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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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MAINE
A HISTORY
CENTENNIAL EDITION
BIOGRAPHICAL
DIRIGO
V. 4
THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEW YORK 1919
Pennino - $ 27.50 (FruG)
10/13/64
1274504
BIOGRAPHICAL
ME .- 2-1
BIOGRAPHICAL
HON. MORRILL NEWMAN DREW-The death of Hon. Morrill N. Drew, attorney, business man, financier and man of affairs, at his home in the city of Portland, Maine, September 25, 1917, deprived this city of one of its leading figures, both in the business world and that of politics. Mr. Drew, who was a son of Jesse and Clarissa (Wellington) Drew, came of good old Maine stock. His father, a native of Turner, Maine, in 1858 decided to settle in Aroostook county at Fort Fairfield, where he became active and promi- nent in the life of the community. Here, on May 17, 1862, his son, Morrill Newman, was born, and here Morrill's childhood and early youth were passed. He attended, as a lad, the schools of his native town. After some time spent at the high school there, his father sent him to the Little Blue School at Farmington. Later he attended the Nichols Latin School at Lewiston, from which he graduated in the year 1879. He then pursued the regular classical course at Bates College, from which lie was graduated in the class of 1883 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Meanwhile he had determined to make the law his career in life. It was with this end in view that he entered the law depart- ment of Boston University. Here, after estab- lishing for himself an enviable record as an in- dustrious and intelligent student, he was gradu- ated with the class of 1885, and received his legal degree. He now continued his studies in the law offices of Governor Powers at Houlton, Maine. The following year he took and passed his bar examinations, being admitted to practice in the Maine courts, and at once began his profes- sional career in Fort Fairfield. How quickly he rose into the confidence of his colleagues and the community at large, may be seen from the fact that in 1886, only one year after he had com- menced his practice, the people elected him to the responsible position of county attorney. They re-elected him the following year. It was this of- fice which first introduced him to public life, and from that time on until his death, he was a very conspicuous figure in the political affairs of county and State. In the years 1890 and 1892 he was elected to the Maine House of Representa- tives from Fort Fairfield. In the year 1893 he changed his residence from that place to the city
of Portland. It was natural that such an ambi- tious man as Mr. Drew should come to that point in the State, where the greatest opportunities, not only for the practice of his profession, but also for active participation in public affairs, awaited him. He at once established a law of- fice in the city and was soon well known as a leader of his profession.
Mr. Drew was one of those men whose mind seems equally capable of leadership in whatever department of activity they take up, and this is nowhere more obvious than in the fact that while actively engaged in professional practice and in serving the community in his several public of- ces, he was also making himself a conspicuous figure in the banking circle of the State. As early as 1888 he conceived the idea of organizing a national bank in Fort Fairfield. This ambition was soon realized and he was elected its first presi- dent. When he left his native town, his banking ability was well established for this bank had prospered greatly under his careful direction. This reputation he increased upon coming to Portland, for in 1905 he organized the United States Trust Company. This important institu-
tion had an immediate success and has steadily grown in size and prosperity up to the present time. A year before Mr. Drew's death, it was re- moved to larger and more commodious quarters at the corner of Middle and Exchange streets, Portland. As vice-president and treasurer of this company, Mr. Drew maintained the keenest in- terest in its welfare from the time of its found- ing until his death.
In the year 1902 the people of Portland chose him to represent them in the State Legislature, where he had already served two terms from Fort Fairfield, and again in 1904. In 1905, when the house organized, he was chosen its speaker, where he served with great distinction in this difficult position. He had a complete and thorough knowl- edge of parliamentary order. His keen sense of justice and non-partisanship made him deeply be- loved by his fellow legislators, and gave him a quite unusual influence with both sides of the house. He was a staunch Republican in politics, and al- ways acted for the best interests of his party so long as he felt that these did not conflict with
HISTORY OF MAINE
public welfare. Indeed, he became one of the leaders of his party in the State, and in the year 1912 was chosen a delegate-at-large to the Re- publican National Convention at Chicago. Mr. Drew, who was the chairman of the delegation front Maine, went to the convention thoroughly in sympathy with the cause of Mr. Roosevelt. Mr. Drew's remarkable ability as an organizer and leader brought him immediately into a conspicu- ous place in the convention, where he became one of the group of men who directed its affairs. Col- onel Roosevelt, who was not slow to perceive how able a lieutenant he had in Mr. Drew, at once decided to confide to him his plans. It is a well admitted fact to those who came into close con- tact with the procedure of that convention, that had Mr. Drew's suggestions as to the course to be pursued been followed by Colonel Roosevelt's supporters, a very different outcome might have resulted.
In addition to his professional, banking and poli- tical activities, Mr. Drew was ever ready to take part in any movement which he believed would be to the advancement of the welfare of the com- munity. He was asked to fill a great number of public positions, aside from those connected with politics, and in a large majority of cases he ac- cepted. In 1907 the Legislature passed a resolve providing for the appointment of a tax commis- sion. The duties of this commission were to be the investigation of the tax laws of Maine and other states, and a report to the Legislature of 1909 recommending such changes in the existing laws as seemed wise. When Governor Cobb se- lected the members of the commission, Mr. Drew was named as its chairman. The report which the commission returned to the Legislature of 1909, written by Mr. Drew, who had made a very careful investigation of the entire field, as this work seemed to interest him especially, was one of the most complete and instructive documents ever presented before the Legislature of the State of Maine. The theories and systems were clearly and accurately set forth in such a manner that the recommendations of this commission were extremely valuable to the State. In fact, the re- port attracted wide attention both in and outside of the State. As a result of this report, the Com- mission of Public Utilities was formed. This or- ganization was to be of a permanent nature, and Mr. Drew was asked to serve as its chairman. This position he was obliged to refuse as it would have necessitated a change of residence from Portland to Augusta. The United States Census of 1910 was taken under the supervision of two
directors. Mr. Drew was appointed as supervisor for the western part of the State. By his energy and splendid executive ability he accomplished the difficult task in the brief time allotted and re- ceived the high commendation of the Census Bu- reau for his work. During the last few years of his life, many prominent men of his party, urged Mr. Drew many times to accept the nomination of governor of the State. These offers he always refused.
Mr. Drew was elected to the board of the Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary in 1903, and in 1915 was made its president. He also served as chairman of its executive committee from 1914 until his death. He was most interested in the cause of this institution as he realized that the misfortunes which it prevented were indeed great. He was a Universalist, and at one time served as president of the Maine Universalist Convention. He was also interested in many other philanthropic and educational movements. Among others he served as trustee and treasurer of Westbrook Seminary, president of the Maine Institution for the Blind, and trustee of the Maine Home for Friendless Boys.
He was a member of the Society of Colonial Wars, the Maine Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Portland Athletic Club, the Portland Country Club and of several frater- nal orders. Chief among these was the Masonic order, in which he had taken the thirty-second de- gree, and in which he was affiliated with Eastern Frontier Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Ma- sons; the Garfield Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; the Blue Lodge and Council, Royal and Select Masters; the Portland Commandery, Knights Templar; and Kora Temple, Ancient Arabic Or- der Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He was also a member of the Portland Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Drew was united in marriage, December 20, 1892, with Louise S. Davis, a daughter of the Hon. Jesse and Mary A. (Woodberry) Davis, old and highly respected residents of Lisbon, Maine. To Mr. and Mrs. Drew, in 1896, a son was born, Jesse Albert, who, at the time of his father's death, was a junior in Williams College. He and his mother survive Mr. Drew.
It will be appropriate to close this sketch with some of the remarks which formed a chorus of praise and regret at the time of his death, and which were voiced by his associates, by the insti- tutions with which he was connected and by the local press. The Press of Portland, commenting upon him editorially, said in part, as follows:
Jesse Savi's
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BIOGRAPHICAL
Portland loses a good citizen in the death of Morrill N. Drew. While he enjoyed good health, it was char- acteristic of him to take a great interest in every- thing pertaining to the city and the State, and there was no man in Portland who was better informed than was Mr. Drew upon all questions which came before the people for consideration. He enjoyed the con- fidence of people to a remarkable degree. His friends were not confined to any one class or any one section of the city, and for that matter he numbered them by scores in every part of the State. From them he al- sorbed opinions and ideas as to how the public viewed every question, and when it came to forecasting the drift of sentiment, there was no man in the State more certain of coming to . a correct conclusion than Mr. Drew. He had a liking for men of all sorts and times and he did not regard the time as wasted when he had secured some man's opinions upon any question, whether it was one of national consequence or of pure- ly local interest.
But there was another side to Morrill N. Drew besides that which the public could see. His loyalty to his friends was one of his finest qualities. No sacri- fice was too great for him to make if he could help a friend, and it made little difference to him whether the man he tried to help was from the humble walks of life or was numbered among the more prominent and fortunate. He was frank even to bluntness. No man ever questioned his word which, once given, was held by him as a sacred obligation. He was cour- ageous in the expression of his views and stood loyally hy his principles whether they met with popular ap- proval or not. By instinct he was progressive, his foresight directing him to assist in the support of many ideas which, at the time he first advocated them, were looked upon as radical but which later came to be accepted by the majority.
He rendered great service to the State and to the city. He was modest, unassuming, genial and always courteous, a most agreeable companion and the kin of a man to win and hold friends through thick and thin. Morrill N. Drew's effort in life was to help others rather than to help himself. He had a heart big enough to throb with sympathy for the sorrows and misfortunes of others. Envy and jealousy were foreign to his nature, and he found his greatest pleas- ure in life in contributing to the happiness of all about him.
Mr. Drew will be greatly missed by many people. When in good health he delighted to mingle with his fellows, and the recollection of his pleasant smile and cheery greetings, which always made him welcome in every gathering, will long be treasured by all who knew him.
The Telegram of Portland, had this to say con- cerning Mr. Drew:
The death of Hon. Morrill N. Drew is a distinct loss to the social and business life of Portland and the State. Few men were better known or had more friends throughout Maine than Mr. Drew, to whom the news of his passing away came as a great shock. In poli- tics he possessed to a superlative degree the courage of his convictions and the moral strength to execute bis purposes. His counsel was frequently sought by politicians and no man possessed a wider or more intimate knowledge of affairs of the state. In public office he displayed the same remarkable ability and sound judgment that won for him such signal success in business. Those who knew Mr. Drew intimately trusted him implicitly as in all their dealings with him they required nothing more than his word and he was never known to break that. He enjoyed the con- fidence of the people in all walks of life and of every political faith. In political contests his opponents always regarded him as a formidable antagonist but
alva3 , as .1. Mammable and fair fighter who vonld not stoon to petty or questionable tactics to gain an advantage. He was above board in all his dealings, whether in politics or in commercial life. Ile will be mourned not as the lawyer or banker, but as Morrill N. Drew, the maa.
JESSE DAVIS-No citizen of Lisbon, Maine, was better known or more highly respected than the Hon. Jesse Davis, who for many years was one of the most conspicuous figures in the busi- ness and public life of this region, and whose death, February 16, 1897, was felt as a severe loss by the entire community. Mr. Davis came of old New England stock, and was a direct descendant of Gresham Davis, who came to this country dur- ing the sixteenth century and settled in Massa- chusetts. One of his descendants, Dr. Jonathan Davis, of Roxbury, Massachusetts, had been granted a large tract of land during Colonial days in the section that was then known as Burnt Meadow, now called Webster, Maine. Dr. Jona- than gave his claim of this land to his brother, Jesse, under the condition that he would person- ally develop and improve it.
Jesse Davis, a soldier in the War of the Revo- lution, and grandfather of the Jesse of this sketch, left his native place, Roxbury, Massachusetts, and came to Burnt Meadow, or Webster, in 1780, where he founded a settlement and developed a water power which the land contained. As the region became more thickly inhabited, the land appreciated in value, and the Davis tract, increas- ing accordingly, soon placed the family as among the "forehanded" people of that section. Jesse Davis died at the early age of thirty-five years, from wounds contracted in the Revolutionary War, leaving two children, a son and daughter. The son named Jonathan married Rebecca Lar- rabee, of Brunswick, Maine, and to them were born six children. Of these, the second son, Jesse, was born in the old homestead, July 21, 1814.
Jesse Davis, Jr., developed at an early age a remarkable aptitude for the management of af- fairs, and soon became his father's "right hand" man in carrying on the work of the farm. This left him little time for study; but, being an am- bitious and industrious youth, he used to read and study what few books came within his reach during the long winter evenings. Later in his life, Mr. Davis would laughingly recall the times when he puzzled away at his arithmetic by the light of an open fire after the others had retired. As he used to say-"Education came hard in those days, and we did not get much of it, but what we did-
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HISTORY OF MAINE
we remembered." So well did he ground himself in the common studies that he began teaching school at the age of twenty-two. In this occu- pation he was very successful, and only gave it up because his attention was needed on the farm and in the development of real estate in which his father had become largely interested. At the time of his marriage, in 1845, he built a house directly across from the old homestead, which he occu- pied until the death of his father, when he moved to Lisbon.
Mr. Davis, from early youth, was interested in public affairs, and when still a young man was elected one of the selectmen of the town of Webster, a position which he held to the satis- faction of all parties for more than fourteen years, first in Webster, later in Lisbon. He was also sent as representative from Webster to the State Legislature during the Civil War. In 1867, after the death of his father, he moved to Lisbon, where he built the large and handsome residence which he continued to occupy until the date of his death. In 1872 he was honored by election to the State Senate from Androscoggin county. He was also appointed one of the county commission- ers, where he served for six years, and for twelve years as town treasurer of Lisbon, also serving as justice of the peace and officer in the State mi- litia. He was one of the founders of the Manu- facturers' National Bank of Lewiston, Maine, and served as one of its directors until his death.
In 1874 Mr. Davis had the misfortune to be thrown from his carriage, and his leg was crushed so badly that amputation below the knee was necessary, and from that time on he was obliged to use a crutch. About twelve years later, trou- ble with this leg developed and it became neces- sary for him to go to Boston for treatment. He was in the hospital for many weeks, and the en- forced quietness of his life there proved so great a strain on his nerves that he aged perceptibly during his confinement. After this experience his health began to fail and he was confined to his home for some time previous to his death. In spite of his sufferings, however, his habitual cheerfulness never deserted him, and he made himself beloved by all who came in contact with him.
Mr. Davis was at first a Whig in politics, but joined the Republican party at the time of its organization and was thereafter a staunch sup- porter of its principles and policies. His relig- ious preference was the Universalist faith, in which he was reared. He inherited a consider- able fortune from his father, and by careful man-
agement and shrewd investments added to it year by year. He was largely interested in real es- tate in Lewiston, Lisbon, Bangor and other places.
Jesse Davis was united in marriage, March 6, 1845, with Mary Ann Woodberry, of Litchfield, Maine, a daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth Wood- berry, old and highly respected residents of that place. To Mr. and Mrs. Davis four children were born: Albert, who died at the age of twenty- four; Adda Elisabeth, who died at the age of six- teen years; Emily Jane, who became the wife of F. W. Dana, of Brookline, Massachusetts; and Sarah Louise, who became the wife of Morrill N. Drew, of Portland, Maine.
Mr. Davis was a man of great personality and good judgment, and during his lifetime enjoyed the confidence of the people of his vicinity and perhaps more than any man of his time. His ad- vice was sought by both rich and poor alike, and many were helped along the rough path- way of life by his wise counsel and assistance.
FRANK NATHANIEL WHITTIER-One of the prominent medical men of Maine is Dr. Frank Nathaniel Whittier, who has stood for the highest advance in the science of medicine. The founder of the Whittier family in America was Thomas Whittier, who came to this country from England in the good ship Confidence in 1638. He mar- ried Ruth Green, at Salisbury, Massachusetts. He died in 1696.
John Greenleaf Whittier, the poet, was a great-great-grandson of Thomas Whittier. An- other great-great-grandson was Benjamin Whit- tier, a captain in the War of the Revolution, who at the close of the war came to Maine, and was a first settler at Farmington, in the valley of the Sandy river. One of the sons of Captain Ben- jamin Whittier was Nathaniel Whittier, who mar- ried Alice Sears, a member of another prominent New England family. Nathaniel Whittier lived on the Whittier homestead at Farmington. A son of Nathaniel Whittier, Nathaniel Gross Whit- tier, married Mary Lawrence Hardy, and was the father of Dr. Frank N. Whittier, of further men- tion.
Dr. Whittier was born at Farmington, Maine, December 12, 1861. He prepared for college at Wilton Academy, and graduated from Bowdoin College in 1885. In college, Dr. Whittier distin- guished himself as a student and as an athlete. He received an honor part at graduation, and an clection to Phi Beta Kappa. He was also cap- tain of the first Bowdoin boat crew to win an
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BIOGRAPHICAL
intercollegiate championship and to establish an intercollegiate record. He received the degree of A.M. in 1888, and received the degree of M.D. from the Bowdoin Medical School in 1889. He was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon college fraternity and the Phi Chi medical school fra- ternity. Dr. Whittier has been a member of the Bowdoin faculty since 1886, when he was made director of the Sargent Gymnasium. He became lecturer on hygiene at Bowdoin in 1887, and col- lege physician in 1890.
In 1891, Dr. Whittier visited Europe, and stud- ied in the hospitals of London and Berlin. From 1892 to 1895 he was instructor in anthropometry and use of developing appliances in the Harvard summer school of physical training. During the early nineties, Dr. Whittier spent much time in introducing physical training in the Maine public schools. His system of physical training for schools was published by the Maine State Board of Health. This system was adopted by Portland and many other Maine cities and towns. From 1894 to 1900 Dr. Whittier devoted himself to the study of the then new science of bacteriology, carrying on his studies in the summer courses of the Harvard Medical School and at the Boston hospitals. In 1897 Dr. Whittier introduced cour- ses in bacteriology and pathology in the Bow- doin Medical School.
As a result of his interest in pathology and microscopy, Dr. Whittier has been employed by Maine and other states in many celebrated court cases. In the Lambert murder trial he was the first in America to apply the serum diagnosis of human blood in a court case. In the Terrio mur- der trial he demonstrated for the first time that each discharged cartridge shell has the markings of the firing pin of the rifle stamped upon it, and that by means of these markings it is possible to identify the discharging rifle. This principle has since been used to convict many murderers, notably in the Brownsville murders.
During his busy years Dr. Whittier has found time to take a prominent part in the upbuilding of the "New Bowdoin." He planned and raised funds for the Whittier Athletic Field, named in his honor. He was the Brunswick member of the building committee for the Delta Kappa Epsilon chapter house. He was associated with the ar- chitect, Henry Vanghan, in planning and building the Hubbard Athletic building and grandstand given to Bowdoin by General Hubbard. He worked for years on plans for a gymnasium for Bowdoin, and had the satisfaction of overseeing the crection of the fine Bowdoin gymnasium and
the General Thomas Worcester Hyde athletic building. He was active in planning and build- ing the Dudley Coe Memorial Infirmary, and was a member of the building committee for Hyde Hall. Dr. Whittier suggested the polar bear as a mascot for Bowdoin. The appropriateness of this mascot has been generally recognized, and won the approval of Admiral Robert E. Peary, Bowdoin, '77, and Donald B. MacMillan, Bowdoin, '88. Dr. MacMillan has given for the gymna- sinm's trophy room the remarkably fine specimen of polar bear shot by himself near Etah. Dr. Whittier has been the author of many pamphlets and articles for medical journals and magazines. He collaborated with Albert W. Tolman in writ- ing "Brunswick, An Historical Play."
The outbreak of the great war found Dr. Whit- tier already enrolled in the Medical Reserve Corps of the U. S. A. He was appointed first lieutenant, Medical Reserve Corps, March 24, 1917, was pro- moted to captain, June 16, 1917, and received his commission as major, Medical Reserve Corps, March 19, 1919. His medical work in the army was important and varied. On May 2, 1917, he was appointed president of a Medical Examining Board for the examination of Maine physicians for commisisons in the Medical Reserve Corps. He was also appointed a medical examiner for the first Plattsburg Camp. From June 13, 1917, to January 22, 1919, he was in charge of the Post Hospital at Fort Preble, Maine. At different times he was in charge of the post hospitals at Fort Williams and Fort McKinley. From May, 1918, to January, 1919, he was medical supply officer for the port of Portland, and from July 26, 1918, to January 22, 1919, he was senior surgeon for the port of Portland. He was honorably discharged from active service January 22, 1919. He still holds the commission of major in the Medical Re- serve Corps, U. S. A.
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