Cumberland County, Maine - Francis Edward Chase
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Biography
Francis Edward Chase
Biographical Review
Cumberland County, Maine
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1896
Page 142-143


Francis Edward Chase, inspector and acting Deputy Collector of United States
customs at Portland, was born in this city, May 17, 1840, son of Sewall C. and
Mary A. H. (Trowbridge) Chase. His family has for many years been well known in
this vicinity, his grandfather, Timothy Chase, who was a mason and builder,
having been a respected resident of Yarmouth and Portland.

Sewall C. Chase lived in Portland for many years, being a prominent contracting
mason and builder. A large number of the brick buildings on Commercial and
Middle Streets and many of the fine brick residences in Portland were built by
him, and he was superintendent of the City Building when that edifice was
erected. He was long associated in business with his brother, Edward P. Chase,
who was one of the leading builders of the time. In politics a Republican, Mr.
Sewall C. Chase was elected to the State legislature from the city of Portland
on the old Whig ticket, before the party had changed its name, and served his
term with credit. In religious matters also he took a prominent part, and was
Deacon in the High Street Congregational Church for many years. He died on
January 20, 1874. His wife was a daughter of John Trowbridge, of Portland, a
Revolutionary soldier. They reared the following children: William Porter, who
died in Cuba; Francis Edward, the subject of this sketch; Lois Anna, wife of
Charles B. Bailey, of Portland formerly, now of Washington; Charles S., of
Portland; and Etta, wife of Edward Goodhue, of Danville, P. Q.

Francis Edward Chase acquired his education in Portland, graduating from the
high school in the class of 1858. He was engaged as bookkeeper for his father
for two years, and in 1860 went into the wholesale grocery business with Joshua
Hobbs and his son John P., under the firm name of Hobbs, Chase & Co. In
September, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-fifth Maine Volunteer
Infantry, and was sent to Washington, where his company was on duty at Long
Bridge and quartered at Arlington Heights, some time later being ordered to
Chantilly. In July, 1863, at the expiration of his term of enlistment, he
returned to Portland and resumed his mercantile business, in which he was
successfully engaged till 1869. In that year he was appointed Inspector of
Customs under Collector Israel Washburn; and he has efficiently filled the
position up to the present time, with the exception of a short period beginning
with 1887, when he was retired, being reappointed by Collector F. N. Dow in
1891. During his retirement he was employed on special work, as he is one of the
oldest men in the service. Since Mr. Chase's last appointment he has been Acting
Deputy. Faithful to all the details of his duty, Mr. Chase enjoys the confidence
and esteem of his fellow-officials, and by his unfailing courtesy and his wise
judgment in matters of moment, has won general respect and good will.

December 3, 1863, he was united in marriage with Augusta Bradford, daughter of
Freeman and Maria H. (Hall) Bradford, of Portland. One child was born to them,
March 4, 1865, who died in October, 1875.

Mr. Chase takes no active part in political matters. He is a thirty-second
degree Mason, the first Lodge of which he became a member being Atlantic, No.
81, of which he was Master and is now Past Master. He was the first Master of
Deering Lodge, No. 183, which was organized in 1878, and is its present
Secretary; is Past High Priest of Greenleaf Chapter of Portland, of which he has
been Secretary since 1876; Past Thrice Illustrious Master of Portland Council,
Royal and Select Masters; Past Eminent Commander of St. Alban Commandery, No. 8,
of which body he is now Prelate; a member of Yates Lodge of Perfection and of
the Portland Council of Princes of Jerusalem. He has been conductor of
ceremonies in Rose Croix Chapter, of which he is now Warden, and belongs to the
Maine Consistory. He is also a member of the Grand Commandery of the State of
Maine, and was District Deputy Grand Master for the district of Maine for two
years, and has attended the different conclaves. He belongs to Unity Lodge,
Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Rocky Hill Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of
Deering; is a member of the Samoset Tribe of Red Men, of Portland; and was
Master of the Ancient Order of United Workmen one term; he is a member of the
Royal Arcanum, the Royal Society of Good Fellows, and has been Financial
Secretary of the Portland Assembly since its organization. While in Portland Mr.
Chase attended the High Street Congregational Church, contributing to its
support.