Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 37

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

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In 1870, his health being improved, he returned to Maine and entered actively upon the business career which eventually proved so brilliant, becoming a member of the flour and grain commission house of Norton, Chapman & Co., in Portland. There have been several changes in this firm during the past quarter of a century ; but Mr. Chapman has remained through them all and is now the principal owner in the company, which he recently had incorporated under the name it had borne so long, and is Treasurer and Manager, having disposed of enough shares of stock to equip it with the necessary officers. It is recognized as the leading house in Maine in the flour and grain trade, and represents some of the largest

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and best-known mills of the West whose products stand high in public favor, including the celebrated Pillsbury Washburn Mills of Minneapolis.

An able financier, Mr. Chapman has de- voted a portion of his time to banking, estab- lishing in 1890, in connection with his brothers, Cullen C. and Robert Chapman, the well-known and successful banking company whose establishment was located on Middle Street, Portland. The business increased so rapidly that it was decided to incorporate it as a national bank; and, accordingly, the Chap- man National Bank opened its doors for busi- ness October 9, 1893, and has been very suc- cessful in its operations.

Mr. Chapman has also done a great deal for the financial betterment of the city of Port- land. A Republican in politics, he served on the Common Council from 1877 to 1879, being President of that body the last term; and at the time the Portland & Rochester Road was sold, by preventing undue haste he brought to the city treasurer seventy-five thousand dollars more than it would otherwise have realized. From 1880 to 1881 he was on the Board of Aldermen, serving as Chairman the second year. In 1886 he was elected Mayor of the city, and was subsequently re- elected by increasing majorities, serving three years. The Back Bay improvements date from that time, and also the lease of the Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad, in which the city had large interests, to the Maine Central, which has resulted in not only mak- ing the investment of the city remunerative, but also in securing permanently to Portland the commercial advantages for which the Port- land & Ogdensburg was constructed. Dur- ing his Mayoralty the new reservoir on Mun- joy Hill was built; the new public library building, the munificent gift of the Hon. J. P. Baxter, was accepted by the city, Mayor Chapman making a graceful and appropriate speech ; and the Longfellow statue on State Street Square was presented to the city by the Longfellow Association, which erected it in commemoration of the gifted poet. The great celebration of Portland's centennial was inaugurated and carried to a successful con- summation largely through Mayor Chapman's

influence and untiring efforts; and he was one of the commissioners from the State on the occasion of the National Centennial in New York City in 1888. That same year he was an alternate delegate at large to the Republi- can National Convention at Chicago, which nominated President Harrison.

During the past two or three years he has declined public office, and has occupied his time chiefly with commercial and banking interests, acting also as trustee for different estates, besides being employed on. commit- tees for the reorganization of different corpo- rations. The universal confidence in his ability and integrity is shown by the names and standing of some of the companies whose affairs he has been called upon to adjust. Many of the matters intrusted to him have re- quired much time and good judgment. In addition to other work, he has found time to act as director and manager in several business and manufacturing corporations. He served several years as Director of the Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad and as an officer of the Board of Trade, and is now President of the Diamond Island Association, President of the Portland Sprinkling Company, Director of the Portland Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany, Director of the Maine Auxiliary Fire Alarm Company, Vice-President of Chapman National Bank, and is connected officially and otherwise with various other important corpora- tions. Mr. Chapman was a trustee of the public library and a member of the School Committee for years, but resigned from both offices as he felt his time inadequate to properly dis- charge such duties. Through his entire busi- ness course his career has been one of straight- forward honesty, and he has won the confidence of all with whom he has had dealings.

Mr. Chapman belongs to several fraternal associations, being a member of the Portland Club, the Athletic Club, the Portland Medical Science Club, and other literary and political organizations. He has been identified with the Bowdoin Club and also with the Portland Athletic Clubs since they were organized. Ap- preciating the beauty and value of Casco Bay as a summer resort, in 1892 he erected a hand- some residence on the highest point of Dia- mond Island, and helped in the reconstruction

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and maintenance of the new Ottawa Hotel, thus bringing the advantages of the bay within the knowledge and enjoyment of visitors.

September 15, 1875, Mr. Chapman was united in marriage with Anna Dow Hinds, daughter of Benjamin F. Hinds, a gentleman now more than twenty-five years connected with the Portland custom-house. Five chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Chap- man, namely: Marion Carter, a student at Smith College; Robert Franklin, a student at the Portland High School; Charles Jarvis, Jr., Philip Freeland, and Harrison Carter, promising boys, who are yet attending school. His family, with the exception of the youngest boy, are all professing members of the Willis- ton Congregational Church; and Mr. Chapman has been moderator of the church since its or- ganization. He has a beautiful home at the corner of Spring and Neal Streets, where he has resided for ten years, and which, re- modelled and beautified, possesses an added interest as having been the original residence in Portland of Governor Washburn.

APTAIN HORACE B. SOULE, a retired ship-master, residing in his pleasant home in South Freeport, and a representative of one of the oldest families of Cumberland County, was born in this town on February 21, 1830, son of Enos and Sarah (Pratt) Soule.

His great-grandfather, Barnabas Soule, was among the early pioneers of Freeport, where he engaged in farming. Barnabas Soule, Jr., son of the elder Barnabas, was born in 1758. Like his father, he devoted his attention to agriculture; and, being a man of perseverance and energy, he acquired a goodly amount of real estate, and was a leading citizen of the town. He died on January 25, 1823. His wife, Jane Dennison, who was born in Free- port in 1760, lived until March 5, 1825. Their thirteen children all grew to adult life, but none are now living. They were: David (first), David (second), Esther, Thomas, Jane, Eliphas, Enos, Joanna, Alfred, Henchman S., Jane B., William, and Clementh H.

Enos Soule, the fifth son and seventh child, was born in South Freeport, on November 29,

1792. He became a sailor at an early age, and, having mastered the art of navigation, was for many years one of the leading sca captains of his time. Later in life he took up ship building in company with two of his brothers, and they conducted a large and suc- cessful business in that line at South Free- port. He died here on November 8, 1869. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Pratt, was born in Freeport on June 30, 1798. They reared twelve children, of whom two sons and three daughters are still living. The record is as follows: Francis B., Enos C., Martha J., Laura A., and Lydia L., all now deceased; Horace B .; Barnabas (deceased); Emily S., born October 2, 1834, residing in South Free- port ; Ellen T. (deceased); Margaret P., born May 23, 1839, living in Portland, Mc .; Julius, a captain residing in Freeport, born on February 11, 1842; and Henrietta C., born April 25, 1844, living in South Freeport. Their mother died on December 30, 1881. She was a communicant of the Congregational church. The father was liberal in his relig- ious views and a Democrat in political affilia- tion.

Horace B. Soule received his early edu- cation in the common schools of South Free- port, and later took a supplementary course of study at Lewiston Academy. He made his first voyage when seventeen years of age, as a seaman before the mast in the brig "Venus," which was commanded by Captain Francis Soule. About five years later, in 1853, he was given the command of the " Milwaukee," a ship capable of carrying seven hundred and fifty tons. From that time on, during the succeeding thirty years, he was in command of various vessels, some of the largest being the "Enos Soule," of fifteen hundred and twenty tons; the "Tam O'Shanter," capable of carrying fifteen hundred and forty tons' burden ; and the "Paramita," having a capac- ity of fifteen hundred and forty-seven tons. These were all built in the South Freeport ship-yards, and Captain Soule was part owner in them. His career as a Captain was one of remarkable success, as during the entire thirty years no accident of serious consequence oc- curred. In his voyages he visited many of the principal seaports of the world. Since he re-

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tired, in 1882, he has made his home at South Freeport.

On July 15, 1857, Captain Soule was united in marriage with Miss Emeline F. Tal- bert, who was born in Freeport, and was a daughter of Enoch Talbert. Three sons and one daughter were the fruit of their union, as follows: Everett H., born July 27, 1861, a sea captain; Maud H., born March 10, 1864, who married Charles Woodman, of Yarmouth, Me .; Paul H., born June 25, 1875, who is a clerk in Boston, Mass .; Thatcher H., born June 30, 1877, now a student in Bowdoin Col- lege. Their mother died on November 4, 1888. On January 25, 1894, Captain Soule married Miss Anna F. Dolley, who was born in Aroostook County, Maine. They have one son, Rodcrick F., born March 3, 1895. In political affiliation, Captain Soule is a Demo- crat. His wife is a member of the Congrega- tional church of South Freeport.

ILLIAM HENRY CLIFFORD, counsellor-at-law, was born in New- field, York County, Me., the town in which his father, Nathan Clifford, began his professional life. Nathan Clifford was born in Rumney, N. H., and established his residence in Newfield in 1820. He there married Hannah Ayer, daughter of Captain James Ayer, a prominent citizen and merchant in that part of the State. Henry Ayer came from the north of England and settled in Haverhill, Mass. Elisha, one of his descend- ants, removed to Saco, Mc., and thence to Newfield, of which town he was one of the early settlers. James Ayer was the son of Elisha. Nathan Clifford removed to Portland, Me., in 1849; but all his children were na- tive in the town of Newfield. The ancestor of the Cliffords of New England was George, who came from Arnold, Nottingham County, England, in 1664, and landed in Boston, where for a time he resided. He finally set- tled in Hampton, N.H. He was a lineal de- scendant from the ancient and still-existing Clifford family, conspicuous in English his- tory and distinguished actors in many of its great events for centuries past. In this coun- try the Cliffords spring from a New Hamp-

shire parentage. The late governor, John Henry Clifford, and Judge Nathan Clifford were descended from the same ancestor a few generations back. A correct genealogy of the Cliffords of New England is to be found in Joseph Dow's "History of Hampton," 1894, vol. 2, p. 638.

William Henry Clifford, the third son of Nathan Clifford, was fitted for college at the Portland Academy and Professor Wood's school at Yarmouth, Me. He entered Dart- mouth College, from which he was graduated in 1858. He studied law in Portland, in the office of Shepley & Dana, and completed his course in the office of Benjamin R. Curtis at Boston. Upon admission to the bar he opened a law office in Portland, where he has practiscd his profession ever since. For eight or ten years he was Commissioner of the United States Circuit Court for the District of Maine; and a very large proportion of the commit- ments for violation of the Federal Statutcs were, for a series of years, made in his court. Later he acquired an extensive practice in the Federal courts of this and neighboring circuits and in the Supreme Court at Wash- ington. He is the author of Clifford's Re- ports, a compilation of Justice Clifford's de- cisions on the New England Circuit (four volumes). Mr. Clifford has from an early period in his life taken an active part in the political contests in Maine on the Democratic side, and has shared in the fortunes of his party in this State. He has achieved a high position as a Democratic leader, the result of having participated in the labor of cvery polit- ical campaign in Maine since the close of the Civil War and of other services to his party outside of the State. He has been twice nominated as Democratic candidate for Con- gress in the First District of Maine, once against John H. Burleigh and the second time as the opponent of Thomas B. Reed, and won credit and respect both by his abilities and power as a political speakcr and by the vigor and energy of his campaigns. Mr. Clifford has served on the National Democratic Com- mittee as the Maine member, has been called upon to preside at the State conventions of his party, on which occasions his opening speeches have been printed by the State Committee for

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circulation as campaign documents. He is the author of numerous speeches and addresses of a literary and other character. Mr. Clif- ford still continues the practice of his profes- sion as the senior member of Clifford, Verrill & Clifford, the two junior partners being Mr. Elgin C. Verrill and Nathan Clifford, Mr. Clifford's oldest son.

Mr. Clifford was bred in the school of De- mocracy, and stills holds the faith, as to strict Constitutional construction, tariff, and sound money, of that great party that once swayed the destinies of our country and has left its impress for all time upon its institutions and policy.

In 1866 Mr. Clifford married Ellen G., daughter of the Hon. J. B. Brown, of Port- land; and their children are three sons and a daughter.

B ARNAS SEARS SHAILER, a suc- cessful tiller of the soil and the owner of the old Cushman farm in New Gloucester, Me., of which place he is a highly respected citizen, was born in Brookline, Mass., on May 1, 1839, son of the Rev. William H. and Betsey Payne ( Hascall) Shailer. Probably the earliest ancestor of this family in America was Thomas Shaler or Shaylor, the name being variously spelled, who, with about twenty-seven others, settled in 1662 in the southern part of the Connecticut valley, at a place which a few years later received the name of Haddam.

William H. Shailer was born in Haddam, Conn., in 1807. He studied for the ministry, and was a graduate of the Theological Semi- nary and College at Hamilton, N. Y., later incorporated as the Madison University, in the class of 1835. His first pastoral charge was the Baptist church in Brookline, Mass., to which he went in 1837, and where he remained until March 19, 1854, when he removed to Portland, Me., and was installed as the pastor of the First Baptist Church of that city, a position which he continued to hold for a quarter of a' century. Besides his church work, he was prominently interested in the general welfare and advancement of the com- munity, and for twenty-seven years was a

member of the School Committee. He died there on February 23, 1881, at the age of seventy-three years, three months, and three days. On May 22, 1836, he was united in marriage with Miss Betsey Payne Hascall, daughter of Professor Daniel Hascall, the founder of the Hamilton Literary and Theo- logical Seminary, which has since become the Madison University. Four children were the fruit of their union, namely : Sophia, the wife of J. B. Mathews, of Newton Centre, Mass., agent for the Monson (Me.) Slate Company ; Barnas S .; Elizabeth H., who married the Rev. Safford D. Moxley, and lives in Bristol, R.I .; and Mary E., who died when ten years old. Their mother died in December, 1886, having survived their father five years.

Barnas S. Shailer acquired his carly educa- tion in the common and high schools of Port- land. When eighteen years old he secured a position as clerk in a grocery store in Port- land, and remained there until four years later, at which time he went to Monson, Me., where he spent the succeeding seven years at work on a farm. He next returned to Port- land, and was employed as a clerk in his brother-in-law's grocery store for ten years.

In 1878 he came to New Gloucester, and purchased the old Cushman farm, on which he has since resided. This estate contains one hundred and twenty-five acres of land, and it is one of the oldest and most productive farms in the town. Mr. Shailer has made various improvements upon it since he owned it, and its appearance marks him as a thoroughly ca- pable and progressive agriculturist. He takes special pride in his horses, of which he has several of fine breed. On December 25, 1861, he was joined in marriage with Miss Harriet H. Sawyer, of Madison, Me., who was born on March 7, 1842, and is a daughter of Jeffer- son and Lydia (Crosby) Sawyer. Both her parents died in 1846, when she was but four years old; and she was reared by William Dutton, of Madison, Me. Her union with Mr. Shailer has been blessed by the birth of six children, as follows: William H., who married Miss Blanche Carville, and lives in Lewiston, Me .; Hezekiah, who married Miss Margaret Sheridan, and is engaged in the shoe business in Freeport, Me .; Mary, the wife of

CHARLES E. HODGKINS.

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Albert C. True, of Freeport, Me .; Feroline L., who died when but seventeen years of age; Bessie H., who with her husband, George W. Haskell, is living with her parents; and Harry, likewise residing at home. All the children have received a good public-school education.

In political principles Mr. Shailer is a loyal adherent of the Republican party. Fra- ternally, he is a member of Siloam Lodge, No. 45, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Gray.

HARLES E. HODGKINS, whose por- trait is herewith shown, has been con- nected with the Portland Steamship Company since 1881, and is now chief engineer of the steamer "Portland." He was born in what is now Lowell, Me., De- cember 9, 1831, son of Ebenezer and Mary (Webb) Hodgkins.

Ebenezer Hodgkins was born in Temple, Me., in 1800. He was engaged in agricult- ural pursuits during the greater part of his life, and resided in different parts of Cumber- land County till a short time prior to his death, when he moved to Lenoxville, Can- a la. There he died, May 17, 1875. His wife was a daughter of John and Sarah Webb, of Westbrook, and was born in 1801. John Webb was a farmer by occupation, one of the early settlers of Westbrook. Mrs. Mary W. Holgkins died in 1837, at the age of thirty- six years and seven months.

Charles. E. was the eighth of ten children, and vas but six years of age when he was left motherless. He received a common-school education, in the intervals between the school sessions working about the farm. In 1852 he went to Portland, and hired himself out as a deck hand for the summer, on the steamer "Admiral " on the St. John route; and in the fall of the same year he went to New York City, and took up what proved to be his life vocation, engaging first as a fireman on local steamships. He was fireman of the "Cale- donia " on her first trip from New York to Portland, a position of honor, as she was the first steamer to run between those cities; and he was chief engineer of the "Carlotta " and

the "Chase," which plied between Halifax and Portland, being on the former vessel when she took fire. In April, 1881, he be- came connected with the Portland Steamship Company as chief engineer of the "Forest City," and has since taken charge of various boats for the company, including the well- known "John Brooks," the "Tremont," and the "Portland." Mr. Hodgkins is one of the oldest engineers on the line, and holds the full confidence of his employers. The heavy weight of responsibility which falls on the engineer of a great steamship, who has the lives of the passengers in his hands, has been ably borne by him for many years ; and he has never been found derelict in his duty.

Mr. Hodgkins and Miss Laura A. Verrill, of Westbrook, were married on May 4, 1856. They have two children, a daughter and a son - Mary L. and Henry E. The former is the wife of William B. Bragdon, of Cumberland Mills, Me. Henry E. Hodgkins is a ma- chinist of Westbrook, and has resided at Cum- berland Mills since 1872. He married Miss Olive Gustin, of South Gorham.

In politics Mr. Hodgkins is a Republican. He is a member of Saccarappa Lodge, No. II, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Cum- mings Encampment, No. 16; Naomi, D. R., No. 1; Temple Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Westbrook; Presumpscot Valley Lodge, Knights of Pythias; S. D. Warner Council, No. 4, Society of American Mechanics; and Daughters of Liberty. He is a man of ability, with a fund of useful knowledge, and quiet and unassuming in his manner.

B PAGE HOWARD, a native of Cum- berland County, Maine, was born January 31, 1841, in the town of Harrison, being a son of Barzilla and Lucy Howard. The parents, who were farmers, had a family of eight children, two sons and six daughters, five of whom are now living.

B. Page Howard lived on the parental home- stead until 1856, when he went to Vermont, where he was living when the late Civil War broke out. Responding to the first call for volunteers, Mr. Howard enlisted in Company K, Eighth Vermont Infantry, being mustered

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into service at Brattleboro. He first faced the enemy at Brashear City, after which the regi- ment was ordered to Port Hudson, where it was under fire almost continually for forty-two days. They then went to Bayou Bluff, where they were encamped until the battle at Frank- lin, in which engagement they made an honor- able record for bravery on the field. The fol- lowing two months the regiment was stationed at New Orleans, where Mr. Howard was sent to the Marine Hospital, where he remained for six weeks, suffering from disease contracted through the hardships and exposure of army life. He received his discharge June 22, 1864, his term of enlistment having expired.

After a short stay in Vermont Mr. Howard came to Harrison, this county, where he and his father took a contract to build two dams. After their completion our subject located in the village of Bridgton, where he purchased a marble business, which he successfully con- ducted until 1885, when he sold out. He then turned his attention to agricultural pur- suits, in which he has since been engaged, being a thorough and practical farmer. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party, and he has served several terms as Road Surveyor.

Mr. Howard was first married in 1873 to Miss Emma Larrabee, who died, leaving one child, Emma. On March 2, 1884, Miss Susie E. Gamage became his wife, and of this union three children have been born: Eva M. : Arthur T., who had a brief earthly life of but three years; and Arnold P. Mrs. Howard is a consistent and esteemed member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

YMAN F. WALKER, junior member of the firm of L. & L. F. Walker, coal and wood dealers of Yarmouth, Me., was born in the town of Cum- berland, Cumberland County, Me., on July 28, 1836, son of Lyman and Louisa (Mer- chant) Walker.

His grandfather, Jeremiah Walker, a native of Gouldsboro, Hancock County, Me., was a shoemaker by trade and also followed agri- culture to some extent. He married Miss Jane Marston, who was born in North Yar-

mouth, Me., a descendant of an old family. Six sons and four daughters were the fruit of their union, of whom two are now living - Mrs. Jane Sweetser, a resident of Brunswick, Me. ; and Lyman. Jeremiah Walker died on the old farm in North Yarmouth when eighty- six years old, his wife also surviving to a good age.

Lyman Walker, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in North Yarmouth, Febru- ary 5, 1814, and received but meagre educa- tional advantages. His life has been spent for the most part in Yarmouth and vicinity. In 1841 he began in the ship-building busi- ness, which he followed successfully up to 1874, turning out more vessels than any other builder in Yarmouth, the largest being the "Sam Lock" of twelve hundred tons' burden. At times he had as many as one hundred men in his employ. In 1874 he gave up the busi- ness; and, with his son, who had previously been associated with him as partner for several years, the firm of L. & L. F. Walker was es- . tablished. After a business connection of about fifteen years Mr. Lyman Walker sur- rendered the management to his son, and has since lived in retirement. His marriage with Miss Louisa Merchant was solemnized in 1834. She bore him four children, namely : Cordelia, who died when six months old; Charles M., who died at the age of three months; Lyman F. ; and Elkanah H. The last named, who is station agent at Augusta, Me., has been with the Maine Central Railroad for over twenty years, and is one of the most trusty employees of that road. Mrs. Lyman Walker died in September, 1886. Both parents were com- municants of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in political affiliation the father is a Dem- ocrat.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 37

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