USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine > Part 92
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ENRY J. MERRILL, who has been successfully engaged in educational work in Falmouth during the past twenty years, is a native of Fal- mouth, born August 20, 1854, son of Jacob Jewett and Emily (Hall) Merrill. He is of English ancestry, and comes of old Colonial stock. John and Nathaniel Merrill, the first representatives of the family in America, were early settlers of Newbury, Mass., the former being made freeman in 1640. Abel Merrill, born in 1644, son of Nathaniel, married in 1671 Priscilla Chase, daughter of Aquila Chase. James Merrill, their youngest son, was born at Newbury on January 27, 1689.
After James Merrill had grown to manhood and taken upon himself the duties of life, he left his Newbury home and went to Stratham, N. H., and thence to Falmouth, Me., in 1738 or 1739, being the first of the family to settle in this section. He was married at Newbury, Mass., November 23, 1714, to Miss Mary Adams, a daughter of Sargeant Abraham and Mary (Pettingill) Adams, of that place. Four of their children were born in Newbury, Mass., five at Stratham, N. H., and two in Falmouth, of whom Silas, the great-grand- father of Henry J., was the eleventh and youngest. Silas Merrill was twice married, his first wife being Miss Susannah Knight, by whom he had one child. For his second wife he married Miss Hannah Matthews. Twelve children were born of this union, of whom Samuel is the next in line of descent. H learned the trade of a shipwright, and fol- lowed that occupation with success throughout his life. Samuel Merrill married Miss Lu- cretia Patrick, of Falmouth, Me. ; and five children were born of their union, all of whom have passed away. In religious views he was a Congregationalist, and at the formation of the Second Congregational Church of Fal- mouth he transferred his membership to it from the First Parish Congregational Church.
Jacob Jewett Merrill was a son of Samuel and Lucretia Merrill. He chose the life of an agriculturist, and his labors in that field of work were crowned with success. His mar- riage with Miss Emily Hall was a congenial and happy one, and of the five children born to them four are now living. The record is
as follows: Hulda H. and Lucretia (twins) ; Henry J. ; Frederick W. and Julia F. (twins), the latter now deceased. Their father was not especially interested in public affairs, but spent his time in looking after his farms, of which he owned three. The home place is now carried on by his son, Frederick W. Mer- rill. In political views Mr. Jacob J. Merrill was a Republican, and he was an active mem- ber and faithful worker in the Second Congre- gational Church of Falmouth.
Henry J. Merrill acquired his education in the public schools and academy of Falmouth. After leaving school in 1874 he engaged in teaching, and with the exception of one season, in 1876, when he taught at the Cape Eliza- beth Grammar School, and another, in 1890, when he was an instructor in the Greely In- stitute of Cumberland, Me., he has been a teacher in the Falmouth schools. In Decem- ber, 1888, he was married to Miss Nellie W. Tewksbury, the only daughter of the late E. M. Tewksbury, of Falmouth. They have buried their only child.
In political affiliation Mr. Merrill is a Re- publican. In the winters of 1891-93 he was in the custom service as inspector of English steamers entering the port of Portland. He served as Selectman in 1881; and from that year until the present he has been a member of the School Board, and during the greater part of the time he has served as Supervisor. He is now one of the Board of Selectmen, and also one of the Assessors. About 1877 Mr. Merrill became a member of the Ancient Brothers' Lodge, No. 4, of Portland, but after- ward left that to become presiding officer of Presumpscot Lodge, No. 91, of Falmouth. After holding that office one term, he became installing officer of this district, and served as such for two years. He is also a member of Machigonne Encampment, No. I, of Port- land. Mr. Merrill is a communicant of the Congregational church.
HARLES B. HARLOW, a well- known and highly esteemed citizen of of the town of Harrison, Me., resid- ing at Bolster's Mills, and a vet- eran of the Civil War, was born in Canton,
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Oxford County, Me., February 7, 1824, son of Colonel William and Lydia (Billings) Harlow.
Mr. Harlow's father was born in Buckfield, Me., March 10, 1793, and in young manhood learned the carpenter's trade. He afterward engaged in mercantile pursuits, ran a ferry and kept a public house; but in his latter years he settled upon a farm in Waterford, Me., where he passed the rest of his life. He was an able business man and a stanch pa- triot, having served as a soldier in the War of 1812; and he held a Colonel's commission in the State militia for many years. In his po- litical views he was a Democrat. Colonel
Ilarlow died January 7, 1873. His wife, Lydia Billings, who was a native of Dublin, N. H., died in Waterford, December 23, 1868. They had but one child, Charles B., the sub- ject of this sketch. Both parents were mem- bers of the Universalist church.
Charles B. Harlow was educated in the pub- lic schools, and resided at home until reaching the age of eighteen. He then began life for himself by working in a brickyard in Danvers, Mass., where he remained a short time, and later went to Boston, where he engaged in teaming for three years. For the succeeding eight years he was employed as foreman for Samuel H. Pratt, a truckman; and on leaving that position he joined the Boston police force, with which he served for five or six years. On September 15, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company K, Twenty-third Regiment, Maine Volunteers, for nine months' service in the Civil War; and while on picket duty at Edward's Ferry he contracted chills and fever and rheumatism, from which he has never fully recovered. In 1877 he moved to Otisfield, where he settled upon the old Har- low place, which was the home of his present wife's family, and after a residence there of eleven years he in 1888 moved to his pres- ent home at Bolster's Mills. Since 1885 he has suffered much from rheumatism, and he and his wife pass their winters in Massachu- setts. Mr. Harlow is a Republican in poli- tics, and is a comrade of General Logan Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Harrison village.
Mr. Harlow has been twice married. His
first wife, to whom he was married on April 17, 1848, was Adeline Welch, who was born in Maine, March 12, 1828, and died September - 15, 1876, leaving no children. On February 14, 1877, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Charlotte J. Emery, born in Harlow, widow of Thomas E. Emery, of Buckfield Centre, Me., who died December 17, 1866. Mrs. Harlow is a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Peabody) Harlow, the former of whom was a native of Gorham, Me., and a prosperous farmer and carpenter through life. He died September 11, 1862, his wife, who was born in Tops- field, Mass., surviving till 1886. They were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom grew to maturity, and three are now living, namely: Charlotte J., who is now Mrs. Harlow; William F., who married Emelia Bailey for his first wife, and Mary Temple for his second, and now resides in Lewiston, Me. ; and Henry S., who married Rose Lowell, and is now engaged in farming in Kansas.
By her first marriage Mrs. Harlow had five children, as follows: Jennie M, who married Albert W. Bolster, and died leaving three children, two of whom are living - namely, Walter E. and Lottie M. ; Addie M., who married for her
first husband Volney Barker, a former inventor of Otisfield, and for her second Dr. J. L. Wisley, of Nashua, and has one son by her first union, named Percy L. ; Walter A., who married Hattie Foster, and is now in the leather business in Brock- ton, Mass., having two children - Addie M. and Maude L. ; Clarence V., who died at the age of twenty-one; and William H., who mar- ried Nellie S. Coley, is engaged in business in Boston, and has three sons - Theodore G., Carlisle, and Stanley L.
EORGE B. PENNEY, a successful agriculturist of New Gloucester, where his family will long be re- membered, as Penney Road was named in honor of his grandfather, was born in this Cumberland County town on November 27, 1837, son of Joseph and Betsey (Blake) Penney.
Joseph Penney was also a native of New
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Gloucester, where at an early age he became familiar with the various labors connected with farming. He followed that occupation up to the time of his death, which occurred in January, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Blake were the parents of seven children, namely: Charlotte, the widow of F. B. Walker, residing in New Gloucester; James, who died at eighteen years of age; George B. ; Caroline (deceased) ; Jeannette, who lived to be ten years old; Asenath Jennie (deceased), who married Edmund Shaw, of Portland; and Alva, who is married and lives in Chelsea, Me. Each of the children received a good common-school education. George B. Penney attended school until he was fifteen years of age, and then took up the active duties of life, carrying on the home farm during the declining years of his parents. He is now the owner of this place, which contains one hundred acres of well-improved land that yields good returns in hay, grain, and vege- tables, and is also partly devoted to the rais- ing of stock.
On December 22, 1861, Mr. Penney was joined in marriage with Miss Sarah J. Wey- mouth, who was born in New Gloucester on September 17, 1843. Her parents (now de- ceased) were David and Mary A. (Bailey) Weymouth. Her father followed the vocation of a farmer with success. A son and daughter have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Penney, namely : Herbert D., a machinist, who married Miss Ellen Witham, and is now living in Westboro, Mass. ; and Gertrude G., a teacher in the town of Durham, Me.
In political affiliations Mr. Penney has always been a Republican. For a number of years he served very acceptably as Highway Surveyor in New Gloucester. He and his wife are communicants of the Baptist church, and actively interested in the work of that re- ligious organization.
RANK M. TUFTS, who has recently purchased the farm in New Gloucester on which he resides, is well known as a man of energy and practical business ability, his present property being the outcome of honest toil. He was born in New Gloucester,
Cumberland County, Me., on March 23, 1868, and is a son of Nathaniel G. and Annie (Har- mon) Tufts.
Nathaniel G. Tufts is still a resident of New Gloucester. He is a farmer and a man of enterprise, owning and operating a large cider-mill. His wife, Annie Harmon, is a native of Brunswick, Me. Six children have been born into their household, as follows : James Albert, a prosperous farmer of New Gloucester, who married a Miss Dutton, of Gray; Elizabeth Frances, the wife of W. L. Merrill, a farmer living near North Gray ; Annie Viola, residing in Lewiston, Me. ; Frank M. ; Nathaniel Bennett, at home with his father; and Emma Brazier (deceased).
Frank M. Tufts received a good practical edu- cation in the common schools of New Glouces- ter. He remained with his parents until he attained his majority, and then engaged in farming in his native town for a year. After his marriage he spent his summers in running a road machine, and in the winter engaged in the lumber business, following up that plan of work until 1894, when he purchased his pres- ent farm of one hundred and ten acres. Dur- ing the past year his principal products were hay, corn, and grain; but in the near future he intends to devote considerable of his time and attention to stock raising.
On September 13, 1890, he was married to Miss Eliza J. Ward, a daughter of J. H. Ward. Their union has been blessed by the birth of three children, all living, as follows: Warren Ward, Clifton Russell, and Everett Gordon. Mr. Tufts has always been a faithful adherent of the Democratic party. He and his wife are active and influential members of the Baptist church of New Gloucester.
REEMAN H. PIKE conducts a gen- eral mercantile business at Bolster's Mills in the town of Otisfield, Me. He was born in this village on December 20, 1846, son of Joseph S. and Hominy B. (Jackson) Pike. Mr. Pike's father was a native of Cor- nish, Me. He learned the trade of a shoe- maker, an occupation which he followed through life in connection with farming. He was an industrious man and a useful citizen.
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He died in April, 1873. His wife, Hominy B. Jackson, who was born in Naples, Me., died August 29, 1877. They had six chil- dren, as follows: William H., who enlisted in September, 1861, as a private in Company G, Tenth Regiment Infantry, Maine Volun- teers, and died in Lynchburg, Va., in July, 1862, while a prisoner of war; I. R. Pike, who died at the age of eighteen; George J., who died at the age of twenty-one; Freeman H., the subject of this sketch; Maria H., who died at the age of sixteen years; and Laura M., who married Irving Keene, a prosperous farmer of Otisfield, and has two children, named lrene and Fluta.
Freeman H. Pike was educated in the com- mon schools of his native town and at the Bridgton Academy. He taught school for eight years, or until 1871, when he became Assistant Superintendent of the Reform School in Jamesburg, N. J., where he remained for a time. On his return to Maine he secured a position as clerk in a store in Norway, Ox- ford County, later accepting a more lucrative situation as book-keeper and clerk for a Port- land firm. After retiring from that position, he engaged in farming at Bolster's Mills for some two or three years; and for the succeed- ing four years he manufactured clothing for a Boston firm. He bought eighty acres of land, which he cultivated with good results, and in 1891 he purchased his present store in Harri- son, where he has since conducted a general mercantile business with ability and success, his energy and enterprise having been re- warded with the liberal patronage of the pub- lic. He carries a large and varied stock of general merchandise, such as is usually kept in a first-class country store.
On July 6, 1876, Mr. Pike was married to Oledia Bennett. She was born in Naples, Me., November 16, 1840, daughter of Colonel Joseph and Lydia B. (Wolcott) Bennett, the former of whom was for many years an officer of the State militia. He went to California in 1849, and died there in 1858. His wife died in Naples in 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Pike have one son, Joseph Bennett, who was born May 24, 1877, and is now attending Hebron Academy.
Although Mr. Pike's business is located
upon the Harrison side of the river, he still continues to reside in the town of Otisfield. Mr. and Mrs. Pike are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Re- publican, and supports that party with activity. He is a member of Cumberland Lodge, No. 30, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Bridgton ; Crooked River Lodge, No. 32; and of the Grange at Bolster's Mills.
BEN SNOW, of New Gloucester, Cumber- land County, Me., the proprietor of the Plummer farm, as it is familiarly known, combines with his agricultural pur- suits the vocation of a carpenter, in both of which he displays good judgment and practical ability. He was born in New Gloucester on December 27, 1855, son of Seth P. and Sarah P. (Penney) Snow.
Seth P. Snow was also a native of this town, where throughout his active life he was suc- cessfully engaged in farming. He died here on October 11, 1894. His wife, Sarah. P. Penney, bore him nine children, a brief record of whom is as follows: Rose, born September 21, 1849, married Charles Christian, and they are now living in Auburn, Me. ; Charles A., born January 30, 1851, died August 30, 1863; Annie S., born April 12, 1852, is the wife of Joseph R. Stewart, of West Farmington, Me. ; Simeon W., born August 15, 1854, is a shoe cutter by vocation and resides in Norway, Me. ; Eben, who is further mentioned below, is the fourth child; Makeda, born September 12, 1857, married Lewellyn A. Jackson, of Strong, Franklin County, who has charge of a section of the railroad there; Alice M., born September 12, 1859, died February 1, 1879; Scott, born July 7, 1861, married Miss Alice Stoddard, and is living in New Gloucester : and Willis, born July 21, 1863, who married Miss Etta Royal, is a shoe cutter by trade, and lives in Freeport, Me. Mrs. Snow died on February 9, 1894, about eight months prior to her husband's decease.
Until sixteen years of age Eben Snow remained on the old homestead with his parents. He then started out to gain his own livelihood, and began by working on a farm, but subsequently went to Westbrook, Me.,
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where he learned the trade of a butcher, which he followed until May 1, 1888. After his marriage he purchased his present farm in New Gloucester. It contains fifty-thrce acres of land; and he carries on general farming with excellent results, making hay, corn, and small grains his principal products.
On May 1, 1888, Mr. Snow was joined in marriage with Miss Abbie A. Thurlow, of Ray- mond, Me., a daughter of Peter and Sabrina (Adams) Thurlow. Her father, who followed the occupation of a farmer throughout his life, died in Raymond on March 13, 1890. Mrs. Thurlow resides with her daughter.
In political views Mr. Snow is an adherent of the Republican party. He is a member of Pennesseewassee Lodge, No. 18, Knights of Pythias, of Norway, Me. He and his wife are regular attendants of the Baptist Church of New Gloucester.
ANIEL C. SMITH, who is success- fully engaged in the grocery, grain, and flour business in Casco village, Me., was born in Otisfield, Me., February 15, 1823, son of Jonathan and Catherine (Weston) Smith, both of whom were natives of Otisfield.
Jonathan Smith conducted a general farming and lumber business in Otisfield, where he spent his life. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Weston, bore him nine chil- dren, of whom only two are now living - Daniel C. and Ira. The others were: Mary who married John Edwards, of Otisfield (both deceased) ; Willoughby, who married Miss Jane Otis (both deceased) ; John, who married Miss Labina Stone (both deceased) ; William C., whose first wife was Deborah Holden, his second Abbie Holden (all deceased) ; Sarah, who became the wife of Joseph Rawley, of Massachusetts (both deceased) ; Margaret, who married Otis Newcomb (both deceased) ; and James W., who died in 1860. Ira Smith, a resident of Otisfield, married Miss Almira Winslow. During the Civil War he was in one of the Maine regiments of brave soldiers that fought at the battle of the Wilderncss, where he was injured. He is now blind.
Daniel C. Smith remained at home until
eighteen years of age, the early years of his boyhood being spent in acquiring an education. On starting out for himself, he engaged in the lumber and mill business, which he followed successively in Naples, Otisfield, Harrison, and Casco, towns of Cumberland County. He engaged quite extensively in buying and selling timber and timber land, and in his younger days he also engaged in carpentry and mason work. Since his mar - riage he has dealt in horses. On May 20, 1875, he purchased of James Jipson the place where he now lives, including besides the dwelling thirty acres of land and the store. This he stocked with a line of groceries, grain, and flour, and now has a large and well- established business.
On July 4, 1855, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Mrs. Julia A. (Simmons) Jor- dan, a daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth Sim- mons. Mr. Simmons was born in Denmark, and his wife in Casco, Me. He followed farming, was also engaged in mill business to some extent, and was a Captain in the State militia. Mr. and Mrs. Smith, having no chil- dren of their own, adopted two of her nephews, Frederick and James Nutting. The lads were given a good education, and when old enough they assisted their foster-father in such work as they were able. Both have now gone out in the world for themselves - James living in Norway village, Me., and Frederick in Boston, Mass.
In political principles Mr. Smith is a Den- ocrat, and he has always been an active worker for that party. Probably no man in Casco has had the interests of the town more at heart than Mr. Smith, and that he holds the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens is evidenced by the fact that he has many times been elected to positions of responsibility and trust. He was Selcctman for a long term and Chairman of the Board for a number of years. For eight years he held the position of Town Clerk, and he has for a long time served on the School Committee. His success in life is the result of personal endeavor and strict attention to business.
The flag known as the "Palmetto Tree," . which Mr. Smith took from twenty-two men at Edes Falls, in the town of Naples, is still in his possession.
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AVID EDWARDS, one of the repre- sentative farmers of Raymond, where he owns a large farm, on which he has resided during the past forty years, is a native of Poland, Me., the date of his birth being July 2, 1834. His parents were Ephraim and Margaret (Brown) Edwards.
Ephraim Edwards was born in Otisfield, Me., whence he afterward removed to Casco; and still later he settled in the town of Poland, where he spent his last years. He followed the occupation of a farmer throughout his life. His wife, Margaret Brown, was a native of Raymond. Nine children were the fruit of their union, as follows: William, now a suc- cessful farmer of New Gloucester, who married Miss Ann Elwell; Asa, living in Casco, who married Miss Lydia Tripp; Joshua (deceased) ; Juliet (deceased), who married Joseph Brown, of Minot Corners, Me. ; Jonas, who married Miss Abigail Brown, and lives in Poland, Me. ; Ephraim (deceased) ; Dennis, residing at Freeport, Me., who married for his first wife Miss Nancy Butters, and for his second wife Miss Sarah Temmas; David; and Isaac, who lives in Windham, Me. Isaac Edwards has been three times married. The maiden name of his first wife was Emeline Bragdon ; of his second, Mittie Lamb; and of his present wife, Altha Wakefield.
David Edwards received a common-school education. At fifteen years of age he en- gaged to work on his brother Jonas's farm in Raymond, where he remained for three years. After his marriage he purchased a farm near the town of Gray, but he lived there only a year before he sold that property and pur- chased the place on which he now resides. It contains three hundred and fifty acres of land, a good proportion of which he has brought into an excellent state of cultivation. He is engaged in general farming and dairying, and his choice butter finds a ready sale in the home market.
He was married on February 19, 1853, to Miss Eunice Small, who was born in Ray- mond, December 26, 1832, a daughter of George and Johan (Tripp) Small. Her father was a farmer, and both her parents died in Raymond. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have had seven children, namely: Harrison, who mar-
ried Miss Flora Rowe, and lives in New Gloucester, this county; Charles, who mar- ried Miss Ollie Tarbox, and resides in Malden, Mass. ; Walter, who married Miss Carrie Ayers, and is also a resident of Malden ; Anna, who is now on a trip through the United States; Lizzie, the wife of Albert G. Strout, of Raymond; Emma, who married Nathan G. Hatch, and lives in East Bridge- water, Mass. ; and Fred, who lives with his parents. Fred Edwards married for his first wife Miss Montie Fobie, and after her death married Miss Rosie Edwards.
In political views Mr. Edwards favors the Democratic party. He has served his town acceptably as Road Surveyor. His comfort- able property has been acquired by his careful personal attention to the details of his farm work, combined with sound judgment in mat- ters of business. Mr. Edwards and his family are attendants of the Baptist church, which is but a short distance from his home.
HARLES E. GLEASON, an active and enterprising young business man of Bridgton, Cumberland County, is a native of this town, the date of his entrance upon the stage of life being Octo- ber 5, 1862. His father was born in 1834 in Union, Knox County. In 1858 he came to Bridgton, having accepted a position in the Cumberland Mills, of which he was afterward the overseer, an office which he faithfully filled until his demise in 1892. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Gibbs, three children were born ; namely, Charles E., George E., and William S., the latter of whom died in 1894.
Charles E. Gleason was educated in the public schools of his native town, of which he has been a permanent resident. Having de- cided upon a mercantile career, he entered the employment of Frank Gibbs as a clerk, and was thus engaged from 1880 until 1884, receiv- ing an excellent training for his present busi- ness. In 1884 Mr. Gleason opened a grocery store in this village, and here built up a pros- perous trade, the increasing demands of which soon necessitated larger quarters. Accord- ingly, in 1888, Mr. Gleason erected the
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