Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-06

IS Jonathan Brown. Freeman, Avon. Phillips
and Kingfeld.
IS Joseph Burr, starks snd Mercer.
81 John Read. Strong. New Vineyard, &c.
PENoBsCoT.
81 Joseph Kelsey, Guilford, Sangerville, Dexter.
Garland ana Plantation No. 3. 9Th Range.
So Jonathan Knowles, Hampden and Sewburg.
IL Benjamin shaw. Newport. Dixmont Carmel
Hermon, Stetson and Plantation No. 4, 9th
Range.
10 DANIEL Wilkins, New Charleston. Blakesburgh
Levant, Corinth. Exeter and Plantation No.
/. Sd Range. and No. /. 4th Range.
IS BENJAMIN Nourse, Orrington, Brewer and Ed
dington Plantations.
iO7 Jackson Davis, Orono, Bangor and Sunkhase
Plantation
Brownvie. Wilamsburgh, Plantation No
/. 9TH Range. and No. 3. 7th Range.
James Loring Child, Esq. Clerk.
John Thurston, Assistant Clerk.
Rev. Ich ibod Nichols, Chaplain.
Moses Davis. Messenger.
Aaron Cham oerain, Door Keeper.
samuel Davis, Page
These men no doubt ranked among the best
citizens of the new State. Few of them were
literally educated, but most of them had been
we'll trained in practical affairs, and were
possessed Of sound heads and sturdy bodies.
few fragments of the personal history OF
one of the members of the House may serve
10 indicate the average character of the whole
BODY.
Among the names is that OF Fergus McLain,
representative from Hope and Appleton. Mr..
McLain was born in the town OF Bristol, in
Lincoln county, March ?. 1868. Many PEG.
pie of his name, descendants of the stock
from which he sprang. live in that and ad-
joining towns at the present time. He had
but little opportunity for getting even COM
mon school education, but learned TO be a
good reader and speller, TO write good, plain,
bap nd
for all common business purposes. When he
arrived at manhood, he purchased tract OF
land on the Georges River, then Incorporated
in the town of Hope but afterwards separated
from that town and joined to the town
Of Appleton. From Waldoboro to the land
hitch he took up the country was all wilder
ness, the path being only marked by "blazed
trees. But he plunged into the forest, built
a log house and commenced telling trees and
clearing his land. At first all his supplies
had to be carried upon his back from Waldo
boro, a distance of 10 miles. After he began
to raise wheat and corn, he carried his product
on his shoulders through the woods in bags
TO mill on the Megunticook Stream in Cam
den. twelve miles distant, where it was
ground into -four and meal for his little
family. His fields grew in size and he pros
pered. He built the first mills in Hope, and
thus gave his name to the village now known
as McLain's Mills. After the country became
more thickly settled he was called npon and
elected to represent the town of Hope in the
legislature at Boston. Five times he was
elected to this position, representing the town
in the Massachusetts Legislature in 1909,
1910, 1871, 1872 and 1913. He made the
Journey to Boston sometimes on horseback,
and sometimes took passage in some of the
cuasting packets which then ran between Cam
den and Boston From 1913 to 1919 the town
voted to send no representative TO the legis
lature and none sent. In 1919 Mr.. Nc
Lain was elected member of the conven
ton to draft State constitution and served
in that important body In 1920 he was
elected representative from H@Ie and Apple
ton, and served that year as a member OF the
first legislature held in the State. He was
again elected in 1928, also in 1924, and served
in the sessions which followed. He was not
a debater but his judgment was clear and
sound and HIS integrity unspotted.
Mr.. McLain was very popular in the towns
which he represented, and well he might
be, for he did many excellent things for the
people among whom he lived and was a noble
man in character as well As physique. He
died in the Goth year of his age, respected by
all who knew him. Such WAS one of the
men who sat in the first legislature of Name.