Frederick W. Plaisted

Frederick William Plaisted (July 26, 1865 – March 4, 1943) was an American politician and the 48th Governor of Maine.

Frederick William Plaisted
48th Governor of Maine
In office January 4, 1911 – January 1, 1913
Preceded by	Bert M. Fernald
Succeeded by	William T. Haines
Sheriff of Kennebec County, Maine
In office 1907–1909
Preceded by	Frank J. Ham
Succeeded by	Colby Getchell
Mayor of Augusta, Maine
In office 1910–1911
Preceded by	Trebey Johnson
Succeeded by	Reuel J. Noyes
In office 1906–1909
Preceded by	Charles S. Hichborn
Succeeded by	Trebey Johnson
Personal details
Born	July 26, 1865 Bangor, Maine, U.S.
Died	March 4, 1943 (aged 77) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor, Maine
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Frances Gullifer (m. 1907)
Education	St. Johnsbury Academy
Occupation	Newspaper publisher

Early life

Plaisted was born in Bangor, Maine, on July 26, 1865, the son of Sarah J. (Mason) Plaisted and Harris Plaisted, who served as governor from 1881 to 1883.[1] He studied at local schools and at St. Johnsbury Academy in Vermont.[1] Plaisted established a career in publishing, and in 1889 succeeded his father as publisher and editor of The New Age newspaper in Augusta.[1] Plaisted also became active in the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, and attained the honorary rank of lieutenant colonel after serving on the staff of the organization's national commander in the early 1890s.[2] Afterwards, he was frequently addressed in newspapers and other records as "Colonel" Plaisted.[3]

Politics

Plaisted served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1896 and again in 1900.[1] He served as mayor of Augusta from 1906 to 1909 and again from 1910 to 1911. He was the Kennebec County sheriff from 1907 to 1909, and was the first Democrat to hold the office.[1]

Governor

Plaisted was the Democratic nominee for governor in 1910 and went on to win the general election, a rare statewide victory at a time when Maine was dominated by the Republican Party.[1] He served from January 4, 1911 to January 1, 1913, and was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1912.[1] During Plaisted's administration, the state government proposed a local option change to the Maine law prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages, which was defeated in a popular referendum.[1] In 1912 he oversaw the forced eviction of a 45-member mixed-race community from Malaga Island in the town of Phippsburg.[4]

Later life

After leaving the governorship, Plaisted was appointed postmaster of Augusta.[5] He served until 1923, when he retired and moved to Los Angeles, California.[5]

Death and burial

Plaisted died in Los Angeles on March 4, 1943.[1] He was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Bangor.[1]

Personal life

In 1907, Plaisted married Frances Gullifer, and they remained married until his death.[1]

See also

• Malaga Island

References

1. "Biography, Frederick W. Plaisted". NGA.org. Washington, DC: National Governors Association. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
2. Journal of Proceedings of the Annual Encampment. Harrisburg, PA: Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. 1890. pp. 11, 13.
3. "G. O. P. Loses Maine: Democrats Sweep State and Elect Col. F. W. Plaisted Governor". The Weekly Leader. Watertown, WI. September 16, 1910. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Pafundi, Jason (August 16, 2018). "Malaga Island: History hits close to home for educators". The Coastal Journal. Bath, ME.
5. "Death Summons F. W. Plaisted in California". Biddeford Daily Journal. Biddeford, ME. March 5, 1943. p. 2 – via Newspaperarchive.com.

Sources

• Sobel, Robert and John Raimo. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978. Greenwood Press, 1988. ISBN 0-313-28093-2

External links

• Frederick W. Plaisted at Find a Grave