The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-12-05
THE LATE TnEO. f. SiMONTON.

asst week. The following appreciative
obituary is from the Rockland Courier
Gazette:
Mr.. Simonton was born in Camden,
august "A, 1888, son of William and
Elizabeth (Roberts) Simonton. As a
BOY he worked at farming and aided
bis father in the manufacture of lime.
Leaving Camden at the age of II Mr..
went to Belfast, where he
vas clerk in the boot and shoe store of
\ Nathaniel Wiggin and the clothing
store of S. G. Thurlow. He was also a
at one time for Wilson &
buyers of wood and bark,
md who kept a general store. He at
ended Belfast Academy during his
spare moments, that institution then
1eing under the charge of Prof. Craig.
From Belfast Mr.. Simonton moved
1860 to Rockland, where he entered
T. dry goods business with his brother
uder the firm name of 7. f. and F. J.
= monitor. This name was soon after
anged to Simonton Bros. and as such
-rmained until the latter part of the
IS, when it became the Simonton Dry
oods Co. Theodore Simonton was the
,,
urlng which time the concern was one
the leading dry goods stores in the
5 ate. Mr.. Simonton withdrew from
firm in 1888, but remained in the
ne until 1890, and was regarded as
e of the best statesmen in the State.
Ire knew everybody and everybody
Nv HIM, and he was uniformly cour-
us, genial and obliging, no matter
at vexatlons beset him.
Nh Slmouton babe farewell to mer-
ltlle life on March 26, 1891. On the
owing day he entered upon his du-
as deputy collector of customs for
port of Rockland under Collector
rs u,Iam II. Luce. The first year in this
nee was well qualified to test his Ca
lty tor there We're Il5 foreign arriv-
s the largest number for any year
ICE the custom house was established,
md Rockland ranked second in the
lttd States as a port of foreign en-
~ MI Simonton served as deputy
ector four years and then came an
mlnlstration which was not of the
ame political belief, with the result
At Mr.. Simonton stepped down and
he had meantime taken the agency
.I life, accident and fire insurance and |
.l the two months following actively
larsued this vocation.
the spring of 1895 he became a |
ldidate for tax collector and there |
Flowed one of the most remarkable |
utests known in our municipal his |
ny. Thirty-tive ballots were taken, |
pverlng a period of three meetings of |
city government and on the 35th, |
w. Simonton had the votes necessary |
a choice. He was re elected each |
tteedlng year by unanimous vote |
4 on two years when there have been |
I-mOcrats IN the city council he was |
Of the very few officials who receiv- |
P. a unanimous election. He was Civ |
remarkable satisfaction in this |
and followed a method of tax |
Getting which has been at once |
ctiye and satisfactory. His four |
IS of service have been marked by |
naTaleied business depression, but !
ugh it all the tax collector has |
Sued the even tenor of his way and |
.- can say that there has been OPP |
sslon. He turned in the entire |
mitment of 1895 and 1896 inside of |
wears from the time in which each |
committed.
y IT, Sim0nton was always a Repubi- |
and of the most loyal type. He !
s- his first vote fer Abraham Lincoln
was a member of the Lincoln Wide |
axe Club. He was loyal worker
ne ranks and never missed casting a
lot at every election during the
.4v years in which Rockland has been
home.
lis first political office was that of a
ncllman from Ward i'll 1866. He
we'd that ward again in the common
uncil of 1870 and was president of
board. In the fall of 1870 he was
tied representative to the State
9slature, serving with Hon Sidney
Z Bird. He was reelected i'll 1880 |
ia j. 5. Willoughby.
1896, acting upon the recommends
n of the Rockand Grand Army
.l, Nh Simonton was appointed an
.orary aide de camp with the title of
pnel on the staff of National Com
.Ider Louis F. Ellis of the Union
a-erans' Union. He often said that
mad never held position of which
telt prouder than that rendered him
r.. the Union Veterans Union entirely
out his knowledge or solicitation. !
lT, Simonton was especially proml- |
~t among the Masonic fraternity, |
ing taken his 32d degree in 1886. He |
MAS recorder of ClaIemont Command |
Err, K. T., many years and treasurer
IS ept one year since 1898 of that fra
unity. He took an especial pride in |
l~ Commandery and was not only a
tlhful attendant at the meetings but
avs took part in the pilgrimages.
deceased had been member of the