Cumberland County, Maine - Joseph Raynes
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Biography
Joseph Raynes
Biographical Review
Cumberland County, Maine
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1896
Page 293-294

Joseph Raynes, Postmaster at Yarmouthville, Me., was born March 25,
1843, in the town of New Gloucester. He is the fourth in direct line
of descent to bear this name and to live in Cumberland County, his
great-grandfather having been a pioneer of New Gloucester, which was
the birthplace of the intermediate Josephs. The emigrant ancestor of
the Raynes family was one of the earliest settlers of York, York
County, Me., the house which he erected more than a century ago being
still in fair preservation. (For further family history see Raynes's
"Genealogy," compiled by Jonathan Tyler.)

Mr. Raynes's paternal grandfather was a skilled mechanic, a painter
and a chair-maker, and a man of considerable local prominence in New
Gloucester, where he was a lifelong resident. He was active in
advancing the cause of religion, belonging to the Congregational
church. Of his large family of children but one is now living, Mrs. O.
R. Davis, of Auburn, Me.

Joseph Raynes, the third, father of the subject of this sketch, was
reared in the place of his birth, and there worked with his father as
a painter and chair-maker for many years. In 1850, desiring a change
of occupation, he came to Yarmouth, accepting a position as station
agent on what was then known as the Atlantic & St. Lawrence Railway,
afterward called the Grand Trunk, Kennebec & Portland Railway, but now
the Maine Central, his office being at the junction. He was in every
respect a capable and trustworthy employee, paying close attention to
the duties of his responsible position, winning the confidence of all
with whom he had business relations. In politics he was at first a
Whig and later a Democrat. Two terms, in 1842 and 1843, he served as a
Representative in the State legislature. Religiously, he
conscientiously accepted the views of his parents. He died on October
18, 1864. His wife, Mary P. Eveleth, a daughter of Deacon Nathaniel
Eveleth, also of New Gloucester, tarried on earth but a short time
after, passing to the life immortal, May i6, 1866. Six children were
born to them, namely: Caroline and Josiah (departed); Mrs. Lucy A.
Knight, of this town; Joseph; Mrs. Mary E. Mitchell, of Bath, Me.; and
Edward, of Yarmouth.

Joseph Raynes acquired his elementary education in his native town,
completing his course of study at the old academy in North Yarmouth.
At the car shops of the Portland & Kennebec Railway in Augusta he
learned the machinist's trade, following it but a short time before
his enlistment, June 16, 1863, in the United States Navy at
Charlestown, Mass. He was shortly transferred to the South Atlantic
squadron, which was stationed off the coast of South Carolina, and
took an important part in the bombardment of Fort Sumter in September
of that year. He served on board the frigate "Wabash" and the monitor
"Nahant" for some months, being finally discharged charged August 15,
1864, at the Brooklyn navy-yard from the ship "Vermont." On returning
home, finding his father ill, Mr. Raynes assumed his duties at the
railway station, where in October, a change being made in the railway
management, two agents being appointed, he was made agent of the
Portland & Kennebec Railway, an office which he filled until 1878. He
next engaged in business in Yarmouth as a cigar manufacturer,
continuing five years, when, September 21, 1886, he was appointed
Postmaster at Yarmouthville, where he has since served, giving general
satisfaction to the public.

Socially, Mr. Raynes is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity,
belonging to the Casco Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and the Cumberland Royal
Arch Chapter. He is a member likewise of the Kearsarge Benevolent
Association of Boston; also belonging to the W. L. Haskell Post, No.
108, Grand Army of the Republic. Politically, he is a straight
Democrat, active in local affairs, and was at one time nominated as
Representative, but was defeated, although he ran ahead of his ticket.
Mr. Raynes is also a member of the Yarmouth Band, having joined at its
organization in July, 1866, and has been its business manager up to
and including the present time, thirty consecutive years.

Mr. Raynes was united in marriage March 7, 1867, with Esther Abbie
Johnson. She was born in North Yarmouth, daughter of William and
Esther (Sawyer) Johnson, her father being a well-known farmer. Mr. and
Mrs. Raynes have three children, namely: Mary Ann; Albert Joseph, a
telegraph operator at Yarmouth junction, on the Maine Central Railway;
and George Edward. Mr. Raynes and his family are liberal in their
religious belief.