USA > Maine > Franklin County > Farmington > The history of Farmington, Franklin County, Maine, 1776-1885 > Part 21
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At the Center Village, on the line of the Sandy River . Railroad, R. A. Huse and Son have completed a factory building twenty-five feet wide by sixty feet long, and two stories high, which will be devoted to the manufacture of thread-spools, dowels, and other lathe-work.
It will thus be seen that, while the mechanical industries of Farmington embrace a large variety of enterprises, it is not entitled to be ranked as a manufacturing town. While it has good available water-power, it can yet hardly hope to attain success in manufacturing while the towns of Lewiston and Livermore, with their unsurpassed privileges, are so near neighbors.
CHAPTER XV.
SKETCHES OF LAWYERS, PHYSICIANS, AND COLLEGE GRADUATES.
Henry V. Chamberlain. - Nathan Cutler. - Zachariah Soule. - Elnathan Pope. - Hiram Belcher. - Robert Goodenow. - John L. Cutler. - Joshua Randall. - Simeon H. Lowell. - Present Lawyers. - Dr. Aaron Stoyell. - Dr. Samuel Guild. - Dr. T. I). Blake. - Dr. Ebenezer Taylor. - Dr. Josiah Prescott. - Dr. Thomas Flint. - Dr. Allen Phillips. - Dr. Lafayette Per- kins. - Dr. J. F. Moses. - Dr. William C. Staples. - Dr. Jophanus Hen- derson. - Dr. William Randall. - Dr. J. L. Blake. - Dr. Edmund Russell. - Dr. Charles Alexander. - Dr. H. W. Hamilton. - Dr. J. B. Severy. - Dr. S. P. Warren. - Physicians in Practice in 1885. - List of College Graduates.
HENRY VASSAL CHAMBERLAIN, a native of Worcester, Mass., was the first lawyer who settled in Farmington. He was a man of liberal education, a well-read lawyer, and an able advocate. He commenced practice in 1800, and in 1808 removed to New Orleans, La., where he acquired distinction in the law, and was promoted to the judgeship of one of the Louisiana courts.
NATHAN CUTLER graduated from Dartmouth College in the class of 1794. After his graduation he was employed as preceptor of the Academy at Northampton, Mass. - This position he held for a number of years, but finally left teach- ing to begin the study of law. He pursued his studies in a law-office, and was admitted to the bar in 1801. Having married at Weston, Mass., he came to Farmington in 1804 for the purpose of practicing his profession. He first opened an office at Farmington Falls, but soon removed to the
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Center Village, where he spent the rest of his life. Mr. Cutler possessed an intellect of a high order combined with quick perception, and, having an uncommon grasp of legal principles, he soon attained a high standing at the bar. His tastes were scholarly ; he was a great reader, and always made some book the companion of his leisure hours. He maintained an interest in classical studies to the close of his life. His library was stored with quaint and curious books, and was particularly rich in the editions of the classics. Having himself the advantages of a liberal education, it was his desire to secure these advantages to his children. He was one of the founders of the Farmington Academy and a member of the charter board of trustees, a position he held until his death, at the same time serving as treasurer of the corporation. He was elected town treasurer in 1811 and the three succeeding years, and town clerk in 1820. In 1810 he represented the town in the General Court as a colleague of Joseph Norton, in 1811 as a colleague of Timothy Johnson, and in 1819 as a colleague of Joseph Fairbanks. He was elected with Jabez Gay as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention which met at Portland the second Monday in October, 1819; and after the formation of the State, repre- sented the Kennebec Senatorial District as a Democrat in the Legislatures of 1828-29. The latter year he was chosen the presiding officer of the Senate, and upon the death of Gov. Lincoln, in October, 1829, was called to discharge the duties of Governor until the inauguration of Jonathan G. Huntoon, in February, 1830. Upon the organization of Franklin County, in 1838, he was elected treasurer, and was re-elected until 1842. During the last years of his life, Mr. Cutler's health was seriously impaired, and he relinquished the active practice of his profession as early as 1832, being succeeded by his son-in-law, Robert Goodenow. He lived, however, to an advanced age, and died June 8, 1861.
ZACHARIAH SOULE, the third lawyer in Farmington in point of time, was a graduate of Brown University, of the class of 1799, and began practice in Paris in 1805, but re- moved to Farmington two years later, where he remained
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Stram Belchen
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until 1812. Although but a short time resident in the town, he established a lucrative business, and showed himself a ripe scholar and eloquent advocate. He possessed talents far above mediocrity.
ELNATHIAN POPE, after receiving a liberal education, opened an office at Farmington Falls in 1809, and received a good degree of patronage until 1828, when he became a resident of New Sharon. He still continued the practice of law alone and as the partner of Oliver L. Currier. Subse- quently Mr. Pope withdrew to the Samuel Ingham farm, so called, in Avon, and became interested in farming. He died in Chesterville, April 7, 1861, at the age of eighty.
HIRAM BELCHER was among the most worthy and hon- ored members of the Franklin and Kennebec Bars. He was the youngest son of Supply Belcher, who, at the time of his son's birth, was a resident of Augusta, but afterwards be- came one of the pioneer settlers of Farmington. Here Hiram Belcher's early and latter days were spent. At the age of fifteen he obtained the consent of his father to attend some seminary of learning with a view to pursuing the study of the law, and entered Hallowell Academy, then under the instruction of William Kinne, where he attained the first rank in his class among competitors who were afterwards renowned as ripe scholars. After completing his academical studies, in 1807 he commenced the study of law in the office of Hon. Nathan Cutler, remaining there two years. He afterwards spent two years in the office of Samuel S. Wilde, who subsequently became a distinguished Judge of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts. In 1812 Mr. Belcher was admitted to the bar in Kennebec County well prepared to enter upon the work of his life, and established himself at Farmington, where he at once entered upon a lucrative and extensive practice, and soon ranked among the best lawyers in the State. He was a good counselor, a successful advo- cate, and above all an honest man. Many anecdotes are told of his amusing and quiet sallies of wit and dry humor. Mr. Belcher was town clerk from 1814 to 1819 inclusive, repre- sented the town in the Legislatures of 1822, 1829, and 1832,
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and the Kennebec District in the Senate in 1838-9. In 1846 Mr. Belcher was elected Representative to Congress, serving one term during the last half of President Polk's administration. He united with the Congregational Church in 1828, and at all times manifested great interest in the prosperity of that organization. Esteemed by all who knew him, he died in the midst of an honored career, May 6, 1857, at the age of sixty-seven.
ROBERT GOODENOW. The life of Hon. Robert Goodenow, like that of many others whose reputations are founded upon success in the practice of law, presents no events of promi- nent or startling interest. That success was the result of no single achievement, but of a life marked by industry, integ- rity, and fidelity. He was born at Henniker, N. H., April 19, 1800, was the son of a farmer, and the youngest of five brothers, all of whom in early life were trained to the pur- suits of agriculture, but who ultimately became lawyers. Mr. Goodenow lived at home until fifteen years of age, when he went to Sanford, Me., for the purpose of perfecting his education, and remained two years. He then commenced the study of medicine, but, being called to Paris to take charge of the clerk of courts' office (his brother, Rufus King Goodenow, who was clerk, being sick), he decided to study law, and entered the office of Enoch Lincoln, afterwards Governor, as a student. In 1822 he was admitted to the bar in Oxford County, but his professional career as a lawyer commenced in Wilton. In 1832 he removed to Farmington, and at once entered upon a large and successful practice.
Mr. Goodenow was county attorney for Kennebec County several years, and was elected to the thirty-second Congress, being the last Whig member from the Second District. He served as bank commissioner from 1858 to 1862, and was also treasurer of the Franklin County Savings Bank from the date of its organization until his death, May 15, 1874. Mr. Goodenow possessed an extensive law library, was a close student, and was distinguished for his knowledge of the elements of the law. He always took an active interest in the affairs of his church and a prominent part in its councils.
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JOIIN L. CUTLER, a son of Hon. Nathan Cutler, fitted for college at the Farmington Academy, and graduated at Bow- doin College in the class of 1837. He entered the law office of his father, was admitted to the bar in 1839, and com- menced the practice of law under auspicious circumstances. He was regarded as a rising young lawyer, familiar with the principles and practice of his profession. In 1853 Mr. Cutler was elected senator from Franklin County, having previously served as its attorney. In 1854 he removed to Augusta, and continued his professional business in connec- tion with other pursuits. Subsequently, about the year 1867, he purchased a cotton plantation in southwestern Georgia, and has since made his home there a portion of the year.
JOSHUA RANDALL was a native of Wilton and a son of Joshua Randall, Sr. After a thorough course of legal study, he opened an office in Phillips about 1828. For several years he had a successful practice, although, owing to his location, not an extensive one. He came to Farmington in 1841, and continued his professional career until 1848, when he removed to Dixfield and became associated with his brother, Isaac Randall, for a short time. He died suddenly from an affection of the heart. Mr. Randall possessed a legal mind, and was a fair advocate. His addresses to the jury were brief, direct, and devoid of all metaphorical display.
SIMEON H. LOWELL, a son of Joshua B. Lowell, was born . in Chesterville, August 16, 1816. He was educated at Waterville College, now Colby University, and studied law with his cousin, Joshua A. Lowell, in East Machias. In partnership with him, he began the practice of his profession, after being admitted to the bar in Washington County, August 28, 1843. In 1854 he removed to Phillips, and was in active practice there until elected clerk of courts in 1861, an office he held until 1874. He then resumed the practice of law in Farmington, which he continued with success until near the close of his life. Mr. Lowell was a safe counselor and adviser, and an excellent lawyer, being most exact and methodical in his business.
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The lawyers in practice at Farmington in 1885 are : Samuel Belcher, Hannibal Belcher, Henry L. Whitcomb, S. Clifford Belcher, David H. Chandler, Joseph C. Holman, Enoch O. Greenleaf, Elmer E. Richards, and Arthur F. Belcher.
The first physician who made the profession of medicine a regular business in Farmington, was Theophilus Hopkins. He settled on the farm since known as the Dea. John Bailey place, and gave his undivided attention to his practice. He remained in town but a few years, and his subsequent history is unknown.
DR. AARON STOYELL, the second physician in Farmington, settled at the Center Village in 1794. He had previously studied medicine and practiced in the town of Northbridge, Ct., and soon established an extensive and almost exclusive practice in this and the surrounding towns, being for many years the only prominent physician in the place. At one time he was associated in the practice of medicine with his son-in-law, Dr. Joseph Caldwell, who removed to Huron, O., about 1828. Dr. Stoyell was a man of good common sense, genial and affable in manner, and highly esteemed in the social circle, numbering among his patrons many warm friends. In 1832 he went to Ohio, where his death occurred from cholera the following year.
DR. SAMUEL GUILD, who came to Farmington in 1796, re- mained but a brief period. He was regarded as a good physician, but was characterized by an aristocratic bearing which rendered him unpopular.
DR. THOMAS DAWES BLAKE, a native of Boston, settled at the Falls village in 1799 as a physician. His youth was spent in Worcester attending that celebrated institute of learning under the charge of Dr. Payson, from which he graduated with the highest honors of his class. He became a successful school teacher, but taught only for a brief period, as his thoughts were fixed upon the profession of medicine, and to that end all his energies were directed. He had the advantage of a thorough medical training under Dr. Joseph Goldwait, a celebrated physician and surgeon of
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Petersham, N. H., with whom he practiced for a short time. The first winter of his residence in Farmington, he taught school in the Falls district, but ever after devoted himself to his profession, which extended over a period of forty years, and was eminently successful. Dr. Blake was a ripe scholar, and possessed those strong virtues acquired during the troublous times in which his early life was spent.
DR. EBENEZER TAYLOR removed to Farmington in 1804 and immediately entered upon the practice of his profession. He was regarded as a good physician and was well patronized, but soon left town.
DR. JOSIAH PRESCOTT, a native of Winthrop, and a grad- uate of Dartmouth College in 1810, completed his medical studies with Dr. Nathan Smith, then of Hanover, N. H. He came to Farmington in 1812, and from the first was the recip- ient of a large patronage. After a residence of some twelve years, he removed to Belfast and introduced the water-cure treatment. In 1832 he returned to Farmington and became associated in the practice of medicine with Dr. Benjamin Ober. After a residence in Phillips, and then again in Farmington, he went to Winthrop and became connected with a Hydropathic establishment which was in successful operation several years under his skillful management. The latter years of his life were spent in Farmington.
The foundations of Dr. Prescott's belief, that water is the great remedial agent for the "healing of the nations," were laid deep and strong, and nothing could shake his faith in the water-cure theory. Dr. Prescott stood in the front rank of his profession, as a physician, but was wanting in that tenacity of purpose so essential to complete success. He was inclined to embark in pursuits outside and foreign to his vocation, which were calculated to divert his mind from its professional channel. Dr. Prescott was chosen an elector of president and vice-president, in 1820, from the Kennebec district. At one time he was a member of the State Senate, and represented this town in the legislature of 1837, where he inaugurated the measures which resulted in the erection of the Hospital for the Insane at Augusta. He
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was a delegate from this town to the convention which met at Brunswick in September, 1816.
DR. THOMAS FLINT, who had been in the practice of medicine for a period of thirty years in the town of New Vineyard, removed to North Farmington in 1826 and re- sumed his profession. Although his early advantages were limited, as compared with those of the present day, yet with sound judgment, keen observation, and the good common sense which no school can bestow, he acquired an honorable reputation as a physician and surgeon, while as a citizen and friend he won respect and affection for his intelligence and kindliness. In his later years, Dr. Flint became blind and was obliged to retire from active life.
DR. ALLEN PHILLIPS, a native of Greene, prepared him- self for the medical profession under the direction of Dr. Holland of Canton. He graduated from the Medical Depart- ment of Bowdoin College in 1822, and the same year began practice at Strong. After a brief residence, he removed to Farmington Falls, and in 1829 to the Center Village. He was a man of sound and ready judgment, and was extensively employed as a physician in this and the surrounding towns. In 1856 he went West and settled in Dubuque, Iowa. Dr. Phillips was born June 29, 1798, and died October 9, 1878. His wife, Anna Croswell, was the sister of Thomas Croswell, Senior.
DR. LAFAYETTE PERKINS was educated in Boston and studied medicine with Dr. John Warren, receiving the degree of M. D. from Harvard Medical School. In 1813 he received the appointment of surgeon on board the United States brig-of-war Argus. This brig made a daring cruise about the coast of England, capturing a number of British ships; and, sailing into the port of Nantes in France, remained sometime under the protection of the French flag. On the homeward voyage the brig captured two British merchant- men, which were sold and the proceeds divided-the surgeon receiving his share. Dr. Perkins first began the practice of his profession in Weld, in March, 1815, and remained there until the spring of 1836, when he removed to Farmington
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and continued his vocation till near the close of his life. He loved and faithfully studied his profession, was well-read in its theory, and his good judgment enabled him to adopt that practice best calculated to benefit his patients, while his dignified, gentle and courteous deportment was a part of the man and will long be remembered by his townsmen and patrons. Dr. Perkins represented the town of Weld in the Constitutional Convention which was convened at Portland in October, 1819.
Dr. JOHN FRENCH MOSES completed his medical studies at Concord, N. H., and came to Farmington in 1836, where, as a physician, he resided through an active profes- sional life, with the exception of a few years' practice in Strong. He represented the Eclectic School of physicians, and was popular as a practitioner. He died of apoplexy Nov. 15, 1869, at the age of fifty-two.
DR. WILLIAM COLE STAPLES began the Thompsonian practice of medicine in 1840. His patrons were generally among those who believed in that theory of healing diseases, and for a time his practice was large, but afterwards began to decline and he left town.
DR. JOFHANUS HENDERSON studied medicine with his father, and first commenced its practice in the town of Indus- try about 1828; but in 1841 he removed to Farmington, where he remained about eleven years. Dr. Henderson was a skillful practitioner, and a man of unexceptionable character. He was a zealous Baptist, and liberal in sustaining that church. He died in Somerville, Mass.
DR. WILLIAM RANDALL came to Farmington in 1847 and established himself as a surgeon dentist, being the first dentist in town. Dr. Randall was born in England, and was educated at the famous Eton School. He soon obtained a large practice, and was for many years the only dentist in the place. For some years he was president of the Maine Dental Association. Dr. Randall gradually abandoned den- tistry and began the study of medicine, and established him- self as a homœopathic physician in Farmington about 1880. He is now practicing in Ashland.
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DR. JOHN L. BLAKE completed his professional studies with Dr. Prescott, and in 1815 settled in Dixfield. In 1816 he removed to Strong, and in 1822 to Phillips, where he purchased of Benjamin Tufts the farm and mills situated at what is known as the Upper Village. After thirty years of valuable service, as a physician there, he came to his native town, where the succeeding years were devoted to his pro- fession. Dr. Blake was always ready and prompt to visit, without reward, the homes of the poor and suffering, however remote, and was highly esteemed for his professional skill. In the private walks of life he was respected for his kindli- ness and incorruptible integrity.
DR. EDMUND RUSSELL was born at Temple in the year 1824. He pursued his professional studies with Dr. William Killbourne, graduated from the Bowdoin Medical School in 1847, and the same year settled in Strong and entered upon the practice of his profession. He removed to Farmington in 1855, and remained about fourteen years. Dr. Russell represented this town in the legislature of 1868, and after his removal to Lewiston served as mayor of that city for three years. He was also a senator for two years from Androscoggin County. He possessed great energy of char- acter and tenacity of purpose, and was devoted to his profession. Dr. Russell died at Lewiston Dec. 20, 1880, leaving a large estate.
DR. CHARLES ALEXANDER. Among those who have taken high rank in the medical profession at Farmington, may be mentioned Dr. Charles Alexander, a native of Dresden and at the present time a leading physician in Eau Claire, Wis. Upon deciding to adopt medicine as his vocation, he began his studies with Dr. William H. Allen of Orono, and grad- uated from the University of the City of New York, March 8, 1850. In the summer of 1856, he began the practice of medicine in Farmington, having previously had professional experience in Orono and Unity. With sound judgment, keen observation, and manifest sympathy for the sick, he won an early popularity, and during his residence in Farm- ington achieved a well-earned success in his chosen pro-
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fession. In 1862 Dr. Alexander received the appointment of surgeon in the 16th Regiment Maine Volunteers, and served with distinction in this capacity until honorably discharged a few months before the surrender of Gen. Lec. He was severely wounded at the battle of Gettysburg and incapaci- tated for field service seventy days, and during a part of this time he was a prisoner in the rebel lines. After a brief residence in Malden, Mass., Dr. Alexander removed to Eau Claire, in September, 1866.
Dr. H. W. HAMILTON, a homœopathic physician, came to Farmington about 1861, and was the first to introduce the homœopathic school of medicine in the place. He was regarded as a very skillful practitioner, being especially suc- cessful in his treatment of diphtheria, a disease which raged in this region with great violence and fatality at that time. It is not known that one of his diphtheria patients died, while nearly all other cases were fatal. Dr. Hamilton removed to Bath in the fall of 1863, and left his practice to Dr. O. W. True, who still remains in town.
DR. JAMES B. SEVERY was born in Dixfield, June 29, 1840, and received a common-school education. He first began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. G. L. Peaslee of Wilton, and later studied with Dr. Edmund Russell at Farm- ington. He pursued his studies further at the Portland School for Medical Instruction, and graduated at the Bowdoin Med- ical School in 1865. During the following winter he attended lectures at the Harvard Medical School, and the next year began the practice of his profession in Farmington. In the winter of 1868-9, Dr. Severy was demonstrator of anatomy at Brunswick, and in 1872 began to attend lectures at the Bellevue Medical College in New York City, graduating the following spring. Dr. Severy enjoyed an extensive and successful practice in Farmington for ten years, but his health proving inadequate to the arduous labor which it imposed, he began the study of law, and was admitted to the Franklin County Bar in September, 1876. For a time he was judge of the Municipal Court. In 1882, Judge Severy removed to Colorado Springs, where he is now practicing law.
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DR. STANLEY P. WARREN, a native of Connecticut, and a graduate of Yale College of the class of 1869, began the practice of medicine at Farmington in 1876, having formerly practiced in Bridgeport, Conn. He was successful in obtain- ing a share of patronage, and was widely known as a popular physician. In 1880 he removed to Portland, where he now resides.
The physicians practicing in Farmington are : Parmenas Dyer, John A. Richards, John N. Houghton, John J. Linscott, Frank H. Russell, Frank M. Robbins, allopathists ; Lucien B. Pillsbury, Austin Reynolds, Ebenezer S. Johnson, eclectics ; Orville W. True, Franklin O. Lyford, Charles H. Oakes, homœopathists; E. C. Merrill, B. M. Hardy, dentists.
The following list of college graduates is intended to include all persons born in Farmington who have received college degrees, and also all persons who were residents of Farmington at the time of their graduation. A number of other individuals who have been for a longer or shorter time members of various colleges, but who have failed to receive degrees, are not comprised in this list.
HARRISON ALLEN. Bowdoin College, 1824. See Genea- logical Register.
ELBRIDGE GERRY CUTLER. Harvard College, 1834. See Gen. Reg.
SAMUEL PHILLIPS ABBOTT. Bowdoin College, 1836. See Gen. Reg.
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