Roy L. Wardwell

Roy L. Wardwell
Maine State Auditor
In office
1917–1922
Preceded byJ. Edward Sullivan
Succeeded byElbert D. Hayford
Personal details
Born(1874-10-29)October 29, 1874
DiedOctober 17, 1949(1949-10-17) (aged 74)
Resting placeEvergreen Cemetery
Portland, Maine, U.S.
PartyRepublican
Spouse
  • Winifred L. Cushman
    ​
    (m. 1909)​
Children3
OccupationSailor
Accountant
Newspaper publisher

Roy L. Wardwell (October 29, 1874 – October 17, 1949) was an American newspaper publisher and politician who was the Maine State Auditor from 1917 to 1922.

Early life

Wardwell was born in Penobscot, Maine, on October 29, 1874, to LeRoy and Caroline (Buker) Wardwell.[1] At the age of 14, he went to sea as a cabin boy.[2] He rose to the position of master before retiring in 1898.[3] He then worked as a clerk for the McDonald Manufacturing Company and took accounting courses at Gray's Business College. On May 28, 1900, he married Winifred L. Cushman in Penobscot. They had three children.[1]

Career

Wardwell moved to Augusta, Maine to become an accountant for the Cushnoc Paper Company.[2] He was elected to the Augusta city council in 1909 and became the city's treasurer in 1915.[2] He was the Republican nominee for Maine State Auditor in 1916, 1918, and 1920 and won all three elections.[3] In 1921, Wardwell resigned to become the treasurer and general manager Gannett Publishing Co., a position he held until 1935.[3][2]

Death

Wardwell died on October 17, 1949 at his home in Portland, Maine.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 Hodgkins, Theodore Roosevelt, ed. (1926). Brief Biographies, Maine. Lewiston Journal Company. p. 267. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Wardwell, Former Maine Auditor, Dies". The Lewiston Daily Sun. October 18, 1949. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "State Auditor Wardwell Resigns to Go with Gannet Publishing Co". Lewiston Evening Journal. December 27, 1921. Retrieved 16 June 2026.