Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 60

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

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HARLES H. GOULD, the descend- ant of a respected pioneer family, was born on the farm he now owns and occupies, in the town of Bridgton, Me., August 13, 1841. His paternal grand- father, Ezra Gould, was a native of Massachu- setts, born March 6, 1760, in the town of Box- ford, Essex County. When a young man, he migrated to Cumberland County, locating in Bridgton, of which he was an early settler. Taking up the land now included in the home- stead of his grandson Charles, he reared his log cabin and here improved a farm. In Septem- ber, 1794, he married Hephzibah Stevens, also of Bridgton, and they had the following children : Amos, born July 16, 1795, who died February 21, 1876, having never married ; Moses, born November 5, 1799, married Susan P. Perley in February, 1827, died January 27, 1874; Aaron, born in 1801, died when four years old; Asa, father of Charles H., born April 5, 1803, a fuller account of whom is given below; Phebe, born July 25, 1805, never married, died in March, 1835; Hephzi- bah, born March 29, 1808, married Deacon Jacob H. Lovejoy, of Albany, Me., October

16, 1839, and is the only one of the family now living; Stephen, born January 13, 1810, married October 6, 1848, died July 30, 1859.

Asa Gould was born on the homestead, and here spent his entire life, rounding out a full period of useful activity, his death occurring March 27, 1892, at the age of eighty-eight years, eleven months, and twenty-two days. He was an energetic and prosperous agricult - urist and a worthy and influential member of the Congregational church, of which he was Deacon for many years. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane J. Treadwell, was born July 29, 1806. They were married January IO, 1833; and she died on the home farm February 20, 1890. The remains of both were interred in the Ridge Cemetery. They were the parents of twelve children, namely : Samuel T., deceased; Caroline E., who died May 11, 1867; Phoebe J., the wife of P. W. Kilbourne; Asa S., who enlisted as a private in the Eleventh Maine Volunteer Infantry, and died in the fall of 1863 at Hilton Head from disease contracted while in the army ; Susan, deceased; Charles H. ; Jacob, who died in infancy; Angeline, who died when young ; Eliza, who died December 12, 1886; Albion C., residing in Missouri ; Thomas F., who died in infancy; and Martha H., wife of James E. Bird, now a resident of Albany, Me.

Charles H. Gould remained with his parents, attending school and working on the farm until September 15, 1863, when he entered the service of his country, joining as a private Company H, Sixteenth Maine Volunteer In- fantry. He served until the close of the war, being detailed a large portion of the time to duty in the regimental band. He received his discharge, dated July 16, 1865, at Augusta. Returning then to the old farm, he has since made this his home, hiring the property on the death of his parents. He has a valuable farm, and devotes his time to general husbandry and dairying, being prospered in all of his under- takings. Politically, Mr. Gould is a stanch adherent of the Republican party, and takes an active and intelligent interest in local affairs, having for three years served as Selectman of the town of Bridgton. Socially, he is a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Grand Army of the Republic.

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The marriage of Mr. Gould and Miss Bethia S. Wadsworth, daughter of Peleg C. and Mary M. (Richardson) Wadsworth, was .celebrated January 1, 1866. Four children have been born to them, namely : Mabel J., who died January 14, 1880; Harris P., a grad- uate of the Maine State College, now an assistant in the horticultural department of that institution ; Eudora W. ; and Mildred E. Religiously, Mr. Gould and his family are active workers in the Congregational church, of which they are valued members.

APTAIN ANDREW J. YORK, of the firm of Charles H. Robinson &

Co. of Portland, Me., wholesale dealers in paper, twine, and bags, was born at Cape Elizabeth, now the town of South Portland, July 25, 1850, son of Captain Jeremiah C. and Sarah C. (Hamlin) York.

Jeremiah C. York was born on Long Island, Me., August 16, 1816. He followed the sea from early youth, fishing in his younger days and later sailing as master, and at the present time is part owner of a number of vessels sailing from eastern ports. He is now in his seventy-ninth year, and has been retired from active business for seven or eight years. He married Sarah C. Hamlin, who was born in Jewel Island, Me., February 15, 1818, and comes of Revolutionary stock, being a relative of the late Hannibal Hamlin. Captain Jere- miah York and his wife are zealous church members, believing strongly in the Methodist doctrines. They had a family of seven sons and two daughters, namely: Robert Merrill ; James Monroe; Joseph Henry; George Frank- lin; Rosamond, who died in childhood; An- drew P., who died in infancy; Andrew J. ; Jeremiah Hamlin; and Sarah Maria, who mar- ried Charles A. Harmon, and died in 1882. At one time Captain Jeremiah York and six of his sons were running out of eastern ports as masters of vessels.

Andrew J. York received his early education in the schools of Cape Elizabeth, finishing his studies at Gray's Commercial College. When he was a very small boy, he began to make voyages in his father's vessels; and at fifteen he shipped before the mast on the schooner

"Starlight," which was loaded with hay for the government, and sailed from Winneport for Fortress Monroe. The lad's first voyage as a seaman was a disastrous one; for the schooner took fire, and, grounding on Nan- tucket Shoals, between Pollock Rip and Shovelful Lightships, was totally destroyed, the crew being taken into Vineyard Haven by a Philadelphia schooner. He subsequently sailed from Portland in the brigs "Orison 'Adams," "Ellen Maria," and "J. C. York," the schooners "Frank Skillings" and "Con- gress," the ship "Kate Dyer," and the barque "Hunter," shipping first before the mast and eventually rising to the position of mate. Mr. York was mate of the "Congress," of the barque "Endeavor," of the schooner "Edward Waite," and of the brig "Mattie B. Russell"; and he sailed as master of the "Mattie B. Russell" from June 21, 1873, to March 20, 1876; of the "Edward Waite " from 1876 to 1883; and of the schooner "Benjamin C. Cromwell," which he built, from June 30, 1883, to October 31, 1890. Of each of these vessels he was part owner.

The "Mattie B. Russell," which was carry- ing a cargo of molasses from Matanzas, Cuba, to Boston, went ashore on March 20, 1876, at Vineyard Haven; and the same man who had given the crew of the "Starlight " a number of years before a pass to New Bedford - Cap- tain Benjamin C. Cromwell - then took the contract to float the "Mattie B. Russell." While Captain Cromwell was at work on Cap- tain York's vessel, Captain York was laying siege to the affections of Captain Cromwell's daughter; and, exemplifying the old adage, "It is an ill wind that blows nobody good," he thus secured happiness for himself and another from the disaster to his vessel. After the brig was floated, Captain York had her repaired at New Bedford ; and then, going back to the Vineyard, he reloaded her cargo and de- livered it safely at its destination. He is still part owner of the "Mattie B. Russell," as master of which he took his first voyage on the Kennebec River, and also of the schooner "Benjamin C. Cromwell."

On October 31, 1890, he came into port with this vessel and concluded to remain on shore. He bought out the interest of the heirs

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to the clothing house of J. T. Lewis & Co., and formed a copartnership with Frederick R. Lewis and Edward I. Hall, under the firm name of Lewis, Hall & York, successors to J. T. Lewis & Co .; and on December 31, 1892, he sold his interest in that business, forming on January 1, 1893, a stock company for the sale of paper, twine, and such com- modities at wholesale, under the style of Charles H. Robinson & Co. This company has conducted a very successful business up to the present time.

On July 5, 1877, Captain York was married to Ellen M., daughter of Captain Benjamin C. and Abbie Bradford (Luce) Cromwell, of Vineyard Haven. Mrs. York traces her ancestry back to a Pilgrim progenitor who came over in the "Mayflower."

In politics Captain York is neutral. He is, however, a strong Baxter man and an un- flinching supporter of President Cleveland, though he says he never attended a caucus and never voted. He has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since 1878. Socially, the Captain is a very popular man; and he may often be found surrounded by a circle of entranced listeners, relating stories of the sea and of the many ports which he has visited. He is familiar with almost all parts of the globe, having visited South America, the West Indies, France, Italy, Spain, Scotland, Ireland, and the shores of the Mediterranean, and has a cosmopolitan fund of anecdotes, which he relates in an inimitable manner.

R UEL A. DODGE, an enterprising agriculturist of the township of Bridgton, was born on the farm where he now lives, September 20, 1837. Ilis father, Nathan Dodge, who fol- lowed farming throughout his entire life, brought his homestead property to a good state of cultivation. He married Miss Julia Carsley, who bore him ten children, five sons and five daughters, six of whom are now living.

Ruel A. Dodge remained a member of the parental household until after the breaking out of the late Rebellion. Then in 1862 he en-

listed in the service of the Union, becoming a private in Company L, Eleventh Maine Vol- unteer Infantry, which was mustered in at Augusta. Until the following January he was stationed in Yorktown, Va. From there he went with his regiment to South Carolina, where he was taken sick, and was sent to the hospital. Subsequently he was sent North to the Portsmouth Grove Hospital in Rhode Island, where he remained nearly six months. Having recuperated, Mr. Dodge was trans- ferred to the Twenty-first Maine Volunteer In- fantry at Bedloe's Island, New York Harbor, where he was stationed seven months. He went thence to Washington, D.C., and was on patrol duty for an equal length of time. He was afterward ordered to Newark, N.J., where he served as Provost Marshal until his dis- charge from the service in 1865.

After his return from war Mr. Dodge as- sumed the charge of the home farm. He came into its ownership upon the death of his father. Since then he has been actively and prosperously engaged in cultivating and im- proving its one hundred and fifty acres of rich and productive land. It is beautifully located on the Highlands, commanding an extensive view of the surrounding country and favored with remarkably pure air. Since taking pos- session of the property, he has every summer thrown open his commodious house to the re- ception of summer boarders, who come from Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and other cities. Mr. Dodge is a stanch Republican, and has been always true to the principles of his party. He is an influential member of the Grand Army of the Republic, of the Masons, and the Odd Fellows.

ON. JOHN HOWARD HILL, at- torney-at-law and a Representative in the State legislature, is a native of York County, having been born November 25, 1864, in the town of Liming- ton. His father, John Hill, although born in Buxton, in the same county, was brought up in Limington. In his earlier years he was a prominent teacher in that vicinity. He sub- sequently turned his attention to farming, and after his removal to Portland, in 1887, estab-

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lished himself in business as a contractor and builder. He is a Democrat in politics, and, while a resident of Limington, served for a number of years as a Selectman. He married Miss Clara L. Webster, a daughter of James D. S. Webster, a well-known mill-owner and lumberman of Limington, the only child of their union being John Howard Hill.

John Howard Hill was fitted for college in the schools of Limington, entering Dartmouth in 1883, and being graduated four years later, his class making choice of him to deliver the address to the President. While in college he took a prominent part in athletic sports, be- longing to the base-ball and tennis clubs, and was also a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon Society. The first year after his graduation Mr. Hill was principal of the Limerick High School, coming thence to Portland to read law in the office of N. & H. B. Cleaves, the latter of whom now occupies the Maine gubernato- rial chair. Being admitted to the bar by ex- amination at Portland, April 12, 1890, Mr. Hill immediately opened an office, and has since that time had an extensive general prac- tice. His first office was in the Canal Bank Building, with Mr. Augustus F. Moulton; but in 1891 they removed to their present location in the Jose Building at 98 Exchange Street.

Mr. Hill is a member of several prominent social organizations, belonging to Highland Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Limerick; to Una Encampment of this city, in which he has served as Chief Patriarch; to Longfellow Lodge, Knights of Pythias, in which he has held the chair of Chancellor Commander. He also belongs to the Portland Club, being one of the Directors; is also one of the Directors in the Young Men's Repub- lican Club; and is a member of the Athletic Club.

In 1894 Mr. Hill was urged by his party to accept the Republican nomination as Repre- sentative to the State legislature, and was elected for the term of 1895 with a handsome majority of the votes cast. He was a member of the Committee on Legal Affairs, and Chair- man of the Committee on Library, serving with credit to himself and benefit to the pub- lic on both.

Mr. Hill was united in marriage in June, 1894, with Grace J., daughter of William Nash, of Portland. . Their hospitable home is located in one of the most attractive portions of the city, at 272 State Street, Mr. Hill hav- ing erected the house just prior to his mar- riage. Religiously, both Mr. and Mrs. Hill are liberal in their views, and attend the Con- gress Square Universalist Church.

A USTIN BRIGHAM, successfully en- gaged in agricultural pursuits in Bridgton township, was born on the farm he now occupies, February 20, 1843, son of Aaron and Asenath (Carsley) Brigham. The father lived near Marlboro, Mass., working there as a farm hand until a short time prior to his marriage, when he bought the farm now owned by his son Austin. The purchase consisted of one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which he resided until his demise in 1872. He was a Democrat in his political views, was much interested in local matters, and served his fellow-townsmen as Selectman for several terms. He married April 16, 1823, Miss Asenath Carsley, who bore him ten children. These were: Ruth, born March 8, 1824, who is the wife of Joel Fosgate, of Berlin, Mass .; Elizabeth, the widow of Addison Sawyer, residing in Read- ing, Mass .; Alvina, deceased; Otis, de- ceased; Angeline, deceased; Jane, the wife of Alvin Gibbs, living in California; Aaron, a resident of Massachusetts; Austin, the sub- ject of this sketch; Martha, deceased; Adelia L., living at Windham Centre, and the wife of James Fellows. The mother died in 1876, her remains being laid to rest beside her hus- band's in the Ridge Cemetery.

Austin Brigham acquired a fair education in the public schools. After leaving school he devoted his time and attention to assisting in the work of the home farm. At the death of his father the care of the place fell to his exclusive charge. Since then it has become his property. Mr. Brigham also owns two hundred and twenty acres of land in Bridgton and an eighty-acre tract in the town of Water- ford, all being valuable land. Besides general farming he is engaged in the lumber busi-

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ness, having extensive dealings therein, chiefly carried on in the winter season.

Mr. Brigham was united in wedlock in 1870 to Elizabeth Carter, and became the father of two children, namely: Beulah, now the wife of John Gore, of Bridgton; and Harry, who was educated at the Bridgton Academy. Brought up a Democrat, Mr. Brigham has never swerved from party allegiance. He is an esteemed member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

LBION LITTLE, a portrait of whom appears in connection with the follow- ing sketch, is a public-spirited, philanthropic citizen of Portland, prominent in business, political, and social circles, who is at present devoting his energies to the building of the Eastern Maine Insane Hospital, being Chairman of the Building Commission. He was born in Whitefield, Lincoln County, Me., January 22, 1836. He is the son of Samuel and Hannah (Boynton) Little, and is a representative of an old and honorable family, his first ancestor in this country, George Little, who came from Uni- corn Street, London, near London Bridge, having settled in old Newbury, Mass., in 1640. (See "Descendants of George Little, Newbury, Mass.," by George T. Little, Au- burn, Me., 1882.) From him the line is traced through Joseph, Daniel, and Samuel, to Joshua, the great-grandfather of Mr. Albion Little.

Joshua Little was born September 17, 1741, and was one of the first settlers in Whitefield, Me .. A man of courage, patriotism, and abil- ity, he served in the Revolutionary War, bear- ing the rank of Lieutenant, and was in charge of a company at Castine and in action at Crown Point. He was subsequently Captain of a company of State militia for many years; and he represented Whitefield in the Massa- chusetts legislature when the town was incor- porated, Maine being then a part of Massachu- setts. Samuel Little, son of Joshua, was a farmer, who lived in Pittston, Me. ; and there his son Samuel, the father of our subject, was born, June 3, 1811. He also was a farmer, living in Whitefield from 1834 to 1867, when

he moved to Bowdoinham, where he and his wife are now living. He is a prominent man in the town, and has served in various official capacities.

Albion Little attended the district schools of his native town, and was graduated from the high school of Alna. When but seventeen years of age he took charge of a school; and from that time until he was twenty-one he taught school for two terms in a year at Boothbay Harbor, historic Pemaquid Point in Bristol, Jefferson, Whitefield, and Windsor. In 1857 he obtained a position in Portland as clerk in a dry-goods store; and he shortly be- came associated with Peter Lane, with whom he formed a partnership, March 4, 1861, under the firm name of Lane & Little. At first they conducted a retail business, and later es- tablished a wholesale store on Middle Street. The senior partner retired in 1872, and the firm name was changed to A. Little & Co. The establishment was one of the leading wholesale houses of the city ; and a flourishing trade was carried on until 1893, when Mr. Little retired.

He is a Director of the First National Bank, with which he became connected in 1878; was one of the active founders of the Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary, an institution of which the State may well be proud, and has been Vice-President from the time of its organization ; has been a Director of the Saco River Woollen Company since it was organ- ized; and was principal stockholder in the Hollis woollen-mill before its incorporation, and is now on the Board of Directors. In 1877 Mr. Little was appointed Trustee of the State Reform School; and he was soon after chosen President of the Board, a position that he has filled with great credit, taking an ac- tive interest in the school, which ranks high among the public institutions of the State. He is now the oldest member of the Board; and, as stated above, he is Chairman of the Commission for building the Maine Insane Hospital at Bangor.

On December 24, 1861, Mr. Little was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Ellen Hart, who was born in Portland, January 12, 1840, daughter of Deacon Henry B. and Sarah (Hill) Hart. They have the following children :

ALBION LITTLE.

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Alice May, wife of Edmund T. Davis, of Bos- ton; Florence Kingman, wife of F. O. Keene, of Freeport, Ill. ; Sarah Ellen; Albion Henry, in his father's office; and Maude Gar- field.

A Republican in politics, Mr. Little was elected to the Common Council in 1877, and twice re-elected, filling the President's chair the last term. He was elected to the Board of Aldermen three times from the same ward, and was Chairman of the Board in his third term. He was in the convention which nomi- nated Garfield in 1880, and was a delegate to the National Convention at Chicago, which nominated James G. Blaine in 1884. Mr. Little is President of the Bramhall League of Portland, and is a member of the Portland Club and the Country Club. In religious be- lief he is a Baptist, being a member of the Free Street Baptist Church. He has a beauti- ful residence at 227 Western Promenade, Portland.

ON. ALBERT A. CORDWELL, ex-Mayor of Westbrook, Me., is a native resident of this city. He was born May 31, 1854, son of Stephen A. and Mary Jane (Bacon) Cordwell. Several generations of his family have made their home in the State of Maine, and many of his kin were independent farmers. His paternal grandfather, who was born in Green- wood, Me., owned and cultivated a farm in that town. He married and reared four chil- dren, who are all living to-day, namely : George, a farmer on the homestcad in Green- wood; Roxanna, a resident of Auburn, Me. ; Stephen A., mentioned above; and Sarah, residing in San Francisco, Cal., widow of Frank Staples.

Stephen A. Cordwell was born in Green- wood, Me., and there reared and educated. When he was about eighteen years of age, he obtained employment in the S. D. Warren mills at Westbrook, and after some years of faithful service was appointed overseer. He is a capable and efficient man, eminently qualified to fill the responsible position which he holds. Believing firmly in the principles of the Republican party, he stands well with

his fellow-partisans, who made him Selectman when Westbrook was managed by town govern- ment, and elected him to the Board of Alder- men in 1890-92, under the city charter. Mr. Stephen A. Cordwell is a Mason, belonging to Warren Phillips Lodge, No. 186, of Cum- berland Mills. He was first married to Mary Jane Bacon, daughter of John W. and Eunice J. Bacon, of Windham, Me. She died after a brief term of wedlock, leaving one child, the subject of this sketch; and Mr. Cordwell subsequently married Lucretia D. Grant, daughter of Charles Grant, of Gray, Me. By this union he has two children : Stephen E., ticket agent at Portland, on the Portland & Rochester Railroad; and Fanny C., wife of Frank H. Cloudman, who lives with her father.

Albert A. Cordwell received his education in the common and high schools of Westbrook, Gorham Academy, and Westbrook Seminary. On leaving school he entered the S. D. Warren mills, and worked as office boy, messenger, and telegraph operator successively for eight years. He then worked for five years as in- voice and shipping clerk, and when the change was made from monthly to weekly payment was appointed paymaster. Three years after his appointment the cashier, Mr. Dunnell, took a position in another establishment; and Mr. Cordwell was made cashier, at the samc time retaining his position as paymaster. In this double capacity he has now been serving for some years, and his ability and good judg- ment have made him an indispensable adjunct of the Warren mills.

Politically, Mr. Cordwell is a strong Repub- lican. He was elected Mayor of Westbrook on the Republican ticket, and held the office from 1893 to 1895. During his incumbency many changes for the better were made in the city : the Warren Street School-house was built, much grading and improving of public property was done, land damages were settled, and Main Street was macadamized from the east to the west side of Westbrook.

April 5, 1876, Mr. Cordwell was united in marriage with Ella F. Quimby, daughter of William and Jane L. Quimby, of Westbrook. To Mr. and Mrs. Cordwell were born two chil- dren, who were given but to be taken away. Mr. Cordwell is an Odd Fellow, belonging to

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Ammoncongin Lodge, No. 76, of Cumberland Mills, and, as a Knight of Pythias, belongs to Presumpscot Lodge, No. 4, in which he has held the office of Past Chancellor. Both he and his wife attend the Universalist church.

ERLEY PUTNAM BURNHAM, the leading dry-goods dealer of Bridgton, was born June 26, 1845, in the town of Gilead, Oxford County, son of George and Florilla A. (Burbank) Burnham. Perley Putnam Burnham, first, grandfather of the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch, was born, it is thought, in Bridgton, whither his parents came from Mas- sachusetts. He removed to Gilead when a young man, and purchased a tract of land, on which he engaged in general farming until his death, at the carly age of thirty-eight years. His widow, whose maiden name was Mary A. Adams, a native of Jaffrey, Vt., subsequently married Joseph G. Swan, and lived to a good old age.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 60

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