USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine > Part 43
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Alexander Chisholm came to America in 1827 on a sailing-vessel, and on his arrival located near Niagara Falls on the Canadian side. There he spent the remainder of his life, a respected citizen; and there his son Hugh attained the age of thirteen years.
In May, 1860, Hugh Chisholm secured a position at Toronto as newsboy on the Grand Trunk Railway. His inherent business talent at once asserted itself; and he soon saved money enough to buy his own stock, taking his own risks and profits instead of the per- centage usually allowed a newsboy. His first fifty dollars of surplus capital he paid out for a Bryant & Stratton College course at To- ronto, as he realized that he must be better educated in commercial matters in order to cope with others in the business world. Still attending to his newspaper route in the day- time, he pursued his studies at night until his course was finished. He was in business alone for about a year, his route being from Toronto to Detroit; and during that time he made the acquaintance of a newsboy con- temporary, who has since become famous - Thomas Edison, whose route was between Port Huron and Detroit. At the expiration of a year Hugh Chisholm's business had so increased that he decided to take a partner: and, accordingly, in 1861 he divided his re- sponsibilities with his brother, establishing the firm of Chisholm Brothers.
They shortly began to employ other boys, and soon had control of the business on nearly all of the Grand Trunk Railway, running east
HUGH J. CHISHOLM.
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as far as Portland. In 1866, six years after Hugh made his modest start, they had con- tracted to sell papers on trains from Chicago to Portland and as far east as Halifax, and also on the steamboats, including the principal lines of travel in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Northern New York, and Canada, in all amounting to five thousand miles. At this time they employed two hundred boys, their head office being at Montreal, besides which they had several branch offices; and they were far ahead of other similar firms in Canada or the United States in the amount of business done. They were the first to use uni- forms on the trains, for at that time the offi- cials of the road even did not wear them. They were also engaged in the publishing business, producing the first railroad and tourists' guides, and also books and albums descriptive of routes of travel. Being pleased with the city of Portland, Mr. Chisholmn estab- lished here a branch office, and has practically made this city his home since 1872. In 1876, selling all of his Canadian interest, he pur- chased the interest of his brother in the New England States.
He established a publishing business in Portland, making a specialty of finc lithograph work, having produced three hundred separatc sets of view albums, ranging in size from the smallest pamphlet to the beautiful large quarto volumes descriptive of picturesque Maine, albums showing the scenery along the prin- cipal railroads of the United States, including Colorado Midland, Denver, the Rio Grande, also the "Garden of the Gods." Mr. Chis- holm has also published beautiful works de- scriptive of cities of the United States, including the "White City " of the Exposi- tion. A great deal of his engraving was done in Germany, where the finest lithograph stone is found, and where he could have first-class work done at a low rate, so as to place his publications within general rcach. Mr. Chis- holm contracted with the leading news com- panies of the United States to handle his goods exclusively, and the works were sold by the hundred thousand.
In 1880 Mr. Chisholm became interested in wood pulp, his first venture being in the manu- facture of fibre-ware. He was one of the orig-
inal patentecs of the new product, and in- vested considerable money in the venture, being obliged to surmount many unlooked-for obstacles before his efforts were crowned with success ; but after two years of hard work and a large outlay of money he brought the idea from nothing to a happy and profitable realiza- tion, and now fibre-ware tubs, pails, and other utensils are sold all over the country. His experimental plant was located at Portland, and his first permanent manufactory at Water- ville. This being burned, his company with others established a factory at Windham, near Portland. After the new factory was running successfully and on a paying basis, he sold out his interests in order to devote more time to the manufacture of pulp and paper. In the mean time he, with others, had organized the Somerset Fibre Company at Fairfield, Kenne- bec County, Me., incorporated with a capital stock of two hundred thousand dollars, in which he is still a Director. In 1881 he es- tablished the Umbagog Pulp Company of Livermore Falls, with a present capital of over two hundred thousand dollars, of which he has been President and manager from the start ; and he was the organizer of the Otis Falls Pulp Company, which has at present an invested capital of seven hundred thousand dollars. The paper and pulp mill at Otis Falls is one of the largest in the United States, the daily output being about eighty tons of newspaper. Of this industry Mr. Chisholm has been since its organization Treasurer, General Manager, and principal owner. These mills have built up a thrifty town, whose assessed value, exclusive of the mill property, has been trebled since their advent.
In 1882 Mr. Chisholm, in company with Charles D. Brown, began to buy, piece by piece, the property around Rumford Falls, until a large extent of territory was in their possession, together with the river rights six miles above . Where the thriving town of Rumford Falls now stands was then all tim- ber land; and the evolution of the town was due to the business sagacity and forethought of Mr. Chisholm, who saw what could be donc with the water-power, and had the courage to venture on its development. Purchasing the
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old Rumford Falls & Buckfield Road, he organized a new corporation, changing the name to the Portland & Rumford Falls Rail- road, of which he is President, General Mana- ger, and four-fifths owner. He built the roads from Canton to Rumford Falls and from Me- chanic Falls to Auburn, Me., putting in fine iron bridges and heavy steel rails throughout, and fitting the road with first-class rolling- stock, so that it is now one of the best roads in the State; and, considering that it is the undertaking of one man, it is a great accom- plishment. In the mean time Rumford Falls was being developed by building dams and laying open-way canals at different levels, the developed power amounting to forty-two thou- sand horse-power, which is several times greater than the power at Holyoke, the great- est paper-manufacturing city in the United States. Mr. Chisholm interested capitalists to establish the Rumford Falls Paper Com- pany ; and their mill is one of the largest and most flourishing in the States, with connect- ing sulphide pulp plant. The Rumford Falls Sulphide Company, of which Mr. Chisholm is Treasurer and one of the Directors, was also established through his instrumentality; and he was influential in incorporating the Woollen Company, the Light and Water Com- panies, and the Trust Company of the town, in all of which he is a Director, being principal stockholder in the latter. In the city of Port- land also he is a financial factor, being a Di- rector of the Casco National Bank. Looking back over this remarkable career, with its list of dazzling accomplishments, it almost seems as if Mr. Chisholm had been endowed with the Midas touch.
On September 5, 1872, Mr. Chisholm was united in marriage with Henrietta Mason, daughter of Edward Mason, an old and promi- nent resident of Portland. They have one son, Hugh, a bright boy of nine years.
Mr. Chisholm is a member and a liberal supporter of the First Parish (Unitarian) Church of Portland. Though a busy man, he has found time to cultivate his taste in literature and art and to travel exten- sively in the United States and Europe. He has brought home many gems of art from Rome.
ERRY A. CHASE is one of a family of seven stalwart sons born to Thomas and Louisa (Coffin) Chase, of Free- port, Me., both of whom were repre- sentatives of prominent pioneer settlers of this part of Cumberland County.
The Chase family originated in England. Thomas Chase and his brother Aquila were early settlers in Hampton, N.H., whence in 1640 Aquila Chase removed to Newbury, Mass. Another of this race, named William, came over with Winthrop in 1630, and settled in Roxbury, Mass. Descendants of these three immigrants are dispersed throughout the United States, the family records containing many noted names, among them the late Chief Jus- tice of the United States, Salmon P. Chase, and his uncle, Philander Chase, who was Bishop of Ohio and afterward of Illinois.
William Chase, the paternal grandfather of Mr. Jerry A. Chase and his brothers, was . among the early settlers of this town. He cleared and improved a farm at Flying Point, where his death occurred at an advanced age. He married a Miss Anderson, the daughter of a pioneer farmer, and they reared eight chil- dren; namely, Margaret, Betsey, William, Jane, Clarissa, Rebecca, Thomas, and George. Of these Mrs. Rebecca Means, of Portland, is the only one now living.
Thomas Chase, son of William, was born in Freeport, December 23, 1801, and in early life became a mariner, going first to sea as a sailor before the mast, and later as a ship captain. About twenty years of his life he spent on the sea, and in that time was com- mander of many as good ships as ever sailed from port; but the one dearest to him was the ship "Louisa," which was built for him in this town, and named for his beloved wife. His marriage with Louisa Coffin was solem- nized November 14, 1825. She was a daughter of Jeremiah and Olive (Thompson) Coffin, and was born July 20, 1807, in the house now oc- cupied by their son Jerry, this house having been her only home, her birth, marriage, and death occurring within its walls. In 1875 the golden anniversary of their union was cele- brated, at which time all of their seven sons were living; and all, with one exception, partic- ipated in the joyous festivities of that occasion.
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The record of the seven sons is thus given : Thomas F., born October 20, 1826, died, a widower, in this town, January 13, 1894. Quincy A., born November 2, 1830, is a music dealer in Oakland, Cal., and a Repub- lican in politics. He married for his first wife, Josephine Cummings, who died, leaving three children - Edward C., Charles, and Louisa. He wedded for his second wife Eunice Ball, and they have two children --- George D. and Helen. William . I., a me- chanic, living in this place, married Almira B. Rogers, by whom he has three children - Louisa, Everett A., and Albra A. Jerry A., an independent in politics, born April 14, 1835, is unmarried, and is engaged in general farming on the old Coffin homestead. Edward J., born October 9, 1838, has lived in the West thirty-seven years, his home being now in Oakland, Cal., where he is a retired policc officer, although he still owns a home in Free- port. He married Elizabeth Lunt; and they have one son, Edward L. Charles M. Chase, born February 19, 1843, lives in this town, being engaged in mechanical pursuits. He married Ellen Melcher; and they are the par- ents of three children - Della F., Quincy, and Harold. Andrew K., born December 15, 1850, married Charlotte Marshall, and, after his removal to California, died, up in the mountains, April 21, 1885. These sons are all men of industry and thrift, having in- herited the self-reliant and sterling qualities of their sturdy ancestors, and are held in the highest regard as citizens of worth. With the exception of Jerry and Charles, who are inde- pendent in politics, all are true-blue Repub- licans.
Jeremiah Coffin, their maternal grandfather, settled in Freeport when this section of the country was in its primcval wildness, and here built more than a century ago, with a stout frame of oak, the house in which he spent the remainder of his life, and where his children and his daughter's children were born, his grandson Jerry still occupying it. Much of the timber that Mr. Coffin hcwed down in clearing his farm was used in ship building. He here continued engaged in agri- cultural labors until his death at the compar- atively early age of threescore years. His
wife, Olive, survived him, attaining the ven- erable age of ninety-two years. They reared a large family of children, five sons and an equal number of daughters, namely: Olive; Ansel; Louisa, the wife of Thomas Chase; Cordelia; Constant; Jeremiah; Roxanna; and three who died in infancy. The Coffin family were of English extraction, and their coat of arms is preserved by the Chase hcirs.
Thomas Chase was a very active and promi- nent citizen of this part of Cumberland County, standing high in the estimation of his fellow-townsmen, being identified in his last years with the interests of the Democratic party, having formerly been a Whig. He was an acknowledged and consistent Christian, being a strong Universalist in faith. For more than fifty years he was prominent in Masonic circles, having been one of the early members of Freeport Lodge, No. 23, A. F. & A. M. He died January 27, 1883.
REDERICK D. WINSLOW, senior member of the firm of F. D. Winslow & Co. of Portland, is a native of Maine. He was born November 13, 1839, in the town of Limington, York County, son of Franklin and Prudence (Seabury) Winslow. His paternal grandfather, Samuel Winslow, was a lifelong resident of North Yarmouth, Cumberland County, where he was for many years prosperously engaged as a master ship builder. He married Apphia Sawyer, a na- tive of Cumberland, and their son Franklin was their only child.
Franklin Winslow was reared and educated in North Yarmouth, and there learned the trade of a leather dresser, tanner, and wool puller, working at his calling in that place the larger part of the time, although for five years he followed his trade in Limington. During his early manhood he was quite active in military affairs, belonging to the local militia company. He was interested in relig- ious matters, and was a member of the Con - gregational church. In 1877, having retired from business, he removed to Portland, where his wife's death occurred in 1885, and his own in May, 1887. His father-in-law, John Sea- bury, was a spar-maker in North Yarmouth,
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being one of the oldest and most successful of any of that trade in the vicinity; and three of his sons, Joseph, Albion, and Alfred, came to be master ship builders. Mrs. Prudence Sea- bury Winslow bore her husband nine children, eight of whom grew to maturity, as follows: Franklin S., a veteran of the late Civil War, who died in 1870; Frederick D .; Sophia, wife of Dr. W. G. Frost, of Danvers, Mass. ; Alfred S., a manufacturer of confectionery at Bath, Me .; Eliza J., wife of James Augustine Friend, of Danvers, Mass .; Lucy A., wife of R. S. Davis, formerly a master mariner, but now a well-known furniture dealer, located on Exchange Street; Augusta H., widow of F. T. Meaher, of Portland; and William H., a manufacturer of furniture on Federal Street.
Frederick D. Winslow was but five years of age when his parents returned to North Yar- mouth, and there he received his education. He subsequently worked with his father at wool pulling, tanning, and leather dressing, remaining with him until December, 1861, when he came to Portland to work for General Neal Dow. In August, 1862, Mr. Winslow proffered his services to the government, en- listing in Company H, Twenty-fifth Maine Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to General Casey's division, and quartered at Arlington Heights, near Washington, D.C., being there nine months, the soldiers defend- ing the city and doing picket duty. In July, 1863, his term of enlistment having expired, Mr. Winslow was honorably discharged; and on his return to Portland he resumed his former work, remaining in the tannery until it was burned. He subsequently worked for various firms until 1869, when he entered the employment of H. B. & H. M. Hart, spending the first year with them as a journey- man, being then appointed foreman of the shop and having entire charge of the em- ployees, a position which he held for several years. On the death of the senior partner Mr. Winslow became a member of the firm, the name being changed to Hart & Co. Five years later, in 1887, Mr. Winslow purchased the entire business, which has since been under his control, the firm being one of the oldest and most prosperous of any in the State. The factory is situated at the corner of Port-
land and Alder Streets, and is the only estab- lishment that manufactures roller skins for cotton-mills. In connection with this profit- able industry Mr. Winslow buys from the farmers wool fleece and wool skins, giving em- ployment to a half-dozen or more men.
Mr. Winslow has ever exerted a beneficial influence in the management of local and State affairs, and while in the legislature was a member of the Committee on Pensions and of that on Manufactures. In the latter capac- ity he introduced, and, by dint of arduous and judicious labor succeeded in having passed, the bill preventing the adulteration of
candies. Socially, he is a member of Bos- worth Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at present occupying the honorable position of Chaplain of the Post. Religiously, Mr. Winslow is an active and valued member of the Second Parish, Payson Memorial Church, being a Deacon of the same; and for the past . ten years he has served as clerk. He is a prominent member of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association, and for five years has faith- fully served as one of the Board of Managers and as Vice-President. He labors hard for . the spiritual advancement of the community, often serving as lay preacher in the churches of this vicinity when the pulpits are for any reason vacant, usually receiving no pay for his work.
The union of Mr. Winslow with Miss Clara B. Hawkes, daughter of Joshua L. Hawkes, an old resident of Windham, Me., was solem- nized November 28, 1872, and their pleasant home at 84 Oak Street has been enlivened by the advent of four children; namely, Grace L., Addison F., Blanche Hawkes, and Frank- lin Lowell, the latter having been named for his two grandfathers.
B ENJAMIN LARRABEE is the owner and occupant of a valuable farm of one hundred and fifty acres in the town of Scarboro, the estate being the old homestead of the Larrabee family and the birthplace of Mr. Larrabee's grandfather, who was also named Benjamin Larrabee. The grandfather was an extensive farmer, inherit- ing the ancestral acres, on which he spent the
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larger part of his useful life, dying here at an advanced age. He was very prominent in public affairs, being a Representative to the legislature before 1820, when this State was separated from Massachusetts. His wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Skillins, bore him three children.
Joseph Larrabee, son of the elder Ben- jamin and father of the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch, was born in 1788. He was an able farmer and an influential citizen, and besides serving in various local offices he was a Representative to the State legislature in the years 1840 and 1841. He died on the homestead in 1863, his wife, formerly Phoebe Libby, a native of this town, surviving him five years. They had three children - Joseph, Lydia, and Benjamin.
Joseph Larrabee, second, was born April 15, 1817, married October 24, 1847, Abbie Thompson, of Thorndike, this State, and died January 9, 1894. His wife was born August 9, 1822, and died May 3, 1889. Their chil- dren were: Frank E., born November 22, 1848; Sarah A., born May 1, 1854; and Phoebe E., born December 16, 1860. Frank E. Larrabee married on February 27, 1873, Ellen F. Harris, and had three children - Walter F., born October 2, 1878; Mary H., born June 28, 1880; and Howard C., born August 2, 1884. Phoebe E. Larrabee was married June 16, 1886, to Charles A. Morrell,
of Worcester, Mass., and had two children - Abbie T., born June 10, 1889; and Charlotte E., born October 10, 1893. Lydia Larrabee was born July 21, 1820.
Benjamin Larrabee was born December 8, 1829, on the farm where he now resides. He acquired his elementary education in the pub- lic schools of Scarboro, and later pursued a higher course of study in Yarmouth. On completing his school life Mr. Larrabee re- turned to the home farm, where he has since given his attention to agriculture, in which he is well versed, being one of the most thorough- going and prosperous farmers of this part of the county. His estate is well managed. About forty acres are under cultivation, giv- ing visible evidence of the good judgment and practical skill of the owner. Politically, Mr. Larrabee is an ardent Prohibitionist.
Mr. Larrabee and Miss Mahala R. Hunt, daughter of Stephen Hunt, of Troy, Me., were married on June 2, 1869. They have two children, namely: Joseph S., whose birth oc- curred July 22, 1870; and Susie Evelyn, who was born May 2, 1873. Both attended the public schools of their native town in their early years; and later each took a full course of study at Bridgton Academy, where they were graduated in 1891, Susie Evelyn being the salutatorian of the class. Since their re- turn to the home farm the son has wisely taken up a specialty, devoting himself quite exten- sively to poultry raising; while the daughter, equally intent, it would seem, on a useful part in life, has mastered the arts of stenography and typewriting.
Joseph S. Larrabee, like his father, is a strong advocate of the principles of the Pro- hibition party. Religiously, Mr. Larrabee and his daughter are both active members of the Congregational church ; and Mrs. Larrabee, though not belonging to the church, is of the same belief. Mr. Larrabee is a member of the Scarboro Lodge, Patrons of Husbandry.
ENRY J. AND ORRIN B. LANE, prominent citizens of East Raymond, Me., successfully engaged in a gen- eral mercantile business, are both natives of the town of Raymond, Cumberland County, where the former was born on May 23, 1837, and the latter on August 24, 1838. Their parents were Wentworth R. and Lavina (Jordan) Lane.
Nathaniel Lane, the paternal grandfather of HI. J. and O. B. Lane, was born on Cape Ann, Massachusetts; and, as he was left an orphan at an early age, he grew to manhood in one of the families of that place. He afterward settled in New Gloucester, Cumberland County, Me., whence he finally removed to Poland, Me., dying there at the advanced age of ninety-two years. His wife also spent her last days in that town. Their son, Wentworth R., was born in New Gloucester on November 20, 1807. He learned the blacksmith's trade of a Mr. Burns, of New Gloucester; and in 1826 he came to Raymond and opened a shop near the village. Not long after, he purchased a
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farm, which he carried on in connection with his blacksmithing business.
He married on November 21, 1833, Lavina Jordan, the widow of Elias Jordan. She was born in Raymond on September 3, 1804, and was married to her first husband on September 14, 1826. Mr. Jordan died February 10, 1828. One child was born of that union - Freeman Jordan, whose birth occurred on Feb- ruary 6, 1827. He was a successful farmer and lumberman of York and Cumberland Counties. He died at Cumberland Centre on January 25, 1894. Mrs. Lane's parents were Henry Jordan, born May 8, 1778, and Mary Simonton Jordan, born November 6, 1780. They were married on December 8, 1803. Ten children were the fruit of their union, as follows: Lavina; Eliza, born April 15, 1806, who married Cyrus Latham, of Lowell, Mass., where they resided until their death ; Zachariah, born December 9, 1807, who was killed by a horse on August 19, 1836; Wash- ington, born October 8, 1810, who followed the occupations of a farmer and lumberman in this town for a number of years, and, on sell- ing out, removed to Upper Gloucester, where he died; Henry, born February 26, 1813, died December 2, 1881 ; Polly, born February 9, 1816, died December 18, 1874; Ebenezer S., born September 11, 1819, who educated himself for the Congregational ministry, and died in New Gloucester ; Julia A., born May 6, 1821, and Clarinda, born March 12, 1823, who were both drowned in Rattlesnake Pond, in this town, May 22, 1830; and Ephraim S., born March 27, 1825, who died November 24, 1826. Henry Jordan served as a Repre- sentative in the State legislature several terms. He married for his second wife Miss Judith Clark, of New Gloucester. She died on No- vember 6, 1853, and he on March 10, 1860. Two children were born to them, namely : Judith S., whose birth occurred April 24, 1827, and who died October 2, 1875; and Orpha, born March 23, 1830, who married William P. Woodbury, one of the most exten- sive farmers in Raymond, of which town he was a prominent citizen. Both are now dead.
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