USA > Maine > Biographical sketches of representative citizens of the state of Maine > Part 62
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he has been engaged in the steamboat service. In 1897 he built the "William G. Butman. a steamer of twenty tons, which plied for sev- eral years between Rockland and the islands. engaged in the lobster trade. He remodelled it at a large expense in 1901, and it has since plied as a regular mail and passenger boat on the route between Rockland and Matinicus Island. It also makes excursion trips. As master of this vessel Captain Butman has gained great popularity and enjoys in a high degree the confidence of the travelling public and summer excursionists. He is a member of Rockland Lodge, F. & A. M .; Merriam Lodge, No. 53, I. O. O. F., of Round Pond, and of the Rebecca Lodge, of Rockland. In politics he is independent.
Captain Butman married Adelaide Murphy, of Round Pond, a daughter of John Murphy and his wife, Angelina Ilatch Murphy. Her inother was a niece of the Captain's maternal grandmother.
Captain and Mrs. Butman have three children: Lilla May, born in Bristol, Me., who married Frank Carroll Howe, of Gardner, Mass., and who has one child, Guy, born in Gardner: Angie M., unmarried, who resides with her par- ents; and Ernest W., who married Effie Eaton. of Deer Isle, Me., and who has no children.
® OBERT G. HENDERSON, superin- tendent and part owner of the Ind- ian Spring Woollen Company's plant at Madison, is a native of Worcester. Mass., his birth having occurred in that city. May 21, 1863. Son of Robert and Mary (Cox Henderson, he comes on both sides of Scotch ancestry. Robert Henderson, born in Har- wich, Scotland, early in the fifth decade of the nineteenth century, when a young man accom- panied his father, John, to the United States. they settling in Mansfield, Conn., where for a number of years they were associated together in farming. Three years after their arrival they were joined by the rest of the family. Subsequently Robert Henderson became a weaver, working in various mills in Massachu- setts and Rhode Island. He died in April, 1999. His wife, Mary Cox Henderson, who was born
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in Dundee, is now living in Dedham, Mass. Their children were: Agenette, Robert G., George M., and John. All except Robert are now living at North Andover, Mass.
Robert G. Henderson at the early age of nine years began working in a woollen-mill at West Fiteliburg, Mass., known as the "Hol- low Mills." After continuing there for about two years, he became an employee in the mills of Robert Bleakie & Co., at Sabattus, Me., and subsequently worked for several years in va- rious mills in different parts of Maine. Just before coming to Madison he was an employee of the Cascade Woollen Company at Oakland, having worked there for about eight years, dur- ing the last year of which period he was foreman of the weaving department. In 1890 he came to Madison as overseer of the Indian Spring -Woollen Company's plant, which position, how- ever, lie filled but a few weeks, being then pro- moted to that of superintendent of the plant. He is, besides, a stockholder and part propri- etor of the concern. These mills give employ- ment on an average to about two hundred and twenty-five men and women, their product consisting chiefly of men's cassimere and double twist cheviots for men's suitings.
Mr. Henderson is also, as a member of the firm of Libby & Henderson, one of the proprietors of the Cobbosseecontee Woollen Company's con- cern at Gardiner, Me. He served for several terms as chairman of the Republican Town Committee of Madison. He was an alternate delegate to the National Republican Conven- tion at Philadelphia, where, in the place of a delegate who did not remain to the end of the convention, he had the pleasure of voting for the second nomination of President McKinley.
He married in 1SS7 Flora A. Frederick, daugh- ter of John and Emily Frederick, of Industry, Me. He and his wife are the parents of two children, Robert Raymond and Mildred L.
Mr. Henderson's life up to the present time forcibly illustrates the value of self-help. Surely, few beginnings in life could be more inauspicious than that of a child nine years old, assuming the cares and monotonous drudgery of mill work; yet, faced with courage by one in whose veins ran the blood of a strong and self-reliant race, it proved to be the first, if painful, step
in an honorable career, that has transformed the poor mill boy into a strong and resourceful man, the controller of large and important inter- ests and the sustainer of the comfort and pros- perity of many homes.
HARLES E. WARREN owns and occu- pies one of the oldest ancestral home- steads in Norridgewock-the Warren farm on which his great-grandfather, Josiah Warren, Sr., settled in 1779, and which has been held in the family ever since, or up- ward of one hundred and twenty years. Josiah Warren, Sr., came to Maine from Pepperell, formerly a part of Groton, Mass. He was doubt- less the Josiah Warren who, as recorded in But- ler's History of Groton, Mass., married Sarah Tarbell in 1772. Josiah Warren of Groton was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He was in Captain Henry Farwell's company, Colonel Prescott's regiment, in 1775, serving ninety-one days, and in Captain Job Shattuck's company, Colonel John Robinson's regiment, in 1776. ("Groton during the Revolution.") He was an active and influential man in the early history of Massachusetts.
Josiah Warren, Jr., grandfather of Charles E., was brought by his parents from Pepperell, Mass., his birthplace, to Norridgewock when but a year old, and long before he could be ex- pected to be of use in clearing or cultivating the farm of which he was to be the second owner. He married Eliza Searle.
Their son George, born in 1806, who was the third proprietor of the homestead and the father of Charles E., the present owner, died in 1SS1. He was a progressive farmer, and took an active part in what went for the best interests of the town and society. George Warren married in 1833 Rebecca Prescott, who was born in 1810 and died in 1SS4. She was a daughter of John Lynde Prescott, of Norridge- wock, by his second wife, Mary Hunt. As shown by the "Prescott Genealogy," the printed records of Concord, Mass., giving con- firmatory evidence, her father, John Lynde Prescott, was a descendant in the sixth genera- tion of John1 Prescott, of Lancaster, Mass., the line being: Jolm,1 Captain Jonathan,2 Dr. Jona-
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than,3 Dr. John,+ Willoughby,5 John Lynde.6 John1 Prescott, a native of Lancashire, came to New England with his wife, Mary Platt, a " York- shire girl," in 1640, and about six years later was one of the pioneer settlers of Lancaster, Mass.
Dr. Jonathan3 Prescott, great-grandfather of John Lynde Prescott, was son of Captain Jon- athan2 Prescott and his second wife, Elizabeth Hoar. Dr. Jonathan married Rebecca, daugh- ter of Peter Bulkeley, Esq., and great-grand- daughter of the Rev. Peter Bulkeley, the first minister of Concord, Mass. Dr. John Prescott, known also as Colonel John Prescott, was born in Concord, Mass., in 1707, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1727. He married Anne Lynde. He died in London, England, in De- cember, 1743.
The following records are copied from the printed volume of "Concord Births, Marriages, and Deaths": "Willoughby Prescott, ye son of Col. John Prescott and Mrs. Anne his wife was born March 5, 1742."
"John Lynde Prescott, son of Willoughby Prescott and Elizabeth his wife was born March ye 7th, 1775" (p. 240).
"John Lynde Prescott and Mary Hunt both of Concord-married by Rev. E. Ripley, Oct. 29, 1807" (p. 367).
Willough Prescott, Jr., brother of John L., was born in Concord in 1777.
John Lynde Prescott died in Norridgewock in February, 1826. He owned and carried on a farm near the village, but gave his own per- sonal effort to trade in general merchandise, in which calling he was uncommonly success- ful. Rebecca was the second born of his six children.
The surviving children of the late George Warren and his wife, Rebecca Prescott, are: Charles E., whose name heads this sketch, and whose personal history is outlined below; and Emelyn G., widow of the late William W. Bixby, of New Richmond, Wis.
Charles E. Warren, born October 17, 1834, obtained his early education in the public schools of Norridgewock, and, after completing his course of study in the high school, was engaged during some part of the year, mostly in the winter season, for fifteen consecutive years in
teaching school. Farming is not only his in- herited but his chosen vocation, and at the age of thirty years he gave up teaching and has since given his whole time and attention to the farm which gives evidence of wise and intel- ligent management. Naturally very product- ive, it is none the less so in these later years, and is an ideal farm still. Mr. Warren is a mem- ber of the Congregational (Trinitarian) church. and in politics is affiliated with the Republican party. He is a member of Quinnebasset Lodge. I. O. O. F., No. 109, and of Somerset Grange, P. of H., both of Norridgewock.
He married first, September 10, 1865, Ellen A. Farmer, of Temple, Me. She died August 2. 18S1, and he married January 22, 1885, his present wife, Mary S. Heald, of Norridgewock. He has no children.
ANIEL F. HOBART, of East Madi- son, Somerset County, was born in Solon, Me., February 6, 1826, son of Daniel and Mary (Thurston) Hobart. Daniel Hobart, the father, was born in Pep- perell, Mass., from which place, in 1799, he being then a small boy, he accompanied his father Caleb to Solon, Me.
Caleb Hobart, who died in Solon, was a Revolutionary soldier. In vol. viii. of "Massa- chusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution" his name is incorrectly spelled "Hubbert." His record is thus given: "Caleb Hubbert, of Pepperell, Private, Capt. Thomas Warren's Co. Col. Brooks' regt. Co. return dated Oct. 31, 1776, & endorsed White Plains."
The Hobarts of Groton and of Pepperell. which was formerly a part of Groton, were descended from the Rev. Peter? Hobart (Ed- mund1), the first minister of Hingham, Mass.
Daniel Hobart, son of Caleb, spent the last twenty years of his life in Skowhegan, Me .. having removed to that town from Solon, where he had long been a resident. According to the "Thurston Genealogies," his wife, Mary Thurston, was born in Stratham, N.H. (See sketch of Joel W. Hobart on another page.) Their children were: Huldah, Colonel Warren. Elizabeth, Mary, Martha Jane, Captain Daniel F., Sextus, George, Hannah, and Joel W.
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Captain Daniel F. Hobart, the subject of this sketch, was reared to manhood in his na- tive town of Solon. In 1852, at the age of twenty-six, he went to California, making the journey by the way of the Isthmus of Panama. On his arrival there he engaged in gold mining, in which laborious but exciting pursuit he was fairly successful. In 1855, having had enough of the Far West, he returned home by the Nica- ragua route, and, settling in Solon, was married January 24, 1855, to Martha Jenkins, who was born January 1, 1828, in Madison, Me., daughter of Joseph and Martha (Gurney) Jenkins. Mrs. Hobart's parents, who were both born in Abing- ton, Mass., were early settlers in Madison, Me. After his marriage Mr. Hobart resided for a short time in Solon, but subsequently removed to Skowhegan, where he lived until 1860. He then came to East Madison, settling at his present place of abode. Besides farming, he conducts a saw-mill and has been quite success- ful in both lines of industry. He served on the Board of Selectmen for a number of years, and for some time was Captain of militia. Progressive and public-spirited, he has taken an active part in the improvement of the town, and he and his wife are among its most respected and esteemed residents. They have one child, D. B. Hobart, who was born April 26, 1857.
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June 7, 1838, is deceased; Emeline F., born June 7, 1839, died in infancy; William H., born November 28, 1842, died October 18, 1902; Brice M., born June 1, 1849, resides in Bruns- wick, Me.
After receiving a common-school education, Luther F. Edwards, the subject of this sketch, left home when a youth, and, making his way to Hallowell, found employment, and remained there for some time. His next field of industrial activity was in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, where he taught school and also followed the occupation of a millwright. Subsequently set- tling in Madison, Me., he here engaged in the manufacture of sash, doors, and blinds, in which, being quite successful, he continued for many years, also carrying on a farm. In addition to these industries he entered into business as an undertaker, and continued to render pains- taking and tactful service in that capacity up to the time of his death, which occurred in Madison, May 25, 1899. Thus departed one of the best known and most highly esteemed citizens of the town.
He was married June 12, 1879, to Juliette Knowlton, a native of New Portland, Me., and daughter of John and Caroline (Churchill) Knowlton. Her father, John Knowlton, who was born in Freeman, Me., was a son of Josepli, familiarly known as Captain Joseph Knowlton, from his connection for a number of years with the Massachusetts militia. For a time Joseph Knowlton resided in Freeman, subsequently removing to New Portland, where he died. Mrs. Edwards's mother was a native of Port- land.
UTHER F. EDWARDS, a former well- known resident of Madison, was born in Industry, Me., August 19, 1835, son of Bryce S. and Abigail (Flood) Edwards. His parents were both natives of the Pine Tree State, the father having been Mr. and Mrs. Edwards had three children, namely: Bryce K., born May 3, 1880; Albion P., born July 17, 1884; and Jennie H., born August 23, 1886-all of whom are now residents of Madison. born in Gorham, and the mother in Buxton. After residing in Industry for a number of years, Bryce Edwards removed to Madison, where he died. He was familiarly known as Deacon Edwards, and was a pillar of the Free Bryce K. Edwards, who succeeded to his father's business, is a graduate of the Massa- chusetts College of Embalming in Boston, Mass. He is one of the popular and enterprising young men of the community. He belongs to Indian Spring Lodge, No. 115, I. O. O. F., of Madison. Will Baptist church in his day. The follow- ing is a record of the children of Bryce S. Ed- wards and his wife Abigail: John C., born March 19, 1832, died in December, 1892; Susan D., born August 19, 1833, resides in Brooklyn, N.Y .; Luther F., born August 19, 1835, died Mr. Luther F. Edwards was a member of the Free Will Baptist Church of Madison, which May 25, 1899; Sylvester F., born May 19, 1837,. died December 25, 18: 4; Adriana A., born { for many years he served as Deacon. In polities
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he was a Republican. Mrs. Edwards, who survives her husband, is a member of the Free Will Baptist church and of the W. C. T. U.
PERRY TURNER, a prosperous farmer of Madison, Somerset County, was born in Moscow, Me., January 27, 1850, a son of Alonzo P. and Anna (Barr) Turner. The home of Mr. Turner's early ancestors in America bearing this sur- name was in Scituate, Mass., where Humphrey Turner, the immigrant progenitor of the family, settled about 1633. Deane, the historian of Scituate, states that Humphrey Turner arrived in Plymouth with his family in 162S. He was a tanner. He served for several years as Deputy to the Plymouth General Court.
Asa Turner, father of the late Alonzo P. Turner and grandfather of A. Perry Turner, of Madison, was a sea captain. His home for a number of years was in Norridgewock, Me., and afterward in Athens, Me., where he served as Selectman. The Turner genealogy states that he was born in Scituate in 1773.
Alonzo P. Turner, son of Captain Asa Turner, was born in Norridgewock, Me. In his early days he removed to Athens with his parents. His occupation was farming. His wife, mother of the subject of this sketch, was born in Mad- ison, Me. They were the parents of two chil- dren, Franklin and A. Perry.
A. Perry Turner was an infant four months old when he accompanied his parents from Moscow to Madison, Me., where they settled on the farm of two hundred acres on which he now resides. Here he was brought up and trained to agricultural work, acquiring a prac- tical knowledge of all the various processes connected with the management of a modern New England farin. His education was ob- tained in the district schools of Madison and at the Anson (Me.) Academy. Early in the eighties of the last century he lost his mother, his father dying some years subsequently in Skowhegan, Me. Mr. Turner has made agri- culture liis life occupation. He is. well known as one of the substantial and prosperous citi- zens of the town, and is now (1903) serving in his fourth year as Selectman and fifth year
as Superintending School Committee. In poli- ties he is a Republican. Popular among his fellow-townsmen for his tried integrity and genial characteristics, he stands in the van of the up- to-date, enterprising, and public-spirited citi- zens of this part of the county. He is a member of Skowhegan Grange .. P. of H., and belongs also to the A. O. U. W.
Mr. Turner was married in 187S to Helen M. Chapman, daughter of Newell and Hester (Holway) Chapman, of Madison. Mr. and Mrs. Turner are the parents of three children- Annie B., Nellie M., and Elmer E.
LBERT FRANK BLAISDELL, of Clinton, was born in Skowhegan, Me., April 20, 1855. His father, Daniel A. Blaisdell, was born in Sidney, Me., and his mother, whose maiden name was Lydia Hussey, was born in Fairfield. His paternal grandfather was Daniel Blaisdell, of Sidney, Me., of which place the Blaisdells were early settlers. Daniel A. Blaisdell was for many years a well-known farmer and cattle dealer of Benton, and his death occurred in that town in September, 1899. His wife Lydia was a daughter of Benjamin F. Hussey, of Fairfield, Me., who married a Miss Barnard. Their chil- dren were: Albert Frank, Sarah E., Fred E., and Flora E., "now Mrs. Henry Allen Dixon, of Clinton." Fred E. Blaisdell married Jennie Hanscomb, of Amherst.
When Albert Frank Blaisdell was thirteen years of age, he removed with his parents from Canaan to Benton, where he grew to manhood. Like his father, he was a dealer in cattle for a number of years. Coming to Clinton in 1877, he engaged in mercantile business in company with Mr. J. L. Weymouth, the style of the firin being Blaisdell & Weymouth. After this partnership had lasted three years, it was dis- solved, and Mr. Blaisdell went to Lawrence, Mass., and for a comparatively short period of time conducted a market. Returning then to Clinton, he resumed mercantile business. For a number of years he has dealt also in live stock, principally cattle and sheep. He is likewise a member of the firm of Blaisdell & Richardson, extensive hay buyers and ship-
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pers, finding a good market for their hay in Boston, Mass., and the vicinity. They ship on an average over six hundred car-loads of hay per year, and are numbered among the most extensive dealers in hay in the State. In addition to the above-named undertakings Mr. Blaisdell is engaged in agriculture. He is prominent in town affairs, and is now serv- ing his second term as Selectman, being chair- man of the board. Mr. Blaisdell's business success has been achieved through his native ability and enterprise. His personal charac- teristics make him popular among his fellow- townsmen.
He was first married May 8, 1880, to Florence E. Richardson, daughter of Alton Richardson, of Clinton, Me. She died December 13, 1901. On May 2, 1903, he married his present wife, Nancy C. Harrison, of Brewer, Me., daughter of Samuel Harrison. Mr. Blaisdell is a member of Pine Tree Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Clinton, and of Clinton Grange, P. of. H.
OSEPH C. BROWN, of Benton Station, Kennebec County, a prosperous farmer and dairyman, was born at his present residence, the Brown homestead, in the town of Benton, Me., June 12, 1832, a son of Luke and Polly (Gilman) Brown. He is a grandson of Isaiah Brown, who in the year 1800 came with his wife and children from Holden, Mass., to Benton, then a part of the original town of Clinton, and established the family homestead above mentioned. Luke Brown, who was born in Holden, was brought up on this homestead, where during his active years he followed agriculture and kindred occupations. His wife, Polly Gilman, was born in Albion, Me. They had twelve children, of whom five now survive, namely: Sibyl, wife of William Bailey, of Benton; Abigail, wife of Josiah Joy, of Benton; Joseph C., whose name begins this sketch; Simon S., who resides in Waterville; and Orrin G., who lives in Benton. Luke Brown for a number of years served as Town Collector of Benton. He was a Republican in politics and a well-known and popular citizen of the town. A patriotic American, he bore arins against Great Britain in the War of 1812-15.
Joseph C. Brown was reared to manhood in Benton, acquiring his education in the public schools and at Benton Academy. Brought up on the farm, he has given agriculture his chief attention since beginning industrial life for him- self; and in addition to tilling the soil he operates a fine dairy and a milk route. His farm of one hundred and fifty acres is one of the best in Benton, showing the effects of intelligent man- agement and unremitting industry. The house in which he resides, built originally by his grand- father, is one of the old historie dwellings and landmarks in this part of the State. In town affairs Mr. Brown performs the part of a good citizen, never failing to vote for such measures as in his opinion will be for the benefit of the community.
Mr. Brown married on February 28, 1854. Almeda Gerald, who was born in Albion, Me., daughter of Owen and Alvira (Gilman) Gerald. Of this union there are three children-Ozro, Arthur G., and Anna B., all residents of Benton. Mrs. Brown died July 25, 1889. At different times Mr. Brown has served as Selectinan of Benton, his period of service amounting in all to about fifteen years.
RAMEL MURRAY, one of the best known citizens of Pittsfield, Somerset County, is a native of Montville. Waldo County, Me., his birth having taken place in that town, April 18, 1838. His parents were Elisha and Lettis (Sawyer) Mur- ray, the father a native of Montville, where the Murrays were early settlers, and the mother born in Knox, Waldo County.
The subject of this sketch passed his early years in Montville, his education, however, being briefly acquired at Freedom Academy, Freedom, Me., and at the Maine State Semi- nary in Lewiston, since merged into Bates College. For some twenty-five or more years thereafter he taught school, at the same time carrying on agriculture. While a resident of Moutville he served the town as Selectman and as one of the School Committee for sey- eral years. For five years before leaving Montville he was manager of the Patrons Co-operative Store there located. In December,
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1886, he came to Pittsfield, where he has since been a resident. Here also he carried on farm- ing for a number of years. He was one of the chief promoters of the Pittsfield water works, being one of the committee of three to devise ways and means for the construction of the works. At this time he was serving as chairman of the Board of Selectmen. In 1893 he became superintendent of the water works. After holding that position for four years, he resigned it, in order to accept the office of Postmaster of Pittsfield, to which he was ap- pointed July 26, 1897, entering upon its duties on September 1 following and continuing to date, having recently begun his seventh year in the postal service. Mr. Murray was a mem- ber for some years of the Republican Town Committee of Pittsfield, as he had been of the Republican Town Committee of Montville. His service as a Selectman of Pittsfield was for five years. He has been one of the foremost citizens in advancing the best interests of the town.
Mr. Murray was married March 9, 1867, to Eliza M. Vose, daughter of Captain Edward K. Vose, of Knox, Me. Of this union there are four children-Linda M., Caro L., William A., and Edith A. William A. Murray is a graduate (class of 1899) of the civil engineering depart- ment of the University of Maine, at Orono, Me., and is now serving as assistant engineer on the Western Division of the New York Central Railroad, with headquarters at Buffalo, N.Y.
Mr. Oramel Murray is a member and was formerly Master of Pittsfield Grange. P. of H., being also a member of Phlentoma Lodge, No. 51, I. O. O. F., which he has served as Noble Grand.
JDWIN W. CLARK, agriculturist, of Oak- land, who settled on his present farm in 1895, is a native of China, Me., born May 4, 1838. His parents were Daniel and Martha (LeFavor) Clark; and his paternal grand- father, Randall Clark, a native of Nantucket, was an early settler of China, Me. Daniel Clark resided in the town of China all his life, becom- ing one of its prominent citizens. His wife, Martha LeFavor, was a native of Portland, Me.,
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