The Republican journal., 1901-08-22
Sudden Death of A. c. Sibley.


The community was startled Tuesday
forenoon by the report Of the sudden death
of A. Cutter Sibley, who for twenty years
past has been prominent in the management
of Belfast's leading industry, the shoe fac
tory. He had not been in his usual health
for some time, but was able attend to bust
ness, and nothing serious was suspected.
He was about the house as usual Tuesday
morning, and the first knowledge his friends
had that all was not well with him was
when he was found dead. He was born in Bel
and Hannah c. (Cutter) Sibley. His grand
father, William Sibley, was born in New
Hampshire in 1779 and settled in Freedom,
where his four children were born. They
were Ann, wife of Edward Fuller of Free
DOM Reuben; Persis, wife of Hon.
Charles Andrews of Paris, and after his
death of Alvah Black of Paris and William
G. of Freedom. All lived to ripe old age
Reuben Sibley came to Belfast when a
young man and engaged in the wholesale
sugar and molasses business. He imported
his stock from the West Indies, and owned
number of vessels, chiefly brigs, which
were engaged in the trade. He was twice
married: first to Margaret S. Reed of Orono,
by whom he had two sons, William and
John, who died early in life: and sec
ond to Hannah c. Cutter of Portland,
by which union three sons came to maturi-
ty-Edward, A. Cutter and Charles A.
A. Cutter Sibley attended the common
School. He afterwards took short course
at the Abbott Family school in Pennington,
and graduated at kents Hill Seminary. A
short time after leaving school he entered
into business with William B. Swan under
the firm name of VIM. B. Swan 4 Co., and
was member of the firm from 1869 to 1877.
In January 1877 Edward Sibley was ad-
mltted, and the firm name changed to Swan
Il Sibley Brothers, which firm continued
under that name till 1891, when it was in
corporated under the style of The Swan &
Sibley Go. and still continues under that
name. In June 1878 A. Cutter Sibley with
drew from the firm of Swan Il Sibley
Brothers and during the next two years he
was engaged in buying and shipping hay to
Southern markets. In 1880 he became asso-
ciated with the late O. G. Critchett in the
management of the Belfast shoe factory,
under the firm name of Critchett Il Sibley.
In 1884, Fl. p. Thompson was admitted to
the firm and the name was changed to
Crtchett, Sibley & Co. Mr.. Critchett died
Sept. 81, 1900, and shortly afterwards the
business was reorganized and incorporated
as the Critchett, Sibley Co., and another
corporation, known as the Manufacturing
Real Estate Co., was formed to own and
President and Mr.. Thompson Treasurer of
both corporations. The factory began I'M
der the corporation management Jan. l.,
1901. The shoe factory is and has been for
sever al years the principal business concern
OF the city, employing from $50 to 300 hands,
most of the time the larger number
November Z, 1877, Mr.. Sibley was married
to Miss MargaretA. Richie of Searsport, who
survives him with one son, A. Cutter Sib-
ley, student in Worcester, Mass, Acade
my. Two brothers survive him, Edward
Sibley Of Belfast and Charles A. Sibley of
Curtis, Nebraska. Mr. Sibley was greatly
interested in municipal and civic affairs
and took an active part in the associations
and companies which have been formed to
advance the city's business or moral in
terests. He was member of the Belfast
Board of Trade and at the time of his death,
and for several years was its president, and
vice president of the State Boaad of Trade
He was an active worker in the Children's
Aid Society, the Humane Society, the Civic
League, and other societies. He was elected
member of the school committee in 1894,
reelected in 1895 and 1896, and was its
chairman in 1895. His report for that year
testiies to the great interest he always felt
in the public schools. He was progressive
and enthusiastic in whatever he undertook
and will be greatly missed in many lines
Of usefulness, and by those with whom he
was associated in business. The sympathy
of the whole community goes out to the
family so suddenly bereaved.
The funeral will be held at his late home
Friday afternoon at 2 O'Clock.