History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 82

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 82

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MILITARY BIOGRAPHIES.

[From the report of General John L. Hodsdon, for- merly Adjutant-General of the State.]

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL GEORGE FULLER .- This officer enlisted as a private on the 24th of April, 1861, in a company raised in Corinth, of which he was elected Sec- ond Lieutenant, and which became Company H, Sixth Regiment. He was subsequently elected Captain, and was mustered in with his regiment, July 15, 1861. The command soon after proceeded to Washington and joined the Army of the Potomac, in which the regiment served until mustered out, August 15, 1864.

The record of Lieutenant-Colonel Fuller is identified with that of the regiment with which he was always on duty. He therefore participated in the battles of War- wick Creek, Lee's Mills, Williamsburg, Garnett's Farm, Savage's Station, White Oak Swamp, Crampton Pass, Antietam, first Fredericksburg, Mary's Heights or second Fredericksburg, Banks's Ford, Kelley's Ford, Gettysburg, Rappahannock Station, Locust Grove, the Wilderness, and Spottsylvania Court-house; in the four last of which he was in command of the regiment after the fall of Lieutenant-Colonel Harris.

On the 22d of May, 1863, Captain Fuller was com- missioned Major of the regiment, and on April 24, 1864, was further promoted Lieutenant-Colonel.

Lieutenant-Colonel Fuller did not pass through the war without experiencing some of its most painful vicis- situdes. In the battle of Garnett's Farm he was struck in the breast by a spent ball; at Rappahannock Station his horse was killed under him, his sword shot off, and his clothes pierced; and at Spottsylvania Court-House, when of the two hundred men of the regiment who went into a charge on the 10th of May, 1864, one hundred and sixty were killed and wounded, Colonel Fuller was also shot and carried off the field.

On the Ist of July he rejoined his regiment at Washing- ton, then on its way to Maine to be mustered out; but was retained by General Russell, commanding the division. Subsequent to the consolidation of a remnant of the regiment with the First Veterans, Colonel Fuller ten- dered his resignation, and was honorably mustered out, July 28, 1864, having been in the service thirty-nine months, and earned for himself a soldierly reputation of which he may well be proud.

LIEUTENANT HENRY D. FULLER, of Corinth, entered the service in March, 1864, as Second Lieutenant in Baker's District of Columbia Cavalry. He served with his regiment in the Army of the James under General Butler, a portion of the time acting as Brigade Ordnance

Officer, until October, 1864, when he was. captured by the enemy at the battle of Cox's Mills, and remained in prison until December of that year. In the meantime his regiment had been consolidated with the First Maine Cavalry, and after his release he joined that regiment for duty as Second Lieutenant of Company B, and served in that capacity with great credit till the close of the war. In the last campaign of the Army of the Potomac, he was severely wounded at the battle of Dinwiddie Court House. After the surrender of Lee, he was detailed on provost duty at Petersburg, Virginia, for four months, and was mustered out of service with his regiment in August, 1865.

The following are among the most important battles in which Lieutenant Fuller was engaged : Petersburg, June 1864; Wilson's Raid-comprising the battles of Reams' Station, Stanton Railroad Bridge and Stony Creek- Deep Bottom, Weldon Railroad, Cox's Mils, Wyatt's Farm, Hatcher's Run and Dinwiddie Court House.

SERGEANT ISRAEL HODSDON, of Company H, Sixth Maine Volunteers, of Corinth, aged twenty-five years, mortally wounded in the battle of Rappahannock Station, on the 7th day of November, 1863, died during his removal from the battle-field to Washington. His re- mains were embalmed by order of his Captain, and sent home, accompanied by the following letter from his regimental commander :

HEADQUARTERS SIXTH MAINE VOLUNTEERS, CAMP NEAR BRANDY STATION, VIRGINIA, January II, 1864. 5

General :- I had intended writing you, ere this time, on the subject of your nephew's services, and lamented but glorious death: for if one must die, and die we all must, sooner or later, what death is so honorable, so noble, as that of the "battle-field," in the service of one's country? During a period of thirty months, up to the time he fell, while gallantly cheering on the men at Rappahannock Station, I had known Israel un- der all the varied phases of a soldier's life: in camp, on the toilsome march, in the roar of battle, and he was always the same: prompt and attentive to duty, respectful to his officers, and kind to the men, by whom he was highly esteemed. The battle in which he fell was the fifteenth in which he had been engaged, in all of which he exhibited both courage and capacity, and rose by merit alone from the rank of Junior Corporal to that of First Sergeant. 'I esteemed him highly both as a man and a soldier, and from our long association in that life which tests men as none other does, from our standing shoulder to shoulder through so many hard-fought battles, I almost feel as if I had a right to sympathize with his friends in this deep calamity. And, General, pardon me if I add that all things are ordered by an All-Wise Provi- dence, and that God had undoubtedly caused this deep affliction to visit you for some wise purpose. And if he was to die, you, who have stood at the head of the military profession in our State, can but be pleased that he died in the service you love so well; a service which Maine at least has in times past been largely controlled by you, and owes its efficiency in a great measure to your efforts.

I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEORGE FULLER, Major Commanding. GENERAL ISAAC HODSDON, Corinth, Maine.

The following notice is from the Roll of Honor of Bowdoin College, published in the same reports :

Class of 1860 .- Granville P. Hawes; born, East Corinth, July, 1838; began the study of law; entered the service as First Lieutenant of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth New York Regiment ; was detailed as Commissary, etc., on the staff of General W. H. Emo- ry, Eighth Corps, and served under the same when trans- ferred to the command of Third Division, Nineteenth Corps, Department of the Gulf; was mentioned with

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

honor by Major-General Banks for efficiency in his posi- tion in the first Teche expedition; was attached to the staff of Major-General Grover after the siege of Port Hud- son; then reported to Major-General Herron, Army of the Frontier, in Texas; resigned in the spring of 1865.

We have also the following, from another source :

During the war of the Rebellion, Henry W. Palmer en- listed in Company H, Thirty-first Regiment Maine Vol- unteers, and in the battle of the Wilderness lost his right arm: On the same day after amputation on the field he traveled sixteen miles on foot to the nearest hospital. He is now at the home of his boyhood, caring for his parents, and with his younger brother, Clifford E. Palmer, manages the farm made by their venerable father, the Hon. Mason S. Palmer, more than half a century ago.

OTHER BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

Hon. Mason S. Palmer, of Corinth, was born in Corinth, October 27, 1803. His first remembered out- look upon the world was among the forests and the then recently felled trees and small patches of cleared land incident to farm-making. To this work he devoted his days of boyhood, excepting always such times as he was enabled to attend such schools as were early introduced in the township. In early life he became a teacher, and on arriving at his majority was chosen superintendent of schools. He afterwards wrote in the various county offi- ces; at a suitable age was appointed Assistant Postmaster at Bangor, and left that position when appointed Regis- ter of Probate for Penobscot county, which office he held for many years. Although a lover of any position of trust when proffered, he never sought position nor was of the begging throng which disgrace American communi- ties until the crazed brain deliberately takes the life of · one having the gift to bestow and the wisdom of with- holding. For several years Mr. Palmer had charge of the Katchden Iron Works, in Piscataquis county, from which he went to the Briggs Iron Company, in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, as its agent. Here he was en- gaged for nine years, during which he served one term as a member of the Legislature of Massachusetts. He was also appointed Clerk of the Court of Insolvency for the county of Berkshire, and one of the Supervisors of Schools. After suffering seriously by fire, he removed back to his own native town, and at this writing resides on the farm in the neighborhood of the place of his birth. Mr. Palmer married Miss Nancy Johnson Coy, daughter of the late Captain Henry Coy, of Minot, Maine, an of- ficer in the War of 1812.

Hon. Noah Barker is son of Nathaniel Barker, who came from Limerick, York county, Maine, to Exeter in the year 1803. He married Sarah Pease, daughter of Joseph Pease, of Exeter, formerly of Parsonsfield. They had ten children, viz: Noah, Melinda, Julia, Sarah, Nathaniel, David, Louis, Daniel, Mark, and John, Mr. Barker died in March, 1823, and Mrs. Barker died January 6, 1880. All of this family are now living except Melinda, Sarah, David, and John. Noah Barker, the subject of this sketch, was born in Blaisdell Plantation, now Exeter, November 14, 1807, and is now,

therefore, in his seventy-fourth year. After receiving a common school education he received an academical training at Hampden and Foxcroft Academies. He studied surveying in the academy and commenced sur- veying in 1830. He surveyed all the northern part of Maine into townships and has been engaged in this work more or less all his life, not only in Maine but New Hampshire and Canada. He married Temperance B. Eddy December 29, 1839. They have had four chil- dren, viz: George, Charles V., William E., and Nellie A., all of whom are now living. After serving his term in the capacity of School Commissioner, and for sev- eral terms as Selectman, he was elected to the Leg- islature in the fall of 1837, in 1839, and in 1855, and to the Senate in 1878 and 1879. He also has been County Commissioner for several years; also State Land Agent in 1867 and 1859. He settled on his present place in Corinth in the spring of 1856, where he has since lived.

H. L. Pearson is a son of John Pearson, who came from Sutton, New Hampshire, about 1806 or 1807, after living in Warren, Maine, a few years. He married Betsey Stevens, of Sutton, New Hampshire, and settled in the south part of Corinth in what was known as the Ohio Settlement. He had eight sons and one daughter ---- two died in infancy. The names of those who arrived at maturity were: Thomas J., Phineas S., Henry L., Benjamin B., John W., Nelson P., and Statira H. He always after lived here in Corinth, except a few years spent in New Brunswick. Henry L. Pearson, the sub- ject of this sketch, was born in Warren, Maine, January 3, 1805, and is, therefore, now seventy-six years old. He married Ruthy Dutton, daughter of James Dutton, who died while she was an infant and she was brought up by the Hon. S. E. Dutton, of Bangor. Mr. Pearson settled on the farm where he now lives, about three miles south of the village of Corinth. He cleared up this farm, cutting the first tree that was cut on the present farm, there being but few settlements in the neighborhood. He is said to be the only man now living on the first clearing made by him in town. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson have had ten children, five sons and two daughters that arrived at maturity, viz: Henry L .; Oscar ; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Wood, of Massachusetts; Francis Chester, now deceased ; Emma C., now deceased ; Charles, who now resides on the old homestead with his father ; Mary Ellen, now Mrs. J. W. Pressey, of Biddeford ; and James D., of Bangor. Mr. Pearson never sought for public life, not caring for office. They are now spending their old age on the beautiful farm they made from the wilder- ness, cared for by their son and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Pearson, who have' six children, two sons and four daughters.

Clifford W. Shores is the son of Thomas J. Shores, whose father's name was James Shores, who came to Maine from Massachusetts in an early day. Thomas J. Shores married Clymenia Williams, daughter of Clifford Williams, of Waterville, Maine. They had two children -Clifford W. and Thomas. Thomas died in infancy. Clifford W., after becoming of age, engaged in the livery business in Waterville. He remained in this business

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

about four years, moved to Corinth in the year 1858, and settledeon the place he now occupies, where he has since resided, except for a period of five years spent in Illinois. He married Adesta Roundy, daughter of John Roundy, of Corinth. They have two children, viz: Frank W. and Kate H., aged ten and three. Mr. Shores owns sixty acres of land in this town, making a fine farm, which he continues to work.

Deacon Stephen Dexter, one of the oldest living set- tlers of this town, is a son of Rev. Stephen Dexter, of Albion, Kennebec county, Maine, who married Sarah Ward, of Harland. They had a large family of thirteen children, of whom Stephen, the subject of this sketch, is the third son and fourth child. He moved to this town when Stephen was seventeen, and settled in what was called the Hunting Settlement, where he ever afterward lived, and died, being the first settled Baptist minister, in Corinth. Deacon Stephen Dexter was born June II, 1804. He married Ploomy Pearson, daughter of Thomas Pearson, of Corinth. She died August 19, 1826. One child died in infancy. He married Ploomy Sargeant, daughter of Ezekiel Sargeant, of New London, New Hampshire, by whom he had three children, viz: Roxan- na A., now Mrs. Arvidson, of Placerville, California ; Sarah W., now Mrs. H. A. Merrill, of Bangor; Ploomy A., who died June 25, 1850. Mr. Dexter first settled in East Corinth, clearing the land of standing trees. He lived there until 1855, when he moved to the Corner, and soon after moved to his present farm, about one-half a mlle west of the village. He has been a member of the Baptist church here longer than any other person, serv- ing as deacon for over forty years.

William Spratt, son of William Spratt, who came into this town in 1824, from China, Kennebec county, Maine, and settled near the centre of the town of Corinth, mar- ried Sarah Edgerly, of Brentwood, New Hampshire. They had seven children, viz : John, Jane, William, Sarah, Mary H., Dudley D., and George W. He died on the farm on which he first settled, in 1836. Mrs. Spratt died in Patten, in 1838. William Spratt, the subject of this sketch, who formerly wrote his name William Spratt, Jr., married Permelia Miller, daughter of Benjamin Miller, of Barnard, Pisca- taquis county, Maine. They first settled in Sebec; moved to Corinth in 1851, and settled on the farm on which he now lives, about the center of the town. They have had four children, but one of whom is now living, viz : Erank, who lives with his father on the old homestead. Mr. Spratt has a good farm of about one hundred acres with good buildings.

Humphrey- Nichols, son of Thomas Nichols, who came to this State from New Hampshire, his native place . being Weare, New Hampshire, removed to Charleston, Penobscot county, about 1808. He married Elizabeth Hadlock, by whom he had fourteen children, ten of whom arrived at maturity, viz : Betsey, Hannah, Levi, Humphrey, Mary and Sarah, twins,-Sarah, now Mrs. Eastman, being the only one now living except the sub- ject of this sketch; Surrenea, Abigail P., Lydia A., and Thomas. Mr. Nichols lived in Charleston about twelve

years and then moved to Bangor, where he lived about four years, then moved to Corinth, where he ever after- wards lived, dying at the age of ninety-six, in the year 1867. Mr. Humphrey Nichols was born January 13, 1807. He married Marcia G. Tyler, by whom he had ten chil- dren, eight of whom lived to maturity, viz : Walter, Ephraim T., Lucien B., Eugene C., B. Fairfield, Theresa A., Wilfred E., and Lamartine. Mr. Nichols lost his wife in 1859, and married for his second wife Hannah Lovren, daughter of John Lovren, of Deering, New Hampshire. Mr. Nichols first settled where he now lives, in the southeast part of the town, wherehe has always lived. He is now postmaster in South Corinth, which office he has filled most of the time for thirty years. He ownsthree hun- dred and ten acres of land in town, and though now seventy-four years of age he takes much interest in the current news of the day and is a well-preserved man for his age.

George H. Smith is a son of Nathaniel Smith, who came here in 1827 from New London, New Hampshire, and settled on the farm on which he now resides with his son-George H. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. He married Betsey Herrick, daughter of Jona- than Herrick, of New London, New Hampshire. They had seven children, five boys and two girls-Amelia M., now Mrs. Chandler; Harlos S., of Plowboy, Kansas; Ira H., of Winnebago City, Minnesota; Charles F., now liv- ing in Minneapolis, and Nancy M., now deceased.

C. A. Robinson is a son of John L. Robinson, who came from Greenland, New Hampshire, and settled in the south part of Corinth, where he kept a hotel for many years. He married Sarah F. Palmer, daughter of Richard Palmer, of this town. They had six children, four boys and two girls-Edwin F., Charles A., John F., Frank M., Cordelia S., Ella J. John F., and Cordelia S. are now deceased. Charles A., the subject of this sketch, was born in 1837. After receiving a common school education he entered the navy, serving there about two years. After the close of. the war he settled in Corinth, and is and has been engaged in stone-cutting, including both rough work and monumental. He married Louisa Ide in 1865. They have no children.

Thomas G. Watson is a son of Nathaniel Watson, of Farmington, New Hampshire. Nathaniel Watson mar- ried Abigail Garland, of Middleton, New Hampshire. They had nine children, two sons and seven daughters- Sophia, Betsey, Abigail, Hannah, Sarah, Lois, Lovina, Samuel, and Thomas G. Of these, only Samuel, Thomas, and Lois, are now living. Thomas G. Watson came from New Hampshire in 1823, and served an apprenticeship at the carpenter and millwright business with Moses

Paul, of Acton. In 1829 he married Miss Sophia Came, daughter of Peltiah Came, of Buxton, Maine. Here he worked at his trade until 1831, when he moved to Corinth, where he has ever since lived. He has had six children, and buried two-one son killed in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, the other dying young. Mr. Watson has held town offices, and in 1856 was chosen by his townsmen to represent them in the Legislature. Mr. Watson has a fine farm in West Corinth, and is still a

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

hale and healthy man, never having been sick in his life.

Andrew G. Fitz is a son of Moses Fitz, who was born in Ipswich, Massachusetts. He was a cabinet-maker by trade. He married Rebecca Giddings. They moved to Pejepscot, now Auburn, Maine, where they raised a family of twelve children-five boys and seven girls, viz: Sally, Hannah S., George G., Rebecca, Eliza, Bethiah A., Moses, Arria, Richard T., Mary, Andrew G., Simeon P. Of these all are now living, except Hannah S., George G., Rebecca and Mary. Andrew G., was born in Pejepscot, now Auburn, December 10, 1812. He married Susan Stevens, of this town. They have had thirteen children, of whom there are now living eight, viz: Lauraett, now Mrs. Drown ; Eliza, now Mrs. Good- win; Bethiah H., now Mrs. Cool; Amos G., Frank P., Andrew J., Sherman G., and Loring. Mr. Fitz settled, when of age, in the town of Corinth, where he has ever since lived. He served in the Aroostook war. He has been a practical surveyor, generally working more or less at this business every year until quite recently. He now lives on his farm of about sixty acres in South Cor- inth.

Clark Hersey is a son of William Hersey, who came from Wolfboro, New Hampshire, in 1836. He married Betsey Hall, daughter of Joseph Hall, of New Hamp- shire. They had eight children-seven boys and one girl, viz: Josiah, Clark, Nathan, Orcutt, Eliza, Elijah, Merrill, and William. Clark Hersey, the second son of this family, was born in 1806, January 14. He came to Corinth in 1832, and settled in the south part of the town. In 1834 he married Olive Trefren, daughter of George Trefren, of Salem, Massachusetts. They have had nine children-six boys and three girls, viz: Livy, George, Freeman, Eliza, Clara; the others died quite early. Mr. Hersey moved to his present farm, one mile south of East Corinth, in 1869, where he has since lived. He owns over three hundred acres of fine land, and though now and for years has been quite an invalid not being able to work much, yet retains his faculties well, and is a pleasant man to converse with. He formerly held important town offices, and has always been one of the prominent men of Corinth.

Ira W. Davis, of East Corinth, is a son of Moses F. and Mary Davis, whose parents came here from New Hampshire when small children. They settled first in Exeter, where they lived about twenty years, and then moved to Freedom, where the subject of this sketch was born in 1847. They had seven children-five boys and two girls, only three of whom are now living, viz: Ex-

Governor Davis, and Mary, now Mrs. Bragg, of this town. Mr. Davis married Miss M. Effie Reed, of Ben- ton, Maine, in 1872. They have three children, viz : Ivy May, now eight years old ; Rethel, three years old; and Clyde, the baby. Mr. Davis was educated at the Maine Wesleyan Seminary with the class of 1870; studied law with Lewis Barker, of Stetson, now of Bangor, and finished with W. P. Thompson, of Vassalboro. He taught school, and also engaged as Supervisor of Schools. He was Principal of Schools at Black Hawk, Gilpin county, Colorado, four years, and served as County Su- perintendent of Schools of that county one year. He moved back here in April, 1879, and settled in Corinth, where he now resides, practising law.

George H. Jason, from Minneapolis, Minnesota, was born September 16, 1838, married Emma C. Blanchard, daughter of John C. Blanchard, of Corinth, and settled on the old homestead, about one mile south of East Corinth, where he has always resided. They have six children, viz: Celia A., Frank, Edward E., Ralph W., Gertie May, Horace C. He has a very fine farm of two hundred and twenty-five acres. He now holds the office of Selectman of the town.

Dr. Jason Huckins is a son of Nathaniel Huckins, of Charleston, Maine. The doctor is the fourth son of a family of seven, five boys and two girls. He was edu- cated at Castleton College, Vermont, and the College of Physics and Surgery, of New York, graduating in 1859 ; settled in Corinth in 1860, and married in 1864, Miss Sarah F. Dennett, daughter of Daniel Dennett, of Milo. They have no children. He is of the regular school of surgeons. He went into the army in 1862 as Assistant Surgeon, Twenty-second Maine Regiment, and served in that capacity one year. He also served as Assistant Surgeon-General on Governor Dingley's staff during the years 1874 and 1875. He has a large practice, and is held in high esteem by his townsmen and acquaintances.

N. S. White is a son of Isaac White, of Dexter, Maine. Isaac married Mary Sampson, of Ripley, Maine. They had nine children, five boys and four girls, all of whom, except three, are still living, viz: Isaac G., Sullivan, Noah S., Drusilla (now Mrs. Meader, of Dexter), Augusta, Mary (now Mrs. Ellis, of St. Albans). N. S., the subject of this sketch, was born in 1840, and married Miss Helen Palmer, daughter of John Palmer, of North Bangor. He settled on the farm where he now lives in 1869. They have one child, Cora B., now nine years old. Mr. White has a valuable farm about the centre of the town of Corinth, with a good set of farm buildings. He has been engaged in agriculture.

DEXTER.

DESCRIPTION.

Dexter enjoys the honor of being the extreme outpost of the county in the northwest-that is, the northwest corner of the southern district of the county. It is one of the most important towns in Penobscot, having by the census of 1880, a population of 2,563. It is bounded on the north by Sangerville, in Piscataquis county; on the west by Ripley, Somerset county; on the south by Corinna; and on the east by Garland. It is distant from Bangor not thirty miles, as the Maine Register puts it, but nineteen and a quarter miles, in a direction due northwest from corner to corner of the towns. It is, like all of its neighbors in Piscataquis and Penobscot counties, pretty nearly an even township, containing about 20,370 acres, of which 1,200 are covered by water. Its boundaries are all straight lines, broken only by an end of Pleasant Pond, near the southeast corner, and slightly by Dexter Pond west of Dexter village.

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 82

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