USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 62
USA > Maine > Aroostook County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 62
USA > Maine > Hancock County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 62
USA > Maine > Washington County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 62
USA > Maine > Somerset County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Somerset, Piscataquis, Hancock, Washington, and Aroostook counties, Maine > Part 62
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OHN D. LAWLER,* a prosperous farmer and lumberman of Bailey- ville, Washington County, and an ex- member of the Maine legislature, was born in Baring, Me., March 6, 1826, son of Richard and Margaret (Stogdille) Lawler. The par- ents, both natives of Ireland, came to Amer- ica before their marriage. Richard Lawler, who was born in 1798, settled in Baring, where he worked for William Vance, one of the first settlers, for eight years. In 1827 he located upon wild land in the then new town of Baileyville, occupying a log cabin until circumstances enabled him to erect a frame dwelling. He cleared a good farm, and later enlarged it by the purchase of more land.
His natural ability and sturdy industry sus- tained him under his pioneer troubles, and he became one of the representative farmers of this town. Having survived his wife some years, he died at the age of eighty-two. He was the father of nine children, two of whom died in infancy. Those who lived to maturity were: John D., James, Thomas, Richard, Julia, William, and Margaret. Of these, the survivors are: John D., the subject of this sketch; and Thomas, who lives in St. Ste- phen's. Both of the parents were Roman Catholics.
John D. Lawler was educated in the schools of Baileyville and Baring, and resided at home until he was twenty-one. A year later he bought land in Baileyville. The gold fever of 1849 caused him to give up agriculture for the time, and, sailing for California by way of Cape Horn, he arrived there after a perilous voyage of ten months and five days. He re- mained on the Pacific coast about three years, at the end of which time he returned home. In the fall of 1852 he bought his present farm of four hundred acres, more or less. He has made various improvements in his property, which he devotes to general farming. He has also been lumbering to some extent. His real estate includes, besides his homestead, some valuable land in this and other towns.
In 1852 Mr. Lawler was united in marriage with Sarah Lovering, who was born in Alexan- der, Me., in January, 1835, daughter of Jo- seph and Sarah (Brooks) Lovering. Mrs. Lawler has had eleven children, seven of whom are living, namely : John and Richard,
FRED B. PIERCE.
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who live in Princeton, Me .; Andrew and Roscoe, who reside in Baileyville; Joseph, who lives in Arizona; Charles, a resident of Montana; and Frank Lawler, who resides in Calais. The others were: James, Mary, Josie, and Michael Lawler. In politics Mr. Lawler is a Democrat, and he has rendered valuable services to the community in various capacities. He has occupied a seat upon the Board of Selectmen for the greater part of the past thirty-five years, was Town Clerk for eighteen years in succession, has held other town offices, and was a member of the legis- lature during the years 1865, 1866, 1874, and 1875. In religion he adheres to the Catholic faith.
RED B. PIERCE, third Selectman of Embden, Somerset County, son of David W. and Olive (Albee) Pierce was born in this town, July 18, 1850. The grandfather, Benjamin Pierce, settled in Embden at an early date, near the farm now occupied by the subject of this sketch, and was there engaged in agriculture up to the time of his death. His wife, in maidenhood Miss Hannah Craigdon, bore him nine children, namely : Edith, on September 20, 1818, now deceased ; David W., Fred B. Pierce's father; Simeon C., February 25, 1822, now residing in Alabama; Eleanor, January 22, 1824, de- ceased; Mary and Sarah (twins), July 19, 1827, both deceased; Benjamin Franklin, July 30, 1829, deceased; Henry Clay, Decem- ber 26, 1834, deceased; and George W., Jan- uary 3, 1837, now residing in Baraboo, Wis.
David W. Pierce, born July 5, 1820, in Embden, was reared to farm work, and fol- lowed farming throughout his active life. From his native town he moved to Lexington, this county, and from Lexington to Embden, settling on the farm now occupied by his son. Here he died in 1870. His wife, Olive, born in Anson, died in Embden about ten years ago. She gave birth to eight children, namely : George A., August 25, 1848, now a farmer of New Portland; Fred B., the subject of this sketch; Mary Frances, February 18, 1852, now deceased; Clara May, November 2, 1853, now the wife of James Weeks, of Anson; Frank A., January 15, 1855, residing in Anson; Flora E., January 6, 1857, the wife of Llewellyn Berry, of New Portland; Edith M., October 9, 1861, the wife of Foster Elder, of Dover, N.H .; and Emma F., De- cember 21, 1863, the wife of Austin Berry, of Embden.
Fred B. Pierce received a common-school education. About the year 1875 he took charge of the old Pierce homestead, which has since been under his able management. Be- sides the one hundred acres in the home farm, he owns about one hundred acres of land else- where. For over twenty years he has been successfully engaged in general farming, stock-raising, and dairying; and he ranks among the leading farmers of this locality. On July 3, 1875, he was married to Miss Sarah Walker, of Embden, daughter of Sam- uel A. and Emeline (Rackcliff) Walker. Mr. Walker still resides in Embden. His wife died some time ago. Mrs. Sarah Pierce died
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October 15, 1890, leaving one child, Lena E., who was born in 1879, and is now the wife of Raymond Chick, a farmer of Embden. On October 12, 1896, Mr. Pierce was again mar- ried to Eva Chick, of Embden, a daughter of Philander and Florentine (Hutchinson) Chick. Mr. Chick is a farmer of Embden. His wife died in 1892. Mr. Pierce, who has always been a loyal Democrat, is now serving his fifth year on the Board of Selectmen, having filled other offices in the past. He is a mem- ber of Table Rock Lodge, No. 100, of North Anson, Daughters of Rebecca, of the same town; and belongs to the Skowhegan branch of the New England Order of Protection.
IFIELD MITCHELL,* a prominent farmer of Canaan, Somerset County, Me., and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Hartland, Me., August 20, 1838, son of David and Eliza (Jewett) Mitchell. His father was a native of Danville, Me.
At the age of twelve years David Mitchell went to Hartland with a Mr. Nevins, who settled upon a farm at what is known as Brown Corner. He resided with Mr. Nevins until 1837, in which year he bought a farm near the village, where he tilled the soil industri- ously for the rest of his life. His wife, who was a native of Bloomfield, Me., became the mother of twelve children, six of whom are living, namely : Lucy, who is now the widow of Ira Wheeler, and resides with a daughter in Massachusetts; Francis, a resident of Mc- Ewen, Ore. ; Fifield, the subject of this
sketch; Ellen, wife of D. Key, a mechanic in Topsham, Me .; Amanda Jane, wife of John Rowell, a farmer in Hartland; and Zilpha, who married Frank Rogers, a machinist and Civil War veteran residing in Melrose, Mass. The others were: James; Jane; Amanda; Eliza ; Henry, who died at the age of twelve; and another child who died in infancy. The father, David Mitchell, died in 1874, aged seventy-five years. The mother, Mrs. Eliza Jewett Mitchell, died in 1878.
Fifield Mitchell was educated in the district school, and remained at home until twenty- one. He then went to Portland, and was employed for some time on a farm near the city. On August 16, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company I, Twenty-fifth Regiment, Maine Volunteer Infantry, under command of Colonel Francis Fessenden, of Portland, and Captain Ezekiel Westcott, of Cape Elizabeth. "The regiment during its term of service par- ticipated in no engagement, but it performed faithfully the arduous and responsible duties assigned to it." The Twenty-fifth was mus- tered out at Portland in July, 1863. Return- ing to Hartland, Mr. Mitchell remained there until September, 1865, when he settled on a farm in Canaan, and engaged in tilling the soil. In April, 1881, he removed to his pres- ent farm, known as the Wheeler place, a splendid piece of agricultural property located near the village, and, having improved it by increasing its fertility and erecting new build- ings, is now engaged in general farming, dairying, and stock-raising
On March 12, 1864, Mr. Mitchell married
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Martha A. Hopkins, born in Hartland, Febru- ary 2, 1843, daughter of Richard and Rachel (Pinkham) Hopkins. Her father was born in England, and came to the United States at the age of four years. Her mother was born in West Gardiner, Me. Richard Hopkins grew to manhood as a farmer, and followed that occupation in Hartland and Clinton, spending his last days in the latter place. His wife is no longer living. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have had three children, namely: Sherman R., born November 30, 1865; Wilbur F., born December 28, 1867; and George E., born November 8, 1869, who died when three weeks old. Sherman R. Mitchell, who is now residing in Pasadena, Cal., married Lillian Bunker, and has one son, Lawson Darrow Mitchell. Wilbur F. Mitchell, who is in the grocery business in Fairfield, married Alta E. Gifford, and has one son, Ray Sherman Mitchell.
In politics Mr. Mitchell acted with the Democratic party until 1882, when he became a Republican. Though not an aspirant for public honors, he has served with ability in some of the town offices. He is connected with Carabassett Lodge, F. & A. M., Canaan ; is prominent in Carabassett Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Skowhegan; is a member of Pittsfield Post, Grand Army of the Republic; the Union Vet- erans' Union, of Pittsfield ; and of the Patrons of Husbandry. Mr. Mitchell attends the Union church. His natural capacity and de- sire for constant activity have enabled him to exercise his mental and physical powers in a manner conducive to health, and he has always
abstained from the use of tobacco and stimu- lants.
ERBERT L. CLEAVES,* a well- known horseman of Sullivan, Han- cock County, was born in Steuben, Washington County, March II, 1852, son of George G. and Martha M. (Wakefield) Cleaves. The paternal grandfather was Joshua Cleaves, a native of Kennebunkport, who settled in Steuben, where he acquired considerable prominence as a builder of mills, and also hauled and manufactured lumber. At his death he was eighty-six years old. He married Susan Haskell, a daughter of Captain Leonard Haskell, who resided in the vicinity of Steuben.
George G. Cleaves, now in his sixty-eighth year, has followed lumbering and manufactur- ing for many years in Steuben, his native town. Martha, his wife, who died at the age of thirty-seven years, was a daughter of General Amasa P. Wakefield, who fought in the War of 1812. The General was a spool manufacturer and a Justice of the Peace for many years in Steuben. Mrs. Martha M. Cleaves left a family of five children, namely : Herbert L., the subject of this sketch; George H., who married Mary Vaughn, of Jamaica Plain, Mass., and is residing in Steu- ben; Melvin P., who also married; Eugene D., who was recently married in Denver, Col. ; and Emma, who married M. H. Willey, and died at the age of thirty-seven years.
Herbert L. Cleaves was educated in the dis- trict schools of his native town. After com-
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pleting his studies he went to Massachusetts, and for some time was in the employ of the Jamaica Pond Ice Company. Returning to Maine in 1870, he settled in Sullivan, where he engaged in the livery business, erecting a fine stable for that purpose. For the past twenty-five years he has been the proprietor of the stage line which carries the United States mails from Ellsworth to Cherryfield, Me. He keeps a good hotel, and conveys passengers to and from the Hancock Ferry. During the mining excitement of some twenty years ago he did a large business in transporting people to the mining localities of West Sullivan and other places. He has bred some excellent trotting horses, and is the owner of Index, one of the best stallions in the State, and of the pacing mare, Jessie Shaw. At the pres- ent time he has a number of promising colts sired by Index.
Mr. Cleaves married Sarah M. Jourdan, daughter of Enos and Elizabeth (Warren) Jourdan, of Ellsworth. Politically, he is a Democrat ; and his first Presidential vote was cast for Samuel J. Tilden in 1876. He be- longs to the Knights of Pythias.
TEPHEN C. MILLS,* a retired railroad contractor, who now owns and occupies a fine farm of one hundred and fifty acres in Stark, Somerset County, was born July 28, 1833, in Belgrade, Kennebec County. His parents, Hiram and Susan (Abbott) Mills, were also natives of Belgrade. The father, a blacksmith by trade,
died in his native town in 1864. The mother passed away in 1889 at a venerable age. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom but two are now living, namely : Stephen C., the second-born; and Mary, the fourth. The latter is the wife of Nathaniel Towne, a millman, living in Belgrade. The others were: Amelia, Hiram, Melvin, Alonzo, John, Alonzo (second), Melvin (second), and three that died in infancy.
Stephen C. Mills lived beneath the parental roof-tree until sixteen years old, obtaining his early education in the district schools. Going then to Augusta, he served an appren- ticeship of four years to the blacksmith's trade, at which he subsequently worked for six years in the village of Norridgewock. In September, 1861, he enlisted for twelve months under Captain Dyer in Company K, of the Twenty-eighth Maine Volunteer In- fantry, commanded by Colonel Woodman. While serving in the Civil War he partici- pated in several engagements. On his return to Norridgewock he contracted to build the six miles of the Somerset Railway between Waterville and Norridgewock. Later at dif- erent times he took contracts for extending the road, first for twelve miles to Anson, then for eight miles to Solon, and thence for another eight miles to Brighton. Afterward he built the forty-four miles of the Ware River Railroad, between Winchester and Palmer; forty-four miles of the Cayuga Lake Railroad in New York; seventeen miles of the Boston & Lowell road; and the Mystic valley line between Boston and Woburn. In
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1877 Mr. Mills bought a large farm in Stark, the Kidder estate, containing three hundred acres of land, and afterward for sixteen years managed it successfully. In 1894 he pur- chased his present farm of one hundred and fifty acres, which he devotes to general agri- culture, being as prosperous in his later under- takings as he was in his earlier years. He has dealt in fine cattle, and has had a large dairy business.
Mr. Mills was married May 29, 1853, to Miss Elizabeth Baston, a daughter of Joseph and Lucinda (Heald) Baston and a descendant of one of the earlier families of that place. She was born December 20, 1835, in Nor- ridgewock, Me. Her father was a well-known farmer and stone-cutter of that town, where both he and his wife spent their entire lives. Mr. and Mrs. Mills became the parents of seven children : William H., a farmer in Nor- ridgewock, who married Jane Miller, of that town; Leland, Gertrude, and Susie, deceased ; Mae, who is the wife of Frederick Mosier, and lives on the home farm with her husband and parents; a child that died in infancy; and Joseph, who is also deceased. Mr. Mills is a Mason of Lebanon Lodge, No. 116, of Nor- ridgewock. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party.
EORGE G. DOWNING, of Dover, Piscataquis County, a dealer in draperies, interior decorations, and undertak- ing supplies, and a veteran of the Civil War, son of John and Alice (Wormwood) Downing,
was born in Kennebunk, York County, Octo- ber 30, 1836. The family is of English origin. Its immigrant ancestor was one of three brothers who came to the country in 1677 or 1678. Two of these brothers settled in New Hampshire; and the third, from whom George G. Downing is descended, settled at Cape Porpoise. Benjamin Down- ing, the grandfather of George G., was a ship- carpenter in Kennebunkport, where he died at a good old age.
John Downing, George G. Downing's father, was born in Kennebunk in 1797. He became a ship-builder, and followed that busi- ness in his native town until his death, which occurred in 1870. His wife, Alice Downing, who was also a native of Kennebunk, became the mother of six children, three of whom are living, namely: Mrs. Cynthia W. Fogg, who resides in California; Mrs. Mary G. Blethen, of Nevada; and George G., the subject of this sketch. The others were: Philenda, Martha, and Charles. Mrs. Alice Downing died in 1 840, aged forty-one years.
George G. Downing was bereft of a mother's care when four years old. His education was acquired in the common schools of Kenne- bunk. At the age of fourteen he began to serve an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, and afterward followed it as a journey- man until 1861. In this year he enlisted for the Civil War in Bangor, as a private in the second Maine Regiment. After serving for nearly two years in the war he received his discharge on August 11, 1863. In 1864 he came to Dover, where he found employment
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as a cabinet-maker. Two years after he en- gaged in the furniture business. This he fol- lowed successfully until 1878, when his store and its contents were totally destroyed by fire, leaving him heavily in debt. However, he immediately rebuilt; and, starting again with renewed energy, he recovered his lost ground in a comparatively short time. In 1885 he withdrew from the furniture business in order to devote his entire attention to his present one. Since then, it is claimed, he has had the largest stock of draperies, interior decora- tions, and undertaking supplies in Piscata- quis County.
On June 27, 1867, Mr. Downing was united in marriage with Celia M. Butters, of Exeter, Me. Mrs. Downing has had one son, Charles H., who, born April 23, 1868, died at the age of six years. She and her husband have since adopted Marshall B., son of Wilbur F. and Addie S. (Butters) Buckland, who was born March 4, 1876.
Mr. Downing is a Republican. He has served as a member of the Board of Selectmen for two years and as Town Clerk for the same length of time. His connection with secret societies comprises membership in the Ma- sonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias. He is Past Commander of C. S. Douty Post, No. 23, G. A. R., has served upon the staff of the commander-in-chief, and was a delegate to the National Encampment at Buffalo in 1897. At that encampment he was presented with a valuable medal; and he has several other medals, souvenirs of the encampments
held in the preceding ten years. In 1898 hc was Inspector of the Department of Maine, G. A. R. Mr. Downing attends the Univer- salist church, and is one of the trustees of the Dover Society.
OHN S. WILLIAMS,* a successful lawyer of Guilford, Piscataquis County, Maine, was born in the neighboring town of Monson, July 24, 1862, son of Nor- man S. and Martha A. (Haynes) Williams. Josiah P. Haynes, the maternal grandfather of Mr. Williams, settled in Monson in 1837, and for a number of years carried on the saw-mills of that place. Later he devoted himself to farming until the time of his death.
Norman S. Williams, the father of the sub- ject of this sketch, was born in Grafton, N. H., in 1823. He went to Monson in 1840, and there engaged in farming throughout his life. He was a Republican in politics ever after the organization of that party. His wife was born in Grafton in January, 1825. Since her widowhood she has resided in Guilford with her son John. Their children were six in number: Charles, Flora J., and Sarah L., who are all deceased; Frank B., a foundryman of Worcester, Mass .; Fannie P., wife of Charles W. Johnson, a foundryman of Lowell; and John S., of Guilford.
John S. Williams spent his youth upon the farm owned and carried on by his grandfather Haynes. He obtained his early education in the town schools and at the Monson Academy, where he was a student for two or three years.
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He was then employed successively in the Dexter Woollen Mills and in those at Sanger- ville, and later he worked in the newly es- tablished mills at Guilford. By saving his earnings during these years of manual labor he was able in 1884 to enter the University of Maine, where he was graduated with the class of 1887. He taught school during the vaca- tions which intervened, but, leaving the uni- versity, he at once began to read law with Mr. Henry Hudson, of Guilford; and it was dur- ing this year of 1887 that he was elected to the position, which he still holds, of superin- tendent of schools in Guilford. He soon en- tered the Boston University Law School, and, graduating in 1890, was admitted to the Pis- cataquis County bar in the same year. The year 1890-91 was spent in teaching school. The following year he became associated with Mr. Hudson in the practice of law, the part- nership continuing until 1895. Since that time Mr. Williams has practised indepen- dently with much success.
He is a Democrat, and since 1893 has held office under the United States government as Internal Revenue Collector for the Eastern Division of Maine. During the current year he was elected a member of the Board of Se- lectmen. Mr. Williams is unmarried. He is liberal in his religious views and is an at- tendant of the Universalist church. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Guilford, Dover Chapter, R. A. M., and the K. T. of Bangor, and is also connected with the Pis- cataquis County Law Association. Mr. Will- iams's early struggles and unaided efforts have
been well rewarded, and he now has a large and remunerative practice in the town.
SAAC PERRY GRINDLE,* a prosper- ous farmer of Blue Hill, Hancock County, was born in Penobscot, Me., September 21, 1810, son of James and Mary (Harriman) Grindle. His paternal grand- father was William Grindle, or Greenlough, who, with his two brothers, was pressed into the English navy and brought to America to fight the Revolutionists. This action so in- censed them against the British government that they fired over the heads of the Ameri- cans at an engagement near Bunker Hill; and, when the opportunity offered itself, they de- serted, and took to the woods. Afterward they enlisted in the Continental army, chang- ing their name to Grindle in order to escape recognition by the enemy. It is related of William that, while in the English navy, being at the time employed in building a wharf at Castine, he knocked a British officer overboard. For this offence he was tried by a court martial and sentenced to be shot. The sentence so aroused his indignation that he now knocked down one of the officers of the court. Instead of making a bad matter worse, this act seems to have gained the admiration of the commanding officer, who spared his life, and ordered his release. He settled at Penobscot some time after the declaration of peace, and lived to be ninety-seven years old. Two of his sons served in the War of 1812.
James Grindle, father of Isaac P., was born
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in Penobscot. During the War of 1812 he served in the garrison at Castinc. Later he cleared new land in the town of Orland, where he was known as an able farmer and a famous bear hunter. He lived to be eighty-five years old. During his last years he received a pen- sion from the government. Mary Harriman Grindle, his wife, became the mother of ten children, five of whom are living, namely : Betsey, aged ninety years; Isaac P., the sub- ject of this sketch, aged cighty-seven; Jane, aged seventy-five; Joseph, aged sixty-seven; and William, aged sixty-two years.
Isaac Perry Grindle attended school in Or- land when the opportunity permitted. Since his youth he has been engaged in farming. in 1836 he came to Blue Hill, and, clearing a farm in the south-eastern part of the town, tilled the soil, built roads, and did consider- able in the way of trade. He later moved to his present farm, and has long been regarded as one of the most successful agriculturists in town. About the time of his settlement here Mr. Grindle contracted his first marriage with Eliza Ann Osgood, a representative of a rep- utable family in this section. Of their eight children, three died in infancy and two are living. The latter are: Pearl and Mary E. Pearl, who resides in Blue Hill, married Car- oline Stover, and has a large family; and Mary E. married Henry Hopkins, and lives in Orland. Mr. Grindle's second marriage united him with Lydia L. Leighton, who be- came the mother of two children - Freeman S. and Eliza Ann. Freeman S., who resides at the homestead, married Mary Gerrish, and
has three children ; and Eliza Ann, who mar- ried Tyler Hinckley, of Blue Hill, also has three children. Mr. Grindle was recently called upon to mourn the loss of his second wife, and has had the sympathy of the entire community in his bereavement. His first Presidential vote was cast for Andrew Jackson in 1832. The Know Nothing party was the only secret organization that he ever joined. He has invariably voted the Democratic ticket. In religious belief he is a Univer- salist.
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