The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-01
OBITUARY..


EleaZer shaw.
Mr. Eleazer @. Shaw, the venerable mer-
| chant, SO long in business in this city, died
Yesterday morning at the advanced age OF
SO wears His death was the result of a stroke
| of PARALYSIS, which he suffered several days
| ago.
| Eleazer G. Shaw was born in Paris, Me-,
May 10, 1907, and was therefore SO years of
| age at the time of his death. He lived on
the paternal farm till he was II years old.
| He then learned the joiner's trade and
| came to Portland to work He remained
here about three years. He soon command
ed the highest wages, which, however, were
in those days but $18 or $40 a month and
board. He left Portland and returned to
Oxford county, and though scarcely 81 years
of age, went into business for himself as
general trader in the little town of Wood
| stock He remained there seven years and
then returned to his native town of Paris,
where he continued in the same business
| and was also the jailor of the town for sew
| en- years. He was a prominent citizen of
much influence in all town affairs and uni
versally liked for his genial qualities, his
| unfailing good humor, his ready wit and
| love of fun, as we'll as for the his upright
ness of character. At that time there as
! but one church in the town. 1t was of the
| Baptist denomination Mr. Shaw had been
brought up in that faith and he soon be-
| came the leading spirit in forming the first
Universalist society in Paris. The first meet
| ings were held in the town court house
| Subsequently church was built, which ex-
lists today as does also the society.
| In 1874 he came to Portland and began life
here as a clerk in the wholesale grocery
store of his brother Abner, the firm name be-
ing Shaw g. True. The store was located
on Middle street. There was no CONNER
cial street then. 1t is interesting to note
that during the past 81 years of Mr.. Shaw's
life here as a wholesale grocer, the location
of this business has changed from street to
street. closer to the water front and that he
moved along with it. He was clerk i'll his
| brothers. store on Middle street. When he
| went into business for himself the city had
grown and spread out and it was then prop
er to locate as a wholesale gorcer on Fore
| street.
In 1852 Mr.. Charles H. Haskell and Mr..
Shaw formed a partnership as Shaw &
Haskell In 1860, the late Mayor Richard
son Joined the firm for four years, and the
name was changed to Shaw, Haskell &
Richardson. The firm dissolved in 1864, and
Messrs. Shaw 81 Haskell continued in bust
ness Mr.. James f. Hawkes. and MI. George
r. Shaw went into the firm in 1878, the con-
Germ taking the name of Shaw, Son q
Hawkes.. Mr.. Haskell died long time ago.
The firm of Shaw, Son Il Hawkes. contin-
ued until 1888, when Mr.. Hawkes. retired
and formed partnership with Mr.. Walter
i A. Skillin, under the firm name of Skillin,
Hawkes. Il Co., and Mr.. W. W. Lothrop, who
married a niece OF Mr.. Shaw, entered the
other firm which took the name of Shaw,
Son & Lothrop.
While a clerk in his brothers. store Mr..
Shaw made a trip down along the coast
through Sagadahoc, Lincoln and Knox coun-
tiles to endeayo T to extend the trade of the
firm. 1t was new idea. No representa- alive
of wholesale grocers had ever visited those
country stores before. When the dealers
wanted any goods they had always made a
; trip to Portland or Boston. MI Shaw was
} probably the first commercial traveller in
Maine for a grocery firm and perhaps the
first of ALL He sold about $1,000 worth oil
goods AS far as we know Mr. Shaw is there
fore the first commercial traveller for a
Maine house.
! During all these years Mr.. Shaw was 8
, member of the First Universalist church and
=
He was Democrat of strong convictions
! though never in any sense a politician. In
deed one who knew him would never thinl
, of him in connection with politics in the
modern meaning of the term. He was a type
of the old-time merchant. AS honest al
the sun and quite as bright and CHEEKY, hi
;, conducted business in slive and let live
r manner all his life, winning the esteem O.
hic aiofoc vaJno or a1v hxyh 10
q q sonality, yet never finching in his conyic
tions, whether religious, political or com
mercial.
7 Mr.. Shaw's life was largely confined tt
his business, up to within few years, whe1
he retired. Until a short time ago he was
famili ar figure upon The streets of Portland
e being always vigorous cheerful and genial
:, He was held in the highest esteem by al
h who knew him and as mark of their re
gard the Commercial street merchants OF
v his sOth birthday presented to him hand
s some gold-headed cane
Mr.. Shaw leaves widow and two sons
s Charles H. Shaw, the printer, and Georg
IS R. Shaw, formerly in business with his faith
g er, but now connected with Boston hous
: as salesman.
a Death of Veteran Bowdoinham Man.
= George G. Hillman of Bowdoinham, tn
= veteran harness maker, died quite suddenl
- Saturday evening. Mr.. Hillman had bee
:, in failing health for some time, but recent
he had been around quite smart and ha
> done some work around the house, such a
banking and picking up some apples Will
doing this work he contracted slight colo
which, owing to his weakness, brought O
u congestion of the lungs. The deceased wa
" one of the original characters ofBowdoin
u ham, known far and near for his eccentri
% cities and for his genial manner in hi
IL younger days. No one ever met Mr.. Hill
man without being greeted by pleasar
y word and some quaint saying.
L He came to Bowdoinh am from Bath, whic
was his native place, many years ago, an
/ opened harness and repair shop. Eve
since, Mr. Hillman's shop has been niece
~ for curiosity seekers for he had a great low
Tor antiquities and curiosities, and in h.
az o. long and industrious life had gathered man
~, | articles of great value