Rufus Soule

Rufus Soule (July 16, 1785 – September 22, 1867) was a prominent boat builder in Maine and served for several years in the state legislature.[1]

For the politician in Massachusetts, see Rufus Albertson Soule.

Early life

Rufus Soule was born July 16, 1785, in North Yarmouth, Cumberland County, Maine, the fourth son of Captain John Soule (1740–1814) and Elizabeth née Mitchell (1747–1794).[2]

Career

Soule bought the yard at Porter's Landing in 1834[3] and became one of the most eminent shipbuilders in Maine. He built eighty-five vessels during his career. His son, Rufus C. Soule, joined him in the trade.[4]

Soule served as a representative in the Maine Legislature from 1832 until 1838. A Democrat, he was a State Senator from Cumberland County in 1838.[5] He also served as a justice of the peace.[6]

Family

Soule married Susan Mitchell on June 2, 1805, and they had eleven children together. After Susan died in 1853, he married Philomela Talbot and then married Hannah Bailey Small, a niece of his first wife.

Death and burial

He died in 1867, at the age of 82, and is buried in the Porter's Landing Cemetery, Freeport, Maine.[1][5]

Legacy

The Soule family remains one of the prominent families in Freeport. The George C. Soule School existed in South Freeport until 1991, when students were transferred to the newly-built Mast Landing School,[7][8] where the Soule name was used for one of the education tracks for students.[9] The former Soule School location now houses the École Française du Maine.

In 2018, the Freeport Historical Society purchased a painting of Soule and his wife at auction.[6]

See also

References
  1. Kellerman, Arielle (2018). "Recent Acquisition at Freeport Historical" (PDF). Maine Archives and Historical Quarterly. 21 (3). Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  2. Randall, Lynne C. (Winter 2010). "The "Tam O'Shanter" and the Soule Brother's Shipyard: Freeport, Maine" (PDF). Soule Kindred Newsletter. XXXIV (1): 3–9. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  3. "National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form". United States Department of the Interior National Park Service. 1974. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  4. Society, Holly K. Hurd with Freeport Historical (October 15, 2018). Freeport through the Years. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781439665510 – via Google Books.
  5. "Rules and Orders of the House of Representatives" (PDF). State of Maine. 1838. p. 14.
  6. Saun, Jocelyn Van (April 11, 2018). "'Soule-Mates' help acquire portraits of Freeport's past".
  7. "Soule Park Management Plan" (PDF). Freeport Conservation Commission. Town of Freeport. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  8. "Soule Park". 20 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-03-20. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  9. "Mast Landing School - Soule at a Glance". Freeport Public Schools. 5 September 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-09-05. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
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