(1931- ) was governor of Maine from 1967 to 1975, and was Chair of the Democratic National Committee in 1977. William Curtis moved to the to the Town of Leeds in 1800 in what is now Curtis Corner, once a post office and railroad stop, both of which are now gone. Generations of Curtis families…
John Reed (1921-2012) the son of a prominent Fort Fairfield potato grower, was born in that town on January 5, 1921. He attended local schools and graduated from the University of Maine in 1942. Upon graduation, John Hathaway Reed entered the U.S. Navy and served until 1946. Following his discharge from the service, Reed joined…
was born in Iowa on March 24, 1898. After attending local schools and serving in the U.S. Army during World War I, he graduated from the Palmer School of Chiropractic and soon moved his practice to Waterville, where he practiced until 1938. Clauson became active in local and state Democratic committees beginning in 1928 and…
Robert M. Haskell (1904-1989 ) was born in Bangor, Maine on August 24, 1904. He was educated in local schools and received a degree in engineering from the University of Maine in 1905. Following graduation, he was employed by the Bangor Hydro-Electric Company as a design engineer and enjoyed such success that by 1958 he…
Edmund Muskie (1914-1996) received a B.A. from Bates College and law degree from Cornell University, and served in the Navy in World War II. He entered politics winning a seat in the Maine House of Representatives in 1946 while practicing law in Waterville. He served as a state legislator (1947-1951) and as director of the…
(1902- ) Cross was born in Gardiner, on November 15, 1902, graduated from Cony High School in 1920 and became a florist in Augusta in 1926. In 1933 he won a seat on the Augusta Common Council and four years later in 1937 moved up to the Board of Aldermen, presiding over both bodies. Elected…
Frederick G. Payne (1904-1978) a Senator from Maine; born in Lewiston on July 24, 1904. He attended the public schools of Lewiston and the Bentley School of Accounting and Finance in Boston. During early school days he worked as a newsboy, usher and doorman in a theater, and as a reporter for a weekly newspaper.…
Horace A. Hildreth (1902-1988 ) born in December 1902 in Gardiner, the son of an attorney, attended local schools before graduating from Bowdoin College in the class of 1925 and receiving his LL.B. from Harvard in 1928. In Boston he joined the prestigious law firm of Ropes, Gray, Best, Coolidge & Rugg before returning…
(1893-1967) born in Newport on June 7, 1893, attended local schools and the University of Maine. He returned home to work in his father’s drug store, in the insurance business, and then as Newport’s Town Treasurer for twelve years. A conservative Republican, Barrows was a member of the Republican State Committee and a member…
(1876-1948) of Lewiston, born in Madison on July 6, 1876, was elected Maine’s first Democratic governor in two decades during depression era sweeps in 1932 and again in 1934. He defeated first Burleigh Martin of Augusta, then Alfred Ames of Machias. Brann attended local schools in Gardiner and worked his way through the University of…
(1892-1953) born in Newton, Massachusetts on June 12, 1892, attended Groton School, Harvard and Harvard Law School. He was admitted to the Bar in 1917 and in the same year enlisted in the First Maine Heavy Artillery. During World War I he rose to the rank of First Lieutenant and served with the army of…
(1888-1961) a U.S. Representative and a U.S. Senator from Maine was born in Dexter on February 22, 1888. He attended the public schools; was graduated from Bowdoin College in 1909, and from the law department of Harvard University 1913. He became a high school principal 1910. Brewster was admitted to the bar in 1913 and…
(1876-1969) was Maine governor from 1921 to 1925, and donated the land for Baxter State Park beginning in 1931. Born on November 22, 1876, he was the son of James Phinney Baxter and Mehitable Proctor Cummings Baxter. He attended schools in Portland and England (while his father researched New England historical documents). He graduated from…
(1864-1921) born in Unity on November 5, 1864, attended local schools, and after receiving his degree from Columbia Law School in 1887, he was admitted to the Maine bar. Parkhurst joined his father in a leather goods business of which he later became president. He served on the Bangor Common Council and in the Maine…
(1877-1961) was born on July 13, 1877 in Pittsfield, attended public schools there before graduating from Cony High School, then Bates College in the class of 1897. He went on to receive his masters degree from Harvard in 1899 before moving to Island Falls to enter the lumber business. Carl Elias Milliken held positions as…
(1865-1924) of Portland was born March 29, 1865 and attended local public schools. He began work as a clerk for the Grand Trunk Railroad, then worked for a wholesale coal dealership, becoming its manager then president. Curtis later focused on banking, emerging as president to two banks and serving on the boards of two others.…
William Thomas Haines (1854-1919) born in Levant on August 7, 1854, attended local schools and the University of Maine. After receiving his LL.B. from Albany Law School in 1878, he was admitted to the Maine bar the following year. Haines began his legal practice in Oakland, then moved to Waterville. He created the Waterville Loan…
(1865-1943) born in Bangor on July 26, 1865, served as Governor 1911-1913. His father, Harris M. Plaisted, was a Republican governor from 1881 to 1883. After attending local public schools and St. Johnsbury Academy in Vermont, Frederick put his interest in journalism to work by becoming, as was his father, the owner-editor of the New…
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…
(1857-1937) born in Rockland on July 23, 1857, was Maine governor from 1905 to 1909. Educated in local schools, he graduated from Bowdoin College in 1877 and did graduate work at the University of Leipzig and the University of Berlin. He attended Harvard Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1880. William Titcomb…