USA > Maine > Maine; a history, Volume IV > Part 20
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Brackett married, December 9, 1762, Jane Hall, born in 1740, died May 10, 1810, a daugliter of Cornelius and Elizabeth (White) Hall, o. Cherryfield. . They were the parents of the fol- lowing children: John, mentioned below; Eliza- beth, Sally, Patience and Mary.
(VI) Jolin Brackett, eldest son of Thomas (2) and Jane (Hall) Brackett, was born at Falmouth, Jannary 12, 1764. His father gave him two linn- dred and sixty acres of land on Peak's Island, well stocked with cattle, etc., and there, in 1796 he erected a large two-story house, now the Peak's Island House. He was interested in a number of enterprises and one of his principal occupations was the curing of fish for the West India market. He married, May 7, 1789, Lncy Snow, born in 1767, died June 14, 1842, danghter of Major David Snow, of Orleans, Massachu- setts, a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
(VII) John (2) Brackett, son of John (1) and Lucy (Snow) Brackett, and father of Seth Hig- gins Brackett, was born January 2, 1794, at Peak's Island, and at an early age went to sea. He became a master of a vessel engaged in the coast trade out of Portland, and for many years followed this life. He married, June 10, 1817, Mary Andrew Haddlock, born in 1800, died May 18, 1880, a danghter of Captain Samuel Had- dlock, of Cranberry Island, Maine, who died May 21, 1859.
(VIII) Seth Higgins Brackett, son of John (2) and Mary Andrew (Haddlock) Brackett, was born July 31, 1818, on Cranberry Island, Maine, and throughout his entire life was associated with the interests and affairs of this region. Here lie secured his education, and upon reaching ma- tnrity engaged in several different lines of bnsi- ness. He developed a large trade in paints and oil and similiar material and was one of the snc- cessful merchants of Portland. He also foresaw the possibilities in the development of Peak's Island, and set himself to the task of using the natural advantages and resources of the place. In 1853 he built about the old house of his grand- father as a nuclens the Peak's Island House, the first hostelry on the island, and this became a very popular resort with those seeking the beanties of the Maine coast during the summer months. He also constructed a fine landing on the south side of the island, and gradually or- ganized a system of communication between this point and Portland, until he had eventually a regular line of steamers making the trip. He was a very active man, and continually devolved new ideas for the carrying out of his activities,
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and showed considerable genius in the overcom- ing of obstacles and difficulties. He always maintained his keen interest in local affairs and political issues, but although consistently por- forming his duties as a citizen, he never took a more active part, and avoided, rather than sought, anything in the nature of political office. Hc was a Democrat in political faith, and for many years was a staunch supporter of the principles with which the name of that party is associated. In his religious belief Mr. Brackett was a Bap- tist, and attended for many years service at the Fren Street Church of that denomination.
Seth Higgins Brackett was united in marriage, September 7, 1833, at Portland, with Elizabeth Ann Libby, born at Portland, a daughter of An- drew and Elizabeth (Lakeman) Libby, and a granddaughter on the maternal side of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Smith) Lakeman. Three chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brackett, as follows: Caroline, who became the wife of Cap- tain William H. Lang; George Albert, who served in Company S, Twelfth Regiment, Maine Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil War, mar- ried Lizzie G. Clark; and Mary Rosabel, who be- came the wife of Charles Averill Plummer, men- tioned above.
Undoubtedly one of the strongest impulses in the life of Mr. Brackett was his fondness for his home and family. For these he had the warmest affection and delighted to stay in the former during his leisure hours. Not a little of such time was spent by him in planning the hap- piness and pleasure of the various members of his houschold, and this warmness of hearth ex- tended beyond his immediate family to a host of good friends, whom his personal attractions and virtues had gathered about him, so that there were few pleasures he relished so greatly as that of receiving a group of these about his hos- pitable hcarth, and indulge in the informal inter- course of intimate friendship. The attractions that won so many friends were by no means of the surface only, but had their places in the strong and sterling virtues of the typical New England character, a fact well proven by the firmness with which those friendships were re- tained through a course of years. Integrity, courage, and wisdom were all his, and he may well stand as a model for the growing genera- tion of the devoted husband and father, the worthy citizen, the upright man.
NORMAN TAPLEY, of Robinson, Maine, was born October 16, 1855, in Blaine, the son of Sher-
man and Esther (Kinny) Tapley, his father having been a lumberman for many years and later a farmer.
Norman Tapley was educated in the common schools of his region and after finishing his school courses, went into teaching and was occupied in this profession for twelve years. He then settled on his farm which comprised 200 acres and was oc- cupied in improving and working it. A Republican in his political affiliations, he served as town select- man for 35 years. For three years he was on the board of trustees of the Aroostook Central Insti- tute. He has always been keenly interested in all matters pertaining to education and holds that the whole future of the country is involved in its suc- cess. Mr. Tapley has had oversight of the school work from the time he became of age, acting as supervisor for many years until poor health forced him to resign all public work in 1917. As time passed a village grew up around him, and the necessity of a school was felt. The town would not vote for this expense as the children could get to a school at some distance, but this school was in a crowded condition. Mr. Tapley bought a lot in the village, erected a suitable building at his own expense, then rented it to the town, thus get- ting the much needed school started. The village grew as the years passed and the demand for more room and grade work was apparent. The town was slow to see and act. Mr. Tapley again repeated what he had done years before. He bought a lot near the other school, put up another building and placed the lower grades in this with another teacher. These buildings are now a matter of pride to the village of Robinson. In after years the town of Blaine purchased this property of Mr. Tapley. Mr. Tapley is a member of the Masonic Order, and is also a member of the Grange.
He married at Blaine, Maine, February 25, 188.4, Bethia M. Doherty, daughter of William H. and Ann W. (Carvel) Doherty, the former of whom served in Company C, First Battalion of Maine Vol- unteers in the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Tapley are the parents of the following children: I. Sher- man A., born January 10, 1890, and married March 26, 1913, Georgia A. McClellan, of Bloomfield, New Brunswick, and has one child, Glena G. 2. Howard S., born July 12, 1898, and married December 7. 1918, Vivian E. Noble, of Blaine, Maine.
ALFRED K. AMES, a well known figure in the lumbering and political circles of his State, was born in Machias, Maine, September 4, 1866. son of the Hon. John Keller Ames, State Senator, and of Sarah (Albee) Sanborn Ames. The Ames family
Norman Japley
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has been one of note in this country and was of gentle origin in England. The escutcheon they bore was: argent on a bend sable, three roses in a field.
(I) Captain Anthony Eames (as the name was then spelled) was born in Dorsetshire, England, about 1595. He came to America and settled in Marshfield, Massachusetts, and there he died in 1686.
(II) Lieutenant Mark Eames, son of Captain An- thony and Margorie Eames, was born in England in 1620, and was brought by his parents while still a young child to the colony. He also resided at Marshfield, and died there in 1693.
(III) Jonathan Eames, son of Lieutenant Mark and Elizabeth Eames, was born at Marshfield in 1655, and died there in 1724. He married Hannah Trouant, of that town.
(IV) Jedediah Eames, son of Jonathan and Han- nah (Tronant) Eames, was born in Marshfield, in 1685, and died there in 1738. He married Mary, daughter of Tobias Oakman.
(V) Jedediah (2) Eames, son of Jedediah (1) and Mary (Oakman) Eames, was born in Marsh- field, and married in 1752, Bertha Tilden.
(VI) Mark Eames, son of Jedediah (2) and Bertha (Tilden) Eames, changed the spelling of the name to Ames. He removed to North Haven, Knox county, Maine, and took up a large tract of land, and died there. He married Priscilla How- land, and had eight children. Major-General Adel- bert Ames, who was Governor of Mississippi, was a great-grandson of Mark Ames, and like another "down-east" man, Sergeant S. Prentiss, put New England energy and driving power into that land of cotton and canebrakes.
(VII) Isaac Ames, sixth son of Mark and Pris- cilla (Howland) Ames, was born in North Haven, July 6, 1784, and died March 10, 1854. He married Abigail Clark, and their children were: Captain Isaac, Captain Alfred, of further mention : Benja- min, Priscilla, Charles, Warren, and Susan.
(VIII) Captain Alfred Ames, second son of Isaac and Abigail (Clark) Ames, was born in North Haven, September 7. 1809, and came to Machias before 1836. He was one of the original founders of the Congregational church, donating twenty-five dollars towards the erection of the building known as the Union Meeting House. He followed the sea and was master of a ship. He married Mary Kel- ler, and their children were: John K., of whom further; Benjamin Franklin, Napoleon Bonaparte, Martin Van Buren, and Maria Louisa.
(IX) Hon. John K. Ames, oldest child of Cap- tain Alfred and Mary (Keller) Ames, was born in East Machias, November 2, 1831, and died March
22, 1901. He was a lumber operator on a large scale, and a merchant. He was selectman for thirty years, and chairman of the board of select- men for half of that time; was a member of the Maine Senate 1893 to 1897, and collector of the port of Machias at the time of his death. He mar- ried Sarah (Albee) Sanborn, and their children were: 1. Edwin G., who lives in Seattle, and is manager of the Puget Lumber Company. 2. Anna M., married Fred H. Peavey, and lives in Machias. 3. Julia P., married R. C. Fuller, of the Fuller Iron Works, Providence. 4. Frank Sanborn. 5. Alfred Keller, of further mention. 6. Lucy T., died March 1, 1916.
(X) Captain Alfred K. Ames, yougest son of Hon. John K. and Sarah (Albee-Sanborn) Ames, was born at Machias, in 1866. After having passed through the Machias High School he went to the English and Classical School of Providence, and then entered upon business life. He became a clerk in the lumber firm of John K. Ames in 1886, and remained with him until the business was taken over by the Machias Lumber Company, of which corporation he is now the general manager, and vice-president, having been from the time of the incorporation the secretary. He is a trustee of the Machias Savings Bank, and has served his com- munity as a member of the Second Regiment of the National Guard, in the capacity of captain of Com- pany M, his commission having been given by Gov- ernor John F. Hill. From this post Captain Ames resigned in 1906. Captain Ames has served the State, as his father did before him, as a State Sen- ator, in 1915-16, 1917-18, and has entered with the beginning of 1919 upon his third term. He is a Republican in political views, and is a Universalist in religion. He is a member of the Masonic order, being a member of Harwood Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is also a Knight Templar.
Mr. Ames married, at Calais, September 4, 1899, Nellie E. Hill, daughter of J. Murray and Alma (Gordon) Hill, and they have a son, John Keller Ames, born May 20, 1907.
ETHER SHEPLEY-There is no name that has been more closely identified with the af- fairs of the State of Maine during the last two generations than that of Shepley, borne as it was by father and son, both of whom, as high pub- lic officials, rendered incalculable services to their State and Nation. Prior to the coming to Maine of the Hon. Ether Shepley, the family had resided in Massachusetts, where it was founded in early Colonial times.
(I) The Shepleys were undoubtedly of Eng-
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lish origin and first appear in this country in the person of John Shepley, or Shipley, who was the recipient of a grant of land at Salem in the year 1637. He removed from that place some- what later to Chelmsford in company with a Mr. Fiske, who is believed to have been his partner. He was the father of three children: John, men- tioned below; Nathaniel and Lydia.
(II) John (2) Shepley, son of John (1) Shep- ley, was born, apparently at Salem, in 1637, the same year in which his father received a grant of land there. He removed with his parents to Chelmsford, but whether he remained there or went on to Groton is not positively known.
(III) John (3) Shepley, or Sheple, as he spelled his name, son of John (2) Shepley, was born either at Chelmsford or Groton, Massa- chusetts, and was of the latter place at least as early as 1700, when a child of his is recorded as born there. He is called Captain John Sheple in the records and appears to have been repre- sentative to the General Court of Massachusetts for the six terms between 1716 and 1728, while in 1718 he was a member of the board of select- men of Groton. He married Lydia -, and among their children was John, mentioned below. (IV) John (4) Shepley, son of John (3) and Lydia Shepley, or Sheple, was a resident of Groton, and there married Abigail Green.
(V) John (5) Shepley, son of John (4) and Abigail (Green) Shepley, and father of the Hon. Ether Shepley, was born at Groton. He was the orderly sergeant and clerk of a company of volunteers in the Revolution, and was a promi- nent man in the affairs of Groton, where he held several town offices. He was by occupation a farmer, and is said of him that he was exceed- ingly fond of reading and a "man of general in- formation." He married Mary (Gibson) Therlow, the widow of Captain Therlow, of the Revolu- tionary army, and a daughter of Deacon Gibson, of Stowel. They were the parents of three children: John; Ether, with whom we are espe- cially concerned; and Stephen.
(VI) Ether Shepley, second son of Jolin (5) and Mary (Gibson-Therlow) Shepley, was born November 2, 1789, at Groton, Massachusetts. His rather unusual given name was taken from the name of one of the villages of the Canaanites given to Simeon-Joshua XIX:7, and in Hebrew signifies "stone." The childhood of Ether Shep- ley was spent in his native town, where he at- tended the Groton Academy and studied under Caleb Butler, a well known educator of the day. There he was prepared for college and after-
wards matriculated at Dartmouth, from which he was graduated with the class of 1811. Having determined upon the law as a career, he entered the office of Dudley Hubbard, a well known at- torney of South Berwick, Maine, and there pur- sued his studies for a time. Mr. Hubbard found his new assistant a valuable one and desired him to stay in his office, but young Mr. Shepley felt that he should have a varied experience and left him to enter in succession the offices of Zabdiel B. Adams, of the Worcester county bar, and a Solomon Strong at Hampshire. He completed his studies and was admitted to the bar in July, 1814, after which he came immediately to Maine and began his practice at Saco. He had greatly profited by his experience in the several of- ces where he had worked while reading the law, and had gained an amount of business experi- ence not possessed by the average young man beginning his practice, advantages which, coupled to his own great ability, soon brought him into prominence as one of the rising attorneys at the bar of Maine. The first occasion upon which Mr. Shepley became identified with public affairs to any great extent was that of the proposed separation of Maine from Massachusetts in 1819, it having been a part of the older State until that time. In the discussions which were en- tered into he took a very prominent part and his great legal knowledge made his counsel of high value, to such an extent that he was elected to represent Saco in the General Court during that year. He was also elected a member of the con- vention chosen to draw up the constitution of the new State and played a conspicuous part in the deliberations of that body. He was ap- pointed United States attorney for the District of Maine in 1821 as the successor to William P. Preble, when that eminent jurist was placed upon the Supreme Court of the State. This respon- sible post he continued to hold until 1833, when he was elected United States Senator from Maine as successor to John Holmes. He was a strong adherent to the policies of the Demo- cratic party of that day and stoutly supported President Jackson during his administration. It was during the excited controversy concerning the removal of deposits from the United States Bank, that Mr. Shepley championed the Presi- dent in his action and paid a great tribute to Amos Kendall, the government's agent in the matter, who happened to be one of his own classmates at college. Mr. Shepley would prob- ably have remained in the Senate during a long period as he was still a comparatively young
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man and one of great energy, but in September, 1836, a vacancy occurred in the Supreme Court of the State for which his high legal abilities and great learning made him the most fitting candi- date. He was accordingly appointed an asso- ciate justice of that court by Governor Dunlap, and in 1848 became chief justice to succeed Chief Justice Whitman, an appointment that received the universal approval of the bench and bar of Maine. He held this high office during the seven years of the constitutional term, and then retired from the bench, terminating a judicial career which had done honor equally to himself and the great Commonwealth which he so faith- fully served. During that time he refused a great number of offices tendered to him in con- nection with the national government, for which he was eminently qualified, but which would have necessitated the giving up of his judicial duties to which he was particularly devoted. After his retirement from the bench in 1855 it was the desire of Justice Shepley to remain in private life, but he could not refuse to serve his fellow citizens in the capacity to which he was appointed by resolve of April 1, 1856. This was the special office of sole commissioner to re- vise the public laws, an appointment which con- tained in itself an expression of the highest con- fidence and trust possible. Although there was an instruction to complete his task by the fif- teenth day of the following November, a condi- tion that would have made it appear practically impossible to most men, Justice Shepley cheer- fully undertook it and actually accomplished it in the time set, and accomplished it in a manner that has given it a great and lasting value to Maine. The results of his labors were published in 1857 under the title of "Revised Statutes of Maine." His death occurred at his Portland home, January 14, 1877, in the eighty-eighth year of his age.
The devotion of Justice Shepley to the law was different in type from that of most men who follow that exacting mistress. Doubtless the majority of lawyers feel an interest in their great profession, but very few there are who will not put it aside for the sake of great opportunities in the world of politics or business. To many, indeed, it serves as but a stepping stone to politics, which they take merely because it ap- pears to lead there most directly. It was far otherwise with Justice Shepley, who consistent- ly put behind him any such temptation, if, in- deed, it was a temptation to him at all. His heart was single in its devotion and he would
seem to have cared more to succeed in his chosen calling than for any other honor that the world might offer. In another sense, too, this devotion was of an unusual kind. Justice Shepley was as jealous of the fair renown of his mistress as of his own, and would never consent to tuin her powers to any purpose but the noblest. He was possessed unquestionably of remarkable qualifica- tions for the work he designed for himself, and added to a naturally clear and comprehensive mind the capacity for taking pains, which we have heard on good authority to be synonymous with genius. His powers of analysis were not- able and he carried them to their limit in work- ing out a case in detail. His forensic powers were also great, although not showy, his elo- quence being of that most effective kind that springs from powerful convictions and not from art. Personally he was a man of very powerful character which was based on the fundamental virtues of courage and sincerity. His home life was an ideal one, and it may be truly said that in all the relations of his life his conduct was beyond reproach. In the course of an obituary article on Justice Shepley, the late William Gould wrote as follows:
Judge Shepley hecame a communicant of the Congre- gational church at Saco in 1823. He removed from Saco to Portland in 1837, and joined the communion of the State Street Church, and was an exemplary Christian to the time of his death. For fifty years there were no doubts in his mind as to his duty to his Creator and lis fellowmen. Within a few years of his death he wrote: "When strongly inclined to cast it from me as a painful and loathsome subject, it seemed to be mean and unworthy of a thinking man to avoid a full and impartial investigation of his relations to his Creator and to his fellow creatures and the manner in which he fulfilled them. I desire to leave my testimony that a life of devotion resting upon repentance and faith in Christ is a life of higher en- joyment than can be found without it." The last time Judge Shepley spoke in public it was the privilege of the writer to hear him .. . In February, 1874, the Historical Society held a meeting in the city building, Portland, at which Judge Shepley was present. Dur- ing the forenoon the president alluded to the presence of the venerahle judge, and invited him to address the society, which, after some hesitation, he concluded to do. While he was preparing to speak all eyes were turned to the patriarchal figure, which was most strik- ing. On his commencing to speak, there was a general feeling of reverence, and from a common impulse the whole audience rose, and remained standing until he closed. He alluded to his associates of half a century before, to his long membership, and expressed regret that he had given to society so little assistance in their researches. He closed with an expression of interest in the objects aimed at. This was the last time he spoke in public and the scene will long he remembered by those present.
From "A History of the Law, the Courts, and the Lawyers of Maine," published in 1863, the fol- lowing extract concerning Justice Shepley is taken:
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Judge Shepley has uniformally through hia long life been the firm friend and supporter of good order, and a juat administration of the law. He has given sub- stantial aid to the cause of religion, good morals, and general education, and has himself practiced upon the rules be has prescribed for others. He has been thirty- three years a trustee of Bowdoin College, having been chosen in 1829, and has been a careful observer of ita affairs and a faithful counsellor in its emergencies. He has filled all the numerous trusts, private and public, entrusted to him, uprightly, diligently, and well, for the good of the people and the individuals in whose service he has been employed. And after a well-filled public life of thirty-six years, and at the age of seventy-three years, be may very properly lay aside the armor, which he has word worthily and with houor through the conflicts of political contention, the sharp strifes of the forum and the calmer struggles with the subtleties and nice discriminations of legal investiga- tion, where the arms are reason and judgment, against the keen masters of rhetoric. He has received from Dartmouth College the honorary degree of LL.D. . . . The Chief Justice, too far advanced to take part in active hostilities in support of the government of his country, sustains the cause by his words and co-opera- tion in his efforts to put down the rebellion. And in order to enable his son to fight freely and uniocum- bered by his numerous engagements at home, he has taken his place anew in the courts, and burnished up the forensic armor for fresh contests on the field of his former stuggles. E'en in his ashes lives his wonted fires.
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