USA > Maine > Cumberland County > History of Cumberland Co., Maine > Part 30
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.
America amounted to the sum of one hundred and eighty thousand dollars. Her novels have also had an unprecc- dented popularity.
John Neal, the veteran author, was born in Portland, Aug. 25, 1793, of Quaker parentage. A large portion of his life was spent in his native city, and the last of his literary labors were devoted to an illustrated sketch-book of its men and institutions, full of that piquant and racy style of description of which he was master. Mr. Neal was one of the most original minds of his time,-too full of ideas and impulse to pay much regard to the mechanical part of literature ; frank and ingenious to a fault, a con- noisseur in art and letters, a severe critic, a generous and whole-souled friend, a most interesting and agreeable com- panion. Ilis richly-endowed and well-stored mind was constantly bubbling over with the exuberance of its treas- ures. In personal appearance he was a man whom strangers would stop to gaze at in passing, or be struck with his presenee on meeting him, -tall, commanding, and of a powerful cast of head and face.
A notable poem of Mr. Neal's, entitled the " Battle of Niagara," was published as long ago as 1818. He went to England, where, in 1824, he was one of the contributors to Blackwood's Magazine, and enjoyed the friendship of Jeremy Bentham. On his return, enriched by foreign travel and observation, he extended a liberal hand of sym- pathy and help to every local artist and author whose promise of success he had the sagacity to foresee and to predict. Thus he became the patron and confidential friend of Akers, Codman, Tilton, Simmonds, and many others, whose latent genius in art and letters he encouraged and aided in bringing to fruition. As a poet, novelist, jour- nalist, and contributor to magazine literature Mr. Neal was a voluminous and successful writer.
Nathaniel Hawthorne, the novelist, although not a native of this county, spent a portion of his boyhood days in the vicinity of Lake Sebago. At South Casco, on the Raymond side, is the Union church, formerly Scribner's Inn, the resi- dence of Mrs. Hawthorne and the boyhood home of the great novelist. A short distance above this stood the old mill, then deserted, in which Hawthorne used to practice some of his earliest ventures in story-writing. A manu- script was found there many years afterwards in overhaul- ing and refitting the mill. The Images at the lower end of the cape was a favorite resort of the young novelist, where, it is said, he was accustomed to loiter in his little boat and visit the " cave" in this peculiar rocky formation. No doubt the wild scenery and solitude of this situation had something to do in fostering that poetic susceptibility and retiring disposition so characteristic of Hawthorne in after-life.
Among the native sculptors, no doubt, Benjamin Paul Akers deserves the first place. lle was born at Saccarappa, in the town of Westbrook. He passed his early life in brick- yards and lumber-mills, occasionally laboring on his father's littie homestead. His first attempt at art was a life-sized medallion in clay. He had never seen such a head any- where, either in living form or painting; but, in his own language, the production was " altogether his own ideal of the Saviour." He next produced a very excellent bust of Mr Bradley, a member of the bar in his neighborhood.
Among the noted works of Mr. Akers were his "Lady Jane Grey," " Benjamin," and the " Pearl Diver." Hle died young in Italy, leaving a brother Charles (or Karl, as he chose to be called ), who was also gifted as a sculptor.
Franklin Simmonds was another sculptor of Portland. The first of his successful achievements was an ideal statue of " Roger Williams," executed for the city of Providence, an admirable embodiment of the Puritan character. Ile next produced the " Mother of Moses," with a child in her lap, life size,-so fine a work of art as to fix his reputation beyond question. He afterwards completed several beauti- ful designs for soldiers' monuments, and just before his de- parture for Italy executed a fine bust of Hon. John B. Brown, of Portland.
Among landscape painters we mention Charles Codman and others. Those born here, or making their first appear- ance here, have given Portland a high reputation.
Charles Codman began as a sign-painter on Middle Street. He had previously served his time with Willard, the clock- maker, and exhibited great taste and skill in painting clock- faces and small landscapes on glass. After this he decorated in oil tapestry one of the hotels in the city, which first at- tracted attention to his genius ; then he painted marine views, summer landscapes, and many pieces of rare merit, gaining in popularity, so that no local collection was consid- ered complete without one or more of his pictures in it. He received many orders from all parts of the country, and was engaged in his work till the time of his death.
John Rollin Tilton painted some fine pictures among his early efforts, which are in the possession of Hon. J. B. Brown, Dr. James M. Cummings, and others of Portland. After spending some time in Italy he produced some fine sketches of scenes in Rome and other parts of Europe, and his water-colored studies of Egypt, which are considered in some respects his best work. For these latter he refused some thousands of dollars. His " St. George of the Sea- weed Isle" has been much admired, and he has established a high reputation among American artists.
Another of the landscape painters is Harry Brown, author of a collection of marine views, which Mr. Neal has pro- nounced "rich, exuberant, and overflowing with sunshine and truthfulness."
Charles E. Beckett was a painter of some considerable reputation. He has a daughter, who is thought to surpass her father in some respects, especially as a colorist.
John B. Hudson, an artist of fine abilities, is resident in Portland.
The prose writers of Portland and vicinity have been num- berless, and, almost without exception, above the average.
Samuel Freeman was the editor of Smith's and Deane's " Journals"-a treasury of household incidents and historic facts relating to Falmouth and Portland, published in 1821. Samuel Freeman was the eldest son of Enoch Freeman, and was born in Falmouth on the 15th of June, 1742. The family originally settled in Watertown, Mass., but this branch moved to the Old Colony. He traded and kept school previous to the Revolution. He first came into notice as a public man in 1774, when he warmly advocated the rights of the colonies. In 1775, having just attained the age of thirty-three, he was chosen sole delegate to the
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AUTHORS AND ARTISTS.
Provincial Congress from Falmouth, and was re-elected in 1776-78; he was appointed Secretary of Congress in 1775, the duties of which office he ably and satisfactorily dis- charged for three years. In 1775 he was appointed clerk of the courts in this county, and held the office, with the exception of one year in the administration of Mr. Gerry, until 1820, a period of forty-six years. The same year he received the appointment of register of probate, which he held until he was commissioned judge of probate in 1804, the duties of which office he faithfully discharged until 1820. He was also postmaster from 1775 to 1804. The confidence reposed in him by his fellow-citizens was no less conspicuous than that of government; in 1788 he was elected one of the selectmen of the town, and with the ex- ception of one year was annually re-elected twenty-five years. In 1781 he was chosen deacon of the first parish, and held the office about forty-five years. In 1802 he was appointed president of the Maine Bank in Portland, which he held for several successive years, and was also a number of years president of the overseers of Bowdoin College. These numerous and varied offices he filled with singular industry, fidelity, and accuracy, and, by a judicious arrange- ment of his employments, still had time to spare for the charities of life. Ilis active and benevolent mind sought relief from the toils of official duty in the humble walks of beneficence ; and we find him originating and aiding by his money, his example, and his personal efforts, all the institu- tions whose tendency was to elevate the tone of society and to improve the manners and morals of the people. Not- withstanding his numerous avocations he turned to account his peculiar talent as a draughtsman, and published the Town Officer, Clerk's Assistant, and Probate Directory, which, in an age when there were few lawyers and no books of practical forms in common use, had a very rapid and extensive circulation, and passed through several editions. In the latter part of his life, when he had thrown off the cares of office, Mr. Freeman found employment in digesting the manuscript journal of the Rev. Mr. Smith, and collect- ing information relative to the town and county. This he published in 1821, and thus preserved from destruction many valuable materials for history. In reading the ex- tracts from Mr. Smith's " Journal," we cannot but deeply regret that the editor should have been placed under an injunction to destroy what he did not use, and that thus by far the larger portion of the journal is lost forever. Such are some of the particulars in the useful and protracted life of this venerable man. In his domestic and private char- acter he may be traced by the same lines of kindness, be- nevolence, and integrity which marked his public course. He was twice married. His first wife, Miss Fowle, of Water- town, Mass., died in 1785, at the early age of thirty ; he married in 1786 the widow of Pearson Jones and daughter of Enoch Ilsley, with whom he lived forty-four years, and whom he survived about a year. He died in June, 1831, aged eighty, leaving children by both of his wives.
He held at one time the several offices of delegate to the general court, its secretary, clerk of the courts, postmaster, and register of probate. At another period, he was at the same time judge of probate, clerk of the courts, postmaster, selectman, president of the Maine Bank, president of the
board of overseers of Bowdoin College, deacon of the first church, and an active member of several societies.
Ilon. William Willis was by far the most voluminous historical writer in this portion of New England. Be- sides the numerous volumes which he wrote and edited, and his many elaborate papers and articles furnished for periodicals, he was a constant contributor up to his last days to the daily press of Portland. He kept a private diary, which began in 184-1, and continued, with scarcely an interruption of its daily entry, till within four days of his decease. He had commenced to keep a journal as early as 1815, but for some cause it was discontinued; the four folios, embracing twenty-six years, are all that survive him. The peculiarities of the seasons and the range of the thermometer during those twenty-six years may be ascer- tained with considerable accuracy from this journal. By his habit of collecting facts respecting people and families, he was prepared, on the death of almost any person in the community, to prepare and furnish to the press an obituary notice surprisingly accurate in all its details. This made his services of much value in that department, and added essentially to his qualifications as a historian.
Mr. Willis bequeathed to the Public Library of Portland a large portion of his own private library and his manu- scripts ; these contain a folio volume of genealogical and biographical sketches and memoranda of great interest, as showing the materials with which he was constantly fur- nishing himself for future use. The published works of Mr. Willis were the following :
History of Portland, 1831 ; A Bibliography of the State of Maine, in Norton's Literary Letter, No. 4, 1859; a similar one, published after his death, on the writers, native and resident, of Maine,-Historical Magazine, March, 1870. A Summary of Voyages made to the North Atlantic Coast of this Continent in the Sixteenth Century, -- New England Historical and Genealogieal Register, April, 1869; also, in the same, an Essay on the Early Collections of Voyages to America. A Sketch of the Origin and Progress of the Maine Historical Society,-Historical Magazine, January, 1868. A Paper on the Early Settlers of New Hampshire, -New England Historical and Genealogieal Register, 1868. Notice of Folsom's Catalogue of Original Docu- ments in the English Archives, relating to the Early Ilis- tory of Maine, 1868; Titles conferred on Americans,- Historical Magazine, January, 1866. Descent of Hon. Isaac Royall, and Long Pastorates of the First Parish of Portland,-Historical Magazine, 1866. A Genealogy of the Mckinstry Family,-New England Historical and Goncalogical Register, 1859-60.
For the Law Reporter he furnished reports of canses and decisions in the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine; and in December, 1848, a paper on Judicial Changes in Maine.
Ile edited all the seven volumes of the " Maine Historical Collections," and all but one contain one or more valuable contributions from his pen. He republished the Journals of Rev. Messrs. Smith and Deane, with copious notes, bio- graphical sketches, and an introduction, in 1849, and a new edition of his " History of Portland," in 1865. In 1863 appeared his " History of the Law, the Courts, and the Lawyers of Maine," one vol., 8vo, pp. 712.
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.
Mr. Withis was successively elected corresponding and honorary member of most of the historical societies in the United States, and in 1867 he received from Bowdoin Col- lege the honorary degree of LL. D. He died on the 17th of February, 1870. Fitting notices of his death were taken by the municipal authorities of the city of Portland, by the Cumberland bar, and by the Maine Historical Society.
The following is a brief notice of other authors and their works in Portland and Cumberland County :
Rev. Ichabod Nichols, D. D., was the author of works on " Natural "Theology," " Natural History," and " Hours with the Evangelists."
Isaac Ray, M.D., produced works entitled “Conversa- tions on the Animal Economy," and " Lectures on Botany," both remarkable for clearness and precision of language. Dr. Ray went to Eastport from Portland, and afterwards had charge of the Insane Asylum at Augusta.
Rev. Edward Payson, D. D., published works on theology ; also Rev. Dr. W. T. Dwight, Rev. Dr. J. W. Chickering, Rev. Jason Whitman, Rev. Wm. B. Hayden, and Rev. Dr. Thomas Hill, formerly president of Harvard University. Rev. Cyrus Bartol, D.D., author of " Church and Congre- gation," " Radical Problems," etc., lived for a time in Port- land. Authors in science and natural history,-William B. Sewall, Dr. J. W. Ingalls.
Nathaniel Deering, a graduate of Harvard in 1810, while following the law as a profession, devoted his leisure hours to literature. His chief productions were two five-act tragedies, -- " Carrabassett" and " Bozzaris,"-which have been much admired. llis miscellaneous tales and poems contain much of the humor of " Down East" life.
Among other poets, resident aud native, were Grenville Mellen, brother of Chief Justice Mellen ; Mrs. E. A. Oakes Smith, author of " The Sinless Child," and formerly a prolific contributor to magazine literature; S. B. Beckett, anthor of " ITester," a narrative and descriptive poem of considerable merit. Mr. Beckett is a good prose writer and statistician, and has for a number of years prepared and published the directories of Portland.
Mrs. Elizabeth Akers Allen has written poems that have had a wide circulation, both in book form and through the periodicals of the day. She is among the most sprightly and original of newspaper correspondents. Her poem, " Rock Me to Sleep, Mother," is one of deserved popu- larity. A critie remarks, " Much of her poetry is really exquisite." In her contribution and correspondence she wrote under the nom de plume of " Florence Percy." A volume of her fugitive poems appeared in Portland just. before her marriage to Mr. Akers, whom she accompanied to Italy, and buried there. She is now on the editorial staff of one of the daily papers of Portland.
Mr. D. C. Colesworthy has written quite a large number of volumes, Among them are " Chronicles of Casco Bay," 1850; "Old Bureaus," ISGI ; " Hints on Common Polite- ness," 1867, and many more. Among writers of tales and romance are J. 11. Ingraham and Charles P. Ilsley, whose tales of Indian warfare and frontier life in Maine have been very popular. Of this class also are Mrs. Clara Barnes Martin, who wrote " Mount Desert," the " Little Nortous," and others ; Mrs. Margaret J. M. Sweat, in " High-Ways and
By- Ways," " Ethel's Love Life," etc .; Mrs. Elizabeth ( Payson ) Prentice, and Mrs. Ann S. Stephens, the prolific novel-writer, who lived at one time in Portland, though born in Derby, Conn. ; Mrs. W. H. Alderdice, author of a new novel called " Heart's Delight." Edward Payson, son of the eloquent divine, Rev. Dr. Payson, has published a popular novel entitled " Doctor Tom." Rev. Elijah Kel- logg is the author of many instructive and useful books for boys, and of romances founded on the incidents of pioneer life in this portion of Maine, very readable and instructive. Other writers are George Payson and Mrs. Samuel Cole- man ; Bishop Horatio Southgate has written travels; Prof. Edward S. Morse has gained distinction as a lecturer and writer of works on natural history.
We give in addition to the above the following catalogue of books and authors of this county : Rev. Cyril Pearl, " Youth's Book," "Spectral Visitants;" Rev. C. Soule, " Questions ou Upham's Mental Philosophy ;" William D. Warren, "School Geography and Atlas," " Household Con- secration and Baptism ;" J. O'Donnell, " Juryman's Guide;" Miss Morrill, " Blacklyn Swamp;" D. C. Colesworthy, " My Minister," " Sketches of the Character of Rev. Charles Jenkins ;" Rev. C. C. Burr, " Neal Ronello," " Discourse on Revivals ;" Rev. George Quinby, " Sermons and Prayers by Fifteen Universalist Clergymen ;" Daniel D. Smith, " Lectures on Domestic Duties ;" Mrs. D. Reed, " Wild Flowers ;" Rev. L. L. Sadler, " Lectures on the Propheey of Daniel," " Catechism on Matthew's Gospel, in Two Parts ;" Rev. Jason Whitman, " Helps for Young Christians," "The Sunday-School," " Discourses on the Lord's Prayer," " Young Men's Assistant," " Young Ladies' Aid ;" E. B. Fletcher, " Man Immortal," " The National Book of the Sabbath ;" William Smith, " New Elementary Algebra ;" Benjamin Kingsbury, Jr., " Maine Townsman and Probate Manual;" Simon Greenleaf, nine volumes of " Maine Reports ;" Moses Sawyer, " Lieutenant Burn," a novel; Allen II. Weld, “ Progressive Grammar," " Pro- gressive Parsing-Book," " New Grammar," " Latin Lessons and Reader;" E. P. Weston, " Northern Monthly," " Views of Ileart and Home ;" J. M. Gould, " History of 1-10-29th Maine Regiment ;" Rev. S. M. Putnam, " Prayers from the Seriptures," "Old Divines and the Poets ;" Rev. Samuel Deane, D.D., "Pitchwood Hill," a poem, and " Geological Dictionary, or New England Farmer," 1790; P. W. Plummer, " The Carpenter's Guide ;" Mrs. C. W. D. Strout, " Slippery Paths ;" William Warren, D.D., " These for Those," " Our Indebtedness to Missions," " Twelve Years with Children ;" William Wirt Virgin, " Supplemental Digest of Maine," pp. 620, Svo; Vol. 57, " Maine Reports," pp. 660, Svo; Vol. 58, " Maine Re- ports," pp. 676, Svo; "Maine Civil Officers ;" Walter Wells, " Water-Power of Maine ;" Josiah Pierce, " Ilis- tory of forham ;" Thomas Laurens Smith, " History of Windham ;" Horatio Southgate, " Ilistory of Scarborough ;" Gen. J. Marshall Brown, " Exploring Voyages of Cham- plain in the Gulf of Maine ;" George Augustus Wheeler, M.D., and Henry Warren Wheeler, " History of Bruns- wick. Topsham, and Harpswell;" Isaac Parsons, " Account of New Gloucester ;" Edward Russell, " History of North Yarmouth ;" Augustus W. Corliss, " Old Times ;" H. W.
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THIE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
Richardson, " Paper Money : A Collection of the Principal Ilistorical Facts Bearing upon the Current Financial Dis- cussion," D. Appleton & Co., New York, publishers, 1879.
Of offieers who have achieved distinction in the navy this county has the honor of recognizing among its citizens Com. Edward Preble, son of Brig. Preble, renowned as the hero of Tripoli ; Rear-Admiral Alden, who fought at Vera Cruz, New Orleans, and Mobile, and Com. George Il. Preble, a naval officer of long and honorable standing.
Among reformers may be mentioned Gen. Neal Dow, author of the " Maine Law," the widely-known advocate of temperance on the principle of prohibition.
Of statesmen and orators, native and resident, this eounty may elaim Sargent S. Prentiss, who was born in Portland, but who won his reputation at the South; William Pitt Fessenden, the distinguished United States Senator and ex-Secretary of the Treasury ; Hon. George Evans, formerly United States Senator from this State ; Hon. Israel Wash- burn, Jr., whose long services in Congress and able admin- istration as Governor during the early part of the war of the Rebellion place him among the most honored citizens ; Hon. George T. Davis, ex-member of Congress from Mas- sachusetts, and a gentleman of brilliant reputation, both as an orator and conversationalist. To these names should be added those of many eloquent advocates and divines, espe- cially that of Rev. Dr. Edward Payson, early pastor of the Second Parish, who was the most eloquent preacher of New England, and perhaps of the United States in his day. Fuller notice of some of these men will be found in other portions of this work.
CHAPTER XXL.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
Early Physicians-Maine Medical Association-Cumberland County Medical Society-Portland School for Medical Instruction-Maine General Itospital.
DR. AMMI-RUHAMAH CUTTER, son of William and Re- becca Cutter, was born in Cambridge, Mass., May 6, 1705, and graduated at Harvard College in 1725. Ile was ordained the first parish minister in North Yarmouth, Nov. 8, 1730; married Dorothy, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Stock- man) Bradbury ; was dismissed from the church in 1735, on account of Arminian opinions; after his dismissal he practiced medicine in North Yarmouth, and later had charge of the "truck-house" at Saco. While there it is said he prepared a dictionary of the Indian language, although the work appears not now to be extant. lle was captain of a company in the Louisbourg expedition, and died of fever there March, 1746.
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Ilis eldest son and namesake was physician-general of the American army during the Revolution. Ile was born March 14, 1734-35, and died in Portsmouth, Dce. 18, 1820. Levi Cutter, a grandson of the eller Dr. Cutter, was the fourth mayor of Portland, 1834-40.
Dr. Samuel Moody was a surgeon iu the army in the war of 1722, and afterwards received a military appoint- ment. He died at Brunswick, in 1758, where he was com-
manding officer at Fort George. He was born Oct. 29, 1699, and graduated at Harvard College in 1718.
Dr. Nathaniel Coffin, Dr. John Lowther, and Dr. Edward Watts were among the physicians in Portland, or upon the Neck, prior to the Revolution.
Dr. Nathaniel Jones was a physician of considerable promise, residing on Cape Elizabeth. lle came from Ips- wich, Mass., and was in successful practice when the war of the Revolution broke out. He enlisted as a surgeon in the Bagaduce expedition, in which he contracted disease, of which he died soon after his return.
Dr. Watts married Polly Oxnard, of Boston, in May. 1765, and eame to Portland abont that time.
The first physician who settled in Brunswick was Samuel Gyles, who practiced there for a short time previous to his death, 1738. He came from Salisbury, Mass.
The next physician was William Spear, son of Robert Spear, one of the early settlers. The period of Dr. Spear's practice is not certainly known, but he is believed to have commenced about 1740.
Dr. Phineas Nevers was in Brunswick from 1755 to 1765, and perhaps longer. Nothing is known of him as a physician.
Dr. Samuel Duncan came to Brunswick from Topsham in 1770, and was in practice until his death, in 1784. He was a young man, but was called a skillful physician, and he had an extensive practice. Ile lived at New Meadows.
Dr. Ebenezer HI. Goss came to Brunswick during the Revolution. He lived at Maquoit until 1804, when he moved to the village, and soon after moved to Paris, Me. He had an extensive practice, and was accounted a good physician.
Dr. Balthazar Stilkey was a Ilessian surgeon, who came over with Burgoyne's forces, and after the war (about 1790) settled in Brunswick, near the present residence of Mr. Martin Storer, north of Cook's Corner. He practiced there for several years. But little is known of him. He is said to have been something of a quack.
Dr. Jonathan Richardson Parker was in Brunswick for one or two years only, about 1799.
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