Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1921-03-22
John Lewis ChlldS.

News was received in this county last
week of the death of John Lewis Childs,
the famous horticulturist OF Floral Park,
Long Island, which occurred on New
York Central train running from Albany
to New York City, on the night of March
q. He was returning from visit to Cal.
iforuia. Before retiring, he conversed
with friend and was apparently In bis
usual health. On arriving In New York,
az he did not arise with the other pas
sengers, a train man Investigated and
found him dead.
Mr.. Childs is one of the men Of whom
the town of Buckfield and the County OF
Oxford are proud. In his youth he
dreamed of an earthly paradise, and In
after life his dream came true. Largely
through his own exertion.
He was born In North Jay, this slate,
May IS, 1855, son of Stephen and Lydia
A. (Chandler) Childs, natives OF Turner.
When John Lewis was II years old bis
father and mother moved to Buckfeld,
and 1t was in this town that he passed
his boy hood and received his education.
As boy be loved flowers and when he
became a man entered upon their propa
CATION. In 1874 he went to Long leland
aud worked year for V. q. Hallock q
Son, florists. Then he went into bust
ness for himself and in 1875 issued bis
first catalog of seeds, opened an office
and began q small mail order business
which has grown from year to year to
magnificent proportions.
He early purchased some 800 acres oil
not very promising land on Hampstead
Plains, but which he has made to bios
som like the rose, and upon which he
built up the village Of Floral Park, and
for q number of years he and bis EN-.
ployes made up the entire village
model village with home like cottages,
we'll kept streets lighted by electricity,
with a water system, churches and
schools.
His private residence Is In the centre
of ten acre lawn dotted with beds Of
rare plants and choice shrubbery.
By and by the land about Floral Park
became too valuable for cultivation, 81
he bought about 1000 acres near st.
James, Long Island, and re-established
his business there, calling the new place
Flower6eld Station. After Floral Park
was incorporated he was elected first vii
lage president and served two years.
He was interested In politics and ran
for Congress twice on the Republican
ticket, but as the district at that time
was overwhelmingly Democratic he was
defeated both times. In 1894 be was
elected to the New York State Senate,
and served two years. During his term
he put through q bill establishing the
State Normal School at Jamaica, and
another which practically gave the pa
irons of the Long Island Railroad . two
cent per mile fare.
He served on the Board of Education
of the Floral Park Union Free School for
more than 20 years, and was president OF
the board at the time OF his death. BE
was q member of the Board of Trade and
of the Jamaica Lodge of Free Mssons.
He was instrumental In starting the Flo
raj Park Methodist Church, OF which be
was member.
All his life he was . student Of orni-
thology and probably spent more than
$50, 900 for bis fine collections of birds,
eggs, minerals, insects, etc. he added o
small museum to bis residence In which
to keep these collections. His collec'
ton of North American birds eggs Ia
probably the finest In the country. BE
also had q fine place in South Pasadena,
Calf, which he visited every year.
he is survived by bis wife, Caroline
Goldsmith, one daughter, Mrs. John
Francis Schwieters, three sons, Vernon
G., Jay Lionel and Carleton Hathaway,
and one sister, Mrs. Walter N. Pike OF
Blanton, Fla, and one brother, Converse
& Childs of Buckf1eld. Ne,