USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 22
USA > Maine > Aroostook County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 22
USA > Maine > Hancock County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 22
USA > Maine > Washington County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 22
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 22
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On February 26, 1867, Mr. Hilton was united in marriage with Miss Helen A. Fletcher, a native of Portland, this county,
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born April 17, 1847. She is a daughter of George A. and Susan S. (Mantor) Fletcher, both natives of Anson. The father, now de- ceased, who resided there during the most of his life, was a merchant of North Anson vil- lage, the treasurer of both the savings-bank and the Somerset Railroad, and the Register of Deeds for many years. The mother, who survives, resides with Mrs. Hilton. Mr. and Mrs. Hilton had one child, Harry B., born September 14, 1876, now residing with his mother. Mrs. Brown also makes her home with Mrs. Hilton, whose residence is a beau- tiful cottage in Main Street, on North Anson Hill. Mr. Hilton was a trustee and superin- tendent of the horse department of the Maine State Fair from 1885 to 1888, and was a life member of the organization. He had tact, judgment, and ability, such as few men pos- sess ; and his career is a striking illustration of what may be accomplished in life by the man who bends all his energies upon his work. In 1895 he was stricken with paralysis, but partially recovered. His death occurred on May 8, 1896.
ORATIO NELSON PAGE, a retired farmer of Norridgewock, occupying the old Page homestead, and a son of the late Simon Page, was born February 18, 1809, in Winthrop, Kennebec County. Simon Page, born in 1773, who settled on the present homestead about sixty years ago, spent the first nine years of his life in Kensington, N. H. Thereafter until 1815 he resided in
the town of Winthrop, Me., where he married Miss Susan Smith, who was born in Middle- boro, Mass. Then he came with his family to Norridgewock, settling on a farm near the village, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits for a score or more years. In 1836 he purchased the farm now occupied by his son Horatio, and here he and his wife spent their remaining days, his death occurring September 9, 1853, at the age of eighty years. She died April 16, 1856, aged eighty-six years. They became the parents of three children, namely : John Calvin, now deceased, who married Fanny Gould, also deceased; Horatio N., the subject of this sketch; and Henry Lewis, who died at the age of five years and seven months.
Horatio N. Page acquired a good education in the common schools of Norridgewock and at the academy in Farmington. For some time after leaving the academy he was en- gaged in teaching in Somerset County, having charge of schools in Madison, Mercer, and Norridgewock. Selecting farming, however, as his life occupation, he remained with his parents; and, as the burdens of age grew heavy upon them, relieved them of all care, and made easy and pleasant the closing years of their earthly pilgrimage. In time he suc- ceeded to the home farm, which contains one hundred and twenty acres of good land. His practical sense and natural ability have since enabled him to conduct it successfully. While he carries on general farming and dairying, he makes a specialty of sheep-rais- ing, breeding high grades only.
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On October 10, 1837, he married Miss Hannah Page, who was born November 20, 1818, in Winthrop, Me., daughter of Sewell and Mary (White) Page. Her father, a life- long farmer, who was born in Winthrop, lived and died in that town. Her mother was born and reared in New Market, N. H. Mr. and Mrs. Page have had four children - George Nelson, Mary Elizabeth, Edward Payson, and Henry Lewis. George N., born October 17, 1838, now a prominent resident of Skowhegan and the cashier of the First National Bank of that place, married Mary E. Salvage, of Au- gusta, Me. Mary E., born December 18, 1842, resides on the homestead with her par- ents. Edward P, born December 26, 1846, married Mary Lizzie Randall, of Vassalboro, and now lives in Skowhegan, where he is the secretary and treasurer of the Skowhegan Sav- ings Bank. Henry L., born October 4, 1858, died Mareh 12, 1883. He married on No- vember 2, 1881, Miss Lilla M. Melntire, who is now living in Boston.
In his younger days Mr. Page was an adhe- rent of the Whig party, and east his first Presi- dential vote for William Henry Harrison, but sinee the formation of the Republican party he has been one of its stanehest supporters. Besides serving in many other publie offices, he was for thirteen consecutive years Town- ship Clerk and the chairman of the Board of Seleetmen, having been first ehosen in 1857. For many years he was a member of the local lodge of the Sons of Temperanee, and throughout his entire life he has praetised the principles of that organization, having never
tasted intoxieating liquors. Both Mr. and Mrs. Page are members of the Norridgewoek Congregational Church, of which he has been elerk for forty years and Deaeon for twenty years. Time has dealt gently with this vener- able couple, who for half a century have trod life's pathway hand in hand. With compara- tively undiminished mental and physical vigor, they are still enjoying the blessings of life, happy alike in their past experience and present environment.
APTAIN JOHN COLLINS, a retired ship-master of Castine, Hancoek County, and formerly of the United States navy, was born on Deer Isle, Me., April 29, 1832, son of John and Rosanna (Coombs) Collins. The great-grandfather was James Collins, who settled upon land about one mile from the village of Castine, and built a frame house. He was a Loyalist dur- ing the Revolutionary War. When the town was evacuated by the British, he aeeepted an offer made by the Crown of land in St. An- drews, N.B., to all who desired to remove to British territory; and he never returned to Castine. The maiden name of his first wife was Hannah Abbott, and of his second, Miss Pratt. The grandfather, John Collins (first), who was born in Mount Desert, Province of Maine, July 29, 1770, remained in Castine, where he followed the tailor's trade, kept a publie house, and was assistant jailer when this town was the county seat. Subsequently
JOHN COLLINS.
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he moved to Frankfort and later to the Isle au Haut, where he died at about the age of sixty years. He married Polly Lamphier, and reared a family of nine children, of whom John Collins (second), Captain Collins's father, was the fifth-born and the fourth son.
John Collins (second), a native of Castine, born August 1, 1803, followed the sea as a fisherman and coaster, becoming a master mariner. He resided on Deer Isle some twelve years, at the end of which time he re- moved to Castine, and died here at the age of ninety years. His wife, Rosanna, who be- longed to a highly reputable family, became the mother of thirteen children, five of whom are living; namely, John, George N., Charles A., Joseph H., and Rosanna M. Of these, Captain George N. resides in this locality. The deceased were: Dr. Willard C., Ellen R., Hannah, Edward F. M., Frances A., Mary E., and two infants.
John Collins was educated in the schools of Deer Isle and Castine. His sea life began when he was a youth; and he continued in the merchant service until December 21, 1861, when he entered the United States navy as acting master, commanding during the Civil War the United States schooner "George Mangham " and the steamer "Nerius." At the capture of New Orleans he suffered a severe attack of concussion of the brain, from the effects of which he has never fully recov- ered. In May, 1865, he was placed on wait- ing orders in New York, and, after receiving an honorable discharge at the United States navy-yard in Kittery, he continued to follow
the sea in the foreign trade until his retire- ment in 1872.
. Captain Collins married Mary A. Carter, a daughter of Vespasian and Abigail (Hamilton) Carter, of Blue Hill. His only child, Warren E., died in infancy. Politically, Captain Collins is a Republican. He is a member of the Masonic order, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Grand Army of the Republic.
ON. JOHN KELLER AMES, a well-known lumber manufacturer of Machias, Washington County, and Collector of Customs for the Machias District, was born in East Machias, November 7, 1831, son of Alfred and Mary G. (Keller) Ames. His grandfather Ames was for some time in the United States revenue service. Alfred Ames, who was born in Machias, received his education in the district schools. When a young man he engaged in seafaring, soon became the master of a vessel, and subse- quently sailed on many foreign voyages. Ill of a fever, he came home from Cuba, and died when his son John was nine years old. His wife, Mary, was a daughter of John Keller, of Thomaston, Me. Of her children four grew to maturity : John Keller, the sub- ject of this biography; Benjamin F., who resides in San Francisco: Martin Van B., of Machias; and Maria Louisa, who is the wife of George E. Furber, of Boston. The mother was a Baptist. After the death of her first husband she married Dr. William H. Tobey,
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and by him had three children, of whom the only survivor is Susan K., now residing in Boston.
Having received his elementary education in the town schools, John Keller Ames at- tended Washington Academy for three and one half years. Then, on July 17, 1849, he entered the employ of S. W. Pope & Co. as a clerk. In 1861 he practically took charge of the business, and thereafter carried it on until the proprietors died in 1880. In this year he succeeded to the management of the store, and has since carried it on. The estab- lishment is now one of the largest in the town, and does a large business. Starting in 1855, Mr. Ames now carries on one of the largest lumber factories in this section of the State. At present he has one and a half million feet of lumber in process of seasoning. On the average he cuts about five million feet annually, and employs about seventy-five men, usually adding twenty-five extra work- men for the winter's work. Previous to the Civil War he shipped large quantities of lumber to the West Indies. In 1881 the firm of Holloway, Sullivan & Co., of which Mr. Ames is a member, was organized. This is a lumber manufacturing concern, with a ca- pacity of six million feet annually.
By his marriage with Sarah, daughter of Cyrus Sanborn, of East Machias, Mr. Ames has six children, namely : Edward Gardner, of Port Gamble, Wash., who is assistant manager of one of the largest lumber concerns in that State; Anna, who is the wife of Frederick H. Peavey, of Sioux City, Ia. ; Julia Pope, who
is the wife of Rufus C. Fuller, of Providence, R. I .; Frank Sanborn, a resident of Machias; Alfred Keller, Lieutenant of Company M, Second Regiment, National Guards, of Ma- chias; and Lucy Talbot. The mother died in 1891. Mr. Ames has been a trustee of the Machias Savings Bank. At present he is a trustee of the Porter Memorial Library Association, of the Central Washington Agri- cultural Society, and of the Machias Park Association. In politics he is a Republican. He has been a Selectman almost continuously for thirty years. His appointment as Collec- tor of Customs for the District of Machias dates from July 26, 1897. In 1893 he was elected to the Maine Senate, and while there was a member of the Committee on Agricult- ure, the Interior Water Commission, and the Committee on Engrossed Bills, and the chair- man of the Committee on Ways and Bridges. During his second year he was the chairman of the Committee on Interior Waters, and served in the Committees on Inland Fisheries and Game, and Engrossed Bills. Mr. Ames . attends and supports the Universalist church.
ILSON W. SAWTELLE, a pros- perous farmer of Shirley, where he has been for more than a decade of years one of the leading town officers, and is now serv- ing as chairman of the Board of Selectmen and as Town Treasurer, was born in Corinna, Penobscot County, Me., February 1, 1837. He is a son of Salmon G. and Joanna (Glid-
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den) Sawtelle. His great-grandfather, Jonas Sawtelle, born in Groton, Mass., in 1758, married Eunice Kemp, and in 1792 removed to Norridgewock, Me., a part of which is now Sidney. Later in life Jonas Sawtelle was an early settler in Corinna, arriving there in 1815. On January 1, 1817, his son Samuel and his grandson Salmon G. also came to Corinna. All three were farmers, and each in turn owned the home farm in Corinna.
Samuel Sawtelle, Wilson W. Sawtelle's grandfather, was born in Groton, Mass., and was an early settler in Sidney, Me. He mar- ried a Miss Hannah Grover, a native of Gro- ton. Salmon G. Sawtelle was born at Sidney, Me. He is still living on the old Corinna farm. The Sawtelles have all been hard- working, enterprising men.
Salmon G. Sawtelle's first wife, Joanna, was born in Jackson, Me. She died in 1846, when Wilson W. was nine years old. His second wife was her sister, Sarah E. Glidden. He has had a family of twelve children, six of whom are living - namely, Wilson W., Avery, George, Hannah, Frank, and Fred; and six have died - Charles, an infant, Syl- vester, Emma, Eva, and Abbie.
Wilson W. Sawtelle remained on the home farm assisting his father until of age. He was then for three years engaged in different kinds of business. In May, 1861, he joined a military company, which was shortly dis- banded; and on January 14, 1862, he again volunteered for the defence of the Union, en- listing in the Sixth Maine Battery of Light Artillery. He was in the Army of the Poto-
mac about three years and a half, and saw much hard service. He was with General Banks's division at the battle of Cedar Moun- tain, August 9, 1862; also at Gettysburg, July 2 and 3, where he helped repel Pickett's celebrated charge. He was with the Army of the Potomac under General Grant, and partici- pated in the following battles: Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Cold Har- bor, and in the siege of Petersburg. On June 18, 1864, during the siege of Petersburg, he was wounded in the left hand. For this in- jury, with other disabilities, he receives a United States pension. In the early part of his service he was in the hospital three months. He received his first discharge Feb- ruary 7, 1864, and, re-enlisting again in the same company, received his final discharge June 17, 1865.
On his return he bought land in Dexter, Me., where he lived thirteen years. In 1878 he purchased a farm in Shirley, and since that time he has made his home in this town. He has a good, productive farm of one hundred and fifty acres, which he redeemed from the wilderness, and good buildings, which were erected under his supervision. In April, 1898, Mr. Sawtelle purchased the farm for- merly owned by Joseph Dennen, and he moved into his present residence the same month.
Mr. Sawtelle was married October 9, 1865, to Clara M. Hardison, of Dexter, Me. She died April 4, 1882, leaving seven children ; namely, Myrtie E., Elledge W., Costello A., Millie J., Annie C., Ada M., and Harry I., all of whom are now living. Mr. Sawtelle
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married for his second wife Miss Sarah E. Cargill, of Augusta, Me., October 10, 1889.
Mr. Sawtelle, who is a Democrat in politi- cal affiliation, has served for thirteen years on the Board of Selectmen, has been chairman of the board for the past four years, and is now Town Treasurer. He is very active and influ- ential in town affairs. He was nominated by the Democrats for the office of County Com- missioner in 1896 and as Representative to the legislature in 1898. He was appointed by Governor Powers Justice of the Peace, April 28, 1898, He is a member of Gerry Post, No. 5, G. A. R., at Monson.
EORGE GILBERT LONG, Postmas- ter at East Blue Hill, Hancock County, Me., where he was born on February 21, 1835, is a son of the late Joel and Abigail (Friend) Long and grandson of Joel Long of the preceding generation, who was the first settler at East Blue Hill, locating himself in the wilderness and clearing a farm.
Grandfather Long, the pioneer, was born at Castine, Me., in July, 1782. When a young man he learned the trade of a comb-maker in Boston. After coming to this place, about the year 1810, he operated a saw-mill for some time, later purchasing the property. He acquired prosperity as a farmer, millman, and ship-builder. He died in November, 1871. His wife was Eliza Rogers, of Boston, Mass.
Joel Long, second, father of George G. Long, was born in Sedgwick, Me., in Octo- ber, 1808. In connection with farming he
followed the trade of brickmaker. At his death he owned a greater portion of the land now occupied by the village of East Blue Hill. He also engaged in ship-building to some extent, and owned in several vessels. He died in July, 1875. His wife, whose maiden name was Abigail Friend, was a na- tive of Sedgwick, born in October, 1807. She died in March, 1884, having been the mother of seven children, namely: George G., the subject of this sketch; Moses F .; Aurilla A .; Abby A., who died in infancy; Rowland H .; Clara A .; and Francis D. Moses. F. Long enlisted in Company H, Fourth Regi- ment, Maine Volunteer Infantry, and was Or- derly Sergeant. He was killed in the battle of Fredericksburg, leaving a widow (who was before marriage Margaret Towns) and two children - Alice and Moses A. Aurilla A. Long married Francis Ingalls. She died in May, 1861, leaving one son, Hartland. Francis Ingalls was killed at the battle of Gettysburg. Rowland H. Long, who was captain of a lake steamship, married Fanny Parker, of Blue Hill. He died in Chicago in 1896, and left a widow and one daughter, Lottie. Clara A. married John A. Miller, and died leaving two children - Frank A. and Nellie I. Miller. Francis D. Long mar- ried Henrietta Cousins, and had three chil- dren - Carrie B., Harvey P., and Ward S. He has for several years been one of the Se- lectmen of Blue Hill.
George G. Long in his youth attended the Blue Hill Academy. In March, 1857, he went to California, where he worked in the
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mines and upon a ranch for two years. Going thence to Oregon, in May, 1859, he was for a time engaged in teaching school. He then pursued a course of study at the Pacific Uni- versity, Forest Grove, Ore .; and after its completion he resumed teaching, and was county superintendent of schools. Return- ing home in December, 1870, he was engaged in teaching, and also worked at stone-cutting until 1890. Since that time he has filled the office of Postmaster and Justice of the Peace.
On May 1, 1864, at West Chehalem, Ore., Mr. Long was united in marriage with Nancy Jane Rogers. She was born on October 19, 1841, in Lee County, Iowa, and in 1846 she made the journey from Iowa to Oregon with her parents in a wagon train. Mr. and Mrs. Long have had seven children born to them, namely : Aurilla M .; Clara L .; Lizzie P .; Georgia I .; Susie E .; Mary A. ; and Eugene H., who died aged thirteen months. Aurilla M. married Wilber M. Wardwell, of East Blue Hill, and has three children - Mabel A., Lena M., and Margaret. Clara L. is the wife of Ellis Stansfield, of East Blue Hill, and has two children - Gilbert Wayne and Ernest Eugene. Lizzie P. married Charles H. Wardwell, of East Blue Hill; and Georgia I. married Edwin W. Barton, of Springfield, Mass. Mr. Long is a member of the Masonic order, being at the present time (1898) Mas- ter of the lodge at Blue Hill. In his relig- ious belief he is a Baptist; and in politics he acts with the Republican party, having cast his first Presidential vote for John C. Fremont in 1856.
ON. LLEWELLYN POWERS, a representative citizen, not only of Aroostook County, but of the State of Maine, of which he is the present Gov- ernor, was born at Pittsfield, Me., in 1838, son of Arba and Naomi (Mathews) Powers. His father was one of the pioneer settlers of Pitts- field, where he was engaged in farming and lumbering. Industrious and enterprising, the elder Powers was fairly successful in worldly affairs, though hampered to some extent by the burden of a large family, eight boys and two girls. Their mother was a school teacher before marriage. Six of the sons engaged in the practice of law.
Llewellyn Powers was born in the log house that constituted at one time his parents' prim- itive dwelling. He acquired the rudiments of knowledge in the common schools of his na- tive town, fitted for college at St. Albans and Waterville Academies (the latter now known as Coburn Classical Institute), and entered Colby University in the class of 1861. Leaving college in his Sophomore year to enter the Albany University Law School at Albany, N. Y., he was there graduated in De- cember, 1860, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Shortly after his graduation he was admitted to the New York bar, and in the following December to the bar of Somerset County, Maine, at Norridgewock. In Janu- ary, 1861, he began practice in Houlton, where he had an extensive practice for twenty- five years. He was then admitted to the bar of Suffolk County, Massachusetts, and prac- tised his profession for some four years in that
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county, making his home in Brookline, an attractive suburb of Boston. He was also admitted to the United States District and Circuit Courts.
Elected County Attorney for Aroostook County in 1864, he held that office for six years, performing its duties with pre-eminent ability. He was the first Collector of Customs for the Aroostook District, being appointed by Presi- dent Grant in 1868, serving four years, and declining a reappointment tendered him in 1873. He represented his district in the legislature in 1873-74, 1874-75, 1875-76, and 1883, much of the time serving on the Judiciary Committee, of which in 1875-76 he was chairman. It was while on this commit- tee that he gave evidence of a capacity for public affairs that attracted the attention of his fellow-citizens throughout the State, and resulted in his elevation to his present high position as the Chief Magistrate of the State. He introduced and carried through, in spite of strong opposition, the bill for abolishing cap- ital punishment, which has since been in operation, notwithstanding efforts made to re- voke it. In 1876 he was elected to the na- tional House of Representatives from the Fourth Maine District. In 1878 he was re- nominated by acclamation, but was defeated with many other Republican candidates, owing to the "Greenback" delusion that swept the State that year.
Retiring for a time from active politics, ex- cept as his services were demanded on the stump, he gave his chief attention to the practice of his profession and to his vari-
ous private interests, which included the ownership and management of large tracts of timber land, some two hundred thousand acres in all. Of this realty he began the purchase in 1872. He was one of the original twenty persons interested in the "Burleigh Scheme," which culminated in the building of the Ban- gor & Aroostook Railroad, Mr. Powers liber- ally subscribing to the stock, besides conced- ing the right of way through his property.
In 1892, being persuaded by his friends to re-enter public life, he was again elected to the legislature, and his thorough knowledge of public affairs and brilliant qualities of leadership soon made him one of the most talked of men in the House. Re-elected in 1895, he was chosen Speaker, receiving the votes of all the Republican members; and in this capacity also he fulfilled the most sanguine expectations of his friends, display- ing rare judgment, tact, and executive ability. His nomination to the gubernatorial chair followed almost as a logical conclusion ; and he was elected in September, 1896, by the largest majority ever given a candidate for that office in the State of Maine. Of his record as Governor up to the present time (April, 1898) no more need now be said than that it has been worthy of himself, of his party, and of the old Pine Tree State, whose public men have proved themselves the equal in statesmanship of those of any other section of the Union.
Governor Powers is an able and interesting public speaker, and his services in this capac- ity have been of great value to his party in
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many political campaigns. His speech to the members of the House of Representatives on assuming the office of Speaker was a model of its kind, being brief, yet comprehensive, and to the point. His great personal popularity is another element of his strength that should be taken into account by all those who would review his past career or attempt to forecast his political future. Besides the private in- terests already mentioned, Governor Powers holds stock in several banks in Aroostook County and elsewhere. A member of the Masonic order, he is Past Master in the Blue Lodge, and belongs also to the chapter.
He married December 25, 1886, Martha A. Averill, of Lincoln, Me. He has five chil- dren - Walter A., Martha P., Doris V., Ralph A., and Margaret L.
ENDALL K. THOMPSON, a lifelong resident of Thompson's Island, Hancock County, was born on the homestead where he now resides, June 15, 1828. A son of William Thompson, he comes of Revo- lutionary stock, his grandfather, Cornelius Thompson, having served in the Revolution as captain of a privateer when but twenty-one years old. Cornelius subsequently removed from Beverly Farms, Mass., to Hull's Cove, Mount Desert Island. Here he took up a tract of unbroken land, erected a log cabin, which was the first house erected on the island, cleared a comfortable farm, and there- after was engaged in farming and fishing until he died, at the age of fifty-seven years.
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