USA > Maine > Maine; a history, Volume IV > Part 32
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The profession of medicine has something ad- mirable in it, something that illumines by re- flected light all those who practice it. It is something concerned with its prime object, the alleviation of human suffering, something about the self-sacrifice that it must necessarily involve that makes us regard, and rightly so, all those who choose to follow its difficult way and de- vote themselves to its great aims, with a certain amount of respect and reverence. The place held by Dr. Sturgis in the community is one that any man might desire, but it is one that he de- serves in every particular, one that he has gained by no chance fortune, but by hard and industrious work, and a most liberal treatment of his fel- lowmen. He is a man who enjoys a great rep- utation and one whose clientele is large. His principle is to ask no questions as to the stand- ing of those seeking his professional aid, and he responds as readily to the call of the indigent as to that of the most prosperous.
DONALD DEAN FRYE GARCELON is well known in Lewiston, Maine, both as an attorney and an educator, and has taken an active part in many departments of the city's life and proved himself a most valuable and public-spirited mem- ber of the community. He is a son of Arthur Alton Garcelon, and a grandson of Asa Garcelon, both of whom were, like himself, natives of Auburn, Maine. Asa Garcelon spent his entire life in that city and his death eventually oc- curred there at the age of fifty-eight years. He served through the Civil War as a member of
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the Twentieth Regiment, Maine Volunteer In- fantry, and during the major portion of his life followed farming as an occupation. He married Louisa V. Penley, also born in Auburn, and they were the parents of five children, all of whom are living at the present time in Auburn. They are as follows: Arthur Alton, mentioned below; John P., Albert M., Julia W., and Howard A.
Arthur Alton Garcelon, the eldest child of Asa and Louisa V. (Penley) Garcelon, was born De- cember 12, 1858, at Auburn, Maine. He has made that city his home consistently up to the pres- ent time, and is now a member of the Board of Registration and clerk of the overseers of this board. He married Ada Florence Yeaton, a native of Auburn. Three children were born of this union, as follows: Donald Dean Frye, men- tioned below; Arthur Alton, Jr., now a lieuten- ant in the United States Navy, who married a Miss Fiske, of Baltimore; Louise, who became the wife of Oscar D. Haskill. Arthur Alton Garcelon, the father of this family, has been for many years city marshal and tax collector and has also served several terms on the Com- mon Council of the city and the Board of Alder- men. He is a Republican in politics, and has for many years been chairman of the Republican County Committee.
Born on May 18, 1880, at Auburn, Maine, Don- ald Dean Frye Garcelon passed his childhood and early youth in his native city. He attended the Edward Little High School, from which he was graduated in 1898 and where he was prepared for college. He then matriculated at Harvard University, taking the usual classical course and graduating with the class of 1902, with the de- gree of Bachelor of Arts. He then took post- graduate work at the same institution, and in 1903 received the degree of Master of Arts. The following year he entered the Harvard Law School, from which he was graduated in 1907. Upon completing his education, Mr. Garcelon returned as a teacher in the school in which he had studied a number of years before, and for a considerable period was head of the English department in the Edward Little High School. Eventually, however, he decided to make the law his career in life, and has now for several years been engaged in its practice in Lewiston. Mr. Garcelon is recognized as one of the prominent young attorneys of the bar in this part of the State. But though he has stepped from the pro- fession of teaching into that of law, Mr. Garcelon has by no means given up his interest in the cause of education, nor abandoned his efforts in
this department of activity. He was elected some years ago, and continues to hold at the present time, a membership on the board of di- rectors of the Auburn Public Library and has in this capacity done much to increase the educa- tional efficiency of this splendid institution. Mr Garcelon has always from early youth taken a keen interest in the course of public events, nor has he been backward in playing his part there- in. Mr. Garcelon is a supporter of the policies and principles of the Republican party, and in 1916 was elected a member of the State Legisla- ture, a post which he held during the years 1917 and 1918. He is a man of marked literary tastes and talents and is an author of much merit, hav- ing contributed considerable to the field of poetry, and his abilities are well recognized among his friends. He is also a prominent fig- ure in social and fraternal circles in the com- munity and particularly so in the case of the Masonic order, having reached the thirty-second degree of Free Masonry and being affiliated with the following Masonic bodies: Lodge, Chapter, Council, Commandery and Temple. Mr. Garce- lon is also a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a member of, as well as the vice-president, of the Waseka Club of Auburn.
FRANK HORTON BUTLER-Educated in Portland, Maine, and a resident of this city in his young manhood, Frank Horton Butler's busi- ness activities carried him far from the home of his youth, and a quarter of a century of his life was passed in the West. But the final years of his business life, as the first, were spent in Portland, where he achieved business success and prosperity and standing in his community that is the reward only of irreproachable integrity and sterling uprightness in all things. He was a son of Thomas and Martha Butler, his father a silversmith, who made his home in Portland after the death of his wife in Malden, Massa- chusetts. Thomas Butler brought with him his five sons, William S., Thomas, George, Charles S., and Frank H. In Portland, Thomas Butler married (second) Sophronia Higgins.
Frank Horton Butler was born in Malden, Massachusetts, January 20, 1851, and died in Port- land, May 8, 1812. He was but a boy when Port- land became the family home and in this city he attended the public schools, completing his studies in Westbrook Seminary and the Portland Business College. His entry into business was in the employ of Sumner Winslow, a provision
Frank Horton Butler
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merchant, and later, was for a year in partnership with his brother, Thomas, in provision dealings, their store being on Pearl street. At the end of this time Mr. Butler went West, eventually establish- ing in business in Chicago, where for twenty years he operated successfully as a dealer in tea, coffee and spices. Disposing of his inter- ests in this city he moved to Colorado, where lie pursued the same line for several years. He then returned to his early home and cmbarked in a new venture, millinery. Hc prospered in this line, extended his interests, and at his death was the head of large wholesale operations. Mr. Butler was a man of keen business instincts and tireless energy, thoroughgoing and industrions in all that he undertook, and basing his success and prosperity upon absolute knowledge of the pro- ject in hand. He earned and retained the sin- cere regard of his business and personal asso- ciates through his adherence to high-minded principles and his loyal advocacy of the causes he believed right. He was a firm and steadfast friend and of a nature so genial and cordial that men were instantly attracted to him, virtues of character far deeper than charm of personality holding them to him through life. Mr. Butler was a supporter of Republican principles, and was an attendant of Congress Square Universalist Church.
Mr. Butler married, in 1888, Velma F. Waite, born in Falmouth, Maine, daughter of John and Ann B. (Long) Waite, of Falmouth, both de- ceased, descendant of prominent New England ancestors. John Waite was a caulker by trade and also a ship contractor. John and Ann B. (Long) Waite were the parents of: Velma F., who survives her husband, a resident of Portland, and J. L. Waite, a grocer of Portland.
JAMES JOSEPH MEEHAN-The Meehan family of which James Joseph Meehan is a mem- ber, has made its home in the United States for the best part of three generations. The Meehans came originally from Donegal, Ireland, in the person of John Meehan, grandfather of Mr. Meehan of this sketch, who settled at Law- rence, Massachusetts, where he lived for many years. Eventually, however, he removed to Exeter, New Hampshire, where his death finally occurred. He and his wife were the parents of four children, all of whom were born at Law- rence, Massachusetts, but Dennis J., and two of whom are alive today, namely: Thomas, who re- sides at Amesbury, Massachusetts, and Dennis Joseph, father of James J. Meehan. Dennis Jo- seph Meehan was born at Exeter, New Hampshire.
After spending his childhood and youth in his native town, Dennis Joseph Meehan removed to Patchogue, Long Island, where he resides at the present time and is employed as overseer in the dyeing department of the Patchogue Lace Com- pany. He married Annie Mahoney, a native of Dover, Maine, and they are the parents of six children, all of whom are living today, as follows: Catherine Elizabeth, Mary Estelle, James Joseph, with whose career we are here especially con- cerned; John Francis; Thomas and William.
James Joseph Meehan was born at Dover, New Hampshire, October 16, 1892. He remained in his native town, however, so short a time that even his earliest childish associations were formed in other towns. When he was but four years of age his parents removed to Jewett City, Connecticut, where they remained for two years, the lad attending the grammar school there for a short period. The family then removed to Passaic, New Jersey. Here they remained until he had reached the age of ten years, and during that time he attended the public schools, continu- ing the education which he had begun at Jewett City. In 1902 the family removed to Lewiston, where Mr. Meehan has resided ever since, and here in 1907 he graduated from the Lewiston Grammar School. He then entered the High School there, from which he graduated in 1911 and was prepared for college. He had in the meantime decided to take up law as a career in life, and with this end in view matriculated at Georgetown University, from which he was grad- uated with the class of 1914. Immediately after- wards he was admitted to the bar in Maine, and opened an office in Lewiston in the Manufacturers' National Bank building. Here he has continued to do business on an ever increasing scale up to the present time, and is now regarded as one of the leaders of the young attorneys. Mr. Meehan is a staunch Democrat in politics, and has held a number of local offices to which he was elected as the candidate of that party. He served an unex- pired term of one year as clerk of the Municipal Court, and is a very well known figure in legal circles here. Mr. Meehan also takes a very active part in the social and fraternal life of the community, and is a member of the local lodge of the Order of Knights of Columbus, of the Aerial Club, and of the Gamma Beta Gamma, college fraternity, which he joined while a stu- dent at Georgetown University. He is a Roman Catholic in his religious belief and attends St. Patrick's Church of that denomination in Lewis- ton.
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WILLIAM E. YOULAND, one of the fore- most merchants of Biddeford, Maine, and before his death on March 7, 1917, head of the firm of W. E. Youland & Company, dealers in dry goods and similar commodities here, was a member of a family which for three generations before him had been identified with New England and its affairs. The Youland family is of Scottish origin, its ancestors having been old chieftains in that country during the early ages.
John Youlana, great-grandfather of the pres- ent Mr. Youland, took part in one of the many uprisings of his countrymen against the Eng- lish authorities during the eighteenth century, and upon the failure of the attempt was ex- iled to America. Here he took part in the American Revolution and cast in his fate with the youthful republic of the New World. Unfor- tunately, however, he afterwards returned to England, where he was apprehended, tried and executed for high treason. His son, Edmund Youland, grandfather of the present Mr. Youland, served in the War of 1812. He reared a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters, of whom Thomas S. Youland, father of William E Youland, was the seventh. Thomas S. Youland was born at Lisbon, Androscoggin county, Maine. Upon reaching manhood he settled at Durham in this State and there adopted agricultural pursuits. He remained there until 1861, when, upon the outbreak of the Civil War, he returned to Lis- bon, his inherited patriotism being aroused, and enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Regiment, Volunteer Infantry of Maine, as a private. He served until the close of the war, his regiment forming a part of the army under the command of General Sheridan, and fought under that great officer in his Shenandoah Valley campaign and in the battles of Winchester and Cedar Creek, where General Sheridan saved the day by his famous ride from Winchester. After his discharge from service he returned to Lisbon, where he resumed farming, continuing in this occupation until his death. He married Hattie J. Beals, a native of Durham, Maine, and they were the parents of seven children, two of whom died in childhood.
William E. Youland, the second child of Thomas S. and Hattie J. (Beals) Youland, was born June 9, 1854, at Durham, Androscoggin county, Maine. He lived in his native place until seven years of age, and then came with his par- ents to Lisbon, where the remainder of his child- hood was spent. He received his education at the local district schools, and in the meantime worked on his father's farm. He was a pre-
cocious child and learned so quickly that at the age of ten he took charge of the farm in his father's absence in the war. Two years later he entered the paper mill at Lisbon, and after two years of work there became a weaver at the Farnsworth Mills at Lisbon Center. He was fourteen years old when he entered the latter employment, and before a great while he had been advanced to the position of second hand there. Seven years he remained in this mill and then left it in order to take up a course of study with which he desired to supplement his early schooling. This course, which was pur- sued at the Dirigo Business College at Augusta, Maine, involved great sacrifice on his part, and he well proved the sincerity of his ambition by the strict economy practiced during its prog- ress. After winning his diploma at this insti- tution he returned to his father's home at Lis- bon, and then re-entered the employ of the Farnsworth Company as a weaver. After a few months employment with this concern he left it once more and found employment with the Webster Woolen Company at Sabattus, Maine. His work at the new place was also that of weaver and he remained steadily employed for five years, work- ing on an average from six in the morning to seven at night. The wages were not generous, yet in spite of this he managed to save up the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars during the five years and then, without a single thought of his own future or interest, he invested his savings for the benefit of his parents, an act of gener- osity and filial affection most characteristic of the man. Mr. Youland had a natural taste for mercantile pursuits, and determined to engage in that line of work. He tried in vain at twenty- eight different stores at Portland and Lewiston, but at length succeeded in pursnading J. W. Pitcher, of the latter place, to employ him in his establishment. He only received a salary of three dollars a week, however, upon which he had to support a wife, so that it required the greatest confidence in the future as well as sac- rifice in the present to enable him to persevere. He did, nevertheless, and two months later se- cured a place as clerk in the dry goods store of Muttum & Farrar in Lewiston, at a salary of eight dollars a week. Though not exactly gen- erons pay, this was a great improvement, and the next year it was increased to nine. After working there two years he was employed as head clerk by Oswald & Armstrong, with whom he remained for six months. He then was a salesman for R. H. White & Company of Bos-
W. Youlamb
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ton, and was later induced by Mr. Bradford Peck to return to Lewiston and accept a position in his new store there. Mr. Peck shortly after gave him the post of buyer for the cloak depart- ment and manager of that branch of the business. Eventually he became a stockholder and a di- rector of the concern. Eight years later he sev- ered his connection with that company, and on September 2, 1893, formed a partnership with Samuel Boothby, of Portland, and G. W. Rich- ards, of Houlton, and they established them- selves at Biddeford, Maine, under the firm name of W. E. Youland & Company. Mr. Youland was manager of this concern, which rapidly grew in size and importance until it reached its pres- ent great proportions. It deals in dry goods, fancy goods and cloaks, fur suits and carpets, and their large stock requires for its handling a force of twenty clerks and two spacious floors. Mr. Youland was interested in many other enter- prises in Biddeford, and was a most active mem- ber of the Biddeford Board of Trade, of which he was president and director, a stockholder in the Masonic Building Association, and an instigator of the business movement known as "Merchants' Week." He was also interested in educational affairs, served three years on the Board of Edu- cation, and donated the land and fifteen hundred dollars to build the school house in Lakeview, North Carolina, also furnishing the electric light for same, and the dedication of the building took place on March 20, 1915. He also built seven- teen hundred feet of cement dam at Lakeview. He built the Longwood Apartment and a num- ber of houses.
Mr. Youland was a prominent Free Mason and a member of Dunlap Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; York Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Maine Council, Royal and Select Mas- ters; Bradford Commandery, Knights Templar; and Ada Chapter, No. 1, Order of Eastern Star. He was a member of the Pilgrim Fathers, having all the chairs of the local colony and acted as representative to the Supreme Council. He was captain of the Francis Warren Chapter, Sons of Veterans; was a member of the State Historical Society; the National Geographic Society of Washington, District of Columbia; the Maine Club, of which he was president in 1913-14-15-16; the Pine Tree Club of Boston, and York Club. In politics Mr. Youland was a Republican and took an active part in local affairs. He was elected as alderman from Ward Seven in 1896, and was president of that body and a member of several important committees. One of his
greatest interests was the moral welfare and gen- eral improvement of the community, and he was a man of strong religious feelings and be- liefs. A Baptist in faith, he was very promi- nently identified with the Jefferson Street Bap- tist Church, having served on various commit- tees and as superintendent of the Sunday school. He was chairman of the committee to rebuild that edifice, and was chairman of the commit- tee to build over Pravillian Church to the Mc- Arthur Library. He was also actively con- nected with the Lewiston Young Men's Christian Association and served as its president.
William E. Youland married, October 9, 1881, at Lewiston, Susie F. Teel, who is a member of the Daughters of the Revolution and State regent of Maine, also the second regent of Re- becca Emery Chapter of the Daughters of the Revolution of Biddeford in 1899; was president of the Thursday Club; vice-president of the Jef- ferson Baptist Church Society; State superin- tendent of the senior Young People's Christian Endeavor; worthy matron of Ada Chapter, No. I, Order of Eastern Star. When the battle ship came to Portland, Maine, Mrs. Youland made a remarkably brilliant and well delivered address on the presentation of the insignia of Maine to the battle ship by the Daughters of the Revolu- tion of Maine. She served as chairman of the committee of the Old Home Week. Mr. and Mrs. Youland were the parents of three children, as follows: I. William E., Jr., born August 25, 1884; was graduated from Biddeford High School in 1902; Bowdoin College, class of 1906; McGill Medical University, Canada, class of 1910; he then entered Bellevue Hospital, New York City, where he remained until he was appointed to the Health Department of New York City, and later was appointed on the State Health Depart- ment as one of the directors and lecturers, be- ing sent all over the State of New York, to the laboratories, and to look after the sanitary con- dition of the cities and towns; he joined the Medical Reserve Corps of New York City and was called in May, 1917, and is now first lieuten- ant of the Base Hospital in France; he has writ- ten works on diphtheria and other diseases, and has done research work for the State. 2. Galen Linwood, born November 2, 1887. 3. Grace Lil- lian, twin of Galen Linwood, married James Harvey Bryan, of Henderson, North Carolina, and they have two children: James Harvey, Jr., born October 20, 1913, and William Youland, born March 8, 1918.
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JOHN EVERETT KINCAID, manager of the J. N. Wood Company, the largest concern of its kind in Lewiston, is a native of this city, and has been intimately associated with the life and af- fairs throughout his entire career. He is an only son, and was born at Lewiston, September 21, 1883. On the maternal side of his house he is de- scended from a very old New England family, which was founded here in the early Colonial period by one William Wood, who came from Derbyshire, England, and settled at Concord, Massachusetts. Here his descendants resided for a number of generations, and then Nathan Wood, great-grandfather of the Mr. Kincaid of this sketch, brought the name to Maine, making his home in the town of Stark. One of Nathan Wood's sons was John Nathan Wood, who established the successful coal and wood business of which his grandson is now the manager.
Mr. Kincaid acquired his education, or the ele- mentary part thereof, at the local public schools; graduating from the Lewiston High School with the class of 1903. He then attended Bowdoin College, and after completing his studies at this institution was given a position by his grand- father, Mr. Wood, in the latter's establishment. Mr. Kincaid began at the bottom of the ladder in his business career, taking first the position of of- fice boy, from which, however, he was shortly promoted to a clerical post. His grandfather was possessed of that practical wisdom which fore- saw that a training of this sort would be the best to render the grandson the capable business man which it was his ambition that he should be. With this policy, Mr. Kincaid himself was entirely in sympathy. and set himself to learn the details of the business with the greatest industry. In this he was entirely successful and it was not long before he was appointed to the office of manager. This appointment occurred some three years before the death of his grandfather, and he lias continued to hold it ever since. Mr. Kin- caid has devoted his entire time to the tasks and responsibilities involved in the business with which he is connected, and has found compara- tively little opportunity to engage actively in other lines of work. This is particularly the case in political life, from which he has remained entirely aloof, although there are many among his associates and friends who realize that the qualities which make him so successful a busi- ness man well fit him for public office. He is a member of a number of clubs and fraternities however, and is especially prominent in the Ma- sonic order, being affiliated with the following
Masonic bodies: Ashlar Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Lewiston Commandery, No. 6, Knights Templar; Kora Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Dur- ing his college days he became a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. Mr. Kincaid is also a member of the Calumet Club of Lewiston. In his religious belief he is a Congregationalist and attends the church of that denomination in Lewis- ton.
John Everett Kincaid was united in marriage, April 26, 1917, in New York City, with Mrs. Caroline (Mitchell) Hodges, a native of Califor- nia, and a daughter of Charles and Rachel (Tag- gett) Mitchell.
AMMI WHITNEY-The due reward of merit, it has often been observed, is frequently or even generally withheld until death has rendered its payment in vain, but this is perhaps less the case in such communities as are typical of these United States, where the members are ever on the outlook for ability, and talent is recognized as the most valuable of marketable commodities. It is surely not true in the case of Ammi Whit- ney who, from his early youth onward, has been recognized as possessing capabilities of the great- est value to his fellowmen, and who was quickly given an opportunity to use them, an opportunity which he has improved. While yet a young man, Mr. Whitney became a prominent figure in the general life of his community and his influence has been extended far beyond his activities as a business man, and he became well known for his public spirit and charitable works. Every enter- prise that had for its object the betterment of mankind and the development of the community commanded a goodly share of his time and energy and also felt the touch of his zeal and liberality, and to his unusual gift of persuasion, combined with indomitable will power, many a public charity owes its financial success, his name on the board of directors being a sufficient pledge that the object sought for would be attained.
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