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 28
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Geo. Walker, b. Apr. 10, 1786, m. July 15, 1811, Melinda IIol- man, b. Apr. ? , 1788, a sister of Abner Holman, Livermore, and dau. of Daniel and Elizabeth Holman. Their motto through life was to save a good part of their earnings, and never spend a dollar before it is in hand. By industry and frugality they became fore- handed farmers. The town road was laid out from Lunt's mill, now Turner's, to this farm in 1813. The bounds of farm bear date 1813. Geo. Walker d. July 13, 1866, ae. 80 years. His wife d. Aug. 9, 1879, ac. 91 years, four months.
Their first child, Eleanor, b. Jan. 28, 1812, d. Sept. 16, 1814. Eleanor, b. Sept. 9, 1816, m. Nov. 22, 1833, Daniel Sheffield, b. Pomfret Landing. Res., Peru. . Liberty, b. June 9, 1831. Geo. Walker located on the second tier of lots west of and adjoining that of his brother, Hezekiah, in 1812. In the winter of 1811-12 he boarded at James Lunt's, two miles down the river. During the winter he cut pine trees on his lot, sawed and shaved the logs by hand into shingles, making and delivering on spot, for house, one- half thousand per day, and walking to and from boarding house to camp. The walls of his house on three sides were covered with those shingles, and without a drop of paint they did good service for ninety years. This couple exercised rigid economy in their first start in life. Instead of running in debt for utensils to set up housekeeping, they made of wood, knives, spoons, plates, bowls, trays for milk setting and general use, furniture of various kinds. and from flax and wool they made clothing. The good housewife was one of the early school teachers in the Plantation, teaching summer schools in her house before & schoolhouse was built.
The succeeding generations in the order given, commencing with George Walker's family are as follows :- Eleanor Walker Sheffield. Their children :- William T., b. June 30, 1836. m. June, 1859, Mary E. A., dau. of Hazen Favor : had son, Wm. C. Sheffield, b. Jan. 6, 1861. Mother d. soon after birth, Jan., 1861. Wm. Tucker m. (2nd), 1877, Mary, dau. of Hezekiah Ripley, St. Stephens, N. B .; had dau., Alice E., b. Nov., 1877. Wm. C., m.
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wife, Jennie. Res., Lewiston. Occupation, piper. Children :- Willis Sheffield, Mabel Sheffield. The second child of Eleanor and Daniel C. Sheffield, Melina Ellen, b. Nov. 22, 1839, m. 1863-4, Henry Bent, nephew of wife of Benj. AAllen; had dau., Flora, m. Seth Young, Lewiston. No issue. Melinda Ellen Bent d. Aug. 10, 1906. Adeline, b. June 22, 1842, m. Sept., 1865, Thos. J. Hanniford, Dixfield. He was a soldier in late war. Pensioned in Lewiston, d. Apr. 25, 1905. No issue. Widow pensioned in Lewiston. Last child of Eleanor Sheffield, Amos Carroll, b. Feb. 3, 1850, d. Mar. 11, 1851. This couple, Eleanor and Daniel Shef- field, were divorced, 1851. Wm. T. Sheffield has worked in Long- ley's harness shop, Lewiston, 40 years.
Daniel C. Sheffield m. (2nd) in Hopkinton, Mass., Mercy Smith. Their dau., Mary Jane, m. Herbert Adams. Mrs. Shef- field d. around 1861. Mr. Sheffield's mother, then the widow of Capt. Levi Ludden in Dixfield, went to live with son in Hop- kinton, Mass. She was there in 1866, and had a home there the rest of her life. Mr. Sheffield outlived his mother, and d. around 1876, at his wife's cottage, Hopkinton. He was at Peru at date of incorporation, and first settled at West Peru. He built the brick house northwest of the Cem., now owned by Sylvester Frost. The Sheffield children were b. there. Daniel was capable, a fine penman, but too unstable to make a success.
Liberty Walker m. Nov. 22, 1856, Ruth Thurlow Taylor, b. Apr. 15. 1835, d. in Bridgton, Jan. 27, 1899, dau. of Richard and Marion (Thurlow) Taylor of Byron. Children b. on the Geo. Walker farm :- Clara A., b. Sept. ? 2, 1860; Asaph J., b. Aug. 2, 1863; Warren W., b. Sept. 17, 1870; Annie C .. adopted dan., b. in Bridgton, Jan. 21, 1880; Clara A., m. in Bridgton, Nov. 22, 1898, Augustus E. Douglass, b. Nov. 27, 1872. Their children :- Geo. C. W., b. Aug. 15, 1901: Herbert A. D., b. Jan. 19. 1903.
Other grandchildren of Liberty and Ruth T. Walker not men- tioned :- Asaph J., m. Sept. 30, 1891 ; Minnie A. Plummer, b. Oct. 10, 1867. Their children b. in Bridgton :- Ruth O., b. July 5, 1896; Asaph P., b. Sept. 26, 1900: Minot G., b. July 2, 1902; Warren W., m. Sept. 4, 1893, Minnie L. Saunders, b. Feb. 22, 1870. Children :- Robert W .. b. Oct. 4, 1898; Roger T., b. Feb. 18, 1900 ; adopted dan. of Liberty: Annie C. Walker, m. June 20, 1901, Irvin E. Brown, b. Aug. 25, 1875. Children :- Eleanor J.
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Brown, b. July 6, 1902; Mildred E., b. June 22, 1904, d. Sept. 8, 1901; Lawrence G., b. Aug. 4, 1906.
Another of Peru's favorite sons who do honor to their nativity is Asaph J. Walker, D. D. S., Bridgton, Me. Dependent finan- cially upon his own resources, he worked his way up and fitted for his chosen profession, which he has filled nobly many years. He, too, feels it a duty to care for the dust of kindred, near and dear, gone before. To him it is a pleasure to care for their last resting place. No greater mark of respect can be shown for them. He contributes liberally to restore and care for the old Knight Cem. His modesty forbids this mention, and writer perils his displeasure.
Mrs. Liberty Walker d. in Feb., 1903, at Bridgton, Me. She had in the family several articles of cotton and linen hand-made by loom a century ago. A cotton sheet, stout as an ordinary table- cloth, was made from the first lot of cotton warp yarn brought into the town of Livermore, and woven by Melinda Holman, as part of her wedding outfit. One of the cherished heirlooms in the family is the loom in which they were woven. It was originally owned and run by her aunt, Dolly Holman of Livermore, a notable weaver of the last century, and given by her to Melinda, who, during a long and busy life, wove many thousand yards of home- made after her marriage to Geo. Walker and they removed to Peru. She was one of the most famous spinners and weavers in the county. She kept account of weaving alone the first few years amounting to four hundred dollars, a small part of her lifework.
By the marriage of Sally Walker to Josiah Hobbs in Liver- more, he and Hezekiah Walker swapped sisters. Hezekiahı, having no child, adopted Daniel when young, the son of Wm., Jr., by first wife. He cared for Hezekiah, and at his death succeeded to his estates. Wm., Jr., m. (1st) Mary, dau. of Merrill Knight, Sr., May 17, 1811. Wife d. Feb. 25, 1819, ae. 29 years, nine months. Children :- Winslow, b. Aug. 22, 1811; Daniel, b. Feb. 13, 1817, d. Aug. 26, 1854, m. Jan. 22, 1846, Sabrina Robinson in Peru; Martha Walker, b. Mar. 16, 1819, m., 1853, Orin Reynolds, "widowed." Wife d. May 25, 1877. Wm. Walker, Jr., m. (2nd) Mercy, b. 1792, d. May 6, 1877, dau. of Rev. Nathaniel Chase of Buckfield. Children :- Wm. Haskell, b. Jan. 7, 1824, m. Mrs. Sabrina Walker, "widow" Amanda M .. b. Feb. 21, 1829, m. Orin Reynolds, his third wife, and d. Nov. 19, 1890; Delia, b. Mar. 12, 1834, m. (1st) Gilbert Eustis of Dixfield, Apr. 2, 1863. Their
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dau. d. young. Husband d. Nov. 14, 1866. Mrs. Eustis remar- ried Amos Harlow, his second wife. He d. Feb. 15, 1896. Mrs. Harlow sold her interest to Mr. Bassett, the present owner, and removed to the Walker mansion, continuing there the rest of life, which terminated Nov. 14, 1906. This woman and her sisters were noble, high-minded, exemplary Christians. Wm. H. Walker was a very conscientious man. He and wife were devoted Chris- tians. Mrs. Walker was the personification of Christian graces.
Wm. H. Walker d. on home farm, Oct. 10, 1906. Sabrina d. at Bridgton, Aug. 3, 1909, in family of Chas. S. Walker. Chil- dren of Wm. Haskell and Sabrina Walker :- Chas. Sumner, b. Mar. 9, 1857, m. Lizzie M. Hazelton, dau. of John F. and Lydia J. Hazelton. Their children are Iola A., m. in Bridgton, Me., June 3, 1910, at home of her parents, Rev. Wm. Porter Ames, pastor of Congregational church, Westport, Mass. This couple were graduates of Bates Coll. in the class of 1909. Chas. S. Walker is superintendent of town schools in Bridgton and Har- rison, 1909 and 1910. Alma C. Second son of Wm. H. was Daniel H., b. Feb. 8, 1839, d. Sally Walker, who m. Josiah Hobbs, Livermore, had son, William. The children of Eleanor Q. (Kyle) True were :- Mahala, b. Dec. 8, 1833; Mary D., b. Feb. 28, 1835; John Henry, b. Apr. 30, 1836; Edward Morrill, b. Apr. 24, 1840; Edward, b. Nov. 2, 1844.
Winslow, son of Wm. Walker, Jr., by first wife, m. Jan. 13. 1835, Amanda M., b. May 23, 1815, dau. of Ichabod and Betsey (Goodin) Benson. Children :- Mercy H., b. Dec. 8, 1835, d. May, 1836; Win. Chandler, b. Apr. 24, 1837, m. Mar. 22, 1863, Sarah M. Cilley of Wilton, b. May 10, 1847. He d. at Esther- ville, Iowa, Sept. 29, 1904. Moved from Peru about 1868. Chil- dren :- Charles H., b. Feb. 22, 1864, m. Mar. 15, 1891, Belle P. Morse ; have dau., b. 1892 : res., Dunnell, Minn. : occupation, a pros- perons meat merchant. George Edgar, b. Nov. 5. 1866, m. Freda Anderson. Children, two sons and a dau. Occupation, insurance agent, Estherville, Iowa. Angie May. b. Feb. 25, 1869, m. Sept. 2, 1885, Albert Austin, farmer, southern Minn. Children :- Lena L., b. Ang. 9, 1874, d. Aug. 15, 1875; Alvah Benson, b. Apr. 19, 1880. d. May 3, 1882 ; six living. Wm. Winslow, b. Apr. 15, 1885, m. May 2, 1907. at Estherville. Iowa, Grace, dau. of Herbert W. Woods. Mr. Walker is assistant cashier of Iowa Savings Bank. He was reared a farmer. continuing till the age of 17 years, when
LILLIAN LUCILE WALKER, Estherville, Iowa.
A. B. WALKER, WIFE AND SON.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTON, LINUX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
. ..
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his ambition lead him to join the business centers in seeking wealth. He began banking, 1904. They have a bouncing girl, Lucian Lucile Walker. b. Oct. 12, 1910, weight 17 pounds when four months old. See cut.
Wm. Chandler Walker, m. Sarah M. Cilley, b. Wilton, Me .. dau. of John K. C'illey, b. in Andover, N. H., 1811, and Amanda Carter, b. in Bow, N. H., 1827, d. 1856, dan. of Hiram Carter, b. in Concord. N. H., June 18, 1802, d. Nov. 3, 1890, and Sally A. Mayhew of Livermore, Me. Col. John Carter, great-grandfather of Sarah M., served in the Revolutionary War, and in War of 181? as Lient. Col. He was b. 1759, d. 1847. He was a native of Con- cord, N. H. Reader will note that above dates reveal that the mother of Sarah M. Cilley d. when she was about eight years old, which accounts for her adoption in the family of Anson Hall in Wilton, her home at time of her marriage. He came of the N. H. Halls and m. Fanny, the dau. of Goin and Eunice Knight of Peru. They had four children, the oldest a son. Names of the others were Betsey, Eunice and Albion. Here is opportunity for candi- dates to "Daughters of American Revolution."
Alfred B., second son, b. Aug. 22, 1840, m. July 1, 1865, Mary Lucia Colby, Hill, N. H., dan. of Hiram and Judith Colby. Their child, Daniel Webster, b. Jan. 22, 1866, m. Oct. 12, 1889, Eva E., dan. of Otis Gammon, in Pern. Their children :-- Colby C. Walk- er, b. Dec. 7, 1891; Mildred E., b. July 28, 1890; Merton O., b. Oct. 9. 1893: Stella M., b. Feb. 19, 1897; Luena, b. Aug. 11, 1899 ; Wilma Eva, b. Dec. 18, 1902. Colby C. entered Bates Coll. (English course), Sept., 1910.
Third son of Winslow and Amanda Walker was Chas. Wins- low, b. July 4, 1845, m. around 1866, Lyda Hathaway, in Canton, dan. of Tolman Hathaway. Their children :- Frank Leslie. m. Julia Merrill, school teacher of Portland. They have two sons and two daughters. Last birth, Mar., 1909, a son and daughter. Minnie, m. Geo. Glover, a farmer in Rumford. Children :- Jen- nie, m. Mr. Towne, commercial traveler; Charles, farmer and teamster at home; Alphonso, farmer on home farm; Lilly, dress- maker in Boston ; Ella, pupil at Normal School, fitting for teacher.
The only daughter of Winslow was Abbie Griffith, b. Feb. 12, 1843, m. Pub., Jan. 25, 1861, Walter Scott Newton. He was a soldier, Co. C, 16th Me. Their children :- Alfred Walter, b. July 16, 1861. See Abraham Newton's children and their mar-
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riage. Fred Grant, b. May 5, 1864, m. Mar. 31, 1883, Matilda Correna, dau. of Albion K. P. and Emily (Barstow ) Knight. They had son, Roy, and parted. Russell Andrew, b. Sept. 24, 1866; Winslow Perley, b. Sept. 29, 1868; Fannie Grace, b. Feb. 13, 1870, m. Nov. 10, 1889, Valentine C. Neal, Livermore, a prosper- ous farmer. Walter S. Newton d. Nov. 10, 1870, ae. 33 years ; his widow m. Oct. 1, 1876, Samuel F. Robinson. No issue. She d. Oct. 16, 1881, in Peru.
Samuel F. Robinson was b. in Livermore. His sister, Martha J., m Sidney Austin. He was a useful citizen, doing carpenter work. He served as town clerk a term of years, and lastly was postmaster several years at West Peru. He m. (2nd) Dec. 1, 1888, Ella C., dau. of Cyrus Dorr. Children :- Grace E., m. Otto Holt in Dixfield; Chas. M., a graduate of high school. Mr. Rob- inson joined Baptist church Apr. 14, 1817. He was a devoted husband, forbearing. Wife d. Feb. 11, 1908. He d. at his home Sept. 24, 1909. Highly respected.
Nathan Walker, b. May 9, 1792, m. Fannie, dau. of Daniel Torrey, Dixfield. Children :- Clarissa, b. May 3, 1822, did not marry, d. July 29, 1845; Sarah Ann, b. May 3, 18?1, m. Standish Sampson in Hartford; George Danforth, b. July 31, 1826. He left town about 1850 or before. After a few years he was reported in Canada, having a wife and two children, a son, Fred. He re- turned to his father's home, then near West Peru, where he d. June 12, 1859. Nancy Ellen, b. Apr. 12, 1830, m. Sylvester Washburn, Hartford, published Apr. 15, 1853. They moved to Aroostook in after years and had several children. He became a victim of free love, left family and home for parts unknown, and never returned. Wife d. there. Children known :- Alice, Ernest, Gertrude. They lived at Caribou. Tabitha Sibyl Walker, b. Apr. 20, 1833, d. Nov. 27, 1842.
Fannie Freeland Walker, b. Feb. 12, 1835, m. Sept. 16, 1865, in Bridgton, Mass., Edward P. Cleaves. Occupation, dealer in stoves and hardware. He d. in 1877. No issue. Mrs. Cleaves remarried in 1892, Edmund Stuart, a merchant tailor in Con- cord, Mass .. where he d. in 1898. No issue. Mrs. Stuart is now living, 1910, at No. 9 Pleasant Ave., Woodfords. Me.
Wm. Snow Walker, b. Mar. 27, 1837. m. May 8, 1862, Harriet L. Tucker, b. Mar. 11, 1842, dau. of William and Lydia (Ludden) Tucker. Children :- Fred O., b. June 6, 1863; Kate Carroll, b. Dec. 24, 1864, m. Ralph M. Woodsum, b. July 9, 1866, son of
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Wm. and Hattie M. (Demerritt) Woodsum. Wm. Snow d. Dee. 12, 1904. He and wife were zealous church members, he of Free Baptist church and wife of Congregational church. Julia Augus- ta, b. Oct. 2, 1842, d. 1887 ; Clara Jane, b. Aug. 25, 1845, m. 1865, C. F. Wetherbee in Peru. Children :- One son, and four daughters. living and farmers. Julia and Clara were daughters of Nathan Walker. Nathan Walker, m. second wife, her maiden name was Betsey A. Eustis, North Hampton, Mass., Pub. Feb. 9, 1853, to Betsey A. Willoughby, "widow." He d. June 10, 1863. She d. Mar. 3. 1874. Graves of Nathan Walker and first wife are in the Knight Cem. Both were among the founders of the Methodist Episcopal church in Peru.
Fred O., son of Wm. Snow Walker, m. Sadie W., Mar. 29, 1884, dau. of Virgil P. and Caroline (Woodsum) Hall. Had dau., Lelia. Wife deserted family. She next m. P. L. Bates, a R. R. operative at Bangor, Me. Fred O., divorced, m. (2nd) around 1898, Ida Moore, a telegraph operator at West Peru sta- tion at one time. Mr. Walker has dealt in hardware, Congress St., Rumford, 15 years or more. He is a prominent member in the Methodist church and other organizations there. There was notice in paper that Miss Lelia Walker while on a visit to her mother, Mrs. P. L. Bates, in Bangor, would on June 16, 1910, be married to Fred W. Smith of Rumford and would continue their residenee at the latter place, where Mr. Smith is employed in the P. O.
Rebecca Walker, b. Oct. 9, 1795, m. about 1815, Wm. Kyle, then in Peru, a brother to Amos Kyle. Children :- Wm. M., b. Nov. 10, 1815; Sibyl, b. Oct. 13, 1817; Mary, b. Oet. 28, 1819. This family moved to Rumford. Sibyl Walker, b. Aug. 14, 1794, m. Enoch Perkins. She d. Mar. 19, 1816.
Charity Walker, b. Nov. 27, 1797, m. Apr. 17, 1815, Amos Kyle, Peru. Children :- Eleanor, b. Oct. 15. 1815, m. Mar. 16, 1834, Moses True, Peru. They moved to Fayette around 1840. Charity, Jr., b. Dec. 18, 1817, m. Apr. 5, 1842, Wm. Cooper in Paris. Charles Walker Kyle, b. Aug. 27, 1820, m. July, 1843, Lowanna Soper of Livermore. He was a member of a shoe firm at Lewiston several years. Amos Merrill Kyle, b. Mar. 10, 1822, m. (1st) Sarah G. Baehelder, dau. of Nathaniel of Fayette, m. about 1847. She d. in 1866. See family of Amos M. Kyle.
Mary Walker, b. June 26, 1800, m. Edsel Grover, removed to Carthage, d. Sept. 5, 1842. Dea. Samuel Walker, b. Nov. 26,
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1805, m. Pub., Feb. 6, 1831 (1st), Mary N. Kyle of Minot. She d. 1837. Children :- Serena H., b. July 10, 1831, m. Wm. Keith. Have son, Walter, and dau .. m. Hayford in Monmouth. Mary d. July 16, 1835, ae. one year; Elizabeth, b. 1833, m. Sumner Noyes. Mr. Walker m. (2nd) Rachel H. Nash, b. 1807. Chil- dren :- Winslow Walker, m. Orvilla Jones, Lewiston; Marilla M., d. Mar. 10, 1845, ae. three years, three months; Sarah M., d. Dec. 12, 1857, ae. three years, 10 months. Dea. Samuel Walker d. in Peru. Feb. 4, 1881. His wife, Rachel. d. May 19, 1900. ae. 92 years, six months. They were interred in Canton Cem. First wife buried in Auburn, Me. Writer has knowledge that Dea. Walker and last wife were devoted Christians, and presumes first wife was the same.
Eliza S., the 12th and last child of Wm. and Sibyl Walker, b. Apr. 20, 1808, m. Joseph Ricker, Peru Cent., Sept. 4, 1825. He was the only blacksmith here from early twenties till his death, Jan. 24, 1845, ae. 43 years. His widow d. Apr. 1, 1849, ae. 41 years. Children :- Mary Ann, b. Nov. 7, 1826, d. Aug. 2, 1827 ; Rosanna, b. Feb. 11, 1828, m. 1850, Ezekiel A. Poland. They had two sons, Joseph Edwin C., b. May 7, 1851. d. July 3, 1898, and Henry W., b. Mar. 3, 1853. Their mother, suffering from de- rangement of mind, inherited from her grandmother Walker, ended life by hanging, Aug. 12, 1853. Joseph Edwin C., m. July 19, 1877, Ada L. Rich, dau. of John F. and Anna E. Rich, Wood- stock, b. Sept. 21, 1857. Their children :- Carrie L .. b. July 12. 1879, d. Oct. 31, 1894: Carroll H., b. June 5, 1881, d. Apr. 5, 1882; Wesley E., b. Mar. 25, 1883; Walter P., b. Oct. 15, 1886; Leon L., b. Mar. 12, 1893. The head of the following family is a prosperous farmer at Labrador pond, Sumner, Me .: Henry Wes- ley Poland, m. Jan. 2, 1883, Frances Ellen, dan. of Joshua and Lucy Russell Young. Wife b. Nov. 19, 1857. Their children :- Llewellyn Henry, b. Jan. 2, 1886 ; Florence Lucy, b. Dec. 6, 1890. The parent, Henry Wesley Poland. d. Apr. 12-13, 1908. His wife's mother was the dau. of Ephraim Russell, Sr., in Hartford. She worked for writer's father, doing housework two years in mid- dle forties. She was highly respected.
The third dan. of Eliza (Walker) Ricker, Elnora, b. Apr. 7. 1829, m. Liberty Hall, second, son of Jeremiah, Ang., 1849. No issue, and d. in Peru, Aug. 12, 1852, of consumption. Ardelia, b. Nov. 13, 1831, m. May, 1854, Armstrong Webster of Gray. He enlisted Jan. 9. 1864. Corp,. Co. K. 30th Me. Inf., ae. 41 years,
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d. of disease June 17, 1864, in army service, at Louisiana. Wife d. June 24, 1868. Their children :- Louville, b. in Gray, Mar. 27, 1855, m. Mar. 22, 1879, in Peru, Francelia A. Twombly of Rumford. One child, Flora Hortense, b. in Rumford, June 23, 1880. Wife d. in Providence, R. I., Apr. 12, 1896. Mr. Webster resides in Greene, R. I., a farmer and mason. Albert, b. in Gor- ham, Aug. 29, 1856, m. Dec. 11, 1893, Clara Thayer of Black- stone, Mass. He runs a milk farm there. His child, Louis Arm- strong, b. Sept. 26, 1894. Florence Adell, dau. of Ardelia Web- ster, b. in Gray, Sept,, 1858, d. in Gorham, July 18, 1874; Julia Hortense, b. in Gray, June, 1862, m. in Gorham, June 28, 1900, Arthur S. Libby, a farmer. Res., Turner, Me. Children :- Hilda Viola, b. in Manchester, N. H., Apr. 16, 1901; Doris Ardelia, b. in Gorham, Me., July 8, 1903. Dates brought down to Sept., 1909.
Eleanor Kyle, b. Feb. 19, 1834, d. May 23, 1836; Charles Hen- ry. b. Nov. 3, 1837, d. Jan. 22, 1838; Eliza Ellen, b. Mar. 28, 1840. See family of Joseph Rieker for children and those of Joseph Wesley, b. Nov. 23, 1842. Albert Webster joined the Bap- tist church in Peru in 1866. He was a resident and paid taxes here in 1881 on the Nathan Walker farm. In Aug. of same year he was at Woonsocket, R. I. Writer has his letter showing very scholarly and elegant penmanship. He showed sterling qualities and true nobility. He is an honor to the offspring of Peru.
Family of Wm. and Sibyl (Staples) Walker came to Peru. 1802 :- Hezekiah, b. Jan. 4, 1784, m. Dorcas Hobbs of Livermore ; Susannah, b. Apr. 9, 1785, m. Jedediah White, from Jay ; George, b. Apr. 10, 1786, m. Melinda Holman of Livermore; Sally, b. June 2, 1788. m. Josiah Hobbs in Livermore; William, Jr., b. Sept. 30, 1490, m. (1st) Mary Knight, (2nd) Mercy Chase in Peru : Nathan, b. May 9, 1792, m. (1st) Fannie Torrey, (2nd) Betsey A. Willoughby ; Sibyl, b. Aug. 14, 1794. m. Enoch Per- kins in Topsham, d. Mar. 19, 1816; Rebecca, b. Oct. 9, 1795, m. Wm. Kyle in Peru; Charity, b. Nov. 27, 1797, m. Amos Kyle in Peru ; Mary, b. June 26, 1800, m. Edsel Grover in Peru; Samnel, b. Nov. 26, 1805, m. (1st) Mary N. Kyle, (2nd) Rachel Nash, d. in Peru ; Eliza, b. Apr. 20, 1808, m. Joseph Ricker in Peru.
The heads of this family and seven of their children as heads of families lived and d. in Peru. Two others married and raised families here and left town. The descendants of Wm. Walker, Jr., are the only representatives of the Walker family in Peru in
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the year 1906. Those of Geo. Walker are at Bridgton, Me., and Lewiston : of Nathan Walker, at Rd. Falls, and scattered over the state. Daughter, Fannie, a widow in Portland, Me., P. O. Wood- fords.
Woodsum
Rev. William Woodsum, son of John Woodsum, was b. in Saco, Me., 1792, and left an orphan in boyhood. He m. in 1814, Rosan- malı Woodman, b. in Buxton, Me., 1795, d. in Peru, Oct. 27, 1862. They settled soon after m. in Sumner, continuing there 12 years. Next he made a clearing and built a log house on the Office Rowe farm, on Speer's stream, where one son, Chas. B., was born, and family lived till the frame house was built and made serviceable. A road was laid out by town from land of Woodsum to Adam Knight's mill, Apr. 13, 1832. This enabled him to build the frame house. Rev. Mr. Woodsum began his ministry not exceed- ing seven years after his marriage and continued 30 years. His first record of marriage returned to Peru is dated May 29, 1831. Bride and groom lived in Summer, and up to Jan. 24, 1833, he had record of ten marriages of couples, one or both of Peru. He left record of attending about 400 funerals and received $20 for Lame. He founded the Free Baptist church in Peru and con- tinued its pastor nearly 40 years. This church got a new lease of life and its first church edifice as a legacy by A. C. Small. This is the only church that maintains an organization in town, 1910. Rev. Mr. Woodsum m. (2nd), 1864, Eliza Emerson. He d. July 21, 1872, interred beside first wife, Dickvale Cem.
Rev. Mr. Woodsum was representative of Peru in legislature, 1832. and his son, William, in 1815. Children :- Benjamin R., 11. (1st) Permelia Leadbetter in Leeds. Wife d. He m. (2nd) Arrand Gould in Leeds. He d. in Fayette, 1877. Widow d. in California, 1887: Sarah W., b. May 18, 1818. m. Levi J. Atkins; Elmora, b. Jan. 31, 1816, m. Seth Jackson: Albert G .. b. 1820, d. Aug. 2, 1850: Esther, b. July 2, 1824, m. Merrill Knight, 2nd; William. Jr., b. Jan. 25, 1826; Rufus. m. - Clark in Brain- tree. Mass. Ho d. in South Braintree. Widow survives. last known. Olive, m. Oct. 15, 1854. Franklin Bradford, formerly of Carthage. Ros., Turner, later in Hartford, where he d. in 1875. No issue. Widow d. in Hebron, 1901-2. Charles Bean. b. July 29, 1832. in Peru, the first b. here; Rosannab. b. Oct. 24. 1834, in. Ansel Staples in Canton : Caroline. b. Mar. 4, 1839. m. Virgil P. Hall in Peru.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERU
Marriages : Wm. Woodsum, Jr., m. Pub., Nov. 10, 1856, Hat- tie M. Demerritt, dau. of James M. and Harriet (Galacia) De- merritt of Lynn, Mass. He engaged in trade in the Alvah Small store prior to his marriage,, and continued into the eighties. He served as town clerk several years and was county commissioner one term, after he quit trade. Mr. Woodsum was one of the main pillars of the Free Baptist church. He and family were devoted members of church and prominent members of the choir. He d. Jan. 4. 1898. Widow d. Oct. 19, 1898. ae. 62 years, four months, 13 days. Their children :- Ralph M., b. July 9, 1866, m. Nov. 29. 1890. Kate C., dau. of Wm. S. Walker. No issue. He was employed by the P. and R. F. Ry. as bookkeeper and train des- patcher at Rd. Falls a term of years, and continues under the M. C. R. R. Res. at Rd. Falls.
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