I am trying to research & document my family genealogy. My great grandparents lived in Presque Isle/ Houlton/Fort Kent area and are buried in the Fairmount Cemetery in Presque Isle. Their names were Frederick Forest Rice (1855-1932) and Margaret Elizabeth Jamieson Rice (1855-1938).
Frederick Forest Rice was the son of Leonard Rice (1829-1908). Leonard was living in Mapleton Plantation when he enlisted in the Civil War. Frederick Forest worked on the railroad and moved to Massachusetts to work on the railroad & later the electric streetcars there. Do you know if there are any early railroad records available anywhere? Or is there any other way you know of that I can research more about him?
Also I am trying to track down info on my great grandmother Margaret. It was always told (and accepted as fact) in my family that Margaret was a teacher and had taught at the first Normal School in Presque Isle, but I find that in 1903 when the school opened, they were living in Somerville MA. So I am curious if she taught somewhere in the area before moving to Massachusetts. I am writing to ask if you have any information about early schools and teachers in the area or any ideas on where I can look. Margaret and her family came from Canterbury, New Brunswick, Canada around 1862-65. Her parents were Hugh Jamieson and Julia Dickerson Jamieson.
Thank you,
Maryanne Rice McAden
Presque Isle town reports 1896-1900 (971.1 lib ref #) couldn’t find her listed as teacher, also PI Star Herald 1940 article on Normal School doesn’t list her as teacher . there were all sorts of country schools around and maybe she taught at one of them close to the Jamieson rd. in other yrs. not listed.maybe she taught at the normal school at a later date. Now known as the Univ. of Maine at Presque Isle–maybe they know something. Her obit may say something.
Maine Ref 974.11 Pioneer PI to 1859 History and Rem. by Steinhauer vol.I if correct person Hugh named on pgs.20,30,35,74.. I assume jamieson rd. named after him
PI library may have obits from the Star Herald that could be helpful, also has roe and Colby atlas which should show where land owned in 1877, 207- 764-2571
Maine REF 385.06J and 385.06A books on the B and A RR
Maine REF 625.1H book on the Aroostook Valley RR
Registry of Deeds in Houlton …grantor/grantee books 207-532-1500 may have useful info
Fairmount Cem on line , I believe you can see gravestones and other info available
ac