The Portland daily press., 1879-11-06
A Centenarian.

On November 6, 1873, just one hundred
years ago to-day, Capt James Rackleff, our
Oldest citizen, was born in Bristol, Maine. He
came to Portland about 1906, when, he says,
business was active, especially the lumber
trade, and people were building fine houses
and setting out trees to adorn the thriving
little town. He assisted in the latter embel-
lishment, setting out one hundred trees for DR..
Cummings. and large portion of them lived.
This was just before the embargo time which
prostrated business and ruined all the pros
perons merchants who were so zealously en-
gagged in beautifying their homes. At the age
of twelve Capt Racket commenced going to
sea, and continued as mariner for about forty
years, although he was in trade for time
about 1908. In 1912 he bought the hull of
schooner Soon, flushed it up and commanded
her until he had cleared twice her cost, never
being shipwrecked, nor losing man. On
occasions he lost men overheard, he says, but
contrived to rescue them He was in the south
ern trade from Eastport to New Orleans, and
Yves considered an excellent pilot all along the
coast. He was asked if he was in privateer
'No, said the old man energetically, 81 despised
were conflicting opinions in those old days, on
that subject, and that the honorable old cap
tain was one of the right thinkers. After he
left the sea, being then little over fifty, he
engaged in building houses. This was in
prosperous, or initiation times, just after 1880,
and the old sailor was prudent and lucky
enough to bring comfortable fortune through
the panic of 1887. He was also in trade in the
ship chandlery business on Ingraham's wharf,
in connection with his son Charles. His
house was on Middle street, on tho corner of
church street, where he lived until he moved
to State street some twenty years ago. Our
citizens who know him we'll, think of him as
they used to see him in their boyhood, for in
the last twenty or thirty years he has been but
little III the haunts of business, although
bright warm day would sometimes see him on
Exchange street; and of his contemporaries
every one has gone before him to another world.
He has seen babes grow to old age, and die
grandfathers, SO many years ago that the pre-
sent generation has forgotten them and still
he survives, enjoys life, and will read this
greeting to him this morning with pleasure
and satisfaction There are some cheerful
hearted boys of seventy and eighty, old enough
to seek the sunny side of the street on cold
days, who cherish the old Captain very tender
ly, and value themselves that they have
known him longer than anybody, yet they
were babies when he was a active business man.
He has seen Portland grow from little town
of six thousand inhabitants to city of six
times that population, and his native country
from a babe to giant. The echoes of the
Revolution were dying away when he was
born, the war of 1872 occurred in his active
manhood, the war with Mexico in his old age,
the war of the Rebellion when he was over
fourscore, and even the last is forgotten by
some Of our politicians, and we have high
school BOYS who were born after it was over, SO
far have we passed the time. He married
Mary Dodge of Beverly, who died some years
ago at the age of eighty-nine.
Capt Rackleff is a mason. Not the oldest
mason, for that honor is enjoyed by Capt John
Knight, of Manchester, Mass; and we have
one older in Maine, Marcus Richardson, OF
Bangor. These are younger men, but took the
masonic degrees at an earlier age. Capt Rack
left was twenty mine when he was initiated III
Ancient Landmark Lodge of Portland, Octo-
ber s., 1908, and there are four masons IN the
country who were initiated before him. Col
Nathan Huntoon, of Unity, N. H., and James
Franklin Chase, of Nantucket, being the other
two. He is an older mason than any recorded
in England.
The Masonic Token relates the following
anecdote of him:
"He RENE nbers being initiated in the hall
on India street, and likewise recalls the night
when Ex-Governor Albion X. Paris was inlti-
ated month after him. Gov. Paris Joined
at the age of twenty-one Tor at twenty, If Will
lis record of his birth is correct0 and died an
old man, in February, 1857, nearly twenty
three years ago; but our old veteran recollect-
ed him as youngster, and says laughingly,
he was fat little fellow which strikes one
as a new light in which to regard the vener-
able ex-governor"
At the present time Capt Rackleff is feeble,
and confined to his house in this weather, but
is in good spirits bright in intellect, and says,
providence has been good to me in keeping
me alive" He has lost his hearing, but reads
communications OF a slate, and replies clearly
and promptly. The PRESS speaks for many Of
his fellow citizens in congratulating him upon
his Centennial birthday, and wishing him
many more birthdays,with health and strength
to enjoy them.