The Bethel Journals, Donald G. Bennett, PO Box 763, Bethel, Maine 04217

13911 Tallowridge Court, Orlando, Florida 32837

The Bethel Journals

More Lumber Tycoons

Chapter 4

 

This chapter has two pages.. Turn to Page 2.

Marshall R. Hastings was born in Bethel on August 29, 1892 the son of David R. and Josephine (Sanderson) Hastings. He was educated in the Bethel schools, Edward Little High School in Auburn and at Brown University.

In 1905 he married Miss Norma Linscott of Auburn and they have a daughter, Mrs. William Chapman, 2nd., of Bethel.

Mr. Hastings was associated with his father in Wild River from 1900 until 1914 in cutting pulp wood and the manufacture of wood alcohol.

Following this he operated on his own initiative and for 18 seasons has cut lumber for the Brown Company of Berlin, N.H.. That Mr. Hastings does business on no small scale is seen by his average winter’s cut which has been 15,000 cords each year, and a few years ago he delivered 27,000 cords, the largest contract ever fulfilled by a single individual.

These lumbering maneuvers have been and are in the vicinities of Grafton, Oquossoc, Richardson Lake, Dead Diamond, Abbott Brook, Umbagog and Shelburne, N.H.

Mr. Hastings is a member of the Bethel Lions Club. Mrs. Hastings is a talented singer and they keep open house for their many friends and relatives.

Mr. and Mrs. Hastings occupy the colonial style house on Broad Street, formerly the home of Hon. W.W. Hastings. This house was built for Major Gideon Hastings by his father in 1866 upon the return of the former from the Civil War.

 

Alton Bartlett was born in Hanover, Maine, in 1895, the son of Martha and the late Charles P. Bartlett. His education was acquired in the public schools, at Gould Academy and at Portland Business College.

Mr. Bartlett has been associated with his mother from boyhood in the management of her large timber holdings throughout Oxford County, and farms on a large and modern scale at his beautiful farm home in Hanover.

He is public spirited and has been on the board of selectmen in his town for 10 years and served on the school board for six years.

Mr. Bartlett is interested in politics and was elected as Democratic member of the Legislature in 1923 and 1925.

He is active in Masonic circles, always is first to promote progress in his home or adjoining towns and can be counted on to give time and money for the community’s betterment.

 

Leslie E. Davis, a progress business man and mill owner, was born in Grafton, Me., December 2, 1892, the son of Sumner P. and Cora (Farrar) Davis. He was educated in the schools of Hanover and at Gould Academy.

He married Miss Marie Swan in 1914, and they have three children: Richard A., Phyllis, and Kathryn A.

On completing his education, Mr. Davis taught school for two years and then in Portsmouth, N.H., engaged in the wholesale grocery business.  He worked in the railway mail service for three years and during the World War was employed in a gun factory in Erie, Pa. He returned to Newry and engaged in farming and managed a birch mill in that town for J.P. Skillings. He came to Bethel and for four years was an employee and then partner in Herrick’s garage.

In 1926 Mr. Davis purchased the E.T. Russell place on the Middle Intervale Road and later the Rufus Virgin lot on “Cedar Street” at the foot of Blake Hill. On these properties he runs two mills and does an extensive lumber business in both rough and finished material.

Mr. Davis is a member of Bethel Lodge F & AM. He served as tax collector in Newry four years and is serving Bethel in the same capacity for the sixth year.

Mr. and Mrs. Davis have made many improvements in the former Russell homestead and have a pleasant and modern farm home.

Residence of Marshall R. Hastings,

Broad Street, Bethel

Metallak Brook Lumbering Operations of M.R. Hastings

Residence of Leslie E. Davis

Middle Intervale Road, Bethel, Maine

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