USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 24
USA > Maine > Aroostook County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 24
USA > Maine > Hancock County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 24
USA > Maine > Washington County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 24
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 24
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The following notice of Mrs. Waugh's father is taken from the Lewiston Journal :
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"The Hon. Stephen D. Greenleaf, one of Starks's oldest citizens, died at his home on the 22d of January, 1895, after a long and severe illness. He was seventy-seven years of age, and leaves a widow and a large family of grown-up sons and daughters. He was the eldest son of Anthony Greenleaf and grandson of John Greenleaf, a Revolutionary soldier, who, with three brothers and four sisters, came here from Wiscasset in 1783, and settled on the Sandy River. He was married on the twenty-second day of December, 1842, to Miss Amy G. Collins, daughter of John and Dorcas Collins, of this town.
" In addition to his original large and pro- ductive farm he purchased several adjoining ones, and made vast improvements upon them, so that at one time he refused an offer of fif- teen thousand dollars for his real estate in this town. Before the war he was extensively engaged in the sale and construction of light- ning rods, and he had erected rods upon thou- sands of buildings. During the war of the Rebellion he was influential in raising rc- cruits in Somerset and Franklin Counties. In 1877 and 1878, when the Greenback party began to show some signs of shaping itself in this State, Mr. Greenleaf at once championed its cause. He was elected County Commis- sioner of Somerset County on the Greenback ticket in 1878, and later was placed in nomi- nation by that same party for Governor, but declined to run. His home was one of plenty and hospitality, and no one was allowed to depart from his domain hungry. He will be greatly missed, but his many kind
and generous deeds will live and be ever remembered."
The Farmington Chronicle spoke of Mr. Greenleaf as a "highly respected citizen, onc that the town could ill afford to lose. Thc funeral took place Thursday at his home, and was conducted by the Rev. R. S. Lcard, of New Sharon. Franklin Lodge, No. 123, F. & A. M., of which Mr. Greenlcaf was a worthy member, was present, and performed the impressive burial service of the order."
HINEAS H. LONGFELLOW, of Machias, Washington County, Clerk of all the Judicial Courts of the county, son of Cephas and Mary (Noyes) Longfellow, was born here on February 24, 1841. His first ancestor in this country was William Longfellow, of Newbury, Mass., who came from England. William had a son, Nathan, who moved to New Hampshire. Na- than's son, Jonathan, removed from Notting- ham, N.H., to Nova Scotia, from which place he came to Machias in 1765. Jonathan's son, Nathan, married Margaret Bigelow. Their daughter, Margaret Longfellow, was the pa- ternal grandmother of Phincas H. Longfel- low. William Longfellow had also a son Stephen, whose son, William, was the father of Nathan, who came to Machias from New- bury, Mass., in 1767. Nathan's son, Jona- than Longfellow, married the Margaret Long- fellow above referred to, and thereby became the grandfather of Phineas H. Longfellow.
Cephas Longfellow, son of Jonathan and
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Margaret Longfellow, born in Machias, July 17, 1801, died in 1895. He was educated in the town schools, and during his early life was interested in the manufacture of lumber. About the year 1856 he retired from active business. Although much interested in pub- lic affairs and a man to whom the public wel- fare was sacred, he never cared to hold office, and was never a candidate for political prefer- ment. His wife, Mary, a member of the Congregational church, was a daughter of William Noyes, who, born in Newburyport, Mass., came to Machias when a young man, and lived here during the rest of his life. Cephas and Mary Longfellow were the parents of four children, namely: Clark, who resides in New York City; Margaret B. ; Mary H. ; and Phineas H.
Phineas H. Longfellow attended the dis- trict schools and subsequently Washington Academy at East Machias. From the time he was twelve years old until he was twenty- two he was employed in the drug store of his brother Clark. On November 1, 1864, he was appointed Clerk of Washington County Court. This office he has since held by election down to the present time, a longer period of service than can be claimed by any other court clerk in the State.
Mr. Longfellow is one of the trustees of the Machias Savings Bank and the president of the Machias Bank, the proprietors of which are a private corporation. He also represents six fire insurance companies. By his mar- riage with Ella J., daughter of Joseph Wheeler, of Belfast, Me., he has three chil-
dren -- Austin H., Ella J., and Bertha. Austin H. is a practising physician in Provi- dence, R. I.
OHN PRESCOTT, a prosperous lumber manufacturer, senior member of the firm of Prescott & Gillespie, of Calais, Me., was born on February 23, 1831, in Penn- field, Charlotte County, N. B. His parents were Jesse and Sarah (Knight) Prescott. His father was born in Mount Vernon, Kennebec County, Me., and, judging from his name, be- longed to an old New England family.
Settling in Pennfield, N. B., early in life, Jesse Prescott was there engaged in farming for many years. He lived to be over ninety- five years old, and retained much of his strength and activity until the last. His wife was a daughter of Joshua Knight, of Philadel- phia, a loyalist, we are told, who removed to Pennfield, N. B., after the close of the Revo- lutionary War. Jesse Prescott was the father of eight children; namely, Gideon, Catherine, Joshua, Moses, George, John, Isaac, and Jesse. Three of these - Gideon, George, and Isaac, twin brother of Jesse - are no longer living. Catherine is the wife of Tobias Mealey, of Monticello, Minn. Moses Prescott is a resident of Eastport, Me., and Joshua of Sussex, N. B. Gideon was a member of the lumber firm of Prescott & Lawrence, of New River, N. B., a firm which during the time he was connected with it turned out about eight million feet per annum. Joshua is interested in an extensive lumber business at Goose Creek, St. John County, N. B. George died
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in California, where at the time he was en- gaged in mining. Jesse is a farmer in Penn- field, Charlotte County, N. B.
John Prescott in his boyhood attended school in Pennfield, and engaged when a young man in the lumber manufacturing busi- ness with his brother Moses. They first bought a saw-mill, which they carried on for a time, later transferring their interests to Goose Creek, N. B., where they conducted business for twelve years. They then purchased mills in Nova Scotia, and continued in partnership until the retirement of Moses Prescott in 1892, since which time the firm has been known as Prescott & Gillespie. This concern, which is still operating in Nova Scotia, man- ufactures about five million feet annually, its principal market being England. It owns several vessels, and employs from sixty to seventy men.
Mr. Prescott married in 1861 Sarah G. Dinsmore. She died in 1888; and in 1891 Mr. Prescott married Emma Kelley, daughter of Deacon Samuel Kelley, of Calais. Mr. and Mrs. Prescott attend the Baptist church.
OSEPH W. WOOD, a prominent and respected citizen of Eden, Mount Desert, Hancock County, was born in Ellsworth, Me., October 11, 1825. A son of Thomas J. and Eliza J. (Dutton) Whiting, he belongs to the well-known Whiting family of Ellsworth. His name was legally changed to that of Wood in honor of his uncle, Joseph A. Wood, a prominent lawyer. Thomas J. Whit-
ing was the captain of the first United States revenue cutter in these waters, and the Sher- iff of Hancock County, and keeper of the jail when it was located at Castinc. He died in the last-named town, aged thirty-seven years. Eliza J. Whiting, his wife, was a daughter of Jesse Dutton. A further account of the Whiting family will be found in the biography of Samuel K. Whiting.
After his father's death Joseph W. Wood, being then eight years of age, accompanied his mother to Ellsworth, where he resided for the next six years and attended school. Then he went to Boston, and there served an apprenticeship of seven years at the printer's trade. A year after his time had expired he returned to Castine to enter the employ of William and J. H. Jarvis, with whom he re- mained one year. For the succeeding three years he was with his brothers, the Whitings, in Ellsworth. After that he formed a part- nership with Nathan A. Joy, under the firm name of Wood & Co., for the purpose of carry- ing on a general mercantile business. The association existed for six years, at the expi- ration of which time his partner withdrew, leaving the concern about thirteen thousand dollars in debt. Having assumed this liabil- ity, he cleared away every obligation within the short period of three months. After the Civil War he moved from Ellsworth to Salis- bury Cove. Here he had carried on business for thirty years, when he retired two years ago. In 1896 he entered a partnership with his son- in-law, H. S. McFarland, forming the firm H. S. McFarland & Co., which now has a
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thriving business at Hall's Cove. Generally successful throughout his life, he owns valu- able real estate in different parts of the island.
Mr. Wood married Lorinda H. Harden, a daughter of Captain Eben Harden, of Tren- ton, Me. He has four children; namely, Francis A., Andrew J., Rebecca H., and Eliza W. Francis A. married Melissa J. Rich, a daughter of Captain John Rich, of Mount Desert, and has one son, Joseph W. Wood. Andrew J., who married Emma Col- lins, and resides at Salisbury Cove, has four children - Olin D., Mary F., Helen W., and Lora. Rebecca H. is the wife of Robert D. Edmunds, a native of Georgia, resides at Ban- gor, Me., and has one son, Dean W. Edmunds. Eliza W. married Harry S. McFarland. While residing in Ellsworth, Mr. Wood served as a member of the Board of Selectmen for three years, and was also Town Treasurer. He is a member of the Masonic order, and be- longs to the Blue Lodge in Somerville. In politics he is a Republican, and his first Pres- idential vote was cast for General Fremont.
HARLES HARRISON NEWTON was for many years one of the fore- most business men of Calais, Wash- ington County. Born in Templeton, Mass., August 5, 1830, he was a son of Horace and Abigail (Burrage) Newton. The father, a na- tive of Hubbardston, Mass., spent the greater part of his life in Fitchburg, where he carried on a hardware business for many years, and was also interested in an iron foundry. He
was prominently identified with the town government, serving as Selectman, Deputy Sheriff, Justice of the Peace, and Trial Jus- tice, the duties of which last-named office he performed until his death. In politics he was a Whig. His wife, Abigail, who was a native of Templeton, became the mother of several children, three of whom lived to ma- turity, namely: Frederick, who is no longer living; Abby, now a resident of Worcester, Mass., the widow of Aaron K. Litch, late of Fitchburg; and Charles H., the subject of this sketch. The father was a Unitarian and the mother a Congregationalist in religion.
Charles Harrison Newton acquired a public- school education. After clerking in Fitch- burg in a store for a year, he went to Boston, where he obtained employment in the same capacity. Some time later he took a position as clerk and book-keeper in Portland, Me., but soon after returned to his former em- ployers in Boston. The firm for which he worked being obliged to take a plaster mine in Calais as payment for a debt, Mr. Newton, in company with Henry A. Willis, George R. Tarbox (now deceased), and a member of the firm, made a survey of the property at Red Beach. They were so favorably impressed with what they saw then, that they purchased the estate, and started in business under the firm name of George R. Tarbox & Co. At that time prices were high with a strong de- mand, a fact that warranted the starting up of business upon an extensive scale. A misrep- resentation in regard to the water-power, how- ever, proved a serious detriment to their
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plans. In 1858 the Red Beach Plaster Com- pany was organized, with Mr. Newton as man- ager. He was later appointed the treasurer, and made the president of the company in 1878, which position he held until his death. His executive ability and sound judgment were instrumental in building up the business to its present magnitude. The firm turns out one hundred thousand barrels of plaster annu- ally, requiring a force of seventy-five men to handle. The discovery of red granite upon the property at a time when that kind of stone was becoming popular caused them to develop the quarry, and in 1875 the Maine Red Granite Company was organized, with Mr. Newton the treasurer. This concern is producing stone of a superior quality, which is extensively used for columns, wainscoting, etc. They have the best equipped polishing plant in New England. Recently they filled a contract for the new wing of the Metropoli- tan Museum in New York City. Mr. Newton was also a director of the Calais National Bank for eighteen years, and he was elected the president of that institution about two years ago.
For about ten years in all Mr. Newton served in both branches of the city govern- ment of that institution. In 1888 he was elected to the State legislature. During the two years he spent there he was the chairman of the House Committee on Finances. His death, which occurred December 2, 1897, was deeply regretted by the entire community as the loss of an honorable, enterprising, and public-spirited citizen. By his marriage with
Miss Elizabeth S. Lee, daughter of Joseph A. Lee, of this city, he had three children - Mary L., Helen L., and George E. Newton -all of whom survive him. George E. is a graduate of Amherst College, class of 1897. Mr. Newton was a member of the St. Croix Club. He attended and helped to support the Congregational church. Mrs. Newton and her family also attend the same church.
EORGE A. HALL, one of the most successful business men of Houlton, Aroostook County, is an extensive dealer in horses, harnesses, vehicles of all kinds, agri- cultural implements, and real estate. He was born February 7, 1856, in Winterport, Waldo County, of which place his grandfather Hall was a pioneer farmer. His father, Eben E. Hall, born and reared in Winterport, re- moved in 1864 to Chester, Me., where he con- tinued his farming operations. To Eben and his wife, whose maiden name was Emily H. Weed, a large family of children were born.
George A. Hall attended the public schools. of Chester for a few terms only, and had but little opportunity afterward to improve his ed- ucation. Until he was twenty-six years old he worked on the home farm, receiving but little recompense for his services beyond his board and clothes. Then, boldly starting out for himself, he opened a wholesale and retail meat market in Lincoln, Me., which at the end of six months he sold out at a profit. Going thence to Littleton, Aroostook County, he established a retail meat and grocery busi-
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ELMER E. BROWN.
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ness, which he conducted for nine years. Afterward he was in the wholesale trade for two years. His persistent energy and good judgment were rewarded with unusual success, and he acquired a large property. After dis- posing of his interests in Littleton for forty- five hundred dollars, he came to Houlton and invested a portion of the money in horses and vehicles. Since then he has built up a profit- able trade at his repository on North Street, where he has plenty of storage room. Among the agricultural implements that he handles are some of the best in use, including the original Buckeye Mower, manufactured by Aultman, Miller & Co., of Akron, Ohio, the Little Giant Threshing Machine, and the New York Champion Horse Rake. He handles the threshing machines in partnership with a Mr. Ingraham, having a large trade. Since coming to Houlton he has bought real estate freely, improved and built upon some of it, and made large profits. In 1892 he built his present residence, one of the seven dwellings erected by him at "The Highlands." This beautiful addition to the city, formerly a farm, was purchased by a syndicate compris- ing Mr. Hall and three other men, divided into lots, and put on sale. Roads were cut through; and the principal thoroughfare, at his suggestion, was called Highland Avenue. This venture, like all in which he has been interested, proved successful beyond expecta- tion, and has greatly added to his bank ac- count.
Mr. Hall uses his own methods in book- keeping, keeping a most accurate account of
all money that passes through his hands, be it used in business or for personal or household expenses, and so that he can tell almost exactly his expenses, profits, and losses, at a minute's notice. While living in Littleton he served as Selectman for two years, al- though he never sought office. Fraternally, he is a member of Monument Lodge, No. 78, F. & A. M., and has taken the York Rites and Lodge of Perfection of the Scottish Rites of Masonry. He is also a member of the Eastern Star, a social branch of the Masonic fraternity ; and of the A. O. U. W. On Jan- uary 1, 1883, he was united in marriage with Miss Isa M., daughter of Charles Luce, for- merly of Monticello. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have two children - Tessa E. Hall and George A. Hall, Jr.
LMER E. BROWN, one of the most thrifty and progressive young farmers of Orneville, Piscataquis County, was born in Cambridge, Somerset County, Me., February 28, 1861, son of John and Huldah (Hurd) Brown. His parents were both natives of Maine, the father born in Parkman in 1821, and the mother in Harmony
in 1824. Benjamin Brown, the paternal grandfather of Elmer E., was an early settler in Cambridge, where he tilled the soil pros- perously for many years. He died in Veazie, Penobscot County, at a good old age. His wife, Jane, died in middle life. Jeremiah Hurd, the maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, resided for the greater part of
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his life upon a farm in Harmony, in which town he died when about seventy years old. He reared a large family.
John Brown, father of Elmer E., was reared to farm life in Cambridge. In 1864 he re- moved to Orneville, and six years later pur- chased the farm upon which his son now resides. Besides general farming, which he carried on energetically, he dealt largely in firewood. In politics a Republican, he served as Tax Collector during the latter years of his life, which closed October 8, 1892. In his religious opinions he was a Frce Will Bap- tist. His wife, Huldah, who died November 20, 1888, was the mother of seven children, of whom Elmer E. is the only survivor.
Elmer E. Brown received his education in the common schools of Orneville. Since his youth he has been engaged in general farming at the homestead. His property, which is well located, contains about three hundred acres of land, devoted principally to hay and grain, of which commodities he is one of the largest producers in town. Studying agri- culture as a science, and availing himself of the most improved machinery, he has met with a large measure of success, and is far ad- vanced on the road to prosperity. Politically, he is a Republican, and has served the town with ability as Collector. He is a member of Mutual Lodge, No. 11, Ancient Order of United Workmen; and of the American Bene- fit Association.
On May 20, 1882, Mr. Brown married Edith I. Packard, of Medford, Me., a daugh- ter of Lyman and Charlotte (Heath) Packard.
He has three children - Royal W., Bertha D., and Elizabeth M. Mr. and Mrs. Brown and the two cldest children, Royal and Bertha, are members of the Free Will Baptist church.
ENERAL ISAAC DYER, a retired druggist of Skowhegan, Somcrset County, an ex-State Senator and a Civil War veteran, was born in Canaan, Mc., November 1, 1820. His father owned and cultivated a farm situated in that part of Canaan now in- cluded within the limits of Skowhegan, and young Dyer passed his youth in the perform- ance of such minor duties as are generally ex- pected of a farmer's son. After receiving his education in the district schools and at the Bloomfield Academy, he remained at home until the death of his brother William in 1847, when he succeeded to the ownership of the latter's drug store in Skowhegan. This he conducted alone until 1861, when a desire to render his share of service to his country in crushing the Rebellion caused him to admit to partnership George Cushing, with whom he could safely trust his business while absent at the front. He had declined the Lieutenant Colonelcy of the Fourteenth Regiment ; but in December, 1861, he accepted an appointment of the same rank in the Fifteenth tendered him by Governor Israel Washburn. The Fif- teenth, with several other Maine regiments, accompanied General B. F. Butler's command to the Lower Mississippi. Colonel Dyer as- sisted in the important military operations of the Gulf Department, including the Red
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River expedition under General Banks, and in July, 1864, was ordered to Fortress Monroe. Afterward he served under Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley, witnessing the exciting scenes that preceded the end of the war, and participating in several memorable en- gagements. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in August, 1862, was brevetted Brig- adier-general in March, 1865, and was mus- tered out on September 6 of that year. Upon his return to Skowhegan he resumed his rela- tions with the drug business as a member of the firm Dyer & Cushing. In December, 1880, he sold his interest in the business, and retired to the homestead farm, where he has since resided.
Originally a Whig, General Dyer cast his first vote for Governor Edward Robinson in 1842. He joined the Republican party at its formation. For six years he served as a Se- lectman, was a member of the School Board for two or three years, and Town Treasurer for one year. He represented the district in the State Senate for two terms, during which he was a member of the Committee on Interior Waters and the chairman of that on Military Affairs. In 1873 he was appointed Inspector- general on Governor Nelson Dingley's staff, and served in that capacity for two years. A Mason of high standing, he belongs to Somer- set Lodge, F. & A. M .; Somerset Chapter of Royal Arch Masons; De Molay Commandery, Knights Templar, in which he has held some of the important chairs. He has been Com- mander of Russell Post, No. 96, G. A. R., and was Department Commander of Maine in
1892. He is a trustee of Bloomfield Acad- emy, and has acted in the same capacity for the Coburn Free Library Fund since its estab- lishment. In June, 1851, he was joined in marriage with Lydia Emery, a daughter of Levi Emery, of Skowhegan. His only son, Albert Forrest Dyer, is a well-known dry- goods merchant in this town. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church, of which General Dyer is a member, serving it in the capacity of chairman of its Board of Trustees.
HARLES A. HUNTER, one of the leading residents of Vanceboro, Washington County, and the gen- eral superintendent of the International Leather Company's tanneries in this section, was born in Ireland, September 20, 1852, son of James and Nancy (Carnwath) Hunter. His ancestors on each side were Scotch. Both parents, who were natives of Ireland and in- dustrious farming people, died in the old country at the age of sixty years. They reared a family of eight children; namely, Nancy, Robert, James, Martha, Charles A., Margaret, John, and William. William was drowned at the age of thirty.
Charles A. Hunter emigrated to the Prov- ince of New Brunswick when eight years old, arriving at St. John in 1860, with only his courage and perseverance to depend upon for support. He found employment in the lum- ber-mills of St. John, where he resided some eight years, at the same time making good use of his meagre opportunities for obtaining an
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education. In 1870 he came to Vanceboro, where he entered the employ of the Shaw Brothers as a laborer in their tannery. Here he gradually worked his way forward through the different departments, becoming familiar with the entire process of leather making. He is now the general superintendent of the various plants operated by the International Leather Company of Boston, the successors of Shaw Brothers, having charge of the tan- neries at Vanceboro, Forest City, Brockton, Grand Lake Stream, and Princeton, each of which employs a force of sixty-five men when running to its full capacity. Though the duties of his responsible position are neces- sarily exacting, he has nevertheless found time to render his share of service in public affairs, having been a member of the Board of Select- men for two terms, and ably filled the office of Town Treasurer for some years past.
In 1878 Mr. Hunter was united in marriage with Elizabeth K. Kelley, who was born in Scotland in 1854, daughter of William and Jane (McKelvey) Kelley. The former in early life was a seafaring man. William and Jane Kelley, natives of Scotland, arrived in America in 1856, and were the first family to settle permanently in Vanceboro, where they still reside. Their children are: William J., Elizabeth K., Robert J., Samuel D., Edward M., and Laura E. Kelley. Mr. and Mrs. Kelley are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. and Mrs. Hunter have five chil- dren, namely : William B., born January 3, 1879; Charles R., born August 19, 1880; Elvie J., born March 22, 1883; James B.,
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