The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-07-24
OBITUARY.
Mrs. martna w. c umpston.

Mrs. Martina w. Cun1pston'
Mrs. Martha W. Cumpston, whose death
occurred Yesterday, was one OF the two old
est twins in America, the other being her
twin sister. Mrs. Mary NJ. Rademan, who is
still living at No. Y chestnut street. Mrs.
Cumpston and Mrs. Hademan's maiden
name was Powell. their father being an Eng
lIshman named John Powell. They were
born during the memorable snow storm Of
January 9th, 1906, in house that stood on
what is now the corner of Locust and Cum
berland streets, and were therefore 81 years
old last January. An account of the lives Of
these twin sisters was published a year ago
in the PRESS. at which time both of them
were remarkably active for such old people.
Mrs. Cumpston was one Of a family of seven
children. Three brothers, Henry, who was
lost at sea. when only II years of age, Jesse
and John, all of whom were sailors. are dead,
Then, besides Mrs. Hademan, her twin sis
ter, she had two other sisters, both widows,
now living. They are Mrs. Lucy A. Griffin,
and Mrs. Sarah Elder, the first three years
and the latter eight years younger than her,
self. Mrs. Cumpston married John Cump-
Ston, who died August 26, 1887, aad she had
been widow for So years. For % years she
taught school in this city and has had but
little sickness. Mrs. Cumpston was remark
ably strong and active, mentally and physic-
ally. for one Of her years. The last man who
served on the school committee when she was
teacher In thePortland public schools was
the late Oliver Gerrish. AS the result of her
marriage Mrs. Cumpston had five children,
only two of whom, Mrs. Martha Jane Head,
with whom she lived, and John Cumpston,
now survive. With the early history of Port
land Mrs. Cumpston was very familiar She
we'll remembered the famous naval battle of
September 8. 1918, between the American
brig Enterprise, commanded by Lieut.. VIM.
Barrows. and the British brig Boxer, COM
manded by Capt. Samuel Blyth. Her father
was we'll acquainted with Blyth and the other
fhOcers Of the Boxer, having known the cap
tain when a boy in old England. From time
to time Blyth and his officers visited at the
Powells; the girls. who. in their younger
days, were decidedly good looking, proving
an Irresistible attraction. So charmed with
them was one of the officers that on one Oc-
C sion he presented all four of the girls with
handsome earrings. Mr.. John Powell owned
the house that stood on Cumberland street
In the vicinity of where now stands the Ca
thedral, into which the hostile Mowatt fired
when he bombarded the city in its early
days.
Some of the oldest men now living in this
city went to Mrs. Cumpston's school. Mrs.
Cumpst0n when girl looked precisely like
her twin sister, and 1t was difficult for
friends even to distinguish one from the
bat In
today somewhat older than her sister, fsur
score years having left their impress more
plainly upon her brow, In speaking Of the
battle of the Enterprise and Boxer, Mrs.
Cumpston quoted to visitor:
'Then nL next you sent your Boxer to box us all
We had an Enterpris-ing brig that beat your Boxer
"Those were two lines" said she, ''of a
long piece Of poetry we delighted to repeat
In those old days"
william s. Banks.
Mr.. William S. Banks, the we'll known
druggist, died at his residence in this city
yesterday morning at o'clock, after con-
fnement to his bed with paralysis for the
past month. He had been out of health for
some years past, but prior to his last sickness
was thought to be better than he had been
for some time.
Mr.. Banks, son of Elias and Dorcas Fl.
Banks, was born July 22d, 1854, and was
therefore thirty-six years old at the time of
his death. He graduated at the Portland
High School and had been connected with
the store, at the corner of Free and Congress IS
streets,as clerk and proprietor, all his life He
was thoroughly conscientious man. firm
friend, and devoted son and brother. bis
disposition was bright and sunny and he was
beloved by all who knew him. Few men in
the city had more friends or friends who will
miss them longer than he.
Mr.. Banks was a member of Harmony
lodge and Portland encampment of Odd Fell
lows, Machigonne Tribe of Red Men, was a
Past Chancellor of Longfellow lodge K. of
p, and member of the Grand Lodge, and a
member of the Society for the Prevention Of
Cruelty to Animals. The funeral will take
place Friday at 3p. m.