Cumberland County, Maine - Hon. Albert A. Cordwell
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Biography
Hon. Albert A. Cordwell
Biographical Review
Cumberland County, Maine
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1896
Page 437-438


Hon. Albert A. Cordwell, ex-Mayor of Westbrook, Me., is a native resident of
this city. He was born May 31, 1854, son of Stephen A. and Mary Jane (Bacon)
Cordwell. Several generations of his family have made their home in the State of
Maine, and many of his kin were independent farmers. His paternal grandfather,
who was born in Greenwood, Me., owned and cultivated a farm in that town. He
married and reared four children, who are all living to-day, namely: George, a
farmer on the homestead in Greenwood; Roxanna, a resident of Auburn, Me.;
Stephen A., mentioned above; and Sarah, residing in San Francisco, Cal., widow
of Frank Staples.

Stephen A. Cordwell was born in Greenwood, Me., and there reared and educated.
When he was about eighteen years of age, he obtained employment in the S. D.
Warren mills at Westbrook, and after some years of faithful service was
appointed overseer. He is a capable and efficient man, eminently qualified to
fill the responsible position which he holds. Believing firmly in the principles
of the Republican party, he stands well with his fellow-partisans, who made him
Selectman when Westbrook was managed by town government, and elected him to the
Board of Aldermen in 1890-92, under the city charter. Mr. Stephen A. Cordwell is
a Mason, belonging to Warren Phillips Lodge, No. 186, of Cumberland Mills. He
was first married to Mary Jane Bacon, daughter of John W. and Eunice J. Bacon,
of Windham, Me. She died after a brief term of wedlock, leaving one child, the
subject of this sketch; and Mr. Cordwell subsequently married Lucretia D. Grant,
daughter of Charles Grant, of Gray, Me. By this union he has two children:
Stephen E., ticket agent at Portland, on the Portland & Rochester Railroad; and
Fanny C., wife of Frank H. Cloudman, who lives with her father.

Albert A. Cordwell received his education in the common and high schools of
Westbrook, Gorham Academy, and Westbrook Seminary. On leaving school he entered
the S. D. Warren mills, and worked as office boy, messenger, and telegraph
operator successively for eight years. He then worked for five years as invoice
and shipping clerk, and when the change was made from monthly to weekly payment
was appointed paymaster. Three years after his appointment the cashier, Mr.
Dunnell, took a position in another establishment; and Mr. Cordwell was made
cashier, at the same time retaining his position as paymaster. In this double
capacity he has now been serving for some years, and his ability and good
judgment have made him an indispensable adjunct of the Warren mills.

Politically, Mr. Cordwell is a strong Republican. He was elected Mayor of
Westbrook on the Republican ticket, and held the office from 1893 to 1895.
During his incumbency many changes for the better were made in the city: the
Warren Street School-house was built, much grading and improving of public
property was done, land damages were settled, and Main Street was macadamized
from the east to the west side of Westbrook.

April 5, 1876, Mr. Cordwell was united in marriage with Ella F. Quimby, daughter
of William and Jane L. Quimby, of Westbrook. To Mr. and Mrs. Cordwell were born
two children, who were given but to be taken away. Mr. Cordwell is an Odd
Fellow, belonging to Ammoncongin Lodge, No. 76, of Cumberland Mills, and, as a
Knight of Pythias, belongs to Presumpscot Lodge, No. 4, in which he has held the
office of Past Chancellor. Both he and his wife attend the Universalist church.