The Republican journal., 1911-02-16
OBITUARY..

Hon. James D. Lamson died February 9th at
his home in Freedom aged "a years. months
and l day. He was born in Nobleboro, Me-.
July s, 1916. His parents were James and
Mary (Davidson) Lamson. His maternal
grandfather. Alexander Davidson, served as a
soldier in the Continental army during the
war for independence. James 'Lamson, the
father of the deceased, was born in Damaris-
Gotta and when young man learned the car
penter's trade, which he followed in connec-
tion with farming. He served all through the
war of 1872, and for short time resided in
Nobleboro. He came to Waldo county in early
manhood. first settling upon a tract of par
TALLY improved land in the town of Knox. In
1887 he moved to Freedom, where he resided
the remainder of his life. He took an active
part in local and State politics and was rep
resentative to the legislature in 1928, when
that body held its session in Portland His
wife, who was a daughter of Alexander Da-
wilson of Edgeeomb, Me-, became the mother
of eight children, all of whom grew to maturi
ty 1t is remarkable fact that there was not
death in the family for sixty years. James
d. Lamson was educated in the district
school and at the academies in Freedom
and China, Me. When ready to begin
life for himself he decided upon the teach
ers calling and taught school successfully
for twenty eight different terms. For
twenty years after his marriage he resided in
Thorndike. and it was while a resident there
that he first entered upon public life, having
been elected to the House of Representatives
when he was thirty years old, he being the
youngest member of that body Removing
to Freedom in 1858, he conducted store for
four years and then engaged in manufacturing.
In 1876 he was again elected a member of the
lower branch Of the legislature, and in 1880 he
was elected to the Senate His connection
with the public affairs of Maine extended over
period of many years, during which he dis
played thorough understanding of parlia-
mentary rules and was in sympathy with all
measures to ensure a wise and honest govern
ment. He was president of the Senate during
the excitement caused by the attempted count
out in the session of 1880, and for eight days
was virtually Governor of the State. In
Thorndike he served as member of the board
VI oClSeehSh 4oi ilVS years anu SiuCS IeSiuiuS
in Freedom had acted in the same capacity for
ten years. For four years he oficiated as
Judge of Probate for Waldo county, and since
that time had been practically retired from
both official and business life. He served as
trial justice for forty years and during that
time heard over five hundred cases and united
3S2 couples. In politics he was firm sup
IL.
never known to deviate from its true
principles. He cast his first presidential
vote for Martin Van Buren in 1910 and had
voted for every Democratic candidate since,
with the exception OF Horace Greeley in 1872,
when he refused to support candidate who
married Jane Blethen, daughter of Joseph
Blethen of Thorpdike. and she become the
mother of five children, of whom died in
infancy. Those who grew to maturity were:
Franklin R., Isabel j., Hannibal H., and Joseph
A. Franklin R. Lamson enlisted in the Second
Regiment, Maine Volunteer Cavalry, for SER
vice in the Civil War; and became Orderly Ser
geant of his company. He died in Louisiana
while with the regiment, and, as he was promi-
nent in the Masonic order, his remains were
cared for by the fraternity, who placed them
in metallic casket and sent them to Maine.
Isabel J. is the wife of John H. Severance and
lives in Milton, Mass. Hannibal H., who re-
sides at the homestead in Freedom, married
Abbie Wood and has two children, Ethel and
Anna; and Joseph A, who became a teacher at
the Collegiate Institute in New York, married
Ola Bartlett and died leaving one son, Bart
lett. Hon. James D. Lamson was member of
Unity Lodge, F. & A NJ, of Thorndike, and
was its Master for three years; was a charter
member of the Grange and had been united
with the Congregational church of Freedom
for many years. In his retirement from bust
ness and official cares to enjoy well earned
rest he had the respect and esteem of wide
circle of friends and acquaintance.
With the death of Frederick Augustus
Dickey at his home in Northport, Saturday
afternoon, Feb. 11th, there passed from this
life of one of the best known residents of Waldo
county and the most prominent man in his
home town. He was the seventh child of
Robert and Sally (Wilson) Dickey, was born
August 20. 1929, on Dickey's Bluff and was the
last of his fathers family of six sons and four
daughters. He was a grandson of James
Dickey, whose ancestors moved from Scotland
to the North of Ireland, but after a brief set
tlement there came to New Hampshire. James
Dickey served through the Revolutionary war
in New Hampshire regiment and then came
to Northport and with family of eight chill
dren settled on Dckey's Bluff. The deceased
spent his early life on his fathers farm, at
tending school in the winter months until 1851
when he removed to Neponset, Mass, where
he engaged as house joiner with his brother
James, then resident of Massachusetts, He
returned a short time after and taught his
first term of school in the schoolhouse in the
Doyle school district. The building is now
more than one hundred years old. During
his life he taught some forty terms of school
in Northport, and also taught in Islesboro. He
served for number of years the capacity
of school committee and also as supervisor
For ten successive years, 1879 to 1884, he was
first selectman of the town of Northport, and
had served on the board several times prior to
this and a number of times since. With the
exception of the Office of road commissioner