Cumberland County, Maine - Henry Babbitt Bennett ********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: C. Wendland SilverDrusilla@aol.com Copyright © 2005 by C. Wendland Caitlin's Gold Award Project, Girl Scouts USA, Rio Grande Girl Scout Council, El Paso, Texas ********************************************************************** Biography Henry Babbitt Bennett Biographical Review Cumberland County, Maine Boston Biographical Review Publishing Company 1896 Page 461-462 Henry Babbitt Bennett, one of the prominent business men of Portland, where he has resided since 1867, was born in Houlton Me., June 26, 1850, son of Samuel W. and Nancy Prentice (Kendall) Bennett. He was named by General Babbitt, United States Army, for his son, deceased. Samuel W. Bennett was born in Derbyshire, England, and grew to manhood in the mother country. When a young man, he emigrated to America, and, locating at Woodstock, N.B., worked for some time at cabinetmaking, later removing to Houlton, Me., where he followed his trade for some time. He died at Butte des Morts, Wis., in 1850, while there in the interest of the lumber business. His wife, Nancy, who was born July 5, 1808, at New Salem, Mass., was a daughter of Samuel and Eunice (Green) Kendall. Mr. Kendall was born in New Salem, and was for some time a prominent business man there. Later he was one of the early settlers of Houlton, purchasing a large tract of land and, building the third house in the town, the other two being occupied by the Houltons and Greens. Mr. Kendall became one of the leading men of Houlton, and was commonly know as "Squire Kendall." He lived to attain the ripe age of ninety-two. His daughter, Mrs. Nancy P. Kendall Bennett, taught a private school in Houlton, and also at the garrison, for many years, both before and after her marriage. She is a writer of some note, her patriotic poems, which she wrote during the war, possessing such merit that they were copied by the press throughout the Union. Mrs. Bennett is a member of the Swedenborgian church. She is now in her eighty- eighth year, living with her son Henry in Portland. She reared two other children, namely: Charles W., now a resident of San Francisco; and Lilla Kendall (deceased), who was the wife of W. R. McDonald, of Calais, Me. Henry Babbitt Bennett finished his education at Houlton Academy, and came to Portland in April, 1867, to fill a situation obtained for him by the Hon. James P. Baxter, at stencil cutting, learning the trade of Edward Fairfield in Portland. Within six years Mr. Bennett purchased the business of his employer, who worked for him up to the time of his death. The establishment was first located at the old No. 130 Exchange Street, and the business was so small that it was easily handled by Mr. Fairfield and Mr. Bennett alone. It now employs a number of men, and includes, besides stencilling, rubber stamps and engraving. It is the largest establishment of its kind east of Boston, also the oldest in this State, having been in existence since 1850, and is now conducted by a stock company, which was formed in 1893, Mr. Bennett being manager. Mr. Bennett is a sagacious and competent business man, and is prominently connected with other enterprises in different localities. In the progress of Old Orchard especially he has taken an active interest, and is now Treasurer of the Old Orchard Water Company, and also of the Old Orchard Electric Light Company, personally owning the plant, which he himself put in. He also acts as General Manager of the Duff Construction Company of Old Orchard, which does a general piping, plumbing, and manufacturing business, and employs a large number of men. Mr. Bennett has been phenomenally successful; and, starting as he did, with only his trade as capital, he is a fine example of a self-made man. Singularly accurate and prompt in all business engagements, he has never "missed a train" in his life. February to, 1871, Mr. Bennett was united in marriage with Georgia A. Gardiner, of Old Orchard. Miss Gardiner's father died when she was a child; and her mother, formerly Matilda Cuthbert, who was a native of Scotland, married Benjamin Milliken, of Old Orchard, in which place the daughter grew to womanhood. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, of whom two are living - Lilla Irene and Bessie Mildred, both with their parents. The other child, a bright boy called Neddie, lived but six brief summers. Mr. Bennett votes with the Republican party, but is not an aspirant for office. He is well advanced in Masonry, belonging to Portland Lodge, No. 1, A. F. & A. M., of which he is Past Master, and was at the head of its one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary; is Past High Priest of Greenleaf Chapter; a member of Portland Council; St. Alban Commandery, No. 8, Knights Templar, of which he is present Eminent Commander; and all the Scottish Rite bodies up to the Consistory, having attained the thirty-second degree in Maine Consistory, holding various offices. He is a member of Maine Lodge, No. 1, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has served as an official in various capacities; belongs to Ivanhoe Lodge, Knights of Pythias; is Past Sachem of Samoset Tribe, No. 32, Independent Order of Red Men; and was one of the original members of the Portland Athletic Club. He is a member of the Maine Genealogical Society and of the Maine Charitable Mechanics Association. Mr. Bennett is one of the Parish Committee of the New High Street Swedenborgian Church, of which his family also are members. He has a handsome residence at 16 Elm Street.