The Republican journal., 1916-05-25
A Few Notes on the Life and Work of
Col. Jesse Smart of Troy.

The following sketch was written for
the Lewiston Journal by Mrs. Nancy G.
Gilkey, formerly of Troy, now of Med
ford, Oregon, who is a daughter of Col
Smart and was born in September, 1881.
Her father was we'll known in Waldo
county, and this sketch will be read with
interest by many:
| have been asked many times to write
of my early recollections of my father
and his work in Maine
Quite recently friend has sent me
copies of the Lewiston Journal which
contained sketches OF the lives of early
residents who were active in their time
in the affairs of the State, and it calls to
my mind the Gays when my father was
busy with town, county and State af-
/ fairs.
Jesse Smart was born in the town of
Troy, then known as Joy, in 1902. His
early educational advantages wera limit
ed, but he was a great reader, careful
observer and an Industrious student. He
became thoroughly well-informed and
well-educated man, and as writer snd
public speaker, he was well known
! throughout the State.
ed for others, earning money thereby to
buy a farm which adjoined that of his
father, beautiful spot overlooking the
TWENTY-FIVE Mile pond" now called
Winnecook lake.
One of the first rooms that he finished
was his ''study' 1t was in that room.
among his books. that he secured the
education that helped him III after years
to become a successful man of affairs.
! When quite young man he married
| Nancy Clough of Camden. While still
/ very young man be took great interest
| In the business and Improvement of the
| town and county and for great many
| years represented his district in the State
| Legislature.
| | remember when very small child Of
| an occasional day when he would come
| home from the legislature to be with US
for day, and how we enjoyed those
visits, for he was one who made every
one around him happy. He was one of
the kindest of men. When visiting the
sick or those less fortunate than himself
he always took his pocket-book or some
thing from his well-stored cellar or gran
cry, but 1t was "a cheerful, friendly ma
ture more than gifts that made him a
welcome visitor at every home.
/ A great sorrow came to our home
when was 10 years of age. My mother
died, leaving six small children. Four
years later my father married Livonia
Hamilton of Burnham. She as nearly
filled mothers place as that is ever
possible. She was loving, kind wo-
man, and we had all felt the need
of a mother during those four years, but
she was frail and in few short years
Rod TO- nrf Nll
now than when our own mother died,
and she had been such kind mother to
US that we missed her as much as we did
our own mother She left two small
children who soon followed her.
Father went to California and planted
a fine orchard near Sacramento, which
was source of profit to my sister fam
lily for many years. He died in the win
ter, shortly after the election of 1860.
His last public act was to vote for Lin
coin. Father was Democrat, although
he voted for Lincoln when, for the time
being. the slavery issue dominated the
party of his choice.
One of my early recollections was the
militia drill in our fields, in preparation
FOR general muster day. Father was
colonel of the regiment for many years.
He was far above the average in stature.
handsome, commanding figure.
He was candidate for representative
in Congress at one time, but the Wing
party carried the State that year and
the opposing candidate, Benjamin White,
was elected by small majority. He
took very active interest in town i'm
provements, such as roads, bridges, etc.
Some years ago visited my old home
State. found but few OF my fathers
old associates, but it was great pleas
ure to meet a few One old gentleman
remembered the evening "schoo" in
my fathers study, where a dozen young
men used to meet with him and read and
study on winter evenings.
Winters when not in the legislature he
was often engaged in getting out ship
timber for Bath, Plttston and other ship
building ports.
4 He was always. even in those early
days, strong temperance man. Father
was in the senate the winter Neal Dow
came to Augusta with his bill for prohi-
bition and was the leading supporter of
the bill in that body.
l often used to hear father speak of
Rev. Ebenezer Knowlton, who repre-
sented Maine in Congress many years.
They were warm friends and when
father died Rev. Mr.. Knowlton preached
his funeral sermon. Mr.. Knowlton, too,
has passed to his reward.
NANCY G. GILKEY