USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine > Part 72
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Merritt Lamb received a good education, attending the public schools of his native town and the academy at Gorham, Me. On leaving school he engaged in the pursuit of agriculture on the homestead, which he still follows; and for many years he has been interested in real estate, evincing in his transactions a shrewd- ness and ability that place him in the foremost rank of Westbrook's business men. He has sold many building lots for business purposes,
always with the understanding that nothing but first-class houses should be built on them, and as a result he has greatly increased the value of real estate in his neighborhood. His own residence on Deer Hill Farm is a beauti- ful structure, situated on the crest of a hill and commanding a fine view of the surrounding country.
On November 18, 1869, Mr. Lamb was united in marriage with Olive B., daughter of Thomas and Sarah Smith, of Lovell, Me. Four children have brightened the years of their wedded life, three of whom are living; namely, Elden P., William M., and Louie M.
Politically, Mr. Lamb follows the traditions of his family, voting the Republican ticket. He is interested in public affairs, but, though frequently urged to accept nomination for office, invariably refuses, believing that he could not properly attend to official duties and at the same time give the requisite amount of attention to his large real estate and agricult- ural interests. He is prominent as an Odd Fellow, belonging to Ammoncongin Lodge, No. 76, of Westbrook, in which he has held several offices. In religious belief he is a Congregationalist.
AMUEL T. PICKARD, of the
Portland Transcript, friend and biographer of the poet Whittier, was born in Rowley, Mass., March I, 1828. His parents were Samuel and Sarah (Coffin) Pickard. His father, also a native of Rowley, born March 7, 1793, in early man- hood was a teacher. Removing to Lewiston, Me., in 1832, to become the Treasurer of the Lewiston Manufacturing Company, he held that position for forty years. At one time he owned the whole of the land on which the company's factories were afterward built. An early abolitionist, in politics he affiliated with the old Liberty party. Before coming to Maine he had served as Representative from Rowley to the State legislature. He died November 9, 1872, aged seventy-nine years. Mr. Samuel Pickard was twice married. His wife Sarah, the mother of Samuel T., was a daughter of Joseph Coffin, of Newburyport, a descendant of Tristram Coffin, who came
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from Devonshire, England, to this country in 1642, and was in Newbury, Mass., in 1648. The Coffin homestead on High Street, Newbury- port, was built by his son Tristram, Jr., in 1655.
Mrs. Sarah Coffin Pickard was a sister of Joshua Coffin, Whittier's schoolmaster, of whom the poet wrote : -
" Olden teacher, present friend, Wise with antiquarian search In the scrolls of State and Church, Named on history's title-page Parish-clerk and justice sage."
Mrs. Pickard and her husband were members of the Congregational church. She died in her early married life, leaving four children.
Samuel T. Pickard was a child of but four years when his parents removed to Maine. After completing a course of study in Lewis- ton Falls Academy, he came to Portland in 1844 to serve an apprenticeship to the printing trade, almost on the spot where the Transcript is now located. Later he went to Boston, where he was connected with B. P. Shillaber's humorous paper, The Carpet Bag ; and in 1852 he returned to Portland to take an interest in the Eclectic. Three years later this publica- tion was merged in the Transcript, a weekly of great strength, founded nearly twenty years before. Mr. Pickard is editor and one of the proprietors of the Transcript, and has been con- nected with the paper longer than any one else.
His most important literary work of recent years has been the "Life and Letters of John Greenleaf Whittier," published in two vol- umes by Houghton & Mifflin. The task was committed to Mr. Pickard - by Whittier's desire, and, as the result shows, was a labor of love from beginning to end, presided over by excellent judgment and discrimination. This biography is a revelation of Whittier, the man and the poet, as he was known to few even of his contemporaries. In regard to the anti- slavery movements this work shows that he bore an important part in the struggle, that, as has been remarked, "his stirring lyrics were the outward and visible signs of a life of un- ceasing activity," influential through his in- tercourse with public men. The story of the poet's literary life is given in detail, and is full of interest. To quote from the Indepen-
dent (New York) : "Nothing better need be said of the author and his work than that, by his diligence, devotion, and good judg- ment, he has erected this scattered and frag- mentary correspondence into a memorial whole, where the poet lives and speaks as he did among his friends when on earth." The Reader, London, England, of March 8, 1895, thus reviews the work: " The biographer of John Greenleaf Whittier has done his work with skill and taste. He is an enthusiastic admirer of the singer, but he does not nau- seate the reader with eulogy. He draws a vivid picture of the man -in boyhood, in the prime of life, and in the dignity and beauty of old age. He interprets for us the moods of the poet, the influences that moulded him and made him what he was in the national story of America and in the literature of the English- speaking peoples, with a sympathy and discern- ment that bespeaks to the full his fitness for the task. He makes us love the man the more, and to read in his verse a deeper signifi- cance than its mellifluous form conveys to those who may not hitherto have comprehended the graces of the poet's character. ... We would that we had space in which to tell of the charm of the letters Mr. Pickard has printed, and, above all, of the delightful picture the biographer draws of Whittier's old age - an old age wherein was no querulous- ness, but an even calm, an almost unearthly picturesqueness and moral grace. .. . We are grateful to Mr. Pickard for having recreated so fine a character. He has done his work ex- cellently - so well, indeed, as to have dowered the poet's verse with an added wealth of meaning."
Mr. Pickard was married April 19, 1876, to Miss Elizabeth Whittier, a niece of the poet, in whose household she was reared, being a daughter of Matthew F. Whittier, his younger and only brother. Mr. and Mrs. Pickard have one son, Greenleaf Whittier, the poet's name- sake, who is still in school.
LISHA A. CLARK, of the firm of Clark Brothers, wholesale and retail dealers in corn, oats, flour, and mill feed at Freeport, Me., was born in Harpswell,
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Cumberland County, October 1, 1859, son of Isaac and Jane (Allen) Clark, both natives of Harpswell. His grandfather, Samuel Clark, was also born in Harpswell, Me. After fol- lowing the sea for some years in his early man- hood, deciding to spend the rest of his life in the enjoyment of domestic comfort - a bless- ing which a sailor more thoroughly appreciates than does the man who has never been deprived of it - he settled on a farm in Harpswell Centre. There he died in 1839. He was the father of thirteen children.
His son, Isaac Clark, went to sea when a inere lad, and rose step by step from the berth of cabin boy to that of Captain, finally owning and commanding the "Exchange," a coasting vessel plying between Bangor, Portland, and Boston. He followed the uncertain fortunes of the sea until he was fifty-five years of age, then settling on the homestead farm, where he died at the advanced age of eighty-eight. His wife was the daughter of Elisha Allen, of Harpswell Centre, one of the best-known citi- zens of the locality. Mr. Allen was equally expert as a farmer, a ship-builder, a black- smith, and a shoemaker, and was regarded as a "smart " man, as that was then used in New England. He died at the age of eighty-three. His daughter, Mrs. Clark, who was one of a family of eight children, died in Harpswell at the age of sixty-two. She was a devoted mem- ber of the Baptist church, in which her hus- band, Isaac Clark, was one of the leading men, serving for many years as clerk and taking a prominent part in all church matters. Isaac and Jane (Allen) Clark reared four children - William, Isaac, Joseph C., and Elisha A. Joseph and Elisha are twins, and resemble each other so strongly that one is often taken for the other.
Elisha A. Clark attended school regularly until thirteen years of age. After that he pursued his studies in the winter season only, working on the farm during the time of sowing and harvest. In 1880, in connection with his brother, J. C. Clark, he purchased the store at Harpswell Centre, which was then owned by Captain Lemuel Stover, and for five years the brothers conducted a successful trade. Elisha Clark then bought his brother's interest, and from that time was sole proprie-
tor of the store. He carried a large stock of fine groceries, and had an extensive trade in flour and feed, both wholesale and retail, buy- ing grain by the carload. . In 1885 he erected a steam-mill, and besides supplying his whole- sale trade he did a large amount of custom work. In April of the present year, 1896, he sold out his business at Harpswell Centre, and with his brother, J. C., bought out the steam- mill at Freeport, known as the Mallet steam- mill, where they are doing a thriving business in the grain trade. Mr. Clark is a Director of the Harpswell Insurance Company, of which he has been Treasurer seven years.
December 23, 1883, he was united in mar- riage with Lydia D., daughter of Francis and Lucretia (Pinkham) Haskell, of Harpswell. Francis Haskell also was a scafaring man, gaining his livelihood from the fisheries. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have three children - Frank, Leonard, and Raymond.
Mr. Clark is a Democrat in politics. He was Town Treasurer of Harpswell five years, Constable several years, and also held the office of Postmaster. In religious belief he is an old-school Baptist - an uncompromising Predestinarian. He has been a member of the Baptist church in Harpswell thirteen years, and taken an active part in its affairs, serving as clerk for some years, teaching in the Sun- day-school, and efficiently filling the position of superintendent. Mrs. Clark also is a de- voted member of the Baptist church. Mr. Clark has attained his present position of prominence in the business world through his own energy and ability, and his fine social qualities have made him the centre of a large circle of friends.
OSEPH R. FARRINGTON, superin- tendent of the State Reform School at South Portland, Me., was born in Brewer, Penobscot County, Me., May 5, 1 830. His grandfather, John Farrington, was born October 20, 1756, in Wrentham, Mass. He learned the carpenter's trade, and was likewise a farmer. In 1786, in company with a number of his fellow-townsmen, he migrated to Orrington territory, as it was called, then a part of Massachusetts, but now known as
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Brewer, Me. They were pioneers of that part of the country, forming the Wrentham settle- ment. The grandfather became a large landed proprietor ; and, as his sons became of age, he gave to each one hundred and twenty-five acres. Ile became one of the leading spirits of the new settlement in Brewer, which he afterward represented in the General Court of Massachusetts. He married Cynthia, daugh- ter of Daniel Hawes, on July.14, 1788; and of their nine children Oliver, father of Joseph R., was the fifth son and the seventh child. John Farrington and his wife were active members of the Congregational church of Brewer, he serving as Deacon for many years. Both lived until well advanced in years, his death occurring at the age of eighty.
Oliver Farrington was a native of Brewer, Me., the date of his birth being September 18, 1797. Reared by loving parents in the prin- ciples of true Christianity, he became a powerful factor in advancing the higher inter- ests of his native town, being among the fore- most in moral reform, peace-loving, yet un- swerving in his defence of what he believed to be the truth, even though he might be the sole champion of that particular principle. On land cleared by his wife's grandfather he engaged in general farming, residing there until his death, September 16, 1863. On November 11, 1822, he married Hannah Rider, who was born in Brewer, and who out- lived him many years, passing away December 18, 1893. They were both esteemed members of the Congregational church of Brewer, and each of their ten children became identified by membership with the Congregational church.
Nine of their children are now living; namely, Henry M., Ann L., Hannah J., Joseph R., Sarah E., Clarissa E., Charles O., George S., and Caroline A. Henry M. Far- rington, born January 12, 1824, occupies the old homestead in Brewer, where for eighteen years he served as Assessor and Selectman. His first wife, Deborah Baker, died December 6, 1865, leaving two children -Jennie L. ; and Henry B., who has since died. He mar- ried for his second wife Susan Colburn. Ann L., born October 29, 1825, is now living in Cloverdale, Cal., being the wife of the Rev. W. L. Jones, by whom she has four children
-- Myron H., Caroline E., William F., and Harold McKeen. Hannah J. Farrington, born October 3, 1827, lives with her eldest brother on the old homestead. Sarah E., born May 17, 1832, is the widow of the Rev. George A. Perkins, who died leaving three children - William Abbott, Herbert F., and Carroll A. Clarissa Elvira, born October 25, 1834, lives on the old homestead. Charles Oliver Farrington, born May 4, 1837, married Sarah B., daughter of Joshua Chamberlain, of Brewer, and of their five children two are now living - Alice May, born December 15, 1870; and Dana, born June 30, 1878. George Shepherd, born June 14, 1842, married Laura Jackson; and they have one child living - Sarah Edith, born April 25, 1870. Caroline Amanda, born April 15, 1845, is the wife of Myron W. Jones.
Joseph R. Farrington acquired his first knowledge of books at the common schools of his native town, completing his course of study at the Farmington Academy, now called the Normal School. In early life, in company with his brother Henry, he started the brick- maker's business in Brewer, continuing pros- perously engaged until 1871, when he gave up the management to his brother, although he retained his interest in the same until 1890. On leaving Brewer in 1871, Mr. Farrington became superintendent of the State College Farm at Orono, and likewise instructor of the agricultural department of the college. In that important position he remained nine years, resigning in 1880 to accept his present office as superintendent of the State Reform School at Cape Elizabeth, now South Port- land. Mr. Farrington's long retainment in this office is a speaking evidence of the ability and fidelity with which he has performed his duties, and of the appreciation in which his services are held by the officers and friends of the institution.
Mr. Farrington was united in marriage October 11, 1855, with Miss Ellen Elizabeth Holyoke, daughter of Edward and Melinda (Snow) Holyoke. She was born March 12, 1832, at Brewer, where she was reared, edu- cated, and married. Her parents subsequently removed to Yarmouth, where her father was for many years a Deacon of the Congregational
LORENZO L. SHAW.
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church. Mrs. Farrington died at Cape Eliza- beth, February 28, 1895. From a memorial to her worth and high character we copy the following words: "She was a member of the First Congregational Church of Brewer, and was well known as a tireless worker in her Master's service. She passed away full of years and good works, at the age of sixty-two years." Mr. Farrington is a sin- cere Christian, faithful to the tenets of the church in which he was reared. After remov- ing to Cape Elizabeth, Mr. and Mrs. Far- rington united with Williston Church, Port- land.
The following is a brief record of their six children : Arthur M., born September 2, 1856, resides at Washington, D.C., where he is employed in the Bureau of Animal Industry. He belongs to the B. S. D. V. S., being Chief of the United States Division. He and his wife, formerly Addie M. Powers, have three children - Helen, born December 7, 1886; Ethel, born January 21, 1890; and Gladys, born September 13, 1892. Sarah P. (deceased), born November 18, 1858, married George P. Merrill, by whom she had four chil- dren - Joseph F., born November 3, 1884; Annie M., born February 7, 1888; Mildred, born November 7, 1889; and Ruth, born Au- gust 1, 1891. Edward H., born December 20, 1860, is Chief of the Dairy School at the University of Wisconsin in the city of Madi- son. He married January 2, 1890, Maud Howard Wyckoff, who died Marchi 26, 1896. Oliver Cummings Farrington, born October 9, 1864, is Curator of the Department of Geology in the Field Columbian Museum at
Chicago. Horace Parker, born May 26, 1867, is living in Madison, Wis., where, at the State University, he is taking a course in dairying. Wallace R., born May 3, 1871, is editor of the Daily Commercial Advertiser, at Honolulu, Hawaii.
ORENZO L. SHAW, promoter and sole proprietor of one of Yarmouth's leading industries and an ex-mem- ber of the Maine legislature, was born in Holderness, N. H., November 8, 1828, son of Asa and Diedama (York) Shaw. Mr.
Shaw's paternal grandfather was an carly settler in Holderness; and Asa Shaw was a native of that town and resided there for some time, but later moved to the town of Campton, where the major part of his active life was passed.
An able and useful citizen, as well as an industrious and successful farmer, Asa Shaw became a representative man of his locality. He was liberal in his religious views, and in politics he was a Jackson Democrat. He died in 1863. His wife, Diedama York, who was born in Holderness, became the mother of nine children, six of whom are living, namely : Daniel A. ; Lorenzo L., the subject of this sketch; Charlotte, who became Mrs. Leavitt ; Elias H. ; William H. ; and Aurelia A., who became Mrs. Watson. The other thrce chil- dren, now departed, were: Alanson; Simeon W. ; and Harriet J., who became Mrs. Smith. Mrs. Asa Shaw lived to reach the age of eighty-seven years and twenty days.
Lorenzo L. Shaw was educated in the com- mon schools of his native town; and at the age of sixteen he went to Lowell, Mass., where he secured a position as bobbin-boy in the Massachusetts Company's cotton-mill. He remained in their employ for ten years, during which time lie rose to the position of overseer ; and while there he became familiar with the business which he has since followed with such gratifying results. After leaving the employ of the Massachusetts Company in Lowell, he went to Lewiston, Me., as overseer and super- intendent of the Bates Manufacturing Com- pany ; and from there he went to Hallowell, Me., where he took charge of a manufacturing business which had been greatly run down, and succeeded in placing it in a flourishing condition. In 1871 he came to Yarmouth, where he, in company with Barnabas Freeman, engaged in business, taking hold of a small mill, which they soon placed upon a paying basis. Under able management business in- creased rapidly ; and the products, which in- clude cotton yarns, twines, seamless bags, and a variety of warp yarns, soon found a ready market. In 1889 Mr. Freeman retired from the firm, leaving Mr. Shaw sole proprietor ; and he has since continucd the enterprise alone. The factory is located upon the best
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water-power in town, and is well equipped with improved machinery. About fifty hands are employed, the mill running steadily the year round with the exception of a short in- terval in which to make repairs; and the pro- duction amounts to an average of four hundred thousand pounds annually.
In August, 1848, Mr. Shaw was united in marriage with Susan M. Burnham, of Deer- field, N. H. She died in September, 1880, aged fifty-two years. Mr. Shaw has one daughter living ; namely, Nellie F., who mar- ried Charles B. Corliss, and resides in Dor- chester, Mass.
In politics Mr. Shaw is a Republican, and his business ability has been of valuable ser- vice to that party. He was elected a Repre- sentative to the legislature for the sessions of 1883 and 1885, and while a member of that body he displayed an earnest desire for the furtherance of good government and the main- tenance of a progressive administration of public affairs. He was prominent in securing the electric light system for Yarmouth, being at the present time President of the company ; and he is also serving upon the Committee of Public Improvement. He is an able, enter- prising, and successful business man; and the industry which he has been the prime mover in developing is a great benefit to the town. He is a Unitarian in his religious views, and is prominent in the Masonic Orders, in which he has advanced to the thirty-second degree. He is also connected with the Knights of Pythias of Yarmouth. He occupies a pleasant residence on Main Street, which is located but a short distance from the water front, overlook- ing Casco Bay.
The foregoing sketch, which is accompanied by a very good likeness of Mr. Shaw, shows the happy results of choosing one's line of work early and concentrating one's efforts in continually pushing forward on that line. "Men," it has been said, "may be divided into two classes - those who have a 'one thing' and those who have no 'one thing' to do, those with aim and those without aim in their lives; and practically it turns out that almost all of the success, and therefore the greater part of the happiness, goes to the first class. "
OHN M. ADAMS, the able editor of the Eastern Argus and the Nestor of modern journalism, was born in Rum- ford, Me., September 22, 1819. Be- reft of a father's care in his youth, he was compelled while yet in tender years to largely look out for himself, receiving from a widowed mother, who was left with five children to care for, only such aid, support, and instruction as she with her many other cares and responsi- bilities was able to give him. Faithful in his filial love, he devoted the first five years after his father's death to assisting in the work of the farm.
When he was about fifteen years of age, he received from a relative who was a student at Bowdoin College such instruction as the young man was able to give outside of his col- lege studies. This proved exceedingly val- uable. It created a thirst for learning which he and his mother resolved to have gratified. In the autumn he attended school at Turner, the next summer was a student at Bridgton Academy, and the following autumn at Bethel, in which town he taught school the next winter.
In 1838 the troubles over the north-castern boundary question were becoming serious, and young Adams in a spirit of adventure and a desire to see the new country volunteered as a soldier in the Aroostook War, being an Or- derly Sergeant. The disputes were soon settled through the intervention of General Winfield Scott; and the soldiers were dis- charged after a month's service, never having gone further than Augusta on their way to the scene of strife. His kinsman and former in- structor, having gone to Maryland, wrote John that there was an opening for a teacher in an academy near where he was residing; and the young man, then only nineteen years of age, resolved to accept the offer. The facilities for travel were few. He was two days in journeying from Rumford to Portland and six days in reaching Maryland. There he found a fine opportunity. He taught two years most successfully, receiving the princely sum of four hundred dollars a year, with board at one dollar per week in one of the wealthiest fam- ilies of the place. His time outside of the school-room was spent in study in preparation for higher service.
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In December he was called home by the death of a brother; and, though strongly urged to return to Maryland, he concluded not to do so, having abandoned the idea of going to col- lege, mainly because two years were required to be devoted to the study of Greek, which he considered unprofitable. He took a two years' course at Gorham Seminary. Desiring to acquire the French language, he studied for about ten months at a college at St. Hyacinthe, Canada. The President of the college secured him board in the famous Papineau family, who were wealthy and cultured people. This ad- mitted him to the best society, in which French was spoken in its purity; and he soon became able to speak like a Parisian. Return- ing to Maine, he began in the spring of 1844 to study law in the office of Fessenden & De- Blois. He also taught a class in French at Packard's School, the principal of which was a brother to Professor Packard, of Bowdoin.
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