Cumberland County, Maine - Jonathan H. Fletcher ********************************************************************** 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 Jonathan H. Fletcher Biographical Review Cumberland County, Maine Boston Biographical Review Publishing Company 1896 Page 149-151 Jonathan H. Fletcher, senior member of the firm of Fletcher & Co., wholesale grocers, provision and flour dealers, of Portland, Me., was born in Westford, Mass., July 27, 1822, son of Adams and Abigail (Davis) Fletcher. Mr. Fletcher represents the seventh generation of his family in this country, the line being traced as follows: Robert Fletcher, who was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1592, settled in Concord, Mass., in 1630, in which year seventeen ships arrived in Massachusetts Bay, swelling the number of settlers to twenty-one thousand. He was then thirty- eight years of age. His name appears in the earliest records of the town of Concord, Mass.; and in the court files of Middlesex County it frequently occurs, appended to petitions for bridges, on jury lists, and in other connections. He was a wealthy and influential man. He died at Concord, April 3, 1677, aged eighty-five years. He reared five sons -Luke, William, Cary, Samuel, and Francis. William Fletcher, the second son, was born in England in 1622, and was eight years old when his father settled in Concord. He was one of the first settlers in Chelmsford, Mass., locating there in 1653, his tract of land embracing what is now the city of Lowell. He died November 6, 1677. His wife, Lydia Bates, whom he married in Concord, October 7, 1645, survived him many years, dying October 12, 1704. They reared five children, namely: Lydia, who married the Rev. John Fiske; Joshua; Paul; Sarah; and William. Joshua Fletcher was born March 30, 1648, and died November 21, 1713. May 4, 1668, he was married to Grissies Jewell, who died January 16, 1682; and July 18, 1682, he was united to his second wife, Sarah Willey. He reared the following children: Joshua; Paul; Rachel; Timothy; John; Joseph; Sarah, who married March 14, 1709, Thomas Reed; Jonathan; Elizabeth; and Jonas. Joseph Fletcher, who was commonly known as Captain Fletcher, was born in Chelmsford, Mass., June 10, 1689, and died October 4, 1772. He married November 17, 1712, Sarah Adams, of Concord, Mass., who was born in 1691, and died April 24, 1761. They were the parents of ten children, all of whom were born in Westford, Mass., where the parents settled soon after marriage, and spent the remainder of their lives. These children were named as follows: Joseph, Benjamin, Timothy, Thomas, Sarah, Edith, Pelatiah, Joshua, Ruth, and Mary. Pelatiah Fletcher, who also was called Captain Fletcher, was born May 3, 1727, and died February 23, 1807. He was twice married. His first wife, Dorothy Hildreth, to whom he was united January 13, 1757, was born August 26, 1936, and was the daughter of James Hildreth. She died June 14, 1782. The second wife, who became Mrs. Fletcher October 13, 1782, was widow Betty Keyes, born Hartwell. Captain Pelatiah Fletcher was the father of- twelve children, namely: Betsey, born December 15, 1757; Dorothy, born December 21, 1759; Joseph, born November 6, 1761, who died December 25, 1765; Sarah, born August 12, 1763, who died August 22, 1783; Lucy, born November 14, 1765, who died July 1, 1766; Pelatiah; Joseph; Lucy; Adams, born March 10, 1773, who died September 27, 1775; Ezra; Polly; and a second Adams, born August 17, 1779. Adams Fletcher was by occupation a farmer, and spent the greater part of his life in Westford, Mass. He was twice married, his first wife being Betsey Bateman, of Chelmsford, Mass., to whom he was united May 27, 1806; his second, Abigail Davis. Adams Fletcher was the father of six children, namely Adams, born January 16, 1807; Betsey, born September 12, 1808, who was married in 1834 to Levi Tufts, of Groton, Mass.; Elzina, born April 17, 1810, who was married March 1, 1832, to James Robbins; Potter Kimball, born December 28, 1813; Abigail Davis, born September 17, 1817, who was married September 24, 1842, to Theophilus C. Hersey, of Portland, Me.; and Jonathan Hartwell, the subject of this sketch. Jonathan Hartwell Fletcher attended the common schools of his native town, and graduated from the academy. In 1841 he obtained a position as clerk in the grocery store of Smith & Hersey in Portland; and in 1843 he was taken into partnership, the firm name becoming Smith, Hersey & Co. He subsequently bought Mr. Smith's interest; and business was transacted thereafter in the name of Hersey, Fletcher & Co. This partnership lasted several years, the next change making the firm name Fletcher & Co., Mr. Franklin Fox becoming a partner. Some years later Mr. Fletcher bought the share of Mr. Fox, and was joined in the enterprise by Mr. Edwin Tomlinson. The latter subsequently sold his interest, and the business is now entirely in the hands of the Fletcher family. Mr. Fletcher is a man of great business ability, shrewdness, and foresight, who has made his way, step by step, from a subordinate position to that of head of one of the largest mercantile establishments in Portland. The business, which was founded in 1835, commands a first-class patronage; and the large stores at 241 Commercial and 2, 4, and 6 Union Streets bear every sign of good management and prosperity. In September, 1852, Mr. Fletcher was united in marriage with Mary J. West, daughter of Henry N. and Sarah J. (Gordon) West. Their children are: George H., born October 1, 1854, who became associated in business with his father on the retirement of Mr. Tomlinson; Henry Adams, born January 29, 1858, who also is a member of the firm of Fletcher & Co. Clementine, born June 1, 1862; Marion, born July 9, 1867, who died August 26, 1868; and Mary, attending school in Boston. In politics Mr. Fletcher favors the Republican party, but is a strong Cleveland man. He served on the Common Council of Portland two years. He is a prominent Odd Fellow, belonging to Ligonia Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Eastern Star Encampment. The family are members of the Universalist church. They have a beautiful home at 366 Spring Street.