USA > Maine > Biographical sketches of representative citizens of the state of Maine > Part 30
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John K. Foy was educated in the public schools of Gardiner and at Litchfield Academy. where he spent three terms. When a young man he learned the trade of paper-making, at which he worked for a number of years. Sub- sequently, in 1860, he engaged in business for himself in Gardiner as a manufacturer of leather belting, and thus continued until 1S78, at the same time condueting a tannery and tanning his own stock. In the year last named he sokl out and went to Portland, where he estab- > lished and conducted a manufactory of leather belting until 1882, meeting with good success. For the next three years he was a resident of Cambridge, Mass,, but returned in 1885 to his native town of Gardiner.
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Since settling here Mr. Foy has been active in public affairs, having served as Councilman and as a member of the City Board of Registra- tion, which latter office he held for nine years. His public record gives evidence of his devotion to the cause of good local government, and he is a man in whom his fellow-citizens have abun- dant confidence. On December 2, 1859, the day on which John Brown was hanged, Mr. Foy tolled the bell of the Methodist Episcopal church at Gardiner all day in honor of the great fore- runner of emancipation.
Mr. Foy was married May 6, 1856, to Matikla B. Maxcy, who was born in Windsor, Me., December 26, 1831, daughter of Smith and Clarisa (Boggs) Maxey. He has had three children-Hattie L., Nellie M., and William M .- all of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Foy's father, Smith Maxey, was a man of loyal and patriotic instincts, serving against England in the War of 1812. When in advanced years, he gave a striking impromptu exhibition of his patriotism on the news of the rebel victory of Bull Run. On this occasion, a Southern sympathizer in Gardiner hoisted a Confederate flag, which incensed Mr. Maxcy so much that he tore it down, trampled it under his feet, and defied the disloyal citizen to rehoist it. He had a son, Danforth, who was fatally wounded at Gettysburg, dying a few days after that fateful battle.
Mr. and Mrs. Foy are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church of Gardiner, in which he served for a number of years as a steward. They have a wide circle of friends and acquaint- ances. Mr. Foy belongs to the Masonic order, in which he has advanced as far as the Com- mandery. In politics he is a Republican.
G EORGE FOSTER TALBOT, an elderly citizen of Portland, long retired from active business life, is a native of East Machias, Me., born January 16, 1819, a son of John Coffin and Mary (Foster) Tal- bot. His immigrant ancestor was Peter' Tal- bot, who, tradition asserts, was born in Lan- cashire, England. The first authentic date we have in regard to Peter' is 1675, when his name is found on the Dorchester (Mass.) tax
list. He was in the military service before October 14, 1677, for on that date his military account is made up by the colony treasurer, showing the sum of eighteen pounds, sixteen shillings, eight pence. He married for his first wife at Dorchester, January 12, 1677-8, Mary Wadel, widow of John Wadel. A thor- ough examination of the Middlesex Probate Records shows that the name was Wattel, now Wattles.
Soon after his marriage Peter1 Talbot re- moved to the adjoining town of Milton, where he remained until 1684. In 1686 he was one of fifty persons who bought a large tract of land in Chelmsford, which is now the site of the city of Lowell. Two years later he sold his undivided land in Chelmsford, but reelaimed a home lot that had been set off to him. He remained in Chelmsford until after March 16, 1691-2, for at that date he was on the rolls of the West Middlesex regiment, but soon after returned to Milton, where he was taxed in 1693 and 1694. His wife died in Chelmsford, Au- gust 29, 16S7. He married a second time Hanna Clarke, widow of William Frizzell, who was of Concord. Of this marriage there was one child only, George,2 born in Chelmsford, December 28, 16SS, the ancestor of George F., of Portland. The last that is known of Peter and his wife Hannah is that they conveyed their real estate in Chelinsford, May 4, 1704, calling themselves then of Boston. Their son George2 was a witness for the deed. The date of their death is not known, but there is a mem- orandum in a family record of births and deaths saying that he died about 1704.
Of the early life of their son George2 there is no record, except his witness to the deed above mentioned, until his marriage in Milton to Mary Turel, daughter of Daniel and Sarah Turel, February 18, 1706-7. She was a great- grand-daughter of Elder William Colbron, one of the original settlers of Boston, as well as one of the company that furnished means for the emigration that came with Winthrop in 1630.
The births of George2 Talbot's children are recorded in Dorchester, while their baptisms are in Milton. About 1722 he bought a farm in the part of the Dorchester "New Grant,"
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or South Precinct, which in 1726 was incor- porated as the town of Stoughton. Nine chil- dren were born to George2 and Mary (Turel) Talbot. His wife Mary died April 24, 1736. On July 27, 1757, he married for his second wife Elizabeth Withington. There were no chil- dren by this marriage. She died April 30, 1774. George2 Talbot died July 31, 1760. Of him it may be safely affirmed that he possessed far more than the average ability of the men with whom he was associated in the daily affairs of life. He was constantly in public employ, being for many years Captain of the militia in Stoughton. He was Deacon of the church in the first precinct (now Canton), and on the formation of the third precinct (Stoughton), 1744, was elected senior Deacon, and held the office continuously until his death. He was busy in the settling of estates, drawing wills, making deeds, etc. He found time to learn land surveying, and was the first Justice of the Peace in that part of Stoughton now the town of Canton.
His fifth child, Peter,3 born February 27, 1717-S, was the progenitor in the line under present consideration. On Peter's coming of age his father sold him a part of his farm. Some of this land is now owned by his descendants. Peter3 Talbot married December 5, 1744, Abi- gail Wheeler, of that part of Stoughton now Canton. He had three children: Peter,+ born November 6, 1745; Samuel, February 24, 1746-7; and Abigail, June 14, 1749. His first wife died November 5, 1750. She was the daughter of William and Abigail Wheeler, of Canton. For his second wife he married Jan- uary 8, 1752, Mary Bailey, of Canton. She was born August 13, 1724, and died May 17, 1782. She was the daughter of Richard and Esther (Puffer) Bailey, of Canton. His third wife, whom he married February 26, 1784, was Rebecca Bent, daughter of John Bent, of Mil- ton, and widow of Samuel Dickerman, of Stough- ton. She died May 9, 1798. Peter Talbot died October 18, 1793, in the seventy-seventh year of liis age. He filled many important offices in town and parish, among which were Selectman and member of the Committee of Correspondence during the Revolutionary War. He was Captain of a company of Minute-men,
and marched with them at the time of the Lexington alarm.
Peter+ Talbot, born November 6, 1745, was married June 4, 1771. He arrived in Machias, Me., June 12, 1771, being the first settler of the family in this section. He served two or three short terms of enlistment in the Revolu- tionary army at or near Machias. His wife was Lucy Hammond, of Brookline, Mass. Their children were-Apphia, Lucy, Stephen, Peter, John Coffin, Micah Jones, and Sally Jones. He died April 28, 1836; his wife, June 10, 1831, aged eighty years.
John Coffin Talbot was born in East Machias, Me., October 13, 1784, and resided in the town, where up to 1837 he was engaged in business as a manufacturer and shipper of lumber. He was then appointed and subsequently elected Judge of the Probate Court, which office he held for twenty years till 1857. He was elected to the State Legislature a number of times; and in 1837, the year of the great financial panic, he served as president of the Senate. He married Mary Foster, who was born in East Machias. Me., a daughter of John and Phoebe (Burr) Foster. Her paternal grandfather, Ben- jamin Foster, a Revolutionary soldier of Scar- boro, Me., and Greenland, N.H., served also in the old French War, taking part in the siege of Louisburg. He planned the capture of the British war vessel "Margarita," at the opening of the Revolutionary War, and com- manded the colonial forces that repulsed an attack by a British expedition against Machias in 1779. He married, first, Abigail Milliken and, second, Elizabeth Scott. The children of John C. and Mary (Foster) Talbot were- Stephen Peter, William Henry, John Coflin, George Foster, Emma Caroline, Thomas Ham- mond, Susan Hovey, and Mary Elizabeth. Stephen and John are not living.
George Foster Talbot, born January 16, 1819, was graduated at Bowdoin College .in the class of 1837, receiving the degree of Master of Arts three years later; and in 1894 his Alına, Mater conferred on him another honor, that of Doctor of Laws. He read law with Senator James W. Bradbury, of Augusta, Me., and was admitted to the bar in that town in 1840. His professional career began in Skowhegan, and
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he afterward practised for a year or two in Columbia, Washington County. In 1844 he opened an office in his native town, where he remained for ten years. He was an active anti-slavery worker, and was candidate for Governor in 1849 and 1850 on the Free Soil ticket. In 1854 he moved to Machias, where as County Attorney he had much to do with important litigation, greatly enlarging his prac- tice. He took an active part in the formation of the Republican party, being practically the editor of the Republican paper in that town, and was also one of four delegates at large for the State of Maine to the National Convention in Chicago whereat Abraham Lincoln was nom- inated for president. Here he served on the Committee on Resolutions, and had a warm con- troversy with Horace Greeley, who wanted to abandon the article prohibiting the introduction of slavery into the United States Territories. To Mr. Talbot's mind this was the essential party issue, but the committee was divided. After he had held conferences with Mr. Boutwell and Carl Schurz, another vote was taken on the question, and Mr. Greeley was defeated. Soon after Abraham Lincoln became Presi- dent, Mr. Talbot was appointed United States Attorney for the Maine District, and came to Portland. This position was held by him for nearly ten years. In this period he had to deal with frequent infractions of the revenue laws, and had some heavy prosecutions for the illicit importing of lumber, which he carried to the United States courts, recovering damages. Later he was one of three commissioners ap- pointed to examine paper frauds at Augusta, and was the writer of the elaborate report of the investigations, which lasted one year. His coworkers at that time were Governor Connor and Daniel Sanborn. Feeling the need of rest, he spent the year 1872 in foreign travel in company with Mrs. Talbot. He was a member of a special commission appointed to revise the constitution of the State in 1875, who re- ported a series of amendments, the most of which were adopted. In 1876 he became So- licitor of the United States Treasury. Later, on finding that the position he filled was wanted for a Southern man, with a view to help in build- ing up the Republican party of the South, Mr.
Talbot resigned. He has won distinction by his literary contributions to papers and maga- rines, and also by a book, entitled "A Life of Jesus: His Opinions and his Character," which was published by the Unitarian Publishing House in 1SS3. During anti-slavery times he was in the lecture field, and he has been a prolific writer in magazines and newspapers, upon economic, political and literary subjects. For a number of years he has been president of the Fraternity Club.
Mr. Talbot married first, May 16, 1844. Eliz- abeth Neil, daughter of Jolm G. Neil, of Skow- hegan, Me. She died June 28, 1845. Of this union there is one daughter, Elizabeth Neil, now living and unmarried. Mr. Talbot mar- ried for his second wife, October 22, 1851, Elizabeth Bayliss Lincoln, who was born in Dennysville, Washington County, Me., a daugh- ter of Theodore Lincoln, Jr. Her father was the eldest son of Theodore Lincoln, Sr., and grandson of Major-general Benjamin Lincoln of the Revolutionary army, who was the first president of the Massachusetts Society of the Cin- cinnati. Of this second union there are four children now living-Thomas Lincoln, Hannah Lincoln, Catherine Porter, and Frederick Froth- ingham-three having died-Jane, Walter, and Frances-the last two in infancy. Thomas Lincoln, born in Machias, married Alice Spring, daughter of Samuel E. Spring, of Portland, Me., and has two children-Edith Lincoln and Samuel Spring, both born in Portland. Fred- erick Frothingham Talbot married Mary Frank, daughter of Melvin P. Frank, of Portland, and has two children, George Foster and Melvin Frank.
ON. WILLIAM T. HAINES, of Water- ville, an ex-Attorney-general of Maine, was born in Levant, Penobscot County, Me., August 7, 1854, a, son of Thomas Jefferson7 and Maria L. (Eddy) Haines. Through Thomas," Abner," William, William,3 and Samuel,? he is a descendant in the eighth generation of Deacon Samuel Haines, an early settler of Dover and Portsmouth. N.H.
Samuel' Haines, as stated in the Haines gene- alogy, " was born in Wiltshire, England, in 1611."
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At the age of fifteen years he was apprenticed for ten years to one John Cogswell, a cloth manufact- urer of Westbury in Wiltshire, who owned mills in Frome, Somersetshire, a few miles distant. In 1635 he accompanied Mr. Cogswell to New England, sailing on the " Angel Gabriel" from Bristol on June 4, and from Milford Haven, Wales, on the twenty-fourth of the same month. After a voyage of seventy-two days the vessel came to anchor in the outer harbor of Pemaquid (now Bristol), Me., where, on the following day, August 15, 1635, she was driven ashore by a ter- rifie hurricane and wrecked. Several of her pas- sengers perished and the greater portion of her cargo was destroyed. The survivors, however, were able to save some of their personal effects, and Mr. Cogswell, with his apprentice, dwelt in a tent until the arrival from Boston of Good- man Gallup's bark, which conveyed them to Ipswich, Mass. Remaining with Mr. Cogswell in Ipswich, Samuel Haines completed his term of apprenticeship, and afterward went to reside in Northam, now Dover Point, N.H. In 1638 he visited England, where on April 1 of that year he married Elleanor Neate. After an ab- sence of a year and a half he returned to Northam, where in all probability he continued to reside for more than ten years. He was one of the signers (October 16, 1640) of what was called the "Dover Combination," .and he was assessed in Dover for the years 1648-49. In 1650 he removed to a farm at Strawberry Bank. N.H .. and three years later signed, with others, a petition to the General Court at Boston, pray- ing that the name of the settlement be changed from Strawberry Bank to Portsmouth, which was granted. For ten consecutive years from 1653 he was a Selectman of Portsmouth, and he was one of the organizers of the North Church, being ordained a Deacon upon the arrival of its first pastor, the Rev. Joshua Morly. Deacon Haines died at the age of seventy-five years.
Samuel Haines, second son of Deacon Samuel,' was born in Dover in 1646, and four years later he accompanied his parents to what is now Greenland, N.H. He died in the winter of 16SS-S9. He was married Jannary 9, 1673, to Mary Fifield, probably a daughter of Giles and Mary (Perkins) Fifield, of Hampton, N.H.
William3 Haines, fourth child of Samuel,2
was born in Greenland, N.H., January 7, 1679: he was a farmer and surveyor. He died about the year 1761. On January 4, 1705, he mar- ried Mary Lewis, of Casco Bay, Me., a niece of Philip Lewis, of Greenland, N.H.
William' Haines, fifth child of William.3 was born in Greenland, N.H., January 25, 1715. He attained a position of importance in public affairs, being a member of the Greenland Board of Selectmen for eight or ten years, and also serving in other town offices. In 1742 he united with the Congregational church, of which he was chosen a Deacon December 9, 1776, and he lived to magnify his office. dying June 25. 1799. He married March 7, 1744, Elizabeth Barker. of Stratham, N.H., who was born November 15. 1724, and who survived him several years.
Abner5 Haines, whose birth took place in Greenland, N.H., November 9, 1747, was the second child of William+ Haines. He was of an affectionate disposition, and was also hos- pitable and generous. He resided in North Hampton, N.H., where his death occurred July S, 1824. On December 2, 1778, he married his cousin Priscilla Haines, who was born in 1754. a daughter of Matthias and Abigail (Sherburne Haines.
Thomas" Haines, son of Abner,5 was born in North Hampton, June 22, 1779, and after his marriage, which took place June 5, 1805. with Sarah Whidden (born in Portsmouth, December 24, 1778), he settled in the last-named town. which was the birthplace of all of his children. When forty-six years old he removed his family to Corinth, Penobscot County, Me .. but sub- sequently purchased a farm in Levant. a town situated some ten miles nearer to the city of Bangor, and he resided there for the rest of his life, which terminated November 7, 1848. For several years he served as first Selectman ci Levant. He was a Deacon of the church. and was greatly respected, especially for his piety. His wife survived him some seven years, dying April 25, 1856.
Thomas Jefferson' Haines, son of Thomas.3 and father of the Hon. William T." Haines, was' born in Portsmouth, November 25, 1816, an 1 was about nine years of age when his parents went to Maine. He became a prosperous farmer of Levant, standing high in the estimation of
£
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his fellow-townsmen, and he was prominently identified with local public affairs, serving as first Selectman. He was married at the age of thirty-six years to Maria L. Eddy, who was born in Corinth, Me., July 27, 1818, daughter of William and Rachel (Knapp) Eddy, and a direct descendant of Colonel Jonathan Eddy, a Revo- lutionary officer, for whom the town of Edding- ton, Penobscot County, Me., was named. Thomas Jefferson Haines died May 10, 1897, surviving his wife, whose death occurred January 29, 1883. They had three sons: the Hon. William Thomas' Haines, the special subject of this sketch; Fred A., who died in childhood; and Frank E., who is married, and resides in Port- land, Me.
At an early age William Thomas$ Haines decided to enter professional life, and after com- pleting his preparatory studies he pursued the regular course at the Maine State College (now the University of Maine) at Orono, graduat- ing in the class of 1876. Two years later he graduated from the Albany (N.Y.) Law School, and after his admission to the bar he began the practice of law in West Waterville (now Oakland), Kennebec County, but in 1SSO removed to Waterville. His professional ad- vancement was extremely rapid, and before long he became the possessor of a numerous clientage, whose interests necessitated his fre- quent appearance before the courts, where, from the first, he was recognized as one of the ablest among the aspirants for legal honors. Possessing the confidence of the community both for ability and integrity, he has been retained in many cases of more than ordinary importance, which are now a part of Maine's legal history, and, as a result of his untiring energy and capac- ity for hard work, his name has become enrolled among the leading members of the Maine bar.
When twenty-eight years okl Mr. Haines was elected County Attorney for Kennebec County, holding that office for two terms-1882-86. In commenting upon the rapidity with which he disposed of criminal prosecutions, a local publication states that "he tried three murder cases in seven days, obtaining convictions in all. Kennebec County saw three of her citizens who had taken life in State prison-two for life and one for seven years-in a little over two
months from the date the first crime was com- mitted." In 1896 he was elected Attorney- general of Maine, being one of five aspirants who sought the nomination from the Republican members to the State Legislature. He trans- acted the State's legal business in a most able and satisfactory manner.
From his majority he has acted with the Re- publican party in politics, and not infrequently has appeared to advantage as a campaign orator. Ilis election to the Maine Senate in ISSS was followed by his re-election in 1890, and his work in that body was conducted chiefly upon the lines of progress and reform. In the face of determined opposition he succeeded in secur- ing the passage of the "Haines Registration Bill" (so called)-an improved system for the registration of voters in cities; he also carried through a constitutional amendment act re- quiring an educational qualification for voters, which was adopted by the people in the State election of 1892.
His interest in the welfare of the University of Maine, of which he has been a trustee for the past twenty years, has on many occasions been effectually emphasized to the advantage of that institution. As chairman of the building com- mittee he superintended the construction of Coburn and Wingate halls; and as secretary of its board of trustees, in which capacity he served continuously from 1886 to 1902, he was largely instrumental in establishing its law school, which was opened in Bangor in 1898. Mr. Haines is now (1903) serving a second term in the Executive Council.
His activity in promoting many of the new enterprises in Waterville has assured their imme- diate establishment and successful operation. Among these may be cited the Waterville Loan and Building Association, for which he acts as attorney, and also as a member of its executive trustees, and the Masonic Building Company, which erected the Masonic Building on Common Street. In 1897 he erected the Haines Building, which is located on the same thoroughfare, fac- ing the park. He is also interested in the pro- tection and propagation of fish and game, and is a member of the Maine Sportsmen's Associa- tion. He is a Knight Templar, a member of St. Omer Commandery of Waterville.
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Mr. Haines was married January 1, 1883, to Miss Edith S. Hemenway, of Rockland, Me. Their children are: Edith Avis, born August 18, 1884; Willia, born October 2, 1SS6; and Ger- trude Woodcock Haines, born March 2, 1SS9.
SCAR H. HERSEY, of Portland, was born in Freeport, Cumberland County, Me., April 9, 1852. He comes of an old colonial family, being a lineal de- scendant of William1 Hersey, who came to New England in 1635, settling in Hingham, Mass. The line of descent is William,1 William,? Will- iam,3 Joseph,+ James,5 Levi," Levi, Oscar H.8
The name of Hersey, or Hersy, is an ancient one, and probably of French origin, as it appears, it is said, on the list of noblemen and gentlemen who accompanied William the Conqueror to England. William1 Hersey, of Hingham, was a freeman 1638, Selectman 1642, 1647, and 1650, and a member of the Artillery Company, 1652. He died March 22, 1657-S. His wife Elizabeth died October S, 1671. They had six children.
William2 Hersey, probably born in England, was twice married. His first wife, whom he wedded about 1656, was Rebecca, daughter of Thomas and Alice Chubbuck. In his will, dated 1689, he mentions " my now wife Ruha- mah." He was made freeman in 1672, was Constable 1661, Selectman 1678, 1682, and 1690. He died September 2S, 1691. He had twelve children.
William3 Hersey, born in Hingham, Mass., October 11, 1657, died September 28, 1691. His first wife, Mary, died October 17, 1690. They were married June 12, 1683. His second wife, to whom he was united October 2, 1691, was Sarah, widow of Jonathan May, and daughter of John and Sarah (Gill) Langlee. William3 was a soldier in Captain Johnson's Company, Decem- ber, 1675; Constable 1694; Representative, 1698- 99. After 1704 he removed with his family to Abington, Mass.
Joseph+ Hersey, born November 9, 1697, son of William3 by his second wife, Sarah, was the father of James? Hersey, who migrated to Maine, and settled in New Gloucester.
Levi" Hersey was born in New Gloucester, Me. His wife's family name was Tobey. He
was a farmer, and settled on Harris Hill in New Gloucester, where he engaged in agricult- ure.
Levi Hersey, born in New Gloucester in 1803, died at Buckfield, Me., March 12, 1SS5. He resided for some time on the old homestead, and later went to Auburn, where in 1835 he was a trader or merchant. In the following year he was converted to the Christian faith during the time of the great religious revival, and joined the Free Will Baptist church. He was an early settler both in Auburn and Lewiston. Later in life he settled in Buckfield, where he entered upon the work of the ministry, and where he died as already noted. He married, first, Sarah Pierce, by whom he had four children-George R., Augustus M., Levi E., and Charles H. George R. Hersey, born in 1827, died in 1891, aged sixty-four years. He married Louisa P. Rich, of Harpswell, Me., and had one child, Ella, born in 1856. Augustus M. Hersey, born in 1829, died in July, 1870. His wife, Lucy F. Leach, of Bath, Me., bore him one child, Bertha. Levi E. Hersey, born in 1831, died in 1862. He married Ellen MeIntire, of Phippsburg, who is still living (1903). A son, Clarence E., died; and one daughter is now living in California. Charles H. Hersey, born in 1842, is now living in Keene, N.H. He married Carrie Kimball, of Bethel, Me., has no children.
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