Fred Edgecomb Bixby (1870 - 1940)

Born 15 Nov 1870 in Gardiner, Kennebec, Maine, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 22 Aug 1940 at age 69 in Islesboro, Waldo, Maine, United States

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Biography

Fred was a shoemaker by trade. He worked in various shoe factories all around the US. This family was very nomadic. They moved around a lot. I have tracked them living as far west as Iowa, down in New York City, and in many towns in Massachusetts. However, with all of the moving around, they seemed to treat the Gardiner area as "homebase", simply because they were both related to a significant amount of the population. It was easy to find a place to stay and get set up with work.

The story passed down is Fred and his wife Harriet Gertrude moved around often using aliases. Brown was a last name mentioned, likely derived from Fred's grandmother Harriett Brann. They also may have used the last name Harmon, a derivative of Grandfather Jaob Harriman.

It is interesting to track the births of the children. John was born while in transit to Iowa. They were not even clear where exactly he was born. His delayed birth record states Massachusetts, yet other documents claim New York and Ohio.

I once heard a story that Harriett Gertrude was in some trouble. This may explain the movements, the aliases, and the 1920 census. In 1920 Fred was boarding in Freeport, while the rest of the family lived in Randolph (neighboring town to Gardiner).

The family had moved to the Poland/Minot Maine area prior to Wilmer's birth. I suspect this must have marked some good time for the family because even though they didn't stay, some came back to the area. My grandfather, Arthur, spent his last year setting up a house in neighboring Hebron. Many of the next generation Bixby's moved back and still live in the area today.

Sources

• Maine, Birth Records, 1715-1922
• Maine, Marriage Index, 1670-1921
• Maine, Nathan Hale Cemetery Collection, 1780-1980
• Massachusetts, Marriage Records, 1840-1915
• Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988
• U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
• Iowa, Births and Christenings Index, 1800-1999
• Iowa, Delayed Birth Records, 1856-1940
• U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880
• U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
• U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007