Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine, Part 56

Author: Biographical Review Publishing Company
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Boston : Biographical Review
Number of Pages: 752

USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 56
USA > Maine > Aroostook County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 56
USA > Maine > Hancock County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 56
USA > Maine > Washington County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 56
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 56

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

On May 6, 1855, Mr. Longley married Harriet N. Higgins. Born in Palmyra, March 26, 1835, she is a daughter of Nathan- iel and Remember (Blaisdell) Higgins. In his younger days Mr. Higgins was a sailor, and he served as a soldier in the War of 1812. Afterward he was engaged in farming in Pal- myra until his death, which occurred in 1863, at the age of seventy-three years. His wife died in 1885, aged eighty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Longley have had three children, namely : Ella A., born May 27, 1856, who is now the wife of William A. Blaisdell, a farmer of Palmyra; William, born October 9, 1858, who died at the age of three years; and Emma B. Longley, born May 6, 1863, who re- sides at home. Mr. Longley was Constable and Collector for nine years, and the chair- man of the Board of Selectmen for three years. He has been the chairman of the Republican Town Committee, and still takes an active interest in politics. Both he and Mrs. Long- ley are connected with the local grange, Pa- trons of Husbandry. They are also members of the Free Will Baptist church.

OHN A. WEATHERBEE, a well- known lumber manufacturer of Dan- forth, Washington County, was born in Springfield, Penobscot County, April 21, 1846, son of Washington and Elizabeth W. (Gridley) Weatherbee. The father, who was a native of Billerica, Mass., spent the active period of his life in Boston, Bangor, Calais, and Springfield. For a number of years he

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was a merchant in Bangor, where he figured prominently in business circles. After set- tling in Springfield he became largely inter- ested in lumbering, and owned considerable timber land. In politics he was a Democrat, and for some time he served upon the Board of Selectmen in Springfield. He died in 1868, aged fifty-nine years. Elizabeth W. Weather- bee, his first wife, who was born in Boston in 1809, died in 1848. She was the mother of eleven children, seven of whom are living; namely, Elizabeth, Charles, George, Albert, Josephine, John A., and Emma. The second marriage of Washington Weatherbee was con- tracted with Maria Montgomery, who bore him one daughter, Marietta. By his third wife, whose maiden name was Theodosia Ingalls, there were two daughters - Caroline and Lotta.

John A. Weatherbee was educated in the schools of Springfield and Calais. When a young man he entered business in New Bruns- wick, where he remained nine years. Begin- ning in 1876, he conducted a flourishing trade in Danforth up to a short time ago, when he disposed of his goods in store, retaining, how- ever, possession of his store, houses, mills, and lands. He now resides in Bangor, at 198 Broadway. For some years he has been en- gaged in the lumber business, both hauling and manufacturing, and owning the saw-mills. Employing about thirty men, he has turned out five million feet of long and short lumber per annum, the general average being three million. He also owns some timber land in Maine and New Brunswick.

Mr. Weatherbce has served with ability as a Selectman. Although deeply interested in the growth of the town, he has never been able to devote much time to public affairs on account of business pressure. In politics he supports the Democratic party. He is con- nected with Lodge No. 175, F. & A. M., of Danforth. While a Baptist in belief, he en- tertains liberal opinions concerning religion. In 1870 he was joined in marriage with Nancy L. Haley, of Bancroft, daughter of William Haley. Mrs. Weatherbee has borne him six children ; namely, Albert Washington, Mary Gertrude, Alfarata Gridley, Florence Lillian, Carrie Louisa, and Lillian Nancy, who died at the age of two years.

R. WOODBURY F. CLEVE- LAND, ex-Mayor of Eastport, Washington County, son of Samuel and Mary (Pratt) Cleveland, was born in Skowhegan, Somerset County, February 21, 1856. The Clevelands were active patriots during the Revolution, and more than one member of the family received a pension for military services then rendered. Dr. Cleve- land's grandfather, James Cleveland, who was a sturdy and industrious farmer, was one of the early settlers of Skowhegan, and died in that town at the age of eighty-nine. James Cleveland's wife, whose maiden name was Betsey Parker, lived to be eighty-one years old. Of their ten children, nine attained maturity, namely: Calvin, residing in Skow- hegan; James, in the State of Kansas; Abner,

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in Nevada; William, in Australia; Fidelia, in Skowhegan; and Samuel, Helen, Mary, and Sarah, who are deceased.

Samuel Cleveland, who was born in Skow- hegan, April 26, 1820, owned a farm in his native town, and in his early manhood was engaged in agriculture. Subsequently, after purchasing a machine shop and foundry, he was successfully engaged in the manufacture of axes up to the time of his death. In poli- tics he was a Republican. Taking an active interest in town affairs, he served for some time on the Board of Selectmen. An es- teemed Odd Fellow, he belonged to the lodge at Skowhegan. In religious belief he was a Baptist. He died in Skowhegan in June, 1882. His wife, Mary, who was born in Skowhegan in 1824, died in 1863. They were the parents of five children, namely : Charles, Aaron P., and Mary E., who are de- ceased; George S., born in 1843, who is a ranchman in California; and Woodbury F., the subject of this sketch.

After attending school in Skowhegan for a time, Woodbury F. Cleveland became a pupil of Norridgewock Academy, and afterward stud- ied at Orono, Me. In 1878 he began to read medicine, and in 1881 he graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College at Philadelphia. In December of that year he began to practise at Winterport, Me., and in October, 1883, he moved to Eastport. Here he has built up a large practice, and has become very popular. In politics he is a Republican. While he has not taken an active part in politics, he served for two years on the School Board, and was

chosen Mayor of Eastport in 1897. His mayoralty was equally creditable to himself and the city.

In 1882 Dr. Cleveland was married to Nellie Emery, of Skowhegan, a daughter of Horatio C. and Mary (Wheeler) Emery. Mr. Emery, who was a broom manufacturer and a member of the Skowhegan Broom Company, died in 1893. His wife, surviving him, re- sides in Skowhegan. Dr. Cleveland is a member of Eastern Lodge, No. 7, F. & A. M., of Eastport; of Carabasett Lodge, No. 34, I. O. O. F., of Skowhegan; and of Lubec Lodge, No. 34, A. O. U. W., of Lubec. He attends religious worship at the Baptist church.

A® BEL W. SNOW, an industrious farmer of Fairfield, Somerset County, was born in Skowhegan, April 13, 1843, son of Hiram and Emily (Wyman) Snow, both of whom were natives of Skowhegan. His grandfather, Daniel Snow, who came from Fryeburg, cleared a farm in that town, where he resided for the rest of his life. Hiram Snow in his younger days was engaged in teaming between Augusta and Moosehead Lake, but the greater part of his life was spent upon a farm adjoining the homestead. He died in Skowhegan, November 12, 1888. Emily Wyman Snow, his first wife, died June 19, 1874. His second marriage was con- tracted with Mrs. Charlotte D. Thomas Churchill, formerly of Sidney, Me., widow of Barney Churchill, late of Vassalboro, Me. He was the father of eight children, namely :

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Henry, born August 28, 1837, who died July 2, 1838; Harriet, born April 8, 1839, who died March 23, 1864; Frances E., born April 25, 1841, who is the wife of Henry Varney, of Skowhegan; Abel W., the subject of this sketch; Helen E., born May 12, 1845, who died September 19, 1871; Ann S., born March 29, 1847, who died April 30, 1848; Loantha B., born December 22, 1849, who is the wife of Warren Foss, of Skowhegan; and Marcia E., born October 1, 1852, who is now the wife of Martin Bickford, a farmer and millman of Belgrade, Me.

Abel W. Snow attended the common schools of Skowhegan, and resided at home caring for his parents during their declining years. After the death of his father he sold the prop- erty and moved to Pishon's Ferry. After re- siding here for about two years, he bought the old Hodgden farm in Fairfield, where he has since resided. He owns one hundred acres of fertile land, well adapted to general farming and stock-raising; and he breeds some fine Hereford cattle. On February 22, 1885, he was joined in marriage with Laura Churchill, who was born in Vassalboro, February 17, 1855, daughter of Barney and Charlotte D. (Thomas) Churchill. Mrs. Snow is a daugh- ter of her husband's step-mother. Her father, who was a hoop-maker and a farmer, died in Mount View, Me., and her mother is now re- siding in Oakland, Me. Mr. and Mrs. Snow have three children, namely: Clarence, born April 27, 1886; Daisy Agnes, born August 23, 1887; and Frederick, born January 10, 1891. Politically, Mr. Snow is a Republican.

Mrs. Snow is interested in church work, and is a member of the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor.

RTHUR MILTON THOMAS, princi- pal of the Ricker Classical Institute at Houlton, Aroostook County, was born in Manchester, Me., January 13, 1858, son of Jacob B. and Marcia A. (Safford) Thomas. His paternal grandfather, William Thomas, a tanner and shoemaker by trade, was a resident of Winthrop, Me., from his youth until about 1827. He then moved to North Manchester, Me., where, besides tan- ning and shoemaking, he managed a small farm. He had five sons - William, Charles, Danforth, Albert, and Jacob B.

The last named, Jacob Brown Thomas, father of Arthur M., was born in Winthrop, Me., in 1826, and when an infant accompanied his parents to North Manchester. He was educated in the country schools, with a term or two at a village academy. After marrying his first wife he continued the work of his father until 1868, when he moved to Hallowell, Me., and engaged in the boot and shoe trade. Here he was Postmaster, being appointed by President Garfield. In 1887 he moved to Wisconsin and took up a lumber claim. He died at Brule, Wis., in 1892. He was Deacon of the Baptist church for the last twenty-five years of his life and a member of that church from young manhood. His wife, Marcia, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was (it is believed) born in Methuen,

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Mass. She resided at one time in Yarmouth, Me., and later in Litchfield, Me. Her father was a hatter by trade.

Arthur M. Thomas resided in Manchester, Me., until he was ten years old, when his parents removed to Hallowell. He was edu- cated in the city schools of Hallowell and at the Hallowell Classical Institute, from which he graduated in 1876. He spent the next four years in Colby University, where he graduated in 1880. He began teaching at once as prin- cipal of the Richmond (Me.) High School, and taught there till 1885, when he came to Houlton as principal of Houlton Academy, now Ricker Classical Institute, which position he has since retained. He belongs to the col- lege fraternal society known as Delta Kappa Epsilon. In politics he is an Independent Republican. A Baptist in religious belief, he attends the church of that denomination.

Mr. Thomas was married in 1885 to Miss Carrie A. Odiorne, who was born in Rich- mond, Me., a daughter of Samuel and Amanda Odiorne. He has one child, Helen Odiorne Thomas, who was born September 12, 1891.

EORGE LEAVITT, for many years a custom-house officer at Machias, Me., and later Trial Justice here, was born on March 6, 1820, at Hingham, Mass., and died at Machias, June 13, 1898, in the seventy-ninth year of his age. He was the only son of John C. and Harriet C. (Gardner) Leavitt. His first paternal ancestor in Amer- ica was Deacon John Leavitt, who arrived in

New England in 1628, and who assisted in building the first meeting-house in Hingham. Samuel Leavitt, the grandfather of George Leavitt, was a lifelong resident of Hingham and a wheelwright by trade. He married Rachel Cushing, of that town.

John C. Leavitt, the father, was a native of Hingham, and followed the trade of a rope- maker until his death, which occurred when he was thirty years old. He was a member of the State militia. Harriet C. Gardner Leav- itt, his wife, who was a native of Gloucester, Mass., became the mother of two children : Rachel Cushing, who married William D. Jenkins, and is no longer living ; and George, the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Leavitt was a member of the First Parish Church in Hing- ham.

George Leavitt was educated in the district schools of Hingham and at the Derby Acad- emy. When fifteen years old he began work in a book-bindery in Boston, and at the age of eighteen he entered upon his apprenticeship at the ship-carpenter's trade. After mastering that vocation and carrying on business for himself as a ship-joiner in South Boston for some years, he went to Columbia, Me., where he resided until 1862. In that year he was appointed Deputy Collector of Customs at Machias, and in 1863 he was made Special Deputy. He was appointed Collector by President Grant in 1875, was re-appointed by President Hayes in 1879, and continued in service until 1883. He served with ability upon the Board of Selectmen and Assessors, was a Trial Justice twelve years, and was also

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Mrs. Snow is interested in church work, and is a member of the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor.

A RTHUR MILTON THOMAS, princi- pal of the Ricker Classical Institute at Houlton, Aroostook County, was born in Manchester, Me., January 13, 1858, son of Jacob B. and Marcia A. (Safford) Thomas. His paternal grandfather, William Thomas, a tanner and shoemaker by trade, was a resident of Winthrop, Me., from his youth until about 1827. He then moved to North Manchester, Me., where, besides tan- ning and shoemaking, he managed a small farm. He had five sons - William, Charles, Danforth, Albert, and Jacob B.

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Mass. She resided at one time in Yarmouth, Me., and later in Litchfield, Me. Her father was a hatter by trade.

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Justice of the Peace. While residing in Co- lumbia he was an Assessor. When he was living in Boston, in his early manhood, he was a member of the volunteer fire department.

Mr. Leavitt married for his first wife on September 17, 1846, Mary Ann Nash, daugh- ter of Duncan M. Nash, of Columbia. ; She died March 24, 1865, having been the mother of seven children, four of whom are now liv- ing; namely, Georgietta, Edna, Seward, and John C. The deceased are: Florence, Hattie P., and Duncan M. Mr. Leavitt married for his second wife November 13, 1866, Mrs. Deborah Wight, a native of Hingham, Mass. She died April 19, 1893. He married on October 31, 1894, Mercie E., daughter of the late Captain Atkins S. Cates. Mr. Leavitt was a member of the Universalist Church of Machias, and Mrs. Mercie C. Leavitt is a member of the Congregational church.

Georgietta Leavitt is the wife of Luke Hap- good, of Brockton, Mass. ; and her sister Edna is the wife of Veranos C. Hanson, of Wind- ham, Me. Seward Leavitt lives in Chelsea, Mass. He married Mary Elizabeth Moran, of Boston, and has three children - Elizabeth Irene, Seward Everett, and George Warren. John C. Leavitt is a resident of Brockton, Mass.

ERRY W. RICHARDSON, a prom- inent merchant of the town of Tre- mont, Mount Desert Island, Hancock County, was born at Bass Harbor, in this town, December 29, 1841, his parents being Moses and Priscilla (Richards) Richardson.

The paternal great-grandfather, Thomas Rich- ardson, who was born in England, came to America, settling first in Marblehead, Mass. Subsequently, while still a young man, he came to Mount Desert, accompanied by his three brothers, Stephen, William, and James. They were the first white settlers on this side of the island. The four Richardson brothers married sisters by the name of Gott. Thomas Richardson built a log house and cleared a large tract of land. He also engaged largely in fishing. The old cellar hole where he built his first house may still be seen near the store kept by the subject of this sketch. He died at the age of eighty-seven, and was buried on the island. His son, Thomas, second, was, like his father, a strong and stalwart man, as have been most of the male members of the family. He began the battle of life as a sea- faring man, and was engaged for many years both in the coasting and fishing trade. Sub- sequently he took up a farm at Bass Harbor, and resided there until he was an old man. The last few years of his life were spent with his son Moses. He died at the age of ninety- two, after an active and influential life, having been one of the leading men on the island. His wife before her marriage was Amy Rich, of Mount Desert.

Moses Richardson, father of Perry W., was during the greater part of his life engaged in fishing or in the coasting trade. He retired from the sea about 1856, and spent the rest of his life on his farm, where he died at the age of eighty-five. He was twice married. His first wife, who was in maidenhood Hannah

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Lopans, bore him three daughters and a son. The daughters - Caroline, Nancy, and Emma -are all living, and reside at Mount Desert. The son, Samuel, died and was buried at sea at the age of *eighteen years. For his second wife Moses Richardson married Priscilla, a daughter of William and Hepsibeth (Hadley) Richards, of Mount Desert. Her grandfather, William Richards, came from Newburyport, and settled at Deer Island, but after living there for a time returned to Newburyport. Mrs. Priscilla Richardson's father, who was born in Newburyport, and who was for many years a master mariner, died at the age of eighty-five. By his second wife Mr. Richard- son had five children, namely: Simeon, who died at the age of sixteen; Sophina, who died at the age of fifteen ; Perry W., the subject of this sketch; Spencer, who died at the age of four years; and W. Z. Richardson, who resides on the island near his brother. The mother lived to the age of eighty-nine years. Perry IV. Richardson, finishing his school studies, began to teach, and for a number of years had charge of schools in Tremont and the adjoin- ing towns. The sedentary nature of this occu- pation, however, not agreeing with his health, he took to a seafaring life, and sailed for some time on a coasting vessel. Subsequently he en- tered government employ as lighthouse-keeper at Mount Desert Rock, being later promoted to another light station. He then, on account of the advancing age and consequent feebleness of his parents, resigned his position in order to remain near them. In 1878 he opened a general merchandise store, which he has since

operated. He has also added a fish stand, and now buys and salts fish. Mr. Richardson married Frances A. Robinson, of Mount Desert, and three children have been born to him - Herbert P., Amanda E., and Lula. Herbert, who married Mamie Stanley, has one child, Douglass by name.

Mr. Richardson has taken an active part in local affairs. For three years he served as a member of the School Board, and for two years was Town Clerk. Since 1887 he has been chairman of the Board of Selectmen. In 1894 he was chosen County Commissioner for four years, and is now (1898) serving as chair- man of the board. He has recently been re- elected to the office of County Commissioner for a term of six years by the largest majority of any candidate on the ticket. For eleven years he has been a Justice of the Peace. Fraternally, Mr. Richardson is a member of the Odd Fellows organization. He is a con- stant attendant of the Congregational church, and is one of the five gentlemen who were chiefly instrumental in its erection. His po- litical affiliations are with the Republican party, and his first vote for Chief Executive was cast in 1864 for Abraham Lincoln. For twenty years he has been a trustee of the Tre- mont Savings Bank.

ON. ISAAC PALMER, M.D., for forty years and more a practising physician of North Anson, Somer- set County, Me., an influential and highly respected citizen, was born in Fayette, Me.,

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Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine, Part 56

Author: Biographical Review Publishing Company Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Boston : Biographical Review Number of Pages: 752

Author: Biographical Review Publishing Company
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Boston : Biographical Review
Number of Pages: 752