Israel Washburn Sr.
1784-1876
In 1806 came to Maine from Raynham,
MA. In 1809, he purchased a Livermore farm
from Dr. Cyrus Hamlin. Israel
opened a store there and in 1812, married
Martha "Patty" Benjamin.
When the store failed in 1829, he turned
to farming. Thirty
years later he lost his sight from cataracts. |
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Martha
Benjamin Washburn
1792-1861
Daughter of Lieut. Samuel (Revolutionary War veteran) and Tabitha
Livermore Benjamin. She married Israel Washburn and she
bore him eleven children, ten surviving. She was a devoted wife
and loving mother who instilled ambition in her children. |
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Israel
Washburn Jr.
1813-1887
First child of Martha and Israel Sr. He became a Lawyer
in 1834, was elected to Maine House of Representatives in 1842,
to Congress--1851. Influential in forming the Republican
Party. In the 1860's, served two one-year terms: Civil War Governor
of Maine. Later became a collector of the port of Portland,
ME. |
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Algernon "Sidney" Washburn
1814-1879
He
became a prosperous Boston merchant, 1853--
a cashier at The Bank of Hallowell. In 1862-
organized the bank into The First National Bank
of Hallowell. |
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Cadwallader
Colden Washburn 1818-1882
The
first Washburn to travel West and make his fortune.
In 1842, he settled in Wisconsin and studied
law. In 1855 he was elected to Congress where
his brothers Israel, Jr. and Elihu were already
serving. During the Civil War, he rose to
the rank of major general. Returned to congress
for two more terms after the war and was elected
governor of Wisconsin. Founded Gold Medal flour. |
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Elihu
Benjamin Washburn
1816-1887
He became
a Lawyer and moved to Illinois-- From 1852--1869,
he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. 1869--1877,
he became U.S. Minister to France. Best
known for his personal and political friendships
with Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses Grant. |
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Martha
Benjamin Washburn Stephenson
1820-1909
Attended
the schoolhouse located near her family's home,
then her education by attending Waterville
Liberal Institute. She taught school in Livermore,
ME until she married Charles L. Stephenson,
a friend of Cadwallader, in 1849. She
bore him five children. |
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Charles
Ames Washburn
1822-1889
Graduated from Bowdoin college and went to work in the land office
in Washington, DC. He went west to joined the California
Gold Rush in 1849. The gold he found financed his career
as a writer and editor of a San Francisco newspaper. He
then became American Minister of Paraguay but had to be rescued
from his post by an American gunboat. He later wrote a two-volume
history of Paraguay and invented "Washburn's Typeograph" (The
Remington Typewriter). |
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Samuel
Benjamin Washburn
1824-1890
The only seafaring son, he shipped out at 18 and later became
the master of his own vessel. During the Civil War, Samuel
was Acting Master in the United States Navy and became an officer
on the gunboat Galena. During battle, he was wounded in the hip,
which left him lame for the rest of his life. Samuel returned
home to Livermore, ME and cared for his aging father. |
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Mary
Benjamin Washburn
1825-1867
Married Gustavus Buffum in 1858 and moved west. She had
three children but tragedy struck when Mary died after the
birth of twin boys, both who also died shortly afterwards. |
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William
Drew Washburn
1831-1912
graduated from Bowdoin College in 1857. He settled in Minnesota
with his wife where he constructed dams, flour and saw mills.
His flour mill eventually merged with the Pillsbury flour company.
He founded the SOO Railroad. He also became a Congressman and
later a Senator. |
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Caroline
Ann Washburn Holmes
1833-1920
Attended the local school before continuing her education at
the Waterville Liberal Institute and the Gorham Seminary. She
met Dr. Freeland Holmes in Orono, and they were married in 1857. They
settled in Foxcroft, ME until the Civil War broke out. Freeland
enlisted as a surgeon and died in 1863, leaving Caroline a widow
with two children. She returned to Livermore, ME until her father
died. Then she traveled to Wisconsin to be near her brothers,
Cadwallader and William. |
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