Stetson Harlow Hussey (1887-1976)

From the 1921 Maine legislative composite photo.

  A practicing lawyer for nearly sixty years, Mars Hill resident Stetson Harlow Hussey served terms in both houses of the Maine legislature and in addition to his law practice was a lobbyist for the International Paper Company. The son of Harrison Otis and Lucy Lowell Hussey, Stetson Harlow Hussey was born in Mars Hill on June 10, 1887. A student at the Ricker Classical Institute in Houlton, Maine, Hussey decided upon a career in law at an early age, enrolling at Bowdoin College in Brunswick. He later graduated from Yale Law School and began his practice in Mars Hill in 1914. He married ca. 1915 to Gladys Wyona Goodhue (1889-1977), to who he was wed for over sixty years. The couple had two children, Mary H. Hussey McBride (1916-2016, aged 100) and Stetson Harlow Hussey Jr. (1918-2005).

  In addition to his law practice, Stetson Hussey served as a notary public and in the summer of 1918 announced his candidacy for the Maine House of Representatives. Remarked by the Mars Hill News as young and "ably qualified", Hussey hit the stump throughout that summer and would win the Republican primary in June. He went on to win the general election that November and took his seat in January 1919. Named to the committee on Education, Hussey made a visit home to Mars Hill in March 1919 and noted that not only was he enjoying his legislative experience but that "business at the capitol was being transacted expeditiously."

From the Mars Hill News, June 13, 1918.

  Announcing his bid for reelection in 1920, Hussey won a second term that November and during the 1921-23 session was a member of the committees to Inform the Governor of His Election and Legal Affairs. Early in his second term Hussey was named a candidate for Maine's assistant attorney general. His tentative appointment, given by Attorney General Ransford W. Shaw, was reported on by the Mars Hill News in May 1921, which noted:

"Mr. Hussey is one of Aroostook County's prominent young attorneys and was a member of the house of representatives from his class in Mars Hill and in the appointment the attorney general has used excellent judgement as Mr. Hussey is not only well posted in his profession but is a student and man with a pleasing personality as well as having the ability to do the work of the office in a most satisfactory manner."

 Ultimately, Hussey turned down the appointment to continue serving in the legislature, and in 1922 set his sights on a state senate seat. With two successful house terms behind him, Hussey's candidacy was boomed by the Mars Hill News in June 1922, which remarked:

"Of all the candidates for State Senator at the June primaries we know of no more logical candidate than Stetson H. Hussey of Mars Hill. We do not say this wholly because he is a local man but because of his business training and experience along these lines makes him well fitted for the position."

From the Kennebec Journal, January 5, 1921.

  Following his senatorial win in late 1922, Hussey served on the committees on Engrossed Bills and Sanitariums in the 1923-24 session and was reelected to a second term in 1924. During this term, Hussey returned to Aroostook County to take part in the county republican convention, and in April was named as its committeeman on resolutions.

  At the conclusion of his second term in 1927, Hussey returned to his law practice in Mars Hill and later served a term as president of the Aroostook County Bar Association. He would be joined in practice by his son Stetson in 1948 and retired from his law office in 1973. For a time Hussey had been a lobbyist with the International Paper Company, but no source notes as to his dates of service. Additionally, Hussey was a past master of the Aroostook Masonic chapter, a charter member of the Mars Hill Rotary Club, and a founder and honorary director of the Aroostook Health Center.

  Stetson Harlow Hussey died on September 4, 1976, aged 89, at a nursing facility in Presque Isle, Maine. His wife Gladys survived him by less than a year, and following her death in 1977 was interred alongside him at the Kings Grove Cemetery in Mars Hill.

From the Bangor Daily News, Sept. 6, 1976.

From the Waterville Morning Sentinel, September 6, 1976.