Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 30

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

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CHARLES OLIN FILES.

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professional and literary career. Near the close of the Freshman year the health of Mr. Files broke down so completely that he was advised to give up all thought of completing his college course. He then began the study of medicine, which he pursued for a year, when his health was so much improved that he determined to re-enter college, in the class of 1868. Just at this time Dr. Hanson, who was principal of Portland Academy, having re- ceived an offer to return to Waterville and take charge of the Coburn Classical Institute, asked Mr. Files to take his place as principal of the Portland Academy.

Though then but little over cightecn years of age, Mr. Files accepted the position, and remained at the head of the academy through the summer and fall of 1865, through the year 1866, and the spring and summer of 1867. In the mean time he kept up with the class of 1868 at college; and in the fall, after passing his examination, he entered the class at the beginning of the Senior year. He was gradu- . ated in the regular course, and immediately entered the Portland School for Medical In- struction. In the fall of 1868 he matriculated at the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania; and in the fall of 1869 he entered the College of Physicians and Sur- geons, New York City, graduating in March, 1870. In April of that year Dr. Files opened his office in Portland, and has continued here in practice till the present time, except for a period of two years, when he was incapacitated for professional work by ill health. He has established a reputation for skill in the treat- ment of nervous diseases that makes him one of the foremost specialists of the city.

On October 12, 1871, Dr. Files was mar- ried to Julia E., youngest daughter of Captain J. B. Coyle, manager of the Portland Steam Packet Company and one of the founders of the International Steamship Company and the Maine Steamship Company. Dr. and Mrs. Files have two children - Nina N., born Oc- tober 11, 1872; and Charles Edwin, born Au- gust 30, 1874.

In politics Dr. Files is a Republican. He and his wife attend the Chestnut Street Meth- odist Episcopal Church, of which the Doctor has been organist for many years. They have

a handsome residence at 120 Free Street, Port- land.

B ENJAMIN F. STANLEY, who con- ducts a good farm in the town of Harrison, was born in York County, Maine, December 5, 1830, son of Benjamin and Lydia E. (Thompson) Stanley. His father was a native of Sanford, Me., born July 26, 1799. In early manhood he worked for a time in Cambridge; but in 1832 he set- tled upon a farm in Harrison, where hc fol- lowed agricultural pursuits until 1863, when he enlisted as a private in Company G, Twenty-ninth Maine Volunteers. He died June 29, 1864, while on his way home from New Orleans by water, and was buried at sea. His death was a loss to the town as a useful and esteemed citizen. His wife, Lydia E. Thompson, who was a native of Sanford, be- came the mother of five children, as follows: Benjamin F., the subject of this sketch; Harriet, born October 27, 1832, marricd I. P. Roberts, and resides in Milwaukee, Wis .; Cyrus K., born February 10, 1835, is now de- ceased; Lydia, born March 4, 1839, died Feb- ruary 28, 1855; and Martha L., who was born April 18, 1841, married J. F. Wight, and re- sides in Wellesley Hills, Mass. The mother died November 22, 1889.

Benjamin F. Stanley obtaincd his education in the common schools of Harrison, and at the age of eighteen found employment as a hotel clerk in Harmony, Me. In 1851 he went to Bangor, this State, where he was employed in the saw-mills upon the Penobscot River, re- maining there until 1853, when he returned to Harrison, and, with his father, settled upon his present farm. They considerably im- proved the property before his father's dcath ; and Mr. Stanley now owns one hundred acres of valuable land, which he devotes principally to the cultivation of hay and corn. He is an admirer and breeder of good stock, raising some fine specimens of Hereford and Durham cattle.

On September 21, 1851, Mr. Stanley was united in marriage to Elizabeth Graves, who was born in Athens, Me., daughter of Thomas Graves, her father being no longer living.

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Mr. and Mrs. Stanley have two children, namely : Fanny L., born December 19, 1852, resides with her parents; George F., born De- cember 10, 1854, married a Miss Burke, of Rowley, Mass., and also at this date resides at home.

Mr. Stanley is widely known and equally esteemed by his fellow-townsmen, among whom he occupies a prominent position; and he is a leader in all matters relative to the general welfare of the community. Though not an aspirant for political honors, he takes a lively interest in public affairs, and supports the Republican party at the polls.

A® LFRED B. WINSLOW, Trcasurer and Collector of Westbrook, is a native of this city, being born here, October 24, 1858, son of Stephen R. and Hannah (Hacker) Winslow. Mr. Winslow's grandfather, Josiah Winslow, was a native of that part of Falmouth which is now included within the limits of Westbrook, and a lifclong resident of the locality, being well and favor- ably known as an upright, conscientious man and an exemplary citizen. He died in 1880, aged eighty-eight years. He reared a family of six children, of whom three are living, namely: Stephen R., father of Alfred B .; Ed- ward B., who resides in the State of Kansas; and Lydia M., wife of I. N. Hacker, of West- brook.

Stephen R. Winslow was born in West- brook, and, when a young man, learned the shocmaker's trade, which he has since followed with profitable results. Some time ago he moved to Lynn, Mass., where he now resides. lle is a Republican in politics, and in relig- ion is a member of the Society of Friends. His wife, Hannah Hacker, who is a native of Westbrook, has had four children, two of whom are living, namely : Alfred B., the sub- ject of this sketch; and Ellen A., who residcs at Mount Holyoke Seminary.

Alfred B. Winslow received his education in the public schools of Westbrook; and after a course of study at the high school he en- tercd mercantile business as a clerk in the grocery store of H. P. Murch, continuing in that capacity for six years. At the end of

that time he formed a copartnership with James L. Brown, purchasing his employer's business; and for twelve years the firm of Winslow & Brown conducted a profitable trade. Mr. Winslow then sold his interest to his partner, and accepted the office of City Treasurer and Collector, being appointed by Mayor Cordwell in January, 1894, to fill the unexpired term of G. Fred. Murch. In March of the same year he was appointed by Mayor Cutter to that office for the years 1895 and 1896. In politics he is an active supporter of the Republican party; and he rendercd valu- able service to the city as a member of the Board of Aldermen from Ward 3 in 1892 and 1893.

On September 1, 1882, Mr. Winslow was united in marriage to Hattie M. Swett, daugh- ter of William H. Swett, of Westbrook, and has three children - Earle C., twelve; Evelyn, ten; and Frank W., seven years of age. Mr. Winslow is a worthy representative of several fraternal Orders, and has taken an ac- tive part in developing their usefulness. He is a member of Temple Lodge, No. 86, A. F. & A. M., Westbrook Lodge, No. 27, Knights of Pythias, of which he has filled all of the chairs, being at the present time Past Chan- cellor and a Trustee, and is Treasurer of Tribe 35 of the Order of Red Men. Both Mr. and Mrs. Winslow attend the Universalist church.

OODBRIDGE G. OSBORNE, who is living retired from active busi- ness, is a native of Cumberland County, Maine, his birth having occurred July 14, 1837, in the town of Scarboro. His father, the Rev. Charles F. Osborne, and his grandfather, the Rev. John B. Osborne, were faithful ministers of the Free Will Baptist denomination.

John B. Osborne was a native of Lee, N.H., where, when but a boy, he became im- bued with religious zeal, and determined to consecrate his life to the cause of Christian- ity. He was ordained to the ministry in his native town, and became one of the most suc- cessful and influential preachers of that faith in New Hampshire. He was twice married.

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His first wife, Abigail Smith, bore him three children. His second wife, Mary Frost, mother of the Rev. C. F. Osborne, was born in Epping, N.H. She bore him fourteen children; and of these Jerry Jackson Osborne, the youngest child, is the only one now liv- ing. He is a farmer in Gorham, owning one hundred and fifty acres of land, about one- third of it being under cultivation.

Charles F. Osborne, born March 15, 1800, in Lee, N.H., was there rearcd to man's es- tate. For some years he was engaged mostly in surveying in Portland, being employed a portion of the time as a clerk in a store. He subsequently started in mercantile business for himself, opening a general store, but gave up this in order to fit himself for the ministry, for which he was eminently adapted. He was ordained as pastor of the Free Will Bap- tist church at Fort Hill, Gorham, in 1837; and he continued his pastoral labors until his death, January 24, 1854, his last charge being - at the Limerick and Limington Church in Parsonsfield, quarterly meeting, York County. The Rev. Charles F. Osborne married Susan C. Leavis, a daughter of Thomas Leavis, of Portland, and of their nine children the follow- ing are living; namely, Harriet S., Ellen M., Charles H., Ervine D., Lillia, and Wood- bridge G. Harriet S., born in September, 1820, is the wife of Hanover S. Nickerson, of Pittsfield, Me., where both attend the Free Will Baptist church. Ellen Maria, born in March, 1831, makes her home with her sister Harriet in Pittsfield, and is there a member of the Free Will Baptist church. Charles H., who was one of triplets, born in December, 1833, owns a farm of one hundred acres in Gorham, where he makes a specialty of early fruits. He married in November, 1868, Mrs. Sarah Haywood, born Holmes; and their eld- est child, Sumner C. Osborne, married Isa- belle Durrell, of Hyde Park, Mass. Ervine D., a graduate of Bowdoin College, is now engaged in teaching in Winthrop, Mass. Lillia is a professional nurse of Brookline, Mass. They are Congregationalists in their religious belief.

Woodbridge G. Osborne was educated at the Limerick and Limington Academies, being graduated from the latter when but

sixteen years old. He at once began teaching school, first in Sebago, in the following winter at Baldwin; and the next fall he had charge of the tuition school at Emery's Corner in Lim- ington. In 1855 he taught the winter term of the North Gorham school; and just afterward he assumed charge of the school at Gorham Corner, where he remained a year. He had confined himself so closely to the duties of his calling that he was now forced to abandon his profession for a while. He came to Port- land, and was subsequently employed as a clerk in a store for a short time. In 1859 he established himself in a mercantile business in company with J. F. Dearborn, the firm being Osborne & Dearborn. The following year he sold his share to his partner, and began travelling for Shaw Brothers, wholesale grocers of Portland. When the Shaws gave up business in 1860, Mr. Osborne opened a store for the sale of grain and groceries on Market Square in this city, forming a partner- ship with O. W. Eldredge, whom he after- ward bought out. He continued this business successfully until the summer of 1862, when he sold out, in order that he might be free to enter the service of his country. On July 28 he enlisted under Captain Ellis M. Sawyer in Company E, Seventeenth Maine Volunteer In- fantry; and for three months he was employed as mail messenger. He was then taken sick, and, being incapacitated for active duty, was assigned to look after the Quartermaster's stores. He was subsequently promoted, and given charge of the Quartermaster's store at Blue Ridge Mountain. Another promotion placed him in the office of book-keeper at the Brigadier Quartermaster's department. His health remaining impaired, he was from there sent to Washington, where he was honorably discharged April 30, 1863. By virtue of his patriotic services Mr. Osborne receives a pen- sion; and he is a member of Bosworth Post, No. 2, Grand Army of the Republic, of Portland.

After regaining his health, Mr. Osborne resumed teaching, being employed successively at Gorham, Buxton, and Cape Elizabeth, re- tiring from this work in 1874, his last school being the Ligonia at the Rolling-mills in Cape Elizabeth. In 1875 he began travelling

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for the wholesale grocery house of W. E. Donnell & Co., with whom he remained five years. He was subsequently employed in a similar capacity by Charles Mclaughlin & Co., and then by Thomas Dana & Co., of Boston. While working for the latter firm, through some business transaction Mr. Os- borne took possession of a grocery store in a New Hampshire town, where he remained en- gaged in business for six or seven years before he could dispose of the store at an advantage. Returning then to Maine, he worked a year for Twitchell, Champlin & Co. of Portland, going in 1894 to the store of Shaw, Harmon & Carney, by whom he was employed until December of that year, when he retired from active life. Mr. Osborne has a farm of sixty- five acres, which he has bought in small lots, at South Portland; and here he spends the warmer months of the year, residing in the winter season in Portland.

On August 29, 1860, Mr. Osborne was united in marriage with Mary Ellen Anthoine, daughter of Deacon Daniel Anthoine, of Cape Elizabeth. Their only child, Woodbridge G. Osborne, Jr., was born April 5, 1880. In politics Mr. Osborne is a steadfast and loyal Republican. Religiously, both he and his wife are members of the Free Will Baptist church. Socially, he is identified with several of the leading organizations of the city, being a member of Beacon Lodge, No. 67, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; of Bram- hall Lodge, No. 3, Knights of Pythias; of Portland Encampment, No. 19, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and Oasis Command- ery, No. 241, of the Golden Cross of Knight- ville.

ILLIAM R. LINCOLN, a promi- nent factor in the business life of Brunswick, Me., owner of a large mill and an extensive dealer in grain, was born in Litchfield, Me., January 3, 1834. He is the son of Daniel and Olive (Baker) Lin- coln, the former a native of Scituate, Mass., the latter born in the vicinity of Cape Cod. Mr. Lincoln's paternal grandfather was Solomon Lincoln, a farmer, the greater part of whose life was spent in Scituate, where he died at an

advanced age. His son, Daniel Lincoln, re- moved from Scituate to Freeport, Me., when a young man, and there worked at shoemaking for some time; and he then purchased a farm in Brunswick, and devoted the rest of his life to agricultural pursuits, dying at the age of seventy-six. His wife lived to be eighty-two years of age. She was a member of the Free Will Baptist church. Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln were the parents of seven children, only two of whom are now living - William R., the subject of this sketch ; and Edward S., a baker, also a resident of Brunswick.

William R. Lincoln went to work when but twelve years of age, obtaining a position in a store, which he retained six years. He then went to California, at that time the Mecca of Mammon worshippers, and worked in the gold mines for a while, soon, however, returning to the East. His next venture was in the livery business at Gardiner, Me; and after that he established a bakery at Bath, which he man- aged for thirty years. In 1886 he built the mill of which he is now owner, and has since conducted a growing and prosperous business, selling feed of all kinds. Mr. Lincoln is a most competent miller, his long experience as a baker making him an expert in the require- ments of the trade.

In 1857 he was united in marriage with Fannie M. Oliver, a native of Brunswick, daughter of Amos Oliver, a lumberman of this town. She died at the age of twenty-nine, leaving one child, a daughter named Fannie, who is now the wife of the Rev. F. H. Gile, a clergyman of the Unitarian church. Mr. and Mrs. Gile have five children - Nellie, William, Harry, Lucy, and Richard. Mr. Lincoln married for his second wife his first wife's sister, Harriet A. Oliver; and by this union he has one daughter, Alice Velma.

Politically, he favors the Democratic party. He takes an active interest in the town government, and has served on the Board of Selectmen two years. He belongs to Polar Star Lodge, No. 114, A. F. & A. M., of Bath; to the Royal Arch Chapter of Bath ; St. Bernard, No. 2; and to the Order of the Golden Cross. His wife is a member of the Congregational church in .Brunswick. His first wife belonged to the church of that de-

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nomination in Bath. Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln are highly esteemed in Brunswick, where they are prominent members of society.

UGUSTUS FREEDOM MOULTON, attorney and counsellor-at-law, resid- ing at Portland, who was born May I, 1848, at Jay, Franklin County, comes from excellent English stock. The emigrating ancestor of the family was William Moulton, who left Ormsby, Norfolk County, England, in 1638, and subsequently settled at Hampton, N.H., where he served as Select- man, and was otherwise identified with the settlement of the town. He and his descend- ants retained their citizenship in that section of the Granite State until 1745, when Cap- tain Daniel Moulton, who was fourth in de- scent from William, the emigrant, removed to this county, locating at Scarboro. A more extended sketch of the early ancestors of the family may be found in the "Moulton Gen- ealogy," compiled and published by Augustus Freedom Moulton in 1892.

Captain Daniel Moulton was quite an ex- tensive landholder in Scarboro and vicinity. His wife was a grand-daughter of Charles Pine, the celebrated Indian fighter, of whom he was an especial favorite, and who endeav- ored to entail a tract of land upon him and his issue. He was active in the Revolution- ary War, being a member of the Committee of Safety for most of the time. The line of de- scent continued through his son Charles, through Captain Joshua Moulton, the grand- father of Augustus, and through his son Freedom, father of Augustus.

Freedom Moulton, a native of Scarboro, born October 31, 1808, was educated for a professional life. In his earlier years he was a teacher at Scarboro and Gorham. From 1842 until 1853 he lived at Jay, being em- ployed as a teacher a portion of the time, and devoted to agricultural pursuits when not otherwise engaged. While there he was a member of the superintending School Com- mittee. Returning to Scarboro, he purchased of Ezra Carter, his father-in-law, the old homestead, where he thereafter resided until his death, July 31, 1857. He married on

June 13, 1842, Miss Shuah Coffin, daughter of Ezra and Sarah (Faybyan) Carter. She is a native of Scarboro, born December 20, 18II, and is still living on the old homestead, active in body and mind. They were the parents of four children, as follows: Martha Carter, who married Lewis O. Hills, of Arlington, Ill., and died in 1889; Sarah Carter, a graduate of the Portland High and of the Oswego, N. Y., Normal Schools, who is a successful teacher, and resides on the old homestead; Augustus Freedom, the subject of this notice; and Lydia Frances who after an attendance at the Westbrook Seminary was graduated from the Normal Training School at Oswego, N. Y., and is now one of the corps of instructors at the Jackson School in this city.

Augustus Freedom Moulton received the rudiments of his education in the public schools. He subsequently attended the West- brook Seminary, from which he received his diploma in 1869. He then entered Bowdoin College, where he was popular among his classmates, and belonged to both the Delta Kappa Epsilon and the Phi Beta Kappa So- cieties. After a four years' course he gradu- ated at the head of his class, being class orator for that occasion. During the year 1874 Mr. Moulton was a tutor in Bowdoin College. In the following year he began his law studies with William L. Putnam, now Judge of the United States Court of Appeals, remaining with him until admitted to the bar of Cumber- land County in October, 1876. Mr. Moulton still continues his residence at Scarboro, which he represented in 1878 and 1879 in the State legislature, being a member of the Judiciary Committee both years. Beginning the practice of his profession in Portland, Mr. Moulton has since had an abundance of ex- perience, both in corporation and general work, his practice being extensive and lucra- tive, and his legal knowledge and ability un- surpassed. Twice has he been nominated on the Democratic ticket for Judge of Probate and for County Attorney. He is one of the most influential members of his party, with a brilliant record as a stump speaker and lecturer.

Mr. Moulton spends his summers at the old homestead in Scarboro, where he has served as

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School Committee for fifteen years. During the winter season he is usually a guest of the Preble House, this city. He is prominent in the Masonic Lodges of Portland, belonging to the Ancient Landmark Lodge, Mount Vernon Chapter, Portland Council, and Portland Com- mandery. He is also a leading member of the Fraternity Club, a literary society composed of well-known men, each of whom presents a paper on some scientific subject at least once each season, and likewise entertains the mem- bers of the club once a year. He has also been for some years one of the Trustees of Westbrook Seminary. Mr. Moulton, who is interested in the early history of the State, and devotes much of his time to the study of early records, is a prominent member of the Maine Historical and the Maine Genealogical Societies.

ILLIAM TRUE, a prosperous farmer of North Yarmouth, son of Samuel and Mary (Titcomb) True, was born upon his present homestead, December 5, 1819. The family is of English origin; and Mr. True traces his lineage back to Henry True, who, with his brother Richard, emi - grated to America in 1635 or 1640. Mr. True's great - grandfather, Nathaniel True, was one of the first settlers of North Yar- mouth, and followed the occupation of a clothier at the Falls for many years. His wife was before marriage Sarah Brown.

Their son, William True, first, cleared and improved the farm upon which his grandson and namesake now resides. Grandfather True was a sturdy and industrious pioneer, who prospered in spite of the many difficulties to be met with and hardships to be endured in those early days; and he lived to a ripe old age. He married Susan Brown; and they reared a family of three sons and seven daugh- ters, all of whom became heads of families and have passed away. Of these Samuel, Mr. True's father, was the youngest son. He was born in North Yarmouth, was reared to agri- cultural pursuits, and always resided upon the home farm, which he cultivated energetically and with prosperous results during the active period of his busy life, attaining the age 'of

sixty-two years. He was liberal in his relig- ious views and a Whig in politics. His wife, Mary Titcomb, who was a native of North Yarmouth, became the mother of five children, as follows: Moses, who died at the age of seventy; William, the subject of this sketch; Sarah, wife of Captain E. R. York, of Yarmouth; Cornelia K., wife of Hiram Tuttle, of Yarmouth; and Samuel, who is no longer living. Mrs. Mary T. True lived to reach the age of over eighty years.

William True grew to manhood upon the home farm, and received both a common- school and an academic education. Adopting agriculture as an occupation, at the age of twenty-two he purchased the homestead prop- erty, where he still continues to reside, hav- ing remodelled and otherwise improved the buildings. His farm consists of one hundred acres of unusually good grass land, and is among the very best in the town. He has brought the place to its present condition of neatness and thrift by hard work and close at- tention to every detail. He is not only a good manager at home, but has given his share of time and attention to public affairs. He served as a member of the Board of Selectmen in 1862; and he has for many years been actively interested in the progress of educa- tion, serving as President of the School Board for a number of years, and is at the present time a Trustee of the School Fund. He is a Republican in politics.

On December 10, 1845, Mr. True married Jane Y. Pratt, who was born June 29, 1822, daughter of Levi H. Pratt, and died Septem- ber 5, 1888; and on June 7, 1894, he married his present wife, whose maiden name was Phoebe Gray Loring, and was then a widow, Mrs. Barstow. She was born in North Yar- mouth, January 24, 1828, daughter of Jeremiah and Marjana (Leonard) Loring, both of whom were natives of North Yarmouth, the father being a prosperous farmer. Jeremiah Loring died at the age of seventy, and his wife lived to reach the age of seventy-eight years. They reared a family of nine children, four of whom are living, namely : Phœbe, Mrs. True, who is the eldest; Dorcas, who is now Mrs. Hicks, and resides in Hampden, Me .; Charles R., of Livermore Falls; and Edna A., who is now

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 30

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