Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-01-23
The Nex Seereiarr Of Agriculture.

| pea tn4t toellon tof llle iSDs teiLA VI
twelve yeas.
Mr.. Mekeen was born 10 the old his
toric town Of Fryeburg, Oxford county,
and i. A years Of age. After graduating
from Fryeburg Academy Ar. xcheea
made teaching profession, teaching
school in the winter and carrying on his
farm in the summer season, following
this eourze until he had completed
twenty one terms Of school. M. Me
Keen has been supervisor Of the Fryeburg
| schools for six years. and the pFotnl-
nenee he has acquired 10 this petition,
"a shown by the facE that at the meeting
Of the Maine Pedagogical Society at
Portland this month he vas Invited TO
speak upon the subject Of agricultural
instruction ia the public scbo0ls-a mat
ter TO which be has given much attention
Mr.. Aekeen has always been practical
farmer, his speciality having been dairy
ing and he has upon his farm at West
| Fryeburg q good breed Of thoroughbred
Jerseys For several years he conducted
an agricultural department in the OK
ford Democrat which was made Of great
practical value, each paper cor
| taiuing valuable articles from his
own pen on the different branches
OF farming which were fully recognized
by the agricultural press of the country
and widely copied For four years MI.
McKeen was secretary o. the West
oxford Agricultural Society and has
always been prominent n the local sgri-
cultural Interests Of the county. His
lnterert in tax equalization, 10 which
farmers have for the pact few years been
greatly devoted, is evinced by the fact
that he ia secretary Of the Maine Farm
ers' Protective Union which did good
service before the last Legislature in
behalf Of tax reform. AS member of
the order OF Patrons of Husbandry
Mr.. Mekeen has been proml-
nant and efficient worker. Four
years ago Fryeburg Grange was estab-
lished with eighteen charter mem
bers and MI McKeen as master. Largely
through his own lersonal popularity
and interest 10 the order this grange now
ranks as the second largest grange in
the State-an almost unprecedented
growth-and this grange is as united as
It is large. Mr. HcKeen is also county
deputy of the safe Grange for oxford
county.
With the work OF the board Of agri-
culture MI. McKeen Is very familiar,
having been member for four years the
last o: which he has been its
president. During his term of service
or the board thus far, Mr.. McKeen has
been one Of its most active and inhuen-
tial members, and has given special at
teutlon to institute work. During the
past year he has spoken TO great accep-
lance at institutes in ten counties, treat
ing upon practical and progressive sub
Gets. and in 1880 spoke at even more
institutes than in lS9l. The volumes of
the agriculture OF Maine for the past two
years contain addresses before these in
sttutes by Mr. Mckeen upon such sub
jsuts as Business Farming Stock
Breeding as a source Of Fertility" and
"fmportance of Specialt,e5 in Farmiug,"
which take high rank with the best essays
to he found in these volumes Aside
from his work 10 connection with our
Maine Institutes. Mr.. Mekeen has assisted
in the work OF the New Hampshire Board
OF Agriculture at farmers institutes in
that state In the several hearings
before the last Legislature Ia behalf OF
increased appropriations for the agricul
tural department of the state and for
enlarged institute work, Mr.. Mckeeu
took most active and eitectual part -
no person working harder or accomplish
ing more than did he in this direction.
Mr.. McKeen is married and has TWO
children, boy Of seven years old
and q baby boy of one year. He lost
a beautiful girl of five years of age the
past fall, whose death caused great gtlef
In hi happy family. Socially Mr. Me
Keen has the bearing of the educ tcd
gent sman that he is. lie Is frank, gen
i4l and modest, possessing that quiet
demcanor which shows the cultivated
mind, yet being decided and manly in
hi intercourse with all. It is safe to
say that the work Of the Board
Of Agriculture will suffer moth
ing from its creditahls Iast in