USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine > Part 38
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Lyman F. Walker came to Yarmouth from Portland when four years old. He received his education in the public schools and at Yar- mouth Institute. On leaving the latter insti- tution, he went to work in his father's ship- yard, after which he was employed for a time as clerk, being subsequently taken into part- nership by his father. A few years later he gave up his interest in the business and went to Canada, where for a time he was engaged in lumbering. In 1874 he entered into the
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coal and wood business with his father at their present stand, as above narrated, the manage- ment being now in his own hands, owing to his father's retirement. Mr. Walker has the largest coal and wood business in Yarmouth, handling as much as thirty-three hundred tons of coal in a year. He also deals in all kinds of building lumber. He has twice married, his first wife being Miss H. Lizzie Corliss. After her death he formed a second union with Miss Hannah Bliss, but has no children by either marriage. In politics Mr. Walker is a Prohibitionist. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Cumberland.
J ANE LORD HERSOM, M.D., a phy- sician in active practice in Portland, was born in Maine, daughter of Samuel and Sophia Hight (Smith) Lord. The Lord family is of English origin, and Mrs. Hersom's branch of the family is connected with the Lords of Berwick and of Kittery. Her great-grandfather, whose name was Moses Lord, was one of the early settlers of the State. Her grandfather, also named Moses, was a pioneer of Sanford, Me., where he was en- gaged in farming.
Samuel Lord, son of Moses Lord, Jr., was born at South Sanford proper, and in 1843 moved to Springvale, a village in the same town. A great part of his early life was de- voted to farming. After the war he moved to the old Chancellor place, three miles from the battlefield of Chancellorsville in Virginia. In politics Mr. Lord was a Democrat, and he was strongly opposed to slavery. He was a prominent man in his district in Maine, serving as Deputy Sheriff of York County for some time and as Postmaster of Springvale from 1852 to 1860. IIe died in the South, in Feb- ruary, 1874. His wife, to whom he was united in 1836, was a native of Hollis, Mc., and a daughter of Daniel Smith, of old York, and his wife, Sarah (Chase) Smith, of Saco. She reared two children: Dr. Jane Lord; and a son, Edwin Howard, who now has charge of the academy at Wolfboro. Mrs. Lord died in January, 1859, at the age of forty-three years. She was a member of the Congregational church at Sanford Corner.
Jane Lord Hersom attended public and pri- vate schools in Springvale, and taught at her home in that town for some time before her marriage. In January, 1882, she took up the study of medicine. After spending one year under the tuition of Dr. S. H. Weeks, she studied for three years at the Woman's Medi- cal College of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, receiving her diploma in the fall of 1886. Dr. Hersom immediately began to practice in Portland, and during the nine years of her professional life, in handling difficult cases, she has made a reputation for skill and deli- cacy that has brought her a large clientage. She belongs to the Practitioners' Club of Port- land, of which she was President for a year, and is a member of the Cumberland County Medical Society, of the Maine State Medical Association, of the American National Medi- cal Association, and of the Maine Academy of Medicine and Science.
Dr. Hersom was married in 1865. Her husband, Nahum A. Hersom, who also was a physician, was a son of Nahum and Eliza- beth (Pray) Hersom, of Lebanon, Me., and was born in that town in 1835. His father was a tailor, but was also engaged in farming. Nahum A. Hersom attended school at West Lebanon, and studied at the academy at Par- sonsfield, then quite a noted institution. He
read medicine with Dr. John Parker, of Leba- non, and Dr. Nathan Parker, of Farmington, attended the Brunswick Medical School for a year, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia in 1861. In the summer of that year he opened an office at Sanford Corner. In the fall of 1862, when the Twentieth Maine Volunteer Infantry started for the South, he went with it as Assistant Surgeon. Six months later he was promoted to the rank of First Surgeon of the Seventeenth (Maine) Regiment, and during the last year of the war he had charge of the field hospital of the Third Division of the Second Corps. His health was good during the first part of his army life, but in the last year he had two attacks of malarial fever. He was on the point of having a third seizure when he was mustered out. He then located in Farmington, N. H., where he was married, and for two years attended to a heavy practice.
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At the end of that time he prepared to take a vacation for two weeks, but it was five years before he was able to resume his professional work. In the fall of 1872 Dr. and Mrs. Her- som removed to Portland, and there the Doctor built up an extensive practice in medicine and surgery. In the spring of 1881 he went to Europe for a rest of three months, but soon after landing he was taken ill. Within a week from that time he died of peritonitis in Dub- lin, among strangers, with not one of his kin- dred to bid him farewell. He was a member of the County and State Medical Societies, of the American Medical Association, and of the Portland Clinical Society. He was prominent in each of these organizations and took an active part in their important transactions. In politics he was a Republican. He kept up his army associations after the war, and was surgeon of a Grand Army Post. He left one daughter, Mabel Lord Hersom, who is now a student at Smith College.
Dr. Jane Lord Hersom takes an active interest in all projects for the good and the advancement of women. She served one year as President, and was also Treasurer, of the Maine Suffrage Association; and she was three years President of the Equal Suffrage Club of Portland. She belongs to the Monday Club, one of the oldest continuous history clubs of the city, to the Women's Literary Union, and State and National Federation of Women's Clubs. In charitable and church work she is also active, belonging to the State Street Con- gregational Church, of which her husband also was a member.
HARLES M. CLARY, a prominent merchant of Harpswell, Me., with place of business on Bailey's Island, of which he is a native, was born on August 3, 1845, son of Samuel and Susan W. (Gardener) Clary. His great-grandfather, Luther Clary, was one of the first settlers of Bailey's Island, owning sixty-five acres of land, part of which he cultivated. He lived to an advanced age.
Ephraim Clary, son of Luther, was born on Bailey's Island, and there made his home during his life of sixty-three years. He en-
gaged in farming to some extent, and also, with a number of boats, took part in the fish - eries, which form the principal industrial feature of the island. His wife was a Miss Gardener, a native of Orr's Island. They reared a large family, one son being Samuel, above named.
Samuel Clary, the father of Charles M., was born in Portland, but spent the greater part of his life on Bailey's Island. He went to sea as a fisherman when quite young, and was actively engaged in catching and curing fish for some years, also raising garden produce on the home farm. He died in the prime of manhood, at the age of forty-five, having con- tracted ship fever during one of his expedi- tions to the high seas. He married Susan WV., a daughter of Ephraim Gardener, who was a fisherman of Bailey's Island. Mrs. Clary is yet living on the island, and is now seventy- two years of age. She worships at the Union Church, at whose services her husband also was a frequent attendant during his life. They reared but one child, the subject of this sketch.
Charles M. Clary was but four years of age when his father died; and he was early called upon to take up the work of life, acquiring, as opportunity afforded, a good common-school education. He went on fishing expeditions when but ten years of age, and successfully followed that line of work until 1892, when he built his present place of business. This store is connected with the comfortable dwell- ing-house which he erected in 1880, and is well stocked with a full line of groceries, dry goods, notions, and other useful articles of general merchandise. In addition to his retail trade Mr. Clary buys lobsters at wholesale to ship to distant cities, realizing a handsome income from this branch of his business. Thrown on his own resources when a child, he has developed remarkable business ability, and is now one of the prosperous merchants of Harpswell.
In 1868 Mr. Clary was united in marriage with Ella E. Huff, daughter of Joseph Huff, a fisherman of Boothbay, Me. Of the four children born of this union one has passed to the world beyond. Mabel E. is with her parents ; Ora A. is the wife of William L.
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Greely, a fireman of the steamer "Merry- coneag" ; and Charles W. assists his father.
A Democrat in politics, Mr. Clary has filled many public offices of trust, serving as As- sessor, Overseer of the Poor, and Selectman ; and he has been a member of the town Demo- cratic Committee two years. Ile was on the School Board two years under the town system, and also served under the district system. He belongs to but two social organizations, being a member of Pejapscot Lodge, No. 13, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of Brunswick ; also Sebascodegan Tribe, No. 30, I. O. R. M., of Orr's Island. With his wife he attends the Union Church on the island. A man of unusual intelligence, he is very prominent in Harpswell, and takes an active interest in all matters concerning the public welfare.
RVILLE G. BOYD, representative in Portland of the well-known firm of Stickney & Poor, spice manufacturers of Boston, was born in Portland, Me., December 4, 1829, son of Enoch and Mary K. (Haskell) Boyd. His ancestors came originally from Kilmarnock, Scotland. His great-grandfather, John Boyd, Sr., who was a sea captain, was lost at sea. His grandfather, John Boyd, Jr., became a prosperous New Hampshire farmer.
Enoch Boyd, father of Orville G., was born in Salisbury, Mass., in 1796. At an early age he adopted mercantile pursuits, and was for several years an extensive wool merchant, but subsequently engaged in the grocery busi- ness, which he successfully conducted for a long period, being a well-known business man of his day. He finally retired; and the re- mainder of his life was passed in Melrose, Mass., where he died in 1877. His wife, Mary K. Haskell, who was born December 6, 1 802, was a grand-daughter of Nathaniel Has- kell, formerly a large land-owner in this State. She became the mother of four children, namely : Orman Taylor, senior member of the firm of Boyd, Leeds & Co., of 216 State Street, Bos- ton ; Mary K., who resides in Melrose, Mass. ; Charles Oscar, who is in business in Melrose ; and Orville G., the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Enoch Boyd died in 1868.
Orville G. Boyd was educated in the schools of New Hampshire, completing his education at the academy in Laconia, that State. He commenced business life as a clerk in a gen- eral store in Laconia, where he remained for a time. Coming then to Portland, he entered the clothing business in this city as a member of the firm of Boyd & Co. After a successful experience of several years he sold out and then went to Boston, where he engaged in the wholesale grocery business, becoming a part- ner in the firm of L. G. Pratt & Co. This concern consisted of Messrs. Pratt and Leeds and the Messrs. Orman T. and Orville G. Boyd; but, Mr. Pratt finally withdrawing, the firin became known as Boyd, Leeds & Co. They carried on a flourishing business for some time, but at length dissolved; and Mr. Orville G. Boyd entered the firm of Stickney & Poor, with whom he has since remained, his connec- tion with that house having extended over a period of fifteen years. During this time he has had charge of the Portland branch, which is located at 5 Exchange Street. Ile occupies a prominent position among the busi- ness men of the city, and is widely respected for his personal character. He is a member of Unity Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of Portland Encampment. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Boyd mar- ried Susan W. Graffam, daughter of Captain Peter and Sarah M. (Cobb) Graffam, her father having been a well-known sea captain and ship-owner of Portland. Both Mr. and Mrs. Boyd are members of the Free Street Baptist Church.
RANVILLE M. RICH, senior mem- ber of the firm of G. M. & C. S. Rich, of Standish, Cumberland County, Me., was born in this town, November 12, 1835. His paternal grandfather, Lemuel Rich, was a lifelong farmer in Standish, at- taining the age of fourscore years. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Betsey Smith, seven children were born, John, the father of Granville M., being the second son.
John Rich, a native of this town, was born in 1796, and spent his entire life in the place of his birth, being engaged in lumbering and
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farming. He married Susan Phinney, daugh- ter of John Phinney, of Gorham. They had three children, all of whom are living, namely: Myra; Serena, widow of Edwin Richardson, of Naples, Me .; and Granville M. Politically, the father was a Republican in his affiliations; and the mother, religiously, was a member of the Methodist church.
Granville M. Rich was bred and educated in Standish; and after leaving school he here en- gaged in the lumber business with his father, being also interested in agricultural pursuits. He subsequently formed a partnership with C. S. Rich, and was extensively engaged in the manufacture of lumber for many years. The firm still own the plant in common, but its members carry on a separate business, operating the saw-mill individually, each being independent in his dealings. Mr. Rich is an earnest advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and takes an intelligent and active interest in local public affairs, in 1883 and 1884 serving as a member of the Board of Selectmen. He is a Knight of Pythias, belonging to Crescent Lodge, No. 20, of Steep Falls, in this town.
Mr. Rich was married June 8, 1868, to Abby F. Hamlin, daughter of Ebenezer C. Hamlin, of Standish. Mr. and Mrs. Rich have no children of their own living; but they have adopted a son and a daughter - Herbert L. and Annie P. Rich, who have all the ad- vantages of a refined and cultured home. Mr. Rich and his family attend the Baptist church. -
A LEXANDER STEVENSON, formerly an expert wool-dyer and later a suc- cessful clothing merchant of West- brook, died at his home in this city in 1894. He was born in Scotland, February 10, 1845, and was a son of Francis and Jean- ette (Miller) Stevenson. Wool-dyeing ap- pears to have been the hereditary occupation of the family, as it was the trade of his father and of his paternal grandfather, who lived and died in Scotland. Francis Stevenson, who was born in Stirling, Scotland, emigrated with his family in 1856 to the United States, and settled in Clinton, Mass., where he was
employed in the woollen factories, residing there for the rest of his life. He was an industrious and reliable workman; and, be- coming a citizen of the United States, he supported the Republican party in politics, and in his religious belief was a Congregation- alist. His wife, Jeanette Miller, who was a native of Scotland, became the mother of nine children, five of whom are living, namely : Frank, a resident of Meriden, Conn .; John, who is engaged in the clothing business in Wallingford, Conn .; Jeanette, wife of N. J. Harding, of Clinton, Mass .; William, who resides in Clinton ; and Maggie, wife of M. J. Dougan, of Worcester, Mass.
Alexander Stevenson acquired his education in the public schools of Clinton; and, after completing his course of study, he went to Utica, N.Y., where he served an apprentice- ship of one and one-half years in the wool-dye- ing business under a Mr. Steele, a master dyer in the woollen-mills of that city. While in Utica he pursued a business course at the commercial college; and, after he had learned the dyer's trade, he went to Bridgton, Me., where he took charge of the dyeing department of the Pondicherry woollen-mills, which had just been erected, and he cleansed and dyed the first batch of wool ever used in those mills. He was connected with the Pondi- cherry mills for twenty-one years, during which time he secured a high reputation throughout the State as an expert dyer ; and his services commanded a handsome income. He owned real estate in Bridgton, together with other valuable property; and while residing there he was actively interested in both the social and political welfare of the town. In 1 886 he moved to Westbrook, where he entered the clothing business in company with his brother-in-law, Leander Clements, under the firm name of Clements & Co .; and, purchas- ing his partner's interest four years later, he carried on the business successfully until his death, which took place as above stated. While conducting business in Westbrook, he was induced by Ayer & Houston, the hat man- ufacturers of Portland, who had much diffi- culty in obtaining a fast black color for their goods, to come to their assistance with his ripened knowledge and experience. He
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labored in their interest for six months with such success that at the end of that time the firm offered him the entire charge of their fac- tory, but he declined to accept.
Although naturally of a domestic turn of mind, preferring to pass his moments of leisure with his family, Mr. Stevens displayed a deep interest in the fraternal Orders. He was well advanced in Masonry, having been Master of Oriental Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Bridgton ; had passed through the different chairs of the Royal Arch Chapter; and was a member of Lewiston Commandery, Knights Templars. He was also a charter member of Highland Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of Bridgton. In politics he was a Democrat; and, while not taking any active part in public affairs, he sought by the aid of his vote to secure the proper administration. In his religious views he was a Universalist.
On November 12, 1866, Mr. Stevenson was united in marriage to Abbie E. Alley, daugh- ter of E. T. Alley, of Bridgton. By this union there is but one son, Frank, who has succeeded his father in business. Frank Stevenson has already developed a thorough capacity for mercantile pursuits, and is at the present time the youngest merchant in West- brook. He is bright, energetic, and particu- larly agreeable in his manners, and is very popular, both socially and in a business way. Mrs. Stevenson, who survives her husband, is still rcsiding in Westbrook. An intelligent, liberal-minded lady, she is highly esteemed by her many friends and acquaintances.
,DWARD ALLING NOYES, Treasurer of the Portland Savings Bank, with which he has been connected since 1859, was born at Eastport, Me., October 6, 1839, son of Joseph Cobham and Helen M. (Alling) Noyes. He is a lineal descendant of Nicholas Noyes, who located in Newbury, Mass., in 1635.
Cutting Noyes, son of Nicholas, was the father of Joseph, who was born in 1689, and whose grandson and namesakc, born in Port- land in 1745, took a leading part in public affairs, representing the district in the Pro- vincial Congress during the Revolutionary
War. The sccond Joseph Noyes died in 1795. His grandson, Joseph Cobham Noyes, was born in Portland, April 24, 1798, and moved to Eastport, Me., in 1819, engaging in business there as a ship-chandler and shipper of mer- chandise. An episode of Mr. Joseph C. Noyes's mercantile life about this time illus- trates his superiority to the petty graspings too common in trade. The canals were closed, and only about one-half the amount of flour necessary for consumers was obtain- able. A number of flour merchants, wishing to form a combine, waited on Mr. Noycs, who was so fortunate as to have received a large amount of flour, and laid their proposed scheme before him. But he refused to comply with their request or to sell his goods to them at an advanced price or to their representatives who attempted to buy of him. Instead, Mr. Noyes advertised to sell to all bona fide heads of families in Washington County barrels of flour at only twenty-five cents' advance over the full cost, in this way crushing the combine. He believed in a fair profit on the necessaries of life and no more.
In 1847 he engaged in the flour trade in 'Portland, and for some years carried on an extensive and successful business. In 1859 he was appointed Treasurer of the Portland Company (the locomotive works), and about the same time became Treasurer of the Port- land Savings Bank. He then devoted all his time to the duties of these offices, but during the last years of his life his whole attention was given to the interests of the bank. This institution, when Mr. Noyes became first con- nected with it, had but one hundred and sixty thousand dollars on deposit, but its business was beginning to increase; and at the time of his death, July 28, 1868, the deposits amounted to two million, two hundred and seventy-three thousand dollars, the increase being partly due to confidence in the probity and good management of the Treasurer. His wifc, whose maiden name was Helen M. Alling, was a native of Litchfield County, Connecticut, and grand-daughter of Major John Webb, a Revolutionary soldier of note. Shc died January 9, 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph C. Noyes were the parents of four sons - George F., Frank, Edward A., and Joscph C.
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Edward Alling Noyes received a good edu- cation in the schools of Portland, and, when nineteen years of age, entered the counting- room of the Portland Savings Bank, where he was clerk five years. The following five years he was connected with the National Traders' Bank; and in 1868, soon after the death of his father, he returned to the savings-bank, tak- ing the position of Assistant Treasurer, which he held till the death of his elder brother Frank, on December 17, 1877, when he suc- ceeded him as Treasurer. He is now in point of service the oldest official in the bank and one of the oldest bank Treasurers in the State. During his incumbency the deposits have in- creased from four million, two hundred and forty-eight thousand dollars to over eight million dollars, and are daily increasing. This bank is the largest east of Boston, and ranks ninth in New England in amount of de- posits. Edward Alling Noyes has now held the office of Treasurer for nearly twenty years, and has established a reputation for unim- peachable judgment in financial matters. He is President of the Savings Bank Association of Maine. While devoting his time mainly to banking, he is also connected with other enterprises, including the Union Mutual Life Insurance Company of Maine, of which he is a Director, and the Portland Safe Deposit Company, of which he is Vice-President. In the public library he has taken especial in- terest. He was the first librarian, serving without pay for eleven years, and working earnestly to bring the institution to its present prosperous condition. He is now a member of the Committee on Books of the Board of Trus- tees, and has been Treasurer for many years.
November 5, 1863, Mr. Noyes was united in marriage with Julia Augusta, daughter of John Edwards, of Portland, and grand-daugh- ter of Thomas Edwards, first Judge Advocate- general of the Revolutionary army, and at the time of his death Grand Secretary of the So- ciety of the Cincinnati. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Noyes, five of whom are living, namely: Helen Alling; Charles Ed- wards, teller of the Portland Savings Bank; Julia; Joseph C .; and Sidney W.
In politics Mr. Noyes is a Republican, and he has taken an active part in furthering the
interests of his party. He was Treasurer of the State Committee during the Blaine cam- paign, and was a member of the City Council from Ward 7 in 1882 and 1883, a member of the Board of Aldermen in 1884 and 1885, and Chairman of the Board in 1885. While a member of the city government, he was Chair- man of the Committee on Street Lighting, and was instrumental in introducing electric lights in the streets of Portland.
EDUTHUN A. TRUMBULL, a vet- eran agriculturist, residing on his farm in Bridgton, was born in the town of Denmark, Oxford County, Me., April 3, 1817. He is the only living member of a family of eight children, six sons and two daughters, born to Samuel and Lydia (Alexan- der) Trumbull, who spent their last years in this town. Their children bore the following names : Charles, Lois, Samuel, Jeduthun A., Lydia, William, John (first), and John (second).
Jeduthun A. Trumbull received a limited education in the town of his birth, where he lived until reaching the age of twelve years. He then came with his parents to Bridgton, where for seven years he worked with his father on the farm and also at the stone cutter's trade. In 1836, two years before attaining his majority, he bought his time of his father, paying him one hundred dollars, and was afterward engaged in various pursuits until 1853, when he purchased the farm which he now owns and occupies. Here Mr. Truni- bull attended to his agricultural labors, and in addition worked at his trade, throughout his years of activity. He has eighty-five acres of productive land, in the care of which he has evinced excellent judgment and ability, by means of his industry and thrift acquiring a fair competency. He is a most respected citi- zen, and in politics he is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Democratic party.
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