Cumberland County, Maine - John N. Stinson
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Biography
John N. Stinson
Biographical Review
Cumberland County, Maine
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1896
Page 410-411


John N. Stinson, a prominent member of the fishing and farming community of East
Harpswell, Me., was born on Swan's Island, Hancock County, Me., January 14,
1840, son of John and Lucy (Smith) Stinson. His great-grandfather, William
Stinson, was a native of the western part of Maine. He spent the greater part of
his life on Deer Isle, engaged in fishing and farming. His son Benjamin was born
on Deer Isle, and was content to follow the same occupations, cultivating the
soil and drawing finny treasures from the well-stocked sea. As old age
approached, he retired from the hazardous business of fishing, and devoted all
his time to the work of his farm. He died at the advanced age of eighty-three,
his wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Smith, living to the age of eighty-one
years. They reared a family of ten children.

John Stinson, son of Benjamin, was reared on Deer Isle, and early took part in
the principal industries of the place, farming and fishing. When he attained his
majority, he purchased a farm near the place of his birth, but was hardly
allowed to establish a home for himself, an attack of typhoid fever ending his
life when he was but thirty-three years of age. His wife was a daughter of David
Smith, a farmer of Swan's Island. Her father left his fields and herds at the
breaking out of the Revolution, and served with distinction throughout the war.
His last days were spent on Swan's Island, where he died at the age of eighty-
four. Mrs. Lucy Smith Stinson, who lived to be seventy-two years of age, was
again married some years subsequent to Mr. Stinson's death. By her first
marriage she had four children - Meltiah J., who died at the age of thirty-two;
Deborah, who married James L. Smith, of Swan's Island; Helen C., who married
Francis J. Gott, of Swan's Island; and John N., the subject of this sketch, who
was the first-born. Mr. and Mrs. John Stinson were members of the Methodist
church.

John N. Stinson was but twelve years of age when his father died. He acquired a
good common-school education, making marked progress in music, for which he has
a natural talent and which he taught to some extent in after years. He being the
eldest son, the greater part of the responsibility of the farm devolved upon him
until his mother's second marriage took place; and he remained with her until he
attained his majority. He then bought a farm near his childhood's home, and
successfully engaged in farming and fishing until 1875, when he sold that
property and purchased his present place in Harpswell. This is a fine estate of
one hundred and sixty acres, a large part of which is devoted to garden produce
and small grain, the remainder affording ample pasture ground for a large number
of sheep and about a dozen head of cattle. There are also within its limits some
productive cranberry meadows, from which Mr. Stinson gathered in 1895 sixty
bushels of berries. From 1878 to 1881 he was engaged in manufacturing menhaden
oil, which he shipped in large quantities to Boston; but he now gives his
attention almost wholly to the work of his farm.

Mr. Stinson was married January 23, 1863, to Mary E. Reed, daughter of Jacob S.
Reed, of Swan's Island. Her father was a "forehanded" man, who worked as a
farmer and blacksmith, and built and successfully managed a mill on the island.
Mrs. Stinson was born in Sedgwick, Me., and was educated at the Maine Wesleyan
Seminary and Bucksport Seminary. She taught for twenty-five terms before her
marriage. She is the mother of three children - Adelbert N., Mary Eva, and
Weston R. Adelbert N. Stinson, who works with equal skill and success at
shoemaking and farming, and is also a fisherman, married Miss Lucy Hook, of
Harpswell, and has three children - Anna, Ralph, and Henrietta. Mary Eva Stinson
was graduated from the Normal School of Gorham, Me., and studied instrumental
music under Professor Sumner, of Boston, Mass. She has been a public school
teacher for some years, and is an accomplished musician. Weston R. has been a
student at the Maine Wesleyan Seminary and at the Normal School at Gorham. He is
now assisting his father.

Politically, Mr. Stinson favors the Republican party. He has been Collector of
Taxes for some years; and he was offered the office of Selectman, but refused to
serve, his time being fully occupied with various duties. He is a member of
Tremont Lodge, No. 77, A. F. & A. M., of Tremont. Mr. and Mrs. Stinson have been
members of the Free Will Baptist church for nearly twenty years. He has led the
singing in the church for many years and been superintendent of the Sunday-
school. His daughter has been organist for some time, and his wife and daughter
rank among the most efficient teachers in the Sundayschool. A cultured and
remarkably accomplished family, the Stinsons occupy a leading place in Harpswell
society; and their house is famed for its generous and unfailing hospitality.