came with his father's family to Newcastle, Me. He attended the academies at Lincoln, Gorham and Farmington, hoping to be able to enter Bowdoin College two years in advance, but failing health prevented. He was appointed by the American Board, teacher and catechist to the Indian Missions in New York and left for the Seneca Mission June 6, 1827. He afterwards went to the Tuscarora Mission, near Lewiston, N. Y. At this place, he studied theology with Rev. T. S. Harris, was licensed May 2, 1829, ordained as an evangelist June 28, 1831, and was settled by the Congregational Church at Tuscarora. The failing health of his wife compelled him to give up his mission, and he spent two years at the theological school at Beman, N. Y. He was installed at Youngstown and remained eight years.
Seriously troubled with a bronchial affection, he returned to Maine in 1844, and spent a year at the old homestead in Newcastle. From 1845 to 1848, he supplied at Durham. He then moved to Auburn,
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HISTORY OF RUMFORD.
where he remained eight years. He supplied at West Auburn and Turner, and on the thirtieth day of November, 1859, he removed to Rumford Point, was installed pastor and remained here until his death, which occurred March 15, 1879. A contemporary minister in a neighboring town says : "The death of a son ten years of age probably did more than anything else to weaken the once firm tab- ernacle of his strength, and to slacken the tension of the silken, unseen cords of his mental structure, and hasten his exit from a state of sighs and tears."
Mr. Elliot married, Nov. 19, 1827, Mary Ward of Wheatfield, N. J., who died in Durham, Me., Nov. 17, 1847, leaving one daughter. For a second wife he married, March 27, 1849, Mrs. Arabella Newell. She was the daughter of Edward Berry of Lis- bon, granddaughter of Josiah Berry of Lisbon, and great-grand- daughter of George Berry whose wife was Sarah Stickney of Falmouth. Mrs. Arabella Elliot was born in Lisbon, Dec. 25. 1821, married Stillman Newell, Sept. 3, 1844, who died March 27, 1847, leaving one son, S. E. Newell, who was born July 4, 1847. The children of Rev. John and Arabella Elliot were :
1. John F., b. Auburn, April 15, 1850.
II. Arabella May, b. May 1, 1852.
III. C. D. Elliot, b. July 2. 1855.
IV. Marie Danforth, b. Rumford, July 16, 1859.
v. Robert L. B., b. April 20, 1865.
REV. JOSIAH G. MERRILL.
Rev. Josiah Goodhue Merrill was the son of Enoch and Mary (Ambrose) Merrill and was born in Conway, N. H., Sept. 4, 1787. He was the seventh in descent from Nathaniel Merrill, who came from England to Newbury, Mass. Three of the sons of Enoch Merrill were Congregational ministers, viz. Josiah G., Stephen and Henry A. The latter was settled several years at Norway. Josiah G. Merrill was educated at Fryeburg Academy and was ordained at Otisfield Sept. 4, 1814, and dismissed Nov. 23, 1830. He subse- quently had settlements at Elliot, Cape Elizabeth, Washington, Windsor, Bremen, Eastport, Washburne, Fort Fairfield, Presque Isle, West Brooksville, North Augusta and came to Rumford in January, 1854, and remained until 1858. He was of more than ordinary mental and bodily vigor and wherever he went he com-
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mended himself to the people both as preacher and pastor. He was an industrious worker and accomplished much for the cause which he early esponsed and to which he devoted the best years of his long life. He died in Lynn, Mass., Aug. 18, 1872, aged about eighty-five years. He was not installed to the pastorate of the church here, but was simply hired to officiate as acting pastor from year to year. His children were :
I. Harriet Newell, b. Sept. 28, 1815.
II. Caroline Payson, b. Apr. 17, 1817.
III. Josiah, b. Jan. 31, 1819, clergyman, r. Troy, N. H.
IV. Henry Martyn, b. Feb. 9, 1821.
V. Augusta Ilsley, b. Aug. 3, 1822.
VI. James Ambrose, b. Nov. 19, 1824.
VII. Hannah Elizabeth, b. Nov. 21, 1826.
VIIl. Edward Payson, b. Aug. 10, 1828.
IX. Phebe Moody, b. Apr. 15, 1830, r. Boston.
The above born in Otisfield.
X. Helen Wenburg, b. Cape Elizabeth, Jan. 31, 1833.
XI. Charles Freeman, b. Cape Elizabeth, Oct. 10, 1833.
Only two of the above family are now living.
REV. JOSEPH LUFKIN.
Rev. Joseph Lufkin, son of Benjamin Lufkin, was born in Con- cord, N. H., August 19, 1786, and the following year the family moved to New Pennacook. He was ordained a deacon of the Methodist Church by Rev. Francis Asbury in 1815, and became a member of the New England Conference. He had stations at Lunenburg, Vermont, at Livermore, Maine, and at other places. He finally settled on farm near Rumford Center, and became a local preacher and farmer. He was often called upon to attend funerals and to perform the marriage ceremony ; he tied more nuptial knots than any other person who ever lived in town. He was a devoted Freemason, a public lecturer, an advocate of temperance, and in every way a valuable citizen. He departed this life January 16, 1872, retaining fully his mental faculties until the end came. Ilis family record may be found elsewhere.
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CHAPTER XXIV.
THE LEGAL PROFESSION-PETER C. VIRGIN.
ON. PETER CHANDLER VIRGIN was the first, and for many years, the only lawyer in Rumford. He was born in UWWU Concord, N. H., June 23, 1783, and was grandson of Ebenezer Virgin, the emigrant, one of the founders of Concord, and whose heirs were among the grantees of Rumford. Peter C. Virgin attended school and fitted for college at Phillips Exeter Academy, was for a year or more a student at Harvard College, studied law in the office of Esquire Varnun of Haverhill, Mass., and also with Hon. Judah Dana of Fryeburg, and when admitted to the bar, came to this town to practice. He soon had a large and lucrative practice. He was representative to the legislature of Massachusetts and Maine, mem- ber of the convention to form a constitution for the State of Maine, County attorney for several terms, town clerk and agent of Rumford for many years, Postmaster at Rumford Corner and also held other places of trust and responsibility. He was highly respected in town and county. He was a gentleman of the old school, courteous and kind to all. For some years before his death he was the senior member of the Oxford bar. His family record may be found else- where. He died April 7, 1871, aged eighty-seven and three-fourths years, and his remains repose in the cemetery at Rumford Point.
LYMAN RAWSON.
Hon. Lyman Rawson, son of Captain Abner and Abigail (Fuller) Rawson of Paris, was born in Paris May 6, 1799. He graduated from Waterville College, now Colby University, in 1827, studied law in the office of Judge Stephen Emery, and when admitted to the Oxford bar, settled at Rumford Point where he continued to practice many years, until his death. He also dealt in real estate and cattle, and engaged more or less in agriculture. He was more or less in political life, was an uncompromising democrat, and a leader in that party. He served several terms in the Maine Legislature, and
Hon. Peter & Virgin.
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HISTORY OF RUMFORD.
also as Judge of Probate for Oxford County. He married May 20, 1832, Jerusha Holmes of Oxford. He died Aug. 22, 1874, and his remains are interred at Rumford Point.
TIMOTIIY J. CARTER.
Hon. Timothy Jarvis Carter was the son of Dr. Timothy Carter of Bethel, and was born in that town Aug. 18, 1800. He settled in Rumford, but remained here only a few years and then moved to Paris. While a resident of this town he married Sept. 11, 1828, Arabella, daughter of Samuel and Polla (Freeland) Rawson of Paris. He served as Secretery of the Maine Senate in 1833, and the same year was appointed State's attorney for Oxford County. He was elected to the XXV Congress of the United States and died in Wash- ington, D. C., March 14, 1838. High tributes of respect were paid him by Hon. George Evans of the House and Hon. John Ruggles of the Senate. He was able, popular and successful, but was cut down at an early age and in the midst of a useful career.
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