Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 87

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

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fell, he escaped unhurt, receiving an honorable discharge at Augusta, May 31, 1865. Return- ing to his farm in Sebago, he again took up the peaceful pursuit of agriculture, and is yet ac- tively at work, his estate and buildings bear- ing the unmistakable impress of careful and progressive management. His property covers one hundred and seventy acres, and is one of the most valuable homesteads in the town- ship.

Mr. Usher was married in 1852 to Miss Harriet Bailey, of Standish, Me. ; and seven children have blessed their union. These are: Lydia J., Luther, Ellis B., Elma, Frank B., Hattie, and, Caroline. Politically, Mr. Usher favors the Republican party. He has long been a member of the Methodist church, and Mrs. Usher also favors Wesleyan service. They are well and favorably known in Sebago, holding the respect and esteem of their neighbors.

DMUND B. MALLET, an enterprising business man of Freeport, was born September 3, 1853, on board the ship "Devonshire," in the English Channel, son of Captain Edmund B. and Sarah E. (Thornton) Mallet. Captain Mallet, who was a native of Warren, Me., born December 9, 1823, when old enough shipped as a sailor. As he became more skilful in this calling he was advanced from rank to rank until made master of a ship, in which capacity he continued to fol- low the sea for many years afterward. He commanded some of the stanchest and finest craft that sailed the ocean, circumnavigated the globe several times, and visited the princi- pal seaports of the world. In 1883 he gave up seafaring and retired to his home in West Bath, this State, where he subsequently re- sided until his demise, November 9, 1894. He was much esteemed by his fellow-towns- men, whom he served for seven years as Chair- man of the Board of Selectmen, having been elected on the Republican ticket. Relig- iously, he was a man of broad and progressive views, being a firm Universalist. His wife, who was born in Pawtuxet, R. I., November 29, 1833, still occupies the homestead in West Bath. Their children were: Mrs. Marion H.

Higgins, who lives on the home farm; Ed- mund B., Jr., the subject of this sketch; and Alfred K., a resident of Wheatland, Cal.

Edmund B. Mallet lived in Rhode Island till fourteen years of age. There were laid the fundamentals of his education, which was sub- sequently continued in the schools of West Bath and Bath, until he graduated from the North Grammar School of the latter place. After leaving school his first occupation was in connection with railroading. He then en- gaged in a mercantile business in New Jersey. Owing to ill health he was forced to abandon this pursuit and seek for outdoor work. Remov- ing to Maine, he purchased a farm in Pownal, where he carried on general farming for eight years. In 1884 he came to Freeport, which has since been his home. Here he entered at once into a building and real estate busi- ness, investing a portion of the fortune he had inherited from an uncle. In that year he opened the famous granite quarries, which now give employment to many men. His purpose : was to obtain stone for the foundations of the shoe factory, grist and saw mill, and the large brick store, all of which he built in 1885. In the store he has since conducted an extensive trade, the dry-goods department being under the management of E. S. Soule, while the other department is controlled by Mr. Brews- ter. In 1891 Mr. Mallet built for the town a fine system of water-works, besides sixteen dwelling-houses, which are now occupied by his employees. Upon opening the quarry, the granite was found to be of such a superior quality that it was at once decided to work it. The stone occupies thirty-five acres, and is one of the finest granites to be found in any State. Besides the ordinary uses, it is admi- rably adapted for ornamental work. It is made into statues, monuments, plinths, sarcophagi, etc., with fine effect. In these forms it may now be found in many of the cemeteries of this and neighboring States, and even in States as remote as Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Orders for it come every day from different parts of the Union. On the ground is a fac- tory where the stone is worked and polished by skilled workmen. Besides a fine office the building also contains a room for marble work, where a good stock of fine American and

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foreign marbles are kept on hand. Orders left at the office for any kind of stone work are promptly attended to.

Another of Mr. Mallet's enterprises is the transformation of Wolf's Neck, on which he owns seven hundred acres of land, into a sum- mer resort that shall combine the conveniences of city life with the pleasures of rural life. Its situation for such a resort is unsurpassed, being rich in sloping woodlands, winding walks, and picturesque ocean scenery. In the deepening and extension of the channel, by which water communication has been brought within a mile of Freeport, the government has already expended thirty-one thousand dollars. No question but ere many years the place will become the summer home of thousands of people.

On March 29, 1877, Mr. Mallet was united in marriage with Miss Clara H. Higgins, a native of Bath. They have four sons; namely, Edmund Thornton, Charles B., Thomas F., and Roger. In religious matters, as in others, Mr. Mallet has broad and intelligent views, being in sympathy with the higher and newer thought of the times; while in politics he is a sound Republican. For two years he served his fellow-townsmen as Town Treasurer, and three years was Chairman of the Board of Se- lectmen. In 1885, 1887, and 1889 he rep- resented the town of Freeport in the lower chamber of the State legislature, and in 1891 and 1893 was State Senator for Cumberland County. He served his party as a delegate to the National Conventions held in Chicago in 1888 and at Minneapolis in 1892. Mr. Mal- let has affiliation with the Knights of Pythias of Freeport. He is also Past Grand Junior Warden of the Grand Masonic Lodge of Maine, and has membership in Freeport Lodge, No. 23; Cumberland Chapter, No. 35, Royal Arch Masons; Portland Council, Royal and Select Masters; Portland Commandery, No. 2, Knights Templars; the Scottish Rite body; the Lodge of Perfection ; the Council of Princes of Jerusalem; the Chapter of Rose Croix; the Maine Consistory, of which he is Past Com- mander-in-chief ; the Supreme Council, which has jurisdiction over orders of this rite, he being a thirty-second degree Mason, belonging to the Royal Order of Scotland.

ALVIN P. GREENLEAF, a substan- tial citizen of Otisfield, where he has resided all his life, was born Octo- ber 17, 1858, son of Samuel K. and Eliza S. (Davis) Greenleaf. He is a de- scendant of one of the pioneers of this town. His paternal grandfather, William Greenleaf, born in Medford, Mass., March 13, 1788, came to Otisfield when eight years of age, being bound out to a resident of the town. In his early manhood William purchased a farm near Spurr's Corners, being one of the first to settle in that locality. After clearing his land, he engaged in farming thereon until his death, July 28, 1862. His wife was born April 24, 1784, and died March 21, 1869. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Joseph H., who died June 17, 1886; Sallie, born March 4, 1812, who was the wife and widow of Edmund Millett, and died De- cember, 1895, in Minot, Me .; Joanna, who died in 1893; Elizabeth K., deceased; Sam - uel K., the father of Calvin P. ; Martha C., born June 10, 1821, who is the widow of John Hill, and now resides in North Bridgton, Me. ; and Polly H., deceased.

Samuel K. Greenleaf, after his marriage, settled on the old homestead at Spurr's Cor- ners in March, 1866. He carried on general farming with profit, and also for a number of years conducted a saw-mill. His death occurred here on September 4, 1878. On November 17, 1844, Mr. Greenleaf was joined in marriage with Miss Eliza S. Davis, a daughter of Zebulon Davis, of Minot. Mr. Davis followed farming all his lifetime in Minot, and died in that place at the age of fifty-seven years. Samuel K. Greenleaf and his wife had ten children, respectively named : Zebulon D., born September 16, 1845, who died July 21, 1864, from an injury received in the Civil War; Marietta, born March 16, 1847, who died in October, 1882; Martha Virginia, born October 27, 1848, who died May 4, 1872; Sarah Elizabeth, born June 13, 1850, who died February 22, 1853; William M., born May 2, 1852, who married Miss Mary Pulsifer, and lives in Auburn, Me. ; Charles Edward, born February 28, 1854, a successful contractor of Auburn, Me., who married Miss Augusta E. Dinsmore; Elbridge

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M., born September 19, 1856, also a resident of Auburn, who married Miss Ellen F. Far- row; Calvin P., the subject of this sketch ; Carrie Ellen, born March 25, 1861, who is the wife of Robert H. Union, a shoe manufacturer of Salem, Mass. ; and Augusta Spurr, born February 9, 1864, who married Harry L. Has- kell, a prominent citizen of Auburn. All the children received such educational advantages as the best schools of the county afforded. Their mother is still living, and resides with her son, Calvin P. Greenleaf.

Calvin P. Greenleaf remained at home with his parents until his marriage, devoting his early years to the acquirement of a good prac- tical education. He now owns about one hun- dred acres of land in the old homestead, the tillable portion of which he utilizes for the production of staple New England products and a moderate quantity of fruit. He also raises some live stock. On August 1, 1883, Mr. Greenleaf was married to Miss Hattie Belle Holden. She was born in Norway, Me., April 22, 1862, daughter of David R. Holden, who resided in that place until his death. Henry P., one of the five children of Mr. and Mrs. Greenleaf, born February 2, 1885, was killed by lightning June 23, 1891. The others are: Ernest L., born November 25, 1887; Francis H., born January 7, 1889; William H., born May 27, 1892; and Hartley Prentiss, born August 30, 1893. In politics Mr. Greenleaf is a Republican, and has always been a faithful adherent of that party, while never an aspirant for official. position. He is a member of the Grange Society. His mother is a communicant of the Congregational church ; and he and his wife are members of the Baptist church, in which he holds the office of Deacon.

ELVILLE CLARENDON HUTCHINSON, a prosperous plumber of Portland, was born in Buckfield, Oxford County, Sep- tember 24, 1852. He is a son of Charles W.

and Diantha (Record) Hutchinson. His grandfathers were Hodgdon Hutchinson and Eben Record.

Charles W. Hutchinson is a native of Buck- field, Me., where he spent his early years on

his father's farm. Losing his parents while still young, he resided with Asa Keene for time. He subsequently removed to Pem - broke, Me., and entered the employ of the Pembroke iron works as manager, and held that position for upward of twenty years. He is now living in Cambridge, Mass., and, al- though seventy-six years of age, is still hale and hearty. He is a member of the Masonic Order. His wife, Diantha, was a daughter of Eben Record, a successful farmer of Buckfield, Me. Mr. Record's father was a patriot soldier of the Revolution, and is supposed to have been the man who worked his way through the enemy's lines and blew up the powder-house at Charlestown, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Hutch- inson were the parents of six children, as fol- lows: Washington, residing in Pennsylvania; Edwin Forest, who lives in Massachusetts ; Melville Clarendon, the subject of this sketch ; Walter Eugene, residing in St. John, N. B. ; Diantha, the wife of George Quigley, super- intendent of the St. John iron works at St. John ; and Ida Ella, now deceased. The last- named child met her death by scalding, while at play with her brother, Melville C. Hutchin- son. The mother died in the fortieth year of her age.

Melville Clarendon Hutchinson acquired his education in the common schools of Pembroke, Me. He then learned the trade of a puddler in an iron foundry. He became very expert in this work, and obtained the highest wages paid for it, which was from five to six dollars a day. When steel took the place of wrought iron, he was thus left without a trade, and was forced to begin anew. He now took up iron work, at which he was first engaged in Cohoes, N. Y., then at Cambridge, Mass., and later at Niles, Ohio. From Ohio he went to St. John, where he became a plumber. In 1878 he came to Portland, and was employed for a short time by Miller & Low. Following upon that he went to Calais, Me., and worked for the Calais Water Company in putting in their plant. He next returned to Portland again, and in 1883 engaged in business for himself. He began alone, making a workshop of the basement of his house on Cushman Street. Since then the business has grown steadily, so that now it is one of the largest of

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the kind in the city. He keeps ten men con- stantly employed, and is often obliged to hire additional help, especially during the busy season. He does a large part of the best work of the city. A first-class workman himself, his success is largely owing to the fact that he gives close personal attention to the orders undertaken. His shop is now located at 181 12 Brackett Street.

Hle married Miss Abby Sherman, of Pem- broke, Me., a daughter of Winslow Sherman. Her father was born in Montville, Me., and received his education in Pembroke, where he was afterward engaged for many years as a teacher. Prior to the Civil War he acted as a Postmaster. About 1875 he settled in Port- land, and the remainder of his life was spent there in the employ of the United States court. In his political relations he was a Democrat. He married Miss Helen Town- send, and their union was blessed by the birth of six children; namely, Horace, Abby, Lewis, Howard, George, and John. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson had four children; namely, Agnes, Anna, Helen, and Melville Winslow. Agnes is now the wife of Howard Gordon, of Portland. Mr. Hutchinson casts his vote with the Republican party. He is a member of Harmony Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The family are active and influential members of the Williston Congregational Church, and the children are members of the Christian Endeavor Society. They reside at 170 Brackett Street.

ON. CHARLES M. WATER- HOUSE, one of the leading resi- dents of the city of Westbrook, in business as a merchant tailor, was born in Gorham, Me., August 19, 1849, son of Captain Samuel S. and Ann (Bolton) Waterhouse. He is a great-grandson of Joseph Waterhouse, a farmer who spent the latter part of his life in the town of Standish, Cum- berland County, Me. He served through the Revolutionary War with his brother, George Waterhouse, who won renown as one of the most daring soldiers of the Continental army.

William Harmond Waterhouse, the son of Joseph and father of Samuel S. Waterhouse,

was born in Cumberland County (probably in Scarboro), and was reared to farm life. The greater part of his mature manhood was spent in Gorham, Me., where he died at the ad- vanced age of eighty-eight. He also was a soldier, serving in the War of 1812. He married a lady named Sarah Smith, daughter of Captain Ephraim Smith, who was a member of the Boston Tea Party. She, too, spent the greater part of her life in Gorham, and died there full of years.

Samuel S. Waterhouse was born in Stan- dish, Me., in 1811. He was quite small when his parents removed to Gorham, where he was reared and educated; and, on reaching man's estate, he engaged in farming, the leading in- dustry of the place. He affiliated with the Republican party in politics, and took an active part in the town government, serving as Se- lectman and in other official capacities. In the State militia he won the title of Captain. He died in 1887, at the age of seventy-six. His wife, Ann Bolton, was a native of Gor- ham, reared and educated in that town. She died in 1859, in the prime of useful woman- hood. Captain and Mrs. Waterhouse were consistent members of the Free Baptist church. They reared three sons and two daughters. Of these children only one - Charles Manson - the special subject of this biographical sketch, is now living.

Charles Manson Waterhouse acquired a good education in the public schools and the acad- emy of Gorham. He learned the tailor's trade in his native town, and, working assid- uously, was able to start a business of his own in 1876. His first establishment was in Little Falls, Me., where he remained four years. In 1880 he removed to Westbrook ; and here for fifteen years he has conducted an in- creasingly prosperous business, managing now one of the largest establishments of the kind in the locality. His success is attributable to his own efforts alone, and stamps him as a man of unusual ability.

Mr. Waterhouse was married in Gorham in 1872 to Miss Emma Westcott, a native of Gor- ham, daughter of Stephen and Emeline (Jor- dan) Westcott. Mr. Westcott died on his farm in Gorham in 1886. His wife is living with her daughter, Mrs. Waterhouse. April

JOHN D. HIGGINS.

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6, 1878, a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Waterhouse, whom they named Melvin How- ard. He will graduate from the Westbrook High School in June, 1896. They have no other children.

Mr. Waterhouse is a strong Republican. He has been Chairman of the local Republi- can Committee since 1888; was first Treasurer of the city of Westbrook (whose charter was adopted in 1891) ; occupied the first place in the nomination for State Senator in 1892, and, being elected, was re-elected in 1894. While in the legislature he was Chairman of the In- sane Hospital Committee, of the joint Special Committee on the Insane Hospital at Bangor, member of the Railroad Committee, the Special Committee on Taxation, and of the Committee on Bills in Second Reading. A

prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, he has filled all the chairs of Temple Lodge, No. 86, of Westbrook ; is King of Eagle Chap- ter, No. 1I, of Westbrook; and is a member of Westbrook Council, No. 15, Royal and Se- lect Masters. Mr. and Mrs. Waterhouse attend the Congregational church.

K. P. WARD, the proprietor and con- ductor of a summer boarding-house at Sebago, of which place he is also a successful farmer, was born in York County, Maine, November 25, 1829, son of George and Sarah Ward. The farm on which Mr. Ward resides is a portion of one purchased by his father in 1838, which contained three hundred acres of wild land. At that time the only indication to the casual observer that it had ever been inhabited was the presence of a logging camp. For fifteen years the home of George Ward and his family was a log cabin on this tract. After a time he erected a shingle-mill and carried on quite an extensive lumbering business, besides raising crops on his cleared land. He died there August 4, 1866, leaving a family of nine children, having been twice married.

A. K. P. Ward, who was brought up under the parental roof-tree, learned the trade of a carpenter. At the age of twenty-one he took charge of the home farm, and has since carried it on with success. He also engages in lum-

bering and works at his trade when his other duties do not hinder him. In 1880 he erected his present commodious and attractive house, and in the following year he opened it for the accommodation of summer guests. It is ca- pable of accommodating thirty-five persons. His farm of one hundred and seventy acres, bordering Sebago Lake for more than a mile, is admirably located for this purpose. He has recently built a fine steam launch, thirty-six and a half feet long, with eight and a half feet beam, which he proposes to run from Lake Station to Naples village for the convenience of his summer visitors. Mr. Ward has been twice married. His first union was contracted in 1853, with Miss Sophronia Dyer, by whom he became the father of six children - Emma E., Ella, Clara O., Lizzie A., Abbie F., and Hattie M. On January 17, 1885, he was married again, this time to Mrs. Sarah S. (Elwell) Treadwell, widow of Albert Tread- well. Four children are the fruit of this union; namely, Charles, Alphonso, Fulton, and Mary A.

Mr. Ward and his wife are earnest Christian people. Mr. Ward has been a Deacon in the Congregational church for nineteen years. In political opinions he is a firm Republican.

OHN D. HIGGINS, a successful farmer of the town of Standish, Me., was born January 23, 1826, on the homestead where he now resides. He is a repre- sentative of the third generation of his family in Cumberland County, his father, Enoch F. Higgins, having been a son of Joseph Higgins, who was born in Eastham, Mass., and from there removed to Maine, taking up land in the town of Gorham.

Grandfather Higgins cleared and improved a large farm, and also built many houses. He was very influential in aiding the development of his adopted town, but was never an office- holder. He was a Whig in politics. In his later years he followed the sea as captain of a trading-vessel, running from Portland to the West Indies. In 1804 he made his last trip, being lost on the voyage. He married Mercy Cook, of Eastham, who long survived him, at- taining the venerable age of eighty-nine years.

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She was a sincere member of the Methodist church. Ten children were born to them, Enoch F. being the fourth in order.

Enoch F. Higgins was born at the home of his parents in Gorham in September, 1790, and was there bred to manhood. On attaining his majority he removed to Standish, and here opened a store for general merchandise. He likewise bought one hundred acres of land, about two-thirds of which he placed under cul- tivation, turning his attention during the latter part of his life to agricultural pursuits. Like his father, a Whig in politics, he was an active and influential member of his party. He was a man of keen intellect, possessing good business ability, and served for many years as one of the Selectmen of Standish. He was a member of the Congregational church, in which he held the office of Deacon for three years. Deacon Higgins married Miriam Dean, a daughter of John Dean, of this town ; and they became the parents of four children, the following being a brief record of the three daughters, sisters of Mr. John D. Higgins, the leading subject of the present sketch : Harriet M., who died in 1869, married Horatio J. Swazey, by whom she had six chil- dren, four of whom are living - Henry W., Charles F., John H., and George R. ; Mary, who married Daniel Tyler, died in 1888; Caroline is the wife of Professor Lucian M. Hunt, of whom a sketch may be found else- where in this volume.

John D. Higgins completed his education at the Limerick Academy, and has since given his attention to farming, making his home on the parental estate as above noted. He has one hundred and twenty-five acres of choice land, which he manages profitably, raising the crops common to this section of the country. Mr. Higgins is held in high regard as a man of strict integrity and well-known ability, and is numbered among the valued citizens of his native town, which he has served as Treasurer and Selectman. Socially, he is prominent in several organizations, being a member of Standish Lodge, No. 7, A. F. & A. M., of this town; of the Standish Grange, Patrons of Husbandry; and of Highland Lodge, No. 355, Good Templars. Religiously, he is a Con- gregationalist.

Mr. Higgins married Marcia A. Paine, daughter of William Paine, of Standish, and six children have been born of their union, five of whom are living ; namely, Helen Maria, Miriam Dean, Margaret Paine, Carrie A., and Ethel Louise.

REDERICK M. THAYER, a success- ful farmer of New Gloucester, was born in Portland, Me., October 14, 1836, son of William and Sarah (Small) Thayer. William Thayer was born in Oxford village, Oxford County, Me., and followed the calling of farmer in that place up to the time of his marriage. He then removed to Portland, and secured a position in the grocery and shoe store of a Mr. Shaw. In 1842 he went to Michigan, where it is supposed that he died. His wife, Sarah, died in Portland, leaving one child, Frederick M.

Frederick M. Thayer was but six years old at the time that his father went to Michigan. During the next two years he lived with his grandparents. He then resided with Francis Small, of Raymond, Cumberland County, until he was twelve years old. From that time until he attained his majority he was a member of the family of Washington Jordan, of Raymond, Me. In his different homes he was permitted the privilege of attending the district school. At the age of twenty-one years he purchased Mr. Jordan's farm, and lived there during the following year. He then came to New Gloucester, and established himself in a general mercantile business, oc- cupying a store near the Grand Trunk Rail- road depot. After carrying this on for a year and a half, he decided to return to the occupa- tion of an agriculturist, and purchased his present farm, which is located near the village of New Gloucester. He has one hundred and fifty acres of land, very much improved since he became the possessor. Besides carrying on general farming, he keeps a number of choice cows, and is a regular shipper of milk to the Portland Creamery.

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 87

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