The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-04-27
Recent Deaths.

in Unity, Waldo county, SO years ago,
he became so carried away with patriot
ism at the age of 16 that he ran away
from home and joined regiment at
Augusta. His father, Abraham Cook
son, went to the capital and secured his
release as minor, and took him home.
Undaunted, young Cookson again ran
away from home and this time succeeded
in reaching the front. Without delay,
he got into real fighting and tasted all
the Joys and sorrows of a soldiers life.
At the Battle of Baton Rouge, Loulsi-
ana, in August, 1862, he was shot in the
knee while climbing a fence to get at
the enemy. A rebel sharpshooter aimed
the gun that laid him low, and as the
bullet was a so-called mimic ball, his
knee was shattered beyond hope of re-
covery. He was picked up on the field
and plc ced aboard hospital steamer,
where his leg was amputated at the
knee. The steamer proceeded down
river and before long was sunk by a
Confederate ram or gunbOat, and with
700 .other wounded men Mr.. Cookson
was thrown into the water. Most of the
700 were drowned, owing to their weak
and enfeebled condition and the nature of
the accident, but Private Cookson kept
his head about him. He was thrown in
10 the water while he was in bed with
out any clothes on except nightgown,
ut managed to float. He kept above
the surface in this way for several hours,
Union soldiers finally picking him up
seven miles below where the accident
occurred. Naturally, this incapacitated
him for further service in the war and
he came back to Maine to recuperate.
After arriving home, it was found that
he had never been legally enlisted in the
army, but Uncle Sam remedied that and
he was put down as a regular member
of Co. B., Fourteenth Maine regiment
with which he had gone to the front.
While recuperating he made voyage to
South America. After his war expert
ence he entered Kent's Hill seminary,
where he finished his education, and then
became teacher of penmanship in an
Augusta Commercial College, and later
throughout the State, his talent as
penman winning him laurels in this
branch of education. At Lincoln he be-
came a trial justice, and became inter-
ested in the law. During President
Cleveland's first term he was appointed
deputy collector CT customs of the port
of Bangor. In President Cleveland's
second administrator he was appointed
a railway mail clerk. He studied law
with A. L. Blanchard of Bangor and w.
P. Thompson, late reporter of decisions,
and was admitted to the Waldo county
bar at the October term in 1898, then en-
gaging il. the practice of law. In 1912
MIR. Cookson was appointed recorder of
the Bangor Municipal court by Gov. F.
W. Plaisted. His term would have eX-
pired next December. Besides his wife,
Gertrude Lowell Cookson, he is survived
by sister, Letitia A. Weller of Bangor,
by brother, Silas A. Cookson of Nora,
ILL.,, and wide circle of friends, who
were grieved and shocked at his death.
The remains were taken to Unity for
burial Friday morning, following the
funeral services at the residence in
Hampden Thursday afternoon, which
were attended by large number of
friends. Delegations from the Penob-
scot county bar, B. H. Beale Post, G.
A. R, and W. R. c., were in attend
ance. Mrs. Mary Packard Smith of
Carmel officiated, and Mrs. Helen Spear
en- Leonard sang. The G. A. R. burial
service was read.
Henry Young died April 18th at his
home in Rockland of pneumonia after
snort illness. He was born at Matinicus,
Dec. %, 1922, the son of Rufus and Sally
Carver Young. His grandparents came
from York, Me-, and We're among the
earliest settlers at Matnicus. Henry
was educated in the island schools and in
the High schools of Lincolnville and
Hope. 1t was in the former town that lie
first met the girl who became his wife
81 years ago. After leaving school he
taught winter terms in Matincus, at
Blackington' Corner, Rockland; North
port, Belfast, Vinalhaven and North
Haven. Mr.. Young had been farmer,
flsh-curer and merchant. At the tine
of his retirement he had been a store
keeper since 1851, and as the head of the
firm of Henry Young & Co. was prob
ably the most widely-known merchant
among the Penobscot bay islands. In
early life he was Democrat, and he eX-
planned his subsequent utilization with
the Repu lican party by saying that it
was the temperance Democrats and tt e
temperance Wings who formed the Re-
publican party. He voted for the "Malne
law" and though rot obllvlous to the
fact that it has some failings. he never
saw reason why the question OF 'epeal-
ing the prohibitory amendment should be
resubmitted to the people. He was elect
ed representative to the Legislature from
the class comprised of the towns of Cas-
tine and Penobscot and the plantation of
Matinicus. He held various offices In
the plantation of Matinicus and was
postmaster there for many years, al d
had held the Offices of dedimus justice
and justice of the peace. 1t was by
virtue of these offices that he became
known by the title of esquire" He
had married 65 couples, and not one of
them has ever been divorced except by
death. He was a man of the stric e
integrity-a man who walked in II e
straight and narrow path, and whose
influence was bent toward having others
do the same. He diligently devoted his
active years toward the upbuilding of
his industrial and mercantile interests,
and reared large family which emulated
'his example. He was personally known
to practically every person in the planta-
ton of Matinicus, where his death will
be universally mourned. His long resi-
dence in Rockland had also gained him
large acquaintance on the mainland. Mr..
Young was married in Lincolnville, Jan.
Is, 1854, and is survived by his wife, and
10 of the IL children who blessed their
union: Mrs. Mary Dunbar of Winslow,
MIRO Harriet p eth of SomerVilIe