Cumberland County, Maine - Hanson M. Hart
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Biography
Hanson M. Hart
Biographical Review
Cumberland County, Maine
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1896
Page 50-53

Hansom M. Hart, one of the oldest and most prominent business men of Portland,
was born at Portsmouth, N.H., September 20, 1807. His parents were Hanson M. and
Abigail (Mitchell) Hart, the former a native of Portsmouth, the latter of
Kittery Point, Me. The elder Hanson M. Hart, who was commonly called Captain
Hart, was actively engaged in the coasting trade, being proprietor of a number
of boats, and was also head of the custom-house for many years. He reared four
children, namely: Henry K., who was long engaged in the wool and tanning
business in Portland; Hanson M., the subject of this sketch; Esther P., wife of
Mr. Joshua Banfield, of Dover, N.H.; and Sarah, who married a Mr. Charles Walker
and lived in New York State.

Hanson M. Hart was educated in the leading schools of Portsmouth, N.H.,
completing his studies under the tuition of Master Jackson, who was afterward a
well-known teacher in Portland. He was then two years in the employ of Le Favour
& Pinder, who were in the wool and tanning business in Portsmouth; and at the
age of seventeen he went to sea, shipping first for a cruise of three and a half
years on a vessel bound for South American ports. In course of time Mr. Hart
became Captain of a vessel; but, as he was a home-loving man and the sea had no
charms for him, in 1835 he settled in Portland, engaging in the wool and hide
business with his brother. His establishment during all of these sixty years has
been in the large building at the corner of Portland and Alder Streets, of which
he is now sole owner. He has been in business longer than any other merchant in
Portland, and has had a wonderfully successful career, encountering none of the
reverses or catastrophes that affect some time or other most business
enterprises. He is also owner of a large amount of real estate in the city.

Mr. Hart was married in 1835 to Phoebe Hill, daughter of Elisha Hill, of
Portsmouth, N.H., and by her death in 1843 was left a widower with the following
children: Adelaide, now the widow of Roscoe G. Elder, who has one daughter and
lives in Deering, Me.; Ellen, wife of Augustus True, a prominent miller and
dealer in flour and grain in Portland; Hanson M., who served in the army and
died a short time after his return home; and Abbie, wife of Cullen C. Chapman, a
leading banker of Portland. Mr. Hart married for his second wife Miss Caroline
Richards, who died in 1888. By this union Mr. Hart has one child, a daughter,
now the widow of Dr. Webster. She has a son, Harison Hart Webster, who was
graduated from the Portland High School in 1895, and has entered Bowdoin
College. Mrs. Webster lives with her father, being mistress of his beautiful
home at 308 Spring Street.

In politics Mr. Hart is a Republican. He takes an active interest in municipal
affairs, and has served as a member of the City Council and as alderman. He has
been a member of the Free Street Baptist Church since 1818. His long record has
been an honorable one, and he is justly esteemed by all who know him.