The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-11-02
Deacon Joseph Harrod.

Biographical Sketch of nm OId-time Port.
land ueTchnnt.-Incidents i'm the Life Of
a Remarkable Man.
To the Editor of the Press:
Your paper of Saturday brought the an
nouncement of the death of this aged gentle
man, who has been my much valued friend for
over fifty years, and desire to bear testimony
to his worth. If continue this notice to an
unusual length, this is my excuse-'ts all the
return can make for much timely counsel
when days were dark and friends were few.
His was long and eventful life, passed In
localities widely separated, and the narrative,
however told, will be of interest to many of
your readers -
Joseph Harrod was the last survivor of q
family of ten children, four daughters and six
sons. He was horn in Haverhill, Mass, on the
bank of the Merrimac, April %, 1885. His
grandmother, Anna Treat, was the niece of
Samuel Treat, first Governor of Connecticut.
Mr.. Harrod's earliest recollection was of the
funeral OF this lady, and about the same time.
Of the visit of Gen. Washington to Hayerhill
in November, 1889, on his return from Ports
mouth and Kittery, only one year before his
death. Mr.. Harrod had distinct recollection
of the Generals appearance, of his shaking
hands with him and patting him on the head.
His brother Charles was only two years old,
but he also was honored with shake of the
Generals hand, and was also presented with
French silver crown piece, of the value of
$1.10, in consideration of his saying In a manly
voice, "How de do Gen. WashiBgton?'
The General came to Kittery by the way Of
Newburyport, but re turned to Boston by the
upper route, through Exeter and Haverhll.
It was the Generals original intention to ex-
tend his visit to Portland, but the lateness Of
the season deferred him. In letter to me
written two months ago, Mr.. Harrod described,
the eavalcade that escorted the General from
Portsmouth and Exster, under the direction
of Hon. Bayly Bartlett, sheriff of Essex county.
Probably there Is now no survivor of those who
took q part in that reception, S6 years ago-ths
brother Charles (the father of Mrs. William
Boydl who received the French crown, died in
New Orleans in 1870.
Young Harrod continued at school In Haver-
hill until he was 10. In the year 1900, juno
10th, he left his home, in the stage for Port
land aud arrived the next day BY way OF
Stroudwater. He had an engagement to
''serve his time" as a mercantile apprentice
with Joseph Cross, and board in his family. as
the custom then was. Mr.. Cross was q native
of Bradford, Mass, and his wife was Miss
Dustin Of Haverhill, his ''cheap store was on
Fore street next to the north corner Of Ex-
change street. In 1902 Samuel Trssk, from
Haverhill, joined Cross in business. and the
store Of Cross and Trask became one of the
institutions of the town which then contained
less than three thousand inhabitants.
Mr. Harrod left Cross and Trask in 1907, and
the same year married Eliza, daughter of
Josiah Cox, merchant of the town. and re-
moved to Bath. where he commenced the
ship chandlery business In 1872. the war hav-
ing ruined his bus siness, he came back to Port
land and joined his fatber-in-law in the
grocery business in Fore street, opposite Silver
street. But not being satisfied with the dull
business of war time, he left it and projected
trading voyage Flour was quoted at three
dollars per barrel at Alexandra, Va, while IL
was selling at Portland for twenty-five dollars
per barrel Thinking that paying profit, Mr..
| II. took passage for Alexandria in the brig Ja-
net Capt. John Pritchard; the brig arrived In
Chesapeake bay tho next day after the British
| fleet had established blockade. and the Janet
was seized in Lynnhaner bay by boats fiom the
British fngates Juno, Acasta. and Belvidere; |;
and her officers ana crew, and the only passen-
| ger, were confined as prisoners Of war on
board of the Acasta, and witnessed this ships
attempt to cut out of Norfolk harbor, the
American frigate Essex. which failed By the
Acasta's running on shore. Mr.. Harrod. with
100 other prisoners, Was transferred to the
sloop of war Lsuristinas and sent to Bermuds
and confined in the prison ship Goree with 900
hundred other prisoners, all Of whom except
Mr.. Rarrod, were three months afterwards,
sent t, England and placed in the infamous
Dartmoor prison. Mr.. Hsrrod being passen
ger only, was parolled and furnished with . ra
tion ticket. Before leaving Portland he had
taken from his brother-in-law, Phineas Foste
| of Boston, q letter of credit for an unlimited
amount, on the firm of Laurison g. Fowle %
| Alexandria This letter was shown to Mr..
Goodrich, the marshal at Bermuda, who had
charge of all prize vessels, and who had deal
ings with the firm to whom the letter was di
rected; this was the means Of giving Mr.. Har
rod employment, and capital to buy prize good
at auction, and to assist many prisoners whom
he had known in Portland. During the 'thre,
ears which Mr. Harrod was parolled prison
T in Bermuda, employed as clerk, supercargc
and merchant, he accumulated means sufa
cient to purchase cargo of salt. and wher
peace came he chartered a brig and took his sal
to Boston, consigned to Adams s. Amory.
Mrs. Harrod, who had not seen her husband
for three years, and did not learn his fate 70
the first year, met him in Boston and both cam
passengers in the brig to Portland. Mr.. Har
rod brought from Bermuda the seed of the To
mato which was then a new, vegetable in tn
United States or at least new to New ENGLAND
MIR. HaIrod very soon opened q dry good
store on the east corner of Middle and Ell
change streets, in wooden building former)
Joshua Freeman's tavern house. The now n
tired merchant, Charles Rogers, commenced :
clerk with Mr.. Hsrrod in this store, in 1s1
By fair dealing and close attention to busines
Mr.. Harrod won the confidence of ;hr pub,;
and this store and its proprietor became Il
best known throughout the county Of any sim
lar establishment in Portland. The old WOO
en- building was removed aud q brick buildir
} tooh It's place, but Mr.. Harrvd returned to Il
/ old stand. The brother-in-law of Mr.. Harrc
: oohn Cox, in connection with the mercanti
D nrm OF Quincy s. Packard. of Boston, W,
J pursuing the African trade. employing mar
t vessels. The landing ofcargoes of elephant
teeth, gold dust, goat skins, and dye woods,