Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 56

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 56

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).

Dr. Thompson has been twice married, his first wife having been Miss Martha A. Thomp- son, a daughter of James Thompson, of Eaton. Of the five children born to them, three grew to maturity, namely: Charles A., a druggist ; Howard E. ; and Alice M., who died in 1893. The death of his first wife occurred on October 26, 1892: and the Doctor was again married on January 28, 1895, to Miss Fannie T. Mc- Dermott, of St. John, N.B. Mrs. Thompson is a woman of pleasing address, and a devout member of the Church of England.

HARLES B. GIBBS, a prosperous and worthy citizen of Bridgton, was born in this village, January 22, 1835. His father, Alpheus Gibbs, a native of Cumberland County, was engaged

when a young man in running boats on the Ox- ford and Cumberland Canal for some years. In 1842 Alpheus Gibbs went to Mississippi, where he was employed as overseer on a plan- tation until his premature death, which was caused by lightning. He married Sophia Brigham, also a native of Cumberland County, who, after surviving him many years, died in 1894, at the venerable age of eighty-six. Her parents were Artemus and Lydia (Brigham) Brigham, both natives of Marlboro, Mass., The race springs from the Baron of Brigham, of the parish of Brigham, Cumberland County, England. His son was the Earl of Northum- berland, whose son Thomas came from England to Watertown, Mass., in 1635, and subse- quently built his home in Cambridge, Mass. Samuel Brigham, the son of Thomas, removed to Marlboro, Mass., and had a son Jedidiah, whose son Winslow married Elizabeth Har- rington. Winslow's son Artemus was the . great-grandfather of Charles B. Gibbs. Al- pheus Gibbs and his wife reared four children, as follows : Aaron, a farmer, who lives on the Highland ; Charles B., the subject of this sketch ; Lydia, wife of Colonel E. B. Baldwin, of Kansas; and Mary, widow of Micajah Gleason.

Charles B. Gibbs was reared and educated in the village where he was born. He began life for himself when eighteen years old, his first employment being on the canal, where he had charge of a boat for Mr. Benjamin Walker until 1862. He was occupied for a year in superintending the building of the foundation for the Pondicherry mills, and for another year he drove a freight team for the milling company, using four or six horses. In the following year he started in the freighting business on his own account, running from Bridgton to Portland. After continuing this for ten years, Mr. Gibbs took a contract to build two miles of the Bridgton & Saco River Railroad, and subsequently engaged in an express and dray business in this village for about six years. He then established himself in the ice business, in which he has since been extensively engaged, supplying the people with the larger proportion of the ice here used.

On September 7, 1858, Mr. Gibbs was mar- ried to Miss Sarah E. Billings, a daughter of

403

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

George C. and Rebecca (Whitcomb) Billings, both natives of Oxford County. £ She is the

younger of two children, the other child being George H. Billings, of Waterford, this State. Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs have two children, namely : Harry C., a druggist; and Frederick C., who is engaged in the boot and shoe busi- ness. In politics Mr. Gibbs had been a Dem- ocrat, but in 1891 he became a stanch Repub- lican and an active worker for the party. For two years he served as Constable, and for four years was Commissioner. He is quite influ- ential in social circles, being a member of the Masonic Order and of that of the Odd Fellows. Both he and his wife hold liberal views regard- ing religion, while belonging to the Universal- ist church, toward the support of which they are generous contributors.

HARLES WINSLOW ROBERTS, acting Deputy Collector and clerk of the custom-house at Portland, Me., born in this city on February 21, 1843, is the son of Thomas A. and Mary A. (Frates) Roberts, the former of whom was born in Bath, although his parents were only residing there temporarily at the time, Port- land being their home.

Nathaniel Roberts, father of Thomas A., was born at or near Portland, and spent the greater part of his life in this city, successfully engaged in the trade of a carpenter, being one of the earliest builders here. During the War of 1812 he served in defence of the city as a member of the Portland Light Infantry. He lived to an advanced age.

Thomas A. Roberts was born July 7, 1817, and grew to manhood in Portland, where he learned the trade of a painter, which business he pursued throughout a long and successful life. He was for many years connected with the old State militia as a member of the Port- land Mechanic Blues, being Orderly Sergeant of that company as far back as 1843 and its Captain from 1852 to 1861. In 1862, at the organization of the Seventeenth Maine Volun- teer Infantry, he received a commission as Colonel; and he served with his regiment as such in the Army of the Potomac until the summer of 1863, when he was forced to resign

on account of ill-health. He had command, however, during the battle of Fredericksburg and a portion of the time at Chancellorsville.

A Republican in politics, Colonel Roberts served as a member of the Common Council both before and after the war, representing Wards 5 and 6. He was a charter member of Bosworth Post, No. 2, Grand Army of the Re- public, of Portland, and continued his mem- bership during his life. In religious belief he was a Unitarian, and prominently connected with the Park Street Church during the life of that religious body. He died February 9, 1888. His wife, born January 2, 1817, whose maiden name was Mary A. Frates, was a daughter of Antonio Frates, a Portuguese by birth and a native of Fayal Island, who came to Portland when a young man and here spent the remaining years of an active and useful life. Colonel and Mrs. Thomas A. Roberts became the parents of seven children, the three youngest sons and a daughter dying in infancy. The others were: Charles Winslow Roberts; Thomas F. Roberts, residing in Portland; and George H. Roberts (who died January 10, 1885). During the Rebellion the father and his three sons were all in the service, two in the army and two in the navy. The mother died November 17, 1878.

Charles Winslow Roberts received his edu- cation in the public schools of Portland, and for a short time after leaving school he was engaged as a clerk in a mercantile house in the city. Two years prior to the war, at the age of sixteen, he joined the State militia as a member of the Portland Mechanic Blues, and at the breaking out of the war was, on April 28, 1861, appointed Orderly Sergeant of that Company (B) in the First Regiment of Maine militia. The First Regiment was mus- tered into the United States service for three months on May 3, 1861, under the first call of the President upon the State for troops, and dur- ing that time was stationed in the defences of Washington. Upon the expiration of its term of service the regiment returned to Maine.

In September, 1861, his company, which retained its organization, was assigned to the Tenth Maine Regiment for two years' service. On September 24 he was elected Second Lieu- tenant, and on September 28 First Lieutenant,

404

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

and received a commission under the latter rank and date as First Lieutenant of Company B in the Tenth Maine Volunteer Infantry, being mustered into service as such on October 4, 1861. He served with that regiment dur- ing the following winter in and near Balti- more, Md., and in Virginia until the spring of 1862, when his regiment was ordered to the army operating in the Shenandoah Valley under the command of General Banks, and was assigned to the brigade commanded by General S. W. Crawford in Williams's Division. He was with his regiment during General Banks's retreat from Winchester to Williamsport, Md., on May 25, the company making the un- precedented record of a march of fifty-seven miles in twenty-four hours, and was also with his regiment during the advance of General Banks's army down the Shenandoah Valley in the months of June and July.

On July 30, 1862, he was commissioned Adjutant of the Seventeenth Maine Volunteer Infantry, a new regiment in process of organ- ization in Maine, commanded by his father, Colonel Thomas A. Roberts, was mustered out of the Tenth Regiment near Culpeper Court-house, Va., August 6, 1862, and im- mediately proceeding to Maine reported for duty at Portland, August 11, 1862, and was mustered into service in the Seventeenth Regiment on August 18, 1862. He was one of the youngest commissioned officers in Maine. After serving a short time in the for- tifications at Washington, the regiment was transferred to the Army of the Potomac, and on October 8 joined the brigade commanded by General Hiram G. Berry, of Maine. This brigade formed a part of the famous fighting division formerly known as Kearney Division and later as Birney's Division of the Third Army Corps, taking part in the battle of Fred- ericksburg, December 13, 14, and 15, 1862; Chancellorsville, May 2, 3, and 4, 1863; and Gettysburg on July 2 and 3, 1863. In the last-named battle (July 2) Mr. Roberts re- ceived a severe gunshot wound, which ren- dered the amputation of his right leg at the upper third necessary on the following day. He remained at Gettysburg in a private house until August 6, when he was conveyed to his home in Portland, where he remained on leave

of absence, as the nature of the wound pre- cluded further field service; and he was dis- charged for disability by order of the War Department on December 23, 1863, having rendered valiant service to his country as long as physically able to do so.

In the spring of 1864, having regained his health in a measure, he was offered a clerk- ship in the Portland custom-house, which he accepted, and in 1867 was appointed super- intendent of warehouses, holding that position until the office was abolished in January, 1895 ; but he is still in the custom service, in the capacity of acting Deputy Collector and clerk, and, in point of continuous service, is now the oldest custom-house officer at Port- land, it being over thirty years since he first entered the custom-house as an employee.

On October 4, 1864, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Elizabeth W. Clark, a daugh- ter of Freeman S. Clark, who was for many - years actively engaged in business in Portland. They are the parents of two children, namely : Eleanor C., born June 29, 1865, now the wife of Howard N. Leighton, of Portland; and Herbert Augustus Roberts, born July 26, 1869, now a clerk in the Portland Savings Bank, who married the daughter of Major William H. Green, the present Commander of the Department of Maine, Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Roberts has one grandchild, Clarence Adams, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard N. Leighton, born March 1, 1888.

Mr. Roberts was for many years a Director of the Mercantile Library Association, and its President in 1878 and 1879. He is a charter member of Bosworth Post, No. 2, Grand Army of the Republic; is a member of Unity Lodge, of the Order of Odd Fellows; and Chancellor of the Maine Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. He attended the Park Street Unitarian Church until it was discontin- ued, since which time he has attended the Con- gress Square Universalist Church in Portland.

J OHN H. RICH, junior member of the firm of L. Rich & Son, general mer- chants at Sebago Lake, was born May 30, 1852, in Windham, this county. While yet an infant, he was adopted by Mr.

405

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

and Mrs. Lemuel Rich, the latter being a sister of his mother, who was a daughter of James Bangs, of Gorham. Israel Rich, the father of Lemuel Rich, was formerly a promi- nent resident of Gorham, where his birth oc- curred in 1776. He was an industrious and well-to-do farmer, spending his years of ac- tivity in tilling the soil. He married Rhoda Smith, of Standish, who bore him six children, of whom two are living - Lemuel and Ann. Ann, born in 1809, is the wife of Joseph Hig- gins, of this town, and has three children - Susan, the wife of George Blake, of Brown- field; William S. ; and Forest L.

Lemuel Rich, born in Gorham, August 25, 1804, after receiving an excellent education, was for many years a popular and successful teacher in Standish and the neighboring towns. In 1831 he established himself in a mercantile business in Standish, locating at a place called "Cabbage Yard." After a short experience here, he opened a small hotel in the town of Limerick, York County, and had conducted it for about two years when he returned to Stand- ish. He then engaged in the wood and lun- ber business, shipping his wood by the canal. He continued at this until 1875, when he built the store now occupied by himself and adopted son. This store has a complete assortment of general merchandise. Although in his ninety- second year, Mr. Lemuel Rich is hale and hearty, and nearly every day walks from his house to the store, where he attends to business with the same vigor as of yore. In 1826 he was commissioned Lieutenant in the State militia. He has taken a very prominent part in local affairs, and is, with- out doubt, the oldest living ex-Representative in the State, having served in the legislature in 1840 and 1841. He was Selectman for many years, serving during the Civil War, and was County Commissioner in 1842, 1844, 1845, and 1846. Since 1831 he has been Justice of the Peace. In early life he was a Democrat, but now votes with the Repub- licans. He is a member of the Baptist church.

On December 2, 1831, Lemuel Rich was united in marriage to Esther L. Bangs, a daughter of James Bangs, of Gorham. Their happy wedded life had lasted more than forty years when her death occurred in 1874. No

children were born of their union; but their home life was cheered by the presence of their adopted son, who was to them as one of their own.

John H. Rich completed his school days at the Westbrook Seminary, where he acquired a good education. During the year following the close of his school life he worked for Mr. J. S. Webster in Standish. Since then he has been a partner of his father. The business, which is in a flourishing condition, is now left practically to his management.

Mr. Rich was married March 21, 1876, to Susan A., daughter of George T. Blake, of Gorham. They had two children, namely : Lemuel Rich, born December 24, 1876; and Eva M., who died when thirteen months old. Mr. Rich is influential in political and social circles. He served as Town Clerk and Treas- urer in 1884 and 1885 and Town Collector in 1881 and 1882. In 1895 Mr. Rich was elected Selectman, an office which he still holds. He is a member of Standish Lodge, No. 70, A. F. & A. M. ; of Saco Valley Lodge, No. 43, In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, of West Buxton; and of Oriental Lodge, No. 17, Knights of Pythias, of South Windham. He is a Republican in politics, and in his relig- ious views is broad and liberal.

APTAIN LORENZO HAMILTON, a farmer of Cousins Island in the town of Yarmouth, was born on Chebeague Island, this county, March 1, 1835, son of Robert C. and Syrena S. (Henley) Hamilton. Captain Hamilton's grandfather, John Hamilton, was a native and lifelong resident of Chebeague Island, where he fol- lowed agricultural pursuits with energy and success during his active period. He lived to be over ninety years of age. He was a Baptist in his religious belief and a Whig in politics. He married for his first wife Anna Sawyer, who had seven children. His second wife, whose maiden name was Mehitable Soule, bore him five children, of whom there is one sur- vivor, Barney Hamilton. Solomon Hamilton, who resides on Chebeague Island, is the only survivor of the first wife's children.

Robert C. Hamilton, Captain Hamilton's

406

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

father, was born on Chebeague Island, April 21, 1800. He was a seafaring man during his younger days, but followed agricultural pur- suits as his main occupation. He always lived upon the island, where he owned and culti- vated a good farm during the active period of his life, which terminated on December 7, 1886. He supported the Republican party in politics, and was an industrious worker and a useful citizen. His wife, Syrena, who was born in Norway, Me., April 1, 1803, became the mother of nine children, as follows: Sarah II., born September 17, 1824; Nancy H., born November 28, 1828; Robert, born June 14, 1830; Syrena A., born August 17, 1832; Lorenzo, the subject of this sketch; Roswell, born October 16, 1837; Harriet, born Febru- ary 6, 1840; Alfred, born February 27, 1843; and William E., born March 19, 1847. Sarah H: and Syrena A. are no longer living. Nancy H. is now the widow of Joseph S. Hamilton. He was born on Cousins Island, August 12, 1825, son of Jacob and Mary Ham- ilton, and grandson of Roland Hamilton, who was one of the early settlers there. The mother died in November, 1889. Captain Hamilton's parents were members of the Bap- tist church.

Captain Lorenzo Hamilton received his edu- cation in the school on Chebeague Island. During his youth he assisted his father upon the farm. At the age of twenty-one he be- came a sailor upon coasting-vessels, later rising to the rank of master of the sloop "Island Belle," which was engaged in carry- ing stone. Subsequently he owned and com- manded other craft. In 1873 he built the sloop "A. L. Hamilton," naming her after his daughter ; and he sailed her successfully until 1886. He then sold the vessel and retired from sea life, which had been his prin- cipal occupation for thirty years. In 1858 he settled upon Cousins Island, where he pur- chased a farm; and in 1864 he moved to his present farm, which adjoins his former prop- erty. He owns twenty-five acres of fertile land, and carries on general farming very profitably. He has seen a great deal of hard work both upon land and sea; but by patient industry and perseverance he has reached a comfortable haven of shelter, and is now pass-

ing his days pleasantly upon his farm. He supports the Republican party in politics, and is at the present time serving as Con- stable.

On November 25, 1858, Captain Hamilton was united in marriage to Lovina Groves, who was born on Cousins Island, October 3, 1837, daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Hill) Groves. Mr. Groves was a prosperous farmer of Cousins Island, where he arrived in 1835, and bought a tract of land upon which he resided until his death at the age of eighty-five. His wife lived to the age of eighty-one years. They were the parents of eleven children, ten of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton have had eight children, four of whom died in infancy. The living are: Samuel W., born September 13, 1861, who married Aulena J. Pinkham, and is engaged in trade in Cumber- land Centre; Octavius G., born April 26, 1865, who married Clara Greve, and resides in Aurora, Ill., where he is a mechanic ; Alletta C., born September 13, 1870, who resides on Cousins Island ; and Carrie E., born April 2, 1876, who resides at home. Captain Hamil- ton is connected with Casco Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and the Knights of Pythias of Yar- mouth. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church.

ON. GEORGE MELVILLE SEIDERS, President of the Maine Senate, was born in the town of Union, Knox County, Mc. His parents were Henry and Mary W. (Starrett) Seiders. His family on the paternal side is of German origin. Conrad Seiders, with his son Cornelius, immigrated to this country with the Waldo colony in 1748, and settled in the town of Waldoboro. Jacob Seiders, son of Cornelius, took up his residence in Waldo- boro, and died there.

Henry Seiders, son of Jacob, was born and reared in Waldoboro, afterward removing to Thomaston, where he was employed in ship building, and became owner in several vessels. In 1837 he bought a farm in the town of Union, and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits up to the time of his decease, in 1881, at the advanced age of eighty-three years.

407

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

He was a man of positive views, a great reader, and particularly interested in politics and religion. He was one of a few of his townsmen who took upon themselves the labor and pecuniary obligations of building the first Congregationalist meeting-house in Union, and he was for many years a Deacon in the Congregationalist church. Mary W. Starrett, to whom he was married in 1827, was the daughter of John Starrett, of Warren, Me., a descendant of Colonel Thomas Starrett, who immigrated to Warren from Scotland.

Henry and Mary W. Seiders were the par- ents of nine children, of whom the first-born, John Henry, died in infancy. The following is the record of the eight who lived to matu- rity: Mary Jane, born in 1829, married Cap- tain Oliver Starrett, of Warren, Me. (both now deceased); Margaret S., born in 1834, mar- ried Charles G. Snell, and is now living in Portland; Joseph Henry, born in 1836, died at New Orleans, La., of yellow fever; Ed- ward, born in 1838, was lost at sea on passage from New York to New Orleans, he being mate of the vessel; Emerson, born in 1840, was lost on Lake Erie in 1864; Sarah L., born in 1842, resides in Union, and is unmar- ried; George Melville, the subject of this sketch, was born January 15, 1844; and Fred- erick A., born in 1848, now lives on the old homestead in Union.

George Melville Seiders acquired his early education in the schools of his native town. On September 10, 1862, while he was in the high school and but eighteen years of age, he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-fourth Maine Volunteer Infantry, and was made a Corporal in his company. The regiment first encamped at Augusta, Me., and later in the fall of that year was ordered to Long Island, N. Y. After remaining in camp there some weeks, the regi- ment took passage on the "Lizzie Southard " to New Orleans, and immediately on arriving was ordered up the river, and encamped at Bonnet Carre, being thence ordered to Port Hudson. At Bonnet Carre Mr. Seiders was taken sick with typhoid fever, and his life hung in the balance for many days; but, finally recovering, he rejoined his regiment in season to be present at the fall of Port Hudson. After the fall of Vicksburg his regiment was

ordered home via the river to Cairo, thence by rail to Chicago, Albany, Boston, and Augusta, where he was mustered out of service, August 25, 1863.

Returning to Union, Mr. Seiders resumed work upon his father's farm; but, on attain- ing his majority, agricultural pursuits being distasteful to him, he went to Portland, and found employment in the machine works of Charles Staples & Son. Mr. John C. Phenix, of Deering, a most estimable man, who was foreman of the pattern shop, learning of Mr. Seiders's desire to obtain a liberal education, took more than ordinary interest in him, ad- vising him, after he had been there some six months, to close his engagement with Charles Staples & Son, and to work to that end. Mr. Seiders acted on his advice, and his employers generously passed over to him the fifty dollars that had been reserved from his wages as a guarantee that he would remain with them two years at least. Mr. Seiders speaks of Mr. Phenix as one of his greatest benefactors in his early years, since it was through that gentleman's interest and advice that his busi- ness course was changed to more agreeable and congenial pursuits.

On his way back to Union he engaged to teach the winter school at Tenant's Harbor, St. George. This agreement he fulfilled, and in the spring and fall of 1866 he attended school at Kent's Hill. The winter following he again taught school at Tenant's Harbor, and afterward continued his studies at Lin- coln Academy, New Castle, where he fitted for college, alternately attending school and teaching winters. In 1868, having completed his studies at Lincoln Academy, he was ad- mitted to the Freshman class of Bowdoin Col- lege, and pursued his studies there until the spring of 1869, when he took charge of Cherryfield Academy, Washington County, for two terms, thereby losing nineteen weeks of his college course. After finishing his engagement at Cherryfield Academy, he re- turned to college, made up lost time, and the two succeeding winters taught at Bristol Mills, Lincoln County. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1872, and received from his Alma Mater the degree of A.B. and in 1895 the [honorary degree of A.M. He had

408

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

scarcely any pecuniary help in his preparation for and during his college course.

Immediately after his graduation Mr. Seiders was elected Principal of Greeley Insti- tute, Cumberland, where he taught for two years, during which time the institute pros- pered to a greater degree than it had ever be- fore. He was then elected submaster of the high school at Waltham, Mass., where he re- mained one year, when he received and ac- cepted an offer of a professorship in the Epis- copal academy at Cheshire, Conn. He taught there during the school year of 1875-76, em- ploying his leisure time in reading law. He then returned to Portland, and in July, 1876, commenced reading law with the Hon. Thomas B. Reed, who was then one of the most promi- nent lawyers in the State, continuing with him until October, 1878, when he was ad- mitted to the bar. Mr. Seiders first opened a law office in Portland with the Hon. F. M. Ray, of Westbrook, but after a few months went back to the office of Mr. Reed, with whom he has been associated until the present time. In January, 1893, Mr. Seiders formed a copartnership with Frederick V. Chase; and this firm, under the name of Seiders & Chase, has had an extensive general law business.

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 56

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