W

Wadlin, Jessie I.
(1841-1917) Born on Wadlin Road, Biddeford-was the 3rd generation on the family farm established by great-grandfather Deacon Moses Wadlin. Obit BWJ 12/28/1917, p.5 c.7.

Wadlin, Moses
Of Biddeford died about 12/24/1825. From Samuel Merrill diary, p.106.

Wakefield, Clement A.
(1857-1920) Home at 75 South Street. Northern selling agent of Saco-Lowell Shops – 1895. Lived in Biddeford 35 years – (Arrived 1885). Born in Kennebunk. BWJ 04/30/1920, p.1 c.4 and also p.8 c.5.

Wakefield, Ezra C.
(1891-1963) Father (Clark) died in 1937. Obit BDJ 11/18/1963, p.2 c.2.

Wakefield, Ralph B.
Sketch of life and description of his cabinet work, with pictures. See Biddeford Scrapbook #6, p.40-41.

Wales, Henry A. (Reverend)
(1832-1898) Former pastor of First Universalist Church. Died at home on Union Street. Grandfather of Harvey Gowen. Obit BWJ 07/15/1898, p.7 c.6-7.

Walker, Charles C.
(1856-1918) Principal of Spruce Street School for 30 years; (PHOTOGRAPH), from Souvenir of the Biddeford Public Schools (1901). Obit BWJ 03/01/1918, p.1 c.4-5. Career as educator, see Biddeford Scrapbook #6 p.123.

Walker, Dependance
Died on Gooch Island with consumption 07/28/1841. From Samuel Merrill diary.

Ward, James Sawyer Sr.
(1877-1944) Home on Ferry Lane. Son of John P. & Ann (Palfrey) Ward, sister was Mrs. Harry Legallee Sr. John P. Ward first appears in Biddeford 1866 directory as “farmer, Ferry Lane”. Died 08/07/1944. Obit BDJ 08/08/1944, p.2 c.2.

Ward, Jonathan (Reverend)
Died with fever 02/03/1826. From Samuel Merrill diary, p.108.

Warren, Frank S. (Doctor)
(1851-1920) Son of Francis G. Warren. Was born in Pownal, Maine, but parents moved to Biddeford before the Civil War. Graduated from Bowdoin in 1872. Married Harriet I. Fogg in 1873. Obit BWJ 07/02/1920, p.8 c.7.

Warren, Francis G. (Doctor)
(1828-1900) Born in Hollis, Maine. Civil War Surgeon. Father of Dr. Frank S. Warren. Began practice of medicine in Biddeford in 1855. Sued the Evening Record (newspaper) for libel, 11/18/1895. Obit BJ 04/06/1900, p.7 c.1-2.

Warren, George A. (General)
Died 01/18/1855, age 43 years. U & J 01/19/1855, p.3.

WASHINGTON STREET SCHOOL
Biddeford’s high school from 1848-1889, then became a primary and grammar school. (See also Souvenir of the Biddeford Public Schools [1901]).

Waterhouse, Homer T.
(b.1873) Lawyer. Became partner in the law firm of Cleaves, Waterhouse & Emery in 1899. See Bickford’s Local landmarks, p.23.

Watson, Fred C.
“Chairman of the horrible and fantastics Committee; is working to make the July 4th parade the best ever held here” (1919). From BDJ 06/30/1939, p.4 c.4, 20 years ago news column.

Watson, Marcus
(1831-1913) Home at 36 Pool Street. Sketch of career-was oldest printer active in state at the age of 75 (BWJ 04/13/1906, p.1 c.1-2). Printed Mercantile Advertiser (1849), Biddeford Gazette & Herald (1857), and the Daily Times. Obit BWJ 12/05/1913, p.7 c.3.

Watson, Oscar
One of the Watson brothers, who printed many newspapers in the city of Biddeford.

Watson, Will H.
(1843-1919) Home at Orchard Street. Died age 76. Mark, Oscar & Will were printers. In 1870 they published the Maine Democrat, in 1876 Mark started the Star, soon after the Star ceased, Will began the Miniature, a 5¢ humorous paper called the Illuminator followed that, soon selling up to 25,000 copies. Next came the Holiday Annual. See BWJ 01/04/1907, p.4 and BDJ 02/22/1949 “30 years ago column”. Obit BWJ 02/28/1919, p.8 c.3-5.

Webber, Aaron
(1807-1872) Buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

Webber, Horace L.
(1852-1905) Photographer of Saco. Obit BWJ 08/18/1905, p.8 c.7.

Webber, Moses W.
(1837-1899) Born in Biddeford, was Paymaster of the Laconia Mills. Founder of the Webber Hospital. Died in Pennacook, NH. Obit BDJ 06/20/1899, p.5 c.1 and BWJ 06/23/1899, p.7 c.1. Will of Moses Webber and controversy with Dr. Trull (BWJ 06/23/1904, p.8) Sketch of Webber’s life, BJ 07/20/1940, p.3 c.3. See also Biddeford Scrapbook #6, p.5.

Webber, Samuel
Death notice of Webber of Biddeford, age 54. U & J 06/16/1854, p.3 c.2.

Webber, William H.
(1862-1911) Lived on Wood Island. Had been traveling representative of Redpath Lyceum Bureau and well known locally. he & his wife had often entertained in his Wood Island home. Became deranged. Committed suicide. Obit BDJ 08/21/1911, p.8 c.2-4.

Webster, Nathaniel/Nathanael (Reverend)
(1749-1830) Born in Kingston NH, graduated Harvard College in 1769 and was a classmate of Theophilus Parsons, Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. Ordained in Biddeford 04/14/1779 (for sermons, see MS999 – [Webster, Nathaniel] folder); retired in 1828. Died in Portland at age 81, 03/08/1830 (from Samuel Merrill diary, p.124). See also Folsom’s History of Biddeford and Saco, p.294. His descendant in Biddeford was Miss Harriet Webster Marr (SEE ALSO Marr, Harriet).

Wedger, Abbie M.
Observed 100th anniversary [birthday?] at Fortunes Rocks. See Biddeford Scrapbook #1, p.1.

Welch, Samuel T.
(1837-1901) Home at 20 Union Street. Born in Ossippee, NH, came to Biddeford in 1845. Daughter Ina married Archie V. Maxwell, the Laconia Mills overseer. Obit BWJ 07/06/1901, p.8 c.2.

Wentworth, George
Circus career. See Biddeford Scrapbook #6, p.89.

WENTWORTH STREET SCHOOL
Public grammar and primary school. (See also Souvenir of the Biddeford Public Schools [1901]).

West, North N.
School committee member (PHOTOGRAPH), from Souvenir of the Biddeford Public Schools (1901).

Weston, Edward Payson
Passed through Biddeford on evening of 10/29/1907 on his walk from Portland, Maine to Chicago, Illinois. He was then 68 and celebrating the 40th anniversary of a previous Portland-Chicago walk. BWJ 11/01/1907, p.1 & 4.

Weymouth, Addie E.F.
Assistant, Biddeford High School (PHOTOGRAPH), from Souvenir of the Biddeford Public Schools (1901).

Weymouth, Gorham N.
(1841-1912) Lawyer and writer. Active in city government and community groups, often writing stories for various publications. See Bickford’s Local landmarks, p.9. Obit BJ 02/20/1912, p.5 c.1-7.

White, Samuel (Doctor)
First physician in Biddeford, came here from York, Maine about 1750. Died from consumption about 1756. See Biddeford Scrapbook #1, p.6.

White, Samuel (Captain)
Married to Sarah Peirson. Son, George A. White, died 07/19/1861, age 19. Family gravestone at Woodlawn Cemetery. Obit BWJ 04/14/1871, p.3 c.1.

White, Sarah Peirson
Widow of Capt. Samuel White born in old Peirson House. Obit BWJ 10/23/1891, p.3 c.3.

Whitman, David
Death and obit U & J 10/01/1858, p.2 c.2.

Whitney, Amos
(1832-1920) Obit from NY Times: Amos Whitney founder of the Pratt & Whitney Corporation and long term President of that concern and the Pay-Gray Station Telephone Company died yesterday 08/06/1920 in Poland Spring, Maine in his 88th year. Further references to him in the National Cyclopedia of American Biography v.15 & 32 indicate he was born in Biddeford, town in York County, 10/08/1832. Educated in Biddeford public schools and Saccarrapa (Westbrook). He was apprenticed in Massachusetts at age 13. [Note on card: McArthur Library staff could not find any birth records, and he wasn’t mentioned in Who’s Who etc…]

Whitten, Cora E.
Teacher at Washington Street third primary school (PHOTOGRAPH), from Souvenir of the Biddeford Public Schools (1901).

Wiggin, Fred B.
Personality sketch, quoted from Portland newspaper. BWJ 10/14/1921, p.8 c.7.

Wiggin, Kate Douglas
(1856-1923) Author of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm books. Born in Philadelphia, to Robert & Helen Smith. Robert, a lawyer, died when Kate was 3. Helen remarried in 1862 to Dr. Albion Bradbury of Hollis. Kate moved to California in 1873, then returned to Hollis and bought a house in 1893. Mother died in 1921, sister Nora died 1934. Family grave at Tory Hill Church, although Kate was cremated and her ashes were scattered on the Saco River. Obit BWJ 08/31/1923, p.7 c.4. See also McArthur Library photograph collection.

Willard, Samuel (Reverend)
See Biddeford Scrapbook 32, p.75.

Willey, C. F.
Proprietor of the Hotel Thacher and popular caterer from about 1894 through the early part of the 20th century. Also managed The Leslie hotel in Lexington, Massachusetts. See Bickford’s Local landmarks, p.29.

Wingate, Simon (Deacon)
Died 03/10/1802. From Samuel Merrill diary, p.4.

WOOD ISLAND LIGHT STATION
Wood Island, Biddeford Pool. National Register of Historic Places.

Woodbury, Ira P.
Famous racing driver for L.E. Wiggin of Biddeford, dies in Portland. Obit BWJ 02/16/1917, p.8 c.7.

Woodman, Lloyd G.
Died 12/28/1945.

Woodman, Melville
(1842-1923) Born in Buxton, Maine. Pioneer in insurance business in Biddeford. Father of King, Lloyd and Paul Woodman. Obit BWJ 03/16/1923, p.2 c.2.

Woodsum, Samuel (Deacon)
Of Saco, deceased about a week ago, aged 86 07/14/1841. From Samuel Merrill diary, p.167.

Wormwood, Robert Fulton
Editor of Biddeford Journal for 37 years. See Biddeford Scrapbook #2, p.93.