Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-01-01

The Oldest member of the House OF
representatives the present winter will b,
Hon. William Dickey of Fort Kent. H,
nrst served as a member of the. Maine
Legislature in 1s42, and, since that time
has participated in the work of no less
than 81 sessions.
Major Dickey was born in the town OF
Bristol, June 26, 1910. He Is, therefore
In is S5th year, although no one would sus.
pect the fact from meeting and conversinp
with him. He is in the enjoyment of good
health, and time has in no wise impaired
his intellectual vigor.
Major Dickey was the youngest of six
children-four boys and two girls He
came of hardy, long-lived stock His
father was shipmaster at Damariscottsl.
At one time his ship was taken by a
French cruiser, but he succeeded in re-
capturing it and brought it in triumph,
with his prisoners, to Wiscasset. He was
lost at sea in 1919. Mrs. Dickey Son af-
terward removed with her children to
Avon, where she built a log house and took
up farm in the wilderness. Here Will
liam lived until he was II years of age,
when he put his worldly possessions into
pack, which he carried upon his back,
and walked to Pennington, a distance Of
16 miles, for the purpose of attending
school at the old Pennington Academy,
one of the best educational institutions in
the State. He arrived there tired and
homesick, and without knowing where he
should find a place to stop Thomas
Hunter, a man who had known his family
at Damariscotta, saw him and took him
to his home. Here he made his home for
the next five years, teaching school win
tiers, working in the hay fields summers.
and in fact, turning his hand to any work
he could find that would assist in paying
the expenses of his education. Through
the influence of Mr.. Hunter he secured
the chance to ring the academy bell, and
in this way was enabled to pay for his
tuition.
He left the academy when he was 10
years of age and went to work in the
store of Col. Ben Eastman of Strong
working, the first year, for 81 a month
and board He remained there until he was
81 years of age, when he went into bust
4: al To
He was appointed postmaster of che town
by President jackson, and held the posi-
ton for II years.
In the fall of 1912 he went to Gardiner
and married Miss Frances l.. Bodfish of
that city, and moved there the following
year. He remained in Gardiner six years
trsaing, numbering and engaging in vari-
Gus business enterprises. During four
years of this time he had charge of the
city schools and was, for a time, one of
the deputy sheriffs of the county.
His health failed him, and by the ad-
vice of Governor Hubbard, himself a
physician of no mean ability, he went to
Fort Kent, northern Aroostook. Here he
purchased one half of the Fish river mill
privilege at Fort Kent and built mills. In
that bracing climate he also regained his
health.
At that time there was not a road, ex-
cent a pushed road, schoolhouse nor
bridge, within so miles of Fort Kent, on
either side of the river.
Major Dickey has labored necessarily
for the development of the rich resources
of this portion of Aroostook county, and
his efforts have met with gratifying sue
cess. He has been Jealous advocate of
it's interests in our legislative halls, and
so popular is he with his constituents that,
for number of years past, he has been
accorded unanimous election. He re-
fers. with just pride, to the fact that he
has never vet asked the Legislatures of
Maine for anything which he'has fail 70
secure. Today Fort Kent is one Of ehe
most prosperous and growing towing
Maine. 1t has good roads, axceueht
bridges and one CT the best Norni6l Schools
in Maine, with an enrolled I'd bstshtp Of
"a and an average attendance zof 80 "a
record which the major thinks win be
hard to beat. The many fried a. Major
Dickey in this city will be glad to well
come him to the Capital once more and
indulge the hope that he may be spared to
participate in the work of many future
sessions.
J. F. Frederick of Starks, was here, yes
terday.
,><ec;llo 1,l.t rauorthp-