Ephraim Spaulding was born on June 3, 1794 in Westminster, Massachusetts. According to his granddaughter, Hattie (Spaulding) Rand, "Ephraim Spaulding who as a youth came from Westminster, Mass., to the Providence of Maine seeking employment as a carpenter. He had heard that frame houses where being built in Embden so he came up the valley to what is now Madison, Maine and crossed the Kennebec river in a ferry boat. On the trail to Embden he became weary and paused for a rest on a hill side overlooking the river. He was impressed with the amount of cleared land and decided to someday build on the spot, which he did in a few years."
Ephraim became acquainted with the Weston Family across the river in Madison, Maine, boarding with the family while finding work building or framing houses. Benjamin Weston had received a large amount of property from his step-father, John Moor, who had married Benjanmin's mother, Eunice (Farnsworth) Weston, after his father's death and raised Benjamin with a promise to his mother to give him land once he reached the age of 21. Benjamin settled on the land in Madison which at the time consisted of 200 acres. A log cabin had been where the family lived and Benajmin hired Ephraim to build his frame house.
Benjamin Weston farm in Madison, Maine
The house was finished in 1817 and as with many of the homes Ephraim, Ephraim would build, were based on plans of his grandfather, Ephraim Heald's home in Temple, New Hampshire. During this time, Ephraim became acquainted with Benjamin's daughter, Mary Weston who he wed in her parent's home in 1820. Eventually Ephraim bought the land he had discovered several years before and began building his own home which he completed in 1828. The granite foundations, huge timbers rugged construction and generous dimentions indicate that he thought in terms of large buildings. The wide planed boards, handmade wood finish, double chritian doors, inside window shutters, were evidence of his accurate work, though most of it with tools that he made himself with handmade nails. The house had a brick oven and five fireplaces.
The same house in 2011
Patterson Bridge
Another somewhat famous landmark, Ephraim Spaulding is credited to building is the Patterson covered bridge bridge that spanned the Kennebec River between North Anson and Madison, Maine.
The Patterson Toll Bridge as it was called was built by Ephraim Spaulding between 1839 and 1840 and remained in existance until it burned in 1926.
Several other home in Madison and Anson area are credited built by Ephraim Spaulding according to the Madison Historical Society and most are in similar shape to his own home and his father-in-law's.
Ephraim is also credited to building the Union Church in North Anson.
Ephraim left his mark on many homes and buildings of the area. He died on November 25, 1851 in North Anson, Maine at age 57.
"In Anson, Nov. 25th, Mr. Ephraim Spaulding, aged 57. An esteemed citizen, a faithful and exemplary Christian, a liberal supporter of the Gospel, the church, of which he was a member; and the community in which he lived, with his deeply affliected family, sustain, in his death, a more than ordinary loss. But to him, the event is gain. He honored his Savior in life and in death. And the Savior honored him. Favored with reason to the last, and almost to thwe last with the power of speech, he gave to each of his family present, and to numbers of his friends, his parting words of affection and advice. He repeatedly said, with an aspect of serenity and delight, "I am going to be with Jesus." A sermon was preached on the occasion, from Pslams 12:1 - "Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men." [Christian Mirror, issue of December 23, 1851]
He was buried in Sunset Cemetery in North Anson, Maine with his wife and two sons.
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