USA > Maine > Genealogical and family history of the state of Maine, Volume IV > Part 18
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(II) Thomas (2) eldest child of Thomas (I) and Elizabeth ( Abbott) Butler, was born March 6, 1698, in Berwick, and baptized there after attaining his majority, August 14, 1720. He inherited and lived upon the homestead, and was engaged in the manufacture and deal- ing in lumber. He was elected constable in 1725 and 1735, was surveyor of lands and served in other offices. His wife's name was Mehetable; children : Mary, William Good- win, Olive, Thomas, Elizabeth, Samuel, Icha- bod and Moses.
(III) Samuel, third son of Thomas (2) and Mehetable Butler, was baptized May 19, 1734, in South Berwick, and died there July 15, 1799. He inherited two-thirds of the homestead, on which he lived, and also received all his father's property in mills, and was an extensive lum- ber dealer and merchant. He served as select- man and in other official capacities, and was moderator in 1772. He was among the signers of a petition against the oppressive revenue laws of the mother country. He was married May 4, 1757, to Lydia, daughter of Nehemiah and Mary (Wentworth) Kimball, of Dover. She died May 13, 1802. Children: Ichabod, Samuel, Nehemiah, Mehetable, Ephraim, Ly- dia, Mary, Paltiah (Peletiah), Robert and Martha.
(IV) Ichabod, eldest child of Samuel and Lydia (Kimball) Butler, was born July 4, 1758, and died September, 1810. He was in the revolutionary army and his record in the "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution" is as follows: "List of men mustered in York county by Joseph Bragdon, Jr., Muster Master, dated March 17, 1777 ; Captain Samuel Derby's company, Col. John Bailey's regiment; enlistment, three years; also Private 2d Company, Col. John Bailey's regiment; Continental Army pay ac- counts for service from February I, 1777 to December 31, 1779; also Captain Samuel Darby's (2d) Company, Colonel Bailey's regi- ment ; company return dated Valley Forge, January 25, 1778; also Colonel's company, Col. Bailey's regiment ; Continental Army pay accounts for service from January 1, 1780, to February 1, 1780." He lived directly in front of what is now known as "Butler's Hill." in the village of South Berwick, where he died.
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Old deeds describe him as a farmer, trader and lumberman. He married, December 20, 1786, Abigail, born April 23, 1757, daughter of Colonel John and Abigail ( Millet) Wentworth. Abigail died in October, 1812. Children : John Wentworth, Harriet, Ichabod, George and Edward Heyman.
(V) Ichabod (2), third child and second son of Ichabod ( I) and Abigail ( Wentworth) Butler, was born in Berwick, now South Ber- wick, June 13, 1793 (June 30, 1791, according to the Wentworth Genealogy). He read law with Hon. John Holmes, of Alfred, and was practicing in town in 1821, having been ad- mitted to the bar as a practitioner at the com- mon pleas. At the April term, 1824, he was admitted to practice at the supreme judicial court. After living at the Corner some time, Ichabod Butler built a house near the Thomp- son bridge. so called, and thus gave it another name, Butler's Bridge. He lived at the Cor- ner the last part of his life, and died there March 28, 1833 (March II, according to the Wentworth Genealogy). He married, 1823, Mary (Wise) Morrill, widow of Moses Mor- rill, daughter of Captain Daniel Wise, of Wells (Kennebunk), granddaughter of Cap- tain James Wise, and great-granddaughter of Rev. Jeremiah Wise, of Berwick. Her mother's maiden name was Hannah Hubbard, daughter of Captain James Hubbard, who died at Cambridge. Mary Wise was born Octo- ber 4, 1794, and died May 11, 1825. Chil- dren : Edward Heyman, who died young, and Moses Morrill, whose sketch follows.
(VI) Hon. Moses Morrill, son of Ichabod and Mary (Wise) (Morrill) Butler, was born in Sanford. March 8, 1824, died in Portland, October 21, 1879. The History of Sanford says of him: "He prepared for college at Al- fred, Gorham, and North Yarmouth academies, and graduated at Bowdoin College in 1845, with the highest honors of his class. During his collegiate course he taught school in his own district at the Corner, and immediately after graduation a school at Springvale, at the same time pursuing his professional studies. He read law with Hon. Edward E. Bourne, of Kennebunk, and completed his legal course with Hon. Sumner Wells, of Portland, sub- sequently one of the judges of the supreme court of Maine, and governor in 1856. Mr. Butler was admitted to the bar of Cumberland county, November 9, 1847, and immediately took the office in Portland vacated by the ele- vation of his instructor, Mr. Wells, to the bench. He soon after took the office and busi- ness of Hon. Augustine Haines, and subse-
quently formed a law partnership with Hon. William Pitt Fessenden, United States 'sen- ator, and at a later period with James D. and Francis Fessenden, his sons. In December, 1875, he formed a copartnership with his nephew, Hon. Charles F. Libby, which con- tinued until his death. Mr. Butler was county attorney from 1859 to 1865, representative in 1854, and representative elect at the time of his death. He was mayor of Portland, 1877- 79, two terms, during which time his services in the interest of the city were efficient, and will long be remembered. One anecdote will illustrate his strict integrity in the discharge of his official duties. Among the items of a bill presented to him for approval was one for cigars. The bill was respectfully returned with the endorsement thereon: "The city never smokes." We well remember his stern appearance in the schoolroom and the severity of his government. But it was such as the make-up of an ungraded village school de- manded that the pupils might not feel that they could rule or bully the youthful teacher, who had been brought up in the community in which he taught. His studious life and un- tiring industry in the home of his maiden aunt, his quiet dignity and reserve, his manly deport- ment, are not forgotten by those with whom he then came in contact. In 1843, before he reached his majority, he was chosen a mem- ber of the school committee, and did his duties well in that capacity. One of his old pupils, Stillman B. Allen, of Boston, once said of him: "He was the smartest man that San- ford has ever produced." On February 5, 1880, at a session of the supreme court in Portland, Judge Symonds presiding, the Cum- berland Bar Association took action with refer- ence to Mr. Butler's decease. Hon. Bion Bradbury, president, addressed the court, and James D. Fessenden offered a series of reso- lutions, which were adopted, prefacing there- with a few fitting remarks. A eulogy was delivered by Hon. Nathan Webb, to which Judge Symonds replied. The latter's estimate of Mr. Butler was: "He was a man of ex- perienced and disciplined sagacity, a wise counselor, prudent in the management of af- fairs, cool and adroit in doubt and strife. No motive of personal ease or comfort, nor indo- lence, nor carelessness, ever held him from fidelity to the trusts committed to him. His work was faithfully done." The following is from the History of Cumberland County : "From the beginning Mr. Butler was an able and successful lawyer. In investigation he was laborious, discriminating, and thorough,
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and in the conduct of business prompt and sagacious. He always presented the strongest point of his case and maintained it with his whole strength. At a younger age than most of the eminent lawyers he managed an ex- tensive practice in all branches of the pro- fession. An untiring student, a convincing advocate, carefully preparing his cases, with great powers of cross-examination and ex- cellent judgment, he soon attained the fore- most rank. At middle age he was prostrated by fever, caused by excessive labor. Upon his return to his profession his accurate bear- ing, his great experience at the bar, his judicial temperament, and his habits of profound in- vestigation, united to a firm yet amiable tem- per and pure life, qualified him for the highest judicial positions, and he was spoken of for such service. He would have adorned the bench. At this period of his life the affairs of the city of Portland and its relations with public enterprises required examination and advice. The city appointed Mr. Butler the chairman of a commission for this purpose. To this work he brought those great qualities which had distinguished him at the bar, labor- ing for his adopted city with characteristic earnestness, and declining remuneration. In a report remarkable for its clear exposition of long and intricate relations between the city and its railroads, its correct estimate of the situation of affairs, the wisdom of its sug- gestions, and the vigor and propriety of its style, he placed the whole subject before his fellow citizens. This invaluable service made him so pre-eminently suitable that, although disinclined to public office, he was twice com- pelled to accept the mayoralty of the city. His administration of city affairs could not be sur- passed. He managed its interests with an in- formation which no other man possessed, and with results which no other man has accom- plished. His tried abilities and knowledge of affairs were too valuable to his fellow citizens to be suffered out of their service, and he was now elected to the legislature at a time of special importance to the city. Before the assembling of the legislature, while in court conducting a trial, he was struck down by paralysis, which in a few days proved fatal. The universal sorrow of all parties at his death was the noblest tribute to his memory. His fel- low citizens lost his services at the fullness of his powers, when he was most able to serve them, and with his place in their regard con- stantly increasing. His official papers show his capacity for public affairs, and his tribute to his college president, Leonard Woods, de-
livered in Portland in 1878, at the annual meeting of the association of the resident alumni of Bowdoin College exhibits his power of refined and tender eloquence. A self-sac- rificing, public-spirited citizen, a useful mem- ber of his church, a distinguished lawyer, a kind husband, a wise and gentle father, and a good man, he evaded no duties and acted his part well. He had been a director in the Cumberland Bank, and was a director of the Portland Fraternity. He was a member of the First Parish (Unitarian). society, and offi- ciated as moderator of the parish meetings."
Moses M. Butler married, May 1, 1850, Olive M., born in Sanford, November 15, 1826, daughter of John and Meribah (Hobbs) Storer, of Sanford. She is living in 1908. John Storer was a descendant of Joseph Storer, of Wells, who was an ensign in 1680, representative in 1681 and 1685, a man of dis- tinction and energy in the Indian wars, was a merchant and man of influence in Sanford. To Moses M. and Olive M. Butler were born three children: John Storer (died young), Harry and Grace. Harry is mentioned be- low. Grace, born March 4, 1860, died April 12, 1895.
(VII) Harry, second son of Moses M. and Olive M. (Storer) Butler, was born in Port- land, February 22, 1858. After leaving the public schools he attended Phillips Exeter Academy three years, and then went to Har- vard University, from which he graduated in 1879. He then entered Harvard Law School and there remained one year. In 1882 he entered the employ of the First National Bank of Portland as a clerk. After three years em- ployment there he promoted and organized the Portland Trust Company, which opened its doors for business January 1, 1885. Mr. But- ler was secretary and treasurer of this insti- tution until 1903, and has been its president since that time. His well-known integrity and unusual financial ability attracted business and soon placed the Portland Trust Company in the foremost rank of Maine monetary insti- tutions, a position it still holds. Mr. Butler is independent in politics, never giving his sup- port to a candidate or a measure which he be- lieves to be unworthy. In religious faith he is a Unitarian, having membership in the First Parish Church. He is a member of several of the leading clubs but of no fraternal orders. Harry Butler married (first) May 29, 1890, Julia Payson Ives, who died January 22, 1906; (second) February 16, 1907, Elizabeth M., born July 1, 1875, daughter of Clement J. and Kate (Dingley) Stetson, of Portland.
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The name of Storer, Storr,
STORER Storee, Story, Storah appear to be synonymous, and the imme- diate English ancestor appears to have been the Rev. Thomas Storr, vicar of Bilsby, Lin- colnshire, England. Tradition has it that in the early days of the settlement of Massachu- setts Bay Colony two brothers bearing the name of Storr settled in New England, one in Boston and one in Wells, Province of Maine, and that the Boston Storrs were shortly after known as Storys, and the Maine family as Storers, and that from the Boston Storys Elisha Story, a staunch revolutionist in Bos- ton, was one of the "Indians" who boarded the ships laden with tea, in the harbor, and threw the taxed commodity in the sea, was descended. Chief Justice Joseph Story ( 1779-1845), son of Elisha and Mehitable ( Pedrick) Story, was a brother of Augustine Storr, who with his son, William Storer, was among the first settlers of Wells, District of Maine.
(I) Augustine Storr or Storer was the son of the Rev. Thomas Storr, vicar of Bilsby. Augustine Storr was a brother of Marie, the wife of the Rev. John Wheelwright ( 1592- 1679), who came to New England in 1636. William Hutchinson, brother-in-law of the Rev. John Wheelwright, married Ann Mar- bury about 1612 and came with her to New England in 1634. He came from Alford, Lin- colnshire, and in New England his wife gained great notoriety as a religious teacher and leader of the doctrine of the Antinomians (vide Anne Hutchinson 1590-1643). August- ine Storr suffered persecution with John Wheelwright, and Anne Hutchinson and he became one of the combination of Exeter and a founder of the church at Dover, New Hamp- shire. He died before 1643.
(II) William, son of Augustine Storr, or Storer, was with his father an early founder of Dover, New Hampshire, and after the death of his father he went to Wells in the Province of Maine with Rev. John Wheelwright and was a founder of that town and church. Will- iam Storer married and had at least four chil- dren: Joseph, see forward, Jeremiah, living in Wells in 1726, Samuel, Benjamin. He removed with his family to Wells after 1643, and died there in 1660; in 1661 his widow married Samuel Austin, and the family were placed under the guardianship of their step- father.
(III) Joseph, eldest son of William Storer, was born in Wells, Province of Maine, in 1648, where he was brought up and learned the business of lumberman, and when his
father died he was but twelve years old. When he reached his majority he came into posses- sion of his father's estate, as his brothers did not live to reach manhood, and he built a saw- mill and manufactured boards and sawed lum- ber for building purposes. He had already been a soldier in King Philip's war, 1675, and had learned the lesson taught by Indian war- fare under that cruel leader and relentless foe of the white settlers. He continued active in the military service of the province, and was made ensign in 1680. His knowledge of the treachery and cruelty of the methods practiced by the Indians caused him to provide for the safety of the women and children of the settle- ment beyond that offered by the strong arm of the husband and father, who not infrequently was called from home as a member of the or- ganized militia. He built a strong and roomy house in 1679, using heavy timbers in its con- struction, placing it on the main road in a cen- tral position, and this he strengthened as a military post and garrison house by surround- ing it with a high and strong fence constructed of logs placed upright, close together, with loopholes for the use of rifles. Within this en- closure he built several small houses for the comfort of families obliged to flee to the gar- rison house for refuge. The larger strong- hold was always open for the accommodation and entertainment of the people, and officers and soldiers in the service of the Colony al- ways found within its walls a hearty welcome. He disbursed his provisions with a liberal hand, and the defenseless settlers were sure of a safe retreat within its hospitable doors. He was, as well, active in the defence of the Province and encouraged the people to main- tain their homes and continue to cultivate their farms, and when driven out they were given lots of land for tillage near the fort and ample pasturage for their cattle. In case of actual conflict with the Indians, the wounded were brought to the house, where he provided as far as in his power to their desperate needs. This was done with no expectation of reward either from those he benefited or from the Colonial government under which he was at the same time serving as a military officer. His treat- ment of all, through the trials of the Indian wars, was marked by unchangeable humanity. He was a noble Christian man in all his inter- course with his fellowmen, and from him have descended all the Storers of Maine, including such honorable names as Bellamy Storer, Cin- cinnati, Ohio (born 1847), the diplomat ; Bel- lamy Storer, LL. D. (1798-1875), a represen- tative in the twenty-fourth congress, presiden-
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tial elector on the Clay and Fessenden ticket in 1844, judge of the superior court of Ohio, 1853-71; Clement Storer ( 1760-1830), physi- cian, major-general, speaker of the house of representatives of New Hampshire, represen- tative of the tenth United States congress, 1807-09, United States senator 1817-19, high sheriff of Rockingham county, 1818-24; David Humphreys Storer, M. D. (1804-1891), found- er of the Tremont Medical School, Boston, 1887, physician to the Massachusetts General Hospital, 1849-58, Dean of Harvard Medical School, 1855-64 ; his father, Woodbury Storer, chief justice of the court of common pleas in Falmouth; Francis Humphreys Storer (born 1832), professor of agricultural chemistry, Harvard University, since 1870; Horatio Rob- inson Storer, M. D., Newport, Rhode Island (born in 1830), physician, editor and author ; George Washington Storer ( 1789-1864), rear- admiral U. S. N.
Ensign Joseph Storer married Hannah, born May 6, 1680, daughter of Roger and Mary (Cross) Hill, of Saco, Maine. Joseph Storer died in 1700, soon after the close of the Lovewell war, and at the time of his death he was the richest man in the town of Wells, his property being appraised at over £1,000. The children of Joseph and Hannah ( Hill) Storer, born in Wells, Province of Maine, were: Sarah, Mary, Abigail, Colonel Joseph, A. B., Harvard, 1745, died 1777; John, Hepzebah, Ebenezer, a merchant in Boston ; Seth.
(IV) Colonel John, second son and fifth child of Joseph and Hannah (Hill) Storer, was born in Wells, Maine, September 5, 1694, while all the people of Wells were shut in the garrison house built by his father. He rebuilt the sawmill in 1730. He was a member of a committee of three to finish the inside of the meeting-house in 1734. He built a sloop in 1739 for himself and his brother Ebenezer, a merchant in Boston, which was lost at sea in 1741, the crew being rescued by a vessel bound from Bristol, England, to Philadelphia. John Storer was in the government employ in 1740, being sent to Fort Richmond and St. Georges to put the forts in condition for de- fence. He enlisted a company in Wells for the Louisburg expedition, and was at the time called major, and in the list of volunteers his name appears as "Colonel John Storer, Cap- tain," and the troops were transported to Bos- ton by water in February, 1744, and he wrote a long letter to his wife, April 26, 1744, which was addressed to "Mrs. Elizabeth Storer at Wells in New England," which indicated that he was a gentleman of good education, high
standing and excellent repute. He again writes his wife, this time from: "At the Camp Cape Breton, May 21, 1745," describing the landing of the troops and capture of the town. On September 16, 1745, Rev. Mr. Jefferds wrote to Colonel Storer congratulating him on the triumphs of the army, and asks him to "present my duty to his Excellency, Capt. Gen. Pepperell." In it he says "your aged holy mothers are still living ; your pious con- sort bears her trouble with sweet serenity of mind; your eldest son keeps our school; your second looks after your husbandry ; your eld- est daughter is in Boston ; your two youngest daughters are at home, and little Samuel is ready to fly and jump in your arms." On March 9, 1756, he was ordered by Sir William Pepperell to see that no man go six rods from his lodging without his gun and a supply of ammunition. John Storer, "the right hand man of Sir William Pepperell in the expedition against Louisburg," died in Wells, Maine, Oc- tober 3, 1768.
(V) John (2), son of Colonel John (1) and Elizabeth Storer, began life as a miller trader, and this led to his becoming a shipper. In 1795 he built the largest ship ever built in Wells or Kennebunk, being of two hundred and ninety tons burden. His business ven- tures turned out unprofitable beyond the ac- quirements of the means necessary for the wants of his family. He was a selectman in 1785 and again in 1791, when by re-election he held the office up to 1807. He was town treasurer 1785-1810, representative to the gen- eral court of Massachusetts, 1791-1800 and 1804-09. He was a member of the committee chosen July 5, 1779, to request the legislation to afford relief to the town unable to pay the claim against it; a delegate to the convention held in Falmouth in 1785 to consider the ques- tion of separation from Massachusetts; was moderator of the town meeting held May 2, 1796, to discuss the merits of the Jay treaty, and he signed the memorial prepared and pre- sented to the United States congress praying "that the treaty be carried into full and com- plete effect. He married Hannah, daughter of Rev. Moses Morrill, of Biddeford, December 24, 1772, and they had nine children. His first wife died May 25, 1790, and he married as his second wife, May 12, 1793, Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. John Fairfield, and widow of William Scammon, and they had five chil- dren. Of the children of John and Hannah (Morrill) Storer, the first two died in infancy ; their daughter Sarah married Rev. Nathaniel H. Fletcher shortly after his ordination as
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minister of the church of Wells, July 5, 1800; Mary married William Cole; Elizabeth, never married; Hannah, married William Gooch ; John Langdon; Samuel; Olive, married Sam- uel Curtis Jr. in 1827, she being his third wife. Children of second marriage: Martha Ruggles, married Lauriston Wood, of Saco; John (q. v.), born January 18, 1796; Mary Ann; Caroline Langdon, married Samuel B. Morrill, and as her second husband George Starrett; Hannah, married Dr. E. G. Moore; Hannah Elvira, married Ralph Hobbs; Al- mera, who died at the age of eleven.
(VI) John (3), son of John (2) Storer, was born in Wells, Maine, January 18, 1796. He attended the district school, and when quite young became a clerk in a general store at Kennebunk carried on by. Benjamin Smith and Horace Porter, who were also engaged in shipping merchandise to other ports under their firm name of Smith & Porter. Their knowledge of the business ability of young Storer induced them to offer him a half in- terest in a new store to be opened at Sanford, they furnishing the capital and he giving his time as manager. This offer resulted in the establishment of the firm of John Storer & Company at Sanford, Maine, and he built up a flourishing business which he carried on successfully for several years, when he pur- chased the half interest of Smith & Porter and continued the business on his own account up to his retirement, with an ample fortune, but greatly impaired in health. As his health im- proved he associated in business with active partners in Portland for a short time, when grief over the death of his wife in 1860 and anxiety over the issue of the civil war, 1861- 65, ended his useful life on October 23, 1867, at his home in Sanford. He had served his town as selectman and member of the school committee, being elected to both positions in 1837, having previously been postmaster at Springvale, 1832-33. During the civil war he had the Union cause greatly at heart, and his support of the government and of the soldiers in the field and the widows and fatherless ones at home was generous and continuous. After the war he offered to erect a monument to the memory of the soldiers from Sanford who gave their lives for their country on the battle- fields, in prison pens, or in the malarious re- gions of the southern states. The town, how- ever, refused his liberal offer, not being willing to comply with certain stipulated conditions, and the project was not carried out. In 1867 he contributed $10,000 as a foundation for a college for the education of the freed men and
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