Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-09-21

genuine SORROW at mis- death, for no one
can see who will take his place in mer-
camille and industrial life in the town.
John Aver, second son of Thomas b.
and Sybil Chase Aver, was born in Free
dom, Me-. in 1925: was educated at the
Freedom Academy and at the Maine Wes-
extraordinary mathematical talent, he
made special study of civil engineering,
and in 1851 was IN charge of the con-
struction of the RenObscot & Kennebec
Railroad. from W4terville to Bangor. and
until 1854 was acting Superintendent for
the contractors. From 1855 to 1858 he was
engaged in railroad surveys in Wisconsin
and Minnesota. He came to Oakland in
1888 and since then has been closely iden-
titled with nearly all it's business indus
tries. He first entered the employ of the
Dunn Edge Tool Co. as travelling sales
man in 1865, and was at once made treas
urer and general manager. From a cor
poration with nominal capital. the
Dunn Edge Too Co. became one of the
wealthiest in the State, and the largest
producer of scythes in the world
The Somerset Railroad was organized
in 1865. Mr. Aver became director that
year, was elected president in 1872, and
since that time has extended and man
aged the road against the opposition of
its enemies and discouragements that
would have appalled, and crushed ordi-
nary men. When the Somerset Railroad
seemed to have lost all of its friends.
when towns and individuals repudiated
their subscriptions, when it was neces-
sary to become personally responsible to
connecting roads for advance freight
charges. then its president became invin-
eibie He .Tas elected trustee of the
and first pl dent 4 the Cascade Saw
ings Bank the 81, ats ye0r.
IN 1879 Ia. .uHtssh, Cascade WOODEN
mill ready for fths u ichinery. was made
director and trea > scr OF me company
IN 1888. These positions of rust. In addi-
lion to the management of the Dunn
Edge Tool Co. ard the pre- sidency of the
somerset Railroad, he held till the day
of his death.
1t is not imperative to trace a mans
genealogy. to substantiate his claim to
an enviable position, earned wholly by
himself. One must be measured by his
success and judged by the community in
which he resides and by those with whom
he comes in daily contact To record
ones merits 50 universally acknowledged
S an agreeable task The lives of such
men as John Aver make history which
heir descendants may read with pardon
ible pride. and. closely studied. give a
clear knowledge of the strength which
develops communities and states and of
me motive power which controls them
tor the public good.
John Ayers boyhood sounded the key
roe ol Il future active HE. A student of
men and of literature, an original thinker,
deep reasoner and a conscientious oi,-
server of life's duties. one could safely
predict the successful business career
that pla ced him among the leading men
If the State.
Mr.. Aver was married in 1855 to Olive
\. Furber of Lewiston. by whom two
children We're born: William Madison
born in Bangor in 1856. who graduated
from Dean ACADEMY in Franklin, Mass.
member of the Maine Legislature in $780,
u. delegate to the Republican national
convention in Minneapolis in 1892, and
low superintendent of the Somerset Rail-
road: Mary, born in Oakland in 1865. edu-
Gated in Massachusetts and Paris,
France. now Mrs David X. Phillips of
Marblehead. Mass. Mr.. Aver was mar
ried the second time. Sept. -, 1880, to
Annabel Holt of New Sharon, Me-, by
whom he had three children: John, born
n 1883; BENJAMIN, born in 1885, and Paul
born in 1887.
John Aver exhibited marked character
sites. was a man of strong individuality
IF incorruptible integrity, reserved and
reticent, tenacious of his opinions. vet
most forbearing toward his enemies, and
charitable to a fault and always a Re-
publican in politics.