The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-12-22
OBITUARY.

Frank M. Lancaster died Wednesday night
December 14th, at his home on Church street
aged 93 years and IT days. After his retire.
ment from business some two years ago-due
to physical infirmities, as his mental faculties
were retained in q remarkable degree to the
end-he was frequent visitor to familiar
haunts uptown; but the last time he was out
was five weeks ago, when with Mr.. Charles R
Coombs he took his first automobile ride The
day before his death he was taken ill with
heart trouble and passed peacefully away in
his sleep. Mr.. Lancaster was born in North
port. November q, 1877 the son of the late
Humphrey and Lucy Elwell Lancaster. He
received his early education in the town
schools, and for some time was in trade in
Northport. The discovery of gold in Califor-
mia in 1S4S sent many Maine men to the new
Eldorado, and brother, V. R. Lancaster, sail
ed from Belfast as a passenger on the ark w.
o. Alden in November, 1S49. Two years later
the subject of this sketch followed and spent
four years on the Pacific slope in quest of for
tune. He then returned to Belfast and in 1856
! engaged in the grocery business with his BROTH
ington streets, where be continued until his
retirement in October, 1908. In the great fire
of October IL, 1865, the store occupied by the
Lancasters was burned, but was replaced and
the business continued. David Lancaster re-
tired from the firm about that time, and there
after Mr.. Frank Lancaster conducted the bus-
ness alone. The store which replaced the one
burned was originally located on Custom house
square and was occupied by William Quimby
as meat market Later it was moved to
Church street on the site of the present Opera
House, and was occupied for many years by
Samuel S. Hersey, tin smith. After the
building was bought by MIR. Lancaster and
moved to its present location it was length. n
ed 20 feet. In this store Mr.. Lancaster carried
on business for So years and was at the time of
his retirement the oldest active merchant in
the city. He was then 80 years old and had
been at the store every day and was often out
delivering goods and taking orders. He would
in using his hands. OF course he saw many
changes in his long business career. There is
no longer the extensive country trade that
Belfast had in the early days. The building
of the railroad diverted it elsewhere. Speak
ing of business in those days at the time of
his retirement, Mr.. Lancaster said it was no
uncommon thing to take in over his counter in
a single day $3.50 to 5000. and he recalled one
morning when he received in cash before
breakfast the sum of "a little rising $780,
"You see the farmers came early with their
produce and hay" he said, "sold it and bought
their supplies and were anxious to load their
wagons and start back home. which was fre-
quently as far away as Dixmont." In 1874
Mr.. Lancaster married Miss Angelett o.
Brown of Northport, and shortly before her
death IL years ago they celebrated their golden
wedding. They were both from families noted
for longevity. having record of seven golden
weddings on the two sides of the house. Mr.
Lancaster's home for many years had been in
the house built by him, No Church street,
and since the death of his wife his daughter,
Ella Angelett, wife of Llewellyn Sleeper, has
had the care of the household, and in his last
days he was tenderly cared for by the daugh-
ter and her husband. The funeral service was
held at the home at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon,
Rev. Adolph Rossbach, pastor of the Unitarian
church, officiating, and attended by the
friends and former business associates of the
deceased. There was an abundance of beauti-
full flowers, showing the respect of friends for
the departed and sympathy for the bereaved.
The bearers were Messrs. ]. G. Paul, L. T.
Shales, Charles E. Johnson and E. S. Pitcher
and the interment was in Grove cemetery
Mrs. Rachel I. Herrick died at her home in
Northport, December 18th, aged "a years, 10
months and days. She was born in North
tbo = ~ l,ko c.
phronia Terrill Drinkwater, who came there
from Abingdon, Mass. She was the widow of
Joab Herrick, who died May 27, 1910. Kind
hearted and hospitable, she was friend to all,
particularly in their hour of need. For many
years she had been identified with the Baptist
church, was member of the Ladies' Aid, and
strong and influential advocate of the temper
ance cause. About Is years ago public library
was started in Northport by Mrs. Henrietta
White of Brook!ine, Mass, which has been
kept in the Herrick home with the deceased
as librarian. She had suffered for some time
with diabetes and was confined to her home
for several weeks before her death. With her
husband she had kept summer boarders for
years and among them were the Whites of
i'ioohilie, MdSs., "uO ldLer DOuSnL tne l1eI-
rick homestead for summer residence, giving
Mr.. and Mrs. Herrick a life lease of the place.
Her niece, Miss Myrtle Herrick, had lived with
them as their own daughter. OF large fam
lily of brothers and sisters but three remain
Mrs. Charles Elwel, Edward and Lowney
Drinkwater, all of Northport. The funeral
took place at her late home Tuesday afternoon
at l O'Clock, Rev. Arthur G. Roberts of the
Belfast Baptist church officiating.
Olive, widow of the late Josiah W. Wilkins,
died at her home on Bayview street, Thursday
afternoon December 18th, after long and
painful illness. aged 63 years. 8 months and 10
days. She was born in Northeast Harbor, the
daughter of the late Wentworth and Abigail
Savage Remission and came to Belfast at the
age of Is years and had since resided here.
For many years she worked in the family of
the late Sherborne Sleeper, and later for his
son, Mr.. j. L. Sleeper, in the vest business.
She married Mr.. Wilkins in this city and his
death in 1907 left her without relatives in Bel
fast. For years both Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins
were earnest members of the Belfast Lodge of
Good Templars. She was also member of
Thomas H. Marshall Circle and was constant
attendant at the services of the Methodist
church as long her health permitted. She
is survived by brother and sister, Mr.. Thomas