History of Auburn, (Androscoggin County) Maine United States of America

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Biographies:

George Perkins Merrill, geologist, was born at Auburn, Maine, May 31, 1854; son of Lucius and Anne E. (Jones) Merrill; grandson of Moses and Sallie Merrill and of the Rev. Elijah Jones, for forty years pastor of First church, Minot, Maine. He was graduated at the University of Maine, B.S., 1879, receiving the degree of M.S. in 1883 and Ph.D. in 1889, and took postgraduate courses at Wesleyan and Johns Hopkins universities. He also served as an assistant in chemistry at Wesleyan, 1879-80. He was an assistant on the Fisheries census at Washington in 1880-81; became connected with the geological department of the U.S. national museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., in 1881, and in 1897 became head curator of the department of geology. He was lecturer on the economic aspects of geology in the Maryland Agricultural college, 1890-91; became professor of geology and mineralogy in the Corcoran Scientific school, Columbian university, Washington, in 1893. He was married first, in November, 1883, to Sarah, daughter of Joseph R. Farrington of Portland, Maine. His wife died in 1894, and he was married secondly, in February, 1900, to Katherine L. Yancey, of Virginia. He contributed to the "Standard Dictionary," Johnson's "Universal Cyclopedia," and Russell Sturgis's "Dictionary of Architecture and Building," and is the author of several standard works, including: Stones for Building and Decoration (1891 and 1897); Rocks, Rockweathering and Soils (1897); The Non-Metallic Minerals (1901), and many papers in scientific journals.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Nicholas Winfield Scott Leighton, painter, was born in Auburn, Maine. He attended the public schools of Gray, Maine, and while at school devoted much of his time to drawing pictures of animals. He earned $2000 in three years by horse trading, and removed to Portland, Maine, when seventeen years old and established a studio as an animal painter. The patronage in Portland did not support him and he removed to Providence, R.I., where he engaged in the artistic furniture trade for a short time, and then returned to painting, visiting different cities. He finally settled in Boston, Mass., where he studied art and Soon became widely known as an animal painter and as the "Landseer of America." He was admitted to membership in the Boston Art club, the Paint and Clay club and other organizations. Among his more important paintings are: Here they Come; In the Stable; On the Road; Waiting; The Fearnaught Stallion; Three Veterans; Dogs; Smuggler; The Pets; Ready for Work; Saddled and Bridled; At the Trough; Stable Scene; Sketch from Nature ; A Dry Feed; By the Spring ; Salting Horses; Sheepford ; At the Castle Gate; Towser ; Study of a Bull; Study at Claremont, N.H.; A Winter Morning ; Study of a Pig; Waiting in the Cold; Sleighing Scene; The Auction; Shut In. A large number of his paintings were exhibited and sold in Boston, Mass., after his death. He died at the McLean hospital, Waverly, Mass., Jan. 17, 1898.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

George Thomas Little, librarian, was born in Auburn, Maine, May 14, 1867; son of Edward Toppan and Lucy Jane (Bliss) Little; grandson of Edward and Hannah (Brown) Little and of Zeba and Lepha (Peck) Bliss, and eighth in descent from George Little, who emigrated to Newbury, Mass., in 1640, and fourth from Col. Moses Little, a Revolutionary soldier. George prepared for college at the Edward Little high school, Auburn, Maine, and was graduated from Bowdoin college, A.B.. 1877, A.M., 1880. He travelled and studied abroad, 1877-78; was teacher of Latin at Thayer academy, Braintree, Mass., 1877-82; professor of Latin at Bowdoin, 1882-86, and was appointed librarian of Bowdoin college in 1883. He was married Dec. 18, 1884, to Lilly Thayer Wright, daughter of George H. and Sash (Weeks) Lane of Braintree, Mass. He was elated a member of the Maine Historical society in 1879, and of the Minnesota Historical society in 1896. The honorary degree of Litt. D. was conferred on him by Bowdoin in 1894. He is the author of: Descendants of George Little of Newbury, 1640 (1877, enl. ed., 1882); Memorial of Alpheus Spring Packard (1885); Historical Sketch of Bowdoin College (1894.)

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor