USA > Maine > Oxford County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 75
USA > Maine > Franklin County > Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine > Part 75
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Franklin Porter, of Paris, Me. ; and Julia E., residing in Paris.
Mr. and Mrs. Bird had no children. Since her husband's death on August 15, 1884, Mrs. Bird has continued to carry on the farm, keep- ing it up to its former high standard. She has a dairy of from fifteen to twenty cows, mostly grade Jerseys; and, besides carrying on general farming, she gives considerable atten- tion to fruit culture. She is a communicant of the Baptist church at Paris Hill, of which her husband was also a member. In political affiliation Mr. Bird was a Republican.
RANK A. SHURTLEFF, a well- known druggist of South Paris, Oxford County, was born in Portland, Me., July 22, 1863, son of Alonzo E. and Hannah (Tribou) Shurtleff. The first ancestor of the family in this country was William Shurtleff, who in the early part of the seventeenth cen -. tury emigrated from England, and settled in Plymouth, Mass. The record shows that in 1634 he was apprenticed to one Thomas Clark, to learn the carpenter's trade. He later married Elizabeth Lettice, and moved to Marshfield, Mass. At this early period the family name was spelled "Shettle," and later "Shirtly," finally assuming its present form.
From William Shurtleff, first, the line of descent is continued through William, second, Thomas, and Jonathan, who married Eliza- beth Leach, to Simeon, first, who was born in Middleboro, Mass., June 23, 1758, was a farmer, and became an early settler of Nor- way, Me. He and his wife, Submit King- man, had a son, Alva, who was born in Norway, this county, May 30, 1786, and who married Anna Shaw, a daughter of Abner Shaw.
Their son, Simeon, second, grandfather of Frank A. Shurtleff, was born in Paris, Oxford County, Me., September 2, 1810. When a young man, he purchased a small farm in Megalloway, Me., which he carried on until 1845, when he sold it, and went to Paris Hill. After a short residence there he removed to Portland, where he engaged in trucking, and also conducted a coal and wood yard, until he finally retired from business. He died at the
age of eighty-two years. He was three times married. His first wife, Lydia, a daughter of Joshua Lombard, died at the early age of twenty-one years, leaving one child, Alonzo E. His second wife, who was by maiden name Harriet Adams, bore him three children - Jennie, Almira, and Diana. After her death, which occurred March 4, 1844, he mar- ried Hannah Hathaway. She died July 19, 1884.
Alonzo E. Shurtleff, son of Simeon and Lydia Shurtleff, was born in Megalloway, Me., January 15, 1833. He received his edu- cation in the Paris and Hebron Academies, and at the early age of eleven years began to work as a farm hand for his board and clothes. After being thus employed for two years, he learned the shoemaker's trade, working with his uncle, Alvah Shurtleff, and followed it subsequently for a short time. He then went to Portland, where he engaged in teaming, and later purchased his father's business, which he carried on for about twelve years. At the expiration of that time he sold out the busi- ness, and came to South Paris, to take charge of the packing department of the Paris Flour Mills, subsequently becoming superintendent of the custom department, which latter posi- tion he still holds. Shortly after coming here he purchased the Hamlin property, 36 Main Street, and enlarged and remodelled the house. In 1885 it was destroyed by fire; but the following year he replaced it with a new and commodious residence, enlarged the barn, beautified the grounds, and otherwise improved the property into a handsome and valuable estate.
He is a Democrat in politics, and has served for several years as Constable and Chief Engineer of the fire department. He is a member of Mount Mica Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. By his wife, Han- nah, whom he married November 5, 1854, and who is a daughter of Adna and Hannah (Kinsley) Tribou, he has had four children, namely: Emma E., born September 1, 1855, now a teacher; Ida M., born August 20, 1858; Frank A., the special subject of this sketch; and Arthur K., born July 12, 1881.
Frank A. Shurtleff, the elder of the two sons, after acquiring his education at the
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South Paris Institute and the Oxford Normal School, applied himself to learn the drug busi- ness, first working four years for A. M. Gerry. He then went to Portland, where he was employed for a similar length of time in the drug store of A. S. Hines. In 1887 he established himself in business in South Paris, opening in Market Square the largest and best appointed drug store in Oxford County. He carries a large and select stock of drugs, patent medicines, chemicals, toilet articles, druggists' sundries, stationery, school sup- plies, and sporting goods, and has built up an excellent trade. He is a registered apothe- cary, the prescription department being under his personal supervision ; and he employs two able assistants.
On October 29, 1889, Mr. Shurtleff was united in marriage with Laura Clifford, a daughter of Charles Clifford. Mrs. Shurtleff died November 23, 1891, leaving one son, Stanley, who was born November 16, 1891. Mr. Shurtleff is very popular socially. He is connected with Mount Mica Lodge, No. 17, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Hamlin Lodge, No. 31, Knights of Pythias; and with the Order of the Golden Cross. Politically, he affiliates with the Republican party; and he is now Town Treasurer. He is a member of the Congregational church.
2 EORGE E. TUBBS, of the firm of C. N. Tubbs & Co., Norway, Me., large dealers in general merchandise and groceries, was born here June 30, 1851, son of Orrin and Elizabeth (Horr) Tubbs. He is a great-grandson of Jacob Tubbs, born in Bingham, Somerset County, Me., who was one of the first settlers on Lee's grant in Nor- way, receiving his deed direct from Mr. Lee. He came from Hebron to Norway about the year 1795. He married Miss Jemima Church- ill, by whom he had six children - Jacob J., Charles, Angier, Sally, Hannah, and Samuel.
Angier Tubbs, born in Hebron, January 18, 1785, removed to Norway with his parents ; and, when he started out in life for himself, he purchased land here, and cleared a good farm. He married Miss Philena Packard, and they were the parents of nine children; namely,
James, Eunice, Charles, Jacob, Philena, Mary Ann, Orrin, Mary Ann, and Nathan N.
Orrin Tubbs, whose birth occurred Febru- ary 12, 1822, when a young man went to Gor- ham, N.H., and engaged in the dry-goods business, which he followed for a number of years, becoming a leading citizen of that town. At length he sold out his business in Gorham, and removed to Norway, where he became a partner in the firm of C. N. Tubbs & Co. He married Miss Elizabeth Horr.
Their son, George E. Tubbs, whose name appears at the head of this sketch, completed his education in the Gorham and Bethel Acad- emies. He was employed as a clerk in his father's store up to 1882, when he opened a hardware store, which he conducted success- fully until 1893. Then, coming to Norway, he . entered the firm of C. N. Tubbs & Co., who do a thriving and profitable business. On June 6, 1882, Mr. Tubbs was joined in mar- riage with Miss Izah Alma Millett, who was born on February 7, 1861. Three children have been born to them, namely: George Millett, with whom they were called to part when he was but twenty months old; Homer Deane, whose birth was on June 18, 1889; and Dorothy Horr, born October 11, 1891.
Mrs. Tubbs is a daughter of Solomon I. and Harriet (Porter) Millett. Her father, born April 12, 1816, son of Solomon Millett, is a grandson of John and Martha (Sawyer) Mil- lett, and great-grandson of John Millett, Jr. John Millett, Sr., father of John, Jr., was a son of Thomas Millett, and a grandson of Thomas Millett, Sr., who was born in Eng- land in 1605, and was the founder of the family in America. He crossed the Atlantic in 1635, and settled first in Dorchester, Mass. Later he was a teaching elder in the church in Gloucester. In 1676 he and his wife and one child were killed by the Indians in Brook- field, Mass.
John Millett, Jr., was born in Gorham, June 12, 1767, whence he came to Norway in 1789, and with his brother Solomon purchased one thousand acres of wild land, much of which they cleared and divided. Solomon Millett, son of John and Martha (Sawyer) Millett, was born in Norway, January 7, 1793. He served an apprenticeship as clothier, and
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subsequently went into business for himself near where the Opera House now stands, manufacturing flannel and other woollen cloths. He finally retired to a farm inherited from his father, living there until his death, at eighty years of age. Solomon I. Millett, son of Solomon Millett, received a limited common-school education ; and at twenty-three years of age he went to Boston, in the employ of Frederick Pope. His business was han- dling pianofortes for the different factories in Boston and vicinity, and this he followed with profit until 1849. In February of that year, with a party of Boston boys, he took passage on a vessel for Aspinwall, from there he crossed over on foot to Panama, and three weeks later he took the Scotch brig "Colonia" from Panama to San Francisco, the passage from Boston to the Golden Gate occupying five months, in which he visited many ports. From San Francisco he went by way of Sacra- mento direct to the mines on the American River, where he engaged in mining, spending the rainy season in Sacramento. He met with alternate success and loss, but on the whole had a substantial balance on hand. When the spring came, with the new arrival of Boston boys, he went to spend the summer on Trin- ity River; but, not being satisfied with the Trinity, he was one of a party of nine who crossed over to the Shasta River. Here, they all became dissatisfied except himself ; and he sent back for his old partner, Robert Parkin, of Boston, and they remained through the season, and made a fair thing.
Closing his summer work, he returned to Sacramento, where he met his old employer, Mr. Pope; and together with Parkin and Pope he located at Mokelumne Hill, where they spent the winter. The spring following, Mr. Pope being taken sick, Millett returned to Boston with him, and remained about two months, then returning to Mokelumne Hill with J. S. Millett and A. F. Jackson. He re- mained in the mines about two and a half years, and then, returning once more to Bos- ton, took up his former occupation. Two years later he sold out, and came to Norway, and purchased the old Nathaniel Bennett farm of two hundred and fifty acres, and another tract of one hundred and fifty acres, making a
four-hundred-acre farm, which he carried on successfully, and also dealt quite extensively in cattle up to 1885. At that time he pur- chased the Major H. W. Millett house and lot, at the corner of Main Street and Paris Avenue, where he now resides. He also owns two tenement houses.
His wife, Harriett (Porter) Millett, to whom he was married February 22, 1857, was born August 20, 1823, being the daughter of John and Eunice (Hicks) Porter, of Paris. Her father was engaged in farming and car- pentry. Mr. and Mrs. Millett have had three children, namely: Alice, born February 24, 1859, who died January 8, 1873; Izah A., Mrs. Tubbs; E. Stella, born June 10, 1863, who married George P. Whitney, Jr., October 28, 1884, resides in Boston, and has one son, Don John. Mr. Whitney, who is a son of the widely known George P. Whitney, of East Ox- ford, is an engineer in the employ of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad. Mr. Millett is a Democrat in political affiliation. He is a stockholder in the water-works, a Di- rector of the National Bank, and a stockholder in the Opera House. Fraternally, he is a mem- ber of Oxford Lodge, No. 18, A. F. & A. M.
Mr. Tubbs is a Democrat in politics. Dur- ing his residence in Gorham he was Town Clerk nine years, and also served on the School Committee. He is an esteemed mem- ber of the following fraternal organizations : Oxford Lodge, No. 18, A. F. & A. M .; Glen Lodge, No. 54, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, of Gorham, N.H., of which he is a Past Grand.
ILLIAM F. CALDEN, a successful farmer of Phillips, Me., and one of the Board of Selectmen of the town, was born in Hallowell, now Manchester, Ken- nebec County, Me., September 9, 1845, and is a son of Benjamin P. and Velina (Hoyt) Calden. On his father's side he is of Scottish descent, there having been two brothers of this family name who came from Scotland to America, one going to the Southern States, and the other, the founder of this branch, set- tling in Maine.
Thomas Calden, the father of Benjamin P.,
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spent the greater part of his life in Candia, N. H., where he worked at reed-making by hand. He is said to have served in the Revo- lutionary War, and as a privateer in the War of 1812, being captain of a schooner. Of his ten children, only one is now living; namely, Benjamin P., aged ninety-seven years.
Benjamin P. Calden was born in Candia, N. H., February 8, 1799. He has followed farming most of his life, but for many years was also employed as a ship-carpenter. Nine children were the fruit of his union with Velina Hoyt, the three now living being Mar- garet, wife of D. F. Hodges, of Phillips; Charles B., residing in Rangeley; and Will- iam F. Their father is a member of the Methodist church, in which he has been Class Leader for years. Although nearly a cente- narian, he still enjoys good health.
Charles B. Calden, son of Benjamin P., in his boyhood and youth attended school suc- cessively in Hallowell, Cornville, and Phil- lips. For a number of years he has been foreman of lumbering crews in the winter sea- son, and has worked at farming in the sum- mer. He joined the Blue Mountain Masonic Lodge, No. 67, of Phillips, in 1873.
William F. Calden, the other son of Ben- jamin P. Calden, and the special subject of this sketch, first attended school three years in Hallowell, then at Cornville, Somerset County, and finally in Phillips. The years directly following were spent in river logging in the winter and farming in summer, and since 1857 he has carried on farming exclu- sively here in Phillips. His farm contains about two hundred and fifty acres, and yields on an average fifty tons of hay yearly. On May 29, 1872, Mr. Calden was joined in mar- riage with Hannah Orr, of Phillips. Their five children are all living and at home; namely, Bernice D., Fred, Winnie, Carrie, and Evelyn, the three younger ones being in school.
In political affiliation Mr. Calden is a Re- publican. He has served two terms as Select- man, and an equal length of time on the School Committee. He is a member of North Franklin Grange of Phillips, and a communi- cant of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is a Class Leader.
HARLES H. BERRY, one of the oldest native residents of Buckfield, Me., where he has carried on gen- eral farming for thirty-five years, was born on March 20, 1824, son of Obadiah and Abigail (Ricker) Berry. His father was a native of this town and a practical farmer. Possessed of a vigorous constitution, he tilled the soil with an energy and industry which gained for him a comfortable prosperity ; and his last years were passed in retirement here. In' politics he was a Whig, later joining the Republican party ; and he was known and es- teemed as a useful citizen. He lived to be eighty-five years old; and his wife, who was born in Buckfield, attained the age of eighty- three. Both were members of the Free Will Baptist church.
Charles H. Berry attended the town schools, and grew to manhood upon the farm which he now owns and occupies. Learning the cabi- net-maker's trade, he followed it for several years, but finally relinquished that occupation in order to devote his whole time to the care and improvement of his farm. He owns one hundred and twenty-five acres of well-located land, capable of producing large and superior crops; and the dwelling-house, which was built over one hundred years ago, is still in a good state of preservation.
On February 7, 1849, Mr. Berry was inar- ried to Cynthia Harris, who was born in Lew- iston, Me., February 7, 1825, daughter of Richard and Martha (Reed) Harris. Mr. and Mrs. Berry have two children, namely : Charles F., who was born in Auburn, Me., February 24, 1855; and Ida A., who was born in Auburn, August 19, 1858, married O. H. Hersey, a lawyer of Buckfield, and has three children - Augustus M., Avilla May, and Carrie B.
Politically, Mr. Berry is a Republican ; and he has served with ability as a member of the Board of Selectmen, Town Agent, and in other offices. Both he and Mrs. Berry are members of the Congregational church.
Charles F. Berry, who resides at home with his parents, and now relieves his father of most of the cares pertaining to the farm, pos- sesses the manly vigor and sterling ambition of one whose full measure of success is only a
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question of time. He is a Republican in pol- itics, and is a member of Evening Star Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Buckfield. He married on November 9, 1880, Sadie H. Dearborn, of Hartford, and has one son -Frank D., who was born February 7, 1886.
F. FITCH, M.D., a prominent physician of Brownfield, was born August 9, 1859, in Sebago, Cum- berland County, Me., son of John and Nancy W. (Sanborn) Fitch. Dr. Fitch's grandfather, William Fitch, was a native and lifelong resident of Sebago; and his active period was there spent in tilling the soil of a good farm.
Dr. Fitch's father was reared to agricultural pursuits in Sebago, his native town, and is still residing upon a farm there. His first wife, Nancy W. Sanborn, who also was born in Sebago, died in 1893, leaving three chil- dren, as follows: H. F. Fitch, M. D., the sub- ject of this sketch; Mary E., who is the wife of Dr. L. H. Poore, and resides at Webb's Mills, Me. ; and Fred, who married Mary Hill, and lives at the homestead in Sebago. John Fitch wedded for his second wife Mrs. Sarah Swett.
H. F. Fitch acquired his early education in the common schools of Sebago and at the high school in Bridgton. His medical studies were pursued at the University of Vermont, where he was graduated with the class of 1886, at the close of a four years' course. He first lo- cated for practice at Kezar Falls, Me. ; but, after staying there for one year, he settled in Brownfield village, where he has since contin- ued to advance in popularity, and is now firmly established in his professional career. His practice is not confined to this town alone, as his regular circuit covers a large area in this section of the county, embracing several adjacent villages and plantations. He deals to some extent in drugs and chemicals.
On December 25, 1887, Dr. Fitch was united in marriage with Fanny Patten. Mrs. Fitch is a native of Newport, Me., where her father, John F. Patten, was formerly a pros- perous farmer, Her parents are no longer living.
Since settling in Brownfield Dr. Fitch has served upon the Board of Health, has ably filled the office of Town Clerk for several years past, and has held other town offices. Politi- cally, he acts with the Republican party. He is a member of Shepherd's River Lodge, No. 169, A. F. & A. M. ; and both he and Mrs. Fitch attend the Congregational church. He owns one of the handsomest residences in the village, and aside from his high professional standing he is a great social favorite.
ANIEL L. SWAN, son of Francis and Mary (Pierce) Swan, was born May 11, 1821, on his father's farm in New Sharon, where he is still an honored and respected resident.
His grandfather was Francis Swan, Sr., a worthy Deacon of the Congregational church, who was twice married. Deacon Swan's first wife was Martha Parker, and his second was Abigail Elliott, both of them being natives of Massachusetts. By his wife Martha he had two children : Francis, the father of Daniel L. Swan ; and a daughter, who died in infancy.
Francis Swan, the son of Deacon Francis, was born in Methuen, now Lawrence, Mass., in 1779. In 1801 he was married to Mary Pierce, only daughter of Joseph Pierce. Her father was of the fourth generation in direct descent from Mr. Daniel Pierce, who came from the west of England to Massachusetts, lived a few years in Watertown, and on the 4th of March, 1645, received from the Council of Newbury, Mass., the grant of twelve acres of land, conditioned on his retaining his resi- dence there for life. He agreed to stay there, provided he did not return to old England. Apparently contented in his new home, he remained in Newburyport until his death. The first dwelling built and occupied by him was a frame house, which was accidentally burned through the agency, it is said, of one of his slaves .. He afterward erected on the same site a stone house, which is standing at this day. He bought a tract of land near the Newburyport market, about three miles square. Among his children was a son Benjamin, who was married November 8, 1692, to Lydia Frost, of Kittery, daughter of Major Charles
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Frost. They had ten sons and two daughters. The third son, Thomas, born November 9, 1706, married a lady named Frost, and lived in the old stone house built by his grandfather. Joseph Pierce, son of Thomas, married a Miss Quinby, and had three children : Charles; Mary, who became the wife of Francis Swan and mother of the subject of this sketch; and Samuel.
Francis and Mary (Pierce) Swan had seven children, as follows: Martha P., who died at the age of eighty-five years; Charles P., who died at the age of eighty-three; William, who died at the age of eighty-five; Francis, Jr., who died at the age of seventy-six; Mary F., who died at the age of sixty-three; Daniel L., whose name begins the present sketch; and Frederick, who also is still living. Francis Swan, the father of this family, died on the 4th of August, 1866, aged eighty-six years and nine months; and Mary Pierce Swan, his wife, died November 15, 1873, aged ninety-three years. He was a Whig in politics in his younger days, but later became a Republican. His re- ligious belief was that of the Congregational church, like that of his father before him. When he came to this part of the country from Massachusetts in 1819, he bought a farm of eighty-two acres in extent, where his sons Daniel and Frederick were born. The other children were born in Massachusetts. His farm, which was then occupied by Mr. Carr, was situated on the north side of the Sandy River.
Daniel L. Swan, fourth son of Francis and Mary, received his education in the public schools of New Sharon, including the high school; and at the age of eighteen he began teaching school in his native place. He has taught during his life twenty-five schools. Nor is this all of his educational work. He has served as a member of the School Com- mittee of New Sharon for twenty years. He has likewise held the office of Selectman of the town for five consecutive years. Intelligent and clear-headed, he is well versed in ances- tral lore, tracing his descent from early colo- nists, as here shown.
Frederick Swan, his younger brother, was born on December 8, 1822. He also was educated in the schools of his native town,
completing his course of study in the high school. In the winter of 1842-43 he taught school in Starks, an adjoining town in Somer- set County. He remained a resident at the old homestead till he was past thirty years of age. In 1854 he was appointed sub-officer in the State Reform School, where he remained for two years and a half. Frederick Swan was married in 1857 to Martha A. Thompson, the daughter of Robert Thompson, a farmer of In- dustry. They had one child, Martha, who died in infancy.
In 1857 the two brothers, Daniel L. and Frederick Swan, bought a farm of eighty-two acres adjoining the old homestead; and after this purchase they bought a tract of one hun- dred and forty-five acres, owning therefore at that time a property of two hundred and twenty-seven acres of good farming land. Both are, like their father, stanch Republicans in politics, and Congregationalists in religious belief. They are well known in the com- munity, and greatly admired for their sturdy independence of character, unimpeachable honesty, and faithful citizenship.
ON. WALDO PETTENGILL, of Rumford Falls, the Vice-President and Manager of the Portland & Rumford Falls Railroad, has been largely instrumental in developing Rumford. He was born at Livermore Falls, Me., De- cember 1, 1844, son of Oliver and Huldah (Baker) Pettengill, both natives of this State.
Oliver Pettengill, who was born in the town of Fayette, Kennebec County, spent his early life there and in East Livermore, chiefly occu- pied in farming. In 1866 he purchased a large farm in Rumford, about six miles from the present village, and settled there perma- nently. In addition to being a farmer he was also a mill man, was very successful in a financial way, and at his death, which hap- pened in his sixty-sixth year, he left a large estate. His wife, who was born in Liver- more, died at the age of seventy-one. Both were members of the Methodist church.
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