History of Skowhegan, (Somerset County) Maine United States of America

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Biographies:

Abner Coburn, governor of Maine, was born in Skowhegan, Maine, March 22, 1803; son of Eleazer and Mary (Weston) Coburn. His father was a representative in the legislatures of Massachusetts and Maine; and his maternal grandfather, Joseph Weston, went to Somerset county, Mass. (afterward Maine), from Lancaster, Mass., in 1771. He was educated at Bloomfield academy and took up the business of land surveying in 1825, after which he became an extensive dealer in lumber. In 1854 he began to build railroads and as director and president became prominent in railroad enterprises. He was elected to the state legislature in 1838, 1840 and 1844, and was an elector on the Whig presidential ticket of 1852. In 1855 he was elected a member of the governor's council and again in 1857. He was presidential elector in 1860 and 1884, and governor of Maine, 1862-63. He was president of the board of managers of the Maine state college of agriculture and Coburn hall was named in his honor. He was trustee of Colby university, 1845-85, and president of the board, 1874-85. He left numerous bequests, aggregating $900,000, among them $200,000 to Colby university; $100,000 to the Maine state college of agriculture; $200,000 to the American Baptist home mission society; $100,000 to the American Baptist missionary union; $100,000 to the Maine general hospital; $50,000 to the Maine insane hospital; $50,000 to Wayland seminary, and $30,000 to erect and furnish the Skowhegan free public library. He died at Skowhegan, Maine, Jan. 4, 1885.

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

Stephen Coburn, lawyer, was born in Skowhegan, Maine, in 1818; son of Eleazer and Mary (Weston) Coburn, and brother of Abner Coburn. He graduated at Waterville in 1839, and was admitted to the bar in 1845. He practised his profession at Skowhegan and was a member of the Maine board of education, 1849-52. Upon the resignation of Representative Israel Washburne, Jr., in 1861, Mr..Coburn was elected to fill the unexpired term in the 36th congress, serving from Jan. 2 to March 3, 1861, after which he resumed the practice of his profession. He was drowned at Skowhegan, Maine, July 4, 1882.

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

David Kidder, representative, was born in Dresden, Maine, Dec. 8, 1787. He was given a classical education by private tutors. He studied law and settled in practice in Bloomfield, removing in 1817 to Skowhegan, and in 1821 to Norridgewock. He was attorney for Somerset county, 1811-23; a representative in the 18th and 19th congresses, 1823-27; returned to Skowhegan in 1827, and was a representative in the Maine legislature in 1829. He was an editorial contributor to the Somerset County Journal. He died at Skowhegan, Maine, Nov. 1, 1860.

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

Albert Henry Currier, educator, was born in Skowhegan, Maine, Nov. 15, 1837; son of Willis and Mary (Weston) Currier; grandson of Thomas Currier and of Stephen Weston, both of Skowhegan, Maine; and a descendant of Richard Currier, who settled in Salisbury, N.H., in 1640, and of James Weston, who, in the Revolutionary war, guided Arnold's forces through the trackless forests of Maine in their attack upon Quebec. He was graduated from Bowdoin college in 1857, and from the Andover theological seminary in 1862. He was ordained to the Congregational ministry, Dec. 3, 1862, and preached at Ashland, Mass., 1862-65, and at Central church, Lynn, Mass., 1865-81. In 1881 he accepted the chair of sacred rhetoric and pastoral theology at Oberlin theological seminary, Ohio. Bowdoin college conferred upon him the degree of D.D. in 1884. He published Life of Constans L. Goodell, D.D., of St. Louis, and contributed many sermons to the Monday club sermon series.

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