Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-22
AWARDED PENSION.
Charles M. Abbott's AZ Years Service
for B. e. M. r. r. Awarded.

Seventy seven years of age, and hav-
| ing completed AZ years of faithful service
| as foreman carpenter and bridge con-
structor for the Boston & Maine Rail-
road, Charles NJ. Abbott of 100 Gray
street, Portland. Me-, has been awarded
| a pension by the company and relieved
| from further duties.
| Mr. Abbott was born at Sidney, Ken
nebec County, Maine. Feb. II, 1888. Until
| 10 years of age he lived on farm with
his parents. John and Mary Delano)
/ Abbott, after which he went South and
for two years was employed at the white
oak ship. timber cutting business. He
then returned North to Bath and worked
as ship carpenter until 1858, when he
went to San Francisco, Calf, and then
$50 miles north to Trinity County, where
he remained six years mining and car
pentering. In the early part of ga Mr..
Abbott again returned to Bath work.
| ing there at ship carpentering until the
close of the war, when he went to Lynch
| burg, and thence to work at William and
Mary College at Withville, Va. After a
| few weeks there he went to Richmond.
where he learned of the beginning of the
| work of building a bridge from Peters
burg to Richmond He Immediately Sc
cured employment with a Col. Stong. the
| contractor in charge of the work, and
after four weeks labor as bridge car
penter, was given charge of the work of
raising the bridge. and complete control
of 81 men, half white and half black.
| The work was completed in seven
months time and soon after Major
| Myer, chief engineer of the Petersburg
| Railroad engaged Mr.. Abbott to go to
| High Bridge Station, Va. and construct
another bridge 50 by 400 feet This work
was accomplished with only one delay to
the railroad of 10 minutes duration, which
was considered "a remarkable feat. This
was about July /, 1866, and a few days
after, on noticing the account of the
burning of Portland on July 4, in the
Boston newspapers. he imediately re-
turned to his old home at Bath, fitted up
new set of tools and came to Portland
in pursuit Of employment, which he soon
secured with J. B. Brown, for whom he
worked until Jan. /. 1868, when he entered
the employ of the Portland, Saco &
Portsmouth r. r., now the Boston &
Maine. For the last 81 years up to July
of this year he was foreman of bridges
and buildings 1Or tndC company, anu
what is considered very remarkable and
praiseworthy is that during this long
period of service no accident of any kind
has occurred at the work under his
| supervision. An important bridge con-
struction erected under Mr.. Abbott was
| that of the Western Division B. & M.
bridge No. 241. built II years ago, over
which millions of passengers have since
lpassed.
Mr. Abbott is member of Solar Lodge
of Masons at Bath, Landmark Lodge of
Portland, Greenleaf Royal Arch Chapter
and Portland Council No. 10l. In politics
he has been an ardent supporter of the
Republican party since the great split of
| the parties in 1854.
| He is one of the oldest members of the
Pine Street Methodist Church, joining
that community in October, A years ago,
after which he aided materially toward
the building of the present church struc-
ture. Mr.. Abbott now resides at 100 Gray
street in this city, with his two sons,
Melvin c. Abbott foreman in the Port
land street department. and Harry H..
an engineer in the fire department.