USA > Maine > Biographical sketches of representative citizens of the state of Maine > Part 54
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Mr. Renier was married in 1871 to Mahala Eames, who was born in Madison, Me., a daugh- ter of Alfred and Hannah (Salley) Eames. Mrs. Renier's parents were both natives of Madison. Her paternal grandfather, Nimrod Eames, was a Revolutionary soldier and an early settler of Madison, Me., Eames Hill being named in honor of him and his brother Alfred.
Mr. and Mrs. Renier have been the parents of six children: Jennie M., wife of Albert J. McFarland, of Madison; Stanley P .; Angie V., wife of Charles H. Lancaster; Percy L., Myrtle M., and Rosalie B., all of whom reside in Madison.
EORGE FRANCIS ALLEN, machin- ist and manufacturer, has been a resident of Oakland, Me., Kennebec . County, more than thirty years, having come to this place from Waterville in 1867. A na- tive of Smithfield, Somerset County, Me., he was born May 19, 1837, son of Francis and Polly (Taylor) Allen. His father's birthplace was Fairfield, Somerset County; his mother's, Belgrade, Kennebec County. More than one generation of his paternal ancestors in the male line had their home in Fairfield, his grand- father, Francis Allen, Sr., being a native of the townl.
hood without the help of college athletics. He was educated in the district schools of Smithfield, a school at Norridgewock, and at Westbrook Seminary with Rev. J. P. Weston, principal. Soon after completing his studies, a youth of eighteen, he went to Fairfield, Me., where for six years he worked in the machine shop and foundry of Foss, Owen & Co., master-
ing the trade of machinist and the art of iron founding. Subsequently going to Waterville, Kennebec County, he remained there in the employ of the well-known machinists and founders, Webber & Haviland, until the date of his removal to Oakland, in 1867, as above mentioned.
Here in company with A. P. Benjamin, under the firm name of Benjamin & Allen, he en- gaged in the manufacture of threshing ma- chines, and also carried on the business of a general jobbing machine shop and foundry. On January 1, 1897, Mr. Allen bought out Mr. Benjamin's interests, and since that date has been the sole proprietor of the establishment.
His success in business has been well won, being the fruit of diligent and sagaciously directed application. Reared in the Univer- salist faith, he is a member of the church of that denomination at Oakland .. His political affiliations are with the Republican party. He is a member of the Messalonskee Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Oakland: also of Oakland Lodge, A. O. C. W., of which for a number of years he has been the receiver.
He has been twice married. His first wife was Anna E. Chipman, of Chester, Conn. She died in 1SS3, leaving three children, namely: Gertrude S., the wife of Dr. M. L. Damon, of Pittsfield, Me .; Catherine and Walter, both of Oakland. Mr. Allen married secondly, in 1885, Mrs. Mary S. Blaisdell (born Hooper), his present wife, a native of Sidney, Me.
LBRIDGE GERRY HODGDON, who died at his home in Clinton, Kennebec County, January 21, 1903, at the age of seventy-eight years, was one of the old- est and most respected citizens of the town. Born in Saco, Me., June 6, 1824, he accom-
Brought up on his father's farm in Smith- field, George F'. Allen grew to vigorous man- | panied his parents in childhood from that town
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to Lisbon, thence to Topsham, and in 1831 to Clinton. His opportunities for obtaining an education were limited, for at the age of twelve years he was forced by circumstances to leave school and begin industrial life, being practically thrown upon his own resources. At the age of fourteen he left home and began to work about the tavern kept by Joseph and Parker Piper in the building now known as the Clinton House. On leaving there he be- came clerk in the store of Philander Soule, with whom he remained until 1842. He then entered into business for himself, buying, with Davis and James Hunter, a one-third interest in a shingle-mill. This enterprise they conducted together for twelve years, doing a prosperous business. In 1853 Mr. Hodgdon, in company with Mr. C. H. Kidder, built a store, which they conducted together very successfully as general merchants until 1862. In that year Mr. Hodgdon bought his partner's interest, and soon after moved the store to the corner of Main and Railroad Streets, in the building now occupied by J. B. Davis. He then erected a large store on the site of the old one, where he continued the business till 1SS6. Then selling his stock, he bought a half-interest in the grist-mill, which was henceforth con- ducted under the firm name of Hodgdon & Smith until it was destroyed in the shoe fac- tory fire of December, 1894. At the time of his death Mr. Hodgdon was a trustee and vice- president of Brown Memorial Library and president of the People's National Bank of Waterville, having served for thirty years as one of its directors. His public service included four years as Town Clerk and six years as County Commissioner. In politics he was a Republi- can.
Mr. Hodgdon was a man widely known and universally esteemed. His recognized ability as a business man was associated with the strictest integrity and moral rectitude, un- tinged, however, by aught of sternness or self- assumption. His funeral services were largely attended, being under the general charge of St. Omer Commandery, K. T., of Waterville, of which body he was a member.
Mr. Hodgdon was married December 17, 1848, to Rosina Kidder, of Albion, Me., who
died November 23, 1898. He left an adopted daughter, Mary (who married George E. Pen- nell, a lawyer of Atlanta, Ia.), and a brother, George Hodgdon, of New York City.
IDWARD TAYLOR is a veteran agricultu- rist of Norridgewock, who has resided on his present farm in that town since 1854. He was born in Norridgewock, August 17. 1830, his parents being Nathaniel and Olive (Whitten) Taylor. The latter came to the town in 1827, the father, Nathaniel Taylor, engaging in the manufacture of brick, besides carrying on a farm. He was also a leading member of the Baptist church at Norridgewock, which he served as Deacon. Both he and his wife were natives of Maine. The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was Jediah Taylor, of Lyman, Me. The Taylor family is said to be of Scotch extraction. The children of Nathaniel and Olive (Whitten) Taylor were: Sarah E., Edward, George D. B., Harriet, and Ellen F. Harriet died in 1851 and George in 1854.
Edward Taylor in his boyhood attended the district schools of Norridgewock as he found opportunity, being obliged to make himself useful on the farm as soon as he was old enough to work. He has since continued to cultivate the soil as his regular occupation, though for- merly for several years he was engaged also in the manufacture of brick. Intelligent and in- dustrious, his labors have been crowned with success, and he is now numbered among the prosperous citizens of the town. In politics he is a Democrat, and, though he has never sought office, his vote and influence have always been cast in favor of any project calculated to advance the best interests of the community. He enjoys in a high degree the respect of his fellow-townsmen. Reading and reflection in his leisure hours have improved his education. He keeps well informed in regard to current events, and is regarded as a man of sound judg- ment in business affairs and on matters of pub- lic interest.
Mr. Taylor was first married in 1859 to Mary Rogers, of Anson, Me. She bore him one son, Albert E., who has been a teacher for fourteen
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years in California. Mr. Taylor's first wife died in 1870, and he married for his second and present wife Martha E. Lancaster, of Anson, Me., a daughter of Joseph P. and Rosalind Lancaster. Of this union were born two chil- dren, Hattie and Bessie, both of whom are now deceased.
AMUEL R. HARDING, a prosper- ous Somerset County farmer, has occupied his present farm in Nor- ridgewock since 1872. He was born in Cambridge, in the north-east part of Som- erset County, Me., June 10, 1842, son of David and Susan (Woodman) Harding. His parents were both natives of Norridgewoek, to which town they returned in -1845, after a brief resi- dence in Cambridge. David Harding, who was a farmer, died in Norridgewoek, April 16, 1SS5, aged eighty-three years. His father, Isaac Harding, an inhabitant of Norridgewock in the early part of the nineteenth century, was a native of Augusta, Me., and a son of Isaac Harding, Sr. Among the early inhabitants of New England bearing the surname were: Abraham Harding, a freeman of the Massa- chusetts Bay Colony, 1645, and later one of the founders of Medfield, Mass .;. John Harding, who was a selectinan of Weymouth in 1643; and Joseph Harding, who settled in Eastham, Cape Cod, and married in 1660 Bethia Cook. A widow, Martha Harding, was taxed in Plymouth in 1632.
David Harding and his wife Susan had seven children, of whom four are now living, namely- D. W. Harding, L. D. Harding, S. R. Harding, and W. E. Harding.
Samuel R. Harding was brought up to farm life and educated in the public schools of Nor- ridgewock and Skowhegan. In 1862, desirous of seeing a little of the world beyond the boun- daries of his native State, he journeyed by tlie Panama route to the Pacific coast, and subsequently spent two years in California and Nevada, being engaged in the business of teaming.
After much interesting experience, with eu- larged knowledge of life and of the resources of his country, he returned to Norridgewock,
where, with the exception of a short time passed in Massachusetts, he has since resided. His homestead property, consisting of two hundred acres of tillage, woodland, pasture, and meadow, bears the marks of industry and thrift. In former years Mr. Harding was somewhat extensively engaged, and with good success, in breeding Hereford cattle. He was married November 25, 1864, shortly after his return from California, to Susan B. Worthen, daughter of Amos Worthen, late of Fairfield, Me., and formerly of Corinna, in which town she was born. Mrs. Harding died June 25, 1897, aged fifty-three years. She left no children.
Mr. Harding is an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church at Skowhegan. His polit- ical affiliations are with the Republican party. He is a member of Skowhegan Grange, No. 108, P. of H., of Skowhegan, and of Echo Lodge, No. 103, Knights of Pythias, of Norridgewock.
ANIEL BARKER, a well-known eiti- zen of Bangor, Me., is a native of the State, having been born in Ex- eter, October 12, 1819. His par- ents were Nathaniel and Sarah (Pease) Barker, and he is a descendant in the seventh genera- tion of James Barker, of Stragewell, Low Suf- folk, England, who came to New England, ac- companied by his wife Grace and his brother Thomas, in 1638, in the ship "Desire," landing to Salem, Mass., under the leadership of the Rev. Ezekiel Rogers, who in the following year, 1639, founded and became the first minister of Rowley, Mass., James and Thomas Barker being two of its first settlers. The line is James,1 Barzilla,2 Noah,3 Josiah,+ Daniel,5 Nathaniel,6 Daniel.7
A brief record of the progenitors between James1 and the subject of this sketch is as fol- lows :-
Barzilla,2 born at Rowley, Mass., 1643, son of James by his wife Grace, died in 1694. He married in 1666 Anna Jewett. Noah,3 the youngest of his ten children, was born at Row- ley in 16SS, married in 1715 Martha Figgett, of Ipswich, and migrated after 1718 to Strat- ham, N.II., and died in 1749. Josiah,+ the sixth child of Noah, was born in 1727. IIe
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married in 1752-3 Mary Hurd, of Ipswich, Mass., and settled in Exeter, N.H., where he carried on the clothing business. Daniel," the eldest child of Josiah, was born in 1754, married Anna Hill and lived in Limerick, Me., removing to Exeter, Me., in 1805. Nathaniel," born in Exeter, N.H., in 1784, went in 1802 to Exeter, Me., to which town he gave the name of his birthplace. In 1806 he married Sarah Pease, who was born in Parsonsfield, Me., 1789, daugh- ter of Joseph and Dorothy (Clark) Pease. On March 18, 1823, while coming to Bangor with an ox team loaded with wood, and accom- panied by his little son Nathaniel, then a lad of nine years, he was run over by his team, near what is now Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bangor, and instantly killed. The story of the widow's struggles to bring up her family has long been familiar history in the Barker family, but by courage, patience, and heroism she accomplished the task, and earned her reward in the gratitude and affection of her children. She long survived the trials of those early days, dying on the old homestead, Jan- uary 6, 18SO, at the advanced age of ninety- one years. The children of Nathaniel and Sarah (Pease) Barker were: Noah, born No- vember 14, 1807; Melinda, born July 29, 1809; Julia, born March 12, 1811; Sarah, born Sep- tember 30, 1812; Nathaniel, born November 27, 1814; David, born September 9, 1816; Lewis, born February 18, 1S1S; Daniel, born October 12, 1819; Mark, born September 19, 1821; John S., born September 12, 1823.
Daniel Barker passed his early life in Exeter. He became interested in and acquired a prac- tical knowledge of civil engineering, and as early as 1845 was employed as surveyor and engineer by Mr. E. S. Coe, of Bangor, a dealer in timber lands. A lover of nature and of books, the greater portion of his life has been passed exploring the wild lands of Maine and New Hampshire, some classic being always a necessary part of his tramping outfit. In 1856 he married Lydia W. Chamberlain, of Exeter, daughter of Joshua W. and Lydia (Walker) Chamberlain; and in 1S6S he became a resident of Bangor, still remaining in Mr. Coe's eniploy. He has perhaps been connected with one firm for a longer period than any other man in the
State, it being fifty-eight years since he entered Mr. Coe's employ. He has three children, two daughters and a son. He is a Free Mason, be- longing to the Chapter R. A. M. at Bangor, and attends the Hammond Street Orthodox Church.
ENRY B. MERRY, a prosperous busi- ness man of North Anson, Somerset County, was born in New Vineyard, Franklin County, Me., December 31, 1849. His parents were Joseph and Rhoda (Butler) Merry, and he is a grandson on the paternal side of Asa Merry, an early settler and subsequent resident, until his death, of Indus- try, Me. Joseph Merry, who was born in In- dustry, settled in New Vineyard, where he was extensively engaged in farming, and was also well known as a dealer in sheep and wool. In 1863 he removed to North Anson, where he resided until his death, which occurred in Jan- uary, 1893. By his wife Rhoda, who was born in New Vineyard, he had seven children, of whom there are now two survivors: Ellen M., wife of Daniel Moody, of Sanborn, Ia .; and Henry B., whose name begins this sketch. Those deceased are: Emerline B., Henry B. (first), Charles, Estelle, and Clara B. Henry B. died at the age of four years, prior to the birth of the subject of this sketch.
Henry B. Merry was a boy of thirteen when he accompanied his parents to North Anson in 1863. Here he was reared to man's estate, acquiring his education in the public schools and at the Anson Academy. For a number of years after beginning industrial life for himself he was occupied as a buyer and shipper of cat- tle and sheep, which he sold mainly at the Low- iston (Me.) and Brighton (Mass.) markets. He has since continued in business as a dealer in wool, having associated with him Mr. Charles H. Clark, of Madison. About twelve years ago he became interested in the lumber industry, in which he is still engaged, his partner at the present time being Frank Donley, of North Anson. He also, jointly with C. II. and J. P. Clark, possesses interest in timber lands in Chesterville, Me.
Mr. Merry is a Republican in politics, and for two years was a Selectman of Anson. He
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represented the towns of Anson, New Port- land, Starks, and Norridgewoek in the legis- lative session of 1895. At the present time he is a member of the Republican Town Com- mittee of Anson. He belongs to Table Rock Lodge, No. 100, I. O. O. F., of North Anson, which he has served as Noble Grand, being now a Past Grand. Though not a member of any church, he has contributed of his means to the support of different denominations represented in the town.
He married September 13, 1894, Clara Park, daughter of Elisha and Betsy Park, of Chester- ville, Me.
ANTHEUS A. WITHEE, of Norridge- wock, a veteran of the Civil War, is a native of this town, having been born here, June 19, 1839, son of David and Climena (Kelley) Withee. His paternal grand- father. William Withee, was an early settler in Norridgewoek. David Withee was born in Norridgewock, and was a lifelong resident of the town. His wife, who was a native of Win- throp, Me., bore him eight children, of whom four are now living, namely: David W., who resides in Skowhegan, Me .; Mary J., wife of Alvin Strickland, of Fort Fairfield, Me .: Xan- theus A., whose name begins this sketch; and Charles E., who is a resident of Lock Haven, Pa.
Xantheus A. Withee was reared in his native town, and in his boyhood he attended the com- mon schools. At the age of eighteen he went West, where he remained for two years, finding employment at different places in the States of Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa. On August 9, 1861, having returned home a year or two previously, he enlisted in Company B, Seventh Maine Volunteer Infantry, being mustered in in the following September as a private. With the Army of the Potomac he took part in the siege of Yorktown, the battle of Williamsburg, the seven days' retreat from Richmond to Harrison's Landing on the James River, the second Bull Run, and the battle of Antietam, where but sixty-five men of his regi- ment were left after the fight, the rest being either killed, wounded, or missing. The rem-
nant were sent home to recruit, private Withee being promoted to the rank of Sergeant for meritorious conduet on the field. But four men out of his company had escaped the ter- rible slaughter. The regiment having been re- cruited, Sergeant Withee rejoined it in Fet- ruary, 1863, and subsequently fought in the Army of the Potomac, then under Grant. in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania. Cold Harbor, and at the siege of Petersburg. Honorably discharged in September. 1984. 2: returned home to Norridgewock and serei down to agriculture, in which occupation ke has since continued here. He is the propriet: of a good farm of one hundred and fifty seres. which is well cultivated and yields him proz- table returns.
Mr. Withee is a member of Russell Post. No. 96, G. A. R., at Skowhegan, and has served i: as Commander. He also belongs to Skowhecan Grange, P. of H., which he has served as Master. and to Carrabansett Lodge, I. O. O. F .. at .So%- hegan, Me. In politics he is a Republican. F :: three years he served as a Selectman of the town of Norridgewock.
Mr. Withee married April 8, 1565. Veste A. Rowe, a native of Madison, Me .. and daughter of Amos and Cordelia (Hall) Rowe. He has had three children: Horace S., who lives Norridgewock; Milford, who is a resident ci Skowhegan; and Perley F., who resides in Max- ison, Me.
HARLES DAVIS JAMESON. Briga die :- general, United States Volunteers. Jis- tinguished for brave and gallant ser- vices in the field of battle, died c: camp fever November 6, 1862. in the secoz: year of the war for the Union and the thirty- sixth year of his age.
Born in Gorham, Me., February 24. 1827. 502 of William and Martha (Davis) Jameson. he was a descendant in the sixth generation of William: Jameson, of Falmouth, the line being William .: Martin,2 Robert,34 William." Charles Davis."
William1 Jameson, a native of Scotland. bert. as stated in the historie-genealogical record of the Jamesons in America, about the year 1675. in the vicinity of Leith, county of Edinburgh ..
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lived for a number of years in the north of Ire- land, and came thence to New England in 1718, arriving in Boston in August and going to Maine in the autumn. He is thought to have been a son of an elder William Jameson who removed from Scotland to Ireland in 1685.
In 1727 William1 Jameson was an inhabitant of Falmouth, Me., and one of the first subscribers to the covenant of the church organized on the south side of the river at a place called Purpoo- duck. His son Martin,2 born in Antrim, Ireland, in 1705, married Grizzel Patterson, and resided in that part of Biddeford that is now Saco, Me. He died in 1760. Robert3 Jameson, who died in March, 1825, married in 1757 Sarah MeKinney, a native of Saco, Me. They made their home successively in Saco and Scarboro, Me. His wife Sarah, the mother of his children, died when well advanced in years, and he married in his old age, in 1814, Mrs. Gracie Hewes, widow of Zephaniah Hewes.
Robert+ Jameson, born .in 1772 in Pepperell- borough, now Saco, Me., went to South America as supercargo of a vessel, and died of fever, at thirty-eight years of age, in November, 1810. His wife, Sarah Harmon, whom he married April 17, 1793, was a daughter of Daniel Harmon, of Beech Ridge, Scarboro, Me., where they resided. She died in 1819. They had seven children, General Jameson's father, William Jameson, above named, being the second-born. The fol- lowing is a brief record of the other six: Eunice H. married Abram Waterhouse, Robert died in 1853, Patience married Solomon S. Moulton, Sarah married Hiram Quinby, Hannah married Samuel Fogg, John married Nancy Godfrey.
William® Jameson, born at Beech. Ridge, Scar- boro, Me., in 1795, married Martha Davis, who was born in Gorham, Me., in 1805. They re- sided successively in Gorham, Oldtown, and Upper Stillwater, Me. Mrs. Jameson died Jan- uary 17, 1866; Mr. Jameson, June 5, 1867. They had two children, Oliver M. and Charles Davis, the special subject of this biographical sketch. Oliver M., born May 25, 1825, died at about three years of age in 1828.
When Charles Davis Jameson was but two years old, his parents settled in Oldtown, Penob- scot County, Me., a great centre of the lumber trade and manufacture, formerly a part of Orono.
In his early youth he had fine educational oppor- tunities, being sent to excellent boarding-schools to pursue his preparatory studies, but, his health failing, he was obliged to give up going to college. As he grew to manhood, he had every facility for obtaining practical knowledge of the lumber industry. Embarking in business for himself soon after attaining his majority, he became one of the most extensive lumber manufacturers and dealers on the Penobscot River. He resided for some years in Bangor, removing in 1856 to Upper Stillwater.
Ile took great interest in the organization and discipline of the State militia, and through suc- cessive promotions rose to the rank of Colonel. Appointed division inspector, he inspected the brigade in August, 1858, with remarkable thor- oughness, as it was thought in those times of peace. In politics a Democrat, he was active in the councils of his party, and in 1860 was a delegate to the National Convention at Charles- ton, S.C.
A stanch patriot, young Jameson. after the fall of Fort Sumter, it is said, "was the first man from Maine to be mustered into the service of the United States; and, as commander of the Second Maine Regiment of Volunteers. he led the first troops from the Pine Tree State to the seat of war. His commission as Colonel was dated May 2, 1861. In the battle of Bull Run. July 21, 1861, his dauntless courage, the mas- terly handling of his troops in covering the re- treat of our demoralized forces, and his holding in check and beating back the fierce onslaught of the famous Black Horse Cavalry of the rebels won for him and his men the admiration and high compliment of General Keyes. commanding the brigade, and General Tyler, commanding the division."
His heroism and efficient service won for him. too, liis promotion, September 3, 1861. to the rank of Brigadier-general, in command of choice New York and Pennsylvania regiments. " At the head of his brigade he took a distinguished part in the battles of the Peninsula. He was always foremost in the charge. He was the first man to enter Yorktown: and he fought with conspicuous bravery at Williamsburg. Mechan- iesville, Malvern Hill, and Fair Oaks, where it is said he charged along the road toward and car-
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ried the stars and stripes nearer to the city of Richmond than any one [else] during that cam- paign." He regretted the orders to fall back, saying, "But for that I would have been in Richmond that night or in heaven.
In the autumn of 1861 he received the nomi- nation of the loyal Democrats of Maine for the office of Governor of the State. Shortly after the battle of Fair Oaks he was stricken with camp fever, and on June 13, 1862, Captain J. S. Smith was granted by General Mcclellan leave of absence to accompany him to the North. Citizen, soklier, patriot, General Jameson died at his home in Upper Stillwater, Me .. honored and lamented, November 6, 1862, in the thirty- sixth year of his age.
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