USA > Maine > Genealogical and family history of the state of Maine, Volume IV > Part 53
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administering the city affairs was so success- ful and acceptable that it was continued dur- ing all successive military and civil adminis- trations, even after civil government was re- stored in all the rest of the state, and during the administration of two successive govern- ors, by the people. So successfully did Gen- eral Shepley, as military commandant, carry out ยท the views of the department commander, that New Orleans, in signal contrast to its former condition under rebel rule, became as clearly healthy, orderly and well-governed as any city on the continent. At the same time the disci- pline of the troops in his command was such as to elicit repeated encomiums in published orders of the department commander. In recognition of the signal ability displayed by him in his civil and military administration under General Butler, President Lincoln, on the recommendation of the Secretary of War, on June 3, 1862, appointed him military gov- ernor of the state of Louisiana, "with full powers, including the power to establish all necessary offices and tribunals, and suspend the writ of habeas corpus." On July 26 he was appointed brigadier-general, to rank from July 18th.
As military governor he continued in force, under acting mayors of his own appointment, the same military police and other municipal regulations in the city of New Orleans which he had originally established when military commandant under the authority of General Butler. He reopened the courts under loyal judges appointed by himself, and re-estab- lished the machinery of a state government and the administration, in all parts of the state occupied by federal forces, of such of the local laws as were not in conflict with those of the United States, the military orders of the Presi- dent or the commanding general. During his administration the civil government of New Orleans was administered at an expense less by $1,200,000 in a year than it had been during the year prior to the federal occupation of the city, although the sources of expenditure were greatly multiplied by the increase of the police force, the efficient sanitary measures estab- lished, and other expenses and high prices necessarily incident to a state of war and military occupation. He continued to exercise the functions of military governor until the inauguration of a civil governor elected by the people, when he was, at his own request, relieved by the President and ordered to re- port again to the adjutant-general of the army for service in the field. On leaving New Orleans, an address signed by a large number
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of leading and influential citizens of that city, commencing as follows, was presented to him : "We, citizens of New Orleans, avail ourselves of the opportunity afforded us by the close of your present official career among us, to give expression to the sentiments of regard and esteem with which your character and conduct have inspired us. For nearly two years you have performed the delicate and arduous duties of Military Governor of Louisi- ana in a manner beyond all praise, winning in your official capacity the respect of the whole community, and by your social virtues converting all who have enjoyed the pleasure of your acquaintance with warm personal friends."
After leaving Louisiana he was, on the ap- plication of the general commanding depart- ment of Virginia and North Carolina, or- dered to report for duty in that department. He was then placed in command of the mili- tary district of Eastern Virginia, which in- cluded the command of the important posts and garrisons of Fortress Monroe, Newport News, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Norfolk and Portsmouth, with the line of defences known as Getty's line, the eastern shore of Virginia and that portion of North Carolina north of Albermarle Sound. Continuing some time in command of this military district, he again took the field as chief of staff to Major-Gen- eral Weitzel, acting in that capacity, and for a short time during the absence of General Weitzel commanding the Twenty-fifth Army Corps. He continued with the army of the James during the remainder of the campaign, and entering Richmond with General Weitzel's command, which was the first body of troops to enter the city after its fall, and was ap- pointed the first military governor of that city.
At the close of the war he resigned his com- mission, his resignation taking effect July I, 1865. In the early part of his military career he was tendered a nomination for congress by the Democrats of his district, but declined in a letter in which he said his highest ambition was to see his country at peace and prosperous again, and to be himself at liberty to return to the practice of his profession. In Novem- ber, 1865, he was appointed associate justice of the supreme judicial court of this state, but declined the position. The events of the war and his own experiences led to a change of his political relations, and he became identified with the Republican party, by whom he was elected representative in 1866 to the state legislature, in which he served with marked
ability. Shortly after the close of the session he resumed the practice of law, having formed a partnership with A. A. Strout, Esq., under the style of Shepley & Strout. But he was not long permitted to remain in a private station. In 1869, when the judicial system of the United States was amended by an act pro- . viding for the appointment of circuit judges, he was, without seeking on his part, selected for the appointment in the first circuit. His commission was issued December 22, 1869, and he at once entered upon the discharge of the laborious and responsible duties of that high office. In the years of his judicial life he was constantly called upon to sit in difficult and important cases, and by his knowledge, his acumen and his impartiality fully proved the wisdom of his selection for the judgeship. In matters of patent law his work was es- pecially severe, and those best qualified to estimate how he performed that work are unanimous in his praise and in according to him the highest rank as a judge in that branch of the law. Nor did he fail in any respect to meet the high anticipations of the public at the time of his appointment, but rather he commanded the confidence and gained the ap- plause of the best and soundest lawyers throughout his circuit and the country. His mental faculties, originally of high order, were strengthened and disciplined by constant study. The range of his attainments was wide. His taste for literature and art was cultivated and refined. His eminence was fittingly recog- nized only a few weeks before his death by the bestowal upon him by his alma mater of the honorary degree of LL.D. Judge Shep- ley, as was well known to those intimate with him and enjoying his confidence, was ever a full and strong believer in the holy scriptures, but did not until a short time before his death publicly write with any religious society. In the spring of 1877 he joined the Episcopal church, and connected himself with St. Luke's Society in Portland. That he was a firm and devout believer in the truths of Christianity there is abundant evidence, and in that faith he daily grew stronger and found increasing joy. His religious life was deep and sincere, without ostentation or dogmatism. By nature he was kindly and considerate to all men. His sympathies were quick and his affection strong and enduring. Only those who were per- mitted to see him in his home, and surrounded by those whom he loved and trusted, can im- agine how sweet his disposition was, and how he brought the happiness to those around him. Judge Shepley died of what the attending
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physician pronounced Asiatic cholera, July 30, 1878, after an illness of four days, while still a comparatively young man, and in the flower of his strength and usefulness. While living in Bangor, George F. Shepley married Lucy Hayes, who died in 1859. Of this marriage there were four children. One of the daugh- ters became the wife of Commander T. O. Selfridge, U. S. N., and another became the wife of Mr. Tiffany, a prominent lawyer of St. Louis, Missouri. In 1872 Judge Shepley married Helen Merrill, born in Portland, daughter of Eliphalet Merrill, and who sur- vives him.
TREFETHEN The earliest mention of one of this name is that of Henry Trefethen, who was of New Hampshire in 1687. Like nearly all names beginning with tre, pol, pen, &c., it is of Cornish or Welsh origin. The Trefe- thens of Maine seem to have been settled in the state for years prior to the time any record of them has been found. Henry Trefethen, Josiah Starling and Oran Hall were the origi- nal purchasers of Monhegan Island in Casco Bay from the government, owning it in equal parts.
(I) George Trefethen, the first of the line herein traced of whom we have definite in- formation, was a son of Harry and Jemima (Starling) Trefethen. He was born May 29, 1800, and died March 26, 1870. He resided in Bremen, Maine, and followed the occupation in which the family has become successful and widely known, having been a fisherman and curer of fish. In his later years he was a Republican in politics. He married (first) Sarah Thompson, born September 19, 1801, died May 26, 1856. Children : I. Joseph, born February 7, 1824, died August 11, 1888. 2. Eunice, March 16, 1826, died March, 1905; married (first) Thomas A. Marshall, ( sec- ond) Andrew Weever. 3. Sarah Ann, July 2, 1828, died July 16, 1869; married Leander Moore. 4. George, August 20, 1831, see for- ward. 5. Lucretia, November 26, 1834, mar- ried Rufus Pierce, of Monhegan Island. 6. James Henry, February 14, 1838, died Sep- tember 8, 1869. 7. Clarissa, March 2, 1841, married William H. Pierce. 8. John Water- man, May 3, 1843, see forward. 9. Elial, April 20, 1846, died October, 1871. 10. Newell Fales, April 8, 1848, see forward. Mr. Tre- fethen married (second) Jane Stone. who bore him children: Lettie, Georgia, Dexter and Villa.
(II) George, second son of George and
Sarah (Thompson) Trefethen, was born on Monhegan Island, August 20, 1831, and died February 15, 1894, at Peak's Island. He re- ceived the education which his day, time and environment demanded, and then turned his attention to the occupation followed by his family, being for the principal part of his life in the employ of N. T. Trefethen, proprietor of a lobster shop. In politics he was a Re- publican, and for many years filled the office of town clerk of Monhegan. He was a mem- ber of the Advent Church, and was for many years affiliated with Ancient Brothers Lodge, No. 4, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Portland. He married, September 26, 1852, Susan W. Starling, born on Monhegan Island, April 17, 1834, daughter of Joseph and Susan (Welch) Starling. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Starling: James, Josiah, Nancy, Fannie, Lu- cinda, Susan W. and Helen. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Trefethen: I. Albertina B., born October 9, 1853, married Frank Starling. 2. Julia E., September 6, 1857, married Henry T. Skillings; Julia E. is now deceased. 3. Mary Lizzie, September 17, 1862, married Alonzo E. Drown; children: i. Julia T., born June 25, 1884; ii. Angie F., September 9, 1888; iii. Edith M., February 19, 1891. 4. Nellie C., April 12, 1867, married Oscar C. Randall, November 21, 1888; child, Walter Trefethen Randall, born July 20, 1898. 5. Walter Sherman, born July 31, 1869.
(II) John Waterman, fourth son of George and Sarah (Thompson) Trefethen, was born in Bremen, Maine, May 3, 1843, and died in Portland, June 2, 1896. He set- tled on Monhegan Island and took up the vo- cation of fisherman or dealer in fish. From this island for many years he made trips in his own boat to other parts along the coast, going often as far as Cape Ann and Cape Cod. In the course of time he accumulated con- siderable property and removed to Portland, where he opened a wholesale and retail market and dealt in fish, lobsters and other sea food. Good management brought its reward, and he prospered, extending his business, engaging in salting and curing fish. This branch of the business also prospered, and Mr. Trefethen and his successors conducted as large a busi- ness and employed as many men as any other concern in the state. He married, January 8, 1863, Mary Adelaide Sterling, born Octo- ber 22, 1844, daughter of Abraham and Lydia W. (Reed) Sterling, the former born in 1826, and the latter October 24, 1815, on Peak's Island. Both are now living. Following is some account of the ancestry of Mary A.
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Sterling: Lord Sterling came from Burden, England. He married, and among his chil- dren was a son Josiah, who kept a tavern and was also a sea captain; he was washed from his vessel and drowned off Kittery in a storm in 1822. He married Mary Trefethen; chil- dren : John, Josiah, Luther, Louise, Mary and Phebe. John married Patience and Josiah married Hannah Thurman. Abra- ham Sterling, a grandson of Josiah and Mary (Trefethen) Sterling, lived at the home of his grandfather on Monhegan Island until he was seven years old, and then went to sea as a cabin boy. At fourteen years of age he was master of a vessel and followed the coasting trade, and when freight was scarce he went fishing, as is shown by papers in the United States custom house as early as 1836. At seventeen he was owner of his vessel. When forty-four years old he engaged in deep-sea fishing which he followed for ten years. Near the end of that period he was wrecked on Monhegan and nearly frozen to death. After thirty-seven years of seafaring he lived ashore and was government inspector of mackerel. In 1863 he settled on Peak's Island, and the following year began the manufacture of fish oil, the daily output being about nine barrels a day. Later he built a store at Peak's Island and dealt in ship stores and supplies. Abra- ham Sterling married Lydia W. Reed, daugh- ter of Joseph and Mary (Brackett) Reed. Jo- seph Reed was a sea captain of Kittery, and his wife was a daughter of John Brackett. Children of Joseph and Mary Reed: I. John Brackett. 2. Mary. 3. Eliza, married Na- thaniel Merrill. 4. Jane, married Melzer Dil- lingham. 5. Joseph. 6. Thomas R., married Matilda and became the father of the famous statesman, Thomas Brackett Reed. 7. William Cobb. 8. Daniel Cobb. 9. Lydia Wyer, married Abraham Sterling; children : Jane, Joseph, Henry, Alpheus, Eliza Ellen, Robert, Mary A. 10. Emily T. Besides rais- ing six children of his own, Mr. Sterling took six waifs and reared and educated them. He has now fifty seven grandchildren and twenty- six great-grandchildren. Children of John W. and Mary A. (Sterling) Trefethen : I. Charles Newell, born January 13, 1865, see forward 2. Melville Waterman, May 21, 1869, see for- ward. 3. Clara M., January 10, 1873, mar- ried George E. Crockett. 4. Ida Florence, Sep- tember II, 1877, married William A. Skinner, of the Clark-Eddy Company, and died Sep- tember II, 1904.
(II) Newell Fales, youngest son and child of George and Sarah (Thompson) Trefethen,
was born on Monhegan Island, April 8, 1848, and died March 26, 1904. He early went fishing along the coast as an employee, and later engaged in business for himself as a dealer in lobsters, on a small scale, about 1873. He was successful in this, and having a keen eye for business and forecasting the time when every available spot in and about Portland would have a much enhanced price for build- ing purposes, he engaged in the real estate business, buying property in South Portland and on Peak's Island, which is now worth many times more than he paid for it. In common with the others of his line in Port- land, he believed in protected industries and a strong central government, and to secure these things he steadily voted the Republican ticket. In religious belief he showed his independ- ence of thought and action by leaving the Congregational church to join the Metho- dist. Mr. Trefethen married, on Monhegan Island, Georgie A. Davis, who died in 1903. Two children: I. Leslie, deceased. 2. Fan- nie, who is residing with Walter Sherman Trefethen.
(III) Charles Newell, eldest child of John W. and Mary A. (Sterling) Trefethen, was born on Peak's Island, January 13, 1865. He attended the public schools of South Port- land, graduating from the high school in 1882, and subsequently attended Shaw's Busi- ness College. He then engaged in assisting his father in the fish business, in 1895 became a partner, and at the death of his father suc- ceeded to the management of the business. He is also a stevedore and employs from one hundred to three hundred men in loading and unloading vessels. He is director in the In- dependent Cold Storage and Ice Company of Newport, Rhode Island ; president of the Port- land Cold Storage Company and the Trefethen & Webster Lumber Company; treasurer of Spear Auto Company; member of retail fish firm of Cobb & Trefethen. For a number of years he has resided in South Portland. He is a Republican; he has taken a leading part in the politics of South Portland, serving as selectman in 1898-99-1900, and mayor in 1901- 02. In religious faith he is a Universalist. He is a member of Portland Lodge, No. 188, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks ; Elizabeth City Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Bayard Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and the Power Boat Club. Mr. Trefethen married (first) in South Portland, February 5, 1889, Elva B. Tilton (see Tilton) . Married (second) in Deering, September, 1892, Minnie W. Ramsdell, daughter of Wins-
Charles. A. Prefethen
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low D. and Mariah R. (Lawrence) Ramsdell, of Lubec. Winslow D. Ramsdell was born April 15, 1823, died in Deering, February 1, 1904, son of William and Nancy A. (Lyons) Ramsdell, of Lubec. Mariah R. (Lawrence) Ramsdell was born December 22, 1825, died in Portland, March 12, 1908, daughter of Jonathan Lawrence, of Pembroke, Maine. Children of Winslow D. and Mariah R. (Law- rence) Ramsdell were nine, five of whom died young, and the remaining four were as follows: I. Adelaide L., married (first) Fred Ingraham, who perished on the steamer "Port- land," and (second) Charles R. Stockton, of Boston. 2. Fred H., left home at eighteen years of age and was never afterward heard of. 3. Frank C., married Lottie M. Cash; children, Fred H. and Ray; Frank C. died December 30, 1908. 4. Minnie W., mentioned above as wife of Charles N. Trefethen. Chil- dren of Charles N. and Minnie W. (Rams- dell) Trefethen : 1. Phyllis Adeline, born Au- gust 8, 1893. 2. John Waterman, July 8, 1903.
(III) Melville Waterman, second son of John W. and Mary A. (Sterling) Trefethen, was born on Peak's Island, May 21, 1869. He attended the public schools, graduating from the Cape Elizabeth high school, and took a course in Shaw's Business College in Port- land, after which he went into the fish busi- ness with his father and finally became super- intendent of the same, a position he now holds. He is a stockholder in the Portland Cold Storage Company. He has been one of the leading Republican politicians of South Port- land for many years, having been a member of the city committee and a leader in the party. He was deputy sheriff of Cumberland county under O. T: Despeasex during the years 1899- 1900. In 1902 he was nominated for high sheriff of Cumberland county, and again in 1904, but was defeated. In 1908 he was again nominated by the Republican party of the county, and was elected over King S. Ray- mond, the Democratic nominee. Mr. Tre- fethen is the first Republican elected to that office in Cumberland county for many years. He is a member of Hiram Lodge, No. 180, Free and Accepted Masons, of South Port- land; Lodge No. 198, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks; South Portland Re- publican Club; Lincoln Club, being a member of its executive committee for fourteen years. Mr. Trefethen married, in South Portland, January 27, 1891, Florence Mabel Frank, born in South Portland, November 18, 1868, daugh- ter of Charles and Hannah Augusta (Pickett)
Frank, the former of whom was born De- cember 8, 1835, and the latter July 21, 1839. Mr. and Mrs. Trefethen have one child, Ger- trude, born December 27, 1903.
TILTON The family of which Charles A. Tilton is a representative is of Dutch descent, and was founded in this country by three brothers, one of whom settled at Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, one in New Hampshire, and one in Maine, from which the line herein treated is de- scended.
(I) Gibbs Tilton, grandfather of Charles A. Tilton, was a Friend (Quaker) in religion. He married Huldah Chase, born at Durham, Maine, February 10, 1777, died at Chelsea, Maine, having attained the remarkable age of ninety-seven years. They were the parents of six children, as follows: Zadoc, Jane, Han- nah, Bethiah, Stephen and Hezekiah.
(II) Stephen Tilton, father of Charles A. Tilton, born at Vassalboro, Maine, December 12, 1802, followed the occupations of farming and school teaching, having taught seventy- seven terms of school to the entire satisfaction of all interested. He was a Methodist in re- ligion and a Democrat in politics. He was a Christian in every sense of the word, a main- stay and support of the church, many years a class leader, and died in the full faith of the gospel he had preached and practiced all his life. Died at Unity, Maine, March 27, 1898, aged ninety-five years, three months, fifteen days. He married Julia Cozzens, born at Sherborn, Massachusetts, 1793, died in Jan- uary, 1856, at Jackson, Maine. Children : Martin Van Buren, born at Jackson, Maine, November 8, 1835, resides in Dixmont, Maine ; farmer by occupation. Charles A., see for- ward.
(III) Charles A. Tilton was born at Jack- son, Waldo county, Maine, April 22, 1837, on a farm. He attended the common school in the vicinity of his home, and the knowledge thus acquired was supplemented by a short term at the high school. In 1858, at the age of twenty-one, he left home and went to sea, fishing from Gloucester, Massachusetts, but at the expiration of two years abandoned this pursuit and began to learn the trade of stone cutting in Portland, Maine, which occupation he followed until 1865. He then engaged in the stove, tinware, plumbing, heating, paint and oil business, in which line he continued until July 16, 1904, when he disposed of his business to his son, Charles J. Tilton, and William E. Allen. He was one of the most
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successful business men of South Portland, building his business up to large proportions from a small beginning, he having only three hundred dollars capital when he began his mercantile career, but by dint of perseverance and strict attention to all particulars he stead- ily advanced and in due course of time became a leading factor in the business world. - He has always been keenly alive to the interests of his town, being among the first to forward any good cause, and his influence has always been felt on the side of justice and right. Un- til recent years he has been a staunch adherent of Democratic principles and policies, but now casts his vote for the candidate who in his opinion is best qualified for office, irrespective of party affiliation. He served in the capacity of town clerk one year ; selectman seven years, four years of which he was chairman of the board; treasurer two years; representative to state legislature two terms, 1889-91, during which period he served on a number of im- portant committees, such as towns and state prison, and was secretary of all the committees of which he was a member, rendering efficient and capable service. He is consulted by his townspeople on all matters of importance, and his advice and counsel is always followed with gratifying results. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the affairs of which he takes a deep interest; in 1908 was elected by the Maine conference, lay delegate to the general conference of the Methodist Episcopal church which convened at Balti- more, May 6 to June 2, 1908, an honor which he appreciates more highly, if possible, than any other ever conferred upon him by his many friends. He has always been a member of the official board of the church, for more than twenty years served as class leader and leader of the church choir, and for more than twelve years was superintendent of the Sun- day school. He is a member of Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Golden Cross, being the treasurer of the latter organization, in which capacity he has served for several years, and also having filled nearly all the other chairs in same. Mr. Til- ton married, November 8, 1863, at Westport, Maine, Arabine J. Bartlett, born at Westport, October 17, 1838, daughter of Joel and Mary Bartlett, who were the parents of six chil- dren, namely: Andrew, Jason R., Joel, Caro- line, Arabine J. and Scott. Mr. Bartlett was a seaman and farmer, served one term in state legislature, as town clerk and in other offices of trust and responsibility. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Tilton : I. Elva B., born July 21,
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