USA > Maine > Oxford County > Porter > History of Porter > Part 19
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, Elsie Ridlon, wife of W. Watson, 1886 -.
Weeks, Ethel, b. 6/1/1880, d. 6/16/1948.
, Dora M., b. 5/1/1919, d. 10/26/1947.
, George F., b. 10/31/1870, d. 11/21/1947.
, Lizzie C., wife of George F. Weeks, d. 1/24/1899; age 28-7-22.
, John, d. 4/29/1904; age 84-1-1.
, Almira B., wife of John Weeks, d. 1/22/1905; age 76-6-18.
, Shorey S., 1845-1892.
, Anne E., wife of Shorey S. Weeks, 1845-1890.
, Edwin C., 1872-1943.
, Lillian M., wife of E. C. Weeks, 1874-1943.
, Lillian M., wife of Fred H. Weeks, 1875-1933.
271
PRIVATE AND COMMUNAL BURIAL GROUNDS
, Fred H., 1871-19 -.
, Ashley, 1853-1930.
, Vesta A. Huckins, wife of Ashley Weeks, 1857-1934.
, Ursula, dau. of Moses R. & Ursula Weeks, d. 8/25/ 1859; age 8 m. 11 d.
, Nettie, 1883-1914. , Sarah A., 1842-1915.
, Sarah, wife of Wm. S. Weeks, d. 5/16/1867; age 40-2 mos. Weeks, Laura B., 1870-19 -.
, Josiah, d. 5/9/1862; age 74-6 months.
Harriet B., dau. of Josiah & Ardelia Weeks, d. 5/9/1861; ,
age 20-6 months.
, Irving, 1860-1939. , Donald Shorey, 1933-1934.
, Clark, d. 9/10/1856; age 37. , John H., 1850-1937.
Wentworth, Annie A., 1867-1938.
Emery, b. 2/17/1886, d. 5/20/1910.
Wescott, Charlotte Champion, b. 10/30/1865, d. 8/10/1930.
Weymouth, Harry C., b. 2/24/1874; d. 11/3/1946.
Whipple, Nellie C. Thurston, wife of Clyde Whipple, b. 10/26/ 1884, d. 8/26/1941.
White, Lovina E., wife of John White, d. 6/29/1871; age 22-5-17. Whitton, Ella F., 1859-1884.
, Mary Esther, 1869-1880.
Wiley, Ernest M., 1878-1939. , Grace L. Johnson, 1877-1938.
Wood, Elmina, dau. of Ira D. & Almina M. Wood, d. (no date).
Woodman, Susie Wiggin, b. 4/5/1898, d. 6/27/1951.
Wormwood, Abby E. Wales, 2nd wife of Darius Wormwood, d. 2/10/1885; age 49-8-7.
, Darius, d. 1/21/1892; age 68-3-28. Flag. , Robert Fulton, 1858-1942.
, Annie M., wife of R. F. Wormwood, 1859-1893.
Young, Charles W., 1860-1928.
, Martha J. Varney, wife of C. W. Young, 1848-1917.
272
HISTORY OF PORTER
, Lizzie B., dau. of Martha J. V. Young, 1866-1924.
Porterfield Cemetery
Brown, Moses, 1808-1875.
, Lydia, wife of Moses Brown, 1812-1872.
Clemons, Frank H., 1873-1933.
Elsie, 1903.
Cotton, Wyman, b. 5/17/1851, d. 6/7/1921.
Elizabeth Ridlon, wife of Wyman Cotton, b. 2/26/1852, ,
d. 3/31/1892. , Dana, b. 1/13/1854, d. 11/15/1896.
, Eunice M., wife of Dana Cotton, d. 4/6/1887; age 36-11-10. Cousins, Joseph, d. 6/8/1893; age 78.
Hannah, wife of Joseph Cousins, d. 5/29/1893; age 75.
Davis, Hattie R., wife of Osborn Davis, d. 1/29/1890; age 46.
Day, James, b. 6/9/1822, d. 1/30/1906.
, Loemma, wife of James Day, b. 11/29/1841, d. 10/27/1909. Durgin, Samuel, d. 3/17/1893; age 71-1-18. Flag.
, Almeda, 1859-1924.
, Mima, 1878-1939.
, Rose E., wife of W. N. Durgin, 1881-1901.
, Infant son of W. N. & Rose E. Durgin, d. 1901.
Evelyn M., dau. of W. N. & R. Q. Durgin, 1900-1914. ,
Firth, Elsie M., dau. of Oliver & Bertha Firth, 1894-1895.
Huntress, Darling, b. 2/8/1845, d. 5/18/1932.
, Zylpha A. Hartford, wife of Darling Huntress, b. 1/3/ 1851, d. 8/9/1936.
, Edmund J., son of Darling & Zylpha A. H. Huntress, d. 11/5/1874; age 2-6-2.
Lewis, Frank, b. 11/30/1836, d. 2/3/1923.
, Sarah A. Merrifield, wife of Frank Lewis, b. 11/19/1841, d. 2/28/1895.
, Luther E., son of Frank & Sarah A. M. Lewis, d. 2/21/ 1874; age 2-29 days. , Lida W., b. 3/19/1876, d. 5/9/1877.
, Nancy, wife of Alexander Lewis, d. 11/18/1873; age 75-6-8.
273
PRIVATE AND COMMUNAL BURIAL GROUNDS
, Charles F., 1862-1930.
, Fannie A., 1862-1940.
Cecil H., son of Charles F. & Fannie A. Lewis, b. 1/17/ 1905, d. 6/3/1905.
, Fred, 1877-1927.
, Bernard E., son of Ernest & Evie Lewis, b. 1/2/1923, d. 2/13/1950.
Lord, Levi (rest of inscription below surface of ground).
, Polly, wife of Levi Lord (rest not visible).
McDonald, Noah, d. 7/2/1849; age 49-3 mos.
, Abigail, wife of Noah McDonald, d. 4/21/1861; age 59-9-4.
, Andrew J., d. 10/4/1882; age 53-5-5.
,
Eunice, wife of Andrew J. McDonald, d. 11/24/1891; age 59-5-1.
Emma E., dau. of Andrew J. & Eunice McDonald, 5/5/ 1888; age 18-4 mos.
, Andrew J., son of A. J. & Eunice McDonald, d. 8/31/1881; age 17-3-8.
Noah, son of A. J. & Eunice McDonald, d. 9/19/1855; age 1-11 mos.
,
, Charles H., 1861-1938.
, Charlie, 1884-19 -.
, Phoebe, 1891-1953.
, Marcia, 1887-1917.
, John C., 1865-1940.
, Lovina A. Day, wife of John C. McDonald, 1877-1937.
McDonald, Winfield S., d. 3/1845: age 29.
, Martha E., wife of Winfield S. McDonald, d. 11/28/1878; age 27-3-13.
Merchant, Elmer C., b. 7/2/1884, d. 6/19/1947.
Merrifield, Rensselear (no date).
Zelopa, wife of R. Merrifield, d. 4/22/1889; age 76-9-11. , Merryfield, C. Henry, 1845-1903.
Martha A., 1855-1924.
Metcalf, James A., 1861-1939.
, Ida A., wife of James A. Metcalf, 1862-1925.
274
HISTORY OF PORTER
, George P., d. 1/3/1892; age 3-2 mos.
, Eva F., d. 7/30/1891; age 1-4 mos.
, Rose, d. 1/22/1892; age 2 days.
Note - George, P., Eva F. and Rose were the children of James A. & Ida A. Metcalf.
Kathleen, wife of LeRoy Metcalf, 1906-1939. , Norton, Gardner, 1870-1942.
, Jane Durgin, 1871-1891.
, Eunice, dau. of Oren & Susan B. Norton, d. 3/5/1853; age 4-10 mos.
, Oren, son of Oren & Susan B. Norton, d. 8/19/1858; age 3. Perry, Louis, 1842-1897.
, Eliza J., 1844-1917.
, Albert, son of Eliza J. & Louis Perry, d. 5/27/1889: age 5-22.
Porteous, Clarence, 1870-1946.
, Alta M., 1881-1952.
Redlon, Charles D., b. 1/20/1854, d. 11/10/1909.
, Levi, 1818-1881.
, Mary Cotton, wife of Charles D. Redlon, b. 9/30/1856, d. 9/25/1930.
Hannah, wife of Levi Redlon, 1813-1881. , Ridlon, Daniel, d. 8/29/1881; age 80-7-1.
, Esther, wife of Daniel Ridlon, d. 2/23/1878; age 67-1-12.
, Comfort, dau. of Daniel & Esther Ridlon, d. 12/29/1871; age 35-13.
, Benjamin H., d. 5/1865; age 23-5 mos. Flag.
, George, son of Daniel & Esther Ridlon, d. 8/22/1859; age 14-6 mos.
, John, son of Daniel & Esther Ridlon, d. 5/24/1857; age 14-3-10.
, Hon. F. W., 1845-1887.
Wirt V., son of Hon. F. W. Ridlon, 1873-1889. , Henry L., d. 3/21/1864; age 25. ,
, David L., d. 5/24/1857; age 14-6 mos. The sons of Levi and Hannah Redlon.
275
PRIVATE AND COMMUNAL BURIAL GROUNDS
, Francis, d. 12/19/1842; age 2-2 mos. Rogers (no date).
Sargent, Kermit A., 1925-1946.
Sirico, Sarah F. Lewis, wife of Fred Sirico, b. 12/10/1910, d. 8/26/ 1939.
Walker, Beatrice, dau. of Charles & Hattie Walker, d. 5/15/1903; age 2 months.
Libby Burying-Ground
Libby, Meshach, b. c. 1750, d. March, 1829. (First settler in Porter).
Note - None of the quarried stone markers bear inscrip-
tions, but authentic records inform us that Meshach Libby and ten members of his family rest in this burial-ground.
Moulton Cemetery
Moulton, David, d. 10/18/1838; age 77 years. (Reburied in River- side Cemetery).
, Dorothy, wife of David Moulton, d. 1/19/1853; age 83 years. (Reburied in Riverside Cemetery).
Libby, Nancy, wife of John Libby, d. 10/31/1847; age 51 years. (Note - These three slate markers are the only stones that have inscriptions, but many graves marked by field stones are found within this enclosure bounded by stone walls. Stephen Libby's first and second wives; Mary Knowles and Nancy Mathews, respectively, were buried here.)
Towle Burying-Ground (On the Old Meeting-House Road)
Towle, Daniel, d 3/26/1875; age 95-2.
, Betsey, wife of Daniel Towle, d. 2/20/1861; age 81-5. , Lyman, d. 9/30/1848; age 3-6-21. Son of Daniel Towle, Jr. & Maria Jane Towle.
, Edmund, d. 9/11/1838; age 29 days. Son of D. Towle, Jr. & Maria Jane Towle. Freeman, son of D. Towle, Jr. & Maria Jane Towle, d.
276
HISTORY OF PORTER
7/5/1849; age 1-4-20.
Wormwood Burying-Ground
Wormwood, Ithamar, d. 7/16/1865; age 74-1-17.
Hannah, wife of Ithamar Wormwood, d. 2/18/1841; age ,
51-1 month.
,
Rosanna, 2d wife of Ithamar Wormwood, d. 2/28/1856; age 64-4 months.
, Mehitaballe, dau. of Ithamar & Hannah Wormwood, d. 11/27/1851; age 25-1-11.
, Lydia J., wife of Darius Wormwood, d. 12/27/1851; age 25-7-16.
Fly, Jason, son of James and Syrena Fly, d. 9/21/1856; age 2-7 mos. Charles B., d. 10/27/1860; age 32-4-7.
Tripp Burying Ground
Tripp, Thomas, 1808-1890.
, Susan, 1811-1896.
, Hiram, 1838-1890.
Nancy, 1845-1863. Waldo J., d. 9/18/1872; age 1-3 mos. ,
Brownfield Road Burying-Ground
Sawyer, Lemuel, d. 9/25/1882; age 85-8-6.
, Mary, wife of Lemuel Sawyer, d. 5/26/1873; age 73-2-6. , Sylvester B., 1827-1908. Flag.
Berry, Alexander, Jr., d. 5/25/1902; age 69-7-10.
, Sarah A., wife of Alex. Berry, Jr., d. 3/23/1896; age 56-11-20. , Keziah A., d. 9/18/1895; age 86-3 mos.
Ruth E., dau. of Alex. & Kezia Berry, d. 11/8/1876; age 22-3-15.
Porter, Abigail S., wife of Stephen Porter, d. 3/29/1874; age 80-3-23. J. A. M. (no dates).
Civil War Soldier (no name; only marker "1861-1865." Flag.
277
PRIVATE AND COMMUNAL BURIAL GROUNDS
French-Gilman Cemetery
French, Jacob, d. 2/16/1878; age 79-11-16.
, Sally W., wife of Jacob French, d. 4/23/1891; age 86-7 mos. Melissa W., dau. of Jacob & Sally French, d. 12/6/1855; ,
age 23-8 mos.
, Mary, dau. of John & Sally French, d. 2/21/1838; age 34-6 mos.
, John, d. 8/22/1836; age 61-10 mos.
Sally, wife of John French, d. 3/12/1856; age 81-6 mos. , Young, Sally, wife of Jonathan Young, d. 10/18/1825; age 83. Gilman, W. Frank, 1854-1940.
, Veldima Bickford, wife of W. F. Gilman, 1852-1944.
Lucy E., dau. of W. F. & Vellie M. Gilman, d. 9/2/1886; 6 mos & 6 days.
,
Cora M., dau. of W. F. & Vellie M. Gilman, d. 12/26/ 1888; age 2 mos. & 2 days.
, George W., son of W. F. & Vellie M. Gilman, d. 4/26/ 1888; age 10 mos., 15 days.
Bickford, Jesse, b. 7/2/1821, d. 10/2/1910.
, Lucy, wife of Jesse Bickford, b. 8/13/1811, d. 1/7/1878. Berry, George V., d. 1/4/1866; age 30-7-25.
, Moses B., son of G. V. & Kezia Berry, d. 7/5/1834; age 26 days.
Libby, Stephen, b. 4/26/1763, d. 10/25/1855. (His third wife, Sally Mathews, probably lies beneath the unmarked stone next to Stephen's).
Sargent Burial-Ground
Sargent, John, d. 6/3/1868; age 80-2-13.
, Sarah, wife of John Sargent, d. 5/21/1861. , Betsey, d. 6/25/1880; age 69-10-5. William, d. 6/2/1863; age 36-5 days. ,
Pearl, Annie W., wife of Isaac Pearl, d. 6/26/1888; age 74-9 days. Libby, Esther J., wife of Roscoe Libby, d. 1/20/1875; age 23-6-9. Rounds, Sarah, wife of Stephen Rounds, d. 2/12/1871; age 51-6-20. Civil War Soldier (no record). Flag.
278
HISTORY OF PORTER
French Cemetery
French, Isaac, d. 4/3/1879; age 76-11 mos.
Emily, wife of Isaac French, d. 6/2/1873; age 72-7-25.
Henry C., son of Woodman & Mary French, d. 11/29/ 1849: , age 10-2 days.
, Clinton W., son of W. & M. A. French, d. 4/17/1865; age 4-8-6.
, Jacob, son of W. & M. A. French, d. 3/23/1855; age 1-8-1. Libby, John M., d. 3/29/1865; age 58-7.
, Lavinia, wife of John M. Libby, d. 2/13/1847; age 37. ("Also her infant son.")
, Almira, dau. of John M. & Lavinia Libby, d. 9/24/1858; age 16-5-25.
Stanley, Susan M., wife of James Stanley; former wife of John M. Libby, d. 8/4/1870; age 62-7-26.
Libby-Mason Burial Ground
Libby, Hanson, d. 6/23/1861: age 88. (Town Clerk, 1807-1828).
, Lydia, wife of Hanson Libby, d. 1843. (Part of inscription broken off).
Mason, Abagail, wife of Henry Mason, d. 2/3/1857; age 54.
Isolated Grave on Libby Hill
Libby, John, son of Stephen Libby by his first wife, Mary Knowles, d. 1/21/1878; age 80-11-1.
Isolated Grave near the "Gilman Place"
Libby, James, son of Hanson and Lydia Libby, d. 11/14/1823; age 24 years. Flag.
Emery Burying-Ground
Emery, Theodore, d. 12/13/1851; age 72. , Mary, wife of Theodore Emery, d. 11/29/1849; age 67. , Edwin A., son of Theodore & Mary Emery, d. 8/10/1834; age 4.
279
PRIVATE AND COMMUNAL BURIAL GROUNDS
Sargent-Rounds Burying-Ground (Porterfield)
Sargent, Robert, d. 8/25/1880; age 57-11-14.
, Eliza M. Roberts, wife of Robert Sargent, d. 2/23/1862: age 31-11-25.
, Charlie N., son of Robert & Eliza M., d. 1/11/1873; age 11-1-22.
, Abbie B., dau. of Robert & Eliza M. Sargent, d. 12/14/ 1873; age 20-3-20.
Rounds, John S., 1855-1931.
, Lydia L. Sargent, wife of John S. Rounds, 1851-1922.
, Annie R., b. 7/27/1847; d. 10/13/1902.
, Ida A., dau. of Oren & Betsy Rounds, d. 2/8/1864; age 6-4-27.
,
Dorothy J., dau. of Oren & Betsy Rounds, d. 2/8/1864; age 3-8 mos.
Betsy, wife of Stephen Rounds, d. 7/9/1891; age 57-8-23. , Lord, George, d. 1/19/1865; age 62-6-9.
, Lydia, wife of George Lord, d. 3/22/1884; age 82-2-8.
, Mary, dau. of Lydia & George Lord, d. 9/7/1834; age 6-8 days.
Davis, Charles B., 1835-1911.
, Abbie H., wife of Charles B., 1851-1923.
, Joseph M., son of Ezra & Margaret Davis, d. 1/13/1863; age 19-6-8. Flag.
Charlotte S., dau. of Ezra & Margaret Davis, d. 9/5/1880; age 45-3 mos.
Merrifield, Stephen, husband of Samantha Merryfield, d. 5/31/ 1861; age 26-1-9.
Minnie May, dau. of Noah & Florence Merrifield, d. 12/14/1883; age 3-8-9.
Roberts Burial-Ground
Roberts, Abraham D., d. 9/7/1860; age 46-7 days.
, Almira, wife of John Kezar, formerly wife of A. D. Roberts, d. 8/14/1889; age 68-9-18.
280
HISTORY OF PORTER
, Jacob L., son of Abraham D. & Almira Roberts, d. 2/14/ 1844; age 17 days.
, Elder Joshua, d. 3/23/1839; age 71.
, Susan, wife of Elder Joshua Roberts, d. 3/8/1855; age 73-5 mos.
Leighton, Olive, d. 10/2/1817; age 53.
Day Burial-Ground
Day, Edmund, d. 4/30/1882; age 75-1-25.
, Catharine Stanley, wife of Edmund Day, d. 11/9/1873; age 56-1-27.
, Charles, son of Edmund & Catherine S. Day, d. 7/8/1869; age 20-11-11.
Pearl Burial-Ground
Mrs. Phebe, wife of Samuel O. Pearl, d. Nov. 16, 1856; age 39 years, 2 m. 21 days.
Note - all the other markers in this neglected burying-ground carry no inscriptions.
Libby Cemetery
Daniel Libby, d. Sept. ? (date broken off slab), 1818: age 32 years, 5 months. "He was the first male born in Porter".
Note - Daniel was the second son of Stephen Libby, by his first wife, Mary Knowles. He was born on April 3, 1786. Mary Rundlett Libby, the wife of Daniel Libby, d. Sept. 3, 1863; age 82-3-15.
Levi Libby, d. July 18, 1886; age 76-3-25.
Eliza D. Boothby Libby, wife of Levi Libby, d. March 22, 1892; age 80-8-15.
Mary J. Libby, dau. of Eliza D. & Levi Libby, d. Feb. 27, 1868; age 26-4-14.
Mary Libby, dau. of Eliza D. & Levi Libby, d. Apr. 27, 1840; age 1-3-9.
Warren Libby, b. Nov. 1, 1836, d. Feb. 9, 1919.
Mary Libby, wife of Warren Libby, d. Feb. 21, 1895; age 66 years, 2 months, 16 days.
281
PRIVATE AND COMMUNAL BURIAL GROUNDS
Almeda B. Harmon, wife of Levi Harmon, Jr., d. Nov. 26, 1877; age 30-7-23.
Jennie M. Harmon, dau. of Levi & Almeda B. Harmon,: Jr. d. 1/26/1893; age 21-7-21.
Leslie E. Norton, 1856-1922.
Hattie E. Norton, wife of L. E. Norton, 1864-1921.
Flora M. Norton, dau. of Leslie E. & Hattie E. Norton, 12/21/1890, d. 11/10/1911.
Charlie W., son of William F. & Julia A. York, d. 1/6/1882; age 10-5-25.
Kennard Hill Burial-Ground
Mary McCartee, wife of Stillman McCartee, d. 2/10/1851; age 44 years, 4 months.
Lucinda W., dau. of Mary & Stillman McCartee, d. 8/30/1854; age 6 years, 9 months.
French Burial-Ground
Jacob French, d. 3/6/1851; age 72-1-20. Wife, Mary, d. 3/18/1851; age 71-10-8.
Children of Samuel & Mary French:
Eunice A., d. 9/12/1851; age 1-6-21. Lewis H., d. 12/5/1853; age 6-2-9. Ida E., d. 4/1/1868; age 8 m. 25 days.
"Walker Place" Burial-Ground
Infant, son of Lenard & Jane Walker, d. 3/19/1880; age 7 m. 14 d. Benjamin Merrifield, d. 10/24/1861; age 29-7-6.
Son of B. Merrifield, d. 12/1(?)/1886; age 10 weeks.
Floid Burial-Ground
Lovel Floid, d. May 3, 1876; age 68 years. Olive, wife of Lovell Floid, d. July 25, 1886; age 87 years. Note - The usual spelling is "Floyd," not "Floid." The name "Lovel" and "Lovell" is here given as it appears in the inscription on the stone.
282
HISTORY OF PORTER
Libby-Fox Burial-Ground
John Libby, d. 10/10/1839; age 43-8-10. Mary G. Libby, d. 9/4/1865; age 72-2 days. John Fox, d. 4/13/1834; age 73. Rev. soldier.
Hubbard Burial-Ground
Seven graves marked by field stones on the "J. A. Hubbard Place."
XXX
BASEBALL AND OTHER SPORTS Reviewed by George French
The town of Porter, from away back in the days of bare-handed players and unprotected catchers, has produced her share of good teams and star players.
We have no records of teams from the village of Porter in compe- tition with clubs from out of town, except that of around 1900 when Walter Cross caught, Mark Sawyer and Geo. Tewksbury pitched, and Arthur Gilman, Jesse Gilman, Vernon Stanley, Ollie Libby, Laurie Libby, Charlie Sawyer and Merle French were the other players, but Kezar Falls which lies in two towns, Porter and Parsonsfield, has produced many teams that were outstanding, even when playing clubs from Westbrook and Portland.
According to our helpful former Postmaster of Porter Village, Samuel Blazo, they did have an organized team back in the 1870s known as the Porter Stars which, according to reliable sources had one of the mightiest swatters of all time, catcher Al Stanley. One of the never-to-be-forgotten incidents of those days was this man's performance on the field in Kezar Falls which then lay in the tri- angle now bounded by School, Main and Bridge Streets. Al with his mighty bat is said to have hit one that would have made even a Mantle or a Ruth envious. This prodigious swat is said to have traveled from about where the Methodist Church steps now set, up, up and far away, to soar clean over the Brooks home on the hill, now occupied by Stacy Weeks!
It is most regrettable that the historical Society does not have that bat and ball among its many mementos.
Other players on the Stars' team were Preston Stanley, Fred
B
A
Kezar Falls Baseball Team of 1903. Standing, left to right: Ralph Merrifield, L.F .; Walter Ridlon, P. and R.F .; Harry Lord, 3rd; Elwood Elliot, Manager; Eben Day, P .; Sherman
Stanley, 1st. Sitting, left to right: Frank Wescott, C .; Frank Stearns, C.F .; Lawrence Wight, 2nd; Geo. French, S.S. Photo by Florence G. Norton
The earliest available photo of a Kezar Falls Baseball Team (1888). Standing, left to right: Percy Davis, Nathan Currier, Frank Hubbard, Frank Palmer, Fred Towle, Elwin Norton, Geo. Kezar. Sitting, left to right: Bert Collins, Charles Fox, Fred Fox. The only surviving member of this group in 1956 was Fred Towle. He died in Aug. (1956) at the age of 84.
The first baseball team organized in South Hiram (1897). Standing, left to right: Will Stearns, Earl Stanley, Will Chellis, Frank Gilpatrick, Arthur Smith, Burt Smith, Frank Ridlon, Melvin Smith. Sitting, left to right: Frank Stearns, Archie McDaniel, Burt Gilpatrick.
286
HISTORY OF PORTER
Wentworth, Henry, Charles and John French, Elmer Sawyer, Ells- worth Sawyer and Charles Cross.
Coming down to the early Eighties we find records of the first Kezar Falls team to carry out a complete summer's schedule. This was in 1884. Teams played were Cornish, Groveville, Hiram and Brownfield. Local players were Charles Stacy, c., Frank Shaw, p., J. Chapman, 1st, Benton, 2d, E. Chapman, 3rd, E. Wadleigh, s.s., Herbert Ridlon, r.f., Charles Wales, c.f., Geo Wadleigh, l.f.
Two years later we find several other players carrying on, viz .; Percy Davis, Elwin Norton, Sidney Stacy, Charles Fox, Fred Fox, Fred Taylor, Gus Kennison, and J. Moran.
Among the players mentioned to this point the heavy hitter of the lot was Chas. O. Stacy; the most consistent hitter, Elwin Norton.
In those days a pitcher was allowed to throw five balls at the bat- ter, which was to his advantage. On the other hand, he had to throw four strikes to retire the batter, but it was not necessary for the catcher to hold the fourth strike.
It was in 1887 that Fred Towle, who later on earned the reputa- tion of being our most eccentric player, nevertheless of big time calibre, pitched his first game on the regular team, at the age of 16, and although losing to Fryeburg, 16 to 17, he struck out four men and made two runs.
By 1889, Towle was fast becoming well known as a pitcher of no ordinary ability, and throughout the 90s was pitching professional ball in "the Provinces."
Speaking of his eccentric tendencies, an incident is recalled which occurred in 1901 at So. Windham in a game which he was pitching against "The Irons" of Westbrook. It was near the end of the game with the score tied, if my memory serves me correctly. The Irons were at bat. Fred had just been complaining to the umpire about the ball which had dropped several stitches. The "ump" evidently didn't like Towle's manner of addressing him, so refused to give him a better one. Knowing Fred as I did, I realized that it cost him a tremendous effort of will power to heave that next ball, but he did it. The batter connected, but 'twas a foul ball over into the woods. (Towle has often contended since that he forced the batter to do just
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that). Anyhow, he now had every reason for demanding a new ball, and he did, in no polite words.
The ump evidently was a stubborn old boy himself, for instead of obliging as he should have done with a decent ball, he yelled for faster action in returning the old one, while Towle stood there like a wooden statue, so tense that the crowd was on tip-toe, expecting something violent to happen, and it did. The old ball came sailing back, but Fred made no effort to catch it. Instead, he dodged it. It landed kersmack against the umpire's mid-section. Fred was indis- creet enough to turn with a grin on what would have done credit to Joe E. Brown. The ump in an attempt to show much dignity, slowly bent, picked up the ball and with flushed face extended his hand with the seedy ball therein to Towle. Fred hesitated a second, then grabbing it, turned and hurled it so far into the woods that it was forever beyond retrieving. The ump, with an apopleptic face, stared at Fred in uncertainty for a moment, then yelled, "The game is called in favor of The Irons."
Towle never was a whirlwind when moving about on the ball field, but he did have speed and control, and a rising inshoot that was never excelled by other local players of his era. I well recall several personal experiences that I suffered, so to speak, when I was about nine years old, which served to show something of Fred's con- trol and self-confidence. At the edge of the woods back of his home was a sand bank which served as a backstop, so he would lay a shingle near it; place me in an imaginary batter's box, then warn me very persuasively not to move, even when the ball should be speeding directly at me. "Remember," he would say, "don't dodge, for it will curve away from you, or will shoot up over your head when about to hit you." Although all a-tremble, I would shut my eyes and just stand there till the ball plunked into the bank, then heave it back, each spasm of fear making me one cent richer. Not once, during those trying experiences, was I hit, otherwise I couldn't now be speaking of them. I could go on at great length, relating anecdotes about this unique baseball character, but after two more, will get on with my regular story.
We were playing at Freedom, N. H., in 1910, I believe - anyhow
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K. F. Base Ball Team of 1908. Left to right: Walter Ridlon, p., Art Smith, outfield, Sherm Stanley, 1st, Archie McDaniel, c., Harold McDaniel, outfield, Geo. French, 3d, Carl Stacy, outfield, Vernon Gilpatrick, sub. c., Frank Wes- cott, s.s.
K. F. Base Ball Team of 1921. Front row, from left: Roy Linscott, c., Archie Stanley, p. and c.f., Charley Fox, s.s., Edson Hadlock, 2d and outfield, Carl Pugsley, outfield, Not local. Rear row: Frank Stearns, mgr., Harley Parker, Harold Mitchell, 1st, Walter Ridlon, p., Tom Dignan (Holy Cross), p., Not local, Frank Jock, c., Fred Small, 3d, Frank Palmer, scorer, Elwood Elliott, umpire.
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K. F. Base Ball Team of 1925. Front, left to right: Maynard Burnell, Edson Hadlock, Roy Meserve, Frank Stearns. Rear, left to right: Elwood Elliott, Charley Fox, Harold Mitchell, Roy Day, Frank Holmes, Harry Watson, Carl Pugsley.
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K. F. Base Ball Team of Early 1930s. Front, standing, from left: Hugh Stearns, Frank Stearns, mgr., Dave Turcotte, infield, Harry Hadlock, infield, Harry Huntress, sub., Joe Weeks, c., Del Collomy, infield, Roger Stearns. Rear row, from left: Wm. Cross, p. and outfield, John Garner, p., Howard Fox, outfield, John Casey, 1st, Myron Stacy, outfield, not local, not local. The two in front are Bill Tarbox, Randolph Stacy.
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Kezar Falls Baseball Team (1935). Front: Wayland Hawker, Allen Garner, Business Manager, Randall Stacy, Charles Fox, Gramp Tarbox, Warner Waler. Rear: Harry Hadlock, ? Tur-
cotte, John Garner, ? Chemard, Dave Turcotte, John Casey, Del Callomy, Dan Hadlock. Note: In 1931, this team lost but one game (Sebago Lake) Saco Valley League.
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it was some time after Fred had laid his old glove on the shelf, pre- sumably for keeps. But there he was, speeding them over in pretty much his old form, and the assorted team of college stars were not hitting him at all freely, while we, principally due to the good hit- ting of Archie McDaniel, Carl Stacy, Carroll Wales and others were keeping the score on an even keel. Then occurred "one of those things" - a high pop fly seemingly was coming down plumb into Towle's hands. We all watched Fred get set for it, then - Horrors! When it was within twenty feet of his hands, he suddenly ducked and yelled, "Take it, George!" And there I was back by second base where a runner was prancing about like a terrier on a leash. Of course the game was won right there, as I wasn't within thirty feet of the ball, and a runner scored while Fred was standing there giving me a call down.
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