USA > Maine > Franklin County > Farmington > The history of Farmington, Franklin County, Maine, 1776-1885 > Part 26
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Andover and a representative to General Court. He married in 1691, Abigail Lovejoy, who was the mother of his seven children. Nehemiah, Jr .. his eldest son, was a resident of Lexington, Mass., and deacon of the church there. His wife, whom he married in 1714, was Sarah Foster. Of their five children, the youngest, Joseph, who was born June 8, 1727, lived in Lincoln, Mass. He married Sarah White, and they were the parents of seven children, two of whom, Joseph and Asa, came to Sydney in this State. Asa married Hephzibah Brooks, and among his children were Asa Abbott of Farmington, the Hon. Nehemiah Abbott of Belfast, and Rev. Howard B. Abbott, a graduate of Bowdoin College in the class of 1836, and a member of the Maine M. E. Conference. Asa Abbott, Sr., died Jan. 10, 1834, and his wife died April 19, 1815.
I JACOB ABBOT, eldest son of Jacob and Lydia (Stevens) Abbot, was b. Oct. 20, 1776, in Wilton, N. H. Having md., April 8, 1798, Betsey Abbot, a distant kinswoman, he left New Hampshire in 1800 for a home in Hallowell, Me. The immediate purpose of his removal was to care for the interests of the Phillips and Weld families in the wild lands of Maine, among which were those tracts since incorporated as the towns of Phillips, Weld, Madrid, Salem, Temple, Avon, and Carthage. Mr. Abbot after- wards made a temporary residence in Brunswick, but subsequently having himself become a large proprietor in the lands, moved to Weld in order that he might better oversee their settlement. It was largely owing to his influence and that of his father and other kinsmen, that the early settlers of the Phillips and Weld townships were of so moral and religious a character. In 1836 Mr. Abbot removed to Farmington and purchased of the widow of Stephen Titcomb, Jr., the estate on the southern border of village, known as "Few Acres." Here he passed the remainder of his life and d. in 1847. His wife, who was b. in Concord, N. H., Aug. 6, 1773, d. July 30, 1846.
Although Mr. Abbot came to Farmington after his active life was past, he yet exerted a marked influence on the town. He brought with him those courtesies and refinements of life which characterized the larger world in which he had been accustomed to move. To his example and influence, the village is indebted for its system of planting trees along the streets, which contributes so much to the beauty of the place. Strict integrity, a peace-loving disposition, and a true courtesy, were his prominent characteristics. Seven children :-
I. Sallucia, b. in Hallowell, Aug. 7, 1801 ; resides at Farmington ; unmd.
II. * Jacob, b. in Hallowell, Nov. 14, 1803.
111. *John Stevens Cabot, b. in Brunswick, Sept. 18, 1805.
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IV. * Gorham Dummer, b. in Brunswick, Sept. 3, 1807. V. Clara, b. Oct. 28, 1809 ; md. May 21, 1843, Elbridge G. Cutler, q. v. Resides at Farm- ington.
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VI. Charles Edwards, b. Dec. 24, 1811 ; graduated at Bowdoin College in 1832, and at Andover Seminary in 1837; md. Nov. 25, 1841, Mary E. Spaulding. For many years a successful teacher in New York and Hartford, Conn. His death occurred July 24, 1880.
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V11. Samuel Phillips, b. Dec. 8, 1814; graduated at Bowdoin College in 1836, and at Andover Seminary in 1840, and was ordained to the ministry at Houlton. He md .. June 12, 1841, Hannah Barker of Nottingham, England. In 1843 he leased from his brother Jacob, the Little Blue property, and there opened a family school for boys in February, 1844. The school had obtained a successful start, when Mr. Abbott d., June 29, 1849. His wife survived him but three weeks, until July 22. They left no children.
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JACOB ABBOTT passed his early life in Brunswick and Hallowell, where he fitted for college at the Hallowell Academy. He entered the sophomore class at Bowdoin College, when but fourteen years of age, and was grad- uated with the class of 1820. Upon leaving college, Mr. Abbott taught a year in Portland, and subsequently entered Andover Theological Seminary to prepare for the Congre- gational ministry; and with the exception of several months in which he taught school in Beverly, remained at Andover until 1824. In the fall of 1824, he accepted an invitation to a tutorship of mathematics at Amherst Col- lege. The following year he assumed the professorship of mathematics and natural philosophy, which chair he held until 1829. From 1829 to 1832, Mr. Abbott was con- nected with the famous Mt. Vernon School for girls, in Boston. In 1834 the Eliot Church at Roxbury was formed, and came under the pastoral care of Mr. Abbott for the two following years. The period of his literary ac- tivity began with the publication of the "Young Christian" in 1832. The appearance of this book marked an era in religious literature. No attempt had been made before to bring the plain facts of the Christian life within the grasp of the young. The effort thus made by Mr. Abbott met with warm appreciation, and the "Young Christian " was greeted with enthusiasm wherever it went. During the first year 9000 copies were sold, and its reception in
Jaure Abbott
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England, Scotland, France, and Germany, was no less flattering than in America. The three remaining vol- umes of the series soon followed, and met with equal success. To these " Young Christian" books, thousands are indebted for their Christian faith, and many men of highest powers, as F. W. Robertson, ascribe the foundation of their belief to the reading of these works.
In 1837 Mr. Abbott removed with his family to Farm- ington, purchased the Little Blue property, and built a little cottage, which has become by a series of transforma- tions the present mansion on that estate. Here his next six years were spent in incessant literary labor. The " Rollo Books," the "Lucy Books," and the "Jonas Books," belong to this period. From 1843 to 1851, Mr. Abbott was engaged with his brothers in teaching in New York City, and upon retiring from the school he continued to reside in New York, resuming his active literary lite. Between 1848 and 1872, when he laid aside his pen, no less than one hundred and thirty books were written and published by him, while the entire list of the published works written and compiled by him, comprises no less than two hundred and eleven titles. During this period, Farm- ington was his summer home. His visits to Farmington grew longer, his stays in New York shorter, and in 1870 Few Acres became his permanent residence. The last ten years of his life were spent in comparative leisure, his bodily strength gradually growing weaker, until Oct. 31, 1879, when the end came.
Such in brief outline are the main facts of the outward life of a man to the strength and beauty of whose inner life no memoir can do justice. So perfectly rounded was his character. that it is difficult to point out any traits which can fairly be called leading characteristics. To those who knew him best, he will ever remain the ideal Christian gentleman. It may perhaps in truth be said that of his intellectual faculties, his judgment was the most remarkable. It seemed a tool perfectly fitted to his use, entirely unbiassed by prejudice and unwarped by emotion or passion. He was thus unable to treat anyone with injustice, and it is owing as much to this as to any other cause that he was, to use the words of an eminent man of letters, "the best teacher ever seen." In his intercourse with others, and particularly with his fellow- townsmen, his modesty was most marked. He rarely expressed an opinion, but always received the opinions of others with deference. He had the rare faculty of draw- ing out all that was best in those with whom he talked, making them feel that he was their debtor for some fact or thought. With the people of the village he mingled
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little, but always welcomed to his home such as came to find him. Particularly were little children welcome, and his power over them was almost unlimited. Of him, as of Richter, it may be said, "He loved God and little children."
Mr. Abbott was twice married : May 18, 1828, to Harriet, daughter of Charles Vaughan of Hallowell ; she d. Sept. 12, 1843, and he md. (2) Nov., 1853, Mrs. Mary Dana Woodbury, who d. April, 1866. Six children by first marriage :-
I. * Benjamin Vaughan, b. in Boston, Mass., June 4, 1830.
II. * Austin, b. in Boston, Dec. 18, 1831.
III. Frances Elizabeth, b. in Boston, May 31, 1834; d. Dec. 11, 1834.
IV. * Lyman, b. in Roxbury, Mass., Dec. 18, 1835.
V. * Edward, b. in Farmington, July 15, 1841.
VI. George, b. in Farmington, Sept., 1843; d. in infancy.
JOHN STEVENS CABOT ABBOTT graduated at Bowdoin College in the famous class of 1825, and subsequently at Andover Seminary. In 1830 he was ordained to the ministry of the Congregational Church, and was first settled in Worcester, Mass. He succeeded his brother Jacob as pastor of the Eliot Church in Roxbury in 1836, and later was settled at Nantucket. He relinquished the pulpit in 1844 for literature and teaching. With his brothers he was associated in the conduct of the New York school for young ladies until 1851, when the school was closed. His whole attention was then turned to literature. Already his "Life of Napoleon" had appeared, and the "Red Histories" were under way. In rapid succession followed " Kings and Queens," "The French Revolution," " Napoleon at St. Helena," and ten volumes of illustrated histories. In all, Mr. Abbott wrote fifty-two volumes, nearly all of an historical character. Among his later works were the " Romance of Spanish History " and "The History of Frederick the Great." For two years, 1858 and 1859, Mr. Abbott was acting pastor of the Congregational Church at Farmington, and resided there with his family. From 1866 to 1868, he also was acting pastor at Fair Haven, Conn., but the main work of his life was literature. He was a facile writer, and his books were and still are highly popular, and enjoy a large sale. Their influence has been marked in making the study of history interesting and fascinating. As a speaker. Mr. Abbott was no less fascinating than as a writer. His
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sermons were eloquent and his delivery dramatic. Many of the discourses preached at Farmington are still remem- bered and discussed. As a pastor he was deeply beloved. His warm sympathies, his generous impulses, won the love as his uniform courtesy won the respect of the com- munity in which he lived. His death occurred at New Haven, Conn., June 17, 1877. Mr. Abbott md., Aug. 17, 1830, Jane Williams Bourne of Boston, who survives him. Nine children :-
I. John Bourne, b. in Worcester, Mass., Nov. 29, IS31 ; d. May 24, 1839.
II. Jane Maria, b. in Worcester, Nov. 15, 1833 ; md. Aug. 27, 1873, Oliver Johnson of New York City.
III. H'aldo, b. in Roxbury, Mass., Sept. 8, 1836 ; md. Feb. 7, 1860, Julia M. Holmes of New Orleans ; d. at Key West, Fla., July 7, 1864.
IV. Harriet Vaughan, b. in Roxbury. Feb. 18, 1839 ; md., Aug. 6, 1863, Rev. Horatio O. Ladd.
V. Ellen Williams, b. in Roxbury, Jan. 11, 1841.
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VI. Laura Sallucia, b. at Nantucket, Mass., Oct. 30, I843; md. June 29, 1871, Albert H. Buck, M. D., of New York City.
VII. Elizabeth Ballister, b. at New York City, March 15, 1847 ; d. at New Haven, Conn., Feb. 23, 1864.
VIII Emma Susan, b. at New York City, July 12, 1849 ; md., May 4, 1870, Edward S. Mead of New York City.
IX. Gorham Dummer, b. at New York City, March 29, 1851 ; md., April 1, 1882, Ella J. Soper of. Lowell, Mass.
GORHAM DUMMER ABBOTT graduated at Bowdoin Col- lege in 1826, and subsequently at Andover Seminary. After completing his theological course, he made a tour of the United States and Europe for the purpose of exam- ining educational methods, and with the exception of a short pastorate in a Presbyterian Church at New Rochelle, N. Y. (1837-1841), and two years in which he was agent of the "American Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge " ( 1841-1843). Mr. Abbott's active lite was devoted to teaching. The project of opening a young ladies' school in New York, on a similar plan to the Mt. Vernon school of Boston, was formed by him as early as 1840, and having induced his older brother Jacob to join him in the undertaking, the school was opened in 1843. With this school the five brothers were at different times
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connected. So successful was the venture, that the fol- lowing year the school was divided, Mr. Gorham Abbott removing to a new location, and in 1848 a fine building in Union Square was erected for him, known as the "Sping- ler Institute." Mr. Abbott continued to teach successfully until 1866. In connection with his profession, he also wrote several books, principally on educational topics. His last days were spent in Natick, Mass., where he died in 1874. He md., Feb. 11, 1834, Rebecca S., daughter of Joseph S. Leach of South Natick. One child :-
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I. Elizabeth Rebecca, b. at New Rochelle, N. Y., April 11, 1840; d. at Long Branch, N. J., Aug. 13, 1850.
(9)
BENJAMIN VAUGHAN ABBOTT was educated in New York, and admitted to the New York bar in 1851. He is well known as the compiler of many valuable law reports, and the author of law books, among which are: New York Digest, National Digest, Digest of Corporations, United States Digest in twenty-two volumes, United States Practice, Law Dictionary, and Judge and Jury. He was also one of the commissioners by whom the United States Statutes were revised in 1870-73. Mr. Abbott md., Sept. 21, 1853, Elizabeth, daughter of John Titcomb, q. v. Four children :-
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I. Arthur Vaughan, b. in Brooklyn, N. Y., July 18, 1854 ; md., Feb. 5. 1885, Rosa Genevra Shaw of Brooklyn, N. Y. A civil engineer in New York City. Edwin Dane, b. in New York City, July 10, 1859 : d. Sept. 25, 1860.
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II.
ITI. Alice Dane, b. in New York City, Oct. 12, 1861. IV. Florence Vaughan, b. in New York City, Sept. 12, 1863 ; d. April 24, 1865.
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AUSTIN ABBOTT was educated in the City of New York, and admitted to the New York bar about 1852. He entered into partnership with his brother, Benjamin V. Abbott, and has co-operated with him in the preparation of legal treatises and digests. He md., Nov. 2, 1854, Ellen Louisa Dummer, daughter of Samuel K. and Lucy Gorham (Dunner) Gilman of Hallowell, a lady of rare excellence. She d. Dec. 28, 1877, and he md. (2) Sept. 24, 1879, Mrs. Anna Worth of Brooklyn, N. Y. Two children :-
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I. Lucy Gilman, b. in New York City, Sept. 7, 1858.
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II. Willard, b. in New York City, Sept. 30, 1860 ; d. in Farmington, Sept. 20. 1865.
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(12)
LVMAN ABBOTT graduated at the University of the City of New York in 1853, and first studied law, practicing in partnership with his brothers. He afterwards studied theology with his uncle, J. S. C. Abbott, and was ordained to the Congregational ministry at Farmington in 1860. The same year he took charge of the First Congregational Church of Terre Haute, Ind., where he remained until 1865. For three years, between 1865 and 1868, he was secretary of the American Union (freedmen's) Commission, and from 1866 to 1869 was also pastor of the New England Church of New York City. Since 1869, Dr. Abbott has devoted himself mainly to literature. For eleven years, 1868-1879, he edited the Literary Record of Harper's Magazine, and conducted for some time the Illustrated Christian Weekly. In 1876 he became joint editor of the Christian Union with Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, and has had entire control of the paper since 1881. The following list includes the books of which Dr. Abbott is author or editor :
H. W. Beecher's Sermons : edited by L. A., 1868 ; H. W. Beecher's Morning and Evening Exercises : edited by L. A., 1869 ; Life of Jesus, 1869 ; Old Testament Shadows of New Testament Truths, 1870; Laicus, 1872 ; Dictionary of Religious Knowledge, 1874; Commentaries on the Gospels and Acts, 1875-1880; The Gospel History, by J. R. Gilmore and Lyman Abbott, 1881 ; Abbott's Notes on the New Testament, revised by L. A., 1882 ; Book of Family Worship. edited by L. A., 1883 ; Portrait of 11. 11'. Beecher, with editorial supervision by L. A., 1883.
Dr. Abbott is a man of broad and catholic sympathies, and of keen insight in spiritual truth, and his influence is marked both as a writer and speaker. He has been hon- ored by his alma mater with the degree of doctor of divinity.
His marriage with Abby, daughter of Hannibal and Abigail (Abbot) Hamlin, took place Oct. 14, 1857. Six children :-
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1. Laurence Fraser, b. in Brooklyn, N. Y., June 25, 1859 ; graduated at Amherst College in ISSo ; and was afterwards connected with the business department of the Christian Union.
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111. IV.
Il. Harriet Frances, b. in Terre Haute, Ind., Oct. 15, IS60. Herbert Vaughan, b. in Terre Haute, Jan. 3, 1865. Ernest, b. at Cornwall-on-Hudson, N. Y., April IS, 1870. Theodore, b. at Cornwall-on-Hudson, July 20, 1872.
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V. VI. Beatrice Vail, b. at Cornwall-on-Hudson, Feb. 15, 1875.
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HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
(13) EDWARD ABBOTT graduated from the University of the City of New York in 1860, and studied at Andover Theological Seminary. In 1862-3 he served in the Sanitary Commission. He was ordained to the Congre- gational ministry at Farmington in June, 1863, and was installed at the Stearns Chapel in Cambridgeport in 1865. This mission was through his efforts built up into a strong church, now known as the Pilgrim Church. In 1869 he resigned his pastorate to become associate editor of the Congregationalist and Boston Recorder. His connection with this paper ceased in 1877, when he assumed control of the Literary World, one of the foremost critical papers of the country. In 1879 he took orders in the Protestant Episcopal Church, and is now rector of St. James Parish, Cambridge, Mass. Mr. Abbott has been an extensive contributor to the periodical press, and has besides pub- lished several volumes : The Baby's Things, 1871; Good Things (edited) 187 -; Conversations of Jesus, 1875 ; Pilgrim Papers, 1872-1875 ; A Paragraph History of the United States, 1875; A Paragraph History of the Amer- ican Revolution, 1876 ; Revolutionary Times. 1876 ; Long Look House (series), 1877-1878; A Trip Eastward, 1880 : Abbott's Young Christian, edited, with a memoir of the author, 1882.
Mr. Abbott has twice married : Feb. 16, 1865, Clara E. Davis, who d. May 25, 1882 ; (2) Aug. 21. 1883, Mrs. Katherine (Kelly) Dunning of Cambridge, Mass. Three children by first marriage :-
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I. Edward Apthorp, b. in Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 18, 1867.
11. Madeline Vaughan, b. in Cambridge, Feb. 20, 1871. III. Elcanor Hallowell, b. in Cambridge, Sept. 22, 1872.
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ASA ABBOT, the eldest son of Asa Abbot of Sydney and of his wife Hephzibah Brooks, was born in Sydney, Nov. 7, 1793, and died in Farmington, Feb. 16, 1863. Mr. Abbot came to this town about 1815, and purchased a farm upon Porter's Hill-the same now owned by Charles E. Jones-where he made his home until 1827, cultivating and improving the land. At that time he became interested in mercantile pursuits, and engaged in trade at the Center Village. He was successful as a merchant until failing health compelled him to withdraw from active business, and he removed to a farm near the village, where he passed the remainder of his life. Mr. Abbot was a man of much intellectual vigor, and was liberal and generous in his impulses. Hle possessed a
faithfully yours, AttAbbott
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good education, and was a successful school-teacher in town for many years. For more than thirty years he served as a trustee of Farmington Academy. He md., Nov. 3, 1818, Caroline Williams (b. July 19, 1800; d. May 6, 1826), daughter of Lemuel and Martha (Williams) Tobey, and granddaughter of Rev. Abraham Williams, pastor of the church at Sandwich, Mass. Mr. Abbot md. (2) Dec. 16, 1827, Elizabeth Mayhew, daughter of Edward Butler, q. v., who survives him. Fourteen children :-
I. Martha Caroline Hephzibah, b. Sept. 18, 1819; md. May 9, 1837, Samuel Belcher, q. v.
II. Caroline, b. Nov. 16, 1820; d. Aug. 20, 1821.
JII. * Alexander Hamilton, b. Sept. 14, 1822.
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IV. William Tobey, b. May 22, 1824; md., Nov. 29, 1849, R. Brenda, daughter of Simeon C. Whit- tier of Hallowell. 4 chil. (Vide page 303.) v. Asa, b. April 22, 1826 ; d. May 18, 1826.
Second marriage :
VI. Henry Titcomb, b. June 16, 1830; d. April 28, 1832.
VII. Caroline Belcher, b. Sept. 1, 1832 ; md., Aug. 8, 1854, Dr. Mark S. Blunt; resides at Mt. Ver- non, Ind. Ellen Kelley Butler, b. Nov. 17, 1834; md., July 16, 1853, Samuel G. Craig, q. v .; d. July 14, 1861. Asa Henry, b. Nov. 25, 1836 ; d. Aug. 7, 1837.
VIIJ.
IX. x. Ann Elizabeth, b. July 14, 1838 ; md., Jan., 1859, Nathan W., son of Nathan W. Backus, Sr., q. v .; md. (2) March 10, 1883, Charles W. Fish of Elkhart, Ind.
XI. Samuel Belcher, b. May 7, 1843; d. Sept. 13, 1845.
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XII. Mary Butler, b. Jan. 29, 1846; md., June, 1864, Herman Fisher.
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XIII. Mittie Belcher, b. Sept. 10, 1849; md., Aug. 31, 1872, Charles H. Newton ; resides at Wor- cester, Mass.
XIV. Edward Augustus, b. Oct. 16, 1850 ; md., March 24, 1878, Abbic Jeanette Beecher. Is a drug- gist, and resides at Savannah, Ga.
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ALEXANDER H. ABBOTT received his preparatory educa- tion at Farmington Academy, and graduated from Bowdoin College in 1840, at the age of eighteen. The following ycar he became principal of Farmington Academy, hold- ing the position until 1849, when he took charge of the
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Abbott Family School as its principal and proprietor. Mr. Abbott has made this school, founded by Rev. 'Samuel Phillips Abbott in 1844, one of the most prominent insti- tutions for the education of boys in the State ; and it has been generously patronized by students from every section of the country. Mr. Abbott possesses rare scholarly attainments, and is thoroughly devoted to his work. He served as supervisor of common schools for Franklin County, and also as a member of the board of trustees of the Maine State Normal Schools. He has twice married : Sept. 13, 1849, M. Mittie, daughter of Hiram Belcher, q. v .; she d. Oct. 1, 1863 ; (2) Nov. 1, 1864. Mrs. Frances (Gilkison) Martin of Fort Wayne, Ind. Five children :-
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I. Wallace Belcher, b. July 16, 1851 ; d. Oct. 4, 1852.
Second marriage :
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II. Geddes Gilkison, b. Feb. 9, 1866.
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III. Fannie Caroline, b. July 5. 1868.
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1V. May Louisa, b. May 27, 1870.
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V. Samuel Belcher, b. May 17, 1872.
Adams.
Among the earliest of the New England settlers was Henry Adams, who came from England to this country with his eight sons previous to 1634. From these sons, who settled in different places, the various Adams families are descended. From Joseph, the oldest, the family of President John Adams traces its descent. The Adams family of Farm- ington are sprung from Samuel, a younger son of Henry, who settled at Chelmsford, Mass., about 1654, and built the first mills, and also the first church, near the present site of the City of Lowell. Samuel was the grandfather of Benjamin Adams, whose son William married Elizabeth Richardson, and was the father of Solomon Adams who came to Farm- ington.
I SOLOMON ADAMS was born at Chelmsford, now Lowell, Mass., Dec. 7, 1758, and entered the Revolutionary Army at the commencement of the war, in which he served until 1781, during which year he came to the Sandy River township and made improvements on the farm now owned by the heirs of Charles L. Stewart, being lot No. 36, east side. He subsequently bought of Samuel Keen the adjoining lot, No. 35, thereby making a large and valuable farm. He soon built a log-house and a framed barn. The latter, with all its effects, was burned in 1788. He built his framed house, a part of the same now occupied by Mrs. Stewart, in 1788, and moved into it the same
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year. Mr. Adams was a practical land-surveyor, and assisted Joseph North in completing the survey of the town, probably in 1784, and subsequently lotted a number of townships in this and adjoining counties, among which was the town of Kingfield. He was frequently employed by Mr. R. H. Gardiner in surveying his land in Gardiner. Mr. Adams was the last clerk of the Colburn Associates, and upon the incorporation of the town in 1794, was elected its moderator, and in 1795 its town clerk, a pos- ition which he held for seven consecutive years. He was also elected chairman of the board of selectmen in 1802, and town treasurer in the years 1807-8. He held various offices in the militia, one of which was major. Mr. Adams erected, at great expense for the time, a cotton-factory upon the Wilson Stream in Wilton, which he operated successfully for some years, in connection with his son William. The results of the War of 1812 ruined the business, and the enterprise was abandoned at a heavy loss, which considerably impaired Mr. Adams' fortunc. For several years the business of tanning was carried on profitably by him upon the home farm. Mr. Adams, in all the public relations in which he was called to act, discharged his duties with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents and employers. Just and accurate in all his dealings, generous in his disposition, and courteous in his intercourse, he preserved the esteem of all. He died in the town of Vienna, on his way to Gardiner on a surveying trip, in consequence of being thrown from his gig, Nov. 4. 1833. He md., March 16, 1786, Hannah, daughter of Samuel Butterfield, q. v .; she d. March 20, 1856, aged 94. Eight children :-
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