Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-02-27
William A. Pidgin.

Few men IL any have ever malntaineu
An unbroken connection with the press
of Maine for so long time as did VIII
liam A. Pidgin, who died at his home In
Lewiston Wednesday morning. From
his fifteenth year up to the time that age
and failing strength necessitated his re-
tirement, q period OF almost seventy
ears, he was in active connection with
some Maine paper.
Mr.. Pidgin was born In Litchfield
March %, 1888. His father was Dr..
Joseph N. Pidgin, son of Rev. William,
and his mother, Diantha j. A. Rawson,
daughter of Capt. Abner, q prominent
early citizen of Paris.
He entered the Office of lions Advo-
cate in lS4S as an apprentice, and re-
NAMED there until March, 1851, when,
the Advocate having changed hands, be
went to Augusta and was employed on
the Kennebec Journal.
In May, 1883, George l.. Mellen, then
proprietor of the Oxford Democrat, hav-
ing been appointed mail agent on the
railroad and entered upon his duties,
Mr.. Pidgin came TO Paris and was placed
in charge of the Democrat Office. BE
continued in charge after Mr.. Mellen
sold out to q company, and until the
shares were bought up BY him and Ru'
fus s. Stevens of Paris. The paper was
published by W. A. Pidgin & Co. from
March, 1855, until November, 1857, Mr..
Pidgin being in charge throughout that
time.
1t was during the years of Mr.. Pid-
gins connection with the Democrat that
it underwent more of q change In char
acter than in any other equal period.
Previous to that time IL had been q
paper somewhat literary, and always po'
litical. Ii led In the movement which
eliminated in the formation of the Re-
publican party, and for many years the
volume of the energy put into its pro-
duction was devoted to its influence In the
field OF politics. Such news as Ii con-
tanned was mostly from foreign coun-
tries or distant parts, and the fles OF
those years may be searched for local
news with little result other than the In.
formation gained from the advertise
ments.
Under Mr.. Pidgin's administration OF
the paper, corps of correspondents was
organized such as every newspaper
which is to live must now have, and the
local news began to take the position
which II should have, as the main fea.
ture of the paper and Its real reason fol-
it's existence. In fact, under Mr.. Pidgiu
the Democrat was developed as real To-
cal newspaper
In 1867 Mr.. Pidgin sold the Democrat
to Col. F. E. Shaw, and accepted the po-
sition of business manager Of the Lewis
ton Journal, with which he has ever
since been connected. A few years
since he retired from the active manage
ment to position requiring less strenu.
Gus service, and for the past year or two
had not been able to attend to any active
duties at the Office, though he still main
tanned connection with the paper, and
contributed to it's columns from bis
home almost to the last.
In person Mr.. Pidgin was above medi-
um height, straight, and for most Of bis
life spare In figure. Time left Its i'm
press lightly on him, and it was q fire.
quent remark that he "doesn't look q
day older than be did the first time
ever saw him."
he was the only survivor of the char
ter members Of the Maine Press Associa.
ton, who founded that organization in
1884.
Mr.. Pidgin married Miss Martha,
daughter of Thomas Little, Of Augusta,
who survives him. They have no chill.
dren.