USA > Maine > Maine; a history, Volume IV > Part 45
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Josiah Libby Marr, second son of Foxwell Cutts and Rhoda (Jordan) Marr, was born at Wales, Maine, and was still a small child when his father died and he was brought to Portland by his mother. He was educated and trained by his mother both in this city and in Boston, where they later went. He was still quite young when he took up a seafaring life and crossed the ocean a number of times as a seaman. He studied navigation in London, and fol- lowed this life for a time, but eventually returned to Boston and abandoned it. His taste for a life of adventure and enterprise had in no wise diminished, however, and although still under twenty years of age, left home together with two companions and made his way across the continent to California, his desire being to make this journey of the great west - ern plains. In California he managed an escort of pack animals for a time and carried the United States mail from place to place by this primitive means. Unlike most of the youths who went to that country from the desire to see the great realm for themselves or the taste for adventure, Mr. Marr did not weary of it, but grew to love it better and de-
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cided to settle there. From California he made his way to Arizona, where he became interested in cattle raising in the Verde Valley. He was event- ually joined by his elder brother, Dennis Jordan Marr, and the two yong men went into partnership and prospered greatly in their joint enterprise. They carried on their business on a large scale and were among the best known stockmen in the entire region. After conducting his enterprise with great success for a number of years, he disposed of his large in- terests and went to Phoenix, Arizona, where he built a home and settled. He was joined later by his sister Isabelle Frances, and they made their home there for a number of years. Unfortunately Mr. Marr contracted typhoid pneumonia and was so seri- ously ill with it that the attack seemed to undermine his health, which did not improve afterwards. Be- lieving that the air of his native pine forests in Maine might prove beneficial, he accompanied his sister back to this State and they purchased a cot- tage on Peak's Island. Even this was insufficient to restore him, however, and he died September 7, 1912, and was buried in the family plot at the Evergreen Cemetery.
Josiah Libby Marr was a man among men, a man who compelled respect and consideration in what- ever environment he might be thrown, from the wild and rough life of the cattle ranch to the most cultivated society. He was noted for his square dealing and his honorable intentions towards all men. He had promised his mother, upon first leav- ing home, never to touch strong drink of any kind, and this he kept faithfully, being strictly temperate in all his habits. He was strongly devoted to his family and especially to his sister who lived with him during his success and final illness and cared for him so consistently. He was one of the most generous of men, his hand and purse being open to anyone who required aid. He did his duty as he saw it, and he never lost his warm affection for the State and neighborhood of his birth.
Dennis Jordan Marr, elder son of Foxwell Cutts and Rhoda (Jordan) Marr, was born at Wales, Maine, and came with his mother to Portland after his father's death. A portion of his education was obtained here and the remainder after removing to Boston. When his schooling was finally completed he, like his brother, took up a seafaring life, but continued therein longer than the latter. He was still a sailor when his brother made his success in the cattle business in Arizona and invited him to join him there. This he did and the two remained in partnership, their great success being due largely to their close application to business and hard work. He disposed of his interests at the same time as did his brother, but instead of going to Phoenix to live,
he settled in California, in the town of Downey, Los Angeles county, where he still makes his home. He married, at Phoenix, Arizona, Jessie Pratt, and they are the parents of four children, Rhoda, Edna, Maude and Josiah.
Isabelle Frances Marr, the youngest of the five children of Foxwell Cutts and Rhoda (Jordan) Marr, was born at Wales, Maine, and was but an infant at the time of her father's death and the con- sequent removal of the family to Portland, She at- tended the public schools of Portland and Boston, and in the latter city also received her musical edu- cation. It was her early ambition to become a pity- sician, and she actually studied medicine for two years, but was obliged to abandon her purpose in order to give her mother the care that her declining years required. She was absolutely faithful in this duty, and after the death of her mother went West to live with her brother at Verde Valley, Arizona. It soon became necessary that she again take upon her the duties of a nurse, for her brother's illness came not long after, and it devolved upon her to bring him back to the East and care for him during his last illness. This she did, ministering to his wants and desires with that devotion that only a sister can give. Since her brother's death she has made her home continuously at Portland, although she still owns a good deal of valuable property in Arizona. In her relations with her family and, especially to those in- valid members of it whose age or ill health rendered assistance necessary, Miss Marr has shown that ten- derness and solicitude for their happiness and com- fort that we are apt to regard as the highest and most characteristic attribute of a good woman. For- getful, not only of herself, but what is far harder, of her own worthy ambitions and purposes, she sac- rificed to their care all that most of us regard as most precious, showing a disinterestedness and self- lessness that are wholly admirable. Nor was this, as in the case of so many fine women, partly the re- sult of a shrinking from the active life of the world. On the contrary, Miss Marr is particularly well fit- ted, both by character and tastes for that very life and, since her time has been her own, has in a great measure lived it. She is possessed of very unusual talents both in variety and degree, and is in every re- spect a most accomplished woman. She possesses the artistic temperament and every kind of aesthetic beauty makes its appeal to her. Her musical educa- tion has already been referred to, but in addition to her excellent training in this art, she has an extra- ordinary talent in it which makes her a most delight- ful musician. She is also an artist with her brush and her home is full of oil canvases and pastelles from her hand, displaying marked ability and talent. She is devotedly fond of nature in all its aspects
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and the beauties of her native State are especially familiar to her. Miss Marr is also a great ad- mirer of dramatic art and is a member of the Dra- matic Club of Boston. Among the other clubs to which she belongs should be mentioned the Art Club of Boston, and the Woman's Club of Boston. In her religious belief she is a Congregationalist.
EDWARD WILLIAM BRIDGHAM-One of the enterprising and well known of the younger law- yers of Bath, Maine, Edward William Bridgham, comes of the virile old New England stock. The American founder of the name was Henry Bridg- ham who, according to Savage in his "Genealogical Dictionary" is given as a freeman of Dorchester, Massachusetts, in 1643. He removed to Boston in 1644, and was a tanner by trade. In 1653 he served the community as constable, and held the rank of captain, dying in 1671, and leaving "a good estate." He had eight sons, and a daughter, named Hopestill. One of his sons, named John, was a physician of Ipswich. In 1834 four of the name had been gradu- ated from Harvard University and one from Brown University.
Edward William Bridgham was born at Bridgton, Cumberland county, Maine, October 15, 1881, the son of William C. and Frances F. (Smith) Bridg- ham. Mr. William C. Bridgham, a native of Poland, Maine, was in the grocery business, but is now re- tired. His wife, a native of Phillips, Maine, is also living and their two sons and two daughters. He served the cause of the Union for three years during the Civil War. The father of William C. Bridgham was George Bridgham, and he was the son of Thomas Bridgham. George Bridgham was interest- ed in the hotel business.
Edward W. Bridgham went as a boy to the public schools of his native locality, and graduated from the high school with the class of 1902. After that he entered the Maine College of Law, and received his degree of Bachelor of Law from this institution in 1909, the degree of Master of Law being con- ferred upon him the following year. His success- ful accomplishment of his college course meant more than it does for the usual young man whose ex- penses are paid by his father. In the case of young Mr. Bridgham all the money was earned by himself by teaching and other means. He started to college with only ten dollars ahead of him but carried out his aim and showed the rare stock from which he was sprung. After leaving college he came to Bath, Maine, and established himself there in his profes- sion, making the success which would have been predicted from a youth of determination and am- bition. None of the younger lawyers of Bath com-
mands a higher place in the confidence of his pro- fessional brethren and of the public at large than does Edward W. Bridgham. Mr. Bridgham is a Re- publican in his political views and has always been active in the duties of citizenship and interested in municipal problems of every kind. He has served the county as attorney for a period of nearly six years, and was city solicitor for a year. For two years he was a member of the Republican city com- mittee.
Mr. Bridgham married, September 18, 1912, in Boston, Massachusetts, Isabelle Jane Cook, the daughter of John and Jane (McGarver) Cook. John Cook was born in Galway, Ireland, and was a ma- chinist by trade, and his wife was born in Boston. They have two sons and two daughters, all living at the present time. Mr. and Mrs. Bridgham are the parents of one son, of five years, Edward William Bridgham, Jr.
ALBERT J. FELT, one of the most successful real estate men of Portland, Maine, with which city his business carcer has been identified, is a member of an old and distinguished Maine family. He is a son of Jesse Felt, who was for many years a well known jeweler here, and whose standing in the com- munity was won by his own energy and thrift. Jesse Felt was a native of Greenwood, Oxford county, Maine, where also he grew to manhood, his educa- tion being obtained at the local public schools. When little more than a youth he left the country district where he had been born and bred, and came to Port- land to make his fortune. He apprenticed himself to a jeweler and of him learned the trade, a trade that he always thereafter followed. After complet- ing his apprenticeship and working as a journeyman for a time, he embarked in the business on his own account and opened a wholesale and retail jewelry store on Exchange street. He met with success well nigh from the outset, and by hard work and inde- fatigable industry he built up a large business and came to be regarded as one of the substantial mer- chants of the city. His growing trade seemed to promise even greater things for the future, when it was suddenly terminated by one of those strokes of ill fortune which no one can foresee or guard against. The great Portland fire of 1866, which de- stroyed so large a percentage of the business district of the city, entirely wiped out his store and entire stock, as well as his home, so that the total result of the labor and forethought of years was dissipated in an instant. There was but one thing for Mr. Felt to do, if he did not wish to give up completely, and that was start all over at the beginning again. In the meantime his family must have some place to
Edward . Pridehai
G. H. Pass
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dwell and nothing remained to him in Portland, In this difficulty he took his family back to the old family homestead at Greenwood, Oxford county, and himself returned to Portland to start again. It is a great tribute to his courage and character that he did not sink beneath his troubles, but surmounted them as effectively as he did, building up a new business which was also successful. He worked for a time with the jewelry firm of William Senter & Company, but soon was able to begin once more on his own account, and shortly after his family joined him in a new home in the city. He lived to the ripe old age of eighty-seven years, and finally died at his home in Portland, and was buried in Ever- green Cemetery here. He was a Baptist in religion, a Republican in politics, a man of temperate and domestic tastes, and devoted to his home and family. He married Jane Dowie, of Weymouth, Massachu- setts, who died at Portland and is also buried in Evergreen Cemetery. They were the parents of nine children, three of whom died in early youth, the six surviving benig as follows: Frank R., who now re- sides at Bath, Maine; Charles H., a well known painter of Portland; Albert J., with whom we are here concerned; Alfred E., a twin brother of the former, who resides with him: Julia, who became the wife of George Cross, and is now deceased; and May, who died as a young girl.
Born March 4, 1864, at Portland, Maine, Albert J. Felt was yet a small boy when the disastrous fire occurred that so nearly ruined his father. He was taken by the latter, together with the other mem- bers of the family, to the old farm in Oxford county and it was there in that healthful rural environment that several years of his childhood were spent. There, too, he attended school and gained his edu- cation, for upon returning to Portland, he was con- sidered old enough to learn a trade and so had to abandon his studies. He was apprenticed to a house- painter and learned that trade, and has followed it in a measure ever since, although now merely as an ac- cessory to his other business. To painting he added a knowledge of paper-hanging and interior decorat- ing, and finally engaged in a contract business along this line. He met with gratifying success from the outset, working up a trade which extended to many parts of the city and included a very high class cli- entele. He did not, however, confine himself en- tirely to this business, as he clearly foresaw the great development of the city and the consequent rise in the values of real estate, and decided to avail him- self of it. His judgment was justified by the event. for the money that he made in his business he in- vested in city property that quickly became valuable and brought him in large returns. After purchasing
property Mr. Felt always began to improve it and built several houses in various parts of the city, in- cluding a number on Washington avenue and vicin- ity. His success entitles him to look back with some pride upon the keen foresight that has guided him in his investments, for he has been uniformally correct in his judgment and has made practically no mis- takes. He is still very active in this line, and his other business, of course, places him in a position to make his building operations quick and easy.
Mr. Felt is a man of enterprising nature, and of progressive ideas, and takes a keen interest in the welfare of the community in which he makes his home and carries on his business. He is always to be counted upon to assist by every means in his power any undertaking begun with the purpose of advanc- ing its interests or increasing its prosperity. He is an independent in politics, voting for the man or issues in which he believes, without reference to par- tisan considerations. In his religious belief he is a Methodist and attends the Methodist Episcopal church at Portland, being very active in the work of the congregation and holding the office of trustee therein. Mr. Felt is a man of very quiet but genial manner, devoted to his home and family, and uni- versally esteemed for his high moral character. He is a fine example of the highest type of citizenship, and his influence is potently felt through his large circle of friends and associates.
Albert J. Felt was united in marriage on the six- teenth day of March, 1892, at Portland, with Sophia Johnson, a native of the kingdom of Sweden, and daughter of Adolf and Johanna (Anderson) John- son, of that country. Mrs. Felt is a woman of the highest domestic virtues and a devoted wife and mother. To Mr. and Mrs. Felt one child has been born, Clifton Felt, now a student at the Sherwood School.
GEORGE BUCKNAM DORR, to whom in as- sociation with President Emeritus Eliot, of Harvard, is due the creation of the beautiful Mount Desert National Park and wild life sanctuary, was born in Boston, December 29, 1853, and graduated from Har- vard University with the class of 1874. Having be- come a citizen of Bar Harbor, where his father was among the earliest summer residents, he served on its selectmen's board during the years 1915. 1916, and 1917.
GEORGE H. BASS, a well known manufactur- er of Maine, has been engaged in making shoes for more than half a century at Wilton, where he was born July 22, 1843. Mr. Bass is a member of an old and distinguished New England family, and is of the
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seventh generation from Samuel Bass, who was a member of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. He is a son of Seth and Nancy (Russell) Bass.
George H. Bass passed his childhood at the home of his father at that place, and received his educa- tion at the local public schools, where he remained a student until he had reached the age of seven- teen years. He then taught in the local schools for one year, but gave up that profession to engage in business life. He was eighteen years of age in 1861, when he became apprenticed to Corydon Bacheller, who was the owner of the Wilton tannery, and here he remained at work for two years, becoming famil- jar with that trade. His wages at that time amount- ed to fifty dollars a year, which gives some idea of the frugality which prevailed in this country at that date. After the two years of service with Mr. Bach- eller had expired, Mr. Bass secured a position at the plant of John Cummings, then the largest tan- ner at Woburn, Massachusetts, and here he received six months' valuable experience. His work was in- terrupted, however, by his returning to his home to cast his first vote for President, the candidate of his choice being Abraham Lincoln, then running for his second term. Not long after this his old employer. Mr. Bacheller, offered his tannery for sale, and this was bought by Seth Bass, who leased it to his son. This transaction occurred December 5, 1865, and Mr. Bass began his business career with a capital of two hundred dollars. He began the manufacture of calf skin and wax upper leather for long leg boots, and continued thus engaged for the better part of thirteen years. The product of his tannery was used in the manufacture of what was then the most fa- mous boots made in Maine, it being used by Na- thaniel Hardy, at New Sharon, by Ara Cushman, at Auburn, by C. A. Wing, at Winthrop, by Joshua Adams, at Wilton, and by I. C. Lombard & Com- pany, at Auburn. He also sold much of his leather to Foster, Packard & Company, at Wilton, during the latter part of this period. The use of his leather by these concerns was enough to give it an excel- lent reputation in the industrial world of this region, and Mr. Bass decided to become a manufacturer of boots and shoes on his own account. Accordingly he purchased the Foster interest in the firm of Fos- ter, Packard & Company, and in association with E. P. Packard ran that plant during the year 1876, which marks the beginning of his career in this line. At the close of this year Mr. Bass purchased the interest of his partner, Mr. Packard, and became sole owner, and from that time forward has met with continued success. So greatly did his business grow that in 1876 he sold his tannery so as to be able to devote his entire attention to his new enterprise.
Mr. Bass wisely decided to specialize in a particular line of shoemaking, and as he had been a farmer during his youth, and knew well the needs of that class in the community, he naturally turned to pro- ducing boots and shoes which would give the great- est comfort and longest service in rough out-of-door work. Sold as the "Bass shoe for hard service," they have come to have a large market, not only in his native State, but throughout the entire country. He consistently sought to make shoes specially adapted for various purposes, and developed a line of river drivers' shoes which have become standard in New England, known in all logging regions from New- foundland to California. Mr. Bass began the manu- facture of moccasins in 1909, which has since de- veloped into a very important part of his business. In 1906 the concern was incorporated, with Mr. Bass as president, and his two sons, J. R. Bass and W. S. Bass, treasurer and secretary of the company, re- spectively.
George H. Bass has had many interests outside of his business, and has actively supported movements for the welfare of State and community. His church relations have always stood first, as lie has been a member of the Congregational church for sixty years, has been deacon for thirty-one years, and treasurer for twenty-five years. He has been active in public life. In politics he has been a Repub- lican, and served his town as treasurer for twenty- three years, and his district in the State Legislature for the term of 1914-15. He was largely responsi- ble for the construction of water works in Wilton, and has been president of the Wilton Water Com- pany since its organization. He has served for many years as trustee of Wilton Academy, and for the past ten years has been president of the board.
George H. Bass has been twice married, his first wife having been Mary Louise Streeter, of Say- brook, Ohio, a daughter of Sereno Wright and Sarah Jane (Willard) Streeter, of that place, with whom he was united, November 10, 1874. Her death oc- curred May 2, 1896, and Mr. Bass married (second) October 27, 1897, Mary Ella Barry, of Wollaston, Massachusetts. By his first marriage Mr. Bass is the father of the following children : Willard Streeter, born in the year 1876; Jolin Russell, born in 1878; Elizabeth, born in 1881, Anne Louise, born in 1888.
The word, "public-spirited," is especially applicable to Mr. Bass, as he has always been actively interested in promoting and securing the welfare of the com- munity and State. Mr. Bass has been a man not only successful in business but successful in gaining and retaining the respect and regard of all with whom he has been associated. This has come about by the
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unassuming possession of a character which in itself commands respect.
HANSON S. CLAY, late of Portland, Maine, where his death occurred, September 25, 1905, a man of affairs, a public spirited citizen and a pop- ular figure in the life of this city, was a native of New Hampshire, and a son of Parker and Harriet (Spurling) Clay, old and highly respected residents of Tuftonboro and later of Dover in that State. It was at the former town that Hanson S. Clay was born, March 29, 1827, but he was yet a small child when his parents went to Dover to live, and it was there that he at- tended school and grew to manhood. As a youth he left the parental home and came to Maine, locating for a time at Westbrook, in Cumberland county, and there engaging in busi- ness. Westbrook remained his home until 1866, the year after the great fire in Portland, when he came to this city. Here he was actively engaged in business up to the year 1887, when he retired and spent the later years of his life in well earned leisure from business cares. He made Portland his permanent home from the time of his coming here until his death, with the exception of a few years spent by him in Massachusetts, and owned a handsome home in the Deering district of the city.
Mr. Clay was a prominent figure in different departments of the city's life, but he was bet- ter known in connection with his activities as a public man than in any other way. He possessed an extraordinary faculty for public af- fairs, and his management of them was uni- formily successful. It was not to be wondered at, therefore, that his political career was one of achievement, and reflected credit both on him- self and the community he served. Mr. Clay was a staunch Republican, identifying himself en- thusiastically with the work of his party in this region and soon becoming a leading figure in its councils. He was keenly in sympathy with its ideals and traditions, and the great men who represented it; Lincoln, Grant, Garfield, Blaine, Thomas B. Reed and others were his especial admiration. He served as a member of the Portland City Council from 1877 to 1879. Two years later, in 1881, he was elected an alderman of Portland and served in that capacity until the close of 1884. He also served as a member of the commission on streets, and later he became street commissioner for a considerable period. The election of Mr. Clay to the last named place was especially a tribute to the manner in which
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