Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 9

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

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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

vived him a brief time, passing away October 7, 1879. Of the three children born to them, two are living, namely : John W., born March 4, 1847; and William F. John W. married Mrs. Kate McBeun, née McAdams, of New Brunswick.

William F. Libby acquired the rudiments of knowledge in the schools of Gorham, and for many years was a diligent worker on his father's farm. In 1894, desiring to enter upon a mercantile career, he purchased the old and well-established stand of W. F. Buxton, which he has since conducted, having a flourishing trade in groceries and other merchandise. In the same year Mr. Libby was appointed Post- master at White Rock, the duties of which office he performs with satisfaction to the townspeople. On November 25, 1874, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Alta G. Libby, née Brimblescom, of Lynn, Mass. Both Mr. and Mrs. Libby are valued members of the Methodist church. He is identified politically with the interests of the Republi- can party ; and, socially, he is a member of Granite Lodge, No. 14, Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Biddeford, and of the Golden Cross Commandery of Gorham.

LVIN CRESSEY, who was for many years a thrifty and much respected farmer of Gorham, will scarcely be remembered by the younger genera- tion of this town, having passed away thirty- eight years ago. He was born in Gorham, this county, in 1806, spent his entire life here, and died April 30, 1858. He was a son of Eben- ezer and Sarah Cressey. His father and grand- father (Ebenezer, Sr. ) were both natives of this town and farmers by occupation. He was early trained to farm life and labor, and pursued his allotted vocation with systematic industry, becoming in course of time one of Gorham's most respected and influential citizens. For some years before his marriage he varied his occupation by keeping a store in Portland. He was a public-spirited man, ever ready to give his active support to all beneficial enter- prises. In politics he was a steadfast Demo- crat, consistently supporting the principles of that party. His wife, Sarah Flagg by maiden

name, was a daughter of David Flagg. She survived him thirty years, dying in 1888. They were the parents of six children, namely : Eben F., who for a number of years was a clerk in his uncle's store at Salmon Falls, N. H. ; Eliza A .; Caroline A .; Elizabeth ; Hattie E. ; and Martha E. All these chil- dren remained unmarried, and all are now passed away except Martha E., who was the youngest.

Martha E. Cressey, who owns and occupies the old homestead, acquired her education in the place of her nativity, where she has spent the larger part of her life. She has a finely improved and valuable farm of one hundred acres, all in a high state of cultivation. This she manages herself in a practical business- like manner, with profitable financial results. She is held in high regard throughout the com- munity, and is an active member of the Con- gregational church.

¿DWARD HUSTON, proprietor of a well-conducted farm in West Gray, was born in the house he now occupies, May 6, 1824, a son of David and Olive (Har- mon) Huston. His grandfather, Stephen Huston, was for many years a resident of Fal- mouth, where he was successfully engaged in agriculture during the entire active period of his life.

David Huston was born in Falmouth and early trained to agricultural pursuits. When a young man he went to Windham, where he was engaged in farming for some years; but, subsequently returning to Gray, he settled upon a farm in this town. Three years later he moved to the farm which his son Edward now occupies, and on which he resided until his death, which took place April 16, 1874. He was an able and industrious farmer and a useful citizen. His wife Olive, who was born in this town, became the mother of fourteen children, as follows: Edward, our special subject ; Stephen, a prosperous farmer of this town; Augusta, widow of John Crockett, who resides in Portland; Hannah; George Wash- ington and Ruth Elizabeth, both of whom have passed away; David, a resident of Freeport, Me. ; Pamelia, who became the wife of Alfred

EDWARD HUSTON.

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

Maybee, and resides in Yarmouth, Me. ; Ben- jamin S., who is now living in Falmouth, this State; Sarah F., now Mrs. Mitchell, who re- sides in Freeport; Melissa, wife of E. H. Per- rington, of Portland; Harriet Emma, who is no longer living; and two others who died in infancy. Mrs. David Huston died in March, 1870.

Edward Huston passed his boyhood and youth upon the farm, assisting his father dur- ing the summer and attending the common schools in the winter. At the age of twenty- one he commenced work in a brickyard in North Falmouth, where he remained for two years; then, in company with his brother, he bought a farm in Gray, which they conducted together for ten years. Mr. Huston next pur- chased a farm in Freeport, which he sold after a six years' residence there. Having bought a piece of farm property in Windham, this State, he moved to that town and was there profitably engaged in agricultural pursuits for eleven years. At the end of that period he sold the Windham farm, and, once more re- turning to Gray, purchased the old homestead, on which he has since resided. His farm is well located, and consists of one hundred acres of good fertile land. Since taking possession Mr. Huston has greatly improved the property, thereby adding materially to its value. He is capable, energetic, and persevering, taking advantage of every opportunity for increasing the amount and improving the quality of his crops ; and his efforts have been attended with good results.

On February 22, 1852, Mr. Huston was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Floyd, who was born in Harrison, Me., October 15, 1834. Mrs. Huston is a daughter of Isaac Floyd, who was for many years a thriving cooper of Harrison. Both her father and mother have passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Huston are the parents of three children - David F., who resides at home; Walter J., who married Mrs. Cole, and resides in Quincy, Mass., where he is engaged in stone cutting; and John P. N., residing at home.

Mr. Huston is a Republican in politics, but has never aspired to public office. He takes, however, a lively and practical interest in all inovements relative to the moral or material

advancement of the community, and is a mem- ber of the Sons of Temperance of West Gray. His portrait is presented on a neighboring page of this volume as that of a useful and highly esteemed citizen, a native and long a resident of this county.

DWIN FAXON VOSE, M. D., the leading physician in Portland of the homœopathic school, was born in Watertown, Mass., October 17, 1850. He is a son of Henry C. and Rachel W. (Faxon) Vose, and is of Puritan descent through both parents. The Vose family was represented at the settlement of Boston, and the name is on record among the founders of Milton in 1632. Dr. Vose's great-grandfather was a soldier of the First Massachusetts Regiment in the Rev- olutionary army, while a brother of his great- grandfather was Colonel of the same regiment. The grandfather of the Doctor was a shoe man- ufacturer in Providence, R. I.

Henry C. Vose was a graduate of the Theo- logical Seminary of Clinton, N. Y., and- also of the Cleveland Homoeopathic Medical Col- lege. He preached as a clergyman of the Universalist Church at Watertown, Mass., and at Clinton, N. Y., and spent the last thirty years of his life in Marion, Mass. At the time of the uprising against Free Masonry, when it took courage to avow connection with the order, he was prominent in its councils, and battled for the cause of abolition, count- ing William Lloyd Garrison and other promi- nent agitators among his personal friends. He spoke on the antislavery question to so many out-of-door meetings that he ruined his voice and was obliged to give up his work as a clergyman, after which he devoted the rest of his life to medical practice. Dr. Henry Vose died in 1887. His wife, whose maiden name was Rachel W. Faxon, was a native of Braintree, Mass., a daughter of Thomas Faxon. She was a direct descendant of John Clark, who came over in the "Mayflower." Her grandfather, Thomas Faxon, a native of Stoughton, Mass., was one of the sturdy minute.men of Revolutionary times, so that through both father and mother Dr. Vose is eligible to be counted among the Sons of the

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

Revolution. Thomas Faxon, the father of Mrs. Vose, was a cattle dealer in the old drov- ing days, and was a very successful man. Mrs. Vose was the mother of eight children, and had attained an advanced age when she died in 1890.

Edwin Faxon Vose was the fifth of his par- ents' children. He graduated from the Mas- sachusetts Agricultural College, now included in the Boston University. After reading medicine for a while with his father, he entered the homeopathic department of Boston University, from which he graduated in 1876. He was House Surgeon of the Massachusetts Homeopathic Hospital the year before his graduation. After receiving his diploma he located in Portland, forming a partnership with Dr. Eliphalet Clark, who was one of the pioneers of homœopathy in the State of Maine. Two years later Dr. Clark retired, leaving Dr. Vose in full charge of their combined practice. In addition to his qualifications as a doctor of medicine, he is a skilful surgeon. United with his skill and thorough knowledge is a kindly and generous nature, which has won for him the confidence of all his patients. He is a member of the Maine Academy of Medi- cine and President of the State Homoeopathic Medical Society, having been elected to the lat- ter office at the annual meeting held in 1895. When, in 1895, the legislature of Maine passed the bill requiring all physicians to register or pass an examination, he was ap- pointed by Governor Cleaves a member of the Examining Board.

In 1876, July 5, Dr. Vose was married to Lizzie M., daughter of John and Lizzie (Mc- Curdy) Begg, of Brooklyn, N. Y .; and the union has been blessed by two children - Eleanor Rachel and Clifton Henry. In poli- tics he is a strong Republican; and, though not an aspirant for office, he has taken an active part in important conventions. In Masonry he is Past Master of Portland Lodge; Past High Priest of Mount Vernon Chapter; Past Master of Portland Council ; Commander of Portland Commandery ; a member of the Maine Order of High Priesthood ; a member of the order of the Red Cross of Constantine; a member of the Royal Order of Scotland (whose membership is limited to three hundred in the United

States, and which is controlled at Edinburgh, Scotland) ; a member of Aleppo Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Boston; and of the Maine Consistory, the thirty-second de- gree. Dr. . Vose is Past Grand of Hadallah Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a member of Una Encampment; and he belongs to Bramhall Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and the Samoset Tribe of Red Men. He is a member of the Maine Charitable Mechanic Association and of the Sodality of the Sons of the Revolution, a Director of Falmouth B. and L. Association, a popular member of the Portland Club, and also of the Young Men's Athletic Association. He attends and supports the Congress Square Universalist Church. His residence is the handsome building, 612 Congress Street.

ON. GEORGE W. LEIGHTON, of Westbrook, who for twenty years or more has held a most responsible position in the Cumberland paper- mills, owned and conducted by Grant, Daniels & Co., now in the hands of S. D. Warren & Co., was born January 27, 1843, son of Alvin and Hannah (Sawyer) Leighton, of Falmouth, Me. Ebenezer Leighton, his grandfather, followed farming throughout his life, first in Falmouth and later in Westbrook. He died at the latter place about 1858, aged eighty-two or eighty-three years. In religious belief he was a Methodist. Of his five children two are still living, namely: Lucy, the wife of John Lamb, of Westbrook; and Emily, the widow of George W. Cobb, of Deering, Me.

Alvin Leighton was a stone mason and suc- cessfully worked at his trade during the greater part of his life. He was also engaged in the manufacture of brick. His wife bore him nine children, eight of whom are still living, namely : Sewall Leighton, George W., Eben, Frank, and Charles Leighton, all resi- dents of Westbrook; Philena, who married George Barbour, of Westbrook; Hannah, the wife of William H. Bacon, of Boston, Mass. ; and Elvira, the wife of E. C. Swett, of West- brook. Their father died in 1885, at the age of seventy-six years. He was an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church.

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

George W. Leighton was educated in the common schools of Westbrook and Windham. After leaving school he worked for two years in an oakum-mill at Duck Pond, in the town of Westbrook, and for one year in the paper- mill of that place. He then was employed at the Cumberland mills as a common laborer. In a comparatively short space of time he was promoted to the charge of a washing-engine. After satisfactorily performing the duties of this position for five years he was transferred to the beating-engines, by which the last operation is performed before the material is rolled into sheets. With the exception of one year spent with Brekmaker, Moore & Co., paper-makers of Louisville, Ky. - a part having been passed at the Philadelphia Cen- tennial - Mr. Leighton has held this position during the past twenty years.

Up to 1879 Mr. Leighton voted with the Republican party, but he has since been an adherent of the Democratic party. Mr. Leighton's political career began in 1881, when he was elected a Representative to the State legislature. In 1882 he was elected Selectman of Westbrook, and held that posi- tion until 1891, serving as Chairman of that Board for four years. In the first election for Mayor under the city charter held in 1891, he ran against Leander Valentine, and was only defeated by two votes, the total vote having been larger than any cast since. His con- stituency demanded a recount ; but Mr. Leigh- ton objected, and, gracefully calling Mr. Valentine to the platform, introduced him to the audience as their first Mayor, saying he was glad to see a way of retiring from the political field. Some time after, when the Board of Registration was created, Mayor Valentine appointed Mr. Leighton a member of it. He declined nomination for a second year, as the office disfranchised its occupant for the term. He has also declined nomina- tion for the Mayoralty for the last two years.

In February, 1864, he was joined in mar- riage with Miss Mary Cragin, a daughter of John Cragin, of Westbrook, and they had two children, namely: Annie, now the wife of A. N. Waterhouse, of Westbrook; and John, who. is learning the machinist's trade at the Knowlton machine shop in Westbrook.

Mr. Leighton is well known in fraternal circles, being a member of Warren Phillips Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Cumberland Mills ; Saccarappa Lodge, No. II, Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Westbrook; Cum- mings Encampment, Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Westbrook; Presumpscot Valley Lodge, No. 4, Knights of Pythias of Cumberland Mills; Pequaket Lodge, No. 100, Independent Order of Red Men of Cumber- land Mills; Westbrook Commandery, No. 289, United Order of the Golden Cross; and the Cumberland Mills Relief Association.

EANDER H. MOULTON, station agent at Sebago Lake, was born August 22, 1840, in the town of Standish, this county and State, being a son of Josiah Moulton and a grandson of Simon and Abigail (Plaisted) Moulton. A more extended account of his ancestral his- tory may be found in the sketch of Lewis W. Moulton on another page of this volume.

Josiah Moulton, father of Leander H., was a native of Standish, being born in this town June 8, 1805, and here spending a long and useful life, dying at the venerable age of ninety years. He was an industrious, prac- tical farmer, and, in addition, was for many years engaged in lumbering. He took an active part in local politics, being a prominent member of the Democratic party, and for a number of terms served very acceptably as Selectman of the town. To him and his wife, Martha Hasty, daughter of Daniel Hasty, of this town, were born four children, Leander H. being the only one now living.

Leander H. Moulton received an academical education in Standish and Fryeburg, being prepared for the profession of a teacher. He subsequently taught school during the fall and winter terms for ten years or more in Standish and Windham, while in the summer seasons he worked on the parental homestead. In 1870 Mr. Moulton was appointed station agent on the Portland & Ogdensburg Railway (now the Maine Central) at Sebago Lake, a position which he has since held, except during a short period. He had previously engaged in the manufacture of clothing at Sebago Lake, and

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

left his railway office for a short time in order that he might close out his clothing business. Having satisfactorily disposed of it, Mr. Moul- ton returned to the station at Sebago Lake, where he has since remained.

On February 27, 1867, Mr. Moulton was united in marriage with Florence A., daughter of Daniel W. Dole, of South Windham. In politics Mr. Moulton is a member of the Re- publican party, and has taken some part in public affairs, having been Selectman several years, and serving at the present time as super- intendent of the schools of Standish. Re- ligiously, both Mr. and Mrs. Moulton are liberal and progressive in their views, he being a Unitarian and she a Universalist.

ARTIN I. KEYES, an esteemed resident of Gorham, Me., was born in Lempster, Sullivan County, N. H., February 19, 1850. His grandfather, Mezelda Keyes, was a native of Acworth in the same county and State, his birth taking place in the year 1770. He was engaged in farming throughout his long and active life. He was a Democrat in politics; and in religion both he and his wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Foster, were members of the Congregational church. Their son, Orison, father of Martin L. Keyes, was born April 2, 1819, in Acworth, N. H., where in early life he learned the trade of a wheel- wright. He subsequently practised his trade in Lempster, and was also engaged there in the manufacture of carriages, sleighs, tubs, buckets, etc. He died in Lempster in 1877. Like his father, he was a steadfast adherent of the Democratic party. He married Lucina A., daughter of Robert McClure, of Acworth, and their household circle was enlarged by the birth of nine children, five of whom are now living, as follows: Anson L., who now resides in Faribault, Minn., married Hattie Lufkin, of Great Falls, N. H., and has one child, Lulu M. ; Nettie E., now a resident of Holyoke, Mass., became the wife of William Brooks, of Acworth ; Martin L., whose name appears at the head of this sketch; Frank E., a resident of New York City, married Alice J. Dana, of Acworth, and they have two children - Forest

and Maud; Belle S., wife of E. H. Allen, of Holyoke, Mass., has one child, Donna B. Both Mr. and Mrs. Orison Keyes were mem- bers of the Congregational church of Acworth.

Martin L. Keyes was educated in the public schools of Lempster, N. H., and was subse- quently engaged for fifteen years in that town in the manufacture of carriages and sleighs; in addition to this he manufactured lumber and house furnishings, conducted a mercantile business, and, with his brother, F. E. Keyes, operated a grist-mill and carried on a substan- tial trade in grain and flour. In 1885 he came to Cumberland County, accepting the superin- tendency of the mills owned by the Indurated Fibre Company of North Gorham. This com- pany has been reorganized and its name changed several times since then; but Mr. Keyes retained his office, being superintendent of the works, which are now incorporated under the name of the "United Indurated Fibre Company of New Jersey." The mills in Gorham were shut down in 1894, the busi- ness being removed to Lockport, N. Y. ; but when running at full time they gave employ- ment to one hundred and fifty men.

Mr. Keyes has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was married October 4, 1876, was Isadore P. Stowell, daughter of Al- bert Stowell, of Unity, N. H. She died Feb- ruary 28, 1886, having been the mother of one child - Mabel L., born May 9, 1880.

On December 12, 1887, Mr. Keyes was united to his present wife, whose maiden name was Jennie Crossman, she being a daughter of Sullivan Crossman, of Lowell, Mass. In poli- tics Mr. Keyes is a Democrat. Socially, he is a Mason, belonging to Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 15, A. F. & A. M., of Newport, N. H., and to Presumpscot Tribe of Red Men, No. 21, of North Gorham. Both he and his wife at- tend the Congregational church.

OHN F. A. MERRILL, attorney and counsellor-at-law, was born in Portland, February 10, 1866. Ilis parents were Charles B. and Abba Isabella (Little) Merrill. His paternal grandfather, Dr. John Merrill, was for many years identified with the history of Cumberland County, as he practised

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

medicine in Portland for more than half a cen- tury, being one of the leading physicians of his time. The old family homestead at 65 Spring Street was built by Dr. Merrill's father-in-law, Mr. Joseph Coffin Boyd, who settled in Port- land in his early manhood. His daughter, Mrs. Dr. Merrill, was one of fifteen children. An interesting history of the Boyd family may be found in "Americans of Royal Descent."

Mr. Merrill's maternal grandfather, Josiah Stover Little, was born in Newburyport, Mass., but moved to Portland, Me., where he served as President of the Atlantic & St. Law- rence Railroad, and was connected with the largest enterprises of the city. Mr. Little was graduated from Bowdoin College in 1828, in the class with Longfellow, Hawthorne, and Franklin Pierce. He was at one time a mem- ber and Speaker of the Maine House of Repre- sentatives; but he was not specially active in politics. His wife, Abba Isabella, was a daughter of Joseph Chamberlain, whose ances- tors came from Vermont, but subsequently moved to Boston, where Mr. Chamberlain be- came a well-known tea merchant. Some time after Mr. Little's death the grandmother mar- ried Mr. George T. Davis, of Greenfield, Mass., continuing, however, to live in Port- land until her death in 1893. She was a dis- tinguished society leader of her time. The Little residence on State Street is now owned and occupied by Mr. Weston F. Milliken.

Charles B. Merrill, the father of the special subject of this sketch, was born in Portland in 1827. He was graduated from Bowdoin College in the class of 1847, and later from Harvard Law School. Being admitted to the bar, he practised law until the breaking out of the Southern Rebellion, when he was placed in charge of Camp Berry, the rendezvous of the newly enlisted soldiers. Receiving the com- mission of Lieutenant Colonel of the Seven- teenth Maine Infantry, he served three years in command of the regiment, which took active part, in several of the principal engagements of the war, including the battle of Gettysburg. After his return from the war he engaged in mercantile pursuits in this city, until a short time before his death, which occurred in 1891. He and his wife had eight children, of whom the two now surviving are Charles P. and John.

Five died in childhood; and another, Isabella Little, died in May, 1894.

John F. A. Merrill, the younger son, was graduated from Yale College in 1889, and studied law with William L. Putnam, now Judge of the Circuit Court of Appeals. He spent one year in Harvard Law School, and was admitted to the bar of Cumberland County in April, 1892. He then opened a law office on Exchange Street, where he has successfully practised ever since. In politics Mr. Merrill is a Democrat.

His only brother, Charles P. Merrill, an owner and manager of the Ellingwood Furni- ture Company at 100 Exchange Street, Port- land, was born in this city, September 18, 1864. After attending Yale College two years he left his class to become a member of the firm of Bennett & Merrill, manufacturers of ladies' shoes on Warren Street, New York. Later he severed his connection with that con- cern and returned to Portland, where he has since been engaged in the furniture business. The Merrill brothers dwell in the house that was their father's birthplace and lifelong resi- dence, the home endeared to them by pleasant recollections of childhood and youth.

ANIEL M. RAND, a thriving drug- gist of South Windham, was born in Gorham, Me., the date of his nativity being March 6, 1854. His ances- tors on both paternal and maternal sides have been identified with the interests of Cumber- land County for several generations. His grandfather, Benjamin Rand, was an honored citizen of Standish, where his death occurred in 1829. He married Annie, daughter of James and Elizabeth S. Moody; and she pre- ceded him to the land from which no traveller returns, passing away February 23, 1827. She bore her husband four children, of whom Samuel M., father of Daniel M., was the youngest. Samuel M. Rand was born Decem- ber 30, 1820, in Gorham, Me., and died May 24, 1887. On April 20, 1850, he married Hannah Moulton, daughter of Daniel Moul- ton, of Standish. She is still living, being a resident of Gorham and an esteemed member of the Free Will Baptist church. To her and her

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Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine, Part 9

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