By Muriel Bristol | March 17, 2024
Hervey Wingate Dorr was born in Milton, May 18, 1874, son of Charles C. and Melissa E. “Mercy” (Jones) Dorr.
Mother Melissa E. (Jones) Dorr died of chronic hepatitis in Milton, August 7, 1889, aged thirty-four years, ten months, and seventeen days. She was a married housekeeper. C.D. Jones, M.D., signed the death certificate.
Charles C. Dorr, a farmer, aged seventy-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his children, Althea Dorr, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), Harvey W. Dorr, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), Janie M. Dorr, aged nineteen years (b. NH), Ava Dorr, aged seventeen years (b. NH), George E. Dorr, aged fifteen years (b. NH), Daisy B. Dorr, aged twelve years (b. NH), and Ray N. Dorr, aged eleven years (b. NH), and his brother, Stephen Dorr, a farm laborer, aged sixty-nine years (b. NH). Charles C. Dorr owned the farm, free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration just below that of Leander D. Clements, a farmer, aged sixty years (b. NH).
Charles C. Dorr appeared in the Milton directory of 1902, as a farmer, at Plummer’s Ridge, at the Town house. Brother Stephen D. Dorr appeared as a farmer at C.C. Dorr, Plummer’s Ridge. Son Harvey W. Dorr appeared as a farmer, at Plummer’s Ridge, at the Town house.
Hervey W. Dorr married in Berwick, ME, October 28, 1903, Catherine Marie (McKenzie) Keene, both of Milton. He was a farmer, aged twenty-nine years, and she was a housekeeper, aged thirty-three years. Rev. M. Stevens performed the ceremony. She was born in Newfoundland, circa 1870, daughter of James J. and Anna M. (Folley) McKenzie. (She was divorced from her first husband, Charles H. Keene, and had a son, Carl H. Keene, aged fifteen years).
Hervey W. Dorr and Mrs. Catherine M. Dorr, both of Milton, received Sixth Degree instructions and initiation from NH State Grange officers in Dover, NH, December 21, 1904. Other Milton residents, Addie M. Clements, Etta M. Doe, Ruth Lyman Fall, H.F. Horn, Mary E. Jones, and B.B. Plummer, Jr., were initiated at the same time (NH State Grange, 1905).
Our Grange Homes. Maine. Grange. The following officers of Lewis W. Nute grange were installed Jan. 10th by John A. Edgerly of Tuftonboro: B.B. Plummer, Jr., M.; James F. Doe, O.: Ruth L. Fall, L.; Hervey W. Dorr, S.; Carl H. Keene, A.S.; Mrs. Mary C. Hall, Chap.; Mrs. Nellie B. Webber, Sec; Charles A. Jones, T.; J.W. Johnson, G.K.; Mrs. Ina Webber, C; Mrs. Lucia Jones, P.; Mrs. C.M. Dorr, L.A.S. (Brattleboro New England Farmer (Brattleboro, VT), February 3, 1906).
Milton, N.H. Charles C. Dorr of Milton Ridge has been quite ill at his house the past week suffering from a slight shock (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME, August 3, 1906).
Charles C. Dorr, a farmer (general farm), aged eighty-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his son, Hervey W. Dorr, a farmer (home farm), aged thirty-five years (b. NH), and his daughter-in-law (of six years), Catherine [((McKenzie) Keene)] Dorr, aged thirty-nine years (b. Canada). Charles C. Dorr owned their farm, free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Arvilla (Farnham) Wentworth, aged seventy-three years (b. ME), and Herbert Skinner, ice houses, aged thirty-nine years (b. MA).
Father Charles C. Dorr died of senile gangrene on Plummer’s Ridge in Milton, in 1913, aged eighty-three years, aged eighty-four years, four months, and twenty-seven years. He was a widowed farmer and lifelong resident. M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate.
Hervey W. Dorr appeared in the Milton directory of 1917, as a farmer, and owner of Lakeview Farm, Plummer’s Ridge, 1st north of [old] town house. (His father appeared too, but as a farmer, who had died September 24, 1913, aged eight-four years).
Stepson Carl Howard Keene, of 824½ W. 2nd Avenue, Spokane, WA, registered for the WW I military draft in Spokane, WA, November 17, 1917. He was a single farmer, aged thirty years (b. Boston, MA, August 5, 1887), working for Harry Bester in MacLeod, Alberta, Canada. He was of a medium height, slender build, with blue eyes, and brown hair.
Stepson Carl H. Keene of McLoud, Alberta, Canada, was inducted into the service at Spokane, WA, June 28, 1918. He served in Co. G, 158th Infantry, from then, traveling “overseas,” August 10, 1918, and was with them until September 20, 1918. At which point he was transferred to Co. L, 308th Infantry. The 308th Infantry were a part of the Meuse-Argonne offensive, which ran from September 26, 1918 through the Armistice, November 11, 1918.
Some elements of the 308th Infantry were cut off and encircled during the Meuse-Argonne offensive, becoming known as the “Lost Battalion.”
The following casualties are reported by the Commanding General of the American Expeditionary Forces: Killed in action, 438; missing in action, 983; wounded severely, 3378; died of wounds, 258; died of disease 288; died of accident and other causes, 4; died of airplane accident, 3; wounded, degree undetermined, 931; wounded slightly, 1200; total, 7521. The list for New England is as follows: … Missing in Action. … Carl H. Keene, Milton, N.H. (Kennebec Journal, December 16, 1918).
Private Carl H. Keene (#3139955) of the 308th Infantry was attached to Convalescent Detachment #68 (Sick and Wounded) when it sailed from St. Nazaire, France, on the S.S. Nansemond, February 19, 1919. His emergency contact was his mother, Mrs. Catherine Dorr, reachable by mail through Union, N.H.
CORRECTIONS. Wounded, degree undetermined, previously reported missing in action. Private Carl H. Keene, Milton, N.H. (Kennebec Journal (Augusta, ME), May 23, 1919).
Stepson Private Carl H. Keene was discharged March 11, 1919.
Hervey W. Dorr, a farmer (owner), aged forty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Catherine M. [((McKenzie) Keene)] Dorr, aged fifty years (b. England), his stepson, Carl H. Keene, a laborer (Milton Ice Co.), aged thirty-two years (b. MA), and his boarders, Dana H. Craig, a laborer (Standard Sand Co.), aged twenty-three years (b. VA), and Marion E. [(Morrison)] Craig, aged nineteen years (b. MA). Hervey W. Dorr owned their farm on the Plummer’s Ridge Road, free-and-clear. Catherine M. Dorr was a naturalized citizen, having immigrated in 1885. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Clark Tilton, a laborer (ice company), aged sixty-three years (b. NH), and Parker L. Saunders, a hoisting engineer (Standard Sand Co.), aged fifty-three years (b. ME).
Stepson Carl H. Keene married in Milton, May 2, 1920, Eva M. Lessard, both of Milton. He was a laborer, aged thirty-two years, and she was a domestic, aged twenty-six years. Rev. Owen E. Hardy performed the ceremony. She was born in Rochester, NH, April 11, 1894, daughter of Benoit and Delvina (Dion) Lessard.
The Milton Selectmen of 1925 were Fred M. Chamberlin, Charles S. Philbrick, and Hervey W. Dorr. The Milton Selectmen of 1926 were Charles S. Philbrick, Hervey W. Dorr, and Fred M. Chamberlin. The Milton Selectmen of 1927 were Hervey W. Dorr, Charles S. Philbrick, and Fred M. Chamberlin.
The Milton Selectmen of 1928 were Fred M. Chamberlin, Charles S. Philbrick, and Hervey W. Dorr. The Milton Selectmen of 1929 were Charles S. Philbrick, Hervey W. Dorr, and Fred M. Chamberlin. The Milton Selectmen of 1930 were Hervey W. Dorr, Fred M. Chamberlin, and Charles S. Philbrick.
Hervey W. Dorr, a farmer (general farming), aged fifty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-six years), Catherine M. [((McKenzie) Keene)] Dorr, aged sixty-one years (b. NH). Hervey W. Dorr owned their farm in the “farming district” on the Plummer’s Ridge Road, free-and-clear. They had a radio set. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Willis Nickerson, a laborer (ice dealers), aged thirty-two years (b. NH), and Charles Faulkner, aged fifty-nine years (b. NH).
Carl H. Keene, a farmer (general farming), aged forty-two years (b. MA), headed a Milton household at the time of the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of ten years), Eva M. [(Lessard)] Keene, aged thirty-six years (b. NH), his children, Nelson Keene, aged twelve years (b. MA), and Carlyne Keene, aged one year (b. NH), and his boarder, Annette Hill, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH). Carl H. Keene owned their house on Silver Street. They did not have a radio set. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Herbert R. Duntley, aged fifty-two years (b. NH), and Delphine Demerritt, an operator (shoe factory), aged twenty-two years (b. NH).
WEST MILTON. [by] Fred McGregor. Hervey Dorr, Milton highway agent, has commenced operations on the state old project on the Milton and Farmington highway. Here’s hoping Farmington will soon make an effort to match the progress already made by Milton (Farmington News, August 24, 1934).
WEST MILTON. [by] Fred McGregor. Highway Agent Hervey Dorr has been using the “drag” on his section of the Milton-Farmington highway, which has made a decided improvement (Farmington News, April 5, 1935).
WEST MILTON. [by] Fred McGregor. Thursday evening Hervey Dorr and crew have been at work trying to improve some of the West Milton highways, which some of us have reason to believe was the result of the activities of County Commissioner George F. Leighton of Farmington in trying to bring about a betterment of our highways. To state we are truly thankful to him is putting it mildly (Farmington News, September 13, 1935).
WEST MILTON. [by] Fred McGregor. Under the direction of Hervey Dorr, highway agent, construction of the Farmington-Milton road is well under way (Farmington News, October 11, 1935).
Hervey W. Dorr, a road surveyor (public highway), aged sixty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Catherine M. [((McKenzie) Keene)] Dorr, aged sixty-five years (b. Newfoundland). Hervey W. Dorr owned their house in the “Milton Community,” which was valued at $2,000. They had resided in the same house in 1935. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of John Tuskey, a farmer (farm), aged fifty-one years (b. MA), and Charles A. Faulkner, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH).
Carl H. Keene, a beaterman (leatherboard mfg.), aged fifty-two years (b. MA), headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Eva M. [Lessard)] Keene, aged forty-seven years (b. NH), his children, Nelson Keene, a stationary fireman (leatherboard mfg.), aged twenty-two years (b. MA), Carlyn Keene, aged eleven years (b. NH), his granddaughter, Sandra Keene, aged one year (b. NH), his brother-in-law, Walter Lessard, an edge setter (shoe shop), aged forty-three years (b. NH), and his boarder, Theodore Moody, a dryer (leatherboard mfg.), aged twenty years (b. NH). Carl H. Keene owned their farm on Silver Street, which was valued at $1,500. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Musetta A. Demeritt, aged sixty-four years (b. NH), and Harry A. Blair, a carpenter (leatherboard mfg.), aged forty-four years (b. NH).
MILTON MILLS. By Alfred W. Lewis. At the Milton town meeting last week the following were chosen to serve the town: Porter H. Durkee was elected selectmen for three years; Leslie O. Chase, treasurer; John E. Ham, tax collector; Charles E. Piper and Bard B. Plummer, auditors; highway commissioners, Milton, Hervey W. Dorr, Milton Mills, Clifton E. Hersom, West Milton, Arnold S. Julin; Herbert Downs, chief of police; William E. Madden, police officer for Milton Mills; John E. Horne, trustee Milton Mills Public Library. At the school district meeting Mrs. Agnes Hayes was elected to the school board, defeating Robert Page who has been a member for the past 30 years. Among the appropriations was $800 for parks and playgrounds $300 of which it to be used in this village. The town also voted to buy a $7000 summer and winter road machine, appropriating $1000 for this year and the balance to be paid by town notes (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), March 20, 1941).
Hervey W. Dorr, a farmer (farm), aged seventy-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventeenth (1950) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Catherine M. [((McKenzie) Keene)] Dorr, aged eighty-one years (b. Canada). They resided in the first house on the right on State Highway #16.
(The main road through Plummer’s Ridge had become NH Route 16, and, after NH Route 16 was shifted to its present location (as the “Spaulding Turnpike”), the main road became instead a part of the White Mountain Highway (NH Route 125). See also Milton and the Spaulding Turnpike)).
Carl H. Keene, a dry mill operator (woolen mill), aged sixty-two years (b. MA), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventeenth (1950) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Eva M. [(Lessard)] Keene, a cook (school cafeteria), aged fifty-six years (b. NH). Their farm was situated on Silver Street, 0.6 miles on the right.
Hervey W. Dorr died in Milton, November 13, 1956, aged eighty-two years.
DEATHS. HERVEY W. DORR. Milton – Rev. George Currier officiated Tuesday afternoon in Milton Community church for Hervey W. Dorr, 82, former selectman and road agent, who died Sunday. Burial was in Lebanon, Me. Peaslee Funeral home was in charge of arrangements. Mr. Dorr leaves his wife, Mrs. Catherine (McKenrey) Dorr, a sister, Mrs. Daisy B. Ramsdell of Rochester, and a stepson, Carl Keene, with whom he lived. He was selectman from 1926 to 1931 (Farmington News, [Thursday,] November 15, 1956).
The Milton Woman’s Club placed the names of Mrs. William A. Dickson and Mrs. Hervey Dorr on its Honor Roll in May 1960.
WOMAN’S CLUB GAINS HONOR WITH YEARLY SCRAPBOOK. MILTON. – Milton Woman’s Club received Honorable Mention on their scrapbook at the annual meeting at Wentworth by the Sea. The scrapbook committee was Miss Stella Veno and Mrs. Harold Stanley. Club member Mrs. Harold Johnson lettered the book. Attending the meetings were Mrs. Bard Plummer, newly elected president Mrs. Fred Eldridge, retiring president, Miss Stella Veno, Mrs. Henry Johnson and our two club members who serve on the registration committee, Mrs. William A. Dickson and Mrs. Joseph A. Boyd. Mrs. Dickson’s name and the name of Mrs. Hervey Dorr were placed on the honor roll. Mrs. Dickson was present to receive her corsage and Mrs. Dorr’s was brought to her (Farmington News, June 2, 1960).
Stepdaughter-in-law Eva M. (Lessard) Keene died of arterio-sclerotic heart disease at Frisbie Hospital in Rochester, NH, September 10, 1963, aged sixty-nine years. She was a married housewife. Samuel J. King, M.D., signed the death certificate.
Catherine M. ((McKenzie) Keene) Dorr died at the Gaffney Home in Rochester, NH, January 1, 1965, aged ninety-six years.
Deaths. Catherine Dorr. MILTON – Mrs. Catherine M. (McKennery) Dorr, 96, of Milton died on Friday, January 1, at the Gaffney Home for the Aged in Rochester, Mrs. Dorr had resided in Rochester the last four years. She was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland, but had lived in Milton most of her life. She was the widow of Hervey W. Dorr. Their home in Milton was on Plummer’s Ridge. She was the first president of the Oscar C. Morehouse Post #61 of the American Legion Auxiliary, President of the Milton Woman’s Club 1927-1929, a member of Unity Chapter #21, OES, and a member of the Community Church of Milton. Members of her family include a son, Carl H. Keene of Milton; two grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. Services were held at the Community Church on Sunday afternoon, January 3, with the Rev. Richard Visser of Milton Mills officiating. Burial was in the Prospect Hill Cemetery (Farmington News, January 1965).
Stepson Carl H. Keene died in Milton, April 26, 1975.
Reference:
Find a Grave. (2021, June 20). Charles C. Dorr. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/228715450/charles-c-dorr
Find a Grave. (2021, June 20). Hervey W. Dorr. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/228715541/hervey-w-dorr
Find a Grave. (2021, June 20). Carl H. Keene. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/228714075/carl-h-keene
NH State Grange. (1905). Journal of Proceedings of the New Hampshire State Grange. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=PWMkAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA7-PA83
Wikipedia. (2023, December 13). Lost Battalion (World War I). Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Battalion_(World_War_I)
Milton Observer 