SAMUEL TITCOMB

[Engraving on eBay] SAMUEL TITCOMB, of Augusta, Maine. Born July 19, 1820, at Belgrade, Maine. His father, Samuel Titcomb, was born at Kennebunk in 1756, was a surveyor by profession, removed to Hallowell in 1783, was appointed surveyor to the American Joint Commissioner charged with the duty of defining the boundary-line between the State of Maine and the British Provinces in 1784. In this work he was engaged, together with John Harris, the surveyor appointed by the British Government, for about three years. After that he settled in Augusta, of which he was the second postmaster. In 1815 he removed to Belgrade, represented that town in the General Court of Massachusetts in 1819, and died September 18, 1849, at the advanced age of ninety-three. The common ancestor of this branch of the Titcomb family was William Titcomb, who emigrated from England and settled at Newbury, Massachusetts, in 1635. By his first wife, Joanna Bartlett, and his second wife, Eliza Stevens, he became the father of a family of fifteen children, composed of nine girls and six boys. Judge Titcomb is of the fifth generation in line of descent from him. Addicted to agriculture, and—in the learned professions—to the law and to the Christian ministry, the Titcombs are also remarkable for their longevity, many of them having reached the tenth decade of human life. The mother of Judge Samuel Titcomb bore the maiden name of Chloe Cummings, and was the daughter of Samuel Cummings of Dedham, Massachusetts. The early education of young Titcomb was begun in the common-schools, continued at the Belgrade Academy, and completed at the Liberal Institute in Waterville, now the seat of Colby University. Selecting the profession of law, he entered upon the studies appropriate to it in the office of the Hon. Richard H. Vose of Augusta, was admitted to the bar in 1842, and at once commenced professional practice in Augusta, and was subsequently admitted to practice in the District and Circuit Courts of the United States. From the date of his admission to the bar until the association of his son Lendall Titcomb with himself in business relations, Judge Titcomb practiced alone. Lendall Titcomb graduated at Harvard College in 1871, then studied in the Harvard Law School, was admitted to the bar in 1872, and subsequently formed a copartnership with his father. Judge Titcomb has served as a member of the Common Council of Augusta, in the years 1851, '52, '53, '55, and '57; as a member of the Board of Aldermen in 1854; as City Solicitor for several years; and as Mayor in 1869 and 1870. In 1858 he was appointed Municipal Judge of Augusta by Joseph H. Williams, elected to the same office in 1859, and continued to hold that office by virtue of successive re-elections until 1866. In 1867 and 1868 he represented the city of Augusta in the State Legislature, He was one of the trustees of the Augusta Savings Bank for more than twenty years. He has also acted as director of the Freeman's National Bank of Augusta, since its reorganization under the system of National banking. Prior to that event he held the same relation under the old State system. With military matters he is conversant; having held the office for one term of Division Advocate of the Second Division, with the rank of Major. To this he was appointed by Governor Hubbard. Judge Titcomb was married on the 20th of February, 1845, to Miss Julia A., daughter of Artemus Kimball of Augusta. Two sons were the issue of their union. Of these, Everett was born March 28, 1846, and died May 9, 1856. Lendall, his present law-partner, was born March 14, 1848.