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Israel Washburn

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Israel Washburn Sr. (November 18, 1784 – September 1, 1876)[1] was a Massachusetts politician.

Early life

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Washburn's family was from Massachusetts, to which their ancestor emigrated from England in 1631.[2] He was born in Raynham, Massachusetts, in 1784, the son of Israel Washburn and Abiah King. His brother was Reuel Washburn.

Settlement in Maine

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Today's Israel Washburn Homestead (also known as The Norlands) in Livermore, Maine.

Washburn moved north to Maine in 1806. He was a school teacher for a couple of years, before working in the shipbuilding industry at White's Landing on the Kennebec River.[1]

In 1809, at age 25, Washburn bought a homestead with some acres of farmland at The Norlands in Livermore, Maine. He settled there, working on the farm. He also opened a general store.[3]

Political career

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Washburn was elected twice and he served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, in 1815–1816 and 1818–1819.[4] He remained very active in local politics until 1829.

Personal life

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On March 26, 1812, Washburn married Martha "Patty" Benjamin[5] (1792–1861), daughter of Lieutenant Samuel Benjamin, a Revolutionary War veteran. They had eleven children with her,[6] ten survived, including seven sons. Their sons included Israel Washburn Jr., Elihu B. Washburne, Cadwallader C. Washburn, and William D. Washburn. Charles Ames Washburn was an elector and a diplomat.

Later life and death

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In 1829, Washburn's general store failed, and he returned to farming. In 1859, at age 75, he became blind. Two years after, he became a widower upon the death of Martha.

Washburn died in 1876, aged 91. He was interred in Waters Hill Cemetery in Livermore,[6] alongside his wife.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b In Memoriam, Israel Washburn, Jr: Born June 6, 1813, Died May 12, 1883. Priv. Print. 1884.
  2. ^ Ebenezer Washburn, His Ancestors and Descendants with some Connected Families : A FAMILY STORY OF 700 YEARS BY George Thomas Washburn; AMERICAN Misson Lenox Press, Panumalai, South India 1913
  3. ^ "Norlands".[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Washburn Family". Archived from the original on 2020-09-26. Retrieved 2017-03-12.
  5. ^ "THE WASHBURN FAMILY HISTORY". Archived from the original on 2021-05-10.
  6. ^ a b "Norlands opens for Living History Tours of Washburn family estate". Lewiston Sun Journal. 2015-06-30. Retrieved 2023-09-08.