USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Harrison > Centennial history of Harrison, Maine > Part 47
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EZRA, b. May 16, 1811; died Sept. 9, 1833.
MARSHALL, b. Feb. 16, 1813; married Rachel B. Haskell of Harrison, who died June 1, 1840, aged 25. Secondly, he married Dorcas Paine of Standish. He died March 28, 1897.
LYDIA B., b. July 9, 1816; died July 20, 1846, unmarried. A. MELLEN, b. Jan. 16, 1821 ; died July 20, 1907, unmarried. SAMUEL, b. Feb. 20, 1822; married Rosilla Cook of Casco; died in Bridgton, 1883.
ELMIRA, b. Dec. 1, 1828; died April 4, 1840.
MARSHALL THOMES, second son of Amos and Abi- gail (Higgins) Thomes, married Rachel B. Haskell of Harrison, and settled on the old homestead. His wife died June 1, 1840, leaving one daughter :
ABBIE M., b. Sept. 13, 1839; married Henry H. Pulsifer of Wayne, Me., where they have made their home until very recently. They have lately moved to Harrison, where they are living at the Village on the place made vacant by recent death of her sister and uncle. Mr. and Mrs. Pulsifer have had two daughters, both of whom are dead.
For second wife, Marshall Thomes married Dorcas Paine, daughter of Myrick Paine of Standish, still living on the home farm, being in company with his brother Samuel, under the firm name of M. & S. Thomes, till 1874, when he sold his interest in the farm to his brother, and moved to Harrison Village, buying the Joseph Fogg stand, which he enlarged and improved to quite an extent. Here he
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continued to live, carrying on a limited amount of farming and gardening on land that he owned just outside of the Village, until his death which occurred March 28, 1897, Mrs. Thomes having died on May 14, 1882, at the age of seventy-one years, five days. Mr. Thomes was a hard work- ing man while he was on the big farm, but lived more at leisure after moving to the Village, where his work was in such shape that it did not "make a slave of him." After his death his daughter, Callie H., continued to occupy the home as long as she lived.
Mr. Thomes was a man of wide acquaintance, and was universally respected wherever known. He and his wife were charter members of Lakeside Grange when it was or- ganized in 1874, and continued to take a lively interest in it as long as it was in existence, after which they transferred their membership to Crooked River Grange at Bolster's Mills. He was also a member of the first Lodge of Odd Fellows at Harrison, and was an honorary member of the present Lodge. He always took a lively interest in town affairs, but persistently refused to accept any office. He was a very kind hearted man, and he and his wife were always ready to respond to a call for help from those in distress. Marshall and Dorcas (Paine) Thomes had one daughter :
CALLIE H., b. March 4, 1848; was afflicted with a terrible humor in her childhood, which almost destroyed her eye- sight, which was only partially restored. She was a very intelligent and capable woman, and kind hearted to the needy, though plain spoken to such an extent that some were inclined to take offense where they were not well acquainted. She was an active member of Lakeside Grange, and also of Woodland Lodge of Rebekahs. She continued to reside at the home place at the Village after the death of her parents, and the way in which her affairs were managed proved conclusively that she was a shrewd business woman. Her Uncle Mellen made his home with her for several years. She died August 4, 1907, after a lingering illness of some months' duration. She was never married.
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A. MELLEN THOMES, third son of Amos and Abigail (Higgins) Thomes, born January 16, 1821, lived at home until about 1853, when he went West, and located in Osh- kosh, Wisconsin, where he entered into the lumbering busi- ness, and was reputed to have been quite successful. He served in the War of the Rebellion in the 2nd Wisconsin Regiment, returning to Oshkosh, and again entering into business. After his brother Samuel moved to Bridgton, and his health failed to quite an extent, Mellen returned from the West, and made his home with him, caring for him, and attending to his business; and at his death the farm became the property of Mellen, he living there for some years after the death of his mother. In December, 1894. he sold out his property at Bridgton, and came to Harrison, making his home with his brother Marshall, at the Village, and, after Marshall's death in 1897, continuing to reside with his niece till his death, which occurred very suddenly on July 20, 1907. He was never married. He retired from active business several years ago, having carried on none since leaving Bridgton. He was an honorary member of Harrison Lodge of Odd Fellows, and took much interest in the work, making it a point to attend all important meet- ings. Although he was a resident of this vicinity during only a small part of his active life, he was widely known, and, like his brothers, he was respected by all.
SAMUEL THOMES, fourth son of Amos and Abigail (Higgins) Thomes, born February 20, 1822, married Ro- silla Cook of Casco, daughter of William Cook, and settled on the home farm in South Harrison, which he carried on in company with his brother Marshall till 1874, and then alone until he sold out his farm to J. H. Hamilton of Water- boro in September, 1878, when he moved to Bridgton, buying the small farm near the Fair Ground, now owned by Walter Hazen. Here he lived until his death in 1883.
Samuel Thomes was most emphatically a working man
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during all that part of his life when he was blessed with good health, and he took delight in thorough work, whether it was on the farm or in the logging swamp, he being equally at home in either. He was a wide-awake, enterpris- ing, go-ahead man in whatever he undertook, and was one that was not calculated to hide his light under a bushel, being plain-hearted, outspoken, and a hater of shams. For many years he was one of Harrison's leading citizens, but not in the sense of being an office-seeker, for he was decidedly averse to holding office of any kind, though some were thrust upon him against his will. He much preferred to labor on the farm or in the forest. He was member of Superintending School Committee one year, and served on the Board of Selectmen five years. In 1859, he served in the Legislature, having been elected from the classed towns of Harrison and Baldwin as a Republican over Dr. Albion Cobb, Democrat.
Mr. Thomes was a representative working farmer, and took quite an interest in agricultural matters. M. & S. Thomes were always large exhibitors at all of the town fairs held while they were carrying on the farm and Samuel Thomes was always a leading spirit in the management of the organization. They were large exhibitors at the first fair, held in 1858, generously contributed toward the big free dinner, and liberally assisted in paying the other ex- penses that were incurred. Samuel took a more active part in the management of such organizations than his brother, simply because his ability fitted him better for it, he being a man who was naturally in the front, while Mar- shall was of a more retiring disposition. Their farm was one of the best, and under their management was perhaps even more productive than when their father was carrying it on. They were progressive, and quick to adopt any ma- chinery that lessened the labor and simplified the farm op- erations. They were among the first in town to put the
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mowing machine in operation, and were at all times ready to try any promising farm machinery.
Samuel Thomes was a man of strong likes and dislikes. No better friend ever lived, but, if for any reason he dis- liked any man, that man was quite likely to find it out. He was upright and honorable in all things, a man that intended to always give a "square deal," and had no love for any man that did not do the same by him. There was never a better neighbor, or a more obliging one, every ready to ac- commodate ; kind hearted and generous, and every ready to alleviate suffering and distress, and especially so in cases where the parties were regarded as particular friends, when he could never do too much. He was a man that was intelligent and well posted on the questions of the day, and had the faculty of expressing his opinions in such an emphatic and outspoken way that there was no mistaking his meaning. In politics he was naturally a Republican, but was so independent that he would not give his support to any candidate that he did not consider as fit for the position. Taken "all in all" he was in the broadest sense a good citizen, and an honor to the town; a man who was every ready to array himself on the side of what he regarded as progressive and for the good of the greatest number, and, having espoused any cause, to work for it to the best of his ability. He was a man of wide acquaintance, and was universally respected wherever known. The death of no citizen was ever more sincerely mourned in Harri- son and Bridgton, than was that of Samuel Thomes. His widow continued to live at the Bridgton home for several years after the decease of her husband, but finally moved to Casco, where she died, January 21, 1907, at the age of eighty-six years.
JAMES THOMES, son of Charles and Anna (Gray) Thomes, and a cousin to Col. Amos Thomes, was born in Gorham, November 27, 1786, and married Abigail, daugh-
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ter of Allison Libby of Gorham, on February 28, 1819. (She was born February 24, 1791.) They moved to Har- rison and settled on the farm on "Maple Ridge" that is now the home of his grandson, James Thomes. He was, when in his prime, a robust, energetic, hard working man, well fitted for a pioneer settler, and his wife was a fitting mate for such a man. They were genuine pioneers, and did their full part in the labor of subduing the wilderness, and making it the fit home for civilized man. They labored in- cessantly, almost day and night, as did many of those who were instrumental in changing the forest into a fruitful farm. They had children :
CHARLES T., eldest son of James and Abigail (Lib- by) Thomes, was born in Gorham, May 7, 1823, and came to Harrison with his father in his infancy. He married Frances Brown of Raymond and settled on his father's home farm on what is now called Maple Ridge and in addition to his farming operations carried on butchering. He never took a very active part in town matters, but was Collector of Taxes in 1869-70. He was considerably interested in the Farmers' Club, and was its Treasurer for several years, and took an active part in the early fairs. He died June 3, 1870; his wife died June 28, 1803. Children :
I. Abbie F., b. Sept. 11, 1849, married Henry Robbins, died Jan. 6, 1883. Children: Fannie, b. July 24, 1867. Rachel, b. Nov. 27, 1869. Charles T., b. June 30, 1873. Fannie Robbins married O. W. Lord of Casco, May 1, 1889, and resides in Harrison. Rachel Robbins married John Mitchell of Casco. Charles Thomes Robbins, married Flora Green of Harrison, Oct. - , 1895, and resides in North Bridg- ton.
2. James, son of Chas. T. and Frances (Brown) Thomes, was born in Harrison, Feb. 22, 1855, and lives on the homestead farm of his father and grand- father. He carries on his large farm, and in addi- tion is extensively engaged in lumbering operations. He is one of the leading men of the town, and has
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frequently held town office, having been Selectman five years, Road Commissioner, six years, and Col- lector of Taxes, four years. He has taken a great interest in the fairs, and was much interested in the Northern Cumberland Agricultural Society, which had its headquarters at South Harrison, and was one of the Executive Committee during its whole exis- tence, and its Treasurer several years. He is much interested in the P. of H. and is an active member of Lakeside Grange. He is a good business man, shrewd and honorable, and has much influence in town. Mar- ried Ella E. Green of Naples, June 6, 1882. They had two children: Ethel E., b. Apr. 5, 1883; J. Elmer, b. Mar. 15, 1888. Mrs. Thomes died Dec. 14, 1893. He married for 2d wife, Etta A. Edgerly, Jan. 19, 1895. They have had four children: Alice F., b. Mar. 21, 1896. C. Leslie, b. Dec. 18, 1898. Mildred E., b. Apr. 3, 1900. Fred A., b. Apr. 8, 1905, died June 7, 1905.
3. Lucy A., b. May 18, 1860; married E. B. Dean of Paris.
ALLISON, second son of James and Abigail (Libby) Thomes, was born in Gorham, Oct. 22, 1825; married Melvina, daughter of William Bucknell of Harrison, Mar. 9, 1863, and lived on a farm on the Bolster's Mills road which is still his home. He has been a very hard work- ing man, and has always been tough and energetic. He is an excellent farmer, and in his younger days was a constant exhibitor at the fairs, usually showing a sam- ple of some of the best corn in town. Mr. Thomes is still living, and makes his home on his farm, having a man and woman to care for him. Barring a recent bad accident, he is a smart man for one of his age. They had one child, Mary Hortense, b. Nov. 8, 1869; married Fred B. Pike of Cornish, Oct. 22, 1896. Melvina Thomes died Jan. 19, 1904.
SARAH, b. in Gorham, Apr. - , 1827, married Enoch Mc- Donald of Windham.
A. M.
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THOMPSON FAMILY.
PHINEAS THOMPSON of Gorham, came to Harrison early in the last century. He lived temporarily in the Emer- son schoolhouse with his family; thence moving into a log cabin located where his house was afterward built. He married Lydia Blake of Gorham. Their children were:
ASENATH, married Valentine Harmon of Westbrook; died in 1863.
AREXZENE, b. Sept. 30, 1826; married Ist, David M. Wood- sum of Harrison. They had a son, David M., b. Apr. 17, 1855. He was several years in the service of the Panama Commission, but is now engaged in private mer- cantile business at Gorgona, Canal Zone. Mrs. Arexzene Woodsum married 2d, Leonard Decker of Otisfield; she died July 15, 1906.
ROBY, married Charlotte McAllister of Harrison. They moved to Minnesota many years ago; have children.
JULIA, b. Oct. 10, 1831; married Benson M. Davis of Auburn in 1846; died Feb. 5, 1896. Mr. Davis died Dec. 10, 1907. Their children :
I. Clarence, died in infancy.
2. Ella May, b. in 1850; died in infancy.
3. Laura Estella, b. Aug. 9, 1853; married Clarence Yeaton of Portsmouth, N. H., a farmer; resides in Harrison.
TOLMAN FAMILY.
PHILANDER TOLMAN was a descendant of Revo- lutionary stock. His great grandfather, Jacob Newhall, was in the Revolutionary army. He witnessed the sur- render of Burgoyne, and was in the army five years.
Philander's grandfather, Benjamin Tolman, fought at
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Bunker Hill, and at Stillwater, near Saratoga. In the battle of Bunker Hill he was in the thickest of the fight. In a hand to hand conflict his gun was wrenched from him by a British soldier, but he stood his ground, defending him- self with the weapons nature had furnished him until his captain, seeing his situation, brought him another musket, with which he continued to fight until ordered to retreat. He was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, and the house where his birth occurred, known as the old Tolman resi- dence, is still standing, and has been occupied by successive generations of the Tolman family ever since the days of the Revolutionary War.
The wife of Benjamin Tolman was Hepsibath Newhall, and there were born to this couple fourteen children. Henry Tolman, the father of Philander, the second son of Ben- jamin and Hepsibath, was born in Marlboro, New Hamp- shire (now Troy), in 1873. He married Mary Harris, November 28, 1806. In connection with the engagement of Henry Tolman to Mary Harris the History of Troy, New Hampshire, contains the following incident: "In regard to the old elm tree which stands on the premises of Chris- topher Harris in Troy: Henry Tolman, who was engaged to Mary Harris, was visiting his sweetheart, Miss Mary. Being out with her brothers engaged in drawing the win- ter's wood, he thoughtlessly stuck a sledstake into the ground, by the side of the road, near the dooryard. In the spring this stake began to show signs of vitality; it took root, sent out branches, and became a stately tree. Long may it wave to the memory of Henry Tolman, who placed it there."
Henry Tolman died March 6, 1851, and his wife's death occurred August 5, 1859. They were the parents of eleven children, as follows :
CHARLES M., b. Jan. 21, 1807, died Dec. 27, 1830.
NANCY, b. June 17, 1808, died Oct. 23, 1860.
HON. PHILANDER TOLMAN
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HENRY, b. Aug. 13, 1809, died Aug. 10, 1892.
ELISHA W., b. June 17, 1811, died Jan. 16, 1875.
DANIEL, b. Nov. 7, 1812, died Oct. - , 1885. MARY, b. May 5, 1814, died Feb. 21, 1888.
JACOB, b. Jan. 2, 1816, died Dec. 8, 1873. JAMES, b. May 6, 1817, died Jan. 28, 1821.
PHILANDER, b. June 13, 1819, died Aug. 30, 1897.
SARAH A., b. Dec. 31, 1824, died Nov. 2, 1844.
A. MALVINA, b. May II, 1828, married Frank Osbourne, and is now living in West Fitchburg, Mass.
PHILANDER TOLMAN received his early education in the public schools of his native county. When a boy he worked for his father in the pottery business. At the age of fifteen he was the captain of the Washington Ar- tillery Company. At the age of seventeen he went to Worcester, Massachusetts, and entered the Washburn Wire Mills as an apprentice. There he remained twelve years, becoming a most skilled workman. In 1848, he came to Harrison, which was then a small, struggling village, formed a partnership with Charles Farley, and entered into the manufacture of all kinds of iron and steel wire, the firm being known as "Farley & Tolman." Five years later the firm was dissolved, and for a few months the business was carried on by Charles Farley & Sons. Jacob Hazen took the business in 1855, with Mr. Tolman as manager, and con- tinued it until some time in 1857, when he sold out to the new firm of P. Tolman & Co., which was composed of Philander Tolman, Franklin Walker, and John W. Cas- well. Under the management of this firm the business grew to such proportions that it became necessary to increase the size of the buildings, and in 1865, the new wire mill was built, which became the home of a large and thriving industry, and as the business grew, so grew the town. This firm continued the manufacture of wire until 1887, when
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the business was closed up, Franklin Walker having pre- viously died in 1884. The chief reason for the discontin- uance of the business here was the fact that changes in regard to the manufacture of wire in other parts of the country had made the making of it in Maine an unprofitable business.
In 1870, Mr. Tolman erected the mansion known as "Greenwood Villa," which was his home until his death in 1897, and which is now the home of his daughter, Mrs. Anna Dudley. During the last few years of his life he carried on the manufacture of bricks, the brickyard being a short distance to the north of his residence.
In politics Mr. Tolman was an ardent Republican, and he was also an earnest worker in the temperance cause. In 1860, he was elected as Representative to the Legis- lature from the district composed of Bridgton and Harrison, and in 1878-79, he was elected as a State Senator by the Republicans of Cumberland County. For many years he was prominent in all town affairs, was Chairman of the Selectmen in 1862, and served as Moderator at nine Annual Town Meetings.
He was always active in educational matters, and could always be relied upon to speak and act on the side of prog- ress and liberality. His interest was not confined to the town schools, but extended to the higher schools, and Bridg- ton Academy in particular. In 1866, he was elected as a Trustee of that institution, to fill the vacancy on the Board caused by the death of Dr. Nathaniel Pease. He continued to hold the position for twenty-nine years, and was an active member of the Board as long as his health permitted him to attend the meetings. For nineteen years he filled the position of Treasurer, and was elected for the twentieth time, but failing health obliged him to resign from the Board in 1895, and George H. Greene was chosen as his successor.
MRS. LAURA (KELTON) TOLMAN
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He was always an active worker in religious matters. He united with the Baptist Church in Worcester, Massa- chusetts, in 1837. During the years of his residence in Harrison, he labored with much zeal for the welfare of the Baptist Church, and contributed liberally towards its support. He was mainly instrumental in causing the re- moval of the Baptist meeting-house from its first site, and the building of the new one in the center of Harrison Vil- lage. In connection with this enterprise he expended con- siderable money for the re-establishment of the church of his faith in a locality, and under conditions, deemed more favorable than it had ever known before. For several years after the completion of the new church there was regular preaching and a Sunday-school in the church, but of late years no pastor has been employed, and, with no leader like the late Mr. Tolman, the Baptist Church of Harrison, once a living and effective power in religious reform, and with a large membership, has been compelled to suspend its visible operations as a branch of the great Protestant church organizations.
(The church building in Harrison Village spoken of above has for many years been unoccupied and going to decay. Less than forty-eight hours before this sketch of Mr. Tolman is being finally revised the building was to- tally destroyed by fire, and there was no insurance upon the structure. - EDITOR. )
Mr. Tolman married Laura Kelton (born February II, 1814) of Warwick, Massachusetts, November 3, 1841. To them were born eight children, as follows :
FRANK W., b. Aug. 13, 1842, married Hattie Morton, Nov. 24, 1870.
GEORGE W., b. April 4, 1845, died Sept. 5, 1848.
THEODORE M., b. Mar. 10, 1847, married Augusta Hazelton, Nov. 20, 1869.
GEORGIANA, b. Nov. 12, 1848, died Aug. 31, 1850.
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CHARLES E., b. July 1, 1850, married Mattie Richardson, Oct. 23, 1872.
EMMA F., b. Apr. 6, 1852, married Albert F. Richardson, Nov. 27, 1873.
JAMES H., b. Oct. 22, 1853, married Ella E. Chaplin, Nov. 25, 1877.
ANNA M., b. Mar. 10, 1867, married Walter S. Dudley, Jan. 12, 1882.
REV. FRANK W. TOLMAN.
Frank Warren Tolman, eldest son of this family, mar- ried November 24, 1870, Hattie Morton of South Paris, and had one child, A. Laura, born October 9, 1871. He removed with his parents to Harrison, Maine, at the age of six years. When he was ten years old, he received a severe accidental injury to his hip while coasting, which caused permanent lameness and much suffering at times throughout his life. Yet, with this great affliction he was brave and courageous, getting as much enjoyment out of life as those who were stronger than he. He attended Bridgton Academy and graduated from Colby University in class of 1866.
Feeling that he was called of God to enter the ministry, he pursued his theological studies at Newton Theological Institution and at the Seminary of Upper Alton, Ill. He was ordained at Farmington, Maine, in 1870, and became pastor of the church in Harrison. Here he served three years and a half. He then accepted a call to the Baptist Church of Campton, New Hampshire, where his labors were especially successful in the conversion of many im- penitent souls who were added to the church. After three years, he returned to Maine, much to the regret of the Campton people, and accepted a call to the church at Dex- ter, Maine, where he remained one year, resigning there
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on account of failing health. After a few restful months at his Harrison home, desiring again to take up his work, and believing that he might be much benefitted by the bracing atmosphere of the seashore, he accepted a unani- mous call to the church at South Hampton, New Hampshire. He had no sooner arrived there with his family, when he was stricken with severe illness. His friend, Rev. C. C. Sampson, kindly offered to preach for him the first Sun- day, but before another Sunday came, he was called to "lay aside his armor and enter into rest." He was kindly, genial, sympathetic, loved his work, and rejoiced in every opportunity to do good to his fellowmen. He labored with more than ordinary zeal, and his short ministry was at- tended by frequent revivals of religion in his church. Mr. Tolman died July 14, 1877.
THEODORE M. TOLMAN, third son of Philander Tolman, married Augusta Hazelton, November 20, 1869. Children: Emma Isabel, born October 8, 1874; Frank Albert, born November 16, 1879, died January 27, 1881. Mr. Tolman was a resident of Harrison for several years after his marriage, and then removed to Portland, where he has since resided. For several years he was one of the superintendents in the work shop at Portland Jail. He is a prominent Odd Fellow, and retains his membership in the lodge in his native town.
CHARLES E. TOLMAN, fourth son of Philander Tol- man, married Mattie Richardson of Sebago, October 23, 1872. Children : Dean J., born December 23, 1873; Carl J., born March 22, 1875; Jessie C., born March 10, 1880. Mr. Tolman resided in Harrison for several years after his marriage, and was for a time the proprietor of a book, stationery and music store, and was a prominent musician. Later he removed to South Paris, where he has since re- sided. He is a well known insurance agent, and dealer in real estate.
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