History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 61

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 61

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

ways true and faithful. He commenced practice in 1834, and at this date (August, 1881), is still actively engaged in his chosen profession.

In politics Mr. Wilson was originally a Whig, and still believes in the principles of that grand old party, as main- tained by Henry Clay and Daniel Webster. When that party died he fell gradually into the ranks of the National Democratic party, and was a strong advocate of the elec- tion of Tilden and of Hancock to the Presidency. In the matter of creeds he is a Congregationalist, with large charity for all denominations and a firm and abid- ing faith in an overruling Providence.

WILLIAM H. M'CRILLIS,

son of Dr. John McCrillis, was born in Georgetown, Maine, November 4, 1813. He studied law with Messrs. Allen & Appleton, in Bangor, was admitted to the Bar in Kennebec county, and commenced practice in Bangor in 1834. A ready speaker, with a keen intellect and a de- termination to succeed, Mr. McCrillis early made himself known at the Bar; his practice became large and profita- ble, and for many years he has been a leading lawyer in the county and State. In 1838 he was appointed County Attorney by Governor Kent, and held the office while the Whigs were in power. The efficient military leader in the Aroostook war, General Hodsdon, had such con- fidence in his abilities that, notwithstanding his different political views, he made him his adjutant for a time, dur- ing which he rendered efficient service.

In 1838 Mr. McCrillis was elected by the Republicans of Bangor to the House of Representatives of Maine, and he was re-elected in 1859 and 1860. Of late years he has not been in public political life. He still practices in the courts. He is a reliable counselor, an efficient lawyer, and an eloquent advocate; and his cases are among the most important.

DAVID M'CRILLIS

was born in 1828 in Sandwich, New Hampshire. He read law with William H. McCrillis, in Bangor, and soon after was admitted to the Bar. He died in 1852. The resolutions adopted by the Bar set forth that he was "possessed of excellent natural gifts, an intellect clear and penetrating, a memory minute and capacious, of demeanor mild and firm, giving no assurances that he did not fulfil; endowed with an instinctive appreciation of truth and a ready capacity to separate the true from the false; incapable of cherishing resentment or forgetting kindnesses, he stood to us as one already endeared by what we knew him to be, and recognized from his habits of industry, temperance, and correct taste, as in the cer- tain path to realize all his large and generous promise." One who knew him well said, "He had one of the clear- est heads I ever knew."

MOSES L. APPLETON

was born in Waterville, Maine, in 1811. He graduated from Waterville College (now Colby University) in 1830; commenced the study of the law with Hon. Samuel Wells, in Waterville; then attended the Law School in Cambridge; and went to Sebec in 1832, where he com-

pleted his law course with Hon. John Appleton. He was admitted to the Bar in 1833, and removed to Bangor in 1834, where he went into practice with George Star- rett, Esq. After Mr. Starrett's decease, in 1837, he be- came a copartner with William T. Hilliard, Esq., with whom he had a large practice. He was also connected in business with Judge Appleton a few years; afterwards he retired from business and died in 1859.

Mr. Appleton represented the city of Bangor in the Legislature in the years 1848 and 1849, and was a mem- ber of the city government.

The Bar passed resolutions recalling "his honorable professional career as a lawyer, his honesty and upright- ness as a man, and his social, genial, and kindly dispo- sition as a friend and companion," and lauding his per- sistent and effective support of every public enterprise for the promotion of the welfare of the city, as a private citizen, as a member of the municipal government, and in the Legislature of the State.

Mr. Appleton intermarried with Jane S., the youngest daughter of Hon. Thomas H. Hill. They had three children -- two sons, now deceased, and one daughter, the wife of Lewis A. Barker, Esq.

FREDERICK H. APPLETON,

son of Chief Justice John Appleton, was born in Bangor in 1844; prepared for college in the Bangor High School; graduated from Bowdoin College in 1864; read law with F. A. Wilson; was admitted to the Bar in Bangor in 1867; after admission went into practice in Boston, Mas- sachusetts, where he continued until 1872, when he re- turned to Bangor, where he entered into partnership with the Hon. S. F. Humphrey, with whom he is now as- sociated.

Mr. Appleton stands high in the profession for in- tegrity and ability. He has a clear intellect and a good knowledge of the law; is a courteous gentleman, and is successful in his practice.

ALBERT W. PAINE.

Albert Ware Paine was born in Winslow, Maine, August 16, 1812. His faher was Frederick Paine; his mother Abiel (Ware) Paine, who came from Foxboro, Massachu- setts, early in the century. Those interested to know the genealogy of the family will find it in a work just put forth by Mr. Paine, entitled the "Paine Genealogy," in which its history is traced from Japhetic timnes to the present. By this it appears that the name of the family "gradually changed from Paganus (signifying 'country- man,' 'unbeliever,' 'pagan'), to Pagan, Pagen, Payen, Payne, and Paine," and that Payson and Pyson are differ- ent forms of the same appellation, and that all of the families of Paine belong to the Norman race.

The subject of this sketch "graduated at Waterville College in the class of 1832 ; studied law with Hon. Thomas Rice and Governor Samuel Wells, and was ad- mitted to practice as attorney-at-law in 1835, at Bangor, Maine, where he has since resided." He was admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court at Wash- ington in 1835. He has been a busy lawyer almost ever

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

since he opened an office. He made himself early ac- quainted with land titles, and established a reputation as a good real-estate lawyer and conveyancer. He has had many important suits in law and in equity, and often acted as fiduciary agent, and gave great satisfaction. The amount, quality, and importance of the business he has done, and at the age of sixty-nine is still doing indicates the high estimation in which he is held as a lawyer.

In 1868 and 1869 he was Bank and Insurance Com- missioner, and afterward Insurance Commissioner of the State for three years. He held the office of Tax Com- missioner in 1874.

Mr. Paine has been instrumental in procuring several useful enactments by the Legislature upon various sub- jects. The genealogical work he has just published evinces great labor and research, and entitles him to the lasting gratitude of the family embraced in it.

In 1840 Mr. Paine intermarried with Mary Jones Hale, a descendant of Rev. John Hale, of Beverly, Massachu- setts, who wrote an account of the wonders of the in- visible world that afflicted New England in 1692, which Cotton Mather pronounces "unexceptionable," and transcribes into his "Magnalia," assuring the reader that "he hath now to do with a writer who would not for the world be guilty of overdoing the truth in a matter of this importance,* and a writer who was not incapable of altering his judgment, when satisfied that he was in error."t They have four children, daughters, all living.

FREDERICK HOBBS.

Mr. Hobbs was born in Weston, Massachusetts; pre- pared for college at Atkinson (New Hampshire) Academy; graduated at Harvard college in 1817; read law with Isaac Fiske, of Weston, and with Daniel Webster; estab- lished himself in the profession at Eastport, in Novem- ber, 1820, where he did a large business. In 1836 he was nominated in the Hancock and Washington county District for Congress. He declined to accept the nom- ination, on the ground that he was to leave the District. He came to Bangor in 1837, and remained here in prac- tice until a year or two before he died, in 1854.

Mr. Hobbs was fond of his profession and gave unre- mitting attention to his business, which was large and of an important character. He was a well-read and reliable lawyer, a systematic business man, and a gentleman. A shock of paralysis, some time before he died, rendered him unable to attend to business, and he reluctantly left his office never to return to it. He died October 10, 1854, leaving a widow, an accomplished and amiable lady, the daughter of Philip Coombs, Esq., an early citi- zen of Bangor, and an adopted daughter, the wife of Hon. Elisha H. Allen, then Chief Justice of the Sand- wich Islands, who died in 1881. The Bar passed reso- lutions of respect, recognizing his "untiring industry, strict integrity, his extensive reading and legal acquire- ments, his social qualities, his genial hospitality, his pure morals, his liberality, and strict observance of all the

duties of a good citizen, a good lawyer, and a good man."

NATHAN WESTON, JR.,

was a native of Augusta, son of Chief Justice Weston, and a graduate of Bowdoin College. He came to Orono in 1837, entered into partnership with Nathaniel Wilson, and thus continued for about one year. Mr. Weston was subsequently appointed Paymaster in the Army during the Mexican war. He received a severe injury to his shoulder by being thrown from his horse while on duty, in consequence of which he became a Government pensioner.

His first wife was Catharine, wife of Colonel E. Web- ster; his second wife a Miss Rogers, of Newton, Massa- chusetts. He represented Orono in the Legislature in the years 1849 and 1850. He was always a Democrat in politics. In 1850 he was chosen Clerk of the Courts for Penobscot county, and was re-elected, serving six years. He went to Bangor in 1850, and in 1858 re- moved to Massachusetts.

THOMAS J. COPELAND

came from Dexter to Orono, and entered into partnership with Mr. F. A. Fuller, continuing some one and a half to two years, when he returned to the former place.

WILLIAM C. CROSBY.

William Chase Crosby, second son of Oliver Crosby, of Atkinson, Maine, was born in Dover, New Hamp- shire, December 2, 1806. With his father, who was a member of the profession in New Hampshire, he came to Atkinson in 1821. His early education was academical, obtained in Dover, and afterward at Gardiner Lyceum. He came to reside in Bangor in 1828, and went into trade on Broad street. November 3, 1838, he became copartner with Wiggins Hill; the firm name was W. C. Crosby & Co. But before the copartnership was dis- solved, October 14, 1833, the Hill interest was vested in S. J. Foster and Benjamin Brown. In 1831-32, with Albert G. Jewett, he built the brick block on Third street, recently taken down.

November 26, 1832, he intermarried with Mary, daughter of Hon. John and Hannah Wilson, of Belfast. In the fall of 1835 he removed to Atkinson, where he resided about ten years, assisting his father in his large agricultural and other business, and in carrying on a farm of his own. Although always interested and successful in agriculture and horticulture, yet the true bent of his mind was legal, and from having been consulted and employed in town and other business, he became so interested in the law that he qualified himself for the profession, and was admitted to the Bar of Piscataquis county in 1845. He shortly after came again to Bangor, and formed'a connection with Daniel T. Jewett, and they were in the practice of the profession together until the autumn of 1850, when Mr. Jewett left to engage in the steamboat business in Darien .* Their office was in Elm Block, on Hammond street, and Mr. Crosby con- tinued to occupy it until he died, in 1880. His wife,

* Mather's Magnalia, Book VI., Ch. 8, 14, ex.

+ Hutch, Mass. II, 61.

*Mr. Jewett afterward went into the practice in St. Louis, and be- came a United States Senator.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

Mary, died October 28, 1865, leaving him with four children, who are now living. September 23, 1867, he was again married, to Mrs. Susan W. Dunmore, daughter of Daniel Wheeler, of Brewer, widow of Rev. George W. Dunmore. By this marriage he had no child. He was a member of the Common Council of Bangor in 1852 and 1853, and of the Board of Aldermen in 1870, 1871, 1872, and 1874; and acquired the reputation of being one of the best members of the city govern- ment that Bangor ever had.

Mr. Crosby was a good lawyer. He perfectly under- stood his cases, 'and no one got an advantage of him by technicalities. He had an extensive practice under the bankrupt law, and looked carefully after the interests of his clients. He was industrious, able, and honest. He died in Bangor July 21, 1880. The Bar passed complimentary resolutions, which were presented by Abraham Sanborn, Esq., accompanied by eloquent and appropriate remarks; to which Chief Justice Appleton replied, saying, among other things:

Notwithstanding he commenced the study of law somewhat late in life, he made himself a master of its principles. An acute and accurate lawyer, he was ever faithful to the interests of his clients. He was careful and cautious in giving advice, prudent in the institution of suits, and persevering in their prosecution. Neither time nor labor nor ability was wanting. Honorable and upright in all the relations of life, public and private, his integrity was above suspicion and reproach. Kind and affectionate to his friends and family, they knew well his home virtues, and will deeply feel his loss.

DAVID BARKER,

son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Pease) Barker, and brother of Hons. Noah and Lewis Barker, was born in Exeter, in this county, September 9, 1816. He was educated at the common schools, and closed his preliminary exami- nation at Foxcroft Academy, where he became an assist- ant. He studied law with Hon. Samuel Cony, and in 1848 was admitted to the Penobscot Bar. He established himself at Exeter, his native town, where he practiced successfully until failing health compelled him to be much from his office. He died at the residence of his brother Lewis, in Bangor, September 14, 1874, at the age of fifty-eight years. Mr. Josiah Crosby, in presenting the resolutions of respect, said :

His ability and attainments in the legal profession, notwithstanding constant feebleness of health, were highly respectable; and there is no doubt that, had his health been firm and his physical powers equal to his mental, he might have attained to a distinguished position at the Bar. Those of his brethren who, some fifteen or twenty years since, were accustomed to meet him in the conflicts of the arena, will well re- member that victory over such an antagonist was not easily won. Feebleness of health, however, seated upon the nervous system, had a tendency to create a dislike for the combative part of legal practice, which he finally relinquished, and gladly sought a purer and higher en- joyment in the fascinating realms of poetry.

In one department of poetry he had obtained a distinguished reputa- tion-a lot which seldom happens to travellers in the rugged and diffi- cult paths of the legal profession. Poetry he loved. The Muses answered kindly to his call, and it was a source of just satisfaction to him that he had written some things that would live after him.

Mr. Barker was not a politician, but his class sent him to the Legislature. The position was not agreeable to him, and he never again was in any political office. He was kind and courteous in his manner, a genial compan- ion, a good neighbor and citizen. As Judge Peters well

said, among other complimentary things, in his response, " it was always pleasant to meet him."

The Bar put on record "its cheerful testimony to his ability as a lawyer, his amiability, urbanity, and unques- tioned integrity."

Mr. Barker married Miss Chase, daughter of Timothy Chase, Esq., of Belfast, and left a son and daughter.

ICHABOD D. BARTLETT

was born in Dover, New Hampshire, November 25, 1823. He graduated at Bowdoin College in 1843, and prepared himself for the profession of the law in the office of Daniel M. Christie, in his native place. He estab- lished himself in Bangor in 1847, and obtained a large and successful practice, that he retained until his decease, which occurred at Mount Desert, July 27, 1861. He was a "learned, laborious, and able lawyer," and had the thorough confidence of his clients. He was considerably connected with the municipal affairs of the city, and in judgment was esteemed sound and reliable. The Bar passed resolutions eloquently recognizing his abilities, which were presented by Abraham Sanborn, Esq., and were responded to by Chief Justice Appleton, in which he said :

Few were better acquainted with the technical learning of the earlier days, or more fully versed in the liberal principles with which enlarged philosophy and advancing civilization have illustrated the jurisprudenee of more modern times. In the practice of the courts, as in all his dealings, his integrity was never doubted nor questioned. His mind was discriminating and vigorous, and his perception quick. All who knew him respected his opinions and confided in his judgments. His sterling honesty commanded the confidence of the public. His kindly nature and his warm affections endeared him to his family and friends.

MATTHIAS WEEKS,

a native of New Hampshire, practiced law in Clinton, Kennebec county, where he represented his class in the State Legislature for two or three years. He removed to Orono. about 1853, remained in practice there four or five years, and returned to Clinton, where he died.

MARCELLUS EMERY,

son of Dr. James Emery and Sally Rowe Emery, was born in Frankfort, Maine, July 24, 1830 ; entered Bow- doin College in 1844 ; graduated in 1853, and became the Principal of the City High School in Gardiner, Maine. In August, 1855, he resigned and went to Woodville, Mississippi, where he taught in a private family. In May, 1856, he went to Evansville, Indiana, and entered the law office of Wheeler & Robinson. In July he re- turned to Maine, and made electioneering speeches in behalf of Buchanan and Breckenridge. In October he entered the law office of Abraham Sanborn, in Bangor, and was admitted to the Bar in November. He became a law partner with Mr. Sanborn, February 2, 1857 ; August Ist became the editor of the Bangor Daily Union, and also of the Democrat, a weekly paper. In 1859-60 he served one year as Alderman for Ward One, but de- clined a re-election. In 1860 he was Chairman of the Breckenridge State Democratic Committee. August · 12th of the same year his printing office was destroyed by a mob. In 1862 he again entered the practice of law in Bangor. In 1863, January Ist, he revived the Democrat. In 1864 he was delegate to the National Democratic

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

Convention at Chicago; and in 1868 a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in New York ; and on July 7th, in behalf of the majority of the Maine delega- tion, he presented the name of George H. Pendleton, of Ohio, as candidate for President. August 17, 1870, he was nominated for Congress from the Fourth District. January 1, 1870, he established the Bangor Daily Com- mercial, and July 18th of the same year he was nominated again by the Democrats for Congress.

It will be thus seen that Mr. Emery was rather a poli- tician than a lawyer. He was a man of decided opinions, a man of courage and ability. Had he continued in the practice of his profession from the time he entered it, he probably would have obtained high position as a lawyer. He never married, and died in 1878.

HENRY L. MITCHELL

was born in Unity, Waldo county, in 1844. He had in early life the advantages of a thorough academic educa- tion, which was afterward improved by private tuition. He studied law in Bangor, was admitted to the Bar in Penobscot county in 1866, and to the Bar of the United States Circuit Court in 1871. He has always, since he went into practice, resided in Bangor and devoted him- self to his profession, making equity and bankrupt law specialties. He is a Justice of the Peace and Notary Public.

Mr. Mitchell is enthusiastic in his profession, and la- bors with a persistency and ability worthy the success which he achieves.

CHARLES A. BAILEY

was born March 10, 1838, in what is now the town of Columbia Falls, in Washington county, Maine. He studied at the Maine State Seminary, Lewiston (now Bates College), and completed a course about two years in advance of the requirements for entering college, but was unable to complete a college course, owing to. ill- health. He subsequently entered the office of the Hon. Jotham Lippincott, at Columbia Falls, and commenced the study of law, and afterwards continued his reading in the office of Peter Thacher & Bro., of Rockland, Maine. Before being admitted to the Bar, he entered the army, and served in the Thirtieth Regiment Maine Infantry until the close of the war. In 1865 he entered the Al- bany Law School, at Albany, New York. When he had completed the prescribed course, he was admitted to prac- tice in the New York courts; but before commencing practice he returned to Maine and was admitted to the Penobscot Bar. In June, 1866, he went into practice in Oldtown, and there continued until January, 1881. At that time a copartnership was formed between him and ex-Governor Daniel F. Davis, in Bangor, where they have since been in practice.

Mr. Bailey has been appointed to the office of Agent of the Penobscot Indians, a position of greater responsi- bility than emolument ; but the duties are faithfully at- tended to, and will be while they are in his hands. Mr Bailey is a lawyer devoted to his profession and destined to a high position, for he has a legal mind and believes in work. He received the degree of Bachelor of Laws (LL. |

D.), from the University of Albany, in 1866; and that of Master of Arts (A. M.), from Bates College, in 1869.

JOHN A. BLANCHARD

was born in Damariscotta, November 25, 1831. He was graduated at Waterville College in 1850, and was ad- mitted to the Penobscot county Bar at the January term of the Supreme Judicial Court in 1855. He established himself in Oldtown, and became a copartner with George P. Sewall in 1865. The name adopted by the firm was Sewall & Blanchard. Mr. Blanchard received the ap- pointment of United States Assessor in 1862, and con- tined in the office until 1869. A faithful and reliable lawyer.

T. F. M'FADDEN,

a native of Winslow and graduate of Colby University, opened an office in Orono in 1868. In 1869 he married Phebe W., youngest daughter of the late J. Colburn. He left Orono in 1870, and is now a resident of Vermont.

GENERAL JOHN F. APPLETON,

the oldest son of Chief Justice Appleton, was born in Bangor, August 29, 1838. He fitted for college in the Bangor High School, and graduated at Bowdoin College in the class of 1860. He was qualifying himself for the practice of law in the office of James T. Rowe, Esq., in Bangor, when the War of the Rebellion broke out. Be- lieving it his duty to take part in it, he raised a company for the Twelfth Maine Regiment, and went with it, under General Butler, to the Department of the Gulf. He was in the Lafourche expedition up the Teche, and through the Red River country with General Banks, until he joined General Augur and Port Hudson was invested. He manifested signal bravery during the investment of Port Hudson, exposing himself, when necessary, in places of the greatest physical danger, and winning universal ad- miration from friend and foe.

A brother officer wrote this of General Appleton's bravery at Port Hudson:

On the 27th of May, while our soldiers were struggling through the thorns and underbrush, cut down by Rebel bullets at every step, a small detachment of men reached the ditch in front of the Rebel works, and there a few brave men, the remnant of a brigade, exhausted, stopped. But Captain Appleton alone, among ten thousand men who fought that day, mounted the Rebel parapet and stood there facing the whole Rebel army, a mark for a thousand rifles ; stood there powerless, except to die. The following evening, while talking the affair over, he told me that at the time of his greatest danger, this passage occurred to him with great force, and he found strength in dwelling upon it: "Not a sparrow falls to the ground without the knowledge of our Heavenly Father; and ye are of more value than many sparrows." A Confed- erate officer told me, after the surrender, that as he saw that young man standing there so calm and brave, he could not bear to see him die, and he told his men not to fire upon him.

But his moral courage was greater when he took com- mand of a colored regiment, against the remonstrances of his associates, and notwithstanding the social ostracism to which he knew it would subject him. He well per- formed his duties until the close of his service, and re- turned to his friends with an enviable reputation. After his return he established himself in the practice of the profes- sion and in 1869 was appointed and confirmed by the United States Senate as District Judge for the Eastern Dis- trict of Texas. It was a severe trial to him to decline the

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 61

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