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Farming,
Lumbering and Land Dealer Fred L Edwards was born
in Bethel October 14, 1865; he has lived practically his whole life here and
is staunchly loyal to his native town. His parents were Col. Clark S. and
Maria (Mason) Edwards. He was educated at Gould Academy, Bridgton Academy and
Gray’s Commercial College. He engaged in farming and lumbering with his
father. In 1890 he married Susan G. Frost. For several years
they resided at the Edwards homestead on Vernon Street. They had one
daughter, Dorothy J. Following the death of Col. Edwards, Mr. Edwards
continued farming on a large scale, raising thorough bred cattle and
conducting lumbering operations in Bethel, Albany and Roxbury. In 1920 he bought the N.R. Springer house
on Main Street (across from the Bethel post office in 2007). His sound business judgment was recognized
throughout the state. He was a director of the Rumford National Bank and the
Norway National Bank. He has served as a Democratic member of the Maine House
of Representatives in 1914-15, 1922-23 and 1930-31. |
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Retired Businessman—Mill
Owner, Lumber and Real Estate Eben Shaw Kilborn was born on July 1, 1846 in
Harrison and came to Bethel in 1854 when he was eight years old. In 1872, he
bought the flour and grain mill located on Mill Brook at the foot of Mill
Hill. About 1880, he built and operated
a saw mill for long and short lumber “on the same water privilege”. He
engaged in lumbering and real estate which included building several
dwellings in Bethel village. In 1890, he built a home on Chapman Street and
in 1892 he built a rental house on High Street. In April, 1892, he sold his
mill property to Isaac Morrill. He was member of the Bethel Masonic Lodge, Lodge
Master in 1876 – Bethel Village Corporation assessor in 1890 and member of
by-laws committee in 1889. He was a Bethel selectman from 1888 to 1892. He
served one term in the legislature and for many years was on the Board of
Trustees of the Bethel Savings Bank. He married Miss Joan Stearns of Paris,
Maine who graduated from Gould Academy in 1896 and was then employed in the
office of Herrick and Park, attorneys.
Mr. Kilborn is one of very few residents to have a Bethel village
street named for him. Kilborn Street
connects Chapman Street with Vernon Street. About 1920 he retired from active business. Mr.
Kilborn was proud of the fact that he had visited every state in the country,
and he traveled extensively in foreign countries. “He was present and
participated in the Centennial 50 years ago when Bethel celebrated the exit
of the Redmen from its environs.” The Kilborn’s spent their winters in
Portland and summers at their farm in Albany. |
