USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 26
USA > Maine > Aroostook County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 26
USA > Maine > Hancock County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 26
USA > Maine > Washington County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 26
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 26
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ing those of Selectman and Treasurer. He was also the Postmaster for six years, the Rep- resentative of the district in the legislature during the years 1867, 1868, and 1869, and a Trial Justice for over thirty years. In politics he was originally a Whig. Later he became a Republican. He died October 15, 1896, aged seventy-five years. His loss was keenly felt by the entire community, in which he was so deeply and unselfishly in- terested.
Previous to his majority Mr. Teague con- tracted the first of his three marriages with Eliza A. Ricker, a schoolmate, who lived but a year after the ceremony. His second mar- riage was made with Evelyn M. Morse, of Livermore Falls, Me. To that union were born seven children, namely: Milton, who died in California in 1893; Eliza, now the wife of Arthur V. Gould, a farmer of Caribou ; Mary A., the wife of Joseph Smith, of Bridge- water, Me .; Alletta E., who is residing in Los Angeles, Cal. ; Clara L., who married R. A. Burch, and lives in Salina, Kan. ; Kate F., now the wife of J. F. Bradstreet, of Bridgewater; and Richard H., who is a fruit- grower in Santa Paula, Cal. The mother died about the year 1868. The third marriage, on May 30, 1869, united Mr. Teague with Miss Ann E. Small, who was born in Wales, An- droscoggin County, Me., July 30, 1842, daughter of William and Melinda (Randall) Small. In early life Mr. Small followed farming in Wales, his native town, and later kept a general store. From Wales he went to Leeds Junction as railroad station agent, and
was subsequently appointed the superintendent and treasurer of the Farmington Branch Rail- road. He finally moved to Fort Fairfield, this county, and engaged in trade. "His wife, who was a native of Lewiston, Me., died in January, 1897. Mrs. Ann E. Teague has had seven children, namely : William S., who died at the age of ten years; Electra R., now the wife of George Briggs, a farmer of Caribou ; Dana L. Teague, a prominent young business man, who is carrying on the homestead farm ; Calvert Vernon, Norman D., and Harold W., who are no longer living; and Donald Spencer Teague, who resides at home. Mrs. Teague attends the Universalist church, to which her husband formerly accompanied her.
HARLES H. HASKELL, a well-to- do resident of Steuben, Washington County, son of Charles H. and Margaret (Leighton) Haskell, was born here, July 23, 1856. The grandfather, Zebulon Haskell, a native of Massachusetts and for some years a resident of Rochester, in that State, was a Sergeant in the Continental army during the Revolutionary War. In 1809 he settled in Steuben, locating about three miles from the Centre. A few years later he moved to the village, where he operated a carding- mill. He was one of the most active business men among the early settlers, and his energy materially assisted the community in its early struggle for existence. He died at the age of seventy - two years. His widow, whose maiden name was Susannah Sherman, lived
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to the advanced age of ninety-two, receiving from the United States government the annual pension of thirty-five dollars and thirty-eight cents in recognition of her husband's services in the War for Independence. They reared five children - Joanna, Susannah, Leonard L., William, and Charles H.
Charles H. Haskell, Sr., who was born in Rochester, Mass, in 1803, acquired his edu- cation in Steuben. After following the sea for fifteen years, he carried on a general mer- cantile business for twenty-five years. Deal- ing also in real estate, he was at one time one of the largest land-owners in Steuben. He served in various town offices, including that of Selectman, was the Postmaster for eight years, and he represented the district with much ability in the legislature of 1872. At his death, on December 25, 1890, his age was eighty-seven years and nine months. Mar- garet Leighton Haskell, his wife, who was a native of Steuben, became the mother of sev- eral children, of whom five reached maturity, and two are living. The latter are: Charles H., the subject of this sketch; and George W., who was born September 10, 1857. The rest of the five were: Rebecca, who died at the age of thirty-nine; Hattie, who died at fifteen; and Lucy, who died at thirty-two. Rebecca was the wife of Captain Eugene Handy, of Steuben. Lucy married Captain George C. Newell. George W. Haskell, still a bachelor, who followed the sea for about five years, is now working at the carpenter's trade, and caring for his real estate interests.
After completing his education Charles H.
Haskell, the subject of this biography, en- gaged in farming and lumbering, in which he has since been constantly interested. He is now also the proprietor of a thriving fancy- goods store. Conjointly with his brother, he likewise owns two hundred acres of land in Steuben and sixteen hundred acres in Town- ship No. 7. By his marriage with Nellic Cummings, of Portland, Me., a daughter of Horace B. and Louisa D. Cummings, he is the father of five children - Lucy, Clara, Marion, Olive, and Delmer. In politics he is a Republican, and he has served as second Selectman for one term. Both he and Mrs. Haskell are Methodists, while his brother, George W., is a Universalist.
ELVIN W. MORGAN, the Post- master of Summit in the town of Orneville, Piscataquis County, and an energetic farmer and a general mer- chant, was born in Charlotte, Washington County, Me., May 4, 1852, son of John S. and Mary (Smith) Morgan. Theophilus B. Morgan, the grandfather, a native of Massa- chusetts and a tanner and shoemaker by trade, who was also a bunter, went from Hallowell to Dexter on horseback, making his way through the woods by the aid of spotted trees, and there followed his trade in connection with farming for some years. His last days were spent in Charlotte, and he lived to be about seventy-five years old. He was the father of eighteen children, His
MELVIN W. MORGAN.
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first wife was drowned in Passamaquoddy Bay.
John S. Morgan, who was born in Dexter, July 31, 1813, was employed at shoemaking and farming in Charlotte until 1857. Then he moved to Orneville, and there was occupied in improving the farm his son now occupies. He was an able and industrious farmer. Also a man of considerable intelligence, he rcn- dered valuable service to the town as a Select- man. He joined the Republican party at its formation. Later he supported the Greenback movement, and finally became a Prohibition- ist. In religious belief he was an Adventist. He died of paralysis, June 26, 1896. His wife, Mary, born in Charlotte in 1817, who still survives and resides with her son, Melvin W., has had thirteen children. Of these, nine are living, namely: Howard C., James H., and Melvin W., who reside in Orneville; Bowman S., a resident of Spencer, Mass .; John S., of Atkinson, Me .; Mrs. Mary A. Smith, of Dover; Mrs. Lydia L. Small, of Island Falls, Aroostook County ; Mrs. L. A. Pierce, of Cornish, Me .; and Mrs. Albertine E. Silver, of Dover. The others were: Sid- ney and Webster Morgan, Mrs. Augusta E. Damon, and Mrs. Sarah E. Sawyer, of whom the first two died young.
Melvin W. Morgan has resided in Orneville since he was five years old. After attending the public schools for a time, he completed his studies at the Greeley Institute in Cum- berland, Me. Then he taught school for eight or ten years. In 1881 he returned to the homestead for the purpose of taking
charge of the farm and caring for his parents in their declining years. Besides some wood- land he has a good farm of one hundred and fifty acres, on which he raises hay, grain, po- tatoes, cattle, sheep, and horses. For some years past he has also kept a general country store, which is well stocked and largely pat- ronized; and he makes a specialty of handling pumps of all kinds. His public services have been of a character to gain the confidence of his fellow-townsmen. He was Town Clerk and Treasurer for six years, Supervisor and superintendent of schools for ten years, chair- man of the Board of Selectmen for the past five terms, and the Postmaster and Justice of the Peace for some time.
On December 22, 1877, Mr. Morgan was united in marriage with Ida A. McCorrison, of Atkinson. Mrs. Morgan has been the mother of four children, namely: Edith M., who died at the age of five years; Eva M., born August 14, 1884; Mervin W., born August 16, 1888; and Ola O., born July 20, 1891. In politics Mr. Morgan is a Republi- can. He is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Milo and the Patrons of Husbandry of North Bradford. Also a member of the Free Will Baptist church, he is the superintendent of the society's Sunday- school.
B ENJAMIN F. MILLIKEN, of Eastport, Washington County. the founder of the firm B. F. Milliken & Son, merchants, outfitters, and steamship owners and agents, born on March 11, 1824,
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is a son of Benjamin and Catherine (White) Milliken and a native of St. George, N.B. His grandfather, Dominicus Milliken, who was born at Scarboro, Me., went to St. George carly in life, and was there engaged in ship- building, selling many vessels and retaining and fitting out others for trading voyages. His extensive business was carried on in com- pany with his sons, in the firm D. Milliken & Sons. Besides their ship-building they did a large business in manufacturing lumber. Dominicus Milliken was drowned in St. An- drew's Bay at a very advanced age.
Benjamin Milliken, born at St. George, died there at the age of fifty-one. He was a member of the firm founded by his father, and was a very energetic and progressive business man. His religious belief was that of the Baptist church, while his wife was a member of the Church of England. A native of East- port, though her parents resided in Ports- mouth, N.H., she lived to be nearly seventy years old, and was the mother of twelve chil- dren, all of whom but two were present at her funeral. Of their number, Joseph and George are deceased. Those living are: Benjamin F., who is the eldest; Dominicus; Izette; Annie; Edward; Sarah; Charles; Jesse; Gleason; and Nellie.
Benjamin F. Milliken resided in St. George until his seventeenth year, receiving his edu- cation mainly in private schools. Coming then to Eastport, he entered the employ of George Hobbs, who conducted a general mer- chandise store, and was also the agent for a Boston line of steamers. For five or six years
young Mr. Milliken worked here as head clerk and confidential man. In 1844 or 1845 he started in business for himself, buying what was then known as the Wheeler property, which included his present wharf. Although from 1864 to 1874 his interests required his constant presence in either New York or New Orleans, he has always held real estate prop- erty here. In recent years, besides carrying on a wholesale flour and corn trade, he fits out fishing-vessels, and conducts a large gen- eral merchandise store, a commission busi- ness, and a freight transportation business be- tween this port and New York on steamboat. He was formerly the president of a company conducting a line of freight steamers, and he and his son are now agents for the Manhattan Steamship Company of New York. The firm B. F. Milliken & Son is now said to do the largest shipping business in Eastport.
On September 18, 1848, Mr. Milliken was married to Mary E. Aymar, a native of St. Andrews, N.B., and a daughter of John Aymar. Of this union five children have been born - Charles D., Agnes A., Frank S., Isabelle, and Louisa. Charles D. resides in New York City. The daughters reside in Eastport. Frank S. Milliken, the junior partner of B. F. Milliken & Son and one of the leading young men of this city, was for four years Special Deputy Collector of East- port, under President Cleveland's first admin- istration. He married Mabel Gilson, of Port- land, and has four children. Mr. and Mrs. Milliken are Unitarians. Politically, Mr. Milliken is a Democrat. He has taken an ac-
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tive part in local affairs, but has never been an office-seeker. He was a member of the first Board of Aldermen after Eastport was in- corporated as a city. At the present time he is the president of the City Council. Mr. Milliken's success in life has been merited by the perseverance and activity he has displayed in all his business relations. The handsome residence of the family was built by him in 1856.
ON. STEPHEN A. NYE, one of the most prominent business men of Fairfield, was born in this town, January 31, 1835, son of Stephen and Eleanor (McKecknie) Nye. Both parents were also natives of Fairfield. Stephen Nye, who suc- ceeded to the family homestead in Fairfield, was for many years extensively engaged in farming and lumbering. He hauled logs by the thousand for Abner Coburn in the palmy days of the lumbering industry on the Kenne- bec, and in that way cleared a great deal of the land that is now used for agricultural pur- poses. Although constantly successful in his undertakings, his industry continued unabated to the last. It was his custom to make his own and his children's footwear. Originally a Whig in politics, he later became a Repub- lican. He served as Deputy Sheriff from 1840 to 1842, and was a Representative in the legislature for one term. He was one of the most active members and liberal supporters of the first Methodist church in Fairfield, the church building of which he assisted in erect- ing ; and he was respected and beloved for his
kind-hearted generosity in relieving the poor and needy. In 1865 he sold the old home- stead, moved to the village, and there after- ward resided until his death, which occurred in April, 1876. His wife died in March, 1877. She was the mother of eight children ; namely, John Henry, William Russell, Han- nah C., Lorenzo D., Stephen A., Greenleaf G., Francis Asbury, and Llewellyn Nye. Of these the only survivor is Stephen A., the subject of this sketch. John Henry, who was at one time a member of the State legislature and a merchant in California and spent the last fifteen years of his life in retirement, married Ellen M. Cleveland, of Fairfield, and died in November, 1876; William Russell Nye, who was a farmer, married Hattie Wey- mouth; Hannah C., who died in 1854, was the wife of Franklin Lawrence, who is now a retired business man, living in the West; Lorenzo D. died at the age of nineteen; Llewellyn died in California at the same age; and Greenleaf G. and Francis A. died young.
Leaving school when he was sixteen years old, Stephen A. Nye accompanied a party of Fairfield gold-seekers to California. There he was employed first as a cook and later as a miner. Still later he kept a boarding-house. Each of these occupations proved fairly re- munerative. In the course of his stay he ac- quired possession of some good claims, which he sold after remaining on the Pacific coast five years. After his return to Fairfield he was associated for the next three years with his brother in the flour and feed business.
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Later, in company with F. W. Fogg, they bought a large tract of land known as Bow township, and under the firm name of Nye, Fogg & Co. carried on lumbering and manu- facturing for some time. Then the firm sold the mills to H. & J. M. Fogg, and the town- ship was bought by Skowhegan parties. Some time later Mr. Nye purchased a half-interest in the mills formerly owned by Nye, Fogg & Co., and three years after he bought another mill, which was subsequently burned. Be- tween the years 1875 and 1894 he was quite extensively engaged in the lumber manufact- uring business in Fairfield, besides conduct- ing logging operations. Now he is gradually winding up his affairs, with a view to perma- nently retiring from active business. He owns Township No. 3, together with other valuable timber and farming lands; is the president of the company that carries on the upholstery factory in Fairfield, of the Fair- field Building Company, and the Fairfield Boom Company ; and he is a director of the Fairfield Cotton Mills. He is also interested in the Fairfield & Waterville Street Railway Company; a stockholder and director of the Waterville Trust Company ; a large owner and a director of the Portsmouth, Kittery & York Electric Street Railroad; and a member of a syndicate engaged in reconstructing the Brunswick, Lewiston, Auburn & Bath Elec- tric Railroad.
In politics Mr. Nye is a Republican. While not an active politician, he has ren- dered valuable services to his party, as well as the general community, in the capacity of a
member of the Maine House of Representa- tives during the years 1882 and 1883, and of the State Senate in 1884 and 1885. He mar- ried Hannah Cleveland, of Fairfield, a daugh- ter of Luther and Eliza (Wheeler) Cleveland. Mr. Cleveland was a millman in this town. Mrs. Nye is the mother of one daughter, Eliza Wheeler Nye. Mr. Nye was made a Mason in Siloam Lodge, No. 92, of Fairfield, in 1859, and is now a member of St. Albans Commandery, Knights Templar, of Gardi- ner, Me.
ON. JOSEPH OTIS SMITH, editor and publisher, Skowhegan, Me., one of the best known citizens of Som- erset County, a former Secretary of State, was born in Weston, Aroostook County, Me., April 24, 1839, son of Barnabas C. and Maria L. (Small) Smith. His ancestry on the paternal side is traced directly back to the Rev. John Smith, born in England about 1614, who came to America and settled at Barnstable, Cape Cod, Mass., in 1630.
The Rev. John Smith married Susanna Hinckley, daughter of Samuel Hinckley, of Scituate, Mass., and sister of Governor Thomas Hinckley, of the Plymouth Colony. Thirteen children were the fruit of this union, the eighth a son Thomas, born in 1664, who was the second in the line of descendants traced, which includes Mr. Joseph O. Smith, of Skowhegan, his son, George O. Smith, and grandson, Charles C. Smith, representatives of nine generations in all, each designated by .a figure placed at the right above the name.
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After Thomas Smith2 come in lineal suc- cession : Samuel, 3 eldest son, born in 1689; Stephen, 4 fifth son, born in 1739; Joseph O., 5 fourth son, born January 31, 1772; Barnabas C.,6 second son, born in 1809; Joseph Otis,7 second son, born in 1839; George Otis, 8 first son, born in 1871 ; Charles Coburn, 9 first son, born 1897.
In the war of the Revolution, Stephen Smith, great - grandfather of Editor Smith, served as Captain of a company of infantry stationed at Machias, Me .- His son, Joseph O. Smith (first), grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Sandwich, Mass. He was a physician in general prac- tice, and lived at different periods in Machias, Me., Addison, Me., St. Stephen, N.B., and Hodgdon, Me. He died in July, 1853, aged eighty-one years and six months. He married in 1814 Mrs. Elizabeth Strout Coffin, widow of Barnabas Coffin. She was born at Har- rington, Me., in 1770, and died in May, 1851, aged eighty-one years.
Barnabas C. Smith, son of Dr. Joseph O., was born at Addison, Washington County, Me., and lived in that town until about twenty-five years of age. Removing to Aroos- took County, he was a resident of Weston about fifteen years, and afterward made his home in the town of Hodgdon and still later in Linneus, where he died January 3, 1881. During the greater part of his life he was diligently employed in farming and lumber- ing. In politics he was a Republican, in religion a Baptist. He held no public offices. His wife, whose maiden name was Maria
Louisa Small, was born in Addison, Me., in 1818, the daughter of Samuel and Betsy (Coffin) Small. She died in March, 1864, having been the mother of seven children, of whom six reached maturity.
Joseph Otis, the second son, was educated in the common schools and at Houlton Acad- emy, and in early manhood divided his time between farm work and teaching. Enlisting in the Union army in 1863, he was commis- sioned a Lieutenant in the Eleventh Maine Regiment in April, 1865, and continued to serve his country in that capacity till he was mustered out in February, 1866. For a period of five years, ending in 1872, he was engaged in trade. He has been interested in the printing and publishing business since 1878, a period of twenty years, and is now editor of the Somerset Reporter, published by J. O. Smith & Co., the principal newspaper in Somerset County and the only Republican paper in the county.
Mr. Smith was clerk of the Republican State Committee five years, when James G. Blaine was chairman; and he has served twelve years continuously on the Republican State Committee for Somerset County. He was a member of the House of Representatives in the State legislature in 1869 and 1870; Assistant Clerk of the House, 1872 and 1873 ; Deputy Secretary of State four years, ending in 1880; Secretary of State, 1881 to 1884, inclusive; and Insurance Commissioner of Maine, 1885 to January, 1894. In Hodgdon prior to 1872 he served as Town Clerk, Superintending School Committee, Town
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Treasurer, and Postmaster. He has ever been active in forwarding public movements calcu- lated to promote the best interests of the town materially, intellectually, and morally. He has held membership in the Free Baptist church in Hodgdon, Me., since sixteen years of age, and now attends the Baptist church. The honorary degree of Master of Arts was conferred on him in 1893 by Colby College at Waterville, Me.
He was married first March 17, 1860, to Cordelia Smith, daughter of Daniel and Kizah (Underhill) Smith, who died November 13, 1865, leaving one daughter, Eda K. He was again married November 21, 1868, to Emma Mayo, daughter of Leonard and Nancy (With- ington) Mayo. Mrs. Smith is a native of Deer Isle, Me. ; and two children were born of this marriage - George Otis and Josephine W. George Otis married Grace Maud Co- burn, November, 1895, and has a son, Charles Coburn, named above.
APTAIN JOHN W. KANE, a well- known resident of Blue Hill, Hancock County, is one of seven children born to John and Deborah S. (Friend) Kane. The grandfather, also named John, born at Blue Hill, subsequently removed to the lower end of Long Island, near a mountain, and there resided for some years. Later he moved back to the mainland, and remained here until his death, at the age of seventy. He lost his wife at the birth of his son John.
John Kane (second), who was born at Blue
Hill, followed the sea, and was master of a vessel in the coasting trade, owning a num- ber of the vessels in which he sailed. After thirty-five years spent as a mariner he retired to his farm, where he died at the age of sev- enty-three. His wife, Deborah, who was a daughter of Daniel Friend, of Blue Hill, gave birth to seven children, all of whom are still living ; namely, Samuel P., John W., Han- nah M., Sabrina S., Newell J., Martha E., and Elmer E. Samuel, who resides in Kan- sas, married Emma Stover, who has borne him seven children. Hannah, who resides in New Jersey, is the wife of Dr. M. Hasenclever, and has no children. Sabrina, now Mrs. Stevens, of Surry, is the mother of two chil- dren - Stephen and Clara. Newell J., also of Surry, married Josie Dow, and has a family of four children. Martha, residing in Law- rence, Mass., is the wife of Frank Hamilton, and has no children. Elmer, the youngest, resides in Boston.
From his earliest childhood John W. Kane was brought up within sight and hearing of the sea. In his boyhood he liked nothing better than to watch the fleet of vessels, three hundred in number, that sailed from Ellsworth down the bay and out into the open. In time he knew every rope and spar in a ship, and it became his ambition to become the master of a craft some day. After a few years of schooling, being then only thirteen years of age, he went on his first voyage. From that time until June, 1895, he was a sailor. When only eighteen years of age he took command of a vessel, and he was thereafter a master mari-
CHARLES A. MARSTON.
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ner. He has visited nearly all the great ports of the world, and many and varied have been his adventures. On October 5, 1873, while sailing the brig "Fanny Keating," he was wrecked in the Gulf of Mexico. Though no lives were lost, the sailors were not rescued until after spending five days lashed to the wreck. Again, on December 5, 1891, Cap- tain Kane was wrecked in the brig "I. W. Parker," which, however, was run ashore, and all on board saved. On February 5, 1895, he sighted a steamer in distress, which proved to be the English steamer "Elmet." He lay by her for several days; and when she finally sunk he had the good fortune to save the entire crew of twenty-two men, whom he landed at Barbadoes, five thousand miles from the scene of the wreck. In recognition of this deed Queen Victoria presented him with a silver loving-cup, which is one of his most valued possessions. On May 30, 1895, the bark "Monrovia," commanded by Captain Kane, struck a reef off Santa Cruz, and be- came a total loss; but no lives were lost. Of the two last-named vessels he was the sole owner, and in the first he had an eighth inter- est. After the wreck of the "Monrovia " he decided to settle on land; and in the follow- ing September he bought out the Morrison Medical Company of Bar Harbor, which was formed for the purpose of manufacturing tonics, cough cures, and pills. The company owns a large delivery wagon, by means of which its medicines are distributed throughout the county.
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