The Life of Deacon Scribner

We know quite a bit about the life of Deacon David Scribner, my 2^nd great grandfather because of two documents written at the time of his death in 1890.  A memorial sketch was written by F. Ricker probably for David's memorial service.  Mr Ricker was very likely kin to David’s 1^st wife Islethera Howland whose mother had been a Ricker.  And a Brunswick Telegraph newspaper also carried a lengthy story at his passing titled “The Last of the Old Business Men of Topsham Gone”.

Mr Ricker begins his memorial with the following:

“At his home in Topsham, Maine, in the early morning of Sunday September 14, 1890 the venerable and beloved Deacon David Scribner passed to his final regard.  He was born in Waterboro, York County [Maine] on October 10, 1795, so that at the time of his decease, he lacked only about three weeks of being ninety-five years old.  His father, a Revolutionary soldier, and a very worthy man, died at 38 when David was less than nine years old.  The latter was the eldest of five children, and the only son … 

In some manuscript notes found among papers, Mr. Scribner speaks of the hard work endured to aid in the support of the family, and of the little schooling which he received in his youth, consisting of only a few weeks in the winter and even these were broken in upon by family cares.  From these adverse conditions … at not far from the date of his majority, in about 1816, without money, he traveled on foot from Waterboro to Topsham in pursuit of employment.  This he found without trouble in one of the many sawmills then in operation in the place.” 

The sawmill business where David found employment as a young man became just one of his business interests in life and he enjoyed success as a partner and owner of sawmills and lumber businesses in the area.  He also was successful with the D & D E Scribner Company an enterprise that used machinery to grind grain and flour.  They also milled grass seed, hay, straw and feed of all kinds, sold as Scribner’s Poultry Feeds. 

By 1834 David served as a Deacon of the Topsham Baptist Church, a position that he held for the rest of his life.  His belief that slavery was unjust and not a part of God’s plan led him to become active with local Underground Railroad efforts to assist former slaves moving north into Canada where they could live a life of freedom. 

David Scribner married Islethera Howland in 1821 until her early death in 1843 shortly after the birth of their 12^th child.  The next year he married Mary Ann Quint Whittemore, a widow with one young daughter.  Together David and Mary Ann added two more daughters to the family.  Six of David’s children died either in infancy or quite young, and only two actually outlived David.    

During all of David Scribner’s life he was a passionate reader of books. In his later years, his vision began to fail but not his keen mind.  David’s family and friends however always considered it a pleasure to read to him the best of current publications, histories, and biographies as he had a broad interest in religious, political and educational works.

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Key Individuals:

     Deacon David Scribner  (1795 – 1890)

     Islethera Howland Scribner  (1802 – 1843)  1^st wife

     Mary Ann Quint Whittemore Scribner  (1808 – 1887)  2^nd wife

Notes:

Deacon David Scribner (1795 – 1890) was the grandson of Samuel Scribner noted in my last blog post, The Letter Box – Samuel Scribner.

 – Jane Scribner McCrary