Book reveals insights on Dexter in 1930s

Maybe you remember the 1930s. Perhaps that was the era of your parents or grandparents.

Either way, a clear, easy-to-read collection of essays about those times may add to your understanding of small-town Maine, and add something to your genealogical research.

I’ve been reading Isabel Ansell Jacobs’ “Bubbles in the Sun,” about her growing-up years in Dexter.

The book fills a nice niche between the late 1800s when my ancestors lived in the town, and the 1950s, which is when my own memories begin.

I do have to disclose that I’ve known Isabel Jacobs since she was my “Mrs. Jacobs” of modern history class, 1966-1967, at Piscataquis Community High School in Guilford.

The geography, the mills, the schools, the library, the seasons, radio and magazines and V for victory, town meeting day and the era of the kicksled are all fodder for Jacobs’ memory sharing.

“Bubbles in the Sun” is available for $9.99 plus $3.50 postage, from the Dexter Historical Society, P.O. Box 481, Dexter, Maine 04930. You can also pick it up at Abbott Memorial Library in Dexter, or local stores, and save the postage.

You may have heard that the Dexter Historical Society recently published a book on farming life – “Our Neighborly Neighbors: 200 Years of Rural Life in Rural Dexter, Maine, 1800-2000.”

That book is available from the same address for $19.95 plus $3.50 postage. The authors are Carol Feurtado, a writer and genealogist, and Frank Spizuoco, a farmer and a founder of the historical society.

Another story of rural life in Maine is “The Prairie Chronicles,” written about the Brownville area by the late Priscilla Arbo Osgood, who lived in Bangor when I met her through genealogy some years ago.

There are old pictures from the Arbo and Snow families, among them relatives Tileston, Albion and Sarah M. Bumps Snow. And I love the little family tree on the back cover.

The book is $19.95, plus $1.50 postage, from the Brownville-Brownville Junction Historical Society, P.O. Box 750, Brownville, Maine 04414.

These works by Isabel Jacobs and Priscilla Osgood should make us all think about the books we have in us, the ways we might help others know the communities where we grew up.

After the Jan. 15 Family Ties about Elaine Bacon’s “The Chadbourne Family in America: A Genealogy,” available in several libraries, we had a nice note from Ted Chadbourne, chairman of the Chadbourne Family Association.

He pointed out another way to access the association’s Web site: www.chadbourne.org. He added that while annual reunions are held during the summer, major reunions held every five years are scheduled for foliage season. This year’s is Oct. 14 in South Berwick.

Also, the association’s new CD-ROM of the book was nominated for the New England Historic Genealogical Society’s award for technology combined with source documentation.

I also want to concur with another point Ted Chadbourne made, that the book is likely also “the most thorough book on the first several generations of Kittery immigrants Thomas Spencer and Daniel Goodwin, both of whom married into the family.”

You may write the association about membership and the CD-ROM at HC 77 Box 8350, North Waterboro, Maine 04087-9612.

3064. DILLING-STONE-BRADSTREET. Seeking info about ancestors and origin of William George Dilling, b. May 1, 1826; d. June 9, 1870; buried in Houlton. He md. 1) Judith H. Bradstreet, Dec. 15, 1851, Richmond, New Brunswick; 2) Lucy M. Stone, October 1858; and 3) Bathsheba Bradstreet, June 6, 1864, Houlton. The 1840 census lists a William Dilling with a child who might be William George. Have picture marked Margaret Dilling Tabor – Lucy Tabor’s grandmother. Was Margaret a sister of William George? Was Lucy the wife of Jim Tabor? Appreciative of any help. Harold Dilling Marden, 6699 San Casa Drive Unit Y1, Englewood, Fla. 34224.

3065. VOSE-STRATTON. Looking for descendants of Helen M. Stratton, who md. Harry E. Vose, Feb. 7, 1899, in Machias. Dorene Bartlett, 270 Webberbrook Road, Oxford, Maine 04270.

3066. FURBUSH-THOMPSON. Looking for info, ancestry, descendants of Augusta Furbush, b. Sept. 8, 1847, daughter of William and Mary (Jackson) Furbush. Augusta md. Cushman Thompson in Morrill on July 31, 1864. He was b. July 3, 1841, son of Thomas and Martha (McAllister) Thompson. Cushman d. July 12, 1932, Montville. Augusta Thompson d. March 3, 1909, Freedom. Augusta and Cushman’s children: Ora, Bertha, Abbie, Fred, Thomas, Hattie. My great-grandmother is Ora (Thompson) Downer. Henry Thompson Sr., P.O. Box 275, Brooks, Maine 04921.

Send queries to Family Ties, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, Maine 04402; or e-mail familyti@bangordailynews.net. Full name and address of sender required even if e-mail is used.