USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 34
USA > Maine > Aroostook County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 34
USA > Maine > Hancock County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 34
USA > Maine > Washington County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 34
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 34
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Abby C., the special subject of this sketch,
MRS. ABBY C. CONDON.
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was the youngest child of the parental house- hold. She acquired her education, a practical one, in the little red school-house of the dis- trict, which stood in the woods, half a mile from any house. That she applied herself well and made good progress in her studies may be judged from the fact that she became a teacher. She taught seven terms of school, five in Penobscot and two in Brewer, Me. On March 15, 1860, she was married to Ben- jamin L. Condon, son of Samuel Condon, of Brooksville, Me.
It was during war times, in 1864, when high prices ruled, that Mrs. Condon started . the knitting business with a cash capital of thirty dollars and a good stock of native energy and capability. Bringing fifty pounds of yarn from Boston, she engaged knitters to knit mittens at twenty-five cents a pair, but, failing to use up all the yarn the first year, returned a part of it. More yarn was in- trusted to her the second year, and she exerted herself successfully in soliciting knitters. The work all came under her personal inspec- tion, and was well done. The business con- tinued to increase year by year, although the price paid for it declined from twenty-five cents to six cents per pair of mittens. In 1873 fifteen hundred knitters, residents of Penobscot, Orland, Bucksport, Castine, Blue Hill, Surry, Sedgwick, and Deer Isle, were numbered on the pay-roll. All was done in the old-fashioned way, by knitting-needles, until 1882. In that year was erected the building which has since been used as a gen- eral store and as a factory, the Lamb knitting
machines, operated by hand-power, being in- troduced. Starting with four machines, the firm have gradually increased their number, until at present they own and are operating about eighty. For thirty-three years Mrs. Condon has been manufacturing knit goods for a single wholesale mercantile house, now O. L. Bailey & Co., formerly S. Brainard Pratt, which has furnished the yarn. The value of her enterprise to the community it would not be easy to overestimate. Long may it flourish. Some years ago Mrs. Con- don started her son-in-law in business at Pe- nobscot village. She is the heaviest tax-payer in town, and has paid more freight money to the Boston & Bangor Steamship Company than any other individual shipper in this sec- tion of the State.
Mrs. Condon has reared two children - Eliza and Brainard. Eliza became the wife of Walter J. Creamer, and died soon after marriage, leaving no children. Brainard Condon, who was born April 8, 1876, lives with his mother, and superintends the large farm which they own. He married Grace Allen, of Sedgwick, and has one son, Guy. Mrs. Condon for thirty years has been a Sun- day-school teacher and an active worker in the Baptist church.
EORGE W. STACY, the present Town Treasurer of Blanchard, Pis- cataquis County, a son of William A. and Mary J. (Roberts) Stacy, was born in Dover, Me., November 17, 1856. His grandfather,
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Hiram Stacy, a butcher and farmer, was one of the carly settlers of Dover, Me., to which he went from Sangerville. Hiram was an ac- tive and enterprising man. After living to an advanced age he died in Dover. He had a family of six children, namely: George, William A., James, and Albert; Maria, the widow of Thomas Crooker, living in Monson ; and Ada, the wife of Dr. H. A. Robinson, of Foxcroft, Me. William A. Stacy, who was born in Dover, Me., learned the butcher's trade of his father, and followed it in early life. He was subsequently engaged as a photographer. For some years past he has been in active practice as a physician, and has manufactured Stacy's Giant Pills. In politics he is a Republican. His wife, who was also a native of Dover, died when George W. was thirteen years old. She was a Spirit- ualist, and so is the Doctor. They reared three children: George W., the subject of this sketch; John, who resides in New Hamp- shire; and Susan, the wife of R. A. Packard, of Guilford.
George W. Stacy grew to manhood in Dover and Dexter, acquiring his education in the schools of the latter town. In his boy- hood he worked on a farm, and after attain- ing his majority he engaged in the manu- facture of lumber. In 1873 he began to manufacture lumber on a small scale in Blanchard, with C. E. Packard as partner, in the firm of Packard & Stacy, which was in existence fifteen years. The partners then sold the plant, and, moving to Guilford, formed in 1892 the Guilford Lumber Com-
pany, and erected a mill. However, within a year or so Mr. Stacy disposed of his inter- est, and returned to Blanchard. He now manufactures long and short lumber, consum- ing about two million feet of logs annually, employing from thirty-five to fifty men, and using improved machinery, driven both by steam and water power. In the winter season he saws from three to five hundred thousand feet of spool wood. His business is the lead- ing one of the town. Also interested in real estate, he is part owner of upward of eight thousand acres of timber land, from which he cuts the timber used in his factory.
In 1878, when he was twenty-two years old, Mr. Stacy was married to Violet Hussey, who was born in Mercer, Kennebec County. His children are: Emmons and Percy. A promi- nent and popular Republican, he has served as Selectman and Town Collector; and he has been Town Treasurer since 1893. He is a self-made man, whose success is the fruit of his own enterprise and perseverance. Mrs. Stacy is a member of the Congregational church.
EORGE REED ALLEN, Town Clerk of Brooklin, Hancock County, Me., where for many years he worked at his trade of blacksmith and is now engaged as a hard- ware dealer, was born in Brooklin, formerly a part of Sedgwick, April 12, 1831, son of Na- thaniel and Ruth R. (Herrick) Allen. His father was a son of Jonathan Allen and grand- son of Nehemiah Allen, who came from Mas- sachusetts to Sedgwick, settling upon the
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shore of Salt Pond, and whose farm is still owned in the family.
Jonathan Allen, grandfather of Mr. George R. Allen, was one of the first white children born in Sedgwick. He followed farming dur- ing his active years, and also made agricult- ural tools. His entire life of ninety-three years was spent upon the ancestral farm. He was exceedingly temperate in his habits, never using spirituous liquor or tobacco. For many years he served as a Deacon of the Baptist church. He married Lois Morgan, of Sedg- wick, and had a family of twelve children.
Nathaniel Allen, son of Jonathan and Lois (Morgan) Allen, was born at North Sedgwick, June 29, 1797: He was reared to agricultural pursuits, which he followed during his active years, first settling in the Bay District of what is now Brooklin, and in 1835 removing to Pond Island, where he resided for thirty-four years. His last days were passed in Brook- lin. He died March 11, 1869, at the age of seventy-two years. Nathaniel Allen was the first Postmaster in this town. He was a Dea- con of the Baptist church, as were also four of his brothers; and members of the Allen family have been largely instrumental in de- veloping the usefulness of that society. Ruth Roundy Allen, his wife, was a daughter of Samuel Herrick, of Sedgwick. They reared eight children, namely: Lois M., who died January 1, 1894; Frederick A., who died De- cember 15, 1875; Eben, a farmer, who mar- ried Elizabeth Jackson; Elizabeth C., who re- sides at Pretty Marsh on the island of Mount Desert; George R., the subject of this
sketch; William F., who was lost at sea; Nancy R., who is the widow of Josiah S. Mayo, late of Tremont, and resides in Brook- lin; and Vesta P., who is living in Mendocino City, California.
George Reed Allen's educational opportuni- ties were limited to those afforded by the dis- trict schools. Learning the blacksmith's trade at the age of seventeen, he followed it for forty-four years, with the exception of oc- casional fishing trips of from six to ten weeks, which he made at intervals during twelve summers; and, although for some time past he has been engaged in the hardware business, he has always maintained with pride the dig- nity and importance of the village blacksmith.
Mr. Allen married for his first wife Hul- dah H. Wells, of Brooklin, who died Decem- ber 25, 1879; and his second wife was before marriage Elmina M. Hooper. His first wife left one son, Fred L. He married Mabel F. Freethy, and she died leaving two daughters - Edith M. and Bessie F.
Mr. Allen was chairman of the Board of Selectmen from 1870 to 1880, Town Treasurer four years, Constable and Collector two years, and has held his present office of Town Clerk fifteen years. He was Representative to the legislature in 1875 and again in 1878. His first Presidential vote was cast for General Winfield Scott, the opponent of Franklin Pierce, in 1852. In politics he always acted with the Republican party after its formation, and for twenty years he was chairman of the Republican Local Committee. He was made a Mason in 1873, in Naskeag Lodge, No. 171,
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F. & A. M., U. D., being the first member raised in that lodge; was its recording secre- tary five years, and represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of Maine four times. He also joined the Brooklin Lodge, No. 133, I. O. O. F., at its first institution, March 13, 1895; was chosen permanent secretary at its first meeting, and now holds his office as financial secretary. In the building of the beautiful Odd Fellows Building which his lodge now occupies he was largely instrumen- tal, contributing the site and one-fifth the cost.
HARLES F. EATON, an extensive box manufacturer of Princeton, Wash- ington County, Me., was born in Milltown, N. B., March 1, 1859, son of Charles H. and Sarah (Keith) Eaton. His grandfather, Emerson Eaton, whose name shows him to have descended from old New England families, went from Groton, Mass., to Milltown, where he settled as a pioneer and engaged in the lumbering industry. Starting in life a poor boy, he became a noted business man in Milltown, and amassed a fort- une. He lived to be sixty-five years old, and his death was the result of exposure while per- sonally attending to his lumbering operations.
Charles H. Eaton, son of Emerson, was born in Milltown. At an early age he en- gaged in lumbering, which he followed with success for quite a long period. Owning large tracts of land in Washington County, he realized excellent financial results; and he is now living in retirement at Forest Station,
Mc. Previous to his removal to Maine he served as Mayor of Milltown for several terms. Since becoming a citizen of the United States he has acted with the Republican party in pol- itics. He is a member of the Congregational church. His wife, who died in December, 1895, is well remembered for her activity in religious work and liberality in relieving the sufferings of the poor. Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Eaton reared four children, namely : Al- bion H., who looks after his father's business interests in Calais; Charles F., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Nellie L. Edgecomb, whose husband is a prominent merchant in Frederic- ton, N. B. ; and Fred C., a clothing dealer in Barre, Vt.
Fred C. Eaton is a member of the First Vermont Volunteer Infantry and, although actively interested in his business affairs, at the time President Mckinley called for one hundred and twenty-five thousand men he went to the front, and for four months was with his company at Chickamauga Park under General Fred Grant. He left his home, his business, and loved ones to fight for his coun- try. During his absence he was promoted from the ranks to a clerkship.
Charles F. Eaton completed his education at the Hallowell (Me.) Classical School; and at the age of nineteen he took charge of his father's mill at Forest Station, where he re- mained four years. For the succeeding seven years he resided in Palatka, Fla., where he was engaged in the manufacture of hard pine lumber ; and upon his return North he became associated with his father-in-law, James
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Murchie, in manufacturing orange boxes in Princeton. They turn out from nine hundred thousand to one million boxes per annum, their mill requiring a large force of operatives ; and they furnish employment directly and in- directly to about two hundred men. Their product is mostly shipped to Florida and the Mediterranean.
On October 15, 1887, Mr. Eaton was united in marriage with Alice M. Murchie, daughter of James Murchie, of Milltown, N. B. Mrs. Eaton is the mother of four children - James Murchie, Muriel, Emerson Eaton, and Charles Freedom, Jr.
In politics Mr. Eaton is a Republican. Ile is connected with the Masonic Lodge at Mill- town, is a charter member of the lodge of Knights of Pythias at Palatka, Fla., and of the Independent Order of Foresters in Princeton.
IRAM BURDEEN, who owns and cultivates one of the most productive farms in Pittsfield, was born in Berwick, York County, Me., July 3, 1826, son of Hiram and Priscilla (Jones) Burdeen. His
parents were natives of Maine, the father hav- ing been born in Wells, which was his home until he settled upon a farm in Clinton about 1825. He lived to be eighty-two years old. His wife, Priscilla, became the mother of ten children, namely: Polly, who died at the age of twenty-five years; Stephen, who resides at the old homestead in Clinton; Augustus, who died in 1891; Hiram, the subject of this sketch; Abigail, Lavinia, Philinda, and
Reuel, who are no longer living; Alvina; and Mary, wife of Watson Goodwin, of Clinton. The mother is no longer living. Hiram Bur- deen began to make himself useful as a farmer's assistant when he was ten years old, attending school when opportunity presented; and he continued thus employed for about six years. For seven years subsequently he worked at lumbering on the Penobscot River. In 1852 he went to California, where he re- mained for some time. After a visit to his home, during which he married, he once more sought his fortune upon the Pacific coast, but returned finally in 1860, and has since resided upon the Burdeen farm in Pittsfield. He owns two hundred and fifty acres of fertile land, which he has improved, and which he devotes to general farming, dairying, and stock-raising.
Mr. Burdeen married Julia A. Jacobs, who was born in Pittsfield, August 17, 1837, daughter of Milbury and Sarah (Buzzell) Jacobs. Her father was a native of Water- ville, and her mother was born in Warsaw township, now Pittsfield, in 1820. Milbury Jacobs, who was a millwright by trade, re- sided in Pittsfield for the greater part of his life, and died in December, 1891. His widow died April 9, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Burdeen have had five children, namely : Charles Henry, who resides at home and is engaged in mercantile business in Pittsfield: Kate, widow of Edwin Nash, late of Newport, Me., who died in October, 1897; Arthur M., who died at the age of fourteen years; Fred- erick H., who married Nellie O'Toole, and
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is employed at the electric car works in Sac- ramento, Cal. ; and John C. Burdeen, who married Lillian Ames, of Fairfield, Me., and is engaged in trade with his brother in this town.
Politically, Mr. Burdeen is a Democrat. He is a member of Meridian Lodge, No. 126, F. & A. M.
R EV. LOUIS BERGERON, pastor of the Roman Catholic Church at Fair- field, Me., was born in Three Rivers, Province of Quebec, Canada, April 9, 1859, son of Louis and Julie (Lemyra) Bergeron. His father, who was a native of Rivière du Loup, was for many years engaged in business as a grocery merchant and lumber- man in Three Rivers, and died in that town in March, 1895. His mother, who was born in Maskinonge, P.Q., died on September 13, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Bergeron were the par- ents of twelve children, namely: Louis, the subject of this sketch; Victoria, who is no longer living; Joseph, a merchant in Three Rivers and proprietor of the Richelieu Hotel; Emma; Iréné, who is in the dry-goods busi- ness ; Dorilla; Arthur, a jeweller; and Corina, Blanche, Virginie, Cécilia, and Eva -all of Three Rivers.
Louis Bergeron began his education in the Brothers' School, and became proficient in the higher branches of learning, including the- ology, at St. Joseph's Seminary, of Three Rivers, where he was a student for eleven years. After teaching in the seminary for three years he was called to Biddeford, Me.,
as assistant to Father Dupont, pastor of the French Catholic church in that city; and in 1891 he took charge of the church in Fair- field, then a mission church, supplied from other parishes. The erection of the present church was begun in 1891, the first mass being celebrated in the new place of worship on Passion Sunday, 1892. Father Bergeron is the spiritual adviser of one hundred and fifty families, who have the privilege of at- tending, besides the early morning services, high mass at ten A. M., Sunday-school at two P. M., and vespers at three P.M. each Sunday. Father Bergeron owns a comfortable residence located near the church. As an able, sincere, and indefatigable Christian worker, the good effects of whose influence on the morals of the community are plainly visible, he is highly respected.
DWIN S. DOUTY, of Abbot, Piscata- quis County, the chairman of the town's Board of Selectmen, son of David and Sarah (Cleaves) Douty, was born in Sanger- ville, this county, August 2, 1849. The father, a native of Sangerville, was a hard- working farmer. In politics he was a Repub- lican, while his religious opinions were liberal. He died in his native town, at the age of fifty-three. His first wife died in 1851, leaving two children: Charles E., who resides in Minnesota; and Edwin S., the sub- ject of this biography. His second wife, in maidenhood Miss Josie B. Herring, bore him six children; namely, Hattie, Fred H., Ada M., Mary, David, and Calvin Sanger.
LOUIS BERGERON.
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Edwin S. Douty was reared and educated in Sangerville. He chose the pursuit of agri- culture for his life work, and in 1870 came to Abbot to establish a home. He now owns a good farm of three hundred acres in the town, besides tracts of outside timber land, from which he cuts the timber in winter. He is a member of Abbot Grange, Patrons of Husban- dry. In 1870 he was first married to Ella M. Spooner, who was born in Shirley, Me. She died without issue in September, 1877. He was married again in June, 1881, to Miss Nellie M. Cleaves, a native of Sangerville, Me., who died on September 20, 1893. In politics he is a Republican. He has been a member of the Board of Selectmen for seven years, being first Selectman for five years of the time. His religious views are liberal.
ERRY S. LONGLEY, of Solon, Somerset County, one of the best known lumbermen in this section of the State, was born in this town, March 17, 1858. He is an adopted son of Jonas S. and Ann (Jewett) Longley. His foster-mother was a daughter of James Jewett, who came with two brothers from Pepperell, Mass., in 1795, and settled in the southern part of the town of Solon, they being the first settlers here. Jonas S. Longley was born in Bing- ham, Me., in 1825. When seven years old he went to New York State, where he remained several years. Upon his return to Maine he engaged in lumbering, which he has since followed with success. He still resides in
Solon, and owns much valuable timber and farming land in this vicinity. The brothers and sisters of the subject of this sketch are, briefly : Allen, who married a Miss Barrett, and is a farmer in Lisbon, Me .; Frank, who married Annie Bunker, and is a lumberman of Shawmut, Me. ; Alice, wife of Frank Mason, who is connected with a bank in Boston; and David, who married Lizzie Davis, and is engaged in lumbering in Madison, Me. Mr. Longley also has an adopted sister, Mrs. Will- iam L. Whipple, of Solon.
Perry S. Longley was graduated from the Lewiston High School in the class of 1877. In the same year he engaged in lumbering with his foster-father in Solon. He developed a ca- pacity for conducting logging operations and driving and marketing timber, which has led to his attaining a prominent position among the lumber operators in this region; and he has been very successful financially. For ten years he conducted a store in Solon, but sub- sequently sold out in order to devote his entire energy to his lumbering operations. He is treasurer of the Solon Creamery, which is developing into a very profitable business en- terprise.
On January 15, 1883, Mr. Longley was joined in marriage with Carrie B. Bodwell, of Solon, daughter of Henry M. Bodwell, a mer- chant of this town.
In politics an active Republican, Mr. Long- ley has been superintendent of schools for several years. He belongs to the local lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Encampment in Skowhegan; is a thirty-
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second degree Mason, being a member of the Maine Consistory and of the various subordi- nate bodies; and belongs also to the Ancient Order of United Workmen in Solon. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
ILLIAM WEYMOUTH, a repre- sentative farmer of Abbot, Piscata- quis County, son of James and Martha (Wey- mouth) Weymouth, was born where he now resides, October 2, 1859. His mother was a daughter of William Weymouth, who resided in Sangerville, Me. An account of his pater- nal ancestry will be found in the biography of his uncle, David Weymouth.
James Weymouth, born in Abbot, February 3, 1828, settled upon his present property some forty years ago. By industry and perse- verance he has made a good farm out of land which at the time of purchase was considered of little value. He is now associated with his son William in carrying on the home farm of one hundred acres, and jointly with his son he owns two hundred acres of outlying land. In politics he is a Republican, and he is a member of the Free Will Baptist church. His present and second wife was formerly Mrs. Prudence Lovejoy Rose. He is the father of three children : William, the subject of this sketch; Martha, the wife of Charles Dews, of North Dexter, Me. ; and Mary, who is now Mrs. Cripp, of Sangerville.
William Weymouth acquired a common- school education in Abbot, and assisted his father in cultivating the farm. He was later
employed in saw-mills for ten years. Then he bought an interest in the homestead prop- erty. He conducts general farming with suc- cess, and carries on lumbering during the win- ter season. In politics he is a Republican. He was unanimously elected to his third term in the Board of Selectmen in 1897.
In 1882 Mr. Weymouth married Alice M. Works, a daughter of Jotham S. Works, who formerly resided in Bradford, Me., and now lives in Abbot. Mrs. Weymouth is the inother of four children; namely, Cora Mabel, Flora Isabelle, Ora Alice, and Carroll W. Weymouth. Mr. Weymouth is a Master Mason and a member of Mount Kineo Lodge, of Guilford.
A LANSON GOOGINS, a venerable citi- zen of Lamoine, Hancock County, son of Rogers Googins (third), was born in this town, which was then called Trenton, March 13, 1813. His great-grand- father, Rogers Googins (first), emigrated from Ireland to America in Colonial days, settling in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, where he followed his trade of weaver.
Rogers Googins (second), the grandfather of Alanson, born in Pepperell, Me., removed with his parents to Saco, Me., when a small child. In his early manhood, accompanied by his brothers Joseph and Thomas, he came to Hancock County to reside. He settled at Trenton, on the Point, and was the first propri- etor of land in the town. Clearing a space in the forest, he erected a log cabin, and at once began to reclaim a homestead. Of the two
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hundred acres which he took up from the gov- ernment, he subsequently deeded a portion to his brother Benjamin. With the courageous endurance and persistent energy characteristic of the pioneers, he redeemed a large part of the remainder from the wilderness; and at the time of his death, being then ninety-two years old, he had a good farm. Before the outbreak of the Revolution he married Mary E. Welch, a native of Mount Desert.
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Rogers Googins (third), born June 5, 1774, in the old log cabin on the homestead, was there reared to man's estate. Although he never attended school, he acquired a knowl- edge far beyond that of his companions, and became a fine arithmetician and an expert pen- man. He attained a place of eminence among the villagers, and throughout the War of 1812 served as one of the town officers. After a useful life of sixty-seven years he passed to the next world. His wife, whose maiden name was Annie Coggins, was born July. 4, 1772, at Yarmouth, N.S. Her father, An- drew Coggins, a pilot on the coast of Maine, was impressed into the British service during the Revolution, and kept on board a man-of- war for thirteen months. When he received his parole he took all his belongings on board his own vessel, and, coming to Surry, Han- cock County, remained here until the close of the war. His daughter, Annie, had first mar- ried Captain Henry Higgins, of Bar Harbor, and had two children. Of her union with Rogers Googins (third) there were born ten children, of whom Alanson, the youngest, is the sole survivor.
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