Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 71

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

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The products of this company have been shipped to nearly every country on the globe, and are known as the most efficient and desir- able machines in the market, the name Bel- knap having become a synonym for excellence. Their motors range from one-eighth horse- power to one hundred and fifty horse-power,

their dynamos from five to two thousand lights in capacity, and generators from six and a half to one hundred and twenty-five kilowatts' ca- pacity. They are built on both the multi- polar and the bipolar principle, and are of the direct current variety, alternating apparatus never having been a part of their manufacture. This company has supplied hundreds of motors and dynamos to buildings in Portland; and the Maine State College, the Delaware Col- . lege, the Kansas State Agricultural College, the United States Marine Hospital, and the Vermont State Insane Asylum are using their electrical enginery. The installation of iso- lated lighting plants has become an important part of the company's business, particularly marine work; and the steamers "Bay State " and "Portland" of the Portland and Boston line, and the "St. Croix " of the International Steamship Company and "Cottage City " and "Manhattan" of the New York line, are pointed at with pride as particularly fine elec- trical installations.

Mr. Brown is the inventor of the composite woven wire and graphite brush, the cyclone coffee-mill, and the combined water motor and dynamo; and he has made improvements on the water motors. He is a man of great inventive talent, possessing at the same time remarkable business qualifications, and has risen to his present position through his own efforts alone, pushing by his energy and sagac- ity the affairs of the company of which he is President and General Manager to a plane of prosperity and eminence.

Mr. Brown married Miss Emma Hatch, of Damariscotta, Me., daughter of Briggs and Eliza (Nubert) Hatch. In politics Mr. Brown is a Republican. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Congregational church at Wood- ford's. They have a pretty home at Deering Centre, where Mr. Brown finds rest and quiet after the cares and activities of business hours in the city.

J AMES C. BABB, the courteous host of a pleasant farm cottage for summer boarders in Sebago, was born on the farm where he now resides, January 27, 1832, son of Captain James and Sally (Potter)

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Babb. The family is of English descent. Captain James Babb, who was born September 3, 1792, in Buxton, Me., followed farming successfully, and died June 2, 1882. His wife, a native of Sebago, who was a daughter of David and Sybil (Fitch) Potter, of Groton, Mass., died April 7, 1878. They reared three children, namely: Sarah, the wife of George Hardin, of Swampscott, Mass .; Luther P., a doctor, of Eastport, Me., who died in February, 1895 ; and James C., the subject of this sketch.

James C. Babb, after attending the district schools of his native town, finished his course of study at Bridgton Academy. He began to teach at the age of nineteen, and was so suc- cessful at the outset that he followed that pro- fession for thirteen years, conducting schools in Cumberland and Oxford Counties. In 1862 he took charge of the old homestead, an estate of two hundred acres, and engaged in general farming. Fifteen years ago he opened his house to summer guests, a class with whom Sebago has long been a favorite resort. The attractions are its beautiful lake, afford- ing opportunities for boating and fishing, and the pure air, giving new life to enervated city people. Mr. Babb has since increased his ac- commodations, so that now he is prepared to provide for forty persons. His register shows the names of guests from New York City, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Fairfield, Ind., Bos- ton, and Fall River. He still carries on gen- cral farming, providing his table with fresh vegetables and fruit, besides dairy products, from his own land.

On January 7, 1862, Mr. Babb was united in marriage with Miss Annette Douglass, a native of Sebago, daughter of Andrew and Casiah (Irish) Douglass. She is a capable housewife, an able helpmeet to her husband; and all who have spent a summer under her roof remember her with pleasure. Mr. and Mrs. Babb have three children - George H., principal of the Manual Training School at Portland; Willie P., a clerk in Boston; and Mary A., a teacher in Sebago. Mr. Babb is prominent in local politics as a Republican. He was Selectman of the town of Sebago for eight terms, Supervisor of Schools several terms, and rendered good service to the town

in several other capacities. Mr. and Mrs. Babb attend the Union Congregational Church of Sebago.

OHNSON K. LOVEWELL, a well- known and highly esteemed merchant of Otisfield in the sixties, was born in Otisfield, April 16, 1824, son of Dennis and Margaret (Knight) Lovewell, both natives of that town. Dennis Lovewell, who was a well-to-do farmer, lived in Otisfield until his children were grown. He then moved to Harrison, Me., and subsequently to Norway, Me., where he died. His wife died in Otis- field. They were the parents of four children - Alpheus B., a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal church; Henry, who died in the army; Johnson K., the subject of this sketch ; and Elizabeth Jane, widow of Winburn Earle, who resides at Kent's Hill, Me.

Johnson K. Lovewell acquired a fair knowl- edge of the branches taught in the common school of Otisfield. At first he was engaged in teaching successfully for a number of years. Subsequently he sold general mer- chandise at Spurr's Corner, Otisfield. After occupying this stand for several years he moved to Portland, where for some time he was in business with Mr. Worthy Barrows, re- tailing general merchandise. In 1865, dispos- ing of his Portland interests, he returned to Otisfield, and established a general store in East Otisfield. This he conducted success- fully until his death, which occurred October 28, 1875. His honest dealing and unfailing courtesy made him very popular, so that his death was felt as a loss by the community. A stanch Democrat, he represented the district in the legislature in 1861, was Selectman of Otisfield for some time, and was Postmaster at Otisfield and East Otisfield. He prospered in all his undertakings; and the home now oc- cupied by his widow, which he purchased and adorned, is a lasting memento of the success which crowned his industry.

November 1, 1868, Mr. Lovewell was united in marriage with Miss Augusta Spurr, who was born in Otisfield, June 9, 1833, daugh- ter of Oliver and Hephzibah (Shedd) Spurr. Mr. Spurr, who was a prosperous farmer, was

ISAAC LINCOLN SKOLFIELD.

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a lifelong resident of Otisfield. Mr. and Mrs. Lovewell were the parents of two daughters - Augusta Spurr, born November 17, 1869; and Marguerite E. H., born May 24, 1872. Both young ladies reside with their mother in

Otisfield. Mrs. Lovewell and her daughters are members of the Congregational church near their home. The daughters are promi- nent members of the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor. Mrs. Lovewell, who belongs to one of the old families of Otisfield, is highly esteemed by the townspeople.

RANK W. STOCKMAN, proprietor of the wholesale and retail grocery estab- lishment at 112 Exchange Street, Port- land, bearing the firm name of W. L. Wilson & Co., was born in Topsham, Me., July 14, 1847. His parents were Samuel and Rachel P. (Haley) Stockman, both natives of Tops- ham, where Mr. Samuel Stockman spent his life, engaged in farming. Frank W. was their only child.

Frank W. Stockman attended the common and high schools of Topsham, and subsequently took a course of study at the Portland Busi- ness College. On leaving school he entered the employ of W. L. Wilson & Co., whose store at that time (1862) was on West Market Row, and worked for them as clerk until 1867. In that year he was admitted as a partner, and the company took possession of the building they now occupy. In 1873 the senior partner, W. L. Wilson, who was at that time in Cali- fornia, died; and his son, William A., took his place as a member of the firm. In 1883 Mr. William A. Wilson withdrew; and since then Mr. Stockman has been sole proprietor of the enterprise, which has grown and prospered under his management. He controls a large local trade, and transacts business in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, over the Grand Trunk Railway and the Mountain Division. The business is one of the oldest mercantile enterprises in the city, having been estab- lished in 1844. The main store is sixty-five by forty-five feet in dimension, and includes two stories and basement. The adjoining building at 167 Federal Street, which is also occupied by the establishment, is thirty-five

by forty feet, and includes two stories and basement ; and Mr. Stockman has storehouses in different parts of the city. The immense trade controlled and the good reputation of the establishment prove Mr. Stockman to be a man of unusual business ability and executive talent.

Mr. Stockman married Nellie E. Barbor, daughter of Charles M. and Mary E. Barbor, of Deering, Me .; and two sons were born to them - Ralph and Frank W., Jr.

In politics Mr. Stockman is a Republican, but is not an aspirant for political honors. He is well advanced in Masonry, being a member of Ancient Landmark Lodge of Port- land, Mount Vernon Chapter, and Portland Commandery; and he is also a member of Unity Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. He and his family attend the Baptist church. They have a fine residence at 521 Cumberland Street, Portland.

APTAIN ISAAC LINCOLN SKOL- FIELD, a retired seaman of Bruns- wick, Me., for twenty years master of sailing-vessels, was born in the adjoining town of Harpswell, May 3, 1824, son of George and Lydia (Doyle) Skolfield. He is of English descent, his great-grandfather, Thomas Skolfield, having been a native of the county of Kent in the mother country. Emi- grating to America, he settled in Brunswick in the latter part of last century, and taught school there for some time. He died in 1796. His son Clement, Captain Skolfield's grand- father, was a well-to-do farmer, who spent the greater part of his life in Harpswell, dying there at an advanced age.

George Skolfield, son of Clement, was a well-known and prosperous ship-builder of Brunswick. He died at the age of eighty-six. His wife, who was a daughter of Lydia Doyle, of lower Brunswick, attained the advanced age of eighty-two. She was an esteemed member of the Congregational Church of Brunswick. Thirteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. George Skolfield, three of whom are now liv- ing - George R., a ship-builder of Harps- well; Isaac Lincoln, the subject of this sketch ; and Samuel, a ship-master of Brunswick.

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Isaac L. Skolfield acquired a good common- school education, in the mean time helping about the farm on which his parents lived, When eighteen years of age he went to sea. shipping before the mast on a vessel which was engaged in carrying cotton from southern ports to England and France. He was at sea but four years when he was made master of a vessel; and he remained in the cotton trade till the war caused a cessation of that traffic. Then until 1866 he traded at different ports, carrying various kinds of merchandise. In that year his father died, and he resigned his position, settling in his present home. His residence, which is beautifully situated, fac- ing the north end of the common, is one of the handsomest in the locality.

Captain Skolfield was married in 1850 to Frances E. Forsaith, a native of Brunswick, Me., daughter of Rodney Forsaith, a promi- nent lumber man of this town. They have two children - Lydia and George L. The daughter married S. E. Turner, now a steve- dore, of Brooklyn, N. Y., formerly master of a vessel. The son, who is Captain of a vessel formerly in the West India trade, but now plying between Hong-Kong and New York, married Sarah Cheney, a native of the eastern part of Maine, and has two children - George L. and Frances L. His home is aboard the vessel, his wife and children accompanying him on his long voyages, the last of which, a trip to Hong-Kong, consumed one hundred and ninety-seven days. Captain I. L. Skol- field followed the sea for twenty-five years, and during sixteen years of that time his wife was his constant companion. With him she visited ports in nearly all parts of the globe; and their children, who were born aboard the vessel, looked on Old World scenes which most children know but vaguely through the pages of a geography.

Captain Skolfield votes the Democratic ticket. He is a member of Fort George Lodge, No. 37, Knights of Pythias. With his family he attends the Hill Congregational Church of Brunswick. The Captain has but one active business interest at present, that of Director of the Pejapscot Bank, a position which he has held for over thirty-five years. He is one of the most popular men in the

county, his intelligence, knowledge of the world, fund of anecdote, and talent as a story- teller drawing to him with subtle magnetism a large circle of admirers; and his genial dis- position and fine traits of character make many lasting friendships.

ILLIAM MILLER MARKS, a

book, card, and job printer of Port- land, proprietor of one of the best- appointed printing-offices in the State of Maine, was born in Youghal, Ireland, Decem- ber 13, 1841, and is a son of John and Dora (Hall) Marks. He attended public and pri- vate schools in Ireland and in Sherbrooke, P. Q., and in 1854 entered the office of the Canadian Times at Sherbrooke, owned by Ritchie Brothers, to learn the printing busi- ness. In September, 1860, he came to Port- land, and entered the office of Brown, Thurston & Co., where he worked for about a year. He then accepted the foremanship of the Portland Daily Advertiser, and was subse- quently invited to assume the management of the Daily Press job printing-office, entering on his duties in 1863, and retaining the position until November, 1877, when he resigned on December 13 of that year, opening the book and job printing-office of which he is now pro- prietor. His establishment, which is located at 97 1-2 Exchange Street (the "Printer's Ex- change " ), is equipped with all modern con- veniences for first-class printing; and Mr. Marks has established a reputation for fine work that keeps his presses busy throughout the year. He does all kinds of job printing, railroad, law, and insurance work, and has printed a large number of the State reports, receiving the highest commendations on his completion of the Revised Statutes of the State in 1882 from the Commissioner, Judge Goddard, and the legislative committee under whose supervision the work was carried on.

On September 20, 1870, Mr. Marks mar- ried Amanda Althea Stearns, daughter of Mar- shall and Mary Ann (Chase) Stearns, of Paris Hill, Me. Two children blessed their union - Henry Thornton, born September 25, 1871 ; and Helen Amanda, born March 15, 1874, both of whom died in October, 1879, the for-

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mer on the 20th, the latter on the 22d of the month.

In politics Mr. Marks is a Republican. He was a member of the Republican City Com- mittee from Ward 6 from 1867 to 1885, Chairman from 1883 to 1885, and has been Treasurer since 1894. He was a member and Treasurer of the Republican District Commit- tee from 1876 to 1894, member of the City Council from Ward 6 from 1879 to 1881, Alderman from 1885 to 1887, and Chairman of the Board of Aldermen in 1886-87. He also belongs to various fraternal orders and associations. He is a member of Maine Lodge, No. 1, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and Machigonne Encampment of the same Order; Bramhall Lodge, No. 3, Knights of Pythias; and was President of the Asso- ciated Charities from 1886 to 1890. He is a member of the Maine Charitable Mechanic As- sociation, the Maine State Society for the Pre- vention of Cruelty to Animals, is President of the Portland Provident Association, and be- longs to the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion. He is also a Fellow and Trustee of the Maine Academy of Medicine, and was a Trus- tee of Evergreen Cemetery from 1881 to 1884. He is a leading member of the High Street Congregational Church, of which he was elected Deacon October 28, 1873, and of whose Parish Committee he has been a mem- ber since April 17, 1876, serving as Chairman since April, 1888. Mr. Marks is a man of good physique and strong mentality. Though quiet in manner, he makes a marked and favor- able impression on those with whom he comes in contact by his uniform courtesy and innate force of character.

ATHANIEL RIDEOUT, or Deacon Rideout, as he is generally known throughout the county, is a leading agriculturist and one of the sub- stantial citizens of New Gloucester. He was born in the town of Pownal, Cumberland County, Me., on October 14, 1826, son of Na- thaniel, Sr., and Ruth (Lufkin) Rideout.

Nathaniel Rideout, Sr., was born in Cum- berland, Me. He learned the trade of a car- penter and joiner, and worked at it for several

years in his early manhood. In 1816 he walked to Quebec, Canada, and for two years was employed there at his trade. After that he returned to Cumberland County, and turned his attention to agriculture, purchasing in 1830 the farm now owned by his son. He was one of the pioneers of New Gloucester, where he died on June 25, 1854. His first wife, who before marriage was Miss Katherine Richardson, died in 1818, leaving three chil- dren, a brief record of whom is as follows: Benjamin A., born July 10, 1815, lives in Auburn; Me. ; Perez B., born November 25, 1816, died in 1848; and Katherine, who was born on October 30, 1818, died in infancy. His second and last wife, formerly Ruth Luf- kin, was the mother of nine children, namely : Katherine, born January. 17, 1820, who died May 25, 1821; Nicholas, born February 24, 1822, died March 9, 1885; Mary A., born March 24, 1824, now the wife of Dr. H. T. Cummings, of Tacoma, Wash. ; Nathaniel; Sarah J., born May 24, 1829, who married Wallace Atkins, of South Paris, Me. ; Harriet, born July 24, 1831, who became the wife of Ezekiel W. Haskell (both deceased) ; Bertha, born November 30, 1833, residing in Portland, Me. ; Deborah, born March 17, 1837, living in South Paris, Me., the widow of George F. Green; and Serena, born August 3, 1842, who married William Sweetser, of Pownal, Me.

Nathaniel Rideout in his boyhood was an attendant of the common schools; and after completing his educational course he engaged in teaching in the northern part of Cumberland County, this being his winter occupation for nine years. At his father's death he took charge of the old homestead, which he after- ward purchased, and has continued to reside here since that time. He has also bought additional land, so that he now has about three hundred and nine acres, making one of the best farms in the town; and his good management and diligent labor have placed him among the most successful farmers of New Gloucester. He keeps sixteen milch cows, from which he sells the milk in Portland. Stock raising is also an important feature of his farm economy, and he has a number of fine horses. Although upward of sixty years of age, Deacon Rideout still continues to give his personal attention to

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the numerous and varied details of farming in- dustry, and, as in his younger days, may usually be found engaged in some work about the place.

He was married on June 5, 1855, to Miss Rachel P. Rogers, who was born in Freeport, Cumberland County, on January 17, 1828, daughter of George and Margaret (Brewer) Rogers. Both her parents were natives of Freeport, where her father was born on Sep- tember II, 1794, and her mother on April 10, 1797. Mrs. Rideout has borne her husband four children, two sons and two daughters - Annie P., the eldest, born February 17, 1858, died March 22, 1877; Flora R., born March 6, 1860, is the wife of Frank W. Berry, of New Gloucester; Albert L., born December 31, 1862, married Gertrude A. Morse, and is engaged in farming on a place near his father's ; and Benjamin W., born March 7, 1871, is as- sistant book-keeper in Paine's furniture store in Boston, Mass.

In his early days Nathaniel Rideout voted the Whig ticket, and after the organization of the Republicans he became an adherent of that party, but is now in close sympathy with the Prohibitionists. In 1858 and 1859 he served very acceptably as Selectman of New Gloucester; and he has been urged to become a candidate for the legislature, but has de- clined the nomination. He and his wife are active and influential members of the Congre- gational Church of New Gloucester, and he holds the offices of Deacon and chorister.

AMUEL AUGUSTUS TRUE, President of the S. A. & J. H. True Company, wholesale dealers in grain and flour, at 202 Commercial Street, Portland, was born in this city, July 22, 1837, son of Samuel and Mary J. (Has- kell) True. His father was a native of New Gloucester, Me., born September, 1808. In early manhood he engaged in mercantile pur- suits, and for many years conducted an exten- sive wholesale dry-goods business in Portland as a member of the firm of Woodbourn, True & Co. He was an active and energetic busi- ness man, and is well remembered by the older residents of the city as a prominent

figure in mercantile circles. He died in 1855, his wife, Mary J., who was also a native of New Gloucester, having preceded him to the final rest in 1843.

Samuel Augustus True completed his stud- ies at the Portland High School. He began his business career as a clerk in a store on Commercial Street, and at the age of twenty- one he engaged in the grain and flour trade as a member of the firm of Waldron & True. That concern conducted a brisk business for some time, being finally dissolved; and one year later the firm of S. A. & J. H. True was formed. In July, 1895, a stock company was organized under the name of the S. A. & J. H. True Company, of which the subject of this sketch became President. Mr. True is an able and successful business man, noted for his regular methods and sterling integrity, his entire life having been governed by a steadfast adherence to these principles. He is a Re- publican in politics, and in 1881 he capably represented the Portland district in the Maine legislature. He is well advanced in Masonry, being a member of Atlantic Lodge, Mount Vernon Chapter, and Blanquefoot Command- ery. He is also a member of the Portland Club and of the Portland Athletic Club.

Mr. True married Ellen A. Hart, daughter. of Hanson M. and Phebe (Hill) Hart, and has two children, as follows: Charles A., a prominent lawyer of Portland and the present County Attorney, wedded Gertrude A. l'aine, daughter of Henry Paine, of Portland, and has one daughter, Gertrude; Ellen, wife of Ed- ward C. Robinson, of Brookline, Mass., has one daughter, Catherine. Mr. True's relig- ious affiliations are with the Free Street Bap- tist Church.

m ERRITT LAMB, an enterprising citizen of Westbrook, Me., who has been instrumental in building one of the finest residential quar- ters of the city, was born on the old Lamb homestead, now known as Deer Hill Farm, Westbrook, February 18, 1843. His parents were John and Lucy (Leighton) Lamb, the former a native of Westbrook, the latter of Windham, Me. ; and he is of the third gen-

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eration of his family on the homestead. This estate was purchased by his grandfather, Will- iam Lamb, Jr., who settled in Falmouth (now Westbrook) at an early date. A thrifty and progressive farmer, he gathered many harvests from the broad acres, living to an advanced age. In politics he was an adherent of the Whig party, in religion a Congregationalist. His wife, who was a Miss Warren, of Fal- mouth, lived to an advanced age, rearing a large family.

John Lamb was born on the homestead in 1787. He likewise followed farming as a life pursuit, but also engaged at the same time in other kinds of work. In the early days, before the advent of railroads, he managed a sort of express business, driving a team between Bos- ton and Bangor. The country was wild and rough, the roads poor in many places, and in stormy weather almost impassable. The trip each way usually consumed about two weeks ; and Mr. Lamb met with many adventures, pleasant and otherwise. In the latter part of his life he was engaged in the manufacture of bricks in connection with the cultivation of his farm. Politically, he supported the same principles that found favor with his father, voting in his later years in the ranks of the Republican party. He died in 1865. His wife, who was a daughter of Ebenezer Leigh- ton, a well-to-do farmer of Windham, was called to rest March 2, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. John Lamb were members of the Congrega- tional church. They were the parents of ten children, six of whom are living, namely : Emily J., wife of Horatio Daniels, of Cum- berland Mills, Westbrook; Mary E., wife of Benjamin Webber, of Westbrook; Merritt, the subject of this sketch ; William W. ; John W. ; and Annie R., wife of Scott Swett, of West- brook.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 71

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