Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-09-13
VIM. G. Heselton.


AS was briefly mentioned in this
paper Thursday morning, William G.
Hcselton died at 8 o'clock Wednesday
morning at his home on Hcselton
street. Death, however, was not due
to a complication OF diseases or to the
infirmities Of old age, but was the re-
suit of a fall which he sustained about
IS months ago. Previous to this he
had another fall, four years ago, and
the last accident was on the same
flight of stairs and the injury was the
same.
Mr.. Heselton was a native of Bel
grade, in which town he was born
Dec. %, 1922. He was therefore nearly
50 years old. His boyhood days were
passed in that town. He was the son
of Reuben and Hannah (Gilman)
Hcselton. When he was II he went
to Hallowell and as was customary in
those days was apprcnticed for three
years to learn trade. He chose that
of tinSlnith and until he was II
worked for Wood & Prescott.
FINISHING his apprenticeship he
bought pedlar's cart and for a num-
Der of years, on and off, he travelled
through the country, selling tinware
and Yankee notions. Then, in 1874, at
the age of %, he moved to North An
son.
1t was here that he was married, his
wife being Miss Elizabeth, the daugh-
ter of Capt. William Baker of Bing-
ham. Mr.. Heselton continued in the
tinware business, conducted a black
NTH shop, was the proprietor Of
saw mill and a grist mill and was also
the owner of one Of the best and lar
gest farms in the Arson valley at that
time. He was prosperous in business
until the big freshet of 1855 when MS
two mills were swept away and his
loss financially was a severe one. He
continued to live in North Arson. how
ever, until 1864.
During that year he moved to Show
hogan which has since been his home.
Before coming here he had leased for
term of four years the Elm House
on Rsusell street, now known as the
SkoWheSan House, and became ac-
lively engaged in the hotel business.
AT the expiration of his lease he
bought the Turner House making
many alterations and improvements.
This he run until the fire of May IS,
1881, which destroyed the hotel and
several other buildings. He then re-
tired from the hotel business and
from the ruins of the old Turner
House sprung the Heselton Hous..
conducted first by his son Frank, and
which was burned few years ago.
During the time he was in the Tur-
ner House and for many years after
he was extensively engaged in farm
ing. For years he operated each win
ter on his timber land located in Con-
cord, Moscow and Lexington and was
among the best known of the old time
lumbermen. He disposed of his tim
Der lands five years ago and up to the
time of his last sickness confined him
elf wholly to farming.
Mr.. Heselton was a remarkable man
He had a great capacity
for work. He VS. the first man in the
fields in the morning and the last 20
leave them at night. He was never
sick day in his life and the first time
that he ever employed a physician for
himself was at the time of his first
accident in 1903. His mental facul-
ties were clear up to within a few
months of the end
In politics he was a staunch Demo-
crat of the old school and stood by the
party through thick and thin. His
religious preference was for the Uni
church and he was ever will
ling to contribute to its support.
Nine children were born to Mr.. and
Mrs Heselton. Five of these, Charles
A., Ganzelo, Edward c.. Elizabeth and
Lydia, are dead. Those who survive.
beside the widow, who 50 lovingly
cared for him during his last sickness.
are Frank b., William H., Martin B. |
and Alphonso, all of this town. The
funeral will be held at the family |
home at II o'clock Saturday morning |
and the services will be conducted by |
Rev. h. r. Merrill, pastor of the Is
land avenue Congrega tional church |
Burial will be in the family lot in the |
South cemetery