USA > Maine > Sagadahoc County > Bath > History of Bath and environs, Sagadahoc County, Maine. 1607-1894 > Part 37
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Mr. Elwell married Miss Olivia P. Robinson, of Bath, Me., in 1844. Her death took place in 1851; and he subsequently married Miss Lucy E. R. Stinson, also of Bath. He has three
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daughters living, one of them by his first wife. He has attended Clinton Avenue Congregational Church, in Brooklyn, since 1854, having become a member January 3, 1854, subsequently to which time he became deacon, and has been a familiar figure in the church in which way he has seated the stranger in that genial way which always made him feel at home and welcome.
In closing, while we could say much more of Mr. Elwell, we will be content to mention his four most prominent characteristics. These are-fondness for old people; affection for little children, love of flowers, and generosity. Truly these, also, bespeak the nature of the man. We need say no more. Mr. Elwell is identified with Bath interests to a large extent in the way of having, during his business life in New York, been commission merchant for many of Bath's ship-owners, and as having invested in many vessels that have been built at this port.
Orrington Lunt. - Going "out West" for the first time, the writer landed at Chicago in the fall of 1848, then, as now, the cen- tral point of travelers to the West. Immediately seeking for persons residing there who had come from Bath or its environs, he found, down on the lake front, the brothers Frank and Joseph Stockbridge, old school-mates in Bath, who were engaged in lumbering business. Joseph has since died, and Frank has become United States Senator for Michigan, to which state he had removed his business and resi- dence. Near their office he found Orrington Lunt, whom he had known in former years in Maine, and who was in a grain ware- house handling wheat bags, that seemed to indicate business. This was a long time before the great modern elevator was dreamed of, and farmers then brought their disposable crops to market in farm wagons. Mr. Lunt was known for a number years as one of the most prominent grain merchants of the Garden City, but from that active and special business he retired in early middle life. He became identified with large interests, railroad and municipal, and in real estate, but mainly occupied himself with church and educa- tional matters. He has always been a man of affairs, and has made his activity felt far and wide. Of late years his suburban home has been in Evanston, that beautiful village on the lake shore
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within easy distance from the great metropolis, the very attractive location for a village which he was the first to discover, and the leading founder. The place has a world-wide celebrity as the location of the Northwestern University, the Garrett Biblical Insti- tute, and Methodist Episcopal Institution, the largest and most popular school of learning in the Northwest, of which Mr. Lunt has been a foster-father, to which he has given his constant, per- sonal attention and devoted service, and largely of his abundant means. He was one of its founders, one of the charter members, a trustee from the start, and for over twenty years vice-president and acting president.
In his active life and distinguished career in the West, Mr. Lunt has had, by his side, the inspiration of a companion, who, as a young bride, accompanied him to the new and unknown country, and has stood by him in the varying fortunes incident to untried ventures in a strange land, where the tests of character are often severe and the trials frequent, as in new scenes and among new friends there are constant calls to meet unexpected exigencies in which heroism and self-sacrifice are involved; and having gone hand in hand up the ladder of life with her ever faithful husband to position and more than independence, she now has the satisfaction of enjoy- ing, with him, the pleasures of a green old age, honored and esteemed by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
As identified with Bath through his ancestors, the tracing of the distinguished career of Mr. Lunt may perhaps be in place in this volume. His family traces its ancestry to Henry Lunt, of Newbury- port, Mass., who came from England to America in 1635. His grandfather, Joseph Lunt, at an early day moved to Bath, where he took up his permanent residence. He there married a Miss Crocker, and their son, William Lunt, was born in this city, subsequently becoming a citizen of Bowdoinham, Me. Mr. William Lunt served as a member of the State Legislature, and was an enterprising man of affairs.
It was in the town of Bowdoinham that Orrington Lunt was born, December 24, 1815. His grandmother was a daughter of that dis- tinguished Revolutionary hero, General Vose, an original member of
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the Society of the Cincinnati, and a direct descendant of a noble family noted for its courage and prowess. Orrington Lunt's mother came of the Sumner family of Massachusetts, of which Charles Sumner was certainly one of its most distinguished representatives. Educated in the schools of his native village, Mr. Lunt, at an early age, became a clerk in his father's store, and, on attaining his major- ity, became a partner with him. When the father retired Mr. Lunt and his brother continued the business until 1842.
Business becoming 'depressed in Bowdoinham, Mr. Lunt sold out his mercantile interests and went West, Chicago being his objective point. He reached the city in November, 1842, with very little available capital, having disposed of his business in the East at a great sacrifice. After waiting until spring to commence business, the serious illness of his wife compelled a return to the East.
It was not until July, 1843, that he was able to return to Chicago, his only capital being letters of commendation from eastern friends and business men. Purchasing a set of books on credit, he began his business career in Chicago as a commission merchant. He at once began making shipments of such produce as he could obtain, and by the summer of 1844 was fairly started in the grain trade. In 1845 he leased a lot on the river front and erected a warehouse, which he soon filled with grain, after the harvest.
In those days grain was delivered by the western farmers entirely by wagon. Having accumulated something like ten thousand dollars, about this time he launched out upon a speculative enterprise in the grain trade. The result of this was that he lost all he had made. He had, however, been taught the valuable lesson of conservatism, and during his subsequent business career met with no reverses of consequence. He became a member of the Board of Trade upon its organization, and is one of the few men now living in Chicago who were identified with it during the pioneer period of its history.
In 1853, when the entry of railroads into Chicago had changed materially the condition of trade, Mr. Lunt retired temporarily from commercial life, leasing his warehouse at that time. In 1859 he was again called upon to take charge of the business and continued in the trade until 1862, handling sometimes as much as three and a half millions of bushels of grain annually.
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In 1855 he was elected water commissioner for the south division of Chicago, and in this capacity served the city six years. He became a director of the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad Com- pany in 1855, and was connected with the road in this capacity, and a portion of the time also as its vice-president until it became a part of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company's system. Eminently successful as a business man, Mr. Lunt has always con- tributed generously to charitable, benevolent, and educational work.
When he was twenty years of age, he became a member of the Methodist Church to which he has ever since been devotedly attached. This attachment has made him a conspicuous figure in Western Methodism for more than forty years. In Chicago he has been identified with every movement of consequence designed to advance the interests of the church. During the pioneer era of Methodism in Chicago, when lands had to be acquired and churches built, his busi- ness sagacity and unselfish devotion to the church interest secured for it much valuable property, while his direct gifts amounted to many thousands of dollars. Whenever a struggling church organ- ization has applied to Mr. Lunt for assistance, the applicant has not gone away empty handed, although many of the churches thus assisted have been of denominations other than that with which he was affiliated.
Under all circumstances, he has been recognized as one of those public-spirited citizens who could be relied upon to aid every worthy enterprise. He was one of the builders of the Chicago Orphan Asylum, and served as a member of the War Finance Committee of Chicago, spending the first Sabbath after the fall of Fort Sumter in obtaining supplies and arranging to start the first regiment of troops sent out of the city to the front.
Of the Northwestern University, Mr. Lunt has been one of the most generous benefactors. In addition to numerous smaller gifts, he bestowed upon the University, at one time, a direct gift of fifty thousand dollars, and at another time realty now valued at more than one hundred thousand dollars. The gift last mentioned has been set apart by the university authorities as the "Orrington Lunt Library Fund." These munificent donations, valuable as they have been
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and are to the Northwestern University, have been less valuable to it than the personal services, the business sagacity, and the per- sistent efforts of Mr. Lunt, as one of the principal officials and patrons of the institution.
In 1842, Cornelia A. Gray, daughter of Hon. Samuel Gray of Bowdoinham-prominent in the State of Maine as lawyer and leg- islator-became the wife of Mr. Lunt. One daughter and two sons have gladdened and honored their home. The daughter, Miss Cor- nelia G. Lunt, an earnest, cultivated woman of rare intellectual and social gifts, is noted for her philanthropic spirit and her efficient services in behalf of the advancement of religious, educational, and charitable work. The eldest son is a lawyer of fine attainments, and the second a business man of high character and sterling integrity.
On the sixteenth day of January, 1892, Mr. and Mrs. Lunt celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage. On that occasion there came to the much beloved benefactor of Western Methodism and its institutions, and to his equally beloved wife, the congratulations of friends from all parts of the United States. Telegrams and letters from many of the bishops and leading minis- ters of the Methodist Episcopal Church, who have been more or less intimately associated with Mr. Lunt in church and educational work, bore abundant testimony of their appreciation of his labors and to the depth of their regard for him. Nor were those tributes confined to those whose church affiliations are the same as his.
At his home on the evening of the sixteenth of January, 1892, the presence of more than two hundred friends, together with University officials, members of the faculty, and church dignitaries, bore added testimony to the esteem in which he is held in the community, with which he has been so long identified and which he has done so much to build up. Dr. Henry Wade Rogers, president of the Northwestern University, said on that occasion: "No man hath ever seen in you anything but that which becometh a brave, pure, and gentle nature. And no man lives who does not wish you well." Mr. Davis, in behalf of the board of trustees, presented Mr. Lunt with a beautiful and valuable hall clock, with cathedral chimes and of the highest order of horological mechanism. Mr. Ridgaway pre- 1
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sented Mr. Lunt with a very handsome Turkish easy chair. This substantial and elegant remembrance was the gift of the faculty of of Garrett Biblical Institute. With these presentations appreciative addresses were made, and President Rogers, in behalf of the College of Liberal Arts, delivered an address, which was a hearty tribute of the confidence, regard, and respect of the faculty; accompanying the address with the gift of an elegantly bound copy of the Century Dictionary. As mementos, nothing could have been in better taste than these chaste and elegant gifts, the more for their simplicity and usefulness.
Edward Bowdoin Nealley, the eldest son of Edward S. J. Nealley and Lucy C. Nealley, was born in Thomaston, Me., July 22, 1837, and was educated in Bath, graduating from the High School; was prepared for college in North Yarmouth Academy, and graduated from Bowdoin College in 1858. He then went to Iowa and studied law with his uncle, ex-Senator James W. Grimes. In 1861 he was appointed to a clerkship in the Navy Department at Washington, and was afterwards promoted to the chief clerkship of a bureau in the same department. In 1864 he was appointed, by President Lincoln, the first United States Attorney for the Territory of Montana, and while there he wrote articles that were published in the Atlantic Monthly, Lippincott's, and other magazines, descriptive of that new and distant territory. Upon his return he settled in business in Bangor, where he still resides.
He married, in 1867, Miss Mary Ann Drummond, daughter of Capt. Jacob Drummond, of Bangor, formerly of Phipsburg. She died in 1877, leaving one child, Mary Drummond Nealley, who was born September 13, 1872.
Mr. Nealley has been much in public life, having been one of the Board of Overseers of Bowdoin College since 1877; representative in the Maine Legislature in 1876 and 1877; was speaker of the House in the session of 1877; was state senator from Penobscot in 1878; was mayor of Bangor in 1885 and 1886; is president of the Merchants Insurance Company (Marine), of Bangor, and president of the Bangor & Piscataquis Railroad Company. At the Centennial
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Celebration of the organization of the town of Thomaston, in 1877, he delivered the oration, as he also did at the Centennial Celebra- tion at Bath, in 1881. Every position in life in which Mr. Nealley has been placed has been without solicitation on his part, and the duties of which have been acquitted with faithfulness and honorable credit.
E. B. Mallett, Jr .- The father of Mr. Mallett being a sea-captain and Mrs. Mallett sailing with her husband, their son was born at sea, in the ship Devonshire. When old enough he entered the public schools in Bath, where he completed his education. At sixteen years of age he went to New York City, where he remained until 1875, when he returned to Bath, purchased and lived on a farm in Pownal in 1877, and eight years later settled in Freeport, his present place of residence.
Having inherited considerable property from an uncle, he has in- vested it in business at Freeport, having in view the improvement of the town. He has put up two large buildings for shoe factories, which are occupied by parties free of rent for ten years; has a saw and grist-mill; a double store; has built cottages for employes to the extent of thirty-five rents; has developed and is working a valuable quarry of very excellent light granite; has established a brick-yard and a box factory, employing, altogether, one hundred and fifty work- men in various avocations.
Besides his multifarious business Mr. Mallett interests himself in public affairs, having been town treasurer two years, and chairman of the board of school committee the same length of time; was a member of the House of Representatives of the state in 1887 and 1888; was senator for 1891 and 1892, and re-elected for 1893 and 1894; was a delegate to the Republican National Convention held in Chicago in 1888, and delegate-at-large to the Minneapolis National Convention in 1892. He is high up in Masonry; is Past Master of Freeport Lodge; is Past Senior Grand Warden, and thereby a Perma- nent Member of the Grand Lodge; is a member of Portland Com- mandery; is at the head of Maine Consistory; has taken the thirty-third degree and is thereby an honorary member of the Supreme Council, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U. S. A.
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Washington Elliot was born in Brunswick, November 3, 1820, was educated in the public schools, and, when commencing his life business, came to Bath and engaged in mercantile pursuits. Pos- sessing a natural taste for music and a fine voice, he employed his leisure time in teaching vocal music in Bath, Brunswick, and Port- land, in which ·he excelled, especially in instructing large classes, as also in training church choirs. He was reputed to be one of the best tenor singers in Maine, having a range of voice of unusually high register. As leader of male quartettes in Bath and Portland he acquired a wide popularity.
In 1852 he left Bath with his wife for California and there engaged in mercantile business and at the same time formed a class in vocal music, the first one ever taught in California, and immediately took position in a choir at seventy-five dollars a month. Soon after he became salesman in a large grocery store, and subsequently took a partner and went into business for himself. He had a fine trade, taking the lead of all grocers at that time, and success was assured; but while all was moving prosperously his partner, unbeknown to him, went into outside speculation, which resulted in financial ruin.
In 1861 he went into the public schools of San Francisco, where he taught music for nineteen years. He stood at the head of the profession in that line and had the reputation of being the best and most popular teacher in California. In 1881 all special teachers of music and drawing were dismissed from the department on account of extra expense and politics. He then removed to Alameda and engaged in the public schools there, meeting with great success. As an evidence of his musical standing and popularity in that line is the fact that for ten years he received from one church one hundred dollars a month for singing tenor and training the choir, and for more than five years received two hundred dollars per month from the schools. He was also always more or less engaged with male voice singing, and had several very fine clubs which became very popular in concert singing.
During the last few years of his life advanced age prevented him from taking the active part in musical matters that was once the joy of his life. But Columbus Day at Alameda was a great day for
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him, for among the magnificent pageant there were 2,500 school children in line, and Professor Elliot was chosen to conduct the musical programme for the day. The Alameda papers commented on it and said: "Prof. Washington Elliot led the big chorus that sang the patriotic airs at the park, and it seemed perfectly natural to see him leading the music. He wielded the baton with the vigor of old."
In early life he married Miss Mary Rich, in Bath, who now sur- vives him, and there are living a son and daughter, in California, who are prosperous in life, are married and have families, among whom, at the time of his death, Professor Elliot was enjoying a green old age, respected and esteemed by all who knew him both East and West.
Professor Elliot was the eldest son of Dea. Ephraim Elliot, who was one of the best of men. After an absence of twenty-one years in California he visited with his wife, in the summer of 1891, his relatives and friends in Bath and neighboring towns. While in the city he was warmly welcomed by his old friends, sang in some of the churches, and greatly enjoyed meeting and singing with his old- tinie musical associates. Before Professor Elliot left for his home in California he received his old friends at the home of his sister, Mrs. Parker M. Reed, on South street, and there passed a very happy evening. As he himself proudly expressed it, "We had a. good sing." These same friends often speak of this last evening with Washington Elliot as one that would always bring pleasant memories.
At the time of his death he was residing in Alameda, where he had a cosy residence. His son Charles lived near him and his married daughter, Georgiana, resides in San Francisco. He died February 19, 1893, at the age of 72 years.
Francis Henry Fassett, of Portland, is a son of a well-known citizen of Bath of a former generation. He was born in this city, in June, 1823, and received such an education as was obtainable in the public schools, chiefly under the excellent instruction of Master Joshua Page in the old Erudition school-house, from which have -
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graduated many Bath boys who have since done credit to the teach- ing of that veteran instructor by the mark they have made in the world.
Mr. Fassett was a born architect. He commenced his career as an architect by learning to handle tools in the joiner trade, which occupation led to the development of his taste and talent for archi- tecture, the pursuit of which he began in Bath. When he had so far tried his skill in this department of mechanics, he struck out for a larger field, and located himself in Portland in 1864. The result has shown that he did not overrate his capabilities, as the reputation he has acquired as an architect is widespread as the country. His handiwork is to be seen in every part of the state in the chaste and magnificent style of construction of numerous public and private edifices. The great Portland fire of 1866 gave him unexcelled opportunities, and his work is to be seen in the fine design of the best buildings that rose from the ashes of that con- flagration, which include city buildings, churches, school buildings, large residences, and later the Maine General Hospital and Baxter Public Library building.
Ardon W. Coombs, of Portland, was born in Brunswick, in 1847, and when two years old moved with his father's family to Bath, where he was educated in the city schools, graduating from the high school in 1865; studied law in Bath with J. S. Baker; admitted to the Bar in August, 1868, in Sagadahoc County; was in the law office of Francis Adams in Brunswick one year, and when Mr. Adams moved to Bath he continued practice at Brunswick another year; went to Portland in January, 1870; was county attorney from January, 1880, to January, 1885; city solicitor in 1888 and re-elected two years, voluntarily retiring in March, 1891.
His father is Judge Nathan Coombs, who was a native of Bruns- wick; moved to Bath in 1849; was deputy sheriff of Sagadahoc County eight years; admitted to the Bar in 1875; went into part- nership in the practice of law with Francis Adams; was appointed municipal judge by Governor Bodwell in 1887 ; was re-appointedl by Governor Burleigh in 1891, and has served some years in the Com- mon Council of Bath.
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Thomas G. Harris, of Portland, was born in Wales, Me., December 29, 1835. When one year old he was moved to Bruns- wick with his parents, receiving his education there in the public schools and with private teachers. His father was an old school- teacher and merchant. When seventeen and one-half years of age he commenced going to sea, first in the ship Northern Empire, in 1853, and at the age of twenty-one years became master of the barque Orrella, in 1857. On retiring from a sea-faring life, in 1860, he engaged in the wholesale fruit and grocery trade, in Bath, which he continued, with the exception of two and one-half years, until he moved to Portland, in March, 1886, where he is engaged in the same business, adding that of brokerage, with success. While
residing in Bath Captain Harris served as member of the Common Council in 1866 and 1869; was an active member of the Board of Trade for twelve years; has always been a man of affairs and a Republican in politics. Mr. Harris married Miss Mary A. Pattee, whose ancestors were residents of Hingham, Mass., who settled in Bath soon after the Revolutionary War.
William Henry Fogg was born in Bath, March 2, 1837. His ancestry comprises names that are prominent in the early history of Bath. The first minister in Bath, the Rev. Solomon Page, was his great-great-grandfather and Maj. Edward H. Page his great-grand- father. On November 12, 1864, he married Lydia Ann Merrow, of West Waterville, who was born March 16, 1843, and died February 17, 1887. Their children living are: Lizzie Mabel, Hortense, and W. Harry.
Immediately on the commencement of the late war Mr. Fogg enlisted in Company A, Third Maine Regiment, and was in the first battle of Bull Run; entered the navy in February, 1863, on the frigate Savannah; was taken prisoner and was in Libby, Danville, Augusta, Macon, and Charleston prisons, to Libby again, and was paroled October 18, 1864; having been exchanged was ordered to duty, December 12, 1864, on the Muscoota, then to the Calipso, next to the captured ram Columbia, thence to the flag monitor ship Ca s- kill. The war having closed he resigned November 1, 1865. Return-
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