USA > Maine > Biographical sketches of representative citizens of the state of Maine > Part 57
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ANLY MORRISON, of Clinton, Ken- nebec County, was born in this town, November 30, 1853, son of Benjamin and Lucretia (Joy) Mor- rison. His parents were both natives of Clinton. His paternal grandfather, Elijah Morrison, came to Clinton from Wells, Me., in 1814. settling at Morrison's Corner. He, Elijah. was a soldier in the War of 1812-15, as was also a cousin of his, Dependence Morrison, who also came to Clinton in 1814, and settled near him at Morri- son's Corner. Mr. Manly Morrison's great- grandfather, who was the founder of this branch of the family in New England, came, it is said, from Scotland, and settled in Wells, Me.
Benjamin Morrison, father of Manly, was a well-known and respected citizen of Clinton in his day, for thirty years serving as Town Col- lector. He was also for some years Town Treas- urer and chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Born October 20, 1820. he died August 9, 1894. Two of his children are now living, namely: Sabrina, wife of Isaac Keene, of Clinton; and Manly, whose name begins this sketch. Those deceased are Frank and Wesley.
Manly Morrison was educated in the publie schools of Clinton and at Maine Central Insti-
tute, Pittsfield, Me. For some thirteen terms he was engaged in teaching school. Afterward he became a fire insurance broker, in which business he still continues. In 1SS1 he entered into his present business as a general merchant and dealer in carriages and agricultural imple- nients, which he has carried on successfully up to date. In January, 1899, Mr. Morrison be- came interested in the lumber industry, and now owns a saw-mill at Clinton, which is run the year around, and the annual product of which is about two million feet. He served twelve years as Selectman of Clinton, during the entire period being chairman of the board. and he has always been prompt to perform his part as a good citizen in advancing the interests of the town. His success has been chiefly self- made, and by his ability and integrity he has won the respect and confidence of his fellow- townsmen. He belongs to Sebasticook Lodge. F. & A. M., of Clinton, and Pine Tree Lodge. I. O. O. F., of Clinton.
Mr. Morrison was first married, April 7, 187S. to Eva B. Drake, of Clinton, who died April 18. 1886. She was the mother of one son, Ray V. Morrison, now deceased. He married, second. May 17, 18SS, Marietta M. Brown, a native of Clinton, Me., and daughter of Ezekiel and Lura (Spencer) Brown. Of this union there is one child, Harold.
JZRA C. TOWN, one of the leading citizens of Madison, Kennebec County, was born in Winslow, Me., April 18, 1826. His parents were John and Abigail (Wyman) Town. both natives of Winslow. John Town (who died in Madison) was a son of Ephraim Town. an early settler of Winslow, who served in the office of Deputy Sheriff of Kennebec County.
The subject of this sketch in early infancy accompanied his parents to Pittsfield, Me .. whence, when he was about four years old, they removed to Winslow. A subsequent migration settled them in Gardiner, from which place, however, they afterward returned to Pittsfield. Ezra being then a boy of thirteen. Here he re- mained until arriving at man's estate. His schooling was limited, but what he learned he learned well; and his laek of book knowledge
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was largely made up for by keen powers of ob- servation and regular and systematic habits of industry and perseverance. His first industrial experience brought him into contact with the soil in the laborious though healthful occupation of farming, which employed his energies for a number of years in Pittsfield. On March 5, 1851, he married Harriet S. Runnels, who was born in Pittsfield, Me., daughter of Daniel and Sibyl (McDonald) Runnels, her parents being residents, and her father also a native, of that town. Among Mrs. E. C. Town's ancestors was a great-grandfather Benjamin Runnels, a Revolu- tionary soldier, who, it is said, helped to forge the great chain that was stretched across the Hudson at West Point, to prevent the ascent of the river by British vessels. Tradition also has it that he erected one of the first buildings in Waterville, Me., where he was a large land-owner, . and where also he built and conducted a saw- mill. In December, 1869, Mr. Town, with his wife and family, came to Madison, where he became connected with the lumber manu- facturing industry. After thus continuing for several years, he entered into mercantile busi- ness as proprietor of a general store, and for some years also was station agent at Madison for the Somerset Railway. His strong common sense, sound business habits, and personal in- tegrity had marked him out among his fellow- townsmen as one who could fitly serve them in public affairs, and accordingly he was almost constantly numbered among the town's officers, for nine years serving as a member and chair- man of the Board of Selectnien, eight years as Town Clerk, six years as Town Treasurer, and six years as chairman of the Board of Assessors of the Madison Village Corporation. Since re- tiring from active participation in business and public life, he has resided tranquilly in his com- fortable residence in Madison, where two years ago he and his wife celebrated with fitting honors the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage. They have been the parents of seven children, of whom three only are now living: Ada S., wife of W. W. Johnson, of Madison; Elmer E. and Charles E., also residents of Madison. The four . deceased are: Abbie L., Walter V., Flora L., and Cora L. Elmer E. married Nellie Moore, daugli- ter of Hiram Moore, of Madison. Charles E.
married Nellie Parlin, of Anson, daughter of Silas Parlin.
Highly esteemed among the residents of Madison, Mr. and Mrs. Ezra C. Towne are spend- ing their declining years in peace and comfort, with the sustaining knowledge of having faith- fully performed life's duties according to the measure of their opportunities.
HARLES JAQUITH, a well-known agri- culturist, of Clinton, was born in what is now Skowhegan, Me., July 3, 1831. His parents, David and Sallie (Young) Jaquith, were both natives of Maine.
They came to Clinton when their son Charles was thirteen years old. Further mention of them may be found in the sketch of Nathaniel Jaquith on another page of this volume.
The family resided in the neighborhood of the old town house in Clinton until 1854, when they removed to Clinton village. Here Charles Jaquith, now a young man of twenty-three. opened a blacksmith shop, which he carried on subsequently as sole proprietor for several years. Later he became a merchant, conduct- ing a general store in Clinton village for ten years. He then resolved to devote himself to agriculture, and has since followed that oc- cupation in Clinton. His farm of sixty-five acres is well cultivated, and presents a thriv- ing appearance, the result of long-continued industry and good management.
Mr. Jaquith was first married in September. 1854, to Olive A. Berry, of Burnham, Me .. who was a daughter of the late Eben Berry, of that place. She died July 12, 1877, having been the mother of two children: Cora, wife of How- ard W. Dodge, of Clinton, Me .; and Alice MI .. wife of W. H. Coleman, of Keene, N.H. Mr. Jaquith married secondly, December 23, 1ss0. Myra McNally, of Clinton, Me. She died De- cember 16, 1901. September 3, 1903, he married for his third wife Mrs. E. A. Hunter, of Vance- boro, Maine.
Mr. Jaquith is a Republican in politics. He takes a lively interest in everything calcu- lated to benefit the town. He is a member of Pine Tree Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Clinton, and of Clinton Grange, P. of H. For over half a
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century he has been a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, which for many years he has served as trustee, steward, and class leader.
BEN SCOTT MILLER, a prosperous lum- berman of Norridgewock, Somerset County, is a native of this town, having been born here, May 24, 1861, son of Robert and Jane (Taylor) Miller. His parents, both natives of Scotland, came to America early in the fifth decade of the nineteenth century, settling in Norridgewock, where Robert Miller engaged in agriculture. Though a man of seanty means when he began, he soon became known as one of the best farmers in the county, and at the time of his death, March 3, 1875, was a well-to-do and prosperous citizen. His wife survived him for a number of years, dying July 25, 1887. Of their children the following sur- vive: Jeanette, wife of B. A. Johnson, of Nor- ridgewock; Ellen J., wife of W. H. Mills, of Norridgewock; Nicholas and Charles R., both of Norridgewock; Lilla C., wife of Fred H. Tobey, of Norridgewoek; and Cora B., who mar- ried Hugh Hurley and resides in Skowhegan.
Eben S. Miller was edueated in the public schools of his native town and at the Eaton School in Norridgewock, in its day a famous institution of learning. When twelve years old, owing to the death of his father, he had to begin, in part at least, to earn his own liveli- hood, but continued to attend sehool at inter- vals until reaching the age of sixteen. He then began an apprenticeship to the machinist's trade in the shops of the Maine Central Railroad at Waterville, where he remained for nearly three years. Subsequently he followed his trade as a journeyman for some seven years, quitting it only on account of poor health. For this eause he went to Colorado, spending seven months in that State and deriving considerable benefit from the dry, elear air and the general salubrity of the climate. Returning to Norridgewoek, he found employment in the lumber industry, in which he continued until 1889. He then entered into the lumber business for himself, and has since continued thus engaged, having achieved a marked success. The annual out-
put of his saw-mill is in the neighborhood of one million feet of long and short lumber.
Mr. Miller married February 17, 1886, Jennie L. Ward, a native of New York City and daugh- ter of Cullon and Isabel (Longly) Ward. Her parents are not now living. Her father was formerly a furniture dealer of New York City.
Mr. Miller is a member and Past Master of Lebanon Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 116, at Norridge- woek; he is also a member and Past Grand of Quinnebasset Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 109, at Norridgewoek. Like most true Americans, he owes his success to his own efforts, and is a fitting type of that large and useful class who are both "self-made" and well made in the essen- tials of true manhood and good citizenship.
J OEL W. HOBART, formerly a well-known business man and prominent manufaet- urer of East Madison, was born in Solon, Me., July 21, 1833, son of Daniel and Mary (Thurston) Hobart. Daniel Hobart was a native of Massachusetts, his birthplace being the town of Pepperell (see sketeh of Daniel F. Hobart, in this volume). He married in 1815, as stated in the "Thurston Genealogies," p. 70, Mary, daughter of Stephen and Betsy (Wiggin) Thurston. She was born in Strat- ham, N.H., in 1792. Her father was a lineal descendant of Daniel' Thurston, an early settler of Newbury, Mass.
Brought up on a farm in his native town of Solon, Joel W. Hobart received his education in the publie sehools. In 1856, at the age of twenty- three, he settled in East Madison and engaged in the saw-mill industry, in which he continued for a number of years, in company with his brother, Daniel F. Hobart. He then began the manufacture of horse rakes for raking hay and grain. This business he conducted for many years with great suecess, the "Hobart Horse Rake" becoming one of the best known and most popular on the market. Mr. Hobart served as a member of the Maine House of Rep- resentatives in the session of 1883, having been elected on the Republican ticket.
He was married January 30, 1855, to Hannah Norton, who was born in Madison, Me., Novem- ber 21, 1833, daughter of Earl M. and Sallie
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(Weston) Norton. In June, 1874, he settled with his family on the farm in Cornville, where his death occurred 'January 6, 1893. He was highly esteemed as a successful business man, a faithful public servant, and an obliging neigh- bor. The opinion generally expressed at the time of his decease was that Somerset County had lost one of her best and most honored citi- zens.
Mrs. Hobart's father, Earl M. Norton, a na- tive of Martha's Vineyard, came to Maine with his parents when he was eight years old. He was reared in Farmington, Me., and after his marriage resided for a number of years in Madi- son, subsequently removing to Solon, where he died. His wife, Sallie Weston, was born in ยท Skowhegan, Me.
Mr. and Mrs. Hobart were the parents of two children, Willis C. and George W. The latter married Jennie M. Palmer, of Cornville, Me., and has two children, Elwin Joel and Wendall Palmer. &
Mrs. Hobart, who survives her husband, re- sides at the family homestead in Cornville, which comprises a farm of two hundred acres, with a neat and commodious dwelling and other build- ings. She is a member of the Congregational church, and is a lady as highly esteemed as she is well known in the community.
THO HOMAS GAGE, in his day one of the prominent and representative agricult- urists of Benton, Kennebec County, was born in what is now the town of Oakland, in the same county, February 4, 1806, being the youngest of the ten children of Reuben and Elizabeth (Hamblen) Gage. His parents had come to Oakland not long before that date from Cape Cod. The father, Reuben Gage, died in Oakland. His wife Elizabeth died in. Hartland, Me.
Thomas Gage was reared in his native town of Oakland, and after acquiring such educa- tion as was obtainable in the district schools of his day he began to take an active part in industrial life as a worker on the farm and subsequently as a dealer in cattle. This latter business, in which he was very successful, he carried on for many years, not, however, neg-
lecting agriculture. His farm contained seventy acres. He was also engaged for a time in the pressing and shipping of hay. His business ability was united with conscientious integrity, and he enjoyed to the end of his life the re- spect and confidence of his fellow-townsinen. His death occurred on May 8, 1SS7.
He was married January 25, 1838, to Gratia A. Mudgett, who was born in Lunenburg, Vt., March 5, 1820, a daughter of Jacob and Annie (Severance) Mudgett. Her parents were from New Hampshire, her father being a native of Tamworth, that State, and her mother of Sandwich, N.H. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Gage were born seven children-Ann E., Mary E., Franklin, Charles, Hannah F., Henrietta, and Angeline G .- all of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Gage is still living, and resides at the homestead in Benton. She is well known and universally esteemed; and the manner in which she bears her years would seem to justify the hope of her numerous friends that she may continue long among them. Though her chil- dren have preceded her to the other shore, she has two grandchildren, Gratia M. and Flor- ence E., the daughters of her son Franklin, who reside with their grandmother.
Mr. Gage was a Democrat in politics and a useful and public-spirited citizen. His loss was deeply felt by the community in which he had resided so long.
HARLES C. HAYES, of Clinton, hard- ware dealer, was born in Chesterville, Franklin County, Me., March S, 1866, a son of Charles C. and Hannah M. (Perry) Hayes. The father, Charles C. Hayes, a native of Nashua, N.H., carried on farming in the town of Farmington for many years, being also engaged in business as a carriage- maker. His wife, Mrs. Hannah Perry Hayes, who survives him, is now over seventy-five years of age. Their children were: Mary B., now Mrs. John Perham and residing in Temple, Me .; Fred L., who is not now living; and Charles C., of Clinton.
The subject of this sketch was reared to man- hood in Farmington, and there learned the tinsmith and hardware business under A. J.
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Gerry, with whom he remained for two years. Coming to Clinton in 1885, he was here em- ployed for thirteen years by George A. Spearin & Co., both as journeyman tinsmith and clerk, having practical charge of their business. Since January, 1901, he has been engaged in business on his own account as a tinsmith and hardware dealer, keeping a good line of stoves, tools, and all the various articles found in a thor- oughly up-to-date hardware store. Elected Town Clerk of Clinton in 1SSS, he has since served continuously in that office. Ile is one of the best known and most popular citizens of Clinton. Mr. Hayes was married December 25, 1892, to Martha G. Richardson, daughter of Alton Richardson, of Clinton, Me. He be- longs to Pine Tree Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Clinton. In politics he is a Democrat.
OHN FARQUHAR, of Benton, Kennebec County, Me., was born in Richmond County, Province of Quebec, Canada, February 24, 1847, being a son of Hugh and. Jane (Brand) Farquhar, both natives of Scotland. Hugh Farquhar, who came to Amer- ica at the age of twenty-one years, about the year 1841, and settled in Richmond County, Province of Quebec, still resides in that locality, being now (1903) in - his eighty-fourth year. His wife Jane, who died July 24, 1902, came to America when she was five years old. Their children were: John, James, William, Helen, Sarah, Mary J., Robert, and Gilbert H.
John Farquhar resided in his native province until he was twenty years of age, at which time he came to Maine. His first employment in this State was in the construction department of the former European and North American Railroad, on that part of the line extending between Bangor and Vanceboro. He remained in the employ of this road about eleven years in all, being for ten years in the engineering department. The road has since been ab- sorbed by the Maine Central Railroad. Sub- sequently Mr. Farquhar was employed for a number of years by the Bangor & Piscataquis Railroad, and afterward he was road-master for several years for Division 2 on the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad. Resigning this last-
named position in 1901, he came in that year to Benton, where he has since been engaged in market-gardening and the poultry industry. He is well known as a large and successful straw- berry grower. While in the railroad emrloy Mr. Farquhar resided for a while in Linein Centre. Me., and subsequently for many years in Okltown, this latter town being his place of residence before coming to Benton.
He married May 11, 1871, Mary E. Whittier. of Enfield, Me., daughter of Elias and Charlotte (Curtis) Whittier. Of this union were born three children-Flora Watie, Cora Helen, and Edith Emma. The only survivor of the three is Flora W., now the wife of Ernest S. Small, of Skowhegan, Me.
Mrs. Farquhar's parents were Elias and Charlotte (Curtis) Whittier, both natives of Maine. Her paternal grandfather, Porter Whit- tier, was born in Searsport, Me.
Mr. Farquhar is a Republican in politics. He belongs to Star in the East Lodge, No. 60, F. & A. M., at Oldtown, and is also a member of the Royal Arcanum. He is one of the prosperous and influential men of the town, his success in life having been attained by his own industry and perseverance. Mrs. Farquhar is a member of the Baptist church of Oldtown.
TON. CHARLES ALBERT MARSTON. lumberman, manufacturer, and farmer, Skowhegan, Me., was born on a farm in Waterville, Me., May 26, 1851, son of Isaiah and Eliza (Coburn) Marston. His paternal ancestors were farmers, and he is a lineal descendant in the ninth generation of John Marston, who came from Norfolk County, England, to Salem, Mass., in 1637. The genealogy of the Marston family places it among the grand old families of England, and traces it back to the time of William the Conqueror, in the eleventh century. His father, Colonel Isaiah Marston, was the son of Kenelon Marston, who was born in Barnstable, Cape Cod, and moved to Waterville in 1801. His mother, Eliza Coburn, was a sister of Governor Abner Coburn and Congressman Stephen Co- burn, and was of Scotch-Irish descent.
Ile was educated in the country schools and
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Bloomfield Academy. Following the faith of his ancestors, his religious views are Baptist. His boyhood days were spent in hard work on the farm, during which time he attended school winters. When ten years old he came to Skowhegan, and at eighteen years of age he went West and joined an engineering corps in Illinois and Iowa. After one year engineer- ing he roamed over this country from Mexico to Alaska, and from the Sound to the mouth of the St. Lawrence, visiting every State and Territory except two in the United States, together with Mexico, British Columbia, South- ern Alaska, and the Canadas, and then he re- turned to his native State, believing this the place of all in which he wanted to rear his chil- dren and educate them in good citizenship.
After returning to Maine in the early seven- ties he worked for his uneles, A. & P. Coburn, in their brickyards, on their farms, in the woods, and on the river five years. . In 1879 he bought an old, run-out farm in Skowhegan, which he made produce tenfold. This he still owns, and it is his pride to-day. He moved to the village in 18$5, and soon launched out in the steam-fitting and plumbing business as a mem- ber of the firm of Forrest & Marston. Upon the death of his uncles Philander in 1876 and Abner in 1885, Mr. Marston, as one of their heirs, became interested in a very large landed estate. The firm of A. & P. Coburn was one of the largest lumber concerns in New England, and owned vast traets of timber land in Maine, Canada, and several of the North- western States. Mr. Marston soon became associated with various other parties in the business, and to-day the firm of Davis & Mar- ston, of which he is a member, is considered one of the largest on the Kennebec waters. .
He was extensively interested in the estab- lishment of the Skowhegan Jersey Creamery, whose business has increased many fold, and its influence has done much for the improve- ment of the dairy herds and farms in this vi- cinity. His influence also appears in the found- ing of the Skowhegan Water Company and the Skowhegan Electric Light Company, in both of which he is a director and a large stock- hokler. He was one of the syndicate that founded the Skowhegan and Norridgewock
Electric Railroad and Power Company, and built the road. In 1893 he with others in- corporated the Bloomfield Shoe Company and in this company he was director, treasurer, and principal stockholder. He is treasurer and general manager of the Boston and Boothbay Land Company, president of the Marston Worsted Mills, the Marston Con- struction Company, and the Tozier Valve Man- ufacturing Company.
In politics. Mr. Marston is a Republican, and for nearly a quarter of a century he served as a member of the Republican Town Committee. He has held various municipal offices, and was a member of the House of Representatives 1891-94 and member of the Senate 1895-96. He served on some of the most important com- mittees, and was an earnest worker both in the committee-room and in debate.
He married Miss Sarah Steward, a native of Australia, who came to Skowhegan with her parents when she was ten years old. Her father, Philander Steward, was a native of Bloomfield, now Skowhegan, Me., and her mother was of English birth and parentage. The Steward family is one of the oldest in Skowhegan. Mr. and Mrs. Marston have five children: Roy L., a graduate of Bowdoin Col- lege, now professor of forestry at Yale Uni- versity; Lola E., a graduate of Mills College, Oakland, Cal., now wife of J. Wallace Blunt, of the Blunt Hardware Company, Skowhegan ; Coburn S., midshipman in the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md .; Mollie G., a student (1903) at Washington Seminary. Washington, D.C .; and Claire R., a student in The Jacob Tome Institute, Port Deposit, Md
Mr. Marston is identified with the Masonic order and several other fraternal organizations. He is a member of Somerset Lodge, No. 34, A. F. & A. M., of Skowhegan; and Somerset Chapter, No. 15, Royal Arch Masons; Mount Moriah Council, R. and S. M., No. 10: De Molay Commandery, No. 10, K. T., and Kora Temple of the Mystic Shrine, at Lewiston, Me. IIe belongs to Carrabasset Lodge, No. 34, I. O. O.F .; Parmenus Encampment, No. 18, and Canton Somerset, No. 26, Patriarchs Militant. He has served as Major of the Second Battalion
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and Lieutenant Colonel of the Second Regi- ment of Patriarchs Militant of the Department of Maine. He is likewise a member of Skow- hegan Lodge, No. 79, K. of P .; also of Oosoola Division, No. 13, U. R., K. of P .; and was formerly a member of Brigadier-general Smith's staff of the Department of Maine, with the rank of Colonel. He is also a member of the A. O. U. W., of Skowhegan, and of the Skow- hegan Grange, P. of H. In addition to the above he is a member of the American Acad- emy of Political and Social Science, Philadel- phia, Pa., the Home Market Club of Boston, a political and social organization whose ob- ject is indicated by its title, and the Milburn Club. A capable man of business, a public- spirited citizen, his interests are many and varied.
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