Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-08


Gorliam. For 35 years he has been
engaged in the business of market
gardening. and being a man of excel
lent Judgment, perseverance, and OBJ
servation, has gained a wide expert
ence and Is authority upon agricultural
subjects. The February issue of the
Northwestern Agriculturist gives an
interesting account of an interview
with Mr.. Libby, who lately gave a
valuable talk before the Minnesota
State Agricultural society, his subject
being 1.-The Hubbard Squash"
Benjamin +. Hamilton of Saco re-
Gently celebrated his Goth birthday in
an informal way. Mr.. Hamilton was
born in WATERFORD, Feb. 20, 1919 He
went to Saco in 1912 and went into the
dry goods business with his brother on
Factory island, as a clerk. In 1847 he
became a partner in the firm, and the
dry goods business became the bust
ness of his life. He achieved great
notoriety and was criticised a good
deal for his employment of lady clerks,
being the first merchant in this part OF
the country to do so. Mr.. Hamilton
was married in Saco, March "a, 1853.
brated their golden wedding in 1903 in
most pleasant manner They were
married by the late Rev. J. T. G.
Nichols, who was for As years pastor
of the Unitarian church in Saco Mr..
Hamilton retired from business only
about ten years ago. He and his wife
are now enjoying very good health and
there is good reason to believe that Mr..
Hamilton will reach century with
his wife by his side.
In their comfortable old homestead
on Rocky Hill in Westbrook Mr.. and
Mrs. Isaiah n. Hacker celebrated last
week the 50th anniversary of their
wedding in the presence of their chill
dren, grandchildren, more distant rea-
tives and hosts of friends, who prize
the friendship of this aged couple
among things of the greatest value
Though well past the allotted three
score and ten-Mr. Hacker being 81
and his amiabe wife G4-both are ex-
ceptionally well preserved and well
versed i'll the important happenings Of
the day. Mr.. Hacker was born in
Vassalboro. the son of Jeremiah and
Sarah (Reed) Hacker. Mr.. Hacker
lived in the town of his birth until he
arrived at the age of nine. He moved
to Windham and later entered the
carpenters trade and at the time Of
the completion of what is now termed
the back road" from Lewiston to
Waterville, in the year OF 1S49, he was
engaged in building the stations along
the road. Six years later Mr.. Hacker
went west and took up abode in
l.,
plenty of work for him. He was in
strumental in the up-building of the
city of Superior and after spending
three years in that section returned to
Maine. arriving here early in the year
of 1859 and as can be seen by the
comparison of the dates that he was
married soon after his return to his
native State. Mr.. Hacker fully
realized the opportunities offered by
the great new west and would have
returned there had it not been for the
very strenuous objections of his brides
father, who made it very plain to the
young man that his daughter would
remain on the old homestead. During
the few years that followed Mr.
Hacker followed his trade of carpenter
and constructed many of the buildings
now standing in this city. Soon, how
ever, the failing health OF his father
in-law called him to carry on the work
on the farm and from that time he has
done but little else. Mrs. Hacker was
the daughter of Josiah and Lydia
(Robinson) Winslow and was born in
the old house in which the couple now
reside, as was her father. Six chill
dren were born to Mr.. and Mrs.
Hacker one of whom died in infancy
and the rest OF whom are living at the
present time and were present at the
parents. The children are Albert j. of
this city, William l. of Decring, Emma
L.. wife of Arthur II. Norton of Port
land, Harriet H.. wife of Charles f..
Cobb of Providence. K. /. The house
occupied by Mr.. and Mrs. Hacker is
one of the historical features of this
city. 1t was built during the revolu-
tionary war by Mrs. Hackers grand
father, James Winslow. Mr.. Winslow
was one of the early settlers in this
vicinity and secured a large tract of
land which included Rocky Hill, where
the house stands. Upon first taking
possession of the land he constructed
log cabin in which he lived until 1p-
portunity came to construct the big
frame house which has sheltered his
descendants for more than a century.