USA > Maine > Oxford County > Peru > The history of Peru in the County of Oxford and State of Maine, from 1789 to 1911. Residents and genealogies of their families, also a part of Franklin plan > Part 10
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Abial Cobb
Abial and Eunice Cobb here in 1821. Children :- Lucinda, b. Dec. 12, 1817; William, b. Feb. 27, 1819; Joseph, b. July 11, 1820.
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Coombs
Jesse and Dorcas Coombs. Children :- Nathaniel Coombs, b. Apr. 13, 1814; Isaac, b. June 3., 1819 : Jesse, Jr., b. m. June 19, 1822, Mary Libby. Children :- Arthur, b. Dec. 13, 1822; Dorcas Danford, b. Oct. 15, 1825 : Priscilla T .. b. Mar. 14, 1828; Rosanna L., b. Nov. 29, 1831.
This family lived on the farm now owned by Wm. W. Gordon between W. Peru and Dickvale. They all left town and removed to town of Lisbon in the forties.
William Cox
Wm., b. Hartford 1821, the son of Aaron Cox and Lucy Par- sons, b. Buckfield, m. Lonisa, b. Raymond 1825, dau. of Thomas Dyer and Hannah Parsons, b. Buckfield. Mr. Cox enlisted Co. C, 20th Regt. Me. Vols., Pvt. Reed. an honorable discharge. Was granted a pension. He was an upright Christian and his wife shared with him the joys of a Christian hope through life. Their children :- Eley Jane, b. Mar. 25, 1847, d. 1872 ; R. Lualla, b. June 3, 1852. d. 1876 ; Wm. F., b. Dec. 17, 1855, d. Apr. 1, 1856 : Wm. R., b. Apr. 14, 1848, d. May 12, 1848; Georgeanna, b. Feb. 21, 1850, d. Apr. 6, 1850; Hannah E., b. Apr .. 14, 1857, d. 1876. Mr. Cox was on a small farm on the old county road that led from the O. L. Knight place over the mountain, located on the East side of the road at the foot of the mountain range. Most of the children were reared and died there. He d. Dec. 19, 1903, ae. 82 yrs. 9 mos. at West Peru. His wife d. May 21. 1897. ae. "2 yrs. 3 mos.
The Cox family came from Buckfield, two brothers, Aaron P. and William and two sisters, Judith P. and Lucy P. were residents in Peru, and excepting the last named, they lived and died there. Lucy P., m. Oct. 3, 1869, Otis N. Haskell, in Hebron.
Aaron P. Cox. b. Mar. 4, 1818, d. Sept. 23, 1876, m. Eliza- beth H., b. Buckfield. Aug. 28, 1828, d. Feb. 24, 1903, dau. of Isaiah Cothell and Margaret Buck, b. Backfield. Children and their marriage :- Edward, b. Nov. 23, 1846, m. Etta, dan. of Otis N. Haskell of Hebron. 5 children :- Amanda V., Florence E., Aaron E., Arthur F. and Chas. E. Amanda M., b. May 30, 1853, Buckfield, m. Pub. Oct. 15, 1869, Albion K. Trask. No issue ; Wm. H., b. June 28, 1860, unmarried ; Emery E., b. Apr. 8, 1865, m. 1897, Edith M., b. Peru, June 30, 1870, dan. of Warren F. Cur- tis. Children :- Helena A., Beula E. Edith M. Cox, the wife,
07355
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d. Mar. 5, 1909, on Levi Randall farm. Lucy P., the mother of Aaron P., d. in Peru Dec. 24, 1877. ac. 91 yrs. 8 mos. 14 dys. and his sister, Judith P., d. Sept. ? , 1889, ae. 80 yrs. 1 mo. 7 dys.
Mr. Cox and family lived at Worthly Pond on the James Irish farm.
Curtis
Alvah M. Curtis, a native of Paris and a successful school teacher, taught the village school at West Peru in the late eighties. He made the acquaintance of one of Peru's fair daughters, Miss Addie Ella Hall, dan. of our much respected townsman, Josiah HIall, resulting in their marriage.
Mr. Curtis settled on the farm owned in 1860 by Bowers Walton and in the late eighties by Merrill Knight 2nd. Mr. Curtis was his successor. He is an enterprising, industrious farmer. Child :- Hazel M.
Granville F. Child
Granville F. Child, b. Apr. 18, 1842, the son of Granville, of Franklin Plantation, m. Oct. 20, 1861, Viola B., b. June 23, 1813, the dau. of Elbridge and Silence Hopkins Wing. The parent, Granville, was brother to Joseph Child, also to Wm. Child, who kept tavern at Brettun's Mills, Livermore in the days of Saw- telle's stage line. This race were reputed, honest and honorable. Joseph was quite noted. Granville F. and wife were Christians. He departed this life July 31, 1901. Their children :- Charles N., b. Nov. 25, 1863, m. Nellie B., b. Sept. 13, 1869, d. May 25, 1902, dan. of Samuel Lovejoy; Geo. V. Child. Co. C, 8th Me., war 1861, m. Emma (. Card (widow) : Wm. W., m. Etta E. Card, b. to wife Jan. 31, 1910, a son. dau. of Emma ( .: Arthur L., b. Sept. 9, 1811. m. Lucy, dau. of John A. Putnam. Wife d. Feb. 17. 1898, ae. 19 yrs. ; Mary E., m. Enos Farnham in Milton ; Percy E .. m. - Lamb in Dixfield; Clarence E., m. - Smith : Elbridge G., m. Anna M., dau. of Samuel Hammon, Jr. Wife d. June 6, 1906 He m. 2nd, Nov. 30, 1908, Jennie, dau. of Chas. G. and Abbio K. Irish. They are farmers on his parents' homestead farm.
Children of Charles N. and Nellie B. :- Genevie M., b. 1885, d. 1902: Leon Walter, b. m. Aug. 23, 1909, Pearl L. Miller. The son of Elbridge G. by 1st wife is Elmer 1. Child.
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Homer Child
Homer Child, b. Livermore. Sept. 2, 1829, was the son of Marshall Child and Olive Stetson of Hartford. Marshall was a resident in Porn a term of years before the war, in the vicinity of Worthly Pond. His 2nd wife was Sarah L. Ames of Jay. m. Pub. Sept. 21, 1864. He removed to Livermore. Homer Child was a soldier. Co. G. 1st Me. Cav. He d. Mar. 13, 1896. He sus- tained gun shot wound in ankle and contracted other disabilities for which he was pensioned. Ile was upright and commendable in all deportment. He m. Aug. 6, 1863, Martha Jane, b. Aug. 17, 1841. the dau. of Wm. K. and Polly Ellis Ripley. Children of Homer Child were :- Perley K., b. July 3, 1866; Lizzy A., b. Feb. 11. 1868: Mabel R., b. Aug. 21, 1820. d. Sept. 1, 1870 ; Lillian E .. b. Mar. 21, 1822; Edith M., b. Sept. 13, 1874 ; Flora M., b. May 9, 1822: Wm. M., b. JJune 4, 1880; Arthur B., b. Apr. 19, 1883; Sarah D .. b. Ang. 24, 1886.
Marriages :- Perley K., m. Mar. 14, 1899; Sarah D. Howard. Children :- Harold P., b. Aug. 18. 1900; Mabel Estelle, b. June 4. 1906. Lizzie A., m. Dec. 29. 1896, Geo. W. Watson, b. Jan. 30. 1866, d. Aug. 10. 1906. Monument, West Peru. No issue; Lillian E., m. Apr. 28, 1898, Clinton E. Child, son of Hiram and Hannah Child. Two sons: Eliner M. and Leon R. : Edith M .. m. Sept. 28. 1893. Thomas (. Oldham. son of Daniel: Flora M., m. Nov. 14. 1894. Engene O. Kidder, son of John. Children :-?. Elroy Carlton. Lurline H. : Win. M .. m. May 23, 1890, Susie M. Knox, dau. of Chester L. and Flavilla ( Whitman) Knox: Sarah D., m. July 9. 1907. Carson L. Beedy.
ITiram Child, a brother of Marshall, m. Hannah, dau. of Mar- tin Ellis. This family resided in Peru in the sixties. Their children :- Nettie L., b. Aug. 19, 1861, m. Will HFill in Malden. Mass. : Clinton E .. b. Feb. 22, 1863: Emerson L., b. May 3, 1865.
Stephen R. Chase
Stephen R. Chase, b. Weld. son of Nathan R., b. Springfield, Mass. and Lois P. Ring. b. Ware, N. H., m. Hattie, dau. of Win- field S. Shackley and wife Lonisa, who moved from Canton in late forties having purchased the Win. Thorn place, now the Nathan Harlow farm. This was Mr. Chase's second marriage. He own- ed what was the Solomon T. Alden farm. He did some farming and blacksmithing. He d. Oet. 24. 1902, ao. 67 yrs. 212 mos. in Pern leaving a widow, dan. Georgeanna. and son George. by first wife.
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George Chase, b. m. 1895, Lula Alice, dau. of Enos Gould. Son, Harold G., b. Mar. 1902. He is a farmer and blacksmith near Valley road, Dixfield. Prosperous.
Stephen R. Chase, m. 1st, Marilla Hanneford, sister to Nel- son. Wife d. at Berry's Mills, Carthage. Their dan. m. Wm. Adams, her fifth husband.
James M. Carter
James M. Carter of Rumford m. Oet. 29, 1815, Martha A., b. Apr. 4, 1812, d. July 3, 1896, dau. of Francis Waite. This fall- ily removed to the Waite farm to care for wife's parents and thus heired the farm. Their dau. Ellen, and her mother d. there. Children :- Amasa F., m. 1st, Nellie M., b. Jan. 2, 1854, dau. of Algernon Knox. Their dau. Nellie m. Albert O., son of Wm. Henry Conant. Nellie M. Carter d. Oct. 1, 1878, ae. 20 yrs. 9 mos. Amasa F. mn. 2nd, Nov. 18, 1885, Minnie B. Farrar of Woodstock. Ellen D., b. 1853, d. May 26, 1882, unmarried ; Mary A., m. Dwight L. Hall. Amasa F. and wife removed to Hartford. No issue.
Isaac Chase
Isaac Chase, son of Rev. Nathaniel Chase of Buckfield, was b. Apr. 6, 1815, d. May 2, 1879. His 1st wife, Philena F. Swett, b. July 20, 1818, d. Jan. 21, 1848. Mr. Chase was a prominent citizen in town, a school teacher several years. He served in all the town offices repeatedly and was Capt. at one time of Peru's quota of militia in the forties. Children :- DeWitt Clinton, b. Dec. 3, 1837, m. Pub. May 18, 1859, Florentine E. Newman, dau. of Col. Oliver Newman of Carthage. Wife d. He m. 2nd her sister, Clara. They moved to Lagrange, Ill. Wife left linsband and remarried in Wilton, Me. Chase m. 3d and lives in South Dakota; Leroy Chase, b. July 20, 1839, d. Oct. 16, 1844; Leslie Howard, b. Sept. 24, 1843, served Pvt. Co. C, 8th Me. Inf. Vols. on Peru's quota 2 yrs. He and wife Mary, reside in Kingston, Washington Territory; Leroy Roello, b. Oct. 12, 1845, m. 1st wife Kate. She d. 2nd wife named Sisseton. They keep hotel in South Dakota; Isaac Chase Morrill, b. Nov. 9, 1847, adopted by Enoch and Salome Morrill soon after the death of Mrs. Chase. Mr. Chase m. 2nd, Apr. 11, 1852, Angelia Shackley, sister to Mon- roe Shackley of Canton. Children :- Clarence M., b. Nov. 23, 1856, d. Mar. 2, 1865; Lena F., b. 1863, d. 1872; Philena F., b. May 16, 1863, d. Feb. 16, 1872; Henry A., b. Nov. 26, 1853, m. June 28, 1899, Priscilla C. A. Kidder (widow.) They are enter-
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prising, prosperous farmers on the old homestead ; Chas. C., b. May 9, 1875, m. Nov. 1899, Maud, dau. of Chas. Holt of Canton. Children :- C'erial, Iowa, Eunice. Violet. Residence, Livermore Falls. Widow Angelia Chase had a home with son, Henry A. through life. She demised Jan. 31, 1909. Thus ended an in- dustrious useful life. This family have been prominent members of Rockemeka Grange many years. Mrs. Chase was dau. of John S. Lunt. Her first husband was Frank E. Kidder on Loren Irish farnı.
Jesse Cushman
Jesse Cushman m. Sept. 11, 1845, Mariah, dau. of Samuel Hammon. He d. June 17, 1887, ae. 66 yrs. 5 mos. Children :- Gilman V., b. Mar. 5, 1846, d. Oct. 22, 1852; Wm. Gustine, b. Feb. 1, 1848, d. Oct. 15, 1852: Ann Louisa, b. Ang. 9, 1849, d. Oct. 28, 1852; Lydia Emily, b. Oct. 4, 1851; Frances Katherine, b. July 23, 1854; John Gihan, b. Feb. 13, 1856. This family moved to Carthage, Me.
Records show Anna Cushman about three years younger than Jesse ; m. June 30, 1845, Samuel Hammon, Jr. Wife was about one yr. older than husband. Dates indicate probability that she was sister to Jesse.
Caldwell
John A. Caldwell, b. around 1811, whose mother married James M. Demerritt. He m. Nov. 25, 1866, Augusta J., dau. of Thomas Lord. Mr. Caldwell was a soldier in the Civil War. He lives out West. He was Corp. Co. F, 9th Me.
Churchill
Andrew Jackson Churchill was the son of a sca captain, An- drew Churchill, b. Plymouth, Mass. and Polly Oldham, b. 1781 in Pembroke, Mass. She was a sister to Thaddeus Oldham, Sr., who removed from Sumner with Mrs. Churchill and two children in 1827.
Andrew J. Churchill was born June 12, 1821 in Sumner, d. Jan. 22, 1892 in Peru Annex. He m. around 1848, Nancy Wy- man. She d. Apr. 27, 1893. Their children :- Nancy Jane, b. May 7, 1849, d. Oct. 2, 1864, did not marry : Phebe Frances, b. July 3. 1850, m. Apr. 7, 1870, Albert L. Gowell. He d. in early 1905. Wife d. Nov. 11, 1875 : no issue. Andrew, b. m. Sept. 12, 1896, Clara E., b. July 4, 1876, dau. of Warren F. Curtis of Peru. Andrew was foreman of paper mill at Johnsonburg, Pa. Last
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residence, Long Beach, Cal. Children :- Norman A., b. May 4, 1893, d. Oct. 12, 1901; Warren J., b. 1899; Frank A., b. Oct. 1900. Andrew J. Churchill followed farming at the foot of Worthly Pond, many years on the Hartwell Oldham farm. He attained some prominence in town affairs and filled various offices. In 1821 he was elected a representative to Legislature from Peru. This family were regular church attendants.
Dorr Family
Two brothers of the Dorr family. David and wife Sarah, and Nathaniel with wife Mary, dau. of Merrill Knight, were in town at date of incorporation. Plan. meeting. Apr. 3, 1815. Voted to lay out a road to accommodate Mr. David Dorr. This doubtless was a continuation of road from Adam Knight farm going N. W. to Sammel Knight place, afterwards Jeremiah Hall farm. There was a neighborhood between the points named on the West side of the hill range that includes Morrill Ledge. David Dorr was a pioneer settler here. continuing through life. So long as the pine trees held out on the mountain lot and he was able to cut and shave shingle, he kept the wolf from the door. Writer recollects him in early forties. There is no record when he died: wife d. Apr. 3. 1855, or of any children. Nathaniel and wife. Mary, have record of ten children. He d. Oct. 11, 1840. Children :- Mary Jane. b. Dec. 6, 1821 : Sammel G .. b. July 2. 1826, went to Mass. and died : Lucretia and John M., b. Ang. 31, 1828 in No. 2; Winslow. b. Feb. 19, 1831; Peter W., b. Mar. 1, 1833: Adelia A .. b. Dec. 9, 1835: Sally. b. May 9, 1838; Sarah Ann. b. Mar. 19, 1823, in No. 2. d. Aug. 1824: Monthea E., b. Oct. 18, 1840. The first mention of paupers struck off to the lowest bidder was March meeting. 1824, when this couple were bid off as follows :- Nathan- iel Dorr by Adam Knight at one cent per week and his wife and child by Daniel Lunt at 55 cts per week and it was there quite likely that Sarah Ann d. Ang. 1824. Truly the world doth move.
Dean
The Irving Dean farm on road leading from Worthly Pond to North Hartford was before the war the Marshall Child place. Irving was the son of Thomas C .. b. 1828. d. 1866 and Eleanor M. Dean. b. 1833. d. 1884 on this farm. also their dan., Emma F ... b. 1860. d. 1878. Trying A .. b. 1856. Flora E. Dean m. Apr. 23. 1880. Henry W. Longley. Lewiston. Irving Dean lives on his
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farm in the family of John S. Russell. Record shows family of Edmon S. and Hannah Dean. Children :- Elenette, b. May 21, 1852; Adelbert E., b. Apr. 25, 1854.
Drown
Record of Ezra and Elmira Drown, dau. of Stephen Wing. Geo. Frederic, b. Nov. 30, 1841, in Peru; Betsey Diana, h. Oet. 23, 1845. in Peru : Wm. F., b. Dec. 14, 1849, in Dixfield. Resi- dence on Grover farm. Lucius and Jemima Doble. Child :- Ernest Doble. b. Jan. 1860.
Delano Brothers
The Delano brothers, Jabez, Abial and John, came from Liv- ermore to Peru prior to 1821. We find them with their families here: Jabez and Grace and children :- Sarah. b. 1791, d. Sept. 25, 1836: Jabez, Jr., h. 1799, d. 1854: Abigail Sophia. b. July 10, 1804: Daniel, b. July 12, 1802. Wifo Grace d. Feb. 29, 1831, ae. 63 yrs. Parent Jabez m. 2nd, Jan. 1835, Jane Cushman, in Sum- ner. Abial Delano, wife Sarah, joined Baptist CImrch 1818 and 1819, and children, Dolly Ann and Harriet. No further record of this family. Writer recollects Mr. Delano. He was a very spare man in the face, had a voracious appetite, which condition was incompatible with his finances. His wife died and family was broken up in the thirties or earlier. His dan., Harriet, went to live with the family of Geo. Walker and grew up. She married in Carthage. Mr. Delano left town in the forties. John and wife, Mehitable, b. 1998, d. JJan. 31. 1849 in Peru. Children :- Benj. S., b. Feb. 15. 1821. d. Oct. 19, 1825: Elias, b. 'Aug. 19. 1822. d. Oct. 10, 1825; Louisa, b. Dec. 16 1824, d. Oct. 15. 1825 : William W., b. Fcb. 4, 1827: Elias N., b. June 2, 1831: Louisa B., b. Dec. 19. 1833. m. June 2, 1855, Daniel W. Libby in Car- thage: Jolin Wesley, b. Nov. 20, 1836. He married, had several children, was living in Carthage, removed to Peru and in 1884 removed to Aroostook County, the last known of the family.
John Delano m. 2nd. Feb. 28. 1850. Asenath Cushman, in Livermore. He probably died there. His son, Wm. W., m. Nov. 22. 1855, Betsey Rosette Dorr, a sister of Cymus. It is known they had three children or more, two sons of whom Fred, the younger. was a resident of Peru and a member of the school committee in the eighties. His mother, a widow, and his sister, were then living at West Pern. Mrs. Betsey Rosette Delano died there at the Thomas Demeritt house. Fred and sister returned to
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Oxford. Me. Writer learns, 1911. that Jabez. Abial and John Delano aforementioned were the sons of Jabez Delano, who was a soldier of the war of the Revolution, of Livermore. He was in Peru probably on a visit to his sons at one time. Elias N. Delano was located at East Peru before the war. His line of work was wheelwright and carriage repairer. He left town.
Daniel Delano
Daniel Delano, the son of Jabez, d. Aug. 4, 1865, m. Jan. 1, 1829, Lydia J. Maxim, b. in Sweden around 1809, d. Oct. 2, 1898. Children :- Lorenzo D., b. JJuly 10, 1831, d. Dec. 12, 1896; Ar- villa Cain, b. Dec. 30, 1833, m. Keen, had 3 children, d. on home farm, Apr. 24, 1865: Malissa B., b. May 2, 1836. d. July 2. 1836; Lydia Jane, b. Aug. 2, 1839, d. Dec. 24, 1859 ; Chas. G., b. Aug. 4, 1840. m. Pub. Mar. 21, 1870, Addie Saunders, in Dixfield. Their dan., Helen, married, d. May 1908. Chas. G. was a sol- dier in the Civil War, Co. E, 5th Maine. Is a farmer in comfort- able circumstances on Weld street, Dixfield; Orlando D., b. May 1, 1844. Residence, Nampa, Idaho. Unmarried. He visited Peru in winter of 1908-9, at the home of his childhood; Daniel Dexter, b. Aug. 30, 1846, m. May 18, 1828, Augusta L., b. 1853, dau. of Luther Burgess and Lucy Decker. Wife d. Jan. 1. 1879. No issue. Married 2nd, Aug. 26, 1879, Laura Burgess, a sister to first wife. Children :- Amy, b. 1882, d. Feb. 12, 1901; Rosie L .; Ernest O .; Annis Smith, b. Aug. 9, 1849, m. James M. Hannaford of Paris. Live at Mechanic Falls. Residence of Daniel Dexter, Peru, till about 1907, when family removed to Leeds. He served in ('o. I,'29th Me. Musician, war of 1861.
Lorenzo D. Delano in. Nov. 22, 1855, Fannie H., ). June 13, 1835, the dau. of Seth W. and Elnora Jackson in Peru. Hus- band d. Dec. 12, 1896. Wife d. JJuly 30, 1908. Children :- Oscar R., b. Aug. 23, 1856, m. May 12, 1883, Josephine M., dau. of Daniel and Henrietta D. Fletcher. No issue. Hattie Matilda, b. Jan. 9, 1859, m. Lucellus D. Leadbetter; Mary Angie, b. Apr. 25, 1862, d. Sept. 25, 1863 : Lottie B., b. Dec. 29, 1864, m. Alfred C. Hammon. Children :- Stanley J., Lalea M., Stewart N. Resi- dence, Franklin Annex; Annie May, b. May 22, 1871, m. Joseph A. Putnam. Children :- Cecil I., Celon E., Ronello B., Hattie MI., dau. b. May 2, 1909; Orlando L., b. Nov. 14, 1873. Residence, Idaho. Unmarried. Visited home farm, owned by Oscar R .. Jan. 1909, in Peru. Deforest O., m. 1st, Una Farrar, divorced, m. 2nd, Apr. 16, 1906, Carrie F. Rice, widowed, dan. of John F. Nute, b.
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Lincoln and Pauline Chisholm, b. Pr. Ed. Isld., son Louis Rice, by first m. This family live on home farm, formerly the Sumner R. Newell farm.
Demeritt
Frank Demeritt, m. Feb. 18, 1868, Rosan P., dau. of Lorenzo Knight and Relief E. Durell. Children :- James L., b. Oct. 5, 1868, m. 1st, Sarah A., dau. of John Smith of Pioneer, N. B. Wife d. Jan. 13, 1900. Had dau., Eva May, d. Oct. 26, 1897. He m. 2nd, Ardelle Mae Nadeau. This man has served on the police force at Rumford Falls a term of years; Edward S., b. Mar. 24, 1870, m. Oct. 1, 1890, Ida J., dau. of Wm. Burgess. Have dau., Ethel M., b. Oct. 16, 1892; Charles C., b. Feb. 11, 1877, m. Feb. 1900, Nettie L., dan. of Granville Thurston of Rumford; Etta A. Demeritt, b. Jan. 12, 1885 ; Abbie M., b. Apr. 3, 1887, m. Nov. 30, 1910, John A. McIntire of Dixfield.
Frank Demeritt is one of Peru's energetic, prosperous farm- ers. He is a public benefactor, in setting apart a nice large plot of his farm for a public cemetery, a great convenience to this section of Pern. Etta A. Demeritt m. Dec. 24, 1910, C'ecil I., son of Joseph A. Putnam, both of West Peru.
Col. Thomas J. Demeritt, b. July 20, 1807, d. Mar. 19, 1876. His 1st wife, Avis B., d. July ?1. 1850. Children :- Abby P., b. in N. H., Oct. 4, 1844 : George J., b. in N. H. Nov. 4, 1845, a Pvt. Co. F, 20th Me., d. Apr.20, 1864, buried Grand Cove, La .; Mary F., b. N. H., Oct. 19, 1846, m. in Peru, Oct. 8, 1867, Geo. E. Hall, son of Liberty Hall, one of the nine Hall brothers.
Col. Demeritt m. 2nd. Nov. 18, 1850, Hannah L., b. Feb. 14, 1815, dau. of David Atkins. Wife d. Mar. 2, 1854. Children :- Vesta Ellen, b. Sept. 18, 1851, mn. Willis Dearborn in Auburn, Me. Children :- Edna, Eva. Lena, Calvin Willis. Ile m. 3d Pub. July 19, 1854, Lucretia H., b. Livermore, May 25, 1822, d. Peru, Oct. 22, 1902, a sister of 2nd wife. Children : Emily B., b. June 15, d. Dec. 1855; Jesse Fremont, b. June 21, 1856, m. Leavitt M. Knight; Ardella Elizabeth, b. July 30, 1858, m. Geo. L. Rowe; Elmer Ellsworth, b. May 8, 1861. m. May 10, 1889, Valerie L., b. Mar. 23, 1868, dau. of Wm. H. and Marietta J. Hodgdon of Ep- ping, N. H. Children :- Ariel I. Demeritt, b. Mar. 15, 1897; Ed- ward Selden, b. Mar. 4, d. Apr. 3. 1866. Elmer Ellsworth and wife are prosperous farmers at West Peru.
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Dyer
Eleazer Parsons Dyer, b. Raymond, son of Thomas Dyer. b. Cape Elizabeth. m. Pub. Oct. 6. 1836. Mary M. Ranlett. No children. They lived in a small cottage on Green Woods road, beyond Worthly Pond, near Sumner .. He had but little arable land, and worked out some for their support. His enterprise and calculation proved insufficient for the path he had mapped out. Ere long he neglected wife and left her to care for herself. He was brother to wife of Win. Cox, also to 2nd wife of Thaddeus Oldham, Jr. Parsons Dyer shifted about ever after, living in Cox family, on Town Farm and finally with Elias S. Oldham, where he d. Mar. 9, 1905, ae. 77 yrs. There were other settlers near by the Dyer place before the war, one where the relics of the old orchard is seen. The last occupant of the Dyer cottage was Stephen E. Cothell and wife. He enlisted in the 12th Me. Regt. in 1863, from Canton, joined command at Camp Parapet in Apr. 1864. He suffered from army disability, aggravated by im- prudence in diet, was sent to hospital from Tenlytown, Aug. 1864, where he d. of disease Oct. 7. 1864. Caleb Delano of Canton in same Regt. was killed at battle of Winchester, Sept. 19, 1864.
Decoster Family
James Sulivan Decoster came from Buckfield to Peru in early forties and located on the Stephen Gammon place adjoin- ing the Francis Waite farm. He was able to pay down on this purchase and had a comfortable home for his children while they grew up. He worked out by the day much of the time rather than cultivate his farm, and make improvements. After about sixteen years store bills for the necessities of life were allowed to accumulate. First a mortgage on the cow, followed by mortgage on farm and war prices of farm products and all goods resulted in a sale of his farm to Jonas Greene, and Mr. Decoster returned with family to Buckfield during the Civil War.
Ile in. Charlotte Skillings, a sister to 2nd wife of Stephen Gannon. Children b. in Peru. John Decoster, b. Sept. 26. 1844. Enlisted in Co. D, 12th Regt. Me. Vols., Dec. 1863, dis- charged Apr. 18, 1866. Pending service he had sickness of measles and typho malarial fever, resulting in mental and phy. sical incapacity. He was a pauper on town of Buckfield in 1891, granted a pension under ninety law in 1892 as insane. Wilson Shaw, gaurdian. Children :- Arthur Leroy. b. Jan. 21, 1848.
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Writer received a letter from him post marked Deronda, Wis., Aug. 3, 1903. Letter was addressed to Postmaster, Peru, in- quiring after old associates. Correspondence was opened with Mr. O. C. Hopkins ; Frances Abby, b. Dec. 23, 1850; Clara Delora, b. Aug. 6, 1853; Flora Arabell, b. May 19, 1857. John D. Decoster was living with his second guardian in Hartford, when in the late fall or early winter of 1903, he suicided by hanging.
Theodore S. Downes
Theodore S. Downes, ae. 38 yrs. S. Must. on quota of Mexico, Aug. 14, 1862, Pvt. Co. D, 16th Me. He was accidentally wound- ed Nov. 4, 1862 and discharged Dec. 13, 1862. Such is his war record. He married, wife unknown to writer. The family and two of their children were residents of Peru around 1879, living probably on the Chas. York place, or in that vicinity. Their dau. Evelyn was with them off and on. She m. subsequently, July 15. 1883, Wm. Coffren of Phillips and left town. John F. Downes m. Feb. 18, 1879, Eldora E., dau. of Josiah Frost. They lived several years at West Peru on road to Rd. Falls. Wife d. Mar. 10, 1901. The last known of John, he was tending stable at Lew- iston. Theodore S. Downes was invalid by reason of loss of right hand and arm, and unable to support self and wife. When a man of his years volunteers for $12 per month to endure the hardship, privation and exposure of a soldier, to engage in battle with can- non and musket, for the American flag, he should be revered, though he sleep in a pauper's grave. Wheeler Tracy, Peleg Mitchell and Mr. Downes and others are of this class in service. Mr. Downes passed this life in 1882. ae. 58 yrs., U. S. marker in Dickvale Cemetery, bears his name, Co. and Regt.
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