The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-12-14
JOHN THO MAS HULL.


PORTLAND PUBLISHING co.
JOHN THOMAS HULL.
A Paper Read before the Genealogical
Society by the Rev. Charles T.
Ogden.
The life of retiring, modest man is, as
rule, not eyentful. Itmay be rich in spiritual
experiences, but it is seldom rich in active
adventure. We ask, of his biographer, to
tell us what were his habits of thought; how
he talked, how he bore himself in the dis
charge of his duties to his family, his neigh
Dor, and himself? What were his beliefs on
the great questions that concern humanity?
What were the subjects which engaged his
leisure, whenever necessity granted him a
brief interval to think of noble thingsr than
the exacting demands of the body? and to
wander with keen delight along sweet paths
whittier his taste or fancy led him. If the
life of such modest and studious man, be
sincere life, not eaten up by selfshness, nor
cankered by envy, however quiet and I'M
assuming, however removed from greatness,
a brief study of the character which was
built up in living here, will be of value to us,
who still have our appointed tasks; because
1t will furnish one more protest against mod
ern Materialism, against the partial estimate
of men by the unvarylng standard OF earthly
possessions.
John Thomas Hull was born in Portland,
August 4th, 1926. on Fore Street In what Is
known as the Stephenson House, adjoining
the house in which the poet LoDgfellow first
81 1,u1f 9 Anxr fc fail 1or,n Qfoc
John. He was born in Carlingford, County
Armagh, Province of Ulster July ~, 1897.
He followed the sea for all his Ife-cdlling,
and was shipmaster for many years, sail
ing out of Portland harbor; when this city
boosted of many ships and her foreign COM
merce was of greater Importance. We read
of his being advanced to the Master-masops
degree, Ancient Landmark lodge, on the
7th of June, 1920. He was also admitted to
the Portland Nautical Society on the goth of
March 1927. This society was organized in
''25' and was composed Of the leading ship
masters sailing out of this port. Among
it members were Enoch Preble, VIM.
Woodbury., Lemuel Weeks, Richard
Heating, John Liscomb, Solomon Loring,
VIM. Drummond, and host of others. One
of the rules of this society required that each
member should furnish himself with a flag.
with his number in white, displayed on a
blue ground. The numerical signal which
belonged to Capt Hull, was No 49,.
The society was organized Dec. 18th 1875,
so that in a little more than year So mem
beers had been enrolled as members of the
society. He was member OF Old st Paul,s
Church, and for many years one OF Its
vestrymen. In this old church on Pearl
Street, he was married to Deborah Gushing
Nov Goth 1921 This lady. the mother OF
John Thomas, was the daughter OF Major
William Frances prominent citizen OF Port
land, and who kept -four and bake house
ON Union Street, where Deborah was born
Feb. 18th 1901. She only died last year,
having resided for the past few years with
her daughter, Mrs. Aver, in Philadelphia,
and was brought here for burial March 20.
1888, having reached the advanced age of 81
years. 49,
The grandfather of John Thomas, left his
home in Caringford, Ireland, in 1901, and
came FIRST to WatertOwn Mass, from, thence
to Portland few months later. he was a
member of the Society of Friends In Ireland,
and kept his religious connections IN TINS
frierd of Neal Dow's father and is spoken OF
as worthy citizen and exemplary man.
When the subject of this paper John
Thomas, was II years old his father died at
Balze, HONDURAS, in 1881. ne ieh was linen aGeh
School being more than ordinarily bright
and intelligent as lad. When other boys
were taking their sport, he would pc found
in retirement, porting over his DOCK OF
amusing himself in some scholarly pursuit;
COMPENSATION of intellect. With retentlve
memory and logical mind, all that was
needed to make the finished scholar was an
opportunity to profit by the training OF the
schools. But this was to be denied MIN; HIS
knowledge of mathematics was beyond his
years and his aptitude was SO marked, that
at an early age, he prepared an interest table
for the counting-room, that was mucn SoCghs
after and generally introduced. Inc loss OF
the father, however changed the plans OF the
oh nnd IN a
family, and was placed, first at in the store Of
BraZier 81 Burgess, auctioneers and COM
mission merchants, afterwards as clerk in
the dry goods store of the late Joshua Max
we'll Then he entered the employ Of Henry
Bailey & Co., Exchange street. It was In
their counting-room and by his efforts that
the preliminary meeting was held In Sept.
1851 to organize the Mercantile Library
Association. At this meeting measures We're
taken, which resulted in public meeilpg In
October. Meanwhile paper was circulated
among the merchants and clerks OF the city
and 200 signatures were obtained for the new
organization. At this meeting Henry Fox,
presided and speeches favorable 10 the
project were made by Neal Dow, Il. v:
Hersey. Jedediah Jewett, Jno. I. Hull and
others. The association was duly formed
a constitution and bylaws drawn up,
and officers elected. OF these Jno L.
Hull was named one of the directors.
This incident tends to show the bent OF MS
mind in early manhood. Leaving scn0oi at
so early an age, he hailed with enthusiasm
an opportunity of having books to read. lie
entered into the plan with all his heart, as
special blessing to himself, and was sorry
when the association came to an END; For
large portion of his maturer years, ne was
engaged in the duties of official life From
the year 1885, when he was clerk OF the
city council, down to the close of '6S. when
he spent year abroad, he had to do with
city affairs. In 1856, he was elected the
first city auditor and held the position in
other years. In 1916, and '57-S-9, and from
81 to '67 inclusive he was assistant to the
Treasurer of the city. the late Henry L.
Lord. While in this Office, being in COM
Portable circumstances, he entered into new
and untried relations, being married July
oath. 1862 to Mary A. uanscom OF China,
Me. OF this union five children were born,
four of whom with the widow survive him.
During the war the mayor, the late Jacob
Mcclellan, appointed him to act as recruiting
officer for the city in addition to his other
duties, and part of his time Tor these two
yeals was spent in Augusta on this service.
He was an official that took keen Interest
in whatever affected the city's prosperity or
greatness. For example we may point to the
sinking fund which was established In 1861
for the payment OF the municipal debt.
Previous to that time no uniform system for
the reduction of the debt Of the city had been
adOpted. with the exception of sinking
fund for the payment of the stock of the Gas
Light Company owned Dy the city. various
amounts in small sums mad been raised by
taxation and applied to city bonds maturing,
but the municipal debt in 1861 was $7O7, 400.
and the probable increase on account of war
expenditure caused the subject of sinking
fund to be considered: 1t was first brought
to the attention of the city. council by Mr..
| Hull and the result was that he prepared an
ordina. ce which passed the city council
being virtually the O ,Ss snt as NOW t"v6 exist; it.
Ing by c5 had nearly iuIq sae
paid by the end Of the year 1882, the present
liability being mainly the Indebtedness
| Portland & Ogdensburg bonds. Soon after
the war he inherited some property which
was mainly unimproyed realty. To make
| the name of The Portland Real Estate and
Building Co. But the times sss were not pro
ris slDI IN II he value Of the property was moi
realized. He was also engaged for time in
a manufacturing interest being a member Of
| the firm of Norris, Hull q CO., but this also
nrovad nnnrOfitable From his wide acouain,