I was at a Lincoln Club Dinner last night where our speaker, Kerck Kelsey posited that Isreal Washburn, the a congressman from Maine gathered a group of 30 together the day after the Kansas/Nebraska Act was passed and called for the forming of the Repbulican Party.
Isreal was one of 5 Washburns brothers who helped foster the rise of the party in 5 different states.
Mr. Kelsey recently published a book on Isreal and his contribution to Maine and National politics.
this was an unbelievably accomplished family. They are also responsible for starting many different companies that you would recognize today.
Their homestead - quite a home! barns, two churches - one they started using as a library - one with trompe l'oiel paintings and stained glass windows with fleur de lis motif? (Knights Templar?) and a tiny one room school, all set way off in the country. Today it's a living museum worth the look-see. (spelling= Israel)