Daniel Root was born on 24 Nov 1832 in Oxford, MA. He died on 29 Dec 1877 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. He was buried on 1 Jan 1878 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. He married Delphina Leonora Barnard on 9 Apr 1855 in Taunton, Bristol, MA.
Daniel was in charge of the men's ward at the Tauton, MA Insane Asylum when he met and married Delphine Barnard. They moved to Greenfield and lived with his parents. Daniel drank too much. He went west to Chicago leaving his wife and two small sons. He wrote Delphine saying he would send for the family when he got enough money together. He never did. The oldest son, Charlie died of typhoid fever in 1863 during an epidemic that also kills Justin Root, Charlie's grandfather. Delphine divorced Daniel because she was afraid he would take away Albert, her son.
From Daniel Root to his father Justin Root
March 1855 Tauton, Mass
Dear Father, We have had some very plesasant weather for March but very windy for a few days. Yesterday I road near fifty miles after one of hour patients that ran away. He was a nincata by professin. He took the iron grating from the window thrugh the mens of cutting away the woodwork with a knife that obtained thrugh some means or rather which I do not know of. I did not find him. I went to his home whare the Doc. thought that he would go with ought a doubt. We hav understood that he went to the depot that morning and toock the cars. Previous to that he wroat of a few lines on a peac of paper singyfing that he had bin blone up with gunn powder and hurnt his fase, but instead of having been blown up he toock some charcoal and blacked his fase all over and had his subscription paper around trying to gett siners for him.The ground is quite settled and it is quite gould going for the time for year. Mary is quite ---- as wass the last time I saw her that some fortnight agon. She makes very gould pay wheare she is now. I have had a letter from N Alderman he has ben sick though he is better now. SM Long wrote a few lines to me. He is taking musick lessons on the pianow forty. I hav becum a glasor. I hav to sett all the glass that has to be sett on the females side. I hav the most assortment of buisnes. Miss Barnard is in gould helth and stoping down to her uncles at present.
Yours truly yours
Daniel Root
******************************************************************April 10, 1855 Taunton, Mass
Daniel Root to his father, Justin RootDear Father
I suppose that I shall surprise you with what has happened this week. My health is quite good and I am enjoying the pleasures of married life. I was married on Monday last and left town, went to Boston where I stopped unlit today, came home in the noon train. I am at Mr Mosses this afternoon, shall go up to the hospital today. I shoud have come up to Greenfield if the weather had been warmer and if the going was not so bad but I thought that I would not go at present I hope that hese few lines will find you all well. Mrs. Root sends her best respects to you all and said that she should be very happy to make you a visit. We met her Father in Boston on his way to Minnesota and one of her brothers too and other man that he had in his employ. He has been out there surveying before. I may go west myself per haps in time and if I do I probably shall have you come out with us.
Yours respectfully
Daniel Root
Delphina Leonora Barnard [Parents] was born on 5 Jun 1833 in Dixfield, Oxford, Maine. She died on 3 Feb 1923 in Boston, MA. She was buried on 6 Feb 1923. She married Daniel Root on 9 Apr 1855 in Taunton, Bristol, MA.
Daniel drank too much and he left his wife and two young boys and went to Chicago. He wrote home letters promising to send money to Delphine so she could join him when he was settled. He never did.
In 1864, Delphine took her son, Albert to her family home in Dixfield, ME. She later got a divorce from Daniel out of fear that he would take young Albert from her. She supported herself and Albert by working as a cook earning a dollar a day on the steamer from Portland to Boston. She sold, piece by piece, the lovely old mahogany furniture that Justin Root and his wife had accumulated. She lived in the 1820's house in Dixfield, ME with her sister, Emily Knight whose husband and son died of typhoid. Together they ran the household and raised Albert.
BARNARD MENTIONS IN THE PARK PAPERS
[Henry W. Park was born in Mexico and was a correspondent for the Dixfield Citizen and other papers. In the late nineteenth century, he solicited family data from some of Dixfield’s older families, with a history of the town as a possible result. The history was never written but his notes were preserved, more or less intact and are available at the Dixfield Historical Society as a typescript, never published.]
Page 7 – This building was again changed somewhat and became a “woolen mill” under the control of John G. Barnard, a resident of Mexico, and Doct. Small. [Park is referring to a shingle and clapboard mill.]
8 – I can just remember when a shingle and Clapboard mill stood on the south side of the road leading to Mexico from three or four rods beyond Chas. Newton’s shop. This mill was erected by John G. and Albert A. Barnard, if the statement of Mr. [Charles Lyman] Eustis is correct. From another source I had been informed that Doct. Small, John G. Barnard, and Joseph Yetten caused its erection.
21 – Barnard, Silas Barnard, Simon Barnard. Eliza do. The father was drowned on Peterson’s rips in the Androscoggin. Eliza married Walter Carpenter the father’s name was Wm. Use to live on the Ephraim Marble farm ¾ of a mile below the village. Wm came from Milbury Mass. Walter Carpenter married Nancy Barnard. He use to live when Benj. Leavitt now lives. Silas absent minded. William Barnard. Joel Barnard went away before he married. Who was Mrs. Baldwin Marble? Wm. Moved from Dixfield to a farm opposite the village in Peru. Joel was a Capt. in the War of 1812 – Silas – John of Mexico were privates in the co. raised by Joel as were other from the town and in the vicinity. Silas Barnard once lived in a house standing near where Mr. Toothaker now lives – in that house Lucy Ann was born.
21b – He then moved into the old yellow house where were born Mahala, George & Delphine.
28 – John Griffith, Sr., came to Dixfield to put up a clapboard machine. He sawed the first clapboard used in Dixfield. The machine was Maj. Silas Barnard’s and was running without doubt as early as 1810.
45 – Mrs. Jarvis Richards grand child of Stephen Barnard – Dana, Hiram, Neva Galloup & Mary – Mrs. A. D. Howard – great grand children are also a considerable army great great grand children.
68b – Stephen Barnard settled on the land now known generally as the Richards farm. This first house was built very nearly on the spot where Nena Galloups new house is. His sons and daughters were well known people. His son John became the owner of the farm and when I first became familiar with Mexico people dwelt in a house that stood very near where the farm house, ell, and stable now are. Mrs. Elizabeth Richards, widow of Jarvis W. was a daughter of John Barnard.
72d – In regard to the Woolen Mill – it was erected by John G. and Albert A. Barnard but was enlarged and altered by me [Charles Lyman Eustis] in 1841 at which time I put machinery in for a woolen mill.
75 – One of the first weddings I think was Eliza Barnard to Dr. Sam Small of Jay.
93 – I have no more of date for that but it was in the winter before Barnard opened the National House it was in your mother’s building you know of course. [Wm T. Sheffield to Henry W. Park]128 – Genealogical data of the Barnard family of Dixfield, Maine. William and Stephen Barnard, brothers, came from Marlboro, Mass. To the District of Maine, the former to Dixfield in 1803, the latter to Mexico, a little earlier, I think. William found employment in connection with the saw mill erected by Dr. [Elijah] Dix at the junction of Webb’s with the Androscoggin river. He was drown in the rapids just below Canton Pt. while running a raft of lumber in 1813. The children of William, six in number, were all born in Marlboro. Their names and order of birth are as follows – Joel, Eliza, Simon, Nancy, Silas, & Harriet. Joel died at ____ in 1815 ____ Eliza was a school teacher in Livermore, married Doct. Samuel Small in 1805 and settled soon after in Jay. She died at that place July 1886 aged a few days over
129 – one hundred years. Simon died in Waban, Mass. Where his business life had been chiefly passed. Nancy married Walter P. Cunningham and settled in Mexico. About 1830 the Carpenter family moved to Lincoln, Penobscot Co. and in 1857 removed to Minneapolis, Minn. where Nancy died in 1875. Silas followed his father to Dixfield in 1805 and found employment in cutting down the forests of pine trees and sawing them into material for the use of the pioneer settlers of that period – married Lucy Trask in 1819. He served several terms in the State Legislature as a representative from the Dixfield district, cast an Electoral vote for Jackson in 1832, was a State Senator in 1842 and a commissioner to Oxford Co. in 1857. He also filled many other places of public trust. His death in 1873 aged 77 ½ years was hastened by an injury received in being thrown from a load of hay.
130 – Harriet became the wife of Baldwin Marble who owned and tilled one of the best farms in Dixfield, on the river, two miles below the village. The children of Silas were Mahala, married to W. H. Wheeler, resided at Canton Mills and Dixfield. Died in Dixfield – Albion K. P. was a resident of Minneapolis, Minn. – Lucy A. married Geo. Dillingham, a merchant of Dixfield, and afterwards of Minneapolis. Died at Dixfield. Geo. M. now in Montana – Emily C. widow of Edward Knight & Delpina B. both now of Dixfield.
158 – Mrs. Small’s was the first one that took me by the collar Lucy Wheeler – a maiden lady, the next – a sister of Mrs. Barnard. [F. N. Whitman to Henry W. Park]
169 – Dixfield Feb 13, 1888
Dear Friend Henry
Mother thinks your history of my Grandfather’s family quite correct. William Barnard married Annie Wheeler. Mother is unable to give any dates, she has forgotten. I will give them as far as I know. My father was born in Marlboro Sept. 16, 1795. Mother was born in Dixfield Dec. 16, 1800. They were married May 8, 1819 in Dixfield by Henry Farwell, Esq. Father died March 21st 1873. Their children were Mahala born March 2nd 1821, married in Dixfield Aug. 19, 1842. She died in Dixfield Feb. 22, 1846. She married Harrison Wheeler. Their children were Frank R. Wheeler & M[elissa] R. Wheeler. Frank married. George Marr. They live in California. M[elissa] married George McAllister & live in Minneapolis, Minn. Albion born in Dixfield Nov. 2d 1822 he married Emily Marshall. They have one son Frank M. Barnard. They live in Minneapolis. Joel B. born Jan 9th 1825 died in Dixfield Mar. 26, 1826. Lucy Ann born in Dixfield Sept. 15, 1827 married George Dillingham. George M. Barnard born in Dixfield he lives in Montana. Delphina born in Dixfield June 5th 1833 married Daniel Root April 9, 1855. Albert B. Root born June 13, 1858 married Nellie Leach & live in B[oston]. Emily B. married Edwin Knight. Emily and I live with Mother. Walter P. Carpenter I know nothing about. If you wish dates of his family you can write to his daughter Mrs. J. B. B[arrett] Minneapolis, Minn. I hope you will be able to write a history & if I can give you anything more please let me know.
Yours with much respect,
Mrs. D. L. RootOBITUARY [From an unidentified, undated local paper. Transcribed on May 3, 2007 by Peter R. Stowell.]
Mrs. Delphine L. Root of Dixfield died February 3rd at the home of her son, Albert Root of Boston, with whom she had been spending the winter. Her death followed an Attack of acute bronchitis, from which at her advanced age of nearly ninety years she was too weak to recover. A week before the end, she requested that her favorite 91st Psalm be read to her, and she repeated it at the same time, from beginning to end.
On account of the serious illness of her sister, Mrs. Emily C. Knight, of the same disease, the funeral ser¬vices were not held at the home, but at the Chapel of the Massachusetts Cremation Society at Forest Hills, Monday, February 5th. The Rev. James G. Lane, pastor of the Upham Memorial Methodist church of For¬est Hills, conducted the service, reading her favorite Psalm and the 14th chapter of St. John, and at the request of her sister, the poem by Whittier, "Eternal Goodness."
In the course of his remarks, he said that he had often called upon her during the four winters of his pastorate, when she had been staying with her son and had held many inspiring conversations with her. She always asked him to read the 14th chapter of St. John. He also said he had never known one with a more sure and abiding faith, and trust in the eternal goodness of the Father. That her desire to go and be with her dear ones gone before was so strong that we could not wish her to stay. The following is an extract from a letter written: by her pastor in Dixfield, Rev. R. K. Gilkey.
"No tongue or pen can express the esteem in. which your mother was held, by the many friends and neighbors of Dixfield. For several autumns when the cold of approaching winter has come, we have bidden Mrs. Root an anxious and reluctant good bye. But again when Spring has come, we have welcomed her back with the return of the birds and the flowers. Even the little children have rejoiced with the older ones at her coming. The consciousness that this will be so no more brings sorrow to us all, and we hasten to express our deepest empathies to those who will miss her most. We would also send our dearest regards to Mrs. Knight and pray for a speedy recovery."
They had the following children:
M i Charles Justin Root was born on 8 Mar 1857 in Greenfield, MA. He died on 20 Dec 1863 in Greenfield, MA. M ii Albert Barnard Root , Sr. was born on 13 Jun 1858. He died on 2 Oct 1937.
Charles L Stanley [Parents] was born on 6 Feb 1880 in Dixfield, ME. He died in 1951. He married Wilma Mason. Charles was born in 1880 in Dixfield, Maine. He resided in 1900 in Dixfield, Oxford, Maine. He resided in 1880 in Dixfield, Oxford, Maine, United States. He resided in 1910 in Mexico, Oxford, Maine. He resided in 1920 in Mexico, Oxford, Maine. He resided in 1930 in Mexico, Oxford, Maine.
Wilma Mason was born in 1888 in Canada. She died in 1955. She married Charles L Stanley. Wilma was born in 1883. She was born in 1886. She resided in 1930 in Mexico, Oxford, Maine. She resided in 1910 in Mexico, Oxford, Maine. She resided in 1920 in Mexico, Oxford, Maine.
They had the following children:
M i Lawrence M Stanley was born in 1915. Lawrence resided in 1930 in Mexico, Oxford, Maine. M ii Edward Stanley was born in 1907 in Maine. Edward resided in 1920 in Mexico, Oxford, Maine. M iii Leroy Stanley was born in 1908 in Maine. Leroy resided in 1920 in Mexico, Oxford, Maine. M iv Charles E Stanley was born in 1901.
Herbert Porter Stowell [Parents] was born on 29 Mar 1852 in Dixfield, ME. He died on 24 Feb 1891 in Green, ME. He was buried in Dixfield, ME. He married Josephine Carver on 1 Jan 1874 in Boston, MA.
Josephine Carver was born in 1855 in Canton, ME. She died in 1922. She was buried in Dixfield, ME. She married Herbert Porter Stowell on 1 Jan 1874 in Boston, MA.
They had the following children:
F i Helen Josephine Stowell was born on 14 Oct 1874. M ii Herbert Stanley Stowell was born on 24 Jan 1878 in Lewiston, ME. He died in 1910. M iii David Porter Stowell was born on 16 Feb 1880 in Lewiston, ME.
Henry W. Park [Parents] was born in 1834 in Dixfield, ME. He married Emma L. Gleason in Aug 1875. Henry resided in 1900 in Mexico, Oxford, Maine.
Other marriages:Phelps, Ellen R.
Reed, Ellen C.
[This newspaper article first appeared in the Boston Daily Globe, Sunday July 20, 1890. It was copied and typed by Richard J. Muzzrole, from microfilm in the Boston Public Library, March 1989. It was copied from the Internet by Peter Russell Stowell on October 10, 2003.]
Mayor Park of Mexico Corner
Etched by a Globe Man
Only a schoolhouse, post office, saw-mill, grocery store, blacksmith’s shop and a half dozen houses has Mexico Corner down in Maine, yet it has a mayor. Mexico Corner is in Oxford County, and it’s the chief center of a region that is but a howling wilderness. In appearance Mexico Corner is not unlike any other place of its size, but the characteristics of the people are indeed unique. Because a mayor seems to them to be a necessity, it does not imply that they are an ungovernable people and need a ruler. On the contrary, they are peace-loving and law-abiding citizens and their loyally to one another is remarkable.
Yes, they have a mayor; Henry W. Park is his name. Mr. Park has served the longest term of any other mayor in the United States, it being over 25 years since he took the office. Mr. Park was not elected as mayors are generally, for Mexico Corner is not known in the statutes as a city. Mr. Park did not suffer the many annoyances and trials of a hotly contested election-lucky man as have all other mayors, but he had an easy time of it while winning the honor.
One cold winter’s night over 25 years ago, the entire population of Mexico Corner assembled in Mr. Park’s store to await the arrival of the stage bearing the mails. After they had made themselves comfortable by seating themselves on the counter and cracker barrels, one of the leading citizens called Mr. Park to the front and, in a neat little speech, informed him that after dun consideration and a good deal of “thinkin on’t they had decided not only to recognize him as postmaster, chairman of the selectmen and school committee, justice of the peace, town treasurer, constable, pound keeper, town clerk, tax collector and general provider for Mexico Corner, but they had such a high opinion of his executive abilities that they wished him to accept the additional office of mayor.
Ever since that night Mr. Parks has been known as “Mayor Park,” and he bids fair to be mayor so long as he lives, as there are no signs of an aspiring candidate making his appearance.
Mexico Corner is the same today that it was 25 years ago. Mr. Park’s administration has been a creditable one, and it is not his fault that the place is not now in reality a duly incorporated city and the capital of the State. Owing to the limited natural resources of the town no new industries have yet sprung up, and the population has not made any visible increase. All the residents of the town are ‘tillers of the soil” and everybody looks to Mayor Park to perform all marriage ceremonies, collect taxes, pay the town’s debts, make all necessary arrests. In fact the mayor has to play the part of Pooh Bah to its utmost limit. He does it well, and enjoys it.
A few days ago I found Mayor Park in his field near his house seated upon a stump calmly whittling a stick and silently making calculations for his summer stock of general merchandise. After extending to me a hearty greeting, he said, “Come up to dig good, I suppose? There’s a lot of it up hear” no question about it. They’ve got to take their hats off to this wilderness yet. Why here is our blacksmith next door who is so enthusiastic over this gold discovery that he announces he will shoe anybody’s horse gratis for the gold he gets out of the horse's hoofs, and he makes a good living, too.” “Yes,” the Mayor said afterwards in reply to repeated personal questions, my life has been a checkered one, and perhaps in a measure extraordinary. A full account would embrace the telling of many exploits. I do not care for great notoriety, but of course I am not absolutely unwilling to be come known outside of this hamlet. I was born in Dixfield, Me. My father was Isaac, son of Nathan and Sally (Ward) Park.
The death of my father caused me to return to Maine and in 1859 I came here to Mexico, where I have since lived. Here I have been in trade nearly 30 years. I am now serving my 21st consecutive year as town treasurer, and have held all the offices in our town. I have also represented this district in the Legislation. During the rebellion I was in the ordnance office at Washington. From my majority I have been a red hot Republican and have often thought I would just sit down and knock the false theories of The Globe into smithereens, but as I had little spare time and fearing I might possibly bite more than I could comfortable chew concluded to let the Globe continue benighted-unlearned as to the true faith.
For many years I have been a regular correspondent for newspapers and magazines and I have a deep love for literary work. My business would not allow me to dabble with that much, however, therefore I could not lift myself from obscurity and place myself on the cap of fame’s dizzy heights. I have peddled piles of goods and kept out of want. I have an extensive acquaintance among the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities. I have a large family; my eldest son is a successful lawyer in Portland. My only brother, Rev. George M. Park of Presque Isle, Me., keeps up the Christian reputation of our race. I-well, I am not so good as I ought to be. “How about your being mayor of this place for such a long time?” “Oh, well, “he said laughingly," I have to answer to the titles of mayor, professor, elder, esquire, deacon, brother, governor, and several others. I am one as much as another in the eyes of our people, I suppose.
One of the mayor’s many stories is about an old farmer known as “Uncle Gammon.” Mr. Park had sold him several barrels of flower on a few days time, which was often quite extended, so that one day when he was a little cross, and Uncle Gammon wanted to purchase another barrel on the same terms, he said: “Now Mr. Park if you will sell me this ere barrel of flower I will pay you in a few days.” Mr. Park replied that he had sold him several barrels on those terms, and had been compelled to wait a long time for the pay, and that now he should like to know what he called a few days.
The store was full. Neither was “mealy mouthed” in their conversation, and their peculiar style of talk drew every one’s attention. Finally the roaring climax came when Uncle Gammon defined a few days in this way: “Waal, Mr. Park, a man’s lifetime is a few days, and full of trouble.” The mayor instantly remarked, “Uncle Gammon, you can have the flower.”[The following biography of Mr. Henry W. Park was taken from the Biographical Review, Leading Citizens of Franklin and Oxford Counties, Maine, published in 1897 by the Biographical Review Publishing Company of Boston. - Peter Russell Stowell]
"HENRY W. PARK, a prosperous merchant in the village of Mexico, Oxford County, Me., is widely and favorably known in these parts, having long been prominent, not only as a successful business man, but as a political leader in the Republican ranks and as one of the town officers. He was born in Dixfield, the town adjoining Mexico on the east, on March 13, 1834, son of Isaac and Emeline (Smith) Park.
"Isaac Park was born at the residence of his parents, near the corner of Franklin Street, Boston, Mass. After attending school in that city until he was fourteen years of age, he went to Newton, Mass., to learn the trade of carpenter. Going with his employer soon after to Paris, Me., he there remained until the completion of his apprenticeship, when he removed to Dixfield, to work at his trade. He served as Captain of the old State militia, and officiated for nearly twenty years as Sheriff, being subsequently a member of the legislature. In politics he attained honor and distinction in the ranks of the democratic party. Captain Park was a public-spirited citizen and a man of liberal views, being in religion a Universalist. His busy career was ended by death at the age of fifty-seven. His wife, Emeline, who shared his cheerful religious faith, was a daughter of John Smith of Readfield, Kennebec County, Me. She died at the home of her son, Henry W. Park on January 28, 1878, at the age of seventy-two years.
"Henry W. Park was the eldest of the children born to his parents. He spent early life at home, attending the common school and later the high school in the village until the age of fifteen, and during the next three years being employed in his father's general merchandise store in Carthage, Franklin County, Me. When he was eighteen he went to Boston, there serving four years as salesman in a clothing house. After his father died he returned to Dixfield, and he worked at the carpenter's trade till 1859, when he came to Mexico, and rented a farm. The following year he moved to Mexico Corner, where he now resides. In March, 1861, Park purchased the store that he now owns, continuing in trade until the early part of 1864, when he sold out and went to Washington, D.C., where he served as clerk in Ordnance Department until the close of war. Returning to Mexico in July, 1865, he bought back his old store at the corner, revived his trade, which is now (1896) in flourishing condition.
"In politics Mr. Park is a decided Republican, ever alive to party interests. His standing in the estimation of his fellow-citizens is shown by his frequent election to important offices. He has served as Crier of the Courts four years, Selectman of Mexico three years, Town Treasurer twenty-five consecutive years, and in 1875 he was Representative to the State legislature. He has been for twenty-one years a member of Blazing Star Lodge, No. 30, A. F. & A. A. M., of Rumford Falls; and he is a charter member of Tuscan Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Dixfield, which he named at the time of its organization. Besides being a store-keeper, Mr. Park is an active temperance worker and an able correspondent of the local papers. It is hardly needful to add that he has an extensive acquaintance and a large circle of excellent friends.
"Mr. Park has been three times married. His first wife, Ellen R. Phelps, of Dixfield, with whom he was united in June, 1857, died in August, 1862, leaving two children - Albert Dexter, who is now Register of Probate for Oxford County; and Henrietta, who married John E. Richards, and resides here. His second wife, formerly Miss Ellen C. Reed, of this place, whom he wedded on July 3, 1865, died in January, 1875, leaving one son, Ellery C., who became a lawyer in Bethel, Me. The maiden name of his present wife, to whom he was married in August, 1875, was Emma L. Gleason. Four children have been born to them, namely: Helena O. and Lucy E., both of whom are teachers; and Henry W., Jr., and Eva Grace, who are still at home. Mrs. Park is a native of Mexico, Me."
This is from Emily Barnard's 8/31/1862 letter in the Root family collection.
"Ellen, Henry Park’s wife is dead. She died in the Insane Hospital at Augusta last weeks. She has been insane ever since her last child was born six months ago. She leaves three children. Henry’s mother will take care of them I suppose."This from a letter from Peter Stowell, Dixfield Historian 4-16-2007 after the above letter from Emily Barnard was sent to him.
Henry Park wrote a diary for a few months in 1859. He was 25 years old, newly married and was moving from the Plains of Dixfield, about a mile up Weld St. from the 1820 House, to Mann Hill in Mexico. He describes his social life, his work life, and his love for Ellen and Albert, then their only child. Moving in the winter was a colossal chore for him and he got stuck during the move. He borrowed oxen from my ggGrandfather David Porter Stowell and with the help of friends, finally got moved. During the process, he had harsh words with Ellen and felt badly about it. The diary ends abruptly. Later I learned that Ellen died a couple years after the move, and my heart went out to this young family and their shattered hopes and dreams. I must say that I don't understand how post-partum depression leads to death; I wonder if she committed suicide.To see the details of her illness is especially poignant; it's hard to imagine the horror of the wreck of their lives. Yet, Henry and his children survived. Albert became a county official, perhaps in the sheriff's office, I don't recall. Henry's second wife was also an Ellen and she died too. But they had a child together, Ellery Park, who became a highly-respected attorney in Bethel, Maine, serving on the board of trustees of Gould Academy, the fine prep school there. He had a daughter Muriel Park who married Harry Mason who became vice-president of the Baker Extract company (Baker's Vanilla, Baker's Chocolate, etc.). When she died several years ago, she left Gould Academy $5 million.
Recently I acquired some of Muriel's personal papers including a report card from Gould Academy in 1912. She was a straight A student!
So their lives were all so vital and important, for this and countless other reasons. Henry W. Park is one of my heroes (the same HWP who wrote the notes on Dixfield I sent you a couple days ago). Not only for his diary, his Dixfield notes, his struggles to move to Mexico, his three marriages, two to Ellens and one to Eleanor, but because of his legacy as Mayor of Mexico, his war time service in Washington, DC, his success as a merchant in Mexico, his championing of a new bridge for Dixfield\Mexico and a new factory in Bethel, and his life's example.
Henry's mother was Emaline Park and his father was Isaac. I know he had several brothers and sisters but have not been able to find out who they all were. I have recently MS-Worded an 1865 diary of an unidentified J. Lena Park but have concluded that she was Henry's younger sister (by about 15 years), and they had a brother called Melville and another named George.
Emma L. Gleason was born in 1859 in Mexico, ME. She married Henry W. Park in Aug 1875. Emma resided in 1870 in Mexico, Oxford, Maine. She resided in 1900 in Mexico, Oxford, Maine. She resided in 1910 in Mexico, Oxford, Maine.
They had the following children:
F i Helena O. Park was born in 1876 in Mexico, ME. F ii Lucy E. Park was born in 1878 in Mexico, ME. M iii Henry Williams Park was born on 31 May 1882. F iv Eva Grace Park was born in 1885 in Mexico, ME. Eva was born in Mexico, ME. She resided in 1900 in Mexico, Oxford, Maine.
Edward Stanley [Parents] "Ned" was born in 1850 in MA. He died on 10 Dec 1924 in Portland, ME. He married Zueda Newman. Edward was born in 1850 in Massachusetts. He was born in 1850. He resided in 1880 in Dixfield, Oxford, Maine, United States.
Listed as a marble worker in the 1880 Dixfield Census. President of Prince Paint Co, Boston, MA
Zueda Newman [Parents] was born in 1852 in Dixfield, Oxford, ME. She died on 2 Feb 1923 in Boston, MA. She married Edward Stanley.
George Melville Park [Parents] was born in Jul 1838 in Dixfield, ME. He married Isadore Alethea Hawes in 1896.
Other marriages:, Elizabeth F. M.
Source 1 Unknown 1876 Richardson by J. A. Vinton, pg 394
GRAD: 1866 Theological Seminary, New Hampton, NH
Occupation: Baptist paster, Guilford then Farmington, NHFrom the State of Maine Legislative sentiments calendar, December 2002 to November 2004 --
"On March 20, 1903, the Maine State Legislature approved and Governor John F. Hill signed a bill authorizing the establishment of the Aroostook State Normal School in Presque Isle. It was the 7th such school established in the State, part of a national movement begun in the 19th century to train teachers. But its establishment was not an easy task. A handful of community leaders, led by the vision of Rev. George M. Park, worked for over 6 years to bring this dream to fruition. Only after the City of Presque Isle purchased and donated the St. John's School for Boys to the State, did the normal school for central Aroostook County become a reality. In 1968 the college joined the newly created University of Maine System, becoming the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Since then, it has increased its enrollment to 1400 students and expanded its acreage and buildings. The university has also expanded its academic programs, now offering degrees in the liberal arts and professional training as well as teacher preparation. We send our congratulations and best wishes to the University of Maine at Presque Isle on this milestone."George Melville Park was a minister as well as a census enumerator, a store keeper, a farmer, a bureaucrat, a mayor, a journalist, an historian, a father and a dutiful son. A most remarkable man.
Isadore Alethea Hawes was born on 1 Mar 1847 in Readfield, ME. She married George Melville Park in 1896. Isadore resided in 1880 in Presque Isle, Aroostook, Maine, United States.
Listed in the 1880 census as Consumptive
Thomas Johnson was born in of South Boston, MA. He married Susan Abbott.
Susan Abbott [Parents] was born in 1830. She married Thomas Johnson.
ECR's cryptic notes include the names Charles (son) Mary Bickley and William Irving. Mary could have been a second child. William might have been Mary's husband. Mary could also have been Charles's wife and she perhaps married William after Charles died. It's unclear.
They had the following children:
M i Charles Johnson.
Drowned
Albert Barnard Root , Jr. [Parents] was born on 23 Nov 1886 in Boston, MA. He died on 8 Apr 1969 in Holmes Beach, FL. He married Eunice Leiola Crane on 4 Aug 1917 in Boston, MA.
Other marriages:Potts, Evelyn
1917 to 1919, Resided 2nd floor at 106 Payson Rd, Belmont, MA
Nov 1919 bought house at 138 Collins Rd., Waban, MA but didn't move in until Apr 1920.
Barney was a graduate of Tufts College. He married Evelyn Potts in 1913. They had a child in 1915, but neither wife nor child survived the birth. He married Eunice Crane in 1917. He worked for many years at a foundry in Boston. The foundry made parts for the railroads, which were necessary for the war effort. His job was secure and so the family was very well off and did not suffer from the effects of the Great Depression.
Albert and Eunice did a lot of genealogical research in their retirement years. Much of the information in these lineage lines are based on their research.
Eunice Leiola Crane was born on 9 Dec 1890 in Paia, Maui, Hawaii. She died on 15 Apr 1983 in Holmes Beach, FL. She married Albert Barnard Root , Jr. on 4 Aug 1917 in Boston, MA. Eunice died in 1984 in Holmes Beach, Fl.
They had the following children:
F i Charlotte Crane Root was born on 13 Jun 1918. M ii Albert Barnard Root was born on 7 Dec 1919. M iii Augustin Averill Root was born on 22 Mar 1921. He died on 26 Apr 2004. F iv Eunice Ellen Root was born on 26 Dec 1924. She died on 9 Jun 2004.
Albert Barnard Root , Sr. [Parents] was born on 13 Jun 1858 in Greenfield , MA. He died on 2 Oct 1937 in Albany, ME. He married Ellen Frances Leach on 27 Nov 1881 in Boston, MA. Albert resided in 1900 in Census > Massachusetts > Suffolk > Boston Ward 23 > Distric.
Albert grew up with only a grammar school education in Dixfield, ME. His mother was a cook on a steamer and he frequently traveled with her, missing school. He was apprenticed to a blacksmith and he eventually had three blacksmith shops.
At 17 he went to Boston where he lived for the next 50 years. He worked first with the Never Slip Co which made horse shoes. From there he went on to open his own blacksmith shop. He became the president of the Master Horse Shoers Assoc of America. He had a large segment of the Fire horse shoeing business. He served one term on the Mass legislature in 1900 but didn't like politics. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge. He was a member of the Appalachian Mountain CLub and the Field and Forest CLub and was a frequent hiker and camper.
Albert was a Free Mason. When his mother died in 1924, ABR sold his Boston smithy and moved back to Dixfield, ME to the house that is now a gift shop called the "1820 House". His forge was in the barn along side of the house. He kept bins of rejected wooden spools from the local spool mill to stoke the smithy fires. His grandchildren remember playing with long strings of spools while visiting him. He was fondly remembered by the village children who stopped by his forge to get nail rings. He became a master woodworker and reporduced magnificant pieces of furnitire. His descendents have many pieces of his fine furniture. He was well respected and fondly remembered by his family and the community.
ABR died in a vehicle accident. The driver lost control on the way to the 1937 Waterford Little World's Fair near Albany ME. The car flipped off a bridge and into a stream. All four occupants drowned.
*************************************************[October 3, 1937, Lewiston Daily Sun]
Car Plunges in Water, 4 DrownAlbany, Oct. 3 – Four prominent Dixfield men, the youngest of whom was Willis Waite, 78 years old, the driver, drowned Saturday morning when an automobile in which they were riding plunged from a wooden bridge spanning the Crooked river. Passengers were John Trask, 84; William Kidder, 82, and Albert Root, 79.
The accident occurred as the quartet were on their way to North Waterford to attend the famous little World Fair. Though a constant stream of automobiles passed the place, the car remained in the water more than an hour before Harry Kimball at 10 a.m., noticed it nearly submerged.
One of the rear wheels was above the surface of the stream. A wrecker was sent for and the machine was hauled nearer the embankment. A boy, Roger Kimball dove down and placed a rope around the bodies so they could be dragged to land.
State Officer Eugene Stevens of Norway believes the automobile in making the bad S-curve got too near one of the logs at the side of the bridge serving in place of a railing, causing it to overturn into the stream.
The trapped men fought desperately to free themselves. All the glass in the right-hand door was broken out but a small stick which caught in the door prevented their opening it.
The river at the bridge is only ten feet wide but deep enough so that when the sedan pitched over the edge of the bridge and nosed down into the stream all but a small portion of the rear was submerged.
Officers said the accident was not discovered sooner because motorists are obliged to use much care in negotiating the curve; have no opportunity to look about. Dr. Chesley W. Nelson of Norway, Oxford county medical examiner, returned a formal finding of death by accidental drowning. The bodies were identified at 1 o'clock.
Trask was born Sept. 10, 1853, at Mexico, the son of Peter and Nancy Rolfe Trask. He never married; was a retired lawyer. He is survived by two nieces, Mrs. Harriett Trask Hall, Lakewood, Ohio, and Mrs. Bessie Trask Horne, Mexico, and a nephew, Wade Trask, Mechanic Falls.
Kidder was born Aug. 26, 1855, at Dixfield, the son of Tyler and Louise Marrow Kidder. He was active in town and county affairs. He served Dixfield and Mexico, in 1887 as State representative. Survivors include his widow, Chiloe Abbott Kidder; a daughter, Mrs. Shirley Kidder Britten, Rumford, and a son, Archie, Dixfield.
Root was born June 13, 1858, at Greenfield, Mass., the son of Daniel and Delphine Barnard Root. He was prominent in Masonic circles. He was an antique dealer. Survivors include his widow, the former Ellen Leach; a son, Barnard, Waban, Mass.; three daughters, Mrs. Ella Greenlaw, Foxboro, Mass.; Mrs. Lucy Potter, Concord, Mass.; and Mrs. Mary Ambler, Boston, and nine grandchildren. He was a blacksmith in Boston for many years.
Waite was born July 19, 1859, at Dixfield, the son of Lorenzo and Sarah Newman. For 12 consecutive years, he served as chairman of the board of selectmen. He was later tax collector and served on the board of County commissioners. Besides his widow, the former Nellie Abbott, he leaves a brother, Leroy, Livermore Falls.
Though 82 years old, Kidder also drove his own car. Neither Root nor Trask were able to operate a machine. Kidder and Waite always drove their own cars; never employed a chauffeur. They were each considered very capable drivers despite their advanced years; always drove carefully.
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1920 Census lists ABR,Sr with wife Ellen; daughter Mary E.; mother, Delphine; and aunt Emily living at 48 Warehouse St in Boston.
Ellen Frances Leach was born on 10 Feb 1862 in Salisbury, MA. She died on 17 Nov 1942. She married Albert Barnard Root , Sr. on 27 Nov 1881 in Boston, MA. Ellen was born in 1862. She died in 1942. She resided in 1900 in Boston Ward 23, Suffolk, Massachusetts.
They had the following children:
M i Albert Barnard Root , Jr. was born on 23 Nov 1886. He died on 8 Apr 1969. M ii Charles Justin Root was born on 14 Jul 1888 in Boston, MA. He died on 29 Mar 1889 in Boston, MA. F iii Ella Root was born on 9 Apr 1891. M iv Walter Barton Root was born on 4 Aug 1892 in Boston, MA. He died on 14 Aug 1892. F v Lucy Root was born on 23 Apr 1894. She died on 7 Apr 1983. F vi Mary Ellen Root was born on 21 Sep 1896. She died in 1950.
Humphrey M. Eaton Eustis [Parents] was born on 10 Sep 1840. He died in 1913 in Minneapolis, MN. He married Julia Wilson.
Julia Wilson died in Morehead City, MN. She married Humphrey M. Eaton Eustis.