Reed, Isaac

Isaac Reed (1809-1887) a U.S. Representative, was born in Waldoboro on August 22, 1809, probably a son of Isaac G. Reed of Waldoboro, also active in public affairs. Reed prepared for college at Bloomfield Academy in what is now Skowhegan, but by preference became a merchant-ship builder. He also engaged in banking. Town clerk of Waldoboro…

Reed, Thomas Brackett

Thomas Brackett Reed, courtesy Maine State Museum

(1839-1902) was a Representative from Maine and a powerful Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was born in Portland on October 18, 1839, attended the public schools, was graduated from Bowdoin College in 1860, and then studied law. Acting assistant paymaster of the United States Navy from April 19, 1864, to November 4,…

Rice, John Hovey

John N. Hovey (1816-1911) a U.S. Representative was born in Mount Vernon on February 5, 1816. He attended the common schools. A clerk in the office of the register of deeds in Augusta (1831-1841), he engaged in business and became a deputy sheriff. Rice was aide-de-camp to General Bachelor in the Aroostook War, the northeastern…

Ripley, Eleazar W.

Eleazar Wheelock Ripley (1782-1839), brother of James Wheelock Ripley, was born in Hanover, N.H., April 15, 1782, was a U. S. Representative from Louisiana. He was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1800, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. Ripley began his law practice in Waterville. He was a member from Maine of the…

Ripley, James W.

(1786-1835), brother of Eleazar Wheelock Ripley and a U.S. Representative, was born in Hanover, New Hampshire on March 12, 1786. He attended the common schools and Fryeburg Academy, studied law, was admitted to the bar and began his practice in Fryeburg. Ripley served in the War of 1812 and was a member of the Massachusetts…

Robinson, Edward

Edward Robinson (1796-1857) a U.S. Representative, was born in Cushing November 25, 1796. He was self-educated while going to sea at the age of ten. At nineteen he commanded a small vessel and three years later he was captain of a square-rigged ship. In 1837 he was a trader in Thomaston. A member of the…

Sawtelle, Cullen

Cullen Sawtelle (1805-1887) a U.S. Representative, was born in Norridgewock on September 25, 1805. He received his early education under private tutors and was graduated from Bowdoin College in 1825, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1828 and practiced in Norridgewock until 1841. In 1845 Sawtelle built the classic Greek Revival Temple style…

Scamman, John F.

John Fairfield Scamman (1786-1858) a U.S. Representative, was born in Wells on October 24, 1786. He attended the common schools and engaged in business pursuits. A member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1817; he became a member of the Maine House of Representatives in 1820 and 1821. He then served as collector of…

Severence, Luther

Luther Severance (1797-1855) a U.S. Representative, was born in Montague, Massachusetts on October 26, 1797. He moved with his parents to Cazenovia, New York in 1799 and attended the common schools. He learned the printer’s trade in Peterboro, New York, then established the Kennebec Journal in Augusta in 1825. He was a member of the…

Smart, Ephraim Knight

Ephraim Knight Smart (1813-1872) a U.S. Representative, was born in Prospect (now in  Searsport) September 3, 1813. He attended the common schools, completed preparatory studies under private tutors and attended Maine Wesleyan Seminary (now Kents Hill School) at Readfield. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1838 and began his practice in Camden.…

Smith, Albert

Albert Smith (1793-1867) a U.S. Representative, was born in Hanover, Massachusetts, January 3, 1793, attended the common schools and was graduated from Brown University in 1813. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and began his practice in Portland in 1817. A member of the Maine House of Representatives in 1820, Smith was United…

Smith, Clyde Harold

Clyde Smith (1939)

Clyde Harold Smith (1876-1940), husband of Margaret Chase Smith, a U.S. Representative was born on a farm near Harmony, on June 9, 1876. He moved with his parents to Hartland in 1891 and attended the rural schools and Hartland Academy. Smith taught school; served in the Maine House of Representatives (1899-1903 and 1919-1923). He engaged…

Smith, Francis O. J.

Francis O. J. Smith

(1806-1876) a U.S. Representative, was born in Brentwood, New Hampshire on November 23, 1806. He attended Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and began his practice in Portland in 1826. Smith was division advocate of the fifth division of the circuit court-martial in Maine 1829-1834. Smith…

Snow, Donald F.

Donald Francis Snow (1877-1958), a U.S. Representative was born in Bangor on September 6, 1877. He attended the public schools of his native city and was graduated from Bowdoin College in 1901 and from the law school of the University of Maine at Orono in 1904. Snow was admitted to the bar in 1904 and…

Snowe, Olympia

Olympia J. Snowe

Olympia Jean Snowe (1947- ), a U.S. Representative and a Senator from Maine, was born Olympia Jean Boucles in Augusta on February 21, 1947. She attended St. Basil’s Academy in Garrison, New York 1962; graduated from Edward Little High School in Auburn in 1965. She holds a B.A. from the University of Maine, Orono, 1969.…

Somes, Daniel E.

Daniel Elton Somes (1815-1888) a U.S. Representative was born in Meredith (now Laconia), New Hampshire on May 20, 1815 where he received an academic education. Somes moved to Biddeford in 1846 and established the Eastern Journal, later known as the Union and Journal; and engaged in the manufacture of loom harnesses, reed twine, and varnishes.…

Sprague, Peleg

Peleg Sprague

(1793-1880), grandfather of Charles Franklin Sprague (a U.S Representative from Massachusetts 1897-1901), was a himself a Representative and a U. S. Senator from Maine Charles Sprague was born in Duxbury, Massachusetts on April 27, 1793. He graduated from Harvard University in 1812, studied law at Litchfield, Connecticut, was admitted to the bar in 1815 and…

Stetson, Charles

Charles Stetson (1801-1863) a U.S. Representative, was born in New Ipswich, New Hampshire on November 2, 1801. He moved with his parents to Hampden in 1802, attended Hampden Academy and was graduated from Yale College in 1823. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and began his practice in Hampden in 1826. He was…

Swasey, John Philip

John P, Swasey   John Philip Swasey(1839-1928) a U.S. Representative, was born in Canton on September 4, 1839. He attended the Canton public schools, Dearborn Academy, Hebron Academy, Maine State Seminary, and Tufts College, Medford, Massachusetts. During the Civil War, Swasey enlisted in the Union Army and was appointed first lieutenant of Company K, Seventeenth…