USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 27
USA > Maine > Aroostook County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 27
USA > Maine > Hancock County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 27
USA > Maine > Washington County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 27
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 27
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On December 2, 1868, Captain Kane first
married Clara A., daughter of Captain Amos and Mehitable (Osgood) Varnum. She be- came the mother of Lillian May Kane, who graduated from the Emerson School of Oratory in the class of 1896, and is now teaching as assistant principal of the Blue Hill Academy. Captain Kane's second wife before her mar- riage was Edith Dailey, of New York. She is the mother of one son, John W., Jr. The Captain is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, and a member of the American Order of United Workmen. In politics he is a Republican.
ON. CHARLES A. MARSTON, a prominent business man of Skowhe- gan and an ex-member of the Maine Senate, was born in Waterville, Kennebec County, Me., May 26, 1851, son of Isaiah and Eliza (Coburn) Marston. He comes of long lines of English and American ancestry, belonging to a family whose history in Eng- land, according to the author of the Marston Genealogy, dates back to the time of William the Conqueror. The earliest of the name mentioned in that work, however, are Edward and John de Marston, who were living in the thirteenth century. It is said that the family yet own estates in the neighborhood of Mars- ton Moor, near York, the scene of Cromwell's victory over the Royalists, July 2, 1644.
John Marston, the founder of the American branch, was born at Yarmouth, England, in 1615. He came over on the ship "Rose," arriving at Salem, Mass., April 11, 1637.
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He was a carpenter by trade and at one time a Quaker in religion. On August 4, 1640, he married Alice Eden, also a native of Yar- mouth, by whom he had ten children. John Marston died December 19, 1681.
John Marston, Jr., who was born in Salem in 1641, followed his father's trade. He united with the First Church, and became a Deacon. On September 5, 1664, he married for his first wife Mary, daughter of James and Mary Chichester. She died May 25, 1686, aged forty - three years; and for his second wife he married Mrs. Mary Turner, daughter of Thomas and Mary Gardiner and widow of Habakkuk Turner. He was the father of eight children, six by his first union and two by his second. John Marston, third, son of Deacon John, was born in Salem, September 2, 1667. His death occurred prior to 1716. He also was a carpenter by trade. About the year 1690 he married Susanna, daughter of Thomas and Susannah W. Stacy.
His only son, Benjamin, the second of five children, was born in 1693 or 1694, and died in April, 1769. Benjamin Marston settled in Barnstable, Mass., and erected and operated a grist and woollen mill in a locality that still bears the name of Marston's Mills. On April 26, 1716, he married Lydia, daughter of Eben- ezer and Lydia (Crowell) Goodspeed, of Barn- stable. Seven children were the fruit of this union.
Prince Marston, the sixth of these and the next in this line, was born in Barnstable, March 24, 1735. He succeeded his father in carrying on the mills, and lived to an ad-
vanced age. His wife, whom he married July 21, 1757, was Sarah, daughter of Kenelm Winslow, of Brewster, Mass. ; and his family consisted of eight children, of whom Isaiah was the eldest. Kenelm Winslow, father of Sarah, wife of Prince Marston, was the fourth of the name in direct line, beginning with the first Kenelm in this country, who came probably in 1629, and was a brother of Governor Edward Winslow.
Isaiah Marston, son of Prince and Sarah (Winslow) Marston, was born in Barnstable, August 27, 1758. He was engaged in manu- facturing in his native town until 1801, when he went to Waterville, Me., where he erected mills and operated them in connection with farming. On May 2, 1779, he married Eliza- beth, daughter of Joseph Lawrence, of Sand- wich, Mass. He died June 24, 1827, aged sixty-nine years ; and she died in May, 1848, aged ninety-one years. She was the mother of eight children ; and her second child, Kenelm, Charles A. Marston's grandfather, was born in Barnstable, February 13, 1782.
Kenelm Marston accompanied his parents to Waterville, and, settling upon a farm, resided there until his death, which occurred Novem- ber 10, 1852, in his seventy-first year. He married Lucy Bates, of Waterville, in 1806, and reared eight children, of whom Isaiah, second, was the eldest.
Isaiah Marston, Charles A. Marston's father, was born in Waterville, September 4, I 806. He was reared upon a farm, and, adopting that occupation, he followed it with energy during his active years. He was pronì-
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inent in local public affairs, was active in the militia, and was Colonel of a regiment of artillery. In his religious views he was a Baptist. Isaiah Marston lived to be eighty- seven years old. Eliza Coburn, his wife, whom he married May 7, 1829, was a native of Bloomfield. She was a sister of the late Hon. Abner Coburn, at one time Governor of Maine, and of Stephen Coburn, a former Congressman, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. She became the mother of eight children, of whom Eras- tus W., of Oakland, Cal., Alonzo, of San Francisco, Mrs. Mary C. Weston, who resides in Boston, and the Hon. Charles Albert Mars- ton are the only survivors. Four daughters, now deceased, bore the names Fidelia C., El- vira C., Julia A., and Helen E.
Charles Albert Marston acquired his educa- tion in the common schools and Bloomfield academy, and studied civil engineering at eighteen. He was attached to a corps of en- gineers in Illinois and Iowa for a year; and upon his return to Maine he was employed by his uncles, Abner and Philander Coburn, look- ing after their farming and lumbering inter- ests. Five years later he bought a farm, which he cultivated for some time; and, lo- cating in Skowhegan in 1885, he was for a number of years engaged in the plumbing and steam fitting business with George For- rest, under the firm name of Forrest & Mars- ton. He became interested in the lumber business with Charles J. Davis, and later became associated with others at various times, and is now considered one of the large operators in this section of Somerset County.
He purchased the majority of the capital stock of the Bloomfield Shoe Company, of which he was one of- the organizers and first treasurer. He is treasurer and general man- ager of the Boston & Boothbay Land Company, one of the incorporators and large stockholders of the Skowhegan Water Works and the Skow- hegan Electric Light Company, and is vice- president and a heavy stockholder in the Skow- hegan & Norridgewock Electric Railway Company.
In politics Mr. Marston is a Republican. He has been a member of the Republican Town Committee fifteen years, and ten years of that time its chairman. He was a member of the Maine House of Representatives 1891- 94 and a member of the Senate 1895-96. While a member of the lower house in 1891 and 1893, he served upon the Committees on Mercantile Affairs and Insurance and Interior Waters; and in the Senate of 1895 he was assigned to those having charge of the same matters in the upper branch, besides being a member of the Committee on Interior Waters and chairman of the Committee on Taxation. His work in the committee-room and his ability in debate were of a nature to place him among the foremost leaders of his party and gain the hearty appreciation of his constit- uents. He has also held several town offices. He was a member of the School Committee six years, and was chairman of the board three years of that time.
Mr. Marston is far advanced in Masonry, being a member of Somerset Lodge, No. 34, F. & A. M .; Somerset Chapter, No. 15,
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Royal Arch Masons; Mount Moriah Council, No. 10, Royal and Select Masters; De Molay Commandery, No. 10, Knights Templar; and Kora Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is connected with Carrabasset Lodge, No. 34, I. O. O. F. ; Parmenius Encampment, No. 18; is a prominent member of Canton Somerset, No. 26, Patriarchs Militant ; was Commissary, with rank of Captain, on Colonel Colby's staff, and Major of Second Battalion, and is now Lieutenant-Colonel of Second Regiment, Pa- triarch's Militant, Department of Maine; is a member of Skowhegan Lodge, No. 79, Knights of Pythias; and of Oosoola Division, No. 13, Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias; is also a member, with rank of Colonel, of Brigadier-General Smith's staff, Uniform Rank, Department of Maine; is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Philadelphia, and the Patrons of Husbandry. He likewise belongs to several social clubs, was formerly president of the Skowhegan Athletic Association, vice-presi- dent of the Board of Trade, and is a member of the Home Market Club. In his religious views he is a Baptist.
In 1876 Mr. Marston was united in marriage with Sarah S. Steward, daughter of Philander C. Steward, of Skowhegan. She was born in Victoria, Australia. Mrs. Marston is the mother of five children, namely : Roy L., now in his Senior year at Bowdoin College; Lola E., Molly G., and Coburn S., who are students at the Skowhegan High School; and Claire R., a bright boy of ten years.
ENJAMIN W. HEWES, attorney and counsellor at law, Danforth, Washington County, Me., was born in Plymouth, Mass., August 23, 1853, son of Benjamin A. and Martha A. (Linnell) IIewes. The Hewes family is said to be of Welsh origin. Several emigrants bearing this sur- name came to New England in the early part of the seventeenth century. Savage in his Genealogical Dictionary mentions among others John, of Scituate, 1632, and Joshua, of Roxbury, Mass., about 1633, who married Mary Goldstone and removed to Rhode Island, eventually, however, returning to Boston. Representatives of the family displayed their patriotism to good advantage during the Rev- olutionary War. Daniel Hewes and his brother, George R. T. Hewes, in particular, are known to fame as having been active mem- bers of the Boston Tea Party of December, I773.
Rufus M. Hewes, who was born at Foxboro, Mass., in 1788, was one of the first there to engage in the manufacture of straw hats and bonnets; and the greater part of his life was devoted to that industry in his native town. He married for his first wife Laura B. Will- iams, of Mansfield, Mass., and his children by that union were: Warren; Benjamin A., father of Benjamin W .; Hannah; Olive; Laura; Daniel; William; and Shubael. Grandfather Hewes married for his second wife a Miss George, of Brewer; and she bore him two children - John and Rufus.
Benjamin A. Hewes, son of Rufus M., was born in Foxboro, October 2, 1812. He
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learned the machinist's trade, and during the early days of railroading he was a locomotive engineer on the Fitchburg Railway. After- ward he spent a number of years in Winches- ter, Va., where he was engaged in the manu- facture of stoves; and when he returned North he resided for some time in Plymouth, Mass. He at length decided to devote his energies to agricultural pursuits, and removed to Exeter, Me., where for a while he occupied a farm, said to have been the first one cleared in that town. The last thirty years of his life were spent upon a farm in Levant, Me. Benjamin A. Hewes died May 5, 1897. Martha A. Hewes, his first wife, who was a native of Augusta, Me., died in October, 1877, aged sixty-six years and six months. He was again married, but had no children by his second wife. Of his first union were born three chil- dren, namely: Virginia, who became the wife of the Hon. Lewellyn Powers, the present Gov- ernor of Maine, and died in 1884; Dencey W. Hewes, who died at the age of forty-four years; and Benjamin W., the subject of this sketch.
Benjamin W. Hewes has resided in Maine since he was four years old. Having prepared himself for a classical course, he entered Bow- doin College at the age of eighteen ; and after his graduation at twenty-two he taught school for some time. His law studies were begun in the office of Messrs. Humphrey & Appleton in Houlton, and continued with the Hon. Lewellyn Powers in Bangor. He was ad- mitted to the bar in 1877; and two years later he settled at Danforth, where he has since
resided, and has built up a good general law business. He is a Justice of the Peace and Notary Public.
In 1879 Mr. Hewes married Cora E. Tup- per, of Topsfield, Me., daughter of Eliakim and Phobe Tupper. Her father is still liv- ing, and resides in that town. Mrs. Hewes is the mother of four children, namely : Virginia P., born May 5, 1880; Addie F., born August 8, 1881; Linnell T., born July 9, 1884; and Hazel, born July 15, 1889.
Politically, Mr. Hewes is a Republican. Though not desirous of holding town offices, he has actively interested himself in educa- tional affairs, and served with ability upon the School Board. He is a Master Mason and a member of Kenduskeag Lodge, No. 137.
ENERAL RUSSELL B. SHEP- HERD, a prominent business man of Skowhegan, a veteran of the Civil War, and a former member of Maine's Executive Coun- cil, was born in Fairfield, this county, Sep- tember 14, 1829. His father was Job B. Shepherd, a native of Fairfield; and his grandfather, John Shepherd, settled there at an early date in the town's history. John Shepherd was a thrifty farmer, and acquired considerable property. As a member of the Society of Friends he did much toward pro- moting the interests and general welfare of his brethren. He served as a Selectman for a number of years, represented his town in the legislature, lived to be eighty-seven years old, and was the father of three children.
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Job B. Shepherd, General Shepherd's father, who was a lifelong resident of Fair- field, operated a saw-mill in connection with farming during his active years. He was interested in public affairs, and took a promi- nent part in the Friends' meetings. Of his five. children, two were the offspring of his first marriage and three the offspring of his second. Russell B. Shepherd was the second child of his first wife, who was a daughter of Abiatha Richmond, a Revolutionary soldier, although he had joined the Society of Friends. After the war, while eligible to a pension for his military services, he would not accept it on account of conscientious scruples. He died in Greene, Androscoggin County, Me., at the age of eighty-one years.
Russell B. Shepherd attended the Bloom- field Academy. After teaching school for a time, he entered Waterville College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1857. He studied law, and was admitted to the Penobscot County bar at Bangor in 1860. He was about to begin the practice of his profession when the outbreaking of the Re- bellion caused him to change his mind. After assisting in the organization of the Eighteenth Maine Regiment, he was appointed Adjutant with the rank of Lieutenant. The Eighteenth was assigned to the Second Army Corps, under General Hancock, and was later under General Humphries. It participated in the battles of Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, Ptollopalamie Creek, Weldon Rail- road, Hatcher's Run, Sailor's Creek, and Petersburg, and was present at the surrender
of General Lee at Appomattox Court House. At one time it engaged the enemy for ten days without interruption. Adjutant Shepherd was promoted to the rank of Major in December, 1862, was made Lieutenant Colonel in Sep- tember, 1864, and, for gallant conduct at the battle of Weldon Railroad, in October of the same year was promoted to the rank of Colonel. On account of anticipated troubles upon the Mexican frontier his regiment was retained several months beyond the term of its enlistment. He was discharged as Brevet Brigadier-general in September, 1865. After a short stay in Skowhegan he returned South on account of his wife's failing health, and purchased a cotton plantation. This he car- ried on until 1873, when he again returned to Skowhegan, without, however, disposing of the plantation. Shortly after, in company with Lewis Anderson, he erected the Coburn Woollen Mills, with which he is still con- nected. He is the president of both the Skowhegan Pulp Company and the Skowhegan Traction Company, and he has been the president of the Second National Bank for several years.
General Shepherd is also a trustee of Colby University, of the University of Maine, form- erly the State Agriculture College, and of the State Insane Hospital. He has served for two terms in the lower chamber of the State legislature and for the same length of time in the upper. In the lower branch he was the chairman of the Committees on Fi- nance and Education, and while a member of the Senate in 1876 and 1877 he served in
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the Committees on Finance and Banking. In 1878 he was a member of Governor Connor's Council. Politically, he is a Republican. An esteemed Mason, he is connected with Somerset Lodge, F. & A. M .; Somerset Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Mount Moriah Council, Royal and Select Masters; and De Molay Commandery, Knights Templar. He is also a member of the Union Veterans' As- sociation and of the Newberne Club. His religious creed is that of the Society of Friends, whose meetings he attends. The present Mrs. Shepherd, a native of this town, is General Shepherd's second wife.
ON. JOSEPH B. PEAKS, an attor- ney - at - law of Dover, Piscataquis County, and a Civil War veteran, was born in Charleston, Me., September 26, 1829, son of William and Betsey (Billington) Peaks. His paternal grandfather, also named William, an early settler of Dedham, Me., died in that town at an advanced age. The father, who was born in Dedham, having learned the trade of a millwright when a young man, afterward followed it until his death, which occurred in 1845, at the age of
forty-seven years. Betsey Peaks, his wife, who was a native of China, Me., had nine children, three of whom are living, namely : T. J. Peaks, of Charleston ; Mrs. Elmira C. Folsom, of Providence, R.I. ; and Joseph B., the subject of this sketch. The mother died in 1872, aged seventy-four years.
Joseph B. Peaks attended the Charleston
Academy, and afterward fitted for college. Instead of entering upon a classical course, however, he began the study of law with Jacob Lovejoy, of Corinth. On April 15, 1861, being then in Massachusetts, he en- listed for three months as a private in the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment, whose march through Baltimore was the cause of a serious riot. After the completion of his stipulated term he taught school for a time. He re- enlisted in the First Maine Cavalry on Sep- tember 18, 1862, and afterward participated in the battles of Fredericksburg, Aldie, Brandy Station, and other engagements. On June 17, 1863, he received a severe wound, which confined him to the hospital for some time. He was honorably discharged in December, 1863. After the war he took a position as salesman in a dry-goods house in Boston, where he remained until 1870. Then he en- gaged in business for himself in Dover. In this period, once more turning his attention to law, he completed his preparations for the legal profession, and was admitted to the Piscataquis County bar in 1872. Since that time he has been in successful practice. A Republican in politics, he has ably filled sev- eral important elective offices, including those of State Senator, Representative, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, and Town Agent. He was also County Attorney for three terms and Insurance Commissioner for three years, and he is now the chairman of the Board of Railroad Commissioners of Maine. Formerly he was Colonel of the First Regiment of the Maine Reserve Militia.
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In 1871 Mr. Peaks was joined in marriage with Eliza Chadbourne, a native of Kenne- bunk, Me. Mrs. Peaks is the mother of two children : Anna H., born in July, 1872; and Francis C., born in February, 1874. A member of the Masonic fraternity, Mr. Peaks is connected with the Blue Lodge and R. A. Chapter in Dover. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. Actively interesting himself in various public improvements, he rendered valuable aid in securing the con- struction of the railway from Dexter to Fox- croft in 1889.
HARLES H. CLARK, who has been Town Treasurer of New Portland for fourteen years, was born on the old Clark homestead in this town, June 8, 1847. He is a son of Charles B. and Mary B. (But- ler) Clark. The father, born August 15, 1809, in the town of Industry, Franklin County, Me., moved to New Portland with his wife, taking up a large tract of wild land in the northern part of the town along the King- field Road. After clearing this land he pur- chased more, and was subsequently one of the large land-owners of the locality. He also successfully engaged in lumbering. A stanch Democrat and a prominent man of the town, he was elected to a number of important offices. As Selectman he served for a number of years, and he was a Representative to the State legislature in 1861. Mr. Clark died on October 17, 1892. His wife, who was born in Industry, January 29, 1811, died Septem-
ber 16, 1880. They had a family of twelve children, namely: Jacob, born August 4, 1833, who died July 9, 1870; Augustus, born March 16, 1835, who died June 10, 1868; Mary, born July 17, 1837, who died Septem- ber 2, 1837; William F., born July 18, 1838, who died September 14, 1839; William F. (second), born September 17, 1840, who died September 15, 1841; Mary O., born July 12, 1842, who became the wife of T. M. Mantor, a manufacturer of mantels and house furnish- ings in Boston, Mass. ; John P., born January 17, 1845, now engaged in trade at Anson and also interested in lumbering; Charles H., the subject of this sketch; George W., born No- vember 17, 1850, the owner of the old Clark farm in North New Portland; Ella, born April 7, 1852, who died five days later; Emma, Ella's twin sister, who died March 5, 1854; and Fred L., born January 26, 1856, a resi- dent of New Sharon, Me. John P. married Sarah F. Adams, of North Anson; George W. married Laura C. Dyer, of New Portland ; and Fred L. married Nellie Vining, of Strong, Me.
Charles H. Clark had fair educational ad- vantages, including a course of study in the high school. He remained with his parents until of age. Then he was in trade for a year with a partner in New Portland. During the next year he had a different partner. His brother John was his associate in business for the ensuing six years. Then for sixteen years he had an independent business. He has a large and handsome store, well stocked with groceries, dry goods, clothing, boots and
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shoes, hats, caps, stationery, and wall papers. Mr. Clark also deals extensively in lumber, in company with his brother and others manages an extensive wool trade, and is a stockholder in the local telephone company. One of the leading business men of this section, he is widely known and highly respected.
On July 4, 1869, Mr. Clark was married to Flora A. Dyer, of New Portland, daughter of Warren and Betsey P. (Clough) Dyer. Mr. Dyer, a well-known man, was extensively en- gaged in general farming. He died Septem- ber 19, 1870. His widow lives with her daughter, Mrs. Clark. Three children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Clark. Warren, the eldest, born February 24, 1870, was taken into partnership by his father on June 26, 1893, and is now an active factor in the business. He is a member of Northern Star Lodge, No. 28, F. & A. M., of North Anson ; and of Lemon Stream Lodge, No. 55, I. O. O. F., of New Portland. He married Cora A. Butts, of New Portland, daughter of J. F. Butts. Morrie W. Clark, the second son, who was born October 3, 1872, is the junior member of the firm of Charles H. Clark & Sons, having been admitted to partnership simultaneously with his brother. Also an Odd Fellow, he belongs to Lemon Stream Lodge, No. 55, of this town. He married Elsie L., daughter of Charles H. Bartlett, of New Portland. Wenona L. Clark, youngest child of Charles H. and Flora A. Clark, born January 28, 1878, having graduated at the New Portland High School, is now a student at Wellesley College. The father is a stanch
Democrat. He has served on the Board of Selectmen for two years. His efficiency as Town Treasurer is evinced by the length of time he has served in that capacity.
ACOB D. MURRAY, an esteemed farmer of Parkman, son of Simon and Elizabeth (Dearborn) Murray, was born in Limerick, this State, on May 30, 1813. The grandfather, Jonathan Murray, who was born in Ireland, came to America when a young man, settling in the town of Scarboro. He was a farmer, and died in that town at an advanced age. His wife, Mary, also lived to a good old age. Their children were : Simon, Tillman, Eunice, and Rebecca. Simon Murray, a native of Shapleigh, who was a farmer and a millman, spent his active life in Limerick, Me., and died there at the age of forty-nine years, his death being caused by an accident. His wife, who was a native of North Scarboro, Me., and who died in her eighty-fifth year, was the mother of thirteen children - Benjamin, Sally, Mary, Susan, Ann, George, Archibald, Jacob, Eliza, Ma- halie, Simon, Asa, and Emily. Of these the only other survivor is Susan, now Mrs. Chellis, of Newfield, Me.
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