Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-10-27
1.-THE RICHEST MAN IN MAINE.
His Home In Sk0whe gan.

10"e IN SAOwne R0ms
Every morning, Sundays excepted, at q
few minutes before nine o'clock, a rair o,
black horses and two seated phaeton bal,
at the door of the First National Bank in
Skow hogan. The First National Bank il
one of those old fashioned one story wooden
buildings. painted white, with an Orname nted
| triangle set into its front, and wearing q
sedate look. 1t might be mistaken for an
orthodox vesfry, but for the sign over the
door. The team is common place in respect
to horses, carriage and driver. The horses
are good, strong, clean-limbed beasts, hut
their trappinRs and grooming evince dis
regard of appearances. The carriage is free
from gloss and style. There are no brass
buttons nor green broadcloth on the driver
and there is no more on the box than about
the tquipage. to show its owner and occupant
is seven millionaire. The old gentleman
who alights and enters the bank is the richest
man in Maine, Hon. Abner C0burn.
The Ex-Governor lives in q roomy old
fashioned house on the south side of the
river, within hearing Of the music of Show
hogan Falls. portico, supported by large,
fiuted DOric pillars, make the facade some
What imposing. The house is shaded by
large trees and perfumed by flower gardens
Many man who can't pay 100 cents on a
dollar, lives in 4 more Ostentatious house
and makes more display in the world than
does the richest and one of the best known
| of Names citizens.
A Journal reporter tried the Ex-Governor
latch string, a few days ago. MIR. Coburn
had Just returned from his morning trip to
the bank. An open fire had just been kindled
in his library. or Office. He reclined in his
,t,,,~ hot 10
was holding council with two of his lumber
men. Eek Governor COburn is so years old
and is for more reasons than one a remark
able man. In appearance he is venerable,
hut exceedingly well preserved. The frosts
of so winters have given his head and face a
Wilderness that at first sight startfes one, and
| invariably evokes feeling of extreme re-
spect. in approaching him. portrait on the
wall shows him as he was in his prime. He
has lost none of the contour of his form OF
couutenance Time has laid q kindly hand
upon him. The ex Governor has TO be on his
guard but when satisfied that you are neither
an impostor nor bore, is social and warm
His memory never better. His sentences
are quick. clean cut and business-like. His
conversation lacks the emphasis Of a younger
man, but 1t has the dignity and quiet reserve
of old age. The Ex-Governor watches the
with a keen interest and has an untailiNG
| fund of information on those topics. He Is Z
close observer of the fluctuations of the stock
market There probably isn't more thorough
| tv posted or more sagacious stock buyer IN
| Maine, than Ex-Governor COburn at SO years
| His own efforts and astuteness have accum-
uIated his immense fortune. He was farmer
bow. He was born in Skowhegan, about three
miles out of the village. He lived on the
farm till 1910 when he entered into the
numbering business. from the profits OF
which, mainly, have come his present pos
sessions. He began as surveyor and an eX
plorer. He penetrated the wilderness fol
| hundreds of miles, and in this adventurou.
| and hardy pursuit, gained the knowledge and
skill which led to his profitable investment;
| in timber lands. He is still actively engaged
| in numbering, and personally directs and SUI
nerin,ends the management of his affairs
He has neither a clerk to keep his accounts
nor a secretary to write his letters. Ii a
man comes in to buy a township of land. he
| conducts the negotiations and makes all the
calculations himself If another man Gomez
! in to paw a note, the millionaire OF ~ years
computes the interest with his own hand
and head. He writes all his letters
and mails them himself. He frequently comes
70 the most office, of a morning, with whole
armfui If correspondence. Most men OF his
wears and wealth would at least have mar
| 10 act as q GO between himself and pores
Reppars Of all classes, shades and denomina
tions. for causes public and causes private
flock to his house by the carload, and shower
letters upon him. He is called upon 10 con
,ribute to everything, from building church
or = college. to buying a meerchaum pipe fol
a moor. but popular truckman with . iargf
f.m;lv of small children. He is constantly
in RECENT of the most brazen and ridiculous
nf hayying letters One writes requesting
ram;,t.nce TO save a family from starvation
anotber wants to establish a gingerbread func
for an orphan asylum. The Ex-Governor car
hardly walk out of his yard, or ride from towr
~ The cars. but somebody pops into his fac'
s,h.cr;p,iou paper or asks directly FOL
money. MIR. Coburn seems to possess al
;nexhaustible store of patience. He seldom
ref,ses to listen to these people. lie couit
make money by hiring q good man to receive
these persons, hear their petitions, ope'
Iette-s. tell them or write them that incl
cases would be considered, and let that en'
!, II need be. But the Ex-Governor va
never known to refuse his AID In caus
~b;ch he considered deserving.
IN. makes no display of his wealth, "nas
v., Until recently he hasn't had coach
man, even. He is very regular in his ousi
90. habits. He arrives at the door 81 IN
r., National Bank, Of which he 10 Presl
dent before nine o'clock each morning, an
amer spending half an hour in looking owe
the affairs of the bank. is ready to receis
reople on business. after which he returns
Ii. home. The came trip is made at ~
o'clock in the afternoon. His wealth 10 est
o,a,ad .t six to seven millions OF dollars d
Of course can only be approximated. ne ~
his brother Philsnder owned u one u!
i timber lands worth four million ooilsss