USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine > Part 47
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Mr. Moulton is an active member of the Democratic party, and has been prominently identified with the management of local affairs. In 1877 he was elected a member of the School Board, on which he served three years. In 1883 and 1884 he was Constable and Collector; and in 1891 he was elected a member of the Board of Selectmen, an office which he has since held, having been Chair- man of the Board in 1894. He is liberal in his religious views, and, socially, is a member of Crescent Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of Steep Falls, Me., and also of the Knights of
Honor of Standish and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Moulton has been twice married. The maiden name of his first wife was Edith E. Bangs. She died May 1, 1889, after a brief wedded life. Mr. Moulton and Miss Georgia A. Boothby, a daughter of Samuel Boothby, of Limington, Me., were united in marriage on March 26, 1892. Their only child, George Willard Moulton, born August 21, 1894, spent but a few months on earth, pass- ing away January 12, 1895.
ANIEL DICKENS, a retired busi- ness . man of Bridgton, was born July 24, 1832, in Leicestershire, England. His father, John Dickens, born and reared in Northamptonshire, Eng- land, who was a wool-comber by trade, mar- ried Ann Carter, and became the father of eight children ; namely, John, Samuel, Daniel, Eliza, Ann, Richard, John (second), and Mary A. John, Samuel, Ann, Richard, John (second), and Mary A. are deceased. Eliza, who married John Marson, lives in England. Ann, who died in Portland, was the wife of Charles F. Potter, of Bridgton. Neither of the parents is now living, the mother having passed away at the age of sixty-eight years, and the father at the advanced age of eighty- eight years.
Daniel Dickens grew to man's estate in his native town. When a boy of twelve years, he began working in the woollen-mills, receiving small weekly wages, which for five years he gave to his father on pay-day. He continued working in the factory until November 19, 1860, when he sailed for America, leaving Liverpool on the American clipper ship "Yorkshire." After a rough passage lasting thirty-five days he arrived at Castle Garden. He remained a few days in New York City. Then he went to Boston, from which he pro- ceeded to Lawrence, Mass., and was employed for five weeks in a woollen-mill. He subse- quently secured work in the Pacific Mills of the same town, remaining there a little more than a year, and in a carpet-mill at Lowell, where he was employed for four months. After this he came to Maine, and worked in
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the North Vassalboro mills four years. He left this employment to accept the charge of the wool-sorting department in the Pondi- cherry Mills of Bridgton. Entering upon the duties of this position May 1, 1866, he dis- charged them faithfully and efficiently for more than a quarter of a century, after which he retired from active life. In the mean time Mr. Dickens has visited the country of his nativity three times, each trip occupying about three months. Mr. Dickens had other busi- ness interests in addition to that of his work in the mill. He was a member of the firm of Hammond, Dickens & Co., manufacturers of doors, sashes, and blinds, from 1870 till 1873. He was one of the three men who erected Central Hall. Subsequently he purchased the interests of his partners, Alexander Stevenson and John Ardale, and sold the property to the town in July, 1895.
In 1853 Mr. Dickens married Miss Lydia Johnson, and became the father of four chil- dren. These were : Thomas, a resident of Camden, Me. ; Frederick, a resident of New York City; Emma J., the wife of J. N. Ren- nie, of Bridgton; and John W., who lives in Boston. In politics Mr. Dickens affiliates with the Democratic party. He enjoys the privilege of membership in the fraternity of A. F. & A. M.
PHRAIM B. JILLSON, a prosperous farmer and fruit grower of Otisfield, Cumberland County, Me., was born in this town, February 12, 1847. His parents were Joseph B. and Nancy (Stone) Jillson, his father being a son of Stephen Jillson, who was born in Richmond, Me., September 15, I 779.
A farmer by occupation, Stephen Jillson tilled the soil for a time in Randolph, N.H., and in 1816 moved to Cumberland County, Me., settling in Casco, where he died, Octo- ber 6, 1839. His wife, whose maiden name was Phæbe Borden, was born in Plainfield, Conn., March 9, 1779. They were married in Lancaster, N.H. Six children blessed their union, namely: Stephen B., who was born July 31, 1804, and died April 29, 1887; Phœbe, born June 7, 1806, who died in 1855,
wife of Jonathan Morrow, also deceased; Joseph B .; Luke, born August 30, 18II, who died in the army in 1863; Rensselaer, who was born March 5, 1814, and died in 1841; and David Cargo, born May 13, 1817, a farmer, residing near his nephew, the subject of this sketch. His wife, formerly Elsie B. Scribner, who was born in Otisfield in 1818, died some years ago.
Joseph B. Jillson, the father of Ephraim B., was born in Raymond, Me., December 10, 1807. He settled in Otisfield, when a young man, on a farm near the present home of his son, and devoted his life to agriculture, in which he was very successful. Well known in the town and vicinity, he was also highly esteemed; and his death, which occurred July 24, 1889, was the cause of general regret. His wife, Nancy, who died August 23, 1878, was a native of this town, born in 1809. She was the daughter of Daniel Stone, a native of Cumberland County and a respected member of the farming community of Otisfield for many years. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph B. Jillson the following is re- corded : Martha N., born February 25, 1833, died December 27, 1874. She was the wife of William O. Briggs, who died some years since. Margaret A., who was born August 25, 1835, died in 1889 in Weymouth, Mass. She was the wife of Elzard Lloyd, of that town, a boot manufacturer. Stephen D., who was born August 26, 1837, is a prominent citizen of East Otisfield, a miller and lumber manufacturer, and represented the district in the legislature in 1892. He married Dorcas Cobb, of Otisfield. Martin V. B., a farmer of Otisfield, who was born July 8, 1839, mar- ried Viola Chaplin, now deceased. Mary B. (deceased), born September 23, 1841, was the wife of Daniel Fickett, of Casco. Diana S., widow of Mark K. Moss, was born February 5, 1844, and is now a resident of Waterbury, Me .; Ephraim B., the youngest of the family, with whom this sketch began, is further men- tioned below.
Ephraim B. Jillson received a good common- school education. He helped about the home farm until twenty-one years of age, and then obtained employment in the Insane Asylum at South Boston, where he remained somewhat
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over five years. Returning to Otisfield, he purchased the farm where he now resides, and turned his attention to farming according to the most approved methods. He now owns about two hundred aeres of good land, and makes a specialty of raising sweet eorn. This is canned by the Snowflake Packing Company, whose factory is located on Mr. Jillson's farm, a concern which does a general packing and eanning business, averaging during the season sixteen thousand, five hundred cans per day, and shipping goods as far west as California. Mr. Jillson also raises large quantities of fruit, and puts up many eans of apples, which he disposes of in Portland.
Mr. Jillson was united in marriage August 24, 1874, with Miss Nancy Day, a native of Boston, Mass., born March 17, 1848. She is the daughter of Leonard and Hannah (Perkins) Day, both natives of Maine, the former born in Limeriek, the latter in York. Mr. Day has spent the greater part of his life in Bos- ton, where he is engaged in teaming. One child has blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Jillson, George C., born March 16, 1878, who assists his father about the farm.
A staneh Democrat in politics, Mr. Jillson has held several offiees of trust within the gift of the town. He is a member of Monama Lodge, No. 40, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, of Mechanie Falls, Me. With his wife he attends the Union Church near his home, and he takes an active interest in church work. Enterprising and suceessful, he holds the re- spect of his townsmen; and his sterling char- acter has won for him universal esteem.
LBERT B. CASWELL, one of Harri- son's successful farmers, was born in that town, February 13, 1855, son of Marcus D. P. and Lucinda (Cilly) Caswell. The family is an old and prominent one in the town of Harrison. Mr. Caswell's grandfather owned and eondueted one of the oldest settled farms in that seetion. Marcus D. P. Caswell, also a native of Harrison, learned the trade of a blacksmith, and fol- lowed that calling for some time in Gorham, Me. Later he returned to the homestead farm, which he conducted successfully during
the rest of his active period. He was an energetie and industrious man, and spared no pains to place his children well upon the road to prosperity. He was also a good citi- zen, who had the general interest of the community at heart. He died in Harrison, October 23, 1890. His wife, Lucinda, a na- tive of New York State, whose parents settled upon a farm in Gorham, Me., where they passed the rest of their lives, became the mother of seven children, as follows: Erastus, who married Elizabeth Haskell, and now oc- cupies the home farm; Mareellus, who died in infaney; Cynthia, who is now residing in Massachusetts; Millard M., who married Harriet Webb, and lives in Bridgton; Albert B., the subject of this sketch; Cornelia F., who is now living in Portland; and Clara M., who resides at the old homestead. The mother, who still survives, continues to reside at the home farm.
Albert B. Caswell attended the common schools of his native town. He remained at home until he reached the age of eighteen, when he went to Bridgton, and learned the trade of a machinist. After following that oceupation there for five years, he went to Portland, and worked for five years more in the same ealling. He then relinquished the business, and, returning to Harrison, pur- chased the Samuel Abbott farm, where he has since resided. He owns one hundred and thirty aeres of fine grass land, which is most favorably located. His attention has been chiefly devoted to the production of hay and to the dairying. He keeps an average of twelve cows, and supplies cream to the eream- ery in Auburn.
On December 13, 1886, Mr. Caswell was united in marriage to Amanda Weeks. She was born in Brownfield, March 7, 1858, daugh- ter of John and Amanda (Ames) Weeks. Her parents, who are both deceased, were natives, respectively, of Brownfield and Den- mark, Oxford County. Mr. Caswell has always given his support to the Democratic party in polities. A progressive and able farmer, he is prominent among the agrieult- ural community. He has reached the prosper- ity he now enjoys through the medium of toil and perseverance.
EDWIN H. CHAPIN TOMPSON.
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DWIN H. CHAPIN TOMPSON, master mechanic of the Portland & Rochester Railroad, with his office at Portland, has been connected with this road since 1864, making him in point of service one of the oldest employees of the company. He was born October 25, 1847, in Great Falls, Straf- ford County, N. H., and is a son of Andrew Wentworth Tompson, who was born in Dur- ham, Strafford County, N.H., on December 29, 1820.
Andrew W. Tompson is a veteran in rail- road work, having been employed when a young man in the construction department of the Manchester & Lawrence and of the Man- chester & Concord Roads, afterward being station agent at Manchester, N.H., for ten years. He was subsequently employed as an express messenger in Canada, then had charge of the Canadian express route between Port- land and Montreal for three years. He was next employed as baggage master of the Boston & Maine and Eastern Railway at Portland, retaining his position for twenty-five years, when after an honorable record for faithful service he retired from active business cares. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Ann Wentworth Otis, was a daughter of Daniel Otis. She was born November 18, 1827, in Great Falls, N. H. She borc him eight chil- dren, namely: Edwin H .; George W. W., who also resides in Portland; Ruth, the wife of Charles Welch, of this city; Andrew W., Jr .; Clara M .; Oscar, deceased; Grace M .; and Frank.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew W. Tompson having removed to this city when their son Edwin was a lad of twelve years, he herc completed his cducation. Soon after leaving school he entered the locomotive department of the shops of the old York & Cumberland Railroad, which is now the Portland & Rochester Rail- way, from the time of his entrance, in 1864, until 1875, holding all the different positions in the shop, thus becoming thoroughly ac- quainted with the various kinds of work therein, serving as foreman in each depart- ment. Having proved his capability, Mr. Tompson was then appointed master mechanic of the entire road, which gave him full control of the locomotive department. Ten years
later the car department was placed under his charge, thus making him master car builder as well as master mechanic, having, in this capacity, charge of the engineers and firemen, and of the fifty or more men employed in the shops.
Mr. Edwin H. C. Tompson is a member in high standing of different social socicties, hav- ing filled all the chairs in Maine Lodge, No. I, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in the Eastern Star Encampment, besides which, he belongs to Trinity Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and is Past President of Maine Char- itable Mechanic Association. In October, 1884, he was united in wedlock with Miss Mary Oram, a native of this city, who is of English descent. Their home is at No. 63 Parris Strcet.
ARREN SPARROW, a prominent insurance agent of Portland and an csteemed resident of Deering, was born July 20, 1814, in Eastham, Mass., that town being also the native place of his parents, Richard and Susan (Knowles) Sparrow.
This branch of the Sparrow family are the lineal descendants of onc Richard Sparrow, who emigrated from England in 1623, bring- ing with him his wife and their son Jonathan, an only child, and locating in Plymouth, whence they removed some eight to ten years later to Eastham, which is known as the second Pilgrim settlement. The son after- ward became very prominent in church and State affairs. For his second wife he married the daughter of Governor Prince.
Richard Sparrow grew to man's estate in Eastham, where he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in his carlier lifc, being for a number of years a contractor and builder. In 1823 or thereabouts he erected a fine residence in Orleans, which was formerly a part of Eastham, but was set off from it and incorporated as a separate town in 1797. Herc he started a general country store, which he conducted nearly twenty years. Disposing of it in 1841, hc removed to Cambridgeport, Mass., where he lived retired from business pursuits until his death, in 1848. He was a
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Whig in politics, being very active in the management of local affairs while in Orleans, which he twice represented in the legislature, besides holding various town offices, and serv- ing for a number of years as Trial Justice. His wife, Susan Knowles, was a daughter of John Knowles. Of their union six children were born, namely: Rebecca K., who married Captain James Smith, of Boston; Warren; Emeline; Sarah; Richard; and Susan. Both parents were conscientious members of the Congregational church.
Warren Sparrow acquired his early educa- tion in the public schools of his native town and at the Orleans Academy. When quite young he went to Boston, and entered the em- ploy of a Mr. Holbrook, a wholesale grocer on Commercial Street, remaining there a year, when he became a clerk in the dry-goods store of Charles Warren & Co. After being thus engaged two years, Mr. Sparrow pursued his studies for two years in the Phillips Academy at Andover, Mass., and then returned to Bos- ton, where he secured a situation as a clerk with Gardner Colby & Co., since the benefi- cent donor to the Colby University at Water- ville, Me.
In 1837 Mr. Sparrow, with noteworthy en- terprise, started for the West, reaching St. Louis at the end of a three weeks' journey. Here he tarried for some time, visiting several points of interest in Missouri and Illinois, travelling with Professor Forrest Sheppard, of New Haven, a practical geologist, exploring a considerable part of Southern Missouri and Illinois in search of coal and other minerals. About this time he visited Chicago, which then contained about forty-five hundred souls, while St. Louis could boast a population of twice that number. Hc remained in Missouri, and was in trade there some two or three years in a village on the bank of the Mississippi River a few miles below St. Louis. In 1842 hc closed up his business in Missouri; and in the early part of 1843 he returned to Boston, where he was employed for the next year and a half in a mercantile agency, a business which was then in its infancy.
Early in March, 1845, he came to Portland to take charge of the dry-goods business of Charles H. Geer, whom he subsequently
bought out, thereafter continuing in the dry- goods trade for five years. In 1850 Mr. Sparrow sold out his stock of dry goods, and began dealing in carpets, opening on Free Street the first store devoted exclusively to the carpet business in Portland. Some four years later a Mr. Cogswell, who had removed to Portland from the eastern part of the State, became a partner with Mr. Sparrow; and after a year or two he bought out Mr. Sparrow's interest in the firm. Shortly after this Mr. Sparrow entered into the insurance business, in which he still continues at the present time, conducting it under the firm name of Warren Sparrow & Co., now enjoying the dis- tinction of being the oldest insurance agent in Portland.
In the advancement and prosperity of Port- land and its suburbs Mr. Sparrow has been an important factor, he having been the first man to suggest a street railway for the city, and one of the five to whom the original charter was granted, and the first seventy thou- sand dollars of subscriptions to the stock of the road having been secured by his own per- sonal efforts. In 1852 he built his present residence on Arlington Street, Deering, there being at that time but two small one-story dwellings between his house and the then small settlement at Deering Point.
The marriage of Mr. Sparrow and Ann W., daughter of Thomas Geer, of Vergennes, Vt., occurred November 3, 1842. On her mother's side Mrs. Sparrow is descended from the Rev. John Woodbridge, who came from Eng- land to America in 1634, the line of descent being continued through the Hon. Enoch Woodbridge, who was born in 1750, on Christ- mas Day, and was graduated from Yale Col- lege September 14, 1774, he being a great- great-grandson of the immigrant ancestor. Enoch Woodbridge was a veteran of the Rev- olution, serving as an Adjutant in General Patterson's brigade, being with the army at Quebec when General Montgomery was killed, and afterward being an active participant in the battles of Hubbardton and Bennington, and at the capture of General Burgoyne. Of the seven children born unto Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow five are living, as follows: Charles A., of Kansas; Alice, wife of Benjamin B.
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Peck, general agent of the Newark Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company, living at Indianapolis; Annie, wifc of Charles D. Lam- son, President of the Gas Company at Worees- ter, Mass .; Frank W .; and Elizabeth G.
Mr. Sparrow has cver been active and in- fluential in religious affairs, having first united with the Salem Street Congregational Church of Boston, of which the Rev. Dr. Blagden was pastor in 1832. Some twenty years later he severed his connection with this church, and became one of the original mem- bers in the organization of the State Street Congregational Church of Portland, of which he and his wife are both members, Mr. Sparrow having held the office of Deacon for several years. It is to him also that this com- munity has been largely indebted for some of the series of evangelistic services held in Portland during the last twenty years. At the close of one of these there were added to the several evangelieal churches of this eity over two hundred new members, chiefly as the outcome of nine continuous weeks of religious serviees, led by the Rev. George C. Needham, the evangelist, and Mrs. Needham, his wife.
EORGE S. SYLVESTER, onc of the leading contractors and builders in the eity of Portland, where he has been successfully engaged in business since 1851, was born on Orr's Island (since made famous by Harriet Beccher Stowe), Harps- well, Me., June 28, 1823, son of William and Deborah (Wilson) Sylvester.
His father was born at Harpswell in 1790, in the house where the Rev. Mr. Kellogg now resides. He was reared to agricultural labors, living suceessively at Orr's Island, on what is called the Neck, in Brunswick, Hallowell, and Brooks, in caeh of which plaees he was engaged in farming. From Brooks he re- moved to a farm in Searsport, Me., where he resided as long as he was able to engage in ac- tive labor. Hc passed his last days in the home of his daughter, Mrs. Marcia J. Chaney, in Portland, dying on December 30, 1855. His wife died in 1870. Eight of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. William Syl- vester lived to maturity, but George S. is the
only survivor. Both parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
George S. Sylvester obtained his school education in Hallowell, and it was in that town that he served an apprenticeship of three years to learn the trade of a earpenter. With what diligence and thoroughness he has ap- plied himself to his chosen vocation the sue- eess that he has attained bears witness. After leaving Hallowell he was employed a ycar in Charlestown, Mass., and then worked for three years in the neighboring eity of Chelsea. In 1846 he went to Bangor, Mc., and the fol- lowing year settled in Portland, where he worked as a journeyman until 1851. At that time he entered into business for himself, and during the past forty-four years he has erected many of the public and private buildings now standing in this city. He is now at work on contract on the large Baxter Block, which, when completed, will be five stories in height, and will eover an area of twenty thousand square feet of ground. His whole time has been devoted to building, in which he has been eminently successful, throughout the busy season keeping from fiftcen to twenty men in his employ.
His marriage with Miss Helen R. Coueh, of Hallowell, Me., was solemnized on January 22, 1847. She was born in 1819, and was a daughter of George Coueh, a master quarry- man. Their only son, George W. Sylvester, is the manager of a large lumber enterprise in Portland and quite a prominent young man in political eircles. He has been for three years a member of the Common Council from Ward 5, and has deelincd Aldermanic nomi- nations. Mrs. Helen R. Sylvester died in 1891.
Sinec the dissolution of the Whig party, of which he was formerly an adherent, Mr. Syl- vester has cast his vote with the Republican party. Hc is a member of Ligonia Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has held all the chairs. He is conneetcd with the Methodist Episcopal ehureh, of which his wife was also a member, and for twenty- eight years has acted as a Sunday-school teacher in the Chestnut Street Church. Dur- ing the past twenty-four ycars he has resided in Deering.
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TORACE A. HALL, senior member of the firm of Hall & Dresser, is numbered among the most prosper- ous and active business men of
Bridgton. He was born October 25, 1848, in Oxford, Me., son of Silas and Elizabeth L. (Shurtleff) Hall. The other children of his parents were : Dora R., Mary G., and a daugh- ter that died in infancy.
Mr. Hall received a limited education in the district schools of his native town. When but eleven years of age, he was forced to relin- quish his studies to begin to earn his living. He obtained employment in the woollen-mills, where he remained seven years. He then worked for five years as a clerk in a store, and afterward was employed for two years in the cheese factory. In 1867 he opened a general store in the village of Otisfield, where he car- ried on an excellent business until 1881, being Postmaster eleven years of the time. Selling out, he removed to North Bridgton and purchased a store of general merchandise. This he managed for five years, serving for four of those years as Postmaster of the town. Coming then to Bridgton, Mr. Hall engaged in his present business. He deals in grain, flour, wood, and coal, and has been very prosper- ous. He is a man of superior business judg- ment and qualifications, his abilities receiving due recognition from his fellow-townsmen, by whom he is held in high esteem. In politics he is a stanch Republican; and, while in Oxford, he served ten years as Town Clerk.
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