USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine > Part 66
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Captain Swett was united in marriage with Abbie U. C. Norton, daughter of Shubacl D. Norton, of Mount Desert, Me., in 1864, and has had two children, one of whom is living; namely, Orrin R., who is residing in Port- land.
Among the fraternal orders Captain Swett is prominent as a valued member and an able official. He has filled the different chairs of Presumscot Lodge, No. 91, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; is a member of Piscat- aquis Lodge, No. 65, Knights of Pythias; and of Tolam Tribe, No. 14, Improved Order of Red Men, being at present Great Kceper
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of Wampum of the State. He is also a mem- ber of the Portland Marine Society, which was formed one hundred years ago for the benefit of ship-masters and their families, and has a fund of thirty thousand dollars at its command. In religious belief he is a Congregationalist, and he attends that church.
OSEPH N. MARTIN, locomotive fore- man at the Portland station of the Grand Trunk Railway, whose portrait is herewith presented, was born at Falmouth, N.S., March 8, 1828, his parents being Joseph and Abigail (Davidson) Martin. The father was an old and respected farmer of Falmouth and a valuable town official, serv- ing as Street Commissioner for many years, besides holding other offices. He possessed good musical ability, for thirty years being the leader of the choir of the Baptist church, to which he belonged. He reared a family of seven children, namely : Harris D. and Jacob N., both of Falmouth, N.S., Eliza, who died when twenty-one years old; Maria, deceased ; Joseph N. ; Gideon D., of Halifax, N. S. ; and Theresa, wife of Stilson Hutchins, formerly of Dubuque, Ia., but now of New Hampshire, one of the prominent Democrats of that State.
Joseph N. Martin was bred and educated in his native town, remaining there until after he had become proficient in the blacksmith's trade, coming here when about twenty years of age, just prior to the death of his parents. Mr. Martin worked for the first two years in the machine shop of Freeman & Gould, being afterward employed for a year in a shipyard. In 1854 he began working for the Grand Trunk Railway Company, during the first three months as a common hand in the shop, and the remainder of the year as fireman on a loco- motive, subsequently becoming engineer on a gravel train under Captain Everett, an old and well-known conductor of the road, running this engine four months. He was then given charge of a freight engine, which he ran for a number of years, being then promoted to the position of passenger train engineer, for seven years running to Paris and return, and from Portland to Gorham and return. He was next
placed in charge of the repair shops in this city under Jonas Hamilton, who was locomo- tive foreman ; but, when the main shops were removed to Gorham, he began running on the road again.
In 1870, on the resignation of Mr. Hamil- ton, Mr. Martin succeeded to his position, which is particularly responsible. He has entire charge of all the locomotives, locomotive repairs, the firemen and engineers, and the shop water-works, besides which he receives and distributes all of the coal for the one hundred and fifty miles of the road under his charge, this including the main line from Portland to Paris, the Lewiston branch, and the Norway branch. It is also his especial duty to look after the wrecking crew, and attend to the clearing of the road from all obstructions. Some forty of the sixty-five men under his charge are located in this city. He is one of the oldest men in point of service on this part- of the Grand Trunk Railroad, and is held in high regard by both his employers and his em- ployees.
Mr. Martin married Miss Anna D. Whit- more, a daughter of Joseph Whitmore. Her father was born in Salem, Mass., and lived there until after the birth of his children, when he removed to Portland, where he has been engaged as a clerk in the Post-office for many years. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Martin is at 15 Fort Allen Park, a most desir- able location, commanding an extensive view of the beautiful bay.
Mr. Martin has found very little time to de- vote to politics, but is a Mason and an Odd Fellow, belonging to Atlantic Lodge, A. F. A. M., No. 81; to Beacon Lodge, Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows; and to the Eastern Star Encampment of this city. He is likewise a charter member of the Crumple Duck Shooting Club, and no pastime affords him greater pleasure than its yearly excur- sions. This club held its first duck shoot at Jonesport, Me., in 1876, with headquarters on Great Wass Island, where, in May of that year, they erected a small shanty near the mouth of Wilmouth Cove at the south end of the island, which served as their camp for two years.
In the winter of 1878 two of the club mem-
JOSEPH N. MARTIN.
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bers, J. N. Martin and A. B. Moulton, of Portland, purchased Crumple Island, contain- ing thirty-one acres, more or less, from the widow Kelly, of Jonesport. In the spring of that year the Crumple Club, with the follow- ing charter members, Warren Noyes, of Gor- ham, N. H., C. M. Wormwell, of Bethel, Me., Fred W. Noyes, of Gorham, N. H., G. C. Cobb, W. W. Thomas, Jr., John Dennis, A. B. Moulton, and J. N. Martin, of Portland, was formally organized. They soon erected a fine club-house, eighteen by thirty-six feet, and one and one-half stories in height, with a cook-room, fourteen by fourteen, attached to the north end. It will accommodate twenty men, and is furnished with stoves and all necessary equipments for comfort and con- venience. This is truly the best ducking lo- cality in the State of Maine. Six men, shoot- ing six days, not over five hours per day, have bagged four hundred and seventy-five birds.
During the second week in the month of May, 1879, after the life-saving service crew had been dismissed, and the Crumple Club were on their annual ducking excursion at Crumple Island, they had two very exciting and dangerous adventures. About nine o'clock on the morning of May 9, after having come in from gunning and eaten breakfast, J. N. Martin, one of the club members, was looking through his field-glass, when he dis- covered a man standing on Egg Rock, which lies due east a mile and a half from the Crumple. The day previous there had been a heavy storm of wind and rain from the south- east, and the sea was still running very high. Mr. Martin spoke to Captain Church, and asked him if a boat could land on Egg Rock, to which he received a negative reply. He then told the Captain of his discovery. The latter felt that there must be some mistake; but, on taking the glass himself, he saw three men, and upon looking again saw a fourth. Mr. Martin then took the glass from him, and saw, not only the four men, but a smoke ris- , ing from their fire; and, turned toward the south-cast end of the rock, the glass revealed the stubs of two masts sticking up through the water. They immediately came to the con- clusion that it was a shipwrecked crew.
There were at the time a number of guests
at the club-house, and, a consultation being held, it was decided to get into their boats and pull for Browney's Island, two miles or more to the north-west, where the life-saving station and buildings were located at that time. Breaking the locks, they took out the life-boat with all the equipments, and manned it with a crew determined to rescue those men or die in the attempt. They pulled to the west end of Egg Rock, and, watching for a favorable opportunity, drove the life-boat on to the beach. The men jumped out into the water and seized the life-boat, and with the next wave she was borne up on to the beach out of harm's way. When this had been ac- complished and greetings exchanged, they learned that the schooner "Zina," Captain Bradbury, with a full cargo of groceries from Boston for Machias, had run on to the south- east end of Egg Rock in the fog, and at the second crash the sea had swept over her, carry- ing the cook and galley overboard. The body of the cook was found three months later on an island near by. The other four men, who made up the ship's company, managed to get up on the rock. After Captain Bradbury and the other three men had been got into the life- boat, their rescuers started for the club-house on Crumple Island, where they arrived in safety ; and the rescued men were soon enjoy- ing a hearty meal served with plenty of the club's delicious coffee, steaming hot, and in a short time had recovered from the effects of their exposure. Some of the crew were in bed when the schooner struck, and conse- quently were minus much of their clothing, boots, shoes, and hats; but their necessary wants were promptly supplied by the club members, and the following day the crew were sent in a fishing-smack to Jonesport, whence they were conveyed to Machias by stage.
The day following, the club and their guests were out early on the gunning grounds ; but the wind continued to blow from the south-east, a dense fog still prevailed, and there was a heavy sea running. About nine o'clock, the ducks having let up on flying out, the party returned to the club-house, and while eating their breakfast the discharge of two guns was heard. One of their number suggested that some of the fishermen were
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gunning at Sile Rocks, but Captain Church thought that the guns sounded near by. After breakfast the fog lifted a little, and through the mist two topmasts were seen outside of the Crumple in a south-westerly direction, and about a half-mile from the club-house, very near duck ledges. Captain Church and Darius Norton asked the loan of Mr. Martin's boat, which was promptly granted; and, jumping in, each with a pair of oars, they pulled out be- tween the Crumple and Great Wass Island, more commonly called the Flying Place or Pond Gut, and around the Crumple, where they found the schooner "Mary B. Harris," Captain Crowley, commander, at anchor with her stern within seventy-five feet of the western duck rocks. There were ten men and one lady on board the schooner, which hailed from Indian River, and was bound for Jones- port. Owing to the very heavy sea that was running at the time, the chain cable was liable to give way at any moment, and in such an event not one of the eleven persons on board could have been saved. Another rush was made for Browney's Island, the life-boat again taken out, fully equipped and manned, and pushed to the rescue. Fortunately the chain held the schooner in her perilous posi- tion nobly. All the while the sea was run- ning at a fearful height; but the eleven were lowered into the life-boat one by one by means of a bowline from the schooner, the charts and valuables taken off, and all landed safely in the cove on Crumple Island. The lady bore up through the whole proceedings with won- derful courage and fortitude, never speaking or murmuring from the time she was taken out until she was landed in a chair near a good hot stove; and then she fainted dead away, but by the application of camphor and a little cold water she was soon restored. The first words spoken by her were, "Thank God we are saved, and I hope and pray that God will be as merciful to all you rescuers as you have been merciful to us; and I hope God will bless each and all of you." She was soon taken with a part of the crew of the "Mary B. Harris" to Jonesport. Since returning the life-boat to Browney's Island after this second exciting adventure, the club have not been called upon to act as
life-savers. The crew that performed this ser- vice, according to the memory of Mr. Martin, were Captain A .. G. Church, Captain Sam Crowley, D. Norton, A. B. Moulton, G. C. Cobb, J. N. Martin, and two other men whose names he does not recall.
An account of their heroic deed reached Captain Merriman, chief of the life-saving ser- vice at Washington; and a letter was shortly received asking the Crumple Club to render a bill for board and services. Mr. Martin im- mediately wrote in reply that the club had no bill to present, feeling that they had done nothing more than their duty in saving life when it was in their power so to do, to which he asked the suggestion that the life-saving station should be on Crumple Island. Two weeks later the club received a second letter from Captain Merriman, asking when he could meet the Crumple Club on the island to ar- range for a site on Crumple Island for the lo- cation of a life-saving station. On May 8, 1879, the day appointed, the chief and his aids were prompt on time. One little circum- stance took place which caused considerable surprise on the part of the life-saving people. Crumple Club had prepared a three-course dinner of wild fowl, the first being loon steak. "Loon steak, did you say, Martin?" repeated Captain Merriman. "Yes, Captain," replied Mr. Martin. "My dear sir," returned the Captain, "loons are considered worthless in the way of food. I have followed the sea for years, and this is the first time I have ever seen loon steak on the 'bill of farc." "Cap- tain, try a small piece," said Mr. Martin, "and then' give us your judgment on loon steak." He took two good-sized pieces ; and his verdict was that it was very good, indeed, adding, "We are never too old to learn." Later he said, "I have thoroughly enjoyed this wild fowl dinner at your club-house. on Crumple Island, and shall in future blow for loon steak.
After their meal was over, they proceeded to locate the spot for the life-saving station, the Hon. W. W. Thomas, Jr., who was a member of the club, acting as attorney for the club. Early in June a deed was forwarded to the government, and a check returned to the club for the amount agreed upon. The signal
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and lookout station was soon placed on Red Head, which is the turning-point into the Bay of Fundy, at the extreme south end of Crumple Island, and is one hundred feet above the level of high-water mark, commanding a clear view east and west of from forty to sixty miles, tak- ing in Mooseyback Harbor, the Scal Island Lights, and Grand Manan to the east, and Petit Manan and Baker's Island Light to the west. There has been talk of the government purchasing the island, and the club are will- ing to dispose of it at a reasonable price.
2 SAAC D. JORDAN, a highly intelligent farmer and respected citizen of Ray- mond, Cumberland County, Me., was born in this town on September 5, 1851. He is the only surviving son of the late Daniel S. Jordan. His paternal grandparents, Samuel and Martha (Small) Jordan, were both natives of Raymond, where the former was en- gaged in farming.
Their son, Daniel S., also chose agriculture as his chicf occupation, and became the owner of the farm on which his son now resides. In addition to his farm duties he engaged in stone work as opportunity offered. He lived here until his death, which occurred on February 5, 1891. His wife, whose maiden name was Rhoda A. Davis, survived him, and is now living with her son, Isaac D. Jordan. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Daniel S. Jordan ; namely, Ransom D., Hansom, Isaac D., Isaiah E., Isaiah E. (second), Martha M., and Isa D., all of whom, with the exception of Isaac D., are now deceased.
Isaac D. Jordan enjoys the advantages of common-school and academic education, a
which was acquired in Bridgton, Paris, and Limington, Me. After completing his course of study he was engaged in school teaching for a number of winters, and worked on the home farm during the summers. At the time of his father's death the entire charge of the farm fell upon his shoulders. Evidences of his painstaking and intelligent management are everywhere visible, the well-kept fences, meadows free from stone, the sleek cattle, the productive fields, betokening the thrifty, enterprising farmer. The place contains
about two hundred and twenty-five acres of land, well adapted for general farming, stock raising, and orcharding. Mr. Jordan makes a specialty of raising Hereford stock, and sells the cream from his dairy of choice cows. He has never married.
In politics Mr. Jordan is a Democrat, and for many years has been a member of the Democratic Committee of Raymond, and also of the County Committee. Among the offices held by him are those of Collector and Con- stable for four years, and Supervisor several terms. He is a member of Windham Lodge, No. 2276, Knights of Honor, of North Windham. His father and mother were mem- bers of the Free Baptist church.
G EORGE E. CHADBOURNE, a prac- tical farmer and lcading citizen of Bridgton, Mc., was born August 26, 1828, in the town of Hiram, Oxford County, Mc., being a son of Benjamin and Nancy (Richardson) Chadbourne. His parents rearcd two children. The other, Mary Ann, born May 15, 1833, married Charles B. Thompson. She died in 1866.
Benjamin Chadbourne was born in Hiram, Me. He was of English ancestry, as repre- sented by the following genealogy : Humphrey Chadbourne (first), with his sons Humphrey and William (second), came to this country A. D. 1631 ; Humphrey (third), son of Will- iam, died 1667; James, Sr. (fourth), Hum- phrey's son, died 1686; James, Jr. (fifth), born 1684, died 1754; Joshua (sixth), born 1729, died 1805; Joseph (seventh), born 1763, died 1848; Benjamin (eighth), born February 14, 1798, died December 18, 1875. Benjamin Chadbourne was a natural mechanic and learned the trade of a cooper, which he followed in connection with farming. In 1852 he removed with his family to the town of Bridgton, pur- chasing the one hundred acres of land now owned and occupied by his son, George E. Here he engaged in mixed husbandry until his death in 1875, at the age of seventy-cight years. His wife, who was born in 1807, sur- vived him until 1892. He was a man of prom- inence in public affairs, having been a Licu- tenant in the State militia, Justice of the
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Peace, Selectman, and Constable of his native town for a number of years. He was a practi- cal Christian, being an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was also an earnest advocate of the cause of temperance, signing the first temperance pledge in the early days of this great modern reform movement.
George E. Chadbourne, ninth in descent from Humphrey Chadbourne (first), mentioned above, was reared as a farmer's son, working on the home farm through seed-time and har- vest, and attending the district and high schools during the long winter seasons. On reaching mature years, he took charge of the farm work, but was also engaged as a house painter much of his time. In 1852 he came to Bridgton with his parents; and he has since resided on his present estate, Prospect Hill Farm, succeeding to its ownership after the death of his father. In his farming operations, as in his trade, Mr. Chadbourne has been more than ordinarily successful. A man of ex- cellent business ability, strict integrity, and wise judgment, he has often been called upon to serve in official capacities, and has in each instance performed his duties to the general satisfaction. In 1864, during the progress of the Civil War, he was chosen Selectman; and he retained the office until 1871, being Chair- man of the Board the greater part of the time. From that year until 1874 he was County Commissioner, also serving fourteen years as Trial Justice of the Peace. In 1874 he was appointed agent by the County Commissioners, to superintend the comparing and revision of the indexes to the Registry of Deeds with the records of Cumberland County, from the first volume, 1760, to 1870, which now constitutes the Leger Index to that date. This task occu- pied more than three years, requiring the most careful and laborious work. Mr. Chadbourne holds a life commission as Dedimus Potesta- tem Justice; and for several years he has been a voluntary observer at Station 302, North Bridgton, Me., belonging to the New England Division of the United States Weather De- partment. For twenty-nine years he has been one of the Trustees of the Bridgton Academy, fifteen years being Secretary of the Board. He is a stanch and loyal member of the Re- publican party, with which he has long been
actively identified. Fraternally, he is an es- teemed and valued member both of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Masons; and he was officially connected with agricultural and temperance societies for many years. He has served continuously as Secre- tary of the Society for the Prevention and Detection of Crime thirty-nine years, attend- ing every annual meeting.
Mr. Chadbourne and Miss Louisa B. Libby were united in marriage in 1851, and they are the parents of six children, namely : Frank O., born November 29, 1852; Edwin R., born June 26, 1855; Charles B., born February 5, 1858, died September 13, 1869; Carrie E., born January 17, 1860; Addie M., born March 11, 1862; and Walter C., born August 13, 1866. Frank O. Chadbourne (tenth), who is in company with his father in the manage- ment of the home farm, married Miss Clara Lincoln. They have three sons and a daugh- ter, who are of the eleventh generation by lineal descent, namely : Charles L., born Sep -- tember 30, 1876; Ethel A., born July 1, 1879; Irving E., born October 7, 1881; George E., born September 21, 1894. Edwin R. Chadbourne, who was graduated from both the Maine Medical College and the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, is a successful practising physician in that city, where the death of his wife, Annie M. Howe, occurred October 27, 1887. Carrie E. Chad- bourne is the widow of Frank S. Knight, who died September 1, 1888. Her children are : George E. Knight, born October 6, 1881, died September 4, 1888; and Mary L. Knight, born July 27, 1885.
OHN WARREN PERKINS, of the firm of John W. Perkins & Co., whole- sale druggists and dealers in drugs, paints, oils, and dyestuffs, whose ware- houses are at 94 and 96 Commercial Street and 2 and 4 Custom-house Wharf, Portland, Me., was born in Weld, Me., March 17, 1820, son of Dr. Lafayette and Dorcas (Abbott) Perkins.
His grandfather, Colonel William Perkins, was a distinguished officer in the Revolution- ary army, and at the close of the war was ap- pointed Commandant of Castle William, now
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Fort Independence, in Boston Harbor. On March 26, 1786, a son was born to him and his wife; and the event was made the occasion of great rejoicing, in which all the garrison participated. At the proper time the boy was taken to Boston, escorted by a band of music and a squad of soldiers from the fort to King's Chapel, where he was christened, the Marquis de Lafayette being the godfather and bestowing upon him his name.
Lafayette Perkins was a boy of fourteen when his father died and the family removed from Castle William. He received his early education in Boston, and took up the study of medicine under the tuition of the famous Dr. John C. Warren. Before he received .his di- ploma the War of 1812 broke out, and he was appointed surgeon of the ship "Argus." The youthful physician became very popular with all on board; and at the close of the war, when the vessel was at anchor in the River Lyde in France, he was presented by her officers with a beautiful dress sword, which is now in the possession of his son, the subject of this sketch. Dr. Perkins returned to Boston, and was graduated from the Harvard Medical Col- lege, August 31, 1814. He commenced prac- tice in Boston, but soon removed to Weld, Me., where he lived twenty-one years, residing on a beautiful farm on the shore of a lake. Though actively engaged in the duties of his profession, he also dealt in real estate, making large sales; and Perkins Plantation was named in honor of him. On March 18, 1836, he re- moved to Farmington, where his courteous and agreeable manners, together with his skill as a physician, soon won him a large practice and made him a prominent citizen. Some years prior to his death he was obliged to retire from active practice on account of failing health. He died in Farmington, May 9, 1874, in his eighty-ninth year. Dr. Perkins was a member of the convention which met in Portland on the second Monday of October, 1819, for the purpose of framing a constitution for the State of Maine.
The Doctor and his wife, Dorcas Abbott Perkins, were the parents of six children ; namely, Charles, John W., Emeline, Benja- min A., George A., and Samuel E. Charles Perkins was cut off in the promise of young
manhood, just as he had finished his studies, qualifying to practise as a doctor of dentistry. Benjamin A. is associated in business with his elder brother as one of the firm of J. W. Perkins & Co. George A., who was missionary in Turkey and a teacher at Robert College, Constantinople, returned to the United States some twenty years ago, and until a short time before his death, which occurred July 15, 1895, was active in evangelical work, preaching in different places in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Samuel E. was a well-known druggist in Bangor some thirty years ago; it is now six or seven years since he died at Farmington.
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