The Portland daily press., 1870-12-28
DAILY PRESS.
PORTVLANT
Wednesday, Morning, Decemsr %, 1870.
Old ssasers.
Ernm tha L

"i''o"ai' " 'hinhihS, WIN WeFo formerly er
gagged in the same business, which has on,
bled us TO compile, in brief, a history of III
Old sta9ers now living in the State. Tbel
may be some omissions and some errors
dates and ages, as they are mostly given fror
memory, but the items will be found of in
terest as relating to class of men who floul
ished previous to the "fast" age when til
steam whistle superseded the crack of tn
stage drivers whip
Charles Carle of Portland, the oldest stage
driver in the State. Began TO carry mails O,
horseback from Portland to Portsmouth. N
ii: Was driver until the opening of frs
railroad into Portland, and afterwards, an,
mails from the depot 10 post office: 81 wear
of age last November.
Calvin Hamlin of China; drove from Au
gusta to Bangor, from from 1926 to 1910
Now resides on farm; 6S or 70 years O
age.
Amos Rollins of Belgrade; drove from Au
gusta to Bangor, four year from 1926. Smsr
and enterprising farmer; Is years old.
Nathl Holmes of Belfast; drove from Au
gusta to Belfast, from 1S45 to 1850 Land
lord of New England House in Belfast; 8
years old.
Jacob Sands OF Brunswick; for years stable
agent at North Yarmouth; bought out The
line and drove from Portland to Augusta
old. N
Jesse Stinson of Bangor; drove from Au.
gusta to Bangor, six years from 1912: &C
years old.
Eben Woodbury. of Houlton; drove six
years from 1S45, from Bangor to Mattawam
keag, and afterwards proprietor of the Matta-
wamkeag and Houlton line; so years old
member elect of next Legislature. :
John Marshall of Bath; commenced to
drive In 1888. and driving still. Drove from
Portland to Augusta, till the cars ran to the
latter place; since that time from Bath to
Rockland, being of but one year during that
time; 63 years old.
MIR. Bryant of Anson drove from Augusta
to Anson, eight years from 1910. Now a farm
er; 60 years old.
ia to Portland, eight years previous to cpen-
ing Of Grand Trunk Railroad, when he as
sumed the duties of conductor on the road, a
position which he still holds go years of age
S. I. Corser OF Portland; drove from Au-
gusta to Portland by the South West Bend
route, five or six years previous t, the the
opening of the Grand Trunk. Was after
wards conductor and superintendent of road !;
now one OF the Railroad Commissioners OF the
State.
Thomas G. Chamberlain of Portland; drove
from Augusta to Portland for eight years pre-
vious to opening OF Grand Trunk; conductor
on that road until within four or five years.
Now farmer at Foreside; 80 years old.
Sumner Hopkins of Gardiner; drove two
or three years from 1881, from Augusta to
Doc for
gagged as baggage master on P. & K. r. r. at
Gardiner.
Mr.. Bailey oil Houlton; drove from 1888 to
1860. Formerly partner OF E5en woodbury..
Mr.. Norcross OF Dover; owned the line and
dove from Bangor to Dover ten years from
1043. Residing somewhere in Penobscot
county, and one of the county commissioners !;
IS years old.
John Merrill of Pushaw, Perebscot county
drove from 1910 10 1858, since which time he
has kept public house and conducted the
livery business.
Hiram Reed of Augusta; drove 21 years
from 1929, as follows: From Augusta to Dix
field, years Augusta to Portland. years !;
the remainder CT the time from Augusta to
Bangor. He then went into the livery busi-
ness in this city, in which business he has
ever since been engaged, until his stable has
come to be considered as one of the institu-
Mons of the place 80 years of age,
Mr.. Cr0well OF Realized; drove from Au-
gusta to Norridgewoek six years from 1S43 !;
nna trader at Kent's Hill; 81 years old.
E. Black or Palermo drove frum Bangor 10
Belfast, 10 years, from 1888. Now farmer in
Palermo; Is years old.
j. Black, OF Palermo; drove from Belfast to
Bangor, s years fiom 1888. Now farmer; 65
years old.
Mr.. Stewart of Pennington; owner of line
and driver from Portland to Pennington,
from 1928 TO 1S40 Afterwards owner of Au-
gusta and Farmineton line; 10 years old.
Josiah Mitchell OF Bellas. drove on Angus
ia, Belfast and bangor line, OF which he was
part owner afterwards, from 1888 to 1S4S; IS
years old.
George Lancaster of Bangor: drove eight
years from 1S40 Then went to California.
accumulated considerable property and re-
turned to Bangor where he now resides; So
years old.
G. G. Waterhouse of Lewiston drove from
Portland to Paris and owned the route from
1885 to 1S49. Afterwards conductor on the
Grand Trunk. Lett cars S-years since. Now
landlord OF the Dewitt House in Lewiston,
and of the Island Pond House; 60 years old.
V. d. Pnkham of Augusta; began staging
in 1886, and has been in the business ever
since. Is probably the largest Stage owner in
the State; about SO years old.
'Doty" Richards of Augusta; driving on
various routes since 1913; 6O years old.
John Holmes of Gardiner; drove for many
years on the Portland line; went to Calfor-
mia and pursued the same business; came
back to Maine and bought the popular "hour-
ly'' line between Gardiner and Augusta,
which fnurished until the steam dummy was
put on. Holmes then laid aside the reins, but
hos n. ho of f1o
mediation train from its first trip to the pres
eut time with ability and fidelity to the wants
OF the public. About 60 years old.
David Landers of Gardiner; drove hourly
between Gardiner and Augusta for several
years previous to its purchase by Holmes.
Living comfortably at Gardiner; 60 years old.
Nathaniel Hutchins Of Monmouth; drove
from Portland to Augusta, six years from
1926; at one time proprietor of the Augusta
House; went to California, and after return
ing bought farm in Monmouth where he is
now living, contented and happy, at the age
of about 70 years.
John Hilton of Portland; drove from Port
land to Dover, n H., 10 years from 1880; Is
years old.
Davis Crockcr of Dixmont, drove from
1885 to 1912, from Augusta TO Bangor, and
from Bangor to Watervlle. Represented his
town in the Legislature few years since
Now devoting him elf to agricultural pursuits
So years old.
Stephen Straton, now landlord of hotel in
Boston, formerly connected with the Mansion
House in this city, began to drive in 1885
and continued in the business about years
So years old.
James Abbott of Pittston: drove from Au
gusta to Anson, from 1887 to 1S43; after
wards went on TO a farm in Windsor, and
from Themes tc Pittston, where he is one OF
the largest stock and produce carriers on the
river; go years of age.
William o. Perry of Augusta; drove from
Augusta to Bangor, Tor five years from 1888
then removed to Bowdoinham and engaged
In farming; for a few years past has resided
in Augusta, and drives on the line from Au
gusta to Winthrop; 80 years eld.
E. d. Caswell of Augusta; commenced
driving in 1S43; drove from Belgrade to New
Sharon 8 years; from Augusta 10 Rockland 4
or 5 years. He has been on the Winthrop
line, has kept public house in Hallowell and q
livery stable in Augusta
j. E. Pierce of Windsor; drove on route
from Bangor to Calais tor is years, commenc
ing in 1880. Now farmer; 63 years old.
Mt. b icon of Rome; drove on the South
West Bend route tor five years, commencing
in 1888; afterwards conductor ON railroad
from Portland to Portsmouth; now farmer
5S years old.
While many of the old stasers have let o,
the reins, and dropped off the stage of action
these remain to tell of the bards6ps of thi:
primitive method of conveyance, when the
blast of the drivers horn announced to the
expectant villagers, gathered at the post-office
and tavern, fresh arrivals of mail and niends
and OF the curiosity awakened through the
country, all along the line, when the SOUND OF
the rumbling wheels brought whole nelghbor-
hoods to The "front door" to see the stage 60
hu