Piscataquis County
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by Marie Hamilton Marrier
My great great
grandparents Elijah and Mary H. (Kusseu) Young are buried in the Greenville
Cemetery in the family plot along with Hiram Young, their daughter Nancy and my
great aunt Bertha (Bertie) Hamilton who died in Greenville in 1890 while on a
trip visiting her grandparents of diptheria. She was from Omro, Wi. west of
Oshkosh in Eastern Wisconsin on Lake Winnebago. I descend from Eiljah and Mary's
daughter Mehitable who married James Sumner Hamilton brother of Jason A.
Hamilton in 1866. Mehitable was a graduate of Munson Academy and had worked in
Civil War hospitals in Washington DC during the war. She was born in Greenville
in 1836. Her parents were some of the first settlers. Elijah gave the land for
the first church in Greenville and her uncle Thomas purchased the first pew.
There is a memorial window to Elijah and Mary in the Greenville Junction
Methodist church in the back of the church. After James and Mehitable married
they moved to Omro west of Oshkosh in Winnebago County Wisconsin. Mehitable had
been a pioneer in Greenville with her parents. She indeed was a remarkable lady.
Elijah and his brother Thomas Jr. came from the Hollis area in York County
Me. They purchased their land from Saco Academy. Thomas' farm is now owned by
Jake Morrell who I have corresponded with. He has sent me a picture of the farm
and a description of it. I also have land records from the 1830's. I have been
helped by Pat Johnson of the Shaw Library and Linda McBriarty of the high school
library. I am currently in the process of writing my narrative of the Hamilton-
Young family.
I have a copy of Gerald Hamilton's book on Greenville. I hope, I piqued your curiosity about my Greenville lineage.
by Deb (Pelletier) Tajmajer
Edward and Madeline (Sawyer) Jennings’ restaurant was located on Pritham Avenue in Greenville, Maine. The name of the business was Jennings Lunch as denoted on the post card, circa 1938. It was later used as a grocery store as well as a restaurant. It was equipped with a soda fountain. Jennings sold fresh meat along with Madeline’s homemade pies and famous donuts. Many a time their eldest daughter, Beverly, was the one who hauled the pies to the restaurant with a little red wagon or sled from their home on Main Street. Sometimes she would get caught up in the snow. At his business, Edward often took delight in taking an opposing viewpoint when talking with his customers. After Edward’s death in 1951, it was sold and renamed Jamison’s Market. The building still stands today as Jamo’s.
Sometime back in the late seventies the writer first met Major Macfarlane, at one of the hotels around Moosehead Lake, and the fact that he bad previously written something for the Forest and Stream pertaining to the charms and attractions of the Moosehead,
Monson and Elliottsville regions as a summer resort for tired city people led to our acquaintance. He was then a resident of either New York or Chicago and was spending his summer in Maine as a "summer visitor." His love for Maine never grew less but increased as the years passed. He finally became a permanent resident of Greenville and was the first to establish the manufacture of veneer in eastern Maine. He was a man of great force and energy and abundant enthusiasm about whatever engaged his attention. Belonging to the same political organization and viewing many public questions from similar angles our relations were intimate and remained so until his death.
We shall always cherish most agreeable memories of him.
The following was prepared for the Maine Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and read at the meeting held in Portland, Dec. 5th, 1917: Companion Victor Wells Macfarlane died in Reading, Mass., October 15, 1917. Living remote from headquarters of the Commandery he was able only occasionally to have a share in our meetings; but his presence, when it was possible for him to be with us, was always welcome, and his fellow- ship in the order was loyally cherished by him to the last.
He was born in Yonkers, Westchester county, N. Y., August 27, 1844. Both of his parents, Duncan and Mary Ann Macfarlane, were natives of Paisley, Scotland. From them he inherited those sturdy thrifty qualities which his father and mother brought with them to this country when they sought for themselves a home oil this side of the sea, settling at Yonkers, Here the son spent his early years. From the public schools in Yonkers he at length passed to the Peekskill Military Academy at Peekskill, N. Y. Here the opening of the Civil war found him receiving thorough receiving training, a fitting preparation for such patriotic service as at that time comparatively few among it had. He was then, however, seventeen years of age. But a year later, on graduating from the academy, be at once sought active service, enlisting as a private in the well-known Seventh Regiment of the National Guard of New York. This was a three months' regiment; but at the end of this period the value of his service had been so fully recognized, that on being mustered out he was empowered to raise a company of volunteers, and was offered a commission as first lieutenant, mustering officer and adjutant of the 172nd Regiment of the New York Infantry. He accepted the commission and September 6, 1862, he was transferred to the 165th Regiment, New York Volunteers. His efficiency as a drillmaster was now so well known that his services, outside of his regiment, were often sought and he was frequently on detached service. January 13, 1863, he was honorably mustered out; but in July, 1863, on the call of President Lincoln for additional troops, he joined the 17th Regiment New York National Guard, and July 8th was made sergeant major of the regiment and major July 25, 1863. At the expiration of the service of this regiment he was mustered out August 13, 1863. His eligibility to membership in this order was derived from his services in the 165th New York Volunteers, and he was elected a member through this commandery Sept. 3rd, 1902, his insignia number being 13,642.
Following his war service, Companion Macfarlane engaged in business it, New York City, giving his attention to his various interests there until 1883. About that time he removed to Chicago, Ill., where he enlarged his grain business of earlier years and was prominent in other enterprises. While in Chicago, he was connected with the Board of Trade. In 1890 on account of ill health he came to Maine and established a veneer manufacturing plant on the shores of Moosehead lake, employing a large number of workmen in this plant and in obtaining hardwood lumber ill the neighboring woods. The Plant was destroyed by fire in 1905 but through his activities was rebuilt on a much larger scale. In 1910, Companion Macfarlane re- turned to New York and devoted himself to the sale of the output of sev- eral veneer and box factories. He was thus employed when laid aside by his late illness.
In these various enterprises Companion Macfarlane was known as a stirring, energetic, progressive business man. He also took an active interest in the welfare of the communities in which he made his home. He was prominent also in matters pertaining to state and national affairs. In politics he was a Republican and in 1899 was elected member of the legislature of Maine is the representative from the Greenville class. In 1901 he was elected state senator from Piscataquis county. He was a man of genial and lovable personality and had a large acquaintance with prominent men in many circles in wide sections of our country. He was a member of the Army and Navy club in New York and of the Masonic order.
Funeral services were held on October 17th at his late residence in Reading, Mass., and also on October 18th at St. Johns cemetery, Yonkers, N. Y., where the burial took place.
Companion Macfarlane was married May 24th, 1865, to Zanina Nelson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Nelson, of Peekskill, N. Y. To them one child was born, Cornelia Seymour Macfarlane now Mrs. Lyman Blair of Greenville, Maine. Mrs. Macfarlane died in April, 1903. On October 30th, 1913, Companion Macfarlane married in New York City, Blanche Elizabeth Bailey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Bailey of Medford, Maine, who survives him. To her and the surviving daughter this commandery desires to make affectionate mention of remembrance and sympathy.
Contributed by Tina Vickery, extracted from Sprague's Journal of Maine History
Vol. VI Nov Dec 1918, Jan 1919, No. 3, Pages 102-104.
by Brenda Soufflas
My name is Brenda McAfee Soufflas. I have been researching my family tree for about 3 years. I have been fortunate enough to have been contacted by several people who have given me much information. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. I only wish I could have learned more about the family before my grandfather died.
My grandfather grew up in Greenville. His name was Frank McAfee. His house still stands on McAfee St. I have done much research on the family history on his side. I look forward to sharing this with others who have a connection with Greenville.
In 1993, work started on a McAfee reunion. My grandfather, born and raised in Greenville Maine in the house at the end of McAfee Street, had 2 sisters and 5 brothers. Their families are now scattered through out the country. In July of 1994, the children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, a few newborn great great grandchildren of John and Amanda (Dahlen) McAfee gathered in Greenville Maine for a weekend of remembering and introducing. In preparing for the reunion we did learn of John’s sister Rachel’s family, the Kindred’s, and a member of that branch of the tree attended.
Very little was known about John and Rachel’s siblings or parents. John and Rachel were born in St. John, New Brunswick. At the Katadin museum in Greenville, there is a picture painted by Stanley McAfee. Stanley is John and Rachel’s brother according to my grandfather (and information I have gathered since).
In early 1999, I put a message
on a genealogy message board. About six months later I received an email from
Eve whose grandfather, Albert was also a sibling to John and Rachel and Stanley.
Eve passed on a lot of information about the siblings and their parents, Francis
Galloway McAfee and Elizabeth Kierstead. The Kiersteads can be traced back to
the early 1600’s. Francis’ roots can be traced back to Londonderry, Ireland.
Although John and Amanda moved their young family to Greenville from
Stockholm Maine, Greenville will always be home. Something my grandfather
instilled in me when I was young.
by Bruce McDonald
I am tracing a family (my own) that lived in Greenville, Maine from about
1902 until after WWII or longer. Alexander McDonald, born about 1873 in Chatham,
New Brunswick, CAN, married Helene J. Pease born 1 Nov 1881, in Chesuncook on 21
Feb 1898. The ceremony was in Greenville although both lived in Chesuncook at
the time and the priest was Fr. Forest from Jackman. Alexander and Helene moved
to Greenville, probably the Junction, after 1900. Helene (my grandmother) lived
in Greenville (Junction) from about 1900 until her death in 1944.
Their eight children, in order of birth were Angus Jules McDonald, Christopher S. McDonald (both born Chesuncook), Lillian Mae McDonald Elsemore (born Greenville as were the subsequent children), Priscilla Elmire McDonald Lawrence, Lewellyn Reginald McDonald, Earl Leon and Mearl Vivian (twins) McDonald, and Alvin McDonald. Helene married a Lewis Gauvin of Greenville in 1915 and had a daughter. Then Helene married a Walter Boothman of Greenville in 1920 and had a daughter.
by Gus Andrews
Gaudias Rodrigue and Rose Derina (Desroches) Rodrigue are the first generation of Rodrigues in the Greenville area. Gaudias is descended from João Rodrigues (abt. 1641-1720), a sailor from São João, Lisboa, Portugal, who settled in Quebec around 1665. Gaudias and Rose Derina Desroches had been married in Quebec in 1909 and emmigrated to Maine in the 1920s. In 1937 Gaudias was working for the Kennebec Log Driving Company. They lived in Rockwood before moving to Greenville, where they were divorced some time in the 1950s. At one time, quite a few of their children lived in Pritham Park on Pritham Avenue in Greenville.
By Deborah (Pelletier) Tajmajer
Captain Henry P. (1850-1909) and Louisa May (Davis) Sawyer (1856-1957) lived on Lake View Street in Greenville, Maine. Henry was the child of Arthur B. (1821-1910) and Eunice (Lombard) Sawyer. Arthur and Joel Sawyer (1808-1895), who was “an early Greenville settler,” were brothers. Arthur’s and Joel’s father, Andrew Stackpole Sawyer died in Greenville in 1855 at the age of 75. This Sawyer family migrated to Greenville from Saco, York County, Maine.
Arthur B. and Eunice Sawyer had seven children. Arthur’s and Eunice’s second born, Henry P. Sawyer, was also known as Captain for his years of ship building and navigation on Moosehead Lake. Arthur moved to Greenville after 1880 (after his son Henry had moved there) from Medford, Piscataquis County, Maine.
Henry named one steamship, the Louisa, after his wife Louisa May Sawyer. Henry and Louisa were married April 11, 1879. They had three children: Stillman W. (1880-1961), Fred J. (1884-1951), and Florence E. Sawyer (1886-1972). The Sawyer house still stands today high on the hill on Lakeview Street overlooking Moosehead Lake. It is now a business named the Captain Sawyer Bed and Breakfast.
Both Stillman and Fred made their living working on Moosehead Lake. Stillman was a steamboat engineer in 1900. In 1910, he was living with his wife Winnifred and children, Florence and Maryjane, on Main Street. At a young age, Fred worked as a mechanic. In documents and sources of the area, Fred was a man of many trades, he has been referred to as Captain, Engineer, boat carpenter, mailman, and guide for the Moosehead Lake region. In 1930, his occupation was in transportation. Fred used gasoline boats by then. Fred also had an employee who worked on his “mail boats.”
Fred Sawyer married Isabel (Files, 1884-1908) in 1902. They begat four children: Madeline, Dorothy, Louisa, and Kenneth. Isabel died very young, not quite 23 years old. Fred, only 24, needed a way to work and still look after his children. Fred turned to his mother and in-laws for assistance. Madeline and Dorothy were living with their grandparents William and Harriet (Lyons) Files at the “yellow” house on Lakeview Street in 1910. The younger two were being cared for at “Grammie Upstairs” (Louisa May (Davis) Sawyer) house on the hill, across the same street from the Files’ home, along with the young widower, Fred. Many family members referred to Lousia M. Sawyer as “Grammie upstairs.” Others living at the house were Louisa’s third child Florence and Fred’s grandfather (Louisa’s father-in-law) Arthur Sawyer, 89, and Arthur’s second wife. By 1920, Fred was married to his third wife, Ida McDonald, and all the children were once again living with him.
Fred and Isabel’s eldest, Madeline A. Sawyer (1902-1999) is my Grandmother. Madeline was married in 1922 to Edward F. Jennings. Madeline and her mother-in-law Grace (Baker) Jennings both worked as music teachers in 1930. They made good use of Grace’s Ivers and Pond upright piano. They owned Jennings Lunch on Pleasant Street. Edward and Madeline raised their two daughters, Beverly and Marilyn (Dolly) in the apartment over the restaurant. It is still standing today as Jamios. (see photo/postcard of the soda-fountain in the Jennings family history) Madeline was a member of the Evangelical Union Church (UCC) for 80 years. [Madeline’s obituary, May 1999] She played the organ for over 40 years and the piano even longer. She also played at the Rockwood Community Church for many years. In addition to giving piano lessons in town, she served her community by performing at many weddings and funerals in the Moosehead area.
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