Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 67

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

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John Warren Perkins attended the common schools of Weld and Farmington, finishing his studies at the Farmington Academy. He was sixteen years of age when his family removed to Farmington, and in that town in 1840 he took the initial steps in the drug business. In 1853 he removed to Portland and opened a wholesale drug, paint, and oil establishment in company with L. H. Titcomb; and when, in the following year, Mr. Titcomb retired, Mr. Perkins's brother, Benjamin A., who had been a member of the firm of Curtis & Perkins of New York, took that gentleman's place, the firm being J. W. Perkins & Co. In 1863 J. A. Titcomb became a member, and on his retirement in 1869 J. Henry Crockett was ad- mitted. W. S. Kyle joined the company in 1880, but retired in 1890; and in January, 1892, Mr. Crockett died. The Perkins brothers with the following new associates -- George L. Fogg, Bion R. Lane, and William P. Millay -- now constitute the firm. The es- tablishment is one of the largest and best- appointed of the kind in New England, and has maintained a high standard of credit during all the time that Mr. John W. Perkins has been its head.

Mr. Perkins has been married twice, and has three children. His first wife, Margaret Hunter, of Farmington, daughter of Thomas and Betsey (Belcher) Hunter, left one son - Edward Warren Perkins, who is in business in Arizona. The second wife, Mrs. Eliza Bellows Perkins, daughter of Charles Bellows, of New Hampshire, is the mother of two daughters : Mary B., wife of James B. Cahoon,

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of Elmira, N. Y., who was an ensign in the United States Navy; and Maude E. Perkins, who is yet with her parents.

In politics Mr. Perkins favors the Republi- can party. He is not an office-secker, but acceptably filled the position of Postmaster in Farmington four years, from 1849 to 1853. He is prominent in Masonry, and has filled several offices, being at present Past Com- mander of St. Albans Commandery, Knights Templars, of which he is also a charter member. In religious belief he is a Congre- gationalist, belonging to the State Street Church, of which his wife is also a member. He has a handsome residence at 328 Spring Street. No man in active business for fifty years can show a better record or stands higher for integrity among his fellow-citizens than John W. Perkins, who, enjoying the confidence and esteem of his associates to a remarkable degree, occupies a prominent place among the honored merchants and public men of Portland.

ANIEL L. BRETT, a prominent stock raiser of Cumberland County, proprietor of the Holstein Stock Farm in Otisfield, was born in Paris, Me., January 22, 1838, son of Seneca and Sarah (French) Brett. An earlier home of the family was Bridgewater, Mass., from which town Mr. Brett's paternal grandfather, removed to Paris, Me. He was a blacksmith by trade, and followed that occupation in connection with farming.

Seneca Brett was born in Bridgewater and was six years old at the time of the removal to this State. In 1855 he settled upon what is known as the Timothy Jordan farm in Otisfield. Like his father, he both worked at the anvil and followed the plough, and was a useful member of the community. His wife, Sarah French, who was born in Fayette, Me., became the mother of seven children, as follows : Susannah and Harrison, who died young ; Cyrus, a pros- perous farmer of Otisfield, who married for his first wife Cynthia Parrish, of Massachusetts, and for his second Martha Woodard; Daniel L., the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth Jane Staples, wife of A. F. Andrews, of Norway, Me. ; Sarah Augusta, who married Freeman

Merrill, of Paris, Me., and is no longer living ; and Loren Thayer, a prosperous farmer at the old homestead, who married for his first wife Jennie Keene, and for his second Mrs. Marion Emerson Evans. Mrs. Sarah F. Brett died in February, 1892.

Daniel L. Brett received a common-school education and was reared to agricultural life. He resided with his parents for several years after his marriage, when he settled upon his present property, which contains two hundred acres of fertile land and is known as the " Hol- stein Stock Farm." He has cleared and im- proved the land with a view of placing it in the best possible condition for general farming and stock-raising purposes; and his products consist chiefly of hay, corn, and other grain, Lima beans, potatoes, and apples, of which he raises large and superior crops. He has made stock raising a specialty, formerly handling a yearly average of fifteen head of choice Hol- stein cattle ; and he also conducted a boarding- stable for horses. He is a recognized author -- ity upon live stock of all kinds, having been one of the most extensive dealers in his part of the county, and has been awarded many premiums at the State and county fairs for fine exhibits of stock, receiving as high as two hundred dollars in money prizes in one year, also having in his possession about three hun- dred ribbons. He is at present giving his attention to the dairy interests, and is con- nected with the creamery at Poland Corners, to which he is supplying a large quantity of cream.

On November 20, 1859, Mr. Brett was mar- ried to Julia Ann Gorham. She was born in Norway, Me., July 17, 1842, daughter of Ecvi and Mary (Hall) Gorham, who were prosperous farming people of that town, and are no longer living. Mr. and Mrs. Brett have three chil- dren, namely : Sarah Augusta, who was born in 1861, and is now the wife of Elmer D. Jillson, of Green, Me. ; Charles Henry, who was born in 1866, married Mabel Dorman, and resides in Green ; and Ebbie Montell, who was born in 1875, and is now following agri- cultural pursuits in Hampton, N. H.

Mr. Brett is an active supporter of the Re- publican party in politics, and is prominently identified with local public affairs. He has

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served with ability as a Selectman for three years, being Chairman of the Board for one year ; and he has also acted as Tax Collector and in other town offices. Mr. Brett has labored diligently for the prosperity he now enjoys, and his success is the result of his own unaided exertions. He is well and favorably known throughout Cumberland County, and is highly esteemed by all. He is a member of the Otisfield Grange, and he and his wife attend the Second Advent church.

ON. AUGUSTUS HALL WALKER, an ex-Judge of Probate and senior member of the law firm of A. H. & E. C. Walker, of Bridgton, Cum- berland County, Me., is a native of Oxford · County, having been born December 22, 1833, in Fryeburg. His father, Captain Isaac Walker, was a native of Stow, being one of a family of four sons and four daughters born to Mr. and Mrs. James Walker, of that town, which is only a few miles north of Fryeburg. The grandfather owned a farm, which he managed most successfully until he came to his death by an accident, while he was yet in the prime of manhood.

Isaac Walker was but eight years of age when his father died; and he remained on the old homestead with his mother, attending school as opportunity offered, and assisting on the farm when needed. On attaining his ma- jority, he commenced the battle of life for himself, even with the world. Being a young man of enterprise and thrift, he soon had enough money to warrant him in buying an intervale farm in North Fryeburg, where he engaged in his chosen vocation until the ter- mination of his earthly career, at the early age of forty-one years. His wife, Eliza Colby, a native of Fryeburg, lived to the age of forty- nine years. She was the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Evans) Colby, the former of whom was a lifelong resident of Fryeburg, his birth having occurred at Mount Tom. Cap- tain and Mrs. Isaac Walker reared four chil- dren; namely, Simcon Colby, Sarah E., Augustus Hall, and Olive C. Simeon C. Walker, who died at the age of thirty-three years, was educated at North Bridgton Acad-

emy and Bowdoin College, afterward becoming a successful teacher. Sarah E. died when but twenty-two years of age. Olive C. became the wife of the Rev. Wellington R. Cross, a Bowdoin College graduate and a minister in the Congregational denomination.

Augustus H. acquired his elementary edu- cation in the district school, where his keen intellect easily mastered the prescribed course of study. When fourteen years old, he began teaching school in the winters; while in the summer season he worked at farming, carning sufficient money to enable him to attend the Bridgton Academy during the spring and fall terms. In 1852 Mr. Walker entered Bowdoin College, whence two years later he was trans- ferred to Yale College, graduating from that institution in 1856, having for his classmates many men who have since become distinguished in public life, among them being Associate Justices Brown and Brewer, of the United States Supreme Court, and Chauncey M. Depew. After securing his diploma, Mr. Walker returned to his native county; and, locating in Lovell, he studied law with the Hon. D. R. Hastings, being admitted to the bar in 1858. Mr. Walker began the practice of his profession in Anoka, Minn., remaining there a year, when at the earnest solicitation of his only brother, Simeon, who was suffering from a fatal illness, he returned home, and soon established a law office in Fryeburg, con- tinuing there till 1861. He then went to Lovell, where he carried on a successful law practice for about twenty years. Removing to Bridgton in 1881, Mr. Walker has since made this place his home, and has continued active in his profession, having a large clientage. In 1891, his nephew, Edwin Colby Walker, was admitted into partnership with him, the firm name now being A. H. & E. C. Walker.

On October 1, 1863, Mr. Walker was united in marriage with Miss Mary E., daughter of Samuel and Charlotte (Goodale) Thurston, of Bangor. In politics Mr. Walker has ever been identified with the interests of the Republican party, having loyally supported its principles since casting his first Presidential vote in 1856 for John C. Fremont. While living in Oxford County in 1867, Mr. Walker was elected Judge of Probate ; and he was re-elected to the

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same position several consecutive terms, serv- ing until 1880. In the fall of that year he was elected to the State Senate, in which he served during the two following years, which were the commencement of biennial sessions. In the Senate he was Chairman of the Guber- natorial Committee and Chairman of the Com- mittee on Legal Affairs; and at that time two United States Senators were elected from this State, Hale and Frye, for both of whom he voted.

ILLIAM G. SOULE, commission merchant and importer's agent at 180 1-2 Commercial Street, Port- land, was born in Waterville, Me., son of Thomas J. and Mary A. (Gilbert) Soule. He is one of a family of nine children, but four of whom are living; namely, Charles S., George H., and Horatio M. Charles S., superintendent of a Western railroad, is otherwise prominent, having been nominated as Mayor of a city in Wisconsin without his knowledge. He declined to accept. His wife is Treasurer of the Women's Christian Temperance Union of Minnesota; and his son William, a namesake of the subject of this sketch, is a Judge in Iowa. George H. is a shoe manufacturer in Stamford, Conn., being a member of the firm of Lounsbury & Soule. Horatio M. Soule, the other brother, is a fancy painter and decorator.

William G. Soule, after attending the pub- lic schools of Waterville, was fitted for the in- stitute under the tutorage of H. M. Plaisted, who was afterward Governor of Maine. When he was about seventeen years of age he was graduated from Waterville Institute, and came to Portland, where he served his uncle, J. J. Gilbert, as clerk. A year later he took another clerkship on Commercial Street, but subsequently went to New Bedford, in the lumber business, as a member of the firm of Noble & Soule, where he remained about a year. Enlisting in the secret service, he was in that employ three months, and then entered the United States Navy, being in battles off Hatteras, Charleston, and Port Royal. Later he was on blockade duty for a short time, being afterward transferred to New York and

Boston to aid in the transportation of troops to the South ; and later he came into the harbor of Portland, where he received his discharge.

Mr. Soule then entered the service of Henry Fling, wholesale grocer, with whom he subse- quently became associated as partner, under the style of Henry Fling & Co. On the death of Mr. Fling the business was contin- ued by the other members of the firm as Wey- mouth, Soule & Co. When Mr. Weymouth died, a new firm was formed, under the style of Davis, Berry & Co., composed of Abner Davis, Joseph S. Berry, Leonard Williams, and Mr. Soule, who is the only survivor of all the partners. Leaving the grocery business in 1868 on account of failing health, in 1870 he entered the insurance business, but later was connected with Smith, Gage & Co, whole- sale grocers, with whom he remained four years. After that he was confidential clerk and book-keeper for the wholesale drug firm of Tarbox, Carney, Parsons & Co., for four years. During the past fifteen or sixteen " years he has been engaged in the commission and brokerage business, representing several importing houses, now exclusively that of N. W. Taussig & Co., the largest concern of the kind in the United States, which firm have branch houses in Boston and New Orleans. Besides attending to the local trade Mr. Soule ships from Portland, on orders from the house, molasses to Canada, the New England States, and the South.

In politics Mr. Soule is a Republican. He was elected a member of the Common Council from Ward 2 in 1864 and 1865, and from Ward I in 1879 and 1880, being a member at the time Lincoln was assassinated, also when Garfield was assassinated. In 1889 he was ap- pointed by Governor Burleigh as one of the Commissioners to represent the State of Maine at the Washington Centennial, April 30, 1889, each State being represented by its governor and his staff, besides the Commissioners. When the Australian Ballot System was intro- duced, Mr. Soule was nominated as one of the candidates for Mayor, but not desiring to con- test for the position he withdrew in favor of George W. True, who was nominated and elected. Mr. Soule is an honorary member of the Eighth and Thirteenth Maine Regiments,

WILLIAM G. SOULE.

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and is also a member of the Lincoln Club of Portland, having been Chairman of its Execu- tive Committee since its organization in 1890. He is a member of the Wholesale Grocers' Association, and has also been a member of the Board of Trade.

His wife was Miss Fannie E. Davis, adopted daughter of Captain George W. and Joanna Y. (Pomeroy) Davis. They have two children living - Ardella M. and Eugenie F. One child died in infancy. Mrs. Soule was on the barque "Tennessee," one of her father's ves- sels when it was wrecked off the coast of France.

Mr. Soule finds relief from the pressure of his engrossing business cares in his pleasant home at 17 Dow Street. He is a man of cult- ure, with literary ability, being the author of numerous poems, which have been published from to time to time in various newspapers and magazines. Among the most widely known of his contributions may be mentioned, "Our Brotherhood " and the "Reply of 'Old Willey ' to David Barker," and many others, which have been deservedly popular. The late John G. Whittier was a personal friend of Mr. Soule; and when the noted poet was a guest of Mr. Pickard, of this city, he re- quested Mr. Soule to call with his family, which invitation was accepted, to the mutual enjoyment of the interested parties.

OHN T. MAXFIELD, a prominent farmer and Grand Army man of Naples, was born in Casco, Me., June 10, 1841, son of Nathan and Sarah (Cook) Max-

field. His father, who was a farmer of Casco, died in 1890. His mother's death occurred in 1893. They reared four sons and four daugh- ters. All of the sons served in the Civil War.

John T. Maxfield was reared on his father's farm, receiving his education in the schools of his native town. He went to work at the age of seventeen in a saw-mill in the town of 'Harrison, Me., where he remained until the breaking out of the war. On October 16, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company G, Fourteenth Regiment, Maine Volunteer Infan- try, and was mustered in at Augusta, Me. He

took part in several important engagements, facing the enemy's guns for the first time at Baton Rouge in Louisiana. In the siege of Port Hudson, under General Banks, he was severely wounded. He was subsequently in the battles of Opequan Creek, Cedar Creek, and Fisher's Hill. Cedar Creek was the last important engagement during his first term of enlistment. Discharged December 31, 1863, he enlisted again. He received his final dis- charge in August 28, 1865, at Darien, Ga. Returning to Casco, he remained there till 1868, when he moved to Naples, taking pos- session of his present farm. This is a fine estate of seventy acres. On it Mr. Maxfield raises a variety of garden produce, and keeps pasturage for some live stock. Hle is a lead- ing member of the Naples farming community, and is very progressive in his methods.

On September 27, 1867, Mr. Maxfield was married to Clara E. Ames, a native of Den- mark, Oxford County, Me., daughter of Will- iam A. Ames, a farmer of Denmark, now de- ceased. Mrs. Ames, who was a native of Maine, died January 1, 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Maxfield have one child, a son named John, born in 1872, who is still with his parents. In politics Mr. Maxfield is a Republican. He belongs to Crooked River Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and is Officer of the Day of Charles S. Beckmore Post, Grand Army of the Repub- lic, of Edes Falls. Residents of Naples for nearly thirty years, the family are well known and highly esteemed in the community.

ILLIAM L. BLAKE, of the firm of William L. Blake & Co., dealers in railroad, steamship, and mill sup- plies and manufacturers of oils at 109, 111, and 126 Commercial Street, Portland, Me., is one of the most active business men of the city and an important factor of its mercantile interests. He was born in Portland, August 9, 1857, being a son of John F. Blake, who has charge of the oil and grease department of our subject's store. John F. Blake has been a lifelong resident of Portland, where, when a young man, he married Miss Rosella Little- field, also a native of this city, their union being hallowed by the birth of seven children,

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as follows: Thomas F. ; William L. ; George M. ; Albert H. ; John F., Jr. ; Charles C. ; and Rose M.

William L. Blake completed his studies when seventeen years old at the Portland High School, and at once entered the employ of A. B. Butler, inspector of flour, remaining with him until his decease, a period of three years. Very soon after, in 1877, Mr. Blake established his present business, beginning on a modest scale, and gradually enlarging it until now he has a very heavy trade, his house being the leading establishment of the kind in the city. Politically, Mr. Blake supports the Democratic ticket, but is not an active parti- san neither an aspirant for official honors, al- though he served in 1892 and 1893 as a member of the School Board. Several times he has been tendered nominations to various political offices, but on account of his business has invariably declined. He is a member of the Portland Athletic Club, besides which he belongs to several social organizations of the city. Religiously, he and his family are active and consistent members of the Congre- gational church of St. Lawrence Street.

Mr. Blake married Miss Mary E. Menish, daughter of the late Duncan Menish, who for many years was superintendent of the car department of the Grand Trunk Railway of Portland. Their happy family circle includes two children - Ethel Maud and Arthur W., who enliven and cheer the home.

T HOMAS P. BEALS, President of the Thomas P. Beals Company of Portland, was born in Wiscasset, Me., March 24, 1833, son of William and Hannah (Porter) Beals. His father was Sheriff of Lincoln County and proprietor of the Wiscasset House. He and his wife had nine children, but three of whom are now living, namely : Mrs. Mary C. Gould, of Lynn, Mass. ; Mrs. H. B. Dennison, whose husband is ex-Presi- dent of the Dennison Tag Manufactory of Bos- ton ; and Thomas P., whose name appears at the head of this sketch.

Thomas P. Beals, after completing his school education in the academy at Wiscasset, came to Portland in 1848, at the age of fifteen,

to work for Walter Corey & Co. as an appren- tice to the furniture business. He remained with that firm until 1861, when, joining the ranks of the nation's defenders, he enlisted as a private in the Seventh Regiment, Maine Vol- unteer Infantry. Being soon promoted to the rank of Sergeant, he filled that position for a year, when he was discharged for disability, and returned home. Six months subsequently, he obtained an appointment upon the Portland police force, where he remained until the spring of 1864, when he again enlisted, this time in the Thirty-second Maine Regiment, as First Sergeant. He was promoted succes- sively to the ranks of First Lieutenant and Captain. He took part in seven battles - North Anna River, Cold Harbor, Tolopotomy Creek, Petersburg, Poplar Grove Church, Hatch's Run, and at the capture of Peters- burg, when he was wounded while leading a charge. He came home as a member of the . Thirty-first Regiment, with which the Thirty- second, having lost greatly in numbers, had been consolidated. At Petersburg Captain Beals secured the muster-roll of the Confeder- ate regiment which had occupied Fort Mahone, a relic which, framed, now adorns his office. In August, 1865, he was reappointed on the police force, and later became Deputy Sheriff and Crier of the Courts in Cumberland County.

The year 1867 was a momentous one in Mr. Beals's career, as he then, having resigned his position as Deputy Sheriff, embarked in his present business, in which he has been so prosperous. His first shop was on Congress Street, on the site of the present R. C. Cav- anaugh School; and he began with a small force of workmen. He subsequently removed to Federal Street, and thence to the corner of Middle and Franklin Streets. His products were then largely wrought by hand process : but year by year he made improvements, and increased his facilities for executing a better class of work. In 1871 he admitted Joseph T. Darling to partnership, the style of the firm for the two following years being Thomas P. Beals & Co. Mr. Beals then continued the business alone for a while, first on Kennebec Street and later on Exchange Street, return- ing finally to his present location on Market

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Street. In 1889 Mr. Beals's son, Fred H., was admitted to partnership, the firm name again becoming Thomas P. Beals & Co .; and with the change a new impetus was given to the business. About this time they purchased a building on Newbury Street, to which they have since been compelled to make additions. In February, 1893, the company was incor- porated with Thomas P'. Beals as President, Fred H. Beals as Secretary and Treasurer, and Sewall C. Ripley Superintendent. The business by this time had assumed large pro- portions, and was, as it is to-day, one of the oldest, largest, and best-cquipped manufactur- ing jobbing houses in New England. The Portland factories now cover over two aeres of floor space. They confine themselves strictly to jobbing and export business, and make a specialty of low-price oak, ash, and birch chamber sets, bedsteads, woven wire spring mattresses, wood and cane seat chairs, iron bedsteads, and nearly everything in common furniture for which there is a demand. Every article in their line, which is called for in any town or city throughout the New England States, New York State, and as far south as Florida, can be produced at short notice in the best style of workmanship, and at prices that hold and increase their trade. The company employs from forty to seventy-five skilled workmen; and, as far as possible, Portland men are employed throughout the manufactory.

During the past year a number of changes and valuable and radical improvements have been made in the plant, which have resulted in great advantages with respect to variety of patterns, particularly of chamber sets and chairs, a convincing proof to the trade that the firm is thoroughly "up-to-date." In their commodious sample rooms is exhibited a fine display of the latest and best style of goods, to inspect which the trade has a cordial stand- ing invitation. The weekly pay-roll, five hundred to eiglit hundred dollars, is an item of interest to the industrious wage-earners who are favored with steady employment through- out the year.

Mr. Beals's fraternal connections are with the Maine Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Eastern Star Encampment, Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows; the Maine Chari-

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 67

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