Cumberland County, Maine - Joseph H. Hezelton
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Biography
Joseph H. Hezelton
Biographical Review
Cumberland County, Maine
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1896
Page 111-112


Joseph H. Hezelton, a well-known resident of Westbrook and the popular
proprietor and captain of a summer steamboat, was born in Westbrook, March 13,
1839, son of Ivory and Hannah (Thompson) Hezelton. The family is of Colonial
origin. It began with two brothers, Robert and John Hezelton, who settled upon
land bordering on the Merrimack River, now occupied by the present town of
Bradford, Mass. Jonathan Hezelton, Mr. Hezelton's grandfather, who was a direct
descendant of one of these brothers, was a native of Bradford, and served as a
soldier in the Revolutionary War. While serving in the Continental Army, he
acquired a reputation for feats of strength. Possessed of a powerful frame, he
was able to cut two cords of wood in a day. He followed agriculture as an
occupation.

Ivory Hezelton, Mr. Hezelton's father, was born in Waterboro, York County, in
1804. When a young man, he settled in Westbrook, where he engaged in teaming. He
had a contract to transport paper stock from the mills to Portland, and later he
did the teaming for the Westbrook Manufacturing Company. In 1866 he sold his
equipment to his son Joseph H., and retired from business. He was deeply
interested in the general welfare and improvement of the community, of which he
was an esteemed member; and he was prominent among the progressive and liberal
residents of the town. He was connected with Temple Lodge, No. 86, A. F. & A.
M., in which he was for some time an official. He also had affiliation with the
old lodge of Odd Fellows, dating from 1846, until it disbanded, when he retired
from the order. Politically, he was a Republican. In his religious views he was
a Methodist, of which church he was an active member for many years. He passed
the last years of his life in retirement at his home in Westbrook, and died in
1884. His wife, Hannah, who was a native of Westbrook, became the mother of
eight children, seven of whom are living. Of these Harriet C. is the wife of
Stillman Barbour, of Washington, D. C.; Almery resides in Lewiston, Me.;
Reliance L. is the wife of Stephen M. Dresser, of Westbrook; and Gardner is a
resident of Westbrook.

Joseph H. Hezelton attended the public schools of his native town, graduating
from the high school in 1856. After leaving school, he engaged in teaming. Ten
years later he succeeded to his father's interests in that business, and he
subsequently did the trucking for the Westbrook Manufacturing Company for some
twenty-five years. At the same time he was also successfully carrying on a farm.
During the Civil War he was employed for some time on board a transport steamer.
The experience he obtained here was of use to him when, upon relinquishing the
trucking business, he became the owner and commander of a pleasure steamboat. He
runs his boat from Westbrook to Mallison Falls, South Windham, in the summer
season, and finds it both an agreeable and remunerative employment.

On October 11, 1863, Mr. Hezelton was united in marriage to Mary E. Schwartz,
daughter of John C. Schwartz, of Westbrook. Of his six children five are living,
namely William L., a resident of Brookline, Mass.; Nellie L., wife of O. B.
Vinal, of Vinal Haven, Me.; Joseph. H., Jr., who is engaged with T. H. Snow in
the plumbing business in Westbrook; Alice M., who resides at home; and Mildred
H., who is attending school in Westbrook. In politics Mr. Hezelton supports the
Republican party. He served as a member of the Board of Selectmen in the old
town government for the years 1881 and 1883, and under the city charter he has
been an Assessor since 1892. Socially, Mr. Hezelton is popular with his fellow-
citizens, among whom he has a wide acquaintance. In Saccarappa Lodge,
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a member, he has a high
standing, having been elected to the various seats of honor in that
organization. Eighteen years ago he united with the Methodist Episcopal church,
with which he has been officially connected as a Trustee, Steward, and Secretary
of the Board.