Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 22

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Boston : Biographical Review Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 722

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Dr. Bunting acquired his early education in the private schools of New Brunswick, after- ward beginning the study of medicine with Dr. Harding at the quarantine station on Partridge Island. Having been under Dr. Harding's instructions for about two years, he crossed the Atlantic and pursued his studies successively at Edinburgh, Scotland, and the Drummond Street Medical School in Glasgow. He remained in the latter institution until licensed to practise. After this he obtained a position as ship physician on the "Britannia, " one of the Cunard steamers, which were then side-wheel boats, and held it for eighteen

months. Subsequently the Doctor attended lectures at the Boston Medical School, while in the city having an opportunity to listen to many distinguished speakers, and attended the famous murder trial of Professor Webster, who killed Dr. Parkman in 1849. Going then to New York, Dr. Bunting attended lectures under Dr. Valentine Mott at the Crosby Street School of Medicine. On his return to Boston he was advised to open up practice in Bangor, Me., which he did, and remained three years. During that time he boarded in a house with John A. Peters, now Judge Peters, and two other young men who have since won the same title. He next practised in Montreal, Canada. While here he was one of the favored few al- lowed to study the actual process of digestion through an opening made in the stomach of St. Martin. Dr. Bunting was then invited to spend a week in New York by Dr. Delafield, the celebrated physician and surgeon. He afterward accompanied St. Martin on a tour through the Central and Southern States, visit- ing the hospitals and medical colleges in every city of importance, and then went abroad with him and visited in the same way the medical colleges of London, Paris, Italy, Spain, Berlin, Vienna, Belgium, and Russia. The succeed- ing sixteen years the Doctor spent in travelling in Europe, gaining valuable information in the leading medical colleges, spending three years in Paris and two years in London, and subse- quently some time under the instructions of the world-renowned physician, Dr. Mckenzie, of London. Returning to this country Dr. Bunting first located in Cleveland. Thence he went to Detroit, and afterward spent some time at Niagara Falls and New York City. He gave up his work there in May, 1891, to come to Portland, where he has since acquired an extensive practice.

TEPHEN B. HAMILTON, a gen- eral merchant at Chebeague Island, in the town of Cumberland, Me., is a native-born citizen, the date of his birth being October 1, 1841. He is de- scended from one of the early settlers of the island, his great-great-grandfather, Ambrose Hamilton, having located here in 1760. He

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was a thrifty and prosperous farmer, as were his son, Ambrose, Jr., and later his grandson, James Hamilton.

Simeon Hamilton, son of James, was born on Chebeague Island, April 6, 1806. For forty-five years he followed the sea, cruising on the Maine coast between Portland and Bangor. In his earlier years he was Captain of a packet, carrying, besides general freight, much granite. He afterward owned different sloops, among them being the "Granite " and the "Leader." In 1864 Captain Hamilton gave up his seafaring life, and purchased a farm of fifty acres, mostly under cultivation, and there spent his remaining days, dying Decem- ber 11, 1880. He was twice married. His first wife, formerly Sarah Bennett, died Octo- ber 28, 1863, having been the mother of thir- teen children. Nine of this family are now living, the following being a brief record: Elmira, born October 2, 1828, is the wife of Alfred Cleaves, of Yarmouth, and has three children - Alfred E., Emily S., and Myra A .; Hiram K., born May 21, 1830, married Margarette Anthoine, of Cape Elizabeth, and they have four children living - Daniel A., William H., Emily M., and Edwin D .; Mar- tha, born October 28, 1831, is the widow of Ellis Mansfield, of the island, and has two children living - Ellis F. and Mattie T .; Simeon was born March 19, 1833; Rachel, born May 14, 1837, is the wife of Stephen A. Woodbury, of South Portland, and has four children living - Albert S., Henry D., Ger- trude R., and Winfield; Stephen B. is the subject of this sketch; Sumner E., born Oc- tober 30, 1845, married Sarah J. Webber, of the island, and they are the parents of three children - Edna E., Mildred R., and Lin- wood S .; Alonzo S., born February 2, 1848, married Angelette Long, of Chebeague Island, and they have five children living - Myra C., Emily M., Clifford S., Fanny G., and Lewis R .; and Mary E., born February 21, 1858, married Eldon Merrill, of Portland, and has two children - William L. and Fanny M. On September 11, 1864, the father was again married, Eleanor Stover, daughter of Elisha Stover, becoming his second wife; but of this union no children were born.

Stephen B. Hamilton at the age of four-

teen sailed with his father in the sloop "Leader " through the summer season, and during the winter months he attended school. He continued on the sea, going as a common sailor until attaining his majority, when he bought an interest in the "Leader." After having charge of this craft four years, sailing her on the coast of Maine, freighting stone principally, he purchased an interest in the sloop "Rocky Mountain," of which he had control for the next two years. He then set- tled down on the island to mercantile life, buying an interest in the general store of Hamilton & Co., the partnership continuing twenty-one years. In 1890 Mr. Hamilton purchased his present business, and has since been prosperously engaged in the sale of general merchandise, having a well-stocked country store. In the same year he was ap- pointed Postmaster at Chebeague Island, suc- ceeding his father's second wife, who had charge of the office several years. In his political principles Mr. Hamilton is a sound Republican, and has served as Selectman of the town of Cumberland, performing his duties most satisfactorily to the public. He is at the present time a Director of the Cumberland Fire Insurance Company of Cumberland.

Mr. Hamilton and Miss Harriet E. Webber, daughter of Benjamin Webber, of Chebeague Island, were united in marriage January 2, 1865. They have three children, namely : Cora G., born November 27, 1867; Della G., born July 29, 1877; and Florence M., born March 12, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton are members of the Methodist church.

ILLIS F. STROUT, an influential and esteemed citizen of South l'ort- land, Cumberland County, was born in the city of Portland, Me., August 30, 1857. He is a descendant of one of the early fami- lies of Cape Elizabeth, where his paternal grandfather, Daniel Strout, Sr., was born December 6, 1802. He there married Jane G. Dyer, a native of the same place, the fruit of their union being six children, of whom four are now living, namely: Joshua I., keeper of the Portland Head Light; William D., a cooper, living at South Portland; Mary

HENRY R. MILLETT.

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E., a maiden lady, and Eunice J., widow of Captain John B. Waterhouse, both residing in Los Angeles, Cal.

Daniel Strout, Jr., was the third son born to his parents, Daniel, Sr., and Jane G. Strout, the date of his birth, which occurred in Cape Elizabeth, being September 8, 1830. After leaving the common schools, he fol- lowed for several years the trade of a house carpenter, and built quite a number of dwel- ling-houses on the Cape. In 1858 he opened a grocery store in this town, where he contin- ued in business until his death in 1886, build- ing up an extensive local trade. He was held in high regard by his fellow-citizens, whom he represented from 1882 till 1885 in the State legislature, being elected on the Democratic ticket, which he uniformly supported. Ready to espouse liberal views in religion as in other matters, he was identified with the Univer- salist church, both he and his wife holding to the cheerful faith of that denomination. He married Martha E. Lovett, daughter of John Lovett, of Portland, Me., and they became the parents of several children, of whom but two are living; namely, Willis F. and Carrie D., both of South Portland. Mrs. Martha E. Strout died on March 3, 1896, aged sixty years, nine months, and twenty-three days.

Willis F. Strout acquired a practical com- mon-school education, afterward beginning his active career in his father's store, which he entered as a clerk when but sixteen years of age. On the death of his father Mr. Strout succeeded to the business, continuing it until 1889, and then selling out. He subsequently became shipping clerk for the well-known firm of Twitchell, Champlin & Co., of Portland, remaining with them four years. In 1893, in company with Sherman G. Willard, he opened a grocery store in Cape Elizabeth, now South Portland, where, under the firm name of Willis F. Strout & Co., he carried on a large retail trade until 1895, when he sold his inter- est to his partner. At this time, in the spring of 1895, by an act of the legislature, Cape Elizabeth was divided, the part in which Mr. Strout has resided for so many years being named South Portland. Mr. Strout, who had filled the office of Auditor of Cape Elizabeth

for three years, was elected a member of the first Board of Selectmen of the new town.

On November 22, 1881, Mr. Strout was united in marriage with Miss Eva Smith, a daughter of Henry Smith, of Cape Elizabeth. They have three children, namely: Daniel H., born March 16, 1889; Albert D., born April 22, 1893; and Harry Willis, born November 27, 1894. Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Strout are identified with the Universalist church; and, politically, he is a steadfast Democrat. Socially, he is prominent in many fraternal orders, having a membership in the following organizations: Hiram Lodge, No. 180, A. F. & A. M .; Unity Lodge, No. 3, I. O. O. T .; Portland Encampment, No. 119, 1. O. O. T .; Mizpah, Daughters of Rebecca; Grand Canton Ridgeley, I. O. O. T .; and Bayard Lodge, No. 44, Knights of Pythias.

ENRY RIPLEY MILLETT, of Gorham, Cumberland County, Me., a gallant officer of the Fifth Maine Regiment in the war of the Rebell- ion, whose commission as Lieutenant Colonel was dated January 8, 1863, was born in Leeds, Androscoggin County, Me., September 23, 1832, son of Thomas and Elmira A. (Day) Millett. He is a cousin of Frank D. Millet, the artist, who was Director of Decoration of the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago, and, like him, is of the seventh generation in descent from the original ancestor of the family in America, Thomas Millet, born at Chertsey, England, in 1605, who, with his wife and son Thomas, came to this country in the "Elizabeth" in 1635, and settled in Dorchester, Mass., but later removed to Brook- field, Mass.

Colonel Millett's great-grandfather, Thomas Millett, son of John of Gloucester, Mass., and a great-grandson of the emigrant, was a patriot soldier of the Revolution. He died in Leeds, Me. His son Zebulon, the fifth in direct line, a farmer in Leeds, reared nine children, namely : Solomon; Asa, late a phy- sician of East Bridgewater, Mass., father of Frank D .; David; Obed; Thomas; Aaron ; Lydia; Delia; and Polly. Thomas Millett, son of Zebulon, was born in Leeds, January

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17, 1801, and was engaged in early life in farming and lumbering in that town. In 1833 he removed to Palmyra, Somerset County, Me., and there spent his last years, dying in February, 1874. He was twice married, his first wife being Elmira A. Day, who was born in Baron, Me., and died in Palmyra, January 29, 1857. She was the mother of twelve chil- dren, namely: Mary D., who was born in Baron, July 30, 1829; Samuel Z., born in Leeds, December 3, 1830; Henry R., the subject of this sketch; Matthias O., who was born August 31, 1834, in Palmyra, which was the birthplace of all the children following; Josiah, born January 24, 1837, Lieutenant in Company B, Thirtieth Maine Volunteer Infan- try of the army during the late war, now agent of one of the largest lumber companies in Minnesota, and a resident of Stillwater; Jo- seph C., born January 21, 1839, who also served the Union and was severely wounded ; Obed F., born March 17, 1841, who was killed at the battle of Cold Harbor; Martha J., born June 14, 1843; Thomas F., born September 8, 1845, now a Congregational minister and Field Secretary of the Maine Sunday-school Society, residing in Gorham; Eliza A., born February 24, 1848; Lesta P., born August 31, 1850; and Lester W., born September 17, 1853. Thomas Millett's second wife, Fanny S. Gordon, of St. Albans, Me., was the mother of six children - Addie D., George W., Sewall B., Albert K., Annie M., and Nellie N.

Henry R. Millett acquired a good education in the common schools of Palmyra and the high school of St. Albans. He worked one summer in a saw-mill on the Penobscot River, and in 1851, when he was nineteen years of age, he went to Campello, Mass., where he was employed in a shoe factory until 1858. During the two years following he worked in shoe factories in Gorham, Farmington, and Rochester, Me., and then entered the employ of Saunderson Brothers, bakers, of Cambridge, Mass., as driver of a team. In 1860 he took charge of the manufacturing department of Libby & Walker, boot and shoe manufacturers of Little Falls, Gorham; and at the first call for troops to defend the Union he resigned his position and signified his readiness to serve. He enlisted April 27, 1861, under Josiah

Heald in Company A, Fifth Maine Regiment, Sixth Corps, Second Brigade, First Division, and was mustered into the United States ser- vice as First Sergeant of the company. He served with distinguished bravery in some of the most momentous engagements of the war, including the first battle of Bull Run, West Point, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Salem Heights, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Rappa- hannock Station, Spottsylvania Court-house, Cold Harbor (where his brother Obed was killed), the second battle of Bull Run, the second engagement at Fredericksburg, and Gaines's Mill. At the battle of Rappahan- nock, November 7, 1863, he received a shell wound in the right side; and at Cold Harbor, June 4, 1864, he was wounded in the left forearm by a shell. He received his dis- charge July 27, 1864, and returned home, suffering from his wound and broken in health, but loaded with honors. He was commis- sioned Second Lieutenant, July 12, 1861; Captain, August 14 of the same year; Major, September 24, 1862; and Lieutenant Colonel, January 8, 1863.

Colonel Millett was not able to work until the winter of 1865. He then entered the insurance business, which he has successfully followed up to the present time, representing now the Etna and Home Companies, the Phoenix and Hartford of Hartford, Conn., the Insurance Company of North America, the Phoenix of New York, and the Quincy of Massachusetts. (all fire insurance companies), and the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company.

Colonel Millett is a Republican in politics. He was chosen Collector of Gorham in 1874, and served two years. He was appointed Post- master in 1881, during Arthur's administra- tion, and reappointed by Harrison in July, 1889, remaining in office till July, 1893. Hle represented the town in 1894 in the legislature, and has been Chairman of the Republican Town Committee for twenty years. He is a member and Past Commander of John R. Adams Post, No. 101, of Gorham, of which he has been Quartermaster and Adjutant and is Past Assistant Inspector-general. He is Treasurer of Harmony Lodge, No. 38, A. F. & A. M., of Gorham, of which he was Master

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four years, and is now Past High Priest of Eagle Chapter, No. 1I, of the Royal Arch. He is also a member of the Council of Royal and Select Masters of Portland and of Portland Commandery, Knights of Templars, No. 2, and has held office as Senior Grand Deacon in the Grand Lodge of Maine and served as Grand Marshal. He belongs to the military order known as the Loyal Legion of the United. States, being a member of the Commandery of the State of Maine, and is Worthy Patron of the Pine Tree Chapter, No. 27, of the Order Eastern Star.

Colonel Millett was married December 29, 1870, to M. Antoinette, only daughter of Free- man Whitney, of Portland. She was born in Pittsfield, N. H. ; but the greater part of her childhood and youth was passed in Portland. She is a lady of rare charm of manner and of much intellectual ability and force of character, and is very prominent in social circles, taking an especial interest in Grand Army matters. She is a member of Pine Tree Chapter, No. 27, of the Eastern Star, and of the Woman's Relief Corps, Department of Maine. In 1888 she was elected President of the John R. Adams Relief Corps, Department of Maine, and in 1889 she was re-elected. She has served as Department Aid several terms; was a delegate to the National Convention in Detroit in 1891, and was on the Executive Board in 1894; was unanimously elected Department President at the Convention in February, 1895, and is pres- ent Aid on the national President's staff. She is also a member of the "Home Board," which devises ways and means for the support of the inmates of the Maine Relief Corps Home, which has not yet received government aid. Mrs. Millett joined the Baptist church when she was seventeen years of age, and is now a member of the Second Church of that denomi- nation in Portland. Colonel Millett and his wife attend the Congregationalist church.

RANK W. BUCKNAM, a prominent and promising young business man of

S Yarmouth, was born in this town, De- cember 7, 1869, coming from an old and worthy family. His great - grandparents, Samuel and Phœbe (Chandler) Bucknam, were

pioneers of North Yarmouth, where their six children were born, Captain William Buck- nam, the grandfather of Frank W., being the eldest child.

William Bucknam was born on December 22, 1806. He was almost brought up on the sea, when but a lad making various trips with his father, becoming so familiar with every- thing pertaining to a sailor's life that at an early age he was made master of a vessel, a position which he filled for many years. He married one of Yarmouth's fair daughters, Miss Elizabeth True, their nuptials being celebrated February 19, 1835. After this auspicious event the sea had no charms to draw him from his fireside. He bought a farm in Yarmouth, where he lived until his demise, July 12, 1851, while yet in the prime of manhood. 'A man of exemplary Christian character, he was a valued member of the Baptist church. He and his wife had five children, namely: Horace, born June 2, 1836; Alvan F., born November 27, 1837, who was graduated from Bowdoin College in 1860, and is now a practising physician in Warren, Ill .; Lizzie T., born August 3, 1840, died Novem- ber 10, 1858; William E., father of the special subject of this biographical sketch, born February 17, 1844; and Mary Ellen, born March 1, 1846.

William Edward Bucknam succeeded to the ownership of the parental estate, and is liv- ing on the farm where his birth occurred a half-century or more ago. An energetic and progressive agriculturist, he owns one of the best-managed and most productive farms in the town of Yarmouth, his land being located not far from the shore. During the late Civil War he volunteered in his country's service, going to the front September 17, 1862, as a Corporal in Company G, Twenty-fifth Maine Volunteer Infantry, and being honorably dis- charged at the expiration of his term of enlist- ment in 1863. His wife, whose maiden name was Katie Mahoney, was born July 4, 1849, in this town, daughter of Cornelius and Ellen (Kelley) Mahoney, neither of whom is now living. Mr. and Mrs. William E. Bucknam have three children, as follows: Frank W. ; Jennie Q., born July 8, 1873, who was gradu- ated from the Normal School of Bridgewater,

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Mass., and is now engaged in tcaching; and Maud, born January 29, 1879. The parents are both faithful members of the Congrega- tional church. Politically, the father is a stanch Republican; and, socially, he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and a Knight of Pythias.

Frank W. Bucknam acquired his early edu- cation in the public schools of Yarmouth, after which he took a course of study at Shaw's Business College in Portland. He remained on the ancestral homestead until about twenty- one years old, when he secured a position in the drug store of Mr. Cook at Yarmouthville, where he remained three years, paying closc attention. to the details of his work. Going to Portland, in order to perfect himself in the business to which he has since been devoted, Mr. Bucknam became a clerk in the drug store of Edward L. Foss, and at the end of a ycar passcd his examination in pharmacy, his di- ploma bearing the date of February 14, 1894, a most acceptable valentine. A month later, on March 19, he purchased the stock of M. C. Merrill, at the stand where he is now engaged in a successful business, dealing in drugs, paints, oils, and various other commodities, including window glass and wall paper.

Mr. Bucknam is energetic and enterprising, courteous and accommodating to his patrons, and well merits his prosperous trade. In poli- tics he is an active Republican, being at the present time Town Clerk. Socially, he is a Mason, belonging to Casco Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He is faithful to the religious be- liefs in which he was reared, being a Congre- gationalist, though not a member of any church.

OSEPH H. HUTCHINS, a prominent contractor of the city of Deering, was born in Buxton, Me., October 8, 1843. His parents werc Solomon L. and Phebe R. (Matthews) Hutchins, the former a native of Pownal, Cumberland County, Me.

Solomon L. Hutchins was born in 1817, and received his early education in the schools of his native town. Mastering the carpenter's trade, he worked for some years in Portland as a journeyman, and then, removing to Bux-

ton, went into business as a contractor and builder, employing a large number of men. In 1865 he removed to Deering, but four years later returned to Pownal, where he purchased a farm. There he spent the last twelve years of his life, profitably engaged in agricultural pursuits. He died in 1880. In 1841 he was married to Phebe R., daughter of Joseph Matthews, a farmer of Scarboro, Me. Three children were born to them, namely: two daughters who died in early womanhood, one at the age of sixteen, the other nineteen ; and a son, the subject of this sketch. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchins were active and devoted members of the church.

Joseph H. Hutchins attended the common schools of Camden, and finished his course of study at Yarmouth Academy. He learned the carpenter's trade of his father, and when twenty-two years of age entered the employ of A. D. Smith, builder, of Portland, for whom he worked about fifteen years. While in Mr. Smith's employ he superintended the build- ing of the Farrington and Storer Blocks, and many other large buildings in Portland, Deer- ing, and Westbrook. In 1880 he went into business for himself; and he has since been successfully engaged as a contractor and builder, his extensive experience, honest deal- ing, and prompt execution winning for him a large and reliable patronage. Mr. Hutchins is recognized as one of the leading builders of the locality, and is now serving his second term as Vice-President of the Deering Build- ing Loan Association.

On November 11, 1864, Mr. Hutchins was married to Julia A., daughter of Emery Heal, a farmer of Lincolnville, Me. Three chil- dren blessed.their union, two of whom are liv- ing - Mary E. and Frank L. The former is the wife of Edward M. Cobb, a contractor and builder of Deering.

A Republican in politics, Mr. Hutchins served on the Decring Town Committee for about eight ycars, and was elected to the Board of Aldermen in 1892, having the honor to be the first Chairman of that body. He was elected Assessor of Deering in 1894 for three years. He is a member of several prom- incnt social organizations, belonging to Maine Lodge, No. 1, Independent Order of Odd Fel-

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lows, of Portland, of which he has been Vice- Grand; and Eastern Star Encampment; Ivy Lodge, No. 5, Daughters of Rebecca; Long- fellow Lodge, No. 43, Knights of Pythias, in which he has held all the offices, also repre- senting the Lodge in the Grand Lodge; and the Maine Charitable Mechanic Association. With his wife and family he attends the Con- gregational church, contributing liberally toward its support.

J OHN CALVIN STEVENS, a promi- nent architect of Portland, Me., was born in Boston, Mass., October 8, 1855, son of Leander and Maria J. H. (Win- gate) Stevens. He is of pioneer ancestry and of Revolutionary stock, his great-grandfather, Jotham Stevens, who was a soldier of the Rev- olution, having been born and bred in England. When a young man he came to this State, lo- cating in the town of Kennebunk, which was then almost a wilderness. He cleared a tract of land, on which he engaged in farming and lumbering, living there until his death, which was caused by an accident while he was yoking oxen to go to the woods for a load of lumber, he being then ninety-eight years of age, but remarkably hale and hearty.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 22

Author: Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Boston : Biographical Review Publishing Company Number of Pages: 722

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Boston : Biographical Review Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 722