History of Belgrade, (Kennebec County) Maine United States of America

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Biographies:

Anson Peaslee Morrill, governor of Maine, was born in Belgrade, Maine, June 10, 1803; son of Peasley and Nancy (Macomber) Morrill. After leaving school he assisted his father in his saw-mill. He was postmaster and held other local offices, and in 1824 engaged in business. He was married to Rowena M. Richardson, and removed to Madison, and in 1844 to Readfield, where he took charge of a woollen mill which he subsequently purchased. He was a Democratic representative in the state legislature in 1883; was sheriff of Somerset county in 1839, and land agent, 1850-53. He joined the Republican party in 1853, was nominated for governor on the Prohibition and Free Soil ticket; was the Republican candidate for governor in 1854, and the result of the election being indecisive, was appointed to the office by the state legislature, being the first Republican governor of Maine. He was a delegate to the Republican national convention in 1856: a Republican representative in the 37th congress that met July 4, 1861, at the President's call, and retired from national service March 3, 1863. He removed to Augusta in 1879, was again a representative in the state legislature in 1880, and was president of the Maine Central railroad from 1871. He died in Augusta, Maine, July 4, 1887.

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

Lot Myrick Morrill, senator, was born in Belgrade, Maine, May 3, 1813; son of Peasley and Nancy (Macomber) Morrill. He attended the district schools, worked in his father's saw-mill, was a clerk in a country store, and in 1829 began to teach school in New York state. He matriculated at Waterville college in the class of 1837 but did not graduate, and entered the law office of Judge Edward Fuller of Readfield. He was admitted to the bar in 1837 and practised in partnership with Timothy Howe, at Readfield. In 1841 he removed to Augusta, Maine, and formed a partnership with Senator James W. Bradbury and Judge Rice. He was a Democratic representative in the state legislature, 1853-55; was an unsuccessful candidate for U.S. senator in 1854; state senator, 1856-57, and president of the senate in 1857. He was a member of the Democratic state committee, but resigned after the nomination of James Buchanan for President in 1856, and joined the Republican party. He was governor of the state, 1858, 1859, 1860; was elected U.S. senator to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Hannibal Hamlin in 1861; was reelected in 1863, and served till March 3, 1869. Upon the death of Senator Fessenden, Sept. 8, 1869, he was elected to fill the vacancy, and was also elected for the full term expiring March 3, 1877, but resigned in 1876 to accept the secretaryship of the treasury from President Grant, serving until the close of Grant's administration. He was collector of customs for the port of Portland, Maine, under President Hayes's appointment, 1877-83. He was a trustee of Colby university, 1863-69; received the honorary degree of A.M. from there in 1848, and that of LL.D. from Bowdoin in 1879. He was a member of the Maine Historical society, 1856-83. He died in Augusta, Maine, Jan. 10, 1883.

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