The birth date above is from Peter's birth record. His stone says he was born in 1816.
The November 23, 1901 of the Lewiston Journal ran a feature article with photos on Peter's life, the main focus being how he became wealthy, Most of the following is from this article and his obituary.
Peter's father, Peter Sr. was married first to Lois Verrill, by whom he had six children. She died on January 21, 1808, when their youngest child was about two months old. Peter Sr. remarried about six months later to Gracie Turner, and had eight more children. Peter Jr. was the second child, and oldest son, by the second marriage. When Peter was about 14, his father became infirm. Evidently, his older half brothers had by then left home, because articles say that at this age Peter assumed the principle work in running the family farm in the warm months, and he spent his winters cutting wood.
At age 24 he married Lucretia Howard. The couple moved to Lowell, Massachusetts, where Peter worked at a mill in an entry-level position. He soon worked his way to a lucrative position of responsibility. However due to long hours of work, his health became poor, so Peter returned to Maine, and entered the mercantile business in Brighton. From there he moved to Skowhegan where he managed a large dry-goods store for ten years. He then opened his own large dry-goods store in Portland. He took a partner, so the store was called Lane & Little. He was very successful in business, and became wealthy.
In 1872, he sold his Portland store and moved back to Leeds. He bought the farm that is today known as "Chapel Hill Farm," located across from the Leeds Community Church. For some years he operated this farm, then in the 1890s built a new house, located immediately to next to Chapel Hill Farm, on the crest of the hill with a view of Androscoggin Lake. One new article described that house as as a mansion and another as a farm house. It appears instead to have been a two-and-a-half story Victorian with a mansard roof, somewhat grand. It was destroyed by fire in 1937.
Peter's wife Lucretia died in 1844 in Brighton. A year or two later, he remarried to Mary Jane Palmer of Brighton. He had no children by either marriage, though adopted two daughters and a son. He was predeceased by both daughters, which was a major blow. His 16-year-old daughter Jennie died of typhoid fever in 1880, and is buried in this family plot. Peter's wife Mary Jane died in 1899.
Peter had been in good health, and was well the day before his death. He died of heart failure.
The November 23, 1901 of the Lewiston Journal ran a feature article with photos on Peter's life, the main focus being how he became wealthy, Most of the following is from this article and his obituary.
Peter's father, Peter Sr. was married first to Lois Verrill, by whom he had six children. She died on January 21, 1808, when their youngest child was about two months old. Peter Sr. remarried about six months later to Gracie Turner, and had eight more children. Peter Jr. was the second child, and oldest son, by the second marriage. When Peter was about 14, his father became infirm. Evidently, his older half brothers had by then left home, because articles say that at this age Peter assumed the principle work in running the family farm in the warm months, and he spent his winters cutting wood.
At age 24 he married Lucretia Howard. The couple moved to Lowell, Massachusetts, where Peter worked at a mill in an entry-level position. He soon worked his way to a lucrative position of responsibility. However due to long hours of work, his health became poor, so Peter returned to Maine, and entered the mercantile business in Brighton. From there he moved to Skowhegan where he managed a large dry-goods store for ten years. He then opened his own large dry-goods store in Portland. He took a partner, so the store was called Lane & Little. He was very successful in business, and became wealthy.
In 1872, he sold his Portland store and moved back to Leeds. He bought the farm that is today known as "Chapel Hill Farm," located across from the Leeds Community Church. For some years he operated this farm, then in the 1890s built a new house, located immediately to next to Chapel Hill Farm, on the crest of the hill with a view of Androscoggin Lake. One new article described that house as as a mansion and another as a farm house. It appears instead to have been a two-and-a-half story Victorian with a mansard roof, somewhat grand. It was destroyed by fire in 1937.
Peter's wife Lucretia died in 1844 in Brighton. A year or two later, he remarried to Mary Jane Palmer of Brighton. He had no children by either marriage, though adopted two daughters and a son. He was predeceased by both daughters, which was a major blow. His 16-year-old daughter Jennie died of typhoid fever in 1880, and is buried in this family plot. Peter's wife Mary Jane died in 1899.
Peter had been in good health, and was well the day before his death. He died of heart failure.
The birth date above is from Peter's birth record. His stone says he was born in 1816.
The November 23, 1901 of the Lewiston Journal ran a feature article with photos on Peter's life, the main focus being how he became wealthy, Most of the following is from this article and his obituary.
Peter's father, Peter Sr. was married first to Lois Verrill, by whom he had six children. She died on January 21, 1808, when their youngest child was about two months old. Peter Sr. remarried about six months later to Gracie Turner, and had eight more children. Peter Jr. was the second child, and oldest son, by the second marriage. When Peter was about 14, his father became infirm. Evidently, his older half brothers had by then left home, because articles say that at this age Peter assumed the principle work in running the family farm in the warm months, and he spent his winters cutting wood.
At age 24 he married Lucretia Howard. The couple moved to Lowell, Massachusetts, where Peter worked at a mill in an entry-level position. He soon worked his way to a lucrative position of responsibility. However due to long hours of work, his health became poor, so Peter returned to Maine, and entered the mercantile business in Brighton. From there he moved to Skowhegan where he managed a large dry-goods store for ten years. He then opened his own large dry-goods store in Portland. He took a partner, so the store was called Lane & Little. He was very successful in business, and became wealthy.
In 1872, he sold his Portland store and moved back to Leeds. He bought the farm that is today known as "Chapel Hill Farm," located across from the Leeds Community Church. For some years he operated this farm, then in the 1890s built a new house, located immediately to next to Chapel Hill Farm, on the crest of the hill with a view of Androscoggin Lake. One new article described that house as as a mansion and another as a farm house. It appears instead to have been a two-and-a-half story Victorian with a mansard roof, somewhat grand. It was destroyed by fire in 1937.
Peter's wife Lucretia died in 1844 in Brighton. A year or two later, he remarried to Mary Jane Palmer of Brighton. He had no children by either marriage, though adopted two daughters and a son. He was predeceased by both daughters, which was a major blow. His 16-year-old daughter Jennie died of typhoid fever in 1880, and is buried in this family plot. Peter's wife Mary Jane died in 1899.
Peter had been in good health, and was well the day before his death. He died of heart failure.
The November 23, 1901 of the Lewiston Journal ran a feature article with photos on Peter's life, the main focus being how he became wealthy, Most of the following is from this article and his obituary.
Peter's father, Peter Sr. was married first to Lois Verrill, by whom he had six children. She died on January 21, 1808, when their youngest child was about two months old. Peter Sr. remarried about six months later to Gracie Turner, and had eight more children. Peter Jr. was the second child, and oldest son, by the second marriage. When Peter was about 14, his father became infirm. Evidently, his older half brothers had by then left home, because articles say that at this age Peter assumed the principle work in running the family farm in the warm months, and he spent his winters cutting wood.
At age 24 he married Lucretia Howard. The couple moved to Lowell, Massachusetts, where Peter worked at a mill in an entry-level position. He soon worked his way to a lucrative position of responsibility. However due to long hours of work, his health became poor, so Peter returned to Maine, and entered the mercantile business in Brighton. From there he moved to Skowhegan where he managed a large dry-goods store for ten years. He then opened his own large dry-goods store in Portland. He took a partner, so the store was called Lane & Little. He was very successful in business, and became wealthy.
In 1872, he sold his Portland store and moved back to Leeds. He bought the farm that is today known as "Chapel Hill Farm," located across from the Leeds Community Church. For some years he operated this farm, then in the 1890s built a new house, located immediately to next to Chapel Hill Farm, on the crest of the hill with a view of Androscoggin Lake. One new article described that house as as a mansion and another as a farm house. It appears instead to have been a two-and-a-half story Victorian with a mansard roof, somewhat grand. It was destroyed by fire in 1937.
Peter's wife Lucretia died in 1844 in Brighton. A year or two later, he remarried to Mary Jane Palmer of Brighton. He had no children by either marriage, though adopted two daughters and a son. He was predeceased by both daughters, which was a major blow. His 16-year-old daughter Jennie died of typhoid fever in 1880, and is buried in this family plot. Peter's wife Mary Jane died in 1899.
Peter had been in good health, and was well the day before his death. He died of heart failure.
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