USA > Maine > Biographical sketches of representative citizens of the state of Maine > Part 34
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EORGE W. SYLVESTER, City Marshal of Portland, comes from one of the old families of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, tracing his ancestry in the direct male line back to Richard1 Sylvester, who is known to have been living in Weymouth, on the south shore of the bay, in 1633. The religious senti- ments of this early colonist are said to have been unusually liberal, and the feeling excited in the community by their expression is thought to have occasioned his removal in 1642 to Seit- uate, where he died twenty or more years later. He married about the year 1632 Naomi Torrey, of Weymouth. From Richard1 the line descends through Joseph2, born in 1638; Amos,3 1685; William,+ 1709: Marlboro,5 1753; William,6 1790; George Smith,7 1823: to George W.,8 whose name heads this sketch, and who was born in Portland, Me., October 17, 1850.
Joseph2 Sylvester had a farm on Church Hill in Scituate, Mass., in 1664. Later he settled in Hanover, another Plymouth County town. He lost his life in the disastrous Canada expe- dition of Sir William Phipps in 1690, in which
he commanded a company that included sixteen men from Scituate. He had served the previous year under Colonel Church, marching against the Eastern Indians. As a reward for military ser- vices, the Massachusetts General Court granted to the heirs and assigns of Captain Joseph Syl- vester and his company a township of land, supposed to be situated in the Province of Maine. As it proved to be in New Hampshire, there was granted in its stead in 1765 a tract seven miles square on the Androscoggin River in Maine. This township was first known as Syl- vester, Canada. In 1786 the General Court passed an act incorporating "the Plantation called Sylvester into a town by the name of Turner."
Amos3 Sylvester, born in 1685, son of Captain Joseph and his wife Mary Bass, followed the trade of blacksmith in Hanover, where he was Selectman in 1743. He died in 1753. His wife, Elizabeth Henchman, whom he married November 20, 1706, died in 1762, aged seventy- seven years.
William+ Sylvester, born February 22, 1709, married Mary Barstow, of Hanover, who was born May 20, 1717, daughter of Captain Joseph Barstow and his wife Mary. In May, 1762, William Sylvester and his wife removed to Maine, sailing from Hingham, Mass., on a vessel named the "Greyhound," and settling on a farm in Harpswell, lately occupied by the Rev. Elijah Kellogg.
Marlboro Sylvester, son of William+ and Mary, married Marcia Hall, and lived in Harpswell. William,6 born in Harpswell, December 9, 1790, lived for some years of his early manhood in Brunswick, Me., whence he removed in 1836 to Hallowell. Six years later he migrated to Brooks, afterward to Searsport, and in 1853 settled in Portland, where he died December 29, 1855. He married June 6, 1817, Deborah Wilson. Born in St. George, Me., September 17, 1795, daughter of David and Lettice (Orr) Wilson, she died in Portland, August 31, 1874.
The children of William6 Sylvester and his wife Deborah were as follows: William A., born October 29, 1818, died in 1878; Marcia Jane, born March 13, 1820, died July 30, 1858; George Smith and Stephen Barstow, twins, born on Orr's Island, June 28, 1823; Isaac, born Sep-
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tember 7, 1825, died November 5, 1892; Charles H., born January 13, 1828, died November 15, 1883; David M., born May 2, 1830, died in Octo- ber, 1SSS; Mary E., born April 23, 1833, died February 25, 1895; and Arletta M., born June 7, 1836, died March 2, 1869. George Smith Sylves- ter, the only survivor of the above named chil- dren and father of the subject of this sketch, married January 22, 1847, Helen R. Couch. Born in Hallowell, Me., in 1819, daughter of George Couch, she died March 3, 1891.
George Williams Sylvester, the only son of George Smith and Helen R. (Couch) Sylvester, was born in Portland, Me., October 17, 1850. He was educated in the public schools of that city, graduating in the high school class of 1869. After serving for a time as elerk in the whole- sale store of Elias Thomas & Co., he was engaged for a number of years in the lumber trade, of which he had acquired some previous knowl- edge, his father being a contractor and builder. His first associate in the. lumber business was Robert Holyoke, the firm several years later becoming Holyoke, Benson & Co. In 1874 Mr. Sylvester accepted a luerative position in the employ of Gilbert Soule, with whom he remained ten years. After the death of Mr. Soule the business was continued by his eldest son, Gil- bert M. Soule, for the estate, Mr. Sylvester becoming manager at the headquarters of the house in Portland. This position he continued to hold up to April 1, 1897, when the concern withdrew from business. Through the urgency of his friends Mr. Sylvester was then led to accept the appointment tendered him by Mayor Randall, that of City Marshal of Portland. During his first official term he showed himself so well fitted for the position, so unmistakably the right man in the right place, as to win his unsolicited reappointment by Mayor Robin- son. He is now (May, 1903) serving his seventh year as City Marshal, being at the head of the police department of Greater Portland, the "largest, and cleverest" in the State. Mr. Sylvester is a member of the Williston Church of Portland. In polities a Republican, he served as a member of the Common Couneil of Portland in 1887, 1SSS, and 1889. He married December 3, 1878, Luena M. Ames, daughter of Frank Ames, of Searsport, Me. He has no children.
ATHAN J. KNOX, one of West Garii- ner's best known citizens, was born in Gardiner, April 21, 1826. Hisfather. the late John Knox, was also born in Gardiner, and his mother, who was before marriage Abigail Jewett, was a native of Alfred. Me. His grandfather was Joshua Knox, an estly settler in Gardiner, whose immigrant progenitor was a Scotchman. John Knox was a lifelong resident of Gardiner. He followed the stone- mason's trade in connection with farming as an industrious and useful eitizen, and was hell in high estimation by his neighbors and fellow- townsmen.
The early life of Nathan J. Knox was spent in assisting his father upon the home farm, and in attending the public schools. Learning the trade of stone-mason by working with his father. he subsequently followed it as a journeyman ios many years. He has also devoted a considerable portion of his time to agriculture, cultivating profitably a farm of eighty aeres situated in West Gardiner, where in addition to his home- stead property he owns twenty aeres of outlying land. He was formerly one of the leading pas- tieipants in local public affairs, serving as & member of the Board of Aldermen for four years. and his interest in all measures formulated ios the purpose of securing public improvements still continues unabated.
On December 22, 1855, Mr. Knox married Miss Elizabeth H. Standish, a native of Bath. Me., daughter of the late Lemuel Standish and a descendant of Captain Myles Standish the "Mayflower" Pilgrim. Mrs. Knox died Febru- ary 27, 1892, leaving two children, John W. ani Ella E., both of whom reside with their father.
ANIEL HAZELTINE MAXIM. an enterprising business man of Win- throp, Kennebee County, was born in Wayne, Me., June 26, 1844. His parents, Nathan and Fanny (Smith) Maxim. were also natives of Wayne, the father, a pros- perous farmer, being a son of Benjamin Maxim. who was an early settler in that town.
The early life of the subject of this sketch was spent upon his father's farm, and he was educated in the public schools. Preferring.
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however, a more varied occupation than that of tilling the soil, he went, about the year 186S, to South Framingham, Mass., where he served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, and for a short time after he carried on business there on his own account as a carpenter and builder. Then returning to his native State, he resided for a time in Wayne, but about twenty years ago established himself in Win- throp as a building contractor,-a business in which he has since continued, having been suc- cessful. From 1891 to the present time he has been engaged extensively in the manufacture of lumber, operating a saw and planing mill during the winter season. He deals in grain, and handles all kinds of building materials, including paints, oils, lime, etc. He also owns and cultivates a farm.
Mr. Maxim is highly esteemed, both as an enterprising business man and public-spirited citizen. His religious affiliations are with the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Republican.
He was married in South Framingham to Miss Annie L. Miller, a daughter of Alden F. and Laura (Vannah) Miller, of that place. Their children are: Fannie A., wife of George Goding; and Ora M. Maxim.
R. CYRUS KINDRICK, a widely- known medical practitioner of Litch- field, in which town he has resided for the last fifty years or more, was born in Gardiner, Me., September 6, 1825, a son of Cyrus and Sarah (Maxcy) Kindrick. His father, who was born in North Brookfield, Me., was for many years a prominent citizen of Gardiner, where for a long time he held the position of City Treasurer and Collector. The doctor's mother, Sarah Maxcy, born in Union, Me., in 1791, was a daugh- ter of Major Joseph and Hannah (Page) Maxcy. Her father, Major Joseph Maxcy, was born March 12, 1764, and died December 14, 1810. Her mother, Mrs. Hannah Page Maxcy, who came from Attleborough, died suddenly April 8, 1811, in her forty-third year.
The subject of this sketch passed the years of his boyhood in his native town of Gardiner, where he attended the public schools and also
the Gardiner Lyceum-an educational institu- tion then of wide reputation. Making choice of medicine as a profession he began his preliminary studies under Dr. C. W. Whitmore, who was a leading physician of Gardiner in his day. He subsequently became a student in the medical department of Bowdoin College, and later in the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. where he was graduated Doctor of Medicine in 1850. Beginning practice in Gardiner. he re- mained there for about two years, and in 1:52 came to Litchfield, a year later establishing him- self in practice at Litchfield Corners. where he has since remained. Thoroughly equipped for the arduous duties of his profession. he was not long in gaining a reputation that increased. until he was well known throughout the south- ern part of Kennebec County and in part of the adjoining counties as a skilful physician and surgeon. This reputation he has since main- tained, his practice having been generally very successful. After coming to Litchfield Corners. he had at different times as medical students some twenty or more young men, some of whor became quite eminent in the profession.
Since 1853, the year of its organization. Dr. Kindrick has been a member of the Maine State Medical Association, and for a number of years a member of the American Medical Association. In 1874 he was one of the organizers of the Litch- field Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and. being elected treasurer, has held that office down to the present time. He has also for the same period been a director of the company. For some twenty years he has been a member of the board of trustees of the Litchfield Academy, and he has served for several years as its treasurer. A Republican in politics, he has at different times performed good work in the local interests of his party as chairman of the Republican Town Committee, and he has been Town Treasurer of Litchfield for a number of years. For eleven years he was Master of Morning Star Lodge. No. 41, F. & A. M., at Litchfield Corners, and is now its treasurer. In all these varied positions of trust Dr. Kindrick has displayed a business abil- ity, a zeal in the performance of duty, and an unimpeachable integrity that have won the re- spect and confidence of his associates. He oe- cupies a place among those citizens of the town
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who have done the most to build up its best interests and advance it along the road of prog- ress. Of a cultivated mind and social nature, he is personally popular wherever known.
Dr. Kindrick was married March 15, 1SSO, to Miss Susan P. Howe, of North Rumford, Me., a daughter of Calvin and Thirza (Kimball) Howe, of Bethel, Me. The doctor and his wife are the parents of three children: Susie May, born Jan- uary 29, 1881; Catherine Howe, born September 12, 1882; and Cyrus Maxcy, born January 26, 1SSS. The two daughters are students at Bates College, while Cyrus M. is a pupil at Litchfield Academy, fitting for college.
ELLEN GRENVILLE PRENTISS, Postal Clerk, employed in the rail- way mail service running between Bangor and Boston, is a native of Foxcroft, Piscataquis County, Me. He was born December 17, 1844, the youngest of five children of Caleb and Almira (Wheeler) Pren- tiss. Of these the only survivor besides. him- self is his brother Henry C., of Foxcroft, born April 17, 1836.
They came of old and substantial colonial stock of English origin, being representatives of the eighth generation of the family founded by Henry Prentiss, who for a time after his arrival in New England was at Sudbury, Mass., where he became a land-owner, but before 1643 settled in Cambridge. Two of their lineal an- cestors-namely, their grandfather Caleb and their father Caleb, above named-lived in Maine. The other five-Henry,1 Solomon,2 born in 1646; Deacon Henry,3 born about 1693; Caleb,+ born 1722; and Caleb,5 born 1746- lived in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Solomon2 Prentiss, a farmer and brickmaker in Cambridge, bought a house and lived on the west side of the common. Later in life he built a new house. His son Henry,3 who was for many years Deacon of Dr. Appleton's church, inherited the homestead.
Caleb+ Prentiss, born in 1722, son of Deacon Henry and his first wife, Elizabeth Rand, married in 1744 Lydia, daughter of Deacon Samuel and Margaret (Hicks) Whittemore. After the death of Lydia he married a widow,
Rebecca Rockwell. He had nine children. all by his first marriage. Six of these -- namely. Caleb,5 Elizabeth, Samuel, William, Lydia, and Henry-lived to maturity, and two-Caleb,5 and Samuel-were Harvard graduates. Samuel. who settled as a trader in Gorham, Me., was father of Sargent Smith Prentiss, Esq., who was noted for his eloquence.
The Rev. Caleb5 Prentiss, born November 14, 1746, was graduated at Harvard College in 1765. He was ordained and settled as pastor of the First Church and Parish of Reading now Wakefield), Mass., in October, 1769, and con- tinued in charge until his death in 1803. An ardent patriot as well as a good shepherd to his flock, he responded to the alarm of April 19, 1775, by accompanying with his musket the train-band from the First Parish when they were ordered to Lexington. They proceedel until they met the foe returning from Concord. "Here he became the soldier, and as opportun- ity offered, for many miles assisted in harassing the retreating enemy." (Eaton's "History of Reading.")
He married in 1771 Pamela, daughter of the Rev. John and Rebecca (Prentice) Mellen. of Sterling, Mass. They had thirteen children --- Caleb, Thomas M., Charles, Pamela, John. Henry, Sophia, Clarissa, William, George died in infancy), Lydia, George Washington, and Rebecca.
Caleb,6 born in Reading, November 22. 1771. settled in Paris, Me., his home being in the south part of the town. He kept a store, and was the first Postmaster at South Paris. He was a Deacon in the church and a man of lit- erary and musical ability, which he was often called to exercise in public, especially in relig- ious meetings.
He married January 16, 1795, Mary Webber Morgan, who was born in Gloucester, Mass .. in 1775. They had twelve children, namely- Mary, Caroline, a son (unnamed, born and died the same day), Miranda, a daughter /un- named, who was born and who died the same day), Caleb, Arthur, Horatio, Augusta Louisa, Addison, Joseph Webber, George Mellen.
Caleb, born June 9, 1806, in Paris, Me., was a merchant in Foxcroft for many years and for several years town clerk. He was widely
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known and highly esteemed. was a valued member of the Congregational church, and one of the trustees of the Foxcroft Academy. He died March 18, 1846. His wife, Almira S. Wheeler, whom he married December 6, 1832, was born July 12, 1814, daughter of Isaac and Betsey (Murray) Wheeler, of Garland, Me. She died about 1889. Their children were: Augusta M., born June 3, 1834: Henry Caleb, born April 17, 1836; George A., born March S, 1839, who died at the age of two years; Edwin C., born June 2. 1842; and Mellen G., born December 17, 1844.
Henry C. Prentiss, the date of whose birth is given above, was Postmaster of Foxcroft for twenty-five years from 1861. A retired business man, he with his family still resides in Foxcroft. He married May 19, 1862, Ellen M. Jordan. They have one child, Mary Abbie Prentiss, born January 30, 1867. She resides in Bangor.
Mellen G., the youngest-born child of Caleb" Prentiss, was but two years old when his father died. His home for some years after was in Paris, and he was educated in the public-schools of that town. At the age of sixteen he returned to Foxcroft to work for his brother Henry in the post-office. Here he gained his first business experience. In 1873, during President Grant's administration, he was appointed Clerk in the railway mail service between Bangor and Bos- ton. It is now thirty years since, and he has been in the United States government employ and practically in the same position continuously, as although "laid off" technically in President Cleveland's first term, he was kept on as a sub- stitute and to train new men for the work. In politics he is a Republican. He has made his home since 1874 in the town of Brewer, Me., opposite Bangor.
Mr. Prentiss married August 23, 1866, Rebecca L. Merrill. She was born in Dexter, Me., Oc- tober 1, 1844, daughter of Russell L. and Lydia Smith (Hatch) Merrill. Her father was a den- tist, and practised his profession in Foxcroft, Me. He died March 26, 1SS4. Her mother, a native of Ripley, Me., and daughter of Ne- hemiah and Rebecca (Bisbee) Hatch, is still living. Mrs. Prentiss' paternal grandfather, John Merrill, whose wife was Betsey Dorr, came from New Hampshire to Maine, and settled in
Harmony, Somerset County, where he cleare ! a farm. (See sketch of Mrs. Prentiss' brother. Bisbee B. Merrill, on another page.)
Mr. and Mrs. Prentiss have three children. namely: Harry M., born October 15, 1867: Charles Fred, born April 19, 1874; and Mildred Louise, born in Brewer, July 27, 1887. Harry M. is in the United States mail service like hi- father. He married October 15, 1895. Sars Francis, and resides in Belfast, Me. Charles Fred is employed by R. B. Dunning & Co .. proprietors of a seed store in Bangor. Me. H- married December 31, 1895, Grace E. Sargent. of Brewer, Me.
OBERT WILLIAMSON, who at the time of his death, May 17, 1874. was one of the oldest business men in the city of Gardiner, was born in Chester- field County, Virginia, March 22, 1803. His par- ents also were both natives of the "Old Domin- ion." His father is said to have been of Scotch descent. Robert Williamson was reared and educated in Petersburg, Va., and there also. after his school days were ended, he learned the tailor's trade. Leaving Petersburg in his twenty-first year he went to New York. a little later on going thence to Boston, Mas ... where he followed his trade for a time. In Boston he was married to Mary Hunt, who was born in Halifax, N.S., of English parentage.
Removing from Boston to Gardiner. Me .. in 1829, soon after his marriage. Mr. Williamson here established a tailoring business, which h- carried on successfully until his death. During the last few years of this period his busines. was chiefly wholesale, though he did some custom tailoring. A man of the strictest in- tegrity and of agreeable personality, he mad- friends of his customers, and won the respect of the entire community. His success was well deserved, and demonstrated the fact that honesty, when "backed by" energy and in- telligence, is a winning factor in life. Ile was a member of the Episcopal church, and served as warden for a number of years.
A Democrat in politics, he took a loyal citi- zen's interest in local public affairs, and helped promote the general welfare as best he could,
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at one time serving as a member of the city government. He was a director of the "Me- chanies' Library" in Gardiner, and also a direc- tor of the old Gardiner Bank, now the Gardiner National Bank. Mr. Williamson and his wife were the parents of five children, namely- Robert E., Mary E., Catherine M., Virginia, and George D. Of these the two survivors are: Mary E., who is the wife of John D. Lovett; and Virginia, who resides in Gardiner, where she has a wide circle of friends. Mr. and Mrs. Lovett have one son, Robert Williamson Lovett, M.D., a graduate of Harvard University (A.B. 1SS1, M.D. 1885), now a practising physician in Boston.
® EV. WILBUR F. BERRY, president of the Maine Wesleyan Seminary and Woman's College at Kent's Hill, Kennebec County, is a native of this State, having been born in Camden, Knox County, November 24, 1851. His father, Nicholas Berry, was born in Liverpool, England, and was of English and German ancestry, while his mother, Hope S. Clark, was a native of Haddam, Conn.
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The subject of this sketch began his educa- tion in the public schools of Camden, afterward becoming a pupil successively in the Bueksport (Me.) Seminary and the Maine Wesleyan Semi- nary at Kent's Hill. Then, in 1876, he entered the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn., where he spent three years. In 1878 he joined . the Maine Conference of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and was assigned a charge at South Standish, Me., where he remained one year. Subsequently he was pastor for three years of the Methodist Episcopal church at Woodford's, Me., and after that for a similar period of the church at Saco, Me. From Saco he went to the Methodist Episcopal church at Lewiston, where he filled an acceptable pastorate of two years. This period of service was followed by one of four years at Farmington, Me., after which he was for five years pastor of the Pleas- ant Street Methodist Episcopal Church at Waterville. He was next assigned to the Con- gress Street Methodist Episcopal Church in Portland, where he remained for two years.
On May 1, 1899, Mr. Berry became secretary of the Christian Civic League of Maine, which position he held until elected to the presidency of the school at Kent's Hill. His work in this field was most fruitful in results. He has also served for the last fifteen years as secretary of the Maine Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Berry was called to his present position as president of Kent's Hill Seminary in 1902, and has since done much to advance the reputation of the institution, which has long been noted for its high standard of efficiency. Broad and scholarly, with excellent administrative capacity, he has performed his high duties with a full sense of their importance and in a manner eminently gratifying to the trustees of the institution and to the friends of advanced education.
Mr. Berry was married July 16, 1878, to Miss Livonia S. French, a daughter of Captain Moses and Sarah Kidder French, of Solon, Me. He and his wife are the parents of six children- Josephine M., Lillian E., Mary E., Emma L., Nicholas L., and Wilbur F.
In politics Mr. Berry is a Republican and a firm advocate of prohibition. In the spring of 1902 he was a candidate on an independent ticket for the mayoralty of Waterville, and polled more than one-fifth of the total number of votes cast. His own vote and influence, in every public issue, is cast on the side of law, morality, and religion, as against opposing ele- ments. With all this he is in no sense the slave of primitive conceptions or the defender of obsolete theories out of respect for their an- tiquity or from a spirit of dogged conservatism ; but his mind is ever open to receive new light if manifestly from the true source, and his spirit is unshackled save by the bonds of duty as rec- ognized and approved by his own conscience.
PHRAIM GAY, a retired business man re- siding in Rockland, was born in Thomas- ton, Me., September 7, 1821. His father, David Gay, was born October 3, 1769. in Attleboro, Mass. He came to Maine in 1790, and, settling in East Thomaston (now Rock- land), was for many years a prosperous merchant and one of the most respected citizens. He died
EPHRAIM GAY.
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March 19, 1855. On January 28, 1802, he married Lucy Butler, by whom he had eleven children, namely-Alden, Hanson, Oliver, David, Jr., Fisher, Henrietta B., William, Lucy, Sarah and Ephraim (twins), and John S.
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