Cumberland County, Maine - Sylvanus C. Prince
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Biography 
Sylvanus C. Prince 
Biographical Review 
Cumberland County, Maine 
Boston 
Biographical Review Publishing Company 1896 
Page 265-266


Sylvanus C. Prince, the leading merchant of Orr's Island, Harpswell,
Me., was born in Brunswick, Me., March 7, 1832, son of Pyan and Lois
(Furbish) Prince. His father, who was a native of North Yarmouth, Me.,
was for many years mate of a vessel trading with the West Indies; but,
wearying at length of the restless and uncertain life of a sailor, he
purchased a farm in Brunswick, at Simenses Point, and there spent the
rest of his life in the enjoyment of domestic comfort, dying at the
age of seventy-two. His wife was a native of Lisbon, Me. She lived to
be sixty-two years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Pyan Prince were members of
the Calvinist Baptist Church. They were the parents of eleven
children, and were called upon to suffer many of the trials incident
to the rearing of a large family, three of their children lying dead
in their home at one time, stricken down by diphtheria. The following
five are now living: Sylvanus C., of Orr's Island; Solomon P. C., a
farmer in Webster, Me.; Beulah S., wife of Samuel E. Smullen; Henry
K., a professional nurse in Lowell, Mass.; and Orrin G., a farmer in
Brunswick, Me.

Sylvanus C. Prince remained on the home farm till sixteen years of
age, and then, turning to the sea as a means of gaining a livelihood,
began to take part in the fishing industry, in course of time becoming
Captain of a vessel. In 1853, when he was twenty-one years of age, he
began his career as a merchant at Prince's Point; and in 1877 he built
the store which he now occupies, the largest on the island. He keeps a
full line of groceries, dry goods, and fishermen's supplies, and also
wood and coal. Having been in business now over forty years, he is one
of the oldest as well as one of the most successful merchants in the
vicinity; and his universal courtesy and genial disposition have won
hosts of friends. He has traveled a great deal, and has a fund of
information and of anecdote that makes him a very pleasant companion.

In 1854 he was united in marriage with Fidelia T. Sinnett, daughter of
George Sinnett, who was at that time a fisherman of Harpswell, but has
since died, completing a useful life of seventy-three years. Seven
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Prince, two of whom, Marcellus and
John S., have passed from earth, the former at the age of thirty-six,
the latter at the age of twenty-five. Marcellus Prince was a merchant
of Portland, dealing principally in fish. He married Ada Buxton, of
Dexter, Me., who, with two children, Gertrude and Marcia, is still
living. John S. Prince, who was his father's partner, died December
22, 1893, leaving a widow. This lady's maiden name was Cora Y. York;
and she was born in Wilton, Me. The other children, briefly named, are
as follows: Albertina Prince is the wife of Eugene Pennell, an
expressnman of Brunswick, and the mother of three children - Annetta,
Sylvanus, and Ada; Content J. is the wife of Charles E. Hacker, the
contractor and builder of Brunswick, who erected the large cotton-
mills there, and has one child, Beatrice; Georgie is the wife of Fred
Fides, master of a fishing vessel, and has two children -Mildred and
Avery; Sanford J. Prince, in business with his father, married Hattie
E. Stilphen, of Harpswell, and has five children-Eva M., Rosetta,
Beulah, Ivan, and Sadie; and Mary Jane Prince, a young lady who has
established a reputation for scholarship and intellectual brilliancy,
is a cashier in Boston, but has not yet severed the home ties.

Mr. Prince cast his first Presidential vote for James Buchanan, but
has since been a stanch supporter of Republican principles, refusing,
however, all offers of public preferment. He belongs to Pejapscot
Lodge, No. 13, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Brunswick, and to
the Island Home Lodge of the Golden Cross, Orr's Island, of which he
was a charter member and has been chaplain. In religious belief a
Methodist, he is Steward and Trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church
on Orr's Island, has filled other offices, and in the Sunday school is
class teacher and superintendent of the school. His wife also is a
teacher in the Sunday school, and his children take an active part in
the affairs of the church.