The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-10-31
1.-THE Richest Man in Maine.
His home in skowhegan.
Lewiston journal. !

Lewiston Journal
Every morning, Sundays excepted, at few
minutes before nine o'clock, pair of black
horses and two-seated phaeton halt at the
door OF the First National bank at Skowhegan.
The First National Bank is one of those old
fashioned one story wooden buildings, painted
white, with ornamented triangle set into its
front, and wearing sedate look. 1t might be
mistaken for an orthodox vestry, but for the
sign over tho door. The team is common
place in respect to horses, carriage and driver
The horses are good, strong, clean-limbed
beasts, but their trappings and grooming
evince disregard of appearances The car
riage is free from gloss and style. There ara
no brass buttons nor green broadcloth on the
driver and there is no more on the box than
about the equipage, to show its owner and oc-
cupant is seven millionaire. The old gentle
man who alights and enters the bank is the
richest man in Maine, Hon. Abner Coburn.
The Ex-Governor lives in roomy, old-fash-
Toned house on the south side of the river,
within hearing of the music of Skowhegsn
Falls a portico, supported by large, futed
Doric pillars make the facade somewhat inn
posing. 1n0 mousse Is Sudu6u Dy large trees ana
perfumed by flower gardens Many a man who
can't pay 100 cents on a dollar, lives in a more
ostentatious house and makes more display in
the world than does the richest and one of the
best known of Names citizens.
Journal reporter tried the ex-Governor's
latch string few days ago. Mr.. 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 easy
chair with one foot on hot stone. He was
holding a council with two of his lumbermen.
Ex-Governor Coburn is 80 years old and is for
more reasons than one remarkable man. In
appearance he is venerable, but exceedingly
well preserved. The frosts of so winters have
given his head and face a wilderness that at
first sight startles one, and invariably evokes
feeling of extre me respect. in approaching him
A portrait on the wall shows him as he was in
his prime. He has lost none of the contour of
his form or countenance. Time has laid
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 was never better.
His sentences are quick, clean cut and business
like. His conversation lacks the emphasis of a
younger man, but it has the dignity and quiet
reserve of old age. The Ex-Governor watches
the course of current events and public affairs
with keen interest and has an unfailng fund
Of information on those topics He is close
observer Of the lamentations of the stock mar
ket. There probably isn't more thoroughly
posted or more sagacious stock buyer in Maine,
than ex-Governcr Coburn at so years.
His own efforts and astuteness have accumu-
lated his immense fortune. He was farmers
boy He was born in Skowhegsn, 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 possessions. He began
as a surveyor and an explorer. He penetrated
the wilderness for hundreds of miles, and IN
this adventurous and hardy pursuit. gained the
knowledge and skill which led to his profitable
investments in timber lands He is still active
lyengaged in numbering and personally directs
and superintends the management of his
affairs He has neither clerk to keep his &C
counts, nor a secretary to write his letters. If
a man comes in to buy township of land, he
conducts the negotiations and makes all the
calculations, himself. If another man comes
in to pay note, the millionaire of so years,
computes the interest with his own hand and
head. He writes all his letters anu mails
them himself. He frequently comes to tine
post-otfice. OF morning, with whole armful
OF correspondence. Most men of his years and
wealth would at least have man to act as
go-between himself and bores. Beggars of all
classes, shades and denominations, for causes
public and causes private flock to his house by
the carload and shower letters upon him. He
is called upon to contribute to everything,
from building a church or college, to
buying meerchaum pipe for poor,
but popular truckman with large family
of small children. He is constantly
in receipt of the most brazen and ridiculous of
begging letters One writes requesting re-
mlttsnce TO save family from starvation. An
other wants to establish gingerbread fund for
an orphan asylum The Ex-Governor Can hard
ly walk out of his yard, or ride from town in
the cars, but somebody pops into his face
subscription paper or asks directly for money.
Mr.. Coburn seems to possess an inexhaustible
store of patience. He seldom refuses to listen
to these people. He could make money by
hiring good man to receive these persons,
hear their petitions, open letters, tell them or
write them that their cases would be consider
ed, and let that end it, If need be. But the ex-
Governor was never known to refuse his aid in
a cause which he considered deserving.
He makes no display of his wealth, what
ever. Until recently he hasn't had a coach
man, even. He is very regular in his business
habits He arrives at the door of the First Ma
tional Bank, of which he is president, before
nine o'clock each morning, and after spending
half an hour in looking over the a fairs of the
bank, is ready to receive people on business,
after which he returns TO his home The same
trip is made at two o'clock in the afternoon
His wealth is estimated at six to seven millions
of dollars, but of course can only be approx
mated. He and his brother Phlander wned
at one time timber lands worth four million
dollars in Michigan and Minnesota. The broth
to four of Philander's heirs $4,000 each per
annum. Besides his large possessions in Maine,
the ex-Governar is said to own extensive lin
Der lands in the region of Puget Sound. There
are no heirs to bis property, but nieces He
was never married. A lady who has managed
his domestic affairs for quarter of century
is now his housekeeper. His only living broth
er, AlonZo, is in very feeble health and the ex-
Governor will probably survive him. There
is no one to perpetuate the Coburn name. OF
eight brothers, not one has left male heir.
The last of them (Stephen's sony was drowned
with his father, but few months ago. The
ex-Governor's iiberality is substantially shown
by the handsome court house in Skowhegan
which he built and presented to the county of
Somerset, 1t cost $4,000. The Ex-Governor
Colby University and the fitting schools con.
trl0utory to lis interests. Would that every
we4lGhy man were as wisely liberal as ex-Gov.
Coburn 1t is largely due to his capital and
business foresight that his native town has such
a briphf