John Pickard

Death of John Pickard

A Leading Man, Formerly of Auburn, Passes into the Other Life.

John Pickard, formerly of Auburn, the last occupant of the Pickard homestead on Elm street, Auburn, died at his home in Westbrook on Thursday afternoon at the age of 61 years. He was born at Auburn, Me., moving to Westbrook ten years ago. In Auburn he was a member of the shoe manufacturing firm of J.F. Cobb & Co. At one time he was census enumerater. He was a member of the High street Congregational church, Auburn, and was prominent in Masonic circles. Beside a widow and adopted son the deceased leaves the following brothers and sisters: Hon. J.L. Pickard, formerly president of Iowa State University; President J.C. Pickard of Maywood, Ills.; Samuel T. Pickard of Boston; Mrs. Sarah L. Sanborn of Pasadena, California; Edward L. Pickard, mayor of Newton, Mass.; Charles W. Pickard of Portland and Mrs. W.K. Dana of Westbrook. The burial will be at Auburn. The casket accompanied by relatives will reach Auburn at 2:30 P.M., on Saturday, and the burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetary in the family burial place.

Mr. Pickard for many years was one of the most active business men in Auburn. His activity in every public work matched his activity in every private enterprise. His public spirit was in habitual and glad exercise. He was instant in season and out of season in sacrificial service -- in the work of the church, in the great reform movement of a generation ago, in the Young Men's Christian Association, in society in all its humane and social aspects.

No man in Auburn had more friends, better friends or better deserved them. His removal from Auburn was a great blow to Auburn's social and beneficeent service. Returning, as he did, from time to time, to visit the scenes of his birthplace and birthright, scenes not only of life-long association but of ancestral life and of traditions that belong to the history and development of Auburn -- Mr. Pickard's visits were outwardly rich in good cheer, but inwardly, we fancy, full of pathetic memory.

Mr. Pickard's family has done honor to Auburn at home and abroad. The founders of that family were great in words and in works in the foundations of the city. The life of the church was nurtured by those saints of God, Samuel Pickard and Mrs. Pickard, his wife, whose children rise up to bless them and to enrich the world in the imperishable wealth of education and moral well-being. High street Congregational church was as the apple of their eyes. All public progress in the interests of the town was wonderfully promoted by their self denying generosity. The family acres are now in other hands; none of the Pickards remain in Auburn; but many states of the country have higher intellectual and moral renown because of the work of the Pickard family. Thus it continues to be the function of Maine to lead a vicarious life. Great is that State in brain and in character, which can impart so much and yet continue to grow rich in such impartation.

News of the death of John Pickard of Westbrook, formerly of Auburn, caused genuine sorrow among Auburn business men, who knew Mr. Pickard in the old and happier days, when he was engaged in the manufacturing of shoes in that city.

"I remember John Pickard well," said Mr. John Dingley. "I first remember him as a grocery man. He was then in business with William Rowe in the store now occupied by Albert Penley, under the firm name of Rowe & Pickard. I was a boy at that time and, as I remember it, the firm did not do a very great volume of business.

"Later as everybody knows, Mr. Pickard went into business with John G. Cobb in the manufacture of shoes. Business trouble came after a time and he moved to Westbrook, where I believe he went into the business of manufacturing knit articles.

"John Pickard was a man whom everybody liked. He was generous and open to a fault. He was a man of good ability but was so kind hearted that he was apt to be imposed on."

Mr. John F. Cobb, Mr. Pickard's former partner, said that it was in 1868 when he an Mr. Pickard went into the business of manufacturing shoes. "We made women's pegged shoes and for a good many years we did a successful business," said he. "Mr. Pickard was a good business man but of course had no knowledge of the boot and shoe business when he entered the firm. He was as fine a man as one usually meets in a life time, -- high minded, generous and absolutely honest. We were in business together twenty-two years."

The remains will be brought to Auburn at 2:30 Saturday afternoon, and will be at once interred at Oak Hill cemetary.

Mr. Pickard was a member of Lewiston Commandery, K.T., and of the subordinate Masonic bodies.