USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Waterville > The centennial history of Waterville, Kennebec County, Maine, including the oration, the historical address and the poem presented at the celebration of the centennial anniversary of the incorporation of the town, June 23d, 1902 > Part 44
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Moses Lyford was born in Mount Vernon, Maine, January 31, 1816. His parents were Dudley and Betsey Smith Lyford. After graduating from Colby College in 1843, he taught in Ken- nebunk Academy, in Townshend Academy, Vermont, and in the Boys' High school, Portland. In 1856 he was elected professor of mathematics and natural philosophy in Colby College. In 1873 a professorship of mathematics was established and Pro- fessor Lyford became professor of natural history and astronomy. He retired from active service in the college in 1884. He received the degree of LL. D. from Colby College in 1874. He was married in 1848 to Mary L. Dyer. One son survives them, -Hon. E. F. Lyford of Springfield, Mass. Professor Lyford died August 4, 1887, at Portland, Maine.
Shailer Mathews, son of Jonathan Bennett and Sophia Lucinda Mathews, was born in Portland, Maine, May 26, 1863. He prepared for college in the high school at Portland and graduated from Colby in 1884. After completing the three years' course of study at Newton Theological Institution, he became associate professor of English at Colby. In 1887 he was elected professor of history and political economy in the same institution. In 1894 he was elected associate professor of New Testament history and
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interpretation in Chicago University and was raised to a full professorship in 1897. He received the degree of D. D. from Colby College in 1901. In 1890 he married Miss Mary Phil- brick Elden of Waterville. They have two children, Robert Elden and Helen Mathews. Professor Mathews's present ad- dress is 5736 Woodlawn avenue, Chicago, Il1.
William Mathews, teacher and author, son of Simeon and Clymena (Esty) Mathews, was born in Waterville, July 28, 1818. He spent four years, from the age of nine to thirteen, in prepar- ing for college at the Maine Wesleyan Seminary, and China, Monmouth, Bloomfield, and Waterville academies, and grad- uated at Waterville College (now Colby College) in 1835. He studied law for four years, alternately in office of Timothy Bou- telle and at Harvard Law School, and received degree of LL. B. from Harvard College in 1839. He spent the year 1839-1840 in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, and in teaching a school at Amelia Court-house, Va. After being admitted to the Kennebec county bar in 1840, he practiced law in Benton and Waterville till 1843. In 1841 he began with Daniel R. Wing the publication of The Watervillonian, a literary and family news- paper, which was succeeded in 1842 by The Yankee Blade, pub- lished by Mr. M. alone ; which last paper was removed in 1843 to Gardiner, Me., and thence in 1847 to Boston, Mass. There, greatly enlarged and strengthened by a large corps of contributors, it won an extensive circulation in all parts of the country. Finally, in 1856, the paper was sold to Col. Sleeper of the Boston Mer- cantile Journal, and united with the Portfolio. In 1856, Mr. Mathews moved to Chicago, Ill., where, during the next three years, he edited a financial weekly journal, and contributed to the Tribune, Evening Journal, Chronotype, Covenant, and other newspapers. From 1839 to 1842 he was librarian of the Young Men's Library Association; from 1862 to 1875, professor of rhetoric and English literature in the old University of Chicago. In 1868 he received from Colby University the honorary degree of LL. D. In 1875 he resigned his professorship, and has since devoted himself wholly to literature. In 1880 he returned to Boston, Mass., where he has since resided. In 1845 he was mar- ried to Mary Elizabeth Dingley, of Winslow, Me .; in 1850 to Isabella I. Marshall, of China, Me .; and in 1865 to Harriet N.
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Griggs, Chicago, Ill. Since 1872 he has written and published the following books, viz .: "Getting on in the World; or, Hints on Success in Life," of which 70,000 copies have been sold in this country, an edition published in Canada, editions issued in London by three publishers, three Scandinavian translations pub- lished, and one in Magyar, at Budapest, Hungary; "The Great Conversers ;" "Words, their Use and Abuse," afterward greatly enlarged, of which 25,000 copies have been sold; "Hours with Men and Books ;" "Monday Chats," translated from the French of C. A. Sainte-Beuve, with an introductory critical sketch of his life and writings; "Oratory and Orators," republished in Lon- don; "Literary Style, and other Essays;" "Men, Places, and Things ;" "Wit and Humor, their Use and Abuse ;" and "Nugae Litterariae, or Brief Essays on Literary, Social, and other Themes." Dr. Mathews has also written critical introductions to the novels of Bulwer, for an elegant edition recently published in Boston ; contributed numerous articles to the North American Review, London Anglo-American, and other periodicals; and delivered lectures on Daniel Webster, William Wirt, and The Battle of Waterloo, etc., etc., before various historical and other societies. His present address is 130 Pembroke street, Boston, Mass.
John Edward Nelson, son of Edward and Cassandra Worth- ing Nelson, was born in China, Maine, July 12, 1874. He pre- pared for college at the Waterville High school and at The Friends' School, Providence, R. I. He graduated from Colby College in the class of 1898. In September of that year he became principal of the Waterville High school. After four years of successful work in this school, he has given up teaching and begun the study of law. He is a member of the Masonic and Zeta Psi fraternities and of the Phi Beta Kappa society. He married Margaret Heath Crosby of Waterville, July 17, 1900.
Lincoln Owen, for four years principal of the Waterville High school, was born in Buxton, Maine, December 4, 1860. His parents were Melville C. and Martha W. Owen. He graduated from Coburn Classical Institute in 1885 and from Colby College in 1889. He was principal of the Waterville High school from 1889 to 1893, when he was made classical master in The Friends' School, Providence, R. I. He is at present master of the Rice
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Training School, Boston. He was married, December 25, 1889, to Alice V. Drummond of Waterville.
Robert Everett Pattison, born in Benson, Vt., August 19, 1800, graduated at Amherst in 1830, afterward a tutor at Columbia, and came to Waterville in 1828 as professor of mathematics and natural philosophy. He remained two years, but long enough to show the quality of his manhood. In 1836 he was called to the presidency of the college, remaining until 1839, when the financial condition of the college compelled him to resign. He afterward held important pastorates and for three years was home secretary of the American Baptist Missionary Union. For the years 1848-1854 he was professor of systematic theology in Newton Theological Institution. In 1854 for a second time he became president of Colby, remaining until 1857, when his health failed. After a period of rest he became professor at Shurtleff College and later at the Union Baptist Theological Seminary, Chicago. He died in 1874. A man of strong convictions, noble character and devoted piety, he made a powerful impression for good upon his students throughout his long and varied educa- tional career.
George Dana Boardman Pepper. See chapter on "The Pulpit of Waterville."
Henry Ephriam Robins, president of Colby College from 1873 to 1882, was born in Hartford, Conn., September 30, 1827. He parents were Gurdon and Julia Savage Robins. He studied at the Connecticut Literary Institution, and graduated from Newton Theological Institution in 1861. He was pastor of the Central Baptist church of Newport, R. I., from 1862 to 1867, and of the First Baptist church from 1867 to 1873. After nine years at the head of Colby College he resigned the presidency of the college to become professor of Christian ethics in Rochester Theological Seminary. He received the degree of D. D. from Rochester University and of LL. D. from Colby College. Among his pub- lished writings may be mentioned, "The Christian Idea of Edu- cation distinguished from the Secular Idea of Education" and "Harmony of Ethics with Theology." He married Martha J. Bird of Hartford, Conn., in 1864; Margaret Richardson of Rochester, N. Y., in 1872: and Cordelia E. Nott of Boston,
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Mass., in 1878. His last wife died in 1888. Dr. Robins' present address is 580 West avenue, Rochester, N. Y.
David Newton Sheldon. See chapter on "The Pulpit of Waterville."
Albion Woodbury Small, son of Albion Keith Parris and Thankful Woodbury Small, was born in Buckfield, Maine, May II, 1854. He prepared for college at the Portland High School and graduated from Colby College in 1876. He was a student at Newton Theological Institution from 1876 to 1879 and for the next two years at the Universities of Berlin and Leipzic. He was professor of history and political economy in Colby College from 1881 to 1888. The following year he was reader in history in Johns Hopkins University, where he took the degree of Ph. D. in 1889. He was president of Colby College from 1889 to 1892. In 1892 he was elected professor and head of the department of sociology in Chicago University. He received the degree of LL. D. from Colby College in 1900. He was married in 1881 to Valeria von Massow of Berlin, Germany. They have a daughter, Lina Small. Dr. Small's address is 5731 Washington avenue, Chicago, Il1.
Samuel King Smith, for forty years professor of rhetoric in Colby College, was born in Litchfield, Maine, October 17, 1817. He was the son of John and Polly Day Smith. He prepared for college at Monmouth Academy and graduated from Colby College in 1845. After remaining at the College one year as a tutor, he spent a year in study at Newton Theological Institu- tion. In 1848 he became editor of Zion's Advocate. In 1851 he was elected professor of rhetoric in Colby College. In 1892 he resigned his professorship after a longer term of service than any other professor Colby College has ever had. He was ordained to the ministry in 1871 and in the same year was given the degree of D. D. by Colby College. He was married, August 14, 1854, to Annie E. Abbot. Of the six children born to them, four are living,-Mary Lambert (Mrs. F. B. Philbrick), Jennie M., Bessie E., and William Abbot. The recent death of their son, George W. Smith, president of Colgate University, cut short a career of brilliant promise. Mary L. was for several years a successful teacher in the Waterville High school and William A. was its sub-master from January, 1898 to June, 1902.
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Julian Daniel Taylor, professor of Latin in Colby College, was born January 29, 1846. His parents were Daniel and Mehitable Hayden Taylor. He prepared for college at Oak Grove Semin- ary and Waterville Academy. He graduated from Colby Col- lege in 1868. After serving five years as a tutor in the college, he was elected, in 1873, professor of the Latin language and literature. In 1900 he was given the degree of LL. D. by Colby College. He is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa society. He was married in 1892 to Mrs. Mary Keely Boutelle of Waterville.
Laban Edwards Warren, professor of mathematics in Colby College since 1875, was born in Littleton, Mass., February 24, 1836. His parents were Laban and Mary Foster Warren. He prepared for college at Colby Academy, New London, N. H. and graduated from Brown University in 1866. He taught in Colby Academy from 1867 until 1875, when he was called to the chair of mathematics in Colby College. In addition to his work as professor of mathematics he has for several years given courses of art lectures, alike interesting and valuable. Professor Warren was given the degree of A. M. by Brown University in 1869 and the degree of LL. D. by Colby College in 1893. He was married, August 14, 1872, to Mary Osborne Carter of Con- cord, N. H.
Charles Lincoln White, president of Colby college, was born January 22, 1863, at Nashua, N. H. His parents were George and Harriet Richardson White. He prepared for college in the Woburn, Mass. High school, and graduated from Brown Uni- versity in 1887 and from Newton Theological Institution three years later. He was pastor of the Baptist church at Somers- worth, N. H., from 1890 to 1894, and of the First church of Nashua, N. H., from 1894 to 1900. After serving as general secretary of the New Hampshire Baptist Convention for one year, he was elected president of Colby College in June, 1901. He received the degree of D. D. from Bowdoin College in 1902. He is a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. He was mar- ried, April 29, 1891, to Margaret Donalda Dodge. They have four children,-Jessie Dodge, Harriet Dodge, Katharine Dodge, and Clarissa Dodge.
Benaiah Longley Whitman was born in Wilmot, Nova Scotia, November 21, 1862. His parents were Isaac J. and Sarah M.
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Whitman. He prepared for college at Worcester Academy, and graduated from Brown University in 1897 and from New- ton Theological Institution in 1890. From 1890 to 1892 he was pastor of the Free Street Baptist church at Portland, Maine. He was president of Colby College from 1892 to 1895 and of Columbian University from 1895 to 1900. Since 1900 he has been pastor of the Fifth Baptist church in Philadelphia. He married Mary Joelena Scott of Newton, Mass. They have three children, Lawrence, Lucy Belknap, and Mary Delight Whitman.
CHAPTER XXVI.
SOME OF THE BUSINESS MEN OF WATERVILLE. BY REV. ASA L. LANE, A. APPLETON PLAISTED, and EDWIN C. WHITTEMORE.
What the business life of Waterville has been in the past, and is today, appears very clearly in other chapters of this volume. This chapter aims only to give biographical data concerning some of the business men. In the space available it is manifestly impossible to mention all who are worthy of mention, or who would receive it in a biographical history of the town. The list given is representative, not complete. Many there are, especially among the younger business men, who already have won success in business, who have manifested an excellent public spirit, and who will have large place in the next centennial volume. The editors agree fully with the opinion that there are a great many more men-such is Waterville's wealth in men-whose names should have been included.
Stephen I. Abbott, the successful agent of the Lockwood Mills through their entire history, was born in Fryeburg, Me., March 31, 1822, the son of Isaac and Elizabeth Abbott. He was edu- cateci in the public schools and in Fryeburg Academy. March 5, 1848, he married Miss Ruth L. Knight of Buxton, Me. Their children are Amos F., Martha A., Mary E., and William H. K., long associated with his father in the management of the Lock- wood Mills. Mr. Abbott has given his entire business life to cotton manufacture, in which he has attained a notable success. He was alderman in the first city government of Lewiston, where he then resided, and served as selectman of Waterville for three
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years. Mr. Abbott went to Lewiston in 1857, and became master mechanic of the Androscoggin Mills, and was afterward agent of the Continental Mills. For two years he was agent of the River- point Mills at Riverpoint, R. I., and came to Waterville in 1875. He is a member of the Episcopal church and of the Masonic Order. His residence for many years has been at No. 50 Pleasant St.
William H. K. Abbott was born in Lewiston, Me., April 22, 1860, the son of Stephen I. and Ruth (Knight) Abbott. He was educated in the city schools, and while quite young went into the cotton mill business, with which his father had been so long connected. He came to Waterville on the opening of the Lock- wood Mills, and in 1890 became superintendent, which responsi- ble position he has since held with conspicuous ability and success.
Mr. Abbott is a member of Waterville Lodge, F. and A. M., of the Royal Arch Chapter, and of the St. Omer Commandery, Knights Templar. He is a communicant of the Episcopal church. He was married, Aug. 26, 1882, to Miss Emma D. Boothby, daughter of L. T. and Sophia (Brett) Boothby of this city. 'Their children are Ruth Helen, Margaret Elsie, and Stephen Boothby. The family residence is at 16 School St.
Arthur Julius Alden, son of Julius and Elizabeth (Nourse) Alden, was born in Waterville, April 23, 1838, in the eighth gen- eration from John and Priscilla Alden. He was educated in the public schools and at Waterville Academy. Mr. Alden was mar- ried Nov. 19. 1866, to Miss Ellen Wentworth, daughter of George and Sophia (Lovejoy) Wentworth. Three sons were born to them, of whom Frank Wentworth Alden, Colby, '98, Zeta Psi Fraternity, and Arthur Fred Alden are living.
Mr. Alden started in business as a watchmaker and jeweler, in June, 1854. In 1867 his brother, Chas. H. Alden, entered into partnership under the name of Alden Brothers. The business has been conducted in the same place since 1854, the firm being the oldest in the city. Mr. Alden was member of the city coun- cil for 1895, and has been a director of the People's Bank since 1893. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, which he joined in 1862, and of the Congregational Church, with which he united in 1878. The family residence is No. 15, College Ave.
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Charles Henry Alden was born in Waterville, April 13, 1836, the son of Julius and Elizabeth (Nourse) Alden. He was edu- cated in the public schools and at Hebron and Waterville acad- emies. He engaged in business as a printer from 1854 to 1860 at which date he entered the jewelry and watch business. In 1867 the firm of Alden Bros. was formed, which continues the business to the present (1902). Mr. Alden has been prominent in lodge circles, was worshipful master, Waterville Lodge, No. 33 F. and A. M., 1870-71. He is a member of Teconnet R. A. Chapter No. 52, also of Lebanon Counsel R. and S. M., No. 13, and of St. Omer Commandery Knights Templar, No. 12.
Samuel Appleton, oldest son of Dr. Moses Appleton, was born in Waterville, September 30, 1803. His mother was Theresa Clarke, daughter of Capt. John Clarke. His education was obtained at private schools and such public schools as then existed. In 1821 he went to Boston as clerk with Henry Rice, a wholesale merchant. Returning in 1824, he engaged in busi- ness with William Gilman, a son of Nath. Gilman. The part- nership continued for a few years and then, after two years of trade on his own account, he went again to Rice's, where he stayed till 1835. In 1840 he was elected a selectman and was re-elected for seven successive years. He was appointed post- master 1841, an office which he held for two terms of four years each. In 1856 the firm of Warren, Appleton & Company built a mill on the Messalonskee, a little above the foundry, for the manufacture of cedar bark paper. This did not prove a great success and was changed to making newspaper about 1860, the proprietors being Mr. Appleton and Zebulon Sanger. This was the last active business in which he was engaged. He was president of Ticonic National Bank from 1875 to 1884. He was never married. He died October 2, 1890.
Willard B. Arnold has recently received the congratulations of his friends on his completion of a half century of business life in one line and in one location. As the iron foundry of Webber & Philbrick is the oldest of the manufacturing industries of Waterville, so the hardware business into which Mr. Arnold entered fifty years ago had even then been long established and was successful according to the standards of the time. Mr.
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Arnold was born in Sidney, Me., August 22, 1835, the son of Jeremiah and Vesta (Bailey ) Arnold. He was educated at the pub- lic schools, the Waterville Liberal Institute and Westbrook Sem- inary. April 5, 1852, he became a clerk in the hardware business of Dunn, Elden & Company. September, 1863, he entered into partnership with Jones R. Elden, which was terminated by the death of Mr. Elden in April, 1864. From 1864 to 1876 Mr. Nathaniel Meader was a member of the firm, the firm name being Arnold and Meader. He then bought out Mr. Meader and the firm became W. B. Arnold and Company. Mr. Arnold has served the town and city in several offices. In 1877 he was on the board of selectmen, has been chief engineer of the fire depart- ment, for his services in this capacity a gold medal was pre- sented him by members and friends of the department. For seventeen years he has been a member of the committee in charge of Pine Grove Cemetery. Mr. Arnold has been master of Water- ville Lodge, F. and A. M., and is a member of St. Omer Com- mandery, Knights Templar. He is an attendant at the Unitarian church. In 1864 he was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Louise Furbish. They have one son, Mr. Frederick J. Arnold, who was born in 1868, was educated at the Institute, at Phillips Academy, Exeter, N. H., and at the School of Technology, Bos- ton. Since graduation Mr. Arnold has given his attention to the hardware business with his father.
Mr. Oscar G. Springfield, though born in Castine, Me., Nov- ember II, 1854, has spent his entire business life in Waterville. In 1871 he entered the store of Arnold and Meader as clerk, where he remained until 1888, when he became partner in the firm ; the partnership still continues. In 1888 Mr. Springfield married Miss Florence A. Worcester of Cambridge, Mass., a great-grand-daughter of Mayor Bolcom, who was prominent in the early history of Waterville. They have three children. Mr. Springfield is a member of Waterville Lodge, F. and A. M., and is president of the Canibas Club.
Martin Blaisdell, son of Hosea Blaisdell, was born in Winthrop, Me., March 29, 1845. He was educated in the town schools and in Waterville Academy, now Coburn Institute. He was married, June 26, 1871, to Miss Annie A. Hitchings,
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daughter of Samuel Hitchings of Waterville. For the most of his life Mr. Blaisdell has been employed in farming, having a large and fine farm in the southern part of the town. He has been interested, also, in horse and stock breeding and introduced the first Percheron stallion in this section of the county. In 1872-3 he was associated with C. H. Redington in the furniture business. He has served the town as selectman in 1876-7, street commissioner in '94-'95, was member of the city counsel for the years '96, '97 and '98, and in 1901 was elected on an independent ticket without any opposition as mayor of the city. He was re-elected as the Republican candidate in 1902. The signal events of his administration have been the erection of the new City Hall, to which Mayor Blaisdell has given much time, care- ful oversight and valuable judgment ; and the celebration of the Centennial. Mr. Blaisdell is a member of Waterville Lodge, No. 33, F. and A. M., and of St. Omer Commandery, No. 12, Knights Templar.
Levi Thompson Boothby was born in Livermore, Me., June 21, 1818, and died at his residence in Waterville, corner of Pleasant and Park streets, January 9, 1900. He was the son of Ichabod and Charlotte (Knight) Boothby. He was educated in the public schools. He married Sophia P. Brett, August 23, 1843, and Charlotte Francis, October 28, 1876. He learned the blacksmith's trade in his youth and did the iron work on scythe snaths. He was station agent of the Somerset and Kennebec Railroad at the Front street station, from 1858 to '68; after- wards in the insurance business, the agency of L. T. Boothby and Son, doing a business among the very largest in the State. He was very active in the Sons of Temperance; was a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the Free Baptist church. His children are Frederic E. Boothby, mayor of Portland; Ellen S., Mary Louisa, Wm. A. R., Edward D., and Emma D. He resided in Norway, 1839-1846; in South Paris, 1846-1857, and in Water- ville, 1857-1900.
Frederic Eleazer Boothby, one of the most successful of those sons of Waterville whose business life has led them elsewhere, was born in Norway, Me., December 3, 1845, the son of Levi Thompson and Sophia (Brett) Boothby. He was educated in
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the public schools, the Normal Institute at South Paris and the Waterville Classical Institute. He began his business life as assistant postmaster of Waterville in 1861. May I, 1864 he was made master of transportation of the M. C. R. R. with office at Waterville; shortly after the office of general ticket agent was assigned to him. In 1871 he became paymaster and freight auditor of the Maine Central with office at Augusta. In 1874 he was again appointed general ticket agent and removed to Portland, and in 1875 became also, general passenger agent of the Maine Central system, which position, ever growing more important under his able management, he still holds. He is also general passenger agent of the Phillips & Rangeley R. R. and of the Portland, Mt. Desert & Machias Steamboat Company. For five years Mr. Boothby was president of the Portland Board of Trade, giving to it a very successful leadership. He is a trustee of the Union Safe Deposit and Trust Company, president of the Forest City Loan and Building Association, treasurer of the Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary, trustee of Coburn Classical Institute, beside other important and responsible positions. Mr. Boothby has never sought public office, but was appointed by Governor Bodwell a member of his staff. Gov. Marble con- tinued the appointment and Governor Burleigh made him com- missary-general of his staff, with rank of colonel. Mr. Boothby became mayor of the city of Portland in 1901, and his adminis- tration proved so business-like, clean and popular, that he was re-elected mayor for 1902 by a very complimentary vote. Mr. Boothby is connected with but one fraternity, being a member of Portland Commandery, Knights Templar. October 25, 1871, he was married to Miss Adelaide E. Smith, daughter of Charles H. and Vesta (Thayer) Smith. Mr. Smith is remembered by many as the popular proprietor of the "Williams House" at Waterville. A graceful indication of Mrs. Boothby's interest in Waterville, is her recent gift of the beautiful vase which adorns the park in front of the new City Hall.
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