Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-29
ABBOTT ROOM At BoWDoIN.
Tower Room Of Hubbard Has' Me
mcntos of Famous Family.

most interesting sights of the place
through inability of time to enjoy its
tr assures, or through lack of knowledge
of the less prominent, but intensely en-
tertaning things there. For instance
how many people, have climbed the
winding staircase, set in its dark recess.
which leads to the high, oak pannelcd
room to be made the Governor Bowd0in
room, where hang original manuscripts
bearing the signatures of the dead and
gone EoWdoinS, where rest the private
libraries Of some Of these people, and
where in time will be gathered the
memorials of the founder and chief pa
iron of Iowdoin college?
And how many, when there have dis
covcrc,. the tiny, half hidden doorway
which opens from this room. high up
IN The third story of the building, and
which leads to a narrow, spiral stair
case, closely closed in by four walls,
Leading blinGly up and up, into 4 big,
handsome, brilliantly lighted room Il
way in the til top of the tower of the
Hubbard library? Few, probably, but
in the months tC come, many will di-
rect their researches. to this Tower
room, for this is tq9sbe made, and is
in process of being arranged for an
Abbott Memorial room. Sacred to the
memory of the famous Abbott family,
of which Massachusetts, and Maine and
BOwdoin college, are so justly proud
Under supervision of DIR. Edward Abb
bot. Of Cambrdgeport, Mass, and his
brother, DIR. Lyman Abbott, now abroad
this handsome, fOur-walled room, each
wall having big windows commanding
superb views of the surrounding coul-
try, is being fitted and furnished with
the properties, the relics and the treas
ures, belonging to the Abbotts. once OF
Massachusetts. later of Maine. The
history of the Abbott family is brilliant,
wide spreading, and comprehensive 1t
includes the history of some of the deep
est thinkers, most entertaining writers
and profOundcSt thcOloSianS oi anS
family in America. 1t is too far-reach-
ing for general review, but the recent
dedication of tablet to the memory
of Jacob Abbott, brings his immediate"
part of the family into public view. ana
makes the Abbott room at Hubbard III
brary specially interesting.
For many seasons BOWdoin college IS
| closely connected with the Ahhotts; il
has graduated many Of their sons. and
honcs ID graduate more in years t"
come. Rev. Edward Abbott himself.
| in speaking of the AbbOttS at ROWsloin,
| spoke of the five brothers. all of them
! graduates of Rowdoin. all graduates of
| Andover Theological seminary. all or
| da incd ministers. all connected with
some educational institution for boys or
| for girls and all but one authors OF one
| or more books. Thus. the natural r.
pns;tory of the Abbott family memen-
| tOS would seem tn be BOwdoln college.
| The history of the. family Of Jacob
| Abbot, as told by the direct descend
ant. Rev. Edward Abbott, is very in
| tcresting. There were. to begin with,
| three Jacob AbottS; the Jacob of An
| dover, Mass, great grandson of the
jacob Abbot. who came from England
/ and founded the family; this Jacob
| came from Andover to Wilton, n. ri,
| about 1150. and died in Brunswick, in
| 1926 Then there was his son Jacob
(2), who came from Wilton in about
| 171G and in about the year 1900 went to
| Hallowcil. where he opened store
and vas in business for lorg time.
| This Jacob Abbott while in HalloWcll
became interested in the business affairs
| of two Boston gentlemen, MeSSrS. Weld
and Phillips. who were at that time en-
| ga ged in the naturalization of Wild land
dealings, dowE in the province of Maine.
! then a part Of Massachusetts. Their
plans were to buy wild lands by whole
sale and sell them at retail. JACOB
| Abbot (2) was engaged by them as
| their agent in Maine to oversee their
business; and for the better manage
| ment Of these estates. h" removed 20
| the township which he named We'd.
near another locality which he named
| Phillips, and took up his residence.
| This Jacob Abbot it was who admin
| istered the contract of MeSSrs. Weld
and Phillips to pen UP the highway
from Weld to Coos county. New Hamr-
/ shire. a 60 mile road, then an imnenS"
| undertaking. His pay was taken III
land according to the fashion of tunes.
| In 1895 this Jacob Abbot (2) came TO
| Pennington, and purchased me itii.-
owned by Steven Titcnmb. me nrSt
| white child born in Maine. by the way
In 1897 his son Jacob (3), win MS VIE
ard three sons, came to i've Win ms
| ia thor. and bought the place since call
ed Few Acres. where he made his nome,
and which has become one Of the best
known places in Franklin county. rms
| Iacob ~. for the reason Of coilplica-
! lions occurring from so many Jacobs
| added Il at" to his name, anG the fam
| ilv since that time has spelled the name
abbott" This little farm he literally
redeemed from Il sand hill to beautiful
| residence place. 1t is related that each
| separate sod was &taked with his own
| hands or those Of his hired men. Z"
| tn" place where it was intended to
| take root and kept there. by wooden
pegs. until it had become a part of the
soil.
These men, then. arc the men whose
memory it is intended to pernetuate by
| the Abbott room at Rowdoin college.
| And i'll this room are already grouped
| hundreds Of interesting things connect
| ed with their lives and labors.
There is, first of all. the chart on
| which is deIineated the pedigree of the
family tracing back to the first Amer
lean Abbot. There is also a long il
| nun.ina ted scroll. bearing the coat of
| arms Of many an ancestor and family
| from which the AhbotS draw their
| blood. There ar" coat of arms Of
various English Abbcts. suitably in
ScrJbed and framed and portraits and