Albert M. Pattee, the third Selectman of Mercer, Somerset County, and well known throughout this section of Somerset County as a prosperous farmer and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in this township, February 2, 1840. A son of Amos Pattee, he conies of pioneer ancestry. The paternal grandfather, Joseph Pattee, came from New Hampshire to Mercer nearly a century ago, and bought a small farm in the township. A few years later he purchased the present Pattee homestead, and there afterward carried on farming and lumbering until his death.
Amos Pattee, who was born on the Pattee homestead, May 21, 1810, spent his life chiefly engaged in agriculture. He succeeded to the home farm, and also owned land in other parts of Mercer and in Smithfield township. Much respected for his enterprise and sagacity, his death on March 8, 1865, was deemed a public loss. He married Miss Arvilla Swan, who was born in Smithfield, Somerset County, July 15, 1814. Her father, John Swan, who settled in Smithfield in 1812, was married successively to Lizzie Chapman, Mary Eames, and Nancy Eames. His last wife, surviving him, subsequently married John Copeland, who removed from Quincy, Massachusetts, to Smithfield, Maine, and there followed shoemaking for a livelihood. Amos and Arvilla Pattee had thirteen children, of whom the third-born died in infancy; and Albert M., the fifth-born, is the sole survivor. The others were Julia, Edwin, Amanda, Helen, Oscar, Frank, Frances, Frederick, Warren, Carrie, and Eugene. Oscar married Ellen Osborne.
In common with his brothers and sisters Albert M. Pattee received his education in the district schools. He assisted in the daily labors of the home farm until attaining his majority, and then worked for a season in a store in Mercer village. In November, 1861, he enlisted in the Sixth Maine Battery, under the command of Colonel McGilvary. With his comrades he afterward participated in many of the more important engagements of the war, including the battle of Cedar Mountain, the skirmish at Sulphur Springs, the second battle of Bull Run, and the battles at Chantilly, Antietam, Dunphee, and Gettysburg. On the expiration of his three years’ term he re-enlisted at Richmond, Va., in January, 1864, and afterward served until the cessation of hostilities, being discharged in June, 1865, at Augusta, Me. After his return to Maine he spent a short time with his parents. Then he bought out a livery stable in Lewiston, and conducted it for two years. Subsequently he returned to the old homestead, of which he has since had charge, adding materially to the improvements previously made by his father. He now has a valuable property of three hundred acres, which he devotes to general farming, dairying, and stock-raising, being especially interested in the growing of sheep, of which he keeps a good grade. In politics He formerly voted with the Republicans. Of recent years he has been identified with the Democratic party. He has served as Selectman of the township for two years.
On June 18, 1870, Mr. Pattee married Miss Ellen M. Thurston, who was born March 22, 1844, in Casco, Maine. Her parents, Israel and Sallie (Edwards) Thurston, who resided on a farm in Casco during the first years of their married life, later removed to Poland, Maine, where they both died, the mother in 1850 and the father in October, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Pattee have five children, namely: Agnes, born May 23, 1871, who is the wife of Frank Caswell, a farmer in Mercer; Frank, born March 22, 1874, now assisting his father in the management of the Pattee homestead, who married Miss Lillian Tracy, of Mercer, and has one child, Beryl; Harry, born June 15, 1880, who died May 9, 1881; Angie, born June 20, 1882, who died December 31, 1882; and Rose, born October 13, 1884.
Source: Biographical review: containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine. Boston: Biographical Review Publishing Company, 1898.