The Campbell and Hiscock family of South Livermore includes, seated from left, John Campbell, Mary Campbell Hiscock and Pearl Hiscock; standing, Asa Hiscock with bicycle, Jesse Hiscock holding the horse, Carlotta Hiscock in front of Jesse and Franklin Pierce Hiscock with horse. Photo courtesy of Edward Hamblin, descendant.

Campbell had Livermore’s 1st Boston Post cane

LIVERMORE – A neighborhood article giving details about South Livermore families on Sept. 7, 1909, in The Lewiston Daily Sun included this brief announcement:

“John Campbell, 97 years of age, walks around over the neighborhood with his gold-headed cane received from the Boston Post as being the oldest man in town.”

Livermore received its Boston Post Cane in 1909 from publisher Edwin A. Grozier. He sent more than 700 canes to New England towns to help advertise his daily newspaper. The canes were made of ebony wood from the Congo in Africa and prepared by the Fradley Co. of NYC. Each was topped with a 14-carat gold handle inscribed with the town’s name. The canes continue to advertise the Boston Post, which closed in 1957.

John Campbell was the son of Oliver and Sally (Andrews) Campbell, who came to Livermore from Raynham, Mass., about 1814. John was born in 1813 in Raynham, lived in Brettuns Mills and shared his early boyhood memories with Ira Monroe, author of Livermore’s 1928 history book.

John married Mahalia Hewett and they established their young family in South Livermore, next door to Ichabod Boothby, who made wooden parts for scythe handles.

Children of John and Mahalia included John W. Campbell, 3rd Maine Civil War soldier who died four months after enlistment, and daughter, Mary, who married Frank P. Hiscock. John and his wife are buried at Lakeside Cemetery, Brettuns Village.

Current Boston Post Cane holder is Ethelyn Nichols, widow of Tom Nichols of Maple Lane, Livermore.

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