Notes
Note N7156 Index
Jane is a graduate of Colorado Women's College, where she earned a Bachelor's degree. She earned her Master's in Business Administration at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. She began her career in banking in 1975, as a teller at a bank in Arizona. She left that position when she married James Simonitsch. After his death, she resumed her career at the First National Bank pf Midland, Texas. As of April, 2001, she is the Vice President of a Bank of America branch in Midland. She has been very active in civic affairs in Midland. Her involvements have been many, and include the United Way of Midland, Midland Rape Crisis Center, St. Ann's Family Fair and Celebration of the Arts, to name only a few. In 1987, she was a finalist in the nation-wide White House Fellowship competition. Among her hobbies are handcrafts such as quilting, reading, traveling and computers. Her formula for success is "Be happy at work and at home."
Jane's first husband, 1st Lt. James Simonitsch, was a U.S. Air Force pilot and a 1975 graduate of the USAF Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado. He died from injuries received in an April 15, 1978, crash of a C-130 Hercules cargo plane in California. Two other crewmen died in that crash. He is buried in the Academy Cemetery.
Jane's second husband, Guy McCrary, was raised at Garland, Texas. He graduated in 1975 from Texas A&M University, then served 4 years in the Army as a Lieutenant. In 1983, he formed a successful marketing/public relations firm. In 1986, he was elected County Commissioner of Midland County. His formula for success is: 1. Show up, 2. Listen, 3. Get involved, and 4. Lead.
Jane is his second wife. He was divorced in 1985 from Marion Elizabeth Orson. They had 2 children.
Notes
Note N7161 Index
James died from injuries received in a U.S. Air Force plane crash in 1978.
Notes
Note N7172 Index
Arthur owned the world-renowned Old Town Canoe Company in Old Town, Maine.
Notes
Note N7179 Index
Wallace was a motorman on a railroad in 1900, while living in Yarmouth, Maine. But, after moving to New Gloucester before 1910, he was a farmer there.
Notes
Note N7185 Index
Edwin was a painter.
Notes
Note N7186 Index
William was a blacksmith. He lived in Fall River, Massachusetts, and Bath, Maine. At Bath, he worked at the Bath Iron Works.
Notes
Note N7190 Index
Marcellus served one year as a Private in Co. G, 31st Maine Infantry Regiment. He enlisted on 4 April 1864, and was discharged on 22 May 1865. He had been wounded in action at Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia, on 12 May 1864.
Notes
Note N7193 Index
Asa and Marie had no children. He retired from the Scott Paper Company in 1952.
Notes
Note N7195 Index
At the age of 14, Heman learned the barbering trade in Augusta, apprenticing under two men, McKenney and Sewall. Later, on his own, he was a barber in Fairfield and Waterville. The price of a haircut in those days was 15 cents, a shave, 6 cents. After a year or so in Waterville, he returned to Augusta to work for a Mr. Savage, who had the largest barber shop in the Capital City. Among his customers in Augusta were Maine Governors James G. Blaine and William Tecumseh Haines. From Augusta, he went to Suncook, New Hampshire, for a while, then to Montreal, Canada, for a while. Returning to Maine, he barbered in North Vassalboro for a short time before opening one of the first barber shops in Clinton about 1885, where he did a fine business. After a couple of years in Clinton, he moved back to North Vassalboro, and then back to Clinton in 1894. Finally, he settled in Dexter about 1918, working with his son, Eugene, and two grandsons, Dale and Harold.
His Obituary appeared in "The Bangor Daily News," Bangor, Maine, 30 January 1936. In that obituary, we learn that, for several years, Heman claimed to be "the oldest active barber in New England."
"At the age of 14 he began barbering and continued to follow the trade for 78 years before the infirmities of old age forced him to retire. At the opening of the Civil War he was operating a shop in Augusta and later conducted a shop in Waterville when there was but one other barber in town....On his 80th birthday he took in $17.60 at his chair, a fact of which he was justly proud, and on his 90th birthday last March he was still barbering and on that day he was remembered by his many friends with gifts and a birthday cake and a band played in honor of the occasion. Of kind and pleasing disposition he was affectionately known as 'Gramp' Scribner. He was the second oldest citizen of Dexter and will be greatly missed."
On the occasion of Heman and Clara's 25th Wedding Anniversary, a celebration was held at their home. Several family members and friends attended. That evening, a family friend, Anne M. Roundy, read a poem she had written for the occasion:
Dear friends and neighbors all; Then remember us in love.
We meet to celebrate together. Think of us kindly we pray;
A wedding anniversary And fresh strength may it give you
In this pleasant summer weather. For higher effort each day.
The time of birds and humming bees A silver wedding is this,
Time of fruit and flowers Yet not a single silver thread,
When spring is wed to summer, Among all the yellow locks,
And joy crowns all her hours. Is seen on neighbor Scribner's head.
Silently the wheels of time move on Age sits lightly on his brow.
Quickly the years have sped away. Blessed with good health is he;
A quarter of a century Yet the man is only a half,
Since our friends' wedding day. The other--Where is she?
Quite a time is twenty-five years; Dear Clara, blessings on her life,
And many changes have been rung, Has bravely borne her part,
Since heart and hand were given And although with health so frail,
And many songs have been sung. Is always stout of heart.
But the song I try now to sing, Kind and generous to all,
I wish your kind hearts to cheer; A helping hand is ever lent;
And hope that Mr. Scribner and wife And the poor and needy, never
May celebrate the Golden Year. From their door is empty sent.
But the future is not ours An aged father in their home--
The present is our only time, With children are they blest;
And we mean to try our very best Two are in the earthly care
The marriage bells to chime. And two in the Heavenly rest.
The wedding bells we sing once more - The angel of death has been here,
Soft and silvery is their sound; And sadness had had her part - -
The far off distant chime But sorrow is not the master of joy,
Of memory's ceaseless round. And bright-winded Hope buoys the heart.
My friends, as we gather here, The Star in the East leads us on--
A few gifts to you are brought, Faith wings her upward flight
In remembrance--as giving Slowly ebb out the sands of time,
An expression to our thought. And we are nearing the light.
And we ask you to accept Dear friends, the Father only knoweth
With congratulations true, What the future holds for you;
The offerings which we bring But we leave our best wishes,
On this glad day to you. And bid you a loving adieu.
We feel they will not be prized
Merely for worth in dollars and cents.
But for the value of the giver's
Kind thoughts -- purposes and intents.
A grandson, Harold Scribner, wrote down several of his personal memories of growing up in Maine (see Notes for Harold Scribner, below). Harold included this episode from Heman's life:
"In the early twenties few had radios and juke boxes were popular. Grandfather Heman was in a Waterville, Maine restaurant where the juke box was going strong. Grandfather called the waitress over and asked her how much it cost to play it. Her reply was five cents. Grandfather said 'How much would it cost to shut the damn thing off?'"