USA > Maine > Maine; a history, Volume IV > Part 60
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Mr. Lappin was united in marriage at Portland with Frances M. Egan, a native of Cork, Ireland, who came after the death of her parents to this country with her uncle, Father Charles Egan, who was one of the pioneer priests of the Catholic church in Maine.
It has been the office of Ireland to supply the United States with a large percentage of its cit- izenship, a factor which will undoubtedly enter into the fabric of the New American race, even
LAFOREST V. TOWLE
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now in process of formation, supplying it with the splendid virtues of the parent stock. Among these virtues may be numbered buoyancy of spirit, indomitable courage, keen appreciation of the beautiful and a saving sense of humor. Of the best type of these, the gift of his native land to the nation of his adoption, is Mr. Lappin, who adds to these strong racial traits great patience and perseverance in the attainment of the ob- jectives which he sets himself. Like the ma- jority of his people he is a delightful comrade, his speech being at once witty and wise, and ever revealing a sincere heart and friendly mind with- in. His family life is a splendid example of do- mestic virtue and felicity, and he never tires seek- ing for the happiness of his household. This trait of altruism, this willingness to sacrifice his o1. 11 pleasure, or even interest, to compass that of others, is not confined to the relations of his home, but is discerntable in all his dealings. He is a very charitable man, but so strictly does he obey the injunction not to let one hand know what the other is doing that but few people realize the full extent of this side of his nature. He is a man to make himself felt in any com- munity, and to be honored wherever fate might cast his lot.
LAFOREST VELDESSA TOWLE, who has been for many years one of the best known fig- ures in the life of Fort Fairfield, Maine, in which place he resided from the age of seventeen years until his death, November 23, 1901, is a member of an old and distinguished Maine family, which was founded in the United States by Jonathan Towle, in the year 1747. Jonathan Towle was a prominent man in his day and made his home at Hampton and Pittsfield, New Hampshire, until his death in 1822. His descendants have always maintained the high standard set by their first ancestor in this country, and many of them have made names for themselves in various callings in the northern part of the New England States. Mr. Towle is a son of Hiram and Betsey (Wheeler) Towle, the former having been en- gaged in farming for many years at Avon, Maine, where he was very prominent in public affairs and held a number of the principal offices in the gift of his fellow citizens.
Laforest Veldessa Towle was born at Avon, April 25, 1829, and passed the first seventeen years of his life at his native place, where he at- tended the local common schools, and during his spare hours he worked for a Mr. Hunter, his father having died when he was a small boy. At
the age of seventeen, however, he left Avon and came to Fort Fairfield where he worked for about one year as a farm hand, receiving in lieu of wages a piece of heavily timbered land. As soon as he became the owner of this property, Mr. Towle set in to clear the land, selling the lumber in the local markets and building a home for himself. He worked hard at this pioneer labor, and eventually reaped the fruit of his in- dustry in the possession of a fine farm near the present village of Fort Fairfield. He was very successful in the general agricultural operations which he carried on here, and invested his earn- ings in more land, so that he became a land owner on a large scale. Besides keeping his place in the highest state of cultivation, he also made many improvements on his property and erected a comfortable farm house for himself, in which he resided until the time of his death, and also many excellent farm buildings. In politics Mr. Towle was a staunch Republican, and took a keen and active interest in local affairs, serving as selectman for two years in his adopted township. When a young man his peaceful avocation was interrupted by the outbreak of the Civil War. Mr. Towle, in company with the patriotic young men of his region, enlisted September 10, 1862, in Company G, Twenty-second Regiment, Maine Volunteer Infantry, and served for nine months in the Civil War. He saw much active service and was present at the engagements during the siege of Port Hudson and the battle of Irish Bend. He was honorably discharged August 14, 1863. Mr. Towle was afterwards drafted for further service, but never called upon to perform that duty. In later years Mr. Towle was a mem- ber of Kilpatrick Post, No. 61, Grand Army of the Republic, and was a charter member of the Fort Fairfield Grange, No. 262. He was a man of ex- tremely strong religious beliefs and instincts, and was a devoted member of the Free Baptist Church at Fort Fairfield, and served as clerk of the Northern Aroostook quarterly meeting for about eighteen years.
Laforest Veldessa Towle was united in mar- riage, September 20, 1865, with Mary Elizabeth Estes, a daughter of Valentine M. and Louise (Rowe) Estes, of South China, Maine. To Mr. and Mrs. Towle the following children were born: Charles Melvin, born October 26, 1868, mentioned below; Clara Louise, born May 31, 1871, who became the wife of Charles F. Parsons; Hiranı Edgar, born March 3, 1880, mentioned be- low; Myron Laforest, born July 13, 1883, and died November 6, 1890.
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CHARLES MELVIN TOWLE, one of the largest farmers and growers of potatoes at Eas- ton, Maine, where he has been engaged in this line of business for many years, is a member of an old and distinguished family of this State which was founded in the United States by one Jonathan Towle in the early Colonial period, and a son of Laforest V. and Mary E. (Estes) Towle, the former a successful farmer at Fort Fairfield for many years.
Charles Melvin Towle was born at his father's home at Fort Fairfield, October 26, 1868, and as a lad attended the local public schools, and upon completing his studies began to work on the farm under the direction of his father. He later en- gaged in agricultural operations on his own ac- count and is now the owner of an unusually fine farm consisting of some four hundred acres of land situated near Easton Centre. Upon this place he has made many improvements, and keeps it in the highest state of cultivation, so that it may justly be regarded as one of the show places of that locality. Mr. Towle has made a specialty of the raising of potatoes here, and now does an extensive business in this profitable line, produc- ing the finest type of this crop, for which the State of Maine is so justly famous. Mr. Towle has also become interested in the financial enter- prises of Easton. He is a very active member of the Republican party, his voice carrying much weight in the councils of the same, and he has held the office of selectman of the township for a number of years, finally resigning from thic same in 1918. Mr. Towle is also well known in the social and fraternal circles here, and is a member of the local Grange; the Easton Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and Eastern Frontier Lodge, No. 112, Free and Accepted Masons, of Fort Fairfield. He is a Methodist in his religious belief and attends the Methodist Episcopal church at Easton, Maine.
Charles Melvin Towle was united in marriage, September 7, 1895, at Fort Fairfield, Maine, with Anna Maud Jolinston, a daughter of Alonzo Cal- vin and Philena (Flannery) Johnston,
HIRAM EDGAR TOWLE, who for many years has been prominently identified with the business of stock raising and general farming in the region of Fort Fairfield, Maine, is a son of Laforest V. and Mary Elizabethi (Estes) Towle.
Hiram Edgar Towle was born at his father's home in this place, March 3, 1880. He attended first the local public schools, after which he took a commercial course at the business college, a
training which has been of great value to him subsequently. Upon leaving school, Mr. Towle engaged in farming on the old family homestead which had been in his father's possession for many years and he has remained there ever since. Mr. Towle has gradually specialized morc and more completely in the raising of stock, and deals in these animals largely with the local trade. He has been exceedingly successful in his chosen business, and is now justly regarded as one of the most successful stock raisers and dealers in this section. In politics Mr. Towle is a Republican, but although keenly interested in both local and National issues, has never taken an active part in public affairs. He is, however, very prominent in the organizations which are concerned with the welfare of agricultural inter- ests in this part of the State. He is also a mem- ber of the local Grange. In his religious belief Mr. Towle is a Baptist and attends the Bethel Baptist Church at Fort Fairfield.
Hiram Edgar Towle was united in marriage, April 10, 1907, at Fort Fairfield, with Kate Everett, daughter of Elisha Spurgeon and Jane Rice (Raymond) Everett, the former a native of the province of New Brunswick, Canada, and for many years a prominent citizen of that commun- ity, where he served on the Town Council. Mrs. Everett was a native of Simonds, New Bruns- wick, and came to this country in 1892. To Mr. and Mrs. Towle the following children were born: Mary Louise, born March 19, 1908; Everett La- forest, born October 5, 1909; Helen, born Novem- ber 15, 1910, Charles Edgar, born June 24, 1912; Arthur Melvin, born November 25, 1913; Donald, born August 14, 1915; Ruth, born May 18, 1917; and Clara Elizabeth, born June 21, 1918.
DAVID DENNIS-The city of Gardiner, Maine, lost in the death of David Dennis one of her most respected and prominent citizens. For forty years he had been connected with the firm of Bartlett, Dennis Company as a partner, hav- ing entered its employ when a very young man.
Mr. Dennis was born in Litchfield, Maine, June 7, 1835, the son of John Dennis, Jr., and Harriette (Sawyer) Dennis, John Dennis, Jr., was born in Ipswich, Mass., May 30, 1780, and died February 4, 1866, in Litchfield. He was a farmer all his life and served the town as treasurer. He bore arms against the British in the War of 1812. David Dennis was educated in the schools of Litchfield, at first in the public schools and later in the Litchfield Institute. After leaving the lat- ter he taught school for a number of years, and
Le Moule
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lived on a farm. In 1862 he came to Gardiner, and obtained a position with the firm of Bartlett, Barstow & Company, wholesale and retail deal- ers in flour and grain. He was eventually taken in as partner, and the firm name became, Bartlett, Dennis Company, and continued in this business until his death in 1904. He was also president of the Merchants Bank, Gardiner, and was trus- tee of the Gardiner Savings Bank. In politics Mr. Dennis was a Republican, and served one term in the city government, but never cared for public office. He was a member of the Masonic order including the degree of Knight Templar, and was treasurer for a number of years. He was an attendant of the Universalist church and was a liberal in his views.
Mr. Dennis married, January 21, 1863, Julia S. Bartlett, born in Litchfield, April 23, 1842, a daughter of John C. and Lydia (Robinson) Bart- lett. They had four children, three of whom are living; Harriet S., of Gardiner; John B., of New York City; and Henry Ray, also of New York City.
STEPHEN SEDGLEY PINEO, a prominent wholesale and retail merchant of Milltown, Maine, his native place, was born February 10, 1850, son of David and Amelia (Hall-Sedgley) Pineo. On the paternal side he traces his lineage back to Jacques Pineo, a young Waldensian or Huguenot, who, in 1688, on account of religious persecution, fled from France to England, and with a companion named Goulard, took the oath of allegiance to the English government in Lon- don. This Jacques Pineo seems to have returned to France, as a short time later, 1690, he escaped from Lyons, where the King's troops were exe- cuting Protestants, and, seeking refuge in Amer- ica, landed at Plymouth. He settled in Leba- non, Connecticut, and in 1706 married Dorothy Babcock.
His son, Peter Pineo, married Elizabeth Samp- son, daughter of David and Mary (Chaffin) Samp- son, of Duxbury, Massachusetts. Vinton, the genealogist, considers it beyond a reasonable doubt that David Sampson here named was the son of Caleb and Merey (Standish) Sampson. Caleb was the youngest son of Henry Sampson, one of the Mayflower Pilgrims; and Caleb's wife, Merey, was a daughter of Alexander and Sarah (Alden) Standish and granddaughter of Captain Miles Standish and of John and Priscilla Alden. In 1763, Peter and Elizabeth (Sampson) Pineo removed to Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, drawn thither by the large land grants offered by the
British government to those who would settle in the country which the unfortunate Acadians had been forced to vacate. They were the parents of seven children, and their son, Jonathan, the next in line, settled in Machias, in 1770.
Jonathan Pineo was a prominent resident of Machias, serving as a member of the board of assessors. He was an active member of the first church, and assisted financially in erecting the first meeting house. He died in April, 1796, aged forty-nine years. His first wife was Esther Libby, born in Machias, in May, 1750, daughter of Timothy and Sarah (Stone) Libby. She bore him eight sons and three daughters, of whom David was the third born. Jonathan Pineo mar- ried for his second wife Mrs. Bridget Doty, born Byron, daughter of an Admiral in the British navy.
David Pineo, Sr., son of Jonathan and Esther (Libby) Pineo, and grandfather of Stephen S. Pineo, was born in Machias, February 17, 1774, and acquired prominence among the business men of that town in his day. He eventually re- moved to St. Stephen, New Brunswick, where he died some years later, on January 24, 1863. On December 13, 1796, he married Priscilla Hill, who was born in Machias, July 28, 1780, and who died in St. Stephen, September 30, 1850. She was the mother of eight children.
David Pineo, Jr., son of David Pineo, Sr., and his wife, Priscilla, was born in Machias, Septem- ber 25, 1803. When a young man he canie to Calais, making his way through the woods by the aid of spotted trees; and in 1836 he engaged in the manufacture of lumber, which he followed successfully for ten years. About the year 1846 he embarked in mercantile business. This he carried on a number of years, his last days being passed in retirement. He died October 5, 1862. Previous to the Rebellion he voted with the Democratic party, but in 1861 he became a Re- publican. In his younger days he was actively interested in military affairs. In his religious be- lief he was a Methodist, and for many years was identified with that church as an official and class leader. On February 6, 1832, David Pineo, Jr., married Mrs. Amelia Hall Sedgley, born in St. Stephen, March 9, 1807, daughter of John Hall. Of the eight children born of this union, five lived to maturity, namely: I. Josiah H., who was employed in the custom house at Milltown. 2. George W., a mechanic. 3. Minerva, who married James A. Roberts, of Waterboro, Mainc. Mr. Roberts, at the time of his marriage, was teach- ing school in Calais. Afterward he removed to
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Buffalo, New York, and establishcd a large law business in that city. At one time he served as Comptroller of the State. Mr. Roberts is the father of two children: i. Joseph Banks, a grad- uate of Bowdoin College and Buffalo Law School; ii. Amelia Pineo. 4. David. 5. Stephen S., of further mention. David Pineo, Jr., was a suc- cessful railroad engineer, residing at Moncton, New Brunswick, and is now retired.
Stephen Sedgley Pinco was educated in the schools of Milltown, and at the age of fifteen he began work upon the boom. When eighteen years old he was placed in charge of the boom, a position he occupied until 1872. In the spring of 1873 he became a clerk in the store of James G. Smith, remaining until the failure of his em- ployer, when he was stricken with a severe ill- ness, which continued for two years. On Oc- tober 23, 1877, a short time after his recovery, he established himself in business, having borrowed sufficient capital to make the start. After strug- gling for a while to keep his little business from being a failure, his zeal and integrity won for him many friends. At the present time he is carrying on one of the largest general stores in Washington county, besides a flourishing meat market.
Politically, Mr. Pineo supports the Republican party. He has been frequently solicited to ac- cept nominations to public offices, but he has in- variably declined, as his business interests de- mand his undivided attention. Mr. Pineo resides at the old homestead on Main street, which the family have occupied since 1832.
On June 30, 1876, Mr. Pineo married Annie T. Brown, daughter of Alexander and Sarah Brown, of Milltown. Mrs. Pineo died June 16, 1896, leav- ing two children: Louise A., and Stephen.
MICAJAH HUDSON, one of the prominent citizens of Guilford, Maine, was born in Guil- ford, Piscataquis county, Maine, November 23, 1854, the son of Henry and Emily Frances (Mar- tin) Hudson. Henry Hudson was born in Orange, New Hampshire, October 26, 1824, and died in Canaan, New Hampshire, June 24, 1877. He was admitted to the bar in Dover in June, 1849, and was in active practice up to the time of his death. He married Emily Frances Mar- tin, who was born in Guilford, Maine, May 31, 1831, and died March II, 19II. Their children were: Henry Hudson, born in Guilford, March 19, 1851; Micajah, of the present mention; and James, born in Guilford, October 22, 1857. Emily Frances (Martin) Hudson was the daughter of
Addison and Lydia (Otis) Martin, their other daughter having been Martha A. Martin. Lydia Otis was born in Leeds, Maine, October 24, 1799, and was killed by lightning. Mr. Martin married a second time and of this marriage there were two children: Otis and Oscar E. The second wife of Addison Martin was Achsa Leadbetter, born in Montville, Maine, October 4, 1818. Ad- dison Martin was a merchant and opened the first general store in Guilford in the year 1825, and continued there in trade for thirty years. He served as trial justice for many years. He was a Methodist and a Republican.
Micajah Hudson was educated in the town schools of Guilford, after which he attended the Coburn Classical Institute at Waterville, and also the Foxcroft Academy. For the ten years between 1875 and 1885 he lived on a farm in the town of Abbot, and while living there was elected the town treasurer in which office he served for a year, and also served in that of selectman for five years. In August, 1885, he moved back to Guilford and went into the mercantile business, and continued in that business for seventeen year. After disposing of his mercantile business he went into the pulp wood business and has been in that for sixteen years, and in this latter lie still is active. For twenty-one years he has been chairman of the Board of Selectmen of the town of Guilford, and was a member of the Governor's Council during the years 1915 and 1916.
Mr. Hudson is a Democrat in his political views, but has never cared to hold office. He is also a member of the Masonic Order. He and his wife contribute to the support of the Meth- odist Episcopal church of Guilford.
Mr. Hudson married, in Dexter, Maine, Jan- uary 22, 1876, Mabel N. Packard, who was born at Parkman, Maine, July 3, 1853. She is a daughter of Levi Allen and Deborah Rosanna (Harris) Packard, the former having been a farmer, and was for many years a selectman of his town. The daughter of Micajah and Mabel N. (Packard) Hudson is Lettie Emily, born in Abbot, April 14, 1877, and married Arthur Wil- mer Drake, of Albion, Maine, November 22, 1904.
WALTER SAWYER HOBBS-Several men- bers of the Hobbs family came to Maine from Leominster, Massachusetts, and pioneers of the name have been identified with the settlement of several towns in different counties of the State. Walter S. Hobbs was a grandson of Eben Hobbs, and a son of Charles F. Hobbs, a native of Maine, and his wife, Abbie (Sawyer) Hobbs, a native
CHAS. F. HOBBS
WALTER S. HOBBS
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of New Hampshire. Charles F. Hobbs was for many years engaged in the furniture business in Camden, and died in New York City, February 9, 1907. He was a member of the Masonic order, a Republican in politics, and a member of the Congregational parish. Charles F. and Abbie (Sawyer) Hobbs were the parents of two sons: Walter S., of further mention; and George E., both of whom are deceased.
Walter Sawyer Hobbs was born in Camden, Maine, February 26, 1861, died October 19, 1895. After several years' attendance in the public schools of Camden, he was a student at Brim- field (Massachusetts) Academy, there finisihng his studies. He began business life in Boston as clerk in a retail shoe store, and later became a traveling salesman for a wholesale boot and shoe house, remaining in Western territory four years. He then settled on an Oregon ranch, his health having broken under the strain of busi- ness. He remained at the ranch three years, then returned to Camden, married, and with his bride again made his home at the Oregon ranch. Mr. and Mrs. Hobbs remained in Oregon until June, 1895, then returned to Camden, where Mr. Hobbs died the following Otcober, not yet hav- ing reached his thirty-fifth year. He was a man of quiet, home loving tastes, well liked by all who knew him. Mr. Hobbs was a Republican in politics, but took no part in public life except to exercise the rights of citizenship. He attended the Episcopal church, but belonged to no or- ders nor clubs.
Mr. Hobbs married, September 5, 1893, in Canıden, Maine, Georgie Haskell, who survives him, daughter of C. C. and Sarah (Burd) Haskell. C. C. Haskell, a shoemaker, born in New Glou- cester, Maine, was a veteran of the Civil War, serving in the Nineteenth Regiment, Maine Vol- unteer Infantry. He dicd March 16, 1872. Sarah (Burd) Haskell was born in Camden, Mainc, where she married and always lived.
THOMAS JAMES FROTHINGHAM-One of the representative business men of Portland, Maine, and a deservedly honored citizen thereof is Thomas James Frothingham, whose influence is felt by a large circle of friends and business associates. He is not a native of the city, nor indeed of the State, although practically all the associations of his life have been formed there as he was but five years of age when it first be- came his home. He is a son of Thomas and Abbie E. (Coster) Frothingham, old residents of Brooklyn, New York, who later came to Port-
land, Maine, where they made their home until the close of their lives.
Born July 2, 1861, at Brooklyn, New York, Thomas James Frothingham accompanied his parents to Portland when they came there in 1866, and it was in the latter city that his edu- cation was received. He attended the public schools of Portland, graduated from the Park Street Grammar School, and then for eighteen months studied in the Portland High School. His family was not in very good circumstances at the time, and young Mr. Frothingham was obliged to give up his studies at this point in order to support himself. He was then sixteen years of age and was able very quickly to gain a position as bill clerk for the firm of Little & Company, a concern engaged in the wholesale dry goods business. After six months in this employ, Mr. Frothingham secured a better posi- tion with the firm of A. and S. E. Spring, im- porters and exporters, with whom he remained for the next ten years. Here he was promoted rapidly to more responsible positions, but during the entire period kept his mind centered on his ambition to engage in an independent business. With this end in view, he laid by as much of his earnings as he could afford to do, and when about twenty-six years of age had the gratification of finding himself in a position to become independ- ent. Accordingly, he entered the laundry busi- ness, and is at the present time proprietor of the Globe Laundry of Portland, an enterprise which he has himself built up and which is now doing a splendid business. Mr. Frothingham has not confined his activities, however, to his private business interest, but is a conspicuous figure in the fraternal and club life of Portland. He is particularly prominent in the Masonic or- der, having taken his thirty-second degree in Free Masonry, and is affiliated with Ancient Landmark Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Greenleaf Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Portland Council, Royal and Select Masters; St. Albans Commandery, Knights Templar, and Kora Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Portland Club and was for some time a member of its board of governors. In politics, Mr. Frothingham is a Republican and is a staunch up- holder of the principles and policies of that party. He has no ambition for political prefer- ment, however, and has never held any public office. In his religious belief he is a Universalist and attends the First Church of that denomina- tion in Portland.
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