Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 26

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

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Mrs. Banks is a member of the Congrega- tional church on High Street, to which her husband also belongcd, and of which her ehil- dren Elizabeth and Edward were members. Her residencc, which was built over seventy years ago, is one of the substantial homes of Portland, and suits well the owner, who bears gracefully the burden of her fourscore years, appearing much younger than she acknowl- edges herself to be.

ANIEL R. STOVER, superintendent of schools at Harpswell, Mc., was born near his present residence in West Harpswell, January 5, 1846, son of Paul and Lydia (Dinsmore) Stover. His great-great-grandfather, John Stover, was born in York County, Maine, and was one of the pioneers of Harpswell, locating here as early as 1727. He died in 1786. His son, Johnson Stover (great-grandfather), was born in Harpswell, and was one of the prominent farmers of the locality, owning Upper Goose Island and a traet of land on Harpswell Neek, then known as Merryeoneag. He died in 1828 at the age of seventy-nine.

Norton Stover, son of Johnson and the

grandfather of Daniel R., was also a native of Harpswell and a farmcr. He married Huldab, only child of Daniel Randall, who had purchased on December 8, 1773, of Thomas and Susannah MeGray the farm on which Daniel R. Stover now resides. At the time of his death Danicl Randall owned seven- teen hundred aeres of land in different parts of the State. Grandfather Stover died at the age of seventy-five. His wife was born and married, lived and died, in her father's housc, now standing on the old homestead. She passed away in her sixty-ninth year, having been the mother of a large family.

Paul Stover, son of Norton and Huldah (Randall) Stover, acquired what knowledge the common schools afforded, and early be- camc familiar with the details of farm work. He built in 1849 the house now occupied by his son, and obtained a comfortable living from the soil which had afforded generous sus- tenance to his forefathers. Actively inter- ested in public affairs, he was Captain of the local militia; and his sword, now in the pos- session of his son, is still bright, though the hand that bore it is erumbled to dust. Hc died at the age of seventy-five. His wife, who was born in the year marked by the birth of Queen Victoria, was a daughter of Thomas Dinsmore, of Anson, Me., where she was born. Mr. Dinsmore was a lumberman, and was a Major in the militia. His daughter, Mrs. Stover, died at the age of sixty-four. She was a zealous member of the Baptist church, in which her husband was Deacon. Five children blessed their union, all except one of whom reached maturity; but at present Daniel R. is the only one living.

Daniel R. Stover attended the common schools of his native town, prepared for col- lege at Westbrook Seminary, and entcred Colby University, intending to complete the course ; but after three years' close study he was obliged to leave his elass on account of ill health. Although he did not receive a diploma, he was well grounded in the various branches of knowledge, and became a most successful teacher. He taught for over twenty ycars in different gradcs, ineluding the high school; in 1888 was appointed supervisor of schools; and when the town system was

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adopted he was made superintendent of schools in Harpswell. This is a position of great re- sponsibility, entailing among other duties the examination and selection of teachers and the supervision of school supplies. The schools in the town are far apart, and it often hap- pens that Mr. Stover is obliged to rise at 3 A. M. in order to be at certain schools at nine o'clock. He attends closely to the duties of his position, to which he devotes the greater part of his time; and he also keeps the home farm in a high state of cultivation.

Mr. Stover is a prominent member of the Democratic party. He was in the legislature in 1876 and 1877, serving with distinction as a member of the Committee on Education, and was twice nominated State Senator. He is now a member of the Democratic County Committee, and was a member of the Town Committee for many years. He belongs to but one social organization, the Good Tem- plars. Mr. Stover has long been an attendant of the Baptist church in Harpswell, and has taught in the Sunday-school for many years. He has never married, but is content to be sole ruler in his home kingdom, finding in books alone a congenial and satisfying com- panionship.

He has given attention to archæology, and was greatly interested, when, in the fall of 1895, his nephew, Charles, in ploughing on the home farm, disinterred from an ancient shell-heap a quantity of human bones, both of young children and of very old persons. The larger bones were split, like those found asso- ciated with flint implements in the prehistoric caves of Europe, indicating that this was once the site of cannibal feasts.

ENRY M. STONE, who sold tickets at Falmouth, Me., for the first rail- way train that passed through the town between forty-five and fifty years ago, and has since been in charge of the office at that point, is probably the oldest station agent cast of Boston, in length of ser- vice, if not in years. He was born in Cum- berland, Me., January 31, 1823, son of the Rev. Samuel and Cynthia (Hawley) Stone.

Samuel Stone was a Congregational minis-

ter. His first parish was at Cumberland Centre, where he settled about 1820. Two years later he went to Warren, but had only preached there about a year when failing health caused him to give up ministerial labors for a time. He returned to Cumberland, where he owned a place, and went into trade, carrying on a general store for two years. After that he was engaged in the same business in Au- burn, Me., for about three years. In the mean time he had exchanged his place in Cumberland Centre for one in Falmouth, Me., to which he now removed, first selling out his store. From Falmouth he went to old York, Me., where he resumed his pastoral work, having charge of the Congregational church in that place between two and three years. He then removed to Tunbridge, Vt., which was his last regular parish. A year or two later he returned to Falmouth, and lived there until his death, preaching only occasion- ally. The Rev. Samuel Stone died in 1874 at the advanced age of eighty-six years. His wife, whose maiden name was Cynthia Haw- ley, bore him six children, three of whom are now living: Henry M. Stone; Samuel D. Stone, of South Framingham, Mass .; and Cynthia E., the widow of Major F. Bowie, of Boston. In politics Samuel Stone was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, which he afterward supported.

Henry M. Stone received his education in the public schools of Cumberland, Falmouth, Auburn, and York, Me. After leaving school he went to Windham, Vt., to learn shoemak- ing with J. & R. Mansfield, manufacturers of ladies' shoes. Six years later he came to Fal- mouth, Me., and was engaged at shoemaking and repairing during the succeeding three years, up to 1849. At that time he obtained the position of station agent on the Atlantic & St. Lawrence Railroad, now the Grand Trunk Railroad, at Falmouth; and he has been here continually ever since.

Over fifty years ago, on January 18, 1846, Mr. Stone was united in marriage with Miss Catherine L. Blake, a daughter of Enoch J. Blake, of Cabot, Vt. Six children have been born of their union, of whom four are still living: Celia A., the wife of Charles F. Dun- lap, of Portland, Me .; Elmer D. Stone, the

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proprietor of the Auburn Last Company at South Framingham, Mass. ; E. Miriam Stone, a resident of Portland; and Kate E., the wife of John Garland, of Marlboro, Mass.

On Saturday, January 18, 1896, Mr. and Mrs. Henry M. Stone celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary, ehildren, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren uniting in the festiv- ities. The home was tastefully decorated with plants and flowers, among them a bouquet of fifty pinks. After dinner, which was served at two o'clock, remarks were made by the Rev. J. A. Flint, followed by instrumental and vocal music, and a poem written by William P. Merrill. The numerous presents, inelud- ing one hundred dollars in gold, left with the worthy couple, testified to the good will and generosity of many friends.

Mr. Stone east his first Presidential vote for James K. Polk, the Democratic nominec who was eleeted in 1844, and continued to vote that tieket until the organization of the Re- publican party, which he supported until President Cleveland's second nomination, when he voted for him. He is a member of Presumpscot Lodge, No. 91, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Falmouth, in which he has served in the various ehairs ; and during the past seven years he has filled the office of Treasurer. Although Mr. Stone has passed the threeseore years and ten milestone, he still enjoys rugged health. He is one of the most popular residents of the town and an attendant of the Congregational chureh.

APTAIN JOSEPH YOUNG, a re- tired navigator, occupying the home- stead of which his great-grand- father, Solomon Loring, was the original proprietor, is one of Yarmouth's most respected eitizens. His birth occurred not far from the spot where he now resides, September 24, 1825, he being the eldest of the ehildren born to John and Sophronia (Davis) Young. Among the very early settlers of this seaport town was a Joseph Young, who, with his young wife, Sarah Drinkwater, located here in Colonial days, and here reared their family, among their children being Bazaleel Young, the grandfather of Captain Young.

Bazaleel Young was born in 1764, and lived to the age of fifty-seven years, dying in Yar- mouth, July 26, 1821. Hc spent his years of aetive life on the seas, being a ship com- mander a large part of the time; and during our war with England he and his vessel's erew were captured, and held as prisoners three months. He was a very successful business man, and held in high regard by his fellow- townsmen. He was a Whig in politics, and a member of the Congregational ehureh. He married Mary Loring, a descendant of the Lorings of Yarmouth and the daughter of the above-mentioned Solomon Loring and his wife, Aliee Cushing. They reared the follow- ing ehildren : Hannah, William, John, Joseph, Mary Ann, Charles, Theodocia, Sarah Jane, and Elizabeth L.

John Young followed the sea during his carly years, and was master of a vessel for a long time. He subsequently turned his at- tention to agriculture, becoming owner of the old Loring farm, living on this place till his death, January 19, 1881. He was a man of marked intelligence and ability, aetive in town affairs, and served in various official ea- paeities, being Selectman several terms; and in 1850 he was census taker for Yarmouth and North Yarmouth. His wife, Sophronia Davis, was born April 2, 1802, in Conway, N.H., and died on this homestead, July 5, 1867. She was the deseendant of one of the early families of New England, and was the daughter of John Davis, a Revolutionary pa- triot, who served throughout the entire struggle, being in the battle of Bunker Hill, as well as in many other important and deei- sive engagements, and bearing with him to the grave the sear of a dangerous wound re- eeived in service. Mr. Davis subsequently removed to this State, spending his last days in the town of Norway, where both he and his wife, whose maiden name was Martha Walker, died, full of years and honor.

John Young and his wife reared a family of eight children, four of whom have passed to the bourne from which no traveller returneth, namely: Captain Francis E., born April 6, 1829, a ship-master, who died May 12, 1856, in South America; John W., born May 16, 1831, died in Chelsea, Mass., in 1857; Alice

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Cushing Young, born November 3, 1836, died January 20, 1860; and Martha Walker Young, born June 29, 1838, died August 27, 1855. The four living are: Captain Joseph ; Mrs. Caroline Howard Russell, of this town, born August 10, 1833, now the widow of the late William Russell, who died in 1888; Charles, born June 16, 1840, now residing in Eureka, Cal. ; and Addin, born December 7, 1843, a hardware merchant in West Somer- ville, Mass.

Joseph Young was reared a farmer's boy, re- ceiving his education in the district schools, afterward spending a short time at the North Yarmouth Academy. At the age of seventeen years he shipped before the mast on board the schooner "Boston," commanded by Captain David Seabury; and after three years he was made mate of a vessel, serving first under Cap- tain Jerry Buckman, afterward going with Captain Joseph Drinkwater on the "Lucy Ann" to the West Indies. He subsequently was given command of the "Petrel," and for many years was engaged in the West India trade, which was then the principal business of this section of the State, he being Captain of the following vessels: the "A. G. Hill," a bark; "Samuel Fales," a ship which he commanded six years; "Eureka," a bark; "Abyla," a bark; "Alice Vanard," a ship; and the "P. C. Merryman," a bark, which was under his command for a number of years. During the twoscore years that Captain Young sailed the seas he visited many of the more important ports of the world, and in his various voyages met with great prosperity, winning an excellent record for seamanship. The only accident causing loss that ever befell him was during a voyage across the Indian Ocean, when his ship was struck by a cyclone, and a few spars were sent overboard, the valu- able cargo being entirely saved through his energetic efforts. The owners afterward com- plimented Captain Young very highly for his wise and heroic management, as in that storm many vessels were wrecked.

Captain Young retired from the sea in 1885, and has since lived on the old home farm, where, in a situation commanding a fine view of Portland Harbor and the islands within, he has built a fine residence. This place is rich

in historical associations, as on the very spot occupied by the Captain's dwelling the first meeting-house in the town was built, its pul- pit being occupied for forty years by Parson Gilman, a preacher of note, who was succeeded by Francis Brown, also a prominent divine of olden times; and here George Whitefield, the English evangelist, held his hearers spell- bound one Sunday, in years long gone by. In that old meeting-house never a fire was built, neither was it desecrated by artificial light of any kind. Not far from the farm-house stood the old garrison, or fort, used by the early settlers as a refuge from the savages, who were distrustful of the new-comers, the latter being obliged to go armed, even to attend public worship, Massachusetts having passed a law to that effect, saying that every man should "take to meeting on Lord's days his arms with him, with at least five charges of powder and shot.

On June 26, 1855, Captain Young was mar- ried to Mahala A. Hill, who is a native of this town. She was born January 3, 1830, daugh- ter of James and Lucinda (Anderson) Hill, both descendants of pioneers of Cumberland County. Five children have been born to Captain and Mrs. Young, three of whom are living, namely: Frank E., whose birth date was April 4, 1857; Grace H., born June 16, 1860; and Joseph A., born May 20, 1871, the last two being at home with their parents. The others were: Hattie L., born July 10, 1867, died August 20, 1869; and Helen, who was born November 14, 1873, on the South Pacific Ocean, died February 23, 1874, on the South Atlantic, and was buried at Cardiff, Wales.

In politics the Captain is a stanch Repub- lican ; and, socially, he is a Mason, belonging to Casco Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and likewise to the Royal Arch Chapter. Religiously, both he and his wife are valued members of the Congregational church.

OHN H. DAVIS, of Standish, Me., was born within the limits of this town, October 21, 1833, son of Isaac and Abigail (Whitney) Davis. His pro- genitors were of English origin, the first of his

WILLIAM WIDGERY THOMAS, SR.

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branch of the Davis family to land on Ameri- can soil having been Robert Davis, who left England in 1643. He settled in Yarmouth, on Cape Cod, Mass., but afterward changed his place of residence to Barnstable. The linc was continued through Joseph Davis, and then his son, Gershom Davis, who was born in Barnstable, and next, Samuel Davis, son of Gershom, born in Barnstable. Samuel's son, Samuel Davis, Jr., grandfather of John H., was born in Barnstable, July 4, 1762, and moved with his parents to Gorham, Me., about 1772. He was a land-owner in Gorham until 1803, when he removed to Standish, buying a tract of wild land containing ninety-five acres, from which he redeemed a homestead. . He was a strong, energetic man, and cleared a good farm, doing a large part of the cutting of the timber himself. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and drew a pension until his death, in January, 1856, at the advanced age of ninety-three years. The family are somc- what noted for their longevity, his children all living to be quite old, one daughter attain- ing the age of ninety-onc years, while another lacked but three years of reaching the century mark. He and his wife, Mary Skillins, daughter of Levi Skillins, of Cape Cod, be - came the parents of sixteen children, Isaac being the fourth child and the eldest son. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Davis, Jr., were mem- bers of the Congregational church, whilc he was a Whig in politics.

Isaac Davis was born March 13, 1790, in Gorham, and was a lad of thirteen years when he came to Standish to live. He commenced teaming when a young man, carrying goods from Standish to Portland, but later in life turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, continuing thus employed until his demise in 1867, on September 15. His first wife, Hadassah Shaw, daughter of Thomas Shaw, of this town, bore him three children, two of whom are now living; namely, Daniel S. and Levi S. The latter married Mary, daughter of Theodore Hutchins, of Standish, and has two children - Joshua H. and Abbie S. Amos S. Davis, eldest son of Isaac and Hadassah Davis, married Apphia D., daugh- ter of Asa Cobb, of Westbrook, Me. They had eight children, seven of whom are living.

Amos S. was a soldier in the war of the Re- bellion. He died in July, 1882.

Mr. Isaac Davis's second wife, Abigail Whitney, daughter of Joshua Whitney, of Buxton, Mc., borc him three children, as fol- lows: Emily D., Mrs. John Hooper, a widow, who has four children living - Jason C., Emma F., Georgia, and Lillian; John H .; and Joshua W. The father was a Democrat in politics, and both he and his wife were liberal in religion. Joshua W. Davis, young- est son of Isaac and Abigail Davis, was an officer in Company L, Tenth New York Cav- alry, and served throughout the war. After the war he married, and has since lived in Chicago, Il1.

John H. Davis was brought up and educated in the town of his birth, and on the home farm acquired a practical knowledge of agriculture. On leaving school he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked several years. He is now devoting himself principally to his farm, which consists of forty acres, and yields him excellent crops. Mr. Davis is a steadfast Democrat, popular with his party and promi- nent in town matters. In 1879 he was elected Selectman of the town, and served ac- ceptably two years. He has since for several terms faithfully filled the positions of Town Clerk and Town Treasurer. Socially, he is a Master Mason, belonging to Standish Lodge, No. 70, A. F. & A. M., of which he has been Master three years, besides holding minor offices.

On December 22, 1873, Mr. Davis was united in marriage with Alinda Shaw, daugh- ter of Daniel Shaw, of this town. Both Mr. and Mrs. Davis are liberal in their religious views.

ON. WILLIAM WIDGERY THOMAS, whose portrait appears on a neighboring page of this vol- umc, was born in Portland, Me., November 7, 1803, and is therefore now (1896) in his ninety-third year. He is a di- rect descendant in the eighth generation of George Clecve, the first settler on the Neck, now Portland, and includes in his ancestry the Rev. George Burroughs, a graduate of Harvard

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College and an early preacher in Falmouth, and John Proctor, both of whom were victims of the witchcraft delusion in Salem, Mass.

Mr. Thomas's father, Elias Thomas, was born in Portland, January 14, 1772. In early manhood he engaged in mercantile pursuits, and in 1823 was Treasurer of the State of Maine, which office he held for seven years. He was also a Director of the Cumberland Bank. He died in Portland after a long, use- ful, and honorable life, at his home, corner of State and Danforth Streets, August 3, 1872. aged one hundred years and six months. The Thomas Block on Commercial Street was named in his honor.

Mr. Thomas's mother, Elizabeth Widgery, was the daughter of the Hon. William Widgery. She was married to Elias Thomas in 1801, and died in Portland in July, 1861, at the age of eighty three years, greatly beloved and re- spected. Her father, the Hon. William Widg- ery, died in Portland in 1822 at the age of seventy years. In 1788 he was elected dele- gate to the Massachusetts Convention which adopted the Constitution of the United States. He was chosen in 1787 the Representative from New Gloucester to the General Court of Massachusetts, which office he held by virtue of repeated elections for eight years. In 1794 he was elected Senator to the Legislature of the State of Massachusetts from Cumberland County. He was chosen Representative to Congress in 1810 from Cumberland district, and earnestly supported the measures of Presi- dent Madison's administration, casting his vote in favor of commencing hostilities against Great Britain in the War of 1812, though against the wishes of his constituents.

A gentleman, in writing of Mr. Widgery to a friend in this city says, "Mr. Widgery was in Congress a moral hero, proving himself a man of moral firmness and unbending integrity and self-sacrificing patriotism by taking on himself the memorable position and dangerous responsibility of voting against the expressed will of his constituents for a hazardous and unequal war, with the best part of his wealth (his shipping) uninsured, on the ocean, while his town property, just recovering from the desolation of the embargo, worse for the infant seaport than the war, must become unproduc-

tive, furnishing his declining years with a precarious support, while he would have to buffet the storm of popular indignation, which he did."

Widgery Block on Exchange Street was named in honor of his memory, and is on the site of his former residence.

At an early age Mr. Thomas became a clerk in a dry-goods store, located near the site of the Cumberland Bank on Exchange Street, and in 1822, when not quite nineteen years old, went into the dry-goods business for him- self on the north-easterly side of that street, on the site now occupied by the First National Bank. He left this business in 1835 after a successful career, and has been actively en- gaged in various pursuits, as merchant, banker, and real estate owner up to the pres- ent time. He has been for many ycars one of the largest real estate owners in Portland, and to him the city is indebted for many of the substantial buildings which adorn its streets.

Mr. Thomas was married March 5, 1835, to Elizabeth White Goddard, who was born in Portsmouth, May 25, 1812, daughter of Henry Goddard, for many years a merchant in Port- land. Mrs. Thomas died in Portland, April 27, 1884, lamented by all who knew her, be- loved for her many virtues. Of Mr. Thomas's children there are living: General Henry G. Thomas, United States Army; William Widg- ery Thomas, Jr., ex-Minister to Sweden and Norway (see sketch published elsewhere in this volume); and Elias Thomas, merchant.

Mr. Thomas represented the city of Port- land at Augusta as a member of the House in 1855 and of the Senate in 1856. He was elected State Treasurer in 1860, but declined to serve. He has been a member of both branches of the city government, and is, per- haps, best known as the first war Mayor, in 1861 and 1862, when he was very active in his support of the Federal authority and in caring for the soldiers and their families. He was a friend of Edwin Stanton, Lincoln's famous Secretary of War, and named a block on Ex- change Street "Stanton Block" in his honor. He was for twenty years one of the Board of Overseers of Bowdoin College and for more than thirty years a corporate member of the

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American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions, both of which places he resigned on account of increasing years. He has been one of the managers of the Portland Benevolent Society for more than thirty years, and Presi- dent for more than twenty years, which posi- tion he still holds. He is a Director of the Maine General Hospital, which place he has held for more than twenty years. He was elected in October, 1836, a Director of the Canal Bank, then a State bank, and in 1849 its President, to which position he has been annually elected ever since, and has, therefore, been a Director of the bank sixty years and its President for forty-seven years. He still daily attends to the duties of the office.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 26

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