One hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Buxton, Maine : held at Buxton lower corner, August 16, 1922 : with additional history, Part 12

Author:
Publication date: 1926
Publisher: Portland, Me. : Southworth Press
Number of Pages: 426


USA > Maine > York County > Buxton > One hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Buxton, Maine : held at Buxton lower corner, August 16, 1922 : with additional history > Part 12


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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1920. George H. Knox, Homer L. Martin, William H. Rowe. 1921. Homer L. Martin, William H. Rowe, Frank Weymouth.


1922. William H: Rowe, Frank Weymouth, Charles H. Webster.


1923. Wilbur C. Waterman, Charles H. Webster, Fred W. McCorrison.


1924. Charles H. Webster, Fred W. McCorrison, Howard G. Wakefield. 1925. Fred W. McCorrison, Howard G. Wakefield, Charles H. Webster.


BUXTON TOWN CLERKS


1773. John Nason.


1780. Samuel Knight.


1795. Samuel Cutts.


1820. Zenas Payne.


1822. Robert Wentworth.


1834. David Smith.


1834. Solomon Davis.


1837. Robert Wentworth.


1842. Frederick D. Edgerly.


1844. Robert Wentworth.


1845. Frederick D. Edgerly.


1846. David L. Palmer.


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One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary


1849. Ansel W. Hanson. 1873. Allen T. Hill.


1854. William M. Jordan. 1874. Charles F. Carr.


1855. Almon H. Wilkins. 1876. Samuel A. Hill.


1856. William M. Jordan. 1880. Robert A. Bradbury.


1857. Almon H. Wilkins. 1895. Spencer Boyden.


1858. William M. Jordan.


1896. Harlan F. Patridge.


1861. Robert Wentworth.


1898. William T. Jordan.


1863. Dr. A. K. P. Meserve.


1900. Supply Dean.


1864. Robert Wentworth.


1904. William T. Jordan.


1865. Dr. A. K. P. Meserve.


1905. George E. Smith.


1866. Frank J. Cole.


1908. Joseph Leatherbarrow.


1867. Joseph Davis.


1909. Bert A. Bradbury.


1868. Dr. A. K. P. Meserve.


1910. Philip S. Brooks.


1869. Joseph Davis.


1914. Supply Dean.


1870. Storer S. Milliken.


1916. Charles H. Dean.


1872. Reuben W. Murch.


192I. R. Blanche Dean, (Present Clerk, 1925).


BUXTON TOWN TREASURERS


1773. John Kimball.


1862. Robert Wentworth.


1775. William Bradbury.


1863. Dr. A. K. P. Meserve.


1780. Samuel Knight.


1864. Samuel D. Hanson.


1791. Jacob Bradbury, Esq.


1865. Dr. A. K. P. Meserve.


1793. Ebenezer Wentworth.


1866. Samuel D. Hanson.


1820. Thomas Bradbury.


1868. Storer S. Milliken.


1822. Robert Wentworth.


1869. Samuel D. Hanson.


1833. Daniel Wentworth.


1870. Storer S. Milliken.


1837. Joseph Dunnell.


1872. Samuel D. Hanson.


1840. Alexander Jose.


1873. Thomas H. Berry.


1841. Robert Wentworth.


1876. Samuel D. Hanson.


1842. Peter Hill.


1888. Thomas Tarbox.


1844. Alexander Jose.


1898. Eugene C. Carll.


1845. Peter Hill.


1899. Warren A. McCorrison.


1849. Daniel Wentworth.


1908. Walter H. Coffin.


1852. Samuel D. Hanson.


1909. Frank H. Hargraves.


1854. Rufus Emery.


1915. Philip S. Brooks.


1857. Eben Hill.


1918. Fred W. McCorrison.


1859. William M. Jordon.


1920. Herman H. Locke.


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Town of Buxton, Maine BUXTON COLLECTORS


1773. Samuel Leavitt.


1774. Ephraim Sands.


I775. John Kimball.


1776. Joshua Kimball.


1777. Isaiah Brooks.


1778. Daniel Leavitt.


1779. Jacob Bradbury, Esq.


1780. John Smith.


1781. Joseph Leavitt.


1782. Daniel Appleton.


1783. Benjamin Dunnell, Jr.


1784. Nathaniel Hill.


1785. Chase Parker.


1786. Nathan Elden.


1787. Joseph Dunnell, Thomas Emery.


1788. Thomas Emery, Thomas Bradbury.


1789. Peter Ayers, John L. Hancock.


1790. Clement Jordan, Thomas Atkinson.


1791. Capt. Jabez Lane, John Eaton.


1792. John Appleton, Joseph Bradbury.


1793. Ephraim Sands, Jr., Snell Wingate.


1794. Joseph Goodwin, William Boynton.


1795. John Cressey, Abiathar Woodsum.


1796. Brice Boothby, Samuel Harding.


1797. Joseph Atkinson, Levi Elwell.


1798. Jabez Sawyer, Humphry Merrill.


1799. William Andrews, William Adams.


1800. Nathaniel Milliken, Levi Elwell.


1801. Jonathan Berry, William Adams.


1802. Jonathan Berry, Thomas Thompson.


1803. Jonathan Berry.


1804. John Sawyer, John Smith.


1805. Roger Plaisted, Theodore Elwell.


1806. Samuel Merrill, Jabez Bradbury.


1807. Francis Libby, Theodore Elwell.


1808. Theodore Elwell, Peletiah Harmon.


1809. John Dennett, Joseph Rounds.


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One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary


1810. Nathaniel Rice, Stephen Adams.


1811. Benjamin Emery, Thomas Harmon.


1812. Ephraim Woodman, Theodore Elwell. 1813-14. David Hanson, Isaac Libby. 1815. Timothy Hazelton, John D. Hill.


1816. Theodore Elwell, David Hanson.


1817. David Hanson, Benjamin Elwell. 1818. Timothy Hazelton, Benjamin Elwell. 1819-20-21. Stephen Woodman.


1822. Samuel V. Nason.


1823. David Hanson, Nathan Elden.


1824-27. William Paul, Timothy Hazelton.


1828-31. Thomas Emery, Timothy Hazelton.


1832-33. Samuel Sands, Thomas Emery.


1834-36. Peter Emery, Thomas Emery. 1837. Peter Emery, David Waterman. 1838-40. John S. Foss, George Carll.


1841. John S. Foss, Albert Bradbury.


1842-43. William T. Boulter, John Milliken.


1844. Albert Bradbury, John Milliken. 1845. John Milliken, William T. Boulter. 1846-47. Willis McKenney, William T. Boulter.


1848-49. William T. Boulter, Enoch Atkinson.


1850. Richard Clay, Enoch Atkinson.


1851-55. Peter Emery, James Davis.


1856-57. John S. Atkinson, Moses W. Bradbury. 1858. Eben Hill. 1859-62. Moses W. Bradbury, Rufus Libby.


1863. Rufus Libby, Richard Clay.


1864. Jeremiah Chadborn.


1865. Arthur Boothby, John C. Mayo.


1866. John C. Mayo.


1867. John D. Hill.


1 868. Arthur Boothby, John C. Mayo.


1869-75. John C. Mayo.


1876-79. Acel Eaton.


1880. Arthur Boothby.


1881-87. Warren A. McCorrison.


1888-89. Edwin M. Hill.


Town of Buxton, Maine 167


1890-96. John G. Locke.


1897. William H. Boulter.


1898-99. John W. Rankins.


1900-II. Daniel J. Flanders.


1912-15. Joseph H. Bradbury.


1916. Clarence S. Bradbury.


1917-21. Charles H. Webster. 1922. Thomas V. Smith. 1923. George H. Davis.


BUXTON DOCTORS


Sanborn.


Royal Brewster.


John G. Coffin, later, Fort Niagara and Boston.


P. F. Groves.


Thomas Thornton. Virgil C. Totman, later, Oakland, Me.


Ebenezer Howe. Arthur G. Wiley


David Bacon.


Herbert A. Owen


Resident doctors.


Edward Peabody.


Ezra Dean. Wingate.


S. C. Brewster.


George W. Whitney.


A. K. P. Meserve, later, Portland, Me.


Martin Coffin.


J. O. H. Burnham.


John A. Fellows. - Morrill. De Wolf.


Edward Fogg.


Edwin Thompson, later, Sanford, Me.


Frank A. Southwick, later, Stephens Point, Wis.


Charles Dennett, later, Arlington, Mass.


Ambrose Weeks, later, Portland, Me.


SETTLED IN OTHER PLACES Samuel S. Emery, Surgeon, Ill. Regt. Thomas Emery, Augusta Hospital.


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One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary


Zenas P. Hanson, Chicago, Ill., Surgeon, Ill. Regt. Charles R. Smith, Livermore Falls, Me. Harry S. Emery, Portland, Me. Sumner B. Marshall, Alfred, Me.


BUXTON LAWYERS


Barker Curtis.


Edwin W. Wedgwood.


Joseph Adams.


Francis Bacon.


Joseph Woodman, Jr.


Caleb P. Brackett.


Charles Coffin.


Charles E. Weld.


William T. Hillard.


Joel M. Marshall.


Samuel V. Loring.


1


SETTLED IN OTHER PLACES


Liberty B. Dennett, Portland, Me.


Robert S. Hill, Chicago, Ill.


C. Wallace Harmon, Saco, Me.


Loren M. Harmon, New York City.


George L. Emery, Biddeford.


Cyrus Woodman, Cambridge, Mass.


George W. Woodman, New York.


Charles G. Came, Boston, Mass.


Mark H. Dunnell, Minnesota, elected to Congress.


Samuel Merrill, Iowa, elected Governor.


Charles R. Brewster, South Carolina.


John P. Hale, N. H., elected Governor.


Nathan Elden, New Jersey.


BUXTON CENSUS


1790-1,508; 1800-1,938; 1810-2,324; 1820-2,590; 1830- 2,855; 1840- 2,687; 1850-2,995; 1860-2,853; 1870 - 2,546; 1880 - 2,230; 1890 - 2,036; 1900- 1,838; 1910- 1,575; 1920 - 1,565.


169


Town of Buxton, Maine PEOPLE EIGHTY YEARS OLD OR MORE LIVING IN BUXTON IN 1922


Mrs. Irene Merrill, 93.


George W. Farr.


Mrs. Lucy A. Eaton, 92.


Mrs. Susan L. Webster.


Nathaniel Sawyer, 92.


Miss Miranda Webster.


Miss Lucy Butler, 90.


James O. Fogg, 84.


S. Woodbury Scribner, 89.


Henry Fogg.


John Berryman, 87.


Fred Wells.


Gorham Phinney.


Mrs. Mary Smith.


Tristram Eaton.


Mrs. George Boothby.


George H. Libby.


Mrs. Sarah Pennell.


Mrs. George Smith.


Charles Waterman.


Mrs. Louise Stewart.


William A. Shepard.


Mrs. William Waterhouse.


Oliver Plowman.


Mrs. Maria Hanna.


James Sands.


Mrs. Benjamin Oldread.


John Axon.


Mrs. John Haley.


Mrs. Harriet F. Dennett.


George Elwell.


Mrs. Alvin Thompson.


Mrs. John Martin.


- Mrs. Lucy L. Came.


Mrs. William Hanson.


Nathan Lane.


John Randall.


REPRESENTATIVES TO THE GENERAL COURT OF MASSACHUSETTS


1782. Jacob Bradbury, Esq. 1808. William Merrill.


1790. John Woodman.


1809. Samuel Merrill.


1796. Jacob Bradbury, Esq.


William Merrill.


1798. John Woodman. 1810. Joseph Woodman. Samuel Merrill.


1800. Jacob Bradbury, Esq.


1801. John Woodman. 1803. Samuel Merrill.


18II. Gibeon Elden. Brice Boothby.


1805. John Woodman.


1806. Samuel Merrill. Nathan Elden.


1812. Gibeon Elden. William Merrill. Benjamin Leavitt.


1807. Joseph Woodman. Samuel Merrill.


1813. Benjamin Leavitt.


1816. Gibeon Elden.


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One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary


William Merrill.


James Woodman.


1818. Benjamin Leavitt.


1819. Joseph Woodman. Samuel Merrill. William Merrill.


MAINE LEGISLATURE


1820. Nathan Elden. 1868. Nathan Hanson.


1824. Joseph Hobson.


1869. Moses G. Hill.


1825. Samuel Hill, Sr.


1870. Thomas H. Berry.


1827. Gen. William Waterman.


1871. James O. A. Harmon.


1828. Samuel Sands.


1873. Charles W. McKenney.


1830. Joseph Hobson.


1876. Stephen Towle.


1832. Stephen Woodman.


1835. Tobias Lord.


1877. David W. Libby.


1836. Abram L. Came.


1878. James Meserve.


1838. William Foss.


1879. George W. Howe.


1840. Oliver Dow.


1880. Samuel D. Hanson.


1842. Charles Watts.


1882. Cyril P. Harmon, Hollis.


1844. Ansel Merrill.


1845. John Milliken.


1886. Joseph F. Warren.


1846. Abram L. Came.


1888. Lewis H. Burnham, Hollis.


1847. John Milliken.


1890. Frank H. Hargraves.


1848. Robert Wentworth.


1894. Cecil F. Clark, Hollis.


1849. Stephen Lane.


1896. Samuel B. Shepard.


1852. James Morton.


1898. Frank M. Bennett, Hollis.


1854. Ansel Merrill.


1902. Samuel A. Hill.


1856. Joseph Davis.


1906. Cecil F. Clark, Hollis.


1858. Levi F. Boothby.


1914. Lindley L. Bradbury, Hollis.


1861. Simon B. Davis.


1916. Guy A. Brackett, Limington.


1863. Horatio Dunn.


1920. Ernest H. Emery.


1864. Charles E. Weld.


1922. Frank M. Gordon, Dayton.


1865. Samuel D. Hanson.


1924. Pliny A. Crockett, Hollis.


1867. Francis N. Clark.


1910. William A. Merrill.


1859. Moses Hopkinson.


1884. Frank J. Leavitt.


1875. Reuben W. Murch.


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Town of Buxton, Maine


THE HISTORY OF BUXTON HIGH SCHOOL BY FREEDA M. BERRY, JUNIOR ESSAY, 1924


If. I should attempt to tell you the whole history of the Buxton High School I am afraid you would drop to sleep before I fin- ished, but I am not going to do that, I will just tell in as simple words as possible a brief history of the school.


An article was put in the warrant which was to be voted on at the town meeting March 5, 1887: "To see if the town will vote to establish a High School in this town, to locate the same, and to take any other action that may be necessary in regard to the mat- ter." It was voted to establish a Free High School, but no fur- ther action was taken for a year.


As the people of Buxton Center wished to have the High School located in that district the inhabitants of Buxton raised a small sum of money in order to start the school. Finally it was decided to raise the roof of the Grammar School building at Buxton Cen- ter. In that way a place was fixed upstairs for a High School. Mr. T. V. Smith was at that time Supervisor. He went around visiting each family to see how many girls and boys of the High School age could be interested to attend.


The High School opened for the first time September 3, 1888, with fifty-seven pupils. This was so many more than was ex- pected that settees had to be brought in for a few days until more desks could be provided.


The first and only teacher was George Larrabee. There was such a large number of recitations it was found that Mr. Larrabee could not attend to the work alone and do justice to the scholars, therefore Miss Benson of the lower school was asked to assist him. With two hard-working teachers doing their uttermost excellent results were attained that year.


In June at the end of the first year instead of a graduation there was a public examination. The schoolhouse was decorated with ferns and flowers, and as the grammar school had already


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One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary


closed the whole building was open. Mr. Larrabee conducting his classes in the High School room and the assistant conducting hers downstairs. So many people came that the scholars were obliged to give up their seats to visitors and stay in the entrys between classes.


In the year 1890 the first graduation was held. There were only two pupils to graduate, Everett Harmon and Will Cressey, but they were fitted to graduate because of their first two years' work already done in Gorham. Only once since that time has the Buxton High School failed to hold a graduation at the Baptist Church. In the year 1908 the class dwindled and disappeared, but an entertainment was held at the church, the program being furnished by the two upper classes.


Mr. Larrabee made a great success of the school during the first two years. He taught from 1888 to 1891. Then he was followed by other able teachers who will long be remembered by pupils of the school. Charles Smith, Virgil Totman, J. M. Hill, Stacy C. Lanphor, Mrs. D. M. Hutchinson, and Mrs. Maggie Eaton Eastman are names of a few of those whom the alumni will always think of with feelings of loyalty and respect. Mrs. Hutch- inson remained with the school nine years. During that length of time she won many friends.


In 1912 it was voted to erect a better equipped building. Ac- cordingly a lot containing four acres of land was bought at the top of the hill and in the year of 1913 the building was ready for occupancy. This new building was somewhat different than the old building. As Mr. Lanphor said the first morning, "Every- thing is new but the teacher." With new conveniences the pupils seemed to improve in their work.


There proved to be a great surprise in store for the Buxton High School, for in the year 1917 Dr. Zenas Hanson gave to the town the sum of $5,000 on the condition that the High School be named after his brother, Samuel D. Hanson. Therefore what was once the Buxton High School came to be known as the Samuel


القدية


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Town of Buxton, Maine


.


D. Hanson High School. The money which Mr. Hanson gave to the town is not to be used for hiring of teachers or other such ex- penses, but rather to add to the efficiency of the school by furnish- ing something which could not well be supplied by the town.


Year by year our school has been improving. The library is quite different from the three open shelves in which Mr. Larrabee placed a set of Dickens and of Irving. The laboratory also shows progress. Many will remember the two boards hinged together, placed on the tops of the front desks to serve as a table on which to perform experiments. Some have laughed heartily as they re- called the nervous principal who, when the phosphorus flamed as he cut it, quickly made matters worse by trying to grind out the flame with his foot. Now our well equipped laboratory makes pos- sible the right kind of work. Electricity has already been brought into the building to furnish the water supply. No doubt it will soon be added to the laboratory so that the study of electricity may be interesting and profitable.


But the history of our school is the history of our pupils it has sent out as teachers. There are Harry Town, sub-master in a high school of 5,000 in Cleveland, Ohio; Eugene Smith, master of a boys' camp in Bridgton; Merrill Hill, teacher of the Boston Latin School; Doris Leavitt, teacher of penmanship in Gray's Business College. In business there are Arthur Lowell and Gordon Har- graves with Curtis Publishing Co .; Samuel Hill, manager of Steinart's in Bangor. These are some who have gone away, and there are many men and women all about us who are happier and more prosperous because of the years spent in Buxton High School.


At the present time we have three teachers. The principal, Max C. Harmon, who is a graduate of this school in the class of 1914, is also a graduate of the University of Maine; another, Miss Eliza Libby, who has taught since 1904, is also a graduate of this school in the class of 1891. Our third teacher, Miss Mildred


I74


One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary


Bickmore, received her education at Higgins Classical Institute and at Colby College.


Our school has prospered in the past. I am sure that there is also a great future in store for the Samuel D. Hanson High School.


GRADUATES OF BUXTON HIGH SCHOOL


Alton Everett Harmon


William Henry Cressey


1891


*Wallace John Cole


Eliza Sands Libby


Bertha May Berry


*Mary Milliken Meserve


Susie Lavonia Babb


Lela Ella Burnham


Albert Theodore Elwell


George Percy Adams


Lubelle Blanche Patrick


Frank Harlan Patridge


Jennie Mildred Hill


*Susie Emma Abbott


Minnie Eudora Tyler


*Nellie Florence Hill


*Syrena Emma Martin


Horace Nelson Bradbury


Grace Lee Carville


Lucius Hutchinson


Harry Leon Warren John Furber Cotton


Norman Clyde Shordon Eugene Irving Smith Edwin Cotton


Milton Sterns Harmon


Ernest H. Emery Walter E. Edgerley


Harry L. Cotton


*Callie M. Flanders Sadie Etta Mayo Nellie Grace Sands


1892


Gertrude Dunnell Mary Louise Owen Annie May Hill Harry E. Morton


1893


*Effie L. Boothby Mabel A. Emery Annie Harmon Sumner Tyler


1894


Myra F. Moody Helen M. Hill


1895 Florence A. Hazeltine *Addie May Berry Eva Albertha Patridge


1890


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Town of Buxton, Maine


1896


John Preston Mayo Harry M. Towne *Arthur Redlon Frank Melville Adams Myra Edith Locke Lucina Haynes Almira Edgerley


Herbert Frank Redlon *Albert Warren Everett Howard Phinney Frank Clifford Eaton Fred Trustram Eaton


Clara Fondella Libby Mabel Eliza Wood Joseph Leatherbarrow


Sarah Melvena Anderson Grace Rachel Berry Emma Ethel Hill


Philip Sheridan Brooks Arthur W. Davis


George E. Leatherbarrow Galen Hill Chester Warren Roberts


*Blanche Wrenchel Sands Edythe Adams Blake


Mabel Eleanor Johnson Ina Mae Ford Elmer Goodwin Redlon Ida Myrtle Libby William Henry Harmon


Nellie E. Clay *Ethel M. Parker Grace H. Sherman


Ora Belle Davis Margaret Harmon


Herbert Dunnell Willie Bacon Blake


1897


Statira Amanda Boothby Grace Emma Warren Harriett Abbie Davis Rossie Blanche Patridge


1898


Richard Jose Libby George Melville Emery Samuel Allison Hill


1899 James Garfield Hutchinson Milton Jack


1900


Mildred Amantha Fogg Delma Edgecomb Linnett Parker Margie C. Davis Harriett Bartlett Fogg


1901


Lulie Pease


1902 Charlotte Spinney Redlon Annette Marion Chadbourne Cylence Jane Lowell *Bernice Evangeline Norton


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One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary


Sarah Lord Graham Lizzie May Foss Susie Ellen Towle


Sarah Letitia Sawyer Fay Nora Eaton


Bertha Evelyn Davis


Bessie Mildred Dennett Elizabeth Olive Dennett


Merrill Christy Hill Eunice Mabel Sands Arthur Fulton Elwell Sara Ethel Fogg Ernest Albert Elwell


Dora Geneva Eaton Winnie Marie Anderson Samuel Dunnell Palmer Ellen H. D. Harmon


Alice Marie Elwell Clara Mildred Rand Gladys Olive Anderson


Erle Lebaron Milliken


Mae Skillings


Ralph Brooks Hutchinson Helen May Eaton Albert Cushman Parker


Beatrice Frances Townsend Carrie Adelia Palmer Ernest Linwood Anderson Jennie Hannah Emery


1903


Frank Morton Elwell Ina Frances Hall


1904


George Alton Rounds Deering S. Roberts *Harry Lee Heigh Annie Margaret Wood


1905


J. Elliott Swift Lizzie Loocada Martin Helen Abbie Blake *Mollie Louise Rose Grace Redlon


1907


*Harold Freethy Hutchinson Luena Mildred Chase Mary Althea Spencer Ina May Fogg


1908


Agnes Lourie Hill Leola Sewell Blake Harold James Davis


1909 Lena R. Jose


1910 *Estella Verian Eaton Pearl Vida Harris


1911 Laura Etta Elwell Nellie Mae Gowen Carrie Luella Pease


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Town of Buxton, Maine


Harold Deering Sawyer Clara Maud Littlefield Mildred Frances Smith


Vera Frances Anderson Lillie Alter Bennett Minnie Susan Flood Lawrence Hall Hutchinson


Ella Frances Clifford Carl Samuel Davis Blanche Mabel Whittaker


Clarence Elwell Ralph Goff Gordon F. Hargraves


Ruth Luella Sawyer Edna Arvilla Soule Arthur Strout Lowell Lunette Gladys Soule


Ralph Emerson Dunnell Carrie May Harmon Hazel Maud Flood Doris Arvilla Soule


Marjorie Louise Cressey Mildred Cecil Garland Lawrence Clifford Higgins


Delma Reid Adams Margaret Cole Carl Milton Harmon


Roxie Laura Andrews Lester Vernon Goff


1912 Arline Ardell Marean Ralph Earl Sawyer


1913


Vera Oretha Small *Gordon Elwell Tufts Melvina Lane Waterman William Clifford Webster


1914 Norman Lee Owen Max Carleton Harmon


1915 Laura G. Hill Alta M. Paine Annie Hutchinson 1916 Elmer James Davis William P. Eaton Merle G. Harmon


1917 Margaret Came Warren Evelyn Laura West Dorothy Ilene Whittaker


1918 *Cecil Belmont Smith Ila Estelle Wilson -


1919 Harriett Merle Paine Louise Boothby Smith


1920 Annie Estella Holt Perley Eaton Hutchinson


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One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary


Florence True Hulit Lawrence Howard Jose Margaret Helen Jose · Doris Olive Katon Lena May Libby


Lena Celia Soule Helen Elizabeth Soule Ruby Gertrude Smith Nettie Irene Tapley


1921


Elmer Garfield Kelso Katherine Morrison Lord Helen Elizabeth Smith Maurice Albert Warren Marcia Frances Waterman


1922


Myra Guelma Hill Austin G. Gorham Justin Sanborn Merrill


Lawrence A. Fogg


Madeline Louise Morton


Joseph Willard Warren


Arthur Chester Haley


Max F. Davis


Earl Charles Paine


1923


Arthur L. Towle Dorothy Evelyn Holt George Albert Elwell Philip F. Rowe Jennie A. Waterman


Hazel S. Harmon Wilbur H. Dunn Mildred A. Harmon


1924


Norman J. Fogg Florence E. Davis


1925


Wenonah Nellie Atkinson


Abbie Esther Andrews


Freda Maud Berry


Velma Frances Holt Mary Agnes Merrill Lillian May Peck Cora Moody Soule


Roy Samuel Dixon Irene Olive Haley


*Deceased


Respectfully submitted,


R. BLANCHE DEAN.


Lawrence R. Brackett Carl Burleigh Eastman Marie Annie Elwell Chester Rufus Emery Ethel R. Goff Sylvia W. Hulit


Eliza Ellen Waterman Leona Edwards Alice Carll Elmer Boothby


179


Town of Buxton, Maine KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN


The name of Old Buxton has been made known to thousands everywhere by the works of our beloved Mrs. George S. Riggs, known so well as Kate Douglas Wiggin.


A history of Buxton would not be complete without some ap- preciation of her and through the kind permission of the pub- lishers, Dodd, Mead and Company of New York, we may quote from their book, The Women Who Make Our Novels, by Grant M. Overton.


No one of us can say it as well as has Mr. Overton. He not only gives a delightful picture of her but also shows the wide pub- licity given our town, not only through his excellent book of sev- eral editions, but through her many books, all connected with the Saco Valley. Writing in 1918 he stated that at that time nearly three million copies of her books had been sold.


Mr. Overton says: "Once Kate Douglas Wiggin, at a fair held in the grounds of Lord Darnley in County Meath, Ireland, visited a crystal gazer imported from Dublin for the occasion.


"'You have many children,' said the seer.


" 'I have no children,' Mrs. Wiggin replied.


"'But I see them; they are coming, still coming. O, so many little ones; they are clinging to you; you are surrounded with them,' the woman declared, her eyes on the ball. "They are chil- dren of a relative? No. I cannot understand it. I see them.'" Perhaps she will never know how wonderfully right was her vision.


Little lame Patsey and the angelic Carol; the mirth-provoking tribe of the Ruggleses; brave Timothy and the bewitching Gay; pathetic Marm Lisa and the incorrigible twins; Atlantic and Pa- cific Simpson; blithe Polly Oliver, with her genius for story tell- ing; winsome Rebecca and the faithful Emma Jane; all these figures crowd about us and claim their places as everybody's children.


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One Hundred Fiftieth Anniversary


Who else could gather the neighbors in Old Buxton Meeting- house to hear, read aloud to them from manuscript, stories of themselves and their apparently unremarkable doings? But she · is so soft voiced, so agreeable; she has such sympathy and humor, is in short, so nice and neighborly. Besides you can be proud of her. And you are.


Old Buxton Meetinghouse is in Maine and it is in Maine, in the village of Hollis, that the people of whom Mrs. Wiggin writes grew into being. Her home is called Quillcote and from the cool, green study where she works she can hear the song of the Saco River and look through latticed windows by her desk to where the shining weather vane, a golden quill, swings on the roof of the old barn.


It is a quaint and ancient dwelling of colonial date and style set among arching elms. The village is not a summer resort, but a dreaming settlement on the banks of the Saco. As it flows past the Quillcote elms the river, a few rods below the house, has a fall. Below the fall, for a mile or so, there is "foaming, curving, prancing white water." It is the Saco, placid and turbulent, which runs through Timothy's Quest and Rebecca and Rose of the River.


Mr. Overton then describes the well known barn. "Wide open doors, open at the back into a field of buttercups and daisies. They still dance the square dances on the threshing floor.


"In the girl of New England, the visitor to Ireland and Eng- land and Scotland, the writer reading from her manuscript in Old Buxton Meetinghouse, the Festival Bringer of the Quillcote barn, you have Kate Douglas Wiggin, born a Smith; you have very completely and with a delightful authenticity the creator of all those hosts of happy children, children sometimes sad, sometimes grieved, but always as certain of happiness as they are of sunshine; you have the Penelope who found the humors of foreign travel which more pretentious humorists coming later could merely




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