History of Sumner, (Oxford County) Maine United States of America

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Biographies:

Samuel Freeman Hersey Biography

Samuel Freeman Hersey, philanthropist, was born in Sumner, Maine, April 22, 1812; son of James and Olive (Freeman) Hersey, and grandson of James Hersey and of Samuel Freeman, both soldiers of the Revolution. At the age of eighteen he began teaching during part of the school year, and in 1831 was graduated from Hebron academy. In 1832 he went to Bangor as a clerk in a store, and some years later, engaging in the lumber business, he made large investments in the northwest, meeting with great success. Between the years 1842 and 1869 he was five times a representative in the Maine legislature. He was a member of the governor's council, was a delegate to both the Republican national conventions which nominated Lincoln, and was a representative in the 43d congress, 1873-75. He bequeathed to the city of Bangor the sum of $100,000 for its public library and also left bequests to Westbrook seminary, Deering, Maine, and other charitable objects. He died in Bangor, Maine, Feb. 3, 1875.

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