USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 13
USA > Maine > Aroostook County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 13
USA > Maine > Hancock County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 13
USA > Maine > Washington County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 13
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 13
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Mr. Pope married Kittin M. Stewart, daughter of Jacob W. Stewart, of Machiasport, and has two children living; namely, Morrill S. and Winona Helena Pope.
In public affairs Mr. Pope is actively inter- ested. He is at the present time a member of the Board of Selectmen. He is a Past Master of Warren Lodge, No. 2, F. & A. M .; is connected with Warren Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; St. Elmo Commandery, of which he is Standard Bearer; and Delta Lodge of Perfection. He is also a member of Machias Lodge, Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mr. Pope attends the Congrega- tional church, and Mrs. Pope is a member thereof.
The following is a brief account of the career and public services of Captain Ephraim Chase, Warren F. Pope's maternal great- grandfather, printed verbatim from extracts taken from his dairy : -
"I was born in Freetown, Bristol County, Mass., June 1, 1744. My father was a sea captain; and, when I had attained the age of seven years, he took me on board as a cabin boy, in which capacity I continued nine years. At this time I was apprenticed to learn the
trade of a house carpenter (1765). At the age of twenty-one I married Miss Lydia Hath- away, of my native town, and removed to Nantucket, where I resided four years, work- ing at my trade (1769). Thence I removed to Machias, where I have continued to reside until the present time. Here I labored at the carpenter business six years, when difficulties commenced between England and our colo- nies. [Captain Chase took part in the capture of the "Margaretta," the first naval engage- ment of the Revolution. He was chosen one of eight who comprised a Committee of Safety to convey despatches and the prisoners to Cambridge, Mass., whither they proceeded in two vessels carrying out their instructions. ] After the British evacuated Boston, I com- menced coasting from that place to Machias, and continued in it until 1777 or 1778. In March of that year I received a commission from Congress or General Court, through Colonel Allen, authorizing me to 'cruise in the State's service.' The 'Nesquoit,' mount- ing ten guns, was placed at my command (1778). However, before I had completed my arrangements for entering on the business of said commission, Congress countermanded the orders, and stationed me at Machias to defend the harbor and supply the troops and Indians with food and clothing. I entered on this business, and performed the duties to the best of my ability, and continued in it until 1782, when the General Court at Cambridge ordered Colonel Allen to send the 'Nesquoit' to that place. I being out of health at that time, the command devolved upon Elijah
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Ayres, my First Lieutenant, who proceeded to Cambridge with the 'Nesquoit.'"
Captain Ephraim Chase died of measles in East Machias, April 17, 1836, aged ninety- two years.
SA PARKER, one of the largest real estate owners in Orneville, Piscata- quis County, was born in Monroe, Waldo County, July 9, 1818, son of Luther and Betsey Rich Parker. The paternal grandfather was an early settler in Castine, Me., where he practised law, and for a num- ber of years held the appointment of Judge. He reared a family of eight children, and lived to an advanced age. Luther Parker, one of his younger sons, born in Castine, spent the greater part of his life in Mon- roe, where he was a prosperous farmer. An active and progressive man, he took a leading part in town affairs, and acted as a Justice of the Peace. He died at the age of sixty-seven years. Betsey Rich Parker, his wife, was a native of Jackson, Me. Of their nine chil- dren, two are living: Asa, the subject of this sketch; and Joseph M. Parker, a retired mer- chant of Philadelphia. The others were: William, Sewall, Lorenzo, Luther, Otis, Eliza, and Sarah. The mother died at the age of forty-two years. In his earlier years the father was a Whig in politics. Later he was a Republican. He was a member of the Congregational church.
Asa Parker was reared and educated in Monroe. In his boyhood he divided his time between assisting his father upon the farm and
attending the district school. The school- house was a primitive building of rough boards, without plaster or ceiling upon its in- terior, and heated by an open fireplace. With a natural craving for books, Asa made the most of his limited opportunities, acquiring more than ordinary proficiency in the com- mon branches of study, including a good knowledge of English grammar, in which he was considered an authority in this section of the State. At the age of twenty-one he began teaching school, an occupation he followed for twenty-seven winters. The high reputation he gained as an instructor was mainly due to his natural aptitude for educational work. The rest of the year he devoted to agriculture. Having purchased a farm of little value, he diligently applied himself to improving its fertility, with the result that in course of time it became one of the best pieces of agri- cultural property in Monroe. In 1858 he sold his farm, and became the mill superintendent for George A. Pierce, of Frankfort, who owned some five or six thousand acres of land lying in the region of the Piscataquis River. Mr. Parker moved to Orneville, where he acted as the authorized agent of Mr. Pierce in selling this land, of which he purchased two thousand acres himself. He was afterward engaged in general farming, the manufacture of lumber, and the real estate business. At one time he owned five thousand acres of land, which he sold to good advantage. At the present time he owns about two thousand acres. For twenty-one years he was station agent in Orneville for the Bangor & Piscata-
ASA PARKER.
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quis Railroad, now the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad, being the first one appointed after the completion of the line to this point. Since he resigned some years since, the company has presented him with an annual pass every year. In farming he is governed by scientific principles, studying carefully the character of the soil, and applying such fertil- izers as he considers best suited to its condi- tion. It is worthy of note, as an example of his progress, that he was the first to introduce the cultivation of cranberries in Monroe.
On July 2, 1844, Mr. Parker was first joined in marriage with Margaret C. Twombly, who was born in Monroe, May 17, 1824. His second marriage was contracted April 30, 1881, with Mrs. Charity Smith Howe, who was born in Belfast, Me., June 30, 1827. Her parents, Samuel and Mary Smith, were natives respectively of Belmont and Camden, Me. The father, who was a farmer and a millwright and considered a skilful mechanic, lived to be eighty years old. The mother died at the same age. By her first husband Mrs. Parker has one daughter, Mrs. Minnie Bragdon, of Bangor. Mr. Parker's children by his first wife were born as follows: Sarah B. J., May 7, 1845; Albert S., December 28, 1846; Elzi F., August 5, 1849; Howard J., October 21, 1854; Cora E., March 21, 1856; Katie M., October 21, 1859; Walter A., June 27, 1861 ; and Emma B., May 20, 1863. Of these, three are living: Howard J. and Walter A., who are extensive shingle manufacturers in the State of Washington; and Katie M. Parker, who married a Congregationalist min-
ister of the same name, and resides in Tiver- ton, R.I. Mr. Parker has acquired consider- able wealth. His success in life is due to his natural ability and good judgment. In poli- tics he is a Republican. Besides serving as a Selectman he has held the office of superin- tendent of schools for a number of years, evincing a deep interest in educational mat- ters. In religious belief he is a Congrega- tionalist. He is favorably known throughout this section, and is a member of Lodge No. 63, I. O. O. F., of Milo.
ENRY D. PIKE, a retired business man of Calais, Washington County, was born in this city, August 8, 1848, son of Samuel G. and Ellen (Trickey) Pike. The great-grandfather, Timothy Pike, who went from Newbury, Mass., to Portland, Me., spent his last days in Saccarappa, where he died August 1, 1818. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Jones. Samuel Deane Pike, the grandfather, a native of Westbrook, Me., died in that town, April 6, 1824. At Falmouth, Me., in July, 1802, he married Mary Webb.
Samuel G. Pike, Henry D. Pike's father, was born in Westbrook, November 6, 18II. Shortly after coming of age, he located in Calais, where he entered a mercantile busi- ness in partnership with Edward A. Barnard. This firm, Barnard & Pike, which was one of the important business houses of that day, at a later date restricted itself to the flour and grain trade. After some time Mr. Pike with-
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drew from the firm, and went to Gorham, where he carried on a large farm for a time. Then, disliking agricultural pursuits, he re- turned to Calais, and entered into a second partnership with Mr. Barnard, that continued until he retired from aetive business. As a business man he was widely and favorably known throughout this section of the State. He served with ability as City Treasurer for upward of twenty years. His death occurred on September 23, 1887. Ellen Pike, his wife, whom he married on February 4, 1841, was born in Westbrook, May 16, 1818, daugh- ter of Daniel Triekey, of that town. She be- came the mother of three children, namely : Adeline Gordon, on March 7, 1845, who mar- ried Fred L. Clayton, now of Baltimore, Md., and died February 18, 1874; Henry D., the subject of this sketch; and Elizabeth Ellen, on July 31, 1851, who married Edward G. Goodnow, late of Calais, and died Deeember 23, 1873. The father attended the Congrega- tional church, and the mother was a member of the society.
Having begun it at a private school in Calais, Henry D. Pike completed his educa- tion at Phillips Andover Academy. After leaving school he engaged in the flour and grain trade, as a member of the firm of S. G. Pike & Co. In 1888 he retired, after a pros- perous business career. He was one of the incorporators of the Calais Savings Bank. His property ineludes, with other valuable real estate, one of the handsomest residences in the city. He is a man of intellectual abil- ity and refined tastes. Beyond easting his
vote independently of parties, he makes no show of interest in publie affairs. On June I, 1882, he was united in marriage with Lelia Evelyn Gilkey, a daughter of L. P. and Josephine Gilkey, of Baltimore, Md. He at- tends the Congregational church
HARLES E. DUNN, a resident of Houlton, is well known throughout Aroostook County as a member of its Board of Commissioners. A son of Co- lumbus Dunn, he was born January 9, 1844, in Amity, Me. The father, who was born and reared in Cornish, York County, Me., in early life removed to Amity, where he was sueeessfully engaged in agriculture until his death, at the age of seventy-seven years. A man of strong individuality, firm in his eon- victions, and the possessor of a keen sense of right and justice, he labored incessantly in the cause of humanity, being especially inter- ested in the temperance agitation and the abolition of slavery. One of the two Repub- lieans in a Democratic town and the only abolitionist, he was often ridiculed and called the "Black Republican." He took an active part in local affairs, and served in the most important town offices, including those of Seleetman and school superintendent. Earnest and logical in his arguments when called upon to address an assembly, he often converted opponents to the cause he was championing. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Rebeeea Snow, eleven chil- dren were born, as follows: Caroline, who is
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the wife of Erastus Haskell, of Hartford, Conn .; Clark, who resides in Colorado; Frances, who is the wife of George Palmer, a business man of New York; John and Chris- topher, now deceased; Albert, who is engaged in railroading in Mexico; Charles E., the sub- ject of this sketch; George, now a resident of Colorado; Sarah, the wife of De Witt Pond, of Hartford, Conn. ; and Oscar and Eva, both of whom died in infancy. The parents were members of the Baptist church, in which the father was a Deacon for many years.
Charles E. Dunn attended the district schools of Amity in his youth. Subsequently he assisted in the farm labors of the home- stead until after the breaking out of the Civil War. In 1864, in response to the call for volunteers, he enlisted in Company G, Twen- tieth Maine Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He participated in the engagements at Gravelly Run and Five Forks, and on the surrender of Lee was at Appomattox, his regiment having been one of those detailed by General Grant to receive the arms of the rebel soldiers. Returning in September, 1865, to Amity, Mr. Dunn re- sumed farming with his father, remaining with him on the old homestead for ten years. Beginning in 1875, he was engaged in general farming on his own account until 1892, when he came to Houlton. True to the principles in which he was brought up, he has been an ardent worker in the cause of temperance, no man in the county having devoted more time to its advancement. In 1884 and 1885 he represented Amity in the State legislature,
serving in the Public Buildings Committee and in the committee appointed to consider the question of enlarging the capitol. Prom- inent in the affairs of Amity, he filled most of the town offices, including that of Selectman for a dozen or more years; and he was the chairman of the Republican Town Committee for a prolonged period. Chosen to fill out the unexpired term of A. A. Burleigh, County Commissioner in 1890, he was elected to the same office in 1892 for a term of six years, and re-elected in 1898 for a further term of six years.
Mr. Dunn was made a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at the Frank Hunter Post in Hodgdon, of which he was for a time Adjutant. Afterward he transferred his membership to the A. S. Russell Post. of Houlton. He united with the Baptist Church of Amity when young, and was for some years one of its Deacons. In November, 1874, he married Miss Adeline H., daughter of Ed- mund Cone, of Amity, Me. They have three children; namely, Albert E., June J., and Carrie E. Albert is in the Junior class of Brown University at Providence, R. I.
RANK H. BILLINGS, one of the active business men of Brooksville, Hancock County, was born in this town, Au- gust 31, 1860, son of John H. and Flavilla (Young) Billings. The paternal grandfather, John Billings, was a pioneer of Brooksville. His log house stood in the immediate vicinity of his grandson's present residence. Having
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reclaimed from the wilderness a good farm, he cultivated it for the rest of his active period, and lived to the age of seventy-six years. He married Rebecca Wood, whose parents were among the first settlers in Blue Hill.
John H. Billings, Frank H. Billings's father, was born in Brooksville, May 20, 1839. When a young man he learned the stone-cutter's trade, and afterward followed it for twenty-five years. At one time he owned a quarry. He gave up business some years ago, and is now residing upon a part of the old homestead property. Formerly he was quite active in public affairs, and held some of the town offices. The community regarded him as an estimable neighbor and a worthy citizen. Flavilla, his wife, became the mother of six children, namely: Frank H., the subject of this sketch; Horace, who died while young; Hattie; Grace; Lewis; and Eunice. Hattie married W. Frank Eaton, of Sedgwick, and has one son, Percy. Grace married Albion Clauson, and has two children - Olin and George. Eunice married Jay Saunders, of Blue Hill.
Frank H. Billings attended school in Brooksville. After completing his studies he learned the blacksmith's trade, which he has since followed for twenty years. He pur- chased of his father the homestead farm of sixty acres, and in 1892 he opened a gencral store. After the store was burned some time ago, he erected a suitable building upon his own land, and resumed business. He has now a flourishing trade. By his marriage
with Nellie Tainter, of Surry, Me., he has one daughter, Alice. In politics he is a Re- publican, and his first Presidential vote was given to James G. Blaine in 1884. Ile has served the town in the several capacities of Constable, Collector, and Selectman, and hc is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry.
ON. WILLIS E. PARSONS, of Fox- croft, was born at Sangerville, Me., May 16, A. D. 1854, the third son of Levi and Lydia (Ellis) Parsons.
Levi Parsons was the son of John and Polly (Hanniford) Parsons, and was born in Canton, Me., December 25, 1823, being the youngest of ten children. He was given the name of his uncle, his father's eldest brother, Levi Parsons, who was a prominent clergyman in the earlier days of New Hampshire and Ver- mont. One of the early histories of New Hampshire spoke of this clergyman as a lead- ing divine of the State and an able preacher. He was undoubtedly the same one to whom ex-Vice-President Morton's mother was re- lated, as the biography of Mr. Morton says that he was named Levi Parsons Morton for his mother's brother, a former clergyman of New Hampshire. This branch of the Parsons family, which came from England in the early days of the colonies, settled in Massachusetts, and extended later into the State of New Hampshire and the then Province of Maine.
Lydia Ellis Parsons, born June 7, 1828, was the daughter of Freeman Ellis and Eunice (Shedd) Ellis. Freeman Ellis was the son of
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Freeman Ellis, second, and Lydia (Fuller) Ellis. Lydia Fuller was of the sixth genera- tion from Dr. Samuel Fuller, of Plymouth Colony, the first physician and surgeon in New England. Freeman Ellis, second, was born in Plymouth, 1779, and was the son of Freeman Ellis, Sr., and Sarah Bradford Ellis, who were married at Plymouth in 1766. Her father, Gideon Bradford, was the second son of Lieutenant Samuel Bradford, who was the second son of Major John Bradford, and was born in Plymouth in 1683. Major John Brad- ford was the son of Major William Bradford, and was born in 1651. Major William Brad- ford, son of the second Governor of Plymouth Colony, was born in June, 1624. He was an officer in King Philip's War, and at one time had command of the army. He was Deputy Governor of Plymouth Colony. William Bradford was born in the north of England in 1588, went to Holland when a young man, came over in the "Mayflower," and was the second Governor of Plymouth Colony, being chosen in 1621, and holding that office thirty- one years. He died in office in the sixty- ninth year of his age. Mr. Parsons, by a more minute genealogical record, which has been preserved in the family for generations, thus traces his line, on his maternal side, back to his Colonial ancestors, including those sturdy Pilgrims of the "Mayflower," Governor Bradford and Dr. Samuel Fuller.
The boyhood days of the subject of this sketch were mostly spent in Northern Maine, his parents moving to Aroostook County when he was six years of age. He was educated at
Fort Fairfield High School, Houlton Academy, Burlington Academy (Vt.), taking later a four years' university course in English. He learned the trade of architect and builder, taught school, read law with the late Hon. A. G. Lebroke, of Foxcroft, and was admitted to the Piscataquis bar, September term, A. D. 1878, then forming a copartnerhip as the law firm of Lebroke & Parsons, which existed for several years, or until Mr. Parsons was elected county attorney. He served many years on the School Board of Foxcroft, is still secretary and treasurer of Foxcroft Academy, is present Town Agent of Foxcroft, and was county at- torney for three full terms, receiving each re- nomination by acclamation. He has been four years a member of the Republican State Committee, solidifying and thoroughly organ- izing the party in his county, and was a mem- ber of the last Maine House of Representa- tives, being nominated by acclamation and receiving an overwhelming majority at the polls. He is the present Senator for Piscata- quis County, being nominated to that position, also, by acclamation, and elected by the larg- est majority ever given in that county. Always a Republican, he has been actively engaged, on the stump and otherwise, for the advancement of the principles of his party in every campaign since 1880.
Although a strong partisan, Mr. Parsons never takes politics into his business or social relations, and has in his large clientage many persons opposed to him politically. In all party organizations he counts warm personal friends, whose confidence he enjoys to the
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fullest extent ; and it is truthfully said of him that he never plunges his clients into law- suits when he believes it for their interest to avoid expensive litigation. He is public- spirited, and always deeply interested in the material advancement of every section of the county. He believes in the future of the State, its wealth of natural resources, and the splendid character of its inhabitants, and is more than an admirer of its beautiful scenery. He is enthusiastic over its attractions as a summer resort, especially the great north- ern preserve, and believes that Piscataquis County, embracing Moosehead Lake on the one side and Mount Katahdin on the other, with the thousand hills, streams, and lakes that lie between, is the most favored spot of all.
Although a busy lawyer, he enjoys an occa- sional outing with rod or gun, and has a finely located cottage on the shore of Sebec Lake, a beautiful sheet of water, surrounded by hills and mountains, and styled the Geneva of Maine. He is a member of St. John Com- mandery, Bangor. He is an Odd Fellow and a Mason, and has frequently been called upon to deliver addresses at the gatherings of these orders. His religious preferences are Con- gregational; and he has been a member of that church in Foxcroft for many years, join- ing on a letter from the Methodist denomina- tion in Houlton, Me.
On the twenty-third day of October, 1890, Mr. Parsons was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Gilman, the accomplished daughter of R. D. Gilman, Esq., of Foxcroft. Their
home is pleasantly situated on Main Street in Foxcroft.
JALMAR EDBLAD, a respected business man of Houlton, Aroostook County, son of Harold and Emma (Tillander) Edblad, was born March 4, 1857, in Gottenburg, Sweden. His mother was of German parentage. In 1871 the family emi- grated to America, and settled in New Sweden, Me. Here the father engaged in farming for a livelihood. In 1878 he was accidentally drowned in the Meduxnikeag River, leaving his widow with a family of nine children, of whom Hjalmar was the third- born.
Hjalmar Edblad, who had come to Houlton in search of work previous to the death of his father, found a home in the family of a Mr. Heywood, who gave him his board for his ser- vices. He was subsequently employed by E. Woodbury, of whom an account may be found elsewhere in this work, to look after stock. A bright, studious lad, he made the best of the opportunity given him in Mr. Woodbury's employment to attend school, advancing rapidly in his knowledge of the English lan- guage, with which he was almost entirely un- acquainted when he first came to Houlton. After a short time his services were availed of in assisting Mr. Woodbury in his grocery store and express business. The wages he so earned enabled him to assist his widowed mother in supporting her large family. Dur- ing the last eight years of the twenty-one that he remained with Mr. Woodbury, he assisted
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him in the post-office, of which he had almost exclusive control for the last four years, man- aging it efficiently and to the satisfaction of his employer and the people. After severing his connection with Mr. Woodbury, Mr. Ed- blad became an agent for Nelson & Clark, commission merchants of Charlestown, Mass., whom, with headquarters at Houlton, he rep- resented until the death of the junior member, in December, 1894. Since that time he has built up a thriving business with different parts of New England in potatoes, which, be- sides buying, he raises in large crops on land hired for the purpose. He now owns a large storehouse near the station of the Bangor & Aroostook Railway. In addition to dealing in potatoes, he is also agent for the Bowker Fertilizing Company of Boston, for whom he does an extensive business.
In politics Mr. Edblad is a Republican, and for three years he has been one of the Town Committee. In 1897 he was elected to the Board of Selectmen of Houlton, and in 1898 he was elected Road Commissioner. Frater- nally, he is a Mason; and he has served in the St. Aldemar Commandery as Junior and Senior Warden, and is now Deacon of the
organization. He likewise belongs to the A. O. U. W. A man of broad Christian spirit, he is an active member of the Epis- copal church. On January 21, 1885, he mar- ried Hannah A. Pray, a daughter of Elijah Pray. Their only child, Horace P., died Au- gust 14, 1894, aged five years. Having begun life with no capital save that of willing hands and a persistent spirit, Mr. Edblad is now
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