USA > Maine > Knox County > Camden > History of Camden and Rockport, Maine > Part 40
USA > Maine > Knox County > Rockport > History of Camden and Rockport, Maine > Part 40
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The Rockport annual meeting was held March 20. W. F. Dillingham was elected Town Clerk ; Fred W. Andrews, J. W. Ingraham and Otis A. Fish were again re-elected Selectmen and C. Fred Knight, Treasurer.
This year on account of the death of Hon. Nelson Dingley, Representative to Congress, a special election for the choice of his successor was called in the Second District on June 19. Hon. Charles E. Littlefield of Rockland was the candidate of the Repub- lican party and Hon. John Scott of Bath was the Democratic candidate. Mr. Littlefield was elected by a large majority. In Camden the vote stood, Littlefield, 316; Scott, 38. In Rock- port the vote stood, Littlefield, 198; Scott, 44.
This year on Memorial Day the Soldiers' Monument in Cam- den was unveiled with appropriate exercises. This monument was the result of the faithful labors of the Soldiers' Monument Association organized ten years before by a number of devoted women of the town. Afterwards others of both sexes were added to their ranks, and by suppers, entertainments, etc., they accum- ulated the larger part of the funds to pay for the monument, the balance being made up by popular subscription. The monument was erected in what is now known as "Monument Square." Its base is six feet square and it is surmounted by a granite statue of a soldier of the Union Army, while the names of Camden's honored dead are inscribed upon its sides. The total height of the monument is 17 feet and it was erected at an expense of $1400. The exer- cises at its unveiling consisted of an address by Reuel Robinson, remarks by Rev. V. P. Wardwell in behalf of the soldiers and by
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First Selectman, Alden Miller, for the town, and a poem by Joseph S. Mullin.
Capt. Justin H. Sherman of Camden, died at Portland, April 10. Capt. Sherman was the son of Capt. Isaac W. Sherman, and was born in Islesboro, Maine, Sept. 13, 1844. He followed the sea in his early life. Several years before his death he retired from the sea. He was Deputy Collector of the Port of Rockport during President Cleveland's second administration. He was several times First Selectm n of Camden and was Democratic candidate for Representative in 1898. Several months before his death he had been appointed agent of the Manhattan S. S. Co., with his office at Portland. Capt. Sherman married Kate, daugh- ter of Elbridge E. Carleton. He had no children.
Edwin S. Rose who died Dec. 25, 1899, was the son of Edwin Rose and was born in Thomaston, Maine, Dec. 20, 1850, being 49 years of age at the time of his death. Mr. Rose studied pharmacy with Dr. F. G. Cook of Rockland and then formed a partnership in the drug business with J. H. Wiggin at Rockland. After continuing business there for some four years he came to Camden in 1879 and together with his brother, Charles A. Rose, bought out the drug business of Col. N. C. Fletcher, and established the firm of Rose Bros. They carried on business for a time in the Curtis building, Elm street and the new Knight block, Mechanic Street. After the great fire in 1892, they moved to the Hunt building. When the French (now Camden) block was completed Mr. Rose moved into the corner store now occu- pied by Chandler's Pharmacy, where he carried on the business until July, 1897, when he formed a partnership with Mr. Chandler which continued until his death. Mr. Rose was popular with all who knew him and was justly held in high esteem by his fellow- townsmen. He was a member and Past Grand of Mt. Battie Lodge, I. O. O. F., and a member of Amity Lodge, F. & A. M., Keystone R. A. Chapter and Claremont Commandery, K. T. Mr. Rose married Eva A. Ames.
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Capt. John McIntire, died Feb. 1, 1899. He was the son of Jeremiah McIntire, who was born in Georgetown, Maine, Jan. 28, 1793, married Mary Wallace at Georgetown and shortly after- wards moved to Lincolnville. He came to Camden in 1829, purchased the farm on Beauchamp Point where in addition to farming he quarried and burned lime until the Jacobs lime be- came popular, which being of a lighter quality, superseded the dark lime. He also engaged in salmon fishing which was very profitable at that time, and was interested in fitting out fishing vessels, and in ship-building, owning pieces of many vessels, in all of which enterprises he accumulated a handsome competence. The children of Jeremiah and Mary McIntire were, William W., Jeremiah, Jr., John M., Mary E., Uriah F., Rhoda A. C., (who married first, Jesse Page and second, John H. Handley). She remained upon the farm until sold to Chas. W. Henry in 1899. John M. McIntire was a successful master mariner for many years. He was born in Camden, March 12, 1821, and lived there (Rock- port) all his life. He married Frances Witherspoon. They were the parents of several children, the only survivor of whom is Mr. Clarence E. McIntire.
Eben Thorndike, an old, highly respected and prominent citizen of Rockport, died Feb. 2, aged 80 years and 3 months. Mr. Thorndike married Julia Shepherd by whom he had three children, Winnifred B., (who married W. H. Simons), Nellie, and Edwin E.
Hon. Philander J. Carleton of Rockport, one of the most prominent men in eastern Maine, died at the Maine General Hospital, Portland, May 22. Mr. Carleton who was the sixth son of William Carleton, was born at the old Carleton homestead, Dec. 20, 1825. He obtained his education in the common schools of his town and at Gorham Academy. When seventeen years of age he entered the employ of the firm of Carleton & Nor- wood at Rockport village, remaining with them for nearly all of the time until 1849, when he became a partner in the business,
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the firm name being changed to Carleton, Norwood & Co. After the death of his elder brother and partner, Mr. Samuel D. Carle- ton, Mr. Carleton became the head of the great firm whose name for more than half a century has been so prominently known in the commercial world as a synonym for enterprise, solidity and integrity. Since Mr. Carleton's death the firm has been continued
Philander J. Carleton
by his sons, under the old name, the present members being Messrs. Frank P. J. and Ralph W. Carleton. In addition to their business at Rockport the firm, in 1870, purchased an interest with Mr. J. P. Simonton in a store at Camden and in 1872, bought out Mr. Simonton's interest. This business they con- tinued until 1882, when Mr. Carleton's son, Joseph Hall Carleton
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and William H. Pascal were taken into the firm and the business at Camden has since been carried on under the firm name of Carleton, Pascal & Co., which concern today has one of the finest stores in this section of the state and is doing a large business in the grocery line. Subsequent to 1872, Carleton, Norwood & Co. manufactured lime in Camden as well as Rockport, continuing to do so until they sold out all of their lime business to the Rockland-Rockport Lime Co. in 1901. Since that time the principal business of the firm has been shipbuilding at Rockport. The subject of this sketch for many years took an active interest in municipal and political affairs, and although he held but few town offices no man wielded a greater influence in town affairs and local politics than he. In 1869 and 1870 he represented the town in the Maine Legislature and in 1871 he was a member of the Maine Senate. In 1870 he was the Democratic candidate for Representative to Congress, running against Hon. Eugene Hale, but failed of election, as has so generally been the case with Democratic candidates in this state. Mr. Carleton was a prominent Mason. He was raised in Amity Lodge in 1849, was a charter member and Past Master of St. Paul's Lodge and a Past High Priest of Keystone R.A. Chapter. Mr.Carleton was a gentle- man of imposing presence and dignified bearing and impressed all who met him as a man of character and ability. He married Sarah Babb. The children born to them who reached maturity were Frank P. J., Henry B., Joseph H., and Ralph W.
Capt. John Merrill of Rockport, died Aug. 13, 1899. He was born in Camden, Sept. 4, 1828, and was the eldest son of Wilson Merrill who was born in Bristol, Maine, Aug. 20, 1805, came to Camden about 1825, and settled on the farm at Clam Cove, now owned by his son Capt. Wilson Merrill. Mr. Merrill carried on his farm, burned lime and went to sea. He married Hester Holden of Bristol and their children were, John, Allen Wilson, Jr., Ellen, Elvira and Amariah. He died March 31, 1876. Capt. John went to sea at the age of eleven years and
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was in command of a schooner at the age of nineteen. He became one of the most successful master mariners on the coast of Maine. He never married.
Capt. Samuel E. Shepherd of Rockport died Oct. 1. He was the son of Jotham and Margaret (Ingraham) Shepherd and was born March 23, 1838. Capt. Shepherd went to sea at the early age of 14 years and was master of the schooner A. S. Eells at the age of 18. He was afterwards master of several vessels and retired from a seafaring life in 1871. The following year a business co-partnership was formed consisting of Jotham Shepherd, Capt. R. E. Jones and Capt. Shepherd, which carried on the business established by the senior partner in 1845. In 1876 Capt. Jones retired from the firm and in 1880 the senior partner also retired and H. L. Shepherd was admitted, the new firm taking the name of S. E. & H. L. Shepherd which continued the business until 1892 when the corporation known as the S. E. & H. L. Shepherd Co. was organized and Capt. Shepherd was elected its President. This corporation does a large wholesale and retail business in Rockport at the present time. In politics Capt. Shepherd was a staunch Republican, always interested in the success of his party. He was Deputy Sheriff in 1877, and the next year he was appointed Sheriff by the governor to fill a vacancy. The same year he was elected Sheriff for the ensuing term. He again served as Deputy Sheriff in 1881. He was also, for several years, a trustee of the Camden Savings Bank. Capt. Shepherd was a member of St. Paul's Lodge, Keystone R. A. Chapter and Clare- mont Commandery, K. T. In 1893, while in one of his com- pany's quarries he met with a severe accident from which he never recovered and which was doubtless the indirect cause of his death. Capt. Shepherd married Ellen H. Andrews in 1864. They had three children, Minnie P., Joseph F., and Henry.
Capt. Charles A. Sylvester of Rockport, who died Nov. 6, 1899, was a native of Appleton, Maine, and was born Feb. 3, 1822. In 1840 his father moved to Rockland, where the sub-
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ject of this sketch lived until 1861, when he went to Camden and settled at Clam Cove on the place where he passed the remainder of his life. Capt. Sylvester began going to sea as a young man, and in a short time found himself in command of a small coasting schooner. He soon began to sail larger vessels and in a few years commanded large schooners. His last vessel was the bark, Hanson Gregory, which he successfully commanded for several years in the foreign trade. He retired from the sea in 1862 and carried on his farm for the rest of his life. Capt. Sylvester was prominent in town affairs, holding the office of Selectman and other positions. He was for six years a County Commissioner of Knox County, being elected in 1886. He was very prominent in Masonic circles, being a member and Past Master of Aurora Lodge, a member of King Solomon's R. A. Chapter, King Hiram's Council and Claremont Commandery, Knights Templar. He was for six years Eminent Commander of the latter body. Capt. Sylvester married Lucinda, daughter of Hanson Gregory, by whom he had the following children : George A., Nathaniel G., Charles E., Mary G., Richard C., and Joseph F., all of whom are now deceased.
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CHAPTER LX. MASONIC CENTENNIAL.
1900. At the opening of the present decade Camden's population was, according to the census then taken, 2885 and its valuation $2,032,479. Rockport's population was 2314, and its valuation $1,108,004. Both towns showed an increase in population during the preceding ten years, and Camden a large increase in wealth. Rockport, however, fell off somewhat in valuation, a loss which it has since regained.
At Camden the annual town meeting was held March 19. Charles C. Wood was again re-elected Town Clerk ; F. H. Wil- bur, Josiah Hobbs and Everett.N. Duffy were elected Selectmen and T. J. French, Treasurer. At this meeting the foundation of what was afterwards known as the "Camden Water Fight" was laid by a vote passed to ask of the next Legislature, authority to enable the town to establish a municipal water plant, and the appropriation of the sum of $1,000 to pay the expense of pre- senting the matter to the Legislature. There was considerable opposition to the scheme among the tax payers of the town and at a special town meeting held on June 5, there was an article in the warrant to see if the town would rescind the vote taken at the annual meeting to raise $1,000 as aforesaid, but after some discussion the article was "passed over."
At Rockport the annual town meeting was also held on March 19. W. F. Dillingham was elected Town Clerk ; Fred W.
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Andrews, John W. Shibles and Daniel Keller, Selectmen and C. Fred Knight, Treasurer.
This year the following candidates for governor appeared : John F. Hill, Republican, Samuel L. Lord, Democrat, Grant Rogers, Prohibitionist and N. W. Lermond, Socialist. Mr. Hill had a large majority of the votes cast and was elected. In Camden he received 346 votes, Mr. Lord, 318, Mr. Rogers, 11 and Mr. Lermond, 14. In Rockport the vote for governor was as follows : Hill, 270; Lord, 249; Rogers, 11 and Lermond, 3. The whole Democratic county ticket was elected in Knox County this year except Wm. N. Ulmer, Republican, who was re-elected Sheriff by a small plurality. Thaddeus R.Simonton of Camden, who had for two years been serving as Clerk of Courts by appointment by the governor to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Maj. R. R. Ulmer, was a candidate for that office, receiving in Cam- den 355 votes to 315 for G. B. Butler the Democratic candidate and 11 for L. E. Bramhall of Camden the Socialist candidate. Charles K. Miller of Camden was Democratic candidate for Judge of Probate receiving in Camden 364 votes to 305 for Charles E. Meservey the Republican candidate and 10 for J. Frank Carey of of Rockport the Socialist candidate. Hubert C. Small of Cam- den was Prohibition candidate for Sheriff, receiving in Camden 12 votes. Herbert L. Shepherd of Rockport was again the Republi- can candidate for Senator and received in his own town 262 votes to 245 for L. M. Staples the Democratic candidate. J. Frank Carey received in Rockport 3 votes for Judge of Probate.
This year Rockport had the candidates for Representative. They were Frank H. Ingraham, Republican and Fred W. An- drews, Democrat. Mr. Andrews was elected. In Rockport the vote was, Ingraham, 251; Andrews, 267. In Camden : Ingra- ham, 264; Andrews, 401.
At the presidential election this year, Camden gave the Repub- lican candidates for electors 366 votes, the Democratic candidates 254, the Prohibition candidates 11 and the Socialists candidates 26.
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Rockport at the same election voted as follows : Republicans 172, Democrats 201, Prohibitionists 5 and Socialists 4. L. E. Bram- hall of Camden was one of the Socialist candidates for electors.
Seaside Chapter, No. 70, Order of the Eastern Star, was organized this year on February 26. The following were the officers of the Chapter installed at its institution : Ellen M. Mason, W. M .; L. M. Kenniston, W. P .; Lucy A. Coombs, A. M .; Mary E. Wilson, Sec .; Della Clark, Treas .; Jennie Fitzsimmons, C .; Alice M. Paul, A. C .; Lucy J. Weaver, Chap .; Chas. G. Weaver, Mar .; Maud L. Maker, Adah; Georgia L. Brewster, Ruth ; Jennie M. Wadsworth, Esther ; Henerietta E, Calderwood, Martha ; Blanche B. Lamb, Electa; Lydia Hary, W .; and W. H. Eells, Sentinel. The present membership is 192.
At about this time the Mt. Battie Band was organized. This excellent musical organization continued under this name for some time but afterwards became the Camden Concert Band which for several years, under the leadership of Harry J. Perkins, gained a reputation never exceeded by any band in this section. Mr. Perkins left town in. 1904, after which the band continued for sometime under other leadership, but finally disbanded in 1905. 1
1901. On the meeting of the Legislature in January, 1901, a bill for a municipal water charter for Camden was at once pre- sented and referred to the judiciary committee. A large re- monstrance from Camden, individual tax payers, was also pre- sented, while the Camden & Rockland Water Company entered its appearance in opposition to the proposed new charter. The
1. There have been several other bands organized in Camden, among them being the "Camden Band" and the "Megunticook Band," organized in the eighties and continuing for several years, and the present "Camden Band." Among the musical organizations in Camden for the past twenty-five years, have been several excellent orchestras, among them might be mentioned, Berry's Orchestra, Studley's Orchestra, Clark's Orchestra and the present Bucklin's Orchestra which for a number of years has maintained a fine reputation as one of the best organizations of the kind in the state.
In Rockport, Veazie's Band, Chas. B. Veazie leader, was organized. It has always sustained an excellent reputation as a band and has done fine ser- vice on many occasions.
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fight was a long and strenuous one. The legislative committee made a majority and minority report. The majority report, signed by seven members of the committee, was against granting the charter and the minority report, signed by three of the com- mittee, was in favor of it. The majority report was accepted by both House and Senate by decisive majorities and the charter was lost. A great deal of excitment and feeling had been aroused in town by the agitation connected with the fight for the charter which made itself felt at the annual town meeting held on March 25, immediately after the legislative votes on the matter, and this meeting was one of the most turbulent and exciting in the history of the town. At this meeting A. F. Achorn was elected Town Clerk ; F. H. Wilbur, Josiah H. Hobbs and Everett N. Duffy, Selectmen and T. J. French, Treasurer.
The Rockport annual meeting was held on March 18. There was no change from the year 1900, in the principal town officers elected except that A. D. Champney was elected Treasurer.
During this year the Camden & Rockland Water Co. erected the Stand Pipe on the side of Mt. Battie, connecting it with the rest of their system in Camden by a twelve-inch main. They also in other respects improved their plant in Camden, among other things putting in more and better hydrants, giving the town a service for the extinguishments of fires, second to none in the state.
On June 24, (St. John's Day) Camden had one of the best and most successful Masonic celebrations ever held in the state, the occasion being the centennial anniversary of the birth of old Amity Lodge, No. 6, F. & A. M. The celebration consisted of a parade in which all the Lodges in this vicinity, and the Com- manderies from Rockland and Vinalhaven and two bands partici- pated, there being some 800 men in line, headed by the follow- ing mounted marshal and aids, viz : Reuel Robinson, Marshal and B. F. Adams, W. F. Bisbee, J. A. Brewster and E. E.
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Boynton, Aids. After the parade the following literary exercises were held at the Opera House at which Edward D. Harrington, Worshipful Master of the Lodge, presided : Historical Address, Reuel Robinson, Past Master; Poem, George H. Cleveland, Past Master; Address, Charles T. Gallagher, Grand Master of the jurisdiction of Massachusetts. At 5 o'clock P. M., some 800 Masons sat down to a magnificent banquet at the "Casino," to wit : the new lime sheds of the Rockland-Rockport Lime Co. on Bay View street. The Camden Concert Band dispensed fine music during the banquet which was followed by interesting post- prandial exercises, Past Master, Reuel Robinson acting as Toast- master. Eloquent speeches were made by Hon. Charles T. Gallagher, William J. Burnham, Deputy Grand Master of Maine, Hon. T. R. Simonton, Past Senior Grand Warden of Maine, Jesse H. Ogier, Hon. Edward L. Freeman, Past Grand Master of Rhode Island and Col. Winfield S. Choate, Past Grand Master of Maine. The business blocks and public buildings and many of the residences of the village were elaborately and beautifully decorated for the occasion. A grand ball at the Opera House in the evening concluded the festivities of the celebration.
Camden lost several of its most prominent citizens during the year.
David B. Withington died July 7. He was born in Camden, Aug. 19, 1818. He was a carpenter by trade and a skillful and finished workman in all departments of his trade. In his early life Mr. Withington lived 26 years in Bath where he carried on his trade. He then returned to Camden where he passed the re- mainder of his life. Mr. Withington built many fine residences, examples of which are the Arthur Sewall house at Bath and H. L. Alden's residence and Norumbega, at Camden. Mr. Withington married Philena A. Robinson. He had no children.
Capt. Henry J. Hemingway, an honored citizen and success- ful master mariner, died July 16. Capt. Hemingway was the son of Josiah, and was born in Camden. He followed the sea for
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many years, but retired several years prior to his death. He was always distinguished for his integrity and was actively identified with many business interests of his town. He was for many years a well loved member of the Congregational Church and Amity Lodge, F. & A. M. Capt. Hemingway married Deborah A. McKellar. Their children : William H., Charles H., Clara A., (who married Capt. Archibald W. Smith) and George F.
Hon. Isaac W. Sherman, who died Oct. 21, 1901, at the age of 78 years, was one of the best known and most successful shipmasters who ever sailed a vessel floating the American flag. He was born in Islesboro, Maine, Sept. 17, 1823. He made his home in that town until 1849, when he moved to Camden where he passed the remainder of his life. He began going to sea when 14 years of age and in 1843, when only 20 years old, he found himself in command of the schooner Brilliant, a coasting vessel of 118 tons. From that time until 1890, a period of 47 years, he was almost constantly in command of vessels, the great- er portion of them being large ships engaged in foreign trade. After three years in the coasting trade, he was for the same length of time in the West India trade in command of the bark Annan- dale. For some six years he was in the Southern cotton trade in barks Falmouth and Llewellyn. From 1855 to 1862 he was in the Calcutta trade, commanding ships Art Union and Highlander. He then for six years, in the Atlantic trade, was captain of bark Celeste Clark, ship Joseph Clark and brig Fred Bliss. After an interim of two years he took command of the 1500 tons ship Bennington, in the Bombay trade. Following this he ran for a short time to the West Indies in brig Maria W. Norwood and for one year commanded the ship Success in the Atlantic trade. In 1875 he took command of the ship Raphael, 1544 tons, in which he sailed the seas for ten years during which time he successfully engaged in the East India trade. In 1885 Carleton, Norwood & Co. had launched their magnificent four-masted ship Frederick Billings, and the command of this great vessel was offered to
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Capt. Sherman. The Billings, which measured 2497 tons and was one of the largest and finest ships afloat, Capt. Sherman sailed with his usual success for five years, when, in 1890, he retired from the sea. Capt. Sherman was a man of fine presence and was a typical representative of the prosperous American deep- water master mariners. of the last half of the nineteenth century. He possessed rare skill and judgment in the management of vessels and during his long career as a sea captain he never lost a vessel nor put into port for supplies and never extended protest for damaged cargo, although he passed through five hurri- canes at sea and one in the port of Hong Kong. After retiring from the sea, Capt. Sherman bought an interest in the business of the Camden Grist Mill Co. which he managed until his death. Capt. Sherman was a life-long Democrat and when on shore took much interest in politics. In 1871 he represented Camden in the Maine House of Representatives and after retiring from his sea-faring life he was at once nominated for Senator and was elected by a good majority, serving one term from 1891 to 1893. He was candidate for presidential elector in 1892, and after the the division of the town was elected one of the first Assessors of the new town but declined to serve. Capt. Sherman joined Amity Lodge, F. & A. M., in 1894 and became a Royal Arch Mason at Apalachicola, Fla., when in command of a vessel running to that port, afterwards becoming one of the charter members of Keystone Royal Arch Chapter at Camden. He joined Claremont Commandery, No. 9, K. T., of Rockland in 1890. Capt. Sherman married Elizabeth Gilkey. Their children were, Justin H., James M., Lizzie G., Frank S., Ralph L. and Kate F.
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