The Portland daily press., 1890-03-01
Porter.
SAMUEL BILLINGS,


The oldest man In town Is Samuel Bill
lings, who was born April 20, 1893, at Saco.
When James Coffin moved from Biddeford
to this town as one of the first settlers in
1906, when it was a plantation. Mr.. Billings,
then boy, came with him. He lived and
worked for Squire Coffin, as he was called,
Mr.. Coffin being the first justice Of the peace
In town, and also the first postmaster, until
his marriage to Mercy Tibbets in 1925. lie
then went on farm for himself, and has
been on farm up to the present time. He
had four children, who are all dead except
one daughter, with whom he now lives, Mrs.
A. r. Roberts. His wife has also been dead
several years. His general health is quite
good, although he Is somewhat of a cripple
from rheumatism. His mind is quite clear
yet, and his memory very good for his age.
He has always been an Industrious, hard
working man.
JAMES PEARL.
Another of Porter's old men is Mr.. James
Pearl, who was born In this town February
26. 1904. Mr.. PEARLS parents, Joseph and
Catherine Pearl, moved from Rochester, N.
H., to this town. then plantation, in 1872.
He is the youngest of ten children, all Of
whom are dead. He married Hannah Gar
land, Sept. %. 1925, and had a number of
son and daughter, live in Massachusetts, and
one son out west. Mr.. Pearl spent the most
OF his days working as sawyer and cooper.
lie now owns farm and has some one to
carry 1t on and take care Of him, as he is past
labor, although his faculties and health are
quite good. His wife has been dead for a
number of years.
MRS. SALLY FRENCH.
Another is Mrs. Sally French, formerly
sally winter. She was born in 1906, and
married Jacob French July 4, 1924, and had
two children, both Of whom are now dead
She has always lived on a farm, and knows
fo m has far ~ mi 70 hn hoe
enjoyed very good health, although she is
quite infirm now and her mind is mostly
gone. She is cared for by her niece, Mrs.
Frank Gilman, as her husband has been
dead Tor some years.
MRS. SALLY TowLE.
mrs. Sally Towla was horn March o. 1900
and married Nehemiah f. Towle, FeDruary
%, 1921. Her parents, John and Sally
French, moved from Pennington, N. H., to
this town in 1876. They had two children,
both both 81 whom are living Her husband has
her son, Mr.. John T. Towle, on the same
farm where she and her husband commenced
life so many years ago She was always an
industrious wife and kind mother, but now
her mind Is mostly gone and she is gradual
ly wearing out.
MIR. AND MRS. ADRIAN CHAPMAN.
Two more aged people are Mr. and Mrs.
Abram Chapman. He is 81 years and his
wife was born Dec. 10, 1908. She was the
daughter of Gideon and Sarah Mason. who
moved from Pittsfield. N. H., to this town in
1895. Mr.; Chapman and wife we're married
May l, 1927 and moved on to the farm they
now live on. They had quite la:ge family
OF children, who are mostly living. One son,
Abram Jr. takes care Of them in their de-
Ginning years. Old age keeps them confined
mostly to the house although their general
health is quite good.
MIR. EBEN BLAZo.
T. 70 TT.
born in Parsonfeld, his grandfather having
been one OF the first settlers of that town.
Mr.. Blazo commenced when quite young to
teach school, and came to this town when
young man: He went into store as clerk
dGr Payd TGwe Man and nsed TOws
one son who died young. His wife, dying,
he married Elizabath Gibbs, June IL, 1881
and had two sons by hei, one Of them dying
at Cairo, III. from disease contracted while
serving his country during the rebellion.
The other son he lives with at the present
time. Early in life he commence business
as trader and has continued up to the pres
ent time, and may be seen every day at his
place of business. He has held many offices
of trust in town which he has always filed
with honor and fidelity. His health is quite
good and his faculties are very good for one
Of his age.
MRS. vIEZIE BERRY.
Mrs. Viezie Berry was born May 20, 1909
She was the daughter of John and Sally
French wLo moved from Pennington. n. H.,
der Berry June II, 1881. He was a caIpen-
ter and foreman. They had a large family
of children and she has always been an in
dustrious, hard working woman. Her health
Is quite good.
MIR. WILLIAM l.. HUBBARD.
Mr.. VIM. L, Hubbard was 90 years of age.
He is the son of Moses Hubbard who al %
lived to a good old age. Mr.. Hubbard Is a
smart man for his years and would be taken
for much younger man.
MRS. SALLY GARLAND.
Mrs. Sally Garland is so J ears Of age. She
| was the daughter of David and Sally Towle,
| and grand daughter of Rev. Joseph TOwle,
| town at an early date. She married James
| Garland and had a family Of four boys. Liv-
| ing on farmland working hard has broken
| her down so that she does not enjoy very
| good health although she still attends to her
family affairs.
GRACE LIBBY.
Mr.. Isaac Libby was born September 5,
| 1909. His parents were Tobias and Abigail
| (RandalD Libby. who moved from Rochester,
| N. H., to this town in 1894. Mr.. Libby was
farmer and lived in town for good many
| years He then moved to Parsonfeld, but
now being too aged to carry ON farm he
sold his farm and moved back again to this
/ town. He now lives at the village of KeZar
i Falls. His general health Is quite good and
he may be seen most any day on the streets
taking quite an interest in all that Is going
i on.
| MR.. AND MRS. THOMAS TRIP,
Mr.. Thomas Trip and wife are over SC
| years of age. They moved from Hiram to
this town in their young days. Mr.. Trip is
| mason by trade and they have been hard
working couple. At present they are mostly
| confined to the house.
MRS. RICHARD BkADEEN
Mrs Richard Bradeen is 81 years of age
and her husband has been dead for lOno
time. She is quite feeble and she lives in +
remote part Of the town.
MRS. JOHN COLE.
Mrs. John Cole, the oldest person in town
She will be "a years old in a few months
She Is a very smart woman for her wears
working every day walking about the house
as spry, as most women at 60. Her mind Il
perfectly clear and she is as interesting tC
talk with as she was 40 years ago. Shl
bids lair to see her hundredth year She
often speaks Of the great improvements thai
nave been made since she was child. Hei
Dusoand died quite a number Of years age
ana she lives with her son. Mr.. Levi Cole
Sne came of long lived race. her fathel
no