Frank Lester Mower, Milkman

Frank Lester Mower, my great-grandfather, was born in Bangor, Maine, on 17 September 1874, the son of George and Elizabeth (Eastman) Mower, the youngest of their seven children.

He was married to Mildred Mae Richardson in Bangor on 24 October 1900, with the Rev. E. F. Pember officiating the ceremony. Mildred was born in Corinth, Maine, on 22 January 1878, daughter of Charles O. and Josephine (Dexter) Richardson. They had two children: George Richardson Mower and June Elizabeth Mower (an interesting aside, although parents of only 2 children, they were grandparents to 25).

Frank owned a dairy farm on the Pushaw Road in Bangor.  He had a preference for the Ayshire breed (a preference he shared with the afore-mentioned Rev. Pember). He delivered milk in Bangor.  At a time when individual dairy farms had their own glass bottles, the Frank Mower bottle was a simple, plain glass bottle embossed with "F. L. Mower Bangor, Me." circling a big "M." Below is an advertisement that appeared in the 1926 Directory of Bangor, Brewer, Old Town and Orono.

Even though farming was a demanding job, Frank found time to serve on the Bangor City Council.  He was also a valuable and active member of the Queen City Grange and the East Bangor Congregational Church, where he performed duties in the Sunday school.  It is said that he had a fine character and disposition, making many friends through his life.

Frank died in Bangor at the young age of 52 on 15 July 1927 due to nephritis following endocarditis.  His death record also lists infection from bad teeth as a contributory cause. His wife survived him my many years, dying on 31 January 1963.  They are buried in Maple Grove Cemetery on Pushaw Road, directly behind the East Bangor Congregational Church that has been such an important part in the Mower history.