USA > Maine > Biographical sketches of representative citizens of the state of Maine > Part 35
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Alden Gay, the eldest child, was born October 31, 1802. He married first, November 30, 1826, Saralı Dean; and second, May 31, 1864, Mrs. Eliza J. Wormwood Long. He had nine chil- dren, all being by his first wife, namely: Alden M., who was born March 20, 1828, and died May 25. 1854: Oliver, who was born March 17, 1829: Alfred, born July 21, 1830: Sarah B., born February 9, 1833; Gilman, born July 2, 1835: William Freeman, born December 18, 1836: Henry N., born March 2, 1839: Lucy A., born January 21, 1840; Horace H., who was born July 14, 1842. William Freeman and Horace H. both served during the Civil War in the Twenty-first Maine Volunteer Infantry. Oliver · Gay married in September, 1851, Frances E. Spear. Alfred married September 25, 1855, Frances I. Swett, by whom he has two children: Lizzie E., born in 1857; and Cora E., born in 1859. Sarah B. Gay married Robert J. Barrett. William Freeman Gay married September 19, 1858, Henrietta Stevens.
Hanson Gay, born July 1, 1804, died July 24, 1836. Oliver Gay, who was born December 1, 1S06, died August 22, 1828. David Gay, Jr., born January 4, 1809, married Ann Davis, daughter of Nicholas Davis, of Belmont, their banns being published August 28, 1835. Their only child, Edwin, was born about 1837. Fisher Gay was born December 25, 1810. On January 8, 1846, he married Leonora D. Hewett. by whom he has two children: Ella F., born in 1847; and Mary L., born in 185S.
Henrietta B., who was born January 29, 1813, married Captain Jeremiah Jameson. William Gay was born June 6, 1815. He married Feb- ruary 7, 1847, Eliza Jane Boyd. They are the parents of four children, namely: Ann E., born in 1847; William H., born in 1849 (now deceased) ; George, born in 1852; and Jefferson.
Lucy Gay was born December 31, 1818. On July 1, 1849, she married Samuel Rankin, Jr., becoming his second wife. Their only child, Florence A. Rankin, was born in 1851. Samuel Rankin, Sr., father of Samuel, Jr., was son of
Captain Constant Rankin, who was born at Old York, Me., April 17, 1747, O. S., April 28, 1747. N. S. Coming to Thomaston. Knox County, in 1775, Captain Rankin died in Rockland. Decem- ber 19, 1831. His first wife, whose maiden name was Patience Dinstow, died in early womanhood. leaving three children. He married second. August 22, 1775, Mary Tolman, who bore him seven children. Samuel Rankin, Sr., the oldest of these, was born May 4, 1776, and died April 7, 1342. On November 15, 1802, he marris.i Elizabeth Jameson. Their son, Samuel Rankin. Jr., born February 11, 1810, married first, March 8, 1831, Olive Ames, of Vinalhaven. She died at an early age, leaving one child, Albert Rankin. She was a daughter of John and Hannah (Perry! Anies, of Vinalhaven. Her grandfather, Mark Ames, came from Marshfield, Mass., to Knox County, Me., and settled in North Haven, where he took up a large tract of land. He married Priscilla Howland, of Marshfield, Mass.
Sarah Gay and Ephraim Gay, twins, were born September 7, 1821. John S. Gay, the youngest child of David and Lucy (Butler) Gay, was born November 22, 1825. He married Thankful Perry, of Gouldsboro, Me.
Ephraim Gay was long actively identified with the manufacturing and mercantile interests of Rockland, for many years being engaged in the manufacture of lime, and likewise carrying on a substantial business as a general merchant. Industrious and enterprising, he accumulated considerable money, and made safe investments in real estate, and is now a large property owner. About ten years ago, Mr. Gay retired from active business, his private interests demanding his entire time and attention. He is a Democrat in his political affiliations, and has served as a member of the city government.
Mr. Gay married September 26, 1846, Anna S. Case. They became the parents of five chil- dren, namely-Grace L., Albert C., Isaac. Case. Maria Belle, and Arthur W. Grace L. Gay, who was born January 24, 1848, married William Harrington, and has two children, George and Annie. Albert C., who was born July 13, 1550. died April 21, 1896. He married Abbie Whitney. by whom he had two children, Elizabeth and Eva. Isaac Case Gay was born December 17. 1851. He married Alice Hix, and has two chil-
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dren, George and Annie. Maria Belle Gay was born January 24, 1857: she is the wife of William Low, of Boston, Mass., and has one child, Annie Gay Low. Arthur W. Gay was born June 7, 1863; he married a Miss Kimball, and has two children, Harold and Ephraim. Ephraim Gay's first wife, Mrs. Anna Case Gay, died February 9, 1879. His second wife, Mary J. Brown, whom he married in February, ISSO, is also deceased.
OHN HENDERSON, a well-known ag- riculturist and orchardist of Readfield, Keunebec County, was born in Bitton, near Bristol, England, May 1, 1827. His father, Thomas Henderson, was an English- man, while his mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Phillips, was a native of Wales. In 1839 the subject of this sketch accompanied his parents and the rest of their immediate family to America, they taking passage at London on an East Indian bark, the "Mary Lang," and being in due time landed at Quebec, Canada. Shortly after, in the following winter, they removed to Fairhaven, Vt., and thence, after a short residence, to Sharon, that State. Their stay here, however, was short, as it was also in Bridgewater, Mass., Shirley, Mass., and Lawrence, Mass., to which places they removed in succession. They next settled in Pepperell, Mass., where in 1841 Thomas Hen- derson, the father, died.
Thus, at the early age of fourteen, the sub- ject of this sketch was thrown practically on his own resources. His father, a paper-maker, had learned his trade in the famous Turkey Paper Mills at Maidstone, England. Young Henderson's thoughts turned naturally in the direction of this industry, and he accordingly entered the employ of a paper manufacturing concern in Pepperell, in whose mill and in one other in Pepperell he worked until attaining his majority.
On the day that he was twenty-one years old he formed a partnership with Jeptha Hart- well, of Groton, Mass., and they engaged in the manufacture of paper at what is now South Groton, under the firm name of Hartwell & Henderson. The connection lasted but a short time, however, Mr. Henderson withdrawing
and forming a new partnership with Henry Lucas, a brother-in-law of his, under the style of Lucas & Henderson, the new firm carrying on a paper manufacturing business for several years at "The Narrows" in Westminster, Mass. Mr. Henderson then withdrew, and for one year subsequently was general superintend- ent of a paper mill for Crocker & Burbank, of Fitchburg, Mass. At the end of this period he removed to Waterville, Me., becoming super- intendent and part owner in the Messalonskee Corporation Mill, a paper manufacturing con- cern, with which he was connected for several years. Afterward he was superintendent for a time of the paper-mills of Charles B. Rich- mond at Lowell, Mass.
In September, 1864, Mr. Henderson came to Readfield, and settled on his present farm, which has since been his home. For some years after coming here he was interested more or less in paper-mills and paper manufacture, but since 1877 he has given his entire attention to agriculture. His farm is well located, and contains one hundred and twenty-eight acres of well-cultivated land. Though solicited at different times to accept town office, he has always declined, preferring a quiet home life and freedom from public responsibility. How- ever, he has been always ready to cast his vote and influence in favor of any measure calcu- lated to promote the advancement of the com- munity, and he is respected by his fellow-citi- zens as a man who can generally be depended upon to take the right side in public affairs.
Mr. Henderson was married November 29, 1852, to Orinda S. Bean, a native of Readfield, Me., and daughter of Franklin and Sally (Ma- comber) Bean. Mrs. Henderson's father was born in Readfield, Me., while her mother was a native of Marshfield, Mass. She is a de- scendant of Jolin Bean, who came from Scot- land in 1660, and settled in Exeter, N.H. Her great-grandfather, Joshua Bean, was one of the fifth generation from John, the immigrant. Joel, the next in line of descent, was the father of Franklin Bean above mentioned (Mrs. Henderson's father), who was a soldier in the War of 1812.
Mr. and Mrs. Henderson have had three chil- dren, namely: Frank T., who is now deceased;
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Alice J., who resides with her parents in Read- field; and John H., who is a resident of Fair- field, Me. The last named married Ethel Thompson, of Leeds, Me.
ILLARD FILLMORE NORCROSS, of Winthrop, Kennebec County, is one of the large class of self-reli- ant and prosperous agriculturists of this State. He was born in Livermore, An- droscoggin County, Me., July 9, 1848, a son of Ezra H. and Lucinda (Tozier) Norcross. His paternal grandfather was Elijah Norcross, born in Pondtown, now a part of Readfield, Me., who was at one time a resident of Livermore, Me., and later of Monmouth, where he died. The Norcross family of New England is of English origin. Its founder, Jeremiah Norcross, settled in Watertown, Mass., as early as 1636
Ezra H. Norcross was born in Winthrop April 17, 1821, and has resided here most of the time since. He is now (1903) in his eighty- fourth year. During the active period of his life he followed the trade of stonemason, work- ing in different parts of the State. His wife, who was born in Monmouth, Me., in October, 1820, died in December, 1893. Their children were: Ezra Fernando, Winfield Scott, Charles Wesley, Millard F., Reverdy Johnson, Mary Jane, Irving Melburn, Ellen Louisa, Georgianna, and ObEin Howard. The oldest and youngest are no longer living.
Millard F. Norcross accompanied his parents - to Monmouth, Me., when a mere child, where he resided until he was sixteen years old. The family then moved to Winthrop, where he has been a resident ever since, with the exception of two years spent in Monmouth. ' After pur- suing for the usual time the studies in the com- mon schools, he attended for a while the Win- throp High School, and in later years he has advanced in learning by a considerable amount of miscellaneous reading. Accustomed from his youth up to farm life and labor, he has con- tinued to follow agriculture, and has been quite successful. He owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, eighty of which consti- tutes his home farin, and is under good culti- vation. Mr. Norcross is a prominent inem-
ber of the fraternat society known as Patrons of Husbandry, having served for four years as Master of Winthrop Grange, No. 209, and hav- ing been County Deputy of Kennebec County three years. His society affiliations also in- clude membership in the Crystal Lodge, No. 94, I. O. O. F., at Winthrop, of which for a number of years he has been financial secretary. In these positions he has shown an efficiency and zeal that have contributed much toward the local advancement of both societies, and earned the respect and esteem of his brother laborers in the cause and of the members gen- erally. His interest in the more public affairs of the town has kept pace with that which he has displayed in society work; and the town fathers have for long regarded him as a citizen in whom reliance could be placed, when it came to a question of putting through any measure for the advancement or well-being of the community. When occasion demanded he has not refused personal service, and for eleven consecutive years, up to the present time he has held the office of Tax Collector of the town. In politics he is a Republican.
Mr. Norcross married June 4, 1870, Ella Boyd, a native of Winthrop, Me., and daughter of George and Pamelia (Jones) Boyd, formerly of Searsmont. Of this union there have been born two children: Ralph, who died at the age of twenty-eight years; and Zulah M., who is the wife of Charles S. Neal, assistant super- visor of the Danvers (Mass.) Insane Asylum. Mr. and Mrs. Neal have three children-Charles M., Anna M., and Ralph. Mrs. Norcross's father died in California, August 10, 1859, age forty-one years. Her mother died in 1SSS, aged sixty-six years.
JRASTUS O. W. McKECHNIE, an elderly representative of the agricultural inter- ests of Oakland, Kennebec County, was born in Oakland (then known as West Water- ville), September 24, 1825, son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Roberts) MeKechnie. Alexander Me- Kechnie, the father, who was born in Water- ville, Me., was a son of Dr. Jolin McKechnie, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, who came to Maine, settling in Waterville, where he prac-
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tised both medicine and surveying. About 1801 Alexander McKechnie settled on the farm now occupied by the subject of this sketch, and here engaged in agriculture, becoming in time one of the leading men of the town.
Erastus O. W. McKechnie was reared to man's estate on the home farm in Oakland and edu- cated in the public schools of the town. Since beginning industrial life he has been occupied chiefly in farming and stock-raising. He was married November 25, 1851, to Charlotte M. Willey, whose parents, George Willey and Elea- nor (Ellis) Willey, were natives respectively of New Hampshire and Belgrade, Me. Mr. and Mrs. McKechnie have three children: Myra E., wife of Dr. M. S. Holmes, of Oakland, Me .; Willis L., who resides in North Monmouth, Me .: and Elva B., now Mrs. George E. Wheeler, of Oakland. Mr. MeKechnie is a Republican in politics. He and his wife, who have now been married more than a half century, are among the most respected residents of their locality.
ILLINGTON THOMAS REYNOLDS. of Winslow, Kennebec County, agri- culturist and manufacturer, was born in this town, November 7, 1861, a son of Thomas and Naomi Newell (Nelson) Reynolds. His father was a native of Winslow, and his mother of Waterville, Me. His paternal grandfather, Leavitt Reynolds, settled in Winslow at an early day, and built up quite an extensive busi- ness in lumbering. He is said to have come from New Hampshire.
Thomas Reynolds not only continued his father's lumber business, but also dealt largely in cattle and horses. His wife Naomi was a daughter of Moses Nelson, of Waterville. Their children were-Charles, Constant A., Eugene, Sanford, Willington Thomas, and Rossie.
Willington Thomas Reynolds acquired his education in the public schools of Winslow. From his boyhood associated with his father in the latter's various occupations, he has since followed them on his own account, being now extensively engaged in farming and in the manufacture of lumber, having his headquarters in Winslow. By well-directed industry and progressive methods he has built up a flourish-
ing business that places him among the pros- perous and substantial citizens of the county.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Reynolds was elected in September, 1902, as Representa- tive to the lower house of the Maine Legis- lature from the towns of Winslow, Clinton, and Unity Plantation.
He was married in 1896 to Louise Clara John- son, daughter of Henry and Lizzie (Brown) Johnson, of Winslow, Me. He has two children, Rossie Louise and Willington Thomas, Jr.
Mr. Reynolds is a member of the lodge of A. O. U. W. at East Vassalboro, Me .; also of Vassalboro Lodge, F. & A. M., of North Vassal- boro; Dunlap Chapter of China; Kora Temple of the Mystic Shrine, Lewiston; and St. Omar Commandery, K. T., of Waterville. He attends the Methodist Episcopal church of North Vas- salboro, Me.
DONIRAM JUDSON BATES, of Oak- land, Kennebec County, .is a native of this town. His parents were" Thomas and Harriet (Stillman) Bates. He was born March 26, 1827, on the farm that he now owns and occupies. On this land his grandfather, Thomas Bates, Sr., a Revolutionary soldier, whose birthplace was Wareham, Mass., settled in 1783, at the close of the war. His grandfather's first wife was Ruth Bessey, his second wife Lorana Bessey. Their children were-Constantine, Ruth, Asa, Phebe, Lucy, Thomas, Margery.
Thomas Bates, Jr., resided for practically all his life in what is now the town of Oakland and at the homestead established by his father. He .was a member of the Baptist church at Waterville. His death took place in 1851. By his wife Harriet he had ten children, namely-Lucy (died in infancy), Stillman, Joseph, Adoniram J., Thomas, Lucy, Hiram, Louise, George, and Harriet.
Adoniram Judson Bates spent his boyhood and youth on the home farm, and attended the public schools of the town. In 1849, when he was twenty-two years old, he went to California by way of Cape Horn. On his arrival there he at once made for the gold fields, selecting as the locality in which to try his fortune the
JASON COLLINS.
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North Fork of the Yuba River. Here he re- mained, however, but for a short time, going thence to Astoria, Ore., where for a while he was employed as clerk in a mercantile business. In this position he had dealings with several- tribes of Indians, trading with them for furs and salmon. Early in 1852 he returned East, making the journey by the Nicaragua route and arriving home in March. Since then he has been engaged chiefly in agricultural pur- suits on the old Bates homestead, which in- cludes one hundred acres of improved and well- cultivated land. He is a member of Amon Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Oakland. In politics a Republican, he lends his aid and influence to advance not only the interests of his party, but of the town generally, supporting every practical measure for the public weal. He en- joys in a high degree the confidence and es- teem of his fellow-townsmen.
A few years after his return from California Mr. Bates married October 30, 1855, Hannah Cornforth, who was born in what is now Oak- land, Me., July 21, 1826, a daughter of John and Harriet (Keith) Cornforth. Mrs. Bates' father, John Cornforth, was a native of York- shire, England, who came to America with his parents when an infant three months old, the family settling in Readfield, .Me. His wife Harriet, Mrs. Bates' mother, was born in Middle- boro, Mass. On the paternal side she was of Scotch descent. After their marriage they took up land in Oakland, and here resided until their death.
Mr. and Mrs. Bates have had two children: Harriett S., wife of John S. Gleason, of Oak- land, Me .; and Milfred A., of Waterville, Me., · who married Merta L. Smith.
APTAIN JASON COLLINS, a well-known citizen of Gardiner, Kennebec County, was born in what is now Farmingdale, Me., on February 22, (Washington's birthday) in the year 1817. His parents were James and Elizabeth (Tyler) Collins, the father a native of New Gloucester, Me., and the mother of Westport, Me.
The early colonial families of Massachusetts bearing this name were of English origin. Bab-
son's History of Gloucester, Mass., states that Ebenezer Collins, of that town (son of Ebenezer, Sr., and grandson of Ezekiel Collins, who was a descendant of Jolin1 Collins, of Salem, 1643, and later of Gloucester), "removed to New Gloucester, Me., and died about 1804."
Captain Collins' grandfather, Joseph Collins, who spent most of his life in New Gloucester, and who died in Gardiner, December 6, 1848, aged eighty-nine, was a Revolutionary soldier. The following is his record in "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the War of the Revolu- tion," vol. iii .: "Joseph Collins, New Gloucester. Private. Capt. Nathaniel Winslow's co., Col. Josiah Whitney's regt; receipt for advance pay for 1 month, travel allowance from home to Boston, etc., dated Point Shirley, June 13, 1776; also, same co. and regt .; enlisted May 9, 1776 [service not given]; reported enlisted into the naval service June 21, 1776; also, Seaman, sloop 'Republic,' commanded by Capt. John Foster Williams; engaged June 22, 1776; discharged Nov. 18, 1776, at Boston; service 4 mos. 27 days."
The name of Joseph Collins, of Gardiner, Me., is in the list of United States pensioners, dated June 1, 1840, his age being given as eighty years.
Captain Jason Collins was reared in his native town of Farmingdale. He assisted his father in farm work until reaching the age of fifteen years, when he realized a very common boyish ambition, and "went to sea," making coast- wise and foreign voyages, and among other places visiting parts of Europe. In June, 1836, at the age of nineteen, young Collins became identified with steam navigation (then in its infancy) as an employee on the steamer "New England," plying between Boston and Gardiner, Me., and for three years subsequently he worked on steamers in various subordinate capacities. He then became assistant engineer in which capacity he continued for four years. After- wards he was employed on various other steam- ers belonging to different routes on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, for seventeen years acting in the capacity of chief engineer. In 1860 he became captain of the "Eastern Queen," plying between Boston and Hallowell, and that position he held for some six years. Then for
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the long period of twenty-three years he was captain of the "Star of the East," plying over the same route, the building of which he had superintended; and afterward he commanded for thirteen years the "Kennebec," running between Boston and Gardiner. Captain Collins was an owner and director in the Kennebec Steamship Company for many years, and only retired from active service in 1902. He has lately been engaged in superintending the con- struction at Bath, Me., of the magnificent steam- ship "Ransom B. Fuller." He has had a long and successful career, and is recognized in marine circles generally as one of the most capable men in his profession. In politics he is independent. Public-spirited, he favors anything that tends to elevate society or ad- vance the moral or material well-being of the community in which he lives.
Captain Collins married February 8, 1843, Louise Kenniston, who was born in Readfield, Me., a daughter of Nathaniel and Eliza (Springer) Kenniston. They have had five children- Anna A., Blanche L. (deceased), Idella H., Eugenia, and Wallace J. The last-named is now a physician in Westfield, Mass. Captain Collins is a Free Mason, and also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belong- ing to the Gardiner lodges of those orders.
OWARD CURRIER TAGGART, M.D., one of the leading physicians of Som- erset County, residing in Skowhegan, is- a native of Temple in Franklin County, Me., and a graduate of. the medical department of the University of the City of New York. He was born October 24, 1854, son of George and Phebe A. (Russell) Taggart, his parents being natives of Franklin County, Maine. His paternal grandfather, John Tag- gart, who was of Scottish descent, was an early settler in the town of Temple, Me.
About the year 1861 George Taggart removed with his family from Temple to Vassalboro. At Oak Grove Seminary in Vassalboro and at the academy at China, Me., Howard C. Taggart, after having received his elementary education in the common schools, pursued advanced courses of study, and, thus equipped, he engaged
for some years in teaching school. During the school year of 1885-86 he attended his first course of lectures at the Maine Medical School, connected with Bowdoin College in Brunswick. Subsequently he continued his professional studies in New York City and also in the Uni- versity Medical School, as above noted, where he was graduated Doctor of Medicine in 18S7. His expenses in the meanwhile, be it noted to his credit, were defrayed with the money he had earned at the teacher's desk in previous years. Locating himself at first in the town of Athens, Me., he practised there about three years, and then in 1890 removed to Skowhegan. His success has been well earned by diligent application.
He is a member of the Somerset County Med- ical Association, has served as its president, and is now and has been for a number of years its secretary and treasurer. For some years he has served as the Town Physician of Skowhe- gan, and for a time he was a United States Pension Examiner. For three years he has done good service in the cause of education in Skow- hegan, as a member of the School Board. He votes with the Democratic party.
He is a member of Carrabesset Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Parmenas Encampment, and of Canton Somerset, all of Skowhegan, and is at present (1903) surgeon, with the rank of Major, of the Second Regiment of Patriarchs Militant, State of Maine. He is likewise a member of Mohican Tribe, No. 53, Improved Order of Red Men of Skowhegan.
Dr. Taggart married July 3, 1SS3, Lizzie Roebuck, daughter of Charles' and Armena (Lane) Roebuck, of Dexter, Me. They have one child, a daughter, Gail A. Taggart, born April 8, 18S9.
EORGE FREDERICK GODFREY in former years was a well-known and highly-esteemed citizen of Bangor, where he was born October 23, 1840. He came of a long line of New England ancestors, most of whom, from the original immigrant down, displayed qualities of mind and character that marked them out for careers of public useful- ness, and made them prominent and influential
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