Cumberland County, Maine - George E. Chadbourne ********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: C. Wendland SilverDrusilla@aol.com Copyright © 2005 by C. Wendland Caitlin's Gold Award Project, Girl Scouts USA, Rio Grande Girl Scout Council, El Paso, Texas ********************************************************************** Biography George E. Chadbourne Biographical Review Cumberland County, Maine Boston Biographical Review Publishing Company 1896 Page 481-482 George E. Chadbourne, a practical farmer and leading citizen of Bridgton, Me., was born August 26, 1828, in the town of Hiram, Oxford County, Me., being a son of Benjamin and Nancy (Richardson) Chadbourne. His parents reared two children. The other, Mary Ann, born May 15, 1833, married Charles B. Thompson. She died in 1866. Benjamin Chadbourne was born in Hiram, Me. He was of English ancestry, as represented by the following genealogy : Humphrey Chadbourne (first), with his sons Humphrey and William (second), came to this country A.D. 1631; Humphrey (third), son of William, died 1667; James, Sr. (fourth), Humphrey's son, died 1686; James, Jr. (fifth), born 1684, died 1754; Joshua (sixth), born 1729, died 1805; Joseph (seventh), born 1763, died 1848; Benjamin (eighth), born February 14, 1798, died December 18, 1875. Benjamin Chadbourne was a natural mechanic and learned the trade of a cooper, which he followed in connection with farming. In 1852 he removed with his family to the town of Bridgton, purchasing the one hundred acres of land now owned and occupied by his son, George E. Here he engaged in mixed husbandry until his death in 1875, at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife, who was born in 1807, survived him until 1892. He was a man of prominence in public affairs, having been a Lieutenant in the State militia, justice of the Peace, Selectman, and Constable of his native town for a number of years. He was a practical Christian, being an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was also an earnest advocate of the cause of temperance, signing the first temperance pledge in the early days of this great modern reform movement. George E. Chadbourne, ninth in descent from Humphrey Chadbourne (first), mentioned above, was reared as a farmer's son, working on the home farm through seed-time and harvest, and attending the district and high schools during the long winter seasons. On reaching mature years, he took charge of the farm work, but was also engaged as a house painter much of his time. In 1852 he came to Bridgton with his parents;and he has since resided on his present estate, Prospect Hill Farm, succeeding to its ownership after the death of his father. In his farming operations, as in his trade, Mr. Chadbourne has been more than ordinarily successful. A man of excellent business ability, strict integrity, and wise judgment, he has often been called upon to serve in official capacities, and has in each instance performed his duties to the general satisfaction. In 1864, during the progress of the Civil War, he was chosen Selectman; and he retained the office until 1871, being Chairman of the Board the greater part of the time. From that year until 1874 he was County Commissioner, also serving fourteen years as Trial Justice of the Peace. In 1874 he was appointed agent by the County Commissioners, to superintend the comparing and revision of the indexes to the Registry of Deeds with the records of Cumberland County, from the first volume, 1760, to 1870, which now constitutes the Leger Index to that date. This task occupied more than three years, requiring the most careful and laborious work. Mr.Chadbourne holds a life commission as Dedimus Potestatern justice; and for several years he has been a voluntary observer at Station 302, North Bridgton, Me., belonging to the New England Division of the United States Weather Department. For twenty-nine years he has been one of the Trustees of the Bridgton Academy, fifteen years being Secretary of the Board. He is a stanch and loyal member of the Republican party, with which he has long been actively identified. Fraternally, he is an esteemed and valued member both of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Masons; and he was officially connected with agricultural and temperance societies for many years. He has served continuously as Secretary of the Society for the Prevention and Detection of Crime thirty-nine years, attending every annual meeting. Mr. Chadbourne and Miss Louisa B. Libby were united in marriage in 1851, and they are the parents of six children, namely: Frank O., born November 29, 1852; Edwin R., born June 26,1855; Charles B., born February 5,1858, died September 13, 1869; Carrie E.,born January 17, 1860; Addie M., born March 11,1862; and Walter C., born August 13, 1866. Frank O.Chadbourne (tenth), who is in company with his father in the management of the home farm, married Miss Clara Lincoln. They have three sons and a daughter,who are of the eleventh generation by lineal descent,namely: Charles L., born September 30, 1876; Ethel A., born July 1, 1879; Irving E., born October 7, 1881; George E., born September 21, 1894. Edwin R. Chadbourne, who was graduated from both the Maine Medical College and the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York,is a successful practicing physician in that city, where the death of his wife, Annie M. Howe, occurred October 27, 1887. Carrie E. Chadbourne is the widow of Frank S. Knight, who died September 1, 1888. Her children are: George E. Knight, born October 6, 1881, died September 4, 1888; and Mary L. Knight,born July 27, 1885.