The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-05-22
FREDERICK J. SIMONTON.
TRockland Courier Gazette,1

hOckanQ COurlef-G0zette.I
1t is among the sad duties of the local
newspaper to note the passing from life
of the men connected with the business
and professional interests of the town.
1t has fallen to the present proprietors
of The Courier Gazette, in a generation
of association with the activities of Main
street, to say the final word in this con.
nection with whole line of these men,
whose gradual removal has set the seal
of a complete change upon the personnel
of the city's business life. Among the
very last to be thus mentioned is Fred
erick J. Simonton. Since young man.
hood actively engaged in trade, and con-
tinuing daily to be seen at his place of
business down to the final week Of his
life, Mr.. Simonton will be greatly missed.
His manner was gentle and natural in
clination to friendllness made countless
friends for him in the great army of the
buying public. AS there always is with
such men, there were the intimacies of
closer circle-lately more and more mar
rowlng-and these ties are severed with
keenness of sorrow to those who sur
vlve that expresses the affectionate re-
gard in which this friend was held.
Frederick James Simonton was the
dean of Rockland merchants, having
been engaged in one line of business
nearly 60 years. He was one of the 10
children comprising the family of Will
liam and Elizabeth (Roberts) Simonton,
residing in that section of Camden ap-
propriately known as Simonton's Corner.
OF that large family, which was among
the best known in Knox county, there is
but one survivor, Mrs. Andrew E. Clark
of Belfast
Mr.. Simonton was born July "a, 1886.
He left the homestead at II and entered
the employ of Benjamin Lothrop, who
conducted large dry goods store in this
city. Soon afterWard he was Joined by
an older brother, the late Theodore E.
Simonton, and together they purchased
the Lothrop store. which in 1861 became
known as tie firm of T. E. & F. J.
Simonton. The senior partner withdrew
from the firm in 1888, but did not sever
his connection with the store until seven
years afterward, when he became deputy
collector of customs. In 1895 the firm
was incorporated as the Simonton Dry
Goods Company, and the active manage
ment passed into the hands of F. J.
Simonton's two sons, Frederick ]. and
Horace b., who had inherited an aptitude
for the business, which has helped to
make ''SimontoE's'' one OF the best
known business houses in Eastern Maine.
Horace died in 1906.
The deceased was a member from
Ward of the city government in 1878
and 1879, but his political ambition rest
ed there. Other and higher honors prof
fered him, but mercantile pursuits APP
pealed more strongly to him, and the
fleeing years found him still loyal to the
trade which had claimed his attention
when he left his boyhood home He had
been member of the Congregational
parish great many years, ard was
greatly devoted to that church, constant
in attendance and ever responsive when
his services or financial aid were desired. /
Formerly he was member of the Ma
sonic fraternity.
8 Until his increasing years compelled .
easier hours Mr.. Simonton was one of /
the earliest arrivals at his place of bust
ness, and one of the last to leave. His
vacations or absences from the store
were brief and infrequent. He came
into personal contact with hundreds of
patrons from all parts of the county, and
his genial, syn pathetic qualities never
failed to inspire lasting friendships.
His home life was dearer to him than
all else. His surroundings represented
love, culture and enjoyment, and amid /
them the years crept on apace, increas-
ing the esteem in which he was held ard |
rounding out life which was a model of
good citizenship.
Mr.. Simonton is survived by his wife,
formerly Flora j. Adams; three daugh- |
tiers, Mrs. A. 7. Blackington and Mrs.
Henry B. Bird of Rocklard; and Mrs.
Ernest 3. Young of Boston; and one son,
Frederick ]. Simontcn. Funeral ser
vices were held from the family resi-
cence Thursday at 2 o. m.