setts regiment. At the expiration of this service, he returned to Maine, enlisted in Co. F. 9th Maine Volunteers, and was commissioned its Captain; was promoted, first to Lieut. Colonel, and afterwards, to Colonel of his regiment, subsequently resigning on account of ill health. He studied law at Rockford, Ill., was admitted to the bar, and located in Jacksonville Florida, where he now resides. He has been U. S. District Attorney for the District of Florida, and has served two full terms in Congress, from the Jacksonville District. He now has a very extensive and lucrative practice, having a wide field in both the State and United States Courts, and stands at the head of his profession in Florida. Col. Bisbee has always found time to take an active interest in political matters, both State and National, his services having been sought as a stump speaker, not only in Florida and other Southern States, but also in his native state of Maine.

Elisha,4 b. Feb. 11, 1843, was a member of Co. F. 9th Maine Volunteers, and died at Hilton Head, Jan. 4, 1862.

Maria II.4 b. June 13, 1847, graduated from the State Normal School in 1867, and has since been teaching at Evansville, Ind., where she is now Principal of a large grammar school.

Mary Bisbee, the third child of Charles, the pioneer, m. Charles Ford of Pembroke, Mass., and removed to Sumner, Her second son, Charles, Jr., was the first white child born in town.

2

John, the fifth child of Charles, the pioneer, settled on a farm about one-half mile south from Labrador Pond. He was a noted bear trapper. He raised a large family, most of whom settled in other towns. His daughter, Dolly, m. Thaddeus Thompson, and lived for many years on the "Uncle Johny" Bisbee homestead.

2

Solomon, the sixth son of Charles, the pioneer, settled on a farm opposite the "Uncle Johny" place. He was also a blacksmith. He bought the farm of Moses, his brother, Oct. 28, 1791. At that time very little clearing had been done, and to Solomon belongs the credit of reclaiming it from the wilderness. He m. Ruth, daughter of Simeon Barrett, and sister of Simeon, Jr., May 10, 1795. Of their ten children only three settled in town. Abel W., their second child, was an expert blacksmith and, after living for a time in Paris, bought the Oliver Cummings farm, which is now owned by his son Antipass. He was postmaster at Sumner, twenty-two years; often held town office, and was a member of the Legislature in 1850. First, he m. Polly Record, and had George; second, m. Nancy Durell, and had Polly, Nancy and Antipass.

as she was Their child

Anna,3 the sixth child of Solomon, m. Abel Fletcher who, at the age of ninty-three, is the oldest person now living in town. Aunt Annie, familiarly known, was beloved by all. ren were, Harriett A., m. Luther Hollis; Rachel R., m. Addison Parlin; and Abel Thomas, who was accidentally shot.

Solomon, Jr.,3 the seventh, familiarly known as "Dea. Bisbee," lived for a few years in Waterford, but at the death of his father came to Sumner and cared for his mother, on the old homestead, where he lived and died. He was postmaster several, and treasurer of the minister fund for the town many years. He m. Hannah P., daughter of Benjamin Heald, Jr. Of their children, Timothy H. went to California at the age of twenty, and now resides in Oregon, where he has a family; Maria m. Orrin P. Houghton, and resides in Kansas; Lewis H. lives on the old homestead, and has a family of four children. He has been a member of the board of selectmen.

Calvin, the seventh son of Charles, the pioneer, lived and died on his father's homestead. He was a member of the convention which framed the State Constitution, often held town office, and served as member of the Legislature. Of his children, Lewis, known as Captain, only remained in town, and still lives with his aged wife on the old homestead. They had two daughters, and have made a home for nineteen orphan children and five old people. The Captain has been`a member of the board of selectmen, several years.

George W. Bisbee, * son of Elbridge G., settled in Hartford, where he carried on the blacksmith business. He removed to Peru, in 1857, where he died Jan. 27, 1872. His wife, Mary B., died in Buckfield, June 25, 1885. :

* An addition to last paragraph, page 112.

CAPT. LEWIS BISBEE, son of Calvin, and grandson of Charles, was born in Sumner, at the old Bisbee homestead, August 10, 1808, and at the date of this sketch (March 4, 1899,) is still living upon the old farm of his father and grandfather. He was married Dec. 31, 1829, to Elizabeth Sampson of Hartford, by Dr. Bethuel Cary. The children of this worthy couple were:

Amanda M., born July 11, 1830, and married, June 7, 1850, Fred A. Spaulding of Buckfield, who died June 12, 1856, after which she married Rufus K. Harlow, and since the latter's death has remained single and kindly cared for her aged parents.

Amerilla, born June 13, 1832, married, Oct. 26, 1852, William F. Bard of Hartford, and died May 29, 1853.

On December 31, 1879, about 125 of the friends and relatives of Capt. Bisbee and wife assembled at his residence and celebrated in an interesting manner their fiftieth wedding anniversary. June 9, 1874, there was a pleasant reunion of the Bisbee family at the old homestead, a result of which was the publishing of some of the family records from which we gathered dates used in this sketch.

Calvin Bisbee, father of Capt. Lewis, was a prominent citizen in town for many years, and one of its municipal officers for a long time, as the records will attest. He was also a member of the convention which framed the Constitution of the State, and subsequently served as a member of the Legislature.