The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-10-19
Death Of Major Parlin.

E'm Street ,ffioay morning, tne 18TH mat.
aged SO years, months. He had been
gradually failing 10 health for some
months, from the effects Of the wearing
out Of the physical system that comes
with increased years, without symptoms
that indicated auy specific disease.
Mr.. Parlin was born Ia Bingham, June
10, 1911, the eldest of the four Sons of
Captain Stephen and Elizabeth (Fletch-
err Parlin, the names of the others being
Epbraim, Levi and Wellington, all now
deceased except Levi, who lives In Oro-
vile, California. When about two
years Of age his parents moved to the |
Amos Fletcher farm about two miles /
above Bingham village on the west side |
OF the Kennebec river In the town of /
Concord, later Pleasant Ridge plantation. |
In his youth he attended school In Nor /
ridgewock, and was a clerk In the store |
OF bis uncle, Amos Fletcher, In that !
town. Later he was clerk in the store
OF Eben II. Neil 10 Skowhegan and after
ward clerk Ia the store OF Daniel Stew
ard In North Arson. General Franklin
Smith, afterward a prominent land own
er, lumberman and banker In Waterville,
was at the same time clerk In the same
store and these two young men after
ward married sisters, daughters of their
employer. Mr.. Smith died some Is years
ago.
10 1882 Mr.. Parlin entered into mer-
camille business here in Skowhegan, hav-
| ing partner named Jewett. They
erected the building on the corner of
Madison Avenue and Russell street, now
owned by Ross Bros. He continued In
trade In that location either In partner
ship or alone until lS46, when business
reverses caused him to retire from trade
for time. He went west with the view
of locating there, but a severe illness
caused him to return to Maine and he
loo ited 10 Machias and there engaged IN
trade in April 1847, his family following
in September of that year. He continu-
ed there in trade about years.
In 1851 he received the appointment
of register of probate for Washington
County, to fill a vacancy, holding the
office one year, when he was removed by
the Wing governor, Crosby, upon his
taking the Gubernational chair. He was
appointed postmaster Of Machias In 1854,
holding the office during the balance of
President Pierce's administration. In
1857 he was appointed collector of Gus
toms of Machias district by President
Buchanan and served during the term.
He held the office of trial justice in
Machias for several years.
10 May, 1864, he returned to Skowhe-
gan and purchased the Edward NC
Clellan homestead on Elm Street, where
he resided until his decease. He engag-
ei in agricultural pursuits upon his re-
turn here and of late, In his declining
strength and increasing years, had given
his attention TO the cultivation of small
fruits and large garden, one of the best
in the county, in which he took much
interest and enjoyment
In October, 1884, Mr.. Parlin was
united in marriage with Clymena Stew
ard, daughter of Daniel and Olive
(Patten) Steward, and there were born
to them seven children, Franklin S.,
George A., Gustavus s., Amos W., Ella
M, Olive and Stephen. Three of these
are living; George A. of Maehias; Ella,
Mrs. Charles II. Coolidge of Chat
tanooga, Tenn. and Stephen of Chicago,
Ill. Mrs. Parlin died July 10, 1872.
January %, 1877, Mr.. Parlin was mar
red to Mrs. Huldah Goodwin Lake of
Skowhegan, and she survives him.
Amos r. Parlin received the title of
Major by service in the State militia in
the days of his vigorous and active
young manhood. He was for some
years captain of cavalry in command of
a company at the time of the Aroostook
war and his command was held la readi-
ness to move to the scene of action, but
was not called upon. He was later pro-
NOTED to the msiority by Governor Hub
bard.
He was life long temperance man, q
total abstsner from all iptoxicants and
did not use tobacco in any form through
out his long life. He was one of the
active Westinghouse Of the town when
Washington Hail. the building now oc-
cuped by Baker & Marble, corner of
High Street and Madison Avenue, was
erected.
While In Machias, he became member
OF the order of Odd Fellows and Sons of
Temperance and WAS active In these
orders there.
He was life long Democrat and en-
ioyed the confidence of his party to an
unusual degree, because of his well
known probity and his popularity with
the people. He was man of convic-
tions and had the courage to maintain
them Ia his acts. He WAS made the
candidate of the coalition of Democrats
and Greenbackers In 1878 for one of
Somerset's State senators, his candidacy
adding greatly In strength to the ticket.
He was elected In 1873 and reelected in
1879, thus serving In the Senates of 1879
and 1890 He had planas IN imnortaDt