Cumberland County, Maine - Edward Russell Staples
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Biography
Edward Russell Staples
Biographical Review
Cumberland County, Maine
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1896
Page 398-401


Edward Russell Staples, one of Bridgton's valued citizens, was born in the town
of Milo, Piscataquis County, December 8, 1829, in the log cabin reared by his
father, Eliott Staples. He is of English ancestry, his great-grandfather,
Nathaniel Staples, having emigrated from England to this country, locating at
Cape Elizabeth, where, it is supposed, his son Peter, Edward's grandfather, was
born and reared. Peter Staples spent his years as a tiller of the soil, locating
in that part of the town of Raymond that is now included within the limits of
Casco. Here he cleared a good farm, upon which he and his wife, whose maiden
name was Dingley, rounded out nearly a century of life.

Eliott Staples was one of a family of five sons and two daughters. He was early
instructed in all work pertaining to the cultivation of the soil, afterward his
life occupation with the exception of a few years spent in hotel-keeping in
Casco. He removed to Milo when a young man, becoming one of the pioneer settlers
of that place. Securing a tract of unbroken land, he erected a log house, in
which he and his family resided until he had quite a tract of land in tilling
condition. Then he replaced the old log cabin with a good frame house, and
erected suitable farm buildings, remaining in occupancy some sixteen years
afterward. The following two years he spent on the parental homestead in Casco,
after which he removed from there to Naples, where he bought a farm. This he
conducted until within a few years of his death, when he removed to South
Bridgton, and thereafter lived with his son Edward.  He was ninety years old
when he died, April 18, 1869. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Swett, was a
native of Stroudwater, this county, born May 18, 1789. She, too, lived to a
venerable age, the date of her death being October 17, 1876. Nine children were
born to them; namely, Elizabeth G., Harriet S., Louisa S., Rebecca E., Charles
M., Sarah M., Samuel A., Edward Russell, and Marietta.

Edward Russell Staples, after receiving his elementary education, attended
Windham Hill High School and the Bridgton Academy, where he was well prepared
for a teacher's duties. Having finished his- studies in these institutions, he
was engaged in teaching for several winter terms, which included the evenings in
the fall of the year, when he taught writing to large and appreciative classes.
Soon after his marriage he removed to Bridgton, where he was engaged in
mercantile business for ten years. Going thence to the city of Portland, Mr.
Staples was employed in an official capacity some four years, when he returned
to this place to engage in business with Mr. B. C. Stone. Five years later he
bought out his partner's interest, and continued the business alone for five
years. Mr. Staples then sold out and went to Portland, where, in company with C.
A. Kennard, he was engaged by contract in sprinkling the streets for two years.
At the expiration of that time he returned to this village, and resumed
mercantile occupations. He followed these, successfully engaged, until 1889,
when, on account of failing health, he disposed of his stock and interest, and
has since lived retired, devoting his time to his private affairs.

In 1857 Mr. Staples married Miss Chadbourne, a native of Cornish, York County,
and a daughter of Nathan and Abigail (Boody) Chadbourne. They have had two
children, one of whom, Hattie F., lived but two and one-half years. The other,
Clara E., is now a teacher in the Bridgton public schools. Mr. Staples cast his
first Presidential vote for the candidate of the Free Soil party, but since the
formation of the Republican party he has been one of its stanchest adherents.
While a resident of Naples he served as a member of the School Committee, and at
the present time is a member of the Bridgton School Board. He has, likewise
served as Town Clerk, and from 1867 until 1871 was Registrar of Probate. He has
always been interested in the advancement of the educational and literary
interests of the town, and is now Treasurer of the Maine Chautauqua Union. Both
he and his family are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church.