The Republican journal., 1914-05-07
OBITUARY..

ceedino few weeks he was at that time mucn
improved. was able to sit up, and MS mind
was as clear and his senses as acute as
those of many much younger. he nao leo an
adventurous life, and on this occasion told Mr.
Orrin j. Dckey that he had crossed tne
Isthmus of Panama ten times, gong 20 rama
ma in sailing vessel or steamer ana 1nen
crossing the isthmus on foot taxing steam-
er on the other size for California ports. In
his younger days Mr.. Meservey was user
of snuff. but had given it up. He said that
when he was young everybody used It, even
the boys and girls. His first trip TO Call
fornia was made in 1849, when the gold
fever was on. In 1852, when on MS way TO
the isthmus, he was wrecked on the steamer
Winfield Scott and for eight days the passen-
gers and crew we're on short allowance One
trip across the Isthmus took % days. Later.
cars carried the travellers part OF the way and
then they were obliged to walk or ouy mule,
which cost ten dollars in gold. On one trip he
and companion bought mule, whlcn they
rode in turns On the way they heard q moan
ing and looking over some lodges saw the dress
of a woman. On going to her they found she
was Dutch woman who had started to cross
the Isthmus on foot and had fallen by the way.
They placed her on the mule and carried her
to the other side. She was barefooted and
poorly dressed They had to walk themselves,
of course, and, on arriving on the other side
they provided her with supper. lodging and
breakfast, which cost the m five dollar gold
piece Mr. Meservey had experienced the
terrible snow storms in the Sierra Nevadas.
had been in the vicinity of the Frasier river.
was familiar with life in San Francisco in the
early days, and had the usual ups and downs
of the seekers for gold. His western ex-
periences, as he expressed it, would have
"made a big book" He had always been
great reader and taken a lively interest in
all the dc;nEs Of the world, and had remark
able memory for one of his age In his last
days he was tenderly cared for in the home
of Mr.. Wight, and was provided with every
comfort. His only surviving relatives are
his cousins, David and Robie Meservey of
Morrill,. His wife died several years ago,
and his only son, Alfred, who was born in
Bangor, died in California at the age of II
years. Mr.. Meservey was born in Albion, his
mother dying at his birth and he later went
to live with an uncle. The funeral service
was held at p. m. last Tuesday, Rev. Walter
F. Sturtevant of the Belfast Baptist church
officiating. The interment was in the Satur-
day Cove cemetery.
Capt Samuel S. Rich, retired master mariner,
said to be the first towboat captain to take
barge tow around Capt Cod, died at his home
in North Bucksport April 2Sth aged u years.
He went to sea when young lad and at 10
was master of lumber coaster between Ban
eor and Boston. He commanded some brigs
and large schoopers in the southern, West
Indian and foreign trade, until the decline in
the merchant marine, when he took up ocean
towing. He sailed for the Boston Towboat
Company and also for the Knickerbocker Tow
boat Company, being the frse to take long
barge tows outside. For nearly 10 years he
towed between New York coal ports and Boston,
and was master of the tugs Z. VI. Winch,
Knickerbocker, Herald, George M. Winslow
and others Later he was master of large steam
yachts for several years. About 1n years ago
he retired and settled down on country place,
The Moo ings, overlooking the Penobscot
River. He was Mason and belonged to the
american Association of Masters, Mates and
Pilots. He was a member of the grange. He
is survived by wife and two sons, William
w Rich and Richard H. Rich, who live in
Boston
Fred o, Prentiss died last week in New York
C+o+, ,pd his rornains Wara inferred in the
Prentiss cemetery in East Troy April 29th
He was former resident of Troy. the Oldest
son of the late Joseph and Nancy (Johnson)
Prentiss. For many years he had been sue
cessfrl furniture dealer in Lowell, Mass.
About year ago his health began to fail and
after few weeks visit at the home of his
brother, Joseph Prentiss, in Thorndike, he went
to the State of New York, where he hoped the
I rest and change would be beneficial to him.
| He leaves wife. enc son and two brothers,
Frank Prentiss of Pittsfeld and Joseph Prentiss
of Thorndike.
| ANGELA E., wife of Roscoe Robbins. died at
her nome in Union April 9Th, aged SO years.
| During seven years she had passed through
three surgical operations and last February
she went to New York to take the Radium
treatment but to no avail, and after staying
there seven weeks returned u ner nome anu
died within thr ae weeks from that time. De-
ceased possessed CHEEKY disposition and cour-
age, bearing her great sufferings with patience
and fortitude and will be greatly missed not
only in her home but by large circle of
| friends, and she so much enjoyed entertaining
! friends at her pleasant home also ever ready
to give a helping hand to the needy. Mrs.
| Robbins leaves to mourn their loss a hus-
band, one daughter. and two sons: also
one brother Bliss Coombs of New York.
The funeral was held at her late home
and was largely attended relatives and
friends, with a profusion of flowers. Chaplain
Plumer and B. W. Russell were the officiating
clergymen. Deepest sympathy is extended to
the bereaved family in their affiiction and es-
pecially to the daughter, Mrs. Nina Fuller,
who has tenderly cared for her mother during
all of her illness. .-Rockland Courier Gazette.
Lucy, widow of Albert 7. Jellison, one of
ElIsworth's Oldest residents, died April 25th at
the home of Mrs. p H. Bonsey. with whom
she made her home for the past three years.
She had been an invalid several years. Mrs.
Jellison was born IN Belfast nearly eighty -one
ago. She was married there to Mr.. Jellison,
who soon afterward came to Ellsworth to en-
gage in the tailoring business. Later he be-
came manager Of the first central telephone
office in Ellsworth. Mrs. Jellison is survived
by one brother-Danie Lane. of Boston, and
one sister, Mrs. Caro- Baldwin, Of Philadelphia
The funeral was held at the Bonsey home Mon-
day, Rev. S. W. Sutton Observation-Disclosures
American.