Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 23

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

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Mr. Stevens's grandfather, Calvin Stevens, son of the above-mentioned Jotham, was reared to mature years in Kennebunk. He subsequently learned the cabinet-maker's trade in Concord, N. H., but established him- self permanently in business at Standish, where he resided until his demise in March, 1877, at the age of eighty-four years. He married Lydia Moulton, daughter of Captain Jonathan Moulton. She passed to the higher life in 1856, leaving three children, one being Leander, the father of John Calvin.

Leander Stevens, whose birth occurred March 8, 1822, in Standish, learned the trade of a cabinet-maker, as well as that of fancy carriage and house 'painter. He spent his boyhood days on the parental homestead, about two miles from the village of Standish ; and this property is now in his possession. Desiring to enter upon a mercantile career, he went to Boston when a young man and was there employed as clerk in a grocery store for

three years, after which he spent two years similarly employed in a hardware store in New York City. Returning then to Boston, he opened a hotel, which he successfully managed for three years. His next venture was in con- nection with Mr. Poland, they forming a part- nership under the name of Poland & Stevens, and selling groceries for the following three years, when the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Stevens was engaged as messenger for the British American Express Company for the next six years, running from Portland to Montreal, via the Grand Trunk Rail- way. On July 12, 1861, he took charge of the office of the Preble House in this city, resign- ing the position in 1871 to take charge of the Falmouth Hotel, then the largest hotel in the State, continuing until it was closed in 1875. During the year 1876 he had control of the Poland Springs House office, being afterward head clerk at the American House, Boston, for twelve years. Going again to Poland Springs, he had charge of that hotel for two years, when he retired from active pursuits. He married Maria Jane Hancock Wingate, daughter of John Wingate, their nuptials being celebrated in November, 1848. Four children were born to them, namely: Leander L., who lives on the old homestead; John Calvin; Lydia Maria, wife of S. E. Winslow, of New York City ; and Henry Wingate, who is in the office with his brother, John C.

John Calvin Stevens was but a year and a half old when his parents removed to this city, where he was educated, being graduated from the high school in 1873. Having artistic taste and mechanical ability, which he was desirous of putting to practical use, he entered the office of F. H. Fassett in the fall of 1873, remaining with him as an assistant until 1880, when he was taken into partnership, the firm name being Fassett & Stevens. Having estab- lished a reputation as one of the leading archi- tects of this vicinity, Mr. Stevens decided to try his fortune elsewhere. Going to Boston, he opened a branch office there, remaining a year and a half, and in that time built Hotel Pemberton at Windmill Point, Hull. In 1883 the partnership of Fassett & Stevens was dissolved, Mr. Stevens opening an office for himself in the First National Bank Building,

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he being the first tenant, and continuing alone until 1887, when he entered into a copartner- ship with Albert W. Cobb, the firm carrying on a substantial business for eighteen months, under the name of Stevens & Cobb. Mr. Stevens has built many of the finest residences in this and neighboring cities, as well as some of the most prominent public buildings of the State, including the Physical Laboratory at Colby University, the Ricker Classical School at Houlton, the new buildings at Hebron Academy, and the Maine Eye and Ear Infirm- ary at Portland. He also erected the Oxford Building, where he has had his office for the past seven years. Among the beautiful private residences built by Mr. Stevens is that of the Hon. F. E. Richards ; and he is now at work on the Biddeford City Hall and the new Insane Hospital at Bangor, and supervising the erection of some very handsome residences. In his office he gives constant employment to six competent draughtsmen, the largest force in any similar office in the State.

In 1884 Mr. Stevens was made an honorary member of the Architectural League of New York, one of the leading organizations of the kind in the Union, and three years later was made a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. He belongs to many of the local social societies, having been one of the half- dozen men to organize the Portland Athletic Club, of which he has since been one of the Executive Committee, also being President of the Portland Society of Art and one of its Executive Committee since 1881. In 1889 he was elected President of the Maine Charitable Mechanic Association ; and in 1883 he became a member of the League of American Wheel- men, which has a membership in Maine of four hundred and thirty-two persons. He is promi- nent in cycling circles, being President of the Wheel Club; and he is a member of the Maine Lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows, besides belonging to the Ancient Landmark Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Mount Vernon Chap- ter, the Portland Council, Portland Command- ery, Knights of Templars, and having taken all the degrees up to and including the thirty- second degree.

On December 24, 1877, Mr. Stevens was united in marriage with Martha Louise Wal-

dron, daughter of Howard D. Waldron, of this city. Their residence, pleasantly located at 52 Bowdoin Street, is made cheerful and home- like by the presence of their four children -- John Howard, Caroline Maria, Margaret Lou- ise, and Dorothy Wingate.

ASSIUS L. KIMBALL, a thriving and intelligent farmer of Bridgton, is a native of this town, his birth having occurred February 7, 1847, on the farm where he now resides. His grand- father, Jediah Kimball, Sr., who was the origi- nal owner of the farm, was a native of Rhode Island, from which State he came to Cumber- land County, Me., purchasing this property, which then consisted of ninety acres of wild land, on which not a tree had been cut. He built a log cabin in typical pioneer style, cleared a large portion of the land, and resided here until his death, which occurred when he had attained the age of seventy-five years. His son, Jediah Kimball, Jr., was reared to farming, in which honorable occupation he was engaged during most of his life, although he occasionally worked at the painter's trade. After the death of his father he came into possession of the homestead, which he man- aged successfully until his own death, which occurred at the age of forty-eight years. He married Miss Mary Kitson, who bore him two children - Cassius L., whose name prefaces this sketch; and Florence, wife of Charles E. Dawes, who likewise resides on the homestead. The mother lived a widow many years, dying in 1888, when seventy-one years old, and was then laid to rest beside her husband in the Lower Ridge Cemetery.

Cassius L. Kimball received a common- school education, completing his studies at the age of fifteen years, being called upon at that early age to assume the charge of the home farm, which has since been under his control. The land is fertile and well adapted to the growth of cereals and the fruits common to New England, and his management of the property has been accompanied by gratifying results. Mr. , Kimball has never taken any active part in political affairs, but gives his hearty support to the Democratic party.

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ILLIAM ROBERTS, an extensive farmer of Westbrook, Me., a com- rade of the Grand Army of the Re- public, was born at the Roberts homestead, in this town, March 29, 1843, son of Charles and Eleanor J. (Chenery) Roberts, and was named for his paternal grandfather. Ances- tors of the Roberts family came to Maine from Gloucester, Mass.

William Roberts, the elder, was born at Cape Elizabeth, from which place his parents moved to Gorham; and he resided there until he was twenty-one years old. He then came to Westbrook, where he bought the property which is now occupied by his grandson, and engaged in farming during the rest of his life. He was also a prominent contractor, a business which he conducted in company with his son, Charles; and several important highways in that section were built under his direction. He was a Democrat in politics, and served as a member of the Board of Selectmen three years, 1839, 1840, and 1841. He was twice married ; and by his first wife, who was before her mar- riage Betsy Hatch, and was a daughter of the Rev. Nathaniel Hatch, of Falmouth, he had three children. His second wife was Dorcas Johnson, daughter of John Johnson, of Fal- mouth, and by this union there was one daughter. Of his four children, the latest survivor was Charles, Mr. Roberts's father, who was a son of his first wife.

Charles Roberts was born on January 20, 1804, in the house which adjoins his son's present residence ; and he always resided upon this farm. In carly manhood he engaged with his father in contracting for the construction of highways and other public works. H built sections of the road between Portland and Woodford's Corner, that between Stroud- water and Coalkilm, the new road leading from Duck Pond to Pride's Corner; and he also assisted in the construction of the first bridge at Cumberland Mills. He possessed a strong constitution, and was remarkably vigorous and active until ninety-one years old, but after that his strength failed. He died on March 18, 1896, in his ninety-third year, retaining his senses till within a few hours of his death. In politics he was early a Democrat, but later supported the principles of the Republican

party ; and he was twice nominated for the Board of Selectmen during the days of the old town government. In religious belief he was a Congregationalist. He married on May 6, 1832, Eleanor J. Chenery, who was born on April 26, 1810, and has now nearly completed her eighty-sixth year. She has been an ex- cellent wife and mother. Her parents were Joseph and Rebecca (Johnson) Chenery, whose home was in that part of Falmouth which is now Deering, her father having come there from Watertown, Mass. Mrs. Chenery was a daughter of John and Eleanor (Lamb) Johnson, the former of whom lived to be ninety-six years old, and the latter about fourscore. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Roberts were the parents of seven children, of whom four are living, namely : Frances E., wife of Randall J. Elder, of East Boston; John, who resides in West- brook; William, the subject of this sketch ; and Charles, a resident of Harrison, Me.

William Roberts attended the public schools of Westbrook in his boyhood, and completed his studies at a commercial college in Portland. He enlisted as a private in Company E, Twenty-fifth Regiment, Maine Volunteers,

under Colonel Francis Fessenden, and was stationed in Washington in defence of the capital for six months. The regiment was then ordered to duty at Chantilly, where it remained for a time, and thence went back to Washington, where its term of service expired ; and Mr. Roberts was mustered out in Portland, July 10, 1863. He then returned to the home- stead, where he remained until 1869, when he spent six months in the West. Later he took another trip in the same direction, ex- tending through a period of one year, since which time he has devoted his attention to the cultivation of the farm. The property, which consists of about three hundred acres, is desira- bly located and well improved, sixty acres being set apart for the raising of hay, the an- nual production of which amounts to fifty tons.

Mr. Roberts was married on May 19, 1886, to Ellen A. Knight, daughter of Joseph Knight, of Falmouth, and has one daughter - Eleanor C., aged seven years.

In politics he is a Republican, and is actively interested in local affairs, having served as Overseer of the Poor in 1891, the

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first year under the city charter; and he was elected a member of the Board of Assessors for the years 1895-96. He is a comrade of Cloud- man Post, No. 100, Grand Army of the Re- public, of Westbrook. An able, industrious, and successful farmer and a progressive, lib- eral-minded citizen, he enjoys the esteem and good will of the entire community. . He at- tends the Congregational church.

LISHA S. STOVER, Town Clerk of IIarpswell, Me., who has held his present office twenty-six years, was born in the house whose roof still shelters him on June 4, 1828. He is a son of Simeon and Lois (Hinckley) Stover, and a represent- ative of one of the oldest families of the town, his great-great-grandfather, John Stover, who was born in York, Me., in 1709, settling in Harpswell in 1770, and dying there in 1786. His great-grandfather, Alcott Stover, was born in Harpswell and there spent his life, engaged in farming; and his son Elisha, the grand- father of our subject, also a native of Harps- well and a farmer, lived for many years on Goose Island. In 1821 Elisha Stover pur- chased the farm now owned by his grandson and namesake, and here spent the rest of his life, dying at the age of eighty years.

Simeon Stover, father of our subject, was reared on the farm on Goose Island, and re- moved to Harpswell with his father. He devoted his life to agriculture, tilling the broad acres of the homestead with profitable results. He was called to rest at the age of sixty-five years. His wife, who was a native of Lisbon, Me., daughter of Lemuel Hinckley, a prosperous farmer of that town, lived to the advanced age of eighty-two, spending her last days with her son Elisha S. She was an esteemed member of the Baptist church. Seven children completed the home circle of Mr. and Mrs. Stover, five of whom are living Lemuel; Elisha S .; Minerva Ann, wife of Otis Vining, of Durham; Harriet, wife of Edmund Wilson, of Harpswell; and Elizabeth Jane, wife of Reed O. Johnson, of Orr's Island.

Elisha S. Stover attended the common schools and academy of Harpswell, and after finishing his course as a pupil presided at the

teacher's desk for three terms. He then worked in the shipyard of the town ten years, from 1849 to 1859, and when he was thirty- two years of age turned to the ploughshare, which had been the source of his forefathers' prosperity. After his father's death he took full charge of the home farm, and now has a fine property of fifty-five acres in a high state of cultivation. A Democrat in politics, Mr. Stover has been Town Clerk of Harpswell twenty-six years, having been elected twenty- five times and appointed once to fill a vacancy. This remarkable record is unimpeachable evi- dence of his efficiency, and also of the high esteem in which he is held by his townsmen.

In 1872 Mr. Stover was married to Cordelia R. Bishop, daughter of Captain John Bishop, of Harpswell, a hardy mariner who attained the advanced age of ninety-three years. They have no children. Mrs. Stover is a member of the Congregational Church of Harpswell ; and she and her husband are persons of culti- vated literary taste, familiar with the standard English authors.

ON. NATHAN CLEAVES was born in Bridgton, Me., January 9, 1835, son of Thomas and Sophia (Brad- street) Cleaves. His boyhood days were spent at Bridgton and in Portland. He fitted for college at the Portland Academy, and entered Bowdoin in 1854, graduating in 1858. Among his classmates were General Francis Fessenden, of Portland; General J. P. Cilley, of Rockland; the Hon. E. B. Ncalley, of Bangor; General Ellis Spear, of Washing- ton, D.C .; and the Rev. Frank Sewall.

Selecting the law as his profession, Mr. Cleaves studied with the Hon. Joseph Howard and the Hon. Sewall C. Strout, and was ad- mitted to the bar in Cumberland County at the April term, 1861, of the Supreme Judicial Court. He opened an office in Bowdoinham, Me., and subsequently removed to Portland, forming a law partnership with the Hon. L. D. M. Sweat, then a member of Congress from the Portland district. This relation contin- ued until July, 1864, when he formed a part- nership with the late Hon. Joseph Howard, under the firm name of Howard & Cleaves.

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This partnership continued until the decease of Judge Howard, when the law firm of Nathan and Henry B. Cleaves was formed, to which firm subsequently Stephen C. Perry was ad- mitted as a member.

In politics Nathan Cleaves was a Democrat, loyal to his party, but "he subordinated his political conduct to his manhood." He was a man of very great personal popularity, and was many times honored with public office, being City Solicitor of Portland in 1869, Rep- resentative to the State legislature in 1871 and in 1875, Judge of the Probate Court from 1876 to 1880, surveyor of the port of Portland for four years; and he was frequently a dcle- gate to conventions, both State and national. At the State convention of the Democratic party in 1892 he was unanimously selected as a delegate at large to the Chicago convention that nominated Cleveland and Stephenson, being Chairman of the Maine delegation.

Judge Cleaves was connected with very many business enterprises and corporations. He was President of the Ellsworth Water Company, a Director in the Cumberland Na- tional Bank of Portland, in the First National Bank of Bar Harbor, the Westbrook Trust Company, and other leading business and financial corporations of the State. He was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Odd Fellows, President of the So- ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ani- mals, and a member and officer of many char- itable organizations, the treasurics of which have many times felt the benefit of his quiet but effective generosity. He was a faithful and devoted member of St. Luke's Parish, and for many years one of its Vestrymen. Judge Cleaves was in active practice for a period of more than thirty years. He attained great prominence in the profession he loved so much, and always enjoyed the confidence, respect, and esteem of the bench and bar, and of the entire community.

Nathan Cleaves married in May, 1865, Caroline, the accomplished daughter of Judge Howard. Mrs. Cleaves died at Augusta in February, 1875, while her husband was there as a Representative to the legislature from Portland.

Judge Cleaves died at his residence in this

city on September 5, 1892. Memorial exer- cises were held by the Cumberland Bar Asso- ciation before the Supreme Judicial Court, and the following appropriate resolution was adopted and placed on the records of the court : -

"Resolved, That the members of the Cum- berland bar have heard with a deep sense of personal grief and loss the news of the sudden illness and death of their distinguished asso- ciate member, the Hon. Nathan Cleaves, at the very summit of his professional career ; that his contemporaries at the bar during their lives will cherish the memory of his unvary- ing courtesy, his dignity of professional bear- ing and demeanor, his pure life and character, his eminent legal attainments, his fine train- ing and capacity in all matters pertaining to his profession, his exceptionally good forensic judgment, tact, and skill, and the rare and excellent traits and qualities of his mind and heart; and, cherishing this memory of him ourselves, we write also this brief memorial of him, that they who come after us in the profession, to a late posterity, may remember him as one of the models and ornaments of his own times."

In speaking of Judge Cleaves a distin- guished member of the bar says: "It is seldom that the bar has been so affected as by the death of Nathan Cleaves. For a long time he had been one with us, one of us. He was standing by our side, in our very midst: wc looked up, and he was gone. The good man, whose life had become knit with ours by long memories and all fond associations, at the meridian of his intellectual faculties, in the robes of his profession, and in the midst of its heaviest responsibilities and obligations, lay dead at his post. He who labored without rest to bring the best fruitage of life to its harvest had fallen in his place when the boughs hung heaviest, when his work needed him most - had paused, and was still amid the ripe wealth of autumn. The sickle still gleamed in the harvest field, fallen from the reaper's hand. In the sunlight rustlcd still the ripened and ripening grain, which no hand now shall ever gather into sheaves. All was as it had been, but his work was done. All was as before, but another companionship,

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prized and held dear, the charm of one friend- ship more, had disappeared from our lives."

The words of eulogy bestowed upon the life and character of the Hon. Nathan Cleaves by the court and his brethren at the bar were a just and merited tribute to an honorable and noble life. The funeral services were held at St. Luke's Cathedral, where Judge Cleaves had been a constant attendant for many years, and were most impressive.

T SAAC SKILLIN DUNN, who died at his home in North Yarmouth, January 17, 1885, was a native of this town, born July 6, 1822, son of James and Lucy (Skillin) Dunn. His father was an early settler in the locality, and was for many years successfully engaged in farming, butcher- ing, and conducting mercantile business. He occupied a prominent position among his fel-

low-citizens. His religious opinions were liberal, and in politics he supported the Whig party. He owned a good farm, which he cul- tivated energetically, and upon which he spent his last years, dying at the age of fifty-nine. His wife Lucy lived to the age of seventy-two. Their family consisted of eight children ; namely, Samuel, James, William, Cyrus, Isaac, Mary (all deceased), Lydia E. (now Mrs. Chase), and Miss Sarah T. Dunn, the two last named being residents of Portland.

Isaac Skillin Dunn was educated in the schools of his native town, completing his studies at the Westbrook Seminary. In early manhood he engaged in mercantile pursuits, in company with his brothers, the firm being known as I. S. Dunn & Co. ; and he had a suc- cessful business career of thirty-three years. He was a prominent leader in local affairs, being a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and capably serving his town as a mem- ber of the Board of Selectmen, besides holding other town offices. Large-brained and gener- ous-hearted, with broad views upon religion and other vital subjects, he long wielded a powerful influence among his fellow-towns- men, his unswerving business honesty and personal integrity commanding the respect and esteem of all who knew him. The clos- ing years of his life were spent in the midst

of his family, whose future welfare and pros perity he had labored diligently to insure ; and his death was the cause of widespread sorrow and sincere regret. He was married January 20, 1859, to Miss Maria M. Loring, who was born in Falmouth, September 26, 1836, a daughter of Captain Charles and Dorcas Lor- ing, her father being an early settler and a highly respected resident of North Yarmouth. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn had three sons, namely : William T., who was born September 7, 1863, and is now studying law in Portland; Ansel Loring, born July 1, 1865, who is now a suc- cessful merchant of North Yarmouth; and Charles Loring, who was born August 7, 1873, and resides on the old homestead. Mrs. Dunn died February 8, 1896, at the age of fifty-nine years. She was a devoted wife, and a kind, affectionate mother ; and her death was an irrep- arable loss to her family and the community ..

The Dunn family is an old and prominent one in North Yarmouth, its members having long been known as able, successful business men; and Ansel L. Dunn, who conducts the business formerly carried on by his father, is a representative of the third generation to engage in mercantile pursuits in this town. He is a young man of good business ability and a worthy successor to his father, being closely identified with the public affairs of the town as First Selectman, and is also Assistant Postmaster. He married Miss Maria O. Law- rence, a daughter of J. N. S. Lawrence (now deceased), who was a prominent resident of Pownal, Mc. He and his wife occupy a pleasant home in East North Yarmouth, where his business is located.

RTHUR H. BENOIT, an enterprising dealer in clothing and gentlemen's furnishing goods, of Westbrook, Me., was born in St. Dominique, P.Q., May 12, 1865, son of Charles and Amelie (Clement) Benoit. His immediate ancestors were natives of Canada; and his father was born in St. John Baptist de Ranville, April 28, 1828, being one of a family of eight children. Charles Benoit learned the trade of a black- smith, which he followed in St. Dominique and Biddeford, Me., until some years ago,

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when he returned to St. Dominique, where he is now engaged in carrying on a farm. His wife, Amelie Clement, who is also a native of Canada, was born in St. André des Equart, Ontario, August 14, 1832. She has been the mother of nine children, six of whom are liv- ing, namely: Albert, who rcsides in Corn- wall, Province of Ontario; Clement, a rcsi- dent of St. Hyacinthe, P.Q .; Arthur H., the subject of this sketch; Maria; Charles A., who is employed by his brother Arthur; and Annie, who resides with her parents.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 23

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