Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 72

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 72

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Ira H. Low, son of Ivory and Fannie (Colcord) Low, was born in Fairfield in 1818. In 1843 he began as a drug clerk for William Dyer, and after two years he became an owner in a drug store, and has since continued in that line of business, except for six years. He married Ellen M., daughter of John Caffrey. Their children are: Mary (Mrs. L. D. Carver), Fannie and Hortense. They lost four children: Hattie, Ellen, Sarah and Ira L.

Charles R. McFadden, born in 1820, is a son of Charles and Tem- perance (Blackwell) McFadden, and grandson of Daniel McFadden, who came from Georgetown and was among the early settlers of Vas- salboro. He was three years a merchant at East Vassalboro, and three years a deputy sheriff. In 1857 he came to Waterville, where he con- tinued to be deputy sheriff several years. He was high sheriff from 1884 to 1888, postmaster from 1861 to 1879, fourteen years a member of the republican town committee, and in July, 1890, was appointed immigrant inspector. He was nine years in the dry goods business in Waterville, firm of C. R. McFadden & Son. He married Emma H., daughter of Jacob Butterfield. They had three children: Alice, Andrew L. and Zaidee, who died.

Paul Marshall, born in 1842, is a son of Horatio and Flora (Baldick) Marshall, who came to Waterville in 1843 from St. Francis, Canada. He was a river driver and worked at lumbering until 1870, when he opened a grocery and provision store on Water street, and has con-

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tinued that business since. His first wife, Sarah Lashus, died leaving two daughters-Emma and Nellie. His present wife was Mary Beleddo. Their children are: Hattie, Marion, Sadie and Mary L. He has been a member of the board of aldermen since 1891.

Frederick Trenck Mason, son of Chase P. and Mary J. (Clough) Mason, was born in Newport, Me., in 1843. He served in the late war from 1861 to 1865, entering the service in Company B, 11th Maine. In 1862 he was made second lieutenant of his company and later was made first lieutenant of Company F, and afterward was brevetted major. He was wounded April 9, 1865, by the last volley that was fired in the war in Virginia. He came to Waterville in 1866 and bought of George W. Pressey the 225 acre farm, where his ranch now is. He married Sarah J., daughter of Dr. Hiram Collins, of Amesbury, Mass. Their children are: Frederick T. and Maude (Mrs. William Gulliver.)

J. L. Merrick, son of Hall C. Merrick, was born in 1845 in Troy, Me., and was educated in the public schools of his native and adjacent towns. In July, 1862, he entered the army in Company C, 19th Maine, and served until October, 1864. He spent the next fourteen years in farming summers and teaching winters, and in 1878 began to handle nursery stock, and soon after he became a partner in several nursery farms and he has devoted his whole attention to that business since 1878, sometimes employing as many as sixty agents. He came to Waterville in 1888, where he is identified with politics and several social organizations. He married Susan H. Ward, and their children are: Maude M., Nellie M., Hubert J., Frank L. and Bessie A.

Elwood G. Merrill, son of Edward W. and Rebecca Elizabeth (Wyman) Merrill, was born January 21, 1860, in Vassalboro, and was educated in the public and high schools of Windsor and China and at Dirigo Business College. He taught school from 1879 until 1883, and in September of that year began to learn the art of photography. He remained in Augusta until January 1, 1886, when he came to Water- ville, where he worked in the studio of C. G. Carleton until 1890, when he opened his present business, and in December, 1891, took posses- sion of his present commodious parlors. He married Etta M., daugh- ter of Nathan Hall, and they have one son, Nathan Edward.

John F. Merrill, son of Ezekiel and Pheba V. (Farrington) Merrill, was born in 1821, at Andover, Me., learned the machinist's trade in Boston, and after working two years in Portland came to Waterville in 1851, where for thirty years he was employed at his trade for the railroad company. His wife was Lucy W. Parker, of Waterville. They lost their only son, John H., at the age of nine years.

BENJAMIN G. MITCHELL is a representative of the successful farmers of a generation which is nearly gone. His father, Joseph, was the only son of Jeremiah, who was born in 1740 and was lost at sea. Jeremiah married Mary Gunnerson, and their children were: Mary,

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Eunice, Sarah, Hannah, Lucy and Joseph, who was born in 1768 and died in 1861. This Joseph Mitchell came to Waterville] from Old York, Me., in 1807, and bought a farm of 200 acres, a few of which were cleared and a small house was built. He brought with him a young wife, who, before marriage, was Dorathea Blaisdell, of Kittery, Me. Mary, their eldest child, married Benjamin Williams, of China, by whom she had four children. Her second husband was John Penney, of Belgrade. Jeremiah Mitchell, the second child, married Sarah McNall, and is now, at the age of ninety-six, and she at ninety- three, living at Gasport, N. Y. They have had four children. Ezra, the third, lived to be eighty-eight years old and died at Minot, Me. Joseph, jun., was the fourth. Hannah, the next, married Stephen Bailey, and is now living in Oakland, eighty six years old. Theodore, the sixth, now eighty-three years old, is living in Boston. Elijah was the seventh.

Benjamin G., the youngest, was born on the 200-acre farm in Waterville June 3, 1815. After the age of ten years he helped on the farm summers and only went to school winters, and short terms at that. Farm work was not the bitter medicine in those times that it is now. Arrived at manhood he chose for a wife, and married in 1841, Betsey L., daughter of. Rogers and granddaughter of Jonathan Coombs, of West Waterville. Buying an acre of land adjoining his father's farm, which had now grown to 280 acres, the young couple began a career of intelligent industry that has been a prosperous and happy one. Their children have been: Ellen M., died in 1860, eighteen years old; Ann E., married Martin B. Soule, and died in Worthington, Minn., in 1870, thirty years old; Mary F., died in 1866, twenty-one years old; Howard R., born in 1850, educated at Colby University, and for the ministry at Newton Theological Seminary, now preaching at Dover, Me., married Alice J. Hook, of Clairmount, N. H., and has two children-Frank H. and Grace A .; and Ira A., who was born in 1855, and married Angelia Cottle, of Waterville. They have four children: Mildred A., Kittie M., Edith B. and Alton D.

In 1876 Mr. Mitchell left the farm to his son, Ira A., and bought his present residence in Waterville city. While on the farm he cleared ninety acres of woodland and drew the wood to the city. Sheep and oxen were his favorite stock. Soon after coming to town he became a partner with Joseph Bates in the grocery business. Two years later he sold out and bought another grocery, in which he did business six years. Since then he has made seven trips to the West, making investments in Iowa and Minnesota. Mr. Mitchell has always been an earnest republican in politics. He was converted when thirty-five years old and joined the Sidney and Waterville Free Bap- tist church, and in 1855, with Charles Trafton, John Blaisdell, John

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Earle and his brothers, Joseph and Elijah, built the church that is still standing.

Elijah Mitchell, born in 1812, is a farmer near his father's home- stead. He married Catharine T., daughter of John and Lydia B. (Trafton) Blaisdell, and granddaughter of Elijah, who was a son of David Blaisdell. They had two sons, both deceased-John B. and Charles E.

Joseph Mitchell, jun., the third son of Joseph, born in 1804, was a farmer until his death a few years ago. His wife was Mehitable Blaisdell. They had nine children. Joseph, the oldest survivor, is a farmer on the east part of the farm where he was born in 1832. He married Mary A. Williams, and their children are: Frank D., Fred, William and Cora A.

Samuel H. Morrill, born in 1838, at Readfield, was a son of Samuel and Sarah H. (Hutchinson) Morrill, and grandson of Nathaniel Morrill. He made three trips to California. He was a farmer in Readfield until 1875, when he went into the grain and grocery business at Read- field Depot, where he continued until November, 1890, when he sold his business there and came to Waterville the following year. He built a grain store and started business at Waterville in 1891, which he sold out soon afterward. His wife is Mary Ella, daughter of Henry Greeley. They have two children-Evie G. and Charles H.

Howard C. Morse, born in 1856, is one of eight children of Com- fort T. (1822-1870) and Ann R. (Ballentine) Morse, and grandson of Samuel and Sarah (Taylor) Morse. He was educated in the district school, Coburn Classical Institute and Dirigo Business College. He remained on the farm until 1882, then spent one year in Illinois as a traveling salesman. He was six years in the grocery business in Waterville, in Dirigo Market, prior to 1890. He was an alderman and a councilman, one term each, and since 1891 has been assessor. In 1890 he married Phebe E., daughter of William (1813-1892) and Caro- line (Farnsworth) Marston, granddaughter of William, who was a son of Isaiah, whose father, Prince, was a son of Benjamin and Lydia (Goodspeed) Marston, who in 1716 went from Taunton, Mass., to Barnstable, Mass., where the family have been prominent since that time.

Augustus Otten, born in 1853, in Germany, is a son of Julius Otten. He came to America in 1866, and spent three years in New York, learning the baker's trade. He was in various kinds of business in New York and New England until 1883, when he came from Massa- chusetts to Waterville and bought of A. C. Crocker a small bakery, which he has enlarged and extended until the business furnishes em- ployment for eight men and several teams. He married Della, daugh- ter of Silas Richardson.

William Percival, born in 1786, in Sandwich, Mass., was a son of

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Benjamin and grandson of John Percival. He came to Winslow in 1804, and three years later he moved to Cross Hill, Vassalboro, where he was a farmer until his death, in 1859. He married Betsey Fair- field, and they had eight children: Sumner, Clarissa, Saphronia, Jo- seph, Homer, Warren, Eliza and Harriet Ellen. Joseph, the eldest survivor, was born in 1813, came to Waterville in 1833, and in 1835, in company with his brother, started a general store, which he continued until 1859. Since that time he has been a farmer, giving special at- tention to the breeding of Jersey stock. In 1835 he married Emeline, daughter of James and granddaughter of James Gray. Her mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. Ezekiel Brown. Their children are: Annie E., Henry H., Frank J. and three that died-Albert W., Willie C. and Morrell.

Nathan Perry (1803-1883), son of Ebenezer, and grandson of Na- than Perry, who was a native of Cape Cod, Mass., was a farmer on the place where his widow now lives. His first wife had one son and two daughters, one of whom is now living -- Julia A. (Mrs. C. A. Mitchell, of Mechanics' Falls, Me.) His second marriage was with Rachel, daughter of Obadiah Field, of Sidney. One of their two daughters is living-Dora, (Mrs. Augustus M. Sawtelle, of Sidney).

Fred Pooler was born November 26, 1842, at St. George, Province of Quebec, and came to Waterville with his father, Frederick, in 1848. He opened a grocery store on Water street November, 1863, where he has carried on business since that time. He was a member of the board of aldermen in 1888, and during the three years following was overseer of the poor. His wife is Sarah Pooler, and their children are: Mary, Lena, Lucy, Hattie, James E. and Lottie.

Samuel L. Preble was born in Bath, Me., where he received his education. In 1875 he began photograph work in Bath, and from 1876 until 1885 he worked at the business in Brunswick. He was in Chi- cago from 1885 until 1891, and while there he studied at the Chicago Art Institute. He came to Waterville in 1891, where he is a member of the firm of Preble & Jordan. He married Miss Powers, of Tops- ham, Me.

The firm of Proctor and Flood was formed in 1889. H. L. Proctor, a native of Waterville, is a son of Jeremiah G., and grandson of Joseph Proctor. He has been a mason by trade since 1867, and since 1874 has been a contractor. He has been a member of the city council since 1889. His wife was Annie Mendum, and they have one daugh- ter, Lottie J. Alfred Flood is a native of Clinton. He is a son of John, jun., and Lucinda (Wells) Flood. He began mason work in 1863. He married Jane H., daughter of Samuel Richardson, and their only daughter is Stella (Mrs. Robert Lambert). They lost two sons. Since the organization of this firm they have manufactured their own brick.

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Horace Purinton, son of Amos and Martha J. (Patterson) Purinton, was born in Bowdoin, Me., in 1850. In 1869 he began to learn the trade of brick mason. In 1875 he came to Waterville, and the follow- ing year, in company with Mr. Norton, began contract work. The firm of Norton & Purinton was succeeded in 1887 by Purinton & Co. Mr. Purinton has been engaged in brick making in connection with contract work since 1877, and the firm now owns a yard in Winslow, capacity one and a half millions; one at Augusta of similar size; one at Waterville with three millions capacity, and one at Skowhegan with one million capacity. In 1877 only one million brick were made in Kennebec county, while in 1892 Purinton & Co. alone will make about seven millions. Mr. Purinton's wife is Clara M., daughter of Rev. Nehemiah Preble. Their two children are: Alice M. and Mar- tha B.

Silas Redington (1793-1876) was a son of Asa Redington, who was a revolutionary soldier, and soon after the close of that conflict came from Massachusetts with his brother, Samuel. Asa settled in Water- ville, and Samuel in Vassalboro. Asa married a Miss Getchell for his second wife, and their children were: Asa, jun., Samuel, Silas, Will- iam, Isaac, Emily, Mary and Harriet. Silas was a lumberman and civil engineer. He married in 1820 a Miss Stevens, who died in 1842, leaving three children: William Augustus, John H. and Harriet A. Both sons are deceased. His second wife was Mrs. Caroline M. Phillips.

Samuel Redington, the second son of Asa, was in the lumber busi- ness with others until about 1850. He was a prominent Calvinistic Baptist, and was among the early abolitionists. He married Nancy, daughter of Asa Parker. Their only son, Charles H., born in 1838, married Saphronia, daughter of Daniel Day. Their children are: Harry D., Frank, Myra, Helen, Charles and Mary. Frank is a partner of his father in the furniture firm of Redington & Co., and has had the whole charge of the business for several years. His wife is Carrie M., daughter of M. C. Foster.

George W. Reynolds, born in 1843, in Sidney, is a son of Edwin and Abigail C. (Smiley) Reynolds, and grandson of Timothy Rey- nolds, whose father was also named Timothy. He was a farmer in Sidney until 1873, except three years spent in the army in Company A, 20th Maine. From 1873 until 1882 he was a farmer in Vassalboro, and since that time he has lived in Waterville, engaged as a hay broker. He married Abbie L. daughter of Colonel William E. Drum- mond, of Winslow, Me. They have three children: Josiah D., Geanie M. and G. Stanley.

Captain Samuel Richards3, father of John', was an officer in the revolutionary war. He came from New Hampshire to Winslow. He was a son of John', and grandson of John Richards1. Albert M. Rich-

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ards, born in 1844, is a son of John and Almira (Reynolds) Richards, and grandson of Captain Samuel Richards. He read law with Reuben Foster, and was admitted to the bar, but he has never practiced his profession. His father was a farmer, drover and hotel keeper in Winslow. Since his death Albert M. has lived in Waterville. He married Lydia M. McIntire. Their children are: Ralph W., Jesse A. and Walter (deceased).

Henry S. Ricker, born in Canaan, Me., in 1823, is a son of Tristram and Miriam (Nason) Ricker, and grandson of Noah Ricker, of Ber- wick, Me. He has worked at tanning since a boy, excepting two years (1851-2) spent in California. In 1855, in company with Mr. Shepherd, he built a tannery at Clinton. After running it ten years he bought an interest in the Ticonic tannery at Waterville, and in 1875 bought the interest of his partners, Messrs. Herrick and Mathews, and since that time has run the business alone. His wife was Saph- ronia A. Holt. She left one daughter, Grace (Mrs. E. E. Cousins.)

Reuben O. Robbins, born in Dover, Me., began newspaper work when a boy. From 1869 to 1880 he was editor and partial owner of the Dexter Gazette; then in Waterville as editor of the Sentinel; in 1882 he established The Eastern State; served as assistant editor of the Ban- gor Commercial two years; edited the Piscataquis Observer one year; then returned to Waterville where he was local writer for the Kennebec Journal, 1890-1. He married Tryphosa Tassett, and their children are: Gertie, Annie and Ellen.

Rev. Henry Allen Sawtelle, son of Hiram and Martha (Allen) Saw- telle, was born in Sidney in 1832. He prepared for college at Coburn Classical Institute (then Waterville Academy), graduated from Colby University (then Waterville College) in 1854, and four years later from Newton Theological Seminary. He entered the Baptist ministry and after being settled one year at Limerick, Me., he went to China, where he spent two years in the mission field. He was settled in San Fran- cisco, Cal., Chelsea, Mass., Kalamazoo, Mich., and again in San Fran- cisco, Cal. Resigning his charge in the latter place in the spring of 1885, he returned to Waterville, where he died the following November. He married in 1855, Elizabeth S., daughter of Dea. Daniel Blaisdell, who survives him. They have three children: Mary A., Alice E. and Charles E.

GEORGE EATON SHORES belongs to a class of men who stand at the very sources of national prosperity, but whose ranks in New England are becoming alarmingly thin-the successful farmer. He is, more- over, a remarkable specimen of nature's masterpiece-an effective, enduring human body.

Of the same hardy stuff and stock was his father, James Shores, who came from Berwick, Me., to Waterville in 1802, and bought a two hundred acre farm, through which now runs the eastern boundary

G. C, Shores 2 ores

PRINT, "

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CITY OF WATERVILLE.

of Oakland. The latter was a joiner by trade, and worked so accept- ably in Boston that he there became the husband, in 1801, of Hannah Eaton, who belonged to a most excellent and well known family. Settling on the farm, they raised three children. Sarah Aria, the eldest, married, first, William Richards, a lawyer, of Waterville. Her second husband was Jonathan Coombs. She died in 1852, aged fifty years.

Thomas J. Shores, the second child, was born in 1809, was a farmer, and in 1844 one of the selectmen of Waterville. He died in 1846.

George E. Shores, the youngest, was born March 27, 1812. He went to school when he was a boy, grew up under his father's training, be- came a farmer, liked it, stuck to it, has given it the intelligent, faith- ful service of a life-time, for which devotion it has given him pleasant occupation, a handsome competence and a vigorous, happy old age.

After the death of his mother in 1850, at the age of seventy-five, and of his father in 1856, at the age of eighty-two, Mr. Shores and his family were the sole occupants of the old homestead. In 1867, with a forecast of the undoubted growth of Waterville and the consequent advance of property in its immediate vicinity, he purchased his pres- ent farm, located on the attractive elevation north of Waterville, long known as " Oak Hill." Here he has been quite a real estate dealer, owning over 150 acres, all of which he has sold, mostly in building lots, until he has but forty acres left. While diligently cultivating . the soil, he has for many years given careful attention to stock raising and breeding. In connection with Hall C. Burleigh, of Vassalboro, he introduced the Hereford cattle to this part of Kennebec county. A single pair of yearling steers of that breed brought him the sur- prising sum of $300. The many first premium certificates he holds show that his stock came in competition with the finest breeds at the fairs. He has also handled some horses, selling in 1879 the race horse " Somerset Knox " for $2,700.

Mr. Shores was first married in 1835, to Sophia, daughter of John Wyman, of Waterville. Their children were: Eliza E., died at the age of thirteen; Amasa E., now a farmer on the old homestead; Delia Aria, died young; Randolph P., married Lizzie Snell (they had one child, George Eaton Shores, now seventeen years old and living with his grandfather Shores; his father died in 1878); their fifth child, Ella M., died when twenty-two years old; Edward G., the next, died in 1892, and Albert D., the youngest, died when a babe. Consumption was the family scourge that robbed Mr. and Mrs. Shores of their children, and, insatiate still, bore away the mother in February, 1855. By his second wife, Eliza, daughter of Zaccheus Parker, of Waterville, Mr. Shores has had one child, Carrie, who died at the age of seven years.

With his family he has been connected with the Congregational

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church, and in political faith he has been a life-long democrat, serving his town in the years 1872 and 1882 as one of the selectmen and the city in 1886 as a member of the first common council. The one vaca- tion of his long, industrious life was taken in 1876, when he spent three months in California, collecting information and material for reflection, that he declares is still far from being exhausted.

Amasa E. Shores, the only surviving child of George E., was born in 1839. He is a farmer and occupies the farm settled in 1808 by his grandfather. His wife is Martha E., daughter of Charles and Hannah (Clifford) Tilton, and granddaughter of Jeremiah and Hannah (Mor- rell) Tilton. They have one son, Harry C., and they lost one daughter, Carrie L.

Samuel K. Smith, D. D., was born October 17, 1817, in Litchfield, Me. He is a son of John, and grandson of Eliphalet Smith, who set- tled in Litchfield in 1777. He was educated in the academies of Rich- mond, Monmouth, Hallowell and Waterville, and graduated from Colby University in 1845. He taught in Townsend (Vermont) Acad- emy a few months, after which he was tutor at Colby University two years. He then attended Newton Theological Seminary one year .. He was the owner and editor of Zion's Advocate from 1848 until 1850,. when he came to Colby College as professor of rhetoric, Anglo-Saxon and English literature. He resigned his position as professor of rhet- oric, logic and English literature, in July, 1892. He was ordained in 1871, and has preached for several churches in this part of Maine .. He married Eliza E., daughter of Joseph R. Abbott, of Augusta, Me., and their children are: George W., William A., Minnie M., Jennie- M. and Bessie E.

Luther H. Soper, son of Luther H. and Almira H. (Welch) Soper, was born in May, 1852, and was educated in the schools of Old Town, Me. At the age of sixteen he began clerking in a dry goods store and continued until 1877. The people of Waterville enjoy the ad- vantages of having very enterprising merchants, who keep stocks in quantities and qualities usually found only in much larger cities. In the various departments of a dry goods store L. H. Soper & Co. enjoy the distinction of having the largest and most complete establishment in the city. Mr. Soper began trade in Waterville in 1877. To meet an imperative demand for more room he erected in 1890 the handsome building he now occupies, at an entire expense of $26,000-$12,000. being for the site, which adjoins the lot on which the old Bacon tav- ern stood. Mr. Soper married Carrie E. Wiggin, and they have one daughter, Lucile.

James K. Soule, born in 1846, is the youngest of twenty-one children of Pelatiah Soule, and grandson of Jonathan Soule. His mother, Sarah Crommett, was his father's second wife. He attended Coburn Classical Institute and Hartland Academy. His musical edu-

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cation was acquired under private tutors, excepting two terms at the Boston Conservatory of Music. He has devoted his attention to the teaching of music-vocal and instrumental -- since 1868, and is now teaching vocal music for the second year in the public schools of Waterville. He has served as alderman three terms. His wife was Clara B. Prescott.

James Stackpole, born at Biddeford, Me., November 14, 1732 (old style), was a son of John (1708-1796) and Bethiah Stackpole. The family came to Waterville in 1775. James married Abiel Hill, and their children were: Hannah, Joseph, Phebe, Samuel, Eunice, Abiel, Sarah, James, Mary, Elizabeth. John and Jotham H. The latter mar- ried Susan Getchell, and of their seven children only three are living: Elizabeth, Julia A. and Charles C. Julia A. was for a number of years a teacher in the public schools. She now keeps a private school.

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Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892, Part 72

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