History of Mount Vernon, (Kennebec County) Maine United States of America

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Biographies:

John Hovey Rice, representative, was born at Mount Vernon, Maine, Feb. 5, 1816; son of Nathaniel and Jane (Swasey) Rice. He received a common school education, and in 1832 was clerk in the registry of deeds at Augusta, Maine, where he subsequently engaged in mercantile business and studied law. He served as aide-de-camp to General Bachelor in the "Aroostook war" in 1838, growing out of the northeastern boundary dispute with Great Britain, and was deputy-sheriff of Kennebec county in 1840. He removed to Piscataquis county, Maine, in 1843, where he became interested in the mercantile and lumbering business. He was married in 1847 to Grace Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. Gilman Moody and Dorah (Crosby) Burleigh of Dexter, Maine; she died in December, 1898, leaving three children. He was admitted to the bar in 1848, and began practice, and was county attorney 1852?60. He was a delegate to the first Republican national convention at Philadelphia, Pa., June 17, 1856; a Republican representative from the fourth Maine district in the 37th, 38th and 39th congresses, 1861?67, declining nomination to the 40th congress, and customs collector, by appointment of President Johnson, at the port of Bangor, Maine, 1867?71. He resumed the practice of law in Washington, D.C., with Edward Jordan, 1872?84, and in the latter year retrieved to New York city, where he was engaged in incorporation and law business, until he retired in 1899, and then took residence in Chicago, Ill., where he was still living in 1903.

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

Loren Fletcher, representative, was born at Mt. Vernon, Maine, April 10, 1833. He attended the Maine Wesleyan seminary at Kent's Hill, Maine, and was employed in a lumber concern in Bangor, Maine, 1853-56. In the latter year he removed to Minneapolis, Minn., where he engaged in manufacturing and mercantile pursuits. He was a representative in the state legislature, 1872-75, 1877, and 1881-84, being speaker of the house, 1881-84. He was a Republican representative in the 53d, 54th, 55th, 56th, 57th congresses, 1893-1903.

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