The Portland daily press., 1886-02-01
David MouIton.

hear of the death of United STATES deputy
Collector of Customs, David Moulton, for
few had any information Of his serious ill
ness. the sad event occurring at his resi-
dence in Deering early Sunday morning. Mr..
Moulton was in town Thursday attending to
his duties at the Custom House as usual, but
he complained of illness, and when he left
the city in the afternoon for his home, it
was never to return. His doctors, DR.. Foster
of Deering and DR.. Vose did all they could
for him but he died of typhoid pneumonia IN
fifty-four hours. He had often suffered
from serious and severe attacks OF gastric
trouble but never before OF lung trouble as
far as we know.
The loss of such man as Mr.. Moulton
will be severe in the community. He was of
a most amiable disposition, a man of great
fidelity and integrity as his long connection
with the customs department shows, and a
man so universally cheerful, possessed of
such rare fund of wit and humor that he
endeared himself to all with whom he came
in contact. To those with whom he was as
ISOLATED his loss will be keenly felt Col
lector Anderson said yesterday he didn't
know what they should do without Moulton,
he was so accurate, and the system of ac-
counts at the Custom House was so intricate.
To the many associations to whom he gave
his services as a reader-for hisr eputa-
ton as ELDER Crawford" was wide
spread-he will be greatly missed. AS
poet, he had much grace of language, and his
travesty on the Peabody Wake" will never
be forgotten so long as George Peabody's
name is remembered.
David Moulton was sixth in descent from
John Moulton, the emigrant ancestor, who
was born at Ormsby, Norfolk County, Eng
land, about 1899. Left England, with his
wife Annie and five children, in the spring
of 1887; settled at Winnacunnett, N. H.,
in 1888, admitted freeman May %, 1859,
was chosen the first deputy to the General
Court the next September, and died about
1850.
His grandfather, David Moulton, was a
soldier of the Revolutionary war, and was
in the battle of Butts Hill, R. l., fought
Aug. 20, ITS, under the command of Gen.
Sullivan. He married Dorothy, descendant
OF Joseph Moulton, who was also one of the
first settlers of Winnacunnett (Hampton)
n. III. Removed from Hampton to Porter,
N. H., in 1884, and at the first town-meeting
held after the Incorporation of Porter, in
1907, he was chosen chairman of the select
men, and continued a member of the board
until 1922, with the exception of two years.
Joseph Moulton, second son, and father of
the subject of this sketch, was born in 1897.
He married Abigail Goodwin, daughter of
Zachariah Beal of Portsmouth, N. H., Feb.
TO- 1928. She was born at New Market, Jan.
% ,179S. He was shoemaker and tanner at
Portsmouth, N. H., and at Porter, Me-, UNI
til 1885, when he removed to Foxcroft, Me-,
where he carried on farming until 1855, when
he removed to Westbrook NOW Deering.)
He held the office of adjutant of I'd Regiment,
I'd Brigade, 9th Division, ten years; of de-
putty sheriff for Oxford county, eight years;
for Piscataquis county, eight years; of
coroner, for fourteen years of United States
deputy marshal (appointed in 1S4o); and of
selectman, assessor and overseer of the poor
OF Westbrook for the years 1861. In poll
ties he was Democrat until the formation
of the Republican party.
OF their children, David was the Oldest
son and was born at Porter, Nov. 81, 1925.
He was educated at the town school of Por-
ter and Foxcroft Academy. AT the age of
fourteen he became clerk in Bangor. Sub.
sequently he was student at Foxcroft Aca-
denny, followed by two terms as teacher.
In the Spring Of 1874 he came to Portland,
and for several years was a clerk in hat
and cap store. He afterwards set up bust.
ness for himself, and engaged in the hat and
cap trade, and for a time in the sale of corn
and flour.
May Is, 1868, he was appointed deputy
collector of customs for the district of Port
land and Falmouth. This office he continued
to hold, having oficiated under Jedediah
Jewett, Governor Washburn, Lot M. Morrill,
Fred N. Dow and Samuel ]. Anderson, col
lectors. He also acted as cashier at the Gus
tom house, and was responsible for faith
full and accurate disposition of all moneys
received. Gen. Taylor, for whom he cast
his first vote, Lincoln and Grant, were his
choice for presidents. He married, Nov. g.
1852, Elizabeth j., daughter of Ebenezer
Wentworth of Biddeford. His wife was
born April 4, 1929, and died Feb. TO- 1869,
leaving five children, Abbie Cora, deceased,
Henry c., Sarah Agnes, George Albert and
Mary Lizzie
Mr.. Moulton's two daughters resided with
him at Deering, and his two sons resided in
Maiden, Mass, one of them doing business
in Boston.
He was a member of Woodford Lodge of
Masons and the Masonic Relief and Port
land Commandery; former member of
Bramhall and a present member of Rocky
Hill Lodge of Knights of Pythias; member
of Harmony Lodge and Ivy Lodge of Odd
Fellows, and the Odd Fellows Relief;
member of Woodford Commandery United
Order of the Golden Cross; member of the
Order of Good Templars, and of the Citizens
Relief. The funeral will probably take
place Tuesday afternoon.