History of Farmington, (Franklin County) Maine United States of America

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Biographies:

Jacob Abbott, author, was born in Hallowell, Me., Nov. 14, 1803; son of the Rev. Jacob and Betsy (Abbot) Abbott. He attended the academy of his native town, and was graduated at Bowdoin in 1820. In 1821 he entered Andover theological seminary, and finished the course in 1824. He taught in Portland academy and was tutor in Amherst college during the next year, and in 1825 was made professor of mathematics and natural philosophy in that institution. The Hampshire association licensed him to preach in 1826. May 18, 1829, he married Harriet Vaughan, and moved soon afterwards to Boston to establish the Mount Vernon school. This school aimed to give to young women an educational training equal to that given to young men, and was a pioneer in such work. Mr. Abbott's views in regard to education were very advanced for the times in which he lived. He was not a disciplinarian in the accepted meaning of that term, and made his school a self-governing community, relying on the honor and united conscience of the pupils for the maintenance of the order necessary for the success of the school. His methods were eminently successful, and he carried on this work until 1834, when he severed his connection with the school to become pastor of the Eliot Congregational church at Roxbury, Mass., and began to write books for young people. During this year he finished one of the books, entitled "The Young Christian Series." They are all graphic in description and simple in statement, conveying truths that have been far-reaching in their influence over the young. The great popularity they immediately acquired led the author to continue such writings, and although he associated himself with his brothers in the Abbott Institute in New York, his life thereafter was largely devoted to literature. He wrote over two hundred volumes, which have been republished in England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Holland, France, and India. His books have inspired many men to worthy effort and a useful life. Among these works are: "Conversations on the Bible"; "The Corner Stone; or, A Familiar Illustration of the Principles of Christian Truth"; "Evidences of Christianity''; "Franklin, the Apprentice Boy"; "Hoary-head and M'Donner"; "The Little Philosopher"; "The Little Learner"; "New England and Her Institutions"; "Public Life of Benjamin Franklin"; "The Teacher"; "The Way to do Good; or, The Christian Character Mature"; "Relic Books" (28 vols.); "Lucy Books" (6 vols.); "Jonas Books" (6 vols. ); "Franconia Stories" (10 vols. ); "Marco Paul Series" (6 vols.); "Gay Family" (12 vols.); Juno Books" (6 vols.); "Rainbow Series" (5 vols.); "Science for the Young", "Heat," "Light," "Water and Land," and "Force" (4 vols.); "A Summer in Scotland"; series of histories of America (8 vols. ). He also aided his brother, J. S.C., in his series of illustrated histories, and compiled a series of school readers. He died at Farmington, Me., Oct. 31, 1879.

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

John Fairfield Dryden, insurance president, was born in Farmington, Me., Aug. 7, 1839; son of John and Elizabeth B. Dryden. He entered Yale college in 1861, and in 1875 established the Prudential Insurance Company of America, serving as its secretary until 1881, when he became its president. He was a presidential elector (Republican) from New Jersey in 1876 and 1900, and was elected U. S. senator in 1902, for the term expiring in 1907.

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

Lillian Nordica, prima donna, was born in Farmington, Maine, Dec. 12, 1859; daughter of Edwin and Amanda Elyira (Allen) Norton; granddaughter of James Instance and Sarah (Smith) Norton, and of the Rev. John and Annah (Hersey) Allen, and a descendant of Nicholas Norton of English descent, born in Weymouth, Mass., and a resident of Duke's county, Mass., as early as 1669. She removed to Boston, Mass., with her parents in 1863, was educated in the public schools and studied vocal culture under John O'Neil at the New England Conservatory of Music, graduating in 1875. She sang in choirs and concerts and with the Handel and Haydn society, and studied for a short time under Madame Maretzek in New York. She went to Europe as the soloist of Gilmore's band in 1878, and sang at the Crystal Palace, London, and at the Trocadero in Paris. She studied under San Giovanni in Milan, Italy, with the determination to become an opera singer, and in six months had a repertory including ten operas. She made her debut in Brescia, Italy, in "La Traviata" in 1879; appeared as Alice in "Roberto" at Novara, Italy, in the same year, and sang the part of Marguerite in "Faust," 1880. She appeared in the operas "Rigoletto," "Faust" and "Lucia" at Aquilla, Italy; in "Mignon," "L'Africaine," "Le Nozze di Figaro," "Le Proph?te," "Don Giovanni" and "Les Huguenots" in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1880, and in 1881 before Ambrose Thomas and Van Corbeil, who engaged her for the grand opera in Paris. She sang the r?le of Marguerite in "Faust," in Paris in 1882; made a tour of the United States under Colonel Mapleson in 1883, and in Berlin and London in 1887, becoming a great favorite in the latter city, where she received the personal thanks of the Prince and Princess of Wales, and was commanded to sing before Queen Victoria. She appeared in the Wagnerian r?le of Elsa in "Lohengrin" at Beyreuth in 1894, joined the Abbey, Sch?ffel and Grau Opera company, with whom she made various tours of the United States, singing Elsa in "Lohengrin" and Isolde in "Tristan und Isolde." Her repertory in 1903 consisted of over forty operas and all the standard oratorios. She was decorated by the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke of Saxe Coburg and Gotha, and also received the title of royal chamber singer, a brooch of precious stones from Queen Victoria, and a tiara of diamonds from the stockholders of the Metropolitan Opera House of New York city in 1896. She was married, Jan. 22, 1883, to Frederic Allen Gower, an aeronaut, who lost his life in 1886, in an attempt to cross the English channel. In June, 1896, she was married to Zoltan D?m?, a Hungarian. Madame Nordlea was the first foreigner to sing at Beyreuth, and she created there the r?le of Elsa. She was also chosen to open the new Prince Regent opera house in Munich, in May, 1901, and re-engaged for the following year for all the Brunhilde r?les.

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