Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-17

to factories and mills. Meanwhile she
continued to cater to her trade with the
popula ton of Dresden, Bowdoinham,
Bowdoin, Litchfield and Swan Island
for whose inhabitants Richmond is the
natural trading hub. OF late years
Richmond farmers have gone largely
into potato raising and ship large
quantities by the Boston boats.
As an attractive and hospitable home
town. Richmond has added to her pop
ulation. Successful families grown rich
on nearby farms have come in, COM
mercial men have here their homes to
which they are glad to return from
travel on the road children of the old
time ship building masnates continue
to reside in the family homesteads.
and the newer element gives new blood
and officials and working people of the
factories and mills are of high cred
of women and men.
A Pillar of Prosperity.
In every case where u dead town be-
comes live one there's a reason"
Invariably one finds this in some one
citizen of either unusual energy and
public spirit, or some leader with the
spirit and plenty of money which ne is
willing to put out. b In the case of
Richmond her citizens agree that il
Senator Noble Maxwell, her chairman
of selectman of 10 years tenure in all,
they have an official who combines
these qualifications and adds to them
remarkable business ability, tact, gem
crosby and push.
Senator Maxwell is a native of Bow
nj n han an n a a Gpif-
made man. His father was "wel-to-do'
in the humble phrase of earlier days, but
the father believed thoroughly in work
for his boys. If they wanted spending
money, they had to earn it and when on
the hay fields or wood lots of the neigh
bors they earned cash they We're allowed
by the father to keep it. My first Decent
piece looked bigger to me-" remarked the
Senator to the Journal man, than $4,000
does today" By working on the Kenne-
bee ice fields and experimenting the
stores and houses of ice cutters on the
river and by boarding himself in a shack
made with his own hands on the river
shore, he saved enough to buy out an in
terest in Bowdoinhams general store. In
four years he owned the whole business,
had made money in trade and when, be-
cause of i'll health caused by working on
the river ice, he sold his store in Bow
doinham to so to Southern California. he
cleaned up quite profit by this. his first
real commercial deal In the Bowdoin-
ham business, as trader, he also laid
the foundation for his success in his later
business life.
Leaving Maine for the West, young
NJ
years he weighed POS pounds and his
health had greatly improved. From
camping on the California foothills, he
became soon a Pasadena trader and his
Boston grocery store in that town
proved a coiner of cash. He sold out at a
profit, called on business back home and
became a Richmond resident Incidental
ly In those days when Pasadena and Los
Angeles We're 10 miles apart-they are
now practically so far as settlement il
concerned, but one great city-land wa
selling for six cents a foot. Trader Max
we'll bought some l0-acre corner lot i,
good location. He retains it today ano
will not sell, being interested in watch
ing its value grow. 1t has never been
built upon.
Fourteen years ago Senator Maxwell
formed the Rowe Bros. Co., which be
came. two years later, the Rowe Bros.
Co., Inc. The company then, as now.
consisted of the three Rowe brothers and
Senator Maxwell, four and no more, all
of Richmond. Its capital stock is S400, o60
and it has a fleet of five steam dredeers,
one of 800 tons one of 400 two of 500 tons
each and one of 11o0 tons. Another of
400 tons will be built this year. Its main
office is in Richmond, it has two offices in
Portland and one in Boston. Senator
Maxwell as president and treasurer, per-
sonally looks after all the contracts, and
business of the company, which is the
largest of its kind this side of New
York.
In addition Senator Maxwell has large
interests in banks in Massachusetts and
Maine. is president of the Richmond First
National Bank and as trustee or guar
dian. is in charge of many large estates
He is tremendous worker and likes to
look after all his interests himself. He
has his enormous affairs so arranged
that. were he to suddenly die, any out
slider in 20 minutes after looking at his
books. could tell just how each interest
stands.
Senator Maxwell was a member of the
Maine House in 1879 and is at present
serving his first term in the upper branch
as senator of Sagadahoc. He married
Miss Florence G. Hill of Augusta.
Other Richmond Men.
In Richmond the Journal man met sew
eral prominent citizens and found me
people good folks all. Some of them are
of nation wide fame. an example being
Charles E. Tallman, U. S. n. chief sail
maker, retired. who, after the admission
of Oklahoma, arranged the IS stars in the
American flag. A man with national
reputation among morticans is ]. Clark
Flagg, known for his genius, his writings
and his work. Judge w. T. Hall was %
years judge of probate of Sagadahoc and
Attorney Charles ID. Newell is former
county attorney of Sagadahoc young
Jeff'' Southland represents that leading
family and its interests and is the grand
son of the Commodore. DR.. Chas W.
Price can reel off stories of his own world
travels that eclipse those of any book
and his son, DR.. Wallace n. Price is a
high priest in Masonry and member of