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Book

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■Isttry ©f Imimiiry.

msa?o:Ec'Y

OF

Tndustrj, Maine*

3M THE FIRST SETTLEMENT IN 1791.

SECOND EDITION,

Impr^ovecl and Knlarged^

1869.

PiKOWHK(JAN,

ij r

BOUNDARIES AND EXIENT.

Till' town of Indiislrv in llic ctiunty nl' l'"i;inlsliii In Maiiii'. is atimit iiiiii' mill's ill Iciiatli IVoiu iinilji In soiilli mih! ;i\fni"i'-< almiit tlii'iH' iiiilfs in lirt'atllli. 'IMu' I'tii'm is (jiiili' irn"Mil:ir : tin- conlral |)orlii>n iiciii'.'- iK'urlv six miles w iilc Tlu* tnwn, uilii llu- :lll<lilion^ made In it since (lie lirst inei)r|toi-al ion. contains alioni twenty one tlioiisaiid ai-i-es ineliniiii'j' water : iluic lieiiiL;' a, |ionil in the wcsteily )iait ot llie louii of.ihoiit six liunilred aere>.

Tlu' town is lioiinded on the west li\' Kainiiii'jlon. tlie sliire town ot'tlie (•oiintv,and New Vinyard. (hi tlie east liy An-on and Starks, iiiid oil tlie soiitli and south wot li\ .New Sliaion. It is situated mi tlif liinht (tf land in a lai'Li'e curve ol llieSamlv river and lielween that viv«'r and the Keiineliec with 'feneralls a southern and ivesteiiy aspoft. Tlu- streams ri.-iiiL! in the tow n run ■ \ arioiis courses: mie runs sontli westi-rlv and enter,- Samlv river in tiie nitper part nf Farmiugton : one I'lom the [loiid at Allen's mills runs a southerly eour.^e aud enters Sand\' river near the centre of New Sharon : one eonsidi'rahle sti'eam vvhicii passes throii'jh the \illa'';eat \\'esl"s mill~ and unites with a hraiicli hclow , runs a southeasterly course hv Saw- yer's mills to Sandy river at tiie laslerlv pnit of Starks. •'Uannock Hill" is a noted pnnnonloiv in the smitherlv part of the town. :>o iianu'd hy ;i smveying paiiv under llou. Jniiife North ii>rnH'rly i^t Augusta. \vho encam])ed on the north side of the hill in ITSO and haki'd there a haiinock t«ir their hreakla.-t : ()n arm in;' at the pond iliey watered tlii-ir pack hoi'ses and prop«>sei| the uaiiie ol hor-c-|)ond. hut put .1 |treli\ to it and called it •■|5nll llor-e I'oiid.'" a ~iihse(pient snrveym' called it ■•Clear AN ater I'oiid.

.Iiidge North l»y his Mir\ev made the -oiiih-west corner of what was called the IMymoiilh I'atent on a -mall hcach tree (at the north west corner ot Farmiugton) marked ••K, lo m"' to denote that it was lifteeu miles iVom the Kenneliec liver. .Nine years afterwards al- ter the close of the war iiv a ditfeieiil c(ni.-lriici ion of the "lant ot ihe Plynujuth I'atent and hv agreement vuth anth<-ri;ie> ol .Ma->-a- chusetls, Saumid 'I'iti-omli a noted survevnr maileihe norih-wc-t cor- ner, eiuhty rod< rv-i of the north-east cuinerol k'.irmin'jlon and the boundary of the Plymouth L'atenl v.as thus e-tabli-hed near the wes- terly sida ol the ])uud now called Clear V.'ater I'ond.

4 HTSTOin <»r INDl >TKV.

The town was iiicorporateil ou tlu- 20tli of June l.SO;}. and con- ikiued hut about thirteen thousand a<'i'es, consisting oi' what wan called the remnant of the Plymouth I'atent west of Staiks. not exceed, ing nine-thousand acres and the tract called the mile and a half strip or Lowell's ti-act ahout foin- thousand acres. Additions were madi^ from time to time froiu all the adjoininsi towns; First from New Sharon in 1«1.'», hy one lar;i;e lot from the north corner of that town includinj^ the village at Alleu's mills and \vAVt oi' the pond ; then in Kli"), that part of New \'inyard calle<l the gore, near two thous- and acres. In 1822, one lot containing ahont four huntlred acres was taken Ironi Starks ; iu 1823 two lots were taken from Anson containing three Juuidred and twenty acr«!s : In 1.S44 seven thous. and acres were set ofi' froui New Vinyard and annexed to this town. The tide then turned and in 18r»() three farms on the west part of the gore were set ort'and annexed to Farmington : and in 18i2 ahouj Jifteen hundred acres were set otl from the ~outh point of the town and annexed to New Aharon.

Thus eight seperate acts of the Legislatuic hir.e licen passed to fix the boundaries of the town as in I. SOS.

LAND-TITLES.

The title to (he soil and iree hold of that part called the Flymouth Patent, was derived originally from a grant made by King James in 1(J2'J to William Pratlford and others of the Plymouth Council iu Englaud. The original grant is relered to as follows, to wit ;

To all to whom these presents shall come, Gi;f,f.tin(;." "Where- as his late Majesty King James the first, for the advancement of a a Colony and Plantation in New luigland in America by his High- ness Letters Patent under the great seal of Kngland, bearing date at Wesfminuister, the third day of Novembei- in the eighteenth year of his Highness' reign of fjigland ^;c., did grant unto the right Hon- orable Ludoicirk, late Lord Duke ot Lci>(>:i\ (h'tnuje^ late Manpiis of JinrluKjIuim, Jd/iies, MiiT(\n\i^(A' H<(i/iil/itii, Tliomtis, Earl cA' Animi/c, lioheif,VAiv\ oC Waiiriil. S'w. Fi'iihiniinJa < h'ori/i'fi \ h\t . ii\i<\ divers others whose names are expres^e(l in the said letters patent au<l their successors, that they sliould be one body politw and corporate, perpetually, consisting ol' forty persons, that they sliould ha\e per- petual bUfcession and one <'f)miuon seal to serve lor the said body ; and that they and their successors should l»e in< (»r|)oi ated, called au<l kuown by the name of the Council est/iiilislud at /'/(///io/z/A in the county of />('(■«/<, for the planting, riding, ordeiing and governing jV'';f.' E'laland iu Aniertrn. And further did also, grant uuto the

'My<Sl'ff (> ^^(

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said Pitsidout aud C'oiiucil, and their sticressurs forever, uiidrr tlif^ restorations in tlic said Ijottei's J'alo.nt cxpressetl ; all that part and jtortion ot'tlio said coiinliy called New Kni.daMd in America, situate, lying and I)eing in breadth Ironi irom torty degrees of northerly lati- Inde from the ecjuinoetial line to lorty eight <legre( ■■; of the said northerly latitude illclu^ively, and in length of and in all the breadth afore.-;aid, throughout tl'e Main lamls troni .sea to sea, together, also with all the Hini lands, soils, grounds, ereeks, inlets, havens, ports, seas, rivers, islands, waters, fishings, mines, minerals, precious stones, ((tiaiiies, and all and singular the ciimmoditie.-< and jnrisdif - Moiis, both within the said tract of lainl lying upon the main, as also within the said Islands adjoining,

Ti> ha\e, hold, possess ami enjoy tiic same unto the said Council and their successors and assigns j'orever. t'tc. That sai<l Council of JMymouth conveyed a tract of territory liftecn miles wide ou each side of Kennebec river (I»eing part of their giant) to .Vntipas Hoyd. Thomas lUatlle, Ed\var<l 'J'yng, and dolin Winslow in H(!!, fbnr hundred pounds {ahoiff four (ruts ((fnl /In-" niills an ncir) who form" ed a company by the name of '•77/'' I'loprivfor.^ <<l tlir /{'unrhrr J'nr rlnisf fruiii flic (dfi ( 'oldN'f >>/' N( IV /'li/iiiii"lli \ ami this company took possession of territory on the Kennebec thirty miles sfpiare exercised acts of owneishijt over large portimis of it ; ga\eaway sonu* portion to settlers to encourage settlements and conveyed away portions to individual mend)ers of the company and to settlers from time to time obtained a grant from Massachusetts of a stiip one milo and a halt wide along their northern Ixmndary Ihiity miles long, e(pial to OIK' and one qtuirtcr of a townshi|» and of oni' township called I'lym- outh six miles s<piare, north ofMoosc Head I^ake to ci'mjicnsate them fur lands given to scttlcis. In tin- winter of 1>S1G they adver- ti.-ed and sold the remnants of their lands at public auction in Hos- ton aud voted to diss(d\ c their company. The settlers on the I'Hteut in Industry in various wavs aeipiiied their title from the last named I'roprietors all being compelled to pay a high price.

That part of the sliip, so-called, which is within the limits of tliis town, on a partition oidered bv the S. d. Court, fell to I''rai\cis ('• Lowell, one of the Troprietois ; and ail tlic settlers on thi> poilion of the town deriscd their tide from Mr. Lowell, who traced Iris title to the grant from 3LissachusLits.

I'crsons \vho had no properly were induced to ,-ettle on the Patent, lor the r?asoir that no agent of the Propriet(Us atlem]»ted to pre- \ent them and because at the time of the first settlement in tlii.«( town the title of the propiietors had not beeu fully established aud

1) irrsToKY OK rNiasTiiV.

many tli(>u,^lit tliLy mi^lit -aiua title l>y i)0;',.t,. .-ion. TIu- titli- to tin strip w a.-. ;'iMi.;i(kMC(l ,uii(m1 awl ('apt. IVtcr ^V(■st m ISO;), an (>arlv .-cttli r. nldaiiird tVoiii iMf. I>u\\rl! a ilrcd ol hi- mill lot liy ))iir<-lia.-r, lu'lng tlu' lii,-t ,-rttlcr in Imlnstiy w lio olitaimd a tith^ to lliflaint. Tlif, settlri> on the .-trip thru inailc an rllint to pniclia>i.' all Mr. Lo\M'ir.-. ri,i;lil, cliosc a rommitli'c of tlircr. Capt. W^st. J)an- i'.l Luce and Sprowell Norton, who contracted with Mr. Lowell lor the vvhole ol'his tract at .^1,;'>7 1-L' per acre. C'apf. ^^'est luul paid (»i' contracted to pav a dollar an acre lor the mill lot :^()() acI■e^. The committee expected to olitain S|.,i(l pel' acre ot the settlers ioi sele<'ted lots wdiicli they imagined would pay tor the whole tract .^o that ihev would m't the ])oor lots lor nothinii' or as a compensation lor their sei\ i<cs. 'I'hey were disap]iointed in their expcctatrons. — It was not in the power of one ol'the settler- to rai>e the mone\- when it IteriinK' due to Mr. Lowell : lait l»y the aid ol' some I'liend. and the roijieaiaiicc of 3L-. JvoWell. l'ourorli\e ohtained deeds ol a lot or hall a lot ; indepeiidenl ol'the contract with the committee. .M'teiin \ain alteiuptini: to eiiloi'i'i' the contrai't aiiainst the commit- tee. ^Ir. Lowi'll ol)tained what he coiild. and then let them ofl' and sold tor the nio-t heconldi^et : irom seventy live cents t(j a dollar and lil'tv cents, and in the conrse of twenty years his title was e.\tin^ni,-h cd. Ill some ca-e.- with co.-l to himself us well as cost to the st'tthn •-. Capt. West was worth nioic than any other settler in town when he nudertook the a^e-iii'y on the committee, and instead of makinir iikjii- ev l)v the. piirclia.se he was driven into the verp' of haiikr iiptcy. Mv. J. lice was in moderate circumstances. By the as.sistancc of a broth- ei- he obtained a di-ed of his lot and Mr. Norton was a yoiini;- man without propeitv andlo;i\oid Iroiilde and cost, left the <-omitry.

PLYMOUTH PATENT OPPOSITION.

Much opi>osition was made in dilVereiit ]»lac(\s w ithin the limit.-" ot the I'lymoiith Patent in several towns to what was considered the mijiist or exorbitant demands of the L'ro[)rietors. The settler.-- in pome jilaces disputed the riiilit ol'the i)roprietors. Li some case- the I'rojirietors claimed not only the riiiht to the soil but also, claim- ed a ri^lit to the biiildiiiL:.- ihei'con and improvements ol'the seltlei>.

Altercations and lawsuits vveii- common amoni: the oMer seltlir- in Keimebec and Lincoln counties, ^[any settlers had served theii coimtrv faithfnilv in the war ol'the IJevoluliou and were turned oti without compensation and from necessity took pos.-ession of wild Jaiid whei-evcr they could iind a. lot uuoc(.-upied ami in a state of na tiire ; as thev were permitted and invited to do. on land of the .Stale, some ol'the I'ldprietors of the riymonth claim were Kn,!.^li.ihmen. uikI .some were inri'^ who lied Irom the eoiintry iliiriii'j' the war. and in u moral ami e((uitable sense had forleited their estates: and althoiiixli the S. .1. ( 'oiirt had inclined to establi.^h their title; the decisions and jndLimenl of the Court were .submitted to with reliu-l- au^'c. They jirodiie<d much excitement and s<niie oiitraiics. These

jii-rm.'v 111' iMn ^■|■|,■v. /

l>r<Hoe(]iu^> at Icii.ali l)i( aiiK mi u'l'iii-ial tliat the Li-^i>latiin; il.-nn- c-il it prmK'iit to intrrtcir and ))a>s((l a Kcs<il\i aiitli(iri/.in:; tlir ,i|i- poiiitirK lit (il CoiiMiii>sic)iiti> toi ({iiirtiii;: radi si-ttlcr uii laml- i>t tliii I'ropiittuis ortliv Kt'.uiR'lK'c I*iirrlia.-f in liis pos^csf^iuii aiKlliilf to diH' liiimlird a(r('> laid <»iil >i» a> to \<v li'a>t irijiiiioii- to adjoiiiiiiL' |.iiid> and mi a.i to iiicliidi' lii.> iiiipicn i iiiciil,^ al siuli piict;.- a^ llnv >lioiild n|Ioi-. ■ ~

COMMISSIONERS.

lion. I'ldi'L' CotViM. State Trrasiinr (a di'criidaiit of ,>ii' I'lioinafl ('ofHii, tlif oiii^iiial Piojiriclor ot llu' Island of Naiitiickt't. wliitsc^ ({(- (•(■nda!it> down to (lie tinif ol llic K'cvolulion cxarlcd (|uit mils of ftll |iiiicliasi'rs of real f state out ot llie taniily line ; of a liiindied poiiiid> of beef or poik or olliei' e(|iii\ elenl anniiHlly wrtli liigli arislaoctrntir iKitioiis) was a[ipoiiited iliainnan. Ilctii. Klijali |{iid;rliani. a .liisti<r of the C. ('. I'lea> and Col. 'riioiiia-. I)\\i;:lit ot Nortliaiiipton a«<oii- ides, all lieinL: of lln> old seliool puritan> of stii<t iinheiMlini: iiileuii- t\, of tile patrician L'rade. with in(caf*ildi- opinions as to tlie litrlits ot tree liolder- ; with no ,syiii|)atliy tur tlespasseis oi' st^milfi-rs as thr sottlei.- Merc <alled.

riic sek'<( ion of these C'onuni.ssioiieis \\ as \ery niifortiiiiat*' lor tlie settlers. Tliey had no personal knowledLTe ot the soil tliov were to appraise, and had no co.ceplion o| the hardships a:id privation of the selllcis hy whose hard lahor ii't only the lands tliev occirpird. hnl ."ll in the yicinily had heeii made availaiilc and acccssihic hy im- provenieiits and roads ; nor of the inipossihilify of raisiriir moncv from the produce of the soil oi' Irom their lalior to pav thr price demanded hy the l'ro|»rielois.

They were rctpiircd to repair to Maine and examine the leirilorv, hear the parties and to -late the term- and pi ict to he paiil I»v each settler who had hceii in posse.>>ioii ot tin land dining' one \car or more.

Tlir ( <immissioner.> came to An;^n.-.ta in ( )e|oher I.'^t):.'. and with- out "ieeiii:: a sinide lotto In- hy tin in appraised, as appraisers on ex- niitioii are rerpiiied 'o do: — they L'a\e nolice to all person- inter- ested to meet them at that place t<i snitmil their ca«;e- to he Ik ard. Hilt a very lew in lhi> town coidd procure (iind> to d» trav llif ex- pense of a journey to Aiit^nsta. and twenty ?eltlt'is were aide to rni?e lunds in moiiev and L'laiii to pay an aireiit's expenses to ;;o lor tlirm. and (.'apt. William Allen weiil a- their aL'enl. One -cttirr hnndod him one silve;- dollar which was all the money he ;.'ot from them to detiiiy exj)oir-e.s. ||c snitmitted lln-ir cases in due form. Aw suiiig

>^ iiiSTOkv (I! iKDi >ruy.

<luostK»ii ^vas raised abnut uiy right to he heard, 1 atteudcd personal. ly. found a largo crowd about the door at Thoinat*' Tavern at An- gn.=<ta, aiul after waiting some time 1 \va.'< admitted without the t\'u\ of counsel or witness. I wfts met hy C. Vaughau, Es(i., tlic Agent of tlic Proprietors (who was assisted by Hon. Janie* Bridge, an eminent CoiinscHor, and Ruel Williams, a yoinig lawyer, with witnesses to testify for the Proprietors) with an objeelion as to my ago and hav" injj no family. I satislied them that 1 was oi age ; they still objeet- ^\\ that I had not been in p(jssPssion and ot age one year al the time of the passage of the Kesolve in the case; and after consuming about all the time that could be allowed to any one, which was lim- ited to halt an hour, the Commissioners decided to take cogni/.ancc of my case ; an<l 1 retired relying on the honor of the Commissioners to )lo me justice, urging them to alHx uo higher ]»rice than was paid lor lauds in the atljoiuing towns purchased of the State ; at fntm fif- ty ceuls to a dollar : whcie the land was of a better (juality than mine. In Farmington a much better town, the State affixed the ))ric!e at five dollars for one hundred acres to the liist twenty settlers : 1 was one of the first twenty on tins' tract.

We were greviously disappointed with the appraisal, which wa,« from one huadred aiul twenty five dollars to two hundred and twen. ty five for a hundred acres and that with back interest and to br paid in IJoslon in a limited lime with interest: and then the agent demanded two dollars more for each deeil and payujcnt in speci? or Boston bills.

The Commissioners made their appraisal from the ap|)earance o^ a few fertile spots or gardens on the '•beautiful Kcniicbcc," and were faring sumptuously at Thomas' well furuishc<l table They were notawarc of the stubborn luifure of the soil in Industry nor of the absolute poverty of the settlers who often had to live on bread alone for days, and sometimes to make a diuucr of herbs ; 1 was pei- mitt«<l to see roast beet on their table at Thomas' but was not able to pay for a dinner with them and uuule my dinner on hard biscui( procured at a store for (>m; cen r.

Thirty-one settlers submitted their claims to the (onimi'^siouers. all were greatly disappointed with the appraisal and otdy eleven of this number by the aid of friends were able to make payment accord- ing to the appraisal and not more than six from their own resoiuces. Sonie of these had 'o sell every animal of stock they had to do it. — Ten others. prevailed on friends to advance the money for them and take the deeds for their security and to give them time to purchase

insToUV (•!• IMvf. T'.JV. 9

ot tlum or reducin llicif !ni>rl;^.i;:c-- . riirii!ltri- t(ju jlMinloaid their possessions aud left tlio town. An ic^c cliipr-c'l Ik r<ii r (lie litlc nl'thc IVoprictors or non-proprirtor/- was oxl iiiuui. iicil.

Apprnii^als it' made I)y a dury tweul v ycai-- allrruard- would not have exeecdod one dollar uud (wcniy-livc ccnls an a.iir, on an aver- age. My lot cost uie two linudred and ;-e\('n dollar,- and forty-two ceuts in 1801:, this sum with animal inlerest would ainoiiiil to more thau four times the amount if appraised by a dniy in 1.Sl'2. 1 was able by selling niy oxen and all my uram and by approprialin,:; my wages for tcaeliing school, to raisi', the necessary sum within ten dol- lars and Elijah Fairbanks of Winlhiop volnntariiy lent mi' that sum to coinplete the payment. I then look look a leccipl of the Treasur- er aud demanded my deed but it was refused for some time till I paid the two dollars re(juircd by the aL';enl laid took a deed without warranty. But to give credit to the Agent, C Van^han, Ksq., ho afterwards put i)rolitable business into my liaml'. aial through hi:-, ageucy 1 made a purclisae ol a large tract from which 1 rcali/.ed several thousand dollars, net prolit in LSI 1 to I.SOI .

When the Proprietors of the Kennebec I'nrclia-c sidd (he, lemnant- of their land in industry at auction, in I.SKi.scnne lot,-, were slrurk off" as low a.s fifteen cents an acre.

NEW VINEYARD, ANSON AND NEW SHARON.

The title to those parts of these towns \v!iich liave been annexed to Midustry was derived fnnu IMassachusetIs al u price varying from twenty five to seventy live cents an acre. The settler, ^ on these tracts aliuost uuiforudy })ur(diased (lieir lands before removing (o them ; generally being able to pay for their land and have some, spare fund- to pay for stock and to begin life on thei!niew farms.

THE VINEYARD GORE LINES-

The tract called the gore was [iiiiehased of the land agent ot Massachusetts in 170,9^by dtmathaii Know lion. lObenc/er iS'orton K:,<\. of Farmington ; C'oriiilius Norton of IMai'lha's Vineyard, ea,ch taking one quarter and by Abiier Norton and Daniel Collins, <(iie eighth each ; During the winter following the parlies pro( iae<l a snr\('y(M- an<l jtrocecdeil to divide. They loniid il (o l)e oliO rods in length and 4<S0 rods wide, they exploi'cd it and run a line aero, s from North to South, dividing into two erpial parls and llieii- allhoniih the land on the southerly side was no belter than thai <ni the northerly side, a,- Ihe south side was nearest lo ihc settlemeiU at Sandy river, they all agreed to make the north sections larger ihan the olliers and that the dividin^r Hue should be run east and wesi from a beach tree t\vo rods

south <)(' t!u- ci uti r. !'>>r|. I^Ikmi Nni'ton !!i,ikin_- ;i'j(l iir^in^ tlu- prnjxusitiuij and mII on tlic s|h)(, ii,L'r''i'<l toiliau' Itit.- tor cadi <|uar(ir. 31r. Kiiowltoii and ('. Xoitoii, dri'W the. t\vi> iioilli s(ctioii>, K. Xov- toii tlir S. W. srrtioii ami Colliiis and A. Xuvtoii. tlif south cast section, all were satistird hut tlic one who drsiL;nat('d the staftini: })()iiit w h(M'oni|ilainL'd that f\ inurllmi itml ('. \orlnii. h.inl ijul imi hiikIi ; tliL'ir lots Itfin;^ t'onr rods widor than the othrr two, that he, did not intend that their should be but two rods diHeieiiee. but as all the others were satisfied the division was continned. Ifowexerto |ia( - itV the eoni|)lainant. they reliniiuished to him their liLiht to pu!- ehases a fragment of LTood lainl adjoinini: the pond.

Mr. Knonlton stop[ied with u.> over ni^ht the next winter and amused us with his account of the ]»nrchase and division of tlic uoro, spottid lines and cxjdoi'ations and mode of proceeding;", reasons itc. We c'lnpiired of him why he called a scjuare tract of land a p;orc ? a !« we all hail aii impression that a ;,'ore was (piite a different (i;^ure from a square. "OIi. he said, we always call any remnant of land be- twccu two towns <i tjitfi'. without r<'i;ard to the sliai)e." Ho remark- ed that in exphirin;; a new i-oute throu;,di the woods, the practice wa> always to .l'o aloiiL,' the ridires of the hills as much as possibK- where the jiassage was not so much obstructed with under brush aud fallen trees, as in the \allevs. 'J'hat the first route of a load from NN'inthrop to the Sandv ri\ er, passed over the hiL;he.«tl hills between the two j)la<'es in a crocked dii'e<-tion fi'om one hill tn another, that the route from the ri\er near Ks(|. Helcher's to the pore in like uiaiincr wa> made by a spotted line from the top of the hill at the back oiu' ot the of the ri\er lots alon^' the highest ridiie to the centei' ot the ;:iirc where the road was bushed out and traveled (till Farminirlon wa^ lueoi'jiorated.) There was then no settlement on that route, a di^- laucc of more than si-\ miles.

FIRST SETTLERS.

The tir.-t .'eltlemeiit within the limits olW hat i.- now the town ni lndn-^tr\-. was niade on the.uore. by Abner Norton and Daniel Col- lins, in 1 )ec. IT'.M. The path fiom the ri\cr scttleiiiient was Inished out so that thev coidd ))ass with a horse sled before the snow became (hep: and then, thev went with snow shoes aud ca,rrie<l their corn to mill on hand sleds.

In the fall of I 7'.I2 mv lather settled within I wo miles oftlniiioii a route from the riser t(» the westerly part ofthotJore which was bii>h- ed onl with a Inanch route to Collins'. Mr. Collins liopiently called on us a- he passed. He was a irood talker and amused the boy> w itii

liloTi •!;•,• Ill- IM.i -ri;v. H

au uccouut i)t'lii.> iulviuliiit , I'v -ra .nil! I.md. <i- \m !! ii. in tin- \voo(l.-, inakiug hti;;;!!'. ttc. Ilr ami Mv. Niulim witc iiric riiHaniicf, ami bi)th li.iil larL,'e taiinlir,-, mn.-tly ilaiiLililri,- wlm iiitrniiairiril in tlii.-. and otiicr towns ami tlinr (K'srvinlanl.s I'orni a. \i'-y i^'.-prctalile nor- lion ut'tlic ( (tninimiity. i\Ir. Niiiton liail Inil twn .-uns. 'I'lic nlde.-t bccarno (jiiilc wraltliy. anil ilicil in I''armin-li'ii, n-|'(M't(i| tor imlnsd-v and iuti'grily. One of .Mr. Cnllins' sons, and alsn a .^on-in-law, br- isunc Mrtbodists itrrarbcr.; ami mined away. 'rin< |»arrnt.i of both families and most of their eliildren weic runsi-Unt rhinrli mondier.--. These patents were treated kindly by their eliildren in tlieir dceiinin" year? and all li\eil to a ltooiI old age.

Cornelius Norton, -Jr. eoniniciiecd clearing land on the "-o re soon after iMr. Collins came, but being a single man, he. did not make the jilace his home till the summer of IT'.M, when lie married iMargaret ]!"lrliei. daughter of 8. IJclcher, Es<(., and commemed houstr kee|iinn' in his lof house. His father, Deacon Cornelius Norton, moved his family into a log liousc on the gore about the same time. He was J)eaeoii of a Haii- tist church and a magistrate, .sustained a good reputation as a peaeeabh , prudent man, had jiassed the meridian of life and from the iiiHrmities of age was not able to do much work. He was exemplary and usel'nl in sustaining religion, lived to old age. lu'loved and respected.

Hi.s son C. Norton, Jr. Es<(., settled first on the north part of the lot a younger brother Ebciiczer lived with his tjitlier about eight years then exchanged his .situation, and Cornelius took the home place and had the care of his father's business in old age ; he became an active member of society, an intelligent, judicious magistrate and town ofHccr, a worthy member of the Congregation,! I Clninh. and died at the age of seventy- six years, transmitting hi.s estate and reputation to his children. His son, Clifford ]>. Norton inherit.sthe homestead and has snci ceded to the good name, fame and reputation of his father a.- a town offncr and mag- istrate. He is also County Commissioner.

Ebenezer Norton was a pious, good man, a iiiemlicr ot I lie l>apti; t Church, respected fin- industry, integrity and christian char.icter. He died of the cold fever in LSI 1. Tlie six daughters of Deacon Norton were esteemed among the fi)reniost of the pi, ice. 'I'lie oldest m.irried at Holmes Hole. The other.- married in L'.irmingfoii, and ,idiiiinin'r towii.^ and all .settled res})eetably.

John and Ebenezer Oakes, step,-on.^ of Mr. Knnwltnii. rmiimenied on his ipiartcr of the gore in I 7'.I2, Imilt a convenient log house <ind s|iciit the winter there single men.

Tristram Haggett, who had been a Ke\ oInfioiMry .-oldii r under Wasli- iiiL'ton, endured nmch suffering and received an honorable di,schar"e a.i Ibllows, viz. :

l2 inSTOIiYOF IXDrSTKV.

''By liLs Excellency George Washington. Es((., General and Commander- in-Chief of the force;- of the United State:; of America. •'These cerliiy that the bearer hereof, Tristram Daggett, soldier in

"the Seventh Massachusetts Regiment, having faithfully served the

""United States and being enlisted ibr the war only is hereby discharged

"from the American Army.

•'Given at Head Quarters the eighth diiy of June, 1 7So.

G. WASHINGTON. "JJy hi.'s Excellency's comnnind ; — J. Tuimbull, Jii.

"ricgistercd in the Books of the lle^'t. ■'The above Tristram Daggett, Soldier, has been honored with a badge "of merit for five year,- faithful service. J. ]?ROOKS,

Lt. Col. Commandin;: 7th Mass. Res."

This document he bc(jueathed (o nic and is now in a frame as a pic- ture in my possession.

Mr. Daggett was one of ; ho original purchasers of the township of New Vineyard, purchased by subscribers for single lots and drew his hundred acres in the first range adjoining the Lowell strip east of the New Vineyard mountains, and was the first to commence operations for a settlement in that <(uarter of the township. In June ITDl he procured a back load of provisions at the settlement at the river, now Farming- ton, and went to the gore by the jtath and there got Mr. Collins to pilot him up the mountain a mile to the town line which had then been newly run and plainly marked by spotted trees with the corners of the lots marked and numbered on the line. Thence he proceeded 'afoot and alone" with his pack on his back and his axe in his hand noticin;; the numbers of the lots from No. lo to his lot No. G, the corner of which lie found in a swamp, but on following the check lino a short distance he came to good land, made a temporary camp near a good spring of pure water which issued from the mountain, covered his small camp with spruce bark, prepared a bed on the ground with a coat of hemlock boughs with small twigs in the room of feathers, so that he could crawl into his camp to sleeji and be protected from the rain. He commenced cutting down the trees in order to make a farm, and soon made an fipen- ing of five or six acres. He often said he never enjoyed himself better in his life than while thus employed ; that he slept more comfortably in his rude camj) than others could in beds of down who lived in idleness, and fjucnchcd his thirst from the spring with a better relish than any epicure ever enjoyed over the choicest wine. None but those who have endured fatigue and thirst in the woods can form an idea of the delicious treat that a spring of clear water in such places affords. No water in open fields where the sun shines upon it bears any comparison to that found in the woods in a spring issuing from a hill. Mr. Daggett built him a log house and moved into it the next year, where he lived three

nisTOUY or inmhstt^v. I'i

years and then sold hiis new i'unu to Cliarlos Luce and moved to the head of the pond on the Lowell strip now Lidustry.

Charles Luee, Levi Butler, Asa Merry. Henry Norton and several others eonimenoed settlements in New Vineyard near Mr. Dairgeti's the same year that he did, and Herbert Ijoardinan, Henry Uutlcr and sons, Joseph Smith and sons, Nathan Daggett, Samuel Daggett. Benjamin ]Jenson and others, the following year.

They cleared a path in which they eould pass with a horse sled from Hein-y Norton's by Charles Luce's to David Merry's and thence through the notch of the mountains to Daniel Luce's (afterwards called the Flint place) and to the settlements on the Gore. 1'his was all the road they had for three years to get out to the older settlements. In 17'.)2 a path was made from the centre of the (J ore along the top of the ridge or easterly of it hy what is now the Titcomb place to the river and in 17'.>2 another branch was made through the westerly part of the Gore iiloug by the Allen place and intersected the other at the Titcomb place then owned by Peter Norton, Sen. By these routes all the back set- tlers went to mill during several years, and many had to carry their grists on their shoulders in summer and on hand sled in the winter.

The business of going to mill in this way, ten or twelve miles, was one of the hardest of the tasks of new settlers, I know by experience. When a l)oy of fourteen [ often went to Starling's mill live miles, and once to Wilton, ten miles, with a half bushel of corn on my shoulder.

Tristram Daggett often passed our camp in \1\)2-^ with a bush- el on his shoulder, or two 1)ushels on a hand sled, a common load; Simpson White was noted for carrying the largest loads, and I ol'ten saw him with a bushel and a half on his back, which he carried tii'teen miles to mill.

Mr. Daggett, with his hand sled, was on one occasion overtaken by a boy on herseback who lived with us coming from mill, and prevailed on the boy to let the horse drag his sled, procured a long wythe, fastened one end to the sh^d and tied the other end to the horse's tail, took his cane to steer with and hold back going down hill, mounted his sled and was dragged several mills. The owner of the horse scolded them fur abusing the horse. Mr. Daggett being a sailor as well as .soldier, made his excuse that he was tired and oat of uind, and thought the horse who had better wind "could take him in tow as well as not." "Tliat he did not mean to al)use the horse." He well an honest well meaning man worked hard as lung as he was able to work, made a good farm by the jiond, which he sold to David Ijuce. Sen., settled on a lot near by and then una small lot near West's Mill. He was severely afflicted with sickne-^s in his lamily many years. His wife was always feeble. She and two of his children after longsickne-^s, died. He was so fortunate as to be placed on the pension list under the Act of fSl-S then under Act

14 lIl-roKV OV 1M>1 -TKV.

of 1.S2S, and at last iimlor tli(^ Act of l.s;!i>, wli'u-li last ho roccivcil as loiijf aF Idii^- as ho livcil. llo inanieil tin- widow of S|irowell Norton, and ill his old a<'e moved to the town oi' I'arkiiiaii. wlu'ie he died, aiicd noaily ninety years. Mr, Daggett's case is ^^tated in detail as a spoci- nien 111 the hardships of early settlers.

In IT'.M. Ansel ?S^)rton imrchased tlie I'arni ol -lohn Oakes and lived on it till he died in IS 1(1.

In 1 7'.t."i David J)avis liecame a jieiiiianent settlor on the west part of the (ioic. IJe snstained a good reputation and was possessed of a good jiroperly. His family were much respected as good citizens.

In 17'.)2 Daniel Luce, a ]teaceal)le. well di!>;posed man. settled in New Vineyard on a lot adjoininu the (lore and in 1 7*M; he and hik son-indaw Benjamin (!ottle. removed to the Lowell strip, lie was a pious maTi a- well as his large ianiily. and all united with the different churches in the ]dace. Three or four joined the Congregational Church, Deacon Cottle, a .'on-indaw and his wile, and llowland Luce, son of i)aniel. were Baptists and one or two daughters were Methodists.

A new road heing cut out from Daniel Collins' to Ilerhert IJoardman'- Mr. 15. moved his fnnily from the river settlement in Dee. 1 70r» with hi- furnitnie on an ox sled, being tin; Hrst ox team that pass^ed over this road to the north of Mr. ('ollins. [. in company with a liridher. on our way to James Mantor's, who lived a ndle or more heyond Mr. 15(tardnian's |da<-e. with a package for the relief of 31r. ^lantor, who and one of his daughters were dangerously sick, on the route overtook Es(|. r>oardman witii his team moving at a slow ]taee. the snow heing a foot deep willi no track and the road extremely rough. We ibllowed along with him that we might have the Iteneht of the track. In passing the steep side hill, a wing oi'the nioiuitain south ol' Butler's Corner, the rigging Ity which the load was secured gave way and let off' part of it, and two or three ))arrels wi'ut hounding down the liill among the Imshes. Estj. B. in his excitement exclaimed. ••There they go, Isaac and Josh! Topsey Turvey !" niiicli to our anuisement. After some delay, he re- covered his stray harri Is. readjusti'd his loa<l with our assistance, ami near night arrived at his log house, I'Vom that place we founel the track hroken out, and heforedark arrived at ^Ir. .Mantor's and found him in the last stages of the disease which terminated his life in a few days. His daughter I'oUy dietl also soon aftei-. IJe expressed his gratitude for the kindne.-s (d' his friends and thanked us for bringing him a little wim? and a few articles that could not be obtained in the neigh- borhood. We stayed there that night and returned the next day.

To remunerate ni\ I'ather for some oi'the articles which he had ]»ro- cured of (lapt. West who then lived on the Kolfe place in Farmington. !Mr. Mantor's elde-^t ^on. Benjamin Mantnr. assisted my father in cut- tini>; down two acres of trees for Capt. \Ve--t, on the mill lot the next year. 17yG.

iii-i(i-v t>r iNKi ~ri;v.

1.')

Mr. IJourtlman \va^ the son of tlir llt\. Ainln'w I'nindman of Cliil- niark, IMartha'w ViiicyarJ. was a hlaiksiiiith hy traJc ami diuii-iL'' tli/ latter part ofhis lifo was a wortliy majiistratc. a --iKii'ssl'iil laiimr mul u jxooil fiti/,«n. He married a (laiiLrhter of i)a\i(l Mcrrv oi" tlic \ iiu - yard whu was cstOi'iued as one of the Ix-st ol" housewives, industrious, iu- telliiieut and pious. No one in town was more ri'spccted as lonii' as slie lived, and her memory is held in kind rememlirance. They were wortliy niend)ers of the Methodist Chunh. Their house which was will furnish- ed was burnt near the elose of tlieir lives with all its contents. Tiiey had three sons, the oldest died at the aL'e of twenty-one, unmarried, the second son married jNIrs. ll(»lihs and died yonnii. leaving; two child ren. his widow afterwards married James Davis, now (»f Starks. liotli thi'se sons were esteeme<l ;is very promisinii' vouul^ men. A vhird <on i- livinir in Farminiiton, an enterprising and prosjicrous trader. Tluv had one daULditer, Catherine, who nnirrit'd Itichanl lAissett.

In 17!».S Capt. Peter \\'est Ituilt a house on the mill lot and moved his family into it. lie was an t.'ccentric man. ](ossesscd of moic than common intellect, a carjienter hy trade, married a daiuditei- of lion. •Shubael ('ottle, a worthy woman of Tishury, Martha's Vineyard. He came iVom the Vineyard to Sandy river in ITlH. settk^d tirst on the Tohey place which he sold and moved onto thelloiti' tlirni now I'aikir's and ill 1 71H» moved to llallowell, wlu're he huilt a small vessel which he nanii'd IJonaparte. in honor of Napoleon, and thence nio\t'd to In- dustry, where he built mills, ever since called West's .Mills. He wa- a j)assionate restless man and when exciteil seemed almost insane. Two oi'his children. John and Hannah were decidedly insane, also a I'rand daughter, lie had three other sons who were respectable members of (H-iety. Two of them. Shubaiil and William settled at llallowell. — His voungest son, I'eter, inherited the homestead and owned the mills and was a su«-cessful trailer many yi^ars, was killed bv a fall from his v.agon. Cajit. West had four otlnn' daughters, one married I<rael But- ler, one JJenjaniin Mantiu, oni' Abraham II.^Villis ami one Henry .Mantor, all were esteemed tor their good ipialities as was also the wife of i'eter, who was a sister to Israel Butler, and rai.«ed up la ige families esteenu'd for their intelligence antl talents. The grand sons (d' (\ipt. \Vi!st have always been among the most active business members of the comnnmity. One grandson has been County Commissioner and County Treasurer. One has been Town Clerk twenty-six years in succession. — Others in ditterent respectalile town oftices. Kepre-entatives and other {)laces of honor and trust.

(apt. West, amt»ng other foibles, believed in witchcraft. When he l)uilt his saw mill there was some defect in the machinery and the saw did not run true. Jle tliought the mill saw bewitched, and told me he had no doubt td' it. "But he said lie drove the old hag ott by threatenini!' her with a hor.se shoe,'' and marked v.iMi ( b^iik the fviiu of a lioise shoo on the gate of the saw.

"-7i'

in lIlSToltV <tv IXDl'STUY.

He was continually on the move and failed to acquire a large estate: but was reputed to be woi'tli more than an\ other man in town when he settled there in ITDs, 1)eing called worth eight hinidi'cd dollars, but lost all l)y a injudic- ious contract for wild land made with Fi'ancis 0. Lowell, and in liis last days was reduced to the \erge of bankruptcy, lie received a small pension which helj^ed to suj)i)ort him in his last years. His wife was a worthy woman, a daugh- ter of Judge Cottle of Tisbury.

In 179") Samuel Crompton an Englisliman, settled on the lot adjoining New Sharon, Thomas Johnson and sons and Zoe Witliee near Withee's Cornel', I7i)()Natha'lWillard and sons at Thomp- son's Corner, and Jose])h Badger also settled near Stark s line, and Archehius Luce on tlie north side of Bannock Hill. Li 1798 he sold to Jonathan Knowlton, Jr. and settled on the Davis h.f. In the hill of 179r), (^lpt. William Allen took ])Ossession of three lots near the outlet of the pond, and I cut down the first tree on what is called Allen's hill, in Oct. of that year. Tlie next vear we cut ei!2;ht aci'cs, built a loo; house and on the last day of April 17V)(S moved into it fi'oni Farmington. where we lived nearly six years. There was tlien no house or clearing within two miles in any direction and no road for that distance. Jonathan Bunker from Xan- tiickiit, a ro[)e makei', moved in on the road east of Bannock Hill in 1797 where he lived hfteen years :ind then I'cmoved to the far west. He was a member of the C'ongregational Church and a good citizen. Capt. JohnThomps(ni mov- ed from A'ienna the name year, and in 1798

nr^TORT OF IXDUSTKY. 17

James Thompson from Norritlg-ewock, both iovmerly irom New Ilamp.shire, William Ladcl and John Stevens from Mount Vernon, James Eveleth from Wiscasset, James Winslow a carpentei- and Alviu Ilawes from Farmingtou, Atkins Ellis from Ilarwick and Ben- jamin Burgess from Martha's Vineyard in 17U0. In lyDO Joseph, Ephraim and Samuel Moody and John Goodrich irom Shaplfigh, John Marshall &. Sous., from Lewistou, and David IMaxwell and Benjamin Jewett from Wells. James Winslow i'yom Fanulngton, was a good citizen, and was worth a1)ont SGOO ivhen hv came here in 1799.

The first settlers in Industry on the patent were .lose[)h Taylor and Peter William in 1792, on that part set off to New Sharon, also a- bout the same time Nathaniel Chapman who was a Ivevolulionary soldier, who removed to Kingfield where he was jjlaeed on the pen. sion list and died. The ten last named were all very poor ; Mr. Marshall was a carpenter and had four sous the most of whom ae. quired a good standing in society ; one was a Colonel of a regiment. and one, namely Alfred, became a Brigadiei- Cieneral and was Ke])- resentative in Congress and held otiier ollices of honor and trust, they all left the place after a i'cw years.

ORGANIZATION OF A MILITARY COMPANY.

In the winter of 1799, the number of families in the settlement^; which now composed a pai't of the towns of Industry the whole of Mercer and part of Smithtield, a tract of territory near twenty miles in extent, was about i'orty. Representation was made to head-quar- ters by ai'dent patriots of adjoining towns, and military otllcers who wished to extend their jurisdic^tion, and some of our settlers devoted to rum and idleness, that the number on these plantations was suf- ficient to form a company in the militia ; and lliereupon orders were issued for a choice of officers and John Thonqisou was chosen Ca}i- tain, Ambrose Arnold of the river settlemenl, I.icutcnanl, and Jal)c/: Norton, Jr., Ensign. At a meeting for the choice of these olfici-rsi my father proposed the name of Industry lor tlie military territory which was adopted by the company, and when llic westerly |»orlioii of the territory was incorporated it retained the name.

When the company was called out on the fii'st Tnesd;iy ol' May 1799 for training, I was designated by Cajit. Tlionqis()n to distrlbiile the orders. The spring was cold and unusually backward, and the snow was more than two feet deep in the woods and no road in any direct course from one settlement to the other. After sjiending one day to go to see the Captain personally, it tool; me a lull day to go

18 HISTORY OF I\l>rSTRY.

from my father's by way of Farmington Village, Farmington Falls, over Cape Cod hill in New Sharon, to Lieuteuant Aruohl's, a dis- tance of tweuty-four miles, ami another day to get home On the fitlth of May the snow was so deep as to l)e impassable where there was no track, bnt with snow shoes. Some went on snow shoes, I followed the only track to get from home to the place of training near Withee's corner, by going tlrst north to llinkley's corner, then east to Thompsom's corner, and then south to Withee's being four times the distance iu a direct line, where there was no path.

When the company met for inspection the whole number wass less than forty ; ragged, rude and luidiciplined, a considerable portion iu- tcm})erate in their habits and too poor to equip themselves. Not one fourth part were efjuiped. The visionary project of organizing the company was extremely oppressive to those liable to do duty and the inhabitants at large. The time spent was worse than lost and no beneiit was derived from our military trainings. The price of pow- der was a dollar a pound at llallowell, and the cost of furnishing powder for town stock and to be used at musters exceeded all our other money taxes for several years to say nothing about the cost of rum. All in these times were in the liabit of drinking on public occasions, especially at military trainings, and many of course would driuk to excess. Nothing short of an over-ruliug providence pre- vented the then rising generation from becoming drunkards. Not- withstanding the unfavorable circumstances which attended the first settlement in this town, a religions element was in operation iu the commmiity and a goodly number of the early settlers became piuns The first military ollicers were all professors of religion. Capt. Thompson was a zealous local preacher ; Lieut. Arnold was a mem- ber of the liaptist church in good and regular standing and much res- pected ; Ensign Norton was a methodist, esteemed for liis prudence, industry and piety.

At the first training Capt. Thompson kneeled down on the snow- before his company and made a fervant prayer commending his men to the protection of Almighty God, and entreated for wisdom and discretion iu the performance of hir; duties.

At the first general muster at Farmington, one of the Farmington companies took oftense at the posting of the conijianies in the line, thought the company degraded by being assigned a lower position than they were entitled to ; on a concerted signal, mutinied without a word being said and left the field. Capt Tlionijjson being extreme- ly ardentand patriotic in all his movements, immediately tendered his services to the Field Ollicers to go with his Fiih:fn[f company and bring bai'k the deserter'^ with force and arm-;; but more prudent

IIISTOUY OF INDISTUY. 19

couucils pveviiiled, ami tlu' (loiieral and Field Ollicers after a loug parley provailtul mi the deserters to come hack and take their place. Tliere was so nineli time spent, however, in adjusting" the matter, that tlie line was uf)t formed and inspected and the ineu treated till the day was nearly spent and all were tired and disordei-ly.

When all things were arranged for the maneauvers of the day, the word of command was given "to form column on the right." One of the captains being deaf could not hear from a distance, eu((uired of his orderly sergeant "Look, what did tlie Col. say?" Look replied ^'■lo tJie ri(j]it nh()>it fucv, (JiKinisseiJ ." The Captain gave the word ac- cordingly and away went his men with a shout. Here then was another case that required skill and explanation to restore order.

At length order was in some measure restored and the i-alions be- ing all consumod the regiment was dismissed and but little benefit derived ; but few left the field any wiser than they came an<l mauy were manifestly worse for the days indulgence : which was the re- sult, generally, so loug as all were inclined to drink who attended muster for more than thirty years. Eveu after the temperance rel. ormatiou had made good improvement in the habits of the commnu- ity, rum and military musters coutinued to be inseparably connected, and if reports be true, )nany of our army officers were a disgrace to our natiouby their habits of intoxication which unlited them for iluty

^'^'^" -' STATE AND COUNTY TAXES-

To increase our troubles, a State Tax was laid on the Plantation of Industry in 1802, of $44, also a county tax to near the same amouut . The Sheriff Avas directed to serve the warrants on some priiu'ipal inhabitant who was able to pay the amount if he did not cause the tax to be duly assessed. Repassed through both jiarts of the jilantatiou and told me he could not tind any such principal inhabitant, and con- cluded to leave the warrants with me. Iliad been of age but one year, had no estate except the produce of some bin-ut laud, and a remnant of a few mouths wages left alter purchasing a suit of clothes ; for fear of the consequences of neglecting my duty, after due inquiry I procured a warrant from a Justice of the Peace for calling a plan- tation meeting, aud Nahum lialdwiu was chosen Clerk and first as- sessor, and Luther Burr and myself the other assessors; Samuel Ilinkley was chosen Treasurer, and a plantation tax was raised to pay for powder for muster and for other expenses.

The meeting was holdeii at Lieut. Arnold's at the river settlement and all the ollicers. exce])t myself, were clioseu from that settlement. The next year the voters in the back settlement out-uumbered the

20 iiisTOin" <H' mnr^^TRY.

otlier.s and cliose all the ofl'iPers iu tlioir section although none ill that section were so well ({iialitied to do business as Mr. Baldwin, who was dropped.

( )u takiiif^ the valuation iu 1S02, no settler had any title to real es- tate, and Peter Daggett was the only settler iu tlie baok sottlemeut who had a house ; all others lived iu log cabins ; his house cost him $300.

At tlie riautatiou meeting on the first Monday in April 1803, the inhabitauts for the first time gave iu their votes for Governor, all for Caleb Strong, except three, Avho voted for GeiTy, (these voters not knowing the christian name of Mr. Gerry) and the return was made accordingly. Tiie next year our Republicans, as the supporters of Mr. (Jerry were called, were seasonably furnished with the Argus whicli had theu been established as a Rejinblicau paper, were then, as ever after, prepared to give their votes according to order, and had a leading majority for forty years of about two to one except one year. The other party was for many years known as federalists. — in 1^(1(1. Strong had It), and Sullivan 3'.) votes.

INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN.

In the winter of 1803 at, the request of James Thompson, our ])lantiat ion Clerk, and others, I prepared a petition to the General CV)nrt for an act of incorporation of that part of the plantation lying west of Starks iu which we ascertained there were more than fifty ratable polls and stated our valuation as 21 to twenty compared with the other part or G-ll of the whole plantation according to the val- uation in 1800. An order of notice was obtained and published, and on tlie 20th day of June 1803, the town was iucorjiorated and bound- ed, west by the Vineyard gore, north by New Vineyard, east by Starks and a line ruuning south from S. W. corner of Stai'ks half a mile to New Sharon, south-west by New Sharon and by a line from the north point of New Sharon and running nortli to the N.E. corner of the Vineyard gore. These lines have all been altered siuce by seven separate acts of the Legislature. Samuel Prescott Esq. of New Sharon was authorized to call tlie first town meeting which was holden at the dwelling house of William Allen, in October 1800 wlieu James Thompson was clioson Moderator ; William Allen, Town Clerk; William Allen, Jr., Capt. Peter AV^'st, D.aniel Luce, Select- men, Assessors and Overseers of the I'ooi- ; .lohu Thompson, Town Treasurer.

The law tlu-n required all over sixteen years of age to pay a poll tax and a specific ?um to be set to each poll, which by the rule of

HI'.TOKV (»1 INDl >ri;v. 21

law put nioro tluau half nf the lax on llic poll,, in tins towu, wliirli bore severely on poor men who had several boy:-; lialde to |niy a polj tax. No one was qualified to vote unless he paid two thirds as nnieli tax lor his estate as was set to his poll. l\y this ride there were but seven legal voters in town afliiirs in LS05 in the whole lov.n ; — tour of whom elaiming to be repidjlicans constituted a majority and did all the business and elected all the town oflicer.s, I'rom their own party. Complaints being made the rule for assessing taxes was al- tered by the Legislature, Hrst so that but one third part of the tax should be set to the polls and minors were exempted; afterwards one fifth then one sixth part was to be set to the polls and in no case, not more than one dollar of any money tax was allowed to be set to the polls, and the residue to be set to the estates. And by the eon. stitution and laws of this State, all persons residing in any town three months prior to any election or town-meeting (except })au})ers and Indians not taxed) are allowed to vote. In LSGl provision was made to set one sixth part of each tax on the polls, but not more than two dollars.

MILLS, ROADS, (Sic,

Henry Norton built a grist mill on a small stream in 1 7!}li-; he had to carry his provisions and part of his mill irons on his shotddcr through the woods and over the mountain nearly six miles. He car- ried out potatoes for his men to eat from Abner Norton's wiien they were finishing his mill, following a spotted line over the mountain.^ The mill proved to be useless for want of water and lor ^vaut of suitable gear.

Rufus Davis built mills at the outlet of the jiond in l.SOl, now called Allen's mills, which ha\ e done good business, espei-ially aflcj. the same passed into the hands of InMijamin and Ncwnum T. Allen, ('apt. Thompson built mills near Starks line in IHQ.j -vvhicli were an accommodation to the settleis in that viciiii!y. Capt. West's mills were built in 17'.><S as has been slated, which have since been lebuilt and have done good business.

A county road was laiil out in 1S02, from Walervillc tliroii'^li llie centre of Starks to Withee's corner in luthntry, thence by Wcek'';^; mills to Farmington, and the next year a branch was laid out from Withee's corner by the Allen place and Allen's mills to the Vine- yard road in Farmiugton at Eulus Allen's, Iinmedialcly after the iirst choice of town officers the Selectmen proceeded to layout (lie other principal roads, to wit : from the corner of Anson near West's mills to AVithee's corner ; from Butler's corner to Davis' corner, from

22 Hl.-TOKY (»1- IKIH ;.Ti;r.

Thompsou's corner over Bannock liill to Ilinklcy's corner, and from liutler's corner to Daniel Collins, and .some other short pieces. In 1<S04 a highway tax of $800 was raised to open the roails.

Face of the Country, Soil and Productions.

The territory now comprising the town is hilly and a i»orlion ot it mountainous especially the Oregon territory or that i)art taken from New Vineyard. The nali\e growth on the hills was Rock Maple, Beach, Birch, Ash and Basswood or Linden. In some places the Rock Maple predominated. The soil on the hills is gen- erally fertile and was iinorable to tirst crops on burnt laad. but gen- erally very stony. Only a small jtortiou of the town is suitable for tillage. The valleys were covered with a mixture of hard wood, hemlock and spruce. In the swamps there was some ceder and a few pines. One hundred acres on the point which extends into the pond was originally covered with good piue timber which at an early day, prior to the settlement of the town, was destroyed by lire. The soil in the valleys is not so good as on the hills, is very stony with few exceptions.

Where the prevailing growth was hard wood, even where it was so stony that places could scarcely be found lor a hoc to enter to jdant corn on burnt land, the first crop of corn or wheat was sure to be good. Corn at the rate of twenty-five bushels or more to an acre the first year, and wheat or rye the second year at the rate of twenty bushels and acre and sometimes more, and tlien when properly seed" ed down a good crop of clover seed could be obtained the third year, and good crops of hay for several years till the stumps decayed so that the ground could be broken up with a plough. But little prolit could be derived from ploughed laud as it required a strong team and much labor to make it i)roductiyc on account of stones. The land when subdued and well seeded down affords the best of pasturage and makes the business of raising sheep more productive than tillage.

Although good crops of corn was raised by the early settlers, they c(ndd not get their surplus jiroducc to market without great expense. In order to procure necessary stores for family use, salt and otlier things they were subject to much fatigue and cost. 1 will illustrate by a case or two of my own. My father liaving raised a good crop of corn the first year that he lived in town, prepared a load of ibrty- tive bushels for market to pay for leather for shoes and to procure necessaries, having bought one yoke of oxen, he procured another yoke on condition that he would pay at Winthrop, lifteen shillings in grain for the hire of them ; got all things in readiness on Saturday

III.^IOKV (M INDIMKV. 23

ill .lauuary 17U0 lor an curly shut ou Muuday muniiug for a wcek'a jaiiut, and I was designated teamster. Tlic boys were called uj> early and oue sent two miles I'or tlie liire<l oxen, and before dayliirht appeared I started with my load. Tlie roads being rough and the track narrow, my i'atlier went with me f'oin- miles to Col. FairI)aMk'.s near the Titcomb place in Farmington to pry u\) tlie sled when it run off the track. We arrived at Col, F's before sunrise, let the oxen rest and cat half an hour, re-laid the load on the sled and s(juared up and made all secure, I then proceeded alone ; the road being liet- ter, crossed the river opposite Farmington ^ illage and arrived at Lowell's in Chestervilie soon after noon, fed my oxen, eat my cold dinner with a tumbler of cider to wash it down; stopped an hour and started again, got to Perry's at sun-set and put up, having driv- en nineteen miles, bought a i)int ot milk and ate bread and milk for supper; got a warm breakfast and started again at sun-rise, drove seventeen miles to AV'iuthrop where I discharged ten bushels of corn from my load to pay the tanner for our winter stock of leather, tried to sell my load, but no one would buy, and had to go three miles fur- ther to leave another portion of my load for ox hire ; on a cross road I was directed wrong, and found myself at the end of a wood road in the dark, could find no suitable place to turn, but with much trouble I got my sled turned by taking m}' forward oxen with the chain to one corner of tlie sled and starting the sled off and tlien start- ing the oxen on the tongue, then first one yoke then the other a little at a time till I got turned ; after half an hour thus si)cnt. I at len'Mh got on the right track and having traveled twenty miles, arrived at Farbanks, my j)lace of deposit, stopi)ed over night, and as my team was beat out 1 accepted an invitation to stop a day to rest. On the fourth day I started early and drove to llallowell by noon, carried hay and bated my oxen in the street, sold my corn for four shillings? got ten dollars in money and the rest ib goods, and started fin- home without entering any l)uildiug in the place except the stores, and drove to Carlton's by flaylight, eight miles; the. next day to Low- ell's twenty-two miles, and on the sixth day in the afternoon got home tired and hungry with about four dollars in money after ))av- ing expenses, and ten dollars in necessary family stores, salt, i^c. the proceeds ot my load of corn after paying the tanner.

Not being entirely discouraged with marketing, a year (u- two af- terwards I ventured again with an ox team by way f)t Vienna, ar rived at the Forks on the second day before night, put up my team at Cummiug's and went to Augusta on foot to try the market as corn was a drug at Hallowell, but could do no better there, returned to

24 IIISTOIJY OF INUL'JTKY.

Ciiminiu|;.>' mukiii'^ twcuty eight inilc;-; Inivcl that <hiy. The next (hove into llallowcll .sold my eoru at sixty ceutt;, two thirds iu goods, letiirned to Mount ^\n■uou at ten o'clock at night, having driven twenty i'our niilca and traveled four miles extra, to recover got)ds left at the .store. On the i'ourth day dro\ e to Farmington Iiill and the tilth day home before noon, with little money left after paying cx))enses but had learned a good le.s.son and determiueil not to go to market again that distance, with an ox team. We after that manag- cn to keep our produce at home till called for by .settler.s.

Povciiy liowcvc]', ol'tt'ii compelled Hew settleis to (•;iii'y llieii" ])i(»(lu('e to iiiai'ket as ,'.oon ;is it was har- vested A\ itliout counting the cost, and some were sure to sell themselves shoit .'it a low pfice, and befoi'e tlie next ciop came lo maturity wei'c com])elled to 1)ny at a, high ))iice for the support of their families.

^Nl.'in}' e\pe(lients were resorted to in our early days to ]aise spending mone}' l)esides working out by the (laA. ]\Iaple sugar was a staple article and lai'ge <pian- tities \vere made by some families yeai-l}'. I made nim^ hundred poimds one season by m}^ own labor without any assistance. I have carried maple sugar on horseback to Augusta to market. Some made shingles, some l)a.skets and some l>rooms to sell. The boys found profit seve]'al years in digging ginsing at half a dollar a ])ound, till it Avas all collected. The main dependence of most of the early settlers during the first year was hiring out ])y the day to farmers iu older places, two to four or six miles distant. A crop of corn was generally rai.sed the second year, tlieu grain, then their new land was seeded down so that they could get hay for a cow. The cows lived in tlie Avoods on bowse during the summei', and corn stalks and meadow hay winter.^. After two or three years, those who were industrious and prudent generally })g- gan to emerge from ])overty and Avant and advanced more rapidly for three or four succeeding years while clearing uj) new land, than afterwards, when they had to break u]) their ne^v land Avith the ])lough, the soil being generally stony and hard to subdue.

All at first had to work hard and fare hard. Many had to live })rincipally on corn bread and j)otatoes the

HISTOUY OF 1M)1>THY,

first year with no meat ('xcej)t pork, and Init little of that.

Schools.

There wei-e no schools of any note Ix-t'oro tlie iiicoi- j)0 ration of the town. An old maiden lady was em- ployed occasionally a short time to teacth cliihiren their letters and to spell ont short words. Her schot)l was kept one month in my barn. She did what she conld "to teach the yonng idea how to shoot" l)nt was <|nite incompetent. I visited her school on one occasion and she had a small class advanced to woi'ds of three syll- ables in the spelling book and when they came to the word "anecdote'' she called it a-neck-dote and defined it to be food eaten between meals.

When the first town school was put in operation the master was quite deficient everyway. When a boy hesitated at the word "biscuit" the master prompted him rashly, "bee sqnit, you rascal" J^ut during the second year a portion of the town nnited with a dis- trict in Farmington which extended from the Vineyard gore to the Titcomb place more than four miles. The school was kept in a log school house noar where Mosh- er lives, by Samuel Belchei*, a competent teacher, and our boys made good progress. The master l)oard- ed with us a part of the time two miles from the school house. When the road was not broken out they had to get l)reakfast by caudle liglit, in oider to be at school in season. The town ever afterwards manifest- ed a commendable interest in the su])port of schools and the youth of the town have l)een Avell taught and a large number of skillful teachers liave been raised up wdio have found employment in some of (he best of grammar schools and ares})ecta])le num]>er havi- oljtain- ed a Colle^re education and become distini^uished ay Clergymen, Lawyers and Teachers in distant j)laces.

I had no opportunity to attend school but one month after I was twelve years old till 1 was twenty-t\vo ; but having learned to read when wo were Aoung, our boys derived great benefit from a small Social Libi-ary which

2(3 HISTORY Ol INDUSTUV.

we joined at Farmingtoii Falls, altliough at the dis- tance, ol'teii miles, 1 attended the meetings eveiy month to leluin my l)ook ; conforming sti-ictly to tlie regula- tions l>y returning all books every four weeks. On one occasion being pressed with work in the month of June, after hurrying off my work I took an early su]> per, went on foot by a spotted line with a liorse load of corn to Weeks Mills and thence ]»y a j-oad through New Sharon to Farmington Falls to exchange a book and do some errands. On my return night overtook me and a thunder cloud came up Avhen I got withiji two miles of home so that could not keep the track with the horse, I therefore, l)efore it C(^mmcnced rain- ing, coming to a large fallen tree, 1 ciawled under it and encam])ed for the night; l)eing fatigued I slept ([uietly till day-light and then got home before the family were up.

We often took long jaunts on moon-light nights in the winter six or seven miles to attend singing school, taught by S. Belcher Esq., where the good old tunes of Sherburn, Majesty, Victory and other tunes were lekeaised and sung with spii-it and animation, more caj)- tivating than the most splendid modei'n tunes or con- c(rts. Tlie school usually closed at nine and after a little con^iatulatiou with i)ur associates we returned home delighted with our excursion although it might be near midnight when we got home.

Religious Meetings.

Although there were many things that were rej)re- hensilile among the early settlers, all were j)oor, lum drinkinu;' was common, many were intemperate, some were vicious and quarrelsome as well as drunkards, and there was no regular preaching for some time. Still a religious clement prevailed a considerable ])ortion of the inhabitants. Several of the early settleis had a short iunv, before, experienced religion and several who had long been esteemed for their l>iety.

Baptists. Keliirious meeting's were first holden on the gore at Deacon Norton's by members of the Bap- tist order. Several of that denomination came from

lllSTOliV Ol- TNDrsTliV.

Martha's Vineyard and Settled ill tliat. vicinity. Kev. Jesse Lee, a noted Methodist })reacher in liistonr through Maine in the fall of 1794 was advised to call and preach at the Deacon's, Imtlindinu^ the f;iniily sick he passed on a mile farther to Daniel Lncr's in New Vineyard ; afterwards in December of the same yeai', Rev. Sylvanns Boardman visited the Deacon and ])reached the first sermon that was ])reachc(l in town. The Baptist thus took precedence of all other religious denominations and as early as 170S, wei-e ori;-anize(l in- to a church and connected with the J>owdoinliani as- sociation consisting of fifteen or twenty mend)ers, and were supplied with preaching every fourtli sabbath by Rev. Oliver Billings, of Fayette, for several years, and occasionally l)y Elder Boardman, Elder Hooper, Elder Frances and others. John Spencer settled in the cor- ner of Anson near West's Mills, priiached several years part of the time in this town, but some inijiutations res- pecting his moral charactei- ini])ared his success. Af- ter eight or ten years, Elisha Bobbins, a ]>ious young man, who was much esteemed, settled in town and was licensed to ineach, but died in 1809. L<'vi Young, Jr. took his place asa jireacher being illiterate and con- scious of his want of (pialification, he after a short time relin([uishcd his post.

In the fall of 1808, Elder Jason Livennore from Ilallowell, spent two months in the town, during the progress of a revival which was more extensive than any revival had been. lie baptised twenty or more, most of Avhom united with the Baptist church. Ad- ditions were also made to the other branches of the church. The Baptists then took measures to hav(^ more preaching than they had Ix^foie, and employed Mr. Oliver Peabody statedly for a year or two, and Elder Hooper of Paris and Elder Cain, of Clinton, preached occasionally. The number of members then, exceeded fifty.

1813-11, Eldei- Thomas ]\b»iTill was em])1oyed stat- edly at a salary of Eighty dollars a year. After two years he left and went to Prospect. Elder J^oardmau

28 Hi.-Tor.Y OF iKDrSTin'.

of Now Sharon then took n tathcrly over-siglit of the chiircli and preaclied to them occasionally as long as he lived. By the minntes of the Bowdoinhani Asso- ciation it appears that fifty-two were returned as nieni- beis of the Baptist Church in the year eighteen hun- dred and nine ; part however I'esided in adjoining towns. About 1854, a second church was formed in the east part of the town and Starks, consisting of a- bout twenty-five members, under the care of Kev. l)a- tns T. Allen (since deceased) and in 1855, lie v. T. Brownson was installed over the church in the Avest part of the town, consisting of about thirty members, fra Emery, Esq., and Franklin Norton of Farmington (now dead) were the deacons. Not having been able to obtain a copy of the statistics of either of these churches, the members are stated l)y estimates only.

Cornelius Norton, Ebenezer Norton, Benjamin Cot- tle, Josiali Butler, Bartlett Allen, James Davis, Alvin Smith, Rowland Luce, Tristram Norton, Abner C. Ames and Ira Emery were prominent members of the Baptist church, and most of their wives, Init nearly all are dead. It is reported that the number during the last twenty years has diminished more by deaths and removals than increased by accessions.

The Baptists from the first settlement of the to\vn to the ])resent time have sustained a respectable stand- ing, embracing some of the best men in town, who have manifested a commendable interest to sustain })reach- ing and to promote the best good of the town.

Methodists. On the first of Dec. 179-1, Kev. Jesse Le(^, a Methodist preacher, as has been stated, on his way from Sandy river to Anson, passed through tlie gore with an intention to 2)reach at Deacon Norton's, was prevented by the sickness of the family and went on and preached at Daniel Luce's who then lived in New Vineyard, being the first sermon preached in that town, lie planned a circle for succeeding preachers, and the next year llev. Enoch Mudge and Rev. Elias Hull were appointed preachers the on Readfield circuit visited tiie new settlement on the Cirore and preached

C 5f ( fT"

niSTORY OF IN'DUSTHY. '20

at A}>ner Norton's occasionally. In the conrsn of the year Mr. Nort<^n and liis wife and one or two of his cliildren with ])aniel Collins and S(jme othei's nia(h' a ]M-ofession of religion, united in a society and were torined into a class. The class increased and Metho- dist pi-eaching was furnished once in four weeks at Mr. Noi'ton's or Mr. GoHin^' for many years. After a few years another class was formed at Esq. Boardnian's, and in 1798 anotlier at Capt. Thompson's Avho was li- censed as a local ])reaclier and officiated with manifest success till the iniirniities of age prevented. lie was a zealous advocate of the cause of religion and devoted to the church of his choice. He \vas esteemed for his piety while he 'belfeved and had muclj influence over the intemperate portion of th«^ citizens as well as with all good men. lie was a good citizen, was Town Ti'eas- urer several years, Representative in the Legislature and once a Senator for the county. He had a good wife.

In lsO'2, John (lower, Esq., moved into town from Farmington, was licensed as a local ])reaclier, was suc- cessful in foi-niing a class in the hnver |)artof the town, and preached occasionally during many yeai's, till he ])ecame incapable hy reason of disease on the lungs. — He was a man of much firmness and decision, of a be- nevolent disposition, of strong mind and of strict integ- rity, a successful citizen highly respected by all who knew him. He was an acting Justice of the IVaee, and Selectman for many years, and once a Kepresentative in the Legislature. He closed a well spentlife in i«4r) agt.'d sixty-five years. His two sons inherit many of his gooil traits of charactei* ; }»oth have moved aw\'iy.

A class of Methodists was formed at West's mills whej-e the society ei-echnl a meeting house and built a small parsonage. Peter West, Jr., was for a long time identified as a prominent member and did much to sus- tain the cause of religion, but failed to secure the good will of all the community, had some jiersonal difficulty with one oi- two and left the society and joined anoth- er church a short time befoie he died.

IIISTOKY Ol' INKUSTnY. 30

V

Daniel Collins, Jr. who was raised up on the Gore, l)ecame a professor of rt^ligion, joined tlie ehiss and was several years a li(;ensed jireaeher.

John Allen (my l)rotlit'r) who in his youth was the rudest boy in tlie i'amily cxpeiienced relij^^ion at a camp meeting' in i,s24 wlien tliiity yeai-s old, after a reguhir probation was admitted to tht' Maine Conl'ei-- ence as a reg'ular pi'eacher and preached statedly till IXGU is extensively known as "Cam]) meeting John."-— lie was so zealous at first that we thought he would not hold out to the end, hut has exceeded our exj)ec- tations.

Henry lUitler experienced religion when young, was admitted to the Maine Confei-ence, and for sevei-al years was highly esteemed as a ])reachei'. He tlied young and was much lamented.

The iMethodists in this town under these and other agencies, l»y tlu^ gracious intiu-position of Divine Provi- dence ac([uire(l a }>redominating inHnence in the town and have no (hjubt contributed assentially to the good order and i)i'os])ei'ity thereof. The "number in the Society in i.s.H was one hundred and sixty and fifteen more on probation." Some belonged to the adjoining tows of Starks and Anson. By the last returns the number had fallen off considera))ly of late years. Rev. Daniel Waterhouse Avas the preacher in charge in I8(;t>. Mem])ers, one hundi-ed thirty eight, pi'obation, four.

Coi/(jre(/(itiomi//stH. About the time of the first set- tlement in this town, Judith Luce, a daughter of Daniel Luce went to live with Samuel Sewall in Farmington, and while residing with that excellent family she ex- pei'ienced I'cligion, united with the church and after- wards married John Trask, a )»i'other of Mi's. Sewall, and removed to hei' father's in this town. Jounthan Lunker a, y*)ung man living at that time neai- Mr. SewalTs, experienced religion uiuler tlie teachings of Mr. Sewall and llev. JoHalhan? Sewall as did Mr. Trask, tlu^y endiraced fully the creed of their patrons, and ever afterwards manifested a child-like regai-d for these good men. Mr. Bunk(U' married in 1797, and. moved into this town. These three persons were the

IITSTOIJY OF IXl>T'STi:V.

germ of tlio Congregational cliiircli in tliis to\vii. Un- der the intluence of his (L-iuglitei-, Trask and lier luis- band, Mr. Luce and two or tliree sons having cxjx'ri- enced religion wei*e induced to join this elmrcli. Wil- liam Allen, Thomas i'^lint, Sanuu^l 3Iason, William llemiek and llufus Viles united and on the twenty- first of e/anuaiy 1802, wer(^ organized into a church (with some female members) and liev. Samuel Scwall as a missionary ^vas at fii-st appointed to take the sjiec- ial charge of the chuich. Both the llev. Jomvthau^ Sewall and the liev. Samuel Sewall always treated ;l/i\ Trask and his wife and Mr. Bunker as tiieir children, often visiting them and frequently preached at tlieii' houses as long as they lived in town.

Rev. JoUiain Sewall in his diary states thai lie preached two hundred and ten sermons in this town during liis ministry. Some ^of the original members moved away, seA'eral ha\'e died. Some additions were made from time to time. Cornelius Norton, Jr., Es([., Jacol) Hayes, Zebulon Allen, Sylvanus Allen were ])roininent members, but are all dead. Pelaliah Sliorey, also, who is living.

This Church has not l)ecn able to sustain preaching for any length ot time statedly, ilex, Aklen Boynton was once settled over them for n year or two, also Rev. Thomas Smith, ilex. Josiah Tucker, was emi)loyed one or two years a ])art of the time and the Rev. Mr. Burnhani has re- cently spent part of his time with them. The number ofmembers has seldom exceeded twenty, including females. The intluence of this church has always had a good etfect on society. Sev- eral were among the foremost in every good work in town.

Hai'rison Allen, by unweared etforts oldained a CoUegate and Ministerial education, was ad-

f)2 HISTORY Ol' IXOUSTRY.

mitted to tlie cliurcli in Farmington, and died ! at his post in Mississippi, as a Missionary to the Choctaws in 1831.

Tlivee of Jacob Hayes's sons graduated witli honor, at Bowdoin College. Stephen, the eld- est is a Congregational preacher in Massachus- etts ; one was drowned in Lake Ontario ; all were talented and highly esteemed.

Thus notwithstanding that many obstacles and unfa^oral)^e circumstances attended the early settlers, their children were placed under the influence of religious instruction in early life and generally imbil)ed religious principles aiul a high regard for religious institutions, and ministers of the gospel of all denominations, Avho visited the place, often going on foot six miles to the place of religious meetings on the sabbath, and in tlie order of Providence, gener- ally ac(iuire(l habits of morality and good order, many of whom by Divine Grace have been res- cued from the dominion of vice and come for- ward, usefid and worthy meml)ers of the church and State.

Boys innured to toil and hardship while young, came on Ihe stage prepared to emerge fi'oni degrading ])overty and ignorance, to sur- mount all diflieulties and to take a rank in so- ciety credital)le to themselves and to their town, and to act well their part in life, and to trans- nut a good name to the succeeding generation.

This town has furnished its full proportion of Senators and Keijresentatives to the Legislature of the State ; with a full <piota of Militia Offi- cers up to a Brigadier General; and when the town Itelomi'ed to the County of Somerset from

IIlsTOSY OF INOrsTP.V.

1809 to 1S3S, it was reniarked tliat this town fui'iiish- ed less business for the conrts than any other to^vn in the county of e(|nal population and that her Jurors were distinguished for their intelligence and disci'etion. Her Kepresentatives and Town CHYicei's liavc with feu- exceptions been professedly pious men and members of the diffei'ent brandies of the chui'cli in good and and reo^ular standing*.

By examining the statistics and i-eeords of tlie town it will be seen tliat the town oftice s from the ])egin- ing were managed with the utmost frugality and econ- omy. The town officers were always attentive to their duties and were satisfied with a snudl com])ensation foi* many years. The pay of the Treasurer for ten years or more was two dollai's a year, and the bills of the Se- lectmen who were also assessors and ovei'seers of the poor averaged from six to eight dollars each. It is jn-e- sumed that no other town in the State was ever organ- ized and managed with so small a tax as this town was for town charges during the first twenty years ; and it was admitted by all who had an opportunity to know, that no town was ever served more ftiithfully ; inso- much that portions of the inhabitants of all the adjoin- ing towns for these and other reasons petitioned for and obtained annexation. But during the last twenty years the to^vn has lost a number of its most efiicient residents, some by death and others by removals or be- ing set off to other towns and the population has tallen off twenty per cent in numl)er and the en- tei-prise and prosperity of the town have materially de- clined.

Census and Statistics.

Katal)le polls 70*

123. IGl.

'• IGlf.

'• LSI.

" I'JO.

" 187.

* Polls over 1(5 years at iirst.

tl'olls over 21 years ofaae, in 1802, Polls overK* years were t.ikeii.

lu 1802.	lulialiitaiits	170,
1810,	'^	r,t;2.
1820,	''	778,
• 1830,	"	S02,
1840,	''	103G,
1850,	Cl	1041,
1860,		847,

84

HISTORY Of industry.

State Valuation and State Taxes.

In

1802, 1812, 1821, 1831, 1841,

iir>o.

I860,

Valuation

1803, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1868,

Town tax $30.

" 80.

** 50.

200.

'^ 400.

700.

1,000.

2,000.

S4,000. 7,680.

38,201.

49,231. 139,067, 147,545. 180,096.

Taxes.

School

State tax

S24,00. 56,00. 100,52. 349,68. 4U,82. 296,99. 283,87.

SOO. 100. 100. 330. 400. 500. 560. 620.25

Highway

S800- 800. 1 ,000. 1,500. 1.500. 1.500. 1,500. 3.00U.

County Commissioners.

1839, Benjamin Allen, three years. 1860, Clifford li. Norton, six years.

Senators.

1833, Rev. John Thompson. 1850, Newman T. Allen.

Representatives.

1819, James Davis .

1822, John Gower, Esq.,

1824, Rev. John Thompson.

1828, Ezekiel Hinkley.

1830, James Stanley, Esq.,

1833, Benjamin Mant or.

1834, Benjamin Allen. 1836, Cornelius Davis. 1838, Francis Meader.

1840, Benjamin Luce. 1845, Truman A. Merrill. 1848, Clifford B. Norton. 1853, Hiram Mantor. 1860, Albert Shaw.

Selectmen. The following have served as Seleetnieii.

Years. 1803, AVilliam Allen. Jr., 7. 1835, George Wiiislow,

1803, Peter West, 1 . 1836, Natluui Goodricli, 180S. Daniel Luce, 1. 1838, Newman T. Allen.

1804, Nathaniel Willard, 1. 1840, John Gihnoro,

Yen vs.

< . 4. 4.

^I^;T<■)UY OF INDCSTRV.

1804, Levi Cireeiilief,

1805, .loseph Cliesley, 1805, James Kveleth, 1805, Thomas Johusou, 180G, Josiah Butler, 1800, Henry Smith, lSOr», Abraham Johnson, 1808, John (Jower. 181o, Bartlett Allen, 1815, Nehenuah Howes. 181G, Cornelhis Norton, 1817, James Davis, 1820, Jabcz Norton, 1820, Daniel Shaw, 1822, Corueilus Davis.

1822, Ezekiel Hinkley.

1823, John Thompson, 1827, Benjamin Allen,

1830, Ebenezer Swift, 1832, Samuel Shaw, 1832, Phiiieas Tolmau, 1832, Clifford B. Norton.

1831, Obed Norton, 1835, Samuel Patterson,

1

1.

1.

1.

i).

2.

2.

14!

8.

2.

7.

•>.

2.

2.

1.

4.

1.

C.

1.

2.

1. 22.

T.

■>

.1840, John (lower, Jr,. 1842, Charles Wiuslow, 1842, Datus T. Allen, 1842, Francis Header, 1845, Hiram Mantor, 1845. George (iower. 184!), Albert Shaw, 1850, Oren Daj;-,ii-ctt. 1850. Daniel Hilton. 1853, Betcr W. Willis.

1853, Ira Emery, dr..

1854, James Cutts,

1855, David l^atterson, 1859, John W. Mantor, 185!:). Benjamin N. Willis. I859, Andrew I^helps, 18G0, Oliver Stephens. 18G0, dames Norton. 18G1, James A. Snell. 18G1, John Willis,

18G5, C. M. Clreeuwood, 18G7, Josiah Emery, 18G8, Geor^tre IMantor. 18G8, (leorse W. Johnson.

1803, William Allen, Sr., 1805, dames' Thompson. 1808, Josiah Butler, 1800, Silas Daggett.

1810, Bartlett Allen.

1811, Samuel Mason,

1812, James Davis,

1 827, Newman T. Allen,

Town Clerks.

Years.

2 1831, Zaehariah Withee.

3.' 1834, Clifford li. Norton,

4. 1835, Asaph Boy den,

1. 1837, Franeis Caldwell.

5. 183c), Charles Norton. 1, 1841, John West,

7. 1843. Peter West P.ntler.

1803, James Thompson.

1804, Peter West,

1805, John Thompson,

1809, Silas Daggett,

1810, James Winslow, 1812, Sylvamis Allen, 181G, Cornelius Davis,

1820, William Remick.

1821, James Stanley, 1832, Ira Emery, 1834, Peter W. Willis. I.s35, (.leor'/f Hobby.

Town Treasurers.

Years.

1. 1838, William Conforlh, 1. 1842, Nathan (loodrioh, 3. 1843, Jaeob Hayes.

1. 1844. Benjamin Allen, 3. 1851, Newman T. Allen.

2. 1853, Albert Shaw, 7. 1854, Elijah Manter,

1. 1,S55, Andrew Tibbetts, S, 185G, Nelson C. Luee,

2. 185!), James Elliott, 1. ISC,;;. Mark Emerv.

Years. 1. 1. 2. 2. 2.

2.

2G.

Yenr,

36 HISTORY OF IXr»rSTRY.

Qualification of Town Officers.

Our earl 3^ settlers had not the advantages of an ear- ly education wliich their children now eiijo}^ and were not skillful accountants, it is therefore not so strange that mistakes were sometimes made. At t]i(^ annual meeting in 1804, Capt. West having served as Select- man the preceediug year presented an account for fin- ger hoards as he called them, the account was not al- lowed as the same were not well made and he was drop- ped from the list of Selectmen for i-e-election : but the town was unwilling to offend him as he paid a higher tax than any other one in town, and to gratify him he was chosen Town Treasurer; on being notified, he le- plied, "I thank you gentlemen, I'l accept," and the first claim that I pay will lie Peter West's, for "finger boards."

Capt. Thompson having served three years as Town Treasurer as successor to Capt. West, declined a re-elec- tion the fourth year, and as a reason said "he could not afford, it" the office run him in debt every year." — "He paid out more than he i-eceived." He was request- ed to present his account and it shoukl l)e allowed : lie replied that he "kept no account," "that he had made no account of debt or credit during the three years." — Being regarded as an honest patriotic man the town heard his verbal statement and allowed him a small sum (with which he was satisfied) and chose a man who had been a sea captain in his stead and directed him to keep an account of his doings. Tlie next year the.captain brought in his account entered in a Treasury Book and declined a re-election because his book would not tell the truth, that he had charged all the bills paid, and entered all the orders he had drawn on col- lectors to pay bills with : that he had done all the bu- siness by orders and bills, had not received or paid a dollar in money on the town's account, Init his book shew a considei'able balance due to him Avhich he knew was not the case-

These are specimens of some the early doings in the Treasury Department of the town,

III^TOUV Ol" INDL'.-iTlU". , 37

Survey of the Lands.

Settlers liad taken possession of tlie lands without any regular survey. In September 1802 a survey of their lots was made l)y Lemuel Perham under the in- spection of Isaac Pillsbury, of Ilallowell, the Proprie- tor's Agent, and Samuel Prescott and Frances Mayhew of New Sharon were agreed upon as chairmen to run out a lot for each settler agreeable to a resolve of the (xeneral Court.

The survey was commenced at Thompson's corner and proceeded south on a range line and the lots were numbered and marked on that line from one to nine. They then returned to the place of beginning and pro- ceeded west, laid out two lots on the rear of the sec- ond range and then extended north and then south from Hinkley's corner till t\venty-four lots vvere sur- veyed.

On the third day I took my first lesson in surveying with the surveyor. We commenced at a small beach tree a few rods south of where George Hobbs house stands and made and marked corners for three lots, No. 25, 2G and 27, run west thirteen rods and marked the north-east corner of my lot No. 28, ran to the pond marked corners of No. 20 and 30, then run across No. 25 and round No. 31 and 2G back to the place of be- ginning so acurately as to hit the corner tree ; demou- tstratiijg clearly to my mind his skill and practical use of the compass and the careful measurement made by the chaii^men. He thus proceeded from da}^ to day till he laid out a lot for each settler numbering from one to sixty four.

Samuel Cromptou's lot was No. 47 by New Sharon line, a good lot on which he made a good farm and i-aised up his family. When he commenced Avorkiug onit in 170-1, he had a little money sufficient to pur- chase his provisions for a year and until he raised corn on his burnt land and had money to pay for some hired help. He was an honest, blunt Englishman, was indus- trious and prudent ;is long as he lived, a man of integ- rity, punctual to all of his engagements and accumu- lated property. One of his sons, George, became a

ju-<i'i>i;v en jMu ,.ti;y.

man oi' hiioiiic.s.s aiul was n Deputy Slicnrt' several years.

Ill 18lU, (.'a])t. rerliaiii eoiii]>]eteil tlie survey of the unsettled lots, numbered them hy the alplialnit A. to S, nineteen lots.

Ill 1802, Cornelius Norton, Jr., surveyed and s})otted the Lowell strip.

Sketches of Early Settlers.

Thomas Johnson was a soldier of the Uevolution and afterwards a sailor. lie came from ]\[artha's Vineyard to Sandy river in 17O0, where he made some stop, ex- ])lored the land on the Patent and commenced clear- ing, in 1771 moved on lots No. 13, took up lots No. ,vj and 10 udjoining, and No. 37 a mile distant for his sons. He had a lai'^e family and was poor Imt managed to mak(! a living. He was nnable to do much labor on account of his age and did not accu^iiulate much i)rop- erty ; sold out in 1809 to Ichabod Johnson Avho came fjom Vermont and moved to Farmington, and was ])laced on the pension list under the act of 1818, and died soon aftei'. His wife was a daughter of Timothy Smith of the Vineyard, possessed of good talents wliiclL she communicated to her sons. Mr. Johnson was a peaceable, still man. He had seven sons who all set- tled in Farmington, where by their mothers Avit and political tact and jierseverence, they for many years obtained a greater influence than any other tamilyin toAvn and were promoted to offices of trust and profit. Timothy, the second son became a worthy preacher of the gospel of the Fi'eewill Baptist order, Avas a success- ful trader and was Post-master many years. Thomas Avas a colonel of the militia ; Abraham Avas a selectman and captain in Industry ; Joseph Avas a Deputy Sher- iff, then trader, IJepresentative, Counsellor and Sheriff A grandson has filled the most important offices un- der the Governor, at Augusta, Speaker of the House of Ilepresentatives L'nd Senator and Mayor of that city, namely, AVilliam T. Johnson, son of William T. John- son Avho, settled in Madison at first, afterAvards in Farm- ington.

Nathaniel Willard and sons settled on^ lots No. o,

in>iOKv oi iMnsruv. 39

14 and l-» at Tlioinpsuii's curiici', they came iVoni Dun- stal^le N. II. lie was a brick layer, was called an honest man but old and not energetic, he was Select- men in 1805 and died the next year. His two sons Samuel and Levi who settled in town were not succes- t'ul. Levi embaiTassed himself by military office's, re- moved to New Portland where he died, and Samuel be- came charii-eable to the town.

Zoe Withee was a llevolutionary soldier and ac- ([uired hal)its in the war, unfavorable to prosperity, came from Londenderry in IN. H. on lot No. 38, With- eels corner. He experienced religion under the influ- ence of Capt. Thompson joined the Methodist class re- formed his habits and ever after sustained a fjood rei>- utation ; with the assistance ol an industrious family lie made a good living and cleared up a good fiirni, ob- tained a i)eusiou under the act of 1818. One of his sous has Ijeen a trader and a selectman in town, and Town Clerk two years.

Archelaus Luce settled first on lot No. is, on Bannock Hill sold his possession to Jonathan Knowlton, Jr. in 1798 and moved to lot No. 27, Davis's corner. In 180« he sold to James Davis and moved away. He came from the Vineyard, was a hard working man, honest in his dealings, but of a roving turn and did not accumu- late property to pay for land.

Knowlton being unable to pay for his land sold his possession to D. Stoyells of Farmington who obtained a title to it and sold to Jacob Hayes, who came from Berwick in 180'J, and soon after w\as married and lived on the lot several years, then swapped with John Pat- terson and moved to the south side of the hill where he made a good farm ; was i)rosperous, made money by keeping sheep of an improved breed, raised up an ex- cellent family, gave three sons a College education, was very industrious and 2)rudent and esteemed as one of the best citizens of the town ; he died in 1853, leaving a good estate to his decendants.

John Patterson came from Damariscotta first to Farm- ington, thence to lot No. 32, in 1806 which he sold to Sylvanus Allen, who sold to his son Freeman, who sold

•10 UISKJUY Ol- IXDLSTKV.

to AVitlu'c and Withee to Simeon Williams. Patter- son moved to the adjoining lot wliicli be sold to Mr. Hayes by exchange. He was not prosperous. He had several sons and daughters who came forward with a good reputation and accumulated good estates and sustained themselves by the influence of a good mother who was esteemed for her piety.

Capt. William Allen, was from Martha's Vineyard, and came first to Sandy river settlement in 1792, and thence to this town in l79S. He had been a clothiei-, trader and sailor, was unsuccessful, came to this place poor witii a large family, did not own so much as a cow, had to hire one and was embarrassed with debts. He made profession of religion soon after he came here, and by the aid of Divine grace and the blessing of God acquired a good reputation and by hard labor with the aid of a jirndent good wife obtained a comfortable sup- jiort for his faniil}^ After the boys, six in number wei'e able to earn their livings liis four daughters Avere industrious and all Avere brought up, and the sons were a1)le to render him all necessary assistance in old age. Although he never acquired much property, he indulged a good hope of an inheritance in the Avorld to come. His wife died in 1831 aged 75 years ; she was an excellent mother. He died in 1842, aged almost 87 years. The family have all removed from the town ; three of the sons, Truman, Harrison and James are dead, also, all liis daughters. Love (xower, Jane Eob- inson, Deborah Men-ill and Clementina (Jook. The sons obtained title to the land he occupied lots No. 30 and 44, also lots No. 2G and 28, from the Proprietors. The two oldei' sons were oftt;n Selectmen, and he and one son several times Town Clerk. The oldest son re- moved to Norridi^'ewock where he has sustained vari- ous offices of trust and prolit and was twelve yeais Clerk of the Courts.

Fj'ancis Meader settled on lot No. 24, which passed into the hands of his son-in-law James Eveleth,then to to Hinkley and Trafton, and is now owned by Rack- leff. Mr. Pleader "was from Nantucket, a carpenter, a Revolutionary soldier and a pensioner when he died

IllSTOUV OK INDl >ri;v. 1 1

aged 87 yeiiis, at $9G, a year, was a ([ui(!t })caceabk; man, who had no enemies, was al\\^a\s ratlier poor, and left no estate.

William Ladd came from Mt. Vernon in 1798, settled iirst on the Meado/ lot No. 22, then on lot No. 21.— His habits were bad, was always poor and moved a\va}'.

Alvin Howes came irom Farndn^ton, formerly from Harwick and settled on lots No. 45, was a successful farmer, did not sell or change his residence till he died 1850, leaving a decent property to his children, he was an honest, moderate man of strict integrit}'.

Atkins Ellis came from Harwich and settled in lot No. 35, in lsOu. He had been a Revolutionary soldier, was extremely })oor and his large family often suffered for bread, ^vas never able to pa}^ for land, ga\e up his possession, moved to lot L. and then to Ri])ley, w^as a peusioner under the Act of Lsi.s, at $9G, a year, and died in old age.

Joshua Pike, an honest good citizen came tVom Salis- bury and settled in the Badgei' lot No. 51, where he lived to old age, and then went to live with a daugh- ter where lie died.

Elisha Luce settled on lot No. o-"» in i.soo, sold to Jonathan Goodridge v.dio came from Lewiston in lyoi. Mr. Goodrich was a blacksmith, made a good living had but one son, Nathan, wdio has acquired a good estate, and is esteemed as one of the best of citizens, is a Meth- odist, has often been a Selectman, and has served a regular course of militia otlicers u[) to Bi-igadier General ; his father was the first Postmaster in town had sever- al daughters esteemed for good habits, and all married well.

Samuel Stevens, a cooper, took ])ossession first of lot No. 12, and then lot R, was not able to pay for land and moved away ; he was a soldier and become a Ilev- olutionar}' pensioner befoi-e he died ; Ik; was intem])er- ate.

Paul Bradbury and two sons came from New i/anip- shireand settled first on lot No. 3, east side of Bannock hill, and then on No. 54, by Starks line; thoy were moderate kind men and rather })oor.

42 ll[.->JX>i;V i>V INDI STKV.

J;ic<>1> ^Latlifws, a rudo sort of a man came iVoiii ^It. Vci'uon and setilod uii lot No. 1), in ISOU, niarj'ied a daughter of Zuc Withee, and after a fcAV years sold tu Moses Totman who came from New Sharon. Mr. Tot- man was wortli some pro])erty, was a slioe-maker, im- proved his farm and i^ained projicrty and brought up iiis family well ; his oldest son, Phineas, moved to Pis- cata(piis county where he lias a good reputation, has been a senato'r for that county, and is much respected.

This sketch may serve as a specimen of the early settlers on the Patent.

The lots iminbered 41, 42, 48, 4',), oO, '>!, 51), (U, G2, Go, G4, G7, GS, part oi' 70 ;iud part of II. I. M. 1\ aud IJ. coiitaininj^ 1500 acres were set oil" and annexed to Kcw Sharon in iy5'_', being a very valnable partoi"tlie town.

The settlers on the Lowell strip were mostly from Martha's Vineyard, Avere possessed of some ^estate, ranked higher in the valuation list than the Tuhabi- tants and were generally of a higher grade iii society. James Stanley, from Berwick, William llemick and Samuel IMarston, from Tamworth, N. 7i., and Daniel Shaw, John llemick and sons, and some other from N. //. settled on the strij), proved to be valuable citizens, who added much to the reputation of the town.

Gilman 7/iltou, a blacksmith and John i/uston, set- tled on the sti'ip, were not so respecta1)le, and their families became chargeable to the town ; rum ruined them.

Deacon Cottle, an early settler was a man of strict in- tegrity aud much esteemed ; he ^vas a shoe maker and made an honest good living ; he had no sons, but a number of daughters, who where well Ijrought up and married well.

Jabez Norton, who settled on the strip in 171)5, was esteemed a good man, was quite aged and gave u]) the care of business to his son Jabez Norton, Jr., They, as well as Deacon Cottle Averc from the Vineyard. Mr. Norton, Jr., \vas one of the 1)est of men, a jiious Meth- odist, mild and conciliatory in his manners, conscien- cious in the discharge of his duty, a friend aud admir- er of all good men. lie made a good farm and sup-' ported his father and mother on it in their old age, was industrious and prudent, was persuaded to take a mil- itary commission aud Avas promoted to be a captain,

lll.-l'iKv (M IMM-IKV. 4o

lull (I'h! 111)1 jKii take ()|- incline (<> (lie \ iriMus iiahil m> coininou witli military ufHccrs, of tieatini;* iiiinse'll" us well as bis men, Avitli intoxicating lic^uoiat military trainings. At an election of field otHceiv, at Starling's tavern in Farmington, Cai)t. Noi-ton was an elector and while the others w^cre anxiously discussing not only the ([ualificatioDS of the candidates, but the([iiality al- so, of Starling's li(|Uor, with some noise and tumult, lie took no })art with them, Init took a seat in a remote corner of the room and struck a Methodist tune in a melodious voice and sung that beautiful hymn as fol- lows :

Je.sus, id lliy comraaud, 1 launch into the deep

And leave my native laud, Wlierc sin lulls all asleep.

For this I would the Avorld resign,

And sail to Heaven with thee and thine.

Thou art my pilot wise, My compass is thy Avord,

My soul each storm delics.

While 1 have sucli a Lord : ^

I trust tliy t'aitlihdness andpfwer,

To save me in the trying hour.

Though rocks and quicksands deep. Through all my passage lie,

Yet Christ will safely keep And guide me with his eye :

My anchor, hojjc sliall firm abide,

And every boisterous storm out-ride.

With faith 1 see, &c., to the end oftlic Hymn.

The noise in the bar-room immediately subsided, and all listened attentiv^ely to the singing, and he was re- ( [nested to repeat it, showing conclusively the influ- ence of music by a pious man, when surrounded with the most unfavorable circumstances to quiet a tumult. The singing had a good effect, and the election came off]ieaceably ami satisfactorily.

The settlers on the Gore and on that ])art of New Vineyard wliicli has been annexed to Industry, as has Ijeen stated, wei'c nearly all from Martha's Vine}'ard, and paid for their land before they went upon it, and had some funds to start with and -were respected for their good moral character and christian virtues.

Many of them were sailors, and ^verc not farmers

41 llirjToKV Ol INDLSIKI.

wlicii tlu'3^ came to Maine, but the must of tliem suc- ceeded in making a good living, and althougli subject to much inconvenience for A\^ant of roads at iirst, Avere generally prosperous. They soon found it to be uiore profitable to make pork for uiarket than to carry their corn fo]"ty miles to market. Some years there was a competition among them m raising hogs and making poi'k. Thefi-hogs averaged 400 to 500 pounds.

^Vfter their new tarms were subdued and seeded dow^n to grass, they turned their attention to raising neat stock and horses, and more recently to raising sheep for which their stony hills are well adapted, and some have grown rich.

idore than half the early settlers who came into the town prior to ijsio, were migratory and continually moved away, some of wdioni Avere the most influential and worthy iidiabitants. James Stanley moved to Fai-mington, James Davis to Starks, Samuel Marston to New iS'haron, James Thompson to western ^Yew York, Bartlett Alleu to Holmes' Hole, AS'ylvanus Allen to 3antncket, William Ivomick to Dover, Daniel ^S^haw to Bangor, Jabez Aorton to Aroostook, Thomas Johnson to Farmington, all of whom have been town officers, aiul also Jbsiah Butler and Charles Aorton, to Aor- ridgewock. The two first named, iS'tanley and Davis, had also been Representatives, and many others who Avere in good standing, and others of less note and many who Avere poor or worthless.

Henry Smith moved to Hallo well, Asa Coiiant lived ill town two years and moved to Temple, VYilliam B. Davis to Dover, Jacob Matliews to St. Albans, Humplirey Clark to Alfred, John Coffin to Shapleigh, Jonathan and Ebcii AYil- liamson to Starks, James Atkinson to Mercer, Jonathan Bnnker to west New York, also John Thompson 2d, Tristram Daggett to Parkman, Mathew Benson to Madison. Daniel Beedy to Pliillips, Peter Beedy to Kingsbury, Arclielaus Luce to George's river, Atkins Ellis to Ripley, John Patterson to Madison, Levi Willard to

IirSTOr.Y OF INDUSTRY. ' 4.")

New Portland, Samuel Loolc to Georgetown, Natlianiel Chapman to Kingiiekl, S:c., Jolm Goodridge, all the Moody's, William Ladd, and otliers of the poorer class moved away after li\- ing in town a few years, such as Samuel Long- ley, EHsha Chesley, Aaron Whitney, liobert Luce. More than one hundred families who once had a residence in the town moved away, the most of whom are dead. Abraham Page came from Farmington, and settled lirst at the head of the pond two years, then on lot No. 29, three years, then near Kufas Allen's in Farming- ton two years, and at last on one acre of land on lot No. 27, near Davis' corner, where he died. He built a small log house in which he lived at each of these places and always depended on working out to support himself and famil}', ^\'as a stout active man to work for others but had no coui'age to work for himself he said because he was such a poor paymaster. His habits were temperate, accomplished a great amount of hard woi'k, lived to an old age, and was always poor, Avas of a peaceable disposition, and might ha^'c accumulated a good estate by a proper api)lica- ti(ni of his energies. No man in tlie country C(ndd use an axe or a scythe with better etfect than he could and always received the highest wages. He often cut down an acre of trees in a day. He had no s1<ill to manage business or to plan or execute worlv, but by the day. Sevei'al others made two or three removals before leaA- ingthe town.

The settlement of the town \v;'..s commenced under very nnfiivorable circumstiuices on account of the gen- eral poverty of all and want of intelligence and de- moralized habits of many, but l)y the interposition of Divine Providence, remarkable success attained tlio of

■40 iiisT<)i;v or iM>rsTT;v.

forts of a pious few, and of those wlio were well dis- posed so that ^vhell tlie town liad been incoi'])orated twelve years there were more professedly pious per- sons in town in proportion to the nnml)er of inhalji- tants than there were in the adjoining towns, setth^d under more favorable circumstances and the reputation of the town for industry, so])riety, prosperit}' and good management, was worhty of commendation. Tiie town affairs were managed with unusual fidelity, and town- meetings were conducted m an orderly and correct manner, •and attracted the attention of the- other towns and induced many worth}' citizens to settle in the town, and settlers on portions of all the adjoining towns sought and obtained annexation by six seperate acts of the Legislature, until within twenty years past, when the tide of pros[)erity turned. The establishing' of the town of Farminfrton as the shire town has induced

o

some of the most enterj)rising men of the place to re- move to that flourishing town, some have gone to oth- er places of business. Young men have gone to the far west in pursuit of wealth, and some to California for gold ; two portions of the territoi'y have been set off and annexed to adjoining towns, and the last cen- sus and valuation shows quite a dimminution of per- sons and estates : and the accessions and remaining ])opulation are not so energetic and prosperous as be- fore these depletions and the efforts of the present in- liabitants seem to l)o in some nu;asure paralized.

It is hoped however, that as ^'there is a tide in the affairs of men'" that the tide of emigration luay ere long turn and that l)usinessmay revive and prosperity l)e revived, and that the former good name, fame and reputation will be restored.

The early settlers of the town have all passed off the stage and the ])resent actors are strangers of an- other generation or of a third generation, who know nothing of the privation and hardships of their ances- tors wiio penetrated the wilderness and subdued the fai-ms and prepared for the comforts they enjoy. Miiy succeeding generations act well their part, Ije industri- ous, temperate and prudent, make higher and higher attainments in everything thai enfible.s them in life,

niSTOiiv oi' iNi<r<Ti!v. 47

and 2')i'f'P''irfc'S them for endless tVlccit}- in tlu' life to come.

W. x\LLEN.

A IJst of fJiP i'ofct's in liidtfsfr}/ in fSO'i.

Allen, William, Allen, Jr. William. Allen, rjartlett liradbury, Paul Brown, Joseph lirown, Samuel Bunker, Jonathan Burgess. Beujamiu Conaut, Asa. Collins, Lemuel Collins, Jr. Lemuel Chapman, Nathaniel Cottle, Benjamin Crompton, Samuel Collin, John Daggett, Tristram Daggett, Peter Ellis, Athens P^veleth. James ( ireenleaf, Levi HoAves, Alvan Johnsou, Thomas Ilosten, John Johnson. James Johnson, Abraham Knowlton, Jonath;in Ladtl, William Luce, Daniel Luce, Jr., Daniel Luce, llowiand

Luce, Truman

List of rofct's in

Allen, Benjamin GoodricltrJ, Nathan

Marshall, John Moody, Joseph Moody, r]phraim IMathew, Jacob Norton, Jabc/C Norton, Jr.. Jabez Norton, Sprowel Page, Abraham Pike, Joshua Kobbins, Ammuel Ivobbins, Jr., Annnne! Ivobbins, Elijah Stevens, Ebenezer Stevens, John Stevens, Samuel Thompson, John Thompson, James Thompson, "id, John Williamson, Jonathan Williamson. Ebenc/.er Webber. John Winslow, James Withee, Zoc Willard, Nathaniel Willard. Samuel Willard, Levi Witham, Peter West, Jr. Peter West, Peter Jewett, Benjamin

(CI)

Allen, Sanuiel B. Allen, Charles A. Allen, Datus T. Allen, Ephriam U. Allen, Albert Ayers, Stephen Bradbury, John S. Bradbury, AltVed Bradbury, Moses Boyden, Asaph Butler, Peter W.

(4()odi-idge, Charles ( roodwin, Alon/.o i latch, David Howes, John Hayes, Charles lliggins, Barna A. lliggins, -fohn C. Hilton, Daniel Howes, Lot Johnson, Henry Jolui-:on. Geoi''>e \V

Norton, William Norton, Hiram Norton, Sanuiel 11. Norton, Horatio ( i. Norton, Clitford B. Oliver, James Oliver, Thomas ]\L l*atterson, David Batlerson, AVesley 'i Binkham, Cortes Perkins, James W. Palmer, Keuel

-:i^^

4s

Bryant, James Bryant, (Jihnan Bryant, ^\'ni. M Bearcc, Silas Brown, Jolui Combs, Francis Collins, Josepli Collins, .Jr., .Iose])Ii Collins, Obed N. Coutbrtli. Bateman Confortli. William Con forth, Jr., AVm. Confortli, Warren Caswell, Snlmon Davis, Cornelins Doyen, Abbott Daggett, Isaae Daggett, Francis Daggett, 2d, Saranel Daggett, John J. Daggett, ^Vm. II. Dntton. Josiah Dnrrill, Hiram I). Emery, Ira Phnery, Jr, Ira Edwards, Brice S. Edgcomb, James Eveleth, Benj. (L Eveleth, Josejjh Eveleth, Jr. Joseph Elliott, James Frost, John •Fogg, Asa Folsom, Daniel Folsom, Jr., Daniel Folsom, AVilliam Q. Frederic, John W. Fassett, Bichard Fish, Elisha Gardiner, Beuel

iiisTonv oi' iNin:>-i

Jolmson, Nathan 8. Johnson, William F. Johnson, Zebediah Jefferies, Ceorge Knowles, Ezekicl Kennedy, Andrew Lnee, Bowland Luce, Moses iM. Luce, Elisha Luce, George W. Luce, Wiuthrop Luce, Luther Luce, Jr., Luther Luce, David Luce, Newall Luce, Nelson C. Jjuce, Jessie Luce, William TI. Luce. Jr., Wm. II. Luce, 2d., Wm. IF. Luce, AYarren Luce, Joseph Look, Davis Leaver, Joseph I^eaver, John Lewis, William Lewis, William (L Ivowe, Daniel C. J^owe, Herbert McLaughlin llichard Miller, George Mosher, John Mantor, John W. Mautor, Elijah Mantor, Henry IMautor, George' i\[autor, riiram Mautor, AYarren jMantor, f Tames Mantor, Asa M. Mantor, John P.

Goodwin, ["John H

Greenwood, ThaddeusMiller Jacob

Greenwood, Hannibal Merry, David

Gray, Obed George, Albert S. Gilmore, James Gilmore, David (i eunings, Kufus (181) '

Given under our hands, August 9, 1855. David Pattcrsou, Albert Shaw, Selectmen,

Norton, Obed Norton, Obed AV. Norton, Trestrau Norton, Benj. AV. Norton, James

Palmer, Daniel B. Packliir, Henry B. Racklilf, J. Sumner IJacklilf, Samuel Rogers, Thomas Ivogers, Thornas S. Shorey, Peletiah Snell, James A« Swift, Ebenezer Swift, Jr., Eljenezer Storer, Philip Storer, Peter M. Spinney, John Shaw, Samuel Shaw, Albert Smith, Ebenezer Smith, Elijah B. Stevens, James Stevens, Oliver Tolman, Moses Tolman, John Tolman, AVilliam Tolman, Aaron True, J. Bartlett Tibbetts, Andrew Tibbetts, Benjamin Taylor, Daniel H. A'iles, Leonard Allies, John IT. Viles, Joseph B. A'^iles, Dennes II. AA^eeks, Philander Webster, Isaac AYhittien, Lssachar AVhittien. James AYillis, Peter AV. AVillis, Benjamin II. AVillis, AVarren N. AVatson, Simeon AVoodstock, Alexander AVelch, AVilliam AVelch, Phillip AVithee, Zachariah AVithee, Daniel AVithee, AVilliam AViUard, Ilaskall AV^hituey, Charles Yeaton, James S. Yeaton, Jonathan

Signed, C. B. Norton,

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