History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 207

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 207

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in con- tact. In 1850 he was elected a Representative of the town of Corrington, Massachusetts, and in 1867 he was elected Representative by his class to the State Legislature of Maine, and in 1873 and 1874 he represented his class as State Senator, where he served with great credit on several important committees, viz .: Agriculture, Manufac- tures, and Indian Affairs; was Chairman of Committee on State Prison, and Chairman of the Special Commit- tee appointed to investigate the affairs of the State Prison, also was one of the Committee on Railroads. In politics he was a member of the Democratic party until 1848, when he became a member of the Free-soil party, and afterwards became a member of the Republican party. He is President of the Dexter & Newport Rail- road, and First National Bank of Dexter. In 1837 he married Jane P. Whiteing, a native of Hingham, Massa- chusetts. She was the mother of seven children. She died in Dexter in 1855. He afterwards married Eliza- beth G. Roberts, and is the father of eleven children- Flora, who married Shepperd Parkman, died in Burnham; Helen F., Charles B., and Millisse J., died in infancy; Greenville J., who married Jennie Loose, and lives in Hartland; Willis I., who married Ellen Rogers, and lives in New Limerick, Aroostook county; Orlando, died in Dexter; Elizabeth G., lives at home; Charles O., lives in Johnsbury, New York; Millisse, died when one year old; Walter B., lives at home.

DR. GEORGE A. HAINES.

This well known dentist of Dexter was born in June, 1825, in Dexter; his father, Walter Haines, married Eliz- abeth Folsom. He is a descendant of Governor Haines, of Connecticut, who governed that colony when it was under British rule. His father was a native of New Hampshire, and his mother was born in Maine, though then a part of Massachusetts. Walter Haines was a house carpenter and joiner, and was only able to give his son a common school education, and then set him to learn the blacksmith and carriage business in a shop in Bangor. Here young Haines worked diligently for eight years, when his health failed. Having a natural taste for mechanics, and thinking that a better field was then pre- sented in dental surgery, he entered the office of Dr. Proctor, of Dexter, and studied with him. He afterward finished his preparatory studies with Dr. Osgood, of Ban- gor, and entered the College of Dental Surgery in Phila- delphia, where he was graduated in 1868. During the time he was in college he came to Dexter and worked for one year and then went back and finished his studies. Since finishing his course he has been established in the practice of his profession here in Dexter, in which he has been successful.

The doctor married Martha N. Severance, daughter of Thomas Severance, a tanner. They have now living five children, having lost two in infancy. The doctor is what may be called a self-made man. He has by his own efforts not only succeeded in getting his professional

education after he had worked for years at another trade and lost his health for a time, but seems to have made a success in his business. He has been able to send three of his sons to college, one being a successful physi- cian and surgeon in Ellsworth, Maine, and the other two are dentists; one in Salmon Falls and the other a popu- lar dentist in Dexter.

Dr. Haines has always been liberal in assisting all public enterprises in town, and ready to do his part in building up educational and religious institutions.

He is not a politician; though he has position and decided opinions, he finds no time to devote to politics. He attends the Methodist Episcopal church, and gives liberally to its support, though at present not a member.

The doctor is a man easily approached by strangers, affable and pleasant in his manners, and does not appear to feel that he is better than his neighbors.

REUBEN FLANDERS.

Stephen Flanders was probably the first and only one of the name that emigrated to America during its early history. He, with his wife Jane, came to Salisbury, Massachusetts, between the years 1640 and 1646, and were among the first settlers in that town. He was admitted as Townsman in February, 1650. This was different from being admitted as a freeman, as the latter was conferred by the General Quarterly Court only. He died June 27, 1684. His wife died Novem- ber 19, 1683. One of their descendants, Reuben Flan- ders, the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Cornville, Somerset county, Maine, 1811, where he re- ceived a common education. He was brought up on a farm and remained in Cornville until nineteen years of age, when he came to Dexter, Penobscot county, and set- tled in the village, where he engaged in the business of cabinet-making, and was the pioneer of that branch of business in the village. In 1856 he invented a machine for manufacturing orange and lemon boxes, but never got it patented, and he is now in possession of the ma- chine that cut the first box ever manufactured in the world. He followed his trade in Dexter about thirty years, when he sold out, and in 1867 he purchased the mill property of Charles Jumper, about four miles north of the village of Dexter, and engaged extensively in the manufacture of long and short lumber. He has never sought or allowed himself to run for office of any kind whatever, but always attended strictly to business. In politics he was originally an Old Line Whig, but at the organization of the Republican party he became a Republican. He is a Universalist in faith. He is a thorough-going business man, having been thrown on his own resources at the age of nineteen years, with hardly a dollar, but by industry and economy has ac- cumulated a comfortable fortune. In 1840 he married Abigail B. Allen, a native of Cambridge, Maine. She died in the village of Dexter. Mr. Flanders is the father of five children, three boys and two girls-William R., who died in Dexter at the age of twenty-four years ; Su-

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MUSS - ENU.

Thomas Plaisted

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

san A., who died in Dexter at the age of sixteen years ; Esther W., who died at the present residence at the age of twenty-four years; Elbridge A., who lives at home ; and Freeland N., who lives in Minnesota, where he is engaged in the lumber business.

HON. FRANCIS W. HILL

was born in Exeter, Penobscot county, in 1819, where he received a liberal education. He engaged in farming until twenty-five years of age, when he purchased the store and stock of goods at Exeter Corner, of John D. Prescott, and entered into the mercantile business, in which business he was engaged twelve years, when he sold out the stock of goods to Thomas Mansfield, and engaged in the real estate business, in which business he is now engaged. He owns more real estate than any man in the county, and is considered the best authority on real estate transfers in the State of Maine. He has held the office of Selectman, Treasurer, Clerk, and Over- seer of the Poor from time to time for the past thirty years. In 1855 he was appointed High Sheriff of Penobscot county by Governor Crosby, which office he held two years, and the duties of which he discharged to the satisfaction of all. In 1879 he was elected Repre- sentative by his class, and in 1880 he was elected State Senator, which office he now holds. In 1870 he was elected President of the Somerset Railroad, and acted as such for three years." He is also Director of the Somerset and the Northern Aroostook Railways. In 1876 he was chosen a delegate to the St. Louis Conven- tion, and was chosen one of the vice-presidents of the convention. The same year he was chosen as one of the district electors. In politics he was originally an old- line Whig, but in 1856 he became a member of the Democratic party, to which party he belonged until 1879, when he became a member of the Greenback party. While a member of the Democratic party he was a mem- ber of the State Committee for about eight years. He is now a member of the State Committee of the Greenback party, and holds the office of Chairman of the Board of the Finance Committee. Although not a member of any church, he contributes liberally to the support of all denominations ; he also takes a deep interest in the pub- lic schools, and firmly believes that religion and educa- tion are the main pillars of our free institutions. In 1845 he married Sarah A. True, a native of Garland, and is the father of four children-Mary E, who died in Exeter at the age of fourteen ; Mabel T., who married Hon. Harris M. Plaisted and resides at Bangor ; Frank W. lives at home; Gertrude W. lives at home. He has held the office of Director of the Maine Central Railroad for over eight years, and owns a large amount of stock in the same, and is always ready to assist any railroad en- terprise in the State, believing that it is the only true means of developing its resources. He is both generous and kind-hearted, and is always ready to contribute to the relief of the poor, and is known in the community in which he lives as the poor man's friend. He is a kind

husband and an indulgent father, generous to a fault, and highly respected by all with whom he comes in contact.

HON. WILLIAM PLAISTED.

Hon. William Plaisted, of Lincoln, Penobscot county, Maine, was born October 24, 1815, in Jefferson, New Hampshire. He is a son of Deacon William and Nancy Plaisted. (For sketch of early family history see the biography of his brother, Governor Plaisted, which ap- pears in this work). His father was a farmer and Wil- liam spent his early boyhood, as so many of the promi- nent men of our country have done, in assisting at the farm work. He attended the district school and obtained such an education as was at that time afforded in the country public schools. Being the eldest of the family he early started out for himself, and when eighteen years of age we find him in Gardiner, Maine, sawing wood. This he followed but a short time, however, while look- ing for a better job. Being possessed of great energy and a determination to do well whatever he did, he soon obtained a situation in a tannery. Here, by close atten- tion to the minutest details of the business, he soon had the confidence and esteem of his employers, and in a short time was advanced to the position of foreman of the establishment. Here he remained seven years, the last four years having entire charge of the business. In 1840 he bought one-fourth interest in Cook & Nutting's tannery and began business for himself. He continued in business here for four years, when he went to Mercer and bought a tannery with his brother-in-law, Mr. Church. Though the tannery was in Mercer Mr. Plais- ted lived in Augusta, and attended to the outside busi- ness, buying the hides for tanning and selling the leather. Here he lived for three years, and then went to Stetson and built a large tannery, with a capacity of about four hundred tons of bark yearly. He lived in Stetson and continued in the manufacture of leather un- til 1869, when he removed to Lincoln and built the large tannery here. In 1868 he bought the old tannery at Princeton and built it over, enlarging its size to about double its former capacity.

In 1869 his son Thomas was taken into the firm and the firm name has since been William Plaisted & Son. Their two tanneries have a capacity of 8,500 cords of bark per year. They make what is known as Buffalo Sole Leather, using almost exclusively Calcutta buffalo hides. They have $150,000 invested in the business, and manufacture from $150,000 to $200,000 worth of leather per year. Mr. Plaisted married Martha Forbes, of Windsor, Vermont, daughter of Absalom Forbes. They have had eight children-Lizzie, wife of Mr. Thomas Hersey, of Bangor; William P., now in Prince- ton, Maine; Thomas M., of Lincoln; Nancy, now Mrs. F. C. Plaisted, of Lincoln, and Harry, residing in Min- nesota. The deceased were Mary E., Emma F., Jesse, and Charles.

Mr. Plaisted in politics has been a Republican until the formation of the Greenback party. Believing in the

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

principles of that party he has of late voted with it. In 1868 he was elected to the State Senate, and filled the position in a manner satisfactory to his constituents. Since early boyhood he has been a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and is a leader in all enterprises of public charity and the relief of the poor. He is a man very highly spoken of by his townsmen and re- spected by all who know him. He has by legitimate business, carried on as it has been in an honorable man- ner, acquired success in business life.

Thomas Plaisted, who is associated with his father in business, was born May 18, 1848, in Augusta, Maine. He completed his education at Kent's Hill Seminary. He married Miss Emma Henrys, of Lincoln. They have two children-Ella and Marjory. In 1879 and 1880 he was elected a member of the Legislature on the Greenback ticket.

HORATIO S. AYER.

William R. Ayer, the subject of this sketch, was born in Newfield, York county, Maine, in 1825, where he re- ceived a liberal education ; he also attended school at the Charleston Academy. He came to Lincoln about 1846, and entered into the mercantile business, in which business he was engaged until his death. He was fre- quently elected Selectman of Lincoln, and represented his class in the State Legislature one term. In politics he was a Democrat and always took an active part in political matters. He was postmaster of Lincoln for many years, and took a deep interest in educational mat- ters; was one of the Trustees and Treasurer of Mattan- awcook Academy, located at Lincoln; was one of the leading men of the county and was foremost in every enterprise that would be of any public benefit. He was twice married. His first wife was Rebecca B. Burnham, a native of Limerick, York county, Maine. She died in Lincoln in 1871. He afterwards married Emily E. Morri- son, a native of Bangor. He died in Lincoln, June I, 1881, mourned by a large circle of friends. He was the father of three children by his first wife: Ella E., who married James H. McAvity, and resides in St. Johns, New Brunswick; Horatio S., who married Mary R. Ayer, and lives in Lincoln, where he is engaged in the mercantile business ; Mattie, died in infancy.

HON. ASA SMITH.

Probably no man was more widely known and highly respected in all northern Penobscot Valley than the late Hon. Asa Smith, of Mattawamkeag. His parents emi- grated from Ipswich, Massachusetts, about 1795, and settled in what is now a part of Auburn, Maine. His father's name was Petatiah, and his grandfather's John Smith. There is a Bible in the family of his brother, John Smith, of Auburn, Maine, which contains a record of five generations of John Smiths; as far back as 1654. The dates of birth are as follows: The first, October 29, 1654; his wife's name was Elizabeth. The second John

Smith, born December 28, 1678; wife, Hannah Martin. The third John Smith, born November 9, 1706, died Oc- tober 20, 1776; wife, Abigail Dans, born August II, 1712, died November 1, 1791. The fourth John Smith, born May 23, 1732, died October 21, 1805. The fifth John Smith, born in 1760. His son Petatiah was father of Asa Smith, and, as stated above, settled in Danville, now Auburn. He was a farmer, and Asa spent his boy- hood on the farm. He was born August 12, 1798, and received such a limited education as the common schools of that period afforded. In December, 1821, he first came into the Penobscot Valley, and stopped at Passa- dumkeag about a year and a half, during which time he worked in a store. It was here that he became ac- quainted with Miss Louisa Haynes, who became his wife in 1826, February 19. On account of his father's death in 1823 he returned to the old home and settled up his father's estate, and remained there until 1827, at which time he made a final remove to the Penobscot River and settled at Passadumkeag. From that time till 1830 he was engaged in lumbering with Alvin Haynes, his wife's brother. In 1830 he removed to Lincoln for a short time, and from there to Haynesville, Aroostook county. At that time there were no roads above Lincoln, and the journey had to be performed up the Penobscot and Mat- tawamkeag Rivers in batteaux. These obstacles, how- ever, did not deter the early settlers of Northern Maine, and the young couple successfully accomplished the un- dertaking. Their nearest neighbor for a time was twelve miles distant, but the Military Road being built soon after, settlers began to flock in and built up the new country. Mr. Smith lived here five years, at the end of which time (June, 1835,) he purchased the hotel prop- erty, a log house on the site of the present Mattawam- keag House, of Mr. Kelsey. Mr. Smith took possession of this property June 4. Soon after, Mr. Sturgis, who had kept the property for Mr. Kelsey, moved out of town, leaving but two other families in town - George Wait, on the north side of the river, and James Thomp- son. This property embraced the whole town site. James Thompson at that time carried the Bangor and Houlton mail. He soon left town, as also did Mr. Wait, leaving Mr. Smith the only settler, as we understand the records furnished us. Mr. Smith's success up to this time had not been such as to enable him to pay for this prop- erty, yet by dint of perseverance, cheered by his noble, loving wife, after four years of toil and economy he was able to call the valuable property he was occupying his own. The after years of his life were comparatively easy, yet there was none the less activity displayed. He now engaged quite extensively in farming, and kept a store in connection with his hotel business. Here he spent the remainder of his life, with the exception of a few years spent in Lincoln that he might give his children an op- portunity to attend school. In his business relations Mr. Smith was strictly honest, and accumulated a competency by legitimate business methods, never engaging in specu- lations of any kind. It was a favorite saying of his that "economy, honesty, and energy are the essential requi- sites of success." His strict honesty, energy, and busi-

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ness ability caused him to be often and constantly called to positions of trust and responsibility. He was Town Treasurer for nineteen successive years (ever since the town was organized), and postmaster at Mattawamkeag and Mattawamkeag Forks for forty years. He was three times elected a member of the Maine Board of Agricul- ture, and through him the charter of the North Penob- scot Agricultural Society was obtained. He was the first President of this society, and always took great interest in its welfare. For many years he was a Director in the Merchants' National Bank of Bangor.

In 1843 he was elected to the Legislature, and to the Senate for the years 1846 and 1847. He was again elected to the House for the years 1854 and 1855. In 1859 he became a member of the Horeb Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons at Lincoln, and in 1873, of the Pine Lodge of the same order in Mattawamkeag. He was a public-spirited and generous man. He gave the right of way through his land to the European & North American Railroad Company, and presented the land where their machine shops are built. In politics Mr. Smith was a Democrat, and was elected and ap- pointed to all offices he held, by that party. During his later life he took great interest in religious matters. We copy the following from an obituary notice in Zion's Herald, which appeared at the time of his death:

In the wilds of Northern Maine there was very little to lead a per- son to an open profession of religion, and it was only twenty years ago that he resolved that he would take God as his guide and counselor. Possessing a sensitive and retiring dispositi ,n, his growth in grace was not so manifest as it was deep and heartfelt; yet there was abundant evidence of his acceptance with God. Some five years ago, during the labors of Rev. J. A. Moreleu he, with his only daughter, was led to join the Methodist Episcopal church, and as Superintendent of the Sabbath-school, Steward and Trustee he was an honor to the church, and faithful to the cause of God.

During the last years of his life he did much for the church. His home was always open for ministers, and he gave liberally for their support. Only two years be- fore his death he gave a lot of land, and subscribed liberally toward the erection of the church which was built thereon. During his last sickness his faith was strong; he loved to speak of the goodness of God, and was willing to trust all with Him, and often said, "If I go or remain, it will be for the best." It would not be proper to close our brief sketch of this good man with- out mentioning his estimable wife who has stood by his side through all the hardships of their pioneer life, and who still survives him. Her father was one of the early settlers of Passadumkeag, and the family was widely known and highly respected. She is a most estimable woman, and by her many acts of kindness and charity, her readiness to assist those who are in need of help, she has endeared herself to a large circle of friends. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Smith consisted of six chil- dren, viz: Hannah E., widow of the late H. S. Wing, of Mattawamkeag; Elbridge G. H., of Mattawamkeag; George W .; Charles A .; Louisa, deceased, and Asa H. Mr. Smith died December 16, 1880. His cordial greet- ing, hearty grasp of the hand, his words of counsel and encouragement will long be remembered. A true citizen, a faithful friend, a kind and affectionate husband and

father, his good works will long cause his name to be held in grateful and honored remembrance. His portrait and home are shown in this work.

E. W. SHAW.

E. W. Shaw was born in Lecora, New Hampshire, in 1822. At the age of four years he came to the State of Maine with his parents and settled in Palmyra, Som- erset county, where he received a common school educa- tion. He also attended the Hartland Academy a short time. In 1845 he married Mary E. Palmer, a native of Palmyra; she died in 1847. In 1850 he went to Cali- fornia, where he engaged in lumbering and mining, in which business he was engaged four years, and met with good success, when he returned to Palmyra, where he married Maria W. Elkins, and in 1855 came to Penob- scot county, and settled in Newport, where he has fol- lowed farming, lumbering, and trading at different times. He served as deputy Sheriff of Penobscot county for twenty years; was also appointed a member of the Val- uation Committee of the State by Governor Davis in 1880. In politics he has always been a Republican, and has always taken a deep interest in political matters.

When he started in life he was not worth a dollar, but by industry has accumulated a nice fortune, and is consid- ered one of the best financiers in Penobscot county. He is the father of five children-Mary C., died in Palmyra, at the age of sixteen years; Walter K., lives in Bangor, engaged in the boot and shoe business; Frances A., married Don A. H. Powers, and resides in Newport.

Samuel Elkins was born in Brintwood, New Hampshire, in 1768. He came to the State of Maine at an early day, and settled in Palmyra, where he married Martha Davis, a native of Newfield. He was a farmer, in which business he was engaged all his life; also engaged in the lumbering business a short time. His wife died in Pal- myra in 1872; he died in Palmyra in 1875. He was the father of four children-Joseph M., who married Elizabeth Allen and came to his death by being drowned in California; Emeline, who married Randall McCrillis, and lives in Palmyra; James R., married Esta Tuttle, and lives in Palmyra; Maria W., who married E. W. Shaw, and lives in Newport; Bessie A. Lincoln and Mary C., second, live at home.

JESSE R. WADLEIGH.

The subject of this sketch, Jesse R. Wadleigh, was born in Candia, New Hampshire. He never had the privileges of a school education, but as he advanced in years he became one of the most expert mathematicians in his neighborhood. He was one of the first settlers of Oldtown ; came here at an early day with his brother Ira and built the Wadleigh mills. They also built the first hotel (the Wadleigh House) at Oldtown. They ran the hotel and mills in partnership for many years. As a citi- zen, Jesse Wadleigh was ever active in all benevolent and

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

charitable enterprises, giving liberally according to his means. In politics he was a Democrat. He married Susan M. Giant, of Winterport, and died in Oldtown in 1871, mourned by a large circle of friends. His wife died in Oldtown in 1874. They had a family of six children-Andrew, who married Mariah Black and re- sides in California ; Caroline M., who married Jacob Bacon and lives in California ; Rufus D., who died in Oldtown ; Rufus D. 2d, who married Mariah Davis and resides in Oldtown, where he is engaged in the lumber business ; and Sarah, who died when seven years of age.

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 207

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