USA > Maine > Sagadahoc County > Bath > History of Bath and environs, Sagadahoc County, Maine. 1607-1894 > Part 36
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and an alderman from Ward Six for 1893. In political sentiments he is a Republican.
William Pelham Larrabee was a native of Phipsburg. He became a sea-faring man, sailing in Bath ships, among them the Hamburg, built by him at Phipsburg Centre, and the ship Moro, built also by him in the John Henry yard in Bath, and eventually was a resident of this city. His ancestry goes back to Walter Beath, a pioneer settler of Boothbay, coming directly there from the siege of Londonderry. He derives the name of Pelham from his grandfather, Joseph Beath, who married into the English Pelham family. He married, at Boothbay, Miss Ann Phillips Smith, sister of Seba Smith, who wrote the "Jack Downing" letters that were celebrated three-quarters of a century ago for their rich humor. The loss of his life at sea, together with two young daughters, is
related elsewhere in this volume. Of his family there were several daughters, all married, and one son, Charles Smith Larrabee, who was engaged in the publishing business in New York until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he went into the Army of the Potomae, captain of a Bath company in the Nineteenth Maine Regiment, after having served as mustering officer in Maine. After honorable discharge he engaged in business in Germany with suc- cess; returning from which he makes his home in Bath, where he mar- ried, in 1862, Ellen M. Conant.
Joseph Toppan Donnell was born in Newburyport, Mass., in the year 1815, where, with his father, who carried on the business of rope-making, he learned the trade, and in the year 1843, together with his brother, George, came to Bath and built the rope-walk and carried on the business of rope-making and the manufacture of all kinds of cordage under the firm name of G. & J. T. Donnell. In 1880, owing to the decease of George, the name of the firm was changed to J. T. Donnell, which continued until 1890, when the business was changed into a corporation under the name of the Donnell Cordage Co. Mr. Donnell withdrew from any active par- ticipation in the business, although he held the position of president of the new corporation. Mr. Donnell was, at different times, a
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member of both branches of the City Government, but had no polit- ical ambitions. He was a very successful business man, though conservative, and carried on for forty-seven years one of the very few manufacturing establishments of Bath. He died in July, 1893.
Charles R. Donnell, a son of J. T. Donnell, was born in Bath, in 1846; graduated from the high school in 1863, and immediately went into the rope-walk of G. & J. T. Donnell and learned the trade and business. In 1880 he made one of the firm of J. T. Donnell & Co. In 1890 he was instrumental in forming the Donnell Cordage Co., of which he was elected treasurer and general manager, which position he now holds, 1893. He married, in 1874, Ella M. Mooers, and they have two children, a daughter, Florence E., and a son, Charles J.
James D. Robinson comes down from a long line of distin- guished ancestry, of which he has a place in the sixth generation. He commenced his business life at Bath, and was for many years employed in the store of Jeremiah Robinson on Water street, oppo- site where is now the Bath Iron Works. He became interested in navigation and was master of the schooners Comet and the Planet, plying as packets between Bath and Boston, for eight years, from which service he acquired the title of captain. Retiring from a sea- faring life, in 1840, he entered into business on his own account, which he continued with success; having been a constant owner in shipping, dealer in timber, a half owner in the Parkers Head Ice Company, and holding largely in real estate. Though always in- clined to refuse office, he served the city on both boards of the City Government and was twice mayor; was city assessor several years; was a member of the board of directors of the First National Bank from its organization; was vice-president of the Sagadahoc Histor- ical Society many years, and was one of the solid men of Bath, of perfect integrity. He died April 28, 1893.
He had been twice married. The first wife was Mary Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Jeremiah Robinson, his employer at the time. His second wife was Caroline Dresser, of Castine, whose father was born at Scarboro. Mrs. Robinson has considerable literary taste and
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is a member of the school committee of the city. Captain Robin- son had two sons and a daughter by his first marriage, and by his second marriage one daughter and a son, W. W. Robinson.
George Moulton, Jr., was born March 4, 1840. His father was George Moulton, now an aged citizen of this city, a native of Par- sonfield, and who came to Bath, from Limerick, in 1828, entered upon the business of blacksmith and carriage work, and later operating a machine and boiler shop, of which he made a success, retiring at a green old age, now reaching 86 years. He has served in the city government as a member of the Common Council during the Know Nothing excitement of 1854, and has ever been a useful and respected citizen. After having completed his education in the city schools, his son, George, at the age of fifteen, went to work with his father; was taken into partnership in January, 1862, and upon the retire- ment of his father, in 1879, became sole proprietor of the business, continuing to the present date. Mr. Moulton has been prominent as a citizen, as a Republican, and as a member of the City Govern- ment, having served in the Common Council one year, on the Board of Aldermen four years, mayor in 1889, and is a member of the Board of Registration.
On November 16, 1864, he married Fannie E. Shaw, and their children are: George F., Mary M., Jane D., Ruth E., Fannie M., Charles D., John O., and Carrie E. They are graduates of the High School; two of the daughters are engaged in teaching; Mary M. married, in 1886, Fred H. Morse, who is in business in Philadelphia, where they reside ; George F. was born September 12, 1865, gradu- ated from the Boston School of Pharmacy, and is in a drug store in Stockbridge, Mass.
George E. and Frank N. Thompson are natives of Bath, sons of John L. and Lucy D. Thompson, old residents of the city. The young men commenced the business of clothiers by having the sole charge of a store in this city, employed by a Boston firm, several years, making the business a success. In 1888 they opened a store for themselves as Thompson Brothers, in Church Block, drawing a heavy trade from the start, having as large a stock of goods in that
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line as any establishment of the kind in this section of the state, and their well-known square dealing has assured them a thrifty busi- ness. George E. was born September 3, 1859, and is married to Lizzie Low, daughter of David P. Low, an old citizen of Bath. Frank N. was born July 20, 1856, and his wife was Miss Effie, daughter of F. L. Hodgdon of Boothbay.
Milton G. Shaw is a native of Industry, Me., has passed the larger part of his business life at Greenville, which town he has been chiefly instrumental in building up, and where he and his sons have large real estate interests. It is the center of their extensive lum- bering operations; is contiguous to much of their large area of tim- ber lands; and is where they have a large farm. Mr. Shaw has been in the lumber business since 1841 continuously. While a resident there he filled, at different times, all the offices of the town of any importance, and was a member of the Legislature at the session of 1859. In 1883 he and his sons built the large "Shaw Mill" at Bath, contemporaneous with which he passed a portion of his time in the city, and in 1883 purchased a dwelling and established his residence here. Mr. Shaw is of the same age as that of the State of Maine, having been born in 1820; has a family that consists of wife, one daughter, Mary (Mrs. Frederic H. Kimball), and sons, Charles D., Albert H., and William M. Shaw. Charles D. and William M. con- duct the business of the firm at Greenville, and the father and Albert H. manage it at Bath. The Shaws have large interests in the recent improvements at Rumford Falls. Since becoming a citi- zen of Bath Mr. Shaw has done much in aiding legitimate business enterprises in the city, making real estate improvements and owning in schooners built in the city. Mr. Shaw's business ventures, with sound judgment, square dealings, far-sighted abilities, and life-long industry, have resulted in eminent success.
William T. Donnell is a native of Bath, born in 1837; is a son of Benjamin Donnell, who was a ship-joiner, and William T. was brought up to the same employment. He eventually engaged in ship-building, which. he has followed thirty years. He built with G. G. Deering for a number of years, since which time he has built
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with his son, Harry H., as assistant. Mr. Donnell married Clara Hitchcock, daughter of Harry Hitchcock, an old ship-builder, and their children are: Harry H., Clara A., William R., and Addie E. Mr. Donnell has been a member of the City Government many years, serving in both boards, to the present time, and is a member of the National Association of Captains and Vessel Owners. In his own yard he has built the schooners Katie J. Barrett, George R. McFadden, George P. Davenport, Clara A. Donnell, Independent, Mary E. H. G. Dow, and has a 1,200 ton schooner now on the stocks. Harry H. is a graduate of the high school, of the class of '83, is in the ship-building business in Bath, and built in 1890 the schooner Addie P. McFadden and in 1891 the schooner Leora McFadden.
James B. Drake has been one of Bath's active business men for the last quarter of a century, having been extensively known as representing some of the leading fire and marine insurance com- panies of this country and England; united with this business he is largely engaged in buying and selling and is a large owner and manager of vessels. He has long been a large stockholder in the Kennebec & Boston Steamboat Company, and on its re-organization, in 1889, became its president. His management, as president of the company, commenced with the building and adding to the line the steamer Kennebec, the conducting of which he has made an eminent success. Mr. Drake is married, has a family, and has for many years been recording secretary of the Winter Street Congre- gational Society.
Samuel Duncan, physician, was a descendant of the old Dun- can family of Scotland, several families of whom emigrated to this country and settled in Massachusetts in the early part of the eight- eenth century. In about 1775 Samuel moved to this section of the state, purchased a farm in what is now called "Harding," on the New Meadows River, and erected thereon a large, two-story house, which is still standing, in a good state of repair, and until recently occupied by the family of Chapin Weston. Doctor Duncan had an extensive practice and had been called "Old Doctor Duncan " for
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some years, although he was but thirty-nine years of age at the time of his death, which occurred June 30, 1784. He kept his hair clipped and wore a white wig, as was the custom, which, no doubt, contributed to his venerable appearance. He was buried in the old cemetery, near Witch Spring, in West Bath. His family consisted of one son and two daughters : Samuel Eaton, Hannah, Lydia.
Horatio A. Duncan, a descendant of Dr. Samuel Duncan, was educated in the public schools and graduated from the high school in 1856. In January, 1865, he was elected cashier of the Marine National Bank, newly incorporated, which position he still retains. He has served in both branches of the City Government, and was for two years president of the Board of Aldermen. He was also for years connected with the fire department, being at one time on the board of engineers; is now a member of the school board and its vice-chairman; has also passed through the chairs of the several Masonic organizations. He married, in 1867, Georgie G. Mayhew, daughter of Nathan Mayhew, merchant, of Bath, by whom he had six children, three of whom are now living: Silas H., engaged in clothing manufacturing; Arthur B., watch-maker and engraver; Grace, recently graduated from Bath High School. His first wife died and Mr. Duncan, in 1878, married Mrs. Augusta M. Hyde, by whom he has one child, Georgie, who was born in 1881. William C. Duncan, brother of H. A. Duncan, has been assistant postmaster at Bath from 1889 to 1894.
George A. Preble was the last representative of the main line of the ancient Preble family. Among his ancestors were Ebenezer and Jonathan Preble, who were noted among the early settlers of ancient Georgetown, whose home was a block-house so well histor- ically known as located at the head of Arrowsic Island, and where the Rev. Robert Gutch purchased at a very early day. George A. was a grandson of the Preble, who was one of the returned captives from Canada, so much noted in history, and his father was a sea-captain who died when George was five years old. The farm on which he was born, and where his ancestors became the victims of Indian cruelty, passed down through natural succession,
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and became, in time, the possession of Captain Preble. George A. Preble commenced going to sea in his early life, and worked his way up to the command of ships, which became the business of his life, himself having a part ownership in the ships in which he sailed. He retired from the sea while in the prime of life, having his residence in Bath. He married and had two daughters, now living in Bath. He was for many years an active member of the Bath Board of Trade, a member of the Sagadahoc Historical Society, and a mem- ber of the City Government, in which capacity he did valuable service. For some years he represented Bath in the board of direc- tors of the Knox & Lincoln Railroad. He died greatly regretted by his fellow-citizens.
Elisha Clarke was a descendant of Col. Matthew Clarke, who fought at the siege of Londonderry, Ireland, in 1689, and who after- ward settled on a royal grant of land in this country, and was given the title of "fighting parson " by becoming a Presbyterian pastor. Elisha Clarke was born in Bristol, Me .; when fourteen years of age removed to Hailowell and fitted for college at the Hallowell Acad- emy, also learning the printers' trade. In 1836 he married Sarah Mansfield and moved to Bath, having purchased the Maine Gazette and Inquirer and merged it into the Lincoln Telegraph. In 1846 he purchased and established a bookstore. While still in this business he accepted the position, also, of manager of the Daily Tribune. Mr. Clarke with E. Roberts afterwards bought the Tribune, and Mr. Clarke took editorial charge. In a short time he sold his interest in the paper and entered the Custom House as deputy collector, which office he held for twenty years, when failing health obliged him to give up business cares. He died November 23, 1884. He was state senator in 1853 and 1854. He was a member of the Masonic Solar Lodge and of Dunlap Commandery, Knights Templar; a charter member of Lincoln Lodge, I. O. O. F., and a Past Grand Master of the State Encampment of the United States with John T. Gilman, E. S. J. Nealley, and others. He was a faithful member of the Methodist Church, being made president of its first conference, a delegate of Wesley to the Methodist Centennial, for years super- intendent of the Sunday School, and a member of the official board
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of the church. Mr. Clarke was twice married; his second wife was Miss Jane Moore of Waltham, Mass., who survived him. His only son is Charles Davenport Clarke, the founder and for thirteen years editor of the Bath Independent.
George H. Nichols was born in Plaistow, N. H., March 16, 1832; came to Bath and was in the dry goods business from 1861 to 1885; was mayor in 1884; was postmaster from 1885 to 1889; kept the Tontine Hotel, in Brunswick, from 1890 to 1892; returned to Bath to become manager of the Atkinson Furnishing Company. He married Miss Susan E. Colby, of Lowell, Mass.
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NON-RESIDENT NATIVES.
James W. Elwell .- There is not a great number of the old New York merchants still to be found among the younger genera- tion which has succeeded them, and in whose footsteps they are following. Many of those whose faces were familiar in the busy marts of trade, two and even one generation ago, have passed from life, or have, through choice or necessity, retired from participation in the business enterprises of the day.
What, then, shall be said of such a representative as Mr. James W. Elwell, a man who has not only been a busy merchant for one and two generations, but for nearly three decades has been identified with the great business of the metropolis of the western hemisphere. Truly, such a man, one who has not only been successful in amass- ing a large fortune, but has done this without the remotest sugges- tion of unfair dealing or any form of wrong doing, is entitled to more than usual mention with the other noble examples of the ideal American merchants and business men. We must accord Mr. Elwell a conspicuous place in the front rank among such men as Horace B. Claflin, David Dows, Henry E. Pierrepont, and others, of whom he is one of the few remaining members; men who, in their time, were not only successful in their mercantile pursuits, but left what was "rather to be chosen than great riches " - "a good name." To this, in addition, has Mr. Elwell proved, not only to himself, but for the comfort and joy of hundreds of beneficiaries of his charity, that " loving favor is better than silver and gold." The beautiful admo- nition of the Saviour was never carried out more effectually than in the life work of Mr. Elwell, during the period of which, it would be no exaggeration to say, he has given a million of dollars, a large part of his fortune, for the relief of the deserving poor and enfee- bled, and in aid of religious and benevolent institutions.
James William Elwell was born in the old ship-building city of Bath, on the Kennel _c River, Me., August 27, 1820. He is a
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great-grandson of Payn Elwell, who married before reaching his majority, and left nine children, one of whom, Payn Elwell, Jr., he, previous to his death, had associated as a partner, he having previously been his clerk up to the age of twenty-two. At a later date he succeeded to his father's business, and took one of his own sons into partnership. This son was John Elwell, the father of the subject of this sketch, and he, following the example of his ances- tors, took his son, James W., into his employ at an early age, and it will thus be seen that he is essentially "a chip of the old block," having, from earliest youth, been brought up among commercial and mercantile surroundings. The father, John Elwell, when first enter- ing business, confined himself to general merchandise, but the extensive ship-building interests which were then, and are at this day, identified with Bath, induced him to extend his business into the fitting and equipping of vessels, for fishing cruisers and coast- ing; he also established, at the same time, a very considerable West India trade. He settled in Brooklyn and commenced business with Mr. James B. Taylor, under the name of Elwell & Taylor, at No. 84 Coffee House Slip, New York City. Brooklyn was then but an insig- nificant village, comparatively, and the trip from Bath to New York took up two weeks' time, steam then being in its infancy. In those days children were not usually sent to school at such an early age, but James W. began his schooling when only three years old, and at nine was so well prepared that he was admitted to the Bath Acade- my. The natural result was that he pushed his studies at an uncom- monly youthful period, and when his father opened store he was given the position of clerk. Some months subsequent to this he entered the store of James R. Gibson - not a very lucrative employ- ment -for in those days a clerk had to work his way upward by slow degrees, and in the meantime he was expected to do a great deal of hard work, for which he received very small wages, as wit- ness the terms upon which young Elwell entered Mr. Gibson's employ, where he was to receive no salary the first year, with fifty dollars the following, and a subsequent small annual increase. But Mr. Gibson was a man who recognized merit and faithful conduct, and up to the end of ie first six months this was substantially man-
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ifested by the payment to him of twenty-five dollars, he, at the same time, being told his salary would be fifty dollars for the first year, instead of nothing, and at the end of the year he received the fifty dollars in full, although he had supposed the several advances during that time had been paid on account.
Young Elwell's progress, begun at this time, received no check thereafter; and in his eighteenth year he had charge of his employer's business, which was far from inconsiderable, and he remained with him until his retirement, May 1, 1838.
James W. was then a youth of about eighteen years, but so well advanced in mercantile methods and knowledge that he was taken into partnership by his father, on May 1, 1838, in his shipping office, at No. 57 South street, the firm being known as John Elwell & Co. The father died in August, 1847, and for five years thereafter the business was conducted by James W. Elwell alone. During his part- nership with his father, he allowed his earnings to pay his father's obligations in full, brought about by the panic of 1837, by endorsing notes and signing bonds for others. He increased its business, establishing lines of sailing vessels between New York and the principal Southern seaports, as well as extending its export and import trade to the East and West Indies and South America.
Charles Frederick Elwell, a brother and a clerk in his employ, and Thomas Besant, his book-keeper, were admitted into partnership in 1852, the firm becoming James W. Elwell & Co. About two years later Mr. Besant withdrew from the firm; but its title remained, as it still does, the same. Mr. C. F. Elwell retired from the firm in 1885.
Two brothers of Mr. Elwell are living, one of whom was for many years a ship-master, and is now engaged in business in Philadelphia, Pa. The youngest of the four brothers was the former partner. He was at one time president of the New York Maritime Exchange.
On the maternal side the Elwell family is descended from Mary Sprague, one of the notable family of that name, who came to America in 1728, landing in Plymouth and settling in Duxbury and Marshfield, Mass. Subsequently some of their descendants removed into Rhode Island and Maine, where its members are well known and influential.
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Mr. James W. Elwell was connected, from the origin, in 1838, with the old Merchants' Exchange, which subsequently became the pres- ent Produce Exchange of New York. He was for many years one of its arbitration committee, a tribunal equally as high in its powers as the Supreme Court of the State. In 1855 he became a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and was one of the incorporators of of the Shipowners' Association.
In politics he was originally a Whig; but since the organization of the Republican party, he has not identified himself with any one in particular, preferring to remain independent in politics, especially in local matters-and in this he only votes for the best man.
Although he has been connected with a great number of railroad, insurance and other enterprises, outside of his individual business, besides charitable and benevolent acts, he has not been absorbed by them; and his generous nature has prompted to acts of benefi- cence of the most liberal character. Few, if any, men have done as much during their life-time in practical and unostentatious charity. The writer has been informed by friends of Mr. Elwell that he has donated substantial aid to not less than four hundred religious and charitable institutions, besides many and many times over, in his quiet way, in private gifts to the needy. It would require many times the space which could be given in an article like this to partic- ularize, even briefly, as to these many acts of kindness. But they are known to thousands; and although Mr. Elwell has not sought praise for his generous acts, the pleasure he has brought to this multitude of needy ones, must but reflect itself in his heart as a generous act well done in each instance. The consciousness of this is, in itself, sufficient reward to this man, who does a generous act because it is a pleasure to him. In the autumn of life, yet still vigorous and active, how much greater must be the gratification to him than any sordid hoading of his wealth would have brought. All honor to such men of wealth! They are too few to pass by without more than a word of commendation.
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