USA > Maine > Biographical sketches of representative citizens of the state of Maine > Part 25
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For at least a quarter of a century Mr. Wads- worth has been Quartermaster of Heath Post, No. 6, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was Commander in 1885; he is also a member
of the Union Veterans' Union; the Union Vet- erans' Legion; and of Gardiner Lodge, No. 9, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In poli- ties he is a Republican.
On October 17, 1873, Mr. Wadsworth married Miss Angie M. Baldwin, a native of Laconia, N.H., and a daughter of Stephen C. and Pru- dence (Fisher) Baldwin. Their children are: Mildred B., born November 15, 1877; and Frank C. Wadsworth, born September 17, 1880.
RIN WILLIAMSON, of Augusta, is a native of Somerset County, Me., hav- ing been born in the town of Starks, March 16, 1819, son of Stephen and Betsey (Greenleaf) Williamson. He is a grand- son of Stephen Williamson, Sr., born in Wis- casset, Me., who married a Miss Young.
Previous to his marriage, Stephen William- son went to Starks, making the journey on foot, following a route through the wilderness marked by blazed trees There he founded the home- stead on which was born his son and namesake, Stephen, second, as well as other children. - At this time Augusta was a small settlement of a few wooden houses. Grandfather Williamson was a man of hardy physique and more than or- dinary intelligence and force of character, which qualities, on his joining the State militia, soon led to his promotion to the rank of captain.
Savage, in his Genealogical Dictionary, men- tions three immigrants bearing this surname as having come to New England in 1635. They were: Michael, of Ipswich, and afterward of Rhode Island; Paul, of Ipswich; and William, whose place of residence he did not know. He says nothing of their descendants, but further speaks of Timothy Williamson, of Marshfield, in 1649, who had two years before been admitted freeman of the colony. He married Mary, daughter of Arthur Howland, and had eight children.
The younger Stephen Williamson, father of Orin, followed all his life the occupation of farmer, to which he was reared, remaining a resident of Starks, his native place. His wife Betsey was also born in that town. They had a good old-fashioned family of ten children, of whom but two are now living: Orin, of Augusta,
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ORIN WILLIAMSON.
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who was the second in order of birth; and Manley, who resides in Oshkosh, Wis. Stephen Williamson, Jr., possessed some of his father's characteristics, and partook of his popularity, being elected to different town offices, including that of Selectman. In politics he was a Whig. He died at the age of seventy-eight and his wife at eighty-one.
Orin Williamson was educated in the schools of his native town, and remained on the farm until reaching the age of twenty-one. Then learning the carpenter's trade, he worked at it as a journeyman in Fall River, Mass., for some four or five years, and afterward for some time in Worcester, Mass.
In 1847 he returned to Maine, and settled in Augusta, where, in company with his brother Elias W., under the firm name of O. & E. W. Williamson, he engaged in the manufacture of sash, blinds, and doors, thus continuing for about four years. Subsequently the partner- ship between the two brothers being dissolved, Mr. Orin Williamson carried on the business alone for fifteen years. At the end of that time he became by purchase the active partner of Mr. J. P. Wyman, carrying on the same line of business, under the style of Wyman & Will- iamson for six years. Mr. Williamson then sold out his interest to his partner, and for a while was out of business, a part of his time, however, being occupied in attending to some real estate that he had purchased in the State of Maryland. At the end of two years of con- parative inactivity, he bought an interest in the stove and hardware business of Charles Greenwood in Augusta, and it was carried on a short time under the style of Williams & Green- wood. Subsequently becoming the sole pro- prietor, Mr. Williamson carried on the business alone for twenty-two years, or until about 1895, at which time he retired permanently.
Mr. Williamson is a trustee of the Augusta Trust Company. He has served his fellow- citizens as Alderman for several years, and in other offices, his political affiliations being with the Republican party. He is a member of Bethel Lodge, F. & A. M. His success in life has been self-attained, and he has well earned the respect in which he is held by all who know him.
Mr. Williamson inarried in 1850 Ann E. Perry, who was born in New Sharon, Franklin County, Me., but whose life was passed in Norridgewock, in the adjacent county of Somerset. Her parents were Lyman and Betsey (Pishon) Perry, the father a native of Vernon, Vt. Her mother was born in Fairfield, Me., a daughter of Charles and Lucy (Wyman) Pishon. Charles Pishon came to America from France, accompanied by a brother. The latter settled in Massachu- setts; but Charles Pishon came to Maine, and located himself at the spot now known as Pishon's Ferry in Fairfield, he being the one who estab- lished the ferry there.
Mr. and Mrs. Williamson have had two chil- dren, both born in Augusta, namely: Annie B., who died unmarried in 1901 at the age of thirty- four; and Ellen R., who is unmarried, and lives with her parents.
ILLIAM CARLTON AND RICHARD- SON METCALF JOHNSON, who under the name of Johnson Brothers carry on a large boot and shoe manufacturing industry in Hallowell, Kennebec County, are natives of Appleton, Knox County, Me., both born (being twins) on March 27, .1851.
Their parents were Stephen C. and Juliana (Metcalf) Johnson, the father a native of Liberty, Me., and the mother of Franklin, Mass. They are of the fourth generation of the Johnson family in this State. Their practical knowledge of the shoe business was gained in the factories of Lynn, the "Shoe City" of Massachusetts, and indeed of New England, whither they went as boys in the early seventies of the last century. There they remained till 1887, and then, coming to Hallowell, established their present business, making at first five hundred pairs of boots and shoes per day. Their persevering energy and straightforward business methods, based, as they were, upon a sound practical knowledge of the trade and of trade conditions, were bound to command success, and from time to time they- have found it necessary to increase the capacity of their factory and the amount of their output, until now they manufacture two thousand five hundred pairs per day. Their main building is one hundred and eighty-five by forty-four feet
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and five stories high, and there is an addition of the same height, the entire plant being equipped with the most improved modern machinery. William C. Johnson is the president of the con- cern, while the office of treasurer is filled by his brother Richardson. They give employment in the factory to about four hundred people of both sexes, and keep four or five travelling sales- men out selling their product, which goes all over this country from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans, and even to Europe and Australia. Thus by their energy, enterprise, and practical business ability they have established what is now one of the leading industries of Hallowell.
William C. Johnson was married December 24, 1876, to Annie H. Copp, of Riverside, New Bruns- wick, daughter of Obediah and Mary Copp. He has two children, Annie Ethel and Vira B. Richardson M. Johnson married March 4, 1SS1, Carrie E. Winter, of Lynn, Mass., daughter of Levi and Abbie (Murphy) Winter. He has four children-William H., Lottie M., Carrie E., and Lillian R. Both brothers are Free Masons, be- longing to Quantibacook, Searsmont, Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and Trinity Commandry, K. T.
RANK BOODY PURINTON, treasurer of the S. A. Nye Manufacturing Company of Fairfield, one of the southern border towns of Somerset County, Maine, is a native of that place and one of the best known resi- dents. He is now (July, 1903) serving his sixth year as Postmaster. He was born Oc- tober 19, 1847, son of Jonathan and Hannah G. (Bradbury) Purinton, and is descended on both sides of the house from early colonists of New England. George Purinton was of York, Me., in 1640. A Robert Purinton, member of the church in Portsmouth, N.H., in 1640, had a son John who resided in Exe- ter, N.H.
Hannah G. Bradbury, wife of Jonathan Purinton, was born in 1811, daughter of Moses and Mercy (Garland) Bradbury, of Buxton, Me. Her father was a lineal descendant in the sixth generation of Thomas Bradbury, who was in York, Me., as early as 1634, and a few years later was one of the first settlers of Salis- bury, Mass.
Jonathan Purinton was born at Bowdoin, Me., September 2, 1793. He was a lawyer, and practised his profession a number of years in Fairfield. A citizen of prominence in his time, he acquired a good local reputation as a public speaker. He lived to the age of eighty-five years, his death occurring Novem- ber 26, 1878. He married first, September 22, 1819, Hannah Allen, of Bowdoin; she died February 16, 1835. He married second, Oc- tober 18, 1835, Hannah Garland Bradbury, of Buxton, Me .; she died July 31, 1873. By his first wife Jonathan Purinton had seven children, briefly recorded as follows: Columbus Allen, born at Bowdoin, March 14, 1822, died in 1890; Cornelia, born at Bowdoin, May 3, 1824, died February 6, 1825; Cornelia Ann, born in Bowdoinham, November 7, 1826, died September 22, 1900; George J., born in Bow- doinham, October 9, 1829, died in infancy; Hannah E., born in Bowdoinham, December S, 1831, died in infancy; Hannah E., born in Bow- doinham, September 12, 1833, married Benja- min F. Tyler, formerly of Greenville, Me., are now in Oleta, Cal. By the second marriage were five children: Frances, born in Fairfield, April 22, 1837, died April 18, 1838; Henry Os- good, born in Gardner, March 15, 1839, now Postmaster and has resided at Plainfield, Yolo County, Cal .; Frank B., born in Fairfield, Octo- ber 19. 1847; Charles N., born in Fairfield, April 3, 1849, died December 23, 1851; and Horace Kimball, born in Fairfield, July 31, 1854, who married Emma Stinson, of Fairfield.
Frank Boody Purinton was educated in the public schools of Fairfield, including the high school, and at Gray's Commercial School or College in Portland, Me. Entering the em- ploy of the Fairfield Boom Company in early manhood, and afterward continuing in that of S. A. Nye, he gained a knowledge of the various departments of the lumber industry, and in 1891, forming a partnership with S. A .. Nye, under the style of S. A. Nye & Company, he started in business for himself as a lumber manufacturer. In 1902 this firm was suc- ceeded by the S. A. Nye Manufacturing Com- pany, which was then incorporated for the manufacture of furniture and wooden ware, Mr. Purinton being elected treasurer. This
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position, as indicated above, he now holds. He was appointed Postmaster of Fairfield under President Mckinley in 1898. He married June 2, 1896, Miss Edna C. Hall, daughter of Edward Kavanaugh Hall and Fannie Hodgkins Hall, of Richmond, Me.
Mr. Purinton is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and the Independent Order of Foresters.
OREST M. LAWRENCE, whose untimely death occurred in South Gardiner, Janu- ary S, 18SS, in the thirty-second year of his age, was the only child of the late Sher- burn Lawrence, of South Gardiner, where his birth took place in June, 1856. He belonged to one of the most prominent families of the town, the male members of which have for the most part been conspicuously identified with the lumbering industry for nearly a cen- tury. His grandfather, Charles Lawrence, was a pioneer lumberman on the Kennebec River, and his father was for twenty-five years man- aging director of the well-known firm of Lawrence Brothers, lumber operators and manufacturers, of South Gardiner. The devel- opment and present prosperity of one of Gardi- ner's chief industrial resources are in no small measure due to the business ability of his father and uncles, and a fuller account of them will be found in the sketches of Sherburn and Greenlief Lawrence, which appear elsewhere in this work.
After the completion of his studies, which were pursued in the public schools of his na- tive place and at Johnson's School for Boys, Topsham, Me., Forest M. Lawrence turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, for which he was by nature exceptionally well endowed. Pos- sessing inherent business ability as well as a natural inclination to devote his undivided attention to whatever he undertook, he was soon recognized as one of the most success- ful among the younger merchants of South Gardiner; and the briefness of a career so promising was universally deplored by his fellow-citizens, who regarded him as well worthy of filling honorable positions of trust, both in private business enterprises and the public service.
Mr. Lawrence was married September 28, 1882, to Abbie P. Willey. He is survived by his wife and one son, Perley M., who was born May 7, 1SS7, and is now attending the Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Kent's Hill.
Mrs. Lawrence was born in Litchfield, Me. Her father, the late John O. Willey, a native of Massachusetts, was a pioneer gold hunter in California. After his return from the Pa- cific coast he married Mary H. Johnson, of, South Gardiner, and they resided in Litchfield until after the birth of their daughter Abbie. From the last named place they removed to South Gardiner, where Mr. Willey was en- gaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred on his seventieth birthday, January S, 1891. John O. and Mary H. Willey reared a family of three children, namely: Ida M., who is residing at the homestead; Fred W., a resident of South Gardiner; and Abbie P., now Mrs. Lawrence. From 1897 to the pres- ent time Mrs. Lawrence has held the appoint- ment of postmaster at South Gardiner, having formerly had charge of the office under Post- master Sherburn Lawrence. She is widely known in her official capacity, and is a promi- nent member of South Gardiner society.
RLANDO CURRIER, a respected citizen and former postmaster of Hallowell, is a native of this place, having been born here November 25, 1822, son of Peter and Abigail (Pecker) Currier. He is a descendant of Richard Currier, who came to America from England about 1640, settling in Salisbury, Mass.
Mr. Currier's great-grandfather, James Pecker, was a surgeon in the American army during the Revolutionary War, and was assisted in his professional duties by his son, Willian Pecker, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch.
Mr. Currier's parents, Peter and Abigail Cur; rier, who were natives of Amesbury, Mass., came to Hallowell from Amesbury in 1812; and he was brought up here, acquiring his edu- cation in the public schools. During this period he also acquired a knowledge of carpentry from his father. -
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In 1841, when nineteen years old, he went to Charlestown, Mass., where he spent some time in learning the cabinet-maker's trade. Two years later, having attained his majority, he engaged in business for himself as a furniture manufacturer and dealer in Boston, Mass., where he remained till 1847. He then left Boston in a sailing vessel for Valparaiso, Chili, rounding Cape Horn, and after his arrival fol- lowed his trade there for a time. His next move was to California, where he arrived in January of the notable year 1849, just in time to partici- pate in the exciting experiences connected with gold seeking in the primitive form of placer mining. Though not being among the few fortunate ones who acquired sudden wealth, he was fairly successful, and remained at the mines for several years. Far from yielding to the temptations to dissipation and lax conduct generally inseparable from gold mining com- munities, especially in the first flush and ex- citement of discovery, he maintained his "down East" steadiness of character, and so gained the respect of his associates and the people of his district, that he was sent as a delegate to the convention called in November, 1849, to organ- ize a State government and nominate State officers for election. After spending several years at the mines, he returned home by the Panama route, arriving in Hallowell in May, 1853. Here he engaged in mercantile business, in which he continued for a number of years, being also interested in shipping. Then he drifted back to his old trade of carpenter and builder, and finally took up agriculture, which he has followed since with good success.
A Democrat of independent proclivities, Mr. Currier was appointed and served as postmaster of Hallowell under President Cleveland's first administration. He has also held the office of Assessor.
When in California Mr. Currier became a Free Mason, and has since risen to a high stand- ing in the order, of which in former years he was a very active member. He belongs to Kennebec Lodge, F. & A. M., of Hallowell, of which he is Past Master: Jerusalem Chapter, R. A. M .; Alpha Council. R. & S. M., of which he is a Past Thrice Illustrious Master; and to Trinity Commandery, K. T., of Augusta, of
which he was the first Commander, having pre- viously been Commander of the Maine Com- mandery. He is the oldest Past High Priest of the order now living in Maine. In 1844 Mr. Currier joined the I. O. O. F., and is a charter member of Sanborn Lodge of that order at Hal- lowell.
Mr. Currier was married August 17, 185S, to Floretta F. Rose, who was born in Liverinore, Me., a daughter of Zebedee and Harriett (Gibbs) Rose. He and his wife are the parents of four children-Mary F., Susan D., Anna F., and Ernest S. Anna F. Currier married W. D. Spaulding, and has one child, Ellen Dwight. Ernest S. Currier married S. Winifred Morrison, of Medford, Mass., and they have one child, Dorothy Morrison. The family are members of the Episcopal church, in which Mr. Currier is now Senior Warden. He is widely respected in Hallowell and the vicinity as a substantial, useful, and public-spirited citizen.
OSEPH FRANKLIN STETSON, of Cam- den, Knox County, Me., is a veteran bank officer, having occupied his pres- ent position, that of cashier of the Cam- den National Bank, since 1875. Of the prompt- ness, faithfulness, and uniform courtesy with which he has discharged its duties, and of the benefit thence accruing to the financial inter- ests of the community there is no need here to speak.
A native of Camden, born February 24, 1836, son of Deacon Joseph and Mary (Eaton) Stet- son, he is a lineal descendant in the seventh generation of Cornet Robert Stetson, of Scit- uate, Mass., the date of whose arrival in Plyni- outh Colony is not known. A valuable acces- sion to the Pilgrim settlement, he held various public offices of trust and responsibility, his title showing his rank in the colony's first troop of horsemen. He died in February, 1703, aged ninety years. From Robert1 the immigrant the line descended through his son Samuel and second wife Lydia; Jonah,3 born in 1691, who married Mercy Turner, of Scituate; Jonah,' born in 1721, married Elizabeth Hatch, of Seit- uate; Micah,5 born 1754, married in March, 1783, Sarah Copeland, to Deacon Joseph," the father
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above named, born January 15, 1792, who married August 27, 1820, Mary Eaton.
The founder of the Turner family of Scit- uate, Mass., to which Mercy, wife of Jonalı Stetson, belonged, was Humphrey Turner, whose son John, known as the ekler John Turner, mar- ried Mary, daughter of Elder William Brewster.
Micah5 Stetson was the representative of Scituate in the Massachusetts Legislature in 1816. His wife Sarah, born in 175S, was a daughter of Joseph3 and Elizabeth (Tolinan) Copeland, of Scituate. Her father, Joseph3 Copeland, was son of William2 Copeland and grandson of Lawrence1 Copeland, of Braintree. William2 Copeland's wife, the mother of Joseph,3 was Mary, daughter of John and Ruth (Alden) Bass. She was the widow of Christopher Webb at the time of her marriage to William Cope- land. Her maternal grandparents were John and Priscilla (Mullens) Alden.
Mary Eaton, wife of Joseph Stetson, and mother of his son Joseph Franklin, was born in 1798, daughter of William and Lucy (White) Eaton, and grand-daughter on the maternal side of Major George and Lucy (Thorn) White. Dea- con Joseph and Mary (Eaton) Stetson, of Cam- den, had nine children: Mary Eaton, Sarah Copeland, Lucy White, William Micah, Jane Cushing, Ann Augusta, Joseph Franklin, Hen- rietta, and Elizabeth Hatch-the eldest, Mary E., born in September, 1821, the youngest, Elizabeth H., in 1840.
Mary E. Stetson married Alexis Thorndike, and became the mother of three children- George L., Helen Louise, and Sidney. George L. Thorndike married a Miss Aurai Andrews and had two children, Sidney and Grace Louise. Helen Louise Thorndike married Captain Dudley S. Martin of Camden, and has two sons, George Dudley and Frederick W. Sidney Thorndike married Mary Frye, and has one child.
Sarah Copeland Stetson married Captain John W. Glover, who died in Calcutta, September 1, 1863. Three children were born of their union. Of these the two now living are William F. and Joseph S. William F. Glover married Lottie Andrews, and has two children, namely: Sarah Copeland Stetson, wife of Arthur Smith; and Florence. Joseph S. Glover married Lucy Andrews (a cousin of his brothers's wife) and
had two children, Jolm and Joseph. Lucy White Stetson married Captain Thomas Glover. has no children. William Micah Stetson, born December 19, 1828, died March 1, 1846. Jane Cushing Stetson married Charles F. Hosmer. and has had three children: Nathan H., deceased: Blanch, who married W. B. Rich; and John G. Henrietta Stetson, born June 21, 163s. died February 2, 1845. Joseph Stetson died in 1872. Mrs. Mary Eaton Stetson died in ISS1.
Joseph Franklin was the seventh chil and youngest son of Deacon Joseph Strien and his wife Mary. Equipped with a public school education, at the age of nineteen he started in life as a sailor, shipping before the mast in April, 1855, and continued to follow the sea till 1865, becoming master of a vessel in 1863, and making foreign voyages in the Pacific Ocean, and engaged in the East India trade. In 1864 he was commissioned in the Unite -! States Navy, and during the ensuing year was acting ensign on various ships. Returning to Camden, Me., after the close of the war, he engaged in the sail and rigging business. In January, 1865, he entered upon the duties of his present position as cashier of the Cat- den National Bank, as mentioned above, In and the seven years directly following 1571. he was chairman of the Board of Selectmen of Caniden. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a member of Amity Lodge, A. F. & A. M .: Past High Priest of Keystone Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; and President of the Masonic Temple Association of Camden. He married in 1872 Helen F. Huse, daughter of Dr. Jona- than and Mary A. H. (Hall) Huse, of Camden. Mr. and Mrs. Stetson have one child, Louise Emerson.
HEODORE PARKER DEARBORN. a prosperous agriculturist of Oakland. was born in Augusta, Me .. February 19. 1539. son of George W. and Lucinda (Fuller) Dearborn. His paternal grandfather, Henry Dearborn, was a native of Maine. There is a tradition that the family is of Scoteli origin. George W. Dear- born, who was born in Augusta, Me., came to Oakland in 1845. He resided here subsequently for many years, dying in Lynn, Mass., in 1\\ ;.
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His wife Lucinda was a native of the former town of Dearborn, Me., and daughter of George and Lydia (James) Fuller.
Theodore Parker Dearborn came to Oakland with his parents in 1845, when six years old. He was educated in the public schools of the town, and when old enough began to make himself useful on the farm. He thus acquired a practical knowledge of agriculture, in which occupation he has been since engaged for the most part, though when a young man he spent some time in lumbering in connection with farming. He owns a good farm located on the Fairfield road. Though not like some of his neighbors, a "forty-niner," Mr. Dearborn in his younger days visited California, going thence in 1861 by the Panama route, and mining gold in Nevada and Tuolumne Counties. He returned to Maine in 1863, after an absence of about eighteen months. In the same year he married Lucy H. Nelson, a native of West Waterville (now Oakland), Me., and daughter of Jonathan and Malinda (Hodgen) Nelson. Mrs. Dear- born's maternal grandfather, Charles Hodgen, settled in West Waterville in the early part of the nineteenth century, coming from Massachu- setts. He was a Revolutionary soldier. Mr. and Mrs. Dearborn have been the parents of five children, of whom three are now living, Carl Schurtz, Harry Lee, and Henry Nelson.
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