USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 2
USA > Maine > Aroostook County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 2
USA > Maine > Hancock County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 2
USA > Maine > Washington County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 2
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 2
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Having been educated in the schools of Monson and Blanchard and at the Foxcroft Academy, Cyrus A. Packard taught school for six terms in this vicinity. In his early man- hood he worked for a while at carpentry with his father. Then he and Joseph B. Packard engaged in the manufacture of matches in Blanchard, but they soon abandoned the enter- prise on account of the tax. For six months in 1864 he was in the employ of the Sanitary Commission at Washington, looking after the sick and wounded Maine soldiers. In the fall of the same year he enlisted in Company G, Seventeenth Maine Regiment of Volunteers,
and was assigned to duty in the Provost Mar- shal's office in Bangor, where he was occupied until the close of the war. A Republican from the time of the formation of the party, he was County Commissioner of Piscataquis County for nine years; and by the appoint- ment of Governor Davis he was State land agent until 1892, a period of twelve years. He was elected to the State legislature of 1895, receiving all the votes cast in his dis- trict but three. Mr. Packard was made a Mason in 1868, and belonged to Doric Lodge in Monson. He was a member of the Congre- gational church. Gifted with a wonderful memory, he was well versed in history, especially in the history of his own county. He died December 7, 1896, the first to break his family circle.
On April 5, 1848, Mr. Packard was married to Sarah Packard, who was born in Hebron, September 7,, 1827. Her father, Ephraim Packard, born March 13, 1790, settled in Blanchard in 1830, before any roads had been opened here. Besides conducting a farm he managed a hotel for a while. He was County Commissioner for six years and Probate Judge at the time of his death. In the Congrega- tional church at Blanchard he was a Deacon. He died November 2, 1855. His wife, who was born November 28, 1792, died August 25, 1862. Cyrus A. Packard left a widow and eight children. The children are: Reuel A., born April 13, 1849, a carpenter of Guilford, Me. ; Charles E., born September 2, 1850, a lumber manufacturer of the same town; Emma B., born May 10, 1854, wife of J. Warren
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Chamberlain, of Blanchard; Henry M., born March 28, 1857, station agent in Blanchard; Anna I., born September 25, 1861, wife of L. W. Gammon, of Guilford; Lizzie E., born September 23, 1863, wife of John Patten, of the Blanchard hotel, the Valley House; Evvie M., born November 25, 1865, wife of C. Sumner Packard, of Blanchard; and Edmond B., born January 22, 1870, residing in Blanchard. Mr. Patten, mentioned above, has charge of the old Packard home in this town. Mrs. Packard lives with her son Henry M. The latter attended the schools of Blanchard, and graduated at Dirigo College, Augusta, in 1886. In early life he was en- gaged for a while in farming; and during two summer seasons he was surveying for the State in Aroostook County, in the vicinity of Madawaska. Since 1892 he has been station agent here, on the Bangor & Aroostook Rail- road. He was elected First Selectman as his father's successor, and has been Town Clerk for seventeen years. Well advanced in Ma- sonry, he is a member of the lodge at Monson and the chapter at Dover. He is not married.
৳ RA G. HERSEY, of Houlton, a leading attorney of Aroostook County, was born = in Hodgdon, Me., on March 31, 1858. A son of Samuel B. and Elizabeth (White) Hersey, he is a descendant of William Hersey, who settled in Hingham, Mass., in 1635. He attended the common schools of his native town, and subsequently Houlton Academy, now the Ricker Classical Institute.
After leaving the academy, he read law with the Hon. Lyman S. Strickland, of Houlton, and in September, 1880, was admitted to the bar of Aroostook County. Since that time he has built up a large and lucrative practice, and has acquired an enviable reputation. He is especially strong in addressing a jury, and is a skilful cross-examiner on jury trials. On this account he is now often called upon to act as counsel for cases tried before juries.
In 1896 Mr. Hersey was a candidate for County Attorney on the Independent ticket, and received nearly three thousand votes. He was beaten only by a small majority, the Re- publican candidate being elected. His hand- some and spacious law office at Houlton, one of the finest in the State, contains a large and valuable law library. Mr. Hersey is thor- oughly acquainted with the resources of the State and well informed on all industrial and financial questions. Much of this informa- tion has been obtained on political canvasses. In the campaign of 1894 he was candidate for Governor on the Prohibition ticket, and spoke to large audiences in the interest of his party in nearly all the large cities and towns. He has also spoken in various other campaigns. His first vote was cast for a Prohibition can- didate, and he has always since been a stanch Prohibitionist. To-day he is recognized as the backbone of the party in the county. Besides the political speeches he has deliv- ered, he has made occasional addresses before the Ricker Classical Institute, his Alma Mater. His speeches are said to be charac- terized by "fire, eloquence, and grace."
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Mr. Hersey is an active member and an official of the Methodist Episcopal church in Houlton. On various occasions, at the re- quest of the congregation, when the pastor was absent, he preached from the pulpit of that church. At one time he was the State president of the Epworth League and promi- nent in the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion. He is also a trustee of the Eastern Maine Seminary at Bucksport. A Mason of Monument Lodge, No. 96, he belongs to St. Aldemar Commandery, and is Deputy High Priest of the State. In the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows he has taken all the degrees, and at the present time is Deputy Grand Master of the latter organization. He was married on January 6, 1885, to Miss Annie Dillon, a daughter of William Dillon, of Mars Hill, Aroostook County.
ON. ALBERT W. CHAPIN, one of the pioneers of the slate quarrying industry in Monson, an ex-State Senator, and a Civil War veteran, was born in this town, June 11, 1842, son of Aretas and Mary W. (Whiting) Chapin. A descendant of the Chapin family, he is of English or Welsh origin. Chapins have figured promi- nently among the early settlers of Springfield, Mass. The immigrant ancestor, Samuel, came to the country with a brother, who was killed by the Indians soon after his arrival. Samuel settled in Springfield, and was the progenitor of a numerous posterity.
Captain Amasa Chapin, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Monson, Mass., in 1782. When a young man he served as Captain in the Massachusetts State militia. In 1819 he settled as a pioneer in Monson, Me., where he acquired possession of a tract of wild land one mile square. After clearing a farm here he cultivated it during the rest of his active period, and was one of the stirring men of this locality in his day. He attended the first town meeting, and took an active part in organizing the town govern- ment, in which he was for many years a prom- inent factor. In politics he was a Whig. He died in 1852. Of his two children, one lived to maturity.
Aretas Chapin, son of Captain Amasa Chapin, was born in Monson in 1806. Hav- ing assisted his father for a time in carrying on the farm, he succeeded to the property, and sold it in 1840. Moving then to the vil- lage, he purchased a saw and grist mill, which he operated until 1872: In 1861 he became the proprietor of the Hotel Chapin, in which he continued to entertain the travelling pub- lic until a few years previous to his death, which occurred in 1878. He served as a Se- lectman for nearly twenty years, was a County Commissioner for the years 1858, 1859, and 1860, represented his district in the legislat- ure for one term, and held other elective offices. He took especial interest in educa- tional matters, and was one of the founders of the Monson Academy. In his later years his political faith was that of the Republican party, while his religious belief was the
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Congregational. His wife, Mary W. Chapin, who was born in Wrentham, Mass., about the year 1810, became the mother of five chil- dren. Of these, three are living, namely : Albert W., the subject of this sketch; Emily C., the wife of Charles A. Wentworth, a pros- perous farmer of Ontario, Ia .; and Charles W. Chapin, an engineer in Sioux City, Ia. The others were: Francis M. and J. Henry Chapin. The mother, who survives the father, resides in Monson.
Albert W. Chapin completed his education at the Monson Academy. In July, 1862, he enlisted in the Eighteenth Regiment, later known as the First Maine Heavy Artillery. This regiment saw an unusual amount of hard fighting, and distinguished itself on several notable occasions, especially in the battle of Spottsylvania and at the siege of Petersburg, in both of which it is claimed that it lost a greater percentage of men than any other regi- ment in the service. Mr. Chapin remained with his company until the close of the war, excepting a period of four months spent in the hospital on account of a severe wound re- ceived in front of Petersburg. After he was mustered out in October, 1865, he returned to Monson, and was clerk of Hotel Chapin for the ensuing five or six years. While there his attention was attracted to the future possi- bilities of slate quarrying in Monson, which up to that time had received little or no notice. In 1871 he began the development of what has since proved one of the most impor- tant industries of this section, the Monson and Burmah Quarry. The product of this quarry
has acquired a high reputation among the builders throughout the country. While still retaining a connection with that enterprise, Mr. Chapin has become the owner of three undeveloped quarries and some valuable tracts of timber land, is interested in lumbering, and deals in real estate.
A member of the Board of Selectmen for seventeen years, Mr. Chapin has been the chairman of that body for sixteen years of the period. He was elected to the State Senate in 1891, and he served as Postmaster for eight years. At the present time he is the Treasurer of Doric Lodge, F. & A. M., of which he was Worshipful Master for two years; and he is a comrade of Gerry Post, No. 5, G. A. R. He occupies a prominent and influential position among the well-to-do business men of Monson, and is highly re- spected for his ability and upright character. Mr. Chapin is unmarried.
BEL DAVIS, an able lawyer of Pitts- field and a Civil War veteran, was born in New Portland, January 16, 1842, son of Henry D. and Jane M. (Masters) Davis. The father, a native of Dalhousie, N.B., during his earlier years resided in Mar- imichi and Maguadavic, N.B. When about forty years old he came to Maine, and, set- tling in New Portland, was there engaged in farming and lumbering until his death, which occurred March 26, 1868, at the age of seventy years. Jane M. Davis, his wife, who was a native of Maguadavic, became the
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mother of ten children. Of these, six are living, namely: Hannah Elizabeth, the wife of H. L. Kimball, of Skowhegan; Abel, the subject of this sketch; Mariamne, who be- came Mrs. Mills, and is now a widow, resid- ing in San Francisco, Cal .; Henrietta M., who married Lorenzo D. Getchell, and lives in Skowhegan; Henry D., a resident of Eau Claire, Wis .; and Ada M., the wife of Charles Webb, of New Portland. The others were: Angelica; Margaret Jane, who died May 12, 1854; Sarah M. ; and William M. Davis. The mother died April 15, 1897, aged eighty-two years.
Abel Davis acquired his early education in the common schools of New Portland. At the age of nineteen years he enlisted in the Fourth Regiment of Light Artillery, Maine Volunteers, entering the service January II, 1862. At the battle of Cedar Mountain he was struck in the leg by a piece of shell, caus- ing a severe wound. After passing some months in the hospitals of Alexandria, Va., and David's Island, N. Y., he was discharged January 26, 1863. Subsequent to his return he settled upon a farm which he had previ- ously purchased in his native town. During the succeeding five years he cultivated this property to some extent, drove a milk wagon in Lewiston for some time, worked upon a farm in New Gloucester, Me., was employed for a year upon the steamer "Montreal," plying between Portland and Boston, and also worked in the woods. In 1868, after his father's death, he went to Eau Claire, Wis., where he was engaged in lumbering for about
two years. Having begun the study of law in 1871, he graduated from the law depart- ment of the State University in Madison, Wis., June 19, 1873. Then, forming a part- nership with Joseph F. Ellis, he practised his profession in Eau Claire for four years, being at the same time associated with his brother in the lumber business. Failing health having caused him to rest from active business, he spent the summer of 1877 at his old home in Maine. Returning West that fall, he resumed the practice of law. In 1881 he returned East again, and on June 18, while in Boston, he was prostrated on Boston Com- mon by a stroke of paralysis, which subse- quently confined him at the Massachusetts General Hospital for some weeks. When sufficiently recovered he went to Maine. In 1882 he resumed farming in New. Portland, remaining there for two years. At the end of that time he sold his property, and once more returned to Eau Claire, where he en- gaged in a mercantile business. A year later he was again forced by feeble health to take a rest. Finding the climate of Wisconsin unfavorable to his permanent recovery, he came East in 1885, stopping in Lewiston for a short time and finally locating in Pittsfield, where he has since practised law with suc- cess. He has always manifested a lively in- terest in public affairs. On one occasion, while residing in Eau Claire, he delivered a speech upon an important political issue, which brought him into popular favor. He has served as Moderator at town meetings in Pittsfield, has been a member of the Board
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of Assessors, and was chairman of the Village Corporation for one year. In politics he is a Republican.
On August 28, 1890, Mr. Davis was united in marriage with Mrs. Angie B. (Rogers) Morrill, who was born in Lewiston, October 16, 1849, daughter of Miller J. and Angeline (Blackstone) Rogers. Her first husband died in Buckfield, Me., where he was a farmer, merchant, and cattle dealer. Mrs. Davis's father, who is no longer living, was for many years a cotton manufacturer in Lewiston. Her mother is still living, and resides with a daughter in the last named city. In 1874 Mr. Davis joined Chippewa Lodge, I. O. O. F., and Wilderness Encampment in Eau Claire, and is now connected with Phlentonia Lodge and Pittsfield Encampment. He is also a member of Pioneer Lodge, No. 71, Knights of Pythias; of the Patrons of Husbandry ; and of Stephen Davis Post, No. II, G. A. R., all of this town. He attends the Universalist church. Mrs. Davis died February 5, 1898.
OSIAH H. SMITH, a prosperous and progressive farmer of Trenton, Han- cock County, son of Moses Smith, was born November 14, 1833, in the neighboring town of Eastbrook. His grandfather, John Smith, a pioneer settler of this part of Maine, came from Massachusetts with his wife and two sons, and, taking up a tract of wild land, cleared a farm, which at his death was divided between the two boys, and which is still in the possession of the family.
Moses Smith worked manfully in the pio- necr task of clearing the land for cultivation during his boyhood and early manhood. On coming into possession of his portion of the property he continued his labors as a general farmer, and lived there until a few years prior to his death. Removing then a mile farther North, he there spent the remainder of his threescore and ten years of earthly existence. To him and his wife, whose inaiden name was Christina Haslen, twelve children were born; namely, Lucy, J. Madison, Phoebe H., Josiah H., Pamelia, Seth T., Julia B., Caroline N., Zelman B., Eben W., Moses C., and Mehit- able. Of these Lucy, Phoebe, Pamelia, Seth, Julia, and Mehitable are deceased.
Josiah H. Smith obtained a district-school education, and for some years after worked out as a farm hand or lumberman, until he had accumulated sufficient money to buy a farm. He moved in 1859 to the town of Franklin, where he continued in the lumber business for some years. In 1864 he enlisted in the First Maine Cavalry, with which he served until the close of the Rebellion, participating in several severe engagements, and being at the forefront all of the time during the siege of Petersburg. On being mustered out of the service he returned to Franklin, and, resum- ing farming and lumbering, remained there until 1883, when he bought his present fine farm of two hundred acres in Trenton.
Mr. Smith is a Mason; also a member of William H. H. Rice Post, G. A. R., of Ells- worth. He is a Republican in politics, and cast his first Presidential vote in 1856 for
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John C. Fremont. From July, 1893, to Au- gust, 1895, he was Postmaster at Trenton. On February 4, 1855, he married Sarah M., daughter of John G. and Palmyra (Gould) Dyer, of Franklin, Me. They have two chil- dren - Henry C. and Mina A. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith united with the Baptist church in Franklin, and both are members of the Lamoine Grange.
PRANK W. BURNS, a practical and progressive farmer and liveryman of Fort Fairfield, Aroostook County, was born June 12, 1848, in Andover, N.B. His par- ents, William H. and Adelaide (Murphy) Burns, reared eight children, of whom he was the first-born. The others are: Mrs. Martha Corey, of Skowhegan, Me .; Robert B., of Williams, Ariz .; Charlotte, the wife of Lock- land Hayes, of Fort Fairfield; James W., who lives on the parental homestead; Stephen A. D., a resident of Wisconsin; Arthur E., of Moro, Me .; and Adelaide, the wife of Charles Young, of Skowhegan, Me.
Frank W. Burns spent his early years on the home farm in New Brunswick, where his opportunities for acquiring an education were exceedingly limited. When the necessity for earning his own livelihood became im- pressed upon his mind, he came to Fort Fair- field for the purpose of learning the harness- maker's trade. Entering the shop of H. C. Collins, he was associated with him for nearly ten years, as an apprentice for three years and as a co-partner for seven years, during which
period they also conducted a livery business. Then the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Col- lins retaining control of the harness shop, and Mr. Burns taking the livery. To Mr. Burns belongs the distinction of putting out the first sign ever hung in Fort Fairfield. It read "Livery Stable," and is still swinging at the same location in the old village, which prior to the building of the Canada & Pacific Rail- road was the business part of the town. Mr. Burns subsequently transferred his business to the present village, where he has been quite successful. Formerly he raised a great deal of stock, including horses. He also dealt in Chicago and other Western horses, which for some years had a large sale in this part of the country. Now he raises a few horses, prefer- ring to give more of his time to general farm- ing. Some years ago he bought the Nelson estate of one hundred and sixty-five acres. Recently the purchase of a neighboring farm made him the owner of a total of two hundred and fifty acres of land. A large part of this he devoted to raising potatoes and the hay and grain required in his livery business. He is an up-to-date farmer, his farm being, without doubt, one of the best equipped in the vicin- ity. In the summer of 1897 he erected one of the largest potato storehouses in the town, building it after unique plans of his own, in such a way that the two thousand barrels of potatoes it is capable of holding may be kept at an even temperature throughout the year. He has also other interests of a mercantile nature, being associated with Mr. Slocum in the clothing business.
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In politics Mr. Burns is first, last, and al- ways a Republican and one of the foremost workers in the party, having been a member of the Republican Town Committee for a dozen years or more. From 1881 until 1883 he was Deputy Sheriff, and for the ensuing four years he was High Sheriff. On June I, 1898, he was appointed Collector of Customs for the Fort Fairfield district. Fraternally, he belongs to Eastern Frontier Lodge, No. II2, F. & A. M. Although not a member of any religious organization, he is greatly in- terested in the moral and intellectual welfare of the community, and contributes generously toward the support of churches of all denomi- nations. On December 21, 1874, he married Eliza M., daughter of Caleb Slocum. They have seven children; namely, Harry P., Willie B., A. Pearl, Caleb E., Sarah C., Frank W., and Alfred Sawyer Burns.
APTAIN ARCHIBALD C. LAM- BERT, a prominent farmer and stock- raiser of South Dover and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in this town, De- cember 31, 1832, son of Benjamin and Cla- rissa (Bragg) Lambert. He comes of English origin. The grandfather, Paul Lambert, who was one of the first settlers of South Dover, came from Winthrop, Kennebec County, Me., in 1808. He acquired a tract of five hundred acres of wild land, to which, after making a clearing and erecting a dwelling, he brought his family. In time the farm yielded bounti- ful crops, and he was able to furnish many of
the pioneer settlers with seed and stock. One of the most industrious men of his day, despite the many setbacks that fell to the lot of a pio- neer, he was quite successful, and was able to give a farm to each of his sons. He was a Whig in politics and a Baptist in his religion. The maiden name of his wife was Mercy Dex- ter. She became the mother of seven sons and three daughters, all of whom settled in the neighborhood of the homestead. Of
these, the only survivor is Stephen Lambert, who is now residing in Belvidere, Ill. Paul Lambert died at the age of seventy-three years, and his wife lived to be ninety-six.
Benjamin Lambert, Captain Lambert's father, born in Winthrop in June, 1808, who was reared to farm life in South Dover, spent his active years in tilling the soil. He took a deep interest in the general welfare of the community. One of the first to join the Re- publican movement in Dover, he assisted in forming the first local organization, and he supported that party vigorously. He died January 29, 1890, in his eighty-second year. His family consisted of seven children, namely : Clarissa, who married Captain Mel- born P. Smith, and died March 9, 1875; Shepard, who enlisted in a Wisconsin regi- ment for service in the Civil War, and was accidentally shot in 1862; Archibald C., the subject of this sketch; Franccs, who is now Mrs. Withee, and resides in Wisconsin; Lydia, now Mrs. Coburn, of Indiana; Henry H., who lives in California; and Amelia, now Mrs. Sanborn, also residing in Indiana. Mrs. Benjamin Lambert is no longer living.
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Archibald C. Lambert attended the district schools of his native town, and grew to man- hood as a farmer. He remained upon the home farm assisting his father until the sec- ond year of the Rebellion, when he raised Company I, Twenty-second Regiment, Maine Volunteers, and was mustered into service as its Captain on September 24, 1862. His regiment was sent to the Lower Mississippi, where it took part in the battles of Baton Rouge and Irish Bend and in the siege of Port Hudson. With the exception of eight days spent in the Marine Hospital at New Orleans, Captain Lambert remained at the head of his company until his discharge in 1863. In 1864 he went to California, where he remained a year. Upon his return to Dover he resumed farming, which he has since followed with success. He owns two hundred and fifty acres of excellent tillage and pasture land, and is an extensive breeder of cattle and horses. A stallion belonging to him was awarded first premium at the State Fair in 1892. One of the most able and practical agriculturists in this section, he ranks among the leading stock-raisers of Dover. In poli- tics he is a Republican. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and a comrade of Doughty Post, G. A. R.
On January 1, 1857, Captain Lambert was joined in marriage with Eliza J. Ames, who was born in Bradford, Me., January 17, 1836, daughter of the Rev. Moses and Rebecca (Strout) Ames. Her father, born in the same town, December 8, 1811, died in South Dover, September 30, 1860. Her mother,
who was born in Limerick, Me., December 22, 1811, died in South Dover, April 3, 1876. Moses and Rebecca Ames reared four children, namely: Royal, born November 4, 1833, who died January 7, 1861; Eliza J., now Mrs. Lambert; Abbie M., born May 19, 1838, who is now the wife of Alfred Bragg, of Dover; and Joseph M., born August 25, 1841, who is a resident of East Corinth, Me. Captain and Mrs. Lambert have had three children : Freddie C., born August 8, 1861, who died at the age of nineteen months; Charlie A., born April 6, 1870, who died at the age of four years; and Cora R., the eld- est, who was born October 9, 1857. Cora married the Rev. Wilson W. Hayden, a grad- uate of Bates College, Lewiston, Me., who now resides in Madison, Me. She has one son, Archibald L. Hayden. Captain and Mrs. Lambert attend the Free Will Baptist church.
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