Lincolnville's Austin Marriner

July 7, 1988

By Isabel Morse Maresh

Austin Marriner was born Sept. 26, 1846, a great-grandson of one of the first settlers in what is now Lincolnville. He was married by J.D. Tucker, Esq. in 1873 to Callie Clark, the youngest of 13 children of John and Mary Ann Clark.

Austin was a farmer and active in his own part of Lincolnville. He may never show up in a history book, but in 1910, Austin was chosen a delegate for the State convention of the Democratic party.

Austin was a member of the famed Lincolnville Band. He had a cooper shop in the Millertown section of Lincolnville where he made barrels for the lime industry. He also used his barrels for shipping apples that he grew to Boston by boat. He, his wife, and only child, Annie Maria were charter members of Tranquility Grange.

This Grange which struggled to stay in existence was organized April 25, 1898, with 27 members. The first Grange Hall was located off what is now Route 52, near the then Cilley residence. After it burned, a new Hall was built where the present Hall now sits. Before it was completed, it too, was destroyed by fire by an arsonist, who owned a dance hall and was jealous of the dancers who stayed true to the Grange. The present hall was built in 1907.

Austin Marriner's obituary in 1916, when he died at age 69 years, stated "He was an honest and upright citizen, strong in his ideas and convictions, deeply interested in all public and town affairs, and in politics was a staunch Democrat."