Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 51

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

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In 1859 Mr. Decker was united in marriage with Mrs. Hannah Stewart Hancock, a native of Harrison, Mc., born March 3, 1825. She is a daughter of Solomon and Polly (Hall) Stewart, csteemed members of the farming community of Harrison. Mr. and Mrs. Decker have no children. Mr. Decker is a stanch Republican, while he has never been an aspirant for office. He and his wife attend the Union Church of Casco.

UMNER O. HANCOCK, junior member of the firm of Decker & Hancock, was born in Boston, Mass., January 6, 1855, son of Sumner M. and Hannah (Stewart) Hancock. Sumner M.

Hancock was born in Otisfield, Me., Decem- ber 1, 1823, and remained there until twenty years of age. He then moved to Boston, where he was engaged in teaming up to the time of his death. Sumner M. Hancock owned a farm in Otisfield, but never cared to live therc. He died November 6, 1855. His wife was a native of Harrison, Me., born March 3, 1825. After her husband's death, with her only child, Sumner O. Hancock, she returned to Harrison, where she lived five years. She then removed to Casco, and was again married, becoming the wife of Nathan Decker.

Sumner O. Hancock received a good com- mon-school education in Casco. He early en- gaged in the lumber business with Mr. Decker, and now has practically the manage- ment of the firm's affairs. He also deals largely in real estate, and is widely known as one of the most capable and successful busi- . ness men in the county. On June 2, 1881, Mr. Hancock was united in marriage with. Bertha R., daughter of Captain James and Celestia (Watson) Tukey, of Raymond, Me., born September 1, 1862. Captain Tukey, who was master of a vessel in the West India trade, died in Cuba; and his widow subse- quently married Henry Plummer, of Ray- mond, where she is now living. They have three children, namely: Mae E., born June IO, 1883; Miller S., born May 29, 1887; and Ralph S., born October 16, 1893. In poli- tics Mr. Hancock is a Democrat. He has been Town Treasurer for five years and a member of the Board of Selectmen for the last four years, being the present Chairman of that body. In religious belief he is a Univer- salist.

HARLES COLE, a representative farmer of Raymond, is highly es- teemed for his integrity and busi- ness energy, being a man whose success in life is the result of personal enter- prise and endeavor. Son of Noah and Sarah (Verrill) Cole, he was born in New Glouces- ter, Cumberland County, on March 9, 1845.

Noah Cole was a native of Buckfield, Me., from which place he removed to New Glouces-

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ter. When he started out to earn his own livelihood, he engaged in farming, and subse- quently went into the milling business. He continued to carry on these lines of useful in- dustry throughout his life. His death oc- curred in 1845. His wife, Sarah Verrill, was born in New Gloucester. She bore him five children, as follows: Rachel, who died when but six months old; James V., whose death occurred on September 12, 1866; Mary Ann, who died in 1856; Amos, who was killed in a mill in Lewiston in September, 1867; and Charles. Their mother formed a second mar- riage with William Stinchfield, a widower re- siding in New Gloucester, whose former wife was Miss Rebecca Preble. He died in June 1895, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years.

Charles Cole was but six months old at the time of his father's death. Under his mother's tender care and judicious training he grew to maturity; and, when he was fifteen years of agc, he went to live with his step- father, whom he assisted in the farm work. In 1867 Mr. and Mrs. Stinchfield came to Raymond, and settled on the farm now owned and occupied by Mr. Cole, who continued to live with them after his marriage, caring for them during their last years. This farm con- tains about two hundred acres of land, and Mr. Cole also owns timbered land in other towns. He keeps his land under excellent cultivation, and has made various improvements. General farming, fruit growing, and stock raising en- gage his attention.

On November 24, 1866, Mr. Cole was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Stinch- field, a daughter of William Stinchfield. She was born on March 17, 1844, and has two sisters - Florinda, the wife of Silas Bickford, living in New Gloucester; and Mary, who married John H. Jordan, of Raymond. Mr. and Mrs. Cole have had nine children, namely : Lillian R., living at home; Charles H., now in Shelburne, N.H .; Mary Ellen, who died in infancy; William S. and Lucy P., who are attending the Pennell Institute in Gray; Ira N. and Hewett, living at home; a child that died in infancy; and Gardner, who is also at home.

Mr. Cole has always been a stanch Prohibi-

tionist. For seven years prior to 1894 he served as Selectman of Raymond. Socially, he is a member of Presumpscot Lodge, No. 127, A. F. & A. M., of Windham; and Gray Lodge, No. 45, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and his family are attendants of the Universalist church at East Raymond.

OSEPH G. BENNETT, a carriage- maker by trade, with which he has combined the vocation of a farmer, is a lifelong resident of New Gloucester, where his birth occurred on September 9, 1822. He is a son of Harmon and Lucy (Bennett) Bennett, both of whom were born in Cumberland County. His father served as a patriot soldier in the War of 1812. He afterward settled in Fairfield, Me., where he spent the remainder of his life. His wife, Lucy, who was a daughter of Moses Bennett, reared a family of nine children, three of whom are still living, namely: Caroline, the wife of Charles Fernald, of Wisconsin; Mary Charlotte, residing in Massachusetts; and Nathaniel, who lives on the old homestead in New Gloucester. The deceased are: Clara, Lucy, Sallie, Esther, Laura, and Hannah. Mrs. Lucy Bennett, who lived to the advanced age of eighty-three years, died in Strong, Me., where she spent the last years of her life.

Joseph G. Bennett was born at the home of his maternal grandfather, Moses Bennett, and remained with him until eighteen years of age. At that time he learned carriage- making, and has since been engaged in that trade. In 1872 he purchased the Captain Rackliffe farm, containing about fifty acrcs, on which he now resides. He also owns a tract of timber land in another part of the town. Although he is now advanced in years, Mr. Bennett still continues to work at carriage- making, and has a shop on his farm, where he does all kinds of general repairing. His son assists him in the management of the farm.

On March 18, 1856, he was joined in mar- riage with Miss Alfreda A. Fairfield, a daugh- ter of the Rev. Smith Fairfield, who was at one time the minister in charge of the Baptist church at New Gloucester. Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Bennett are the parents of a son and

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daughter, namely: Flora M., the wife of the Rev. E. W. Webber, a Universalist minister of Richmond, Me .; and Charles P., born in May, 1869, a clerk in a store of New Glouces- ter village, who married Miss Hattie Wood- bury, a school teacher, both residing with his father. The daughter received a high-school education. Mr. Bennett is a stanch Democrat, and for many years he has served as Constable in the town of New Gloucester. He and Mrs. Bennett are regular attendants of the Baptist church.

IMON B. GUTHRIE, shoe manu- facturer of Gorham, Cumberland County, Me., was born in Gorham, December 10, 1853, son of Michael and Mary (Fitzpatrick) Guthrie. He is of an ancient Scottish family, the name Guthrie having been prominent in Scotland as early as the thirteenth century.

Mr. Guthrie's grandfather, who was born in Scotland, was for some years a farmer in the south of Ireland; and in that country his children - four sons and a daughter - were born. Michael Guthrie, the father of Simon B., was the youngest of this family. He was born in 1800, and emigrated to America when a young man, making a short stay in Portland, Me., and then settling in Gorham. He died in this town in 1883, at the age of eighty- three. Ilis wife, who was of Irish birth, be- came the mother of ten children - Bridget, Daniel, Thomas, Roger, Simon B., Mary, James, Catherine, Michael, and Elizabeth, eight of whom are now living.

Simon B. Guthrie grew to manhood in Gor- ham, acquiring his elementary education in the public schools. When a boy he met with a peculiar accident, which was the occasion of a triumph of surgery considered very remarka- ble at the time. He injured the knee-pan in such a way that he was unable to walk for six months; and when he did get about the limb was crooked, and he was quite lame for seven years. Dr. H. H. Hunt then performed an operation, the ninth of the kind in the records of surgery, which fully straightened the limb and restored its strength. In 1868 he started to learn the shoemaker's trade, and on finish-

ing"his apprenticeship entered Gray's Business College in Portland, Me. On finishing his course of study, he worked for a while at currying leather and then for two years at shoemaking. In 1877 he formed a copartner- ship with John S. Leavitt, Jr., of Gorham, under the firm name of Leavitt & Guthrie; and in the spring of 1878 his brother Daniel took Mr. Leavitt's place, changing the name of the company to D. & S. B. Guthrie. This partnership lasted two years; and then Simon Guthrie purchased his brother's interest in the business, of which he has been sole proprietor ever since. He carries a full line of footwear for men and women, and does fine custom work and also repairing.

June 1, 1881, Mr. Guthrie was united to Margaret E. Manning, a native of Augusta, Mc. Two children have blessed their union Roger Hunt and Annie Elizabeth.

Mr. Guthrie takes an active part in politics, and is one of the leading Democrats of Gor- ham. Ile has been Secretary and Treasurer . of the Democratic Town Committee, and has been nominated by his party for the several town offices. He was appointed Postmaster, April 3, 1893, by President Cleveland, and was elected one of Gorham's Village Corpora- tion Assessors in May, 1895. He is a member of Dirigo Lodge, No. 21, Knights of Pythias, . of Gorham, of which he has filled all the chairs, and is one of the Trustees. In relig- ious affiliation he is a Catholic. He is a rep- resentative citizen of Gorham, honest and painstaking in his business contracts and always interested in the public welfare.

APTAIN PAUL G. BLANCHARD, who was formerly a well-known com- mander of merchant vessels and later a successful ship-builder of. Yarmouth, was born in this town in October, 1 808. He was the second son of Sylvanus and Dorcas (Prince) Blanchard.

The Blanchard family is of English origin. Thomas Blanchard emigrated to Massachusetts in early Colonial days. His son Nathaniel, also a native of England, settled in Wey- mouth, Mass., about 1658. Descendants later removed to the district of Maine, and

PAUL G. BLANCHARD.

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became both numerous and prominent in Cum- berland County, where many representatives of the family have achieved success as master mariners and business men.

Sylvanus Blanchard, Mr. Blanchard's father, was born in North Yarmouth, and at an early age began to follow the sea. He became a well-known and successful ship-master, and engaged in foreign trade for many years, finally retiring from the sea and establishing the ship-building industry in Yarmouth. He also owned a good farm, which he cultivated with profitable results. He was a highly respected business man and a progressive citizen. In politics he supported the Whig party. He died at his homestead in Yar- mouth, aged over eighty years. His wife, Dorcas Prince, who was a native of Yarmouth, became the mother of seven children, as fol- lows: David; Paul G., the subject of this sketch ; Sylvanus C. ; Perez Nathaniel; Sam- uel W. ; Dorcas Jane; and Olive Elizabeth Mrs. Dorcas P. Blanchard also lived past the age of fourscore years. She and her husband were members of the Congregational church.

Paul G. Blanchard received his education in the schools of Yarmouth, and at the age of nineteen he became a sailor on board of his father's vessel. He worked his way up from the forecastle, becoming thoroughly acquainted with the management of a ship; and when still a young man he stood upon the quarter-deck as master of a vessel. He engaged successfully in the foreign trade, commanding several noted merchantmen of his day; and during his twenty-one years of seafaring he crossed the Atlantic sixty times. His voyages were al- ways of a fortunate character, realizing good financial returns both for himself and his owners; and he acquired a high reputation as an able and trustworthy ship-master. After his retirement from the sea he engaged with his brothers in the ship-building industry at Yarmouth, and they were famous for turning out some of the finest merchant crafts that sailed in those days. Captain Blanchard was an able, successful business man, possessing the respect and esteem of his fellow-towns- men; and the community was indebted to him for the energy which he displayed in develop- ing and maintaining its industrial resources.

He was liberal in his religious views, and in politics he supported the Democratic party. He died at his pleasant home in Yarmouth in November, 1885.

On October 15, 1855, Captain Blanchard was united in marriage with Sarah J. Baker, daughter of John and Sarah (Hodgkins) Baker. John Baker was born in Portland, was a sail- maker by trade, an occupation which he fol- lowed through life. He died in Portland at the age of forty-four years. His family con- sisted of the following children: Joseph, Edward, Albert, Harriett, John H., Charles H., and Sarah J. Mrs. Baker wedded for her second husband Thomas Chase. She lived to reach the advanced age of nearly ninety years.

Mrs. Sarah Baker Blanchard continues to occupy the residence which was erected by her late husband and is furnished with every desirable comfort. She is a lady of refined tastes and pleasing manners, and is much re- spected by all who know her. She is a mem- ber of the Congregational church.

APTAIN LEVI MARSTON, for- merly a well-known ship-master, who is now living in retirement at his home in Yarmouthville, was born in North Yarmouth, June 2, 1816, son of Thomas and Eunice (Roberts) Marston. Captain Marston's grandparents were Jasper and Pa- tience Marston, the former of whom was a sturdy pioneer and an early settler of North Yarmouth. Jasper cleared a good farm out of the original wilderness, and extracted from it a good living. Both he and his wife lived to an advanced age.

Thomas Marston, Captain Marston's father, was born in North Yarmouth, and was a life- long resident of that town. He owned a good farm, and was successfully engaged in agri- cultural pursuits during his active period. Industrious and energetic, he had the esteem and good will of the entire community. Ile served as a soldier in the War of 1812, for which he received a pension, was a Democrat in politics, and lived seventy-four years. His wife, Eunice, who was a native of North Yar- mouth, became the mother of nine children, as follows: George R., born July 14, 1810;

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Margaret, born May 4, 1813; Jane, born November 19, 1814; Levi, the subject of this sketch; Thankful, born May 16, 1818; Thomas, born July 2, 1820; Eliza T., born December 1, 1822; Jeremiah W., born January 16, 1825; and Emeline, born March 19, 1819, who died in infancy. Of these the survivors, besides Levi, are: Eliza T., who is now Mrs. Edward T. Smith, and resides in Windham, Me. ; and Jeremiah W., a resident of Pownal, Me. The mother lived to the age of seventy- seven years. Captain Marston's parents at- tended the Methodist Episcopal church.

Captain Levi Marston received his educa- tion in the district schools of North Yar- mouth. At the age of fourteen he began to follow the sea, shipping as cook at six dollars and fifty cents per month. He later became an able seaman ; and in 1837 he served on board the ship "Tarquin," which was the largest merchant vessel afloat at that time. Working his way steadily step by step, he was appointed first mate of the brig "Vincennes," of Port- land. Soon after he became master and part owner of the schooner "Effort," one hundred tons' burden. In 1849 he had constructed at North Yarmouth, under his own supervision, the brig "Harriet," registering two hundred and twenty-five tons, and with it engaged in the West India trade for some twenty-five years. The largest vessel he ever commanded was the "S. R. Bearce," six hundred and fif- teen tons, which is still in commission. H followed the sea for fifty years, during which he visited the principal ports of the world. An accomplished seaman and a good business man, his voyages were always attended with success. He abandoned seafaring in 1880, since which time he has resided at his home in Yarmouthville. During the Civil War he commanded the transport steamer "General Howard," which was engaged in carrying troops and supplies for the army. On Novem- ber 9, 1851, he rescued two hundred and fifty of the three hundred and twenty-five souls, comprising the passengers and crew of a wreck, the British ship "Unicorn," the remainder being taken off by another American ship, the "Daniel Webster." For this gallant deed of humanity he was presented with a commemora- tive medal. In politics he supports the Re-

publican party, while in his religious belief he is a Methodist.

Captain Marston has been twice married. On March 26, 1840, he was united to Lavina Mitchell, who was born in North Yarmouth, November 3, 1813, and died January 9, 1880. On November 19, 1884, he married for his second wife Mrs. Louise Humphrey, a sister of his first wife, who was born June 9, 1832. They were daughters of John and Eliza (Good- ing) Mitchell.

John Mitchell, Mrs. Marston's father, was born in that part of Yarmouth which was for- merly included in the town of North Yar- mouth, September 12, 1778. His parents, Benjamin and Jane (Loring) Mitchell, were also natives of North Yarmouth. His grand- father, Benjamin Mitchell, the first of his an- cestors to settle in that locality, cleared and improved a good farm in the eastern part of North Yarmouth. Indians were numerous in - those early days; and two of his sons, Solo- mon and Daniel, were made captives. Solo- mon soon returned, but Daniel remained away from his people for many years. Grandfather Mitchell married Mehitable Bragdon, and the two lived to an advanced age. John Mitchell's father, Benjamin (second), was also a success- ful farmer, and resided in North Yarmouth until his death, which took place in middle life. He was twice married, having had no children by his first wife. By his second union, contracted with Jane Loring, he became the father of eight children - Nathaniel, David, Loring, John, Benjamin, Charles, Dorcas, and Jane.

John Mitchell followed the sea in his early life, and became master of a sloop, which he sailed in the coasting trade. He also made several foreign voyages, shipping as an able seaman. Upon one occasion, while he and his brother were crossing the Spanish main, they were made prisoners. Between the years 1813 and 1815 he relinquished sea life, and settled upon a tract of land in North Yarmouth. Out of this he made the farm now occupied by his son, Azor Mitchell, who bought it in 1860. Having spent his last days in retirement, he died August 4, 1862, aged eighty-three years. He was a practical and successful farmer, and was always ready to aid in anything designed

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to promote the welfare of the community. He was a member of the Congregational church of Pownal, and in politics he supported the Whig and the Republican parties. He married Elizabeth Gooding, who was born in Portland, Me., November 20, 1789. They reared a family of four sons and four daugh- ters, as follows: Dorcas, who was born on Jan- uary 13, 1811; Lavina, born November 3, 1813; Elizabeth W., born December 11, 1816; John H., born September 28, 1819; George G., born November 19, 1821; Albert L., born December 29, 1824; Azor, born May 8, 1828; and Mary Louise, born June 9, 1832, now Mrs. Levi Marston. Of these, Lavina, George G., and Albert L. are no longer living. The mother died July 13, 1872, aged eighty-two years. Captain Mars- ton has four children living, namely: Ellen M., born July 6, 1843, who married James Lawrence, March 31, 1869, and is now resid- ing at the old homestead; Charles L., born May 21, 1846, who married Lizzie J. Drum- mond, of Phippsburg, Me., and resides in Yar- mouth; Alfred T., born April 29, 1849, who married Emma Lawrence, of Boston (born in England), and is now living in Arlington, Mass. ; and George H., born May 13, 1851, married Orissa H. Bragdon, of Corinth, Me., and lives in Cambridge, Mass. In politics Captain Marston supports the Republican party, while in religious belief he is a Metho- dist. He is now one of the oldest ship- masters in Maine.

PRENTISS POTTER, M.D., a well- known physician of Cumberland County, Maine, a public-spiritcd and much esteemed citizen of Bridgton, his native town, was born on a farm on the Highlands on October 13, 1845. This farm was also the birthplace of his father, Nathaniel Potter, who was a Deacon of the Congregational church of Bridgton for about fifty years.

The Doctor's grandfather was the first of the Potter family to make his home on the IIigh- lands. Nathaniel Potter was a carpenter by trade, and during the greater part of his life was engaged as a contractor and builder. He

was four times married, and he had two chil- dren by his first wife; namely, Charles and Miranda (deccased). His children by his fourth wife, Rhoda B. Dresser, were: Lizzie A., N. Prentiss, and Allie I. (deceased). Deacon Potter departed this life a number of years ago. His remains rest in the new ceme- tery at Bridgton.

N. Prentiss Potter learned his early lessons in the district schools, and later pursued the higher branches of learning in the academy at North Bridgton, improving his time so well that at eightcen he began teaching in the Derby Academy in Vermont. Having taught there a year and at Limington Academy, Me., one term, in 1866 on account of ill health he started for the West. He was gone three years, and visited nearly all the Western States and Territorics, experiencing hardships and discomforts at some stages of his progress that would have sent a less resolute youth back to the parental roof. The unpleasantness of existence at the pest-house, whither he was sent to be treated for the small-pox, and the wonder of his coming out alive after several weeks' detcntion, may be left to the imagina- tion of the reader. Finding himself almost penniless on his recovery, and casting about for means of support, he took up the life in- surance business, becoming an agent in a fresh field, and, at the end of the second day after starting out in this new venture, was the happy possessor of about one hundred dollars. He continued in this business during the re- mainder of his stay in the West, journeying from town to town on horseback. In 1869 he returned to Bridgton ; and in the following year he began the study of medicine under the in- struction of Dr. J. H. Kimball and Dr. Charles T. Fessenden, of Portland. He con- tinued it at the Marine Hospital and later at the Bowdoin Medical School, where he was graduated in 1871. He began practice in his native town, being for five years in partner- ship with Dr. T. H. Kimball, and has here since been actively engaged in the duties of his profession, with the exception of three winters passed elsewhere, one, that of 1879, in Colorado and California, and the winter of 1889, in the hospitals of Naples, Italy.

Doctor Potter is connected with the Ma-

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sonic fraternity, belonging to Oriental Lodge and Chapter, Bridgton; St. Albans Command- ery, Portland; and Kora Temple, Lewiston Me .; is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, Highland Lodge, Bridgton. In poli- tics he is a Republican, keeping well informed on State and national issues; and as a citi- zen he is public-spirited, always interested in the welfare and progress of his town and county. His attainments in scholarship are worthy of note, he being proficient in the Latin language and extremely well read in the sciences. He devotes himself entirely to his profession, and is regarded as a thoroughly competent and trustworthy physician, one who keeps up with the times as regards new dis- coveries in medicines and surgery. His cheery presence in the sick-room is welcomed alike by the rich and the poor.

OHN S. HEALD, Claim Agent of the Maine Central Railway, residing in Portland, is a native of Maine, having been born November 4, 1833, at Phippsburg, Sagadahoc County. His paternal grandfather, John Heald, was a prominent farmer of Georgetown and a veteran of the Revolutionary War. His father, the late Sumner Heald, was born at Georgetown, this State, and there lived until he attained ma- turity. Removing then to Phippsburg, Sum- ner Heald followed farming in that place until his decease in March, 1894. He also was engaged in milling and the fishery business, both of which he found profitable. In poli- tics he was not especially active, but always cast his vote with the Democratic party. He married Miss Cordelia, daughter of Mark Langdon Hill, who was the first member of Congress from this State, and subsequently became Judge of the Supreme Court of Maine. Of their union thirteen children were born, five of whom are still living. The mother lived but a few months after the death of her husband, her death occurring in September, 1894. Both parents were members of the Congregational church.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 51

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