USA > Maine > Oxford County > Paris > History of Paris, Maine, from its settlement to 1880, with a history of the grants of 1736 & 1771, together with personal sketches, a copious genealogical register and an appendix > Part 38
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A WOMAN'S PLUCK.
At one time within the recollection of the writer, though more than half a century ago, after a severe rain, when the river had overflowed its banks and was many times its ordinary width and running with great violence, it became necessary for some one to cross to the opposite side, and the only means was a small dug-out, but little better than a trough. There were two or three men pres- ent, and some grown-up boys, and the calls from the opposite side were loud and persistent, but not one of them dared to launch the frail bark and undertake to cross the seething flood. But, after a little while, a woman coming out of the house near by and learning what was wanted, without a word or a moment's hesitation, walked to the boat, pushed it off, jumped in, and with a single oar began to pull out into the stream. Then the men on the shore, with a bed- lam of tongues, began to instruct her how to manage the boat, and had she listened to what they said she would probably have become confused and frightened and perhaps lost her life; but heedless of their advice and standing up, she continued to paddle on the same side, keeping the head of the boat up stream, and finally suc- ceeded in landing nearly opposite where we stood. Having attended to the wants of the opposite neighbor, she re-crossed in the same
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way and landed in safety. Three children, of which the writer was the youngest, watched the performance with the deepest solicitude, and when the boat struck the bank on the return trip, and their mother sprang ashore, they felt that she was indeed a hero, and the better man of all those that stood there and did not offer to go.
MORE THAN HE BARGAINED FOR.
During the war there was a certain soldier's wife living near the Hill who was said to be in destitute circumstances. Gilman Tuell, who happened to be in one of the stores one day when the matter was spoken of, offered to take all the ten-cent donations to her that would be offered, taking only one at a time and returning to the store after each trip to the woman's house. This was early in the afternoon, and the offer was accepted by a few who happened to be present and Mr. Tuell began his charitable work. Meantime, others came in, and, hearing what was going on, were ready and eager to take part in the sport; and Mr. Tuell, though rushing back and forth at double-quick, could not begin to keep up with the donations, and the ten-cent scrip was literally piled up awaiting transportation. It was late in the night before he got through, and the donors had long since retired, but he pluckily fulfilled his en- gagement though nearly exhausted with his exertion. A calcula- tion showed that he had travelled over twenty miles, and the soldier's wife found herself richer by quite a number of dollars.
CHAPTER XLV.
ANECDOTES OF ELDER HOOPER.
The character of this, our first settled minister, as a pastor and preacher, a man of business and as a citizen, has been fully set forth in another place ; but he was also a man of strong convictions, of decided views, a despiser of shams and a persistent defender of his opinions. He was not only argumentative, but he could be ter- ribly sarcastic, and sarcasm was a weapon which he never hesitated to use when occasion required, whether against preacher or layman. After having preached to the society fifty years, Mr. Hooper notified its members that he should preach no longer. Before another min-
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ister was engaged, preachers from neighboring towns were called in to supply, and Mr. Hooper always attended church. At one time a minister from Hebron was supplying the pulpit and in the fore- noon preached a very long, rambling and prosy sermon, occupying an hour and a half in its delivery. Elder Hooper was noted for his short sermons, rarely exceeding half an hour, and often not more than twenty minutes, and being present on this occasion he became very restive and impatient, and as soon as the "amen" was uttered from the pulpit, he arose and said in his inimitable way, "I give notice that there will be preaching in this church this afternoon by myself."
It happened on one occasion that Mr. Hooper had an appoint- ment for an evening lecture at the house of Ezra Cary, who then owned and lived in the Phineas Morse stand and was himself a Con- gregationalist, though his son Shepard was a Baptist. A Mr. Hil- lard, a missionary of the Congregationalist church. was present at Mr. Cary's, and Mr. Hooper, on his arrival, noticing him in the room. asked : "Won't you preach this evening, Mr. Hillard?" ac- companying the question with the characteristic remark : "My wife says she likes to go a visiting sometimes, even if she don't get any better victuals than her own."
Mr. Hooper was a practical man. During the haying season, if there were signs of a shower, he often told his people from the pul- pit, that "if they had hay out, they had better go home and see to it ;" sometimes he would accompany these words with the remark that he "had hay out which needed his attention," and would at once close the service and start for his home and farm.
After performing the marriage ceremony on a certain occasion where the prospects of the contracting parties were particularly promising, Elder Hooper said : "This is as it should be ; first the house, then the wife and then the children ; the order is too often reversed."
Elder Hooper was in no wise in advance of his generation upon the temperance question, and though a "watchman upon the walls," it is doubtful if he saw and realized the evils of intemperance as early as did some of his people. Believing ardent spirits to be among the good things of this life, he was a frequent partaker,
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though never drinking to excess. It is said by those who knew him, that he would frequently seek inspiration for his afternoon sermon by going to a friend's house near the church at noon, and asking for a glass of brandy, which he always drank with great relish. On one occasion, during a week-day, he was sitting by a fire in the vil- lage store warming himself, when several of his parishioners dropped in, one at a time, and called for ardent spirits. This must have been after temperance began to be talked, for each one felt called upon to give some excuse as he called for his drink. One had a severe cold, one had the toothache, and another rheumatism, and so on. Mr. Hooper bore it for some time, and then stepping to the counter, he said aloud and with peculiar emphasis, "I want a glass of brandy because I love it."
Elder Hooper's first wife was a Merrill, from New Gloucester. They lost their two children from canker-rash, and soon Mrs. Hooper was attacked with consumption and all hopes of her recovery were abandoned .. Reuben Hubbard had died, and his widow, who was the daughter of Benj. Stowell of Worcester, had returned to her father's. In view of his threatened bereavement, the Elder wrote to Mrs. Hubbard, and, stating the case, expressed the hope that she would not get married as he desired her for himself. She waited, and subsequently became the wife of Elder Hooper.
Elder Hooper had a black cur dog which always went to meeting with him, and during the services lay quietly on the steps of the pulpit. One Sunday the Elder was too unwell to preach and did not leave his house for the day. A supply was obtained, but the dog came alone to the meeting-house at the usual time, took his accus- tomed place on the steps, and at the close of the services quietly returned home.
Daniel Macomber, the smithy, thought he had a call to preach, and asked permission from the Baptist church, the members of which were generally favorable to him, but he was opposed by Elder Hooper. Macomber, meeting Mr. Hooper, asked him what he had against him. "I haven't anything against you personally," said the plain-spoken parson, "but you know, Daniel, you are n't fit." There is no doubt he was right.
A Mr. Eveleth was preceptor of Hebron Academy, and being on
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a visit at Dr. Hamlin's, he was introduced to Elder Hooper, who chanced to drop in. Mr. Hooper asked him if he was preceptor of Hebron Academy, to which he responded, "I am." He answered several other questions in a similar manner, when Mr. Hooper be- came impatient and said : "Well, Mr. Eveleth, you have turned those good old words 'yes' and 'no' out of doors at Hebron Academy, haven't you?"
CHAPTER XLVI.
PERSONAL NOTICES.
It is not claimed that these personal notices embrace all who are entitled to such distinction, but as much space is devoted to this chapter as can be spared for the purpose. Brief notices have already been given of the grantees of the town, of the ministers, lawyers, doctors and other professional men, and the design of this chapter is to include those prominent citizens of Paris not embraced in any of the preceding lists, and natives of Paris who have been engaged in professional life, or who have achieved success in busi- ness after their removal from the town. These notices are so numerous that they are necessarily brief-mere outline sketches- but they are sufficient to identify the persons named. For conven- ience in referring to them, the sketches are arranged in alphabetical order.
SULLIVAN C. ANDREWS.
He was born in this town June 18, 1828; received an academic education, graduated from the Harvard University Law School and practiced the legal profession for many years in Buckfield. He then moved to Portland, where he yet resides. While in Buckfield, he was elected to the Legislature and also as County Attorney. He has engaged in various branches of business outside of the legal profession, and is now one of the directors of the Buckfield and Rumford Falls Railroad.
HORACE ARMSBY.
Deacon Horace Armsby was born in Paris, his parents being among the early settlers. He went away from this town when quite
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young, and in 1849 became a resident of Millbury, Mass. While there he held many offices of responsibility and trust. He was Rep- resentative to the General Court in 1861 and 1862, and was a num- ber of times a member of the Board of Selectmen and Assessors, and for several years President of the Millbury Savings Bank, which office he held at the time of his death. He was a prominent mem- ber of the Second Congregational Church, having served the church as deacon twelve years. He died in Millbury, aged 70 years.
DAVID P. BOLSTER.
Dr. David Porter Bolster was the son of David and Sarah (Cush- man) Bolster, and grandson of Captain Isaac, our early settler. He was born in Paris Aug. 11, 1827 ; attended the public schools and at Hebron Academy. He then studied medicine and graduated at the Maine Medical School. He has practiced in Leeds, at Wash- ington Mills, at Weeks' Mills in China, and now resides in Augusta. He was Assistant Surgeon of the 21st (9 months) Maine Regiment, and subsequently of the 16th Maine. He married Faustina M. Bart- lett of Union, and has one child-a daughter.
SOLOMON A. BOLSTER.
He is a son of Gideon and Charlotte (Hall) Bolster, and a native of Paris ; born December 10, 1835. He received an academ- ical education and attended two terms at the Chandler Scientific School connected with Dartmouth College. He then studied law with Wm. W. Bolster and attended the Law School of Harvard University, where he graduated in 1859. He. was admitted to the Oxford County Bar in 1858 and at Boston in 1862. He enlisted in the 23d Maine Regiment, in his brother's company, F, and was ap- pointed Orderly Sergeant and subsequently was commissioned Second Lieutenant. After his regiment returned and was mustered out, he moved to Roxbury, Mass., now a precinct of Boston. He has been successful in his business, has held various positions of trust and profit, and is a highly respected citizen. Since his removal to Massachusetts he has served on the Governor's staff. He mar- ried, Oct. 30, 1864, Sarah Jane Gardiner of Dixfield.
WILLIAM H. BOLSTER.
Rev. Wm. H. Bolster is the oldest son of Otis C. and Caroline (Virgin) Bolster, and born April 17, 1844. He graduated at Bates
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College, Lewiston, studied theology and was ordained at Wiscasset. He is now (1884) settled in Everett, Mass.
SYLVESTER BESSE.
Rev. Sylvester Besse was the son of John Besse, Jr., whose wife was Betsey, daughter of Elder John Tripp of Hebron. He was born in, this town June 25, 1815. He was educated in the town schools and at Hebron Academy. He became a Baptist minister and has been pastor of the Baptist church at Lincoln Center for nearly thirty years. He also served in various places under the patronage of the Maine Baptist Missionary Convention. He has held various town offices, especially on the school boards, and in 1877 he was elected to the Maine Legislature.
FRED E. BOOTHBY.
Fred E. Boothby, the popular General Passenger and Ticket Agent of the Maine Central Railroad Company, was born in Norway, Dec. 3d, 1845. When quite young, his father, Levi T. Boothby, moved to South Paris, where Fred attended the town schools and also at. the Normal Institute. After his father moved to Waterville in 1857, he attended the High School there and at the Classical Insti- tute, and when he was old enough his father took him in to assist .. him in taking charge of the railroad station at that place. From this position he worked his way up, being Acting Paymaster from 1871 to 1874, until he was appointed General Passenger and Ticket. Agent, which position he now holds. The position has grown in importance by the consolidation of other roads with the Maine Cen- tral, until it now ranks among the first of like railway situations in New England. Mr. Boothby is a faithful and efficient officer, and is deservedly popular with the Railroad Company and with the tray- eling public. He married, October 25, 1871, Adelaide E., daughter of Charles H. and Vesta B. Smith of Waterville. Mr. Boothby's mother was Sophia P., daughter of Martin and Ruth (Durell) Brett, all of Paris.
GRANVILLE M. CHIASE.
Granville M. Chase was the son of Timothy and Lucy (Porter) Chase of Paris, and a native of this town. He married a daughter of Dea. Elisha Morse of South Paris. He resided many years in Portland, and carried on a large business as contractor and builder,
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accumulating a large property, which by unfortunate contracts and investments he subsequently lost. He was a leading man among the mechanics of Portland and at one time President of the Me- chanics' Association. He was filling that position at the time Mechanics' Hall on Congress street was dedicated. He built Payson Memorial Church, and had about $10,000 in that building, which he could not realize, and which embarrassed him to such a degree that he had to suspend payment. He moved to Chicago after the fire, and helped build up that city, but he contracted fever and ague, which hastened his death. He died at Fall River, Mass., and left a wife and three daughters. He was a large-hearted man of enter- prise, and represented Portland twice in the Legislature.
WILLIAM CHASE.
William Chase was the son of Timothy and Lucy ( Porter) Chase, and a native of this town, where he was born Nov. 1, 1820. When four years of age, his parents moved to Portland, and when a boy he entered a West India goods store as clerk. Becoming of age, he engaged for himself in the same kind of trade and continued with marked success, till 1871, when he moved to Dedham, Mass. He had purchased the Hamlin homestead at Paris, in 1861, and after being at Dedham about fifteen months he came to Paris, where he dlevoted his time to farming and stock breeding. He was a director in the Paris Hill Manufacturing Company, and was interested in other local enterprises. In 1875 he purchased the water-power at Snow's Falls, where he erected and put into operation a mill for the manufacture of wall-paper. His death was the result of an injury. He had been to Portland, and on arriving home at South Paris, when attempting to get from the train, he stepped upon some ice, which formed an inclined plane toward the road, which forced him beneath the wheels ; one truck passed over the left foot and also over the right leg, crushing both fearfully. Both legs were ampu- tated-one at the ankle, the other above the knee-but he died four days after the operation. He was an enterprising business man, and his sudden death when but little past middle life, was a great loss to the town.
ALDEN CHASE.
Alden Chase, Esq., came here from Woodstock early in 1857, having been chosen Register of Deeds at the previous election. He
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was re-elected and at the end of his second term he returned to his farm in Woodstock. He was the son of Merrill and Lucy (Felt) Chase, and was born June 15, 1819. He married Lucy, daughter of Jona- than Cole, and grand-daughter of Eleazer Cole, an early resident in Paris. He served in the Maine Legislature before he came here and also after his return to Woodstock. He has also held various other positions of trust. He has had three children. The oldest, Alden Fitzroy, graduated at Middletown (Conn.) University, was Pro- fessor at Kent's Hill several years, and is now at the head of the East Maine Conference Seminary at Bucksport. Aquilla Montrose, the second son, is a printer at Bryant's Pond and the proprietor of the first printing office in that town. The only daughter, Estella Ophelia, is the wife of Rev. Albert A. Ford.
THOMAS CROCKER.
Hon. Thomas Crocker died in Paris, August 22, 1872, aged 84 years. He was the second son of Roland Crocker of Conway, N. H., and was born there April 14, 1788. While young, he chose the occupation of merchant, and first came to Norway, where he was clerk in the store of Mr. Increase Robinson. As a clerk he gave promise of his future, by his promptitude, energy and fidelity. Sub- sequently he came to Paris Hill, while the county was new, and in the midst of the thriving, active pioneer population, laid the foun- dation of his character and fortune. During some thirty or thirty- five years, his store was a place of trade and business-not only of Paris, but also of the adjoining towns. He was one of those rare men financially, that whatever he touched prospered. He took a comprehensive view of business, and having great foresight and enterprise as well as executive and financial ability, could and did command success. He married for his first wife Miss Clarissa Stowell, daughter of Thomas Stowell, Esq., of Paris. After her decease in 1843, he married Miss Almira Davis of Methuen, Mass. Mr. Crocker was not wholly occupied in his own private affairs. His discretion and financial ability called him into public life. When the property of minors required a trusty guardian, his services were sought and his management approved. He was also a member of the Governor's Council in 1835. But the public capacity in which he served longest and where his financial ability shone most con- spicuously, was as a director of the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railway Company. This post he filled during several years with
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great satisfaction, while that road was being located and constructed. He had been an invalid since 1854. Prior to that time, cataracts had formed in both eyes, and had rendered his vision very imperfect, so that in May of that year he submitted to an operation. One eye only was operated upon, which, instead of improving, took on severe inflammation, resulting in great suffering during the subsequent six months, and the total disorganization of the eye. He would not consent to have the other eye operated upon, and was, therefore, totally blind from that time to his decease. In his will he left a thousand dollars to the poor of the town, on condition that the names of the beneficiaries be read in town-meeting every year.
SIMEON CUMMINGS.
Simeon Cummings, Jr., was born in Paris, April 17, 1812. In early life he commenced the study of medicine, but not feeling satis- fied with the prospects which the profession at that time offered, he abandoned it and went into trade, for a time in the store formerly occupied by his father. He afterwards enlarged the building and fitted it up for a dwelling-house, and ever afterwards occupied it. He served as Deputy Sheriff for quite a number of years, and also in the Legislature. As a business man, he was very successful, amassing one of the largest private fortunes ever accumulated in town. This success was achieved in trade, in operations in real estate and in loaning money. He was a man of plain and simple habits, and no one who saw him in his everyday dress, would have any idea that he was the wealthiest person in town. He was never afraid to work, was frugal in his habits, economical in his expendi- tures, and left his large property to his family. He married 1834, Lucy C. Bent of Paris, who died, and for second wife he married Emeline S. Thayer. His family record may be found elsewhere.
JOIIN DENNETT.
John Dennett, or "Squire Dennett" and "Major Dennett," as he was frequently called, was born in the ancient town of Kittery, where several generations of his ancestors had lived, August 4, 1795. With his mother and step-father, named Pray, he came to Paris in 1804, and moved into the building that Nathan Woodbury occupied as a store. They afterwards moved to a house which stood near General Hubbard's house, and which is still known as the Pray place. He was clerk for Russell Hubbard, and afterwards partner.
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About the year 1820, he moved to South Paris and bought a lot of Elias Stowell, whose daughter Polly he married, August 6, 1820. She died in 1822, and he then married Hannah, daughter of Nathan Noble of Norway. She also died in 1825, and he married her sister. He had three children, all by the last marriage. He was early a Justice of the Peace, and was much employed in the execution of deeds and other similar documents.
JAMES DEERING.
James Deering who still resides at South Paris and is enjoying a green old age, was born at Old Orchard Nov. 2, 1798. He was the ninth child of Joseph and Hannah (Jameson) Deering and a descen- dant of a family of this name which early settled in York county. He is a distant relative on both the paternal and maternal sides, of the Deerings who lived on High Street. He served an apprentice- ship in a furniture establishment in Saco, and came to this town in 1820. The first chairs he manufactured here were from timber which he cut in the woods and split out by hand ready for turning. Some of these early made chairs are still in existence in this town. He has always been a public spirited man, and has been closely identi- fied with all the material interests of the village of South Paris, since it first began to be called a village. He has been a liberal contributor and a pillar of strength to the Methodist Church here, and a warm friend of education. Besides doing cabinet work, he las often turned his attention to building, and several dwelling houses in the village are of his construction. He married in March, 1824, Eliza, daughter of Elisha and Elizabeth (Morse) Moore of this town and has three children. Few, if any of our citizens are held in higher esteem than James Deering. He and his wife cele- brated the 60th anniversary of their marriage in March, 1884.
WILLIAM DEERING.
Probably no son of Paris has been more successful in business than the subject of this notice. He was born in this town April 25, 1825. His father is James Deering a sketch of whom precedes this. He attended the town schools and several terms at the Maine Wes- leyan Seminary at Kent's Hill. After leaving school, he was for four or five years connected with the South Paris Manufacturing Company, chiefly as clerk, and in 1849 and 1850, he was agent of the Company. He then went into trade at South Paris and remained
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until 1861, when he moved to Portland and became the senior partner in the firm of Deering, Milliken & Company. This firm was engaged in handling the products of several woolen and cotton mills on commission, and the firm established a commission-house in New York, which is still in successful operation in the name of Deering, Milliken & Company, under the management of S. M. Milliken. They also became part owners of several woolen-mills dur- ing this time in various parts of the State. Mr. Deering retired from the firm on account of ill health, and invested some money in the man- ufacture of grain and grass harvesting machinery with a gentleman en- gaged in that business at Chicago, without any expectations of moving his residence from Portland, but the health of his partner having failed made it necessary for him to go west and superintend the business personally. In 1869, he purchased the interest of his partner, since which time he has run the business alone until January, 1884, when the business was incorporated in the name of Wm. Deering & Com- pany. His two sons, Charles and James, and nephew, Wm. D. Porter, were then admitted to an interest in the business. The present business of this concern is the manufacture of grain and grass harvesting machinery, and its specialty the manufacture of automatic twine binders. Of these machines they probably manu- facture more largely than any other concern in the world. Mr. Deering married first, Miss Abbie Reed, who died January 10, 1856, aged 28 years.
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