USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 32
USA > Maine > Aroostook County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 32
USA > Maine > Hancock County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 32
USA > Maine > Washington County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 32
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 32
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George Downes began his education in the public schools of Calais, subsequently attended
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the Thayer Academy in Braintree, Mass., and the Dummer Academy, Byfield, Mass., and was graduated from Bowdoin College in the class of 1892. He read law in his father's office, was in due time admitted to the bar, and after the death of the elder Downes he succeeded him in the insurance business. He displays much ability both as an attorney and as a member of the firm of Downes & Curran, which maintains its prestige in the insurance business of this city. He is also the trustee of several estates and a director of the Calais National Bank. In politics he is a Republi- can, and succeeded his father as City Treas- urer.
On June 23, 1897, Mr. Downes was joined in marriage with Josephine Mabel Ham, daughter of Fred L. Ham, of St. Stephens, N. B. He is a member of St. Croix Lodge, F. & A. M., of the Order of Foresters, and of the Psi Upsilon Society of Bowdoin College; and while a student he was a member of the foot-ball team and captain of the base-ball nine.
ANGER BROTHERS .- One of the most prosperous manufacturing estab- lishments in the busy town of Fox- croft, Piscataquis County, Me., the largest in its line in this section, is carried on by the above-named firm, which is represented by the surviving partner, Edgar L. Ranger. The business consists of lumber specialties, including fine basswood sleigh and carriage panels and dashers, carriage-top sheathing, mirror and picture backing, cloth boards,
veneering, drawer bottoms, and all kinds of wide thin lumber. The business was inaugu- rated in Wilton, Me., in 1877, by R. Hanni- bal and Edgar L. Ranger, natives of that town and sons of Reuben Ranger.
Their father, Reuben Ranger, was born in Dunstable, N.H., but spent many years in Wilton, where he followed the occupation of a mechanic. He is still living, and resides in Foxcroft. R. Hannibal Ranger was actively connected with the firm until his death, and his widow still retains an interest. The busi- ness was carried on in Wilton until 1895, when it was removed to Foxcroft, where much better facilities were offered for its continu- ance. The concern occupies a substantial building erected especially to meet its re- quirements and equipped with modern ma- chinery. At the present time about three hundred and fifty thousand feet of lumber are used annually, the products finding ready sale throughout the United States and Europe.
Edgar L. Ranger, the present head of the firm, was reared and educated in Wilton. When fifteen years old he entered the railway service in Massachusetts, where he remained three years; and he was later engaged in the manufacture of scythes in Connecticut. Upon his return to Wilton he followed vari- ous lines of business until becoming associ- ated with his brother in the present enterprise. He is thoroughly acquainted with every detail of the establishment, being able to superin- tend the mechanical as well as the business department ; and the prosperity of the enter- prise has been greatly increased by his abil-
EUGENE F. COLLINS.
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ity, industry, and good judgment. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Foresters of Wilton. Polit- ically, he is a Republican.
In 1881 Mr. Ranger was united in marriage with Georgia Hooper, a native of Saco, Me., daughter of John Hooper. Mr. and Mrs. Ranger attend the Baptist church. They have two children - Harold and Ruby.
UGENE F. COLLINS, a prosperous merchant of the village of North Anson, Somerset County, son of James Collins, was born in this town, December 31, 1828. The father, born in Weare, N. H., whence he came to Anson in the year 1800, was a hat-maker by trade. He subse- quently worked as a cloth-dresser for a while, after which he opened a general merchandise store in this locality. He had the distinction of being appointed the first Postmaster of Anson, an office which he and his son, Rod- ney, held for forty consecutive years. A man of thrift and industry, he acquired consider- able property. On his retirement from mer- cantile pursuits he bought a farm, also a saw and grist mill, about a mile north of the vil- lage. His death occurred in 1847, when he was seventy-three years old. He was Captain of a company of State militia and a member of the Governor's Council. His wife, born in Norridgewock, Somerset County, whose maiden name was Martha Gilman, surviving him, attained the age of fourscore years. Of their twelve children, Eugene F. and Mary
are living. Mary is the wife of a farmer, Hiram Dunbar, resides in the village of Anson, and has one child, Frank Dunbar, M.D., who is a physician in Boston.
Eugene F. Collins was bred and educated in North Anson. At the age of seventeen he went to Skowhegan, Me., where he served a three years' apprenticeship at the tailor's trade with the firm of Willis Currier. From 1850 to 1852 he was in business as a tailor on his own account. Then he went to Cali- fornia, where he spent two years mining for gold. From California he returned to Anson, and engaged in business as a merchant tailor and a dealer in ready-made clothing, hats, caps, etc., and soon had a thriving trade. In 1877 he built his present store, where he has since successfully continued the same business, carrying a complete assortment of gentlemen's funishing goods, and having the . only establishment of the kind in Anson. Another source of income to him is a pad for horses' feet, known as the "Collins's Eureka Soaking Pad," which he invented and pat- ented, and which has found great favor among numerous horse owners and dealers, and is sold in all parts of the Union.
Mr. Collins was united in marriage March 27, 1850, to Miss Frances Bickford, of Skow- hegan, Me., a daughter of the Rev. Samuel and Sarah Bickford, the former of whom was a minister of the Christian church. Mrs. Collins passed to the higher life January 28, 1885, leaving two children -Georgie and Ben S. Georgie, born in 1852, is now the wife of Dr. Walter E. Harvey, of Cambridge,
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Mass., and has one daughter, Frances Harvey. Ben S., born in 1857, is a prominent business man of Anson, being an attorney, an insur- ance agent, and a lumber manufacturer and dealer. He married Miss Flora Parlin, of Norridgewock, Me., and now has two children - Nellie and Ben S. Collins, Jr. Mr. Eu- gene F. Collins is a straightforward Repub- lican in politics, but has never been active in public life. He is a Mason, belonging to North Star Lodge, No. 28, F. & A. M., of Anson; to Somerset Chapter, R. A. M .; and to De Molay Commandery, of Skowhegan. An attendant of the Congregational church, he generously contributes to the maintenance of the society.
P UGENE H. PUSHOR, the proprietor of a flourishing drug business in Caribou, Aroostook County, son of Timothy and Elvira (Patten) Pushor, was born in Pitts- field, Me., February 25, 1856. His grand- father, David Pushor, was an early settler in Pittsfield. The father, who was a native of that town, spent the greater part of his active life in farming and lumbering. He tried his fortune with some success in the gold diggings of California, but returned to his native town at the end of two years. His death occurred in 1860. Elvira Pushor, his wife, who was born in Skowhegan, Me., May 5, 1816, be- came the mother of ten children, namely : Timothy, who went to California; David, who died in Dakota in 1893; Harris Pushor, M.D., who married Mary Haskell, of Palmyra,
Me., and was a prominent physician of Pitts- field, where he died March 8, 1895; Philena, the wife of G. C. Runnells, of Caribou; Betsey, the wife of Charles Dustin, of Pitts- field; Ida, who died at the age of twenty-five years; Sophronia, who died young; Eugene HI., the subject of this sketch; Ernest, who died at the age of four years; and a daughter who did not grow up. The mother is still living, and resides at the homestead in Pitts- field. From the common schools Eugene H. Pushor went to the Hartland Academy, and completed his studies at the Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield. He learned the drug business with A. W. Miller, of Hartland, and afterward had charge of his brother's store in Pittsfield for two years. Then he went to the Black Hills, South Dakota, where he was in the cattle business for a time and still owns a ranch. After returning home he was engaged in the drug business in Pittsfield until 1880, when he came to Caribou. Here he fitted up a first-class pharmacy in the Clark Block, and has since conducted a profitable business. His store is well equipped as to furnishings and appointments, and contains a full line of drugs, chemicals, patent medicines, fancy goods, stationery, paints and oils, cigars and tobacco. The most careful attention is given to physicians' prescriptions.
On March 17, 1880, Mr. Pushor was united in marriage with Ida M. Call, of Pittsfield, a daughter of George and Margaret Call. Her father is a farmer. Her mother died some time ago. Mr. and Mrs. Pushor have no chil- dren. Mr. Pushor has been successful in
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business. Besides his drug store he owns several valuable farms. He is an advanced Mason, being a member of Meridian Lodge, Pittsfield; of Garfield Chapter, Caribou; and of the commandery in Houlton. He is also connected with Aroostook Valley Lodge, I. O. O. F .; and with Linden Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of Caribou.
RDELL C. CURTIS, of Wellington, Me., County Commissioner of Piscat- aquis County, was born April 19, 1846, on the old Curtis farm, which has been held in the family name nearly seventy years, and which he now owns and occupies. His parents were Benjamin and Susan (Bussell) Curtis.
Benjamin Curtis was born at Freeport, Me., in 1809, and was one of a family of ten children. Settling here on a tract of wild land about 1830, he improved the estate, clearing and planting a number of acres, and erecting buildings, working early and late to earn a living and make a comfortable home for his wife and children. He died at the age of seventy-two. His wife was a daughter of James Bussell, who settled here about 1824. Mr. Bussell was the first blacksmith in the town and the first Justice of the Peace. He was also the first Town Treasurer, and he served for some time on the Board of Select- men. He died at the age of seventy-eight. His wife, whose maiden name was Betsey Hanson, died young. Mr. Benjamin Curtis was at first a Whig and later a Republican in
politics. He and his wife were connected with the Universalist church. They had a family of eight children, namely: Lizzie, Franklin, Hiram, a second Hiram, and Bessie, all deceased ; Ardell C .; Helen, wife of A. S. Plumer, of Lewiston, Me. ; and John H., a farmer of Athens, Me.
Franklin Curtis was a soldier in the Civil War. He was a member of the Twentieth Regiment, Maine Volunteers, Company F, was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863, died in consequence of his wound, July 10, and is buried in the National Ceme- tery at Gettysburg, Pa.
Ardell C. Curtis acquired his education in the public schools of Wellington. He owns, as has been mentioned, the old Curtis farm, which comprises one hundred and thirty acres of good land; and he has been for some time successfully engaged in general farming. Mr. Curtis is a member of Wellington Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, of Welling- ton.
He was married in 1885 to Miss Nellie Richards, daughter of William Richards. She was born in Harmony, Me. They have one son, Frank B., who was born in Welling- ton, July 2, 1891. Mr. Curtis, who is a Re- publican in political affiliation, has never sought for public office, but has been honored with election to a number of important posi- tions. He has been Deputy Sheriff for thir- teen years, and is at present County Commis- sioner, having been nominated by acclama- tion. He is a Mason, belonging to Cam- bridge Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Cambridge,
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Me. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis are connected with the Universalist church.
LIAS HUTCHINS, a general merchant and the Postmaster of East New Portland, was born in this town, July 8, 1826, son of Captain James and Cynthia (Churchill) Hutchins. The grandfather, David Hutchins, a native of Massachusetts, was a pioneer set- tler in the Kennebec valley. He first located at the head of tide-water, on land now called Alna. After residing there for a short timc, he removed to the site of the present town of Skowhegan. In 1783 he began to clear a farm near the present village of East New Portland, where he spent the rest of his life. Having married Mary Emery, he had a family of eleven children, namely: Eliakim, born August 3, 1773; Marcy, born May 24, 1775; Emery, born February 25, 1777; Mary, born July 1, 1779; James, born June 1, 1781; David, born September 8, 1783; Williams, born November 10, 1785; Hollis, born May 24, 1788; Samucl, born November 29, 1790, who became a prominent Free Will Baptist minister; Asaph, born February 4, 1793; and Sarah, born September 4, 1795.
Captain James Hutchins, who was a life- long resident and a leading man of East New Portland, spent his active years in cultivating the home farm, which he inherited. In the Statc militia he held the rank of Captain. It is related that, while he was in the militia, when a party from Canada had carried off sev- eral head of cattle from the district, he and
his men pursued the marauders and recovered the animals. He also served in important town officcs, and settled many estates. Cap- tain Hutchins dicd April 19, 1869. On March 17, 1808, he married for his first wife Lucy Hayden, who bore him four children, namely: Richard, born March 4, 1809, who died in January, 1869; Mahala, born February II, 1810, who died November 16, 1890; Emina, born April 28, 1811, who dicd young ; and James, born September 11, 1815, who is also deceased. Cynthia Parker Churchill, who became the Captain's second wife, born January 3, 1790, was the first white female child of whom New Portland was the birth- place. Elias Hutchins's uncle, David, previ- ously mentioned, was the first white male native. By her first husband, Benjamin Churchill, Cynthia had four children: Josiah P., born October 22, 1807, who died March 17, 1871; Jesse, born November 24, 1809, who died January 1, 1879; Cynthia, born De- cember 15, 1811, who died February 13, 1890; and Benjamin, born February 24, 1814, who died January 23, 1839. By Cap- tain Hutchins she had seven children, namely : Asaph, born April 18, 1817, who died Octo- ber 28, 1895; Abel, born April 9, 1819, who died July 14, 1842; Lucy, born June 18, 1821, who died November 21, 1881; Sophia, born November 29, 1823, who is now the widow of Columbus Emery, and resides in Denver, Col .: Elias, the subject of this sketch; Lendell, born July 10, 1828, a vet- cran of the Civil War, who married Caroline Boynton, and residcs in East New Portland;
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and Cyrus L., born May 9, 1831, also a war veteran, residing in Erie, Pa. The mother died September 22, 1871.
Elias Hutchins was educated in the com- mon schools of New Portland. When a young man he taught school for twelve winter terms. After a short time spent in Massachusetts he went to Damariscotta, Me., where he followed the ship-carpenter's trade for several years. Subsequently he resided in Lexington, Me., for some six years, at the end of which time he returned to New Portland. After occupy- ing for the succeeding eight years a farm that he had previously purchased, he removed to his present residence in the East village. Since 1883 he has been successfully engaged in a general merchandise business, carrying a well-selected stock of goods.
On September 3, 1850, Mr. Hutchins was united in marriage with Flavillin D. Hayden, who was born in Madison, Me., April S, 1827. Her parents, Joseph and Eleanor Hay- den, were respectively natives of Gray and Madison, Me. Joseph Hayden was a promi- nent farmer and lumberman of that town. Mrs. Hutchins has had three children : Willie, born November 16, 1855, who died in infancy; Joseph H., born August 25, 1857; and Florence, born October 14, 1860. Joseph H. Hutchins, who is a barber in Skowhegan, married Sadie Philpot, of Norridgewock, Me., and has one daughter, Margery F., born October 7, 1885. Florence Hutchins married Thomas Webb, formerly of Bridgton, Me., and now a fruit-packer of Los Angeles, Cal. They have two children: Helen Webb, born
March 22, 1895; and Harry Hutchins, born January 9, 1898. In politics Mr. Hutchins, Sr., is a Republican. He has served with ability as a Selectman for one year, was Town Treasurer for two years, was also Deputy Sheriff, and he has been the Postmaster here since 1889. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of New Portland. Both he and Mrs. Hutchins are members of the Baptist church.
ON. MARSHALL NOAH Mc- KUSICK, of Calais, Washington County, a counsellor-at-law, an ex- Mayor of the city, and a Civil War veteran, was born in Baring, this county, March 7, IS41, son of Levi E. and Adelaide A. (Mar- shall) McKusick. The paternal grandfather, Noah McKusick, a Scotchman, who came to the country when a young man, settling upon a farm in Cornish, Me., became prominent in that town, and served in various public offices. He married Mary Estes, of Cornish, and had a family of nine sons and three daughters.
Levi E. McKusick was a native of Cornish, born in November, 1816. In early life he came to Washington County, locating in Bar- ing. Here he had secured a propitious start in the lumber industry, when the financial panic of 1837 carried him down with many others in the locality. Later he resumed logging operations in connection with farming, and continued to reside in Baring until his death, which occurred in 1888. In politics
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he was a Democrat; but, despite the fact that the majority of his townsmen were opposed to him in politics, his excellent judgment and sterling integrity so commended him to the voters that he was elected to the Board of Selectmen and the legislature, and for a long period was constantly the occupant of some town office. An esteemed member of the Methodist Episcopal church, he often sup- plied the pulpit in the absence of the regular pastor. He married Adelaide A., daughter of Captain Thomas Marshall, of Deer Island, N. B., and by her became the father of seven children, namcly: Emily J., now the wife of John F. Stone, of Pine City, Minn .; Marshall N., the subject of this sketch; Thurston Pike, who is no longer living; Alice, who is mar- ried, and resides in Minneapolis, Minn .; Levi H., now county attorney of Pine County, Minnesota; Nellie, now the wife of Robert Wood, of Baring; and Minnie, who married Cyrus Chase, of that town.
After passing through the district schools of. Baring, Marshall Noah McKusick pursued courses at the academies in Milltown, N. B., and Fryeburg, Me. In October, 1861, he en- listed in the Sixth Battery, Light Artillery; and, being commissioned Lieutenant in 1862, he commanded the battery in the battles of Antietam, Gettysburg, and the Wilderness. In the Wilderness fight he was slightly wounded. At the battle of Cold Harbor, June 7, 1864, he was unhorsed by a fragment of a shell, which entered his right shoulder, resulting in the disablement of the muscles of the arm, from which he did not fully recover
until 1867. Lieutenant McKusick was with the Army of the Potomac during its most im- portant campaigns, participating in no less than sixty-five engagements. After he was discharged from the army, he taught school for a timc. Then he studied law in the office of C. B. Rounds, Esq., of Calais, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1870. During his first ten years of practice in this city he was in partnership with his preceptor, under the firm name of Rounds & McKusick. Appointcd Postmaster by President Arthur in 1882, he ably performed the duties of that office for four years. Having resumed his law business in 1896, he has since practised in the various courts of the State with success. Outside his profession he is interested in the International Creamery Company, of which he was an in- corporator and the first president. In politics Mr. McKusick is an active supporter of the Republican party. He was first Selectman in Baring from the time of his return from the army to his removal to Calais, also serving as Overseer of the Poor. In Calais he was Alderman for six years. First elected Mayor in 1886, he filled that important office for three consecutive years. In 1879, 1880, and 188I he was a member of the legislature, where he rendered valuable services upon the Judiciary Committee and during his last term by acceptably filling the Speaker's chair in the occasional absences of that officer. He was Deputy Collector of the Passamaquoddy District for five years, was City Solicitor two years, and is now Disclosure Commissioner for Washington County. His party is in-
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debted to him for much effective service. He married Lucy J. Banford, daughter of Asher Banford, of this city. Mrs. McKusick has been the mother of seven children, namely : Mina G., who has charge of the musical de- partment of the Calais public schools, and is an accomplished singer ; Edith; Marshall N., Jr. ; Maud; Ethel; James G. Blaine; and Eugene Hale McKusick. Eugene Hale, who was the twin brother of James, is now de- ceased.
EORGE E. DOE, an esteemed resi- dent of Cornville, Somerset County, and the owner of one of the attractive home- steads of this district, was born on the farm where he now resides, July 23, 1850, son of Theophilus P. and Lydia W. (Dearborn) Doe. The parents were natives respectively of New- field and Solon, Me. In 1836 they took pos- session of the present home farm in Cornville. The father added other improvements to those already made in the preceding half-century, and lived on it until his demise, November 26, 1886. His wife, who faithfully aided him in his work, died on September II, 1897, at the age of seventy-five years. She bore her husband four children, namely : Emma H., who married Alonzo Burnham, now of Roxbury, Mass., and died in January, 1897; George E., the subject of this sketch ; Lettie E., who died February 8, 1898; and Charles G., a commission merchant, who re- sides in Boston.
George E. Doe completed his education at the Somerset Academy. On reaching man's
estate he went to the West, hoping in Illi- nois to decidedly better his circumstances. After working as a farm laborer in Logan County for a year, being somewhat disap- pointed in his expectations, he returned to New England. The succeeding four years were spent in Boston, employed during the first half of the time at the carpenter's trade and during the latter half as steward in the old Marlboro Hotel. In 1878, having re- turned to Cornville, he relieved his parents of the care of the homestead, and has since been engaged in general farming and dairying. He owns one hundred and twenty-five acres of land, on which he and his father made the more important improvements. Since 1880 he has been unable to do much active labor on the farm; but he performs a little carpen- ter's work, at which trade he is very skilful and ingenious.
On January 2, 1878, Mr. Doe married Miss Clara M. Hight, a native of Athens, Somerset County, born February 21, 1852. Her par- ents, Josiah and Harriet (Dore) Hight, who formerly lived in Boston, are now residents of Athens, the father being a retired cattle drover and dealer. Mr. and Mrs. Doe have but one child, Charles Harold, a bright and active lad, born September 21, 1889. Mr. Doe is prominent in politics and an influential mem- ber of the Republican party. For several years he has faithfully served as Township Clerk and Treasurer, and in 1888 he repre- sented his district in the State legislature at Augusta. He belongs to several frater- nal organizations, including the Carrabasset
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Lodge of Odd Fellows at Skowhegan, the A. O. U. W. of East Madison village, and the grange at the same village. Both he and Mrs. Doc, while not members of any church, favor the Methodist belief.
'REDERICK R. BUCK, a member of the firm of Bixby & Buck, druggists, Skowhegan, Mc., and a Civil War veteran, was born April 15, 1834, in Bucksport, Han- cock County, this State. His father was Dan- iel Buck, a native of that town, which was named for his great-grandfather, Jonathan Buck, who was one of its first settlers. Fred- erick R. Buck is a descendant in the eighth generation of William Buck, the first Ameri- can ancestor of the family, who came to New England with his son Roger on board the bark "Increase" in 1635, settled at Cam- bridge, Mass., and died there, January 24, 1658.
Roger Buck, who was born in England in 1617, was a thatcher by trade. He married in 1640; and after the death of his wife, which occurred more than forty years later, he moved from Cambridge to Woburn, Mass., where he dicd November 10, 1693. He was the father of three sons and four daughters. His third child, Ephraim, who was born in Cambridge, July 26, 1646, settled in Woburn about the year 1671; and it is supposed that he was the original proprietor of what is still known as the Buck Farm, located in the town of Wilmington. Ephraim Buck died in January, 1721, aged seventy-five years. On
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