We continue our stay in Maine to profile another man with a truly amusing name...North West! While his name may stir up memories of the media frenzy that surrounded the birth of celebrity toddler North West a year or two ago, this North West was a Maine native who had a brief flirtation with state politics, serving a term in the Maine House of Representatives at the turn of the 19th century. Little could be found on West's life, and due to the dearth of resources mentioning him his write-up here will be as brief as his legislative service!
The early years of North West's life are shrouded in obscurity, except for notice of his birth in Massachusetts in June 1857. He would marry Beatrice L. Hall (1881-1974) and had at least two sons, George Milton (1908-1980) and William Hall (1911-1972).
Before his election to the Maine legislature, the only public office West held was a stint on the Biddeford City Council, first being elected to that body during the 1880s. In 1898 he was elected as one of two state representatives from Biddeford and during his term (1899-1900) held seats on the committees on Claims and the State Prison. Following his time in state government West continued to serve Biddeford in various local offices, including time as a member of the Biddeford school board. He would serve as its chairman from 1901-02 and during the 1904-05 board session was a member of the committees on Repairs and Supplies and Text Books and Course of Study.
By the time of his son William's birth in 1911 North West is recorded as residing in Kennebunkport, where he was the manager of a water company. Little is known about West's life following this point, excepting that he and his family later removed to Seattle, Washington sometime after 1920. West died there in 1943 and was later interred at the Acacia Memorial Park in King County, Washington. His widow Beatrice died in 1974 at age 93 and was also interred at this cemetery, as are his sons George and William.
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