History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 203

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co.
Number of Pages: 1100

USA > Maine > Penobscot County > History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 203

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Victor Brett, City Clerk of Bangor, was born in Old- town, October 17, 1851. He is the only son of Judge E. C. Brett, well known in this county, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere. He graduated at Westbrook Semi-

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

nary in 1868, and then entered Tuft's College, from which he was graduated in 1872. In 1873 he entered the Albany Law School, and graduated in 1874. After his graduation he entered the office of Wilson & Wood- ard, of this city, and studied law with them until the fall of 1875, when he was admitted to the Penobscot County Bar. He then entered upon the practice of law and fol- lowed it until 1876, when he was elected City Clerk, which office he has since held. Mr. Brett married Miss A. Lillian Ames, daughter of Charles Ames, Esq., of Bangor. They have one son, Howard by name.

A. S. Sands, Superintendent of the City Farm and Almshouse in Bangor, was born in Sebec, Piscataquis county, Maine. His father, Captain Benjamin Sands, was born in China, Maine, in 1808. His grandfather came from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. A. S. Sands was born June 9, 1838. He spent his early life on a farm. He has been Superintendent of the City Farm since he came to Bangor in 1877. He has two brothers in Ban- gor. H. S. Sands came here in 1865, and with S. O. Proctor kept a wholesale grocery store. Later he kept the Hammond Street Bakery, and at present keeps a produce store on Central street. O. S. Sands came to Bangor about 1874, and has since kept a grocery and produce store.

William P. Dickey, the well-known hardware dealer in Bangor, is a son of George and Lucy L. (Patch) Dickey, of Bangor. Their family consisted of five children- Lucy J., deceased, wife of Rev. J. A. Haskell ; George A., with Jordan & Marsh, Boston; William P .; Annie, now Mrs. H. A. Bridges, of Providence, Rhode Island; and Nellie, wife of J. H. Snow, of Bangor. Mr. Dickey has followed the business of builder in Bangor for many years. He is still living, as is Mrs. Dickey. William P. Dickey was born in Bangor April 22, 1843. On becom- ing of age he engaged in the hardware business in 1859 with O. P. Sawtelle. This firm continued about three years, when Mr. Dickey sold out to Mr. Sawtelle and opened a store for himself, soon after taking in his uncle, O. R. Patch, of New York, with the title of W. P. Dickey & Co. They continued about four years, Mr. Patch being a silent partner. At the end of this time Mr. Patch withdrew and Mr. Dickey has since continued the business himself. The building he now occupies was the first brick store built in Bangor. Mr. Dickey carries a very large stock of hardware, besides paints and oils, sash, doors and blinds, etc. He married Miss Eliza Foss, daughter of Joseph B. Foss. They have two sons and one daughter and have lost one son.

John S. Jenness, who now carries on the hardware bus- iness at the old stand of Jenness & Son, is a son of Thomas Jenness. This house dates back to 1833, when Mr. Jenness and Mr. March came here, the former from Deerfield, New Hampshire, and the latter from Ports- mouth. They at first occupied a store at No. 2 City Point block, which was then just completed. In 1835 they removed to the present location, No. 12 West Mar- ket Square. In 1839 they dissolved, and Mr. Jenness carried on the business alone; but in 1841 a change was made, Horace Jenness taking No. 12 West Market

Square, and Thomas opening a new hardware store on Exchange street. In 1843 these stores were united at No. 12 West Market Square, Horace selling out, and Jo- seph J. Dearborn, of Deerfield, New Hampshire, asso- ciating with Thomas, the firm name being Jenness & Dearborn. This firm continued till the fall of 1850, when Mr. Dearborn returned to Deerfield. Mr. Jenness was then alone till May, 1864, when his son, John S. Jenness, was associated with him under the firm name of Thomas Jenness & Son. The latter succeeded to the business on the death of his father, in August of the same year, continuing the same style. The hardware business has undergone much change during the last forty years. In the first years of their business the larger portion of their stock was imported, and Sheffield and Birmingham goods filled their shelves. American manu- factures during this period have developed and become able to compete with a superior quality of goods which now have the market. This establishment deals largely in window glass, carrying a complete assortment. They also make a specialty in fine cutlery, both of English and American manufacture, and carry a full line of sporting goods. No other store east of Portland deals in bolting cloths. They make a specialty of oils. Mr. Jenness married Mary True, daughter of Joseph True, of Deer- field, New Hampshire. They had two children -Sarah D., now Mrs. James F. Rawson, of Bangor, and John S., the present proprietor.

Joshua K. Sherman, the well-known groceryman of Bangor, was born in Provincetown, Cape Cod, Massa- chusetts, December 29, 1833. His father, Michael Sher- man, was a carpenter, and moved from Massachusetts to Hampden in 1843, where he spent the latter part of his life. He married Miss Paulina Knowles, of Provincetown. They had two children-Joshua K., and Paulina K., de- ceased. Joshua Sherman followed the sea until 1868, when he was thirty-five years old. That year he came to Bangor and engaged in the grocery business with Mr. F. T. Hall. They occupy two numbers-28 and 30-on Center street, where they keep a very large and choice stock of goods. Mr. Sherman married Jennie P. Phil- lips, daughter of John Phillips, of Hampden. They have one son, Philip by name.

James Dunning is a son of John Dunning, of Frank- fort, Waldo county, who was one of the early settlers of the township, emigrating in an early day from Bruns- wick, Maine. He married Theodosia Blaisdell, and by this union had thirteen children-John, Jane, James and Alexander (twins), Francis, Theodosia, Sarah, Susan, Caroline, Robert, Charles, and Nancy. He was a tanner and currier by trade; was in the War of 1812; died at the age of seventy-seven in Bangor. James Dunning was born April 3, 1813, in Frankfort, now Winterport. At the age of thirteen he came to Bangor to learn the tanner and currier trade of James Tillon, and worked with him one year, after which he went to sea two years. He then engaged in mercantile business as clerk for L. B. McIntyre, with whom he remained five years, and came to Bangor with him as clerk in 1833, remaining two and one-half years longer, after which he engaged in bus-

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

iness for himself in dry goods, groceries, and crockery. He went to Boston and bought his stock of goods, getting credit to the amount of $11,000. He owned the first vessel that went to California after the gold excitement, rigged the vessel, loaded it with 149 passengers, and named it the Gold Hunter. The voyage was a success- ful one. He freighted her twice with passengers, and af- terward he, with two other gentlemen, took the contract to build the Bangor & Kennebec Road, fifty-five miles in length. They raised a subscription of $500,000 to build the road. He afterwards raised the subscription to the gas works, and in the meantime started a Farmers' Bank, running said bank over twenty-four years, paying the stockholders twelve and one-half per cent., and closed the business two years ago, paying the stockholders $120 per share. He was Colonel of militia; at the commence- ment of the war he was in Washington; came home and got up the first company of volunteers, and afterwards helped organize six or seven companies. He married, for his first wife, Charlotte A. Hook, of Castine, by whom he had five children-James F., James H., Mary E., George E., William H. His first wife died February 22, 1876, and he married again-Julia Palmer, daughter of John Palmer, of Bangor-March 26, 1877. He served as Representative in the State Legislature two terms.

Joseph F. Leavitt, the popular General Ticket Agent of the European & North American Railroad, was born in Levant, in Penobscot county, on the 12th of May, 1842. He is the only living son of William F. and Clara (Brackett) Leavitt. His grand- father, Joseph Leavitt, was a native of Stratham, New Hampshire. William F. Leavitt was a lumberman, and moved to Bangor when Joseph was a lad four years old. He died in Bangor March 26, 1853. Mrs. Leavitt is now living here with her son. Their family consisted of seven children, viz: William F., Jr., Ann S., Clara E., Joseph F., Ann B., Angelica C., and Susan M., all of whom are deceased except Clara and Joseph. When but sixteen years old Joseph Leavitt entered a dry goods store in this city as clerk. He worked for Stickney & Roberts ; also for Thompson & Hichborn. He worked for these parties six years. In 1864 he went to Nash- ville, Tennessee, where he was connected with the United States military railroad in the Engineer's office. He re- mained here until the close of the war in 1865, when he went to Boston and engaged with a dry goods jobbing house as salesman and traveling agent. At the end of two and a half years he came to Maine to settle an estate in Bucksport and close up the business. Here he took charge of a tannery belonging to the estate and contin- ued the business of the tannery for one and a half years, when he came to Bangor and became connected with the European & North American Railroad as book-keeper. In May, 1873, he was appointed General Ticket Agent, which position he has since filled to the entire satisfac- tion of the company. He is now Clerk of the corpora- tion. Mr. Leavitt married Mary A. Margesson, daughter of the late William Margesson, of Bangor.

Joseph G. Dummer, of Bangor, is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Winslow) Dummer. Joseph Dummer

was a native of Byfield, Massachusetts. He was a cab- inet-maker by trade, and for many years carried on that business in Hallowell, Maine. He had a family of seven children, viz : Elizabeth, wife of the late Samuel Cun- ningham, of Bucksport, Maine; Abigail, deceased ; Mary, wife of G. Whitman, of Bath, Maine; Martha J., de- ceased, wife of Hugh J. Anderson, of Belfast ; Daniel, deceased ; Joseph, deceased ; and Shubael, deceased. Joseph G. Dummer was born January 4, 1813. About 1868 he came to Bangor and engaged in the meat busi- ness, which he followed for a time, and then went into the grocery business. In 1873 he went into the livery business, in which he has since continued. Mr. Dum- mer married for his first wife Mary P. Peabody. She died in 1852, and he married for his second wife Sarah Jordan. By his first wife he has three daughters, and by his second wife one-Mary, wife of Joseph M. Hodg- kins, of Bangor ; Maria, wife of Charles G. Perry, of Presque Isle, Maine ; Elizabeth, at home ; and Sarah, wife of Fred Appleton, of Bangor.

Fred W. Gould, of Bangor, was born in the town of Bangor December 22, 1850. His father, Addison Gould, was a farmer, and came to Bangor from Dexter. He was a farmer, and Fred spent his early life on the farm until he was eighteen, and then went to Massachusetts and be- came a conductor on a horse-car. He came back to Bangor and engaged in the crockery and house-furnish- ing business for about two years, when he went into the business of dyeing and coloring. He followed this about six or seven years and then opened his present restaurant and oyster house at No. 35 Mercantile Square, where he has since kept an eating-house. Mr. Gould married Miss Maggie J. Wortman, daughter of Thomas Wortman, of Boston.

Albert F. Merrill, of the Bangor Flouring Mills, is a son of Nathan L. and Eliza (Wiggin) Merrill. Nathan L. Merrill was a native of. Stratham, New Hampshire, and came from there to Corinth, Maine, when a young man, and engaged in lumber business. In 1855 he came to Bangor and engaged in the manufacture of lum- ber. He had five children, viz : Nathan and Freeman, who now live in Newport; Charles H. and Benjamin Franklin, in Cambridge, Maine; Esther O., wife of W. A. Whitteman, of Illinois; and Albert F., who was born September 3, 1839. He lived in Corinth until about fif- teen years of age when he came to Bangor. After be- coming of age he went to New Hampshire and took charge of his father's lumber wharf there. He remained in New Hampshire until 1868 when he returned and went into the lumber-mill with his brother Charles. They remained together about one year, after which A. F. managed it alone about eight years. In 1878 he sold out and purchased the flour-mill, where we now find him, on the Kenduskeag Stream, about a mile from the post- office, and called the Bruce Mills. Since purchasing this mill Mr. Merrill has enlarged it and built a new house. He married for his first wife Abbie Littlefield, of Wells, Maine. She died in 1869 leaving four children, Fred- erick H., Charles and Albert (twins), and Abbie L. Mr. Merrill married for his second wife Miss Hattie M.

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Thomas. They have two children-Percy and Hattie E. Since residing in Bangor Mr. Merrill has been one year a member of the city council.

Edwin P. Ferguson, of Bangor, is a son of Ivory Fergu- son, a native of Elliot, York county, Maine. He married Abigail Goodhue, daughter of John Goodhue, one of the early settlers of Dixmont, who came from Massachusetts. Mr. Ferguson was a hatter by trade, though after settling in Dixmont he gave his attention to farming and became one of the most successful farmers and stock raisers in town. He died in Hampden in 1869. Mrs. Ferguson died in 1843. The surviving members of his family are: Sarah J. and Samuel T., both living in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Dennison G., of Plymouth, Maine; Ira G., of Marion, Dakota Territory; and Edwin P. The latter married Mary E. Coffin, who died in 1855. Their chil- dren are: Willis E., of Portland, Maine; Susie A .; Min- nie A .; Ernest S., of Bangor, Maine; Everett J., de- ceased; and Samuel G. Mr. Ferguson first settled in Dix- mont on the old homestead, but moved to Bangor in 1864. He is engaged in farming and stock raising, and has a good farm not far from the city.

George A. Thatcher, father of Benjamin B. Thatcher, came to Bangor in 1822 from Warren, Maine, where he was born in 1806. He has always been identified with the interests of Bangor, and held for many years the office of member of the Board of Assessors. In early years he was in the lumber business, and is now the only living resident of the business men of the time when he came here. He has been Deacon of the First Congre- gational Church since 1840. He married Rebecca Jane Billings, daughter of Caleb C. Billings, one of the oldest and most prominent business men connected with the early history of the city of Bangor. She was born in 1813 and is still living. The following are the children of the above: George P. Thatcher, of San Francisco; Frederick A., died very young; Charles A., (died in 1864, while in the service of his country, in command of the United States gunboat Gazelle, on the Mississippi River, near the mouth of the Red River; killed by guerrillas. He was acting Captain in the volunteer navy at the time of his death); Benjamin B. Thatcher, of Bangor; Caleb B. Thatcher, of Bangor; Sarah Frances, died very young; Henry Knox Thatcher, of Bangor. Benjamin B. Thatcher, son of George A. and Rebecca J. Thatcher, was born in April, 1839. He married Mary Ella Walker (daughter of James Walker, Esq.), in 1866, who died in 1875. Their children were George Thoreau and Lottie May. In 1877 Mr. Thatcher married Charlotte P. Walker (daughter of James Walker, Esq.), who is now living. He has always lived in Bangor and been connected with the lumber business since 1858; was clerk and book- keeper for Eddy, Murphy & Company from 1861 to 1866, and then succeeded to their business, under the firm name of N. C. Ayer & Company, and afterwards of Cutler, Thatcher & Company, until 1876, since which time he has been carrying on the same business alone. He was a member of the Board of Aldermen in 1877; was elected Representative to the Legislature in 1880 and still holds that position.

HURSTON. BRAGG& CO.

Warren A. Bragg, of the large wholesale grocery house of Thurston & Bragg, was born in China, Kennebec county, Maine, October 30, 1838. His father was a farmer. Warren A. remained on the farm until he came to Bangor in 1863, with the exception of three years which he spent in Minnesota. In 1863 he opened the store with which he has since been connected. At first he did only a retail business. In 1864 he took in Mr. W. T. C. Wescott, and the firm became Bragg & Wes- cott. They did business together until 1877, when they closed up business. Mr. Bragg then opened again, and took in Mr. W. L. Thurston as partner, and the firm be- came Thurston & Bragg. They gradually worked into the wholesale business, and during the last ten years they have done only a wholesale business. Their business now has increased until they have one of the largest wholesale houses in the city. Mr. Bragg married Lydia J. Hilt, of Augusta. They have two children-Willard L. and M. Florence, both now at home. Mr. Bragg has been a member of the city government for several years.

The first representatives of the Emery family in this country were John and Anthony, of Romsey, Hampshire county, England, who came over in 1635 and settled in Newberry. Anthony Emery had a son, James by name, born about 1630, and who lived in Kittery; his wife's name was Elizabeth. He had five sons, the youngest of whom, named Job, was born in 1670. Job Emery had four sons and seven daughters. His second son, Joseph, married Mehitable Stacy. Their family consisted of seven sons and four daughters. His second son, John, was born in Kittery, Maine, in 1730, and was one of the first settlers in Brewer, in. 1773. He had three sons and ten daughters. His sons were John Emery, and James (who was drowned when a young man), and Nahum. John Emery married Abigail Wasgatt, of Mount Desert, Maine. They had twelve children, nine sons and three daughters. Thomas Emery, the eighth son of this fami- ly and father of Noah Emery, married Mercy Wasgatt. He followed the sea for many years, and then engaged in the lumber business. He built the first steam saw-mill in Penobscot Valley. He was a man well known, and at

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

one time represented Hampden in the Legislature. He died in 1848. His family consisted of eight children, seven daughters and one son. But three of the daugh- ters are living - Julia A., Mrs. Buker, of New York; Charlotte, Mrs. Sewall, of Hampden; and Elmira, Mrs. Goddard, of Boston. Noah Emery, the only son of this family, was born April 2, 1825. He spent his early life on the farm, and then went to sea. He has for many years been a ship master, and sailed principally from New York. He retired from sea life in 1867, and now resides in Bangor. He married Mary Ellen Pomeroy, daughter of Arad H. Pomeroy, of Hampden.

One of the largest and most successful lumber dealers in Bangor is Mr. William T. Pearson, who was born in Corinth, May 27, 1821. His father was a farmer. When sixteen years old William T. Pearson came to Bangor and went into the store of his brothers, M. & O. Pear- son, for a time, and in 1843 started a grocery store in Mercantile Square, which he continued till 1845. In the spring of 1846 he commenced as a surveyor of lum- ber, which he followed till 1853. The reputation which he acquired in this line secured his appointment to the important position of Surveyor-General, which he held in 1850 and 1851. In the latter year he surveyed 16,- 672,762 feet, the largest amount ever surveyed here by any one person in one season. In 1853 he commenced the manufacture and wholesale trade of lumber. He manufactured at the Basin Mills two years, at Oldtown six years, and at Veazie two years. In 1864 he pur- chased the valuable mill privilege at West Great Works, which had been occupied by the well-known Dwinel Mills, which were burnt a short time previous, and erected thereon one of the largest blocks of mills on the Penobscot. These mills were burned in the spring of 1881. They are now rebuilding these mills. In 1873 he associated with him as partner his nephew, Edgar C. Pearson. Mr. Pearson's father was one of the early set- tlers of Corinth.

Henry Brown was born in Winslow, Maine, April 23, 1832. His father was a native of Frankfort, and his mother of Winslow, where both died aged eighty and eighty-five years. Henry Brown left Winslow in 1849 and engaged in lumbering on the Penobscot River. At present he is Superintendent of the Dirigo Mill. He married Emma E. Ordway, daughter of William Ord- way, February 5, 1864, and has had four children- Alice, deceased; Harry, Hattie May, and Gertie. Mrs. Brown died, and for a second wife he married Vesta M. Reid, daughter of Harry and Lovina (Trafton) Reid, May 12, 1881. Mr. Brown was Selectman in Oldtown four years, and represented that class in the State Legis- lature three years. He enlisted in the war in 1861, serv- ing as first lieutenant about two months, and was then promoted to captain. He resigned in May, 1863, on account of ill health. He now resides in Bangor. The other members of his father's family were Edward, Cath- arine, Job, and Hiram.

John Patten was born in Hermon, on the place now occupied by him and his son, in 1811. He lived with his father until the age of twenty-one, when he took

charge of the farm, and has been engaged in farming and lumbering ever since. The farm was cleared from a wilder- ness by his father assisted by his sons. They suffered the privations the early settlers were subject to, and the father died on this place December 13, 1850. John Patten took care of his parents till their death. He was married, December 24, 1829, to Cynthia A. Neally, daughter of James Neally, of Monroe, who was of military fame. By this union three children were born-Calista E., born July 12, 1849, married Henry C. Norris, of Hermon, and is now living in Hermon ; Charles N., born Decem- ber 21, 1852, now living in Hermon on the old home- stead, married Etta Ward, of Hampden, December 25, 1879, and has one child, Lillian May, who was born October 6, 1880; Dora E., born December 26, 1855, married John Miller, of Newburg, now living at New- burg, and has one child, Lina A., born August 5, 1879, at home.

Mr. Silas D. Jones, the well-known clothing dealer of Bangor, is a native of Bowdoin, Maine. His father was Benjamin Jones, a tailor by trade, who lived many years in Bath. He married Elizabeth Hogan, a daughter of William Hogan, a Revolutionary soldier who fought all through that war, and died at Bowdoin. Benjamin and Elizabeth Jones had four sons-Charles, deceased; Ben- jamin, now in New York; William, deceased, and Silas. Mr. Jones died in 1835; Mrs. Jones died in 1855. Silas D., the youngest of this family, was born April 2, 1824, in Bowdoin. He received a common school edu- cation, and early learned the tailor's trade. He came to Bangor in 1842, and engaged with Mr. Wheelwright as cutter and taking charge of their clothing department. Afterwards he became one of the company, and continued with them for about twenty years in all, the firm name being Jones, Clark & Co. In 1865 Mr. Jones dissolved partnership, and went into business with Mr. Fifield, under the title of Jones & Fifield, for one year. He then went into business with his brother, the firm being Jones Bros., until 1870. From 1870 to 1873 he did business alone, and then took in his sons as partners, under the firm name of Jones & Sons, which has since continued. Their present place of business is Nos. 1 and 2 Kendus- keag Bridge. Mr. Jones married Sarah C. Woodbury, daughter of Collins Woodbury, Esq. They have four children-B. Frank, of the firm; Storer W., also of the firm ; Alice Maud, and Annie W. Mr. Jones has been a member of the Board of Aldermen three years, and is a member of the Water Board now.

Among the many prominent lumbermen of the Penob- scot Valley is Mr. Isaac M. Bragg. He is one of the very oldest dealers in lumber here and shipped the first load of lumber ever sent out of this port, in the ship Bremen, of Bremen, Germany, in 1859. Vessels of smaller burden had been loaded here before this, but this was the first ship. He also chartered the first two ships that were ever loaded here, with deals, one being the Tri- mountain, for Liverpool, England. Mr. Bragg is a son of Isaac and Hannah (Meigs) Bragg, of China, Kenne- bec county, then Harland. Isaac Bragg was a manu- facturer of plows. He had seven children, three sons

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and four daughters, of whom Isaac M. is the fourth child and second son. He was born November 16, 1812, in China, Maine. He received such an education as the common schools of that time afforded, which was, to say the least, meager. At the age of nineteen he en- tered the store of Mr. Foster, of Orono, where he re- mained two years, then went away to school to obtain a better education. After attending the Academy at China two terms he returned and went into business with Mr. Foster as partner, remaining this time two years, when he sold out to Mr. Foster and came to Bangor and engaged in the grocery and West India trade. He gradually worked into the lumber commission business which he has since followed. Mr. Bragg has been in both branches of the city government at different times. In 1839 he married Miss Sarah A. Babcock, daughter of William Babcock, of St. Andrews, New Brunswick. She died in 1844 and Mr. Bragg married again in 1850 Miss Augusta A. Taylor, daughter of Abner Taylor, of Bangor. Mr. Bragg has two children, one by each wife, Carrie A., now Mrs. W. E. Mann, of Bangor; Florence A., mar- ried James C. Buzzell, of Bangor. From the small busi- ness of two ship loads of deals, shipped in 1859, that business in Bangor increased to nineteen ship loads in 1864 or 1865. Mr. Bragg is widely known in connec- tion with lumber shipping business here.

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 203

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co. Number of Pages: 1100

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co.
Number of Pages: 1100