How the Woodward Reunion Began

 When I was a kid it seemed normal to attend at least one family reunion in the summer.  There were two that I remember as a child and both on my mother's side of the family.  The Moulton-Thompson reunion and the Woodward Family Reunion.  Sadly it wasn't until the Woodward reunion ended that I learned how it began.

The Woodward reunion began from a family gathering in 1913 to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of my ancestors, Benjamin Jordan Woodward and Mary Emma  (Thurston) Woodward.  They were married on July 10, 1863 in Atkinson, Maine.

It was from this event that a reunion began and it continued for another 80 years.  Reunions were a serious events held annually.  Officers were elected, a meal was served, money was raised to cover costs for the following year either by asking for donations or asking for an items for the reunion auction where miscellanous items were bid on to raise money.  It was a once a year coming together of parents and children, siblings and cousins that you would not probably see otherwise unless it was a wedding or a funeral and usually it was the latter.  Although as a kid I usually hung with my immediate cousins I knew and older kids and youngers kids didn't usually mix unless it was playing baseball or horseshoes.  Everyone was expected to bring a dish which you would be assigned to on your reunion invite, a dessert, rolls, coffee or soda, or a salad or maybe a can of brown bread to go with the baked beans that were always the dinner staple.  There always seemed to be plenty of food and leftovers to be bid on at the auction.  Of course it was the women who worked in the kitchen cooking the food in the hot summer and doing the dishes afterwards and the men to play a game of horseshoes until the official reunion meeting began.

On September 10, 1913, the children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Benajmin and Emma Woodward as well as Benjamin's siblings and Emma's surving uncle who was in his 90s at the tiime, gathered at their home in Atkinson to give them a surprise party as the local newspaper recorded.

Those in attendance

1913

Front Row L to R: Thelma Bragg, Marion (Carr) Whitney, mother of Eva Woodward, Erwin Woodward, Rutillus Woodward holding Delma Cochran, Thornton Woodward, Delila Woodward, Clinton Woodward, Orman Pettigrew, (Eva Woodward's nephew)

Second Row L to R: Lillian Brooks Woodward, wife of Seth, holding Harland Woodward, John Woodman, uncle to Mary Emma Woodward, David Woodward, Lydia (Woodward) Gerry, Benjamin J. Woodward, Mary Emma (Thurston) Woodward, Jennie (Woodward) Hutchinson, Emma (Paine) Moulton holding Aubrey "Bob" Moulton

Third Row L to R: Seth Woodward, holding Ramson Woodward, Lela (Woodward) Cochran, Walda Woodward, Harriet (Hudson) Woodward, William Woodward holding Donald Woodward, William Bragg, Ethel (Woodward)  Bragg, Theodore Moores, Dorothy Bragg.

Fourth Row L to R: Irving Woodward, Edmond Woodward

Fifth Row L to R: Virginia Woodward, Geneva (Turner) Cochran, wife of Harry, Eva (Whitney) Woodward, Ella (Woodward) Reed, Minnie Woodward, Marion Woodward's mother, Frank Putnam and Eva Reed

Sixth Row L to R:  Harry Cochran, Marion Woodward, George Reed, husband of Eva Reed.

The Dinner Table

(my great-grandmother, Emma Moulton on the very right hold Bob)

My great-grandmother, Emma (Paine) Moulton attended the reunion with her youngest child, Aubrey Moulton.  As her husband and other children do not appear in the photos, I have to assume, she could not bring her whole family or maybe my great-grandfather did not want to attend.  He must have been back at the family farm with the other children, although, the family was also residing in Atkinson, Maine.  It may have been a situation where my great-grandmother was taken to the anniversary party by another relative who did not have enough room  on their horse and wagon for the entire Moulton clan.  A 5 generation photo was taken of her while there with her youngest child still nursing, she needed to bring her son.  Sadly her mother, Elsie (Woodward) Paine had died in 1891, so her aunt Lela filled in for her mother, just as Mary Emma (Thurston) Woodward's uncle, John Woodward filled in the generation foir her mother, Emily (Woodman) Thurston

 Five Generatons of Family

Left to Right

John Woodman (1818-1918) uncle to

Mary Emma (Thurston) Woodward (1848-1924) mother of

Lela (Woodward) Cochran (1873-1927) aunt to

Emma (Paine) Moulton (1888-1951) mother of

Aubrey "Bob" Moulton (1912-1989)

As time went on and the generations of descendants from Benjamin and Woodward grew, as with any reunion, eventually the cousins become more and distant in relationship.  Some family lines stopped attending due to distance to travel or lost interest as cousins who attended were now 4th or 5th cousins.  It seemed through the years, one family line would have more members attending and running the reunion.  The often resulted in fights, sometimes fueled with alcohol, feelings were hurt and rifts grew.  My cousin said when wasn't there a fight at the reunion between siblings, cousins, spouses who didn't get along or gossip about some relative that may or may not have been true, all lead to a decrease in attendance year after year.  Eventually the reunion decided to disband.

I'm sure my family's reunion was no different than other eeunions that have come and gone through the generations and years.  They would begin with a family gathering and deciding to make a more formal arrangement of gathering once a year.  The reunions you see continuing to day are more of people who have an interest their surname's family history or their connections to more famous people of history, like the Alden Kindred of America.   Where as our family reunion began with family members who had a desire to see each other at least once a year and not to reserve a family history, and ended when there was no interest in seeing the family of strangers only bound by a common ancestry.

Lost in Space andthe advantage of testing older relatives

 

As a kid, I remember watching reruns of Lost in Space after school.  The robot who was known for saying “Danger Will Robinson, Danger, Danger and the Dr who always seem to cause a lot of the problems for the Robinson family to benefit himself which always backfired as well as The Robinson’s father and mother and children and Major Don West, the hot-tempered pilot who was you knew liked Judy Robinson. 

 

I quite surprised to find a DNA match was also one of the stars of the TV show.  This DNA match was through my grandmother Smith’s side of the family.  I had seen the match on Ancestry and had recorded the line of descent. I had no idea who Charles Goddard was.  This person only shared DNA with my uncle, my Dad's elder brother.  My Dad had died long before DNA testing, so my uncle has been a substitute with connecting to distant cousins that neither myself not my brother share DNA.  Charles Goddard's family tree on Ancestry was private, so I had to use other people's family tree to document each ancestor of Charles.

 

Our common ancestor is JOHN ROBINSON, who according to his gravestone was born in Cape Elizabeth, Maine on December 27, 1749, his parents have yet to be determined.   John was a Revolutionary War Soldier, who enlisted in 1775 and spent the winter with General Washington at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.  He married Katherine Jordan on June 1, 1775 at Cape Elizabeth, Maine.  The family then moved to Durham, Maine and remained there until 1810, when John moved to Lewiston, Maine.   He died there on March 16, 1844.  John and his wife were buried at Herrick Cemetery in Lewiston, Maine.   My ancestor Peter Skinner moved to Casco, Maine and his brother Andrew settled in that area of Danville, Maine which became Auburn, Maine.  Andrew's descendants remained in the Lewiston-Auburn area.

Charles' father was a Clarence Golder ←←←Goddard, who died in 1968

I was able to find on Newspapers.com thru my ancestry acount an obituary for Clarence.

The obit says he was survived by Carles Mark Goddard which had to be a misprint for Charles Mark Goddard of Beverly Hills, CA (a motion picture actor).  A quick google search for him revealed it was actor Mark Goddard.

So I realized why he was using a private family tree and he was also using his birth name of Charles Goddard and not his acting name as well for his own privacy.  Next was to determine our line of descent.

                                                            

                                                                1st Generation
                                                                JOHN SKINNER

2^nd Generation
Andrew Skinner                                 siblings                           Peter Skinner
(1781-1857)                                                                                (1784-1874)
 
3^rd Generation
Jordan Skinner                                   1^st cousins                      Andrew J. Skinner
(1808-1863)                                                                                 (1828-1910)
 
4^th Generation
Sarah (Skinner) Golder                      2^nd cousins                     Myron L. Skinner
(1836-1909)                                                                                  (1868-1951)
 
5^th Generation
Leona (Golder) Goddard                 3^rd cousins                    Ethelyn (Skinner) Smith
(1866-1937)                                                                                        (1898-1972)
 
6^th Generation
Clarence Goddard                           4^th cousins                         Glenn S. Smith
(1900-1968)                                                                                  (1940-1996)
 
7^th Generation
Charles H. Goddard                         5^th cousins                           Peter M. Smith
(1936)                                                                                              (1963)
a.k.a. Mark Goddard

Mark Goodard is my 5th cousin.  Although I do not share nay DNA with him above 8cMs, my uncle did share DNA with him which lead me to this connection.  This highlights why it is important to test an older generation.  Not because you will be connected to a famous actor, but it will provide connections to cousins one more generation back and down from yourself.  This could be useful in finding a connection with someone who also is working on your family tree.  Now I have a real interest in Lost in Space that I would never have known about if it wasn't for this DNA connection to actor Mark Goddard.

My Great-Grandfather "Punka" Smith

 

My great-grandfather was born Julius Clifford Smith, but went by Clifford Smith as he disliked the name Julius.   He signed as either J.C. Smith or J. Clifford Smith on most legal documents.  But my family refers to him as "Punka."  He received this name from his oldest granddaughter, Hilma Smith, who as child could not pronounce "Papa” which came out as Punka.  The name stuck and all the grandchildren and his descendants have referred to him as Punka ever since.  Many of the neighbors also used the nickname of Punka as well. 

 

Punka 1894 Graduation

Punka attended schools in Corinna at that time and graduated from Corinna Union Academy in 1889.  At the age of sixteen he took up the trade of painting and made it his lifelong occupation.  He married his first wife, Emily Mower in 1894.  Emmie had been a classmate of Punka's at Corinna Union Academy.  It is not know if they were sweethearts in school or if Clifford started courting Emmie after they both left school.

 

Painting of Emmie (Mower) Smith
in 1900 Corinna, Maine

In 1900, Julius C. Smith, age 30, b. Sep. 1869, m. 5yrs, a farmer, was living in Corinna, Maine with his wife, Emmie M. Smith, age 29, b May 1871, mother of 3 children, 3 children living, and his daughter, Leona G. Smith, age 4, b May 1895; his son, Donald C. Smith, age 3, b. March 1897; his daughter Alta b. Smith, age 1, b Apr 1899; as well as a servant, Leila M. Proctor, age 20, b Apr 1880, and James Devereaux, age 19, b. March 1881, a farmer laborer and a cousin on Clifford's mother's side of the family. Punka first rented a house called the "Tasker Fam" after his marriage, which is where the above potrait of Emmie was labeled as painted at.

In 1903, Joseph Smith sold to his son, J. Clifford Smith of Corinna, for the sum of $200, Lot 3, 3rd range, on deed as "near Corinna Union Academy."  The land had originally been owned by Frank and Sadie Metcalf who had moved to Hennepin, Michigan and had sold the land to Joseph in 1899. 

 

Smith Family Farm 1897, Corinna, Maine
In front are Punka's wife Emmie Smith holding son, Donald, Punka's mother 
Arminda Smith and Punka's sister, Jennie with his daughter, Leona.

In 1905, His wife, Emmie was taken to the Moosehead Sanitarium in Greenville, Maine where she was thought to have tuberculosis.  The medical thinking at the time was that cold Mountain fresh air was best patients who were suffering from TB.  In letters home, Emmie and Clifford wrote to the children of how much she missed her children.  Clifford was able to find work at the sanitarium painting to be near his wife.  In one letter, Clifford wrote to his daughter, Leona, who was only ten years old at the time, that Emmie felt they were abusing her at the sanitarium and was unsure what to do, quite a story to share with his young daughter.  Emmie died in April 1905 at the sanitarium.  A surviving telegram from Clifford sent home to his father in Corinna, simply stated "Emmie passed away this morning."  His daughter, Leona said her father took the loss of her mother hard and never really forgave himself as he worried, he didn't do more for her.

 

Moosehead Sanitarium where Emmie died which later became an Inn in Greenville, Maine

 Clifford also had a maple syrup business which began from the tapping trees on the family property.  He built a large sap camp in the woods behind his home to make the syrup.  There is no exact date of when the camp was built, but it was in use by the 1900 and last used in the 1950s when it was torn down.  The syrup was sold under the State of Maine brand label and used the name of J.C. Smith and son for his bottles.  Later his son, Donald took over the making of the syrup.  There is a family story that the camp was sometimes used for making moonshine during the prohibition years and afterwards.  There is no proof, but a family story that has been retold.

 

Smith sap camp in Corinna, Maine
Donald and Ethelyn Smith on the roof

 

Clifford was also a trustee of Corinna Union Academy from 1893 to 1915.  He was at one time, President of the Board of Trustees.  He was also a member of the Methodist Church on Center Street in Corinna.

 In 1910, J. Clifford Smith, age 45, widower, farmer, was living in Corinna with his father, Joseph Smith, age 74, widower; his daughter, Leona G. Smith, age 14; his daughter, Alta B. Smith, age 10 and his son, Donald C. Smith, age 13.  Also living with them was Isora Morgan, age 49, listed as a servant, m. 26 yrs, mother of 1 child and 1 child living and her occupation was listed as a nurse, as well as Mary Curtis, age 56, mother of 3 children, 23 children living, house keeper and Everett Curtis, a servant, age 17, a farm laborer.  Isora Morgan was hired by Clifford to help raise his children after his wife's death.  She was called "Morg" by the children.  It is not know how many years she remained with the children, but it was for several years.  Clifford's granddaughter, Lorene often wondered why Clifford didn't marry Isora, but it was said they differed in opinion on most subjects as he was a staunch Republican and she was a staunch Democrat.  And at times, Punka didn't like they way she ordered the children around and yet he never let her go.

 

Smith Farm in 1916, Punka with his children,
Leona, Alta and Donald

 By 1920, Julius Clifford Smith, age 51, house painter, was still living in Corinna with his youngest daughter, Alta Smith, age 20, saleswoman at a dry goods store,  as well as his daughter, Leona Judkins, age 24 and son-in-law, Wilbur N. Judkins, age 24, house painter .  His daughter Leona and family remained living with her father to help him with the running the farm and the painting business.  His daughter, Alta and husband also lived with Clifford after her marriage.  An apartment was made for Alta and her family above the kitchen in the farmhouse.  They only remained for a few years and moved out to their own house.

Punka poses with his aunt, Zoe (Devereaux) Brown, his daughter 
Alta (Smith) Hayden and holds his grandson, Lindley Hayden
1928

 On the 1930 census of Corinna, Maine, J. Clifford Smith, age 61, listed as the owner of his own home valued at $5500 and the owner of a radio set and a painter of house, was living with his son-in-law, Wilbur Judkins, age 34, who was his partner in the house painting business, and his daughter, Leona Judkins, age 34; his granddaughter, Alta L. Judkins, age 8. 

Punka and his wife, Alice

Punka married his second wife, Alice Mary Miller, 1 October 1931 at the Methodist parsonage in Corinna by the Rev. Chauncy D. Wentworth.  Their intentions published 21 September 1931.  A newspaper clipping from the Bangor Daily News states after the wedding, the couple went to their home on Pleasant street.  And that Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith esteemed, and both have hosts of friends who extend sincere wishes for the happiness and prosperity.  Alice was the widow of Frank Macomber of Corinna, who had died in 1925.  She was a school teacher and even taught some of Clifford grandchildren in school.  Clifford's granddaughter, Lorene remembers that on the same day, he married his wife, Alice, her family moved out of the house and into their own home just down the road.  Punka's granddaughter, Lorene, said at the time when her grandfather married, she thought he was just too old to get married.

Punka's grandchildren have fond memories growing up and spening Christmas with their grandfather.  The children would put on a Christmas pagent of songs and skits for their grandfather and parents.  Then Wilbur Judkins, who had married Punka's daughter Leona, would sneak upstairs and put on a Santa outfit and come down the backstairs giving gifts to the children and tossing candy out for them to scurry around and collect.  There was always a big family dinner afterwards and plenty of sweets and desserts.

Christmas 1939
Punka and his grandchildren
front: Gwen Smith, Dean Smith and Donald Smith
Middle: Lindley Hayden, Athalie Smith, Muriel Hayden, Lorene Judkins, Hilma Smith
Missing is grandson, Glenn who was born Dec 27, 1940

In 1940, Clifford Smith, age 71, listed as completing four years of high school, a master painter for the business of J.C. Smith and son Co., was living in Corinna, Maine on what was now called the Saint Albans Road with his wife, Alice Smith, age 68, also listed as completing four years of high school and was listed a teacher 

The family farm on Saint Albans Road burned on June 14, 1946.  Punka was away painting a house in Stetson, Maine and only his wife, Alice was at home. The fire started in the barn and thought to have started from wet hay and spread to the main house.  An insufficient supply of water from the well, prevented the firemen from saving the structure which was valued at the time at $10,000.  Neighbors and firemen were credited with saving most of the furniture, but the real cause was never determined.  His granddaughter, Lorene, remarked, can you imagine the shock Punka had when he returned home from work and saw that his house had burned to the ground?  After the fire, Punka moved in with his son, Donald's family.  A paint shop owned by Donald Smith stood on the old property until after his death, when the shop was torn down in the late 1960s.

Punka died in 1949 in Corinna, Maine.  Alice remained living with the Smiths until it became clear, she needed more help that Donald's wife could provide.  Alice's sister came and moved her to a nursing home in Dexter, Maine.

 

Punka and his second wife were buried in the Village Cemetery, Corinna, Maine.  His first wife, Emmie was buried in Weymouth Cemetery, Corinna near her parents.  Tradition said that Punka had planned to be buried with her, but later decided to be with his parents and his 2nd wife.  

All stories told to me by my aunts and uncles and their cousins was how much they loved their grandfather Punka and the time spent with him and his wife, Alice.  My Father always thought of Alice as his grandmother as he never knew his real grandmother.  As his grandparents were living with him as a child, he remembered more about he felt loved by his grandfather.  The legend of Punka will continue on with two short narratives written by his granddaughters, Lorene and Hilma of their memories of him.

Orrin Moulton, a poor farmer's life

 

Like many people, many of my ancestors were farmers or laborers and lived probably a middle-class life for the times they lived in.   Some were better off than others, but most of them worked hard all their lives to provide for their family. Then some like my ancestor, Orrin Moulton was a farmer and laborer his whole life and had little to show for all life's work besides his family.  This is his story.

Orrin D. Moulton was born on November 13, 1836 in Maxfield, Maine, as the first child of Robert Richardson Moulton and Mary Weymouth.   There are other dates of his birth depending on the source.  Orrin's death certificate lists his age at death as 60 years old which would place his birth year as 1839.  His gravestone gives birth year as 1829 and death as 1893 [both incorrect].  These dates would have come from family members and not from Orrin himself.  Orrin’s date of birth comes from the vital records of Maxfield, Maine which listed the dates of birth for residents who were eligible for military registration during the Civil War.  One list gives his date of birth as November 3, 1836 and another list as November 13, 1836.  The later date seems to match what most family descendants have recorded and his mother's Civil War Widow’s pension also stated that Orrin was born November 13, 1836.  

In 1850, Orrin Moulton age 15 was living with parents in Maxfield, Maine where his father was a farmer.  He is listed as attending school within the past year as well as most of siblings.  It is not known how much further he went in his education as there is a family story that Orrin had to drop out of school to support his family.  This family lore may be confused with another relative as Orrin’s parents were living and still attending school at age 15 at this time was a good success when others his age were not able to attend school to help with their family’s farm or find work to support themselves or their family.  As the oldest son, Orrin would have been expected to help his father with the family farm as early as possible and it would be the only trade he would know.

 

                                               Colorized tin-type photo of Orrin in the 1860s

He was in no hurry to leave home as “Oren D. Moulton” age 24, a farmer was still living at home with his parents and siblings on the 1860 census of Maxfield, Maine.  However, life would change for Orrin and his siblings within a few years.   In 1862, Orrin D. Moulton of Maxfield and Miss Emma Thompson of Orneville were married at Orneville, on November 16, 1862 by Sina Wentworth, Justice of the Peace.  It is not known how Orrin meet his wife from a neighboring town, but he may have doing farm labor for others in the area to begin making his own money and either worked with Emma’s brothers or possibly worked for her father.  Orrin’s sister, Abigail Moulton eventually married Emma’s brother James Thompson in 1866, providing a close relationship between the two families.

But tragedy would also come to Moulton family in the same year of 1862.  Orrin’s father Robert enlisted in the Civil War in January 1862.  The company being transported to Mississippi where Robert became ill and then as the company was transported to Louisiana where Robert had typhoid fever, he was put on a ship for New York in October 1862 but died on the passage. Suddenly his mother was a widow with no husband to support her and her youngest children.  In 1863, Orrin signed a deed with five of his oldest siblings giving up their interest in their father's estate to their mother, Mary Moulton, ensuring she would have a place to live without having to sell and divide whatever money between herself and her husband’s heirs.  With no inheritance, Orrin would have to make it financially on his own.

Orrin’s in-law’s Rufus and Temperance Thompson also did not come through the Civil War in a good financial place.  Orrin’s brother-in-law, whose name was Orrin Thompson had been the main support for his parents.  Temperance Thompson’s Civil War Mother’s pension stated her husband had been disabled and not able to work to support the family and they relied on their son for support.  Orrin died in 1864 in Georgia from chronic diarrhea.  This would result in Orrin’s in-laws relying on a small pension from their son’s service and no money for a dowery for their daughters or any means of financial support for any of their children.

On May 27, 1865, Mary Moulton sold to Orrin D. Moulton of Maxfield, Lot 3, 4th range in Howland for $100.  However, he did not keep the property long as Orrin D. Moulton of Orneville sold for $100, the same lot to George E. Call of Lagrange, deed dated January 9, 1871 with his wife, Emma Moulton giving up her Dower rights.  Her signature does not appear on the deed and Orrin only made his mark on the deed.  Orrin was never able to buy property again.

In 1870, Orren D. Moulton, age 35, farm laborer was living in Lagrange, Maine with Emma Moulton, age 22, and 3 children.  By 1880, Orin D. Moulton, age 48, listed as working with hay press and was living in Orneville, Maine with his wife, Emma L. Moulton, age 32, keeping house, and 5 children.  Orrin either rented homes that were available on the farms where he worked or nearby homes in the area.  He never was able to afford his own home.

Nothing else is known about Orrin after 1880 until 1899 and sadly things had not improved for Orrin in his later years.

                                   From the Piscataquis Observer, issue of October 12, 1899

                                Piscataquis Observer, issue of October 19, 1899

Orrin died on October 15, 1899 in Orneville, Maine from diabetes according to his death certificate.  I am not sure what standards the above article used to measure his "easy" death.   He was buried in Orneville Cemetery, Orneville, Maine.

His widow, Emma appears on the 1900 and 1910 census records living with her youngest son, Charles Moulton.  The story of Orrin dropping out of high school to support his family was likely his son Charles.  The 1940 census listed Charles as only attending school until the 5th grade around 1890.  Charles being the last son at home probably was needed to start finding work to help his parents if the article about Orrin's failing health over a number of years is correct.

Emma (Thompson) Moulton died April 11, 1912 in Orneville, Maine and buried with her husband.

                                            Piscataquis Observer, issue of April 30, 1914

A reunion of their descendants was formed in 1926 called the Moulton-Thompson Reunion.  The last reunion was in 2019 as due to the Covid pandemic in 2020, it was cancelled.

 Orrin D. Moulton and Emma L. Thompson had the following children:

1.    Eldora Anne Moulton was born on August 25, 1863 in Orneville,  Maine. She died on March 3, 1941 in Orneville, Maine. She married Nelson Ellis on March 25,  1881 in Bradford, Maine.

2.    George Henry Moulton was born on February 8, 1867 in Maxfield, Maine. He died on September 7, 1931 in Atkinson, Maine.

3.    Iva Beatrice Moulton was born on December 2, 1872 in Orneville, Maine. She died on December 18, 1910 in Atkinson, Maine. . She married 1) Llewellyn Cobb in 1891. She married 2) Henry Bragg Paine on May 27, 1894 in Atkinson, Maine.

4.    Edwin Rufus Moulton was born on April 25,  1873 in Orneville, Maine. He died on January 10, 1944 in Bangor, Maine. He married 1) Huldah Jane Badger on November 25, 1893 in Orneville, Maine,. He married 2) Elizabeth Crowder on January 4, 1913 in Brewer,  Maine.

5.    Nancy Emma Moulton was born on April 21, 1877 in Orneville, Maine. She died on December 24, 1935 in Bangor, Maine. She married 1) Lot Alexander Hall on October 27, 1899 in Milo, Maine. She married 2) Fred Davidson Morton on April 30,  1909 in Exeter, Maine.

6.    Charles Prescott Moulton was born on April 2, 1881 in Orneville,  Maine. He died on May 19, 1972 in Orono, Maine. He married Emma Leona Paine on April 11,  1904 in Atkinson, Maine.

Cousin Arioch Wentworth, former Mayor Of Tombstone, Arizona

Doing some research on my great-grandmother, Emmie (Moiwer) Smith's family, I came across a cousin whose had the unusual name of Arioch Wentworth and his surprising connection to Tombstone, Arizona, site of the famous O.K. Corral gunfight.

Arioch Wentworth

Arioch Wentworth was born in Corinna, Maine on October 2, 1850, the son of Horace and Sarah (Buxton) Wentworth.  He was the only surviving son as he was the third male child born to his parents but the only one to survive infancy.  His parents moved to Benton, Maine in 1856 and appear on the 1860 census there with him and his two older sisters with his father listed as a farmer.  By 1870, the family had settled in Vassalboro, Maine where his father now owned a tanning and carrier shop and appears to have been doing very well based on his personal wealth.  Arioch who now 19, was listed as working in his father's shop.  According to his biography in the Bisbee Daily Review in 1919, "after his schooling had been completed, he worked for his father until 1880."

Arioch married Ellen R Hussey on May 6 1874 in Vassalboro, Maine and they had one son, Horace Bartholomew Wentworth born July 2, 1877 also born in Vassalboro. But as his above Bio stated he worked with his father until 1880 and it seems domestic family life was not what Arioch really wanted, as we learn by 1880, "he took up railroading and slowly grifting westward until he arrived at Fairbank in February 1885."   Fairbank being a now famous ghost town in Arizona.   I like the description of his "slowly grifting westward" as grift means "made money dishonestly as in a swindle, to engage in petty or small scale swindling."  No further details on his grift, but it implies he may have been earning a living in a not so reputable manner.  Also, Arioch abandoned his wife and son in Maine.  By 1880, his family was living with relatives in Maine, eventually his son and wife settling in Portland, Maine.  His wife, Ellen did not file for divorce until 1896 when she petitioned for the divorce from Arioch Wentworth on the grounds of utter desertion for more than 3 consecutive years.  The divorce was decreed on February 4, 1897.  The 1900 and 1910 census records do list Arioch as divorced, until 1920, when he was listed as a widower.  This change may have been that he received notice that his former wife had died in 1919 in Maine. 

                                      Undated photo of Arioch Wentworth from Find-a-Grave

Arioch continued on with the New Mexico and Arizona railroad in Fairbank where voting records show that he was a clerk and then an agent for Wells Fargo.  Arioch arrived in Tombstone, Arizona in 1892, then a well known mining camp town from the O.K. gunfight that had taken place just eleven years before he arrived in 1881.  Once in Tombstone, he quickly became engaged in Public life being elected County Recorder for Cochise County for two terms and then elected County Treasurer for two terms.  He invested in many of the businesses of Tombstone and became quite successful citizen. He was elected Mayor of Tombstone beginning in 1903 and only missing a few terms until 1910.  He maintained the Tombstone Billiard Parlor until he retired in 1912 and sold his interests in the business. Arioch became a Justice of the Peace for Cochise County which he continued after he retired.

"Mayor, A. Wentworth, a staunch Democrat. When McKinley was elected, Wentworth said he wouldn’t cut his hair till we had a Democratic president. His locks were long and white before his dream came true.” Arizona Cattlelog, November 1949, Arizona Cattle Growers Association.  President McKinley was elected in 1897 and followed by Theodore Roosevelt and Howard Taft. It wouldn't be until 1912, when Woodrow Wilson was elected that he would have cut his hair.

According to biography of Cochise County Treasurer's Office " Mayor  Wentworth was a colorful character about Tombstone.  He was famous for making 'jackrabbit' punch, was catcher on the 'Vinegarones' baseball team and had a bunch of cats.  His pet cat family included 'Pete and Smoky,' accomplished trick cats who even turned summersaults."

                                                        Arioch Wentworth, 1919

In 1919, his most unique claim was being part of the Chinese Masons.

                                                Bisbee Daily Review,  December 17, 1919

It is unclear how much contact Arioch had with his son and family in Maine after leaving his wife and son behind while he moved west to become a local success.  The above newspaper account included that Arioch had a son, Horace living in Portland, Maine and two granddaughters, Elena and Cynthia Wentworth which implies that he had some knowledge of his family in Maine.  Arioch probably maintained contact with his sister, Ruth Jones of Readfield, Maine as he named her in his will dated 1912.  She may have kept him up to date on his son and family in Maine.

In 1920, Arioch Wentworth was 69 years old, a widower, and was renting a home on Fourth Street.  He was listed as a Justice of the Peace and making a wage on his own account.

   

Arioch Wentworth died on March 2, 1921 in Tombstone, Arizona.  His funeral was a rather big production for Tombstone and reveals how popular Arioch was the area at that time.

                                                        Bisbee Daily Review, March 3, 1921

                                                    Bisbee Daily Review, March 9, 1921

Although, it is not known how close he was to his only son, but Horace did travel to Tombstone to settle things.  

                                Bisbee Daily Review, March 15, 1921

The Will of Arioch Wentworth which was dated January 2, 1912 asked that his funeral expenses be paid from his estate.  He left $100 to his sister, Ruth Jones of Readfield, Maine and all the rest of his estate was left to his "Beloved son, Horace B. Wentworth" of Portland, Maine.