THE EDES FAMILY OF DOVER-FOXCROFT, MAINE Sprague's Journal of Maine History Vol. VI Nov. Dec. 1918, Jan. 1919 No. 3 Page 80-82 George V. Edes was the first printer in Piscataquis County. He was born in Boston, Feb. 14, 1797 and died in Foxcroft, Maine. Nov. 26, 1875. He learned his trade with his uncle Peter Edes who was the first printer in Augusta and Bangor. He commenced with his uncle when a youth, being an apprentice when Peter was located at Augusta. He came to Bangor and worked for his uncle while he published the Bangor Weekly Register, which was from November, 1815 to August 1817. In 1823 he located in Norridgewock, and formed a partnership with Thomas J. Copeland under the firm name of Edes and Copeland for the publication of the Somersett Journal, the first newspaper published in Somerset County.; This partnership continued for about a year and a half when Mr. Copeland purchased Mr. Edes' interest in the paper and the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Edes, however, continued to print the paper until December, 1836. He located in Dover in 1838 and commenced the publication of the Piscataquis Herald. On October 13, 1825, Mr. Edes married Susan Witherell of Norridgewock. Their children were Augusta, Marcia, Caroline, Edward, Charles, Wm. Henry, George and Samuel D. The Piscataquis Herald was a four-page paper 12x18 in size, and the office of publication was as stated in the first number, "in the second story of the store occupied by A. S. Patten, Esq." This was on Merrick Square in the Village of Dover. The paper advocated the Whig cause in politics. In those days country editors engaged in partisan discussions more than today. Mr. Edes was a man of strong convictions and fearless in his advocacy of them. Political feeling ran so high that some of his enemies in 1838 made an assault upon his office by throwing stones through the window. In 1842 the name of the paper was changed to Piscataquis Farmer with the intention of remaining neutral in politics but when the presidential campaign of 1844 was in full swing it entered into it with its usual vigor. In 1847 the name was changed to Piscataquis Observer and has retained that name ever since. In the early seventies he formed a co-partnership with his younger son Samuel D. Edes and they continued the business as G.V. Edes and Son until 1875 when Fred D. Barrows became a partner of the firm and the name changed to Edes and Barrows. This partnership was continued until 1888 when the plant was purchased by the citizens of Dover-Foxcroft who formed a corporation know as the Observer Publishing Co. Later Liston P. Evans of Dover became sole owner of this corporation. Samuel D. Edes continued as its editor until this time. Mr. Evans is now and has ever since then been its editor. Mr. Samuel D. Edes is a resident of Foxcroft where he was born. Since leaving the newspaper work he has been actively engaged much of the time in real estate business. Edes avenue in Foxcroft Village is the result of his activities along this line. He has always been prominent in public affairs in the town, a Republican in politics, a member of the Congregational Church and Kineo lodge, I.O.O.F. (c) 1998 Courtesy of the Androscoggin Historical Society ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. * * * * The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification.