Cumberland County, Maine - Edmund B. Mallet
**********************************************************************
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
Edmund B. Mallet
Biographical Review
Cumberland County, Maine
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1896
Page 633-634


Edmund B. Mallet, an enterprising business man of Freeport, was born September
3, 1853, on board the ship "Devonshire," in the English Channel, son of Captain
Edmund B. and Sarah E. (Thornton) Mallet. Captain Mallet, who was a native of
Warren, Me., born December 9, 1823, when old enough shipped as a sailor. As he
became more skilful in this calling he was advanced from rank to rank until made
master of a ship, in which capacity he continued to follow the sea for many
years afterward. He commanded some of the staunchest and finest craft that
sailed the ocean, circumnavigated the globe several times, and visited the
principal seaports of the world. In 1883 he gave up seafaring and retired to his
home in West Bath, this State, where he subsequently resided until his demise,
November 9, 1894. He was much esteemed by his fellow townsmen, whom he served
for seven years as Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, having been elected on
the Republican ticket. Religiously, he was a man of broad and progressive views,
being a firm Universalist. His wife, who was born in Pawtuxet, R.I., November
29, 1833, still occupies the homestead in West Bath. Their children were: Mrs,
Marion H. Higgins, who lives on the home farm; Edmund B., Jr., the subject of
this sketch; and Alfred K., a resident of Wheatland, Cal.

Edmund B. Mallet lived in Rhode Island till fourteen years of age. There were
laid the fundamentals of his education, which was subsequently continued in the
schools of West Bath and Bath, until he graduated from the North Grammar School
of the latter place. After leaving school his first occupation was in connection
with railroading.. He then engaged in a mercantile business in New Jersey. Owing
to ill health he was forced to abandon this pursuit and seek for outdoor work.
Removing to Maine, he purchased a farm in Pownal, where he carried on general
farming for eight years. In 1884 he came to Freeport, which has since been his
home. Here he entered at once into a building and real estate business,
investing a portion of the fortune he had inherited from an uncle. In that year
he opened the famous granite quarries, which now give employment to many men.
His purpose was to obtain stone for the foundations of the shoe factory, grist
and saw mill, and the large brick store, all of which he built in 1885. In the
store he has since conducted an extensive trade, the dry-goods department being
under the management of E. S. Soule, while the other department is controlled by
Mr. Brewster. In 1891 Mr. Mallet built for the town a fine system of water-
works, besides sixteen dwelling-houses, which are now occupied by his employees.
Upon opening the quarry, the granite was found to be of such a superior quality
that it was at once decided to work it. The stone occupies thirty-five acres,
and is one of the finest granites to be found in any State. Besides the ordinary
uses, it is admirably adapted for ornamental work. It is made into statues,
monuments, plinths, sarcophagi, etc., with fine effect. In these forms it may
now be found in many of the cemeteries of this and neighboring States, and even
in States as remote as Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Orders for it come every
day from different parts of the Union. On the ground is a factory where the
stone is worked and polished by skilled workmen. Besides a fine office the
building also contains a room for marble work, where a good stock of fine
American and foreign marbles are kept on hand. Orders left at the office for any
kind of stone work are promptly attended to.

Another of Mr. Mallet's enterprises is the transformation of Wolf's Neck, on
which he owns seven hundred acres of land, into a summer resort that shall
combine the conveniences of city life with the pleasures of rural life. Its
situation for such a resort is unsurpassed, being rich in sloping woodlands,
winding walks, and picturesque ocean scenery. In the deepening and extension of
the channel, by which water communication has been brought within a mile of
Freeport, the government has already expended thirty-one thousand dollars. No
question but ere many years the place will become the summer home of thousands
of people.

On March 29, 1877, Mr. Mallet was united in marriage with Miss Clara H. Higgins,
a native of Bath. They have four sons; namely, Edmund Thornton, Charles B., .
Thomas F., and Roger. In religious matters, as in others, Mr. Mallet has broad
and intelligent views, being in sympathy with the higher and newer thought of
the times; while in politics he is a sound Republican. For two years he served
his fellow-townsmen as Town Treasurer, and three years was Chairman of the Board
of Selectmen. In 1885, 1887, and 1889 he represented the town of Freeport in the
lower chamber of the State legislature, and in 1891 and 1893 was State Senator
for Cumberland County. He served his party as a delegate to the National
Conventions held in Chicago in 1888 and at Minneapolis in 1892. Mr. Mallet has
affiliation with the Knights of Pythias of Freeport. He is also Past Grand
Junior Warden of the Grand Masonic Lodge of Maine, and has membership in
Freeport Lodge, No. 23; Cumberland Chapter, No. 35, Royal Arch Masons; Portland
Council, Royal and Select Masters; Portland Commandery, No. 2, Knights Templars;
the Scottish Rite body; the Lodge of Perfection; the Council of Princes of
Jerusalem; the Chapter of Rose Croix; the Maine Consistory, of which he is Past
Commander-in-chief; the Supreme Council, which has jurisdiction over orders of
this rite, he being a thirty-second degree Mason, belonging to the Royal Order
of Scotland.