History of Thomaston, (Knox County) Maine United States of America

Isaac Smith Kalloch, educator, was born in Thomaston, Maine, in 1832; son of the Rev. Amariah and Mercy (Hathorne) Kalloch; grandson of Alexander and Elizabeth (Truro) Kalloch. He was a student at Waterville college (afterward Colby University) and received the honorary degree of A.M. from Waterville college in 1856 and from Madison university in 1857. He was pastor of the First Baptist church, Rockland, Maine, 1851-56; of Tremont Temple, Boston, Mass., 1856-60; of the Laight Street church, New York city, 1860-63. In 1863 he removed to Kansas, and was a charter trustee of Ottawa university, 1865-68; president of the board, 1864-68; treasurer, 1867-68, and first president of the institution, 1866-68. He was one of the founders of Ottawa City, and was a representative in the Kansas legislature, 1872. He removed to California in 1875 and was pastor of a Baptist church in San Francisco, 1875-80, and mayor of the city, 1879-82. He removed to Sehome, Washington Territory, where, and at Tacoma, he was pastor. He received the degree of D.D. from La Grange university in 1877. He died in Tacoma, Wash., in 1890.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Jonathan Prince Cilley, soldier, was born at Thomaston, Me., Dec. 29, 1835; son of Jonathan and Deborah (Prince) Cilley. He was graduated at Bowdoin in 1858, and was admitted to the bar in 1860. When the war broke out he enlisted a battery for light artillery, but as there was no call for such a battery, he enlisted a company for the 1st Maine cavalry and was commissioned captain. He was wounded and taken prisoner at Middleton, Va., May 24, 1862, during the retreat of General Banks. Later in the same year he was promoted to major, and as he was still suffering from his wounds, was assigned to duty as judge-advocate and examining officer at Washington, D. C. In 1863 he returned to his regiment in the field and in the following year was made lieutenant-colonel, commanding his regiment until mustered out in 1865, receiving brevet of brigadier-general June 12, 1865, for distinguished services at Five Forks, Farmville, and Appomattox Court House. He had the distinction of being the first man enlisted, the first wounded and nearly the last mustered out in his regiment, which had upon its battle flags the names of three more battles than were on the flag of any other regiment in the army of the Potomac. After the war he returned to Maine where he was married to Caroline Abigail, daughter of Warren and Sophia (Thurber) Lazell of Brooklyn, N.Y., Oct. 10, 1866, and resumed practice at Rockland. He was a member of the state legislature in 1867; deputy collector of customs, 1867-71; adjutant-general of Maine, 1875-77; and commissioner of the U.S. circuit court. His published works include orations and addresses, and a genealogy of the Cilley Family (1893). He was elected a member of the Maine historical society and a corresponding member of the New Hampshire historical society.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Henry Knox, soldier and cabinet officer, was born in Boston, Mass., July 25, 1750; son of William and Mary (Campbell) Knox. His father emigrated from St. Eustatius, West Indies, and became a shipmaster and wharf-owner in Boston, Mass. Henry was the seventh of ten sons. He attended the public schools of Boston, and upon the death of his father in 1762 he obtained employment in a bookstore. In 1768 he joined the "Boston Grenadiers" and became second in command. He was on duty in the Boston massacre, March 5, 1770, and endeavored to keep the crowd away from the soldiers. In 1771 he opened a bookstore in Boston and during the occupancy of the town by the British his store was pillaged. He was married, June 16, 1774, to Lucy, daughter of Thomas Flucker, of Boston, secretary of the province. On April 19, 1775, he left Boston in disguise accompanied by his wife and repaired to General Ward's headquarters at Cambridge, Mass. He was engaged in re-connoitring before the battle of Bunker Hill and upon his reports the orders of Colonel Prescott were issued. After the battle he assisted in planning the defences around Boston, including the redoubt at Roxbury. The need of heavy ordnance became of serious concern and Knox proposed to procure cannon and stores from Fort Ticonderoga and to transport them to Cambridge on sleds drawn by oxen this plan was approved by Washington, and accompanied by his brother William Knox he left Cambridge, November 15, arrived at Ticonderoga after twenty days' journey, and assisted by General Schuyler loaded his sleds with 55 pieces of ordnance, 2300 pounds of lead and a barrel of flints, and after much hardship and suffering, reached Cainbridge, Jan. 24, 1776, where he was warmly congratulated by General Washington. He was commissioned colonel of artillery, Nov. 17, 1775, but his commission did not reach him until his return from Ticonderoga. On the night of March 1, 1776, under cover of a furious cannonade from Knox's batteries on Cobble Hill, Lechmere's Point and Rexbury, General Thomas took possession of Dorchester Heights and compelled General Howe to evacuate Boston, March 17, 1770. Colonel Knox accompanied Washington to New York city and engaged in removing stores and ordnance previous to the evacuation by the troops. He was among the last to leave the city and escaped by boat. During the crossing of the Delaware by Washington, Colonel Knox superintended the passage of the army. He was commissioned brigadier-general with entire charge of the artillery, Dec. 27, 1776, and participated in the battles of Princeton, Brandywine and Germantown. On Nov. 15, 1777, he was sent in company with DeKalb and St. Clair, to provide for the security of Fort Mercer, which fell after a gallant defence, Nov. 18, 1777. During the encampment of the American army at Valley Forge he brought his young wife into camp, May 20, 1778, and she remained with the army until its disbandment. He participated in the battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778, behaving with conspicuous gallantry and receiving the congratulations of Washington, In January, 1781, he was sent by Washington to the eastern states to represent the suffering condition of the troops, and on Jan. 14, 1781, he arrived at Boston, bearing the news of the mutiny of the Pennsylvania line. He was instructed to procure the necessary arms and ammunition for an operation against New York, but on account of the neglect of the board of war, the work progressed very slowly, aud upon learning of the arrival of the French fleet, Washington marcbed his army to the southward and abandoned the attempt upon New York. General Knox participated in the siege of Yorktown and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis, Oct. 19, 178l. He was commissioned major-general, March 22, 1782, and subsequently with Governor Morris, was appointed a commissioner to arrange for an exchange of prisoners. He was appointed to the command at West Point, Aug. 29, 1782, and immediately set at work strengthening and completing the fortifications. As chairman of a committee of officers, he drew up an address and petition to congress, giving a statement of the amounts due the officers and proposing that a commutation of half-pay for life should be made. In March, 1783, he founded the Society of the Cincinnati, was its secretary, 1783-1800, and vice-president, 1805-06. Having been left in command of the army, in November, 1783, he began the delicate task of disbanding, and on Nov. 25, 1783, upon the evacuation of New York by the British, Knox, at the lead of the American troops, took possession of the city. On Dec. 4, 1783, Washington took leave of his officers, and on Dec. 18, 1783, Knox returned to West Point, where he remained in command until January, 1784, when he returned to Boston and resided in Dorchester. He was one of the commissioners appointed to treat with the Penobscot Indians, and to settle the eastern boundary line of Massachusetts. He was appointed by congress secretary of war, March 8, 1785, and on the inauguration of Washington as President, April 30, 1789, he retained him as secretary of war in his cabinet, commissioning him, Sept. 12, 1789. General Knox retired from the cabinet, Jan. 2, 1795, the limited compensation of his office not being sufficient for the support of his family. He removed to a large tract of land in Maine, and applied himself to its cultivation. He died at Thomaston, Maine, Oct. 25, 1802.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Joshua A. Lowell, representative, was born in Thomaston, Maine, March 20, 1801; son of Rossamus and Deborah (Keen) Lowell; grandson of Reuben and Priscilla (Bartlett) Lowell; great-grandson of Stephen and Miriam (Collins) Lowell; great2-grandson of Captain Gideon and Miriam (Swett) Lowell; great3-grandson of Richard and Margaret Lowell, and a descendant in the eighth generation of Percival and Rebecca Lowle, 1639. His mother was of Scottish ancestry. He acquired his education without help from his father from whom he purchased his time in 1819. He was admitted to the bar in East Machias, Maine, in September, 1826; to the U.S. circuit court in 1836, and to the U.S. supreme court at Washington, D.C., in 1840. He was married in 1827 to Miranda Turner of East Machias. He was a Democratic representative in the Maine legislature in 1831, 1832, 1835 and 1837; a representative from Maine in the 26th and 27th congresses, 1839-43, and a presidential elector on the Polk and Dallas ticket in 1845. He devoted his leisure time to scientific farming. He died in East Machias, Maine, March 13, 1873.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Thomaston, (Knox County) Maine

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