Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 75

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

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in 1890, and attended the patients of a friend for two years. Then, in November, 1892, he settled in Portland, where he has since resided. Dr. Fessenden took a course at the Post-grad- uate School of New York City in 1889, and in 1895 he took a post-graduate course in the Polyclinic School of that city. Dr. Fessenden married Miss Mary Pengra, a daughter of Mar- shall H. Pengra, of Sylvester, Green County, Wis., and has one daughter, Mary, who is still at home. He casts his vote with the Re- publican party, but is not otherwise actively interested in political matters. During his residence in Kansas he was a member of the Republican Medical Association of that State and of the Knights of Pythias at Logan, Kan. The Portland fraternal orders with which he is affiliated are: Bosworth Post, Grand Army of the Republic, in which he is Surgeon; the Ancient Landmark Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; and Greenleaf Chapter, Royal Arch Masons.

ON. MAHLON H. WEBB, ex-Mayor of Westbrook, who is in business as a wholesale meat dealer, was born in Windham, Me., April 13, 1842, son of John and Lucy Ann (Hasty) Webb. His grandfather, Stephen Webb, also a native of Maine, born April 10, 1792, lived for some years in Scarboro, on a farm which his father bought of a Mr. Knight, and spent his last years in Windham, where he died May 13, 1868. He was a stanch Whig in politics, while in religious belief he was a Universalist. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Padden, died July 13, 1889. They reared one son and two daughters, namely: John, the father of Mahlon H. Webb; Betsey, the widow of Mark H. Stevens, and now residing in Saco, Me .; and Hannahette, who died August 2, 1840, at the age of sixteen.

John Webb was born in Scarboro, Me., No- vember 29, 1818. During the greater part of his life he has been engaged in farming in Windham, and for several years past he has been employed in butchering and selling meat at wholesale. Politically, he is a stanch Democrat, while he is no aspirant for public office. He is well known and respected in Windham, of which he may be described as a

representative citizen. His wife, Lucy Ann, a native of Standish, Me., was born March II, 1822, daughter of Daniel and Susanna Hasty. Mr. and Mrs. Webb are members of the Uni- versalist church. They had three children, namely : Parris O., a police officer in Portland, Me. ; Mary P., the wife of Edward E. Elder, of Lynn, Mass. ; and Mahlon H., the subject of this sketch. The mother died April 16, 1886.

The Hon. Mahlon H. Webb received such an education as the schools of Windham could impart in two terms, every winter, of ten or twelve weeks each, before he was sixteen years old. On leaving school he entered the employ of J. Winslow Jones, of Westbrook, Me., with whom he remained three years canning corn. He then bought a milk route extending as far as Portland, which he conducted about four years. Returning to his former employment after that, he remained with Mr. Jones about four years more. In 1875 he engaged in the wholesale meat business, which he has pros- perously followed for the past twenty years or more. He supplies the stores of Westbrook and Deering, and has established a reputation for first-class goods and honorable dealing.

On March 7, 1865, Mr Webb was married to Miss Hattie E. Boody, daughter of Nathan W. Boody, of Westbrook, Me. The union was blessed by two children - Lillian M. and Eva A. Both graduated from the Gorham Normal School, and subsequently taught school for several years in Westbrook. Lillian mar- ried D. C. Dennett, M. D., of Portland, Me., and died July 5, 1894. Eva married L. C. Hazelton, of Westbrook, and resides in Millis, Mass.

Mr. Webb, who is a Democrat in politics, is very popular alike with his own party and with the Republicans. He was Selectman of the town of Westbrook from 1886 to 1890, and was elected Alderman in 1890, serving effi- ciently as a member of the first city govern- ment. In 1891 he was elected Mayor of West- brook on the Democratic ticket, running ahead of his ticket ; and his administration met with general approval. He is a member of Temple Lodge, No. 86, A. F. & A. M., of Westbrook ; of Saccarappa Lodge, No. 11, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of that city; and Cum-

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mings Encampment, No. 16. Among relig- ious creeds he has made no choice, while he attends the Friends' meetings in Deering, Me.

RTHUR S. MEGQUIER, who for a number of years, as senior member of the firm of Megquier & Jones, iron and brass manufacturers, was a prom- inent factor in the mercantile life of Portland, was born in Winthrop, Me., April 19, 1840. He was the son of Dr. Thomas P. and Jane (Cole) Megquier, and was of Scotch descent. Thomas P. Megquier was a practising physi- cian in Winthrop, Me., where he opened an office as soon as qualified, and worked in behalf of suffering humanity up to the time of his death. His wife, who is still living, is the mother of four children, one of whom died in childhood. The others were : Angie L. (now Mrs. C. S. Gilson) ; John O. ; and Arthur S., late of Portland.

Arthur S. Megquier in his early years re- ceived a good education, completing his course of study at Little Blue Academy, Farming- ton, Me. He first worked as clerk for his brother-in-law, Charles Gilson, proprietor of a livery stable in Portland, and was next em- ployed as clerk in a grocery store at Lancaster, N. H. Some years later he went to St. Louis, Mo., and while there enlisted as a member of the body guard of General John C. Fremont, remaining two years. Receiving his dis- charge, he returned to Portland and shipped before the mast on a sailing-vessel bound for New Orleans, and from the latter city jour- neyed to New York, where he took the first situation that offered. This proved to be in the produce business in the employ of a Mr. Morrison, with whom he remained about a year. He then entered the employ of W. W. & J. B. Cornell, manufacturers of iron archi- tectural work, such as stairways, beams, and frames for iron buildings.

Mr. Megquier remained with this firm ten or fifteen years in the capacity of head clerk ; and in 1880 he ventured in this line of busi- ness himself, as a partner in the firm of Lind- say, Graff & Megquier at 106 East 14th Street, New York City. Five years later he sold his interest, and, in company with Henry M.

Jones, bought the plant of C. A. Donnell, brass manufacturer, located at that time on the corner of Force and Pearl Streets, Portland.

As this building hardly met the demands of their growing business, they erected two or three years later the building now occupied by the concern; and there Mr. Megquier was to be found during the greater part of the time until his death, which occurred November 29, 1891. Prosperous in his business undertak - ings, he was yet modest and retiring in dis- position and not an aspirant for public honors of any kind. He was gifted with musical talent, and had a fine tenor voice, which for nineteen years he devoted to the uses of divine worship, singing in St. Mark's Church, Brook- lyn, N. Y., several years, in Dr. Porter's Re- formed Church, and in All Souls' (Universal- ist) Church.

On September 9, 1868, Mr. Megquier was united in marriage with Adelaide Hall, daugh- ter of Willard and Sarah (Sampson) Hall, and grand-daughter of Captain Daniel Sampson, who was for many years in the United States revenue service. Three children were born to them - Edith, Cornelia, and one who died in childhood. Mrs. Megquier and her daugh- ters are members of the Universalist church in Portland. They have a pretty home at 84 Carleton Street.

EWIS

P. KNIGHT, a prosperous farmer and lumber manufacturer of Naples, Cumberland County, Me., was born in this town, April 20, 1852, a son of Major W. and Caroline Jackson

Knight. He represents the third generation of his family in the State of Maine, his grand- father, Nathaniel Knight, settling in the town of Windham at an early date. Major W. Knight, father of Lewis P., was born in Windham in 1812. He was engaged during the active part of his life in farming and lum- bering. In 1815, when a child of three years, he accompanied his relatives to Naples, where he subsequently purchased a farm, dying thereon after a long and active life, in 1890. In politics he was a Democrat and in religious belief a Universalist. He was twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was Lydia

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Bean, was a native of Otisfield. She died in 1844, leaving three children - Sarah J., Na- thaniel, and Lydia. Mr. Knight subsequently married Caroline Jackson, a daughter of Will- iam Jackson, of Naples. Her father, who was a tanner by trade, died in 1850. He and his wife reared eight children; namely, Sarah, Lorenzo, Andrew, Greenlief, Major, Caroline, Martha, and Hannah. By his second marriage Mr. Knight had three children - Clinton, who died in infancy; Charlic F., who lived but fourteen years; and Lewis P., the subject of this sketch.

Lewis P. Knight was reared on a farm and received a common-school cducation. Taking up the industries with which he was most familiar -farming and lumbering - he re- maincd on the homestead till 1885, when he moved to his present fine estatc, which covers one hundred and sixty acres, a large part of which is devoted to raising general farm prod- uce. Mr. Knight owns other land in the vi- cinity, his total real estate amounting to two thousand acres. He conducts a fine stcam saw-mill, which has a large output of lumber. An enterprising and tircless worker, Mr. Knight has been very successful in his under- takings, and is one of the leading men of this town.

Mr. Knight was married in 1875 to Miss Ada G. Walker, who was born in Naples, a daughter of Hiram and Henrietta Walker. He and his wife have two children -Charlie C. and Electra H.

Mr. Knight's political affiliations are with the Republican party. He is prominent in local affairs, and is at present a member of the Board of Selectmen of Naples. He is con- nected with the Masonic Order, being member of Oriental Lodge of Bridgton. In religious belief he and his wife are Congre- gationalists.

HARLES W. T. GODING, a grocery and provision merchant at 40 St. Law- rence Street, Portland, and General Manager of the Casco Bay Stcam- boat Company, was born in Portland, May 29, 1855, son of Stillman N. and Amanda H. (Childs) Goding. His father, who was a son

of Jonathan Goding, was engaged in the grocery and provision trade in Portland for many years, and conducted a prosperous business. He continued active up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1878. His wife, Amanda, who still survives, was a daughter of Henry H. and Hannah Childs, of Canton, Me. Her mother, who is still living at the vener- able age of ninety-six years, resides in Canton. Mrs. Goding became the mother of four chil- dren - Mary E., Coridon O., Davis E., and Charles W. T.

Charles W. T. Goding received his educa tion in the common and high schools of Port- land. After completing his studies, he be- came a clerk in his father's store, remaining in that capacity for some years, and finally purchasing the business, which he has since conducted with success. In 1883 he became a stockholder and Director of the Forest City Steamboat Company ; and, when that enterprise was consolidated with the Star Steamboat Company in 1889, he was appointed General Manager of the line, a position which he has since occupied. This company runs a line of steamers among the islands of Portland Har- bor. It owns and controls the rink, the pa- vilions, and other places of amusement on Peak's Island; and during the summer season its boats are crowded with pleasure-seekers, both day and evening. Mr. Goding devotes much of his time and energy to the enterprise, taking great pains to insure the comfort and safety of its patrons; and his untiring efforts in this direction are appreciated by the public. His management of the line is producing the most gratifying results to the stockholders, and he is regarded by them as "the right man in the right place." He is also a member and one of the managers of the Board of Trade, and a Director of both the Casco and Portland Loan Associations. In politics he is a Re- publican.

Mr. Goding married Fanny F. Gardner, daughter of Henry and Etta M. (Page) Gard- ner, and has two children living - Blanche Willard, aged five years; and Charles W. T., Jr., whose first birthday occurred on July 4 of the present year. Mr. and Mrs. Goding attend the Universalist church, and reside at 50 St. Lawrence Street.

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UMNER C. BOLTON, a prosper- ous merchant tailor and respected citizen of Gorham, was born in Portland, this State, November 15, 1828, a son of Thomas and Martha (Noble)

Bolton. He is of English ancestry, being descended from one of two brothers who came to this country from England during the last century, and settled at White Rock in the town of Gorham, Cumberland County.

Thomas Bolton, who was born in White Rock, lost his father when he was but a child of four years. In early manhood he learned the trade of an edge-tool maker, and subse- quently removed to Portland, where he was engaged in that line of business for many years. He was a member of the State militia, in which he attained the rank of Captain, and saw active service during the War of 1812-14. He escaped the British bullets, and died many years after the war at his home in Portland. His wife's father also served in the war, and was a man of such remarkable longevity and physical vigor that it is said that, when he was one hundred years old, he came on horse- back from his home to Portland, a distance of thirty miles, to get his pension. Eleven chil- dren were born to Thomas Bolton and his wife, seven of whom reached maturity, and three are now living - Elbridge G., Charles, and Sumner C.

Sumner C. Bolton, after attending the pub- lic schools of his native city, learned the trade of a tailor, and worked for different firms in Saco, Portland, and Windham. In 1862 he enlisted in Company F of the Twenty-fifth Maine Regiment, which was stationed at Ar- lington Heights as a guard to the long bridge, and subsequently at Chantilly, W. Va. The following year Mr. Bolton returned home, and shortly after entered the employ of Ed- ward Hasty, of West Gorham, being taken into partnership a year later, when the firm name was changed to Hasty & Bolton. This company afterward, owing to another change, became known as Eastman & Bolton. Nine months later Mr. Bolton came to Gorham, and established his present business, in which he has been highly prospered, and is now one of the oldest and most successful business men of the town. He has been twice married, first

to Miss Lauriette Lane, by whom he had two sons - Frank O. and Joseph L. ; and second to Miss Lottie Shorey, a daughter of Frank Shorey, of Albion, Me., whom he married in 1891. By his present wife he has one child, Philip Sumner.

In political affiliation Mr. Bolton is a Re- publican. Fraternally, he is connected with Saccarappa Lodge, No. 11, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Saccarappa; Dirigo Lodge, No. 21, Knights of Pythias, of Gorham; and Warren Post, No. 73, Grand Army of the Re- public, of Standish, Me. Religiously, he is a member of the Congregational church.

APTAIN JOHN D. CLEAVES, a retired mariner of Yarmouth, Me., who is now a prosperous farmer and real estate owner of this town, was born in Rockport, Mass., May 5, 1843, son of John and Ann (Hill) Cleaves. His ancestors came to the sea-coast from Bridgton, Me. ; and the family is distantly related to the pres- ent governor of the State, Henry B. Cleaves.

Captain Cleaves's paternal grandfather, Ebenezer Cleaves, was one of the early set- tlers of Cousins Island, where he owned a good farm, which he cultivated with success . during his active period. He lived to reach a good old age. He was a Whig in politics. He and his wife reared a family of eleven chil- dren, all of whom grew to maturity. They were named as follows: John, Ebenezer, Levi, Ann, Willard, Moses, Rebecca, Almira, Sarah, Charlotte, and Aaron. The grand- mother lived to attain the advanced age of ninety-four years. She was a Methodist in her religious views.

John Cleaves, son of Ebenezer, was born in North Yarmouth, May 27, 1799. At an early age he engaged in coasting, a business which he followed until 1844, when he bought the farm where his son now resides. The prop- erty, which is known as the Reddick Prince farm, is one of the oldest estates in this part of the town. Prince's Point was named for the original owner. John Cleaves carried on general farming industriously and with good results for many years, residing there until his death, which took place February 24,

JOHN D. CLEAVES.

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1880. He was a well-known and prominent citizen, public-spirited and benevolent. He was one of the founders of the Methodist Epis- copal church at Rockport, Mass., giving the land for the edifice, and contributing liberally in money toward its erection; but, after mov- ing to Yarmouth, he joined the Congregation- alists, and supported that church with equal liberality. In politics he was a Republican. His wife, Ann Hill, who was born on Cousins Island, February 3, 1800, became the mother of eight children, four of whom dicd in in- fancy. Those that grew to maturity were: Jane, Eunice, Delia, and John D., the sub- ject of this sketch, who is the youngest and the only one now living. Mrs. Ann H. Cleaves died June 19, 1879.

John D. Cleaves began his cducation in the district schools of Yarmouth, and advanced in his studies by attending the North Yarmouth Academy, after which he taught one term of school on Cousins Island. His sea life prac- tically commenced when he was twelve years old, at which time he began to make short coasting voyages. In the spring of 1862 he took command of the schooner "Delaware"; and he continued to follow the sea as a master mariner until 1885, making a few voyages to the West Indies, but being principally en- gaged in carrying freights along the coast. Since his retirement from the sea he has de- voted his encrgies to conducting his farm, which consists of eighty-five acres of well-im- proved land; and he has also been interested in the development of his locality as a summer resort. He owns Prince's Point, which has become very popular among tourists as an agreeable and healthful place to spend the heated term, being now reached by a regular steamboat service, furnished with telephone connection. He accommodates boarders at his residence; and seventeen cottages have been built at the Point during the last few years, which provide pleasant summer homes for many regular visitors.

On February 8, 1873, Captain Cleaves was united in marriage with Fanny O. Hicks, who was born in North Yarmouth, November 10, 1850, daughter of Elbridge D. and Mary (Johnson) Hicks. Her family is an old and prominent one in that locality, her grand-

father, William Hicks, having been an early settler in North Yarmouth. Elbridge D. Hicks was born therc, May 5, 1817. He bc- came a prosperous farmer; and he died Sep- tember 26, 1874. He was originally a Re- publican in politics, but later supported the Democratic party; and he was liberal in his religious views. His wife, Mary Johnson, who was born in Gray, Me., December 18, 1816, and now resides in North Yarmouth, rearcd four children ; namely, Elbridge, Fanny O., Eugene, and James W.

Three children were born to Captain and Mrs. Cleaves, all of whom died young, namcly : Lena Stanwood, at the age of eight months; Mary Hicks, not quite twelve months; and Alice Burbank, who lived to reach the age of nearly seven years.

Captain Cleaves is highly csteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, both in Yarmouth and elsewhere, and is very popu- lar socially, being connected with Maine Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Portland. He is a Republican in politics, and both he and his wife are members of the Congregational church. His residence is a landmark in Yarmouth, having been built in 1797; and it is one of the oldest houses in the town.

HOMAS P. R. CARTLAND, sole pro- prietor of the establishment at 105 Middle Street, Portland, bearing the sign " Jones & Cartland, Shoc Manufacturers," was born in Brunswick, Me., December 29, 1854. He is a son of Isaiah and Eunice H. (Rich) Cartland, and a grandson of Charles Cartland, of Limington, Me. His father, Isaiah Cartland, was a well-known merchant in Portland, where he died in January, 1895. His wife, who was the daughter of Stephen Rich, is still living. They were the parents of two children - Mary R., who married William Graham, of Portland; and Thomas P. R., our subject.

Thomas P. R. Cartland attended the public schools of Portland, supplementing his ele- mentary studies with a three years' course at the Friends' Boarding School at Providence, R.I. He first went to work for G. C. Tyler

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& Co., wholesale shoe merchants, and in their employ became familiar with the line of trade which he has since followed. In 1877 he formed a partnership with Mr. A. T. Davis; and they opened a retail shoe store under the Falmouth Hotel, under the name of Davis & Cartland, doing a very successful business until 1887. In that year Mr. Cartland estab- lished his present manufactory, being at first associated with Mr. C. R. Jones. He manu- factures a medium grade of ladies' button boots for the wholesale trade, and has an ex- tensive business, employing a large number of hands, and occupying a building about fifty- five by one hundred and forty feet in di- mension and four stories in height. His goods are sold from his Boston office; and their sales reach from Maine to California and New Orleans, the business steadily ad- vancing each year.

Mr. Cartland was married in 1883 to Minnie, daughter of William H. and Julia (Wyman) Milliken; and two children have blessed their union - M. Gertrude and Ruth T.

In politics Mr. Cartland is a Republican. He is a member of Ancient Landmark Lodge, No. 17, A. F. & A. M., Greenleaf Chapter, and Portland Commandery, No. 2; and be- longs also to the Portland Athletic Club and the Bramhall League. He and his wife are members of the State Street Congregational Church. They have a very fine residence at 255 Western Promenade, Portland. Though not actively interested in politics and taking no part in municipal affairs, Mr. Cartland is well known to the public as a business man and as a member of the various prominent social organizations, being numbered among the most esteemed residents of the city.

J OHN BRADFORD, long a representa- tive citizen of Portland, having been engaged in business on one street of this city for sixty-four years, was born in Portland, July 10, 1810, son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Corbett) Bradford, of Plym- outh, Mass. He is a direct descendant of the Colonial governor, William Bradford, one of the "Mayflower " pilgrims, who became so

prominent in the history of the Plymouth colony. Nathaniel Bradford, who was a spar- maker in Duxbury, Mass., came to Portland in early manhood, and here worked at his trade for many years.

John Bradford, after making the best of his opportunities for obtaining an education, en- gaged in spar-making with his father, and con- tinued it with an elder brother after his father's death. He was but nineteen years of age, when, his brother having gone to sea, the entire responsibility of the business devolved on him. He then took charge of the estab- lishment on Commercial Street, at the foot of Cross Street, which still bears his name. By close industry and well-directed effort he built up the largest spar-making business in the city. Giving employment to fifteen men, he furnished spars for most of the new boats built in Portland, and also for many of those that came into the port for repairs. In business from 1829 to 1893, when he retired, Mr. Brad- ford rounded out a prosperous business life of sixty-four years, thereby making a noteworthy record. He was the owner of a considerable amount of real estate in Portland. Careful to avoid debt, he commanded the respect of all with whom he had dealings. His punctual habits and stern integrity were the chief agencies that built up his enviable business reputation. He died January 24, 1896.

Mr. Bradford was twice married. By his first wife, whose maiden name was Jane Knight, he had two children, namely: John, who now has charge of his father's business; and Elizabeth, who died in childhood. His second wife was Mary A. (Harris) Bradford, a native of Portland, born in March, 1822, and a daughter of Stephen and Mary (Knight) Harris. Her father was from Boston, Mass., his wife being a member of the old and prom- inent Knight family of Portland. By this wife he had one daughter, Lizzie M., who is the wife of Herbert S. Dyer, of Portland.

Mr. Bradford was a member of the City Council four years and of the Board of Over- seers fourteen years, serving four years as Chairman of the last-named body. He was at one time connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but during the latter years of his life did not attend the meetings of

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 75

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