Cumberland County, Maine - William G. Soule
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Biography
William G. Soule
Biographical Review
Cumberland County, Maine
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1896
Page 486-487


William G. Soule, commission merchant and importer's agent at 180½ Commercial
Street, Portland, was born in Waterville, Me., son of Thomas J. and Mary A.
(Gilbert) Soule. He is one of a family of nine children, but four of whom are
living; namely, Charles S., George H., and Horatio M. Charles S., superintendent
of a Western railroad, 'is otherwise prominent, having been nominated as Mayor
of a city in Wisconsin without his knowledge. He declined to accept. His wife is
Treasurer of the Women's Christian Temperance Union of Minnesota; and his son
William, a namesake of the subject of this sketch, is a Judge in Iowa. George H.
is a shoe manufacturer in Stamford, Conn., being a member of the firm of
Lounsbury & Soule. Horatio M. Soule, the other brother, is a fancy painter and
decorator.

William G. Soule, after attending the public schools of Waterville, was fitted
for the institute under the tutorage of H. M. Plaisted, who was afterward
Governor of Maine. When he was about seventeen years of age he was graduated
from Waterville Institute, and came to Portland, where he served his uncle, J.
J. Gilbert, as clerk. A year later he took another clerkship on Commercial
Street, but subsequently went to New Bedford, in the lumber business, as a
member of the firm of Noble & Soule, where he remained about a year. Enlisting
in the secret service, he was in that employ three months, and then entered the
United States Navy, being in battles off Hatteras, Charleston, and Port Royal.
Later he was on blockade duty for a short time, being afterward transferred to
New York and Boston to aid in the transportation of troops to the South; and
later he came into the harbor of Portland, where he received his discharge.

Mr. Soule then entered the service of Henry Fling, wholesale grocer, with whom
he subsequently became associated as partner, under the style of Henry Fling &
Co. On the death of Mr. Fling the business was continued by the other members of
the firm as Weymouth, Soule & Co. When Mr. Weymouth died, a new firm was formed,
under the style of Davis, Berry & Co., composed of Abner Davis, Joseph S. Berry,
Leonard Williams, and Mr. Soule, who is the only survivor of all the partners.
Leaving the grocery business in 1868 on account of failing health, in 1870 he
entered the insurance business, but later was connected with Smith, Gage & Co,
wholesale grocers, with whom he remained four years. After that he was
confidential clerk and bookkeeper for the wholesale drug firm of Tarbox, Carney,
Parsons & Co., for four years. During the past fifteen or sixteen years he has
been engaged in the commission and brokerage business, representing several
importing houses, now exclusively that of N: W. Taussig & Co., the largest
concern of the kind in the United States, which firm have branch houses in
Boston and New Orleans. Besides attending to the local trade Mr. Soule ships
from Portland, on orders from the house, molasses to Canada, the New England
States, and the South.

In politics Mr. Soule is a Republican. He was elected a member of the Common
Council from Ward 2 in 1864 and 1865, and from Ward I in 1879 and 1880, being a
member at the time Lincoln was assassinated, also when Garfield was
assassinated. In 1889 he was appointed by Governor Burleigh as one of the
Commissioners to represent the State of Maine at the Washington Centennial,
April 30, 1889, each State being represented by its governor and his staff,
besides the Commissioners. When the Australian Ballot System was introduced, Mr.
Soule was nominated as one of the candidates for Mayor, but not desiring to
contest for the position he withdrew in favor of George W. True, who was
nominated and elected. Mr. Soule is an honorary member of the Eighth and
Thirteenth Maine Regiments, and is also a member of the Lincoln Club of
Portland, having been Chairman of its Executive Committee since its organization
in 1890. He is a member of the Wholesale Grocers' Association, and has also been
a member of the Board of Trade.

His wife was Miss Fannie E. Davis, adopted daughter of Captain George W. and
Joanna Y. (Pomeroy) Davis. They have two children living - Ardella M. and
Eugenie F. One child died in infancy. Mrs. Soule was on the barque "Tennessee,"
one, of her father's vessels when it was wrecked off the coast of France.

Mr. Soule finds relief from the pressure of his engrossing business cares in his
pleasant home at 17 Dow Street. He is a man of culture, with literary ability,
being the author of numerous poems, which have been published from to time to
time in various newspapers and magazines. Among the most widely known of his
contributions may be mentioned, "Our Brotherhood" and the "Reply of `Old Willey'
to David Barker," and many others, which have been deservedly popular. The late
John G. Whittier was a personal friend of Mr. Soule; and when the noted poet was
a guest of Mr. Pickard, of this city, he requested Mr. Soule to call with his
family, which invitation was accepted, to the mutual enjoyment of the interested
parties.