The Portland daily press., 1889-10-05
MAINE IN CHICAGO.
Nativity of Surprisingly Long List of
Leading Citizens.

A. L. I. Cummings in Lewiston Journal
or the many fraternal organizations that
add to the enjoyment of life in Chicago none
is better known or has a wider influence
than the society known as the Sons of Maine
On the pages of its membership list are en-
rolled the autographs of many men of culture
wealth and high social and moral standing,
who first saw the light in the old Pine Tree
State, with its green pastures, its picturesque
hills and its broad expanse of rock-ribbed
coast. Though long and far removed from
their native State. yet they have lost none of
their reverence and love for it. Should
sojourner from the far east chance to spend
a day or week in Chicago. he could find no
greater pleasure than in grasping the hand
of one of these Sons of Maine and receiving
from him the attention that members of the
society are sure to bestow.
Perhaps some of the readers Of the Lewis
ton journal would be interested to know
something about this organization and few
of the names of its prominent workers.
The society was organized in March, 1880,
through the chief effort of William ii. Arnold
formerly of Sidney, and John S. Brewer a
native of Calais. The first meeting was held
III tne Odrultbr uouse, tu6Ie Deing present
the two instigators of the scheme and George
w. Getchell, j. l.. Hathaway, Ambrose D.
Hayward, Roswell Y. Herrick, Benjamin H.
Kinds, Charles p Kimball, Edward B. Knox,
Arthur A Libby, Charles P. Libby, James
d. Marston, Charles NJ: Morse. Charles II.
Noyes. John j. P. Odell, ID. V. Purington,
james P. Smith, o. M. Soper, Leonard SWEET,
Abner Taylor, Charles A. Tinkham. Joshua
E. Waterhouse and Nathaniel P. Wilder.
Another meeting was held at the Palmer
1Onc lotn nd On hfrd a nf
April permanent organization of the Sons
Maine was affected, with the following choice
of officers: President, Judge Thomas Drum
mond, Bristol; vice presidents, Hon. Leonard
SWEET, Turner; Hon. j. Young Scammon,
Whitefeld; j. N. Jewett, Palmyra; secretary
John s. Brewer, Calais; treasurer, John j,
P. Odell, Eastport; directors, John FL Clough
Readield; George l.. Dunlap, Brunswick
John N. Jewett Charles p Kimball, Bethel;
Charles NJ. Morse, Wilton; Benjamin V.
Page, Hallowell; Abner Taylor, Bangor.
Early in the society's existence constitu-
tion and bylaws were adopted, the initial
article of which stated that the objects Of the
society should be 'to cultivate friendly re-
lations with each other and to revive and
perpetuate the memories of our early home
are held each year, devoted to banquets and
business. Offices are elected annually.
For several years the society 1ourished,
but after a time some of its prominent men,
bers failed in regular attendance at the
meetings and the interest gradually died out
till year or two ago the organization ex-
listed only in name. A short time ago two
warm-hearted, energetic Sons OF Maine got
their heads together and did all in their
power to revive the interest in the society,"
They were George M. Sargent, who now oc-
cupies the presidents chair, and Thomas H.
Smith, a member of the present board of
directors. They found ready assistance in
pushing on their plans to execution, and
today the society stands on firmer founda-
tion than ever and its membership list has
made such rapid strides thatI to turn
backward would now be an impossibility.
There are enrolled on the books today the
names of some 200 members with a good
prospect OF that number reaching 300 before
this decade closes.
President George M. Sargent was born in
| Sedgwick and married Miss Helen Nj. Dur
ham Of Frankfort, thirty-one years ago.
| From Sedgwick he moved to Boston and en-
gagged in business, shortly removing to, New
York and becoming member Of the firm OF
| Thayer q Sargent, ship chambers. There
| he lost his health and he came to Chicago
| with the hope of fresuscltating, He improved
| greatly here and is now in the enjoyment OF
| excellent health He has for fourteen years
| been connected with the Congdon Brake
| Shoe Co.,. dealers in railway supplies, OF
which concern he is now treasurer and man
ager He has three children two of whom
are boys, and the Oldest is superintendent of
the Congdtn Works on 59th street. Mr.
| Sargent owns one of the Landsomest resi-
| dences in Evanston, about twenty miles
west of Chicago. He was prominent
| mover in the building of the boulevard
| known as Sheridan drive, extending forty
| two miles up the lake. He is a genial,
whole souied man and an influential citizen.
| He is a member of the board of trustees at
| Evanston.
| of the society was born in Wilton and now
resides in ,Ssaavt Jacks9nvilie;; y; III he was
railroad. He is now connected with the
Chicago & Alton railroad as division freight
| agent.
Milliken, native OF Augusta, who is promi.
| nentIy known as a real estate agent OF
The third vice.president, II. H. Porter
came here from Machias, and is one OF
| Chicago's railroad magnates.
| William Sprague, the treasurer, once lived
| in Halloweli. He is member of the firm Of
Sprague, Smith & Co., glassware dealers in
'"iS Dexter Sss was the former home of F. Willis
Rice. secretary of the society. He is well
known as the editor Of the Hotel Reporter.
The hoard of directors consists Of seven
nrominent and Influential citizens. Edwin
| lee Brown is manufacturer of sand glass
| sidewalk lights and the like. Ho came from
| Rangor. i'm which city his father is banker,
| James b. HOLDS glOTleS IN the TACT that he
came from good prohibition Maine stock
Sabatis was his native town. Two years agC
he was the prohibitionist candidate for GOV.
amor of illinois. He is a retired board OF
trade man. e. +. Getchell is an extensive
| chicago lumber dealer who came yearsI agC
from North Anson. If you ever come tC
| Chicago and wish to be I'd white" seek
an ac9maintance with mas I'll. Smith. a,
genisl and fine man as Chicago boasts Of
He is the king pin of the board of directors
Of the Sons Of Maine. Bangor was his native
city. and the receipt Of two boxes of hand.
some Maine salmon every year gives evidence
that his Bangor friends have not forgotten
him. His position with the North Britisf
Insurance Company is as special agent and
adinstor for the State Of Illinois, and his
headouarters can be found in the Insurance
Exchange building on LaSalle street. The
next director, George M. Howe, is native
of Portland. He is a prominent board Of
trade man here. j. S. Brewer, for wears
secTetary of the society. and now on its hoard
of directors, deals in railway supplies. He
blows for Calais. The seventh man on the
hoard is r. z. Herrick, cashier of the Stock
Yards National Bank, who was born and
bred at East Corinth.
These complete the executive list, There
| are MANY other Maine men in the society. ?