USA > Maine > Biographical sketches of representative citizens of the state of Maine > Part 39
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Robert J. Crockett, the grandfather named above, was born December 3, 1782. In July. 1805, he married Dorcas Holmes, who was born May 26, 1786, the eldest child of Elijah and Dorcas (Partridge) Holmes. Elijah Holmes was born in Stoughton, now Sharon, Mass .. September 29, 1764. When a young man he came to Union, Me., where on August 25. 1785, he married Dorcas Partridge. He built and occupied for a while a log house on the farm that was afterward owned successively by Obadiah Morse and Major James A. Ulmer. He subsequently lived in various places, going to Rockland in 1792. Prior to 1812 he went to the British Provinces, but after his second marriage returned to Maine, and settled near Lubec. In 1829 he again took up his resi- dence in Rockland, where he died February 10, 1839.
Captain Robert Crockett, born October 5. 1815, third son of Robert J., died in 1SSS. He began seafaring when but a boy, sailing at first as cook on a coasting vessel, rising from one position to another, and for many years prior to his retirement, in 1865, com- manding his vessel. He afterward engaged in ship building in Rockland. An active and influential citizen, he served as Assessor of Rockland and as Representative to the State Legislature, and for a number of years was President of the Rockland Savings Bank. On November 7, 1839, Captain Crockett married Lucy Achorn, daughter of Isaac and Olive (Currier) Achorn. She was born in January. 1822, and died November 6, 1896. She was of German ancestry on the paternal side, her grandfather, Jacob Achorn, Jr., being a son of Jacob and Jane Achorn (or Eiclihorn, as
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the name was originally spelled), who emi- grated from Germany to Maine in 1753, and settled at Broad Bay. Jacob Achorn, Jr., was born in 1761. IIe married Margaret Ulmer, and came from Waldoboro to Rock- land in 1796, bringing his wife and five chil- dren. Margaret Ulmer was born in 1765. Her father, Captain John Ulmer, was born in Ger- many in 1736. He came with his parents to Waldoboro, Me., in 1740, and after his marriage with Catherine Remilley he settled in Rock- land. He died in August, 1809. Two of his brothers, Captain Philip M. Ulmer and General George Ulmer, settled at Ducktrap, Me. The latter, born in 1755, was a soldier in the Revo- lutionary War and Major-general of the Sixth Division of Militia.
Captain Robert and Lucy (Achorn) Crockett were the parents of six children, namely- Amos F., Charles Albert, George E., Robert H., Arthur B., and Louisa M., all of whom were born in that part of Rockland known as Juni- per Hill. Amos F., Charles A., and Arthur B. are special subjects of sketches appearing in this volume. George E., born July 2, 1845, died February 13, 185S. Robert H., born April 29, 1849, was master of a vessel. He died while on a voyage, February 16, 1868, of yellow fever, at Kingston, Jamaica. Louisa M., born February 21, 1859, is the wife of Charles M. Kalloch, a sketch of whose life may be found on another page.
Amos F. Crockett was educated in Rockland, and at the age of fifteen years began his active career as a clerk in a grocery store. He sub- sequently followed the sea for a few years, sailing as master of a vessel from 1861 until 1868. Settling then in Rockland, he embarked in business as head of the firm of A. F. Crockett & Co., lime manufacturers, dealers in wood, coal, ship-chandlery, etc. This firm was subse- quently incorporated as the A. F. Crockett Company, with Amos F. Crockett as president, and his brother, Charles A. Crockett, as vice- president, and has since carried on a thriving and profitable business. As a man of superior executive ability and of uncommon personal force, Mr. Crockett is often called upon to fill important positions in the business world, being president of the Bay Point Company,
of the Camden & Rockland Water Company, of Rockland (serving the latter company since its organization), of a building company in Kansas City, Mo., and of the Rockland Trust Company, with which he has been identified in his present capacity since its organization in 1889. He is likewise a director in several important organizations and institutions, in- cluding the Rockland Building Syndicate, the Limerick Railroad Company, the Georges Val- ley Railroad Company, the Moore Lime Com- pany of Virginia, and the Portland National Bank, of Portland, Me. In company with his brother, Charles A. Crockett, he was formerly interested in the Rockland lime quarries. These quarries have been purchased by a syn- dicate called the Rockland & Rockport Lime Company, with which he is prominently iden- tified, being one of the executive committee of the board of direction of the manufacturing department, and having charge of the New York office, while his brother is superintend- ent of the quarries. Formerly Mr. Crockett was one of the directors of the Knox & Lin- coln Railroad Company, and of the Lime Rock National Bank of Rockland. He was for a time one of the trustees of the Maine Hospital for the Insane, but resigned several years since.
Public-spirited and progressive, Mr. Crockett has never shirked the duties of public office. He has served several times as chairman of the Board of Overseers of the Poor, and for three years was chairman of the Street Com- missioners' Board, serving in that capacity when street paving and sewerage were intro- duced into the city. A steadfast Republican in politics, he served as a delegate to the national convention that nominated James G. Blaine to the presidency, and for two years was one of the Executive Council of Governor Robie. He was also a member of the commit- tee that represented Maine at the celebration of the evacuation of New York by the British.
Mr. Crockett married November 4, 1868, Maria Theresa Butler, daughter of Captain Anson Butler. Phineas Butler, from whom she is descended. removed from Framingham, Mass., to Old Thomaston, Me., about 1785. The maiden name of his wife was Bathsheba Graves. John Butler, their son, born Febru-
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ary 10, 1756, was bound out to Dr. Taylor until of age. He came to what is now Union, Me., in 1774, and afterward settled in Thomas- ton, Me., where he resided until his death, February 6, 1840. In 1778 he married Lucy Robbins. She was born July 18, 1756, and died January 29, 1840. She was a daughter of Oliver and Elioenai (Shepard) Butler and sister to Elioenai Robbins, who married Jona- than Crockett, as mentioned above. James Butler, born November S, 1778, son of John. died January 6, 1861. He resided in Rock- land, where he carried on general farming for many years. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Gray. Their son, Captain Anson Butler, master mariner, born in 1809, made his home in Rockland. His wife, the mother of Mrs. Crockett, was Hannah T. Hunstable, of Boston, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Crockett have two children, namely: Robert H., born August 13, 1871; and Anna T., born June 5, 1878. Anna T. Crockett married William T. White, of Rockland, a grandson of General - Tillson; and they have one child, Theresa Tillson White, who was born in Rockland.
HARLES MELVIN CROWELL, pro- prietor of a well-improved farm in Oak- land, ranks among the leading agri- culturists of the northern part of Ken- nebec County. Born June 26, 1849, son of Rodney and Eliza (Shorey) Crowell, he is a rep- resentative of the third generation of his family in this locality.
Moody Crowell, his grandfather, a native of Cape Cod, Mass., was one of the pioneer settlers west of the Kennebec. He came through the woods on horseback, following a bridle-path marked by spotted trees. Indians were still roaming about in that region, but they were peaceful. Rodney Crowell was a native and lifelong resident of West Waterville, now Oak- land, Me. He was a farmer, owning and occu- pying the homestead where liis son Charles now lives. In religion a Universalist. he was a strong supporter of the church of that denom- ination in Oakland, and a good exemplar of its cheering faith in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man. In politics he was
a Republican. He died in 1SS5, aged eighty- seven years. His wife Eliza, who was a daughter of William Shorey and a native of Oakland. died in 1896. They had three children-George C. (deceased), Charles M., and Frederick P.
Charles Melvin Crowell grew to manhood on the home farm, his boyhood being similar to that of mnost farmers' sons who adopt their fathers' calling. He was educated in the publie schools, including the high school, which he attended until he was about twenty years of age. From the time he left school up to September, 1SS2, he was occupied in general farming. At the end of that date he took up in addition, as a specialty, the milk business. which he is still carrying on, keeping on an av- erage about thirty milch cows. The Crowell farm, of one hundred and seventy acres. with good buildings, is one of the best in this part of the State. Mr. Crowell for eight years was one of the Selectmen of Oakland. He has served also as constable. He is a Repub- lican in politics. His secret society affiliations include membership in Messalonskee Lodge. F. & A. M., of Oakland; the Independent Or ler of Foresters; and Ancient Order of United Work- men. He married September 1, 1874. Flora A. Linscott, daughter of the late Henry Linscott. of Sidney, Me. Mr. and Mrs. Crowell's only child, a son named Arthur, died at the age of seven months.
ON. CHARLES M. MOSES. Collector of Customs at Portland. Me .. has been & resident of this city since January. 1898, when he was appointed Ap- praiser at the Custom House. He was born in Limerick, Me., August 25, 1$51, son of Abrams and Mary A. (Foss) Moses, and is a representa- tive in the sixth generation of the family found led by George1 Moses, who, as narrated in Ridlon's "Saco Valley Settlement," was living on Seot -. tow's Hill in Scarboro, Me., in 1754. and is supposed to have been the progenitor of all the families of this name in Maine. The line. ac- cording to this authority, is: George,12 William .? Cyrus,+ Abram," Charles MI.6
Rufus Moses, who in 1890, at the age of ninety-five, was living at. Cape Elizabeth, stated
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FRANK CHASE.
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that he was informed that his grandfather George was from the Isle of Jersey.
George2 Moses married in Scarboro, in 1772, Ann Harmon, by whom he had three sons and three daughters.
William,3 the eldest son, born December 23, 1772, married Ann Milliken, daughter of Ed- ward Milliken. He resided in Scarboro until 1805, and then removed to Buxton, Me., whence in 1822 lie went to Eaton, N.H., where his re- maining years were spent. His wife Ann, sur- viving him, married a second husband, named Benjamin, and lived to the age of ninety-two years.
Cyrus+ Moses, born September 2, 1796, in Scarboro, married March 20, 1819, Eunice Underwood. They lived successively in Eaton, N.H., Freedom, Parsonsfield, Saco, and Standish, Me. He died in Standish, February 11, 1SS5. He had nine children, namely: Martha J .; Abram: Tryphena (deceased); David W., who died in childhood; John," who died young; the Rev. Thomas G., a minister of the Christian church; William; Eliza A. (deceased); and Alonzo, who resides at the homestead in Standish.
Abram5 Moses was born March 24, 1820. For a number of years he followed the trade of shoemaking in Saco, being employed in the shoe shops of Cornelius Sweetzer. He still makes his home in Saco. A stanch adherent of the Republican party from its formation, his interest in political affairs still continues, although he is no longer an active worker. He married in Saco, December 3, 1842, Mary A. Foss. Born in Saco, Me., in 1824, she died there in 1886 or 1887. To Abram Moses and his wife Mary were born five children, namely: Georgia, who died at the age of two years; Mary A. and Augusta, both deceased: Charles M., of Port- land; and Ada. Mary A. Moses, born in Free- dom, N.H., married Janies P. Barrows, of Bid- deford, Me., and had no children. Augusta, born in Freedom, Me., married H. G. Shaw, of Portland, Me., no children. Ada Moses, born in Biddeford in 185S, married Alvin Booth- by, of Saco, Me., and has one child, Cordelia A., born in Saco in 1889.
Charles M. Moses, the special subject of this sketch, was educated in the schools of Bidde- ford, Me. He began life as clerk in a hardware
store in Biddeford, Me., and at a later period was employed for some years as book-keeper and paymaster in the office of the Saco Water Power Machine Company. This responsible position he held for some years. In 1898 he was appointed to the office of Appraiser in the Custom House at Portland; and in January, 1900, he was appointed Collector of the Port. For two years, 1878-80, while living in Bidde- ford, he was Mayor of the city. He is a Repub- lican in politics, and is a Mason, belonging to Biddeford Lodge and to the Commandery of Knights Templar. He married in Saco in 1872 Lillian J. Deering, of Saco, Me., daughter of William H. and Frances (McKenney) Deering. Mr. and Mrs. Moses have one child, Katherine M., born in Old Orchard, near Saco, Me., Au- gust 17, 1SS1.
RANK CHASE, inventor of the "Chase Lasting Machine," was born in Water- ville, where he now resides, May 10, 1847, son of Franklin S. and Dorothy A. (Annis) Chase. His father was a native of Waterville, and his mother was born in Wells, Me. His pate nal grandparents were Moses and Betsey (Soule) Chase, well-known residents of Water- ville in their day. The grandfather died at the age of seventy-nine years, the grandmother living to be ninety-four years old. Moses Chase, whose occupation was that of a farmer, was serving in the State militia at the time of the threatened hostilities between the United States and Great Britain, occasioned by the dispute concerning the north-eastern boundary line between Aroostook County, Maine, and the Province of New Brunswick.
Franklin S. Chase followed the carpenter's trade, but is more distinctly remembered by the older residents of Waterville as a constable, in which capacity he served for many years, being, therefore, quite a conspicuous figure about town. He died at the age of seventy- one, and his wife at seventy-seven. They were the parents of four sons, three of whom are living, namely . Edward Henry; Frank, the special subject of this sketch; and Charles W. Chase.
In his sixteenth year Frank Chase relin-
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quished his studies in the Waterville public schools, and, the Civil War being then in prog- ress, he enlisted in the United States navy. Assigned to the gunboat "Ottawa," which was engaged in active operations along the Caro- lina coast, he participated in the series of naval actions in Charleston Harbor, including the bombardment of Fort Sumter, and subse- quently saw much active service along the coast as far as the southern limits of Florida. In June, 1864, he was honorably discharged in Philadelphia, at the conclusion of a fifteen months' term of service, and returned to Water- ville. Later in the same year he entered as an apprentice the machine shops of the Boston & Albany Railway in Boston, and after leav- ing there in 1866 he was employed as a ma- chinist in various parts of the country. Upon his return to Boston he engaged in business for himself, devoting a considerable portion of his time to mechanical inventions; and his labors in that direction, which covered a period of several years, resulted in the securing of forty or more patents, all being valuable im- provements upon useful machines and appli- ances. His career as an inventor culminated in 1885, when he patented the now widely- known "Chase Lasting Machine," which he subsequently improved to a still higher state of efficiency, with the result that his invention is now being used throughout the civilized world. Patents have been granted it in Eng- land, Australia, and all other countries issuing such protective privileges to inventors. It is now controlled by the United Shoe Machine Company, in which the inventor retains an extensive interest. In 1893 Mr. Chase returned once more to the home of his youth, and, tak- ing up energetically the work of promoting the welfare of the Union Gas and Electric Com- pany, he erected and equipped its plant, which he managed for some time, or until disposing of his interest. Since January 1 of the pres- ent year, 1903, a woollen manufacturing plant, to be operated by the Chase Manufacturing Company, one of his latest undertakings, has been in full running order.
Mr. Chase occupies a valuable estate of one hundred acres, containing, in addition to an imposing residence, a creamery, ice-house, hen-
nery, and a commodious stable, all of which are equipped with modern labor-saving and sanitary devices. He takes much pleasure in the breeding of blooded stock and horses, of which he possesses a number of choice speci- mens. Naturally energetic and progressive, he has accomplished much during the past nine years in developing the industrial resources of Waterville, and is justly entitled to the high estimation in which he is held by his fellow- citizens. He was made a Free Mason in Bloom- ington, Ill., and is a comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic post in Malden, Mass. In politics he is independent.
In 1865 Mr. Chase married Velora Whitney. a native of Etna, Me., daughter of Thomas C. and Hepsabath (Brown) Whitney. They have had two children, Thomas Edward and Gracie V., neither of whom is now living.
B ERT J. LIBBY, a member of the Board of Selectmen of Oakland, Ken- nebec County, was born in this town, July 8, 1868, a son of Andrew J. and Abbie W. (Morrison) Libby. His great- grandfather Libby, whose given name was John, was born in Shapleigh, Me., in 1790. He married Betsey Bean, and in 1833 he re- moved with his family to the Dearborn Plan- tation, which in 1843 was annexed to Water- ville, Me.
John M. Libby, born in Shapleigh, Me., in 1815, eldest son of John Libby and his wife Betsey, served as Selectman of Waterville and of West Waterville after the division of the town in 1873.
Andrew J. Libby, above named, son of John M. Libby and his wife, Louisa F. Witham, was born in Dearborn, November 7, 1834. Set- tling in West Waterville, now Oakland, he became one of the leading citizens of the town. He was president of the Messalonskee Bank of Oakland, and he served as Representative from his district in the lower house of the State Legislature. His chief occupation was farming, though he carried on business very successfully for a number of years as a mer- chant, and also conducted a grist mill and tannery. During the latter years of his life
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he resided in Embden, Me., where he was en- gaged exclusively in stock-raising and farm- ing. His stock took numerous prizes at State fairs and elsewhere, and won for him a reputa- tion that extended over the whole State of Maine. For many years he was a trustee of the Maine State Agricultural Society. He belonged to the Masonic order. His death occurred in Embden, Somerset County, Me. Andrew J. Libby and his wife Abbie were the parents of four children, namely-Morrison, Andrew D., Gertrude A., and Bert J.
Bert J. Libby has resided in Oakland from his birth up to the present time. Since his school-days he has been chiefly engaged in agriculture, but was also for some five years in the employ of the Somerset Railway Com- pany. Elected a Selectman of the town of Oakland in March, 1902, he served for one year in that capacity. For three years he was a trustee of the Maine State Agricultural So- ciety, and in September, 1902, was elected its president. A Democrat in politics, he is num- bered among the public-spirited citizens, whose aid and counsels are always at the service of the town. His fraternal society affiliations are with the Ancient Order of United Work- men, he being a member of the lodge of that society in Oakland. Mr. Libby married May 12, 1888, Cora Eames, daughter of Austin and Ann Eames, of Embden, Me. Mr. and Mrs. Libby are the parents of three children, Austin B., Alton B., and Mildred A.
ORACE A. HALLETT, of Portland, carpenter and builder, is a native of the Pine Tree State, born in Bel- grade, Me., October 19, 1850. He is a descendant in the ninth generation of Andrew1 Hallett, immigrant about 1637, who was of Plymouth, Mass., March, 1638-9, the lineage being Andrew,12 Jonathan,3 45 Solo- mon,6 Josiah M.,7 Nathan C.,8 Horace A.9
But little is known of Andrew1 Hallett. The fact that he was styled "gentleman," a title bestowed upon few in the colony, shows that he was a man possessed of a good estate, and probably of some note in his native land. (See Swift's "Barnstable Families.")
Of Andrew? Hallett, Jr., more' is known. Born about 1615, he died in 1684; and he was the common ancestor of all the Barnstable and Yarmouth families of the name ._ It is somewhat singular, in view of his father's supposed quality, that when a young man he was unable to write, yet soon after coming to Yarmouth he acquired the art; for in 1659 his name is found subscribed to the verdict of a jury of inquest. He was one of the first settlers of the town of Sandwich, and at the division of the common meadows in 1640 he had seven and a half acres assigned to him. He afterward removed to Yarmouth, where he bought a dwelling-house and ten acres of land in 1642. By subsequent purchases he became the largest land-holder in Yarmouth. owning about three hundred acres of the best uplands and meadow in the town. Industri- ous and economical, he became well-to-do. His name frequently occurs on the records as the incumbent of minor offices. In 1642. 1656, and 1658 he was a Surveyor of Highways: in 1651 and 1679 Constable. In 1659 he was one of a committee to raise money for the sup- port of the ministry in Yarmouth. His elec- tion to these offices shows that he was a man of ability and sound judgment, one in whom his neighbors had confidence. He took the oath of fidelity while a resident of Sandwich. and his name with that of his father appears on the list of those who were able to bear arms in Yarmouth in August, 1643. He married Anne Besse, daughter of Anthony Besse. of Lynn and Sandwich. Tradition says that she was but fourteen years old at the time of her marriage, and that she was the mother of twins before she had completed her fifteenth year. A strong, healthy woman, she made her hus- band a good wife and helpmeet.
Jonathan3 Hallett was born in Yarmouth. November 20, 1647. But little is known of his early life. On January 30, 1683-4, he married Abigail, daughter of Ensign Thoma- Dexter, of Sandwich, and grand-daughter of Mr. Thomas Dexter, of Lynn, Mass. In 16 4 he was Constable of Sandwich. After the death of his father he removed to Yarmouth. and in 1695 built a new house, afterward known as the Jeremiah Hallett house, which was torn
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down in 1819. He was ranked as the most wealthy man in the town, his brother John being the next. It was said of him that he loved money better than he did the church, and that his children put it to a better use than he did. He died January 12, 1716-7, at the age of sixty-nine years; and his wife, September 2, 1715, at the age of fifty-two. A stone erected to their memory may still be seen in the old family burying-ground at Yar- mouth.
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Jonathan4 Hallett, born 1694, owned and occupied his father's homestead, and at times followed the trade of carpenter. though agri- culture was his principal occupation. He was a Deacon of the West Church in Yarmouth, and for many years one of the Selectmen. He married September 17, 1719, Desire Howes, with whom he lived for fifty-five years sub- sequently. They united in full communion with the Barnstable Church, September S, 1728, and continued in membership until July 1, 1744, when he was dismissed to the West Church in Yarmouth. Their children were well edu- cated for the time and the community in which they lived.
Jonathan5 Hallett, born November 10, 1723, was fitted for Harvard College, but did not enter, as he preferred to be a farmer rather than a clergyman. He married Thankful Crow- ell. She met an unfortunate death from poi- soning, by mistake taking ratsbane instead of a dose of salts. He long survived her, dying February 6, 1814, at the age of ninety years.
Solomon® Hallett, born November 23, 1754, married Deborah Chapman, and about the year 1790 removed from Cape Cod to Kennebec County, Maine.
Josiah M.7 Hallett, born in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, died in Belgrade, Me. His life was spent for the most part in agricultural pursuits. He married Rhoda Crowell, of Bel- grade, Me.
Nathan C. Hallett, born in Belgrade, Me., February 12, 1825, died in Augusta, Me., in 1887, at the age of sixty-two years. Brought up on the farin, he also learned the carpenter's trade, meeting in Augusta Nathan Weston, with whom he went to Texas as an apprentice. Subsequently returning to Maine, he worked
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