USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Biographical review : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Cumberland County, Maine > Part 95
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output of rough and finished lumber. They furnished half a million feet of lumber for the Baxter Block in Portland, and have supplied nearly all the rough lumber used in West- brook during the past two years, besides over one million feet of finished lumber and from two million to three million shingles in a year.
August 20,' 1883, Mr. Webb was married to Miss Isabel Kelsey, daughter of John F. Kel- sey, of Portland. He has no children. In political circles Mr. Webb is highly esteemed as a Republican. He was elected City Clerk in 1892, and is still in office, each succeeding election giving him an increased majority. He is a Mason, belonging to Temple Lodge, No. 86, of Westbrook, and has been through the Blue Lodge, Chapter, and Council; and he is a member of Ivanhoe Lodge, No. 25, Knights of Pythias, of Portland, Me. Mr. and Mrs. Webb attend the Congregational Church of Westbrook.
LINTON M. HAMILTON, who was born December 16, 1856, on Che- beague Island, in the town of Cum- berland, Me., is of Scotch extraction, and the worthy representative of a distin-
guished pioneer of the island. His great- great-grandfather, Ambrose Hamilton, Sr., emigrated from Scotland to America in Colo- nial days. He married Betsey Franzy, and to them were born three sons - Ambrose, Jr. ; Roland; and John. Roland settled on Cousins Island; John on Walnut Hill; and Ambrose, Jr., on Chebeague Island, locating here in 1760, and being the third permanent settler of the island. He and his wife, Deb- orah Soule, were the parents of seven sons and seven daughters; and their grand-children numbered seventy-one.
Their son James, the next in line of descent, born in 1770, was a lifelong resident of Che- beague Island. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, and attained the ripe old age of ninety years. He was twice married, his first wife being Mary Webber, a native of Harpswell, Me., who bore him nine children. After her death he married Sarah Littlefield, who was born and reared on the island. The only child of this union was a daughter, Mrs. David Ross,
who still lives on the island, and has two chil- dren - Fostena and Herbert. Both wives were members of the Methodist church. Mr. James Hamilton in politics was an old-time Whig.
John Hamilton, son of James, was born in 1803. In his younger days he followed the sea, being master of a sloop for many years, and carrying freight, principally stone, from one Maine port to another, although he made several voyages to the West Indies. He after- ward became the owner of several sloops, which he sailed from Portland Harbor. In his later years he retired to his farm, which con- sisted of twenty-five acres of land, all under cultivation. In 1823 he married Mary Hen- ley, daughter of John Henley, of Chebeague Island. Of their eight children, five are now living ; namely, Mrs. Reuben Hill, Benjamin, James M., John, and Jeremiah.
James M. Hamilton, father of Clinton, was born on Chebeague Island in 1832, and has here spent his entire life, being one of the leading men of the place. He has been closely associated with the mercantile and industrial interests of the island, having estab- lished the store now owned by himself and son Clinton, when but twenty years of age. He has taken an active part in the management of town affairs, and for several years served as one of the Selectmen. He married Eunice, daughter of Rufus Soule, of Chebeague Island. Five children were born to them, and of these four are now living, namely : Clinton M., the eldest; Melissa, wife of Joseph A. Brewer, of the island, who has three children - Freder- ick, Gertrude, and Harold; Charles M., whose wife, Elizabeth Hamilton, is the daughter of Henry W. Hamilton, who is of entirely differ- ent stock ; and Bertha, who resides with her parents.
Clinton M. Hamilton was educated at the Greeley Institute in Cumberland and at the Portland Business College. On leaving school he began working for his father, who in 1879 admitted him into an equal partnership, the business having since been conducted under the firm name of Hamilton & Co. They have a general store and carry on an extensive trade in grain and coal; but their specialty is clam bait, which they ship in large quantities to Portland, Boston, and even to foreign coun-
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tries, having sent several lots to Portugal. Their business in this line is very large, often aggregating twelve thousand barrels a year. Mr. Hamilton takes an intelligent interest in everything pertaining to the welfare and prog- ress of his native town, which he has served with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents, in official capacities having been Selectman at various times, and in 1885, 1887, and 1889 having represented the town in the State legislature. In politics he is a straightforward Republican, faithful to his party.
Mr. Hamilton married Addie D., daughter of Isaac Strout, of Limington, Me. They have two children - Marion L., born June 20, 1883; and James C., born February 5, 1892. Mr. Hamilton is a regular attendant of the Methodist church, of which his wife is a valued member.
R OBERT ANDREW CLEAVES is a worthy representative of the native residents of Bridgton, Cumberland County, where he was born July 16, 1832. His father, Thomas Cleaves, was born in Beverly, Essex County, Mass., being a son of Benjamin Cleaves, who emigrated from England to the United States, locating at first in Beverly, Mass., whence he removed to Bridgton, Me., then a part of Massachusetts.
The paternal grandfather of Robert was one of the first white settlers in this locality, com- ing here with his family prior to the time of railways, the long journey being performed on horseback. Portland, the nearest market, was reached in the same manner. Benjamin Cleaves took up a tract of wild land, from which he reclaimed a good farm, although the process was long and tedious. His first dwell- ing was a rude log cabin, but in course of time it was replaced by a substantial frame house, and suitable farm buildings were erected, he being engaged in lumbering and farming until his decease. He married Susan Woodbury, a native of Essex County, Massa- chusetts, and they reared a family of six chil- dren - William, Thomas, Nathan, George, Benjamin, and Mary.
Thomas Cleaves was a young lad when he
came from Beverly to this place, where he subsequently spent the greater part of his life. He remained with his parents until his mar- riage, when he removed to the farm of Lieu- tenant Andrews in South Bridgton, working there eight years; and then he purchased a farm near the old homestead, living there some years. Disposing of that property, he came to the village to live, buying the Judge Carter estate, on which he remained until his death, at the age of fourscore and two years. Sophia Bradstreet, who became his wife, was born in Tunbridge, Vt. She died at the age of seventy-nine years. Five children were born of their union, namely: Robert Andrew; Nathan; Thomas, an attorney by profession, now serving as clerk of the Committee on Ap- propriations in the State Senate; Henry B., now occupying the Gubernatorial chair of this State; and Mary Sophia, wife of W. W. Mason, of Portland.
Robert A. Cleaves acquired a practical edu- cation in the public schools, and at the age of twenty years went to Boston, where he was engaged for some time in mercantile business. Returning to Bridgton, he opened a store for general merchandise, managing this in addi- tion to farming. In 1885 Mr. Cleaves took possession of the homestead property, which he now owns and occupies. He has had three wives. He was first married in 1859 to Miss Louisa Center, of this town, whose death oc- curred in 1864. . He subsequently married Miss llattie J. Nelson, who lived but two years thereafter. His third wife, whose maiden name was Abbie E. Dennett, a native of Bridgton, passed to the other life in 1880, leaving two children - Caroline Walker and Royal Center, the latter of whom is now a student in Bowdoin College.
ILLIAM S. THOMPSON, M.D., an active medical practitioner of Standish, Me,. was born in Kenne- bunk, York County, October 15, 1854, being a son of Melville C. Thompson, who is a native of the same town. His grandfather, William Thompson, who owned and occupied a small farm in Kennebunk, was a lumberman, very expert in the use of his axe, and for some
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years was employed in the shipyard. He was a Republican in politics, and he attended the Free Will Baptist church. He lived to an advanced age, rounding out full eighty-four years. To him and his wife, a native of Wells, Me., whose maiden name was Mary Walton, ten children were born, three of whom are now living, including Melville C., the fifth child.
Melville C. Thompson, born in October, 1825, was reared to manhood in Kennebunk, and there learned the trade of a ship joiner, which he followed for many years. He after- ward established himself in the grocery busi- ness, forming a partnership with Clement Littlefield, continuing this successfully for some time. He finally disposed of his share of the business, and settled on his farm in Kennebunk, where he is still living, contented and prosperous. He is a Republican in poli- tics, and religiously is liberal in his views, belonging to the Unitarian church. He has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was united in 1851, was Caroline, daughter of Calvin Stevens, of Kennebunk. She died in 1854, shortly after the birth of her only child, William S. The father subsequently married Miss Mary A. Locke, of Boston, Mass. The only child of the second marriage, Edwin L., Dr. Thompson's half-brother, born March 31, 1861, married Ella Paine, of Buxton, Me.
William S. Thompson acquired the rudi- ments of his education in the common schools of his native town, his studies being further advanced by attendance at the Biddeford High School, from which he was graduated in 1875. . In September of that year he entercd Dart- mouth College, receiving his bachelor's degree there in 1879, then began the study of medi- cine with Dr. J. E. L. Kimball, of Saco, afterward attending the Portland School for Medical Instruction, and the next winter tak- ing a course of lectures at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, this State. In 1882 he received his degree of M. D. from the Dartmouth Medi- cal School at Hanover, N. H. After spending a short time in his native town, he established himself in practice in Standish, where his pro- fessional knowledge and skill has gaincd for him the confidence of the community.
Dr. Thompson was united in marriage June
23, 1883, with Imogene F. Edgecomb, daugh- ter of Major Edgecomb, of Hiram, Me. Their only child, Ethel C., born September 27, 1886, lived on earth but a brief time, passing to the home above June 18, 1890. The Doctor is a Republican in politics, and for many years has served as a member of the School Committee of this town. Socially, he is prominent in several organizations, belong- ing to Standish Lodge, No. 70, A. F. & A M., of Standish; to Crescent Lodge, No. 20, Knights of Pythias, of this town; and to Watchic Lodge, No. 3333, Knights of Honor, also of Standish. The Doctor and Mrs. Thompson attend the Congregational church.
OSEPH WILSON, of West Gloucester, Cumberland County, Me., is a carpenter by trade, but has spent most of his ac- tive years in farming. He was born in West Gloucester on May 30, 1820, son of Gowen, Jr., and Tanımy (Gower) Wilson.
Gowen Wilson, Sr., the grandfather of Jo- seph, was a native of Falmouth, Me. In early manhood coming thence to West Gloucester, he settled on a farm that he purchased near the Shaker village; and about the same time he united with that body. Later on, however, he removed to Alford, Me., where he contin- ued to reside until his death. Gowen Wilson, Jr., son of the elder Gowen, remained with the Shakers until he was seventeen years old, at which time he left them, and settled on the farm where his son now livcs. He died here in 1854. His wife, Tammy Gower, died in 1 840. Eight children were born of their union, as follows: Harriet, who married G. Thompson (both deceased) ; John, who mar- ried Miss Susan Webber (both deceased) ; Jo- sephus, who married Miss Hannah Hall (both deceased) ; Lucy (deceased), whose husband, Edward Files, now resides in North Ray- mond, Me .; Joseph; Stanley, who married Miss Augusta Boothby, and is living on the old Wilson homestead; Elizabeth; and Mary, the wife of John Files, residing in Gray, Me.
Joseph Wilson received a good practical ed- ucation in the schools of West Gloucester. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-two years old, and during the follow-
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ing five or six years he worked on different farms in that vicinity. After that he learned the trade of a carpenter, and followed that vo- cation with success until 1855, when he pur- chased the farm on which he now resides. It contains one hundred and five acres of good farm land; and his son-in-law, Mr. Carpenter, who now has charge of it, is profitably en- gaged in mixed husbandry, making a specialty of stock raising and the making of butter, which he markets at good prices in Lewiston, Me.
In May, 1855, Mr. Wilson was joined in marriage with Miss Harriet Patterson, who was born in Charleston, Me. Both her par- ents died in her early girlhood. She bore her husband six children, namely: George, who married Miss Amanda Maxwell, and is now living in Wales, Me .; Luella, the wife of Hiram Goodrich, a prosperous farmer of Farm- ington, N. II .; Mary, who married Forest Walker, and resides in South Poland, Me. ; Lucy, who lives with her father, is the wife of Mellen Carpenter, and has one child, Ethel ; Annie, who lived to be but seven months old; and Arthur, who is employed as cook at the Mansion Hotel in Poland Springs, Me. Mrs. Harriet P. Wilson died in 1865, and in 1868 Mr. Wilson married Miss Sarah Lane, of Ray- mond, Me.
In political affiliation Mr. Wilson is a stanch Democrat. He has served his town ac- ceptably in various capacities, among which may be mentioned that of Road Surveyor and School Director for a number of years.
REDERICK SMITH, the well-known agent of the Grand Trunk Railroad in Portland, Me., was born in Ware, Hertfordshire, England, on October 11, 1844, son of George and Anna (Wilson) Smith. His father, who was a native of the same county, and was a business man in Ware, eventually removed to Cookham. He there took a responsible position with Neville Reen & Co., prominent bankers and brewers, with whom he remained until his death, five years later. His wife still lives (1895) in England at the advanced age of eighty-five years. She is a member of the Episcopal church, as was her husband. They had five children.
Frederick, the only one of the family living in America, grew to manhood in his native country. He completed his educational course at Maidenhead, Berkshire County, England, and there began the work of life, occupying a position of trust for one year. He then en- tered the employ of Neville Reen & Co., in the office with his father, where he stayed five years. A year or two after his father's death he came to America, landing at Montreal. In November, 1868, about the time when Ulysses S. Grant was first elected President of the United States, Mr. Smith came to Portland to fill the position of railroad clerk, to which he had been appointed. He was promoted from time to time; and in 1883 he was called to take entire charge of the Grand Trunk inter- ests in this city, which is, with the excep- tion of Quebec, Toronto, and Montreal, the most important of the Grand Trunk stations, as the English steamers make Portland their terminus. This being one of the largest freight roads, its concerns demand the close attention of its agent, who employs an office force of thirty clerks in winter, and over half that number in summer.
Mr. Smith has been a member of the Willis- ton Congregational Church for years; and he belongs to Harmony Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
He married on April 16, 1873, Ella L. Mariam, daughter of Guptall Mariam, an old resident of Portland. They have four chil- dren - George C. H., a graduate of the Port- land High School in the class of 1895; Emily I. ; Marion Louise; and Frederick Harold. Two other children died in infancy. The Smith family live in a beautiful part of the city, at 39 Cushman Street.
RISTRAM NOYES, who occupies the old Noyes homestead in Harrison, Me., was born in the town of Cumberland, on Casco Bay, June 8, 1827, son of William and Phœbe (Stubbs) Noyes. He is a representa- tive of an old and prominent family in Cum- berland County, and is widely known and highly respected for his many excellent qualities.
Mr. Noyes's father, William Noyes, who was a native of Falmouth, Me., was reared to
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farm life, and followed agriculture as an occu- pation during the active period of his life, with the exception of a short time which he passed as a seafaring man in his younger days. In 1843 he moved to Harrison, where he set- tled upon the farm which is now owned by his son Tristram. He improved the property to a considerable extent, and cultivated the farm successfully for the rest of his life, dying April 8, 1860. He was an energetic and hard-working man and a useful member of the community. His wife, Phoebe Stubbs, who was a native of Cumberland, became the mother of five children, as follows: William, who died in New Orleans; Alfred, who is no longer living; Rachel (deceased), who became the wife of Frederick Bibber, of Freeport ; Ephraim, who died in 1876; and Tristram, the subject of this sketch.
Tristram Noyes attended the common schools, and at the age of fifteen commenced life for himself. He worked as a farm laborer for three years, and subsequently followed the sea in the coasting trade for several years. After his marriage he settled upon the home farm, where he engaged in agricultural pur- suits with energy, and has since continued to reside here. His property, which is well im- proved and desirable land, consists of one hundred acres ; and he devotes his attention to the cultivation of hay, potatoes, and sweet corn, and the raising of cattle and sheep. In politics Mr. Noyes is a Democrat.
On November 18, 1849, Mr. Noyes was mar- ried to Harriet Brackett. She was born in Harrison, January 11, 1829, daughter of Walker Brackett, who was an early scttler and a prosperous farmer of Harrison, now de- ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Noyes became the par- ents of six children, namely: Althea, who was born November 14, 1851, and is now the wife of Jesse Howe, of West Paris, Me. ; Elizabeth, who was born September 6, 1853, and died February 24, 1868; Henry W., who was born April 10, 1857, and died August 20, 1859; William H., who was born April 20, 1860, married Hattie C. Pike, and is now re- siding at the homestead; Annie E., who was born May 27, 1863, and died April 11, 1867; and Alice G., who was born March 15, 1869. Mrs. Noyes died October 10, 1887.
ON. EDWARD HARDING, of Gor- ham, Me., an eminently successful merchant tailor, was born in Gor- ham, January 10, 1841, son of Charles and Eliza Ann (Bailey) Harding. He is of English descent, the first representatives of his family in this country settling in the vicinity of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Mr. Harding's grandfather, Nicholas Har- ding, after engaging for some time in tilling the soil on the Cape, removed to Gorham, Cumberland County, Mc., where he cleared and cultivated a farm. He was a well-read man, and taught school in the vicinity of Gor- ham and Scarboro. He left a fair property at the time of his death, his farm comprising one hundred and twenty acres. Grandfather Hard- ing married successively two sisters named Bacon, and reared six children - William, Charles, Colman, Lucy, Mary, and Edward.
Charles Harding, the second son, was born on his father's farm in Gorham. He also taught for a while in Gorham and Scarboro, and then learned the mason's trade, becoming a first-class workman. He followed this call- ing up to the time of his death, and many samples of his skill and thoroughness in build- ing are standing to-day in Gorham and vicinity. His first vote was cast in the ranks of the Democratic party; but at the time of the war he joined the Republicans, with whom he was ever after affiliated. His wife was a daughter of Levi Bailey, of Westport, Me. They reared seven children, namely: Charles, who died at the age of sixteen; Edward, the subject of this sketch; Walter, who assists in his brother's coat shop; George, who for years was cutter in the wholesale clothing house of J. Peavey & Brothers, Boston, was first Presi- dent of the Cutters' Union, and died in his forty-ninth year from heart disease, November 9, 1895 ; Emeline, wife of Eben Elder, for- merly of Gorham, now of Lowell, Mass. ; Marion, wifc of Captain John C. Summer- sides, of Gorham; and Carrie, wife of Levi Hull, formerly of Gorham, now of Chelsea.
Edward Harding was educated in the com- mon schools and the academy at Gorham. He learned the mason's trade of his father, and when sixteen years of age went to Boston to work as a journeyman mason, returning home
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in about a year. When the war broke out he enlisted in Company K, Twenty-fifth Maine Regiment, under the command of Colonel Frank Fessenden, now of Portland, and was assigned to the defence of Washington. He enlisted for nine months, and when his term of service was finished returned home and learned the tailor's trade, working as a cutter for about a year. On September 10, 1865, he started in business in a small way; and his trade has increased to such an extent that he now finishes from twenty-five thousand to thirty thousand coats a year, besides other gar- ments, and gives employment to five hundred persons. He has filled contracts for many Boston firms, including Isaac Fenno and the Standard Clothing Company, and regularly supplies Leopold Morse & Co. and Peavey Brothers of Boston, and Milliken, Cousins & Short, of Portland. A practical tailor himself, Mr. Harding thoroughly understands all the details of his business; and to his knowledge and judgment, as well as his business ability, his remarkable success is attributable.
In 1868 Mr. Harding was married to Miss Carleton, daughter of Caleb Carleton, of Pel- ham, N. H. A few years after her marriage she passed to the world beyond, joining her only child, who died in infancy; and in 1872 Mr. Harding was united to Mrs. Putnam, of Salem, Mass., a widow, who had one son by her previous marriage. This son, Edward F. Putnam, is one of the head salesmen of Cum- ner, Jones & Co., of Boston, and has distin- guished himself as a politician, serving as President of the Common Council of Chelsea, Mass., and as a member of the Republican State Committee of Massachusetts.
Mr. Harding, though a member of a Demo- cratic family, is a Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. In 1884 he was elected to the House of Representatives and served until 1887; and he was in the Senate in 1888-89, and renomi- nated by acclamation, but refused to serve. He always attended to the town interests, and was active in securing appropriations. During his last year he was a member of the Finance Committee and also of the Insurance Commit- tee, of which he was Chairman. He has been .Commander and is now Past Commander of
John R. Adams Post, No. 101, Grand Army of the Republic, of Gorham; was made a Mason when twenty-one years of age, joining Temple Lodge, No. 86, A. F. & A. M., of Westbrook; is Trustee of Gorham Lodge, No. 98, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and has been Chancellor of Dirigo Lodge, No. 21, Knights of Pythias, of Gorham. Mr. and Mrs. Harding are active members of the Con- gregational church, toward whose support Mr. Harding generously contributes.
ANIEL W. ROUNDS, M.D., a young physician in active practice in the town of Naples, Me., was born in Baldwin, Cumberland County, Me., April 22, 1867, and is the son of George and Clarinda (Vaughn) Rounds. He was reared in the village of East Baldwin, and there in the district school made his first ac- quaintance with books. He entered Lexing- ton Academy at the age of sixteen, and after- ward he took a course of study in the Baldwin High School. In 1887 he entered Bowdoin College; and after two years of study in the medical department he went to New York City and completed his training at Bellevue, gradu- ating in 1891. He commenced his profes- sional work in East Baldwin, where he re- mained a year, and in 1892 located his office in Naples. Though Dr. Rounds has been in practice but a short time, he has clearly demonstrated that he is well qualified for the work he has undertaken; and his visiting list is steadily increasing.
Dr. Rounds was married February 2, 1892, to Miss Mary M. Hubbard, a native of Mitch- ell County, Kansas. One child brightens their home, a promising boy named Fred H. Dr. Rounds has officiated as Supervisor of Schools in Naples for two years. He is a member of one fraternal organization, the Knights of Pythias.
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