USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 12
USA > Maine > Aroostook County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 12
USA > Maine > Hancock County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 12
USA > Maine > Washington County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 12
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 12
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Simeon L. Tracy was educated in the schools of his native town. At the age of seventeen he began going to sea, becoming the master of a vessel at twenty-one. During the succeeding sixteen years he was chiefly engaged in the foreign trade, most of his voyages being made to the Mediterranean. In 1872 he bought a store at West Goulds- boro, which he occupied until 1877. Then he moved his business to a new building com- pleted by him in that year, and has since car- ried on a flourishing trade. He married Clara H. Jones, daughter of Nahum and Joan (Preb- ble) Jones, of this town, and became the father of three children, namely: Maud, who died in infancy; Ernest N., who died at the age of thirteen; and Thurlow, who died at the age of nine years.
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Captain Tracy has efficiently rendered more than his share of service to the town, having filled the offices of Selectman, Treasurer, and Collector, and has been the Postmaster here for thirteen years. His first Presidential vote was cast for John C. Fremont in 1856. Since then he has actively supported the Re- publican party. He belongs to the Blue Lodge in Cherryfield, F. & A. M.
OSHUA PACKARD, a successful dairyman of Dover, was born in Au- gusta, Me., August 27, 1824, son of Daniel and Sybil (Morrison) Packard. He is a descendant of Samuel Packard, who arrived at Plymouth from England at an early date. The grandfather, Joshua Packard, accompanied by his wife, made his way on horseback from Bridgewater, Mass., to Readfield, when that section was thinly populated, marked trees being the only guide to the home-seeking pio- neer. He located upon a large tract of unim- proved land on Kent's Hill, where he sur- mounted the many difficulties which beset the early settlers, and finally became the possessor of a good farm. He and his wife reared twelve children, and lived to an advanced age. They were members of the Methodist Epis- copal church.
Daniel Packard, who was born in Read- field, Kennebec County, January 24, 1792, cleared a farm near the present city of Au- gusta, where he resided eight years. Then he spent ten years on a farm in Windsor, Me., and the rest of his active period upon a farm
in Sebec, this county, passing his last days with his son in Dover. Industrious and per- severing, he provided his family with a com- fortable home, and he was regarded as an up- right man and a useful citizen. In his later years he was a Republican, and while resid- ing in Sebec he held some of the important town offices. He died in 1885. His wife, a native of Livermore County, born January 23, 1802, died on February 18, 1897, at the ad- vanced age of ninety-four years and one month. Both attended the Methodist Episco- pal church. They were the parents of three children, namely: Joshua, the subject of this sketch; Alice, now deceased, who was the widow of Edwin Currier, and resided in Sebec; and Charles Packard, also of that town.
Joshua Packard, the subject of this biog- raphy, accompanied his parents to Sebec when he was nine years old, and acquired a district- school education in that town. He assisted in carrying on the home farm until he was twenty-one. Then he became part owner of the property, which contained two hundred and seventy-five acres of land. He continued to reside in Sebec until 1887, when he bought his present farm of two hundred and fifty-six acres in Dover. On this place he has erected new buildings, carries on general farming, and devotes much of his attention to dairying, keeping some excellent Durham and Jersey COWS. His residence occupies a pleasant and sightly location overlooking the village, and the air of neatness and order which pervades his premises shows him to be an industrious
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as well as a successful farmer. He is con- nected with the Masonic fraternity of Dover and the Patrons of Husbandry of Foxcroft. In politics he is a Republican.
On May 29, 1850, Mr. Packard was joined in marriage with Catharine D. Currier, a daughter of Edmund Currier, of Sebec, born in Vienna, Kennebec County, June 24, 1826. She has had four children, namely: Charles L., born March 16, 1851; George E., born August 23, 1853, who is married and has one son, Harry E. ; Mary E., born December 16, 1858, who married Henry Hagar, of Sebec, and has two daughters - Bertha and Eva; and John F., born October 23, 1861, who is mar- ried and has one son, Carl.
ILLIAM R. JORDAN, an attorney and counsellor-at-law in Bingham, Somerset County, was born in Stetson, Me., March 29, 1867. The eldest son of Benjamin R. and Sarah (Locke) Jordan, he is a grand- son of John Jordan, an early settler and thrifty farmer of Harmony, Me. John Jordan was twice married. The maiden name of his first wife and the mother of Benjamin R. was Lord. She belonged to the family of Lords then liv- ing in Harmony. His second wife had six children : Charles, a resident of Wellington, Me. ; Samuel, of Harmony; Joseph, of Pitts- field, Me .; Emily, who became Mrs. Whitte- more, of Skowhegan, Me .; Lavinia, who be- came Mrs. Boston, of Wellington; and Sarah Jordan, a resident of Harmony.
Benjamin R. Jordan, William R. Jordan's
father, was born in Harmony. When a young man he settled on a farm in Stetson. A man of unusual energy, he - made good use of his opportunities. He resided in Stetson until his death, which occurred in April, 1882. His wife, Sarah, a native of Etna, Me., was a daughter of farmer Jesse Locke. The mother previous to her marriage was the widow Leathers. Mrs. Sarah Jordan became the mother of three children, namely: William R. Jordan, the subject of this sketch; James A. Jordan, now a clerk in a Bingham store; and Mary E. Jordan, who is employed as a writer in the publishing house of Gannett & Morse, Augusta, Me. Their mother died in September, 1878.
William R. Jordan received his elementary education in the common schools of Stetson. After his father's death he lived with the fam- ily of the Rev. H. S. Morton in Stetson vil- lage, where he had the opportunity of attend- ing the village schools during the fall and winter terms for some three years. Having graduated in June, 1888, from the Maine Cen- tral Institute, located at Pittsfield, he after- ward attended Bates College for one year. Then for some years he was a popular school teacher, teaching in different parts of the State. He was the principal of the New- port Grammar School for one year while pur- suing his legal studies. After beginning the study of law with Frank W. Hovey, of Pitts- field, he continued it in Chicago, Ill., at the law department of the North-western Univer- sity. Duly admitted to the bar in 1892, he located in Bingham. Here he has already
T
THOMAS N. DRAKE.
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acquired a good country practice, and is fast advancing to the front rank in his profession.
On November 22, 1896, Mr. Jordan married Mrs. Cora M. Smith Houghton, the widow of Thomas J. Houghton, late of Bingham, and a daughter of B. F. Smith, a prosperous farmer of Moscow, Me. Mr. Jordan is quite an active politician in the Republican party, and at present is serving the town on the Bingham School Board. He is a prominent Good Templar and an active member of the Congregational church, which he serves in the capacity of trustee.
HOMAS N. DRAKE, M.D., a prac- tising physician of Pittsfield, Somer- set County, was born in Centre Effingham, N.H., May 14, 1858, son of Cyrus K. and Lucinda M. (Morse) Drake. The father, also born in Centre Effingham, ran a hotel and a stage route in his earlier years. Hav- ing spent the greater part of his life in Effing- ham, he died in Lynn, Mass., in September, 1893. His wife, Lucinda, who was also a na- tive of New Hampshire, died in 1870. Their children were: Alexander M., Isabelle, Olin M., Tina, Orrin Edward, and Thomas N. Alexander M., who resides in Pittsfield, is en- gaged in the tobacco and cigar business. Isa- belle, now deceased, was the wife of A. P. Topliff, M.D., of Deering, Me. Olin M. is a physician in Boston. Tina died in child- hood. Orrin Edward, who resides at Free- dom, N.H., is engaged in the manufacture of clothing.
Thomas N. Drake received his college training at Ellsworth, Me., and in 1882 en- tered the Hahnemann Medical College at Philadelphia. After studying there for about two years, he graduated with honors in 1884. Going then to Presque Isle, Me., he began the practice of medicine, and for ten months re- mained in that place. Coming to Pittsfield in 1885, he started in practice here, and for five years gave his full attention to his profes- sional duties. In 1890 he became interested in the Hathorn Stock Farm, upon which are bred fast racing horses, and managed that for the five succeeding years. He still holds a half-interest in this place, and owns other val- uable property in this town and in Ellsworth, Me. Resuming the practice of his profession in 1895, he has since been engaged in that, and is at present recognized as a skilful and reliable physician and surgeon. He is strictly homeopathic in treatment. The Doc_ tor's office hours are from eight to nine in the morning, from one to four in the afternoon, and from six to eight in the evening. He also deals somewhat in real estate.
In 1889 Dr. Drake was united in marriage with Mrs. Florence E. Thompson, of Pitts- field, daughter of G. Hathorn, of this town. She having died in 1891, he was married in December, 1892, to Vinnie F. Haskell, daughter of O. S. and Louise Haskell, of this town. The Doctor by this marriage has one child, Dorothy, born September 13, 1894. In politics he is a Republican, and never fails to vote for his party's candidates. At the pres- ent time he is the secretary of the Board of
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Health of this town. Fraternally, he is a member of Phleutonia Lodge, No. 51, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows; and of Pio- neer Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of Pittsfield.
MERY B. AND HARVEY W. DUN- BAR, of Sullivan, Haneock County, general merchants and the proprietors of a granite quarry, are natives of this town. Born on August 7, 1856, and February 6, 1861, respectively, they are sons of George H. and Delilah (Sargent) Dunbar. The father, born in Steuben, Washington County, son of Peter Dunbar, who was a prosperous farmer and a lifelong resident of Steuben, for many years was employed in lumbering and the ship-carpenter's trade at Sullivan, in which place he settled about the year 1849. He also owned several eoasting-vessels. His death oeeurred June 5, 1898, at the age of seventy-eight years. Delilah, his wife, a native of Gouldsboro, Me., and a daughter of Jotham Sargent, of that town, resides in
Sullivan. They reared four children - Charles W., Katherine A., Emery B., and Harvey W. Charles W., who is residing in Sullivan, suceessively married Jane Higgins and Kate M. Aleonn. His first wife had two ehildren - Perey R. and Margaret. His sec- ond wife is the mother of one son, George H. Dunbar (second). Katherine A. Dun - bar, a spinster, is supervisor of sehools in Sullivan.
Emery B. and Harvey W. Dunbar were ed- ucated in the sehools of Sullivan. After the
completion of his studies Harvey W. Dunbar was a clerk in a grocery store until twenty years of age. Then he and Emery B. opened a general merchandise store in a leased build- ing. Later they purchased the property. By the additions since made to meet the de- mands of their inereasing trade their estab- lishment has beeome one of the largest as well as one of the best appointed general stores in this locality. Some twelve years ago they beeame interested in the granite business. At the present time they are extensive ship- pers of curbing, paving, etc. For some time they have been the assignees of the late Sul- livan Granite Company.
Emery B. Dunbar married Fanny W. Clark, of Franklin, Me., and now has one daughter, Marie N. Harvey W. is unmarried. Both brothers are members of the Knights of Pythias. Harvey also belongs to the Bangor Lodge, Benevolent and Proteetive Order of the Elks. Emery east his first Presidential vote for James A. Garfield in 1880. He has served with ability as a member of the Board of Selectmen for three years. His brother, first voting at a national election in 1884, supported the eandidaey of James G. Blaine. They are energetie and sueeessful young busi- ness men, and their popularity is fully merited.
OHN M. JONAH, M.D., a prominent resident of Eastport, Me., and one of the leading physicians of Washington County, was born in Hillsboro, Albert County, N.B., April 4, 1832. His parents
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were Peter and Eliza (Peck) Jonah, both na- tives of Hillsboro, N. B., the father born in 1805 and the mother in 1807.
His paternal grandfather, Henry Jonah, was also a native of Hillsboro, where he con- ducted a profitable farm and was a lifelong resident. He was a son of John Jonah, the first of the family to settle in that place. Grandfather Jonah had thirteen children, all of whom grew to maturity, Peter, the father of the subject of this sketch, being the eldest son. Their names were respectively as fol- lows: Delilah, Peter, William, Sarah, Mary, John, Barbara, Nancy, Henry, Betsey, Eunice, Isaiah, and Jane. The three now living are: Nancy, who is the widow of Jacob Steeves, resides in Hillsboro, N.B., and is now eighty years old; Henry, also a resident of Hillsboro, and seventy-five years of age; and Mrs. Eunice McLean, who lives at Lutz Mountain, N.B., and is now in her seventy- eighth year.
Peter Jonah, like his father, remained all his life a resident of his native town, where he was engaged as a farmer and lumberman. He was a man of sterling character, energetic, enterprising, and ingenious, and, above all, of unwavering integrity. The soul of honor, he never stooped to a mean action; and no man was more sincerely respected than he by his fellow-townsmen, who frequently sought his advice upon matters of importance, both of a public and private nature. In 1840 he built a saw-mill in Hillsboro, and in 1848 he erected a large one, which is to-day operated by his son, W. H. Jonah. As the proprietor of
these enterprises, as well as of others, he was very successful. A Baptist in religion, he was an active worker in the church of that de- nomination, in which he held the office of a Deacon, and in the tenets of which he brought up his entire family. He had twelve chil- dren, three sons and nine daughters, namely : John M., the subject of this sketch; Mary J., who married Solomon Berry, and resides in Hillsboro, N.B .; Catharine, who became the wife of David Jonah, and is now deceased; Annie, who became Mrs. Lewis H. Steeves, and has also passed away; Adalaide, who married Bamford Jonah, but is no longer liv- ing; Amelia, who is unmarried and a resident of Hillsboro; Elizabeth, who married a Mr. Woodworth, and resides in Hillsboro; Will- iam H., who lives on the old homestead; Lu- cinda A., now Mrs. Gabriel T. Steeves and a resident of Hillsboro; George A., now de- ceased; Amanda M., the wife of Ansley Dryden and a resident of Hillsboro; and Sarah V., now Mrs. Tuttle, who lives in New Hampshire.
John M. Jonah grew to manhood in his na- tive town. The eldest son in a large family, his services were needed on the home farm at an age when most boys were thinking of tops and marbles. Consequently his opportunities for obtaining an education were very limited. He attended school for a period not exceeding a year and a half before reaching the age of nineteen. But ambition is a good spur, and the youth soon showed the stuff of which he was made by his success in self-improvement. Much was learned by reading and observation;
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and, when subsequently a chance to study with a teacher in the vicinity presented itself, the latter found an apt pupil, who soon bade fair to excel his master. But a short time elapsed before the willing student was able to secure
a third-class teacher's license and, after twelve months' further instruction in a Nor- mal School, a first-class license, under which he taught for about a year and a half. He was then promoted to a superior school, where he received a larger salary, and by industry and perseverance he continued to advance as long as he continued to teach, a period of about three years and nine months in all. In 1856 he took up the study of medicine, and, entering Harvard Medical School, was there graduated in 1860. Locating first, after re- ceiving his diploma, in Westmoreland County, New Brunswick, he stayed there about seven years. Then in 1867 he came to Eastport, where he has since remained, having been for thirty years engaged in the active practice of his profession. His skill has kept pace with his experience and with the tremen- dous advance of medical science since he first found himself entitled to write M. D. after his name, and as a natural result he has held his place in the confidence of his patients and in the esteem of the general community. The Nestor of the medical profession in Eastport, he can look back upon his early struggles to gain an honorable place among those engaged in the higher professions, with the conscious- ness that the position obtained is his solely as the result of his own hard, honest, earnest work, in spite of initial disadvantages.
He was married November 14, 1861, to Charlotte L. Wood, who was born in Fred- ericton, N.B., October 8, 1833, a daughter of Sylvester and Isabella I. (Peters) Wood. The Peters family is among the most promi- nent in New Brunswick. Dr. and Mrs. Jonah are the parents of six children; namely, Syl- vester M., Horace V., Minnie A., Emma M. L., William E., and Edwin B. Sylvester M., who was born August 31, 1863, died No- veinber 20, 1883. Horace V., born October 24, 1864, is a physician, resident in East- port, having been graduated in 1890 at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. He is unmarried. Minnie A., born May 14, 1867, is the wife of Stanley E. John- son, of Nantucket, Mass. Emma, who was born June 14, 1869, married Charles P. Kemp, of Eastport, Me. William E., born July 4, 1873, is a graduate and Bachelor of Arts of Acadia College, Nova Scotia, and is now engaged in the study of medicine at Bow- doin College. Edwin B., born December 12, 1875, is a law student in the office of L. H. Newcomb, of Eastport.
Dr. and Mrs. Jonah are Baptists in religion. In politics the Doctor is independent, reserv- ing the right to exercise his judgment un- trammelled by party shackles. He has been somewhat active in town affairs, having served as a member of the School Board and as City Physician. Among the foremost in the van- guard of reform, he has done much to advance the cause of temperance in this locality. He is a member of Eastern Lodge, No. 7, F. & A. M., of Eastport; and of Anchor Lodge,
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No. 41, Knights of Pythias, of Eastport. He is also a member of the Maine Medical So- ciety, the Alumni Society of Harvard, the Maritime Association, and of the Medical As- sociation of New Brunswick, in which Province he is entitled to practice medicine as well as in the United States.
ARREN F. POPE, the well-known lumber manufacturer of East Ma- chias, was born in this town, March 30, 1861, son of James Otis and Olive Frances (Chase) Pope. His earliest ancestors in Maine, both paternal and maternal, came originally from Massachusetts; and representatives of each family served as officers during the Revolu- tionary War.
Ralph Pope, born in 1673, from whom the subject of this sketch is a descendant in the seventh generation, is the first progenitor of whom he has any authentic knowledge. Ralph Pope was left fatherless at the age of thirteen years. He succeeded to the posses- sion of the homestead farm in Dorchester, Mass., where he became one of the successful farmers of his day; and records show that he was elected to various town offices, besides filling other positions of trust. He married Rachel Neale, of Braintree, Mass., and his son, Dr. Ralph Pope, was born November 10, 1705.
Dr. Ralph Pope practised medicine, but little is known of his professional career, ex- cept that he was noted for his invariable re- fusal to accept a fee for services rendered on
the Sabbath. He cultivated a farm, was in- terested with his brothers in the lumber busi- ness in Stoughton, Mass., and he is said to have owned at least one slave. On November 27, 1729, he married Rebecca Stubbs, born in Hull, Mass., March 18, 1707, daughter of Richard and Rebecca (Lobdell) Stubbs. Dr. Ralph Pope died when his eldest son, Fred- erick, was seventeen years old; and the re- sponsibility of carrying on the farm and operating the mill devolved upon the latter.
Frederick Pope served as a Corporal in the company which marched from Stoughton to Lexington on April 19, 1775, under the com- mand of Captain Peter Abbott. In June of that year he recruited a company of fifty-eight men to serve one month and nine days. Al- though he was afterward known as Colonel Frederick Pope, there is no record of his hold- ing a higher commission than that of a Cap- tain. He was a member of the General Court of Massachusetts in 1787 and subsequently for a number of terms; and he died in Stough- ton, August 20, 1812. His wife was Mary, daughter of Joseph Cole.
Their son, Samuel Ward Pope, the next in line, was born in Stoughton in February, 1763. Soon after the close of the Revolu- tionary War he accompanied his brothers to South Carolina, where they engaged in house building. Soon after his arrival he met and subsequently married Mary Wood, an edu- cated and accomplished lady of prepossessing appearance. They both died at Charleston in April, 1797, the victims of an epidemic, leav- ing several children.
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William Pope, one of the number, grand- father of Warren F., was born in South Caro- lina, March 30, 1787. After the death of his parents he came North, and resided with his grandfather until eighteen years old, when he went to Dorchester to assist his uncles in lumbering. Having acquired a knowledge of the business, he in November, 1807, came to Machias and established the lumber business which has since remained in the family's pos- session. This enterprise developed into large proportions under his able direction, retain- ing its extent and prestige after his retire- ment, and is still one of the largest concerns in Eastern Maine. In 1821 William Pope was elected to the Board of Selectmen, serv- ing in that capacity until refusing further nomination. He was chosen a member of Governor Kent's Council, held commissions in the State militia from Lieutenant to Colo- nel, and declined to accept that of Brigadier- general, which was tendered him.
In 1844 he returned to Boston, taking a part of his family with him, and leaving the business in charge of his sons. After re-es- tablishing his residence there, he served one year in the Common Council, four years in the Board of Aldermen, and two years in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He was one of the original Board of Directors of the Boylston Bank, organized in 1845, and was once elected president, but declined the honor. Throughout his entire life he dis- played sterling integrity inherited from his ancestors; and this, together with his sound judgment in business affairs and his kind,
compassionate, and sympathetic nature, es- pccially marked him for the respect and admi- ration of all who knew him. On September 27, 1810, Colonel Pope married Peggy Dawes Billings, born in that city, March 6, 1788, daughter of William and Lucy (Swan) Bil- lings, the former of whom was a noted musi- cal composer and lecturer in his day.
James Otis Pope, Warren F. Pope's father, was born in Machias, February 17, 1822. He became a member of the firm of William Pope & Sons, later S. W. Pope & Co., and, eventually succeeding to the business, con- ducted it energetically and successfully until his death, which occurred March 19, 1893. In politics hc supported the Republican party with activity, but was never a candidate for office. Olive F. Chase, whom he married June 9, 1857, was born in East Machias, June 9, 1835. She was the daughter of Simeon and Louisa (Foster) Chase and a grand-daugh- ter of Captain Ephraim Chase, a brief account of whom is appended to this sketch. James Otis and Olive F. Pope were the parents of five children, namely: John Adams; Warren F., the subject of this sketch; Arthur and Helen, who are no longer living; and Macy Stanton Pope, a civil engineer in Boston. The mother was a member of the Congrega- tional church.
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Warren F. Pope was educated in the public schools of East Machias and at Gray's Busi- ness College, Portland. The affluence of his father removed from him the necessity of de- pending upon his own resources; but his busi- ness ability discovered itself at an early age,
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and he succeeded to an interest in the lum- ber manufacturing enterprise left by him. Possessing a taste for architecture, he has planned and erected several houses, among them his own residence, which is one of the handsomest in town; and some artistic pieces of furniture which ornament its interior bear ample testimony to his skill in the use of tools.
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