Charles Stetson
Encyclopedia
Charles Stetson was a United States Representative from Maine
, and the eldest member of a powerful Bangor
political family. He was born in New Ipswich, New Hampshire
on November 2, 1801, but moved with his parents to Hampden, Maine in 1802. His father Simeon Stetson (b. Braintree, Massachusetts
) kept a store and a sawmill, and built vessels for the West India Trade. His uncle Amasa Stetson was proprietor of the nearby town of Stetson, Maine
, where Simeon had briefly settled before moving to Hampden.
Stetson was 13 years old when a British invasion force sacked the town of Hampden and terrorized its inhabitants following the Battle of Hampden
(1814). He subsequently attended Hampden Academy
and graduated from Yale College
in 1823. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Hampden in 1826.
, adjoining Hampden, in 1833, as that city grew rapidly into the region's largest port. He was appointed Judge of the Bangor Municipal Court (1834–1839), Member of the Common Council of Bangor (1843–1844), and a Member of the Maine Executive Council (1845–1848). Stetson was finally elected as a Democrat
to the Thirty-first United States Congress (March 4, 1849-March 3, 1851).
Stetson was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination to the Thirty-second Congress, and resumed the practice of law in Bangor. He affiliated with the Republican Party
in 1860, as had most local politicians, including fellow Hampdenite Hannibal Hamlin
, who became Lincoln's Vice President. Stetson died in Bangor March 27, 1863, and was interred in Mount Hope Cemetery
.
.
The Stetsons became a powerful Bangor mercantile and political family in Charles' lifetime and beyond. Stetson's younger brother, Isaiah Stetson (1812–1880), served as Mayor of Bangor (1859–1862), and Member the Maine House of Representatives
(1866–67). His other brother George Stetson (1807–1891) became a leading Bangor lumber merchant, shipbuilder, bank & insurance company president, and civic figure, and married the niece of future Vice President Hannibal Hamlin
. George also served in the Maine House of Representatives
(1863–64). George's son Isaiah Kidder Stetson (b. 1858, Yale
class of 1879) expanded his father's business interests into ice harvesting, and became Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives
(1899–1900) and a member of the Maine State Senate (1903–1906).
Charles' daughter Caroline Pierce Stetson married attorney Franklin A. Wilson, who also represented Bangor in the Maine House of Representatives
(1874–75) and subsequently became President of the Maine Central Railroad
. His son (Charles Stetson's grandson and namesake) Charles Stetson Wilson became U.S. Ambassador to (respectively) Bulgaria
, Romania
, and Yugoslavia
in the 1920s and early 1930s.
There are two Stetson Blocks in downtown Bangor. The Stetson Block on Exchange Street was burned in the Great Fire of 1911
and quickly replaced by a building of the same name, and in the same location, from a design by local architect Wilfred E. Mansur
. A second and larger Stetson Block was built in 1913 on Central Street, from a design by Parker, Thomas, and Rice of Boston. It presently houses "Bagel Central". Both buildings are presently protected as part of the Great Fire of 1911
National Register Historic District. The lower part of Broadway
is also known as "Stetson Square".
The George Stetson House at 208 French St. in Bangor is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
as part of the Broadway Historic District
. This Greek Revival style house was designed by local architect-builder Benjamin S. Deane in 1847-48.
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, and the eldest member of a powerful Bangor
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
political family. He was born in New Ipswich, New Hampshire
New Ipswich, New Hampshire
New Ipswich is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,099 at the 2010 census. New Ipswich, situated on the Massachusetts border, includes the villages of Bank, Davis, Gibson Four Corners, Highbridge, New Ipswich Center, Smithville, and Wilder, though these...
on November 2, 1801, but moved with his parents to Hampden, Maine in 1802. His father Simeon Stetson (b. Braintree, Massachusetts
Braintree, Massachusetts
The Town of Braintree is a suburban city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Although officially known as a town, Braintree adopted a municipal charter, effective 2008, with a mayor-council form of government and is considered a city under Massachusetts law. The population was 35,744...
) kept a store and a sawmill, and built vessels for the West India Trade. His uncle Amasa Stetson was proprietor of the nearby town of Stetson, Maine
Stetson, Maine
Stetson is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. The population was 981 at the 2000 census. It was named after its first proprietor, Amasa Stetson. His brother Simeon Stetson originally settled here as well, but moved to nearby Hampden, Maine in 1803...
, where Simeon had briefly settled before moving to Hampden.
Stetson was 13 years old when a British invasion force sacked the town of Hampden and terrorized its inhabitants following the Battle of Hampden
Battle of Hampden
The Battle of Hampden, though a minor action of the War of 1812, was the last significant clash of arms in New England, in this instance, in the District of Maine . It represented the end of two centuries of violent contest over Maine by surrounding political units...
(1814). He subsequently attended Hampden Academy
Hampden Academy
Hampden Academy is a public high school located on 1 Main Road North in Hampden, Maine. The school is a part of M.S.A.D. 22, and approximately 738 students from Hampden, Newburgh, and Winterport attend for grades 9–12...
and graduated from Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
in 1823. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Hampden in 1826.
Legal and Political Career
Stetson was admitted to the bar of the United States Supreme Court in 1828, then held various local offices. He moved to BangorBangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
, adjoining Hampden, in 1833, as that city grew rapidly into the region's largest port. He was appointed Judge of the Bangor Municipal Court (1834–1839), Member of the Common Council of Bangor (1843–1844), and a Member of the Maine Executive Council (1845–1848). Stetson was finally elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Thirty-first United States Congress (March 4, 1849-March 3, 1851).
Stetson was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination to the Thirty-second Congress, and resumed the practice of law in Bangor. He affiliated with the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
in 1860, as had most local politicians, including fellow Hampdenite Hannibal Hamlin
Hannibal Hamlin
Hannibal Hamlin was the 15th Vice President of the United States , serving under President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War...
, who became Lincoln's Vice President. Stetson died in Bangor March 27, 1863, and was interred in Mount Hope Cemetery
Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor
Mt. Hope Cemetery in Bangor, Maine is the second oldest garden cemetery in the United States. It was designed by architect Charles G. Bryant in 1834, the same year that Bangor was incorporated as a city, and likely modeled after Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts...
.
Stetson Family
Stetson was married to Emily J. Pierce, the daughter of Waldo Pierce of Frankfort, MaineFrankfort, Maine
Frankfort is a town in Waldo County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,041 at the 2000 census.-History:Frankfort is the oldest town on the Penobscot River, first settled in the 1760s by Massachusetts soldiers from nearby Fort Pownall...
.
The Stetsons became a powerful Bangor mercantile and political family in Charles' lifetime and beyond. Stetson's younger brother, Isaiah Stetson (1812–1880), served as Mayor of Bangor (1859–1862), and Member the Maine House of Representatives
Maine House of Representatives
The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state. Each voting member of the House represents around 8,450 citizens of the state...
(1866–67). His other brother George Stetson (1807–1891) became a leading Bangor lumber merchant, shipbuilder, bank & insurance company president, and civic figure, and married the niece of future Vice President Hannibal Hamlin
Hannibal Hamlin
Hannibal Hamlin was the 15th Vice President of the United States , serving under President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War...
. George also served in the Maine House of Representatives
Maine House of Representatives
The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state. Each voting member of the House represents around 8,450 citizens of the state...
(1863–64). George's son Isaiah Kidder Stetson (b. 1858, Yale
YALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
class of 1879) expanded his father's business interests into ice harvesting, and became Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives
Maine House of Representatives
The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state. Each voting member of the House represents around 8,450 citizens of the state...
(1899–1900) and a member of the Maine State Senate (1903–1906).
Charles' daughter Caroline Pierce Stetson married attorney Franklin A. Wilson, who also represented Bangor in the Maine House of Representatives
Maine House of Representatives
The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state. Each voting member of the House represents around 8,450 citizens of the state...
(1874–75) and subsequently became President of the Maine Central Railroad
Maine Central Railroad
The Maine Central Railroad Company was a railroad in central and southern Maine. It was chartered in 1856 and began operations in 1862. It operated a mainline between South Portland, Maine, east to the Canada-U.S...
. His son (Charles Stetson's grandson and namesake) Charles Stetson Wilson became U.S. Ambassador to (respectively) Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, and Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
in the 1920s and early 1930s.
There are two Stetson Blocks in downtown Bangor. The Stetson Block on Exchange Street was burned in the Great Fire of 1911
Great Fire of 1911
The Great Fire of 1911 took place in Bangor, Maine. A small fire that started in a Downtown shed went out of control and destroyed hundreds of commercial and residential buildings.-History:It started in the afternoon of April 30, 1911 on Broad Street...
and quickly replaced by a building of the same name, and in the same location, from a design by local architect Wilfred E. Mansur
Wilfred E. Mansur
Wilfred E. Mansur was the most prominent architect in late 19th and early 20th Century Bangor, Maine. He designed many private and municipal buildings, including the Penobscot County Courthouse and at least seven schools...
. A second and larger Stetson Block was built in 1913 on Central Street, from a design by Parker, Thomas, and Rice of Boston. It presently houses "Bagel Central". Both buildings are presently protected as part of the Great Fire of 1911
Great Fire of 1911
The Great Fire of 1911 took place in Bangor, Maine. A small fire that started in a Downtown shed went out of control and destroyed hundreds of commercial and residential buildings.-History:It started in the afternoon of April 30, 1911 on Broad Street...
National Register Historic District. The lower part of Broadway
Broadway Historic District (Bangor, Maine)
The Broadway Historic District in Bangor, Maine is one of the residential neighborhoods most favored by the city's lumber barons in the early to late 19th century. A second and slightly later Bangor neighborhood of primarily elite houses, centered on West Broadway, is also listed on the National...
is also known as "Stetson Square".
The George Stetson House at 208 French St. in Bangor is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as part of the Broadway Historic District
Broadway Historic District (Bangor, Maine)
The Broadway Historic District in Bangor, Maine is one of the residential neighborhoods most favored by the city's lumber barons in the early to late 19th century. A second and slightly later Bangor neighborhood of primarily elite houses, centered on West Broadway, is also listed on the National...
. This Greek Revival style house was designed by local architect-builder Benjamin S. Deane in 1847-48.