Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 88

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

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On October 6, 1861, Mr. Thayer was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Frances Grover, who was born in New Gloucester on St. Valentine's Day, 1841, daughter of Jo-

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siah and Deborah (Haskell) Grover, both of whom are now dead. Her father spent his life in agricultural pursuits. Mrs. Thayer has borne her husband three children, namely: Cora Estella, born September 13, 1862, now the wife of Leonard Berry, a groeer of Hyde Park, Mass; Helen Abbie, born August 27, 1864, who married Charles B. Berry, one of the owners of the Portland ereamery at Port- land; and Mabel, born July 25, 1867, who married Edward W. Perry, employed in a pipe organ manufactory, Reading, Mass., where they now reside.

Mr. Thayer has always been a staneh advo- cate of Republican principles and a faithful supporter of that party. In religious belief he is a Baptist, and he and his wife are members of the ehureh of that denomination in New Gloucester.

ILLIAM M. DOW, a prominent resident of the village of Dry Mills, township of Gray, and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Sumner, Oxford County, Me., July 1, 1827, son of the Rev. Huse and Zilpha (Drake) Dow. Mr. Dow's father, who was a native of Grand Manan, be- eame a Methodist preacher. He was ap- pointed to the eireuit of the Methodist Epis- eopal ehureh in Bethel, Me., from which town he went to Strong, Me., where he preached for some years. He was afterward located in Fayette, Livermore, and Rumford, finally set- tling in Jay, Me., where he resided until his death on May 25, 1842. He was widely known as a elergyman, and highly esteemed for his many worthy traits of character. His wife, who was a native of . Winthrop, Me., be- eame the mother of four children, as follows : Lorenzo, born July 10, 1825, who is now an inventor in New York City; William M., the subjeet of this sketeh; Simon, born April 15, 1828, who is now a retired merehant of . Malta Bend, Mo. ; and Edwin C., born August 26, 1835, who is now a Municipal Judge in New Haven, Conn. The mother died April

27, 1888.

William M. Dow resided with his parents until fourteen years of age. Losing his father then, he was obliged to begin working for a

living. He started out in search of employ- ment, and, after walking thirty miles through snow, he found work upon a farm in Gray, where he remained for six months. From Gray he went to Kent's Hill, Me .; and, after attending sehool for one year there, he aeeom - panied his mother to Cincinnati, Ohio. After a short time they returned to Kent's Hill, and he resumed his studies for the ensuing eighteen months. He then secured a position as clerk in his uncle's store in Portland, where he remained for several years. He afterward worked in the same capacity for some time in a paper warehouse of Portland. Later at Lewiston, Me., he learned the painter's trade. After his marriage he went to Cedar Falls, Ia., where he worked at his trade for a short time. After this he resided in Blue Earth City, Minn., for one year, and then returned East. In March, 1864, he cn- listed as a private in Company H, Thirty- seeond Regiment, Maine Volunteers, under Colonel Wentworth and Captain Chadwell. After doing hospital duty in Washington for a time, he was transferred to Company D, Thir- teenth Regiment of the Veteran Reserve Corps, under Captain John A. McDonald, and served until July 29, 1865, when he was honorably discharged at Camp Berry in Port- land. Hc then moved on to his present farm, containing one hundred aeres, situated near the village of Dry Mills, in the town of Gray, and has sinee been engaged in agriculture.

On January 8, 1854, Mr. Dow was united in marriage to Mehitable T. Libby. She was born in Gray, June 21, 1827, daughter of James Libby, who was an early settler in Gray. Both her parents are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Dow have seven children - William H., James A., Lorenzo E., Hettie C., Charles L., Graee P., and True M. Will- iam H. married Clara Pennell, and resides in Gray. Jamcs A., who married Annie Me- Cool, resides in South Portland. Lorenzo E. is a practising attorney of Chicago, whose wife died leaving one daughter named Dorothy L., now living with her grandparents. Charles L. married Alice Merrill, and is now a mer- chant of West Pownal. True M. died at the age of nine years. In his polities Mr. Dow is a Democrat, and has served with ability in

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various important offices of public trust. In 1880 and 1881 he was Deputy Sheriff of Cum- berland County, and for six years an attaché of the Portland custom-house. In 1892 and 1893. he was a member of the Board of Select- men of Gray. He is Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, George F. Sheply Post, in Gray; is a member and Past Master of the Cumberland Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of New Gloucester; and a member of the Demo- cratic County Committee.

ERMON WEBBER, proprietor of Echo Farm in New Gloucester, Cum- berland County, Me., on which the Pownal Springs, renowned for their medicinal properties, are located, was born March 15, 1834, on the homestead where he now resides.

His father, Benjamin Webber, was a life- long resident of this place, his birth occurring in 1802, and his death May 22, 1876. He was a prosperous and highly esteemed citizen, holding various offices of responsibility, being Justice of the Peace for several years. He purchased the land now owned by his son Her- mon, and here carried on general agriculture. His wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Townsend, was born in 1808, in the town of Freeport, being a daughter of Robert Town- send. They reared two children - Sarah and Hermon. Sarah, who became the wife of Captain William E. Dennison, died in 1884, her husband surviving until September 3, 1895. They left one son, Alexander Crosman Dennison, who is now pilot on a Boston boat and a resident of Portland, Me.

After acquiring his education in the district schools, Hermon Webber learned the carriage- maker's trade, which he followed for a quarter of a century, then turning his attention to farming. On the death of his father Mr. Webber returned to the parental homestead; and he has since conducted the farm with profitable results, its one hundred acres being pretty well under cultivation.

On September 28, 1856, Mr. Webber was united in marriage with Annie I. Warren, who was born in Pownal, Me., January 12, 1836, daughter of Colonel Henry and Caroline

(Baker) Warren. Her father was a native of Pownal, and her mother of Portland. Colonel Warren owned a farm in Pownal; and this he managed successfully in addition to following his trade of a ship builder, continuing thus employed until.his demise, August 12, 1876. His wife died at a comparatively early age in 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Webber have had four children, but have been called to part with two. Their eldest, Edward W., born August 16, 1857, is now pastor of the Universalist church at Richmond, this State. He married Miss Flora Bennett, of New Gloucester. The second son, Willie, born March 30, 1861, died at the age of fifteen years. Sarah, the only daughter, was born June 15, 1866. Charles Benjamin, the third son, who was born September 9, 1875, passed to the life immortal in 1887.

In politics Mr. Webber is a sound Republi- can, and, socially, is a member of the Grange Society at New Gloucester and of the Masonic Lodge. His son Edward is a prominent Mason, being the Grand Chief Templar of Maine. Religiously, both Mr. and Mrs. Webber attend and give generous support to the Universalist church.

During the summer season they throw open their commodious and conveniently arranged house for the accommodation of summer boarders, many of whom are attracted hither by the famed springs, situated but a short distance from the house. People come here from all parts of New England and from more distant States, there being frequently applica- tions for board from a hundred or more in a season. These springs were first brought to the notice of the public by Mr. A. D. Warren, of Worcester, Mass., who for long years had been troubled with a kidney disease, feared to be incurable. In 1886 Mr. Warren was taken seriously ill with a complication of liver, rheumatic, and bladder troubles, and the fol- lowing June, at the solicitation of physicians and friends, he visited Poland Springs, and there drank freely of the water, which in three weeks' time had the desired result, apparently curing him of his troubles.

His marvellous recovery was made known to his various friends in Portland and vicinity, the newspapers subsequently taking note of it,

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bringing his name into such prominence that various people in this section of Maine who had springs of pure water on their land sent him samples of the water, desiring him to test it and if good to advertise it, but he found none with curative properties that he could indorse. In May, 1892, having from the time he left Poland, Me., until April, 1893, kept himself well supplied with Poland Springs water, Mr. Warren was again stricken with his old nialady, being even in a worse condi- tion than before. His one great desire was to reach Poland, but, feeling that he could not afford to pay the prices asked for board at the Poland Springs, he wrote to Mrs. Webber, of Echo Farm, a relative, asking her to board himself and wife for a few weeks, that they might be near those famous waters. On coming here Mr. Webber induced Mr. Warren to try the water from Pownal Springs, the result proving so satisfactory that the invalid continued its use for a week, when he found himself so far recovered that he had no need to visit any other springs, as he had intended when coming here.

This water has since been analyzed by ex- pert chemists, and in every case pronounced remarkable. Professor Franklin C. Robin- son, of Bowdoin College, made a personal visit to Pownal Springs, where he encased a portion of the water as it flowed, took it with him to the college, and there examined it, with the accompanying result -total solid matters in solution, 1. 154, made up as follows : silica, 0.412; iron carbonate, 0.041 ; calcium carbonate, 0. 332 ; magnesium carbonate, 0.023 ; sodium carbonate, 0.087; sodium sulphate, 0.075 ; sodium chloride, 0. 157; potassium carbonate, 0.017; and organic and volatile matter, 0.010. The waters of this spring are of a remarkably even temperature, the average for the past twelve months having been forty- one degrees.

ENRY C. BREWER, one of the representative men of Freeport, was born in this town, February 26, 1833, son of Reuben, Jr., and Nancy M. (Grant) Brewer. His grandfather, Reuben Brewer, Sr., was a son of a pioneer settler of

Freeport, who came here from Massachusetts. He was born in Freeport, owned an excellent farm on Flying Point, and was regarded as a leading farmer of the town. In politics he supported the Whig party, and in religious belief he was a Congregationalist. He mar- ried Miss Margaret Anderson, a daughter of Jacob Anderson, whose prowess in encounters with the Indians made him a noteworthy character of those early days. They had ten children - six sons and four daughters - all of whom reached adult life. All are now de- ceased except one, Horace Brewer, a ship builder, residing in Pawtucket, R. I.

Reuben Brewer, Jr., who was the first-born of his parents' children, learned the trades of carpenter and ship builder, and worked at them successfully throughout his life. It was his characteristic to give diligent atten- tion to his business. Like his father, he cast his vote with the Whigs. He resided all his life in Freeport, and died there in June, 1833. By his first wife, whose maiden name was Miss Alice Means, he became the father of four children, all of whom have since died. His second union, contracted with Miss Nancy M. Grant, was blessed by the birth of one son -. Henry C. Brewer, who is now the only sur- vivor of the family. His mother died in 1842.

Henry C. Brewer grew to manhood in Free- port, receiving his education in the common schools and at Yarmouth Academy. After

leaving school, he at first engaged in teaching. Later he learned ship calking, and thereafter followed that trade at intervals for about twenty years. For the past two years he has conducted a mercantile business in Freeport. In 1862 he enlisted in Company G of the Twenty-fifth Regiment, Maine Infantry, was appointed Sergeant of his company, and served until his honorable discharge in 1863.

Mr. Brewer is a member of the Republican party and one of the leading politicians of Freeport. He represented the district in the State legislature from 1871 to 1873 inclusive, after which he served two terms as State Sena- tor, one lasting one year and the other two years. In 1883 and 1884 he held the position of Inspector in the custom-house at Portland, and from that time up to 1886 he was United States Store-keeper in the custom-house. He

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has also held the office of Postmaster of Freeport one term, from 1889 to 1894. In the town he has filled the office of Selectman, and for two years he was a member of the School Board. Among the fraternal organiza- tions he has connection with are: Freeport Lodge, No. 23, A. F. &. A. M. ; Harraseeket Lodge, No. 30, Knights of Pythias; Tamassee Tribe, No. 28, Freeport's Order of Red Men ; and Bosworth Post, No. 2, Grand Army of the Republic, of Portland. Mr. Brewer has earned the reputation of a capable and faithful public servant.

® OBERT BARBOUR LOW, a leading contractor and builder of Deering, was born in North Yarmouth, Cum- berland County, Me., June 23, 1861, son of Robert and Johanna Drinkwater (Skillings) Low. Robert Low, who was a native of New Gloucester, Me., received his education in the common schools of Gray, Me., after which he learned the trade of car- riage builder in North Yarmouth. At the age of twenty-one years he went to Lowell, Mass., where he secured a position as a jour- neyman. Subsequently he formed a partner- ship with David G. Skillings, under the firm name of Skillings & Low. A few years later they removed their business to Amesbury, Mass. In 1859 he returned to Yarmouth and opened an establishment on his own account. At about the same time he bought a farm and entered upon the business of conducting it. In 1861, when the Civil War began, he en- listed with the volunteers and was assigned to the duties of fifer in Company G of the Twelfth Maine Regiment. He was discharged before his term had expired on account of sick- ness brought on by the privations and exposure of an army life. He never recovered his health sufficiently to engage in active business afterward, and died in 1869. He served as chorister in the Congregational Church of North Yarmouth for many years. His wife, Johanna, was a daughter of Isaac Skillings, of North Yarmouth. She bore her husband seven children, five of whom attained maturity. These were: John Edwin, Frank, Florence Marian, Robert Barbour, and Annie L. Flor-

ence Marian married C. Frank Sawyer, of . Gray; and Annie L. is the wife of Gardner Leighton, Jr., of North Yarmouth.

Robert Barbour Low, the youngest son of his parents, obtained a good practical educa- tion in the common schools of North Var- mouth. He then went to Lowell, Mass., where for two years he was employed at the carpenter's trade. Following that he worked as a journeyman for Burnham, Lane & Co., of Portland. He afterward secured a situation under Myron E. Moore, with whom after some time he entered into partnership. They had been in business together for about two years when the firm was dissolved and Mr. Low es- tablished his present business as a contractor and builder. Since that time he has erected a large number of residences both in Portland and Deering.

His wife before marriage was Miss Olive L. Roberts, a daughter of Joshua Roberts, of Windham, Me. They have three sons ; namely, Robert Elmer, Joshua Everett, and Byron Rudolph. Mr. Low is well known in Masonic circles, being a member of Casco Lodge, No. 36, A. F. & A. M .; of Mount Vernon Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; of Port- land Council and of Portland Commandery of Kora Temple. He is also Eminent Com- mander of the United Order of the Golden Gross, Deering Commandery.

ATHAN R. DYER, superintendent of the Portland Ship Building Company, formerly the Merchants' Marine Railway Company, at Cape Eliza- beth, Cumberland County, was born Novem- ber 22, 1832, at Portland, a son of Nathan and Eliza Ann (Woodbury) Dyer. His paternal grandparents, Caleb and Maria (Randall) Dyer, were early settlers of Cape Elizabeth, the grandfather being an old-time ship builder and a prominent man of that day. He was a stanch Democrat ; and, religiously, both he and his wife were of liberal and progressive views. They reared a large family of children, of whom Nathan was the youngest.

Nathan Dyer was a native of Cape Eliza- beth, born December 13, 1803, in that part of the town now called South Portland. He was

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here educated and learned the trade of ship building, in which he was subsequently en- gaged in partnership with his cousin, George Dyer, in Portland, they carrying on a good business in ship building and repairing. He also had the control of the ferry from Portland to Cape Elizabeth, from 1842 until 1849, the equipment consisting of row-boats only. Sell- ing his interest in the ferry to George Turner, he continued to carry on general farming on the homestead now owned and occupied by his son, Nathan R., the subject of this sketch. In 1868 he became identified with the Marine Railway as superintendent, an office which he filled until his final retirement to farm life on his homestead, where his death occurred in 1880. Of the two children born to him and his wife, Nathan R., the elder, is the only one now living, the younger child having died at the age of four years.

Nathan R. Dyer acquired his education in his native city, completing his course of study at the private school of B. C. Fermald. After working for his father at the ferry for some years, he learned the trade of a boat and ship builder with Green & Degnio of Portland, serving as an apprentice and workman from 1851 until 1857. Starting in business on his own account in Portland, he continued alone three years, when, in 1860, he entered into partnership with Galen J. Degnio, being the junior member of the firm. They carried on a substantial business until the great fire of 1866, which, it is worthy to note, started in their shop, originating, as Mr. Dyer says, without doubt, from the spark of a locomotive passing through Commercial Street. After the fire Mr. Dyer entered the service of the Ship Railway Company at this place, working under his father until the resignation of the latter, when he, the son, succeeded him as superintendent, being still the incumbent of the office. In politics Mr. Dyer has never swerved from the principles in which he was reared, having been a lifelong Democrat. In 1873 he was elected to the office of Selectman, a position which he held for three different terms.

Mr. Dyer and Miss Julia W., daughter of Nathan Read, of Windham, were united in marriage on April 28, 1858. Their union has

been blessed by the birth of six children, four of whom are now living, all having been born on the paternal homestead except the eldest, who was born in Portland. Albert E., born July 22, 1863, now residing and working with his father, is married and has two children; Eliza, born October 11, 1865, is the wife of Everett E. Pittee, of this place, and has two children; Frank J., born August 17, 1867, working for his father on the ship railway and living on the old homestead, married Edith Stanford, of Cape Elizabeth, and has two chil- dren; and Harry W., born April 2, 1870, and for the past six years a clerk for Emery & Waterhouse of Portland, married Miss Lillian A. Brackett, of this place.

DWARD KIMBALL, for many years a well-known business man of North Bridgton, where he is now living a retired life, is a native of Oxford County, Waterford being the place of his birth, which occurred November 3, 1840. His paternal grandfather, David Kimball, a blacksmith by trade, was among the early settlers of Water- ford, removing to that place from the State of Massachusetts.

Joel S. Kimball, father of Edward, was also born in Waterford, where he spent his seventy- four years of life, being engaged principally in tilling the soil. He married Olive Wat- son, who died at the age of seventy-two years, leaving two children-Edward and Thomas M.

Edward Kimball spent his boyhood and youth on the old homestead, attending the public schools and assisting in the work of the farm. At the age of twenty he left home, going to Norway, this State, where he learned the trade of a tanner and currier, which he fol- lowed in the towns of Norway, Waterford, and Bridgton for a period of ten years. He then established himself in the mercantile busi- ness, coming to North Bridgton, and here conducting a general store for twelve years, having a large custom. He was also Post- master for seven years of that time. On ac- count of impaired health Mr. Kimball was fi- nally obliged to give up active business, and, accordingly sold out his store, since which time he has lived in comparative retirement.

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Socially, he is a man of prominence, belonging to Cumberland Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and having advanced in Masonry as far as the Chapter. In politics he is an ac- tive and loyal member of the Republican party, and has served his constituents in many offices, having represented the town of Bridg- ton in the State legislature one term, and is now serving his sixth year as Selectman. Since 1880 he has been Justice of the Peace, and since 1884 has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Bridgton Academy, of which he is now the Treasurer. Religiously, he is a valued member of the Congregational church.

OSEPH G. GERRISH, who owns and conducts a good farm in Otisfield, was born in this town, November 10, 1827, son of Joseph G. and Mary (Edwards) Gerrish. Mr. Gerrish's grandparents, James and Annie (Scribner) Gerrish, were early set- tlers in Otisfield, where Grandfather Gerrish was successfully engaged in farming for the rest of his life. They raised a family of three children ; namely, Anna, Mary, and Joseph G.

Joseph G. Gerrish, who was born in Otis- field, in young manhood learned the shoe- maker's trade. He subsequently settled upon a farm situated on Scribner Hill, and here carried on a farm and manufactured shoes. An energetic and industrious man, he labored diligently, maintaining his family in comfort- able circumstances, and died October 27, 1827. His wife Mary, a native of Otisfield, was daughter of Simeon and Eunice Edwards, prosperous farming people, who came from Gilmanton, N. H., to Otisfield, and here re- sided for the rest of their lives. Mrs. Joseph Gerrish had two children, namely : Greenfield, who died in infancy; and Joseph G., the sub- ject of this sketch, who, born two weeks after his father's death, was named for him. The mother died in June, 1860.

Joseph G. Gerrish received his education in the schools of his native town; and, as he never knew a father's care, he was necessarily thrown upon his own resources at an earlier age than usual. When a young man he went' to Lowell, Mass., and was there employed for

five years as a watchman. In February, 1852, he bought his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres of well-located land. Since then he has -labored incessantly to improve this property, which is now very fertile. He carries on general farming and stock raising with good judgment and profit. On May 21, 1851, Mr. Gerrish was united in marriage to Mary A. McNeal. She was born in Laconia, N. H., February 27, 1825, daughter of Jona- than McNeal, who settled upon a farm in Otis- field, where he lived for the remainder of his days. Mr. and Mrs. Gerrish have three chil- dren, as follows: Mary Josephine, born May 20, 1852, now living at home; Eddie J., born April 6, 1860, also residing at home; and Nancy E., born October 28, 1861, who is now the wife of Michael H. Fagan, of Lebanon, N. H. The children all received a good edu -- cation in the public schools. Eddie J. is a member of Harrison Lodge, No. 41, Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows, and of Highland Lodge, No. 10, Knights of Pythias, of Bridg- ton. The mother died April 10, 1896, aged seventy-one years. Mr. Gerrish is a self made man. His present position of prosperity has been attained by his own efforts solely. He is an enterprising and progressive farmer, and is highly esteemed by his fellow-townsmen. He supports the Republican party in politics, is prominent in local public affairs, and has served with ability in some of the important offices.

ON. MATTHEW F. WINSLOW, a prominent resident and a substan- tial farmer of Casco, was born in this place, May 4, 1821, son of Cyrus and Fannie (Foster) Winslow. Grand- father Winslow, who was a resident of West- brook, Me., left the reputation of a stirring business man. He erected and operated a saw-mill in Casco. To induce his two sons to settle in this town, he gave them one hundred dollars apiece. Cyrus Winslow, one of these sons, was born in Westbrook. He learned the trade of a shoemaker, but the greater part of his lifetime was spent in farming and lum- bering. On leaving Westbrook, he went to Freeport, Me. ; but subsequently, in conse-

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 88

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