Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 52

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

USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine > Part 52

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

John S. Heald acquired his education in the common schools of his native town, re- maining on the home farm until fifteen years

of age. He then entered the employment of a firm of ship-builders, with whom he served an apprenticeship of six years, becoming master builder. At the age of twenty-one years Mr. Heald removed to Bath, Me., where he engaged in carpentering, erecting a number of fine houses. In 1856 he came to Portland, where he continued at his trade for four years. He relinquished it in 1860, when he was ap- pointed First Deputy Marshal. A year later he was promoted to the position of City Mar- shal or Chief of Police, a position which he ably filled for ten years. Under his wise administration many important and beneficial changes were made in the police regulations. These so augmented the efficiency of the department that Mr. Heald has since been repeatedly urged to again accept the office, the position having been tendered him even so late as the spring of 1895 by Mayor Baxter.

During the late Civil War Mr. Heald was . employed in the United States Secret Service, working in New England mostly, where he made some important arrests. One was that of a political refugee, whom he took from an English vessel, securing thereby a number of cipher despatches that enabled the govern- ment to capture a vessel laden with arms and ammunition for the Confederate States. Mr. Heald was also influential in breaking up several gangs of counterfeiters who were operating in Maine and New Hampshire, and who had passed the spurious money in this city. Among those arrested by him were Hartley Bonney and Jim Tuttle, two well- known and desperate men, this being his first detective work for the United States. In the course of time he established a wide reputa- tion as the leading detective of the State of Maine, and his services were frequently called into requisition in neighboring cities. He was employed in several cases connected with bank robberies, some of the noted ones having been those committed at Bowdoinham, Norway. Cornish, Rockland, and Dexter. It was in the robbery committed at Dexter that the notorious Le Barron was killed. Mr. Heald was the prime mover in all of these cases. In 1876 he was appointed as special detective on the Mainc Central Railway; and in 1879 he accepted, in addition, the duties of Claim Agent of the

373

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

road. Since then he has filled both positions most acceptably to the company and with credit to himself. He was instrumental in bringing to justice men who placed obstruc- tions on the road at Unity, Bucksport, Pitts- field, besides discovering scores of criminals whose names and offences have not been made public. Mr. Heald's position as Claim Agent is most important. As the system of the Maine Central covers a large territory, the po- sition of Claim Agent is, of necessity, a most important one.

Mr. Heald was married August 30, 1862, to Miss Isabelle L. Cutler, of Portland, who presides with a winning hospitality over his beautiful home at 265 State Street.

For upward of twenty years Mr. Heald has taken an active interest in the Maine State Agricultural Society and the Gorham County Fair, of which he is a Director and Manager. He occupies a similar position in the Maine Mile Track Association, of which he was Man- ager in 1894, an office that the pressure of other business obliged him to relinquish the following year. He has been a prominent Director of the New England Fair, which has been held for many years on the Maine Mile Track Association grounds. Mr. Heald is also much interested in the breeding of fine stock, having raised some of standard breed, and his driving horse being one of the finest in the city.

MOS LOWE, who occupies the old Lowe homestead at North Yarmouth Centre, was born where he now re- sides, December 9, 1830, son of Joseph and Sarah (Huston) Lowe. The fam- ily is of Colonial origin; and Mr. Lowe's great-grandparents, Stephen and Elizabeth (Woodbury) Lowe, were residents of Cape Ann, Massachusetts, where they died. Nich- olas Lowe, Mr. Lowe's grandfather, who was a seafaring man in his early days, migrated from Cape Ann to Maine, becoming an early settler in North Yarmouth. He later r moved to Gray, where he engaged in agricult- ural pursuits, residing there until his death, which took place when he was eighty years old. He was three times married; and Joseph, Mr. Lowe's father, was his third son.

Joseph Lowe was born on Cape Ann, and accompanied his father to Maine. He was reared to farm life, and in 1803 he settled upon the farm in North Yarmouth which is now carried on by his son. He cleared and improved the land, erected the present build- ings, and, aside from cultivating his farm, he engaged successfully in lumbering during the winter seasons. He was an energetic and thrifty man, who labored diligently for what he possessed ; and at the time of his death, he owned one hundred and fifteen acres of desir- able land. His last years were passed upon the farm which had been the scene of his industry and toil. He died at the age of seventy-seven years. In his religious views he was liberal, and he supported the Demo- cratic party in politics. His wife, Sarah Huston, was born in Falmouth, daughter of George Huston, who is thought to have been a descendant of one of the Mayflower pilgrims. She became the mother of nine children who grew to maturity, and of these but two are now living, namely : Mrs. Martha Fowler, who is the widow of Mark Fowler, and resides in East Gray; and Amos, the subject of this sketch, who is the youngest. The others were: Hannah, George, Nicholas, Sarah, Julia, Joseph, and Cephas W. Mrs. Sarah H. Lowe lived to reach the age of eighty-two years.

Amos Lowe received his education in the district schools of his native town; and at an early age he began to assist in carrying on the farm, where he has always made his home. He has kept the land in a good state of culti- vation, and aside from farming he has engaged in lumbering and butchering with prosperous results. He has been a tireless worker, tak- ing advantage of every opportunity for ad- vancement; and the farm, which is owned jointly by the family, has been increased to one hundred and sixty-five acres. He is a Democrat in politics, and, although not a pro- fessor of any religious faith in particular, he attends the Congregational church.

In April, 1875, Mr. Lowe was united in marriage with Eliza B. (Whitten) Lowe, widow of his brother, Cephas W. Lowe. She was born in Buxton, Me., daughter of James and Ruth (Bradbury) Whitten, who were both

374

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

natives of that town. James Whitten settled in Gray when a young man, and was a pros- perous farmer there until his death, which took place at the age of sixty-eight years. He was the father of seven children, as follows: Lorenzo D., who died in infancy; Elbridge E .; Eliza B., who is now Mrs. Lowe; Lorenzo, second; Bradbury; Eunice W., who is now Mrs. Allen; and James K. P., who served in Company C, Thirty-second Regiment, Maine Volunteers, and died in Andersonville Prison. Mrs. Whitten lived to reach the age of eighty- seven. Mrs. Lowe has two children by her first marriage; namely, Joseph L. and Cephas W.

Mr. and Mrs. Lowe are among the old and highly respected residents of North Yarmouth, and are pleasant people to meet. They possess some exceedingly interesting curiosities in the shape of relics which were brought from Eng- land by their immigrant ancestors, and they take just pride in showing them to strangers.

EV. THOMAS SMALLWOOD SAMSON, the present pastor of the Free Street Baptist Church of Port- land, was born in the city of Wash- ington, D.C., October 26, 1845. Although by accident of birth a native of America's na- tional capital, Mr. Samson belongs to purely Puritan stock. On the paternal side he is the eighth in line of descent from the emi- grant progenitor, who was one of the Plym- outh Pilgrims. His grandfather, Abisha Samson, married Miss Mehitable Kenrick, who was of the sixth generation of an old Bos- ton family.

George Whitefield Samson, the father of the subject of this memoir, was born in the township of Harvard, Mass., September 29, 1819. At Worcester Academy he prepared for Brown University, from which he gradu- ated in the year 1839. He then entered the Newton Theological Institution, and passed his examination for ordination in 1843. For many years he was pastor of a Baptist church in Washington, D.C .; and between the years of 1859 and 1871 he was President of Colum- bian College of that city. He afterward be- came President of Rutgers Female College in

New York City. The Rev. George W. Sam- son had, previous to his acceptance of the Presidency of Columbian College, been some- thing of a traveller; and his letters and essays published during his wanderings in Europe and the East had awakened general interest. The period of the publication of these letters was 1848-49, and was the beginning of his literary career. Pamphlets on theological questions, critical essays on art, and treatises on ab- struse subjects appeared over his name. The subjects of some of his works show the deep interest the author took in psychic prob- lems. For instance the title "To Damomon, or the Spiritual Medium," which was after- ward published in an enlarged form, under the title of "Spiritualism Tested," indicates the trend of an analytical and philosophic mind. His "Outline of the History of Ethics " was published about 1860; and in 1867 his "Ele- ments of Art Criticism " appeared, followed two years later by a work entitled "The Phys- ical Media in Spiritual Manifestations." He has also written "The Atonement historically considered,"" Wine in Religious Uses,"" Evo- lution," and "The Future State," showing a wide range of thought and knowledge. To this gentleman belongs the distinction of hav- ing satisfactorily identified those spots so ven- erated by Christians of all races and shades of belief, the places where the strangest drama of the world was enacted -the places of Christ's birth, baptism, transfiguration, death, and ascension. Although Mr. Samson is seventy-six years of age, he is very strong and vigorous, and still devotes himself to his favorite pursuits - teaching and writing. He married Miss Elizabeth Smallwood, daughter of Mr. Thomas Smallwood, of Newton, Mass. The Smallwoods were among the early settlers of Newton, coming thither from Macclesfield, Cheshire, England. Eight children were born to them, five of whom are now living. In the order of their births these were: Thomas Smallwood Samson, whose name heads this article; George Clement Samson, a physician of Washington, D.C. ; Charles Edwin Samson, of East Orange, N.J .; Emma, wife of Will- iam A. Dayton, a physician of New York City and brother of Postmaster Dayton of that place; and Elizabeth Samson.

375

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

With the Christian influences of a home in which both parents were allied in faith and effort, the atmosphere was conducive to the development of high types of character; and the intellectual life of the father was naturally a factor in the mental growth of the son. It is therefore no surprise that the son, Thomas S. Samson, chose one of the learned profes- sions for his life work. After winning his diploma in Columbian College (now Colum- bian University) in 1864, he entered the law school of that institution, graduating three years later, 1867, and was immediately ad- mitted to the bar of the District of Columbia, where he practised his profession until 1870. Hereditary instinct now began to assert itself, and he entered the Union Theological Semi- nary of New York. From this institution he accepted a call two years afterward to a Bap- tist church in Newton, Mass. Not having as yet completed his theological course, he pur- sued his studies at the Theological Institution in the town in which his charge was located, graduating therefrom in 1875. On May 1, 1880, after seven years of faithful service, he left Massachusetts to become pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in New Haven, Conn., which was destroyed by fire, but afterward very handsomely built. This charge he retained until 1887. In the autumn of this year he was called to the Delaware Avenue Baptist Church in Buffalo, New York; and this pastorate was accepted. Here Mr. Samson was engaged in ministerial work until 1892, when he came to the Free Street Baptist Church of Portland, of which he is now pastor.

The Rev. Thomas S. Samson married Miss Marian D. Brown, a daughter of Mr. Eleazer Brown, of Washington, D.C. This marriage was celebrated May 18, 1870. Four children were the offspring of the union. Three of them are at school and college - Marian Eliza- beth, in the class of 1896 at Vassar; George Whitefield, in the class of 1897 at Yale; and Eleanor Kenrick, in the class of 1896 in the high school of Portland.

Mr. Samson is a member of the Elm City Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of New Haven, Conn., and has served as Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Massa- chusetts. He belongs to Hiram Lodge, A. F.

& A. M., of New Haven, and to the Chi Alpha Society and Ministers' Club of Port- land. Culture and piety have gone hand in hand for two generations in this family, from which two scholarly clergymen have gone forth to labor and achieve. It is by such transmis- sion of high aspiration from father to son that the national standard of American citizenship shall become more and more elevated intellect- ually and spiritually.

REEMAN H. MORSE, a well-known

farmer of New Gloucester, Me., and a

6 breeder of fine horses, was born upon the farm which he now owns and occupies, July 11, 1844, son of Benjamin and Sarah (Bennett-Allen) Morse.

Mr. Morse's father was born in New Gloucester, December 18, 1809. When a young man he engaged in farming, and fol- lowed that occupation here in connection with butchering for some years. He bought the farming property which is now owned by his son ; and he conducted it successfully until his death, which took place January 20, 1890. He was a great admirer of fine oxen, preferring them to horses for working purposes; and his knowledge and judgment of these animals was reliable. He was a very prominent Mason, and also a stanch Democrat, but not an office- seeker. His wife, Sarah Bennett Allen, who was born May 2, 1805, was the widow of John Allen, a prosperous farmer of New Gloucester. She married Benjamin Morse for her second husband, and by this union there were four children, as follows: Ursula C., who was born January 27, 1838, married T. S. McConky, and is no longer living; Nelson, who was born September 2, 1841, and died April 17, 1846; Freeman H., the subject of this sketch; and Josephine M., who was born November 9, 1846, and is the wife of Lemuel B. Small, of North Pownal. The mother died April 3,

1888.

Freeman H. Morse finished his education by attending the high school and an academy ; and at the age of twenty-one he worked in the quartermaster's department in Nashville, Tenn. In the early part of 1867 he was in the patent right business in Montreal, and

376

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

during the remainder of the year 1867 and in 1868 he was in trade in West Pownal. In 1870-72 he was employed as a horse-car con- ductor in Boston, at the end of which time he once more returned to the homestead in Maine. Possessing a natural talent for music, which he improved by study, he became a cornet player of ability, and for ten years was leader of the band in Gray. In 1880 he joined the Daniel Ducello Variety Show Com- pany as a musician, and travelled over the New England States for one season, later being attached to another travelling company in a similar capacity, at the conclusion of which engagement he relinquished that busi - ness, and settled upon the homestead, which he inherited at his father's death. His farm, which consists of one hundred and seventy-five acres, is admirably adapted for stock purposes ; and, aside from producing hay and corn, which constitute his principal crops, he devotes much attention to raising fancy horses of General Lightfoot stock. He has at the present time some promising colts, which he is breaking for speed upon his own private track; and as a horseman he has gained a wide reputation throughout his section. He also raises some excellent cattle.

On May 2, 1869, Mr. Morse was united in marriage with Eugenia Hayes. She was born in North Yarmouth, Me., August 24, 1848, daughter of Isaac S. and Asenath (Batchelder) Hayes, who were residents of North Yar- mouth, and are no longer living. Mr. and Mrs. Morse have had four children, as follows : a child who died in infancy; Gertrude H., who is now a school teacher in New Glouces- ter; Winifred C., who resides at home; and Bertha, who died at the age of four years and one month.

Mr. Morse is well known throughout Cum- berland County as a horseman and a musician. He has always kept alive his fondness for music. He taught a singing-school in New Gloucester for three years, and materially aided in creating a taste for the art in his neighborhood. His children have been well educated; and his daughter, who possesses much talent in a musical way, is an accom- plished cornet player. He is a liberal- minded and progressive citizen, and is popular

with his fellow-townsmen. He is a Demo- crat in politics, always voting with that party ; and he is a member of Cumberland Lodge, A. F. & A. M, of New Gloucester.

REEMAN EVANS SMALL, M.D., one of the most prominent physicians of the city of Portland, was born in Stoneham, Oxford County, Me., July 24, 1854, son of Henry A. and Fannie D. (Evans) Small. His grandfather, David Small, lived for a time in Lewiston, Androscoggin County, Me., and died in Lovell, Oxford County.

Henry A. Small, son of David, was born in Lewiston, July 16, 1826, and was educated and passed his early life in that place. At Lewiston he conducted a general store, and later, after working as clerk for a while at Gray, was in business successively at Stone- ham, Me., in Lovell, and in Rumford Centre. While a resident of Stoneham Mr. Small was Selectman and Town Clerk for many years .; and he was appointed Postmaster of Rumford Centre during Johnson's administration, and held the office until Garfield took the Presi- dential chair, when he resigned. He died suddenly in Portland in October, 1891. His . wife, who was a daughter of Simeon Evans, was born in Shelburne, N. H., but was a resi- dent of Stoneham, Me., when he met her. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom are yet living. Mrs. Small now makes her home with her son, the subject of this sketch.

Freeman Evans Small attended the common schools of Stoneham, Lovell, and Rumford, and was subsequently a student for three terms at Dixfield Academy. He fitted for college at Gould's Academy at Bethel, Me., and, entering Amherst in 1873, was graduated in 1877, with the degree of A. B. He at once began to read medicine, having previously registered, and received the degree of M. D. from the Medical School of Maine, at Bruns- wick, in 1879. Dr. Small then located at Rumford Centre, and for seven years was one of the busiest physicians in the locality, attending closely to the calls of a large prac- tice and accomplishing a great amount of work. In July, 1886, he removed to Portland,

FREEMAN EVANS SMALL

379

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

and here also he meets the demands of a large general practice, his visiting list yearly in- creasing ; and, besides this, he discharges the duties of adjunct surgeon at the Maine General Hospital. Dr. Small was connected with the Eye and Ear Infirmary during the first four or five years of its existence, when it needed help. He is now a member of the Maine Medical Association, which he joined in 1881; of the Cumberland County Association ; the Portland Medical Club; the Lister Club; the American Academy of Medicine; and the American Public Health Association. He is devoted to the interests of his profession, and skilled in the latest theories and methods of practice.

Dr. Small and Mary E. Hoyt, daughter of the Rev. Patrick Hoyt, of Rumford Centre, were united in marriage on November 5, 1879. They have one child, a daughter, Lida I. Small.

While in Rumford Centre Dr. Small served as Town Clerk and Supervisor of Schools five years each. During this time also he was made a Mason, joining Blazing Star Lodge, No. 30, of Rumford Centre; and he was elected Master of the Lodge at the age of twenty-eight. He is now well advanced in the ancient craft, belonging to Greenleaf Chap- ter of Portland, Portland Commandery, Knights Templars, and St. Albans Com- mandery; Yates Lodge of Perfection; Port- land Council, Princes of Jerusalem ; Dunlap Chapter of Rose Croix; and the Maine Consis- tory. Dr. Small has a beautiful home at 776 Congress Street, and is the owner of one of the finest private libraries in the city.

OHN W. FRANK, one of the leading farmers of Gray, was born in West Gray, June 12, 1833, son of Alpheus and Naomi (Stimson) Frank.

Alpheus Frank, who was also a native of Gray, born August 31, 1794, died in Portland, October 7, 1876. His wife, Naomi, whose birth occurred May 29, 1798, reared him nine children, namely: Maria L., born Novem- ber 13, 1822; George R., born May 2, 1824; Mary E., born May 5, 1826; Julia A., born March 28, 1828; Charles W., born April 2, 1830; John W., the subject of

this sketch; Royal F., born May 6, 1836; Francis E., born May 14, 1838; and Melvin P., born December 26, 1841. Maria L. was married on July 1, 1849, to Cap- tain Ezra Haskell, who died on September 3, 1879; and she now resides in Portland, Me. George R., who removed to Boscobel, Wis., aided in organizing a company of soldiers for the Civil War, was appointed Captain and afterward Major, and served for three years in the war, taking part in various battles and skirmishes. In 1883, while in Chicago, Ill., he met with an accident whereby he lost a foot. He married Miss Matilda Price, who subsequently died, leaving seven children. Mary E. married Albion White, by whom she had six children, and died June 12, 1893. Julia A. married Alma Small, now deceased, and died September 23, 1853. Charles W. died June 28, 1853, at West Point. Royal F., who is a graduate of West Point Academy, served in the Civil War, was taken prisoner, and was confined for a year in Libby Prison. Since the close of the war he has been in the regular army, where he holds the rank of Colonel and is very popular. He married Miss Emma Knight, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and died some time ago. Melvin P., who is one of the leading lawyers of Portland, Me., married Miss Susan Humphrey, and is the father of two children. He and his wife attend the Universalist church, in which they are very active workers.

John W. Frank, in 1853, when twenty years of age, taking his fortunes into his own hands, went to California. He spent five years in that State and Nevada, where he carried on a successful business in lumber. In 1858 he sold out and returned to Gray, Me. Soon after he went to Lewiston, where, in company with a Mr. White, he engaged in the shoe business under the firm name of White & Frank. A year later he sold his interest in the firm and returned to Gray to take charge of his father's farm. He lived here until 1890, when he traded the place for the farm on which he is now living, then known as the Stimson place. He and his son are suc- cessfully engaged in general farming, and conduct an agency for the sale of the Walter A. Wood harvesters and other farm machinery.

380

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

On September 29, 1862, Mr. Frank enlisted in Company C of the Twenty-fifth Maine Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, being the first man from the town of Gray to join that company. With his regiment he left Portland on October 16, 1862, for Washington, D. C., where they went into camp on East Capitol Hill. After remaining in that position until October 23 of the same year, they were ordered to Chantilly, at which place they were em- ployed in picket duty until June 26. He was mustercd out of service July 15, 1863, having taken part in no engagement.

On June 18, 1868, he was joined in mar- riage with Miss Augusta Thayer, who was born December 25, 1842, a daughter of Captain Edward and Eunice (Fernald) Thayer. Hcr father, who was a native of Gray and a Cap- tain in the State militia, had three children, namely: Augusta, the wife of Mr. Frank ; Abbie, born January 5, 1845, who was married on November 29, 1868, to Francis Cragin, of Groton, Mass. ; and Henry G., born October 15, 1847, who married Miss Emma Oxnard. Mr. and Mrs. Frank have two children, namely : Edward, born June 10, 1869, a travel- ling salesman for a Boston firm, and also an agent for farm implements; and Julia Lillian, born December 19, 1871, a teacher in the public schools of Everett, Mass., who also taught a number of terms in Gray. Both are graduates of Pennell Institute, of Gray, Me. Mr. Frank is a stanch Democrat. From 1867 to 1869 and from 1882 to 1885 he served as Selectman of Gray. He has also held the office of Overseer of the Poor six years. He is a member of Cumberland Lodge, No. 12, A. F. & A. M., of New Gloucester; a charter member of the Grange of that town; and he is a comrade of the George F. Shipley Post, No. 78, Grand Army of the Republic.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 52

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