The Republican journal., 1908-10-01
lington Roberts. Allen and Marshall
were both excellent in arithmetic. and

were both excellent in arithmetic. and
showed an efficiency in general branches
In the few weeks of yearly schooling
when the methods of the time made the
pupil depend largely upon himself, as the
school books then contained little ex-
planatory of their own rules. TEACHING
as an applied science, was then unknown
in the district common schools, vet with
all those unfavorabie conditions for A.
curing knowledge the town of Brooks
and Waldo county produced the finest
type of men, possessing the most robust
character and intellectually.
Associated with other young men of
equal abilities and ambitions. some of
whom have since made themselves promi-
nent in the world of letters and finance
in various parts of the country, the Davis
boys worked their strenuous way upward:
taught school, but never for a moment
ceased to work. They married school
mates, daughters of neighbors, Allen to
take the home farm and care for the old
folks many years, as they both lived to
an advanced age: Marshall to be farm
er, teacher and merchant, until called to
responsible position at the county seat
by favor OF the electorate of the county,:
while Woodbury. who was the younger
and more delicate from childhood having
exhibited an unusual craving for books
and secured the neighborhood in search
of them, taught school when a mere
as member of the town school committee
shortly after becoming of the voting age.
He drifted TO Belfast to clerk in a store
at a moderate salary, that he might Sc
cure chance to read law books evenings
and lay the foundation for that superior
Judicial standing that he achieved in later
years.
Allen Davis, the eldest brother, was a
native OF Standish, as We're all Of the chill
dren, where he was born December 81,
1910, and was ten years of age when he
came to Brooks with his parents, to re-
main until his death. which occurred
December e, 1874. He can we'll be said
to have been a leader among mis- towns
men from the day Of his majority; more
naturally so than his younger brothers,
because, while not more radical or pro
nouncea in his opinions, he was more I'M
pulsive and self-assertive in his actions,
and for these characteristics, and his ad-
ditional years, was given the right of
way in the family circle. He was made
a member of the board of selectmen in
the thirties, forties, tifties and seventies,
nearly always chairman. He was
member of the experimenting school
committee, his brother Marshall succeed
ing him as selectman in Is43. He was
also town treasurer. The Davis boys
We're political Wings, by inheritance, but
connected themselves with the Abolition
party the year following the national
organization of that party in 1910. In
1913 Allen Davis was their first candl-
In+ ,+r,tiv
more votes than his opponent Andrew
D. Bean, who was a member with him
of the board of selectmen. Andrew D.
Bean was about the age Of Mr.. Davis
and was destined to become prominent
political leader in Waldo county as a
Democrat, and later as a Republican.
Neither of them were elected then, as
there were candidates from other towns
and majority over all was necessary IN
that day, many times wearing the voters
out by so many trials and sometimes the
effort was abandoned and the seat re-
manned vacant during the session. OF the
legislature Mr. Bean twice represent
ed that district at Augusta, although SIX
times defeated twice for senator. Mr..
Davis continued an active and resource
ful leader IN his party until it was merged
into the Republican party in 1854, with
his earnest Cooperation. Mr.. Davis was
also prominent in warfare upon the liquor
traffic in Brooks, and it was he who
welded the axe that smashed in the first
barrel of rum in the attack upon Boyn-
toms tavern, which raid ended all open
sale Of Intoxicating liquors in Brooks for
the past sixty years.
That Allen Davis could conscientiously
employ sonm of the methods of modern
politics was demonstrated in 1852, when
substantiallv united ii support Of Cover
nor John Hubbard, the regular Demo-
cratic candidate for reelection, because
he had signed the Maine liquor law, and
for that reason Mr.. Davis assumed the
right 10 greatly surprise Andrew D.