Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-17

His extensive acquaintanceship witt
people in every part of the State, his
knowledge Of its manifold industries
pleasure resorts, highways, the means
of developing them and making oul
State attractive to visitors, dstin-
guished him as available citizen OF
Maine, as well as of the community ir
which he resided.
William Madison Aver was the sor
Of John and Olive Furber Aver, and
was born in Bangor, Maine, March %
1856, his parents soon after moved tc
West Waterville. now Oakland, where
he resided to the time of his death
He was educated in the public schools
Maine Wesleyan Seminary, Westbrook
Seminary, and was graduated from
Dean Academy, Franklin, Massachu-
sets, in the class of 1876.
He was particularly active in. the
industrial development Of his native
State, having served as superintendent
of the Somerset Railway from 1883 to
1907 when the road was merged with
the Maine Central Railroad Company
He was superintendent of the Dunn
Edge Tool Company for many years
until sold to the Seymour Manufac-
turing Company and later acquired by
the North Wayne Tool Company, Col
Aver being superintendent of the Dunn
Edge Plant at the time of his death
He was president of the Cascade
Savings Bank from February Is, 1906
to January II. 1924, he served on the
board of directors of the Messalonskee
National Bank, the Maine Central
Railroad Company, the Central Maine
Power Company. the Cascade Wooden
Mill, the Madison Wooden Company
and several other industrial corpora
tons.
His interest in the affairs Of the
community in which he resided Is
best evidenced from the fact of his
membership on the committees
charged with the remodeling of Mem
orial hall, the construction and equip
ment Of the public library, the bank
block now owned by the Augusta
Trust Company, and the extensive
buildings of the Dunn Edge Tool Com
pany which were erected under his
supervision.
Col. Aver was the recipient of many
public honors, and 1t is fair to assume
that he merited them. He served his
legislative district in the House of
Representatives 1S91-1893. He served
on the staff of Governor John F. Hill
as lieutenant colonel and was men,
Der of the state Senate 1905-1909.
He was best known throughout the
State as a member of the State High
way Commission, having been appoint
ed a member by Governor William T.
Haines in 1913 and serving continu-
, ousIy until 1923, the last three years
serving as chairman.
Col. Aver was particularly inter
ested in Freemasonry; he was raised
to the sublime degree of a Master
Mason in Massachusetts Lodge, No.
113 Of Oakland, was a member of
Drummond Chapter, Royal Arch Ma
sons, No. 81 and served as High Priest
in 1SS4-1SSS-1912 and was Grand Rep
resentative of the Grand Royal Arch
Chapter of Minnesota near the Grand
Chapter of Maine for 81 years and
held that Office at the time of his
death, he was member of Mount
Lebanon Council of Royal and Select
Masters, No. 13 and served as Thrice
| Illustrious Master in 1902. He received
the honors of Knighthood in st. Omer
Commandery of Waterville.
He leaves a widow, Lizzie Otis Aver
one sister, Mary Aver Cessieux. Paris
France, and three brothers, John Aver
of Boston, Mass. Benjamin Aver of
South Braintree, Mass, and Paul Aver
OF Tampa, Florida.
Col William Madison Aver used his
best efforts in behalf of the town of
Oakland to make it better place to
live in and some of the buildings in
| this village are monuments to his pub
lie spirit and should keep his memory
alive in years to come.
He was an active helper in every
industrial enterprise designed to pro-
mote the interest of the community
and was always ready to invest money
and time where there was the slight
| est promise of benefit to the town.
He had been in i'll health for several
years which tended to sap his physi-
cal energy. but the spirit that never
says die animated him to the last. and
he retained business positions that he
should have relinqulshed years ago, in
order to have safe-guarded his health
AS last resort he went to Florida
with the hope of recovering his failing
health, but alas, it was too late, and
he lived only a. brief time after his
return. 1t may be said of him that he
was a public spirited. honorable citi-
zen and a liberal contributor to chart
ty and every good and worthy cause.
His busy life is ended, and marks
the passing of one of Oakland's most
prominent and respected citizens in
to the Great Unknown. but his family
and friends may rejoice in the thought
expressed in "A Psalm of Life"
Life Is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not it's goal;
Dust thou art. to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul"