Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 40

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

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Samuel, son of Philemon Dalton, was born in England, 1629, but was brought up in this country from his early childhood. His career proves him to have been a man of sense and integrity. He was called upon while quite a young man to fill offices of trust ; and he served as Clerk of the town of Hampton for thirty years, nearly all the deeds, wills, and civic records being in his handwriting. He repre- sented Hampton in the General Court in 1662, 1664, 1666, 1669, 1671, 1673, and 1679. He was in 1665 elected Associate Judge of the courts of Norfolk and Treasurer of the county, which offices he held until 1680, when New Hampshire formed a separate govern- ment. As soon as the new order was estab- lishcd, so high was the esteem in which Mr. Samuel Dalton was held that he. was elected a member of the first council held by the State under President Cutt, an office he held until his death. On February 6, 1650, he married Mehitable, daughter of Henry Palmer, of Haverhill. Shc survived her husband, and married the Rev. Zachariah Symmes, of Brad- ford.

Philemon Dalton, son of Samuel, was born in Hampton, N.H., December 16, 1664. He lived on the homestead, and did not go into public life, but served in the church, holding the office of Deacon. He was married on September 25, 1690, to Abigail Gove, daugh- ter of Edward and Hannah (Titcomb) Gove. Their son Samuel was born July 22, 1694. He was a teacher, and married Mary, daugh- ter of Moses T. and Mary (Carr) Leavitt, who was a descendant of Thomas, of Exeter, N.H. Michael Dalton, brother of Samuel, became a prominent merchant in Newburyport, Mass., and was the father of Tristram Dalton, who was the first United States Senator from that State.

Samuel, the son of Samuel and Mary (Leavitt) Dalton, was born in Hampton, N. H., April 5, 1726. In 1757 he married Sarah Scott; and they were carly settlers of Parsonsfield, Me. Their son, Samuel Dalton, was born in Hampton, N. H., August 7, 1771. He became a merchant, and married in 1795 Mary, daughter of Joel and Lydia (Perkins) Bennett, of York, Me., a descendant of John Bennett, of Wells, Me.

Samuel Dalton, of Westbrook, Me., born in Parsonsfield, November 25, 1797, son of Sam- uel and Mary (Bennett) Dalton, was a mer- chant, as was his father before him. He mar- ricd on October 12, 1819, Mary Ann, daughter of Joseph Huckins, of Effingham, N. H., and his wife, Mary Jenness, of Portsmouth, N. HI. Mrs. Dalton was a descendant of Robert Huckins, whose son James was killed by the Indians, when his house in the garrison was taken, and all its inmates slain, with the ex- ception of one son, Robert, who escaped the following day.

The Rev. Asa Dalton is the cighth in de- scent from Philemon Dalton, his first Ameri- can ancestor. Dr. Dalton's parents removed from Maine to Massachusetts during his boy- hood; and in the Cambridge High School he was fitted for Harvard University, where he was graduated with distinction in 1848, a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, from the first eight of his class. After receiving his college degrec, he decided to enter the ministry, and continued his studies at Cam- bridge, at the Divinity School of the Univer- sity. Not long after, Mr. Dalton went to Newport, R.I., where he established a classi- cal school, which had a prosperous career. Later he accepted the position of Assistant Rector of the Church of the Ascension in New York. During two years of this ministry he also edited the Protestant Churchman of that city. From 1856 to 1862 Mr. Dalton was Rector of St. John's Parish, Bangor; and one year later, in 1863, he came to Portland, where he assumed his present charge, the rec- torship of St. Stephen's. Hc married, in 1851, Maria Jackson, a native of Roxbury, Mass., the daughter of the Rev. William and Mary Brown Leverett.

The spiritual elevation of those about him as well as the material advancement of the church, bear witness to Dr. Dalton's faithful and efficient ministry. His broad outlook and wide sympathies have conjoined to establish the happiest relations between the parish and the various congregations of other denomina- tions in the city. During his ministry at St. Stephen's, Dr. Dalton has delivered fifteen courses of free lectures upon historical and literary subjects, and these lectures have been

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largely attended by the most intelligent people of the city. Their popularity has not been confined to Portland, as they have been widely reported and read; and it is only the just measure of praise to say that these literary talks were the most popular lectures ever given in this city. Dr. Dalton's energy as a writer is remarkable. Besides frequent con- tributions to periodicals and reviews, he has written and published a volume of sermons and a church history, which have received ap- preciative commendations from both the secu- lar and religious press. He has always co- operated with other churches in their religious and charitable work, and is connected with several literary and benevolent societies. His name is enrolled among the members of the New England Historical and Genealogical Society and the Maine Historical Society, and he is Vice-President of the Harvard Club of Maine. No surer testimony of a man's life work can be given than the happier, wiser, better condition of those among whom and for whom he has labored.

A Maine man, Dr. Dalton early decided to devote his life to the highest interests of his native State, a plan to which he has adhered unswervingly, subordinating all sectarian rc- lations and schemes to this purpose -- namely, that of promoting the intellectual and moral advancement of his city and State.

OHN G. TOLFORD, late an estcemed resident of Gorham, Me., in former years one of the leading dry-goods mer- chants of Cumberland County, doing business in Portland, was born in Saco, Me., in 1811, son of Joshua and Mary Tolford. His parents removed to Portland when he was eleven years old; and in that city he carned his first wages, being employed in a grocery store. He left his place within a short time, however, because liquor was sold there, and next entered the dry-goods store of Rogers & Cutler, where he began work as an errand boy. The strength of principle which caused him to resign his first position never deserting him, step by step he worked his way up until finally he became owner and manager of the business, which he moved to more commodious

quarters across the street. As the years passed, fortune favored him increasingly ; and in 1852 he built another store on Free Street, Portland.

In 1865 he retired from business, having accumulated a fortune, and travelled for some time on the Continent; and in 1875 he bought the handsome estate in Gorham where his widow now resides, furnishing his home with all needed comforts and luxuries suggested by good taste and foreign travel. A Republican in politics, he took a personal interest in national affairs, but was not an aspirant for office. He was a prominent member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Portland, which he joined when a young man, and was Senior Warden for over twenty-five years. He died November 1, 1880, in his seventieth year.

Mr. Tolford was married in 1854 to Miss Anna B. Mountfort, daughter of Captain Daniel and Mary (Mussey) Mountfort, of Port- land. The Mountfort family is of English origin. Mrs. Tolford's grandfather, Daniel Mountfort, was a tanner of Portland, and in that city her father was born. He began to follow the sea when only a lad, and was Cap- tain of a vessel when he was twenty-one years of age. After weathering successfully the tempests of many seasons, he was finally lost at sea, December 22, 1839, his vessel being wrecked in a snowstorm off Cape Cod. He left three children, Mrs. Tolford, who was born in Portland in 1828, being the youngest and the only one now living. She enjoyed the best educational advantages offered at the time, attending the common schools of Port- land, and finishing her studies at Packard's Seminary on Free Street, Portland. Of her union with Mr. Tolford two children were born, a son and a daughter. John G., the son, a promising lad, attended the Gorham High School and then entered Phillips Academy at Andover, Mass. He was called home at the time of his father's death, and shortly after that sad event was taken ill. Three years later (1883) he died. He was then nineteen years of age. The daughter, Mary Elizabeth, received a liberal education, attending Mrs. Bailey's Home School at New Gloucester, Me., after a preliminary course of study in the Portland schools, later taking a special course at the Belcher School, Farmington, Me., and

JOHN G. TOLFORD.

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at Gorham Seminary, and finally entering Wellesley College, where she took a four years' course, graduating from the musical department in 1883. Nine years later she married Mr. John A. Hinkley, of Gorham.

Mrs. Tolford is highly esteemed in Gorham and in Portland, her early home. She attends the Congregationalist church, and is always ready to respond to the demands of charity. Mr. Tolford was a fine example of a self-made man; and the wealth which blessed his declin- ing years was but a fitting outcome of the struggle of his youth with poverty and temp- tation, his constant integrity, and his diligent application to business in his manhood's prime.

This brief memoir is happily accompanied by a lifelike portrait of Mr. Tolford.

APTAIN WILLIAM E. DENNI- SON, who died on September 3, 1895, was for a number of years Com- mander of the

Maine Central steamer, "Frank Jones." He was born in Portland, June 29, 1832. His father was Captain C. W. Dennison, of Freeport, Me., where his grandfather, Solomon Dennison, lived; but the family originally came from Gloucester, Mass. At the age of thirteen William E. went to sea, going before the mast, working his way from the lowest to the high- est round in thirty-nine different vessels. His life was one of varied experiences. He

was at one time an indigo planter in Central America, and he was master of an armed trad- ing schooner on Lake Nicaragua until driven thence by one of the periodical Central American revolutions. During the Crimean War he was one of the crew of a transport which carried British troops through the Black Sea to Sebastopol; and, in the war of the Re- bellion, with his gunboat he assisted in the capture of the blockade - running steamers, "Circassian " and "Emma Henley," carrying away the largest prizes ever taken by the American navy. He was for seven years engaged in the coal business, and he made and lost a fortune in the - California gold mines.

Tact is better than talent, and Captain Den- nison's ability to take advantage of the situa- tion is notable. It was a lucky stroke for him

when he was transferred from the Captaincy of a merchantman to the command of one of Uncle Sam's war vessels. With the Ameri- can schooner "Adrianna," Captain Dennison saved the United States steamship "Wyo- ming," which had been run ashore by her rebel-sympathizing crew in the Gulf of Cali- fornia, July 31, 1861. The "Wyoming" taught the Japanese to respect the valor of American seamen by fighting singly the com- bined Japanese fort and fleet, and achieving a most audacious victory in the Strait of Si- monoseki, whence warships of three nations had been driven. The "Wyoming " was one of the United States squadron then in the Pacific Ocean. Lieutenant Murray required Captain Dennison to leave the "Adrianna" for the time and go on board the "Wyoming," which was in so critical a position that Cap- tain Dennison realized that they must work night and day to save her. He called for the pilot who was in command when the "Wyo- ming " grounded, for the moral circumstances of the movement assured him that the vessel had been purposely run ashore. The disci- pline of the "Wyoming " was exceedingly lax. Her late Captain and other officers, honored with commissions by the United States gov- ernment, had deserted the vessel and had gone to join the rebels; and of those who remained behind many were tainted with sentiments hostile to the government. While Dennison and Murray were talking over affairs, the pilot, who without any authority had been set ashore, made off and was seen no more. The "Wyoming" went ashore at high water, under full steam, with the power of her engine fully developed. Her keel lay parallel to the coast, far from the nearest habitation. After run- ning her ashore, the crew had taken the steam anchor out over the starboard bow and planted it farther upon the reef. The cable of this anchor had been tightened by the Captain, and the ship had thus gone farther ashore and more into danger. The "Wyoming " had been thoroughly overhauled and repaired at the Mare Island navy-yard, and had on board all her stores and equipments.

The tides in the Gulf of California are scarcely perceptible, and a ship ashore any- where in it increased her danger by delay.

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As soon as Captain Dennison took charge, the "Adrianna " hauled alongside and commenced to take aboard the shot and shell; and, having lightened her burden, the ship thus took out astern the bow anchors of the disabled vessel, and at 6 P. M., August 2, got the gunboat afloat and towed it into Petaluma Bay, a snug harbor, where the transfer of stores was made. On the evening of August 4 both vessels went to sea, the "Adrianna" in tow of the "Wyo- ming." On August 7, at 9 A. M., the "Wy- oming " discharged the " Adrianna.' Thus for seven days did the "Adrianna," interrupting her voyage, stand by the unfortunate ship, sav- ing her from imminent peril.

Captain Dennison was at one time in com- mand of the "Cherokee," and served the blockade at Fort Fisher. On his return from the war he commanded the steamer "City of Richmond " until the "Frank Jones" went on the line. His steamboat route was from Port- land to Machias and Mount Desert, and he also went from Portland to Bangor. He be- longed to the A. F. & A. M., Portland Com- mandery, Knights Templars, and to the Loyal Legion. He was a member of Bosworth Post, Grand Army of the Republic, the So- ciety of California Pioneers, and the Virginia Veterans. By his first marriage Captain Den- nison had one son, A. Crossman Dennison, pilot of the "Bay State." On May 1, 1887, he married Miss Lizzie E. Tobey, daughter of H. N. Tobey, of Machiasport. Mrs. Denni- son survives her husband with two children - William W. and Adelaide Boothby Dennison.

AZEN D. MORRISON, who owns and occupies a valuable farm in the Highlands of Bridgton, was born October 7, 1853, in the house in which he now resides, being a son of William A. and Almira (Danforth) Morrison. His father was a lifelong resident of Cumberland County and one of its most honored and re- spected citizens. In 1852 he purchased this homestead property, on which he carried'on a substantial business in general farming and lumbering until his demise in 1888, at the age of sixty-five years. His wife preceded him to the eternal rest, dying at the age of

fifty-eight years in 1885. They were the par- ents of six children, namely : Hazen D .; Ada : John, who died in early life; Nellie; Howard; and Abbie (deceased). The father was a member of the Society of Odd Fellows.

Hazen D. Morrison has spent his years on the farm where his birth occurred, having as- sisted in its management during the life of his father, and afterward becoming its possessor. He has one hundred and twenty-five acres of land, charmingly situated on the Highlands; and here he carries on mixed husbandry, besides doing an extensive business in lumber- ing. During the summer season he and his wife accommodate about twenty-five boarders from the leading cities of the neighboring States, having, during the four summers in which they have been thus employed, won an enviable reputation as genial hosts. In poli- tics Mr. Morrison is a sturdy Democrat and a faithful supporter of the principles promul- gated by that party. In 1888, on May 9, Mr. Morrison was wedded to Miss Elecia N. Keough, who ably assists him in his labors, presiding in a worthy manner over his pleasant home and adding to its comforts and at- tractions.

RA B. PAGE, superintendent of the Mayberry Brothers' stock farm in Casco, Me., where some of the finest horses in the country are raised, was born in Whitefield, N. H., April 30, 1849, son of William and Jane (Quinby) Page, both natives of Lisbon, N. H. William Page, who was a mason by trade, spent the greater part of his life in Whitefield, dying there in 1882. He was the father of fourteen children: Eliza Jane; Samantha; Marinda; Martha; Abby; Lydia; Ada; John; Edmond; Frank; Carrie; Ira B., the subject of this sketch; Mary; and Bessie, who died in infancy.

Ira B. Page received a good common-school education in his native town. He went to work when twenty years of age, first engaging as a teamster. This line he followed for sev- eral years, and then purchased a farm in Whitefield, where he remained for some time. About 1882 he obtained employment as a stage driver, and for twelve years the crack of his

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whip and the thud of his horse's hoofs daily enlivened the quiet country roads. In April, 1894, he took charge of the valuable stock farm at Casco owned by the Mayberry Brothers, of Boston, Mass. He at present has the care of twenty-five trotting horses, and also man- ages a farm for Mayberry Brothers in Otisfield, Me. He is a man of good practical judg- ment, with a thorough knowledge of horseflesh, and is one of the most prosperous and re- spected citizens of Casco.

Mr. Page was married February 22, 1868, to Miss Ella M. Howland, of Whitefield. She died October 10, 1880, leaving one child, Leoni, who is now living with her father; and on October 18, 1882, he was again married, to Miss Etta Scott, of Haverhill, Mass. She was born April 11, 1861, and is the daughter of William Scott, of Haverhill (deceased). Mr. Page has no children by his second marriage.

Mr. Page votes the Republican ticket, but is not an aspirant for office. He attends the Free Will Baptist Church of Casco. Some idea of the responsibility of his position will be gained by reading the appended sketch of Deacon Richard Mayberry, the original owner of the Mayberry Stock Farms.

EACON RICHARD MAYBERRY was born in Casco, Me., February 14, 1811, son of Daniel and Betsey (Nash) Mayberry, both natives of

Casco. Daniel Mayberry was a lifelong resi- dent of Casco, a progressive and prosperous farmer. Richard Mayberry acquired his love for horses on his father's farm. He was en- gaged in agricultural pursuits from early boy- hood ; but, being an energetic and enterprising man, he took an active part in other industries of the locality, becoming in time a large lum- ber dealer and owner of grist-mills and saw- mills. He died December 24, 1889.

December 29, 1844, Deacon Mayberry was married to Catherine M., daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Jordan) Knight, the former of Otisfield, the latter of Raymond, Me. Mrs. Mayberry was born February 21, 1816, and was the seventh in a family of nine. Her brothers and sisters were named as follows : Nathaniel, Margaret, Cyrus, Martha, Zebulon,

Samuel, Milton, and Elizabeth. Deacon Mayberry and his wife had four children - Wyatt T., born July 1, 1846, who died in May, 1850; Florence, who was born in 1848, and died at the age of thirty-three; Cyrus C., who was born October 17, 1851, married Miss Georgie Nichols, of Casco, and now resides in Boston, Mass. ; and Franklin P., who was born October 13, 1853, a real estate dealer in Boston, unmarried.

Cyrus C. and Franklin P. Mayberry are joint owners of the Mayberry Stock Farms, the principal one at Whitefield, N. H., the other at Casco, Me., and have made a marked success of raising fine horses. The farm at Casco, which is now in charge of Mr. Ira B. Page, is fitted with large stock barns and one race track, and is one of the interesting feat- ures of Cumberland County. To say that a horse comes from the Mayberry farm is suffi- cient guarantee of soundness, good breeding, and general excellence; and the trotting horses raised there rank among the first in New England.

Deacon Mayberry was an active worker in the interest of the Republican party. He was Postmaster of Casco two terms, repre- sented the district in the legislature in 1861, and was Selectman a great many years. In the welfare of the Congregational church he took an active interest, and he was Deacon of the church in Casco for a long time.

OSEPH RAYNES, Postmaster at Yar- mouthville, Me., was born March 25, 1843, in the town of New Gloucester. He is the fourth in direct line of de- scent to bear this name and to live in Cumber- land County, his great-grandfather having been a pioneer of New Gloucester, which was the birthplace of the intermediate Josephs. The emigrant ancestor of the Raynes family was one of the earliest settlers of York, York County, Me., the house which he erected more than a century ago being still in fair preser- vation. (For further family history see Raynes's "Genealogy," compiled by Jonathan Tyler.)

Mr. Raynes's paternal grandfather was a skilled mechanic, a painter and a chair-maker,

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and a man of considerable local prominence in New Gloucester, where he was a lifelong resi- dent. He was active in advancing the cause of religion, belonging to the Congregational church. Of his large family of children but one is now living, Mrs. O. R. Davis, of Au- burn, Me.

Joseph Raynes, the third, father of the sub- ject of this sketch, was reared in the place of his birth, and there worked with his father as a painter and chair-maker for many years. In 1850, desiring a change of occupation, he came to Yarmouth, accepting a position as station agent on what was then known as the Atlantic & St. Lawrence Railway, afterward called the Grand Trunk, Kennebec & Portland Railway, but now the Maine Central, his office being at the Junction. He was in every respect a ca- pable and trustworthy employee, paying close attention to the duties of his responsible posi- tion, winning the confidence of all with whom he had business relations, In politics he was at first a Whig and later a Democrat. Two terms, in 1842 and 1843, he served as a Rep- resentative in the State legislature. Relig- iously, he conscientiously accepted the views of his parents. He died on October 18, 1864. His wife, Mary P. Eveleth, a daughter of Deacon Nathaniel Eveleth, also of New Gloucester, tarried on earth but a short time after, passing to the life immortal, May 16, 1866. Six children were born to them, namely : Caroline and Josiah (departed); Mrs. Lucy A. Knight, of this town; Joseph; Mrs. Mary E. Mitchell, of Bath, Me. ; and Edward, of Yarmouth.

Joseph Raynes acquired his elementary edu- cation in his native town, completing his course of study at the old academy in North Yarmouth. At the car shops of the Portland & Kennebec Railway in Augusta he learned the machinist's trade, following it but a short time before his enlistment, June 16, 1863, in the United States Navy at Charlestown, Mass. He was shortly transferred to the South Atlan- tic squadron, which was stationed off the coast of South Carolina, and took an impor- tant part in the bombardment of Fort Sumter in September of that year. He served on board the frigate "Wabash " and the monitor "Nahant " for some months, being finally dis-

charged August 15, 1864, at the Brooklyn navy-yard from the ship "Vermont." On re- turning home, finding his father ill, Mr. Raynes assumed his duties at the railway sta- tion, where in October, a change being made in the railway management, two agents being appointed, he was made agent of the Portland & Kennebec Railway, an office which he filled until 1878. He next engaged in business in Yarmouth as a cigar manufacturer, continuing five years, when, September 21, 1886, he was appointed Postmaster at Yarmouthville, where he has since served, giving general satisfac- tion to the public.

Socially, Mr. Raynes is a prominent mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the Casco Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and the Cumberland Royal Arch Chapter. He is a member likewise of the Kearsarge Benevolent Association of Boston; also belonging to the W. L. Haskell Post, No. 108, Grand Army of the Republic. Politically, he is a straight Democrat, active in local affairs, and was at one time nominated as Representative, but was defeated, although he ran ahead of his ticket. Mr. Raynes is also a member of the Yarmouth Band, having joined at its organiza- tion in July, 1866, and has been its business manager up to and including the present time, thirty consecutive years.

Mr. Raynes was united in marriage March 7, 1867, with Esther Abbie Johnson. She was born in North Yarmouth, daughter of William and Esther (Sawyer) Johnson, her father being a well-known farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Raynes have three children, namely : Mary Ann; Albert Joseph, a telegraph opera- tor at Yarmouth Junction, on the Maine Cen- tral Railway; and George Edward. Mr. Raynes and his family are liberal in their religious belief.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 40

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