Legislative Branch

Appropriations Committee Hearing Room (2002)

The legislature was established: in 1820 “To make and establish all reasonable laws and regulations for the defense and benefit of the people of this State, not repugnant to the Constitution, nor to that of the United States.” Maine Constitution, Article IV, Part Third, Section I. It consists of a 35 member Senate and a…

Hersey, Samuel Freeman

Samuel F. Hersey, courtesy Maine State Museum

Samuel Freeman Hersey (1812-1875) a U.S. Representative, was born in Sumner on April 12, 1812. He attended the common schools of Sumner and Buckfield, taught school from 1828 to 1831, and was graduated from Hebron Academy in 1831. He moved to Bangor the same year, engaged in the merchandise business in Lincoln in 1833 and…

Foster, Stephen Clark

Stephen C. Forster, courtesy Maine State Archives

(1799-1872) a U.S. Representative was born in Machias on December 24, 1799. He attended the common schools, learned the blacksmith’s trade and subsequently became a shipbuilder. Foster was member of the Maine House of Representatives from 1834 to 1837 and a member of the Maine State Senate in 1840, and served its president. In 1847…

Allen, Elisha Hunt

Elisha Hunt Allen

(1804-1883), son of Samuel Clesson Allen, was a U.S. Representative who was born in New Salem, Massachusetts on January 28, 1804. He attended New Salem Academy, and was graduated from Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts, in 1823. Allen studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1825, and commenced practice in Brattleboro, Vermont. After moving to…

Amos L. Allen

Amos L. Allen

  (1837-1911) was a U.S. Representative born in Waterboro on March 17, 1837. He attended the common schools, Whitestown Seminary, Whitestown, New York, and was graduated from Bowdoin College in 1860. Allen studied law at Columbia Law School, Washington, D.C., was admitted to the bar of York County in 1866 but never practiced. He served…

Fernald, Bert M.

Bert M. Fernald (courtesy Maine State Museum)

Fernald (1858-1926) a Senator from Maine, was born in West Poland, Androscoggin County, April 3, 1858. He attended the public schools, Hebron Academy, and a business and preparatory school in Boston. Fernald taught school, was elected supervisor of schools in at the age of twenty in 1878, and engaged in the canning, dairy, and telephone…

Hill, John Freemont

John Fremont Hill (courtesy Maine State Museum)

John Freemont (1855-1912) born in Eliot on October 29, 1855, was Maine governor from 1901 to 1905. Educated in local schools, he attended the Maine Medical School of Brunswick receiving his degree in 1877. Although he practiced medicine for a year in Boothbay Harbor, he soon became a partner with his father-in-law, P. O. Vickery,…

Hall, Joshua

Joshua Hall (courtesy Maine State Archives)

Joshua Hall was born on October 22, 1768 in Lewes, Delaware. After working as a Methodist preacher, Hall entered into politics. He served the town of Frankfort in the General Court (then in Massachusetts) 1814, 1816, 1818 and 1819, and was a member of the Maine House of Representatives in 1820-1821. A National Republican, Hall…