USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine > Part 32
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DARWIN INGALLS.
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Benjamin B. Frost, of Ohio; Aaron H. (de- ceased) ; Laura B., widow of Edwin Fessen- den, of South Bridgton; Aldana T. (de- ceased) ; Phineas B. (deceased) ; and a child who died in infancy.
Darwin Ingalls acquired his education in the district schools and the academy of his native town. Shortly after leaving school as a student, he engaged as a teacher; and for six years he divided his time between teaching and farming, spending the winter days in the school-house, the summer in the pursuit of agriculture. In 1850 he went West and re- mained a few months in Minnesota and Wis- consin, purchasing real estate in St. Paul and timber land elsewhere, which proved a good investment. During his after life he made many trips to the West, both on business and pleasure. After his father's death he took charge of the homestead in Bridgton, and de- voted much of his time to general farming; and under his intelligent management the an- cestral estate was at its best. Mr. Ingalls was a man of liberal and progressive ideas, which were further developed by his travels in the West; and he was a recognized authority on agricultural subjects.
In politics also he took a leading part as a Democrat. He represented the district in the legislature two terms, was Selectman of the town of Bridgton a number of years, and held other offices of trust. His death, which oc- curred January 27, 1890, caused a sense of irreparable loss in the community.
On May 30, 1852, Mr. Ingalls was united in marriage with Mary J. Patrick, a native of Denmark, Me., daughter of James and Huldah (Berry) Patrick, and the following children blessed their union : Aldana T., a civil engi- neer residing in Wisconsin, who married Fannie Berry, and has one child, Marian E. ; George A., a real estate broker in Boston; Albert A., the father's successor as manager of the home farm, who married September 5, 1895, Miss Laura E. Johnson, of Bridgton ; and three children that died in infancy. Mrs. Ingalls is still living in the home where her children were born and reared. She attends the Congregational church, to whose support her husband liberally contributed.
A portrait of Mr. Darwin Ingalls is shown
in connection with the foregoing sketch. He was a worthy scion of old Colonial stock, be- longing to a family whose progenitors were among the earliest white inhabitants of Essex County, Massachusetts, and were connected by marriage with other leading families of the Bay State.
PRANK WILLIAM SEARLE, M.D., a physician and surgeon of Portland, where, though his professional career has thus far been a brief one, he is meeting with excellent success, is a native of Massa- chusetts, having been born in the city of Lowell, September 8, 1854. His parents were Charles J. and Angeline (Scarlett) Searle, his father being a native of Cambridge, Mass.
Charles J. Searle, who is now sixty-eight years of age, is an old "forty-niner," having been one of a party of adventurous spirits who made the long voyage around Cape Horn to the new El Dorado in search of speedy fortune during the first year of the gold excitement. He had previously served in the navy depart- ment during the Mexican War. After his return East, he married and settled in Lowell, Mass., of which place he is a highly respected citizen, having served for many years in various official capacities. His wife died in 1866, leaving two children - Frank William and Charles J. Searle, Jr.
Frank W. Searle acquired his early educa- tion in the schools of Lowell, being graduated from the high school in the class of 1872. He then entered the City Clerk's office as assistant of that official, remaining thus en- gaged during the greater part of the succeed- ing ten years. He was subsequently elected City Clerk, which position he held until there was a change in the controlling political party.
In 1883 he came to Portland and entered the Portland School for Medical Instruction, and later on took a course of lectures at Bow- doin College, the State Medical School, from which he received his diploma with the class of 1889 after four years of study. Shortly after he went to Freeport, this county, and began the practice of his profession, remaining there three years. He then sold out and
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moved to Portland, and now enjoys a thriving practice in this city. His marriage with Miss Janet Johnson, a daughter of Archibald John- son, of Robbinston, Me., was solemnized in Portland, December 11, 1889. Dr. and Mrs. Searle have had one child, who is no longer living.
Dr. Searle is a member of the Maine Medi- cal Association, the Maine Academy of Medi- cine and Science, and meniber and Secretary of the Portland Medical Club. He and his wife are regular attendants and supporters of the Methodist Episcopal church.
OHN T. MERRILL, who is success- fully engaged in operating a saw-mill in the village of Gray, was born in Poland, Androscoggin County, Me., February 6, 1832, son of John and Deborah (Atwood) Merrill. Mr. Merrill's paternal grandparents, John T. and Hannah Merrill, were early settlers and well-known residents of Poland. Their children were: John, Char- lotte, and James Hooper, all of whom are now deceased.
John Merrill, father of John T., resided in Poland until fifty-six years of age, when, with his son, the subject of this sketch, he removed to Gray. He was an industrious, energetic, and useful member of the community, and highly respected for his many commendable qualities. He continued to reside with his son for the remainder of his life, and died in 1873 at the age of eighty-one. His wife, Deborah Atwood, whom he married in the town of Poland, was a native of New Glouces- ter, Me. She became the mother of eight children, as follows: Mayhew C., who was born December 24, 1815, and now resides in Connecticut ; George T., who was born Feb- ruary 28, 1817, and is no longer living; Char- lotte, who was born April 28, 1819, and died at Spirit Lake, Ia., in 1895; William D., born May 13, 1824, and now living in Solano County, California; Charles Atwood, born April 20, 1826, and died in Springfield, Mass., in 1896; James H., born November 2, 1830, and now a resident of Chicago; John T., the subject of this sketch; and Francis A., born July 5, 1834, and also residing in
Chicago. Mrs. Deborah A. Merrill died in 1866, aged seventy-four years.
John T. Merrill was educated in the com- mon schools; and at the age of eighteen he went to Portland, where he learned the carpen- ter's trade, serving an apprenticeship of two years and receiving fifty dollars per year. In 1854 he settled in Gray, where he bought a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he followed in connection with his trade until 1875. He then moved to the vil- lage and commenced operating a saw-mill, at the same time continuing to do carpenter work until 1880, when he established himself in a general mercantile business. After con- ducting both the store and the mill for twelve years, he retired from trade, and since 1892 has given his whole time to the milling in- terests. He operates the only steam saw-mill in the village; and consequently he handles a large amount of business, and with profitable results. He is a staunch supporter of the Re- publican party, with which he has always voted ; and, though not an aspirant for public office, he is interested in political affairs and is well informed upon the important issues of the day. He is a member of Siloam Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Gray, and maintains a lively interest in the affairs of that Order.
On July 1, 1852, Mr. Merrill was married to Frances H. Young, daughter of Nathaniel Young, a former resident of Gray. Mrs. Merrill's parents, who were prosperous farm- ing people, are no longer living. Mr. and Mrs. Merrill have had six children, namely : Ella Frances, who died in infancy; Ella Susan, who died at the age of eighteen ; Jennie Wilma, who is the wife of Henry C. Doughty, and resides in Gray ; Willard L., who married Elizabeth Tufts, and is a successful farmer of Gray; Emma M., who married Dr. L. T. Cushing, and resides with her parents; and Alice S., who married Charles L. Dow, and lives in West Pownal, Me. These children have been well educated and are useful mem- bers of society. The family attend the Con- gregational church, of which Mr. and Mrs. Merrill are active members; and he has had charge of the choir for more than twenty-five years.
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ERRILL T. FILES, general mer- chant in the village of White Rock, Gorham, Me., was born in this town, January 31, 1823. Mr. Files is of English extraction, his paternal grandfather, William Files, having been the emigrant ancestor of the family.
William Files left old England for New England about 1750, coming soon after to Cumberland County, which was then included within the limits of Massachusetts. He settled near Fort Hill in Gorham, being one of the pioneers of the place. Buying one hun- dred acres of land, which was in its primeval wildness, he labored with persevering energy to clear a farm, residing here until his death, at the venerable age of ninety-five years. In politics he was an old-time Federalist, and, religiously, was a communicant of the Episco- pal church. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Gordon, nine children were born, Joseph, father of Merrill, being the youngest child.
Joseph Files was born in Gorham in Decem- ber, 1767, was here reared to manliood, and here spent his active life, dying in 1855. He was a farmer, owning a large tract of land, which he tilled most faithfully, working early and late. He was an active member of the old Whig party and an influential citizen of this town. He married Annie Haskell, daughter of John Haskell, of Gorham, their union being solemnized in 1799. Thirteen children were included in their family circle, but of these only two now survive; namely, Ruth and Merrill T. Ruth Files, widow of Francis Small, of Raymond, reared four chil- dren, of whom three are living - Davis R., Howard T., and Jane. The mother died in 1 862. Both parents were members of the Free Will Baptist church.
Merrill T. Files obtained his early educa- tion in the district schools of Gorham, and ad- vanced in learning by a course of study at Limerick, in this State. In his boyhood he received practical training in agricultural labors, and after leaving school he worked on the homestead farm for many years. In 1865 Mr. Files abandoned farming in favor of a mercantile life in the city of Portland, where he, in company with J. M. Plummer, opened
a grocery store, which they managed for two years under the firm name of Plummer & Files. In 1868 Mr. Files returned to Gorham and established a general store at White Rock, carrying a complete assortment of the merchandise desired by his country customers.
In the same year, under the administration of President Grant, he was appointed Postmas- ter, holding the office until 1875. He is a true-blue Republican, prominent in local affairs, and has often served his fellow-towns- men in official capacities. In 1860 and 1861 Mr. Files was one of the Selectmen of the town, besides which he was a member of the School Committee, and was again elected to serve on that Board. : In 1873 and 1874 he represented his constituents in the State legis- lature at Augusta.
Mr. Files has been twice married. In 1853 he was united in wedlock with Martha Libby, of the town of Naples. She passed to the higher life in 1858, leaving one child, George Evans, who was born May 18, 1854; and on November 10, 1861, Mr. Files was again mar- ried to Mrs. Mary E. Merrill, a daughter of Deacon Samuel Meserve, of this town. Their union has been blessed by the advent of one child -- Annie E., born January 2, 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Files are active in church work, being connected by membership with the Free Baptist Church of White Rock.
J OHN Q. A. JORDAN, who is actively and prosperously engaged as a tiller of the soil at Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland County, Me., was born in this place July 3, 1849, being a son of John and Abigail (Fickett) Jordan.
Mr. Jordan's paternal grandfather, Thomas Jordan, was a lifelong resident of this State. He was bred to the occupation of farming, which he followed through life, after his mar- riage purchasing a farm in Cape Elizabeth, where he lived to a ripe old age. The maiden name of his wife, who was a native of this place, was Martha Fickett. She bore him four children. John Jordan, son of Thomas and Martha, was born on the old Jordan home- stead at Cape Elizabeth, and, with the excep- tion of a few years, when he went to sea, en-
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gaged in the West India trade, diligently fol- lowed the independent calling of his father, to which he was reared. On October 3, 1835, he was united in the bonds of matrimony with Abigail Fickett, who became the mother of eleven children, of whom the following four yet survive : Simon F., born October 12, 1837, a well-known farmer of this town; Melvin F., born November 24, 1840, who subsequently had his name legally changed to Sawyer, the name of his mother's sister's husband, and is now a resident of the Cape; John Q. A., the direct subject of the present sketch; and Alvin A., born November 17, 1853. Lewis G. Jordan, who was born March 29, 1836, and married Susan R. Bragdon, of Poland, Me., has recently died.
John Q. A. Jordan spent his early years in school ; and on the completion of his educa- tional course he turned his attention to agricult- ural pursuits, in which he has met with emi- nent success, having by tireless energy and progressive enterprise won position among the leading farmers of this locality. In politics Mr. Jordan is a sound Democrat. Relig- iously, free and liberal in his views, he is not connected with any church organization.
OSES M. CHAPMAN, a prosperous farmer and an old resident of West- brook, son of John and Hannah (McKenney) Chapman, was born in Dexter, Penobscot County, Me., January 25, 1833. Mr. Chapman's great-grandfather, Ed- ward Chapman, was a native of Ipswich, Mass., who married Eleanor Small, of Lim- ington, Me., and, settling in Westbrook, became identified with the early settlement and growth of the town. Among his children were: Nathaniel, who served in the Conti- nental army during the Revolutionary War; and Simon, Mr. Chapman's grandfather.
Simon Chapman was born in Westbrook, and in young manhood he studied law, which he practised to some extent; but the greater part of his life was passed as a farmer in his native town, where he died in 1845. He was an old-time Democrat in politics. He mar- ried Polly Jose, sister of Jonathan Jose, of Scarboro, and reared a family of seven chil-
dren, three of whom are living, namely : Mary, who married, and is now a widow; Harris, who resides in Philadelphia, Pa .; and Hero, a resident of Passadumkeag.
John Chapman, son of Simon, was born in Westbrook; and when reaching manhood he engaged in the lime-burning business, which formed his principal occupation through life. He resided in Dexter for some time, later moving to Danville, now Auburn, Me. ; and he finally settled in Piscataquis County. He was an industrious, energetic, and worthy citizen, who applied his resources to the best advan- tage, and always enjoyed a comfortable pros- perity as the fruits of his labor. He died in 1877. He voted with the Democratic party, and in his religious views was a Universalist. His wife, Fanny McKenney, was a daughter of Moses McKenney, of Scarboro. She be- came the mother of ten children, six of whom are living, and are as follows: William ;- Mahala; Hannah; Moses M., the subject of this sketch; Joshua; and Jerome.
Moses M. Chapman was educated in the schools of Scarboro, Dexter, and Danville. After completing his studies he was engaged in the construction of the southern portion of the Great Falls & Conway Railroad, upon which he worked for three years; and he then settled in Westbrook, where he has since given his attention to farming. For the past forty years he has made agricultural pursuits a suc. cessful business, and at the present time owns some two hundred and twenty-seven acres of valuable land situated in Westbrook and Scar- boro, his property being finely located and ex- ceedingly productive. He makes a specialty of breeding blooded Durham and Holstein stock, and also raises cattle for market con- sumption, to the extent of about thirty-five head annually. Besides these he raises some fine horses of Norman stock, having at the present time several good specimens; and he has secured a high reputation in that direction. He devotes some time to general farming, producing one hundred tons of superior hay yearly, and deals quite largely in milk.
Mr. Chapman was married to Lydia B. Jordan, daughter of Captain Ebenezer Jordan, of Danville, on November 27, 1862, and has five children, four of whom are living, namely :
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Napoleon B., who is in the grocery business in Portland; Geneva B., wife of George Tal- bot, of South Portland; Manetta G. and Mason M., who reside at home.
In politics Mr. Chapman supports the Dem- ocratic party, but has never sought for politi- cal prominence. He is deeply interested in the general welfare of the community, the moral and social improvement of which he is always ready to aid; and he attends the Uni- versalist church.
LARENCE E. ALLEN, proprietor of the baggage transfer from the Union Station, Portland, was born in Gor- ham, Cumberland County, Me., April 15, 1853. He is the son of George W. and Lydia (Lambert) Allen. His grandpar- ents were William and Maria (Chatty) Allen, of Falmouth, Me.
William Allen was a well-to-do farmer in Falmouth, who lived to be seventy-six years old, his wife dying at the age of seventy-two. She was a daughter of Captain John Chatty, a soldier in the French War. Their son, George W. Allen, was born in Falmouth, Jan- uary 18, 1822, and there grew to manhood. In 1849 he removed to Gorham, where for some time he was engaged in farming, return- ing in 1861 to Falmouth, where he is now living. He is a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted in the Twenty-fifth Maine Volunteer Infantry. His wife was born De- cember 5, 1826, daughter of John and Eliza- beth (Alexander) Lambert, old residents of Falmouth. Mr. and Mrs. George W. Allen rearcd four children, of whom Clarence E. is the only one now living. In religious belief Mr. George W. Allen is a Baptist, while his wife is a member of the Congregational church.
Clarence E. Allen attended the common schools of his native town and Westbrook Seminary, and finished his schooling with a course of study at Gray's Business College, Portland. When nineteen years of age he went to work for M. Y. Knight, a grocer on Oxford Street, in whose employ he remained four years; and he then engaged for a while in the milk business. In 1879 he went to Boston to enter the employ of the Highland Strcet
Railway. In 1884 he returned to Portland, and engaged in the express business on a small scale; and the following year he bought out James Neal, who had the Maine Central Railroad trade. This business was then easily handled, and Mr. Allen's single horse was able to accomplish all that was necessary. After the Union Station was built, the busi- ness increased, and another firm took up the same line; but they dropped out within a year, leaving Mr. Allen in sole possession of the field. From that time to the present his trade has yearly increased, and he now owns the largest transfer business in the city. Mr. Allen is a persevering and energetic man, who knows how to use to the best advantage the capabilities that win success. He has at- tained prosperity through his own efforts alone, and is deserving of the success which he has achieved.
October 17, 1876, he was united in mar- riage with Alice E. True, daughter of Calvin S. and Alice M. (Anderson) True, of Port- land. They have three children - Ernest, Ethel, and Calvin.
Mr. Allen is a Mason, belonging to Ancient Landmark Lodge, No. 17, A. F. & A. M., of Portland. He and his family attend St. Stephen's Church (Episcopal), to whose sup- port he contributes. They have a pleasant home at Deering.
URELIUS SCOTT JONES, a practi- cal and well-to-do farmer of Scarboro, Me., was born in this town Novem- ber 8, 1838, coming from pioneer antecedents. His grandfather, John Jones, was a native of Scarboro, his birth occurring November 6, 1775. He spent a part of his earlier life in Pownal, another Cumberland County town, but subsequently purchased a farm in this locality, and here carried on mixed husbandry throughout his years of ac- tivity, dying in 1856. He was a man of robust constitution, and never afraid of hard work. He was active in advancing the relig- ious and moral interests of the community, and for more than forty years was a Deacon in the Congregational church. On October 20, 1797, he married Lydia Westcott, of Cape
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Elizabeth; and they reared a family of six children, William, the father of Aurelius S., being the fourth child.
William Jones was born January 23, 1808, in the town of Pownal, where he resided until a young man, when he came to Scarboro, where he afterward engaged in general farm- ing, meeting with signal success in his under- takings. He was influential in local matters, serving as Selectman for some years. In re- ligion he was a Congregationalist, and con- tributed generously toward the support of that church. He was twice married, his first wife, Jane W. Sawyer, dying in 1857, and leaving two children - Aurelius Scott and Henry S. Of his union with his second wife, Mrs. Catherine F. Moody, née Libby, no children were born. Henry S. Jones, now a resident of Scarboro, was born here, April 27, 1842. He married Jane W., daughter of Ebenezer Libby, of this town; and they have one child, Florence Ada, born August 25, 1871. He is a Republican in politics, and both he and his wife are members of the Congregational church. Aurelius Scott Jones was reared and educated in the place of his nativity, and on the home farm was thoroughly instructed in the agricultural arts, continuing beneath the parental roof-tree until the breaking out of the late Rebellion. In 1861 he enlisted as a pri- vate in the Twelfth Maine Volunteer Infantry, joining Company C, which was commanded by Captain Thornton, of Scarboro. Mr. Jones served in New Orleans on guard duty for nine months, and during that time was promoted to the rank of Corporal. On his return to Maine he located in Portland, where he was engaged in the trucking business for eight years, after which he came back to the scenes of his child- hood, and here took up farming on the old homestead. He has a snug farm of sixty-five acres, the larger portion of which is under good cultivation. It is amply supplied with substantial farm buildings and all the neces- sary equipments for carrying on farming oper- ations after the most improved methods. Mr. Jones is active in the Grand Army circles, being a member of Thatcher Post, No. III.
Mr. Jones was first married January 1, 1864, to Martha Ellen Robinson, daughter of John Robinson, of this place; but their happy
wedded life was of brief duration, her death occurring November 21 of that year. On January 15, 1867, he was married to her sister, Elizabeth L. Robinson. Two children are the fruit of this marriage, namely: Martha Ellen, born February 18, 1869; and John Howard, born September 9, 1870. Martha Ellen married Royal E. Hudson, of this town; and they are the parents of three chil- dren - Arthur Scott, Mary E., and Cora Belle. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members of the Congregational church, in which he has served for some time as superintendent of the Sunday-school.
OSEPH W. READ, who owns and oc- cupies a portion of the original home- stead in South Windham, Me., on which his grandfather, Noah Read, settled in the latter part of the eighteenth- century, was born in the town of Windham, November 9, 1835. He is of English ante- cedents, being the lineal descendant of John Read, the son, presumably, of William and Lucy (Henage) Read, of England. John Read sailed from England with the large fleet that came to New England in 1630, and set- tled at first in Weymouth, Mass., but after- ward removed to Rehoboth, Mass., buying property there in 1643. He was a large land- holder, and quite prominent in local affairs, for some years holding the office of Constable, which was then the chief executive office.
His son, Daniel Read, the next in line of descent, was born in Rehoboth in March, 1655. He married Hannah Peck on August 27, 1677; and they reared six children. Daniel, Jr., their second child and first son, was born in Rehoboth, January 20, 1680. He and his wife, Elizabeth Bosworth, were the parents of sixteen children, Noah, Sr., great- grandfather of Joseph W., being the eighth child.
Noah Read, Sr., a native of Attleboro, Mass., born December 17, 1718, married Abigail Baldwin, who became the mother of eleven children. The eighth child, bearing the father's name Noah, as noted above, was born September 21, 1755, in Attleboro. He married Mary Robinson, of Windham, Me.,
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