The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-12-30

| The Camden Herald is publishing a
history of Keystone Chapter of Royal Arch
| Masons, No. a, and we copy the follow
ing from the sketches of charter members
| FREDERIC E. RICHARDS.
| Hon. Frederic E. Richards was born in
Lincolnville, Aug. IS, 1871. When fifteen
| Years OF age his parents moved to Rock
| port, and four years later Mr.. Richards
| went to California on account of i'll health.
| lie remained on the Pacific coast three
| years, during which time he became fully
| restored to health. Returning to Maine
he became engaged in the manufacture of
| lime at Rockport which he continued for
several years.
In 1873 and 1874 he represented Camden
| in the State Legislature. In 1875 he was
member of Gov. Dingley's Council and
in 1876 of Gov Connor's Council. The
following year he was appointed State
Land Agent and in 1873 one of the Trus-
tees of the Maine Insane Hospital.
In 1880, Mr.. Richards received the ap-
pointment of Bank Examiner, which i'm
portant position he held for nine years.
During his term of service as Examiner of
the Maine Savings Banks the deposits
therein increased from $40, 97S, 900 in
round numbers, to S41, 900, 900, which de-
monstrated to a striking degree the conf
dence of the people in his supervision of
these institutions of savings. In 1899 Mr.
Richards opened q banking house in Port
land and the same year was influential in
organizing the Portland National Bank, of
which he became the President, and which
proved to be one of the most prosperous
and solid institutions of the kind in Port
land. Mr. Richards is connected with
several banks and other important cor
porations in the State as director He has
great confidence in the resources and adj
yantages of his native State and is great
advocate of Maine investments. In 1893
he was unanimously elected President of
the Union Mutual Life Insurance Com
pany of Maine in place of John E. Dewitt,
who lost his life in the sad disaster on the
Boston & Albany r. r.. at Chester, Mass,
Aug 81, 1898, which position he still
holds. Under his charge this Maine in
stitution has prospered abundantly and
bids fair to become one of the greatest of
American Insurance companies.
MI Richards was elected High Priest of
Keystone Chapter in January 1869 and
was reelected in 1870, being it's second
High Priest.
ISRAEL DECROW.
Mr.. Israel Decrow was born in Lincoln
vile, Maine, Feb. 5, 1916, where he lived
for over forty five years. In his early life
he was joiner by trade, but subsequently
opened store at Lincolnville Beach
and later entered into partnership with
Austin D. Knight under the firm name of
Decrow & knight, which firm built
several vessels. He afterwards built
several vessels alone, and in company with
Capt. Isaac Coombs built the bark Anna
Walsh
Mr.. Decrow then moved to Camden,
and purchased the property now known
as the Ocean House, engaged in the grocery
business and built several vessels. He
also in company with Capt. Coombs
built barks Fred Bliss and Henry Knight |
During the last years of his life he was
proprietor of the Ocean House, which en-
joyed an excellent reputation as quiet |
summer hotel. He died in Camden after
sickness of several months Oct 26, 1889, !
at the age of 10 years.
Mr.. Decrow while in Lincolnville |
served his fellow citizens in several of !
fees of public trust
He was prominent member of Mt. |
Battle Lodge, |. o. O. F., as well as of |
Amty Lodge, f. & A. NJ, and keystone
Il. A. Chapter, and served many years as
Tyler and Sentinel of the two latter |
organizations. He was also for a long
time the Treasurer of the Chapter, which |
office he held at the time of his death.