Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 102

Author: Kingsbury, Henry D; Deyo, Simeon L., ed
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York, Blake
Number of Pages: 1790

USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892 > Part 102

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Henry V. Dudley, born in 1836 in Winthrop, is a son of Captain Henry M. and Mary (Whittier) Dudley, and grandson of Benjamin Dudley, who came from Raymond, N. H., to Mt. Vernon. Captain Henry M. came to Winthrop in 1834, and was a blacksmith and veter -. inary surgeon. Henry V. learned both branches of the business with his father, and since about 1876 he has carried on a blacksmith busi -. ness and done veterinary work here. His present shop was the first Friends meeting house built in Winthrop. Mr. Dudley married Mary J. Smith, of Prince Edward's Island. They have one child, Fannie M. They lost two-Charles S. and Lena J.

John Gouver

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JOHN GOWER .- In 1842 William Gower, a native of Franklin county, Me., married Hester A. Chandler, of Winthrop, and two years later took up his residence in this town. His farm, still in the pos- session of the family, is on the western shore of Lake Maranacook, two miles north of Winthrop village. Here were born his five chil- dren: Ellen (Mrs. John Doughty), December 30, 1843; John, August 28, 1845: George, May, 1855, who died in infancy; Albert S., May 2, 1859, and Edwin F., March 28, 1863.

John, the subject of this sketch, passed his boyhood working on his father's farm, and gleaning in the intervals from labor such learning as could be acquired in the district school of his native town, and later in Towle Academy. When he had reached the age of nineteen he began the real battle of life by teaching for five years in the dis- trict schools, in high schools out of town, and, for a short time, in Towle Academy.

In 1869 he embarked in the subscription book business, in which he was destined to achieve an exceptional and substantial success. Beginning as a canvasser for A. J. Johnson, of New York, in about two years' time he had acquired such a thorough comprehension of the scope of the business that he himself began to employ agents, whom he sent out over the country, and during the following ten years he was connected with several publishing houses as their general agent in New England and New York state, handling many thousands of volumes of Johnson's, Appleton's, and the People's encyclopedias. In the meantime he had married, in November, 1877, Mary M., daugh- ter of the late Dr. A. F. Stanley, of Winthrop, a sketch of whose career is contained in Chapter XV. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Gower settled upon the Benjamin Stevens place, on the Readfield road, and here, since that time, he has actively carried on the busi- ness of farming-a pleasant diversion from the cares of his large book publishing business. On this farm were born his two children: Annie B. Gower, December 21, 1879, and Stanley M. Gower, June 25, 1882.

For the last eleven years Mr. Gower has been connected with the C. A. Nichols Company, publishers, of the city of Springfield, Mass., handling their regular subscription books in New England, the Mid- dle States, Canada and the West. His youngest brother, Edwin F., is his partner in the western business, with headquarters at Ann Arbor, Mich.

Mr. Gower was appointed a trial justice by Governor Marble No- vember 22, 1888, and in 1890 was elected school supervisor of Win- throp for the term of three years. He held aloof from active politics, however, until the summer of 1892, when he was urged by his friends to accept a place on the republican ticket as candidate for representa- tive, and was elected to the legislature of 1893-4 for the towns of

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Winthrop, Belgrade and Rome. In the promotion of the temporal and spiritual welfare of the community in which he lives Mr. Gower is an earnest and unflagging worker. He has always been associated with the temperance work in Winthrop, and he is a prominent mem- ber of the Methodist church, of which for years he has been class leader, steward and trustee. He has also been superintendent of the Methodist Sunday school, and in many ways has aided largely in the advancement of the church society.

Mr. Gower is a Mason and member of Trinity Commandery, of Augusta.

Silas T. Floyd, born in New Sharon in 1820, is the only survivor, of a family of four children of Samuel and Annie (Thayer) Floyd, and grandson of Nathaniel Floyd. His mother was a lineal descendant in the seventh generation, from John Alden, the Pilgrim. Mr. Floyd came to Winthrop in 1821, with his parents, who settled near where he now lives. He has been a farmer, excepting fifteen years that he was employed in oilcloth shops. He was two years selectman and one year representative. He married Margaret, daughter of Enos Chand- ler, who was in the war of 1812 and was confined eighteen months in Dartmore Prison, England. Their children have been: Ada M. (Mrs. Prof. C. E. Smith), Enos F. and Albion C., who died at the age of seven.

Martin A. Foster, born in 1834, is the youngest of eight children of Oliver and Lydia (Perkins) Foster, grandson of Stuart, whose father, Timothy Foster, came from Dedham, Mass., to what is now Winthrop in 1764, and the following spring brought his family. The farm where he settled is now owned by Daniel C. Robbins. Mr. Foster is a farmer on the place where his maternal grandfather, Ben- jamin Perkins, settled when he came from Dartmouth, Mass., to Win- throp in 1800. He married Rosilla, daughter of Ebenezer Morrow. Their children are: Hattie L., who married Charles Kilbreth; Cora M., who married Edgar Parkman ; Edwin M., John A. and Lena E.

Eugene S. French, born in Manchester in 1849, is a son of George W., and grandson of Joseph French. He worked seven years at the oilcloth business, and since then has been clerk in grocery and meat stores. He was elected town clerk in 1891 and 1892. He married M. Carrie, daughter of Charles F. Dunn, of Litchfield. They have one daughter, Ada M.

Alfred Friend, son of Benjamin Friend, was a farmer in Etna, Me., where he died in 1849. He married Betsey, daughter of Amos, and granddaughter of William Tucker. They had seven children,

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three of whom are living: John T., Samuel B. and Amos T. Those that died were: Sarah A., Mary Elizabeth, Warren A. and Daniel W. Mrs. Friend came to Winthrop in 1854, and bought the farm where she now lives with her son, Samuel B.

Nathan D. Hamblen, the youngest and only survivor of four chil- dren of George and Sarah J. (Elder) Hamblen, and grandson of John Hamblen, was born in 1853, at Windham, Me. Mr. Hamblen is a farmer at Winthrop Centre, where he has lived since 1855. He mar- ried Florence I. Nelson, born in Winthrop, Me., in 1854. She is a daughter of Joseph R. Nelson, and granddaughter of Isaac Nelson, who came to Winthrop from Byfield, Mass., and in 1812 married Isabel Rice. Mrs. Hamblen's mother is Abbie H., daughter of David Hill. They have two children: Edna A. and George N.

L. P. Hersey, son of Thomas Hersey, was born at Auburn, Me., in 1838. In 1857 he went to Boston and was engaged in shoe manufac- turing as an employé and owner for several years, then came to Au- gusta and started a shoe store. He is now an equal partner with his son, Fred L., in two leading shoe stores in Augusta, having retired from the active management of the business. He now resides at his country residence on the shores of Cobbosseecontee lake, and devotes most of his time to the management of one of the largest farms in Kennebec county. He owns what is known as the Fuller farm, In- dian point, the three islands in Cobbosseecontee lake, and all the land formerly owned by I. A. Carr, from Twelfth brook to Richards pond. His first wife, Nancy Harlow, died leaving two sons: Henry H. and Fred L. His present wife was Evelyn P. Wellman. She is a niece of Hon. William P. Whitehouse. justice of the supreme court of Maine.

Fred L. Hewins, born in 1850, is one of nine children of John and Roxanna (Rockwood) Hewins, and grandson of Ebenezer and Zilphia (Cummings) Hewins. He spent five years in California in a saw mill, from 1873 to 1876 was in a saw mill in Manchester, and since 1878 has been a farmer in Winthrop, having bought a part of the Elias Whit- ing farm. The house in which he lives was built by David T. Whit- ing in 1855. Mr. Hewins married Malista J., daughter of Tabor Lyon. Their children are: Georgia A., Ella M. and Violet E.

OAKES HOWARD is a son of Nathan and Lydia (Copeland) Howard, who removed from West Bridgewater, Mass., to Winthrop, in 1802, and settled on a farm on the Monmouth road. Here Oakes was born, December 21, 1803, and here he still resides, a remarkable example of hale and vigorous old age. Nathan Howard was by trade a house painter, and at the early age of fifteen Oakes undertook the manage- ment of the farm. Success attended the boy's efforts and when, on reaching his majority, he began working the farm on his own account,

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he easily maintained a place in the front rank of the agriculturists of his native town.

In December, 1828, he married Hannah A., daughter of Nathan F. Cobb. Of their six children, four are living: Henry C., John R. and Emily S. (Mrs. Leroy Bishop), who reside in Minnesota; and George, who is engaged in farming near the homestead in Winthrop. Mr. Howard's first wife died in 1849, and in 1852 he married his present companion, Mrs. Betsey T. Hahn, a daughter of Joseph Tinkham, formerly a merchant at Winthrop.

Mr. Howard has held a number of town offices at various periods of his long career. For two years in the " forties" he was constable and collector, eleven times he was elected selectman, and for eighteen years he held the commission of justice of the peace. In politics he was at first with the federalists, but since the close of the rebellion he has voted with the republican party. He took an active part in the formation of the Winthrop Agricultural Society, about 1825. This society, however, was soon merged in the Kennebec County Agricult- ural Society, located first at Winthrop and later at Readfield, of which Mr. Howard was elected president about 1835, and held the office for a number of years. The annual fairs held by this association served as an incentive to Mr. Howard's natural love for pomology, and about 1849 he began raising apples for market in a thoroughly scientific manner. He paid especial attention to the cultivation of the " Bald- win " and the " Roxbury Russet," for he found that they kept longer and sold better than any other variety. His fruit growing interests have never been extensive, but probably no orchardist in Maine has realized as large profits per acre as Mr. Howard through the series of years in which he has been engaged.

Fred A. Jackson, born in 1855, youngest son of Samuel Jackson, is a farmer and also runs a threshing machine and cider mill. He mar- ried Laura, daughter of Albert C. Carr, and their children are: Elvin M., Albert G., F. Irving and Ruby Julia.

Virgil C. Jackson, eldest of seven children of Samuel, and a grand- son of Caleb Jackson, was born in Winthrop in 1846. Caleb Jackson came to Winthrop from Bridgewater in 1820.' Virgil C. was fourteen years in a boot and shoe factory, and since 1881 has carried on the meat business at East Winthrop, as did his father prior to his death in 1890. He married Alice J., daughter of Richard R. Smith, of Hallo- well. Their children are: Archie A., Thomas C., Mary J., Asa C., Robert V., Philip R., and one daughter that died-Edna.

LEVI JONES .- The early settlers of Kennebec county made work the first article of their creed, and they taught their children to put their faith in strict honesty and hard work. Many of these sons are still alive, and their characteristics are worthy of imitation by the younger men who are longing for success. Sturdy, resolute, self-centered, up-

Oakes Howard

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right, and possessed of great capacity for work, they have made wise use of the native faculties of their minds, even if they could not boast of the benefits of a modern education.

Levi Jones is a good example of this class of men, and it is be- lieved that his active life and its influence on other men give him a place in the history of this town and county. His ancestors were among the pioneer settlers of the state. Thomas Jones and Thankful, his wife, seem to have come from Wales to Hanover, Plymouth county, Mass., about the year 1690. They are the first of the name of whom we have any knowledge in Maine, and it is not known in what year they moved into the state. They were active Friends in Falmouth monthly meeting. Their particular meeting was held at Harpswell. Their son, Lemuel, was born in 1730, and was an esteemed minister of the Society of Friends. He married Wait Estes, the 7th of March, 1751. Of their twelve children, Edward was the sixth and was born the 7th of April, 1762. He married Mary Tuttle. Their second child, Reuben, was born near the line between Brunswick and Durham in 1787. He married Lavina, daughter of Abiather and La- vina Richmond, of Greene, November 29, 1810, and settled in Win- throp, on a part of the farm now occupied by Daniel Robbins. They lived there a short time and then moved to Temple, Franklin county (then a part of Kennebec county). There Levi Jones, their fourth child and the subject of this sketch, was born September 8, 1816.

Reuben Jones was a tanner and shoemaker. He was a prominent member of the Society of Friends. He soon moved to Wilton and afterward to Leeds, and was acknowledged a minister by the meeting in that place. In later life he moved again to Winthrop, where he lived until 1868.

Levi Jones lived with and worked for his father until he was twenty-one years of age. A few weeks each year in the commnon dis- trict school was all the opportunity he had for an education. On at- taining his majority he began life for himself, working as a farm laborer. As he left home for this purpose, with only a very small bundle of clothes, his father took him as far as Dudley's Corner and there left him, saying: " Thee has done well for me and I hope thee will do well for thyself."

In 1840 he married Cynthia, daughter of Noah and Abigail Farr, of West Gardiner (then Gardiner), and settled in Winthrop, where he has lived nearly all the time since.

His work as a farmer lasted only a few years. In the autumn of 1843 he began work in the oilcloth factory of Moses Bailey, and re- mained there until 1847, when he went to Cape Cod to act as foreman in an oilcloth factory started there under the control of Jacob Vining. After a few months he returned to Winthrop to accept the position of foreman of the Winthrop factory, which position he held until

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1859. In 1860 he, with his brother, Reuben T. Jones, contracted to manufacture all the oilcloth produced in the factory of Charles M. Bailey at Winthrop village, receiving the raw material from the pro- prietor and delivering the finished article at so much per yard. Great success attended this arrangement, and through untiring industry and strict economy he accumulated a property which placed him among the wealthy men of the town. It continued until 1869.

Although he had gained a competency, he was not content to re- tire from active business, but in 1870 purchased the Winthrop grist mill and engaged in the grain business, continuing therein until 1883, when he sold the property to the Winthrop Mills Company. In 1886 his eldest son became of age and, to give him a start in life, he pur- chased the grocery business of Newland Bishop, at Winthrop village, in which business he has ever since been engaged with marked suc- cess. The firm name is now Levi Jones & Son.

His first wife died in 1863, leaving him no children. He was after- ward married to Mary, daughter of Joseph and Hannah Winslow, of Winthrop. He has four sons and one daughter by his second wife, all living at the present time.

He has always been a consistent member of the Society of Friends, taking a prominent part in the management of the affairs of the church. He was also an influential member of the Young Men's Christian Association during its existence in Winthrop, being its president for six years, and spent much of his time in carrying on the work of the association.

He has been active in the business affairs of the town, and was for some years chairman of the board of selectmen and assessors. In politics he was originally a whig, having cast his first presidential vote for Harrison and Tyler. Upon the formation of the republican party he entered its ranks and has steadily continued therein, holding a leading position, as his advice and counsel were constantly sought.

For over twenty-five years he has been a director of the National Bank of Winthrop, and the fact that he has been chosen every year a member of the board appointed to examine its books, shows the esti- mate which is placed by those who know him upon his honesty and exactness. He was president of the Winthrop Savings Bank during all the years of its existence, and wisely managed the closing out business after the great robbery.

Levi Jones has been a generous man, giving liberally to advance worthy causes and for the improvement of society, but in a quiet way, with no desire for public applause. In his mature age he is still an active man. He has put energy into everything he has undertaken, and has always mastered the business in which he was for the time engaged, not only showing ability for general management, but un- derstanding the minute details. His whole career is marked by faith-

Levigoras

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fulness, energy, uprightness and a just respect for his own opinion, which has won the respect of those who have known him and dealt with him. Success has not been thrust upon him, but he has worked carefully and faithfully and earned it and gained it. Many who have known him have found his advice and counsel wise and profitable, so that he has made himself a successful man and a useful citizen.

William H. Keith, born in Auburn, Me., in 1832, is a son of Wil- liam and Beersheba Ann (Prock) Keith. He began shoe cutting when twenty years old and after four years began manufacturing shoes and ·continued until 1874, when his health failed and two years later he came to Winthrop and bought the Major Elijah Wood farm of 170 acres, where he has since lived. He was one year selectman and four years a member of the school board. While residing at Auburn he served as councilman and alderman. He married Serena H. Walker, and their children are: Florence Adell (Mrs. Ernest Hayford), Walter E. L., and one infant son that died.

Horace Keyes, born at South Berwick, Me., in 1820, was a son of Samuel and Pheba (Shorey) Keyes and grandson of John Keyes. He was engaged in railroad work in Massachusetts from 1836 until 1872, when he came to Winthrop and has since been a farmer. His first wife, M. Ann Dunton, died leaving two children: Henry C. and Emma L. His second marriage, with Martha M., daughter of John Jones, was blessed with two children: H. Arthur and Alice E.

Amasa D. King is the fifth of a family of eight, of Amasa and Me- hitable (Jacobs) King, and grandson of Samuel and Susanna (Brainard) King. He is a farmer on the place where his father and grandfather lived. He married Elizabeth Orcutt, who died leaving two children: Emma C. (Mrs. George Whiting) and Luella W. (Mrs. Lafayette Chandler). His present wife was Sarah R., daughter of Ephraim Sturtevant. Their only child is Harry E. Mr. King's mother, born in 1798, died in 1892.

Benjamin F. King, born in 1821, is one of ten children of Ben- jamin and Olive (Rice) King, and grandson of Samuel and Susanna (Brainard) King. He is a house joiner and farmer, having a place of twenty acres, which was a part of the farm of his father. His wife, who died in 1865, was?'Ann C., daughter of Noah Wing, of Wayne. Their only child, Olive, now Mrs. Henry P. Joy, lives with her father.

Nelson N. Knight, born at North Wayne in 1825, is a son of Fran- cis and Martha J. (Norcross) Knight, and grandson of Amos Knight, who came from Falmouth, Me., to North Wayne prior to 1800. He was fourteen years in different places building and operating oil and candle factories, and was the first man to introduce the distillation process for the manufacture of candles, in Ohio. In 1861 he came to Winthrop and bought the place where he has since been a farmer. He married Lucy A., daughter of Jesse Bishop. Their children are: Alice M.,

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Jessie C. (Mrs. W. E. Moody), Lucy H. (Mrs. G. A. Thomas), and Nel -. lie M. They lost two-George N. and Martha J.

Seaward G. Lee, born in 1817 at Beverly, Mass., is a son of Seaward Lee. He learned the machinist trade, beginning at the age of seven- teen, and in 1841 came to Winthrop as superintendent of the cotton mill, and after a time bought an interest in the business and continued as superintendent of machinery until 1849, when he went to Califor- nia, where he spent four and a half years mining, then returned to Winthrop, where he has since lived. He married first, Eliza A. Water- house. His present wife was Mrs. Lucy C. Ramsdell, a daughter of Stephen W. Mitchell.

Lewis K. Litchfield, son of Jacob and Mary Ann (Webb) Litchfield, was born in 1831, at Lisbon, Me. He served in the late war-first in Company B, 1st New Hampshire, from April 29, 1861, for three months; then one year in the 5th New Hampshire Band. In Novem- ber, 1863, he reënlisted in Company I, 2d Maine Cavalry, and served until the war closed. He was for five years assistant inspector of Commander's staff, G. A. R., Department of Maine, and has been five years secretary of the Kennebec County Grange, P. of H. He mar- ried Sarah B., daughter of Sewall and Polly Page, died December 4,. 1891. Their children are: Charles J., Ida M. and Mary I., who died.

Charles H. Longfellow, born in 1834, is the only son of Greene A., grandson of David, and great-grandson of Stephen Longfellow. He was employed in oilcloth making until 1870, when he bought the farm where he has since lived. He served in the late war from March, 1864, until the close, in the 1st Maine Battery. He married Emma E., daughter of Joseph S. Smith, of Hallowell. Their children are: Car- rie M. (Mrs. Herbert Healey), C. Everett, Sarah P. (Mrs. Fred E. Wil- liams) and two that died-Lizzie P. and Alton S.

GEORGE ADAMS LONGFELLOW .- The history of the Longfellow family in this country dates back more than two centuries. William Longfellow, the first of the name here, was born in the county of Hampshire, England, in 1651, came to this country in 1663, and set- tled in Newbury, Mass., as a merchant. In 1690 he was ensign of a company that embarked in the expedition of Sir William Phipps against Quebec and perished by shipwreck off the island of Anticosti, in October of that year. His son, Stephen, was the first of six genera- tions of Stephen Longfellows. Stephen Longfellow, 4th, was the father of the great poet, Henry W. Longfellow. Stephen Longfel- low, 2d, had a brother, William, who was the great-grandfather of George A., the subject of this sketch.

David Longfellow, the father of George A., came from Newbury, Mass., in 1812, and settled on the farm in Winthrop where he ever after resided until his death. On this farm was born George A., May 6, 1813, and here he has always lived. His mother's name was Su-

George A Longfellow

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sanna Adams, a descendant of Robert Adams, tailor, from Devonshire, England, who came to Salem, Mass., in 1638, and to Newbury, Mass., in 1640, a member of the famous Adams family of Massachusetts. There were few opportunities afforded the farmers' boys in Mr. Long- fellow's boyhood days to acquire an education, compared with the present time. Nevertheless, by attending the district school, a mile or more from his home, in the winter season, and later Monmouth Academy, he fitted himself for a teacher and taught very successfully for several years. He was engaged for several years selling oilcloths, when this great industry was yet in its infancy in Winthrop. For this purpose he traveled extensively throughout the United States.

In November, 1841, he was united in marriage with Eveline Foster, of Phillips, Me., a woman of great worth and of most beauti- ful traits of character, the daughter of Isaac Foster, Esq .; and for more than fifty years now they have walked hand in hand the path- way of life. The prominent traits in his life and character have been his great attachment to his family and home, his rugged honesty, sterling integrity and great industry. His specialty in farming has been orcharding, in which he has been very successful. "Longfellow Russets" are noted throughout New England, being much sought after by dealers and always commanding highest prices. He has demonstrated that farming pays and has acquired a competence.

Mr. Longfellow has always been honored and respected by every- body acquainted with him, as few men are honored and respected. Of a modest, retiring disposition, he has never sought political honors, and could rarely be prevailed upon to accept them; always a republi- can since the formation of that party, yet conservative and fair to those opposed to his political faith. He has been a member of the legislature and eleven consectutive years one of the selectmen and as- sessors of his native town. His proudest epitaph will be: " An honest man."

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Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 102

Author: Kingsbury, Henry D; Deyo, Simeon L., ed Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York, Blake Number of Pages: 1790

Author: Kingsbury, Henry D; Deyo, Simeon L., ed
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York, Blake
Number of Pages: 1790