History of Dresden Mills, (Lincoln County) Maine United States of America

Our database does not include an historic photo for Dresden Mills, (Lincoln County) Maine, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us!

Samuel James Bridge, philanthropist, was born at Dresden, Me., June 1, 1809. He was a direct descendant of John Bridge, who was supervisor of the first public school in the colony, located at Cambridge, and who seconded John Harvard in founding Harvard college. He entered business as a commission merchant in Boston, and in 1841 was appointed custom-house appraiser of the port of Boston, which position he held for twelve years. In 1853 he removed to California, where he filled the office of appraiser-general at San Francisco, being at the head of the Pacific coast customs department. He was also commissioner, having charge of the erection of the custom-house and of the U.S. mint and Marine hospital at San Francisco. In 1871 he retired from public life, having become well known as an authority on all tariff and revenue matters. He accumulated a fortune, of which he gave generously for the public good. He gave to Harvard college the statue of John Bridge, the Puritan, Sept. 20, 1882, and that of John Harvard, founder of Harvard college, June 17, 1883. In 1880 Harvard conferred upon him the honorary degree of A.M. He was a member of the Harvard church society in Charlestown for nearly half a century, and was a wide traveller. He liberally endowed many educational institutions and helped many young men through college. He died Nov. 8, 1893.

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

History of Dresden Mills, (Lincoln County) Maine

Biographies: