USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine > Part 41
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I EORGE FOSTER TALBOT, LL.D., a prominent retired attorney of Port- land, where he has lived since 1861, was born in East Machias, Me., January 16, 1819. His parents were John Coffin and Mary (Foster) Talbot. The paternal great-grand- father, Peter Talbot, whose ancestors came to Massachusetts between 1620 and 1640, was
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long a resident of Stoughton, Mass. He served with the rank of Captain in the Revolutionary War. Tradition says that George Talbot, the first emigrant, was impressed into the Eng- lish navy, but escaped to land by swimming when the vessel was near Rhode Island. Peter Talbot, grandfather of George F., mi- grated from Massachusetts to Maine in 1773, the year made memorable by the Boston Tea Party. He was a pioneer settler in East Machias, where he was prominent as a town officer. He was a farmer of a quiet, reflective turn of mind, who liked the retirement of his own fireside, but never shirked public duties. His wife's name before marriage was Lucy Hammond. The maternal great-grandfather, Benjamin Foster, who was a pioneer of East Machias, planned the capture of the British war vessel, the "Margarita," at the opening of the Revolutionary War, and later took a prominent part in repelling a British squadron that tried to capture the settlement.
John Coffin Talbot was born in East Machias in 1784. For a number of years he was a manufacturer and shipper of lumber; but in 1837 he was appointed and subsequently elected Judge of the Probate Court, which office he held during the rest of his lifetime. He was elected to the State legislature a num- ber of times; and in 1837, the year of the great financial panic, he served as President of the Senate. His wife Mary was a daughter of John and Phebe (Burr) Foster, of East Machias, and a grand-daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Scott) Foster. Her grand- father, Benjamin Foster, commanded the Colonial forces that repulsed an attack by a British expedition against Machias in 1779. Mrs. John C. Talbot bore her husband five sons and three daughters. Of these Stephen P. Talbot, a Bowdoin graduate, and a promis- ing law student, was drowned at sea under pathetic circumstances. The others are all living. William, an extensive farmer in An- dover, Oxford County, Me., married a sister of John A. Poor. John Coffin, also a Bowdoin graduate, and a prominent attorney in East Machias, has served fifteen terms in the State legislature, and has also been Speaker of the House. Thomas H., another graduate of Bowdoin, is a Boston lawyer, who has been
Assistant Attorney-General of the United States, and served his country in the late war as Colonel of a regiment. Emma Caroline is the widow of Josiah P. Keller, who, as man- aging owner of a large lumber concern, went in 1850 to Puget Sound, where he subse- quently died. Susan is unmarried, and Mary Elizabeth lives with her sisters in Boston. The father and mother were active members of the Congregational church. Mr. Talbot was an enthusiastic Mason of the early times. He served East Machias as Postmaster and Town Clerk for more than forty years. In moral reforms he was also prominent, being the organizer of a temperance society fifteen years before General Dow began to think of it. His wife died in 1858, and the year 1861 saw the close of his busy career.
George F. Talbot, LL.D., commenced at- tendance at the academy in his native town at the early age of eight years. Entering Bowdoin College as a Junior, he was graduated two years later an A.B. in the class of 1837. Three years after, he received the degree of A.M. ; and in 1894 his Alma Mater conferred on him another honor, that of LL.D. He read law with Senator James W. Bradbury, of Augusta, Me., and was admitted to the bar in that town in 1840. His professional career began in Skowhegan, where he remained one year. For a short time thereafter he was en- gaged in teaching; but during the years 1843 and 1844 he practised law in Columbia, Wash- ington County. Mr. Talbot then opened an office in his native town, where he remained for ten years. He was an active antislavery worker, and was a candidate for Governor in 1849 and 1850 on the Frce Soil ticket. In 1854 he moved to Machias, where as County Attorney he had much to do with important litigation, greatly enlarging his practice. He took an active part in the formation of the Re- publican party, being practically the editor of the Republican paper of that town, and was also one of four delegates for the State of Maine to the National Convention in Chicago. Here he served on the Committee on Resolu- tions, and had a warm controversy with Horace Greeley, who wanted to abandon the article prohibiting the introduction of slavery into the United States Territories. To Mr.
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Talbot's mind this was the essential party issue, but the Committee was divided. After he had held conferences with Mr. Boutelle and Carl Schurz, another vote was taken on the question, and Mr. Greeley was defeated.
Soon after Abraham Lincoln became Presi- dent, Mr. Talbot was appointed United States Attorney for the Maine District, and came to Portland. This position was held by him for nearly ten years. In this period he had to deal with frequent infractions of the revenue laws, and had some heavy prosecutions for the illicit importing of lumber, which he carried to the United States courts, recovering dam- ages. Later he was one of three commis- sioners appointed to examine paper frauds at Augusta, and was the writer of the elaborate report of the investigations, which lasted one year. His coworkers at that time were Gov- ernor Connor and Daniel Sanborn. Mr. Talbot then took an office for general practice, but he was already overworked. He and Mrs. Talbot spent 1872 in travelling extensively abroad. He was a member of a special com- mission appointed to revise the Constitution of the State in 1875, who reported a series of amendments, the most of which were adopted. In 1876 he became Solicitor of the United States Treasury. Later, on finding that the position he filled was wanted for a Southern man, with a view to help in building up the Republican party of the South, Mr. Talbot re- signed. He has won distinction by his liter- ary contributions to papers and magazines, and also by a book entitled " A Life of Jesus: His Opinions and his Character," which was pub- lished by the Unitarian Publishing House in 1883. During antislavery times he was in the lecture field, and he has been a prolific writer of poems for class reunions. For a number of years he has been President of the Fraternity Club.
His wife, Elizabeth (Neil) Talbot, whom he married on May 16, 1844, died in 1845, leaving twin daughters, one of whom died in infancy. In 1861 Mr. Talbot contracted a second marriage with Elizabeth Lincoln, of Dennysville, Me. She was a grand-daughter of General Lincoln of Revolutionary fame. Mr. and Mrs. Talbot have four children. They are: Thomas Lincoln, attorney, who
married Miss Alice Spring, and has two chil- dren - Edith Lincoln and Samuel Spring; Hannah Lincoln, who lives at home; Cather- ine; and Frederick F. Talbot. The last named, who is employed in the banking house of E. H. Gay & Co., of Boston, married Mary P. Frank, of Portland, and has two children - George F. and Melvin F. Talbot.
OHN G. SCOTT, a retired carpenter of Westbrook, Me., a "forty-niner," and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Freeport, another Cumberland County town, May 3, 1823, son of Andrew and Pris- cilla (Woodbury) Scott. Mr. Scott's grand- father, John G. Scott, was a native of Durham, Me., who followed agricultural pursuits dur- ing the active period of his life. He reared a family of six children, of whom there are no survivors.
Andrew Scott, who was a resident of Free- port, for a number of years followed the sea, a great part of his active life being spent on the ocean wave. He was a worthy and useful citizen, who voted with the Whig party; and in religion he was a Congregationalist. He died at the age of about forty years. His wife, Priscilla Woodbury, of Freeport, was a daughter of Ebenezer Woodbury, of Durham, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and fought in the battle of Bunker Hill. She became the mother of four children, three of whom are living, namely: Frances, wife of Samuel V. Litchfield, of Freeport; Julia W., wife of E. P. Gerrish, of Portland; and John G., the subject of this sketch.
John G. Scott acquired his education in the schools of Freeport and Durham; and, after finishing his studies, he learned the carpen- ter's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years with Sidney Skilton, of Durham, whence he went to Portland, where he worked as a journeyman for Cummings Brothers, Russell, and others. In 1849 Mr. Scott joined the exodus for California, accompanying a party of twenty fortune seekers from Freeport, the expedition being in charge of Captain Clement Soule. They went by way of the Isthmus of Panama, being about one hundred and fifty days on the journey ; and after arriving they
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proceeded to crect the first frame building ever put up in Sacramento City - a hotel. Hav- ing finished that work, they went direct to the diggings. During his four years' stay in Cali- fornia Mr. Scott was interested in several val- uable claims, among them being the Oregon, the Harraseeket, and the Round Tent; and he was fairly successful as a miner.
Upon his return to Frecport, in 1853, he bought an eighth-interest in a barque, and also engaged in both the livery and the lumber business. In 1859 he moved to Westbrook, where, in company with Frank Smith, he en- gaged in the clothing business, under the firm name of Smith & Scott, one year later retiring from that trade and entering into the produce business, which he conducted for a year. In 1862 Mr. Scott enlisted as a private in Com- pany H, Seventeenth Regiment, Maine Volun- teers, for three years' service in the Civil War, under Colonel Roberts and Captain Fogg. The regiment was stationed in the forts around Washington for six months, and, being ordered to the front, took part in the battle of Fredericksburg, and then remained in camp for the winter. Mr. Scott was trans- ferred to the Fourth New York Battery, with which he served in the battles of Chancellors- ville, Culpeper, and Gettysburg. After re- cruiting for two weeks at Harper's Ferry and Washington, where the battery received new equipments, it was brought into active service at the battle of Mine Run; and the following spring Mr. Scott was transferred to the First Battery. He served in front of Petersburg, in the defence of the Weldon Railroad, in the en- gagement at Hatch's Run, and in several minor skirmishes previous to Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Receiving his discharge in Elmira, N. Y., he then returned to his native State, where he resumed his former occupation of a carpenter, working in Portland and other places for fourteen years; and since that time he has resided permanently in Westbrook. He has followed his trade with skill and suc- cess, realizing good returns for his labor until his retirement, which. took place some two years since. Besides erecting his present residence, he has bought the adjoining double tenement-house.
Mr. Scott was married in 1856 to Elleura
M. Knight, daughter of William Knight, of Portland. Two of the three children born of this union are living, namely: Meldon M., a resident of Portland; and John W., who is in the clothing business in that city. Although never desirous of political prominence, Mr. Scott has always evinced a keen interest in the administration of public affairs; and he votes with the Republican party. He is a comrade of Post No. 100, Grand Army of the Republic, of Westbrook, and attends the Con- gregational church, of which he has for many years been a member.
HARLES P. TRICKEY, of South Portland, Me., son of Enoch and Nancy (Pratt) Trickey, was born April 7, 1821, at North Yarmouth, Me. His father, Enoch Trickey, born Janu- ary 24, 1783, and his paternal grandfather, David Trickey, born in 1743, were both na- tives of Westbrook, Me., another Cumberland County town.
It is said that the Trickey family in New England (name at one time spelled Trakie) was of Welsh origin. Several of this name were living in the south-eastern part of New Hampshire considerably more than two hun - dred years ago. Thomas Trickey, who was in Dover, N.H., in 1648, died in 1675. Among those of a later date were Joseph, Isaac, and Ephraim, the first namcd said to have been a son of Thomas, and the others designated as perhaps also his sons. David Trickey's father, great-grandfather of Charles P., carried on quite an extensive lumbering business in New Hampshire for a while, but subsequently removed to Westbrook, Me., where, in addition to lumbering, he engaged in ship carpentry.
David Trickey succeeded to his father's oc- cupation, carrying on a prosperous business until his demise, September 5, 1815. The record of his children is as follows: Daniel died April 26, 1863, aged ninety-two years; David died February 24, 1861, aged eighty- five years; Enoch died January 30, 1866, aged eighty-two years; Eleanor died April 7, 1871, aged ninety-one years; Eunice died July 8, 1852, aged eighty years; and William died July 8, 1825, aged thirty-eight years. The
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longevity of this family is observable; and the Trickeys of the present generation, especially the male members, are strong, able, and robust, promising to live to a ripe old age.
Enoch Trickey, son of David, was bred and educated in the town of his birth, living there until 1818, when he married Nancy Pratt, a daughter of Zenas Pratt, of Cape Elizabeth, and settled with his bride in North Yarmouth, where he was employed in tilling the soil for ten years. In 1828 he removed to Cape Eliza- beth, purchasing seventy-two acres of wild land in that part of the town now called South Portland. He improved a comfortable home- stead, on which he spent his remaining days, being known far and wide as an industrious, honest, and upright man, a faithful member of the Orthodox church, and a stanch Democrat in his political principles. Two children were born to him and his wife; namely, Charles P. and Elizabeth, the former being the only one now living.
Charles P. Trickey attended the district schools of Cape Elizabeth, afterward complet- ing his studies at Westbrook. At the age of eighteen years he began learning the trade of a brick mason, serving an apprenticeship of three years in Boston. He subsequently worked at his trade for thirty consecutive years, and from 1860 until 1866 was at Fort Gorges in Portland Harbor, where he had charge of all the brick-work. Prior to this time, however, Mr. Trickey had been in busi- ness with a Mr. Starbard, being junior mem- ber of the firm of Starbard & Trickey. After the Portland fire, in July, 1866, he left the fort and went into the city, where for three years he was actively employed at his trade, working on numerous buildings and blocks. He then retired to his farm, which he had purchased in 1843 at Cape Elizabeth, in what is now South Portland. He has thirty acres of land, mostly under culture.
He was married December 31, 1846, to Ruth Ann Collins, daughter of Captain John Collins, of Portland. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Trickey but two are now living, namely: Charles R., residing in Boston, Mass. ; and Ella M., the wife of Joseph F. Chaplin, of whom a sketch may be found else- where in this volume. In politics Mr. Trickey
is an earnest advocate of the principles of the Republican party; and, religiously, both he and his good wife are members of the Methodist church.
ANA W. FELLOWS, M. D., a graduate of the Maine Medical School, at Bowdoin College, Bruns- wick, Me., class of June, 1887, is a successful practitioner of dentistry in Port- land, and occupies a high rank among his pro- fessional brethren. Hle was born at Lincoln, Me., August 14, 1847, son of Nathaniel and Sarah P. (Hatch) Fellows, the latter being the daughter of Sylvanus Hatch, Jr., and grand-daughter of Sylvanus Hatch, Sr.
The Fellows family originated in England, being first represented in America by Samuel Fellows, who was born in England about 1619, and emigrated to Massachusetts, settling at Salisbury. The lineage is traced to the pres- ent generation through the following succes- sive ancestors : Samuel, second, born Novem- ber 13, 1646; Samuel, third, born in August, 1683; Joseph, born in the early part of the eighteenth century; Nathaniel, born June 2, 1747; Moses, born May 10, 1777; Nathaniel, the Doctor's father, who was born in Win- throp, Me., November 30, 1807.
Nathaniel Fellows, second, became a farmer by occupation, settling at Lincoln, where he lived many years; but he died July 6, 1883, in Portland. His wife, Sarah Palnier Hatch, whom he married June 17, 1846, was born November 25, 1829. She bore him four chil- dren, namely: Dana Willis; Percy Loren, born at Lincoln, Me., June 27, 1851, died at Houlton, Me., May 14, 1894; Odell Truando, born at Lincoln, May 15, 1857; Ida Caroline, born at Lincoln, November 7, 1858, died at Lincoln, June 1, 1862. After the death of her first husband Mrs. Sarah P. H. Fellows married Chester Weld, of Kenduskeag.
Dana Willis Fellows received his academi- cal education in the Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln, after which he was engaged in school teaching for a term of years. Having accumulated enough money to defray his ex- penses while taking a further course of study, he entered the Maine Medical School, from
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which he was graduated in June, 1887, and then proceeded to qualify himself for the pro- fession which he proposed thenceforth to make his life work, for that purpose entering the office of Dr. Thomas Fillebrown, then of Portland, now Professor of Operative Den- tistry in the Harvard Dental School. While with him Dr. Fellows became thoroughly versed in the art of dentistry, three years of the time being his pupil and three years his assistant. The young Doctor then began busi- ness at his present location, as a partner of Dr. Elbridge Bacon, who was one of the oldest established dentists in the city, having been here since 1839. Dr. Bacon retired from the business on September 1, 1895, since which time Dr. Fellows has continued to practise alone.
Although not an office-seeker, he takes an active interest in politics, being a warm sup- porter of the principles of the Republican party ; and, while a resident of his native town, he served for one year as a member of the local School Committee. He was also made a Mason, joining Horeb Lodge, A. F. & A. M. Dr. Fellows is identified with many of the leading medical societies of this section, be- longing to the Maine Dental Society, the Maine Medical Association, and to the Maine Board of Dental Examiners, having been Sec- retary of the latter since 1881. He takes a deep interest in the study of history and of genealogy, which occupies much of his leisure time, being a member of the Maine Historical Society, of the Portland Society of Natural History, and of the Maine Genealogical Society.
Dr. Fellows and Mary Louise Niles, daugh- ter of Silas and Amanda F. (Miller) Niles, of Fort Kent, Me., were married on January 9, 1879, their home at present being at 17 Hill Street. Dr. and Mrs. Fellows attend the Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Fellows is a communicant.
OSEPH S. HAMILTON, formerly a well-known resident and prosperous farmer of Cousins Island, whose acci- dental death, which took place January 19, 1894, was the cause of general regret, was
born on Cousins Island, August 12, 1825, son of Jacob and Mary D. (Chandler) Hamil- ton. Mr. Hamilton's paternal grandfather, Roland Hamilton, was a Revolutionary pa- triot, who served in the Continental army some time during the struggle for indepen- dence. He was one of the earliest settlers upon Cousins Island, where he became the owner of a good farm, which he cultivated en- ergetically with good results.
Jacob Hamilton, son of Roland, was born in North Yarmouth, October 2, 1783. He was a seafaring man in his early days, following that occupation in connection with farming ; and at one time he owned the largest farm on Cousins Island. He was a practical and suc- cessful farmer and a good business man, whose patriotism led him to serve as a soldier in the War of 1812. He passed his declining years at his island home, and died there in 1863. He was a Methodist in his religious views and a Democrat in politics. His wife, Mary D. Chandler, was born in Buckfield, Me., April 5, 1791 ; and they were married by the Rev. Francis Brown, December 4, 1812. Only two of their eight children are now living, namely: Sarah G., who was born Jan- uary 9, 1819; and her younger sister, Jane M. The others were: Diana; Charlotte; Jo- seph S., the subject of this sketch; Andrew J. ; Mary A. ; and Rebecca. The mother lived to reach the age of seventy years.
Joseph S. Hamilton received his education at the school on Cousins Island, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. He succeeded to a part of the old Hamilton farm, upon which he settled, and for many years was suc- cessfully engaged in cultivating his property, becoming one of the leading farmers of Cousins Island. He led an industrious, use- ful, and worthy life; and his death, which was the result of an accident, occurred while he was crossing upon the ice from the mainland to his home. He was a man highly esteemed for his many excellent traits of character, and took an active interest in the welfare of the community. In politics he supported the Re- publican party ; and he was a member of Casco Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
On December 18, 1849, Mr. Hamilton was united in marriage with Nancy II. Hamilton,
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who was born on Chebeague Island, Novem- ber 25, 1828, daughter of Robert C. and Serena S. (Henly) Hamilton. She has five children living, namely: Joseph E., born April 24, 1852; Gilbert H., born July 5, 1855; Dennis B., born June 16, 1857; Harriet F., born February 10, 1859; and Mary L., born June 15, 1862. She has been called to part with two - Jeanette E., who died September 20, 1883; and Clara E., who died April 12, 1864.
Cousins Island is about two and a half miles long and three-fourths of a mile wide. It was formerly much frequented by the Indians, who were not always friendly to the white settlers. This pleasant spot, inhabited by thrifty, in- telligent people, is growing to be a favorite summer resort. Farming, fishing, the coasting trade, and poultry-raising are the principal industries. Mrs. Hamilton, an estimable, agreeable lady, highly respected by her neigh- bors and friends, still occupies her pleasant farm-house home. She is a Baptist in her religious views, and her late husband was also united with that church.
HARLES H. LAMSON, who is suc- cessfully engaged as a jeweller and watch-maker at 203 Middle Street, Portland, is both a man of thought and a man of action, being keen and wide- awake for business and possessing great me- chanical ingenuity and inventive talent. He was born at Augusta, Me., September 17, 1847, son of Joseph S. and Eunice E. (Wins- low) Lamson, the mother being a lineal de- scendant of the Winslows of Plymouth Colony. The father was a native of Exeter, N. H., but for some years a resident of Augusta, Me., where he married, and afterward followed his trade of book-binding. He died in 1854, being then in the prime of a vigorous man- hood. Of his children four are living, namely : Joseph H. ; Isabel, widow of Josiah Packard, of Dixmont, Me. ; Charles Henry ; and Frank P. The latter was but three years old when his father died; and he was adopted by Virgil Scribner, of Manchester, Kennebec County, Me., his name being changed to F. Lamson-Scribner. He was graduated from
Orono College, Me., and has become one of the leading botanists of America, and is now at the head of the division of agrostology in the United States Department of Agriculture.
Charles H. was educated at the conimon schools of Exeter, N. H., where his early years were spent; and later he learned the watch- maker's trade in this city, working for Oliver Gerrish, an old and well-known watchmaker. Mr. Lamson established himself here in busi- ness in 1871, and for twenty-five years has plied his delicate craft and sold his choice goods over the counter. Recently he has added to his business a bicycle department, which is proving quite profitable. Mr. Lam- son is the inventor of several attachments for bicycles, the most notable of them being the Lamson luggage carrier, the principal one used by wheelmen the past ten years. He also designed the League of American Wheel- men badge that was adopted by the League of American Wheelmen of the United States, which has a membership of over sixty thou- sand. Mr. Lamson joined this league very soon after its organization, being No. 13, and was Chief Consul for Maine during the first years of its existence.
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