By Muriel Bristol | December 24, 2023
George Winfield Cooley was born in Brighton, ME, March 9, 1882, son of Leander and Annastazzia M. (Gilman) Cooley.
Parents Leander and Annastazzia M. (Gilman) Cooley divorced in Somerset, ME, in March 1887.
Father Leander Cooley married (2nd) in Bingham, ME, October 18, 1892, Mary M. Brown, he of Bingham, ME, and she of Solon, ME. He was a divorced farmer, aged forty-four years, and she was a housekeeper, aged sixteen years. Rev. George Main performed the ceremony. She was born in Solon, ME, March 15, 1877, daughter of Elihu A. and Nancy (Wentworth) Brown.
MARRIED. Bingham – Oct. 19, Mr. Leander Cooley of Bingham and Miss Mary M. Brown of Solon (Lewiston Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), October 28, 1892).
Jonah S. Longley, a lumberman, aged seventy-five years (b. ME), headed a Solon, ME, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of four years), Annastazzia M. [((Gilman) Cooley)] Longley, aged forty-one years (b. ME), his daughter-in-law, Myrtie B. Cooley, a teacher, aged twenty years (b. ME), his son-in-law, George W.H. Cooley, at school, aged eighteen years (b. ME), and his servants, Nettie S. Rowell, a housekeeper, aged sixteen years (b. ME), and Frank F. Burton, a farm laborer, aged twenty-one years (b. ME).
Mother Annastazzia M. [((Gilman) Cooley)] Longley married (2nd) in Solon, ME, October 12, 1902, Jonah S. Longley, both of Solon, ME. She was a divorced housekeeper, aged forty-three years, and he was a divorced lumberman, aged seventy-seven years. (She was his third wife). Rev. E.T. Adams performed the ceremony. She was born in Bingham, ME, circa 1858, daughter of Leonard H. and Mary (Eames) Gilman.
Father Leander Cooley died of heart disease in Bingham, ME, May 2, 1906, aged fifty-seven years. He was a farmer.
SOLON. Mr. Leander Cooley passed away very suddenly, May 2nd, at his home in Bingham. Mr. Cooley leaves a wife and five children beside an aged mother (Independent-Reporter (Skowhegan, ME), May 10, 1906).
George W. Longley married (1st) in Solon, ME, April 30, 1908, Asenath Hargraves, he of Solon, ME, and she of Milton Mills. He was a clerk, aged twenty-five years, and she was a milliner, aged twenty-five years. Rev. A.A. Callaghan performed the ceremony. She was born in Milton Mills, December 10, 1882, daughter of Edward and Myra A. (Page) Hargraves.
Stepfather Jonah S. Longley died in Solon, ME, February 18, 1912, aged eighty-nine years.
SOLON. Mr. Jonah Longley, one of Solon’s oldest citizens, passed away, Sunday afternoon, at the advanced age of 89 years. The services will be held on Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock (Independent-Reporter (Skowhegan, ME),[Thursday,] February 22, 1912).
G.W. Longley of Solon, ME, and Milton Mills, was an agent for Royal Stock and Poultry Remedies in 1913.
$24 WEEKLY for man with rig to introduce Royal Stock and Poultry Remedies. Year’s Contract. We mean business and furnish best of references. Dept. B-6, ROYAL CO. OP. MFG. CO., Indianapolis, Ind. (Green’s Fruit Gower & Home Companion, February 1905).
WANTED – General Agent in your County to introduce Royal Stock and Poultry Remedies, under Government stamp tax. Big inducements to right party. Address G.W. Longley, State Agent, Solon, Maine, or Milton Mills, N.H. 4w16* (Independent Reporter (Skowhegan, ME), April 17, 1913).
George Winfield Longley registered for the WW I military draft in Milton, September 12, 1918. His address was Milton Mills. He was aged thirty-five years (b. March 9, 1883) and employed as a blanket folder by the John E. Townsend estate of Milton Mills. George Winfield Longley was of medium height and a slender build. He had brown hair, and gray eyes. His wife was Mrs. Asenath H. Longley of Milton Mills.
George W. Longley, a woolen mill folder, aged thirty-six years (b. ME), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Asenath H. Longley, a woolen mill binder, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH). George W. Longley owned their house, free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Charles S. Wentworth, a woods laborer, aged sixty years (b. NH), and H. Powers Robbins, aged fifty-seven years (b. NH).
George W. (Asenath H.) Longley appeared in the Milton directory of 1930, as employed at Townsend’s, with his house at Milton Mills. Brother-in-law Perley Rowell had his house at Milton Mills.
Perley A. Rowell, a milk dealer (own business), aged fifty-two years (b. ME), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills Village”) household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-nine years), Myrtie C. (Cooley) Rowell, aged forty-nine years (b. ME), and his mother-in-law, A.M. [((Gilman) Cooley)] Longley, aged seventy-one years (b. ME). Perley A. Rowell owned their house on School Street, which was valued at $1,000. They did not have a radio set. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Eugene H. Ayer, a telephone co. agent, aged seventy-six years (b. ME), and Hattie M. Rines, aged seventy-one years (b. NH).
George Longley, a farmer (general farming), aged forty-seven years (b. ME), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Asenath [(Hargraves)] Longley, aged twenty-five years (b. NH). George Longley owned their house on Main Street, which was valued at $2,500. They had a radio set. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of A.T. Dean, a retired musician, aged seventy-three years (b. NJ), and R.D. Cloutman, a dry goods salesman, aged fifty-four years (b. NH).
Mother A. [Annastazzia] Mae ((Gilman) Cooley) Longley died of a stomach ulcer and marked gastritis on Heaton Street in Rochester, NH, May 25, 1932, aged seventy-two years, nine months, and seventeen days. Louis L. Gilman, M.D. signed the death certificate.
Funeral of Mrs. May Longley. SKOWHEGAN, June 1. Funeral services for Mrs. May Longley, whose death occurred at Milton Mills, N.H., Wednesday, were held Saturday afternoon in that town. Mrs. Longley was the sister of Edmund Gilman of the Lakewood road. She was born in Brighton about 75 years ago, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Gilman She was twice married. Her first husband was a Mr. Cooley. By that marriage she had two children. Her second husband was John Longley of Solon who died many years ago. She is survived by two children: Mrs. Perley Rowell and George Longley of Milton Mills, N.H., and the brother Edmund Gilman (June 1, 1932).
MILTON MILLS. George Longley has been having steel put on a roof recently (Farmington News, November 16, 1934).
Asenath H. (Hargraves) Longley died in Milton, June 15, 1935, aged fifty-two years, six months, and five days.
MILTON MILLS. Everybody in town was deeply touched and saddened last Saturday when word was received of the passing of one whom we all had loved and liked. Asenath (Hargraves) Longley, wife of George W. Longley, passed away Saturday evening, June 15, at the hospital in Rochester, after a brief illness. Mrs. Longley was born in Milton Mills, December 10, 1882. Her parents were Edwin A. and Amanda (Page) Hargraves. She was united in marriage with Mr. Longley on April 29, 1908, at Solon, Me. For several years she had been employed as a blanket binder at the Miltonia mills and her services were greatly valued. She was a member of the Sunrise Rebekah lodge of this town. Mrs. Longley was a good woman, kind hearted and always willing to lend a hand to anyone in trouble. She will be missed in the home, lodge, place of business and by hosts of friends. Besides her husband, she is survived by an aunt, Clara Lowd, several cousins and other relatives. Funeral was held at the home Wednesday afternoon, June 19, with Rev. Frank H. Snell officiating, and interment was in the local cemetery (Farmington News, June 21, 1935).
Milton sent George W. Longley to Concord, NH, as its NH State Representative for the 1937-38 biennium.
George W. Longley married (2nd) in Milton, May 21, 1938, Thyra Elizabeth (Swenson) Benson, both of Milton Mills. He was a widowed hotel clerk, aged fifty-five years (b. Bingham, ME), and she was a divorced housewife, aged fifty-four years (b. Sweden). Rev. Leland L. Maxwell performed the ceremony. She was born in Stockholm, Sweden, July 15, 1879, daughter of Svante and Hilda C. (Lundgren) Swenson. (Her first husband had been Gustaf E. Benson of Belmont, MA).
MILTON MILLS. By Alfred Lewis. Benson-Longley. A wedding of considerable interest took place here Saturday, May 21, when Mrs. Thyra E. Benson, formerly of Watertown, Mass., became the wife of George W. Longley of this place, present representative to the New Hampshire State Legislature from Milton. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Maxfield, pastor of the Community Church of Milton at the home of the bride’s sister, Mrs. Henry A. Townsend. Only close relatives attended (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), May 26, 1938).
SKOWHEGAN. Mr. and Mrs. Perley Rowell and Mr. and Mrs. George W. Longley of Milton Mills were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Gilman the last of the week. Accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Gilman they attended the Gilman-Spofford reunion at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Adams in Solon on Sunday (Bangor Daily News (Bangor, ME), August 30, 1939).
George Longley, aged fifty-seven years (b. ME), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills”) household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Thyra E. [((Swenson) Benson)] Longley, aged sixty years (b. Sweden). George Longley owned their house on Main Street, which was valued at $1,500. They had resided in the same place, i.e., Milton, in 1935. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Robert Page, a barber (barber shop), aged sixty-three years (b. NH), and I.V. Townsend, aged seventy-two years (b. NH).
George Winfield Longley registered for the WW II military draft in Milton, April 27, 1942. His address was Post Office Box #62, Milton Mills. He was aged fifty-nine years (b. Bingham, ME, March 9, 1883) and employed by [his sister-in-law,] Mrs. Ingeborg V. Townsend of Milton Mills. George Winfield Longley was 5′ 6″ tall and weighed 115 pounds. He had brown hair, blue eyes, and a light complexion. His wife was Mrs. Thyra E. Longley of Milton Mills.
Milton sent George W. Longley to Concord, NH, again as its NH State Representative for the 1941-42 and 1943-44 biennia.
Brother-in-law Perley A. Rowell died in Milton, July 20, 1948, aged seventy-one years.
Perley A. Rowell. Milton Mills, N.H., July 25. Funeral services for Perley A. Rowell, 71, a native of Solon, Me., and widely known local resident who was mail carrier here for many years were held Saturday afternoon in the Methodist Church. The Rev. Roland L. Thornton officiated and the Miltonia Lodge of Odd Fellows, of which he was a member, attended in a body and there was a large delegation from the Sunrise Rebekah Lodge. Burial was in the Milton Mills Cemetery with the committal service in charge of the Rev. Mr. Thornton. Bearers were: Jacob Stevens, George Marsh, Daniel Jenness, and Fred Carswell, Jr. (Portland Press Herald (Portland, ME), July 26, 1948).
Ingeborg V. Townsend, a widow, aged fifty-eight years (b. MA), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventeenth (1950) Federal Census. Her household included her brother-in-law, George W. Longley, a grammar school janitor, aged sixty-seven years (b. ME), and her sister, Thyra E. [((Swenson) Benson)] Longley, aged sixty-eight years (b. Sweden).
WRITE-INS NAMED. Milton – At last week’s primary Charles Piper was given 22 votes by Republicans as 3rd nominee for checklist supervisor. George W. Longley received 102 votes and Bard Plummer 118. Democrats named Emma T. Ramsay with 22. For state representative, 22 Democrats named F. Everett McIntire, and he will oppose Ruth H. Dawson, who polled 94. In all 146 Republicans voted and 98 Democrats (Farmington News, September 20, 1956).
Thyra E. ((Swenson) Benson) Longley died of an acute myocardial infarction at Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NH, December 22, 1956, aged seventy-seven years, five months, and seven days. Percy C. Grigg, M.D., signed the death certificate.
MILTON MILLS. By Alfred Lewis. Mrs. Thyra Longly. Mrs. Thyra Longly, wife of George Longly, died Saturday, Dec. 22, at the Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester. She was born in Stockholm, Sweden, July 15, 1879. Funeral services were held in the Methodist Church, Dec. 26, with James Batten, pastor, officiating, assisted by Rev. James Cursy. Arrangements were in charge of Clarence Peaslee of Union. She is survived by her husband, three sisters, Mrs. Edith Serberg of Quincy, Mass., Mrs. Ruth Dawson of Milton, N.H., and Mrs. Ingborg Townsend of this place; a brother, Harold Swenson, California; three nieces and one nephew. Interment was in Milton Mills cemetery. Damon Pike, Warren Reid, Henry Currier, and Charles Willey were pall bearers (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), January 3, 1957).
Sister Myrtle C. (Cooley) Rowell died in Milton, March 8, 1959, aged seventy-eight years.
MRS. MYRTIE C. ROWELL. ACTON – Mrs. Myrtie C. Rowell, 78, widow of Perley A. Rowell and a resident of Milton Mills, N.H., the last 31 years, died Sunday at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Doris Lowd. She had resided with her since becoming ill six months ago. She was born at Brighton, April 8, 1880. Prior to moving to Milton Mills she had resided at Solon where she was a member of the Methodist Church. A member of the Rebekahs for 60 years, she was a member of Sunrise Lodge. Mrs. Rowell was a past noble grand of the lodge and was also a member of the WSCS and the Dorcas Society both of Milton Mills. Besides her daughter, she is survived by a brother, George Longley, Milton Mills, N.H.; two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Milton Methodist Church. The Rev. Thomas Stewart, minister, will officiate. Entombment will be at Sanbornville, N.H., with burial in Milton Mills Cemetery (Portland Press Herald (Portland, ME), March 9, 1959).
The Milton Supervisors of the Check Lists for 1961 were George W. Longley, Charles R. Piper. and Madeline E. Galarneau. George W. Longley ran again for Milton Supervisor of the Checklist in 1962.
MILTON CANDIDATES. Milton local candidates in the primary next month include: For representative, Mrs. Mildred Galarneau, former correspondent for the news; Mrs. Ruth Dawson of the Mills, who served in 1958-59; both Republican. For checklist supervisors, all Republican, George Longley, Charles Piper, Morton Roberts, Fred Eldridge. For Moderator, Lewis Piper, Republican; Everett McIntire, Democrat (August 2, 1962).
MRS. DAWSON VICTOR IN MILTON RACE. Milton – Mrs. Ruth H. Dawson will be the Republican nominee for the General Court. She out polled Madeline Galarneau, a newcomer to politics, 104 to 84. There were 204 Republican and 39 Democrat votes cast Tuesday. The 3 winners for the checklist Job were George W. Longley 143, Charles E. Piper 142, Fred R. Eldridge 118. Loser Merton L. Roberts was backed by 83 (Farmington News, September 13, 1962).
George W. Longley died at Milton Mills, May 21, 1975.
References:
Find a Grave. (2021, May 1). Mae A. Cooley. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/226333536/mae-a-cooley
Find a Grave. (2016, May 10). Mary Cooley. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/162422310/mary-cooley
Find a Grave. (2013, August 14). George W. Longley. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115431500/george-w-longley
Find a Grave. (2013, June 17). Jonah S. Longley. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/112455523/jonah-s-longley
Find a Grave. (2021, May 1). Myrtle C. Cooley Rowell. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/226333569/myrtle-c-rowell
Milton Observer 