History of Piscataquis County, Maine: From Its Earliest Settlement to 1880

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HARVARD
COLLEGE
LIBRARY

COUNTY BIAP.

HISTOET

OF

PISCATAQUIS COUNTY,

M^INE.

From* its Earliest Settlement to 1880.

BY REV. AMASA LORING.

"The hills are dearest, which our childish feet
Have climbed the earliest; and the streams most sweet
Are ever those at which oar young lips drank —
Stooped to their waters o'er the grassy bank.**

PORTLAND, ME.:

HOYT, FOGG & DONHAM,

Tftft/%

Entered according to act of Congress in tlie year 1880, by Amasa Lobino,
in the Office of tlie Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.

PBINTBD BT B. TOintSTOK AKD CO., POBTLAND, M AINB.

CONTENTS.

\

CnAPTKB I. Introduction, Design, Souroos of help ... 9

Ohaptbb II. Situation, Extent, Boundaries .... 13

Chaptbb UL Natural scenery. Mountains, Lakes, Rivers - - 15

CnAPTKB lY. Natural resources. Farming land. Timber, Water-
power, Quarries, Mines ........2I

Chaftkr Y. Sales, Grants, Surveys ...... 25

Chapter YI. How, When, By whom, first entered. Blood, Townes,
Chase 28

Chapter YII. Dover, Proprietors, First settlers, A. Blood, Townes,
Dows, Longleys, Lambert, Dwelley, Chamberlain, Dea. Rowe,
Incorporation, Grist-mill, Factory, Shire-town, Edes' paper, Rail-
road, Business and professional men ..... 34

Chapter YIU. Sebec, Sale, Mills, First settlers, Incorporation, Dr.
Boynton, Yillage, Professional men ...... OO

Chapter IX. Milo, Purchase, First settlera. Incorporation, Mills,
, Qrowtli, Professional men ........60

Chapter X. Sangerville, Water-power, First settlers. Mills, Incor-
; poration. Leading men, Lost child. Growth, Meeting-house,

Clarks, Factory, CoL Oakes, Bursely, Professional men - - 7S

i Chapter XI. Atkinson, Purchase, First settlers, Dr. Snow, Incor-
poration, Library, Crosby, Mills, Blake's disappearance. Elder
Harvey 00

, Chapter XII. Guilford, Water-power, Purchase, First settlers, In-
corporation, Schools, Minister, Orchards, Leading men, Yillages,
Bridges, Fatal accident. Growth, Factory, Railroad, Gold mine.
Physicians -..-..-.--. 95

Vi CONTENTS.

Chaptsb Xm. Foxcroft, Purchase, First settlers, Mills built,
Chamberlain A Bacon removed, First Sabbath meeting, Incorpo-
ration, Distillery, J. and M. Bradbury, Court held, Forbes family,
Bridge built, S. Chamberlain, Holmes, Mr. Williams, Academy,
Mayo's factory. Professional men ------ 109

Chaptbb XrV. Brownville, Sale, First settlors. Mills built. Dr. Wil-
kins, Rev. H. May, Incorporation, Traders, Slate quarries - 135

Chaptbb XV. Williamsburg, Proprietor, First settlement, M.
GreenleaTs book and map. Incorporation, Preaching, Division,
W. Hatch, M. and E. Greenleaf, Hemmingway's disappoint-
ment, Barnard, Soil, Water-power, First settlers. Incorporated,
Slate quarries. Unincorporated --.-.. 140

Chaptbb XVI. Abbot, First settlement. Mill, Douty A Oakes,
Gower, Incorporation, Upper bridge, Fatal casualties, Other
mills. Railroad, Lower bridge ------- 147

Chaptbb XYIL Medford, Water-power, First settlers. Incorpora-
tion, Kilmarnock, Gen. Boyd ------- 160

Chaptbb XYIII. Parkman, First settlers, Mills, Pingree, E. An-
drews, Soule, Other mills. Incorporation, Elder Hall on temper-
ance. Dr. Parkman, Pease's mills. Professional men - - 163

Chapter XIX. Bingham Purchase, Wellington, First settlers,
Mills, Incorporation, Kingsbury ------ 170

Chaptbb XX. Blanchard, First entrance, Rafting, Plundering,
Purchase, Incorporation, Change, Railroad . - - - 174

Chaptbb XXI. , Monson, Early settlers. Mills built, Cong, church.
Incorporation, Dea. Goodell, A. Greenwood, Dr. Davison, Post-
office, Store, Dea. Robinson, Meeting-house, Kidder's swindle.
Academy, Fires, Slate, Semi-centennial, Hardships, Fatal acci-
dents. Physicians 180

Chaptbb XXII. Omeville, Purchase, Settlement, Mills built, In- T
corporation. Embarrassment, Judge Ome, Elder nome, Elder
Lord, Name changed, J. A. Hoxie 106

t

Chaptbb XXIIL Greenville, Grant, Settlement, Mills built, Steam- ^
boat. Incorporation, Growth 201 !

Chaptbb XXIY. Shirley, Sale, Settlement, Mills, Incorporation, ,
School land. Store, Annexation, Wilson, Grant, Proprietors, Set- i

tlement. Mills, Elliotsville, Proprietors, Settlers, Incorpoi-ation - 206 '

Chaptbb XXY. Unincorporated places, Bowerbank, Proprietors,
Settled, Howard, Sale, Settlers, Mills, Katahdin Iron Works,
Grant, Thomas and Davis, Smith, Pingree, Hinkley <& Edgerly - 215

CONTENTS. VU

Chapteb XXYL Stirring eyents, Indian scare, ICaroh to Bangor,
Cold seasons, Great fire ........ 222

Chaptkb XA.YJL1. Ecclesiastical sketches: Baptist, Congregational-
ist, Free Baptist, Methodist, Universalist, Christian Baptist,
Adyentist 288

Chapteb XXYIIL Temperance Reform, Moral suasion, Washing-
tonianism. Prohibition 202

Chaptkb XXTX. Military organizations. Companies, Regiments,
Officers, Trainings and masters. Our warriors, Reyolutionary, Of
1812, Mexican war, Ciyil war 269

Chaptkb XXX. Fraternal associations: Free Masons, Sons of Tem-
perance, Odd Fellows, Good Templars, Grangers ... 270

Chaptkb XXXL Misoellaneoos: Steadman the Impostor, Railroad
accident at Low's bridge. An old time anecdote. Uncle John and
the bear, The colonel and the ensign. Professional and educated
men. County officers up to 1880 ....... 282

Chaptkb XXXTT. Conclusion ....... 290

A HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTION.

It is proposed in the following pages, to sketch a brief ge-
ographic«al view of Piscataquis County ; to state its early sur-
veys, grants, proprietors and settlers ; to present its natural
resources ; and to detail the progress of its pecuniary, social,
literary and religious interests. We also hope to rescue from
oblivion, those incidents of historical value, which are fast and
forever departing to the grave, with those hoary heads, who
in the sprightliness of their cliildhood and youth both wit-
nessed and helped to enact them. These towns which compose
it, have a history. So has every place which man has ex-
plored, or civilization entered. But for three-fourths of a
century, time's busy pencil has been obliterating the past, in
painting the present; and much that would enrich these
sketches must slumber on in the deep sleep of unrecorded and
forgotten history. Only when the chronicles of life have
been carefully kept, can we say: "We are inheritors of all
the past."

But all the dim footprints of these hardy pioneers have
not been bh)ttcd out. Much that they told to their children,
deeply engraven on the retentive tablets of early childhood,
still abides with the surviving. With great pleasure I refer
to Henry B. Sargent of Milo, Ezekiel Chase of Sebec, Eben
Lambert and Mordecai Mitchell of Dover, Mrs. Sarah J.
Greeley of Foxcroft, and JefTerson P. Moor of Abbot, who

10 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COIINTY.

have furnished facts and data still remembered, by them.
With praisewortliy readiness, the town clerks, so far as re-
quested, have placed their town records before me. It
should be added that the record of children's births, when
the place thereof is given, becomes, in the lapse of time, of
great historic value. The late Robert Low of Guilford, B.
C. Goss of Sangerville, and Eben Greenleaf of Williams-
burg, have been examples of carefulness in this respect.

Family records, too, possess a historical value, reaching far
beyond the circle recorded in them. Several old family Bible
records have done good service in settling dates of early set-
tlements, which could not have been otherwise easily deter-
mined.

By the courtesy of- the late J. S. Holmes Esq., the records
of the Piscataquis Historical Society have been placed at my
disposal. This was formed in 1824, while the first settlers
of Foxcroft and Dover were living, to preserve the early his-
torical incidents of that vicinity ; and I have been essentially
aided by them in compiling the histories of these towns. This
record narrowly escaped the flames, when Mr. Holmes* ofiice
took fire, and thankful may we all be for its rescue.

By request, Capt. S. Chamberlain prepared a brief sketch
of the early settlement of Foxcroft. lliis is preserved en-
tire in the town records, and has been drawn from, in com-
piling the history of that town. So also have the records of
the proprietors of the town of Foxcroft, kept by Col. J. E.
Foxcroft, and also some of his manuscript letters.

The late Robert Low, Esq., kept a brief memorandum of
events in the early settlement of Guilford. The writer, in
his early boyhood, enjoyed the luxury of hearing it read. It
was afterward burnt in the conflagration of Mr. Low's build-
ings, and he reproduced it, as best he could, from memory.
This also has been examined, and though of substantial
value, I am constrained to say, that "the old was better."

C. A. Everett Esq. of Dover, who has made the study of
"land titles" in this county a specialty, has rendered very
important assistance from his "plans," notes, and sketches.

INTRODUCTION. 11

The writer also is largely indebted to Greenleaf 's Survey
of Maine, published in 1829, for historical data oi^ great
value, and now not easily obtained, for this work, and like-
wise Williamson's History of Maine, though once furnished
by the State, to all the incorporated towns, are now hard to be
found. This troublesome destitution reflects severely upon
the carelessness of former town clerks, and also upon the
borrowing propensities of unnamable individuals, who do not
believe it a duty to return a borrowed book to its lawful pos-
sessor.

In the history of the different churches and religious socie-
ties, I have depended upon the published and accepted His-
tories and Minutes of the different denominations ; and the
respective authors of these are responsible for their correct-
ness.

No one who has ever attempted to gather materials for, or
to write, history, will expect entire accuracy or desirable full-
ness in this work. Not every person, whose memory treas-
ures the events of seventy yeai-s, can, in old age, be relied
upon. Many statements evidently made in good faith
and tenaciously held also, have been contradicted by others
equally reliable, and sometimes by written documents. So,
"witli charity toward all, and malice toward none," I have
diligently compared these discrepancies, and sifted and set-
tled them as best I could.

In the following pages, after giving the original number
and range of each township, and the temporary name of the
early settlement, I have, for convenience sake, used the cor-
porate name, though speaking of events which occurred be-
fore that name was given.

So also the entrance of the first family, for a permanent
abodc^ — not the felling of tlic first opening — gives date to the
fir9t settlement. And according to this event, if ascertained,
the first settlers of these towns, are denoted.

As a lover of .history, and an early inhabitant of the Pis-
cataquis valley, I have undertaken this work. And as a per-
sonal apology for so doing, I recall the reason that a certain

12 HISTOBY OF I^ISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

autobiographer gave for writing his own life, to wit: "If
he did not do it, he was satisfied that it never would be
done." So I more than feared that if I did not now attempt
this, the early and most desirable part of the history of this
county would never be written.

Many would regret this, especially when the lapse of time
makes all such narratives more valuable and more sought
after. Deeply do I regret that some one possessing a more
historical memory, and wielding an abler pen, had not un-
dertaken it before so many of the early settlers had fallen
asleep. For then, many dates would have been thoroughly
substantiated, and with far less research than at this pres-
ent time.

Any history would be incomplete without a brief sketch
of the prominent men who shaped the financial, political,
literary, moral, and religious state of society. But a true
and faithful personal history, even of the departed, is a deli-
cate task to undertake. Few realize, while making the jour-
ney of life, that their works will follow them. Yet all should
feel that they,, not posterity, frame their own characters and
build their own most expressive monuments. No deeds are
treated with intended severity, while worthy and virtuous
records are drawn without overweening flattery.

Let then the historical errors of this work be corrected, its
practical hints welcomed, its record of past events be treated
with considerate indulgence.

CHAPTER 11.

8ITITATI0N, EXTENT AND BOUNDARIES.

The whole territory of this county is on the polar side of
the 45th parallel of north latitude, so it has a right to be
cold in winter and temperate in summer. Early frosts and
long winters with deep snows, are usual, though good and
ripe crops of com, grain, and other farm products, save in
exceptionally cold seasons, richly repay the husbandman.
When first entered, this territory was included in Hancock
and Kennebec Counties, but wlien Somerset County was incor-
porated (ill 1809), the western portion, amounting to three
tiers of townships, was embraced in this new county, Nor-
ridgewock then being the shire town. In 1816, when Penobscot
County was incorporated, all but the three western tiers of
townsliips above mentioned, were included in that county,
having Bangor for its shire town.

In 1838 Piscataquis County was incorporated, taking four
tiers of townships from Penobscot, and three from Som-
erset County, the most western tier being fi*om the Bingham
Purchase. It then extended, in its full width, to Canada
line; but in 1844, its northern portion, embracing about sixty
townships, was annexed to Aroostook County.

In its present extent, it is bounded, north by Aroostook,
east and south by Penobscot, and west by Somerset Counties,
containing more than one hundred full townships, with an
^rea of 3,780 square miles.

These townships are generally six miles square, lying in
regular ranges, which are numbered from the north line of
the Waldo Patent (now a part of the north line of Waldo

14 HI8T0IIY OP PISCATAQXnS COUNTY.

County), and the most southern tier in Piscataquis County-
is the sixth range in this numeration. Nearly two-thirds of
these townships are now covered with forests, wholly unoc-
cupied by inhabitants, but more or less entered by those in
pursuit of timber. In its length, north and south, it includes
sixteen townships, and in its width, seven townships.

But the lakes and ponds embraced within its limits, make
up quite an extensive waste of waters ; and its mountains,
though far less than in many parts of our state, materially
reduce the quantity of its settling lands.

CHAPTER III.

KATUBAL SCENEBY.

It would be deeply interesting to present this region in
its primeval grandeur, with its thick, tall, and robust forest
growth, its mist-covered mountains, its sunny hill-tops and
sliaded valleys, its sleeping lakes and rushing rivers, its tan-
gled swamps and marshes.

Not the pine alone, but the hemlock and spruce, the elm
and maple, the birch and beech, towered far above the growth
which now studs its woodlands in the settled parts of the
County and State, and these last-mentioned trees, in the
autumn,

" Took on their trailing drapery,
Flashed with Tyrian dyes."

The Piscataquis valley forced upon its pioneers "heavy
clearing," and riclily repaid them with heavy liarvests. The
first lumbermen also found pines of surpassing height and
dimensions, but the axe was unsparingly lifted upon these
tliick trees, and this glory of the " l^ne Tree State " has
largely departed.

But its hills and mountains, its fertile valleys and ridges,
its streams and lakes still remain, and these have their
charms for the appreciative observer.

The surface of this county is moderately hilly, a mountain
rising here and there, in its own impressive solitude. Katah-
din, tlie highest mountain in the State, towering 5000 feet and
more above the level of the sea, its rugged steeps striped by
the mighty avalanclie, stands within its eastern border. It is

16 HISTOBY OP PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

seen from many of the elevated ridges in the southern part
of the county, but from the deck of the steamboats, when
sailing up Moosehead Lake, and from the head of Chesun*
cook, the view is quite enchanting. It i& about midway be-
tween the Chesuncook settlement and Sherman, and visitors
reach it by drifting down the west branch of the Penobscot,
in the light birch canoe, from the former point, and by a tramp
through the woods of thirty miles, from the latter ; and wlien
they stand upon its bald and lofty summit, usually admit
that they are satisfied.

Kineo, too, which so many visit, and so many have already
described, lifts its bald and storm-stricken head, 700^ feet
above the surface of Moosehead Lake, whose precipitous sides
make it a mighty pillar rising from the water's brink, and
standing as a stern and fearless sentinel.

Squaw Mountain, near the western shore of the lake,
Spencer Mountains, on the eastern side, Boarstone, in the
Elliotsville township, and the Ebeeme Mountains, north of
Sebec and east of Greenville, are all witliin this County, and
have a considerable altitude. The last named mountains
stand out in two distinct ranges. The eastern range runs
nearly north and south, and the two highest peaks are known
as Horseback and Spruceback.

Westward of this, another range stretches oif, two of its
peaks being called Chairback and Ore Mountain. Quite a
depression, called the Gulf, separates Ore Mountain and
Horseback Mountain, within which a small lake hides itself,
and between this and Pleasant River is the Kat^ilidin Iron
Works. Some twenty miles above these, there is a mar-
velous Glen, through which the Pleasant River dashes along,
leaping down in stupendous cataracts, and shooting between
towering walls, so as to rival some of the famous " caflons *'
of the Yellow Stone regions. Flaming accounts of this
Glen have been already given to the public, by its enrap-
tured visitors, and quite as deprecatory ones, of its obstruction
to "log-driving," by lumbermen.

Russell Mountain, in Blanchard, named for a man of that

LAKES, LAKELETS AND mVEBS. 17

name, who was taken sick and died suddenly upon it, many
years since, is famous for the blueberries, which grow upon
it, and which attract large companies, in their mature season.
Its ascent, upon the western slope, has, with some difficulty,
been made with carriages.

LAKES, LAKELETS AND RIVEKS.

Moosehead Lake, the largest body of inland wate\: in New
England, covering a surface of one hundred and twenty
square miles, lies within the western border of this county.
It is thirty-eight miles long, and sixteen miles wide in its
widest part, where its broadest bays spread out, encircling
its largest islands. In other places it is indented with capes
and promontories, Mt. Kineo formuig one of the most im-
posing of these projections. It encloses several islands, the
chief of which are Sugar Isle, containing 5,000 acres, but not
now inhabited, and Deer Isle, containing more than 2,200
acres, upon which a farm is cleared, and a small public house
kept.

This lake is the source of Kennebec River, and is 1,070 feet
above tide water. Many years smce, lumbermen built a
dam across this outlet, which retains seven feet of water
upon the lake's whole surface, which they draw off at their
convenience, in driving down lumber. For nearly forty years
steamboats have moved upon its waters, puffing along its
forest-clad shores, in towing rafts of logs from its extreme
parts to its outlet, and in later months, to accommodate ex-
plorers and summer visitors, who go to gratify their wild-
wood curiosities, to camp out in the "forest primeval," to
fish and fowl in limits unstinted, to regale themselves with
the delicious trout that are drawn from its deep and cool
waters. Hotels, some of the fii*8t chiss, are found at the
"foot of the lake" (Greenville), at Mt. Kineo, at the ex-
treme "head of the lake,", at the outlet, and upon Deer Isle.
In the time of summer travel, regular trips are made to the
head of the lake, and the public mail carried.

This lake does not receive a great amount of inflowing

18 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

water, its elevation being so great that the water-sheds pitch
away frora.it. The west branch of the Penobscot, in its
course to the Chesuncook, passes only about two miles from
the head of this lake, and in two places is reached by carry-
ing places, called the " North-East " and the " North- West
Carry." This river receives all the streams flowing from the
north.

In* Greenville, only three miles from the lake, is Wilson
Pond, the source of Wilson Stream, which flows in a south-
east direction into Sebec Lake.

About three miles frora the most southern part of the lake,
the east branch of the Piscataquis rises, and joined by two
other branches frora the west. Hows south and east into the
Penobscot, after receiving the drainage of a wide extent of
this region.

On 'the west. Moose River is its chief tributary, though
several others come in on that flank, while Roach River, and
a few other smaller streams flow in on the east side.

With some the question may arise, whence the name of
this lake? and when discovered? We are indebted to the In-
dians for both. Some say they so named it, because seen
from the summit of Mt. Kineo, its surface resembles the head
of a moose ; others, that many moose horns were found upon
its banks ; and others, that Mt. Kineo gave its name, as it
appears like a crouching moose ; either of which is possible.

The native Indians were early acquainted with it. One
of their routes fi'om Norridgewock to Canada, was by the
way of the lake, the west branch of Penobscot, and the rivers
Du Loup and Chaudierre; while another was by Dead river,
Megantic lake and the Chaudierre. It is now certain that a
Canadian engineer came through on this eastern route as far
as Fort Weston (Augusta), previous to Arnold's expedition
to Canada in 1775. A defective copy of his report is in Vol.
I of "Collections of the Maine Historical Society.'*

Sebec Lake covers a part of number eight, eighth range,
a part of Bowerbank, and narrowing as it proceeds eastwardly,
crosses a corner of Foxcroft, and terminates at Sebec village.

LAKES, LAKELETS AND BIVEBS. 19

Its whole length is fourteen miles, its width from one-half of
a mile to five miles, its whole area being from eighteen to
twenty-five square miles. It receives the contributions of
more than twenty ponds, whose united surface would equal
its own. This lake was once surrounded by valuable pine
and other timber, all of which is not exhausted. It is also a
place of popular resort, a small steamboat plying along its
landing places, and a hotel is kept at the heiEid of it, toward
whicli travel is now drifting. •

Sebec River carries the surplus water of this lake into the
, Piscataquis, affording several fine water privileges, two of
whicli, one at Sebec village, the other at Milo, are utilized,
and will be fully described in the sketches of those places.

Schoodic Lake, in the township next east of Brownville, is
twelve miles long, and four miles wide. This also discharges
its waters into the Piscataquis, in Medford, making a first-
rate water power, upon which mills have been erected.

Chesuncook Lake, about twenty-five miles north-east from
the head of Moosehead Lake, is fif teeen miles long, and from
one to three miles wide. A small settlement of whites and
Indians is found at the head of this lake, who depend for
employment upon cutting and driving timber.

The west branch of the Penobscot passes through this
lake, and a large amount of lumbering is usually done in this
vicinity. The travel to this place in summer is across the
carrys from Moosehead Lake, and down the west branch in
birch canoes.

The northern unsettled townships abound with lakes,
ponds and streams, too numerous to mention, several of
which pass into the St. John River. Without them many
of its timber tracts would have been comparatively worth-
less, but they have been made the highways of immense
quantities of lumber.

Hebron Pond in Monson, Davis Pond in Guilford, North-
west Pond in Sangerville, Kingsbury Pond in Kingsbury and
Mayfield, Center Pond in Sangerville, and Boyd's Lake in
Orneville, all have dams at their outlets, and subserve man-

20 HISTORY OP PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

ufacturing enterprises. The flowage of all these is into the
Piscataquis, except Center Pond and Boyd's Lake ; Kings-
bury Pond being the source of the south branch of that river.

Another strange feature in these water sheds is seen in
the course of Main-stream. It rises in the north part of
Garland, passes on westward into Dexter, near its northern
line, receiving the outlet of Center Pond, and other streams
in Sangerville, Parkman and Wellington, and falls intoMoose
Pond in Harmony. This pond vents its surplus waters into
the Sebasticook, and down this, into the Kennebec. Main-
stream runs nearly parallel with the Piscataquis, in the
opposite direction, and only qhont seven miles distant from it.

Black Stream and Alder Stream rise near the south line of
Dover ; and both of them flow northward, making available
mill sites, both emptying into the Piscataquis.

The Piscataquis is the most note-worthy of its rivers. It
suggested the name of the county. Upon this river the first
settlements were made, and upon this and its branches are
nearly all its settled towns. Upon its head waters, pines and
spruces, of a most excellent quality, abounded, and early at-
tracted the notice of lumbermen.

CHATTER IV.

KATURAL BESOUBCES.

This county has large tracts of fertile and easily culti-
vated soil, only a psvrt of wliich lias been well worked, and
fully developed. Its first crops were unsurpiissed in New
England. Then it had only " to be tickled with the hoe, to
laugh with a harvest." Corn and potatoes, grain of all
kinds, and grass, sprang from its virgin soil in prodigal luxu-
riance. Nor was its primeval fertility soon exhausted. Its
present show of crops declares that good husbandry will well
repay the laborer's toil. Its intervals are beautiful and
abundantly productive, while its uplands are far less encum-
bered with stones, than shnilar soil in the western parts of
tliis State. In the agricultural quality of the soil^ rests the
cliief and abiding productive resource of this county ; and the
farm the orchard and the garden must ever be the main re-
liance for pecuniary prosperity.

This county could once boast the most valuable timber
lands in the State, with streams sufficient to float out tlieir
productions. But now, like other timber tracts in Maine, its
pine is well nigh exhausted, though spruce, hemlock and
cedar still abound, and promise to. In its hard wood growth,
it also has immense resources. Birch, maple and ash, bass-
wood, poplar and wliite bircli are abundant, and are now
turned to good account for various manufacturing purposes.

Watbb Powbb. No part of our State is better supplied.
Nearly every town now settled has one or more good mill
privileges, most of them, several, as the more detailed ac-
count of the several towns will evince.

I

22 HISTORY OP PISCATAQUIS COUNTY. .

Slate also abounds in immense quarries, and the opening
and working of these give much scope to productive in-
diistry. As early as 1828, Hon. Moses Greenleaf discovered
a vein of argillite slate extending across the county. It has
been opened in Brownville, Williamsburg, Barnard, Foxcroft,
Monson, Blanchard and Kingsbury. One of these quarries,
near Mr. Greenleaf *s former dwelling, is successfully worked
by A. H. Merrill Esq., and he has orders for slate from the
Western States, and sometimes from Europe. He took the
first premium on roofing slate, at the Centennial Fair in
Philadelphia.

Granite. This county abounds with boulders and quar-
ries of superior granite, much of it easily wrought out. It
has been extensively used for various purposes; but as other
building material is readily procured, it has not been used in
the entire structure of buildings.

Limestone is found in Abbott, Guilford, Foxcroft and
Dover, from which a good fertilizer can be obtained; and
which the soil much needs, in order to produce good crops
of corn atid grain. A certtiin kind is found in Foxcroft
and Dover, which is used to advantage in the smelting of
iron ore at the Katahdin Iron Works.

Minerals. An extensive mine of iron ore is found in
No. six, ninth range, which ]ia« been wrought by the Katah-
din Iron Works Company. This has furnished a large amount
of emplojrment. Since the Bangor and Piscataquis Railroad
has been operating, the transportation of its products by
teams has been reduced to sixteen miles, and it may soon be
farther reduced.

A bed of copperas has quite recently been struck, beneath
the stratum of iron ore ; and if this is as extensive as it prom-
ises to be, it will add another article of value and of profit to
its productions.

The Iron Ore is found at the foot of one of the Ebeeme

NATURAL RESOUBGBS. 23

I

Mountains, called Ore Mountain, and is also near the west
branch of Pleasant River, and of the outlet of a small lake
which sleeps beneath the shadow of the mountain.

Gold, silver and copper, in small quantities, werp found in
a ledge on the John Bennett farm in Guilford ; and sanguine
expectations raised that rich deposits were concealed beneath.
A company conditionally purchased the location, and made
large expenditures in tunnelling a long way into the hill, but
no vein was struck, and the enterpiise was abandoned.

Animals. In early times wild' beasts abounded in these
forests, affording attractive game to the hunter. The moose
was the largest in size, the most imposing in mein, and most
desirable for food, of all. These are still occupants of the
northern forests, and the killing of them is prohibited in the
breeding season. Deer have been occasionally met, while
wolves have ever been few and far between. Bears were
once numerous, and in the early settlements often "made the
night hideous," but wore never known to attack a person,
though they invaded the ripening cornfields and tlie sheep
pastures. They still prowl about, and at times are decidedly
troublesome.

About fifty years since, the loup-cerviers were more daring
and rapacious than the bears, in destroying sheep, but their
day was sliort, they soon departed.

The beaver was once here, and caught by the old liunters ;
but now they are unknown. The fox, sable, musquash, mink
and such animals, are still found in diminished numbers.

The partridge, the pigeon and the duck, of all the feathery
tribes, afford the most delicious food, and best repay the
huntsman, though the sportsman can find keen entertain-
ment in the chase of the loon, wild goose, eagle, crow and
hen-hawk.

Flsh. The lakes and rivers of this county once abounded
with excellent fish. Alewives ascended the Piscataquis in
immense quantities, and were dipped out and left to decay

24 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

in heaps upon its banks, in mere wantonness. Proposals to
choose fish-wardens, and regulate the business were treated
with ridicule. Salmon, too, ran up the main river, and its
principal i)ranches, affording rich supplies of fresh provisions
to the early pioneers. The building of mills and dams has
proved to be an obstruction, yet they were found below Fox-
croft dam as late as 1825. Now they are nearly unknown iu
this river. Trout of the largest size, and of the most deli-
cious flavor, were found in its lakes. In Moosehead, the
largest were caught, and in Sebec Lake and Hebron Pond
some of good size and quality were usually taken ; these are
not yet exhausted.

CHAPTER V.

SALES, GRANTS AND SURVEYS.

After the war of the Revolution, and the adoption of our
National Constitution, both the National and State govern-
ments, were deeply in debt, as they now are. But the State
of Massachusetts had a wide domain of unsettled lands, all
in the district of Maine. To avoid oppressive taxation, the
State government resolved to put these into the market, to
raise a revenue from their sales, and to make them taxable.

Commissioners had been appointed soon after the close of
the war, to investigate tlio claims of settlers, and of other
claimants ; and these earlier titles had been adjusted. The
State adopted a "lottery scheme," selling tickets for a cer-
tain price, which would draw a proportionate amount of wild
land, in some specified township. By this way large portions
of eastern lands lying between Union River and the Prov-
ince line were disposed of. This waked up a lively interest
in wild land, and from 1785 to 1810, a smart land specidation
was in full blast, in which the State won considerable profit.
But it was soon foimd that this was crowding too much wild
land upon the market, that settlers could not be found to
occupy it, and then it wound up this method of disposing of
it.

A land ollicc was establislicd, but instead of a Land Agent,
a Committee of three was appointed to conduct the business,
and they sold townsliips, or small tracts, on certain estab-
lished conditions. In each township sold, the purchasers
were required to reserve four lots of three hundred and
twenty acres each, of average quality and quantity, for pub-

26 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

lie uses ; to wit, one lot for the use and benefit of the State
itself; one, for the first minister of the gospel that the town
after its incorporation would vote to settle as their minister ;
one to produce a ministerial fund, the income to go for the
annual support of the acting ministry in town ; and one for
a school fund, the income of which should go for the support
of common schools.

Purchasers of townships were required to have a certain
number of actual settlers residing in the township by a spec-
ified time. Some, however, failed, and by petitioning the
General Court, obtained an extension. Hallowell and Lowell
found this necessary, to confirm Vaughan's title to Charles-
ton and Dover.

These sales required the running out and numbering of
new townships. Toward the close of the last century a wide
breadth of wild lands was surveyed and prepared for sale.
Plans and minutes of surveys, now in the land office show,
that Ephraim Ballard and Samuel Weston, run out the
sixth range, the most southerly tier of towns in Piscataquis
County, from Lagrange to Wellington, in 1792. Also that
Mr. Weston, aided by his brother Steplien, run out the
seventh and eighth ranges in 1794. The eighth range is now
known to be seven miles wide or more ; why, it does not
appear, but it gives its included townships an increase of
acreage. Grants in the ninth range attribute the running
out of that range to Mr. John Boardman, but the date there-
of is not known. The lotting out of each township will be
noticed in its respective history.

During this same period the State pursued a very liberal
policy toward institutions of learning, and other works of
public improvement. Large grants were made to Colleges
and Academies; also to aid in opening canals, turnpikes, and
free bridges over large rivers, and public roads tlu'ongh un-
settled places. Several townships in this county were thus
granted and conveyed by their grantees to their respective
purchasers.

In the act, incorporating Bowdoin College, passed June,

SALES, GRANTS, AND SURVEYS. 27

1794, five full townships of the miappropriated lands of the
State, were granted to that institution. They were to be se-
lected and laid out under the direction of the State Commit-
tee for the sale of wild lands. The grantees were to reserve,
in each townsliip, three lots of three hundred and twenty
acres each, for public uses, and to have fifteen families settled
in each township within twelve years of the passage of said
act. In pursuance thereof, the College Committee selected
the Dixmont township ; and also four contiguous townships
on the north side of Piscataquis River, Numbers Four, Five,
Six and Seven in the Seventh Range, now known as Seboc,
Foxcroft, Guilford and Abbott.

At a later date the General Court granted two other town-
ships, numbers seven and eight, tenth range, lying east of
Greenville, to the same institution. The Monson township was
granted, the west half to Hebron Academy in this State, the
east half to Monson Academy in Massachusetts. One-half of
the. Greenville township was granted to Saco Academy, and
the other half to Saco fi'ee bridge ; and one-half of the Katah-
din Iron Works' township was a grant to Warren Academy.

The west half of Medford was a grant to David Gilmore,
for making the Dixmont road; and number nine, ninth
range, eventually Wilson, was granted to the Massachusetts
Medical Society.

Other townships were early sold by tlie State to individ-
uals, and though at extremely low prices, and on liberal con-
ditions as to introducing settlers, they sometimes failed to
meet their engagements, and the land reverted to the State.
Previous to 1820 the State realized only twenty-five cents
per acre, as an average price.

CHAPTER VI.

i

HOW, WHEN, AND BY WHOM FIRST ENTBRBD.

It must be borne in mind that this region, when entered
by its pioneers, was remote from other settlements; conse-
quently without open roads, or convenient passage by water.
Hence some of their greatest hardships. The lowlands and
swamps were miry, and, as the snow usually fell early, they
would not be frozen and passable till deep snow ob-
structed traveling. Hence heavy burdens were brought in
on horseback, and on rude "cars", the transportation of wldch
sledding would have facilitated. Hence several of the wom-
en who were the first to occupy these wilderness homes,
rode with tlieir babes in their arms, on hoi*Hcback, their Iiuh-
bands tracing out a spotted line, which alone marked a dim
and winding way. Late in winter, when settlers would fre-
quently attempt to move in, the roads would be full of loose
snow. Some heavy articles were boated up the rivers to
Brownville and Dover, but stemming the rapids was labo-
rious, and at the steeper falls they were obliged to unlade
their boats, and carry their cargoes around them.

Most of the early settlers from the central and western
parts of Maine, came by way of Skowhegan (then Canaan),
thence to Cornville, Athens, Harmony, Ripley and Dexter.
Those from Massachusetts and New Hampshire sometimes
took passage by water to Bangor, and found a road to
Charleston. By the autumn of 1803, Capt. Ezekiel Chase
moved his family from Carratunk to his opening near the
present Sebec and Atkinson bridge, with teams ; but Benja-
min Sargent brought his on horseback from Bangor, at the

THE FIRST 8BTTLBES. 29

same time. The toad through Atkinson to Sebec Mills was
opened early, and many of the settlers of Brownville came
in by this way. As early as 1804, single horse teams brought
families into Amestown ; and in 1806 teams came into Guil-
ford in the winter; and in the autumn of that year, Capt.
John Bennett reached there with a loaded ox-cart. In the
fall of 1807, Capt. Samuel Chamberlain and Ephraun Baker
moved their families, provisions, and household effects from
Bangor to Foxcroft, on an ox-wagon. They were two days
in getting from Charleston to Foxcroft, fifteen miles, having
to bridge streams and swamps, and often to widen the way be-
fore they could pass. Thus detained, tliey were under the
necessity of camping out over night, — quite a rough experi-
ence for the women and children, as they had not expected
to do it, and were not prepared for it, — ^while their team had
but a scanty supply of fodder.

After a few years, a shorter way from Skowhegan to these
parts was opened from Harmony, through the present towns
of Cambridge and Parkman. Probably about 1812 this was
done, but several years elapsed before it became a good car-,
riage road. Previous to 1814, a road was cut out from San-
gerville to Garland, and this opened a way to Bangor, for the

upper settlements on Piscataquis River.

«

The First Settlers. It may be interesting to know
who were the first to break into this "howling wilderness;"
to brave the hardsliips incident to introducing civilized life
and progress into these boundless forests ; which of the
towns was first settled ; and who was the first permanent
settler of this county. Certainty, in respect to dates, after so
long a period, and after all these first pioneers havfe fallen
asleep, is not easily arrived at, on all points, but the more
important have been secured by patient research. The best
sustained conclusion may be stated thus : Abel Blood felled
the first opening on Piscataquis River, in the Dover township,
as early as June, 1799. It is not certain that any begin-
nings were made the next year. But in 1801, Moses and

80 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

Stephen Snow and Benjamin Sargent felled openings in the
Milo township ; Moses Towne on a part of the Blood purchase ;
and Col. J. E. Poxcroft hired Samuel Elkins to fell twenty
acres on his newly purchased township ; and it is said that
Jonas Parlin felled a few acres on the Burrill interval, but
did not proceed to occupy it. In 1802, Ezekiel Chase felled
an opening in Sebec, Bylie Lyford, in Atkinson, and Phineas
Ames, in Sangerville townships, respectively. In 1804, the
first openings were felled in Guilford, by Low and Herring,
and the next year, one in Abbott, by Abraham Moor, Esq.

Abel Blood, with a hired man, spent the summer of 1800 on
his clearing, raising and harvesting a crop. Col. Foxcroft's'
account of his exploration of Number Five, Seventh Range,
confirms this statement. In the spring of 1802 the Townes, —
Thomas Towne, the father, Moses, and probably Eli,, his sons,
— came to their opening, bringing Moses' wife, who camped
with, cooked and washed for, them. In the fall, Eli and Mrs.
Moses Towne returned to Temple, N. H., but Thomas and
Moses Towne continued through the winter, hunting, fishing,
and as spring came on, making maple sugar. In the spring
of 1803, Eli Towne, witli liis wife and child one year old,
started from Temple, N. H., for the Piscataquis settlement.
They reached it May 8, 1803. This may be confidently set
down as the first family that moved into the county. In the
autumn of 1803, Capt. Ezekiel Chase moved his family into
Sebec; Benjamin Sargent, his, into Milo; and Phineas Ames,
his, into Sangerville. In tlie spring of 1804, Bylie Lyford
moved into the Atkinson township, and Lyford Dow and
Abel Blood, probably, brought their families into Dover.
These dates accord with the best data that I have been able
to collect, and with the best recollections of the survivors of
those early families, excepting the Benjamin Sargent family
of Milo. And here the reasons which led to those conclu-
sions shall be given. That Abel Blood purchased a square
milo of land in the Dover township, and located it wliero
East Dover village and its surroundings now are, is unques-
tioned. The statement that he felled the first trees on it, in

THE FinST SETTLERS. 81

June, 1799, was recorded when some of the men employed
to do it, Seth and John Spaulding, were present. Col. Fox-
croft*s statement, that he found Blood there in the autumn
of 1800, and that he had raised a crop of corn and other veg-
etables that year, corroborates that date. Col. Foxcroft also
stated that it was in June, 1801, that Samuel Elkins felled
the first opening in his township. This is confirmed by the
statement of two writers, who give the early history of Dex-
ter, to wit, that Samuel Elkins spent the summer of 1801 in
building the first mills in Dexter, and that in 1802, his health
failed, and his brother Daniel came and finished the mills,
and put them into operation. Messrs. Foxcroft and Jolm-
son, wlien they came to explore Number Five, left theii* horses
with Samuel Elldns in' Cornville ; and as he was at Dexter
during the summer of 1801, he could quite conveniently re-
pair to the Foxcroft township, and do that job with his work-
men, at the proper season.

Reliable records show that Alvin Towne, the cliild which
Eli Townc and wife brought to their home on hoinscback, was
bom in Temple, N. H., April 24, 1802, confirming the date
of his incoming to be, as Mr. Towne always gave it when
living, May 8, 1803.

Ezekiel Chase jr. afiirmed that he was five years old
when their family moved to Sebec; that.it was in the fall
of the year; that the Sargent family was at their log-house
when they reached it; and that By lie Lyford's family came
the next spring. He also recollected that his older brother
Francis, and Moses Towne made maple sugar together, near
Towne's opening, the spring before the Chase family moved f
in, living upon boiled corn and maple syrup. If this was the
spring of 1803, Moses Towne and liis father had been camp-
ing there all winter, but not the year before, and had raised
a crop of corn the previous summer. Mr. Ezekiel Cliase was
born March 6, 1798, and died in Sebec, July 25, 1879, aged
eighty-one years and four montlis, — the last survivor of those
families which entered this county in 1803. His brother,

32 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

Charles V. Chase, was born in Sebec, July l-S, 1804, and this
affords us another reliable date.

Bylie Lyford's son, Thomas, was born in Atkinson, Nov.
11, 1804, and the family, it is said, moved there the March
previous, making Ly ford's removal, March, 1804, and Chase's,
in the fall of 1803. But Mr. Henry B. Sargent, son of Ben-
jamin, and other members of that family, were quite confi-
dent that their removal to Milo was in 1802, but they had no
early records that established it. They rested upon the fam-
ily tradition, that their brother Nathan, the youngest of the
family, was then but two years old. If it was in 1802, he
would have been two and a half ; if in 1803, three and a
half ; large, to be sure, to be brought in his mother's arms.
But as she came on horseback from Bangor, and the other
children walked, that was the only way that he could come,
even if three and a half years old. And Mr. Henry B. Sar-
gent, then five or six years old, recollected that they were at
Chase's log-house when the Chase family arrived, as statfed
by Ezekiol Chase jr. So the two fixmilios must have come
the same year, and the same month. The balance of proof,
then, evidently gravitates to 1803 ; and Mr. Sargent's first
entrance to fell his trees and make a beginning, is known to
have been when his son Nathan was about two years old.
In the records written by one of the Sargent family, several
years afterward, it is stated, that on the eighth day of May,
1802, snow fell in this region to the depth of eight inches.
Eli Towne and wife were wont to relate that, on their last
day's journey to their new home, that same depth of snow
fell. This was assuredly May 8, 1803. Though this is not
certain proof, it verily looks as if the Sargents antedated their
record one year, and that they, like many others, were hon-
estly mistaken.

Phineas Ames had a child born in Harmony, in March,
1803; so he had not removed to Sangerville then; and as the
tradition runs that his wife did not see a white woman for
more than a year after her removal, and as Weymouth and

THE FIRST SETTLEBS. 88

Brockway moved in by sledding, early in the winter of 1804-
5, Ames evidently came in the same autumn as Cha^e and
Sargent, to wit, 1803. And their family tradition was, that
Mrs. Ames rode in on horseback, with a babe in her arms,
her husband leading the horse from the Dexter settlement,
guided by a spotted line only.

A descriptive and historical sketch of the towns constitut-
ing this county will now be given, arranged according to the
dates of their settlement. The situation and boundaries of
each can be learned from the accompanying map.

CHAPTER VII.

DOVER.

This town was originally Number Three, Sixth Range. It
is in the southern tier of towns in the county, and lies, except-
ing a narrow strip on its northern border, on the south side
of Piscataquis River. It contains, according to Greenleaf,
22,444 acres. It is well watered, having three superior mill
privileges on the Piscataqius, and another on Black Stream
in the southern part of the town. The Great Falls at Dover
village, are occupied by Hon. S. O. Brown's woolen factory
and flouring mill. In a distance of tlxreo hundred and twenty-
five feet, the fall is twenty-three feet, and is estimated to be
equal to two hundred horse power. One hundred rods be-
low this, there is another fall of six feet, which has been
made use of, but is now unimproved. Two and a half miles
further down, at East Dover village, there is another fall of
eight feet, and the same amount of head. On this dam F. H.
Brown has a saw- and grist-mill, and Gray & Co., a wood-
pulp, and a pasteboard mill. The Dover South Mills are
situated upon Black Stream. A dam twelve feet high flows
a large bog, and makes a very permanent water power. This
drives a saw-mill, and a shingle machine, which are now
known as "Brann's Mills."

Dover is one of the best townships of farming land in the
county, has a large extent of interval, and but few lots that
are not under improvement. It is the shire town of the
county, and tlie largest in wealth and population, having,
according to the census of 1870, 1,983 inhabitants, and a val-
uation of f 675,000. All of the county offices and court?

DOVER. 85

rooms are contained in one substantial, two-storied, fire-proof
building. No jail has ever been built, but according to an
. act of the Legislature, the jail in Penobscot County is used
for the confinement of the criminals of the county.

Proprietors and Survey. Near the beginning of the
present century, this township and the one adjoining it on
the east, were purchased of the State, by Robert Hallo well
and John Lowell, with the conditions that the usual amount
should be reserved for public uses, and a certain number of
families should be settled upon them, within fifteen years.
* But the real purchasers, however, were Charles Vaughan and
John Merrick of Ilallowell. Hallowell and Lowell were
mercliants in Boston, relatives of the Vaughans, and so acted
as their agents. Lowell had done a similar thing, in purchas-
ing the Charleston township for Mr. Vaughan, some five or
six years previous.

As these men, Vaughan and Merrick, were the actual pro-
prietoi*s, and settled the township, we will give them a pass-
ing notice. Benjamin, John, and Charles Vaughan, three
brotliei*s, and John Merrick, a brother-in-law, belonged to a
wealthy, highly cultured and well connected family in Eng-
land. For some reason they left their native land, and came
to tlie United States. It was thought that they sympathized
with the Colonies in their struggle for independence, and
thus lost caste with the hot-blooded aristocracy. John set-
tled in Philadelphia, the other tvvo brothers, Charles and
Benjamin, and Mr. Merrick, in Hallowell, Me. Tliis was
about 1793, and having come from Boston to Gardiner, by
water, for want of a carriage road, they walked from thence
to Hallowell, both men and women. Charles Vaughan early
began to invest his capital in wild land, buying, some time
before 1795, Number Two, Fifth Range (Charleston), and in-
troduced its first settlers. But having failed to get the re-
quired number of settlers, Lowell and Hallowell, in 1814,
petitioned the Legislature for an extension of time, to com-
plete the stipulated number of families to be settled in both

36 HISTORY OP PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

•

townships, Charleston and Dover. An extension of three
years was granted, provided they would give sufficient secur-
ity to the State, that they would pay thirty dollars forfeit,
for each settler below the agreed number, when the extension
should expire.

Vaughan and Merrick are both well reported of, as propri-
etors. They were indulgent to the poor, hard working set-
tlers, sometimes letting their notes run on unpaid, till they
had expired by the statute of limitation, and losing the debts.
Mr. Merrick built a meeting-house at his own expense, on
Bear Hill, and gave it, with twenty acres of land, to the
Methodist society, in 1836. He also gave the land for a
small " common," now a park, in Dover village. But Mr.
Vaughan, by building a flouring mill, and afterward a facto-
ry, at Dover village, greatly increased the business of the
place, and also benefited the whole community. These will
be more fully dealt with at the proper date.

There is a tradition that the first lotting out of the town-
ship was not satisfactory. But it is now certain that Lem-
uel Perham was employed in 1803 to lot out the greater part
of it. At a later date, S. C. Norcross lotted out several
ranges on .the west side of the town, and by his survey and
plan, those lots were sold and deeded.

The First Settlers. Abel Blood now comes into more
distinct notice. He purchased the first tract of land for set-
tlement, felled the first opening, and was the firat pioneer to
come into the county. At an early date, some time before
1799, he purchased a square mile, having the first choice in
locating it, on terms that cannot now be fully ascertained.
Eben Lambert, long the proprietor's agent, thought that
he purchased it of the State, before Vaughan and Merrick had
bought the township. He selected his tract on the north
side of the township, embracing the water privilege at East
Dover, and the beautiful intervals and slopes on either bank
of the Piscataquis. And this quantity was run out to him
by the surveyor, as the first thing to be done in lotting the

DOVER. 87

to\vnsliip. We deeply regret that the incipient movements
of Mr. Blood have not been more definitely retained. A
dark, mysterious shadow hangs over them.

He must have explored this region, and made his pitch,
previous to his coming in, with men, to fell tlie first trees, for
they came directly to it. Of this adventure, we have a writ-
ten reiK)rt drawn up by a committee, one of which, John
Spaulding, was one of that band. This report was presented
to the Piscataquis Historical Society, Dec. 16, 1824, and in
a condensed form it will be repeated. In June, 1799, Abel
Blood left Norridgewock for this selected lot, with seven
men, viz., John and Setli Spaulding, Jonathan Parliu, Jonas
Parlin jr., Charles Faii-brother, Samuel Carleton, and Robert
Kidder. These men started with the necessary implements
for felling trees, utensils essential to camping, and supplies
of food for a fortnight. A tramp of fifty miles, most of it
through a trackless forest, was before them. For want of
roads, teams could convey their luggage only to Athens,
about fifteen miles. Thence they carried their burdens to
Moose Pond, in Harmony. Here Mr. Blood hired two men
to bring their burdens, in birch canoes, up Main Stream, the
company pushing on along its banks. About ten miles
brought them to the "carry" from this stream to the pond in
Parkman. Here they had to shoulder their loads, and bear
them three miles to the water. Floating down to the outlet
of the lower pond, near the site of Sangervi^le village, Blood
dismissed the boatmen, and they walked and carried their
loads the remainder of the way. We here observe that this
boating route was the northern one, which the roving natives
sometimes used in their light canoes, in passing from the
Kennebec to the Penobscot. The load equally divided
among these men was estimated to bo one hundred and
twenty pounds each. Thus freighted, they followed . the
course of Piscataquis River, twelve miles, to the place select-
ed for a strike. This was on the south bank of the river, a little
below the end of the East Dover bridge, now known as the
farm of Benjamin Dow jr. Here for four or five days the

88 HISTORY OP PISOATAQXnS COUNTY.

majfestic forest trees eame crashing down, leveled by the
sturdy stroke of those stalwart axe-men, startling the inhabi-
tants of those wild regions, with echoes to which they had
ever been strangers. But the woods then swarmed with
greedy blackflies and mosquitoes, which eagerly improved
80 rare an occasion to gorge themselves. Their provisions
grew ominously less, so that, before they had worked their
intended time, they unanimously concluded that it was time
to beat a hasty retreat. Breaking camp, they struck for the
shortest route home, using a compass to direct them. On
the second day of their return, they came out to the late Jona.
Farrar's hill, above Dexter village, and here they divided the
residue of their provisions, amounting to only two ounces of
bread, and one of meat to each man. On this they traveled
the next day, and at its close reached the settlements in Har-
mony. One day more brought them safely home. The next
year (1800), the first entrance was made by a spotted line
into Dexter, from Harmony, and preparations made for build-
ing mills and introducing settlers. Were it not for Col. Fox-
croft's statement, we should lose sight of Abel Blood for the
next two or three years. From liim we learn tliat Blood was
there in October, 1800, and had raised a crop of corn and
garden vegetables, as already mentioned. So Mr. Blood
must have followed up the beginning made in 1799, burnt
his felled piece, and planted corn in the year 1800, harvest-
ing the first crop raised in this county, though he was not the
first to bring in a family. It is not kno\vn at what date he
did this ; certainly before the spring of 1805, for May 16,
1805, he and his wife executed a deed here, conveying two
hundred acres of his land to Eli Towne. He seems to have
been an enterprising, athletic, and industrious man, but Aot
a good manager. In October, 1804, he and John Spaulding
contracted with Col. Foxcroft to build and put in operation
a saw- and grist-mill, upon the upper falls in Foxcroft, and
have them running by Jan. 1, 1807. But Blood transferred
his contract to Eleazer and Seth Spaulding, who with their
brother John, proceeded to build them. He made and burnt

DOVER. 89

the first kiln of brick in the town and county ; and from tliis,
Chamberlain and Baker procured brick for a chimney, in 1807.
His brother, Royal, also settled here, and occupied a part of
Abel's land, but the title afterward passed to Mr. John Dow,
and from him, to John 2d, and Benjamin Dow. Blood then
moved to Sebec.

These Bloods were from Temple, N. H., sons of Gen.
Francis Blood, a Revolutionary officer, who obtained an hon-
orable record in the service of his country. But Abel Blood
did not sustain so desirable a reputation. It is well known
that, about 1811, he fled suddenly to parts unknown, and his
brother Royal assisted his family to return to Temple. Some
twenty-five years later, he turned up again in Ohio. One
of his old neighbor, who also found it for his interest to
seek a new home among strangers, emigrated to the far
West, and there fell upon and recognized Mr. Blood, the first
pioneer of this county. But they did not revive their old
acquaintance. Both were willing to remain strangers, to let
"by-goncs bo by-gouos," and to strive mutually, as we may
hope, to secure a fairer future.

The Towne Family. As stated before, to Eli Towne,
belongs the honor of being the first permanent settler of
Dover, and of this county ; but his father and brother Moses
preceded him in the first steps toward it. Thomas Towne
and his three sons, Moses, Eli,, and Abel, then grown to man-
hood, resided in Temple, N. II. It seems that Moses Towne
first bargained with Abel Blood for a part of liis land on the
north bank of the river. There was a rumor that a man
from Carratunk, by the name of Baker, felled an opening on
this lot in 1779, but it appears to have been further down
the river. Col. Foxcroft mentions no such opening in 1800.
But in 1801 trees must have been felled, as Thomas and Moses,
and probably, Eli Towne, spent the summer of 1802, raising
a crop on it, and enlarging the opening. As cold weather
came on, all but the old gentleman and Moses returned to
Temple, but these latter continued on the soil, as Mr. Thomas

40 HTSTOBY OF PTSCATAQUIS COUNTY.

Towne was greatly addicted to hunting, and here he had an
unstinted range. As they were expecting Eli and family in
the spring, and as the Chase family were preparing to move
on to the river, a few miles below, the next fall, Moses Towne
and f^ncis Chase made maple sugar together on the inter-
val below Towne's place, living on hulled corn and maple
syrup, both Blood and the Townes having already raised
and harvested corn.

At this time let it be remembered that, though openings

had been made in several townships on the river, no

' homes with women and children had been established in this

county, and but comparatively few families then lived in the

next tier of towns, Dexter, Grarland and Charleston.

In this state of things, Eli Towne, with his wife and one
child, the late Alvin Towne of Scbec, then about one year
old, started from Temple, N. H., to plant a pioneer home on
the banks of the Piscataquis. They first came to Portsmouth,
and from thence took passage by water to Bangor. His own
account of the journey from Bangor to his waiting cabin,
given to a committee, and afterward to his sons, nearly fifty
years after the menioi*able event, is here compiled and
amended. For the want of a carriage road, they started on
foot, Mr. Towne carrying the child, thirteen months old, in
his arms, and he and his wife, the indispensable outfit,
as best they could. In this way they proceeded to the he-
vant settlement, thirteen miles, now Kenduskeag village.
At Levant a grist-mill was then running, and all the settlers
in the region north of it, resorted thither to get their grind-
ing done. Fortunately, Mr. Towne found at that mill,
a boy from Charleston, with a horse. He hired him to walk
home, and let his wife ride on horseback with the grist. But
the roads were so rough and muddy that Mr. Towne had to
carry the babe a large part of the way. Arriving at Charles-
ton, he hired the same horse for completing the journey,
and started the next morning for their \vilderness home.
There was no road, no bridges over the streams and swamps ;
only a spotted line marked their toilsome way. Dark clouds

DOVER. 41

deepened the gloom of the dense forest ; about mid-^ay, a
damp, fleecy snow began to fall and make the progress more
slow and wearisome. Mrs. Towne used to relate, that for
the last eight miles she was so weary and utterly despond-
ing, that she was as willing to die as to live. Nearly that
whole day was spent in making those last fifteen miles. As
the day declined, they reached the banks of the well-known
river. Eagerly they looked across upon their opening, some
forty rods below, which Mr. To^vne said was buriit and
planted with corn, potatoes, beans, etc., the season before,
but "the black logs, big old fellows," were still lying tliick
on the ground. A solitary log-caljin, in which the father and
brother had spent the winter, alone animated that sombre
scene. Mi-s. Towne's quick imagination, true to itself, asks,
is this to be her future home? No female associates, no roads,
scarcely a footpjvth through the .dense forest, no mills, stores,
or physicians near! Falling tears were a fit salutation. —

** Tears moro oloquoiit than loaniod tongue,
Or lyro of purest note.*'

These shed, and woman's power of endurance rose to the
stern demand of the crisis. They crossed the rolling tide,
and made that humble meagerly furnished cabin a sweet
* lodge in the wilderness." A reinforcement of men with
brave hearts and strong hands soon arrived to resume their
clearing, and to prepare the way to bring in their families
also. "But before winter," said Mr. Towne, "they all re-
turned to their homes, leaving us to winter alone." Their
arrival, be it noted, was May 8, 1803 ; and let it be distmctly
marked as an important era in our historical calendar, for
this confirms the correctness of other leading dates and state-
ments given above, and corrects some of those which conflict
with thoii.

Necessity had to be the mother of invention with this iso-
lated family. As they must carry their corn thkty miles
upon their shoulders, to get it ground, they hollowed out a
mortar-shaped cavity in a solid rock, and bruised it therein
with a rough stone pestle. As there were no boards for

42 HISTORY OP PISCATAQXnS COUNTY.

doors^ floors, and shelves, to their cabin, they would rift out
splints from the pine and cedar, and shape and smooth them
for these purposes. The old gentleman Towne, by his skill
in fowling and fishing, made the forest and streams their pork
and beef barrels, and the growing crops, rejoicing in the rich-
ness of the virgin soil, charmed away the perplexity and
weariness of laboring among pestering flies and in smutty
cut^lowns.

Moses Towne sold out his interest on the Blood Purcliasp,
to his brother Eli, and took up the Burrill place, and cleared
up that beautiful interval. At length he sold this also, and
moved into Foxcroft, and in 1833, or afterward, went to
Ohio. . Eli bought two hundred acres of Abel Blood, em-
bracing the greater part of Blood's land on the north bank
of the river.

By the consideration named in his deed, it seems that he
paid one and a half dollars per acre, and he used to s«ay that
he brought the money in silver dollars from Temple, in sad-
dle-bags, to do it with. This deed was executed in May,
1805, and sent to Castine, to be recorded. Upon this lot Mr.
Eli Towne and his father spent the remainder of their days,
turning the wilderness into the fruitful field, in due time
building a- dam and mills, and preparing the way for the
flourishing village now found there. It appears from Mr.
Towne's statement, that they had no family near them for
the first year, except Ezekiel Chase's, four miles below, in
Sebec, which came the next September ; but in the spring of
the next year, 1804, others came in, — Abel Blood's, Lyford
Dow's and Moses Towne's, probably. In February, 1806,
John Spaulding moved his family from Norridgewock, into a
log-cabin near Mr. Towne's, and in March, John Dow ar-
rived with his, moving his wife, with a child in her lap, all
the way from Temple, N. IL, more than two hundred miles,
on an ox-sled. He had a house prepared for them on the
Sturtevant place, which he had commenced clearing. By
this time several other beginnings had been made, some of
them higher up the river, opposite to Foxcroft village.

DOVEU. 43

A brief personal sketch of Messrs. Thomas and Eli Towne,
and we will take leave bf them. Thomas Towne was a Rev-
olutionary soldier, and having practiced sharp-shooting at
the "red-coats," he was a good shot, and liked to handle the
musket. Hence he became a miglity hunter, and took
to the howling wilderness. In some of Ids adventures he dis-
played unusual daring. On one occasion he fired upon a
bear which was swimming across a pond, and wounded him.
As the bear neared the shore, the hunter's dog swam in, and
attacked him. Bruin, in pure self-defence, seized the dog,
and plunged his head under water. The old veteran rushed
upon the bear, and thrust his head beneath the surface, too,
crying out, "drown my dog, will you I" The bear was soon
coni^ucrcd, and the dog rescued. He once set a trap for
foxes, near a spring of. water. Starting one day to go from
his field to Iiis house, he went to that spring to slake his
thirst, and found a wolf in his trap, struggling hard to free
liimself. He was empty-handed, for he had taken neither
gun nor axe. Not willing to give the wolf time to escape,
while going for them, he wrenched a limb from a fallen tree,
and brought down such stunning blows upon his wolfship,
that he soon ceased to snarl and breathe. So he shouldered
his bloody trophy, and bore it home in triumph.

In 1806, the first Act granting pensions to the Revolu-
tionary patriots, was passed; but it restricted them to those
only who were likely to become a public charge. Not long
after, in 1818, it wjis extended, and Mr. Towne was entered,
and continued on the list through life. He lived to see his
hunting grounds give place to ple.isant fields smiling with
generous productions; mills turned by the falls, whose mur-
murs lulled him to sleep when reposing upon his couch of
boughs; the militia mustering upon those broad intervals
reclaimed by h«ardy pioneers from the majestic forest trees
which once overshadowed them ; and the face of nature all
around, marked with amazing improvements. In the latter
period of liis life he became totally blind, and finally passed
away in May, 1824, aged eighty-three years.

44 HISTOllY OF PTSCATAQUIS COUNTY.

Eli Towne was a blacksmith, and this trade was of great
use to him and his neighbors, in the new settlements. For a
few years he was obliged to live in a rude cabin, but when
the Spauldings built the saw-mill in Foxcrof t, he could rear
a more comfortable habitation. At his house the first public
religious meeting was held withui the limits of Foxcroft and
Dover. He always sustained a good reputation, was a Jus-
tice of the Peace, an officer in the first miliUxry company or-
ganized here, and often held important plantation and town
offices. In March, 1805, his wife bore Iiim a daughter, the
first child bom in Dover, the fifth in the county. She still
survives in East Dover, known as the widow Sybil Dow.
Not long after this event Mrs. To\vne departed this life, and
was^ buried on the banks of the Piscataquis. Over her grave
the willow should wave its pendent branches, and upon her
monumental stone be engraven : The first female settler of
this county. Mr. Towne married again, and left several
other children. He lived to be nearly eighty years of age,
and died in Christian peace, in 1852, dividing liis patrimony
between two of his sons, Obed and Ezra Towne, who still
occupy that historical homestead.

Lyford Dow was also an early settler. He came before
his brother John, mentioned above, and settled on the river,
a little below the Blood tract. From these two brothers a
large number of that name, now dwelling in this vicinity,
have descended.

Mrs. John Dow had the patience and resolution needful in
a back-wood's life. One night when her husband was absent*
and she was alone with her young children, a bear came out
and made an attack upon their hogs. They fled for an asy-
lum to the log-house, and as only a quilt served as its door,
rushed in and took refuge behind the stone chimney. The
blaze of the fire deterred the bear from coming in, too, and
making an additional inmate. But he prowled about the
door all night, but Mrs. Dow kept the fire burning till day
dawned, and that sent her unwelcome visitor away. Mrs.
Dow lived to see ninety-eight years, and quite recently died
in Sebec.

DOVER. 46

In 1806, Peter Brawn moved his family on to the lot since
occupied by Seth, Benjamin and Josiah Spaulding, succes-
sively. He had already made a clearing, and built a log-
house. During the next year he lost his wife, and in 1808
sold out to Seth Spaulding, and moved to Moorstown (Ab-
bot). There he remained until "the cold seasons," and then
moved to Foxcroft, and afterward to Number Eight, and
eventually died in Guilford. He married a second wife, and
had an additional number of children.

Jonas Longley took up the northwest corner lot of Dover,
and felled trees Jis earlv as 1806; and Mr. Fifield, a brother-
in-law, began on the adjoining lot, afterward Dwcllcy's. Mr.
Zachariah Longley, his father, brought a bushel and a half
of seed potatoes, on horseback, from Norridgewock, which,
planted on this newly cleared soil, produced seventy bushels.
In the fall of 1807, Luke Longley, an older brother of Jonas,
in attempting to take a boat and a raft across the mill-pond at
the same time, fell in and was drowned. Mrs. Brawn and
her children saw him fall, but could not render him any as-
sistance. This was the first death in town, probably the first
in the county, llis body lay in the water till the next
spring. As Mrs. Samuel Chamberlain was looking out upon
the river, she saw a dark object rise to the surface, near the
present Jordan mill, and float away. Mentioning this to her
husband, he and others went out and found the body lodged
on rocks above the Great Falls. It was buried on the bank
of the river, not far from the end of the present bridge.

In 1808 (some say 1809), Mr. Zachariah Longley and Mr.
Fifield, his son-in-law, moved from Norridgewock into town,
Mr. Longley settling on the lot that his son Jonas had taken
up. The old gentleman resided on it till his death in 1826,
and then it jmssed to Mr. Ellis llobuison. Mr. Longley was
a Mqy in the Revolutionary army, and always exliibited cer-
tJiin bivbits then and tliere contracted. lie blew long and
loud on the field of Saratoga, and never forgot that proud
djvy. He was a pensioner from the beginning. Jonas Long-
ley came to an untimely end. In December of 1811, he

46 HISTORY OP PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

started, with his clog, in pursuit of a fox. The wary animal
led liim in a zigzag course into the thick, dark forest. Night
came on, and the intense cold chilled and stiffened him. He
attempted, with steel and flint, to kindle a fire, but failed.
He crept under a log, and tried to revive his warmth and
strength, but found them too much overcome already to
rally. The roar of the falls was within his hearing, and his
last efforts were in a bee-line toward them. Thus battling
bravely for life, he became exhausted, and falling upon the
snowy earth, expired within one mile of settlers, near the
present home of Dea. John Woodbury.

Mr. Fifield, after occupying different farms for some fifteen
years, removed to Aroostook, and died there.

In the year 1808, good crops were harvested, and several
advance steps were taken in the settlement. Nathaniel
Chamberlain, probably as early as this, took up the Dover
village lot, felled the first opening, and built the first house
there.

This year, Paul Lambert, from Winthrop, purchased five
hundred acres of land for himself and sons, in the soutli part
of the township, and felled an opening; and this started the
settlement around the present South Dover meeting-house.
The next spring Mr. Lambert came with his son Eben, then
sixteen years of age, put in a crop, enlarged his opening, and
made preparations for a future removal. Dea. James Howe
made a beginning that year, and in 1810, moved his family
in. He cleared up a farm, and occui)ied it till his death.
This man bore an important part in the arrest and conviction
of the Exeter counterfeiters. As this adventure exhibits
some of Deacon Rowe's characteristics, and unfolds a chap-
ter of crime, we will briefly sketch it.

In the year 1829, a small company of men residing in
Exeter, Me., obtained a set of plates, and commenced mak-
ing counterfeit bank bills. One of them, a Mr. Hills, came
up to South Dover, and bought Dea. Rowe's mare, paying
him seventy-five dollars for her, getting five dollars back in
good money, in making change, and passing off eighty dollars

DOVBB. 47

of his counterfeits. Dea. Uowe soon discovered the fraud,
but the rogue had defrauded the wrong man. No one could
cheat Iiim to that extent, without getting an after-clap. So
the Deacon was soon mounted, and on his way to Exeter.
Learning that Hills had started with Ids horse for Canada,
he followed in sharp pursuit, and got on the track of the
fugitive. They passed into New Hampshire and Vermont,
where, in strictly legal proceedings, Rowe had no authority
to arrest the culprit. But the deacon knew but little, and
cared less about, legal technicalities, if he could catch the
rogue. Hills reached the last house in Vermont, before
crossing the Canada line, and not dreaming that an accuser
or an officer was at his heels, stopped for the night. But a
sheriff engaged by Dea. Rowe for the occasion, was soon
there with a warrant in his pocket. He found Hills, and
asking him if his name was Hills, he admitted it, and then he
told him that he had a warrant for his arrest, for passing
counterfeit money. In surprise he asked, " who brought it ? "
"Mr. James Rowe,'' was the reply. He answered that he
did not know him. He then asked leave to retire to a private
place, but the keen eye of the officer soon saw that he was
conceaUng his pocket-book. Taking possession of this, he
found it well filled with the same kind of bank bills, all of
which were counterfeit. He raised no question as to their
right to arrest him, and was brought back to Exeter, and kept
in custody. The public was now thoroughly aroused ; the
neighborhood in which he resided was searched, and the
shop, the tools, and the plates for turning out such counter-
feits, were found and seized. Other persons were suspected,
and several of Hills' associates were arrested. In this crisis,
one of the band offered to disclose the whole plot, and testify
against his accomplices. As the result. Hills and four others
were committed to jail to await trial. At the next term of
the Supreme Judicial Court in Bangor, they were tried, con-
victed, and sentenced to the State Prison. Dea. Rowe re-
covered his horse, for which he had received no real value,
but lost the five dollars he paid in making change, the time

48 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

he spent, and the expense he incurred in his long pursuit of
the counterfeiter ; but had the satisfaction of feeling that he
had broken up one of the most daring bands of villams that
had ever infested this part of our Stjite.

In March, 1809, Capt. Job Parsons moved into town, and
settled on the lot which ho occupied till his deatli. Arte-
mas Parlin came about the same time, with much fatigue as
the way was nearly impassable from the groat depth of snow.

The same spring, Mr. William Mitchell, originally from
Sanbornton, N. H., but having resided at Norridgewock
and at Dexter, moved into the township, and settled upon
the lot which ho poasessed till his death, and which was then
occupied by his son Mordecai Mitchell. He had felled ten
acres of trees, the summer previous, and had them burnt, but
it was a " poor burn," and the labor of clearing it was slow
and toilsome. He came with an ox-team, and crowded his
large family into Eli Towne's already filled dwelling, until
he could get up a frame and cover it. Boards could then be
obtained at the mill in Foxcroft, and a house was soon made
competent to camp in. To this they rei)aired, and soon
brought it up to a comfortable shelter. When the ground
became bare, he commenced clearing, for a crop from that
opening was their sole dependence for their next year's bread.
But the first day, by an unlucky stroke of his axe, Mr.
Mitchell cut his foot so severely, that he was laid up through
the whole of seed time. His only son was but six years old.
He obtained a hired man to lead off, and his wife and daugli-
ters wont resolutely into the smut and smoke, " niggering off
the logs," and aiding essentially in clearing. By their inde-
fatigable toil, an acre and a half was prepared for wheat in
good season, from which sixty bushels were harvested in the
autumn. The rest of the opening was "bru^ied up," burnt
off, and planted with corn, potatoes, and other crops, so that
their first hard year was rewarded with al)undant supplies
for the winter. Mr. Mitchell was a reliable and esteemed
citizen, prominent among the early officers of the plantation
and town, while Mrs. Mitchell will be long remembered for

DOVER. 49

her devoted and active piety. She pitied, and to the extent
of her means, aided the poor when the cold seasons brought
gaunt famine upon the land. Her name is written liigh in
the religious annals of those early times.

We will now notice the removal of Mr. Allen Dwelley.
As it was after that of Messrs. Longley and Fifield, I date
it February, 1809 or 1810. He started from Paris, but
upon reaching Mr. Hale's, in Ripley, the road was so poor,
and his team was so worn out, that he could not proceed
with his load. Upon hearing of his condition, Capt. John
Bennett started from Lowstown, with a team, to help him
through. On Bennett's arrival at Hale's, Mr. Dwelley start-
ed, leaving one daughter there sick, and another to nurse
her, but tiiking his wife and seven other children, and their
lading with him. Full ten miles of unbroken forest lay be-
tween Hale's and the next settlement. Deep and loose snow
impeded their progress; they soon concluded that without
more team, they could not get through the woods before
night. So they sent William Dwelley (a lad of thiitccn),
forward on horseback, to raise more help. But darkness
overtook liim before he reached inhabitants, and he tied liis
horse to a tree, and camped out, as best he could, for the
night. In the morning he found that he was only half a
mile from a habitation. Making known his message, the
people promptly started to aid the slow-coming party, and
met them only about half way through the woods. They,
too, had camped out through the night. .With these recruits
they pressed on, but were .ill day in getting to Dexter. Mr.
Dwelley lived above the Spaulding place many years, and
late in life removed to Oldtown. It was his yoke of yearling
steers that got their heads caught in a large iron pot sus-
pended on the river bank for washing purposes, and raising
it on their heads ran into the river and were drowned; af-
fording a literal instance of death in the pot. Mr. Dwelley
served for a season in the Revolutionary army, but he never
obtained a pension.

The settlement proceeded slowly. In 1808, it is said, there

1

\

60 HISTOBY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

were but seven families in the township, and in 1810, bat
eleven then residing here. The census taken that year re-
ports ninety-four persons as inhabitants, and that included
all the single men. By the year 1810, Nathaniel Chamber-
lain had built a framed house on the Dover village lot, and
moved his wife iiito it. It stood upon the spot now occupied
by S. W. Hall's office and stable. He was a carpenter and
joiner, excelling in the former craft, and always employed to
frame the more complicated structures. Nearly all the
bridges on the river, familiarly called "ex-work," are specir
mens of his architecture. He was once called out to the
State of Ohio, to construct one of these long bridges.

On one occasion, while engaged in repairing Knowlton's
mill in Sangerville, lie had a narrow escape from death.
Heavy rains had made a great freshet. The flume, having a
depth of eighteen feet of water, suddenly burst its bulkhead,
only a few feet above where he was at work. He was swept
directly into a large pile of slabs, through which his mighty
struggles and tlie rushing flood carried liim. Thence, over a
dam, and down over a succession of falls, he ^ was drifted by
the swollen, angry stream, until he providentially struck a
projecting point, and crawled out on to dry land. He was
bruised, sprained and lamed all over, but was neither killed
nor drowned, for every man's life is insured till his work is
done. He was a man of good natural abilities, and of fair
education for the times, and soon obtained a notoriety in that
growing community. He was early appointed a Justice of
the Peace for Hancock County, — the first man thus honored
within our limits. He was quite a genius, skillful in argu-
ment, a ready public speaker, though not especially omtori-
cal. He was often called to manage cases before a Justice,,
and would pile his arguments as high and as strong as his op-
ponent. One instance is not easily forgotten. A sheep was
missing from an honest farmer's flock. He had a neighbor
who had never learned the ten commandments. His prem-
ises were searched, and enough of the lost sheep found to
justify a prosecution for theft. When arraigned, he secured

DOVER. 61

the services of an able lawyer to make his defence, while
Mr. Chamberlain was appointed to act for the State. Though
the testimony was clearly against the accused, his lawyer
put forth all his ingenuity to secure his acquittal. The
plauitiiT's slieep had wandered away, and would soon come
back all right. He had known cases where they had so got
lost, and remained for a long time, sometimes all winter, and
been found at length. So it undoubtedly would be in this case,
and exonerate his client from all suspicion of the crime
charged. Mr. Chamberlain di-ew his keen blade of sarcasm
over this part of the argument. He, too, had known sheep
to stray away, and to remain a long time in theii* seclusion,
but ho declared emphatically, that he never had before
known a sheep, when about to stray away, to cut off its own
head, and throw it out on the dungheap, and to take off its
own skin, and hang it up over another man's hay-mow.

He was a decided and active i)olitician, and in this, too, he
had some memorable contests. On one occasion a mass conven-
tion assembled in Dover, not confined to one party. Hon.
Gorham Parks came out in one of his brilliant speeches, set
off in those musical tones, and pronounced with that unpres-
sive emphasis and mellow cadence, which he perfectly com-
manded. Parks then stood at the head of Penobscot bar,
was rising fast in the estinuition of his.party, and already was
regarded as one of its lions. When lie fniislied, and tlio aj)-
plause ceased, to the astonishment of many, up rose the rus-
tic Mr. Chamberlain, to reply. In personal appearance,
in diction, in planner of utterance, he was no match for
the mellifluent Parks. But he took up point after point
of that blazing speech, and so riddled it with, answering
logic, spiced with incisive sarccosm, that his sympathizera
claimed that he had triumphantly demolished it. And so the
gifted Parks learnt that he could not presume on awing every
one into silence, or of passing unchallenged in any part of
the county.

He was a man of honesty and integrity, and thoroughly
reliable in fulfilling a contract. He was once sent to the

52 HISTORY OP PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

\

Legislature, and held many plantation and town offices, and
was quite a manager of municipal affairs. He lived ^upon
the lot which he cleared up, till 1819, and then exchanged it
with Col. J. Carpenter, and moved into Foxcroft. Looking
back from the present standpoint, we wonder at his egregious
mistake. A village was beginning to rise, and must stand
largely on his domain. And the sale of building lots, already
begun, would be a source of income. With all his opportu-
nities for acccumulation, he never became wealthy, and even-
tually died in Foxcroft, above eighty years of age.

Resuming the train of events, we find that, in 1811, Mr.
Joel Doore came to town, and began on a lot near Paul
Lambert's. Previous to this, John, Eleazer, and Seth Spaul-
ding had sold out in Foxcroft, and purchased lots in Dover.

In August of 1811, Eli Towne and others petitioned Isaac
Wheeler to call a legal meeting of the inhabitants of that
vicinity, to regulate the taking of fish in the Piscataquis
River, evidently moved thereto by the prodigality hitherto
practiced. The meeting was duly held in the mill-yard in
Foxcroft, Jeremiah Rolfe, moderator. It was voted to
choose three fish wardens, and Eli, Moses, and Abel Tpwne,
three brothers, were chosen. Eli, taking this as an intended
slur upon them, declined the office, and so did his brothers.
They were all excused, and the meeting dissolved without
choosing others, virtually sanctioning the lawless waste which
had been outrageously perpetrated.

Paul* Lambert had good framed buildings finished by 1812,
and brought in his hirgc family, having seven sons who
eventually settled around him. In the summer of 1811, he
raised his barn; then fifteen men only could be procured in
the vicinity to do it. As large heavy timbers were then
thought necessary in such frames, this was a small number
for such a job.

Up to 1812, neither Foxcroft nor Dover had been organ-
ized as town or plantation. But this year is memorable for
these historic events. In February, 1812, an Act w«as passed,
incorporating Number Five, Seventh Range, as Foxcroft ;

DOVER. 68

and August 3, 1812, the Dover township was organized as
Plantation Number Three. It then had less than twenty
voters. Seth Spaulding, William Mitchell, and Abel Towne
were chosen assessors, John Shaw, clerk and collector of
taxes. The next i)lantation meeting made some change in
the officers. Nathaniel Chamberlain was chosen clerk, Ar-
temas Parlin, one of the assessors, and William Mitchell,
collector. They voted to raise money for schools, fifty dol-
lars at first, afterward more, and also, for making and re-
pairing highways. Mr. Vaughan made a proposal to the
plantation, that he would pay the State tax, if the inhabi-
tants would pay that of the county, and the plantation voted
to accept it. They soon experienced trouble. The first col-
lector appropriated the money to his own private use, and
some failed to pay their taxes.

About this time, the seasons began to be cold and frosty,
the harvests uncertain, and the population made but little
increase. For ten years Dover remained as a plantation,
longer than any other in the county. But they managed to
secure most of the privileges of a town, and were not obliged
to support their poor. In 1818, tlicy cast nineteen votes, in
1820, only thirty-four.

In 1818, A. Moore, having sold his estate in Number Seven,
came to Dover, and took up the Dover village lower lot, and
built a grist-mill on the western side of the Great Falls.

Col. J. Carpenter moved on to the other village lot, the
next year. He was elected to represent this district in the
Legislature of 1822, then embracing Dexter, Garland, San-
gerville, Guilford, and Dover plantation. About this time
Col. Carpenter and Eben S. Greeley built a saw-mill on the
Moor privilege, which was kept in operation till quite recent-
ly, the Grccleys being its last owners. In 1824, he moved
down river, and eventually died in Houlton, being killed by
the falling of a tree, when eighty-three years of age.

In 1821, Thomas Davee put up a store and potash factory,
aiid commenced trading here in 1822. He also built mills on
the falls below Brown's mills, now unoccupied, and sawed

54 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

boards and clapboards. In 1830, the dam was earned away»
and never rebuilt, and the mills were taken down and con-
verted to other uses.

About this time, Elder N. Robinson, a Baptist minister,
came into town, and the plantation invited him, in public
meeting, to remain. Afterward they voted to settle him,
and give him the lot of land reserved for the firat settled
minister. He then brought in his family. But after the
town was incorporated, in 1822, it put a negative on this con-
tract. Again the subject came up, and the town voted to
settle him, provided he would deed one equal half of said lot
to the town, to be disposed of as it might determine. Elder
Robinson assented to this, and settled on the poorer half of
said lot, and eventually received thirty dollars of the town,
to adjust this diflFerence. The disposal of the other half re-
mained for some time an open question. An attempt was
made to give it to Elder William Frost, a Universalist
preacher, who resided in town, but this was negatived.
Again it was proposed to divide the income of it among the
other religious societies in town, pro rata, excepting the
Calvinist Baptist, wliich h.ad received its share, and this se-
cured a passage. Eventually this, and the ministerial fund,
were appropriated to the support of public schools.

Incorporation. In 1822, the inhabitants of the plantci-
tion petitioned for an Act of incorporation, selecting Dover
for the corporate name. An Act to that effect was [)ii8sed,
Jan. 19, 1822, Joshua Carpenter being named therein as the
Justice who should issue a warrant to one of the inhabi-
tants, to call the first town meeting. Abraham Moor was
selected to give such notice, and on his call, a meeting was
lield at the dwelling house of Joseph Shepjird, March 19,
1822, at which the to^vn of Dover was duly inaugurated.
Eli Towne was chosen town clerk, D. Lambert, E. S. Gree-
ley and Eli Towne, selectmen. The young town displayed
much vigor in locating new roads, establishing school dis-
tricts, and in amending certain acts of its parental planta-

DOVER. 66

tion. Its first great effort was to build a bridge across tlie
river, above Moor's mill. In the fall of 1823, a town meet-
ing was held, at which it was voted by only one majority, to
build such a bridge within two years, and money was raised,
and committees appointed, to procure materials and super-
intend the work. To check-mate this, a meeting was called,
to build another above Towne's mills, but this could not be
carried. In the fall of 1824, another town meeting voted to
raise seven hundred dollars to finish the bridge already be-
gun at Moor's mills, and also to raise four hundred dollars to
begin one at the lower falls. Before this time, in 1823, Eli
Towne had built a dam on the falls, and put a saw- and
glist-mill in operation. Soon after this, Dea. R. Barker
stsvrtcd the hatting business, and then run a clapboard ma-
chine, and opened a store also in the place. Elder F. Bart-
lett also opened a store, and run a clapboard machine here,
and mechanics began to settle in. So both bridges were
found necessary, and after a little unavoidable delay both
were completed. About tliis period there was a rapid increase
in the population. In 1826, the town cast ninety votes, and
three years later, one hundred and fifty-four votes.

As early as 1823, some one presumed that a village would
grow up between these two water privileges. So Solomon
Adams, a distinguished school teacher in Portland, was em-
ployed to lot out, and make a plan of, Dover village, prosi)ec-
tively.

In the summer of 1825, the decided step was taken, which
pushed it on to a more rapid growth. At that date Charles
Vaughan decided to utilize the water power on the eastern
side of the Great Falls, and commenced blasting out the
canal, to convey the water to tlic forth-coming mill. The
next season, tlic dam and canal were completed. In 182G, a
grist-mill, with three runs of stones, with a cleanser for
wheat, was then put in operation, and it soon drew an im-
mense patronage. This was the first cleanser, — that essential
part of a flouring mill, — ever operated in the county ; and then
the smut and wild seed that befouled the wheat crop, was

56 HISTORY OP PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

very injurious to the flour. Cleansed of these, a vastly im-
proved article was obtained. Hence, wheat was brought
thirty miles to this new mill.

Mr. Sewall Cochran, already known to Mr. Vaughan as an
excellent miller, was employed by him to take charge of this
new mill, and this proved fortunate to both parties. Large
crops of wheat were then raised in this part of Maine. The
toll taken at this mill eventually rose to two thousand dol-
lars worth per annum. Flour was put up and sent to Ban-
gor, Kenduskeag, and other places, to supply merchants in
that trade, a single dealer sometimes buying one hundred
and fifty barrels per year. Mr. Cochran once bought eight
hundred bushels of wheat of Guy Carleton, a mill owner of
Sangerville, to supply the demand for his flour. Then other
mills, all through the county were running cleansers.

Mr. Cochran, after running the mill three years as an em-
ploye, purchased one-third of it, and continued a part
owner for more than forty years. As the grist-mill stood
near the factory, when that was burnt, it went with it, but
another soon arose upon its foundations, having four runs of
stones, which is still known as the Dover Flouring Mill. In
1809, Mr. Cochran having been for forty-four ycjirs an hon-
est, an accommodating, and a successful miller, sold his in-
terest in the mill to the heirs of Hon. S. P. Brown, doffed
his drab clothing, and retired from active business. He still
resides in Dover, enjoying a "green old age," highly esteemed
by his surviving acquaintunccH.

In 1827, Mr. Vaughan erected a carding and clothing mill
on this canal, and employed S. P. Brown to operate it.
In 1836, this mill was converted into a woolen factory, and
Vaughan, Brown, and Sawyer formed a company to run it.
This required an enlargement of the canal, and it was wid-
ened and deepened to its present dimensions, making it one
of the best privileges in the State. After three years, Mr.
Sawyer sold his interest to Mr. Vaughan, and entered into
trade, continuing in it still, in company with Mr. Gifford, his
son-in-law. In 1839, Charles Vaughan died, and his son

DOVER. 67

John became the mill owner. In March, 1840, the factory
and grist-mill were laid in ashes. A generous and interested
community assisted in replacing them, and Mr. Brown run
the factory with varied success, until the breaking out of the.
Great Rebellion. During that struggle, this business paid
unusual profits, and becoming wealthy, he bought out
Vaughan's interest in it. In the year 1867, a great winter
freshet swept away the dam, and injured the canal and the
building, but these were repaired m a more substantial man-
ner. In 1867, Mr. Brown built a large brick mill, on a safer
spot, containing six sets of machinery, and giving employ-
ment to seventy-five operatives. Just before Mr. Brown had
abandoned the old mill, and started up the new one, he was
taken sick and died, greatly lamented. He had ever been an
honorable and reliable business man, had held a seat in the Sen-
ate of Maine, and was highly esteemed for his Christian integ-
rity. S. O. Brown & Co., took the business, and still continue
it, now owning the flouring mill and tlie entire water privilege.
The factory is now furnished througlioutwith the most im-
proved machinery fixtures, and heating arrangements.

Piscatsu^uis County was ijicorporated in 1838, and Dover
was made the shire town. This gave a new impulse to the
growth of the village. Stores, mechanic shops, hotels,
meeting-houses and dwellings were added to the existing
number, with unprecedented rai)idity. In dimensions, and style
of arcliitecture, too, there was a marked change. The Court-
house, containing rooms for the Courts and the County offices,
was erected in 1844, by T. H. Chamberlain, at a cost of two
thousand nine hundred dollars, the inside finishing not in-
cluded, — a small sum it would seem to us of the "present
day, — and the whole exi)ense reached but three thousand
seven hundred dollars.

Soon after this county was incorporated, George V. Edes
removed to Dover, and started a weekly newspaper, — The
Piscataquis Herald. Its name was soon changed to Piscata-
quis Farmer, and in 1848, to Piscataquis Observer, which it
still retains. Mr. Edes continued to edit and publish it to

the time of his death, and now it is continued by his young-

5

68 HISTORY OP PISCATAQXnS COUNTY.

est son, Samuel D., and a partner, F. Barrows. Mr. George
V. Edes was connected with the press from his boyhood, and
at the time of his death, was the oldest printer in the State.
He assisted in printing the Herald of Liberty, in Augusta,' in
1810; in 1816, set the first tjrpes in Penobscot County, to
print the Bangor Register, — a paper known to some of us in
our boyhood; was then in Hallowell, one year, 1822, print-
ing the American Advocate ; then he removed to Norridge-
wock, and in company with Mr. Copeland, established the
Somerset Journal. After editing and publishing this, fifteen
years, he came to Dover. He was candid, quiet and cool in
his temperament, ever generous toward all men, of marked
reliability, and without an enemy in the world. He married
Susan Witherill, in 1825, and only a few weeks before his
death, they observed their golden wedding. He was then
able to go to his office, but his health soon failed, and he
died Nov. 26, 1875, aged seventy-eight years, deeply lament-
ed by all who knew him.

The completion of the Bangor & Piscataquis Railroad to
Dover, in 1869, marked another era in the growth and pros-
perity of this village. The town of Dover took $35,000 worth
of stock in it, and individuals, some $10,000 more, to push the
enterprise through. It has not yet proved lucrative to its
stockholders, but it gave a new impulse to the business of
the place, and largely increased the valuation of the town,
while its terminus was here. In December, 1871, it was
extended to Guilford, consequently the business to and from
the upper towns centered there, and fell off here. Still Do-
ver and Foxcroft is a business center for the county, and
does a 'large amount of mercantile, mechanical, and profes-
sional business.

The farm upon which the upper portion of the village is
built, passed from Col. J. Carpenter to J. H. Everett, and
from him to Hon. J. G. Mayo, in 1844, who possessed it till
his recent death, — a gem among the farms on the river. He
erected large and expensive buildings upon one of its village
lots, and occupied them till recently, but latterly he resided
in Foxcroft, where his factory and foundry are, and where he

DOVER. 69

had erected a still more magnificent dwelling. But he owned
a large amount of real estate in Dover at his decease. The
building of the different meeting-houses will be noticed in
the history of the churches.

Merchants. Several men have been in trade in Dover
village^ of whom no mention has been made. Among whom,
near the Great Falls, lion. T. Davee and A. S. Patten
(with whom C. Blanchard was a silent partner), J. L. Phil-
brick, D. Bryant, G. W. Sawyer, C. E. Kimball, C. H. B.
Woodbury, and B. C. Lowell are prominent. Near Foxcroft
bridge, trade was commenced more than forty years ago, and
was continued by different persons. A. L. Ober, J. W.
Loud, E. D. Wade, E. Coburn, are among the more recent.

Motels. E. R. Favor opened a small hotel in 1827 ; but
in 1832 purchased the house of T. Davee, and moved into that.
This house was destroyed by fire in 1834, but was soon re-
placed, and is continued as a public house to the present time.
Maj. I. Blethen built the Blethen House in 1845, and in 1869
the American House was erected by Harvey Greeley, only a
part of which was ever occupied as a public house.

Lawyers. C. P. Chandler, J. B. Everett, W. Blake, A.
. M. llobinson, H. G. O. Morrison, J. S. Wiley, J. Rice, S. R.
Hall, C. A. Everett, James Rowell, and J. B. Peakes have
practiced law in Dover.

Physicians. Drs. Hiram Canon, Mr. Jacobs (Thomp-
sonian), J. Smith, Benjamin Johnson, E. A. Thompson, J. B.
Cochran, and S. W. Elliott (Homeopathic), have been in
the medical practice here, the last three still continuing in it.

Hon. Thomas S. Pullen, after leaving Monson and resid-
ing a few years in Guilford, removed to Dover. Here he
justly merited the respect and confidence of his fellow citi-
zens, and was elected to several State and County offices.
He died in 1866, while Judge of Probate, leaving the treas-
ure of a good name, as well as a good estate, to his family.
His oldest son, Stanley T. Pullen, has long been editor-in-
chief of the Maine State Press, and Portland Daily Press, and
twice has had a seat in the Legislature. Two younger sons
are well educated, and are now in Colorado.

CHAPTER VIII.

SEBEG.

Sebbo was originally Number Four» Seventh Range, the
eastern of the Bowdoin College townships. Its area is
22,228 acres. Its soil is fair, with some fine intervals, and
many good upland farms.

Sale. It was lotted in 1802 by Moses Ilodsdon, and a
portion sold about that time, but the name of the purchaser
is now unknown.

In May, 1803, the Treasurer of the College deeded sixteen
thousand acres to Richard Pike of Newburyport, embracing
all, not already sold, and not reserved for public uses. He
paid about seventy cents per acre. In 1804, Mr. Pike sold
one-sixteenth of this to Capt. Benjamin Wyatt, and soon af-
ter, David and Charles Coffin, Mary Pike and Phillip Coombs
bought equal shares, and became proprietors. For a while
these proprietors held, and sold out, their land in common,
but eventually had the unsold lots divided among them by
legally appointed commissioners. Only a few lots are now
non-residents.

Mill Privileges and Mills. At the outlet of Sebec
Lake there is a fall of eighteen feet, in a short distance, mak-
ing an excellent mill privilege! Its supply of water is un-
failing, freshets are not felt, and water-wheels are seldom
troubled by ice. On this fall the first mills in the county
were built, and around it Sebec village clusters.

In 1804, Samuel Kimball, Mark Trafton and others here
built a dam, and put up a mill, the first framed building
raised in the county. Roger Chase of Carratunk, built
the gearing, and put a saw- and grist-mill in operation. In

SBHEC. Gl

these, the first boards were sawed, and the first grain ground
in the county. In April, 1805, Kimball and Trafton,
each, sold one-eighth of the mill, dam, and land connected, to
Moses Greenleaf. He was then trading in Bangor, but in-
tending to settle in the Williamsburg township, and as rafts
could be run out from this mill to tide water, he e^xly se-
cured an interest in it. By the account book of Stephen
Snow of Milo, we are assured that tliis grist-mill was running
in the summer of 1806, probably earlier.

First Settlers. Capt. Ezekiel Chase was the first to clear
an opening, and to bring in a family. He had been a Revo-
lutionary soldier, loved to roam the forest, and had become
a successful Iiimter. He once took four liundred dollars
worth of furs in a single hunt. He penetrated these forests,
and explored these hills and vales in their primeval luxuri-
ance. In 1802, he selected his lot oli the bank of the river,
near Sebec Depot, and felled his first opening. He bought
his land of Vaughan and Merrick, as it lay in their townsliip,
although brought into Sebcc by its act of incorporation. In
1803, he raised his first crops, cut and stacked meadow hay,
built a log cabin, and in September moved his family, the
second planted in the county. He came with teams, bring-
ing his family and household effects on sleds, as the most
convenient vehicle. He also drove in other farm stock, the
first on the river. When they reached their new home, they
found Benjamin Sargent and family there, who, on their way
to Milo, were resting in their weariness. Henry B. Sargent
and Ezekiel Chase jr., then five years old, both recollected
that mcidcnt. The next summer, July 15, 1804, they had a
child born, Charles Vaughan Chase, the first white child
born in Sebec, or in the county. Capt. Chase purchased
more land, and resided there till his death. lie was a self-
taught physician, skillful among the sick, using simple rem-
edies which he learned while in the army. He became a
pensioner, had commanded a company before his removal,
and was prominent in the march to Bangor. In politics he
was active, and was once chosen a Presidential elector by
the Democrats.

62 HISTORY OP PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

f

Abel Chase, a brother, early settled in town, and raised up
an enterprising family. Captains Joseph, Daniel and Abijah
were his sons. Ezekiel Chase jr. was a worthy citizen, and
ever lived in town, departing, July, 1879, aged eighty years
and six months.

In 1803, James Ljrford, Mark Trafton and a Mr. Hill made
openings in town, and these men camped together while
clearing. James Lyford cleared the lot which his son John
now occupies ; Trafton, the M. G. Lyford farm ; and Mr. Hill,
the Moulton place. Mr. Lyford moved his family to Bangor
in the winter of 1804, and had a daughter bom there on the
fifth of April following. She is still surviving in Bowerbank.

Mark Trafton planted one of the earliest and largest or-
chards in the county. Parts of it still remain on the Moses
G. Lyford farm. Mr. Trafton, after "beating the bush" for
a few years, moved to Bangor. He was a deputy sheriff,
and afterward a military officer, finally General Trafton. He
was the father of Hon. and Rev. Mark Trafton, an elo-
quent and successful Methodist clergyman, and once a mem-
ber of Congress. Gen. Trafton, after several years' absence,
returned to his farm, and resided m town for a season, but
eventually sold out and returned to Bangor.

Jona. Lyford, a brother of James, was another early set-
tler. These Lyfords were natives of Canterbury, N. H.
Jeremiah Moulton, from Exeter, N. H., was early here, and
in 1822, his brother Ephraim came. In 1806, Mr. Johnson
and othei*s settled on the river, tQward Milo, and about this
time Peter Morrill began at Chase's Corner.

By 1812, N. R. Lowney came in. He was a leading man
in town affairs, and was, in 1819, sent as delegate to the Con-
vention for framing a State Constitution. He was a wealthy
and esteemed citizen, but, in his old age, sunk into a state of
despondency, and ended his life about 1860.

Incorporation. Sebec is the oldest incorporated town
in the county. The Act was passed Feb. 27, 1812. By this,
the Piscataquis River was made its southern boundary, annex-
ing a small part of Dover and Atkinson to it, and leaving a
smaller portion of Sebec to Atkinson. In 1810, it had one him-

SEDBG. • 68

dred and fiftyHseven inhabitants, second only to Atkinson, of
all in the county. John Whitney issued a warrant to James
Lyford, to notify the meeting of organization. The same
was held in his own dwelling-house, March 21, 1812, tlie act
of incorporation accepted, town officers chosen, and this first
town in the county stood upon its feet.

The minister's lot of land was voted to Elder Asa Burn-
ham, a Free-will Baptist, who labored in town as long as he
was able, and died here in 1852.

Bylie Lyford began on the Harriman place, and built a
bam there. It was burnt when full of grain. He then sold
to Mr. Silas Harriman, who abode upon it till liis death,
having accumulated an estate of $25,000.

Dr. Francis Boynton, a grandson of Gen. F. Blood, settled
on the place still known as " Boynton's Point." Already an
opening had been made^pon it. He practiced medicine, and
taught school, also vocal and instrumental music. Some of the
aged will remember his red coat on the muster field, others, the
sweet tones of his clarionet in religious meetings, and others,
his thorough instructions in the rude school-room. In run-
ning a raft of boards from Moor's mill to his farm below, he
was thrown from it, in passing the rips, and though a good
swimmer, he sank before he reached the shore. This occurred,
April 22, 1822, in the thirty-sixth year of his age.

In 1816, Ichabod Young put a fulling mill in operation at
the village, — ^the first in the county, — and at a later date, a
carding machine, — the second in the county. He run them
till 1822, when he was killed by the fall of a rearmg horse.
In 1820, N. Bradbury opened a store, near the present depot,
the first opened in town, but in two or three years he re-
moved his goods to Foxcroft.

At tliis date, Sebec had the largest population of any town
in the county, four hundred and thirty-one. Business was
increasing at the village. The pine timber upon the banks
of Sebec Lake and its tributaries, sonie from Greenville and
EUiottsville, was brought down and worked up there.

In the first State tax levied in this State, Sebec paid the

\

64 HISTOBT OF nSCATAQUIS OOUXTT.

m

highest m the countjr, $60JS8; Sangerrille, $53^; Atkin-
son^ #47.28; Foxeroft, #36.50; Parkman PlanUdon, #32.25;
Dover Plantation^ #31.59; GoilCDrd, #29.81; Brownville
Plantation, #29.10; and Williamsburg, #18.65.

Mr. Towle opened the first store in Sebec village, in 1821^
and soon after Solomon Parsons became his partner. In 1823,
J. Lamson sen« and son opened a second store, and several me-
chanics came in. John and Nathaniel Bodwell succeeded
Mr. Young, in 1823, and also started a hatter^s shop. In
1830, Benjamin Gilman & Brother succeeded Towle & Par-
sons, and soon after bought the miU of Morrison & Son, and
did a large lumbering business. J. W. Jewett opened another
store in 1832, and in 1833, Theo. Wyman united with him,
and still continues it. In 1835, N. Bodwell sold his fulling
mill to Joseph Gushing. The next year a Woolen Factory
Company was incorporated, and a buMding completed, and
two sets of machinery put in operation. Mr. Gushing run
this for the next five years, then left it and went to Milo.
This mill was kept running till it was burnt in 1856. Messrs.
Eklward and Richard Robinson were then running it. It
proved a serious loss to its owners and operators, as they
failed to obtain their insurance. But a larger building was
soon erected, containing three sets of machinery, and this is
still running.

Lawyers. Several of this profession have been in prac-
tice in town, some of whom have become eminent. Henry
Parsons was the first to open an office, but consumption soon
marked him for the grave, and his place was left vacant.
Hon. John Appleton, now Chief Justice of Maine, opened
his first office, in Sebec village, in 1824. He was succeeded
by his brother Moses, in 1833, who, after a few years, also
removed to Bangor. Harvey Evans followed him, in 1835,
and left in 1836. In 1838, Hon. A. M. Robinson opened an
office in the village, and after six years removed to Chase's
Comer, and after ten years, located at Dover. No one has
succeeded him at Sebec since.

Physicians. Not ignoring Capt. Ezekiel Chase, nor Dr.

SEBEG. 65

Francis lioyntou so early reuioved by drowning, we men-
tion Dr. David Shepherd, who commenced practice in Sebec
village in 1825, and continued it until 1863. He then be-
came Register of Deeds, and removed to Dover, but was soon
taken sick and died in 1804. lie was a successful pliysician,
and highly esteemed as a citizen. lie was once elected to
the Senate of Maine, and held many important town offices.
Others, before Dr. Shepherd, had attempted a settlement,
and recently. Dr. A. T. Walker practiced there, and now
L. C. Ford has succeeded him.

The Bangor & Piscataquis Railroad passes through the
south part of Sebec, and the town aided it to the amount of
♦7,500. This town has a school fund of $1,667, and twelve
school districts.

In 1852, Joseph Lamson, a leading business man of Sebec,
visited California, and made an extensive tour on the Pacific
coast. Since his return he has put his observations into print,
and recently brought out a neat volume, "Around Cape
Horn," which instructs and entertiiins its readers.

In the summer of 1879, the Woolen Factory, which had
been lying still for three years, was started up by a new com-
pany, and is turning out woolen blankets, with fair promise
of success. A large busuiess is also now done in tanning
and dressing sheep-skins, by Charles Butler; andF. M. Ford
now runs the lumber mills, and also manufactures i)hie and,
cedar tubs.

In 1870, Sebec had a valuation of $190,407.00, and a pop-
ulation of nine hundred and sixty-four.

CHAPTER IX.

MILO.

*

This was township Number Three, Seventh Range, hav-
ing an area of 21,920 acres.

It is watered by three beautiful rivers, the Piscataquis, Se-
bec, and Pleasant, all sufficient for boats and rafts. It has
two good mill privileges, one on Pleasant River, two miles
below Brown ville village, unoccupied, and another on Sebec
River, at Trafton's Falls, now Milo village, with nine feet
head, and fourteen feet fall, occupied with various mills.
Mark Trafton, when running a raft over these falls, was
thrown off and rescued with great difficulty, — Whence they
were so named. The soil is good generally, wliile upon tliese
rivers, there is a broad extent of rich and beautiful intervals.

PiiOPiiiETORS. Mr. Jonathan Hastings early purchased
this township, and a Mr. Wells of Boston became his partner;
They conveyed the greater part to the settlers, and finally
sold out the remaining lots to the late Russell Kittredgo.

It was first lotted into three hundred and twenty acre lots,
by Park Holland of Bangor, and afterward, some of these
were divided into one hundred acre lots by Andrew Strong
of Corinth, and still later, the portion south of Piscataquis
River, by P. P. Furber.

First Settlement. A Mr. Snow of Belgrade, who
afterward settled in Corinth, early roamed tliese forests as a
hunter. He crossed these intervals, and was delighted with
them as a promising agricultural tract. But as he had^l-
ready passed the meridian of life, he forbore to push so far
into the wilderness, and battle with the hardships of a back

MILO. 67

settlement. But he had two sons, then grown to manhood,
Moses and Stephen, and they came, probably in 1801, and
selected lots on Pleasant River, near the present bridge.
IVfr.. Benjamin Sargent from Methuen, Mass., made a selec-
tion on the Piscataquis River, near the ferry, at the -same
time. In the summer of 1802, Messrs. Snow felled their
first openings on the lots already selected; so did Mr. Sar-
gent on his lot, now the farm of Mr. Holbrook. Mr. Sar-
gent, Bylie Lyford, and some other persons, perhaps, came to
Bangor, and built a batteau, in which they brought up their
provisions, spending six days in making the ascent of the
Peijobscot and Piscataquis Rivci^s. The uppermost settle-
ment on the Penobscot was then at Sunkhaze, now Milford.
This was most probably in the summer of 1802, as Mr. Ly-
ford did not move his family into Atkinson until the spring
of 1804. The Snows were then single men, but Mr. Sargent
had a family. He and his oldest son Theophilus spent the
next spring and summer on his clearing, puttmg in seed and
raising his first crop, camping out as was usual. Tlie next
August he returned to Methuen to visit his family and to
bring his oldest son, who had before returned home, to aid
him in harvesting his crop, in building a log-cabin, and in
preparations for moving his family the next spring. But his
wife insisted on removing tlien, knowing little of camp life
so remote from tlie common conveniences of established
neighborhoods, and of accessible markets. And move they
did. They hastily broke up and made their way to Boston.
Looking for a passage by water, they found a scliooner, a Pe-
nobscot Packet, then plying between Boston and Bangor.
In this they took passage, but it was a " logy " sailor, the winds
unfavorable, and the passage long and tedious. In about
two weeks, Bangor was reached, articles indispensable to the
simplest mode of life were selected to be taken with them, and
the remainder stored for future removal. At this season of
the year the rivers were too low for boat navigation, so two
pack horses were hired to convey such as could not walk,
and the necessary outfit, and with these heavily laden, they

68 HISTORY OP PISCATAQXHS COUNTY.

commenced their thirty-five miles' journey to that lone clear-
ing. They moved slowly and wearily on» finding rougher
and muddier paths as they proceeded. The wife and mother
on horseback, carried the youngest child, Nathan, in her
arms, then three and a half years old (as my dates above
make it). An occasional fall was unavoidable, and once both
mother and child were dumped into a deep slough. A sym-
patliizing settler on the way, with whom they^ had stopped
over night, took his oxen and sled, and carried the weary
company several miles, to rest both persons and horses.
Northward of Charleston, the forest had not been broken,
till they reached the Piscataquis River. Most of the streams
were fordable, but across Alder Brook, the unladed horses
were swiim, the people crossing it upon a fallen tree, and
carrying their baggage over. At length they stood upon the
bank of the Piscataquis, opposite the opening of Capt. Eze-
kiel Chase, in Sebec. With his log canoe they crossed to
his cabin, then empty, and in this they lodged for the night.
The next morning tha eldest son stcarted back to return the
hired horses, but the family remained through that day, to
take a little needed rest. Before it closed, Capt. Chase ar-
rived with his family, and they spent the night together.
As Eli Towne ever dated his family's arrival. May 8, 1803,
and as the Chase family always admitted that Mr. Towne
came before them, it seems to be conclusive that the Sar-
gents mistook the year, in their statements made some years
later, and that Chase and Sargent moved their families in
September, 1808, and wore the second and third families that
moved into the county. Or they may give the date of Mr.
Sargent's coming to fell his opening, not that of his removal.
The next morning Mr. Sargent borrowed Capt. Chase's
canoe, and boated his family and their effects about five
miles down the river, to his own camp, and then and there
settled the first family in Milo. The next two months were
full of hardship and suffering to these lone pioneers. An
open camp was a frail shelter from the chilling blasts and the
pitiless storms of autumn. The harvest was ripe and must

MILO. 69

bo secured before cold and snow overtook tlieiii. They had
no teams to aid them, no cellar, no roofs nor barns to afford
shelter, no boards to make either house or barn. Grain,
therefore, must be stacked, corn placed in cribs built of
round poles, and potatoes put into large holes dug in the
ground, and covered over so as to exclude frost and snow.
The cold of November overtook them before they had a
log-cabin with tight walls and a rain-shedding roof, to house
them. For a year or so, their nearest grist-mill was at Ken-
duskeag, twenty-five miles distant. In this family the first
birth in Milo occurred. Alice Sargent, now Mrs. Alice Fisher
of Cooksville, Wis., was born Dec. 28, 1804. Tliis family act-
ed an important part in the early organization of tlie planta-
tion and town. Henry li. Sargent, mentioned above, de-
parted tlijs life in August, 1877, aged about eighty. But
few of that name now remain in town.

Mr. Boobar was probably the next to bring in a family.
He settled on a lot adjoining Mr. Sargent's, and is known to
have had his family there in March, 1805. He afterward moved
to Medford, and was an early settler there. His advent was
of gi'cat value to the new settlements. His wife was skillful
in cases of cliild-birth, and they also brought a hand-mill, in
which corn and grain could be ground, after the manner of
Bible lands in botli past and present times.

The Rottlemont incrcaHcd Hh)wly. In 1810, there were but
tliirty-four persons in the townsliip. The Snows continued
to clear land and raise wheat, which was produced in great
abundance upon those fine intervals. They remained single
for several years, Moses, marrying in 1811, and Stephen in
1813. This last event took place in Brownville, April 13,
and the next day he brought his bride, by sleighing, to her
new home. She is still living, but her husband died on the
farm that he cleared up, in 1871.

The building of mills in Sebec and Brownville essentially
aided the new settlers of Milo, as they could get their grain
ground, and obtain boards for buildings. Dea. Lemuel Shep-
ley was among the early settlers. He reared up a family

1

70 HISTORY OP PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

here, but now they are all gone to other parts. The names
of other early settlers cannot be accurately given.

But little is known of the progress of this settlement for
several years. In 1820, it had a population of ninety-seven,
an increase of sixty-three in ten years. In 1826, it had one
hundred and nineteen, of school age, and it was then esti-
mated that the entire population would be three hundred.

Incorporation. Previous to 1820, it was organized as
Plantation Number Tliree, Seventh liauge, and, Jan. 21, 1823,
incorporated as Milo. Lemuel Shepley issued a warrant to
Theophilus Sargent to call the meeting of organization. It
was held March 3, 1823, and Luther Keene was chosen town
clerk. There were then twenty-eight voters, none of whom
now remain in town, — Mr. Elisha Johnson, the last one,
dying in 1878, morie than eighty years of age. About this
date, Capt. .Winborn A. Sweat built the dam across Sebec
River, at Trafton's Falls, and erected the first saw- and grist-
mill in town. A store had already been opened there by a
Mr. Estis. He left, and was succeeded by Amos Davis.

There was from this time a steady increase of inhabitants
in town. Mr. Thomas White, afterward a merchant in Ban-
gor, put in a fulling-mill and carding-machine ; mechanics
settled in ; and physicians and lawyera began to locate here.
In 1829, Allen Monroe commenced trade in the village, and
he or his son has continued it till the present time, with one
or two suspensions. In 1831, Mr. Daniel Dennett came to
Milo, purchased a part of the Snow farm, and he and Ste-
phen Snow bought the saw- and grist-mill, and the unsold
land originally belonging to the mill lot. From this time
the village had a steady growth. Mr. Dennett afterward
moved into the village, and reared an enterprising family.
Dea. William S. Dennett of Bangor, and Daniel Dennett jr.
of Louisiana, are his sons. Daniel conducted and published
a newspaper in Louisiana, for a season, and is still connected
with the press. He also prepared and published a book upon
the natural resources, climate, and prospects of his adopted
State. The elder Mr. Dennett was a man of wealth and in-

MILO. 71

fluence, and died recently in Milo, at an advanced age.
Col. Joseph Lee came to this place from Bucksport, and he
was a prominent and highly esteemed citizen. Maj. P. P.
Furber also dwelt here, known as a land snrvevor, a county
officer and a Free-mason. He eventually moved out West.

In 1842, Joseph Cusliing & Co., formerly of Sebec,
built a woolen factory here, but in 1848, it was destroyed by
fire, and not rebuilt. But Gifford & Co. erected one on the
other side of the stream, and this is still running successfully.
All the land reserved for public uses was sold and devoted
to a school fund, amounting to $1300. High schools have,
been often taught at the village, both with and without State
aid. Milo village has now become quite large and flourish-
ing, having the greatest number of stores of any place in the
county, except Foxcroft and Dover. It has also made com-
mendable advances in its social, moral and religious state.

This town encouraged the Bangor & Piscataquis Ilailroad,
which passes through it, to the amount of $6000. Large
quantities of freight from Brownville slate quarries and Ka-
tahdin Iron Works are sent from its depot, and the business
of the town was essentially benefited by the opening and
running of that road.

In 1845, a toll-bridge was built across the Piscataquis
River, in this town, to open a new route to Bangor, — the only
toll-bridge on the river, though several public ferries have
been established.

•This town has had as physicians, J. F. Califf, Ezra Kim-
ball, Chester Huckins, S. B. Sprague, G. B. Crane and
Hannibal Hamlin.

Lawyers. J. B. Everett, C. A. Everett, J. H. Macom-
ber jr., William P. Young, and M. L. Durgiii jr., have prac-
ticed law in town, the hist two now remaining.

In the summer of 1878, J. Fenno & Co. erected a mill
for splitting out spool timber, upon the canal formerly opened
for Cushing's factory. It has commenced operations ; they
purchase a large amount of white birch hauled to the mill,
and have bought a tract of wild land, which also furnishes this

72 HISTORY OP PISCATAQUIS COITNTY.

material. Upon this land, near Ebeeme Lower Pond, in the
north-east part of Brownville,. they have also built a steam-
mill, for the same purpose. Rfecently a melancholy event
occurred there. As a pleasure party from Milo was visiting
it, the boiler exploded, killing Effie Snow, and severely, but
not fatally, injuring Frank Gray, a workman, and Nellie
Gould, all of Milo. It occurred March 3, 1880.

In November, 1879, Mr. Will Frost, a resident of Milo,
was fatally injured by the rolling of logs at the Gulf on
' Pleasant River, and died the next day.

In 1870, the population of this town was 988; its State val-
uation *161,855.

CHAPTER X.

SANGER VILLE.

Sangerville was Number Four, Sixth Range, and has
an area of 24,216 acres. It was first sold to John S. Foley,
but it reverted to the State. As early as 1800, Col. Calvin
Sanger of Sherborn, Mass., purchased thi-ee-fourtlis of it,
and eventually became its sole proprietor. This township
has a good soil, with less waste land than others, most of it
being good upland, not very stony, and easily cultivated. It is
well watered by the Piscataquis River and its two ponds.
North-west and Center, on the issues of which are available
mill privileges. The stream fi*om North-west pond flows
through Sangerville village, and has five mill privileges,
all of which have been occupied. Upon the uppermost one,
Weymouth once run a shingle machine, but it is now aban-
doned. On the second, the woolen factory stands, and is in
successful operation. Carleton's Mills occupied the third.
Tliis has a fall of seventeen feet, and now turns O. B. Wil-
liams' saw- and grist-mill, and a shingle machine. On the
fourth, Prince's fulling-mill was built, and on the fifth, Tliis-
sell's shingle machine run. Both of them are now abandoned.

A dam across the outlet of North-west Pond, owned by
the Factory Company, retains a supply of water, which
makes these privileges quite permanent.

Black Stream, entering this town from Dover, has a fall of

fifteen feet, upon which a saw-mill and shingle machine

stands. A few rods below, another fall runs a grist-mill.

Upon the upper fall, the first grist-mill in town was built by

Phineas Ames, but for the last sixty years, these mills have

been owned by the Knowltons.

6

74 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

«

On the outlet of Center Pond, Gray and Brockway's saw-
mill and shingle machine and A. E. Hall's carriage shop im-
prove a fall of fourteen feet. Three miles below, there is
another fall of twelve feet, upon which John Cleaves built a
saw-mill in 1829. This is still improved with a saw-mill and
shingle machine, and is now known as French's Mills.

First Settlement. The first opening was felled in this
town in 1801 or 1802, by Pliineas Ames from Hancock, N.H.,
upon the old Marr place, near Lane's Corner. He first moved
his family to Harmony, to make a temporary stay. There
he had a son born, Phineas jr., March 6, 1803. In the fall of
that year, his wife and babe rode in on horseback, Mr. Ames
leading the horse, a part of the way by a spotted line. This
was the fourth family 'settling in this county. Henceforth
the new settlement was called Amestown.

James Weymouth was the next settler. He was from Lee,
N. H., and he, too, moved his family to Harmony, while pre-
. paring a home for them in the wilderness. His son William
was born in Harmony, May 7, 1804. As that year was clos-
ing, he moved his family to Amestown, by early sleighing,
and Mrs. Ames was permitted to see the face of a white wom-
an, and to have a neighbor. The above dates are well ver-
ified, and make Weymouth's removal t6 be in December, 1804.
Mr. Weymouth's first place was near Center Pond. There
he lived seven or eight years, then sold out and began anew
on the place where he afterward lived and died. Jesse
Brockway from Washington, N. H., was the third settler.
His family had dwelt two years in Cornville, and two weeks
after Weymouth moved, his also came. His daughter Han-
nah (now widow Batchelder) was born in Amestown, Feb-
ruary 21, 1805, the first birth in town, and the third in the
county. Mr. Brockway began on the eastern slope of Pond's
Hill, but in a few years sold to Apollos Pond, and took up
another wild lot near it. On this, the rest of his life was spent.

Phineas Ames deserves further notice. He gained some
notoriety among these early settlers. It is not now known
on what terms he pioneered the way into this new township.

8AKGE11VILLE. 75

But it is an established fact that he lotted out Col. Sanger's
part of it, some time previous to 1807. His survey proved to
be inaccurate. His compass varied, and he made no allow-
ance for the variation. So Col. Sanger had a re-survey.
Moses Hodsdon had lotted out the south-east quarter of the
township, which Col. Sanger had not purchased. Isaac Cool-
idge from Massachusetts, in October, 1807, made this re-sur-
vey, and made a plan of the whole township, by which the
several lots were sold and deeded. The probabilities are,
that Mr. Ames received the lot on which he. first settled, as
compensation for his survey. He early built the grist-mill
on Black Stream, already alluded to. Though there was a
splendid fall and sufficient water, it was weak and slow-
moving, of but little profit to liim, or convenience to the
public. About 1810, Col. Sanger exchanged three wild lots
with Mr. Ames, for his mill and farm. Upon one of these
he commenced anew, and after toiling on a while, exchanged
it with Edward Magoon, and settled near Knowlton's mills.
There he and liis second son Samuel lived until 1824, wlien
tliey sold to William Campbell, and moved to a place in
Dover. On this, he and Iiis son Samuel, and recently, a
grandson, Phineas, have all died. Mr. Ames was a man of
great strength and of great powers of endurance. But there
were exaggerated and fabulous stories told of the immense
burdens that he would bring in at one load. It used to be
said that he at one time brought "a roll of sole leather, three
bushels of salt, and a potash kettle, on Ids head," all the way
fi'om Harmony. He miglit have brought leather, salt, and a
light iron kettle, as one load, but his sons branded the above
as an unmitigated falsehood. But he and other pioneers en-
countered incredible hardships. At first, their provisions
must be lugged from Harmony, and later, from Dexter. Mr.
Weymouth described one of these fatiguing adventures. He
with Mr. Ames and his two elder sons, were bringing in
supplies. At length the younger son broke down and de-
clared that he could not lug his load any further. "Hang it
up on a tree," said his father, "and we will come and get it."

76 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

"Give me a day's work," said Mr. Weymouth, "and I will
carry it for you;" for Uncle Jim always had an eye for a
good bargain. His proposal was accepted, and he added this
to his own heavy load. A few miles further on, and the
other boy gave out. Weymouth made the same offer, and
piled another bag on to his own broad shouhlcrs. Evidently,
there was more than one giant in those days. Mr. Ames
was a blacksmith, and he and his son Samuel ever did some-
thing at that business. Daniel Ames and his lost child will
be noticed hereafter. Probably only two new families came
in 1805; one of these was Eben Stevens, a carpenter. In
March, 1806, William Farnham moved his family from Nor-
ridgewock, and this made the sixth. Mr. Farnham's lot was
on the south side of Pond's hill, and being a tanner, he early
started that business, and tanned the first loatlior in tlio
county. He also brought young apple trees upon his shoul-
ders, from Garland, and planted the first orchard in town.

In January, 1808, there were thirteen families in town.
Four of these were Oakes, — Abel, Levi, Solomon and William,
all brothers, and Samuel, a nephew to them, who soon left
and settled in South Carolina. These men, originally from
Massachusetts, then came from Canaan.

In 1809, Walter Leland commenced clearing the lot north
of the Leonard Dearth farm. He has resided iu town longer
than any other one, and is now the oldest person in town,
being ninety-six years of age. The same year, Samuel Mc-
Lanathan also came and began to clear the Benjamin Lane
farm. Leland was a nephew to Col. Sanger, by birth, Mc-
Lanathan, by marriage, and he was Col. Sanger's agent.

By this time Enoch Adams was here. He came from New
Hampshire, with Mr. Hill, an early settler of Sebec, and after
remaining in his employ one or two seasons, selected his lot
in Saugerville, and began his life's work in earnest. He was
an industrious man, a skillful farmer, a natural accumulator.
He added another lot to his first purchase, and possessed one
of the best farms in the county. The next year, Mr. Leland
married, boarded the builders of Sanger's Mills, and superin-

8ANGERVILLE. 77

tended the work. After the grist-mill was completed, he
tended it, grinding on certain fixed days, for those who came.
Eleazer Woodward, a mill-wright, recently from Vermont,
put these mills in operation, and Guy Carleton and Oliver
Woodward were among the workmen.

In 1810, the censud shows one hundred and twenty-six in-
liabitants, a rapid increase surely.

By 1812 or 1813, Carleton and Dudley commenced opera-
tions where Sangerville village now stands. They built a
saw-mill, then Dudley sold out to Carleton, and left. Carle-
ton soon put a grist-mill in ojicration, sold out the saw-mill
to his brother Robert, and in 181G sttirtcd a carding machine,
the fii'Kt in the Piscatacjuis valley. In those dtiys of resolute
women, wool wjis often carded by hand, but the introduction
of a carding machine marked an era in their domestic labors.
Mr. Carleton, some time after, re-possessed the saw-mill, and
re-built his grist-mill, putting it in the most improved style,
and at his death, in 1836, left these and other property, to
his oldest son Joseph, lie was ever a leading man in town,
and will come into further notice.

iNCOurouATiON. This was the third incorporated town
of this county. The act was passed in June, 1814, and
wisely made the middle of Piscataquis River its northern
boundary. A small portion of Number Six, Seventh
liange was included within its limitM, and a still smaller
portion of Sangerville left to Guilford. But it brought
the burden of bridging the river equally. upon each town.
This act was not carried into effect till the next spring.
Then N. Chamberlain of Dover issued a warrant to Edward
Magoon, to call the first town meeting. It was duly held
March 15, 1815. Mr. Chamberlain was preseiit, and they
chose liim moderator. But they took their own citizens for
the permanent olTiccrs, electing Samuel McLanathfin, town-
clerk, and Guy Carleton, first selectman. In the fall of that
year, the town cast thirty votes.

These new towns, • owing to a scarcity of money, usually
paid their town charges in grain. . Sangerville fixed the price

f

78 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

of it thus : wheat, $1.50, com and rye, $1.00 each, per bushel.
In the cold seasons, rye was advanced to $1.25, but wheat
and corn remained as before.

A town meeting was called in 1815, to see if the town would
settle Elder William Oakes, and thus convey to him the lot
of land reserved for the first settled minister. The town re-
fused to do it. Elder Oakes was prominent in the town and
vicinity, and naturally comes in for a distinct notice. His
father was an old soldier in the French and Indian war,
fought under Gen. Wolfe on the plains of Abraham, and
when that fallen hero's remains were sent to England for in-
terment, Mr. Oakes, being a joiner, made his coflSn, and as-
sisted in embalming them. When the army was disbanded,
he returned to Massachusetts, was twice married, and raised
up a large family.

Elder Oakes was the youngest of those brothers who early
came to Sangerville. He was a robust, athletic man, of in-
dustrious habits, a skillful lumberman, a good horseman,
quick in thought, gifted in speech, of a cheerful tempera-
ment, but quite deficient in education. He had early seen
the Piscataquis valley, in connection with Weston's survey
company. He was already a member of the Baptist church
in Canaan^ and when Elder Macomber formed a church in
this town, he entered it, was licensed to preach, and ordained.
But he was not an acceptable minister to all. Though not
grossly immoral, he was once suspended from the ministry,
for general inconsistency. After a short period of wander-
ing, he came back with professed penitence, was restored, and
ever after, retained his standing, preaching in various places,
often with apparent success.

Samuel McLanathan was another leading man in town.
He had a good degree of native talent, was a ready speaker,
and a very independent tliinker. Ilis religious views were
peculiar, and he held all of his opinions with the tenacity of
adeath-giip; and this, and his love for strong drink, once
plunged him into a fearful extremity, from which he barely
escaped with his life. On a cold winter evening, he was re-

SAKGEBVILLE. 79

turning from Bangor, in company with Capt. J. Pratt, and
when nearing his home, they met a neighbor, with whom Mc-
Lanathan engaged in a dispute about a certain business diffi-
culty. Warmed with stimulants and anger, he coidd not be
persuaded to desist, and go home. Becoming cold, Capt.
Pratt started slowly on, thinking that this would constrain
him to break off, and overtake him. But he persisted too
long and did not overtake him. So Capt. Pratt called at
McLanathan's house, warmed and refreshed himself, and rode
on to Foxcroft, he and Mrs. McLanatlian concluding that
her husband had stopped at a neighbor's. In the morning
she dispatched their hired man to ascertain. He had not
gone more than a mile before he found him, partially fi'ozen
and nearly dead. When he broke off his dispute, he started
at a quick pace to overtake the sleigh. He ran till his
strength failed; he then tried to walk on, but his limbs soon
faltered. Still persevering, he crept upon his hands and
knees. In this way he passed througii an open brook, and
wet his hands and feet. When he could no further proceed,
he made such exertions as he could in twisting and wring-
ing tlic bushes, to keep up his natural warmth. Ho was
found with one arm hanging over the lower limb of a tree,
and his body leaning against its trunk, or else the snow
would have been his winding-sheet. His hands and feet were
severely frozen, so that he lost all of his toes and fingers, ex-
cept a part of liis right thumb. This nearly disabled liim
for labor, but he could write legibly, holding the pen between
that thumb and the palm adjoining. He was frequently
elected to important town offices, and when. a mail route was
established, he was appointed postmaster. After remaining
upon the Lane farm about twenty-five years, he was obliged
to sell it, to raise the means to pay his Uncle Sanger for its
soil ; and thence he moved into Dover, living at Macomber's
Comer. Ije raised up a smart, enterprising family, wliich
settled in various places. In his old age, he returned to
Massacluisetts. There he renounced his fatalistic views,
abandoned his drinking habits, and became a believer in the
Christian religion, and died in Christian peace.

80 HISTORY OP PISCATAQXnS COUNTY.

The cold seasons piissed, and Carleton's Mills became the
center of a growing business. Aaron Morse Was there,
"beating ^the anvil;" John Andrews opened a small store;
and in 1817, Thomas Prince built another dam, forty rods
below Carleton's Mills, and put up a fulling mill, the second
an3nyhere north of Dexter; in 1819, Isaac Macomber opened
a country store; Thomas Robey came in, as a cabinet maker;
and soon after, Thomas P^nllcr started a tannery. Hy this
time, the place won the name of Sangerville Village. About
this time, certain persons in the vicinity united in forming
the Sangerville, Guilford and Parkman Social Library. It
was kept at Sangerville village, and wivs an appreciated insti-
tution. Its well selected books have been worn out, but the
information therefrom obtained still lives in the mature
minds of those who, when young, devoured their contents,
and their safe and elevating influences still abide. The ea-
gerness with which new books would be grabbed, when such
were added to it, is not yet forgotten. Nor should the blaz-
ing fire, in the light of which they were read, in many a
humble household, be entirely obscured by the more steady
and brilliant light of our present domestic luminaries.

In 1817, Isaiah Knowlton exchanged his farm in Sher-
born, Mass., for Col. Sanger's mills, and from that time they
have been owned and run by him and his descendants.

In 1820, Sangerville had a population of 310. It sent
B. C. Goss as delegate to the convention to form a State
Constitution. After. S. McLanathan had held the town
clerk's office three years, Mr. Goss succeeded him, and put
the records into substantial shape. He was a shoemaker by
trade, sometimes a school teacher, but a lover of strong drink.
By marriage he was a brother-in-law to Guy Carleton, but his
neglect of business, tippling, and political rivalry kept them
at the opposite poles of the fraternal magnet. He possessed
good native endowments, and, rum aside, he would have
reached a high literary and political position. After a few
years he left town and returned to Readfield. This year,
Dr. Charles Stearns settled in the village as a physician.

8ANGERVILLB. 81

Not long after, Dr. Jeremiah Leach also came, and remained
there in practice until his death.

In the year 1822, events of unusual interest turned up,
some auspicious, others not so. In the month of January,
Elder Daniel Bartlett was settled as the pastor of a Baptist
church, which had been recently instituted. The town voted
him the lot reserved for the first settled minister, provided,
that he would deed to the Congregational Society one aver-
age half of said lot. Three disinterested persons were to di-
vide it. These terms were accepted, and Joseph Kelsey,
Abram Moore, and Alexander Greenwood were selected to
do it. Tlicy performed the work satisfactorily to both par-
ties. Elder Bartlett prosecuted his ministerial labors with
zeal and energy. He was quite successful, and the church
grew rapidly in numbers and strength. He was soon called
to part with his wife. ^ In looking for another, he intrigued
for a fair young lady, already under matrimonial engage-
ments, and nearly succeeded. But the uncertain tide turned,
and it proved a decided failure. Interested parties were of-
fended, and the uncommitted condemned his course. His own
people stood by him. He married another, and labored on.
But Iiis health failed, his support was insuilicient, and on his
recovery, he went to another field. Reverses now came over
that church. Its halcyon days were over; it dwindled and
passed away.

Another store was opened in the village by Edward Mitch-
ell. To.tliis tlie postoflice was soon after removed, and
Mr. Mitchell became postmaster. Tliis year, Col. Sanger
bought Thomas Prhice's fulling-mill, and introduced Mr. J.
P. Leland, his nepliew, to run it.

The Disappeauancr of Daniel Ames' Child was
tlie great event of this year. This presents a hard page of
history to be filled. But as far as possible, a candid statement
of known circumstances shall be given. With some of these
incidents, the writer was personally acquainted. But of
many facts, explanations, impressions, conjectures and con-
clusions, he is indebted to the better informed of that period.

82 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

Daniel Ames was the oldest son of Phineas Ames, the
first settler of the town. Daniel was about fifteen years
old when the family moved into the wilderness. There he
enjoyed little opportunity to attend school, or to receive any
other cultivating or refining influences. No one ever needed
such, more. He was naturally rough, sullen, callous, and ob-
stinate. He possessed a hasty and ungovernable temper,
and this was his great infirmity. He married Mary Wey-
mouth, a daughter of Samuel Weymouth, who was among
the early settlers of this town. Their first three children
were sons, the fourth, Ruth Ames^ was bom Aug. 14, 1818,
and she became notorious as The lost child. The date was
June 6, 1822, when she was about four years old. At that
time Mr. Ames was living near the eastern base of Doutty's
hill, one and a half miles from Sangerville village. On the
eve of that day, Mr. Aaron Morse knocked at our door, to an-
nounce her loss, and to invite my father to go in search of
her. Toward morning, my father returned, and from him
and others came the following particulars. Ruth, her par-
ents said, was sent in the forenoon to Mr. David Doutty's,
to return a borrowed towel, which was put into a work-bag,
and this was tacked to the sleeve of her dress ; that she had

•

a red silk handkerchief tied over her head, and had no other
extra clothing. As the child did not return when expected,
they sent one of the boys after her, and he returned, saying,
that Ruth had not been seen at Mr. Doutty's. Tlioy then
made search, and not finding Iier, sent one of their sons to
the village for help, but he failed to make it known so as to
awaken any interest. So it was nearly dark when they sent
again, and when Mr. Morse heard of it. He, alwajrs strongly
attached to children, at once started to organize a search.
Quite a company gathered, and with lanterns and torches,
they scoured the woods into which they supposed slio had
turned aside, became bewildered, and was lost. They ex-
tended their search as far as Carleton's mill-stream, west-
ward, and as far as the Piscataquis, northward, but found no
little Ruth. At a late hour, concluding that she was now

SANGERVILLB. 88

fallen asleep, and would not awake till thoroughly rested,
they detailed a dozen young men to patrol the woods in si-
lence, in order to catch the echoes of her cry, into which they
expected her to break upon awaking ; and the rest of the
company dispersed, weary and sad, to their homes. The
morning rose, but no voice nor sound of the lost child arose
with it. The report that Aines' child was losty spread like
the rays of the mornmg. It startled everybody. Such an
event had never happened in this newly settled region. It
produced the greatest excitement that ever surged through
that community. So the search was prosecuted for three or
four consecutive weeks. Hundreds of men and boys gath-
ered, day after day, going through the fields, pastures and
forests, kept in line by the -blast of trumpets. Some came
from a wide range, — ^from Harmony, Garland, Exeter, Sebec
and Atkinson. Some would remain over night, lodging in
the neighborhood, and to many, Mr. Doutty and others, dealt
out immense quantities of food, after their own supplies were
exhausted. One day, when a great number was on the
ground. Col. J. Carpenter mounted a sprightly horse, mar-
shaled tliem into a close rank, and marched them shoulder to
shoulder, through pasture and woodland, closing the rank as
soon as they had passed a tree or rock which unavoidably
broke it. Thus thorough was the search repeatedly made,
over the region whore the lost child, starting from the point
stated, must have wandered. But after all those hnmense
efforts, not a particle of clothing^ not a vestige of any kind,
not a track on the margin of stream or river, left by the ob-
ject of that careful search, was ever discovered! The days
spent, and the miles traveled, in this fruitless search must be
counted by thousands. The amount of sympathy, anxiety
and sorrow can hardly bo overestimated. Mr. Ames coun-
seled them to cease, before the sympathizing public felt ready
to do it. At length further search seemed in vain, and their
efforts were suspended. But the report had gone out widely,
and the question continued to be asked, through all the re-
gion, "Is Ames' child found?"

84 HISTORY OP PISCATAQXnS COUNTY.

After two or three months, a notice was sent to Sangerville,
that an old Englishman was tramping about on Kennebec
River, with a female child on his back. He was a dissipated
vagrant, and though he declared that the child was his own
daughter, some thought that this might be "Ames' lost child,"
which tlie old man, passing that way, had stolen. Mr. Amos
was dispatched in haste, saw this child, and said at once, that
it was not his, and returned homo without it. But tlio pub-
lic were not so easily pacified. The report had taken wing
that Ames' child was found, and everybody was glad to be-
lieve it, and was unwilling to give it up. So the selectmen
of the town took the matter in hand. They sent a person
to bring the child and the suspected vagrant to town, so as
to have a legal investigation. Mr. Appleford, the straggling
father, frantic with grief and rage, protested by all that was
sacred, that the child was his own, that her mother had died
in Canada, that this child was all that was left to him, that
it would be outrageous to wrest her from him. Mrs. Ames
owned the child^ and her husband now fell in with her, though
their respective relatives did not believe it. Mrs. Ames, the
child, and Mr. Appleford were kept at, Macomber's store, in
the village, and many resorted thither to see and hear the
opposing claimants. The child soon received and returned
the gentle fondlings of Mrs. Ames, but when with others, not
knowing what a fierce strife was going on about her, would
tell, with artless simplicity, about Lake Ontario, her sick and
dying mother, and other incidents, a knowledge of which
could not have been foisted into her childish imagination.
The lost Ruth had a crippled hand. A severe burn had
crooked and stiffened two of her fingers, aijd left a perma-
nent scar. "The old man," said some, "had cured that scar
with a certain kind of oil."

A legal examination was had, and the old man was held to
appear at the County Court. In the interim, the selectmen
of Sangerville, who were the prosecuting party, published a
full account of the lost child, and of the supposed recovery,
in the Bangor Register. The public, therefore, prejudged

SANGERVILLE. 85

the case, and became strongly set against the accused strag-
gler. At length the court sat, Appleford was arraigned, a
large number of witnesses appeared, among wliich Daniel
•Ames was chief. Mrs. Ames was in such a maternal state
that slic could not attend. Ames upon tlio stsiud wivs not
very positive in the decisive points of his testimony, still an
intense excitement prevailed through the place. In all the
stores, hotels, and streets of Bangor, this trial was the one
subject of talk, and strong prejudices grew up against the
drunken tramp. While his fate trembled in the balance, un-
looked for witnesses providentially appeared, and delivered
him. Two families from Wrentham, Mass., arrived in Ban-
gor, on thoir way to Mt)iisou and Sangcrville, and upon en-
tering a liotcl they heard the exciting conversation upon tliis
trial. Upon inquiry they Icfvrned the particulars, and recol-
lected that such a man with such a childj was at their home
in Wrentham in the previous Rj)rijig. He Imd stopped there
a day or two, washed his clotlics in tlieir fulling-mill, and
departed. These men sought out the old man in the prison,
and identified him as the same person. Mrs. Whitbig had
noted the event m her diary, and the date fixed it in May^
while Ruth did not disappear till June 6th, following. This
testimony was decisive, the old man was acquitted, liis child
was restored to him, and he went on his way rejoicing.

The public now had to admit that this was not Ames'
child, and the question opened anew : What had become of
her? Ilcr disappearance was so mysterious, so large a sacri-
fice of time and labor had been made, and no trace of the
missing one discovered, and no wild beast had ever been
known to attack any person in those regions, the course of
Mr. Ames and wife, in first disowning and then claiming the
Appleford child, was so unaccountable, that the mystery be-
came still deeper, yes, and darker too. " People will thinks
as well as talk," you know. Suspicions arose in some minds
that the lost child had been disposed of in some tragical way,
and arose with those who knew Mr. Ames best. No one
thought that he would intentionally do such a deed, but in

86 HISTORY OF PISCATAQXnS COUNTY.

his paroxysms of anger he might deal out blows that would
be fatal. Many were not slow to express such suspicions,
and that the report of her being lost was a contrived blind,
to ward off the effects of a fearful disclosure; Mr. Ames and
wife little thinldng how much interest that device would
awaken. The public waited for disclosures, yet dreaded to
have them made. When Mr. Ames and his sons were at
court, his wife was in such. a nervous and agitated condition,
that some of her neighbors remained constantly with her.
It was whispered that, to one of them, she had disclosed some-
thing relating to this mystery. He, when asked, did not
deny the fact, but ever refused to tell what it was, for it .was
committed to him under a solemn pledge of secrecy. But he
did let certain pregnant hints leak oirt, that are still remem-
bered. In burying it so deep, they made it more significant,
more conclusive, that there was something to bury. This
neighbor would ever after • affirm, that " Appleford's child
never ought to "have been claimed as Ames'," and still he
was the very man, that went and brought that cliild to San-
gerville. It was also said that, under peculiar provocations,
Mrs. Ames was overheard to threaten her husband that she
would make exposures about that child. But she never
made any. She died before her husband. Many tliought
that he would reveal a terrible secret, before the curtain
dropped. But he " died and gave no sign." It is said that
one of their elder sons, as he drew near the close of life, made
certain statements which did not convince any one tluit tlie
missing child was ever lost in the woods. . And here I leave
this painful subject, which the lapse of fifty years has not
stripped of its mysteries, and which each must treat, as this
narrative may incline him.

Sangerville village was the lousiness center of a large cir-
cuit, until stores and mechanic shops were opened in Guil-
ford. Then a portion of its business was diverted, and it
has not recovered it. In 1824, D. R. Straw opened an office
there, and in 1830, he removed to Guilford village. A store
was opened at Lane's Corner, in 1825, and continued for

SANGEBVILLE. 87

many years. Another was started there, and kept a \yhile,
but both are now abandoned.

The town contmued to increase in population. After the
mills were built by Brockway and Cleaves, the land in the
south part of the town was rapidly settled. Eventually a
store was opened at Gilman^s Comer, another at French's
Mills, and meclianics settled there.

In the fall of 1829, the Baptists raised a meeting-house in
the village. It was completed in 1833, as a Union house.
By the donation of Mr. Cotton Brown, an old resident, and
a wealthy farmer, a good bell has been recently placed in its
tower. In 1844, a Union house was built at Lane's Comer,
and has been used more or less by difTcrent denominations.

J [on. Stephen Lowell came uito the village as a tnuler, in
1827, and continued in the business till his death. He was
often in town oiTice, and also elected to a seat in each branch
of the Legislature.

Elder Atherton Clark, in 1835, purchased- the stand and
farm formerly owned by Col. Robert Carle ton, and moved
into the village. His son William G. went into trade, but
was not successful. He then turned his attention to the
law, had some success in practicing it, and also dove deeply
into politics. He was once elected Clerk of the Senate, and
held other offices at Augusta. He died rather early in life,
leaving a large and enterprLsing familyi Wliitiug S., his old-
est son, graduated from Colby University, in 18G2, entered
the army as Captain, and was promoted to Colonel, before he
left it. He is now a lawyer in Bangor. Tliree others, James
W., Charles A. and Frank A. were officers in tlie army.
Charles A. and George E. are now practicing law.

During the war, a building for a woolen factory was built
at the village, and in 18G9, it was put in operation. It has
greatly increased the business of the place. It now contains
three sets of machinery, and employs some fifty operatives,
to which ten or twelve hundred dollars are paid monthly.
D. Campbell & Co. have succcssfiUly run it for several years.

Col. Wm. Oakes stood high as a military officer, was often

88 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

in town business, once sent to the Legislature, and was once
High Sheriff. He sent four sons to Waterville College ; two
graduated there ; one left and graduated from Dartmouth ;
the other left before completing the course. Three of these
sons became lawyers ; Albion P. practiced in Waldoborough,
was an able lawyer, a fluent speaker, and when rising rapidly
in his profession, sunk by consumption to an early grave.
Valentine B. entered the army, and never returned.

Mr. Barnabas Bursely was another esteemed citizen. He
came to town when a young man, and followed the business
of house-joiner and carriage-maker. He preached for a sea-
son as a Restorationist, and then voluntarily retired from the
work. He held both town and county offices, and was once
sent to the Legislature. He is a man of great moral worth,
reliable in all respects, and universally respected.
. Sangerville as a town, did not aid in constructing the Ban-
gor & Piscataquis Railroad. At Low's Bridge and at San-
gerville Village, it passes so near the river, that it accommo-
dates the residents of Sangerville as much as it does the peo-
ple of Guilford.

Lawyers. Since William G. Clark's death, no lawyer has
practiced there.

Physicians. Those earliest here, were Charles Steams,
Jeremiah Leach, Tolraan Carey, Moses Ayer, Charles Proc-
tor, Moses P. Hanson, and others for short periods. Either
Sangerville or Guilford village has ever liad a physician,
sometimes both of them, one or more. Drs. A. C. Maxim
and G. D. Demeritt are now at Sangerville village.

The valuation of this town in 1870, was $316,590;. its pop-
ulation 1,140.

CHAPTER XL

ATKINSON.

Atkinson was Number Two, Sixth Range. The soil is
generally good; its poorer portions lying in a connected
body along tho banks of Alder Stream. It was first sold to
E. Sigourney, but reverting to the State, was then sold to
Vaughan and Merrick, with* the Dover township, for twenty-
five cents per acre. These men commenced selling lots in
1801 or 1802. Soon after this they disposed of the whole
township, excepting its public reserves and the lots already
sold, Judge Atkinson and Oliver Crosby of Dover, N. H.,
being the purchasers. They and their heirs continued its
proprietors, until it was all sold. After selling a large part
of it, the proi)rictors divided the rcmahidcr between them.'
After Judge Atkinson's death, Asa Freeman, his son-in-law,
became his successor, and, in 1839, sold twenty-five lots to
Mr. Crosby, and wound up his interest in it.

It was lotted out by Andrew Strong, into one hundred acre
lots, in 1807 ; and by his plan they have been sold and deeded.

The Water Power in this town is not very permanent.
Alder Stream passes diagonally through the town, and af-
fords a mill site, near the center, which was early improved.
The Colcord brothers, from Bangor, in 1807, put in a saw-
and grist-mill, and similar mills are still running there.
Dead Stream rises in the south-west part, flows eastwardly
uito Orneville, and finally falls into the outlet of Pushaw
Pond. In spring and autumn this stream affords sufiicient
water to drive a saw-mill and a sliingle machine. These
stand within the original limits of Orneville, but were an-
nexed to Atkinson. Upon a branch of this stream a shingle
mill has been put in operation recently.
7

90 HISTOBY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

«

First Settlement. Bylie Lyford felled the first open-
ing on the bank of Piscataquis River, above the bridge, in
1802. The next season he raised a crop, and built his cabin.
In March, 1804, he brought in his family, — the first to make a
permanent home in the present town. November 11, 1804,

. he had a son born, Thomas Lyford, the second child born in
this county. He is still living, occupying, till recently, a part
of the same lot on which his father broke into the solid wil-
derness. Mr. Lyford built a framed house on the interval,
but high freshets alarmed him. ^ He took up a new lot in
Sebec, and built a framed barn upon it. This was accideiir
tally burnt, when filled with unthreshed wheat. He then
sold out that possession to Mr. Silas Harriman, a brother-in-
law, and built upon higher ground, on the south end of his
first lot. Here he remained till Ids death, in 1865, and roared
up a large and respectable family.

Other settlers soon came in. A passable way was early
opened to Charleston and to Bangor. Through 'Garland and
Dexter there was a road westiyard. In 1810, it had 169 in-
habitants, the largest ilumber of any township on the river.
But during the next decade, owing probably to the unfavor-
able seasons, the increase was small. In 1820, its census
shows a total of 245, and its annual crop was 105 bushels of
corn, 669 of wheat, and 222 tons of hay.
Jn 1818, Dr. E. W. Sno\^, from Plymouth, N. H., came to

' this town to establish himself as a physician. Three elder
brothers had preceded him, and taken lots for fanning. Dr.
Snow was a graduate of Dartmouth College, and had taken
his medical degree there. Finding sufiicieht encouragement
to remain, he married, and resided for a season in Mr. Ly-
ford's house, near the river. He afterward built near the
present meeting-house, and finally exchanged, and settled
down at Atkinson Corner. After the death of Dr. Roynton,
he was frequently called into Sebec, Milo and Brownville.
At the first town meeting he was elected town clerk, and was
also sent as delegate to the Constitutional Convention. After
the organization of Piscataquis County, he was appointed

ATIUNSON. 91

•

Judge of Probate, and held that office seven years. Dr. Snow
was a very good physician, an esteemed and useful citizen^
affable, kind and generous, a man of refined taste and culture,
every way honest, upright and reliable. He remained in
town until his death, in 1849, and departed sincerely lament-
ed. One of his sons, Dr. E. P. Snow, succeeded him in his
practice*

4

Incorporation. It was for a season Plantation Number
Two, but in February, 1819, it was' incorporated as the town
of Atkinson. The name was chosen in honor of Judge Atr
kinson. He gracefully acknowledged the honor by present-
ing the town with one hundred volumes for a public library.

In accordance with a warrant from N. R. Lowney, Bylie
Lyford called the first town meeting, March 26, 1819.

The next year, 1820, Oliver Crosby, joint proprietor with
Judge Atkinson, moved into town, and commenced farming
on an extensive scale. He held for his own use, 700 acres,
and soon had the largest farm in Penobscot County. He
built large and elegant buildings, laid out his orchards and
grounds in good taste, and prosecuted his agricultural pur-
suits in a skillful and successful manner. Mr. Crosby was a
native of Billerica, Mass., a graduate of Harvard University,
and while in Dover, N. H., a member of the bar. But he
laid aside liis legal pursuits, when lie settled in Atkinson.
He reared up a large family, educating two of liis sons for
the legal profession, — the late William C. Crosby of Bangor,
and Hon. Josiah Crosby of Dexter. He resided on his farm
until his death, in 1861, dying at the age of eighty-three.

At an early date, a store was opened at the Mills, by Sam-
uel C. Clark. He was succeeded by a Mr. Porter, and then
the business passed to Mr. Walker. About 1830, J. C.
Brown commenced trade at Atkinson Corner. After two
years, E. L. Hammond bought out Brown, and continued in
the business for nearly forty years. He was an active man
in town affairs, was twice appointed County Commissioner,
and was a highly respected and useful citizen. He remained

92 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COXTin*Y.

in town till near his death, in 1878. J. H. Ramsdall suc-
ceeded him in the store, and still continues it.

The Mysterious Disappearance op Isaac Blake.
There lived in this town a Blake family, in which there were
several sons. One of the older sons, Isaac, early M^ent away,
and followed the sea for a few years. lie returned home,
and then went to New Brunswick. There he worked at
lumbering, trafficked in stock, and accumulated quite a sum
of money for those times. In the fall of 1824, probably, he
started from Merimachi for Atkinson, and was known then
to have $1200 in gold. Maj. Isaac Blethen from Dover,
knew him there, and knew that Blake started with that
amount of hard money. This was before the Houlton road was
opened, and the travel was by the way of Calais and Bangor.
Blake arrived safely in Bangor, and was known to start
homeward, toward the close of the day. He was met by an
acquaintance, near sun-set, on the top of the Jameson hill.
After that, no one could be found that could give any ac-
count of him. His friends in Atkinson were looking for his
arrival. But as ho did not reach the paternal roof, painful
anxieties were awakened. They made diligent inquiries, but
got no account of him, after he was met on the hill beyond
the Jameson tavern. Foul play was feared, and a strong ex-
citement raised in Atkinson and vicinity. Dark suspicions
turned toward that tavern, and scalding insinuations were
thrown into the faces of its landlords. No very thorough in-
vestigation was pressed, and his disappearance remained an
unsolved mystery. A few years later, a disclosure was made,
which gave to these suspicions a fresh impulse. A certain
woman in the vicinity of this tavern was dangerously sick.
She was thought to be past recovery. She felt that her end
was at hand. Expecting soon to meet her dread account, in
which there is no error nor possible concealment, her con-
science awoke, and uncovered the buried past. She there-
fore made the following disclosure : She was at that tavern
when Blake stopped there for the night; in the room

ATKINSON. 93

where he slept, in the still hours of night, she heard the foot-
steps of men, and the running of some kind of liquid;
she heard them go out from that room, into the open air, and
saw them bearing away a heavy biu-den; afterward, they ^
came and opened her door, but as she feigned herself asleep,
they did not molest her; and she saw nothing of Blake
afterward. These statements traveled speedily in every di-
rection. They did not shrink by repetition. Again the
community believed that the missing man had surely been
murdered, and again the excitement boiled. It is an old say-
ing, "that death is an honest hour." To some, we may fear,
it is the only honest hour of their present life. Unexpectedly
to herself and all others, this sick woman recovered. Some
of the parties implicated were still living. One of these was
her sister's husband. Death was not now staring her in the
face. The pressure was from the other side ; the living^ the
implicated pjirties were a terror to her; so she took it all
back, and denied the truth of these statements. But this
did not bedim the impressions they had made upon the com-
munity. A few years later, and another significant disclos-
ure came out. A newspaper from Ohio contained the state-
ments that a certain man formerly known in these partB,
had been executed there for murder; that he had confessed
this and other crimes; especially, that he had taken part in
the murder of a man in Maine. Tliis also was referred to
Blake's case, ,by those who fonnerly knew this guilty man.
He was often at that tavern, and was afterward often seen in
the large places of the Provinces, where he could change
Doubloons for money that could be put in circulation m
Maine, without exciting suspicion. This event, therefore,
tended to deepen these suspicions. " Murder will out," says
the proverb, and suspicions of it are not easily kept down.
While I have been filling these pages, an aged man has died
in Atkinson. He had been intemperate and dissolute fi-om
his youth. As he was drawing near his end, remorse of con-
science preyed upon him. A Cliristian neighbor visited him,
and urged him to prepare for death, and finally told him

94 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

that, if he had done any great wickedness, he had better con-
fess it and relieve his mind. He took that wholesome ad-
vice. To another neiglibor that watched with him the next
night, he confessed numerous crimes that he had committed.
Some of them were thefts, but the blackest of all, he said, •
was a deed down toward Bangor, at the foot of the Jameson
hill; that two of his accomplices in that deed had gone to
their punishment, and he expected soon to follow them to
his. Soon after this, he became partially insensible. That
neighbor spoke freely of these disclosures to others, but to
surviving connections of the parties implicated, they were
quite unpalatable. Statements were published in the news-
papers, and others were made to invalidate them. Up to
this time, this individual had not been suspected of any con-
nection with the Blake murder. But he is known to have
been in that vicinity, and might have been there at that date.
And here we leave it, for fuller disclosures.
. After the incorporation of the town, its population did not
increase rapidly. In 1828, when political excitement ran
high, it cast but fifty-five votes.

. In 1831, a town meeting was called to see if the town
would settle Elder Nathaniel Harvey as the minister of the
town, and give him the reserved lot of land. It voted a de-
cided negative. The proceeds of this and of the other public
reserves eventually went into a school fund, which amounts
to nearly $2000.

In the time of the Great Rebellion, this town contracted a
debt of more than $20,000, in raising recruits for the army.
Aided by State assumption, it has reduced it more than
one-half. It did not aid the Bangor & Piscataquis Railroad,
by a public appropriation, though a town meeting was called
for that purpose.

The population of Atkinson in 1870 was 810; its valua-
tion $234,271.

CHAPTER XII.

GUILFORD.

Guilford was Number Six, Seventh Range. It originally
was six miles square, but a small portion south of Piscata-
quis River was annexed to Sangerville. Most of its soil is
good, but a small mountain in the northern part reduces the
amount of settling lands.

Water Power. It has two good mill sites on the Pis-
cataquis, one of which, at Guilford village, is improved.
This is wholly in Guilford, as on the western border it ad-
joins Parkman. The other is near the Foxcroft line, and
though there is a good fall, it has never been occupied.
Upon Salmon Stream, there is a mill site, upon which tlie
first saw-mill in town was built, and two shingle mills still
run on that stream.

Sale of Land. Elder Robert Low, Dea. Robert Her-
ring, and Michael Webber, of New Gloucester, purchased
several rights of Bowdoin College, and in the summer of
1804, selected and lotted them. This done, the College sold
single lots or more, to settlers. So it went on until the set-
tling land was nearly all purchased. la the speculation of
1836, the remainder was sold at a good price, but it eventu-
ally came back to the College. This has since been sold.

Lotting. This was done by A. Greenwood. In 1813, he
made an accurate re-survcy of each two hundred acre lot,
and made a plan by which the lots were, sold and deeded.

First Settlers. In June, 1804, while their fathers were
selecting their tracts, Robert Low jr. and Robert Herring jr.
came and took up the two lots on the river, westward of
Low's Bridge, and there felled the first openings.

96 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

In 1805, Low and Herring raised the first crop of corn and
potatoes in town, and built their log-houses. This season,
others selected lots, felled openings, and prepared tliein for a
burn. Nathaniel, John, and Isaac Bennett and J. Everton
were among these. In February, 1806, 11. Low jr. moved in
the first famili/j and R. Herring jr., about three weeks later,
arrived witli his. Three IJennctt boys came at tlio same
time, and during the next summer, Nathaniel and John Ben-
nett, and I. B. Wharff, in the employ of Isaac Bennett, were
busy upon their respective lots, raising corn and wheat, and
preparing cabins for their families. Toward autumn, Capt.
J. Bennett returned to New Gloucester, and drove down a
loaded ox-cart, leading a young cow also. As the last part
of the way then was, it seems hardly credible, but an eye
witness aflirmcd it.

September 29, 1806, the first birth in town occurred.
Esther Herring, daughter of Robert Herring jr. was then
born. She eventually became the wife of Samuel Beal, and
after his death, married Hiram Stacy. She is still living in
Dover village. December 27th, Polly L. Low, daughter of
R. Low jr. was also born, the second birth in town. She also
grew up, and married Asa Harlow jr. and died in Guilford.

The Bennetts continued busy upon their lots till harvest
was over. For the want of a threshing floor, they beat out
their wheat upon a smooth, flat ledge. When winter came
on, the men returned to New Gloucester, and left three of
their sons, David, Joseph, and Isaac jr., to keep tlie house
and attend the cow. The two oldest were thirteen, Isaac jr.,
eleven. Their abode was about a mile from either of the
other dwellings. For food, they had the milk of the cow,
hulled corn, boiled wheat, and roasted potatoes. During the
winter, Mr. Herring carried one small grist of corn to Dex-
ter, and got it ground for them. They wore away those long
dreary months, until late in March, 1807, when, to their great
joy, the three families arrived. It then required about a week,
to come with teams from New Gloucester to Lowstown. The
way then was through Harmony, Ripley and Dexter, thence

GUILFORD. 97

•

to Center Pond and Mr. Ames'. The same winter, Mr. John
Everton moved in his family. His wife was a very important
accession. Skilled in obstetrics, her assistance was highly
prized in all these new settlements. After about ten years
of useful service, she was unfortunately thi-own from a horse,
and her hip, so fractured that she never recovered the use of
it, but siu'vived twenty years after the accident.

In the spring of 1808, Dea. R. Herring brought in his
family. From this time religious meetings were held upon
the Sabbath. The settlement now had a slow but steady
growth. In 1810, the census shows sixty-five inhabitants.
In 1808, the first framed building was raised by Capt. John
Bennett. It was a barn, has been taken down and removed
twice, but is still standing. In 1813, fourteen votes were
cast for State officers, but by the next spring, there were
twenty families in town. For the want of boards, all the
early settlers built log-houses, covering the roofs and gables
with long shingles easily rived from the cedar and pine.
The chimneys, too, were built of rough stones, topi)ed out
with split sticks, called "ca^a," and plastered within and
without, with clay mortar. For several years they were com-
pelled to go to Foxcroft, to get lumber sawed or grinding
done ; but as the dam was leaky, Spaulding's mills ran only
when the water was high ; so they often went to Dexter,
which was still further, and by a more inconvenient route.

And when loving couples wished to be joined in marriage,
they encountered difficulties. Harmony, twenty-five miles
away, was the nearest place where they could be legally pub-
lished. This accomplished, no clergyman, or county squire
even, was near. In 1810, tliree couples in Lowstown and
one in Amestown were ripe for taking on the yoke matri-
monial. So they sent to Athens for a Justice of the Peace
to come in and "pronounce the banns." As Lowstown was
then in Somerset County, the couple from Amestown came
over into Lowstown, and thus on one occasion, they were all
made happy.

Obganization and Incorporation. Lowstown boasts

98 HISTOBY OF PI80ATAQUT8 COUNTY.

•

one peculiar institution. When only eight or ten men had
settled there, they held a voluntary town meeting. In this
they chose such officers, and passed such rules and regula-
tions, as good order and good feeling in the settlement re-
quired. Though no pains and piBualties followed the viola-
tion of these laws, their pride and honor were so much in-
volved in observing them, that they were obeyed far better
than many legal statutes of the present day. In this move-
ment, it should be said, R. Low was the leader. At length,
this competent and quiet little borough of Lowstown was
arbitrarily superseded "by authority." Oct. 8, 1812, Caleb
Leavitt came in from Athens, and by virtue of a legal war-
rant, organized the inhabitants into Plantation Number Six,
Seventh Range. For three years they remained in that condi-
tion. In 1816, they petitioned the General Court to be in-
corporated as the town of Fluvanna. The Legislature did
not like the name, and changing it to Guilford, passed the
act Feb. 8, 1816. In this act the whole township of six
miles square was included, overlooking the fact that all the
land oi> the south side of the river was, by an act already
passed, included in Sangerville. The river being the town
line, the expense of bridges across it, would fall equally upon
both towns. By common cotisent, the two towns thus pro-
ceeded; but a few years since, Guilford, by an ill-advised
lawsuit, undertook to restore the old range line. It resulted
in establishing the river as the legal boundary.

Pursuant to a warrant from Samuel Pingree, Joseph Kel-
sey called the first town meeting. It was held March 1,
1816. After sixty-two years have run their course, only
three who voted in that meeting, still survive in town, Elias
Davis, Zebulon P. Grover and Isaac B. Wharff; the rest
"have fallen asleep." But in July, 1878, Mr. Wharff closed
his long and laborious life, and only two now survive.

Near the same date, Penobscot County was incorporated,
having Bangor for its shire town. In 1817, the inhabitants
of Guilford petitioned to be annexed to Penobscot County,
and it was done. For some time improvements had been

GUILFOIID. 99

going ou. Carleton and Dudley's mills accommodated the
people of Guilford. In 1816, R. Herring jr., Capt. J. Bennett^
and J. Kelsey built a saw-mill on the Salmon Stream, in
Guilford; but the master-builder was unskillful, and the
water power insufficient, and it Wtos of but little profit. Af-
ter ten years it was given up^ and is now succeeded by a
shingle machine. Framed buildings then began to be com-
mon^ but they did not hastily demolish their log-houses, for
new comers kept them in brisk requisition. A spirit of ac-
commodation in those times was fully developed. Often a
newly arrived family of eight or ten persons would crowd
into a one or two-roomed house already containing a large
family, and rciuaiu till tlicy could prepare a covert of their
own. About tliis tune, brick-makiug was commenced by /
Dea. Herring and Capt. Bennett. Then brick chimneys be-
gan to supersede those unsightly, smoking stone chimneys,
which had been the pioneer's hearthstone. Then, too, the
brick oven, a great institution in the cooking department,
enabled our mothers to lay aside the old Dutch-ovetij and to
feel that they had got home again. Then, too, a cooking-
stove was unheard of, the tin baker had not been invented,
and the mothers of large families were compelled to keep
their scanty way-and-means of baking in very brisk employ-
ment.

SC1100I-.S. While a plantation, no public school was taught
there, but private schools, both summer and winter, were
kept. Miss Betsey Moor taught a summer private school, at
Capt. Bennett's, and Mr. R. Low, anotfier, in the winter.
In 1817, the first public school was opened. For the want
of better accommodations, the loft of Capt. Bennett's open
shed was used for a "hall of science." Into this a goodly
number of bashful children and youth gathered, generally
bare-footed, dressed in a style, and with fabrics, of old-time
plainness. To a large part of them, it was the first school
they entered. Measures were also taken to build a school-
house. The next year it was occupied, for both the summer
and winter schools, and for several years, for both town and

/

100 HI8T0BY OF PTSCATAQUIS OOUNTT.

religious meetings. R. Low, for a few winters, was our
teacher, but a growing dea&ess disqualified him for it.
Above all, John McLaughlin did much to improve the
schools, in the books used, in the branches introduced, and
in the mode of teaching. He was a superior scholar, had
been trained in Bloomfield Academy, and many received the
benefit of his thorough qualifications.

Settlement op a Minister. A lot of land was re-
served for the first settled minister. As the majority of the
early settlers were Baptists, the settlement was early visited
by Baptist preachers. In 1813, a church of that order was
formed, and in 1815, the plantation voted to invite Elder
Thomas Macomber of Sumner to settle with them, and to
receive the lot of land as a settlement. He accepted the in-
vitation, and moved in, about the time the town was incorpo-
rated. To make the contract more sure, a town meeting
was called to confirm it. The town, by a nearly unanimous
vote, sanctioned these proceedings of the plantation, attach-
ing to them the following .conditions: to wit, "Tliat Elder
Macomber should receive said lot, provided he served them
in the ministry for the term of ten years, but should he
leave before that time expired, or should he not be satisfac-
tory to a majority of the people, he should relinquish a part
of the land proportioned - to the time not already spent.
This too, was accepted on his part, and he served them ac-
ceptably for the next twenty years.

Orchards. Orchards, always desired in k new settle-
ment, were not easily started in Guilford, though the soil
was adapted to them. As nursery trees could not be ob-
tained nearer than Garland, and as there was no summer
road thither, Dea. Herring, Capt. Bennett and Nathaniel
Herring brought young apple trees from that place, upon
their shoulders, fully sixteen miles, and set out the fii*st three
orchards in town. In about eight years they ate the fruit of
them. Nurseries were soon sowed, and orchards increased
as the fields became cultivated.

Discount to Settlers. Embarrassed by the failure of

GUILFORD. 101

ci-ops in the cold seasons, many were retarded in paying for
their land. It had been bought at $2.50 per acre, and inter-
est was required annually. In 1821, the board of trustees
voted, that forty per cent discount should be made to all the
settlers who would pay up in full by the next September.
This awoke the energies of several, and by the time appoint-
ed, they were there, cash in hand, and came away with their
deeds in their pockets. As the unsold land of the College
was exempt from all taxes, the inhabitants of this town were
compelled to meet the state, county and town taxes, which
were annually levied upon it.

The two most prominent leaders of the dominant party
were R. Low and Capt. Joseph Kelsey. Mr. Low was the
fii*8t settler. He was a man of good native endowments, ed-
ucated better than many school teachers of that day, a lover
of good order and public improvement, of unflinching integ-
rity and of stern morality, one that never disgraced his min-
isterial parentage. At the first celebration of the Fourth of
July, in town, in which Sangerville also joined, ho was the
" orator of the day," and acquitted himself commendably.
lie was town clerk, selectman, and on the S. S. committee,
for many years. An early deafness and other infirmities em-
barrassed his efforts in public, or he undoubtedly would have
received the highest honors which his appreciative townsmen
couhl liavo bestowed. Ikit tlicse, not without adroit manage-
ment, however, were borne off by his fellow partisan and
friend, Capt. Kelsey. Mr. Kelsey was the delegate to the
Convention to frame the Constitution. He was sent Repre-
sentative to the first Legislature that met in Maine, although
Mr. Low was nominated in the first caucus. Opposition to
this was so openly expressed before the town meeting was
held, that another caucus was called, Kelsey nominated, and
in due time elected. He was several times re-elected, and
was twice a senator, twice a county commissioner, also In-
dian agent, and postmaster. He also held many town
offices. He took an interest in the education of the young,
and was ever a firm friend and trustee of Foxcroft Academy.

102 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

He was affable, generous and public-spirited, an obliging
and highly esteemed neighbor. Toward the close of life,
he removed to Foxcroft village, and died there, July 16,
1861. He raised up a large and enterprising family. His
oldest son, Joseph L., engaged in surveying the public lands,
and in 1835, went out West, and invested fortunately in
the timber lands of Michigan. In the sale of their prod-
ucts, his brother, Joel W., became a partner with him, and
gained capital for a successful business career. Joel be-
came an extensive pork-packer in Toledo, Ohio, and accu-
mulated a large estate. Probably Joseph and Joel became
the wealthiest men of any of our Piscataquis boys.

It should be added that Mr. Low resided in Guilford, upon
the farm he cleared up, tijl his sudden death, July 6, 1869,
aged 88. He was twice treasurer of Piscataquis County.

Seth Nelson, Charles Loring, George H. Douglass, and
William G. Thompson have held office in town for many
successive years.

Guilford ViLiiAGE. Guilford is largely indebted to its
village for its increase of population, business and valuation.
For about twenty years from its first settlement, there was
no store, no mill worth naming, not physician, in town.

In 1824, R. Herring jr. and S. and J. Morgan built a dam
across the Piscataquis, and in the fall put a saw-mill in oper-
ation. E. Mitchell put a clapboard machine into the same
building. At this time there was only one small house near.
The land site, too, was exceedingly rough and swampy. In
the fall of 1825, the late A. Martin opened the first store,
and he or his sons have continued one ever since. In the
spring of .1828, Aldrich and Monroe, two enterprising young
men from Livermore, also opened a store, and put a clap-
board machine in operation. Pine timber from up-river then
came down plentifully, and they drove a smart business.
Monroe soon sold out to S. L. Brettun. This firm continued
in business about four years, and then sold out to others.
The same summer, J. H. Loring started the carding business,
removing hither machines from Sangerville, and in the fall

OUILFORD. 108

of 1829, also commenced cloth-dressing. A tannery was also
built, mechanical business started there, so that this village
rapidly became a thriving business place.

Brainerd's Mills. Near the north-west corner of Guil-
ford, on the outlet of Davis' Pond, Allen and James Brain-
erd built a saw-mill in 1828. This was the commencement
of North Guilford. It has a good water privilege, and
large supplies of timber from Number Eight. The Brainerds
sold out to John Morgan, in 1834, and went to Orono. Al-
len Brainerd came to a tragical end. Returning from a tour
in New Brunswick, in 1835, he stopped at a hotel at Matta-
wamkcag Point. In the course of the evening he was called
out by unknown parties. He did not return. The next
morning his body was found in the river, leaving no doubt
that he was foully murdered. He started with quite a sum
of money, and this was the obvious inducement.

These mills have passed to several owners. They were
once burnt, with a large amount of sawed lumber, but were
rebuilt by Robert Herring jr., wlio owned them at tlio time
of his death, 1847. They still do a good busmess, and are
owned by Mr. Witherly of Bangor.

Bridges. These have been an expensive item, though
one-half of two, across the Piscataquis, are maintained by
Sangerville. For several years, much of the busmess of
Guilford went across the river to Sangerville village. At
certain periods, the crossing would be impossible for teams,
and difficult to footmen. A bridge was necessary, but the
towns would not build one. So persons in both towns at-
tempted to build by a volunteer effort. A plan was adopt-
ed, materials gathered^ long hemlock stringers hewed out,
and in due time, a bridge spanned the river from shore to
shore. The stringers were so interlocked at their ends as to
be self-supporting, but they proved of unequal stiffness, and
the bridge leaned. It was deemed unsafe, and never finished.
A new plan was adopted, and the work persevered in. A
single strongly braced trestle was placed in the middle of the
stream, and stringers reached from tliis to either shore-

104 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

This was made passable in 1821, and both towns accepted
one-half of it. In the spring of 1824, the freshet carried it
away, and the same summer the two towns rebuilt it. This
was on nearly the same plan, but the trestle was supported
by a heavily laden heater. This stood several years, and did
good service.

As Guilford village grew up, a bridge was needed there
also. But the whole expense of building and maintaining it
would fall upon Guilford. Here, too, one was commenced
in 1828, by subscription, persons in Abbot and Parkman aid-
ing. The next fall, the town raised $200, and chose Isaac
Smith agent, to complete it. When it was completed so as
to be passable for footmen, a high freshet swept it away. In
Nov., 1830, the town voted to rebuild this, and also one-half
of anotlior, near R. Low's. It raised #000 to be paid in labor
and materials, for each. Richmond Loring was chosen agent
for the village bridge. This was substantially built, and with
some repairs, stood about twenty-five years. The Low bridge
was hardly completed, before a very high freshet in 1832,
swept it away, and also the one near Sangerville village.
Many people in Guilford, as there was then a bridge only
one mile above, strove to have a new road opened on the
south side of the river, and supersede the building of another
bridge. Sangerville was opposed to this. The county com-
missioners were petitioned to discontinue the rbad where the
old bridge stood. They declined to do it, so the bridge had to
be built. The people contended no further, and took meas-
ures jointly with Sangerville to build a good substantial
bridge. Solid stone abutments were built on either shore,
and an X-work bridge stretched across. This was completed
in the fall of 1835, and, by recent repairs, it stands firm to
this present hour. In the fall of 1855, the bridge at Guilford
village was succeeded by the present substantial covered
bridge.

Tlie Low bridge was rebuilt, after its destruction in 1832,
and this was swept away again in the spring of 1856. The
next year, the present covered bridge was placed there.

GUILFORD. 105

Sangerville doing one half of it. Summing up the whole
matter, nine bridges have been built across the Piscataquis
River, three of wliich Guilford bore the whole expense,
and one-half of the other six. And, except the brief opposi-
tion to rebuilding the Sangerville village bridge, this cnor-
nious expense has never enkindled heated animosities, never
provoked sectional strife, never carried any one into bank-
ruptcy.

In the great fire of 1825, Isaac Herring, Steadman Davis,
Capt. William Stevens and Chandler G. Kobbins lost all
their buildings, with all their contents, and great injurj'^ was
done to fences and standing timber.

Fatal Accidents. Several of these have occurred in
this town. In the sunnner of 1824, Eliphalct W. Bennett,
while at work upon a new road, was struck by a falling stub,
and so severely injured that he lingered about eiglit days,
and expired. He was an athletic, industrious young man,
and died greatly lamented.

Eliab Latham, a youth of sixteen, was histautly killed in
the winter of 1837, by the fall of a tree, while cutting fire-
wood, near the village.

On the fifth of July, 1842, Mrs. Lydia Martin, the wife of
Addison Martin, was instantly killed by a stroke of light-
ning. A heavy thunder shower was passing. Mrs. Martin
and some of her neiglibors were in a chamber of their dwell-
ing. She rose up to put down a wmdow, just as the electric
lluid was passing down upon it, and fell to the floor and ex-
pired. An active and educated Christian, an affectionate
and efficient wife and mother, a kind and genial neighbor,
she passed away, deeply and widely lamented.

On Jan. 29, 1847, Alvin Herring, youngest son of Robert
Herring jr., while engaged in cutting timber, was struck on
tlie head .by a heavy limb hurled back as a large tree was
falUng, and instantly kilTed, near North Guilford. His
brother William was standing near him, and was slightly
wounded. Their father, distressed by this sore bereave-
ment, was soon taken sick, and died March 17th, following.

106 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

But the direst catastrophe of all remains to be recorded,
to wit, the deplorable deaths of Isaac Wharff jr. and wife
and nephew, in the conflagration of their dwelling, on the
night of Feb. 4, 1874. From his early boyhood, Mr. Wharff
dwelt in Guilford. He was noted in his youth for his un-
usual hardiness, industry, steady habits and cool tempera-
ment. These pertained to him in manhood, joined by hon-
esty in dealings, kindness to the unfortunate, and generosity
toward public improvements. He prospered in business, was
happy in his domestic relations, and honored by a rising
family. He and his wife became hopefully pious, and exhib-
ited a good degree of religious principle. They first held to
restorationism, but, strange to relate, they both became zeal-
ous spiritists. His wife was of an excitable turn, and some
of her family connection inclined to insanity. But he was as
far from any such tendency as any man could be, judging
by physiological principles. Yet he became thoroughly in-
sane. Three times he was taken to the Insane Hospital, re-
stored to his right mind, and returned to liis usual place in
the family, to his business, and to his former self; but after
a brief season, his spiritism would get stin-ed up again, and
dethrone his reason. Sometimes his insanity would run in a
religious vein, again, plunge him into strange indecencies,
and again, so infuriate him that he would destroy both life
and property, if not forcibly restrained. At length he was
returned from the hospital as hopelessly incurable, bat in a
more calm and manageable state. On the^ night mentioned,
he and his wife, and a nephew of hers, about fourteen years
old, were at home, a boarder with his wife and infant being
also with them. About four o'clock A.M., they awoke to find
the house on fire. Mr. Jenkins was in such consternation
that he could render but little assistance. He hurried his
own wife out, with but little clothing on, who fled barefoot
through the snow and cold, one-third of a mile, to the near-
est neighbor, freezing her feet badly on the way. Mr.
Wharff started to go out, but bewildered in the dense smoke,
he missed his way. His wife got safely out, but not finding

GUILFORD. 107

her Iiusband, rushed back to rescue him, and perished in her
search. The nephew was in the chamber, and probably
never awoke. As these buildings were nearly a mile from
the village, help did not arrive speedily, and with all their
contents, they were laid in Jislies; the stock in the barn per-
ished also. The fire took in the wood-house, perhaps from
hot ashes, and extended thence to the dwelling-house, so that
one door was unobstructed by the flames, when those in-
mates awoke. A legal examination was held, and all were
acquitted of intended crime.

From 1827, Guilford village had a steady growth. Mills,
shops and stores increased. Physicians came in, none of
them to remain long. In 1830, 1). 11. Straw came from San-
gerville and opened a law office in this place. He remained
till his death in 1876, His son, David R. jr., succeeded him
in his business. Mr. Straw was a reliable man, a safe friend
and counselor, and a shrewd business man. He reared up
and educated a large family, and left them a largo estate.

Some ycara since, Henry Hudson also commenced business
as a lawyer in this village. He secured a large practice, and
accumulated a good estate. He, too, is now dead, and his
son, Henry Hudson jr., has succeeded him.

In 1831, Henry Aldrich, from Livermore, put a grist-mill
in operation, and also owned a part of the lumber mills. He
became a large real estate owner, but he and Ids sons soon
sold out, and went to other places.

In 1865, a Woolen Factory Company was incorporated,
and sufficient capital raised to erect a good building, and
gear it for operation. Another company in 1868, rented it,
put in three sets of machinery, and set it in operation. It
has been a benefit to the place. W. P. Appleyard has run
it for several years.

After tlie Bangor & Piscataquis Railroad was completed
to Foxcroft, in 1809, interested parties pushed hard for its
extension toward Monson and the Lake. The town of Guil-
ford was urged to encourage this. A town meeting was called,
and a vote passed to subscribe for $10,000 worth of its stock.

108 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

though the town was already in debt. The money was ob-
tained by loans, the road extended to Guilford village in
December, 1871, and a new impulse given to the business of
the place. But the Railway was destined to go further, — to
Abbot. It was found that if the track could be laid near
the river, it would diminish the expense largely. But if so
done, it must pass near the mills, and alongside one of the
principal streets in the village. The company offered the
town $500, if it would grant them this privilege. The sop
took. The town voted it, and inflicted an irreparable injury
upon that place. In the fall of 1874, it was completed to
Abbot, and much of the business of the upper towns then
stopped at that depot. We will state, as indicative of the
business done by, and of the convenience of, the railroad, that
♦25,000 worth of potatoes were sent from GuiUord depot
during the year 1879, some of them being brought from other
towns%

The Gold Mine. In 1864, an interest was awakened
by the finding of stones containing small quantities of gold,
silver, and copper. They were taken from a ledge ou the
brow of a steep hill, upon the farm of Lysander Bennett, for-
merly Capt. Bennett's. Old miners examined it, and
thought that there might be rich veins beneath. Portions
were blasted off from the top, and by a smelting process, an
encouraging quantity of gold and silver obtained. A com-
pany was formed, a conditional purchase of the farm made,
and a tunnel six feet square blasted out from the foot of
the hill, in toward the perpendicular line from the outcrop-
pings at the top. It was a slow, expensive job. They pene-
trated to the expected point, but found no indications of rich
veins. The enterprise was abandoned, and a heavy loss in-
curred by the company.

Physicians. In 1829, Dr. Jonathan Leigh ton commenced
practice at the village. After him came A. Dunn, a Dr.
Clement, and S. Mudgett. At present, Drs. C. B. Bennett
and C. M. Hussey are in practice there.

In 1870, the population of Guilford was 818; its valuation
$213,091.

CHAPTER XIII.

FOXCROFT.

FoxcROFT, Number Five, Seventh Range, contains only
17,915 acres. A portion of Sebec Lake is included in it; it
is a half mile less tlian six in width, and a small strip north
of the lake luis been annexed to Bowcrbank, so it is four
thousand acres short of a full township.

It has a fair soil, and abounds in water power. Piscata-
quis Falls, at Foxcroft village, has a head and fall of twelve
feet. It was the first, improved on the river, and with good
dams seldom fails in droughts. It now turns a woolen fac-
tory, a saw, clapboard, and shingle mill, a carding mill, and
a tannery, the whole year ; and a sash and blind mill, ma-
chine shop and planing mill, a pjirt of tlic year. An hiflow-
ing brook enters the river at the village, which turns a grist-
mill, and machinery in a carriage shop. Several other streams
suflicient to run mills a portion of the year are also imj^roved.

Its PuROirASE. In October, 1800, Col. J. E. Foxcroft
and Thomas Johnson of New Gloucester explored it. At
Skowhegan they secured Stephen Weston as pilot, who had
been in the survey company that "run out this range of town-
ships.. They left their horses with Samuel Elkins, in Corn-
ville, footing it the remainder of the way, and camping out
by night. At that time, the first mills in Athens were being
raised.

They struck the soutli-wcst corner of the township, and
followed the the line on tlie south side of the river nearly
down to the falls. In a private letter, dated April 3, 1853,
Col. Foxcroft says: "We crossed the river a little above the
falls. This was a pleasant spot, many names marked upon

110 HISTORY OF ;PISCATAQUTS COUNTY.

trees, but all a wilderness, no sign that any one ever intend-
ed to dwell there. We went down the river to the south-
east corner of the townsliip, and near it, upon the interval,
we found an opening occupied by Abel Blood and, I think,
a hired man wth him, but there was no family. They had
corn growing, and garden roots. I well remember the large
tui*nips and beets which they had raised, and thus the virgin
soil and vigorous nature gi*eeted these first efforts of hus-
bandry with liberal productions."

As the result of this exploration, Col. Foxcroft purchased
this township, Nov. 10, 1800, paying $7,940, about forty-five
cents per acre. The college comijiittee, — William Martyn,
Rev. E. Kellogg and Isaac Parker, — deeded it, Jan. 22, 1801,
taking a mortgage back, wliich was not canceled until 1815.
After discovering Ihe deficiency in its area. Col. Foxcroft
petitioned the Legislature of Maine for a grant to supply this
lack, and obtained one-half of the Enfield township. In 1801,
he employed Moses Hodsdon to lot it into two hundred acre
lots, at a cost of $200. In June of this year, he hired Sam-
uel Elkins of Cornville to fell twenty acres of trees on lot
number nine, range first, and for this he paid $70.

Col. Foxcroft next offered forty-six rights, of two hundred
acres each, for sale, to be assigned by lot, and several were
soon: purchased. Their purchasers met at the inn of Samuel
Pingree, in New Gloucester, March 20, 1802, and legalljr or-
ganized as proprietors, and took measures to secure settlers.
Col. Foxcroft was chosen clerk, and his records are still pre-
served. All the subsequent meethigs of the proprietors
were held in New Gloucester. They voted to offer lot num-
ber ten (upon which a part of the village now stands), the
entire mill privilege, and $100 in money, to any person who
would build, and keep in repair for ten years, a saw- and
grist-mill. «

In the summer of 1802, Col. Foxcroft hired Elisha Alden
to cut out a road across the township at a cost of $73.00
This passed from the Chandler place to the "four corners,"
and thence over the hill to Morse's landing on Sebec Lake.

FOXCROFT. Ill

Still settlers were slow to come in. The first decided step
toward a permaueut settlement was in 1804. Then (says
Capt. Chamberlain) "a piece of trees was felled on lot num-
ber eleven, now the western part of the village." In the fall
of that year Col. Foxcroft contracted with Abel Blood and
John Spaulding to build a saw- and grist-mill, according to
the terms stated above, to be in operation by Jan. 1, 1807.

The next summer (1805), three other beginnings were
made. Joseph Morse felled an opening on the lot north of
the "four comers," upon which he and his son Richard dwelt
many years; Tristram Robinson, another, on the Cyrus
Holmes farm ; and Eliphalet Washburn began on his well-
known homestead. Mr. Washburn came here in the spring
of that year.

This summer, John Spaulding, who had moved his family
of eight from Norridgewock into a temporary habitation
near Eli Towne's, in the March preceding, planted corn and
potatoes on lot number eleven, and raised the fivBt crop in
the townsliip. In March, 1806, he moved his family into a
log-house near the falls, and became the first settler of Fox-
croft. Soon after Ids removal, liis two brothers, Eleazer and
Seth, to whom Abel Blood had transferred liis part of the
mill contract, also moved their families from Norridgewock
into log-houses near their brother's; hence the settlement
tqpk the name of Spauldingtown. The same spring, Joseph
Foxcroft Spaulding, son of John Spaulding, was born, April
16, 1806, the first birth in the township. He was named for
the proprietor, and would have been rewarded with a lot of
land, but he died early, April 18, 1811.

This summer, John Chandler from Minot felled an open-
ing on the lot afterward known as the Maj. Crocker place.

The Spauldings commenced cutting timber for the dam
and mill, and making other preparations. In this remote
and wilderness region, it proved to be a herculean imdertak-
ing. Teams were not at hand to haul the needed timber.
But the greatest difficulties arose, in getting in the heavy
irons, provisions, and spirituous liquors, then deemed an es-

112 • HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

sentialy in hard and difficult labors, especially wlien working

in wet and cold. These came from Bangor, while only a part

of the way was there a road for teams. So these cumbrous

articles had to be brought on horseback, or on a pair of stout

shafts, the forward ends supported by hold-ups crossing the

horse's back, the hind ends dragging on the gi*ound. From

Charleston to the settlement only a narrow way was cleared,

while the sloughs, streams, and l)0gs were bridgcloss. When

crossing these, the heavily laden horaes would sometimes sink

deep into the mire, their feet would become entangled in

roots, and make it necessary for the driver to thrust his arm

down deep into the mud, and cut off the unyielding root with

an open jack-knife. As no one could travel when the light

of day faded, if darkness overtook them between settlements,

they were compelled to camp out in the forests. While thus

taking rest, the bears would prowl around, and serenade

them with their bowlings.

Quite a romantic account has been given of an expedition
to bring up a barrel of rum from Bangor. The party sent
was by some means detained, and did not return at the ex-
pected time. The home party grew anxious and too impa-
tient to wait longer. So another scout wjis started off to
aid tlicm, if necessary, to rescue sucli a treasure, if imperiled,
and to hasten it on to its destination. They went nearly half
way to Bangor before meeting the returning party, and by
uniting their forces, they "put the thing through." But the
time and labor thus expended to procure a hurtful stimulant,
would have laid the mud-sills of both dam and mill, and
brought the remaining work above water. At length a frame
large enough for a saw- and grist-mill under one roof was
ready for raising. All the men in the new settlements on
both sides of the river were required, and, said one of the
builders, " they had no help to spare." They were late in
finishing the dam, and obliged to work in the water after it
was cold and icy. But with many hardships and much
perseverance, a dam was stretched across the Piscataquis
River, the first ever attempted, which answered its purpose

FOXCllOFT. 118

but poorly till plank could be sawed for a better oue, and a
saw-mill was started in January, 1807, the tliird in the
county. The grist-mill was also put in operation, but the
dam was so leaky that it could run only in high water, and
the people had to go elsewhere "to piill." The starting of
this mill was an advance step in the rising settlement.

In the summer of 1807, Messrs. S. Chamberlain, Ephi*aim
Bacon, and John Bigelow came from Charlton, Mass., select-
ed lots and felled openings upon them. Chambeji'lain and
Bacon put up the first framed house in town, near the pres-
ent "Exchange," and built a brick chimney, paying twenty-
live dollars per thousand for the brick. They were made by
Abel lUood on his place in Dover. The same summer Eli-
phalct Wiishburn raised the firat barn in town. In October,
Mr. Chamberlain, with a newly married wife, and Mr. Bacon,
his brother-in-law, with his wife and three children, reached
their new home. Mr. Bigelow started with them, but was
taken sick in Bangor and died there, and his afllicted wife
and childi-cn returned to Charlton. The next spring, Capt.
Joel Pratt, Mr. Bigelow's brother-in-law, came and took the
lot that Bigelow had selected and broken in upon.

Chamberlain and Bacon procured a strong ox-team and
wagon to move with from Bangor to the settlement.
They brought their household effects and a large stock of
provisions to supply botli families until they could raise
crops. They were four days in reaching Chai'leston. Thence
the road in many places had to be cut wider, slouglis and
bogs bridged ; one requiring a causeway no less than tliirty
feet in length to make it passable. They were two days in
getting from Charleston to the settlement, fifteen miles, and
compelled to camp in the woods one night, with their women
and chiKlrcn, their six oxen having only two bundles of corn
stalks for forage. And this removal of less than forty miles
cost them fifty dollars. Mr. Eli Towne heard that they were
on the way, and started on horseback to meet and assist
them. He found them building the long bridge, and send-
ing Mrs. Chamberlain forward on his horse, he took hold and

114 HISTORY OF PISOATAQUIS COUNTY.

assisted in finishing it. Mrs. Chamberlain arrived safely at
Mr. Towne's, but was so anxious for the others that she was
sleepless through the night.

Soon after this, John and Seth Spaulding sold their shares
in the mill to Messrs. Hutchinson and Hathaway. Seth then
bought Peter Brawn's possession, and ho and his brother
both moved into Dover.

Mr.-Timothy Hutchinson and Mr. Joseph Morse moved
into Foxcf oft about this time, and, probably, Mr. John Chand-
ler, also. Eleazer Spaulding also sold his interest in the
mill to a Mr. Whiting, and moved into Dover. These new
mill-owners soon transferred the property to Mr. Daniel Bul-
len of Hebron, and so managed that the builders of the mill
received but a small part of their pay. The proprietors con-
veyed to the buildera promptly all that was promised tliem.
A few years later, Mr. Bullen conveyed the lot and mills to
Col. Samuel Greeley of Gilmanton, N. H., and his sons, Gil-
man, Daniel and Samuel, successively run them.

In 1808, several new openings were made. Jesse Wash-
burn, some of the Bucks, and Nathan Carpenter made
beginnings. In April of this year, Capt. S. Chamberlain
was taken sick with fever, and sent to Bangor for a physi-
cian. Dr. Rich started, and rode twenty-four hours in com-
ing forty miles. One visit proved sufficient to restore him
to health, and for this long and tedious ride, visit, and medi-
cine, he charged the moderate sum of fifteen dollars, — ^mod-
erate, we should think, at the present time.

On the 18th day of August, 1808, Sarah J. Chamberlain,
daughter of S. Chamberlain, was born. She grew up, and
married Samuel Greeley, and is still living, having breathed
the air of Foxcroft longer than any other person.

Probably new families moved in during this year, but there
is no relialile record of them. Early in 1809, Jesse Wash-
burn moved from New Gloucester on to the place since occu-
pied by the late Ichabod Chandler.

The cold Friday, always so marked in the memory of those
then living, occurred this year, Feb. 18, 1809. There was a

FOXCROFT. 115

terrific gale and intense cold. Mr. J. Morse, when it began^
was in the woods beyond Sebec Pond, with his team. The
trees were so shaken and broken by the tempest, that he at
once started for home. The wmd was so cutting, when
crossing the pond, that he left his team and (led to save his
life. Assured that his oxen must inevitably perish, he turned
back, and braved the chilling blast with them, and got them
safely over. They were still in imminent danger from fall-
ing trees, and were often stopped by those already across the
road. But he cut a way around them, and finally reached
home without injury, excepting badly frozen feet.

Either tliis year or the next, a Dr. Wuithrop Brown came
from licrwick, and commenced the practice of medicuie in
this town. But the new settlei*s enjoyed such good health
that he found but little to do, and, after remaining a short
time, he left the place.

Samuel Chamberlain cleared an opening sufficient to make
it safe to erect buildings, and, in August, 1809, moved his
family into a new home, and also put up a barn. These fii*8t
buildings were on the east half of the farm. The house
which ho and Bacon built near the mill, was taken down and
removed to a lot near the depot, and there Mr. Bacon lived
till he left town. After passing through several hands, it
was occupied by Mr. Joseph Garland.

Tlio year 1810 ^avc evidence of progi-ess toward a more
settled state of social and municipal privileges. The inhab-.
itants petitioned the General Coui-t for an act of incorpora-
tion. Mr. Nathan Carpenter carried this petition to Paris
when returning home, and sent it to Col. Foxcroft to ap-
prove of, and forward it to Boston.

The census, taken this year, shows 65 as the whole num-
ber of inhabitants.

An incident occurred at this time, which portrays some of
the vicissitudes of border exploration. Messrs. Daniel Bul-
len and James Holmes, land-owners, visited the township,
and went out with others better acquainted with the lay of
the land, to see the lots owned by them. As Mr. Bullen

116 HISTORY OF PISCATAQXnS COUNTY.

could not keep pace with the party, they advised him to re-
main at the corner of the lot, while, they pushed on to other
parts of it, and then they would come back and conduct him
out. In the solitude of the forest, the time seemed long to
the old gentleman. Confident that he could find his way
back to the settlement, he started, got bewildered, and wan-
dered off toward Sebec Lake. Finding himself fairly lost,
he lifted up his voice, which his companions heard and an-
swered, but being deaf, he could not hear them. They kin-
dled fires to show the way back, as darkness was coming on,
and made their way on by the sound, but he got into a
thick swamp, and could not then be heard. So they re-
turned, giving up all hope of rescue till morning. At length
the moon arose, and the wanderer, sufficiently satisfied with
land-looking alone, took the silvery orb of night for his guide,
and came out safely to Mr. Daniel Buck's habitation.

It seems that some of the Messrs. Bucks from Buckfield,
were by that time settled here. There were four brothers, —
Nathaniel, Daniel, William and Moses, — among the early set--
tiers of this town, and some of their descendants are still re-
siding hero. William began on the west half of the Capt.
Chamberlain farm, and after struggling along some eight or
ten years, sold out to him. This was a valuable addition to
his first purchase. United, they made a farm, which for fer-
tility of soil, beauty of landscape, and skillful husbandry, has
gained a pre-eminence in the agricultural development of
this cftunty, and is still one of the finest and most valuable
in this region.

Up to this time, but little attention had been paid to re-
ligion, in this or the neighboring settlement in Dover. No
religious meetings had been attempted on the Sabbath. In
1809 or 1810, Col. Foxcroft visited the rising settlement on
business, and though not then a professor of religion, he ad-
vised them to hold meetings on the Sabbath, and conduct
them as they could. He had ever been an attendant upon
public worship, he knew the beneficial effects of Sabbath ob-
servance to any community, and so took the initiative in this

FOXCBOFT. 117

important movement. The people readily fell in with this
proposal, and a meeting was appointed for the next Sabbath,
at the house of Eli Towne. With one accord they all assem-
bled, singers with hymn books, and Mr. William Mitchell,
an old school-m.ostcr, with a sermon-book in his pocket, and
willing, at the proper time, to read a discourse. But the
most anxious inquiry was, "who will pray?" Not a man in
either settlement had piety enough and confidence enough to
perform so simple and natural a duty. Still they were not
willing to omit that essential part of Divine worship. Mrs.
William Mitchell, always a " Mother in Israel," had kept up
prayer in her family from its commencement. She knew
how to pray, she loved to pray, and rightly interpreting the
teachings of Paul, she consented to pray I The meeting
commenced, harmonious voices arose in songs of praise, the
blessing of God was humbly and fervently asked, and the
Piscataquis settlement was devoutly dedicated to the God of
our fathers, by Mrs, MitchelVs public prayer. Tlius was
public worsliip inaugurated, and religion recognized as a
power for good in this struggling community. Not long
after. Rev. John Sawyer, looking after the scattered sheep
in the wilderness, began to thread out these rough foot-paths,
and extend his explorations to these parts, and to lay the
foundation for Christian churches.

Of the history of 1811, but little is known. Dea. Nathan
Carpenter moved his wife from Buckfield, in March of this
year, to the place adjoining the Chamberlain farm. He be-
came a prominent member of the Congregational church, a
trustee of the academy from its beginnuig, to his death, an
active citizen and town officer, and once a Representative to
the Legislature. Mrs. Carpenter was highly esteemed for
her fixed and estimable Christian character. They both
died in town, Dea. Carpenter in April, 1872, aged eighty-four.

Tlie year previous, 1810, Capt. Joel Pratt moved his fam-
ily on to the Bigelow lot, and dwelt upon it till near liis
death. A part of it is still possessed by his son, S. C. Pratt.
He was a house-joiner, and made many a new home comfort-

118 HISTORY OP PISCATAQXnS COUNTY.

able and neat, in the rising settlement. In the spring of
1826, his own buildings with all their contents, were de-
stroyed by fire, and so severe a loss greatly embarrassed him.
He was prominent among the early town officers, a useful
and valued citizen, an original and highly respected member
and officer of the Congregational church. He died in town,
in April, 1866, aged ninety years.

The year 1812 was au8i)iciona to the people of this town-
ship. The petition for an act of incorporation already men-,
tioned, was now before the General Court, and on the 29th
day of February, 1812, it passed both houses and received
the Executive sanction, the next day after Sebec was incor-
porated; so that Foxcroftis the second of the incorporated
towns in the county. The name was selected in honor
of Col. Foxcroft, the chief proprietor. He appreciated the
compliment, and gracefully expressed it by presenting the
town with one hundred dollars worth of books for a public
library. After doing good service among the early inhab-
itants, this library was unfortunately burnt, when the office
of J. S. Holmes Esq. took fire, and also valuable records of
historical anecdotes, which were then in his custody. Had
these survived, these pages might have been spiced with the
wit and wisdom of the Piscataquis Historical Society, and a
rich fund of pleasant entertainments been perpetuated.

Col. Foxcroft continued to hold and sell land in town, un-
til July 4, 1827. He then sold by public auction, all that
remained unsold, and closed up his proprictoi*ship.

The act of incorporation made the Piscataquis River the
boundary of Foxcroft, on the south. This left out a narrow
strip which belonged to the original township above the mills,
and took in a larger and more valuable portion of the Dover
township below the falls, including several settlers. But
the whole of Dover township was soon put nito plantation
order, so that a half dozen voters were rightfully claimed by
both town and plantation. The inhabitants of Foxcroft
made haste to organize, so as to use their elective franchises.
Application was made to N. Chamberlain Esq. for a warrant

FOXCROFT. 119

to call a meeting, wliicli was issued to S. Chamberlain, to noti-
fy the legal voters; but he omitted those who resided on the
Dover territory. On this account the first meeting, held on
the sixth day of April, was pronounced illegal; another was
called on tlie Slat of August following, and the town of Fox-
croft assumed a corporate existence.

John Bradbury was chosen town clerk, and Messrs. Jo*el
Pratt,'S. Chamberlain and William Thayer, selectmen and
assessors. The number of voters at this first meeting is not
now known, but in 1813, it was 25; in 1816, 30; m 1818,
35; in 1820, 37; in 1823, 72. Only three other towns in the
county paid a higher State tax in 1821, viz. : Sebec, Sangcr-
ville and Atkinson. It may be added tliat, in 1813, this town
voted to raise $600 for highways, $125 for support of schools,
and $100 to build a town-house to be used for schools, and
also for religious and town meetings. It was erected where
the dwelling house of Charles Wyman now stands, and well
served the early inhabitants.

The declaration of war against Great Britain, in June,
1812, and " the great scare '' about the Indians, occurred this
year, but as that affected all the settlements on tlie river, I
propose to devote a separate section to it.

This year, too, A. Blake erected a whiskey distillery, and
commenced the making of potato whiskey. This was worse
tlian the war. Although it made a market for the suqJus
potatoes of the needy farmers, and suspended a very frequent
walk or ride to Bangor, \vith jugs and kegs to obtain strong
drink, it did not prove to be a reformatory institution.
Though well patronized, it did not prove lucrative, and after
a few years, its fires went out, and the building was convert-
ed'into a currier's shop, and afterward into si tenement house,
known till it was destroyed by fire in 1830, as " tlic old still
house."

In the year 1813, John Bradbury moved his newly mar-
ried wife to town. He had erected buildings on the lot now
occupied by B. F. Hammond. He soon after began to keep
merchandise, and opened the first store in the county. His

120 HISTORY OF nSCATAQinS OOITNTY.

business increased, and after a few years, he sold his farm to
Bela Hammond, sen., having erected a building sufficient for
a store and dwelling-house at the mills — another decided step
in planting Foxcroft village. Mr. Hammond and sons run a
kitchen chair factory on the Merrill Brook, and eventually
Benjamin Hammond & Co. built a saw-mill and bedstead fac-
tory, and opened a store at the village. But the company
failed, and involved others in losses. The mill and factory
then passed to A. D. Young & Son of Guilford, who run it
successfully for a while, and then let it run down. Mr.
Bradbury ran a very successful career as a merchant and
mill-owner. He was a shrewd and enterprising business man,
a friend to education, good order and religion. Ho left the
place with a large property, removing first to Kenduskeag,
and then to Bangor, where he died, leaving a good inheri-
tance to his widow and children..

On the 28th day of April, 1813, Moses Bradbury, brother
of John, was drowned in attempting to cross the mill-pond.
On going to the landing with a female, who was to cross over
with him, they found the boat was not there. Mr. B. went
down to the mill. to bring it up, but not being a good boat-
man, the current swei)t liim over the dam. His long absence
awakened his companion's fears, and she also went down to
the mill, and discovered the boat below the dam, upset, and
drifting in the eddy. This revealed his sad fate. She imme-
diately gave an alarm, and fruitless search was made to re-
cover his body. About two weeks later, it arose, and was
found lodged against a rock. Elder William Oakes of San-
gerville was called to attend the funeral, and his dust was
covered by the clods of the valley.

The day on which Mr. Bradbury was drowned, is scored
heavily by another deplorable occurrence. The first arraign-
ment for crime committed within the limits of this town
took place before Justice Chamberlain, for a grave offence
against both human and divine law. The arraigned was ad-
judged guilty, and put under heavy bonds to appear at the
County Court, and there, for reasons not now apparent, the

FOXCROFT. 121

grand jury found no bill, and thus ended the prosecution.
Let no one think that the Justice was too severe. This len-
ient treatment from the grand jury did not prove a reforma-
tory measure to the arraigned, as his subsequent history
painfully showed.

This year, Mr. E. Baker found it necessary to depart from
tills vicinity. He had colluded in the sale of a spurious
patent churn, and when the fraud was uncovered, he ab-
sconded from his many avengers.

Several subjects pertaining to the war, the cold seasons,
etc., affected all the towns so much alike, th.at I propose to
give them a separate notice hereafter.

This year, 1816, the fu-st military company in Foxcroft
and Dover, embracing persons in both towns, was organized,
the account of which will be given in its appropriate place.

In 1816, William Merrill from New Gloucester moved into
town. His wife, formerly Peggy Forbes, was the only child
of Mr. Forbes and wife, who, with her mother, survived those
unparalleled sufferings in the wilderness. Robert Forbes
jr., born after their rescue, also resided a few years in this
to^vn, and then in Sebcc. Mrs. Forbes, his mother, spent
a portion of her old age in this town and vicinity. Robert
Forbes was born in the north of Ireland, crossed the ocean
with Gen. Wolffe, fought on the plains of Abraham, and when
discharged, settled in the city of Quebec, as a tailor. Event-
ually he married, his wife beuig a French Canadian, and
soon after this he removed to Nouvelle-Bois, twenty-five
miles up the Chaudierre, and secured a comfortable home.

On the eve of the Revolutionary outbreak, the Colonial As-
sembly of Massachusetts instructed the selectmen of Fal-
mouth to send a few discreet men to Canada, to learn the bias
of the people, and to ascertain the attitude of the Indians.
They appointed Benjamin Hammond, father of Bela Ham-
mond of Foxcroft, Jabez Matthews, and David Dinsmore of
New Gloucester, for this mission. In the winter of 1776, they
started, taking James Stinchfield (father of James Stinch-

field, an early settler of Monson), who was a mighty hunter,
9

122 HISTORY OF PISCATAQinS COUNTY.

to assist them. In fifteen clays they reached these upper set-
tlements, and stopped with Mr. Forbes. Their account of
the place whence they came, of their adventures, of their
families, won the S3rmpathies of their host and hostess. Pass*
ing on to Quebec, their errand became known to the British
oflicors, who immediately aiTcated them as apiea^ and threw
them into prison. Mr. Forbes and wife hoard of this with
sorrow and alarm. Assured that neither fairness nor mercy
would be shown them by the courts, they anticipated for
them a horrible doom. Mrs. Forbes was physically strong,
and stronger in will and resolution. She made a visit to
Quebec, and being acquainted with the jailor's wife, did not
neglect to visit her. After the jailor had put the prison in a
secure state, and retired to rest, Mrs. Forbes, prevailing on
his wife to intrust her with the keys, iinlocked the «looi*s,
and gave these men their guns and snow-shoes, and told them
"to flee for their lives." They soon scaled the walls, crossed
the St. Lawrence, and took to the woods. They escaped
from hostile Indians, and safely reached home. The next
spring Matthews went to the Assembly, and reported to the
Colonial government the substance of the above account.
The jailor, his wife, and Mrs. Forbes were all closely exam-
ined, but the guilty parties did not criminate themselves,
evaded all damaging disclosures, and were acquitted; never-
theless strong suspicions rested upon Mrs. Forbes,

Late in the fall of 1775, Arnold, with his weary, starving
forces, reached this settlement, and he* also lodged with Mr.
Forbes during his stay. He and his men had been thirty-five
days in the wilderness. These Canadians wrongfully
thought that now a passable road was opened through the
forest. These events aroused an anxiety in Mr. Forbes to
emigrate to Maine. After the war ended, and our govern-
ment was established, this anxiety increased. So, in the win-
ter of 1784, he resolved to do so. At this time three Dutch-
men, MidstaflF, Pancake and Christian, — hunters, who had
come through from the Kennebec, — offered to guide and help
them through, assuring them that they could reach the upper

POXCBOFT. 123

settlements in twelve days. They then had five children, —
John, a lad of thirteen, the youngest fifteen months old, the
others between them, and another in expectancy. Their
neighbors remonstrated and warned them that these men
would desert them in the wilderness, but all in vain. Mr.
Forbes sold his property, save a few valuables, procured hand-
sleds upon which to convey the cliildren, provisions, and bag-
gage, and, on March 17, 1784, set out on tliis laborious jour-
ney, the men, hauling the hand-sleds and the four youngest
children, the rest walking on snow-shoes. For eight days
they made slow but steady progress, following up the Chau-
dierrc, and then, on account of deep gullies, they left the
river. On the ninth day, these villainous guides induced Mr.
Forbes to leave his wife and children in a camp, and to take
a large part of the remaining provisions and baggage on
their backs, and go on to Megantick Lake, saying they would
leave their loads there, and come back and get the family.
They were the greater part of two days in reaching the lake,
there Midstaff crossed it to find an Indian camping there,
but was unsuccessful ; so the next day he returned to the
other men and the baggage, and with his two partners per-
fidiously resolved to abandon this helpless family. Mr.
Forbes remonstrated, and plead with tears, but all in vain.
Though they had been paid for their services, though it was
consigning these seven persons to the direst fate, if not death
itself, they took nearly all the provisions, and whatever else
of their valuable effects they chose, and departed for the
Kennebec. They did leave him a poor axe, a small gun, and
two loaves of bread. Mr. Forbes, broken-hearted and dis-
mayed, hurried back to his wretched family, already agonized
at liis long absence, for they expected him back in two days,
only to deepen then* distress. To return to Canada, seemed
hopeless, and they erroneously thought it further than to the
settlements on the Kennebec ; but their children were crying
for bread, and there were two loaves, one day's journey on
the way toward Maine. They resolved to proceed, Mr. Forbes
taking the two younger children on one sled, and John tak-

121 HI8TOBT OF PI8CATAQU1S OOUBTT.

ing Peggy, then aboot fire years olcl, on another, whfle Mary
of seven years, walked with her mother. This compelled
them to abandon much that their immediate comfort required.
Night OTcrtook them before the lake and the bread were
reachetl, and weary and hungry they again camped. The
next day was stonny, Mr. F. aiHl John again left tlio others,
and hasted for the bread. Weary and wet to the skin, by
night, they reached the camp, and relieved their hunger.
When the storm abated, they pressed on and arrived at the
lake. Providentially they found the Indian already spoken
of. They had known him in Canada, and he treated them
as kindly as the Dutchmen had, cruelly. He took them to
his camp and fed them bountifully upon moose meat, which
he luid just taken. When reste<l and recruited, he gave them
all the moose meat tliey could carry, and piloted them to tlie
upper waters of Dead liiver, a western branch of the Kenne-
bec. He would have conducted them through to the settle-
ment, had not his wife's condition required his presence.
But he marked on a piece of birch bark the fiiUs, inflowing '
streams, and carrying-places, and instructed them to follow
• it closely. They gave liim all tliat they had left behind, and
other heavy articles, and loaded him with their heartiest
thanks. Though following the river, they found the way
rough and mountainous. By the 12th of April, their pro-
vision was nearly spent, Mrs. F.'s strength was exhausted,
and she declared that she could not proceed. So, her hus-
band, at her request, put up a camp near an open brook and
a cluster of fir treess and started >vith John for the settle-
ments, to obtain help, confident that they were nearly through.
Mrs. F(^rbes and her children had two pounds of moose meat
and a little tallow, as their only supply of food. Mr. Forbes
and John traveled on the ice, till open rapids prevented.
But, not being sagacious in following their chart, passed the
gi-eat caiTying place, where by traveling twelve miles across,
to ponds, and down their outlet, they would have reached
the main river, they followed Dead River northward to its
mouth, and made their journey forty miles further. On find-

jroxcROFT. 125

ing the river open and running smoothly, they constructed
a raft, and floated down safely for a while, but soon the rapids
put their lives in peril. At length it struck a rock and parted,
but they clung to its fragments, and saved their lives and gun,
but tliey lost their axe, which they so much needed. They
then traveled on, following the river. April 22d, ten days after
leaving Mrs. Forbes, they built a fire on a high hill, and
camped for the night. Two hunters, John Crosby and Luke
Sawyer, saw it and came to their relief, for their strength was
nearly exhausted. These men fed them, and conducted them
out to the settlement at Seven-Mile Brook, now Anson
village. Mr. Forbes prevailed on Major Hale, William IIus-
ton, and Khcu Hilton, mon used to the woods, to sUirt imme-
diately for his family. They traveled more than a week, and
then gave up the search, and returned without them. But
it afterward appeared that they were so near that Mrs. F.
actually heard the fall of the tree, from which* they made a
canoe to return in. After thirteen days' absence, they re-
turned to report their failure, and to break Mr. Forbes' heart
anew. Twenty-four days had now passed since they were
left with the mere morsel of i)rovision, and all thought that
they must be dead. But Mr. Forbes could not be content
without finding them dead or alive, so he persevered. Two
other men, James McDonald and John Ames, agreed to ac-
company him. But heavy rains overflowed the low lands,
and delayed their starting until the water fell. On the 28th
of May, they set out. Mr. Forbes was too feeble to keep
pace with them, and they, Jissuring him that they would be
fiiitliful, pci'suaded him to return. On reaching Dead River,
they made a canoe and proceeded by water. On the sixth
day, they perceived, from Mr. F.'s careful description of the
place, that they were nearing it. To prevent a sudden siu-
])rise, if any were living, they gave a Imlloo. A human voice,
faint and sepulchrtal, responded! One of them broke out,
"she is alive! for, God's sake, pull hard! " OiX going ashore,
a sight beyond all description was before them. Mrs. Forbes
and Peggy, reduced to living skeletons, languid as starvation

126 HISTORY OF PI80ATAQUTS COUNTY.

could make them, were alive^ while the corpses of three other
children lay unburied near them. Soup from venison was
hastily and carefully given the living, and they revived.
Fifty days had elapsed since they were left with that scanty
portion of provision. After two days their fire went out,
and they were unable to rekindle it. When the snow dis-
solved, their camp fell and left them shelterless. They sliv-
ered the fir trees, and lived upon their juicy coating, and drank
freely from the brook. This was their subsistence. • For the
last twelve days they could only creep to the trees and the
brook. Mrs. Forbes used to relate that, every night after
their fire went out, a small wild animal came and laid down
at her back, and left, with the dawning light. On the thir-
ty-eighth day, the youngest child expired; the next day,
Katharine, next to the youngest; and four days later, Mary,
the eldest. She had often said they would all starve, and
begged the surviving to put her body where the wild beasts
could not devour it.

Had the fii*st relief company gone one mile further, they
would all have been rescued alive. After the dead were
buried, and their graves covered with heavy logs, Mrs. Forbes
and Peggy were laid tenderly on soft boughs in the boat, and
they drifted down the current. On a rude bier, they carried
them past the steep falls, and at length reached Norridgewock
safely, where Mr. Forbes received them as alive from the
dead. In a few weeks, Robert jr. was born, a healthy child,
and eventually a robust man, but with an appetite that
needed strong restraint.

The place where they were left, was on Dead River, above
Flagstaff. This was the route that Arnold took. After
stopping a short time in Norridgewock, Mr. Forbes and fam-
ily made their way to New Gloucester, where their rescued
friends resided. Previous to this, Capt. Hammond had died
in the Revolutionary army, but the others survived and ren-
dered them needed assistance, in grateful return for Mrs.
Forbes' daring act to deliver them from prison.

Two pamphlet histories of these sufferings have been pub-
lished, but they cannot now be found.

FOXCROFT. 127

In 1816, Mr. Beal, a tanner, came and started the tanning
business. He used the lower part of Blake's "still house"
for his ciuTying shop. After a few years, he left, and the
business was given ui) hero and begun in Dover.

In 1818, Andrew JUelhon cimio to Foxcroft. He was a
shoemaker, and put together the first pair of boots made in
the place. He afterward engaged in farming, and cleared up
three new lots, the last on Sebec Lake, at Blethen's landing.
He there built a saw-mill, upon a brook, and remained
until his death, in 1879, aged eighty-four. He was a worthy,
honored, and truly Christian man, often preacliing in the
back settlements. Eventually this saw-mill ran down, and
John Arnold commenced building another. But, by a fall
from it, he wiis fatally uijurcd, and the work stopped. The
Spool Fjictory Company purchased it, and sold it to L. H.
Dwelley & Co. They completed it, and put in a steam en-
gine, and use it for splitting out spool timber, much of which
is brought across the lake.

A little before this time. Dr. Jeremiah Leach came to Fox-
croft, to establish himself as a physician. He also started the
manufacture of potash. His health wiis soon invaded. A
disease fixed itself upon the bones of liis face, and he went to
Boston for treatment. His recovery was slow and lingering,
and Dr. Aaron Tucker was encouraged to come to Foxcroft,
and, in 1818, he settled hero, and remained till his death.

In 1818, Eli Towne and others petitioned the General
Court, that all the land lying on the north side. of Piscata-
quis River, originally belonging to township Number Three,
and now included in the towns of Sebec and Foxcroft, might
be. re-annexed to plantation Number Three, Dover. The ap-
plication was successful, and the old range line, as run by
Ballard and Weston, became the dividing line between Fox-
croft and Dover.

A bridge across the river was a public necessity. This re-
annexation brought the whole expense of it on to Foxcroft.
But nothing daunted, the inhabitants voted in 1819, to build,
appointing John Bradbury, Joel Pratt, and Eliphalet Wash-

128 htstohy of nsoATAQurs county.

burn> a committee to superintend the work, and raised f 150
to be paid in money, and $500 to be paid in labor, to erect it.
The next year, an additional sum, to be paid in labor and
• grain, was raised, increasing the whole amount raised to
$1,350, fourteen per cent upon the town valuation. N.
Chamberlain was employed to frame it, and in due time, a
substantial bridge, with very complicated architecture,
spanned the Piscataquis, the first erected on the river. It
stood about ten years, and was then injured by a very high
winter freshet, and rebuilt on a different plan in 1830.

About this time, Almoran Sherman started a carding-ma-
chine on the brook where Jordan's grist-mill now stands, the
third in the coimty. He ran it two or three years, became
insane, and had to abandon it.

This year, Capt. Samuel Chamberlain was chosen delegate
to the Convention which met to form a State Constitution.
But twenty-five votes were cast, and he was elected by only
one majority. Some time after this, he was chosen to repre-
sent this district in the Legislature. Ho also hchl many
town offices, and was a life long Trustee of the Academy.
Ho was one of the greatest matlioinatical geniuses in this
region. Tliough he never went beyond the common arith-
metic, he could solve many questions impossible to all oth-
ers not acquainted with the higher mathematics. Capt.
Chamberlain was a model farmer. He knew "how to make
the farm pay." In the most unfavorable seasons, he always
raised his own bread, and some to spare. He, too, was an
excellent economist, giving shape to many judicious meas-
ures in town, as well as on his own premises. His moral
character was beyond reproach, and, in all his dealings and
intercourse with men, he was "the soul of honor." He was
a friend to the poor, encouraged them to make proper exer-
tions for their own relief, and readily assisted the unf(n*tu-
nate and destitute. He reared up, and gave an academical
education to, a large family, a part of which still reside in
town. Though never a professor of the Christian religion,
he was an attendant upon public worship, and encouraged

FOXCBOFT. 129

religious institutions. Wlien returning from a visit to a
married daughter in Guilford village, a wild horse upset his
chaise, by which he was fatally injured, though his wife re-
ceived no harm. He was taken back to the dwelling of J.
H. Loring, from which he had just started, gave dii'ection for
the settlement of his estate, which had grown under his hand
to #8000, lingered for twenty-four hours, and expired, June
6, 1838, aged fifty-f9ur. Until about two years since, his
farm remained in the possession of some of the family, and
then it passed to other parties.

When Col. Foxcroft commenced tlie.salo of "rights" in
the township, James Holmes of Oxford, bought two, Jind
was fortunate in the di'Jiwuig of them. Two of his sons,
Cai)t. Salmon Holmes and Lieut. Cyrus Holmes, eventually
settled on them, beginning in 1818, or earlier. They were
enterprising and tlu-ifty farmers, and made their fertile acres
smile under a generous and skillful culture. No one can
look upon these broad and fruitful fields, without feeling
that industry, skill and good taste can develop themselves as
fully in the productive pursuits of husbandry, as in the works
of the mechanic, or the nicest touches of the artist. These
men have both passed away. Cyrus died in the autumn
of 1867, and Salmon, the elder of the two, in Dec, 1877.

In 1822, J. S. Holmes, a brother of the preceding, also
came to Foxcroft, and opened a Lawyer's office, the first in
the county. Before this. Rev. Thomas Williams had come
here as a missionary, and, this year, arrangements were made
for his permanent settlement. The town united with the
Congregational church in extending a regular call to him,
voted to give him the "ministerial lot" and the income of
the ministerial fund. Tlicse called out a response from
the cantlidate, which was marked with becoming gravity and
courtesy. The advent of two thoroughly educated men,
both interested in education, hastened the planting of an
Academy here. A small select school was taught by Mr.
Holmes, in the fall of 1822, as the first step toward obtaining
a charter. It was sought and granted, the act being passed

130 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

in January, 1823. Funds were raised by subscription, a
two-storied building erected, finished and occupied as early
as the spring of 1826. Before this, James Gooch a.b. of
North Yarmouth, its first preceptor, taught a term in the
Dover school-house. This was the first Academy in the
county, and the first north of Bangor.

Charles P. Chandler was the next preceptor, and, after him
A. Sanborn, S. H. Blake, and others, who afterward occu-
pied places of distinction. It was patronized generously by
a large extent of the newly settled region, and sent forth
better qualified teachers to many of our common schools, and
thus benefited widely the rising generation. The State aid-
ed this young institution with a grant of a half township of
wild land. The north half of the present town of Spring-
field was designated, and though heavily timbered witli i^iiio
and spruce, the trustees sold it to parties in Bangor for thir-
ty-one cents per acre, as it was .not on log-driving streams.
Messrs. Williams and Holmes were both incorporated members
of the board of trustees, and the lattcf continued such until
his death, Dec. 30, 1879, aged eighty-eight, the last survivor
of those original members. A fuller notice of Rev. Mr.
Williams will be found in its proper place. A new academy
building has displaced the first erected, and it is still in a
thriving condition.

In the year 1820, Daniel Greeley took down the old mill
built by the Spauldings, and replaced it with a large saw-mill
and grist-mill. Soon after, a clapboard machine was started
in this saw-mill, by Mr. Daniel Brown. In 1822, a mill for
cloth dressing and carding was erected near these mills. E.
R. Favor put the clothing mill in operation, and a Mr. Allen
put in a carding machine. Mr. Favor soon sold his mill to
Jesse Martyn, who remained but three years, and Mr. Allen,
falling sick, sold his to John Bradbury. In 1826, Bradbury
erected a saw-mill on the southern end of the dam, and also
a fulling-mill and carding machine, and moved the machin-
ery from the other mill into it. In 1827, R. K. Rice pur-
chased this, and followed this business for the next four

FOXCROFT. 131

years. He then sold out to Mr. Parsons, and he, after one
or two years, sold to J. Bradbury, of whom Vaughan and
Brown bought it, and turned its over custom to the mill at
the lower falls. But when Vaughan, Brown and Sawyer
started a factory, in 183G, on the lower falls, they sold this
mill, macliinery and custom, to Messrs. Jordan and Crockett,
and they continued the business for many years, doing a lit-
tle manufacturmg also. Not long after this time, Farnham's
tannery was erected on this same privilege. It has been
twice burned to the ground, and rebuilt. This is still run-
ning, Dea. L. O. Farnham doing a large and profitable busi-
ness. But now this is tlie only general tannery in the coun-
ty. This business has been carried on in Sangerville, Dover,
Purknian, Guilford, Monsoii, Sebcc, Browuville, Atkinson
and Milo, but is now, in all these towns, abandoned. Dover
once had three tanneries in operation at the same time.

The saw-mill and shingle . machine owned by R. D. Gil-
man were also once burned with this tannery, but are re-
built and doing a smart business. On this same privilege,
Maj. J. Crocker erected a brick building for a fork and hoe
factory. After running it a few years, it passed to Crooker
& Harris, and was swept away in the great freshet of 1857.
Its place is now occupied by Bailey's planing mill. The
old Greeley mill passed into the hands of Samuel Greeley,
and was eventually carried off by a freshet. In the spring
of 1827, a serious accident occurred in this mill. Two men,
James Tarr and John Steadman, when at work repairing the
flume, were drowned. The planking which shut out the
water, suddenly gave way, and they were forced by a great
rush of water, into the open spouts, and there held a long
time, before they could be extricated.

In the spring of 1836, the dwelling-house of Capt. J. Hale
was burnt, and the store of Bradbury & Herring, standmg
where the Hale block now stands, was burnt with it.

Capt. H. Scott erected another grist-mill, in 1834 or 1835,
upon tliis privilege, and as it was upon an improved plan, it

130 HISTOBY OF PISCATAQUIS €X>TrSJY.

in January, 1823. Fonds were raised by subscription, a
two-storied building erected, finished and occupied as early
as the spring of 1825. Before this, James (jooch a.b. of
North Yarmouth, its first preceptor, taught a term in the
Dover school-house. This was the first Academy in the
county, and the first north of Bangor.

Charles P. Chandler was the next preceptor, and, after him
A. Sanborn, S. H. Blake, and others, who afterward occu-
pied places of distinction. It was patronized generously by
a large extent of the newly settled region, and sent forth
better qualified teachers to many of our common schools, and
thus benefited widely the rising generation. The State aid-
ed this young institution with a grant of a half township of
wild land. The north half of the present town of Spring-
field was designated, and though heavily timbered with pine
and spruce, the trustees sold it to parties in Bangor for thir-
ty-one cents per acre, as it was not on log-driving streams.
Messrs. Williams and Holmes were both incorporated members
of the board of trustees, and the lattef continued such until
his death, Dec. 30, 1879, aged eighty-eight, the last survivor
of those ori'ginal members. A fuller notice of llev. Mr.
Williams will be found in its proper place. A new academy
building has displaced the first erected, and it is still in a
thriving condition.

In the year 1820, Daniel Greeley took down the old mill
built by the Spauldings, and replaced it with a large saw-mill
and grist-mill. Soon after, a clapboard machine was started
in this saw-mill, by Mr. Daniel Brown. In 1822, a mill for
cloth dressing and carding was erected near these mills. E.
R. Favor put the clothing mill in operation, and a Mr. Allen
put in a carding machine. Mr. Favor soon sold his mill to
Jesse Martyn, who remained but three years, and Mr. Allen,
falling sick, sold his to John Bradbury. In 1826, Bi-adbury
erected a saw-mill on the southern end of the dam, and also
a fulling-mill and carding machine, and moved the machin-
ery from the other mill into it. In 1827, R. K. Rice pur-
chased this, and followed this business for the next four

FOXCBOFT. 133

The destructive freshet of 1857 swept away the dam, and
some of the buildings on the other end of it, but passed most
of £he mills liamiless. It also carried away the new bridge
built in the summer of 1854. Another grist-mill for grhid-
ing corn wjis erected at the mouth of the brook, in tJiis vil-
lage, by Ivory B. Jordan, now run by C. W. Pratt, and is
still doing a profitable business.

In 1870, L. H. Dwelley & Co. started a spool factory, which
had been begun by another company, and this increased the
business of the place. It requires from ten to fifteen hun-
dred cords of white and yellow birch, per annum, the pur-
chase of which, and the sale of the unavailable x)arts, are a
great convenience to the community. The building was laid
in asJics, July 12, 1877, but has been rebiult with more sub-
stantial materials, through the enterprise of its owners and
the voluntary assistance of sympathizing citizens. This
factory gives employment to many men and teams, and man-
ufactures, when running on full time, $50,000 worth of
spools annually, the greater part of which is paid out for la-
bor in getting the timber, and working it uj).

Dyer & Hughes have done a good business of late, in the
manufacture of musical instruments, — ^pianos, melodeons and
organs. Foxcroft has a fair proportion of the professional,
mercantile and mechanical business done in these combined
villages, but a detailed account of it would be long and
tedious.

As a town, it assisted the Bangor & Piscataquis Ilailroad
to the amount of f 27,750, and this, with its war debt, makes
its liabilities large, nearly $40,000.

Lawyers. J. S. Hobnes, J. S. Wiley, C. P. Chandler, A.
G. Lebroke, Ephraim Flint, and D. L. Savage have had law
ofliccs in Foxcroft village. Hon. Mr. Wiley was elected a
member of the 30th Congress, in 1847, while a resident of
Foxcroft. Upon the expiration of his term of oflice, ho set-
tled in Dover, and still remains there.

Physicians. Wentworth Brown, Jeremiah Leach, Aaron

134 HISTORY OP PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

Tucker, Castillo Hamlin, Josiah Hobbs, Josiah Jordan, J.
Lawton, William Buck, A. T. Walker, T. H. Merrill, have
practiced here, the last three still remaining.

Merchants. Those who have remained for some consid-
erable time, are John Bradbmy, William Bradbury, Nathan-
iel Bradbury, S. S. Herring, Caleb Prentiss, Melvin Stevens, —
all previous to 1840. Since then, many others have been,
and still are, in this business.

A telegraph line connects Foxcroft and Dover villages
with Dexter, and with the Maine Central Railroad at New-
port. And now another line from Oldtown to Greenville
and the Mt. Kineo House is under contract, and is expected
to be in operation by next summer, which will pass tlu'ough
this place.

In 1870, the population was 1170 ; its valuation $400,109.

CHAPTER XIV.

BROWNVILLE.

Bbownville was Number Five, Range Eight, with an area
of 21,320 acres. This range of toAvnsliips was run out by
Samuel Weston, in 1794, anil is a full mile wider than usnal,
giving each town a larger area. Its pine timber and favora-
ble streams for log-driving, soon drew the notice of land
buyers. In 1795, it was sold to Samuel Fowler, for X 2,964,
with the condition that he should have forty families settled
on it within eight years. He paid £261, but afterward failed
to meet his engagements, and it reverted to the State. Jo-
seph Blake was the next purchaser. The terms and date of
this sale are unknown. He employed Park Holland to lot
it out, in 1803. In 1805, Mr. Ilollaiul exjilored it, probably
for Moses Brown and Josiah Hills of Newburyport, who soon
after bought it, and commenced its settlement. *

SoEL. Light interval soil is found to some extent on the
river, but the larger part consists of upland ridges, which,
though stony, are strong and productive. It is ricli in slate
quarries, already alluded to, and the working of these has
benefited all the various industries. So, too, the Katahdm
Iron Works, twelve miles up the river, have furnished a very
steady market to the farmera.

Water Power. The main trunk of Pleasant River,
which suggested its own name, psisscs through this town, and
affords three excellent mill sites. One has been constantly
occupied since 1806, the other two are not improved. The
supply of water is suflicient for a saw-mill, grist-mill, and
shingle macliine, nearly all the year roimd.

FmsT Settlement. It is a matter of deep regret tliat

136 HISTORY OP PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

dates, names and places cannot be more accurately given. It
is said that one Hiram Heath felled the first opening, in the
north part of the town, but when and where, is not now easi-
ly settled. In 1806, a decided strike was made toward a per-
manent settlement. In the spring of that year, Messrs.
Brown and Hills sent Francis Brown with a crew of work-
men, to build a dam and mills on Pleasant River. They se-
lected the falls, where the mills now stand, and around which
the village has grown up. They brought up their tools, mill-
irons, and provisions, in boats from Bangor. By fall^ the
work was completed, and a saw- and grist-mill put in opera-
tion. These mills preceded the Spauldings' at Foxcroft by
a few montlis, and were the second mills built in the county.

The firat settlers were probably there then, and others were
preparing to come in. To a certain number of the early set-
tlers, fifty acres of land were given. In the fifll of 1806, Maj.
J. Hills, one of the proprietors, moved in, and took change of
the mills. He eventually sold his share of the mills, and of
wild land, to Mr. Brown, moved upon a new farm, and died
there in 1810. There are indications that the settlement in-
creased rapidly. In the spring of 1808, if not earlier. Dr.
Isiiac Wilkins, a practicing physician, moved his family in,
and settled upon the well known Wilkins place, ^e had a
son born there, July 27, 1808, Sidney Wilkins, now living,
who was the second child born in town. It is also remem-
bered that Dr. Wilkins was a chain-man in a survey party
which measui'ed the distance on a straight line to Canada,
and that they passed near the foot of Mt. Katahdin. Dr.
Wilkins remained in town until his death, in 1820, and reared
up a family there, to which the late Rev. Isaac E. Wilkins
belonged.

The same year, there was another advent of still greater
importance to the rising settlement. Rev. Hezekiah May, a
learned and pious Congi'cgationalmuiister, came to town, being
sent and sustained by the proprietors. He taught school in
winter, and preached upon the Sabbath. He partly cleared
up the Brown place, built a small framed house and other
buildings upon it, but in 1814, he sold out his possession to

BBOWNVILLB. 137

Dea. Francis Brown, and moved out of the State. Francis
Brown had removed from Newbury to Bangor, thence to
Brownville in 1812, and from 1814, resided upon the place
which still bears his name, the soil having been devised to
him by Moses Brown, his uncle. He ever exerted a very ef-
fective and healthful influence in town, and died there in
1864, greatly lamented. Not long after Rev. Mr. May left,
Rev. John Sawyer made a home in the neighborhood, suc-
ceeding Mr. May as teacher and preacher, and also traversed
those new settlements as a missionary.

In i)roof of tlie early and rapid settlement of this town, we
find tliat, in 1810, it had 131 inliabi Units, tlicn exceeded only
by Atkinson and Scbcc, of all the townships in tliis county,
wliile Milo liad only 34. But in 1820, it had only 172, and
seven other towns in the coiuity paid a higher State tax.

For most of tlie above statements, I am hidebted to papers
left by the late E. A. Jenks, who commenced writing an his-
torical sketch of this town, but his last sickness prostrated
him, and he died, leaving it luifiiiishcd, wliich no one regrets
more than the writer.

Incoiipouation. Materials for tracing tl\e progress of
the settlement were not found, but we have learned that re-
ligious meetings* were kept up, and schools sustained, before
there was any legal organization. The first step toward this
was in June 29, 1819. On that day it was organized as
Brownville Plantation. For five years it remained so. But on
Feb. 24, 1824, it was incorporated as the town of Bro'vvnville.
The first town meeting was lield March 29th, following. At
this it was voted to invite Rev. N. W. Sheldon, Congrega-
tionalist, to settle with them in the ministry, and also voted
to raise annually, with other town expenses, $150 toward liis
suppc)rt. And it continued to do this wliile Mr. Slicldon re-
mained as their minister, never diminishing, but sometimes
increasing, the sum.

Traders. Dea. F. Brown was the first trader in town.

In a small shed attached to the house built by Rev. H. May,

he kept a few goods, as early as 1823. About 1830, £. A.
10

138 HTSTORY OP PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

Jenks became a partner with him. Then a larger store was
built, nearer the village, and the business continued by
Brown & Jenks.

Some time after this, Jefferson Lake, who pursued the
lumbering business largely, also opened a store. Others suc-
ceeded Mr. Lake, and two or three stores of general mer-
chandise have been in the place ever since.

A bridge across the river was much desired. For a season
they hesitated, and ferried across the mill-pond. At length
a cheap kind of a bridge was built, but for many years a
good substantial bridge, on an improved plan, has spanned
the river.

The Slate Quarries. The working of these has great-
ly increased the population, the business, and the thrift of
Brown ville. It introduced quite a foreign population, mostly
Welsh, who make an industrious and frugal class of citizens.

Jhe Bangor and Piscataquis Slate Company opened the
first quarry in 1843. When in full operation, this wrought
out from 8000 to 12000 squares of slate annually, selling in
Bangor for from $35,000 to $40,000, and employing sixty
men, and paying out in wages $25,000 per year.

A. H. Merrill's quarry, though he resides in Williams-
burg, is mainly in Brownville. This was opened for trial in
1846, Mr. Merrill then owning one-fourth. The experiments
proved encouraging. They expended a large sum, and in-
creased the quantity produced. At length he became sole
owner. Ho has bought 1500 acres of land, and put up and
furnished buildings, so as to make 30,000 squares of roofing
slate annually, investing in all, $75,000. It gives steady em-
ployment to eighty men, who are paid from $1.50 to $2.00
per day. This quarry is less than two miles from Brownville
village, and sends its productions by teams to Milo depot.

The Highland quarry, in the edst part of the town, has
been more recently opened. Slate of a superior quality is
found here. Through the pressure of the times, it has proved
unprofitable of late, and suspended business. But its owner,
Hon. S. O. Brown, is expected to soon have it in operation.

BROWNVILLE. 189

This town assisted in building the Bangor & Piscataquis
liailroad to the amount of $5000. Its war debt then amount-
ed to $8000. Now its indebtedness is less than $10,000.

Through the depression in business since 1876, many, for
want of employment, have moved away, and many have been
reduced in their pecuniary resources by the failures of the
Slate and Iron Works companies. But the prospect now is
that the liard times are easing off, and that the former pros-
perity will be restored.

Dr. L. B. Crosby is the only professional man in town, ex-
cepting its clergymen.

Its SUite valuation in 1870, was $157,626 ; its population,
860.

CHAPTER XV.

WILLIAMSBURQ AND BABNABD.

WiLLiAMSBXJBQ and Barnard were Number Six, Range
Eighth, and adjoined Brownville on the west. Originally,
they had an area of 22,304 acres. A fair proportion of their
soil is good for agriculture, but much of the northern part has
never been cleared. Williamsburg is well watered. Pleasant
River passes through tlie north-cast corner, and Roaring lirook
empties into it from the western side, both affording good
mill privileges, which have not been improved. Near the
center. Whetstone Brook, another tributary of Pleasant
River, affords a good privilege, upon which a saw-mill and
shingle machine have been erected.

A largo quantity of slate is probably concealed beneath its
soil. Moses Greenleaf Esq. early discovered this, had its
qualities tested, and led the way to the working of all the
quarries in the county.

Proprietor. Mr. William Dodd of Boston early pur-
chased this township of the State, hence came the name,
Williamsburg. Moses Greenleaf was Mr. Dodd's agent, from
the beginning of its settlement.

First Settlement. The names of the early settlers are
unknown, also the precise date of their entrance. Probably
its settlement began soon after that of Brownville, and near
its eastern border. John Crommett had settled there as
early as 1808, Moses Head in 1810, and Mr. Greenleaf, proba-
bly, by this time. Mark Pitman and others were, at this
date, settled in the west part, now Barnard.

There w6re two families early settled, one in Williamsburg,
the other in Brownville, named Hemminway and Downing,

Wn^LTAMSllUJlO AND DARNABD. 141

which may have been the first there, but it cannot be deter-
mined. They moved away soon after the cold seasons, but
will come again into notice.

According to the census taken by Mr. Greenleaf, there
were 71 persons in this township in 1810, more than in M ilo,
Foxcroft, or Guilford. From this date there was a slow, but
gradual increase.

lu one respect Williamsburg has a notable preeminence.
Here the first map of Maine was plotted, and the first book
written within this county. As early as 1816, Moses
Greenleaf Esq., having prepared them, published both of
tliese, sending out a book of 154 pages, entitled "Statistics of
Maine," to accompany and explain his map. This book he
afterward enlarged and amended, and issued in 1829, as" Sur-
vey of Maine," a work of 468 pages, and of great statistical
value. At the same time he issued a new map, larger and
much improved. Let it then be noted, that, before Rev. Sid-
ney Smith sneeringly asked: "Who reads an American
book?", and before the late John Neal crossed tlie ocean to
contribute articles to British Reviews written on the Brit-
isli Isle, to win a reputation as an American author, here, in
the back-woods of Maine, a book was written, and read too,
by some, who thought it worthy of their notice.

In June, 1*819, the inhabitants of this township were or-
ganized .08 Williamsburg Plantation, Eben Greenleaf being
chosen plantation clerk. But it remained in that state
scarcely one year. June 21, 1820, the first Legislature of the
new State of Maine incorporated it as the town of Williams-
burg, tlie second town incorporated by that body, Kennebunk
being the first. At that time it had a population of 107, and
cast about twenty votes. The first State tax levied upon it
was $18.67, only eight towns in the present county then
paying a larger one.

In 1828, William Dodd, the proprietor, died. From that
time a serious difficuty arose, in regard to collecting the non-
resident taxes, which embarrassed the town for many years.
But a few years later, quite a valuable accession was made

142 HI8TOBT OF PISCATAQUIS OOUITTT.

to the population, by immigrants from Brunswick and vicin-
ity, and its prospects were rising.

In the annual town meeting of 1831, jneasnres were taken
to secure preaching in town. They voted to raise $S0 for
this purpose by taxation, with the condition that any tax-
payer who would file a written request to Uiat end, with the
assessors, should be exempted. TIio committee chosen to
expend it, were also instructed to procure, each his pre-
ferred minister.

The next year, 1832, the reserved lots were selected by a
town committee, and by Mr. Greenleaf as proprietor's agent, —
three, of 160 acres each, in both the east and west half of the
township.

In 1830, a small Congregational church was organized.
In 1833, it invited Rev. Joseph Underwood to settle over it,
witli tlie understanding that he should spend ono-half of his
time in Sebec. The town, at its next meeting, voted to con-
cur with the church in this invitation, and to regard him as
the minister of the town. This secured to Mr. Underwood
the minister's lot of land. But as he continued witli them
only two years, he did not claim it, and when he left the
place, relinquished his right to it. But with sorrow it must
be said that, from the sale of this and two other reserves of
the same quantity, the town has not realized and retained
any fund for tlie support of ministry or schools in either
town.

In 1883, it was voted to petition for a division of the
town, and the terms were agreed upon, without a dissenting
vote. The line of separation was to run through the low
land, which naturally divided the township ; the town's poor
was to be assigned to each, according to the location of their
former homes; each town was to hold the equal part of the
reserved lots, as located within it; the unpaid taxes and town
debts were to be divided to each in proportion to their re-
spective valuations, which finally fell, fifty-four per cent to
liarnard, and forty-six to Williamsburg.

In February, 1834, the Legislature divided the town on

WIIiLIAMSBUIlG AND BABNABD. 148

these eonditions, and incorporated the west part as the town
of Barnard. At the next State election, Williamsburg cast
but thirteen votes', and neither town has made much advance
since. The present town of Williamsburg, in a business
point of view, is closely connected with Brownvillc. The
inhabitants go to Brownville village for trade, and relig-
ious meetings. Though A. H. Merrill resides in Williams-
burg, his slate quarry is nearly all in Brownville, and
increases the valuation of that town. Another quarry has
been opened within the limits of this town by the Pis-
cataquis Central Slate Company, which was incorporated
m 1874, and the work on a limited scale is still pursued by
Tlioinas E. and J. R. Hughes. Slate of an excellent quality
is hero wrought out, some of wliich has been used upon the
most expensive mansions in Foxcroft.

A personal occurrence will now be noted. Mr. Winslow
Hatch took up a wild lot in this town, and spent a few years
upon it. He cleared up some ten acres, built a small house,
married a wife, and w.ns getting on prosperously. Some two
years after liis marriage, in the winter of 1823, he loft home
to visit liis friends in New Gloucester. He made his visit,
and pretended to start for his eastern home. But he was
not seen in these parts afterward. His disappearance gave
rise to many dark and trying conjectures. Many years after-
ward, an old acquaintance found him in Ohio. But why or
wherefore his strange absconding, no one knows.

Moses Greeenleaf Esq., usually known as Judge Greenleaf,
held a high position in both town and county. In 1790,
when Moses was thirteen years old, his father moved from
Newbur3rport to New Gloucester. There his children en-
joyecf superior advantages for obtaining an education, which
tliey readily improved. On reacl)ing manhood, Moses en-
gaged in trade, first in New Gloucester, but removed to Ban-
gor as early as 1804. Becoming Mr. Dodd's agent, he took
a lively interest in the wild lands of this new section, and
made himself acquainted with their resources and their fa-
cilities for water transportation. In preparing liis maps and

144 HI8TOBT OF nSCATAQHIS OOUTITY.

books, his researches were extensiTe mud T&lumble. He dis-
covered that line of slate quarries which crosses the county,
held correspondence with, and sent qiecimens from them to,
experts in the business, and obtained favorable assurances,
more than ten jears before the first quarries were opened.
His ^ Sarvej of Maine,*^ is a noble monument of his untiring
industry and eminent talents, devoted to the development of
the natural resources of our State. Again, we must express
our deep regret that so few copies of it are preserved. He
was an Associate Justice of the Ck)urt of Sessions in Penob-
scot county, and filled other responsible positions. He died
March 20, 18S4, aged fifty-seven, with an unblemished repu-
tation, and universally lamented. His sons removed to the
West.

Eben Greenleaf Esq., brother of the preceding, also resided
in this town, though for a season in the west part of it. He,
too, was eminent for both natural and acquired abilities.
He commenced his career upon the sea, and soon became a
sea-captain. When he married, he abandoned that pursuit,
and moved into this new region. He was often employed as
a land surveyor, and wjis plantation and town clerk contin-
uously. He died in Williamsburg Nov. 29, 1851.

An incident in the Hemminway family will close this
sketch. After they left, their field, being on Judge Green-
leaf's lot, was turned out to grazing. Bushes sprang up,'
the buildings went to decay, a taller growth overhung the
orchard, the garden with its roots and roses, and the fruitful
field too, became a wilderness. •

A few years since, one of their sons came back to revisit
the home of his boyhood ; to review the haunts of his youth-
ful pastime ; to mark the progress that fifty years had made,
upward, as he expected, rather than downward and back-
ward ; to re-possess those same fields, so engraven upon his
young memory; and to close his days where his early ambi-
tion budded, and where the auspicious prospects of' a whole
life opened to his eager view. With an intelligent guide, he
sought out that endeared spot. Alas, how changed I The

WILLIAMSBURG AND BABNABD. 146

cellar was not quite obliterated, but sturdy trees had thrust
their rank roots through its wall. Bush and brake and over-
shadowing forest blotted out the garden. The top of sunken
stone heaps, here and there, .alone marked the place where his
fatlicr once swung liLs scythe, and where the ficld.s yielded
their ailluent increase. The apple tree, scarcely found, was
not 80 nuich as the other trees of the forest, for a tall, heavy
growth showed how vigorous nature blots out the noble, but
neglected monuments of skill and industry, even as neglect
or dissipation carries man's higher nature down to its deepest
degradation. His disappointment' was overwhelming. His
fond yearnings were crushed beyond recovery, and with the
intense sadness of a double exile, he left that disturbing and
depressing place, to return no more.

BABNABD.

Barnard is the west part of the original town of Wil-
liamsburg, and as such, it was pui'chased and settled. A por-
tion of its soil is good for agricultiue, and a part of it was
covered with valuable timber, the hemlock, spruce and ce-
dar, not being yet exhausted. A rich vein of slate crosses
the town, which has been opened and worked successfully in
two places. It is well watered. Bear Brook passes through
the town from north to south, which, with its branches, af-
fords several mill privileges, three of which have been im-
proved.

The first settlers entered tliis town by way of Sebec Mills,
about 1809 or 1810. Mark Pitman, John Thompson, Benja-
min MUler, and B. Bunker being the earlier of them.

A large swamp running through the center of Williams-
burg separated the settlements, and presented natural incon-
veniences which led to a separation, and Barnard was incor-
porated as a distinct town in 1834. But this move did not
incrcjise its population.

a! II. Merrill's farm, in this town, contained a good slate
quan-y. He made an. advantageous sale of this in 1835, and
moved into Williamsburg. So much of the settlement is

146 HISTORY OP PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

near Sebec village, that most of the trade and mechanical
business gravitates to that' place, and only one small store
has been kept in town, but a large amount of lumber has
been sawed out here.

For the last few years the population has steadily de-
creased. Those remaining found the public burdens on-
erous, and in 1877, petitioned for the repeal of its act of in-
corporation. This was done, and it became Barnard plantation,
but this is now disorganized. When the demand for roofing
slate increases, this town will probably rise from its present
low estate, to a more flourishing condition.

CHAPTER XVI.

ABBOT.

Abbot was Number Seven, Range Seven. Its entire area
is 23,040 acres. In the quality of its soil, it is above the av-
erage. More interval is found in this town than in any other
on the river jibove Milo and Dover. It is the most western
of the college townsliips, and was sold out to settlera by its
treasurer and his agents.

First Settlement. This was made by Abraham Moore.
He exchanged his farm in Norridgewock for 800 acres of
wild land, having the first choice in the township, of four
lots of 200 acres each, most of which he located on the two
rivers, securing two mill sites. In 1805, he felled the first
opening, and in 180U, raised a crop, and built a log-house.
In March, 1807, he moved his family into it, — a wife and six
chil(b:en. A single horse and sled were their means of con-
veyance, and their way quite roundabout. They came to
Harmony and Ripley, tlirough Dexter, and Amestown, and
thence to Lowstown, and thence up the river, seven miles, to
their own place.

When at Harmony, a dozen miles in a bee-line would have
reached the point aimed at, but after plodding on twice that
distance, they had to press their way seven miles further, ere
they could step into their new home. Then an unbroken
forest covered the whole space between Number Seven and
Hj\rmony, Ripley and Dexter. From Lowstown, they passed
up on the ice of the river, occasionally compelled to cut out
and tread down a way around open rapids. Upon a little
ridge that rises from the surrounding mterval, afterward occu-
pied by the substantial buildings of James Gower, a rude home

148 HISTORY OP PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

stood ready to receive them — tho first famili/ in tlio township,
the first in the county westward of Sangerville and Guilford.
For a whole year they dwelt there alone, having only occa-
sional calls from explorers aijd new beginners. For the want
of a road, Mr. Moore, like a good waterman, took to the river.
Ho went down to Spaulding's saw-mill, twelve miles below,
and made a batteau. With this he could pass up and down
the river, conveying both persons and supplies. His cabin
had only the dry, bare earth for a floor. His wife could not
keep it satisfactorily clean, by sweeping or washing. So, one
morning the batteau was launched; Mr. Moore and wife drift-
ed rapidly down to the saw-mill; Mrs. Moore made a hasty
visit .to her three brothei*s, the Spauldings, while Mr. Moore
selected the floor-boards, and loaded them into the boat: then
up the river that batteau was resolutely poled to its port of
entry, for both captain and mate had the push in them.
There was then a floor, not marble nor mosaic, but a new
clean floor, testifying their preference for civilized life,
though in a wilderness.*

The next spring, 1808, two other families moved in, Peter
Brawn's and Eaton Richards'. Others must have been early
there, for in 1810 there were forty-five inhabitants within
the township. The settlement was then called Moorestpwn.
As early as 1812, openings were made and settlers moved
on to the "Jackson Ridge," in the east 'part of the town.
Simon French, Samuel Mansfield and Stephen Tucker, sev-
erally began there. But these men soon sold their posses-
sions to others, and left the town. Barnabas Jackson moved
on to the French place, in 1815, and he and some of his sons
have continued there ever since, the longest residence of any
family in Abbot. Eben Deane settled in town for a few
years, and then went up to the interval in Blanchard. Jo-
seph Jackson, William Huston, and Asa Piper dwelt here in
the early settlement of the township, but all sold out their
possessions, and went to other places.

At a later date, 1818, Jeremiah Rolfe settled in Abbot.
He was a Revolutionary soldier, fought on the field of Sara-

AllBOT. 149

toga, and after Burgoyne surrendered, marehed with Gen.
Gates to South Carolina. He was honorably discharged and
drew a pension. After the war he lived in Rochester, N. H.,
then cleared up a farm in Paris, Me., moving thence to Fox-
croft, in 1808. There he cleared up a part of the Daniel
Buck lot, but in 1812, sold his possession and moved to
Guilfoi'd. There he cleared up the Webber farm. His next
move was to Abbot, and there he cleared up the best high-
land farm in the county, lying about one mile south of Ab-
bot village. Under his industrious hand the wilderness soon
became a fruitful and beautiful field, and abundant crops
rewarded his toil. He once drove a valuable horse upon tlie
river, when the ice was unsafe, and it was drowned, but liis
bountiful wheat crop soon enal)led hmi to satisfy its owner.
Tlu'ough the peculiarities of his sons, most of those broad
acres passed into other hands, but the old pioneer retamed a
portion of them mitil his death, iu 1843.

The '{Rolfe Apple," which he introduced into these parts,
and which will not be soon forgotten, will per^^etuate his
name and bear witness to his skill in fruit raising. He had
some peculiarities, but many sterling virtues, and could en-
dure as much hardsliip as any other man.

This town abounds in Water Power. The Piscataquis
River enters the township near itp north-west corner, and
leaves it near the south-eastern. On this, there are good
mill sites, one of which is now improved. The south branch
of the Piscataquis, issuing from Kingsbury Lake, passes
through a part of Abbot, and unites with the maiQ river, a
mile below Abbot village. This is a very permanent stream,
and two privileges upon it in Abbot are occupied.

At an early date, Mr. Moore built a saw-mill upon this •
stream, and marked tlie spot for a village eventually to be
gathered. This privilege lias been occupied ever since, and
is now known as Abbot village.

Alas for Moorestown when the cold seasons had their frosty
reign I No portions were so early and so heavily smitten as
those intervals liitherto fruitful and beautiful. In the cold-

150 HISTOEY OP PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

•

est season, 1816, wheat and potatoes were so early killed, as
to be nearly worthless. The settlers began to scatter and
pitch upon higher ground. Mr. Moore sold his saw-mill and
400 acres of land to Elder William Oakes and David Douty,
in 1817, and moved to Foxcroft, arid soon after built a grist-
mill on the Great Falls in Dover, Before Mr. Moore's re-
moval, tlie township had been organized as Plantaliou Num-
ber Seven, but after he and others left, the organization ran
down. In 1820, there were but forty-four inhabitants re-
maining in town.

Messrs. Oakes and Douty had pursued lumbering business
higher up the river, before this, and as pine trees abounded
upon the stream above their mill, it was kept well supplied.
They once took down the mill and moved it to a fall, a few
rods below. But upon putting it in opcnition, they soon
learned, what they should have known by intuition, that the
first chosen was better. So it was restored to its former lo-
cation. In raising it, Mr. Charles Bradford accidentally fell
from the frame, upon the rocks in the stream, and received
severe injuries. They and a Mr. Hutchinson continued to run
it until 1822, and then they sold both mill and land to James
Gower, who soon after put a grist-mill in operation. Mr.
Gower moved on to the interval, and built large buildings,
and he and his sons increased the business of the place, Rob-
ert soon opening a store at the Mills. He was agent for the
sale of the college lands, which were then sought after.
Many new lots were now taken up, and an enterpiising class
of settlers came in rapidly.

The town of Monson was already considerably settled, and
already incorporated. Quite a settlement had been made
upon Number Three, Bingham Purchase, now Blanchard.
Lumbering was getting under full way upon Moosehead
Lake, and upon the Bingham Purchase. So this township
lay in the path of a large travel. But its summer roads were
not passable for tbams and carriages. When the snows of
winter did not smooth the way, riding and carrying burdens
must be done on horseback. The plantation had loSt its

ABBOT. 151

identity, and the people were not obliged to open roads to
accommodate the public, however much they were wanted.
These were necessarily postponed until the town was incor-
porated.

Incoupokation. January 30, 1827, the town of Abbot
was incorporated, and named for Prof. John Abbot, then,
and for a long time, fi^easurer of Bowdoin College. In
March following, Robert Gower Esq. issued a warrant to James
Gower, to call the first town meeting. This duly met on March
17, and Cyrus Cook was chosen town clerk. Then there
were about fifty voters. With a good degree of carefulness,
school districts were established, roads laid out and accepted,
and the fiicilitics for public travel began to improve.

About tills time, A. Moore and Ids sons sold out their prop-
erty in Dover village, and returned to Abbot. They moved
on to the lot which embraced the mill privilege on the Pis-
cataquis River, one chosen by Mr. Moore at his coming, and
commenced building mills. By 1828, they had a saw-mill and
clapboard machine in operation, and laid the foundation for
the upper village. J. P. Moore took the lead in the business,
and, excepting a few years' absence in California and in the
town of Dexter, has been a resident in town ever since, and
has been largely concerned with its political and municipal
measures.

In 1832, Col. J. S. Monroe opened a store here and entered
upon a successful career of business. At that time, mercan-
tile and mechanical business was struggling on at the lower
village, only two miles below. As might be expected, a
sharp rivalry between these two places was enkindled, and it
had some elements that were unquenchable. Its strong an-
tagonism was soon brought to the front by an attempt to
build a bridge across the river at the upper village. It could
be easily seen by all disinterested parties that such a bridge
would be a great convenience to the public travel up and
down the river, as well as increase the business facilities of
the place, and make it accessible to all parts of the town.
But a bridge had been already built by subscription near the

152 HISTORY OF nSCATAQXnS COUNTY.

residence of Mr. J. Gower, and this was helpful to the lower
village,. in which his interest was concentrated. Of course
he opposed the building of another. Many tax-payers went
with him. The town would not build the desired bridgfe.
Backed by well founded public opinion, the minority felt
that they must have it. A petition for a county road from
Monsou to Parkman Corner, crossing the river at that point,
brought the subject before the County Commissioners. The
road was located, the minority triumphed. The town then
gracefully yielded, raising money in the spring of 1886 to
open the road and build the needed bridge. An armistice
followed, the public traveled through the town as their con-
venience re(iuired, the people traded when and where tliey
chose, and the laws of destiny executed themselves without
let or hindrance for the next forty years.

Fatal Casualties. A large number of these have
fallen to the lot of Abbot, some of them painfully interesting.
The first occurred in the family of Samuel We3rmouth. He
was then settled on a lot in Abbot, on the river road adjoin-
ing Guilford. In a cold winter night, m 1820 or 1821, when
he was away from home, liis log-house took fire and waslinmt
with all its contents. His wife and the elder children es-
caped in their night clothes only, while the two younger, a
girl of about ten years, and a boy of eight, perished in the
flames.

The death of Mr. Elihu Whitcomb, was the second, sad
I and painful, but full of aibnonition. He was a graduate of
\ Harvard College, professed religion, entered the Christian
ministry, and was settled as pastor of the Congregational
church of Saco in 1799. He was quiet and grave in liis de-
portment, affable in his manners, and able, as a preacher of
the Word. It is not easy now to realize how full of perni-
cious snares the customs of society then wore. A mistiikon
Christian courtesy then greeted teachers of morals and relig-
ion with a tempting array of intoxicating drinks, or with a
sorrowful apology for their absence, when they made
pastoral calls upon their people. And Christian principle,

ABBOT. 158

then unenlightened, unwatchful, allowed them to qnaff the
poisonous beverage. Mr. Whitcomb's appetite for strong
druik grew, and was habitually gratihed. As a blmd to sus-
picions of an excessive use of it, he adroitly purchased his
supplies in moderate quantities, and of various dealers, and
kept it carefully concealed in his cellar. The habit grew
upon him. Some saw it and spoke of it. His most inthnate
friends could not believe it and rashly rejected the imputa-
tion. Others felt convmced of it, evea when he entered the
pulpit and ministered at the sacred altar. At length, upon
a Sabbath morning, while on his way to God's house, he fell
down in the street an intoxicated minister. The eyes of his
apologists were now opened. He never preached again.
He wjis deposed from the ministry in 1810, and a worthy
man succeeded him. He remained in Saco about fourteen
yeai*s longer, in comparative obscurity, an object of kindness
and of pity, but still followed his cups. In 1824, he and one
of his sons, Levi, came to Abbot and commenced clearing a
wild lot. Wliile camping there, in the winter of 1825, his
son left the camp a few minutes, and the intoxicated father,
in attempting to rise, pitched into the fire and was fatally
burned. His sun went down in darkness. His grave by the
road side long whispered its silent but affecting tale. His
sacred dust still mingling with the sands of Abbot, lifts up
its warning voice to all who sip tlie enticing drink: shun^ for-
ever shun the fatal draught f

The "drink demon" soon found another victim. Nathan-
iel Bennett jr. was wayward and intemperate from his youth.
At first he followed the sea, then enlisted in the army, from
which he deserted. He married and lived here and there, in
Guilford, Abbot, and Monson. He buried his first wife, and
found homes for his cliildrcn in other families. In 1829,
having married again, he was living in the Crockett neigh-
borhood, and was often at Guilford village. One Saturday
evening, in August, 1829, he started in a boat alone, against
the remonstrances of his fi-iends, to go up the mill-pond to

his home. In the darkness he paddled his boat under the
11

154 HISTORY OP PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

top-end of an obtruding fallen tree, and was thrown into the
water. He was too much intoxicated to extricate himself,
and was drowned not ten feet from the shore. The next
morning search was made, and the writer saw his lifeless
form drawn out of the water. He, too, was buried in that
old burying-ground in Abbot, though no man knoweth the
place of his grave at this day.

Another enterprising citizen of this town, Mr. Isaac H. C.
Hall, perished in a logging camp, in the present town of
Bradley, February 25, 1835. He and three others, Jacob
Hammond of Guilford, Mr. Randall of Foxcroft, and a Mr.
Libby of Pownal, were lumbering, and occupied a camp
whose walls were round logs, the roof covered with boards
within and without, the door-way enclosed by an entry par-
titioned off and having an inner door. That fatal night was
severely cold, and one of the men arose about one o'clock,
and recruited the fire. A board chimney extended down
within six feet of the fire, and when all were locked in heavy
slumber, this took fire, and communicated the flame to the
roof. The smoke kept them in a deep sleep until the walls
aiid entry, tlic only opening out of tlie camp, were in a blazo.
Tlie fire reached Hammond's feet, and the pain awoke him.
Half suffocated with the smoke, and bewildered with fright,
he rushed to the burning door, and nearly dropped dead ere
he broke through the wall of fire. With feet and hands
burned and bleeding, he started for the nearest house, expect-
ing that his companions would follow on. He heard a fear-
ful shriek, and waited, but no one came. He pressed on two
miles to reach the house, marking the snow ^vith his blood-
stained foot-prints. The occupants of that house were a
branch of the same lumbering company, and upon his arrival,
at four o'clock a.m., and dire report, one started to Oldtown
for a physician, and others for the burning camp. As soon
as the fire sufficiently subsided, the charred remains of Hall,
Randall and Libby were found in the smoking ruins. Lib-
by's, known by a watch that he carried, denoted that he
awoke, gave that despairing cry, and fell, overcome with suf-

ABIJOT. 155

focation. The other two "slept the dreamless sleep," where
they lay themselves down that night little thinking that
such a direful fate awaited them. Another person started
for Hammond's widowed mother, but before she arrived, he
had expired. His hands and feet were frozen, after being so
dreadfully burned, and in passing through the fire, he in-
haled the heat, which scalded his vitals. In great suffering he
lingered until eleven o'clock a.m., and then followed his de-
parted companions.

Mr. Hall had lived about seven years in Abbot, had there
married a wife, and left her a widow with three young chil-
dren, one of which is M. W. Hall Esq., now Register of Deeds
in this comity.

S. G. Prescott, a lad of fifteen years, was instantly killed
in March, 1847. In felling a tree for firewood, he was caught
between it and an already fallen tree, and his head was sev-
ered from his body by the stroke.

About the same time, a son of Mr. Steadman Kendall, a lad
of seven years, was drowned in the mill stream at Abbot
village.

In the winter of 1880, Fred C. Flint of this town was far
tally injured by the rolling of logs, while at work in Cole-
brook, N. H.

After the building of the bridge, the population increased,
and cliangcs in business occurred. J. P. Moore sold his mills
to J. S. Monroe, who rebuilt them, and run them till his
death. They then passed to Foss and Monroe, and now they
{Ire owned by other men, who keep them running. In 1830,
Robert and Henry Gower built an improved grist-mill at the
lower village. A few years later, 1838, John How opened a
store there also. But after a few years, his buildings were
burnt, liis business wiis not remunerative, and he sold out
and returned to PortLand.

About 1842, the carding and cloth dressing business was
removed from Monson to the lower village, by Steadman
Kendall, and this has been continued there ever since, recent-

156 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

ly by Charles Foss. Trade and mechanical business lias
been steadily increasing in this place, and improvements go-
ing on.

In 1846, a machine for turning shovel-handles was put in
• operation in Monroe's mill, by Homan Johnson, which was
run successfully several years by him, and then passed to
James and Charles Foss. The ixsii of which they were made
abounded in this vicinity, but at length it was worked up,
and the business was abandoned.

The extension of the railroad from Guilford to Abbot
turned a new leaf in tlie business of the town. This was
completed, and the cars commenced running in 1874. It
was on the north bank of the Piscataquis, and terminated
about a mile above the upper village. At that point it ac-
commodated the slate business from Monson, and also the
L&ke travel and teaming. But it passed by both villages,
within sight of Abbot village, but the river rolled between.
No bridge crossed it there, no public road opened a way to
ford the river, or to cross it upon tlie ice in winter. So the
people of Abbot village and its vicinity had to travel nearly
three miles to reach the depot by an open road. Again, it
was thouglit desirable to draw business to the railroad, from
the direction of Kingsbury. So the County Commissioners
were petitioned to locate a road from Athens to the railroad,
opposite to Abbot village. In due time the route was exam-
ined, a public hearing given, none appeared to oppose it, the
road was located, and eighteen months given for the town of
Abbot to build a bridge, and open the new road. This touched
the rivalry of the upper village and of that portion of the
town, as it would make the lower village accessible to a larg-
er portion of the people. So the battle of the bridge was re-
newed. The old rusty weapons were burnished for the con-
test. The battered shield's were hammered into shape and
fitted for action. But the contestants had changed places.
Those who formerly contended for the upper bridgp and ob-
tained it by the aid of the County Commissioners, were now

ABBOT. 157

bent on preventing the petitioning public from obtaining
this. " Your bull and my ox," right over again I In the
spring of 1876, a town meeting was called to provide the
ways and means for constructing both road and bridge. It
called out a full house, and a stormy debate. Responsible
parties offered to open the road, and to build a good X-work
bridge across the river, and to maintain it for five years, for
$1000. This offer was rejected by a strong majority, and all
measures rejected for opening the road. In April, 1877, a
petition from J. P. Moore and seventy-four others was pre-
sented to tlie County Commissioners, praying for a discon-
tinuance of the road from Abbot viUage to the railroad.
This petition was received at the April term of Court. At
tliis time the State had granted the town of Wellington $800
to aid it in opening its portion of this same road, and its part
wjis nearly completed. But,.if this discontinuance was made,
the great thing aimed at, to wit, convenience in reaching the
railroad, would be defeated. Only one of the Couuty Com-
missioners who located the road was now a meud)cr of the
board. But they decided that the petitioners are responsi-
ble, but that an inquiry into the merits of the case is inexpedi-
ent, and dismissed the petition without an entrance upon
their records. The petitioners appealed to the Supreme
Court, hoping to obtain a new committee to decide upon the
discontinuance of the road. At two terms of the Supreme
Court, this appeal was refused, and then went up to the full
bench, in June, 1878.

After the time allotted for the town to open the road and
build the bridge had expired, J. F. Sprague and others peti-
tioned the Court of Commissioners to appoint an agent to
carry out the order of the Court. The town was notified of
this, an agent appointed, notice given for proposals, and con-
tracts duly made, and in the time stipulated, both were com-
pleted and accepted. They were done at an expense of
$1,840. The town was certified also on tliis point, but made
no provision to meet these charges. The County Commis-
sioners were now compelled to take another step — to issue

168 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS OOUNTY.

•

their warrant to the Sheriff, to attach and sell any personal
property in the town of Abbot, until a sufficient amount was
secured to pay these bills and costs. Then a town meeting
was called, but as this appeal was pending before the Su-
preme Court, the town voted eighty-four against, and eighty-
three for, raising money to satisfy this warrant. The law
term of the court came on. The appeal of these petitionee
was entered and argued by C. A. Everett Esq., and opposed
by A. G. Lebroke and J. F. Sprague Esqs. The full bench
sustained the decision of the County Commissioners, and
shut the door against further litigation. The Sheriff had
waited for this event, and had not distrained and sold prop-
erty at a sacrifice. The town now held a meeting and voted
to authorize the Selectmen to hire money and settle the de-
mauds. So the second "buttle of the bridge," — not so bloody
but quite as resolved as that of Lodi, — was carried in favor of
public convenience and of untrammeled judicial decision.

The lots of land reserved for public uses in this town were
disposed of, and the avails put into a school fund, amounting
to {^700. Mr. Ira Faunce, a citizen of Abbot, bequeathed
$100 to increase this fund, an act tliat othci*s might well
repccat. In addition to its common schools, this town has
had occasional high schools, both free and private.

But few professional men have established themselves in
this town. A few clergymen have dwelt here for short pe-
riods. Recently J. F. Sprague Esq. has been in the practice
of law at the lower village, but now ho has removed to Mon-
son. Dr. Chandler Wood dwelt here for a long time, and
practiced medicine in the Thompsonian way, but death has
recently removed him. Dr. N. S. Davis is now located at
Abbot village, and is securing an increasing practice.

In 1876, the railroad was extended from Abbot to Blanch-
ard. But Abbot did not feel this extension so much as other
towns had, as the depot was remote from its villages. The
Monson slate quarries still do their business at the Abbot
depot, and the Monson stage still connects with it.

In the winter of 1878-9, a large amount of rock maple

ABBOT. 159

timber was drawn to Abbot lower depot, and worked into
last blocks, by C. E. Valentine, thence sent to Boston
by railroad. It amounted to thirty car loads. The same
business has been pursued the present winter, bringing
maple timber from Parkman and adjoining towns. In vari-
ous ways the natural resources of this new region are thus
being developed, increasing productive industry, and return-
ing a moneyed equivalent.

Abbot in 1870, had a population of 712; a State valuation
of $156,197.

CHAPTER XVII.

MEDPOBD, FORMEllLY KILMARNOCK.

This township was Number Two, Seventh Range, and
contains 20,625 acres. Feb. 1, 1816, the western half was
granted to David Gihnore, for making the Dixmont road.
He conveyed to Rufus Gilmore, Moses Patten, Jedediah Her-
rick, J. W. and Francis Carr, and William D. Williamson,
each one-eighth of his part, and the residue to others. These
parties sold their rights, and it has had several successive
proprietors.

The eastern half was sold to Gen. John Parker Boyd of
Boston, in March, 1816, who had, eleven years before, bought
the Orneville township. The west half was lotted out by
Gen. J. ITerrick, the cast half by Eben Grccnloaf, in 1881.

A fair portion of its soil is good, but only a part of it is
under cultivation. Portions of it bore a valuable growth of
pine timber, but the great fire of 1825 destroyed this and
most of the other native growth, sweeping away more than
three-fourths of the taxable property in town. But the fertile
soil, in the lapse of time, has wrought a work of recovery, a
new growth has sprung up, and some of it is already fit for
timber.

In water power this town has a decided pre-eminence,
though but little of it is improved. The Piscataquis River
crosses it from west to east, dividing it into two nearly equal
parts. The volume of water here exceeds tliat of the Merri-
mack, and it has two falls, — Little Falls and Schoodic Falls, —
both inviting mill privileges, but both unimproved. On the
Schoodic stream, issuing from the Great Schoodic Lake,
. there is a fall of twenty feet, now occupied by a saw-mill and

MEDFOBD, FOBMEBLY KILMABNOCK. 161

sliinglo m«acliino. Where this stream falls into the Piscata-
quis, Gen. Boyd erected the largest saw-mill, in 1820, then
upon the Penobscot or any of its branches. Logs from the
Sclioodic stream were taken in at tlie upper end of the mill,
while tliosc from tlic Piscatjupiis were drawn in from the op-
posite direction. This mill did a large business, being some-
times rented for $1000 per annum, before the great fii-e. It
was saved from the flames, but its business was diminished.
After Gen. Boyd's death, his executora sold this building to
N. Hatch of Bangor, and he, in 1832, had it taken down, and
rafted to Bangor. Afterward, Clark lland & Co. erected
another mill upon tliat privilege. This was sold to Asa
Gctclicll, who also sold it to John Hitchborn. He took it
down and rebuilt another, wliicli is still running.

Cold Brook, which flows into the Piscataquis from the
south, affords another good privilege, upon which Messrs.
Hitchborn & Hasty built a saw- and grist-mill in 1836.
This is still improved. It makes the business center of the
town, and a village is growing up around it.

FinsT Settlkmbnt. This preceded the grant or purchase
of any part of it. As early as 1808, James Grover moved
the first family into the township. He dwelt on the south
bank of the Piscataquis River, near the upper ferry, but
eventually settled on a farm near the top of the hill, on the
Bangor road. This he commenced clearing at his first en-
trance, and here the first trees were felled. Mr. Boobar,
mentioned already in the sketch of Milo, came in soon after
Grover, and settled near him.

The date of the settlement on the east half is not easily
learned. A Mr. Weston and two Hitchborns from Bangor,
were among the pioneers. The census of 1810 reported fif-
ty-five inhabitiints, but in 1820, it had only sixty-oJie.

About 1820, the State opened the Bennock road fi'om Pis-
cat{U[uis River to Oldtown. This tended to increase the
settlement.

In 1824, it was incorporated as the town of Kilmarnock,
Gen. Boyd selecting the name. The question arises, why

162 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY,

he selected that name? Some thought that he was a na-
tive of Kilmarnock, Scotland, and wished to perpetuate his
early associations. But the American Encyclopsddia affirms
that he was bom in Newburyport, Mass., in 1768. Probably
his father was a native of Kilmarnock, and thence emigrated
to this country, and reared his family here. True to Scotch
tenacity, J. P. Boyd tacked that name upon the first town-
ship which he could control. In 1856, the inhabitants peti-
tioned for a change, and it became the town of Medford.

As Gen. Boyd was a man of mark, and owned another
whole township in this county, a brief notice of him seems
in place. As soon as of sufficient age, he entered the United
States army, but soon left and sailed to India. There he
raised an independent corps and commanded it, fighting for
such of the native princes as would pay the most. Here he
remained for several years, and obtained considerable wealth.
By 1805, he had returned to this country, for his deed of the
Orneville township bears that date. After his return he
again entered the army of the United States, and as a colonel
fought in the battle of Tippecanoe, Nov. 7, 1811. He com-
manded a brigade, in the war of 1812, and was in some of the
battles in Canada. After the war closed, he resided in Bos-
ton and attended to the sale and settlement of his eastern
lands, and in writing and publishing certain military essays.
He died there, Oct. 4, 1830, possessing a fair estate.

All the land reserved for public uses in this town aids in
the support of schools. Stores were opened at Medford Cen-
ter quite early, and generally two have been kept, though
now there is but one. Medford is on the stage line from
Milo depot to Enfield.

As there is no bridge across the river, and only two fer-
ries, the inhabitants cannot conveniently assemble for relig-
ious meetings, schools, or business, as in other towns, and
the population does not increase according to the opportuni-
ties for it.

Its highest number of inhabitants at any time was 850;
its State valuation in 1870, $60,321.

CHAPTER XVIII.

PARKMAN.

Paricman was Number Five, Range Six, and has an area
of 25,000 acres, being wider than ordinary townships. Its
quality and (luantity of good settling land exceeds the usual
amount, but its water power falls below that of others. It
was early purchased by Samuel Parkman Esq., father of the j
late Dr. George Parkman of Boston, the victim of the Dr.
Webster tragedy in 1849, and it was lotted out by Stephen
Weston in 1807. The proprietor adopted the following
method to secure its early settlement. He offered to sell
forty lots of one hundred acres each, at one dollar per acre,
to as many as would become actual settlers, but beyond this
amount, and after that number of lots was sold, the price
would bo two dollars or more per acre. About 1810, the
first openings were felled, and in 1811 or 1812, the first fam-
ilies moved in. They all came from Greene.

Peter and William Cummings, Ephraim Andrews, Arvida
Briggs, William Brewster and Richard Caswell were the ear-
liest. By this time a more direct road was opened from Har-
mony to these Piscataquis settlements. Samuel Pingree
early moved in, and became the proprietor's agent. He set-
tled near the center of the town, and in a few years put a
saw- and grist-mill in operation. The stream was small, the
mill could run only in liigli water, and the people were com-
pelled to go to Sangervillc and Dexter for these conven-
iences. Mr. Pingree was a hatter by trade, and in a small
way started this business also, and made the first hats in this
county. He had previously held a Justice^s commission,
and was early re-appointed for Somerset County. He was

164 HISTORY OF nSCATAQUIS COUNTY.

tlie only one in that vicinity for several years, and was oft re-
sorted to as a magistrate, but not being in political sympa-
thy with the majority of his townsmen, he was not often hon-
ored with the fruits of their suffrage. He resided in town
until his death, at a great age.

Notwithstanding the trying hardships of the "cold sea-
sons," the town filled up. Abiatliar Briggs exchanged farms
with his son Arvida, and brought in a large family which
soon settled around him.

Other changes took place. Mr. Ephraim Andrews was af-
flicted with a morbid and partially insane state of mind, which
broke up his family, and caused him to sell and seek a home
elsewhere. He was very peculiarly constituted. He had
good intellectual powers, good business capacities, and
a vigorous physical constitution. But, when in a melan-
choly state, he was insanely jealous and bitterly revengeful.
Although surrounded with good neighbors, he would drive his
plow-team all day, with an axe on his shoulder, fearing that
some of them would take his life. As his sons grew to man-
hood, they did not treat his idiosyncrasies with much charity
or patience, and his insanity increased. They regarded liiin
as dangerous, and prepared a small cage, and shut him in.
But he was marvelously ingenious in contriving and making
escapes. They would, capture him and force him back, and
this would aggravate his insanity and his rage. In March,
1814, he had broken out, and his sons surrounded him to re-
take him. Ho had armed himself with a small axo, and
brandishing it, bade them stand off at their peril. But his
youngest son, Samuel, then about fourteen years old, not be-
lieving that he would strike, daringly pressed up. The en-
raged father struck him a full blow in the face, with the
edge of the axe, — nearly a fatal stroke. The father was then
committed to the county jail. The son slowly recovered,
but carried an ugly scar to his grave. The old man became
more calm, and was set at liberty. But the trouble contin-
ued. He separated from his wife, and gave all his property
to Robert Herring jr., who gave bonds to maintain him com-

PAUKMAN. 166

fortably during bis natural life. There he had a good home,
lived in listless ease, and sought his own entertainments.
But the evil spirit would at times return. Twice he left Mr.
Herring's, and sued for the forfeiture of his bond, but failed
to obtain it. For services in the Revolutionary army, he ob-
tained a small pension. He died suddenly on his ninetieth
birthday, in Mr. Herring's house.

Edward Soule from Freeport was also among the earlier
settlers. In early manhood he followed the sea. In the war
of 1812 he was three times taken prisoner by different Brit-
ish cruisers. The last time, he wivs confined fourteen months
in Dartmoor prison, long famous for the cruel and oppressive
treatment practiced there. His recitals would make one's
blood boil, and reports from Libby and Andersonville have
more recently recalled them. He selected and cleared up an
excellent farm, lived single till past the meridian of life, ever
toiling with untiring industry. But he was so easily per-
suaded to indorse for others, that much of his hard-earned
property was taken to pay these claims wliich he had as-
sumed, and thus he was kept poor. He would have lost the
farm upon which he had expended so much toil, had not Dr.
Parkman felt a generous compassion for him, and interrupted
the plans of less pitying parties. He remained on a part of
it until his death, and died, leaving a widow and two daugh-
ters.

In 1818, Mr. Zenas Hall commenced preaching in Park-
man. This soon led to the organization of a Baptist church,
and he jvas invited to become its pastor. He consented, and
was ordained in January, 1819, the public services being
held in the unfinished private house of Elias Merrill.

In 1820, its population was 255. Soon after this, another
saw-mill was built about two miles below Pingrco's, near
Parkman Corner, by a Mr. Sturtevant. He was a man of
good parts, but strong drink led him to neglect his business,
and eventually slew him. The mill passed to the Curtiss
Brothers, who added a grist-mill. Though the stream was
small, the breaking away of Pingree's dam swept these mills

166 HISTORY OP PISCATAQUIS COUKTY.

away in 1828. They were rebuilt, and still run a part of the
year. The Pingree mills have gone to decay, and a shingle
mill on another spot ocpupies that privilege.

After being Plantation Number Five, Sixth Range, in
January, 1822, it was incorporated as the town of Parkman.
The first town meeting was called March 4th, following.. At
this, Elder Zenas Hall was chosen town clerk, and one of the
selectmen. He was in political sympathy with the majority,
and popular among them. He was sent as delegate to polit-
ical conventions, as town agent to courts on town business,
and once as representative to the Legislature, and there be-
came a Justice of the Peace. At the second town meeting,
he declined the town clerkship, and William Brewster was
elected, and continued to hold that and other town offices for
many years.

In the great fire of 1825, several buildings were burnt in
Parkman. A town meeting was called to see if the town
would aid the sufferers by appropriations from its treasury,
but it was not carried.

In 1827 a town meeting voted to recognize Elder Zenas
Hull as tlie minister of the town, provided lie wouUl deed to
the town 120 acres out of the 320 reserved for the first set-
tled minister. This was done, satisfying all parties.

To this date there had been no store in Parkman. Then,
Thomas Seabury opened a store at Parkman Corner, and it
has been continued by him and his sons nearly over since.
Mechanics gathered in, a physician. Dr. Nicholas Jumper,
established himself here, another store was soon erec^d, and
a village began its growth.

When the temperance reform commenced, a Methodist
minister was residing in town. Elder Hall did not eagerly
engage in the work and lead off in forming a temperance soci-
ety, as others had done. So the Methodist minister took the
lead, and the veteran, influential Elder was not even consult-
ed or invited to co-operate. Every principle of sound policy
and Christian comity would have sought his aid and secured
his prestige, for his influence was mighty with the majority.

PARKMAN. 167

But unfortunately for him, for many of his people, and for
the cause of temperance in the whole town, he was let terri-
bly alone, and he let the temperance society more terribly
alone. So did many others, who might have been easily
di-awii into it. From all participation in the anti-slavery
movement, he also stood aloof, as it conflicted with his politi-
cal preferences. But he was strictly temperate in his habits,
and had a strong hold on the Christian sympatliies of his
brethren, and his labors were abundant and successful in
his ministerial work. So in these particulars, he could dare
to be singular. But it had its injurious effect. Of this more
hereafter, in its proper place.

In the year 1831, Mr. Ira York built a saw-mill on Cum-
mings Brook, iji the south-cast part of the town. This
stream flows into Main Stream. The mill stream is rather
small, but a natural fall of sixteen feet runs a mill during
four montlis of the year. It is still occupied.

In the summer of 1834, Dr. Jumper died suddenly from
the effects of a wound received in making a post-mortem ex-
amination. He was a quiet, worthy, well-read. Christian
mail, highly esteemed by his fellow citizens, and his depart-
ure was generally lamented. Dr. A. J. W. Stevens, a young
man entering upon the practice, was already there. He
took the position, and retained it until his death, in 1875.
He was an active politician, once sent to the Legislature, a
useful educator, at times an able temperance lecturer, and a
professing Christian. He sometimes vacillated in his relig-
ious belief, and in his Christian deportment. He was quite
a newspaper correspondent, and eventually became the cham-
pion of anti-slavery. As a physician, he stood well, and
gained a large practice. Late in life he became connected
with the Methodists.

When Piscataquis County was incorporated, Parkman was
included in it. This new arrangement was not acceptable to
the people. They voted in town meeting to petition the next
Legislature to repeal the act by which the new county was
incorporated, or else re-annex Parkman tX) Somerset County,

168 HISTORY OP nSCATAQUIS COUNTY.

as the above change had been made without their knowledge
or consent. This petition was not granted, and it still re-
mains an integral part of Piscataquis County.

In 1845, Elder Zenas Hall left Parkman and removed to
Ohio. The Baptist church at that time numbered two hun-
dred, and was in a flourishing state. In 1851, when the
"Maine Law" was placed upon our statute book, and politi-
cal parties divided upon that issue, Parkman rolled up a
stronger opposition to it than any other tbwn in the county.
It then appeared that Elder Hall had built far worse than he
had intended. And when he lived to see an expensive and
demoralizing war draining the life's blood of our nation, un-
dertaken to perpetuate the institution of slavery, his eyes
were opened, ho saw his error, and manfully renounced it.
Though more than three score and ten years old, ho revisited
his old charge, and publicly acknowledged his serious mis-
take. But he could not repair past damages, nor lead all his
former followers into his present views. He returned to his
Western homo, and died there before the war had come to
its close.

Dr. George Parkman, previous to his tragical death, visit-
ed the place annually, and consummated the conveyances of
land which his agent had made. To facilitate payments by
the settlers, he would buy up neat stock, and have it driven
to the Brighton market. One little incident will portray
him. — A settler, in his eagerness to clear his farm from debt,
turned out every "hide and hoof" of neat stock that ho pos-
sessed. The doctor executed his deed, and generously gave
him back a cow, so important was such an article to the com-
fort of a family having young children. It was willingly ac-
cepted. But upon reflection, after the doctor left, ho thought
that a few dollars too much interest had been paid through
mistake, and the present of the cow was forgotten. He sat
down and wrote a letter to his kind-hearted patron, in a tone
so harsh and accusative that the urbane doctor thought "it
enough to make a minister swear 1 " He did not find any
mistake, and he was* not heard to swear.

PABKMAN. 169

After Dr. Parkman's death, S. P. Shaw Esq., his nephew,
bought a small farm near Parkman Corner, dwelt upon it,
and took charge of the proprietor's business. Though he be-
longed to a family of wealth and culture, though liberally
educated and admitted to the bar, though of literary taste
and accomplishments, he liad unfortunately fallen into in-
temperate habits. But during liis stay of a few years in liis
country residence, he was reclaimed fi*om these by the perse-
vering efforts of the Sons of Temperance, and became him-
self again. At length he sold out to Thomas B. Seabury
what remained of the wild land, and returned to Boston.

In 1849, Messrs. Isaac and David Pease built a saw- and
shingle mill upon the south branch of Piscataquis River,
wliicli, by a bend southward, comes into the town of Park-
man. After operating it a few years, David sold out and left.
Capt. Isaac Pease and his son Jerome continued to run it
until 1865, when it was destroyed by fire. This had a very
depressing effect on the spirits of Capt. Pease, and he did not
rebuild il. In 1874, he terminated liis life by drowning
himself.

LAWV15US. E. F. Ilarvoy Esq. has been in practice at
Parkman Comer for some years, and recently J. H. Warren
has opened an office there also.

Physicians. Since Dr. Stevens' death, William L. Samp-
son has practiced here, but he has left, and Dr. C. D. Sprague
has succeeded him.

At Parkman Corner there are now several mechanics, four
stores, and one hotel.

Its State valuation in 1870, was $259,304; its population
1,105.

12

CHAPTER XIX.

THE BINGHAM PURCHASE; WELLINGTON; KINGSBURY.

The southern half of the western tier of townships in Pis-
cataquis County is on the Bingham Kennebec Purchase, and
Wellington is the most- southern of them. A tract of wild
land, containing 'more th^n sixty townships, lying on both
sides of Kennebec River, and amoimting to one million of
acres, was sold by the State to Messrs. Jackson and Flint, at
twelve and a half cents per acre, as Greenleaf says.

After passing from them to others, it fell into the hands of
William Bingham Esq. of Philadelphia. Hence it was called
the Bingham Purchase, often the '* Million of Acres." Mr.
Bingham held the same amount on Union River, and Col.
John Black of Ellsworth was his agent and attorney.
At length Mr. Bingh&m died, and his lands were devised
to Alexander and Henry Baring of London, England,
J. R. Ingersol and William Miller of Philadelphia, all of
whom had married his daughters. The Baring Brothers
were Englishmen, of the house of Barings, and Alexan-
der eventually became a peer of the realm, with the title of
Lord Ashb\irton. He was appointed by the Queen, in oppo-
sition to her cabinet. Envoy Extraordinary to this country, to
settle the North-eastern boundary question ; hence the treaty
framed by him and Daniel Webster, settling that line, is
called the ** Webster and Ashburton treaty."

Between 1825 and 1830, these devisees, wishing to close
up their land business in Maine, directed Col. Black to sell
out what was not already disposed of. He accordingly put
this eastern tier of townships into the market.

WELLINGTON. 171

WELLINGTON.

Wellington at the above date was partially settled and
already incorporated. Its area is 23,120 acres. It lias quite
a good soil and a fair amount of water power. Higgins'
Stream flows through the western part of the town, upon
which there are four mill privileges, three of which are im-
proved. Another, upon a branch of this stream is improved,
and still two others on Carleton's Brook, near the north-east
corner of the town. Henry Carleton built a saw-mill upon
the latter, in 1826, hence its name. A saw- and shingle mill
still runs there, and another saw-mill, a few miles above
it. The township was lotted out by J. P. Bradbury. Four
lots o| 320 acres each were reserved for public uses, three of
which went to make up a school fund.

A Mr. Bridge first purchased the townsliip, and it was
called Bridgestown until incorporated. But he did not
retain it.

FiBST Settlement. In 1814, James Knowles moved in-
to the western part of the townsliip. He was soon followed
by David Staples, and the next year J. B. Porter and John
Ward joined them.

About 1819 or 1820, a settlement was begun on the east
side of tlie town, adjoining Parkman, and from this period
there was a constant and gradual increase. In 1821, Mr.
Isiuic Hutchings came into town, and became one of its prom-
inent citizens.

A saw-mill was built quite early, by John Davis, at Wel-
lington Comer, and some time afterward a grist-mill was
put in operation on the same falls. John and Cotton Weeks
also put up a mill above tliis, on the same stream. So, by 1827,
when Carleton's mill was built, there were three mills in
different places.

Al)out 182G, Levi Merrill opened the fii'st store in town, at
the Corner.

It was incorporated as the town of Wellington, Feb. 23,
1828. Henry Carleton was for several years its town clerk,
and one of the selectmen. In November of that year, the

172 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

vote cast for President amounted to 94. But in 1830, but 80
votes were cast. A land sale in 1839 gives us a clue to the
progress of its settlement. Col. Black then sold to William
B. Kingsbury of Roxbury, Mass., 2,812^ acres, it being one-
sixth of all the unsold and unreserved land in town. This
shows that 16,875 acres were then unsold, and that, then,
about 6000 acres had been sold to settlers,— fifty lots of 100
acres each.

A store was opened at Burdin's Corner, some time since,
by Elbridge Burdin, and some business is still done there.
More recently, A. F. Libby has commenced trade at Huff's
Corner. There are also two stores at Wellington Corner,
and the manufacturing of lumber, machinery and axes is done
there.

In 1870, its population was G83 ; its valuation lH19,2G9.

KINGSBURY.

Kingsbury, also on the Bingham Purchase, lies between
Wellington and Blanchard. Some of its soil is fair for cul-
tivation, a part quite hilly, and still more of it is not adapt-
ed to settling.

It is well watered. The outlet of Kingsbury Pond af-
fords a superior mill privilege, and this forms the south
branch of Piscataquis River. This township, After being lot-
ted by Eleazer Coburn Esq., was purchased in 1833, by Hon.
Sanford Kingsbury of Gardiner, for $4000. The. next year,
Wm. Hilton and his brother, from Mayfield, felled openings,
the first made within the township. The next summer,
1835, Judge Kingsbury commenced clearing at the outlet of
the pond. He also built a dam, and in a short time had a
saw- and grist-mill in operation, also a clapboard and shin-
gle machine. He did much to encourage settlement, putting
up, a store, erecting a large dwelling-house, and soon moved
in, and became a permanent resident until his death.

As the part first entered was near other settled towns, it
was easily reached, and settlera came in rapidly.

KlNQSBUllY. ' 173

In March, 1836, it was incorporated as the town of Kings-
bury, adding another small town to our number.

A State road from Athens to Moosehead Lake had been
already located, crossing this town, and when this was
opened, teaming and travel turned this way. But it was
abandoned in part, and a new route by the eastern side of
Russell Mountain was opened. Over this ' road a stage
still runs, and the mail is carried from Athens to the lake.

Since Judge Kingsbury's death, his entire family has left
town, one of whom, Hon. Benj. Kingsbury, resides in Port-
land. The mills passed into the hands of I. S. Abbott, who
run them for several years. They are now owned and oper-
ated by Leonard and William S. Hilton.

EmbaiTiissments have arisen in collecting the non-resident
taxes. Large tracts of land have been sold at auction by
the town, and lawsuits have arisen, to settle conflicting titles.
By these things its population has been kept small, reaching
only 174, in the census of 1870. But they have four school
districts, most of them small, in which schools are kept a
part of the time.

The sthnulus of religious institutions has been painfully
deficient in this town. Unfortunately the proprietor and
his family did not s)'Tnpathize with the people on this subject,
did not encourage them to establish and support religious
meetings. Many of the first settlers and leading men were
quite indifferent to these things. So, in a small community
like tliis, religious efforts have moved heavily, but some-
thing has been done. A Free Baptist church of the Buz-
zellite wing has been formed, and still exists, and meetings
are kept up a part of the time by preachers from adjoining
places.

At the present time, 1880, there are convenient mills, a
hotel kept by G. T. Hewit, a store, and mechanic shops, at
Kingsbuiy village. This place is but ten miles from Abbot
Village depot, on the Bangor and Piscataquis Railroad.

\

CHAPTER XX.

BLANCHARD.

Blanchard was Number Three in the Third Range of
the Bingham Purchase, and its area is 28,000 acres. Russell
mountain covers quite a portion of it, and other high hills
diminish its agricultural districts. In its primeval state it
abounded with pine timber, and this was its chief attraction.
The Piscataquis River passes tlirough it, into which, with-
in its limits, the Bog and Bald mountain streams unite and
flow. These are all large enough m time of freshets to
float down logs. They afford also any amount of mill privi-
leges, one of which, at Blanchard village, has been for a long
time improved.

FiusT Settlement. This was peculiar, and indicative of
its future. When the townships below were being settled,
this eastern side of the Million Acre tract was not under any
oversight. Whosoever would, entered it to cut tunber, or to
take peaceable possession of its soil. A large and inviting
interval at the north of the mountain and river had caught
the eye of several who had no objection to settling where
pine trees were tall and sound, and where the rivers made a
natui*al highway for transportation. So, one pleasant after-
noon, as Ebenezer Deane was busy in his field, in Moores-
town, Peter Brawn came along and said : " Well, to-morrow
I start up river, to fell an opening on tlie great interval."
Deane kept still, but, knowing that, in taking up wild land,
the first that comes diives the stake, as soon as Brawn was
out of sight, began to grind his axes, pack provisions, and
get ready for a week's absence in the woods. By night-fall
he and his oldest son Daniel shouldered their burdens, and
started. The river must be their guide, however its bank

BLANCHARD. 175

might be obstructed by entering brooks, swamps, windfaUs
and ledges. But men who knew how to steal a march, knew
how to scale steep difficulties. By daylight they were at the
interval. A well relished breakfast over, the sturdy maples
came thundering down. Brawn, true to his purpose, started
early in the morning, and by ten o'clock drew near the de-
sired landscape. But liis ear caught the echoes of those busy
axes, and he began to fear that some one had stepped in be-
fore him. And so he found it, and found that it was his neigh-
bor Deane, to whom he had unwisely divulged his intentions^
The dialogue that ensued cannot, and need not, be repeated.
As the wiunuig party stood two to one, nothing was hurled
more weighty than profane and stinging words. Brawn see-
ing that he was out-generalcd, and thinking that he might
not like to settle near such neighbors, looked no fuxther and
left Deane in full possession of the coveted prize. Thus the
settlement of Blanchard began. This was in 1813. Deane
in due time moved up his family, the fivBt to enter the town-
ship, and soon after Thomas Chase brought his. The cold
seasons cut off their crops, and made the. times hard for
these pioneers. But they could make clapboards and shin-
gles, and run them down to markets, and blueberries grow-
ing luxuriantly upon Russell mountain did much to allay flieir
sharpened appetites. Deane and his sons toUed on, and soon
had a fine farm cleared, and comfortable buildings. He and
his sons occupied those premises when Blanchard and Davee
bought the township, but these purchasers did not claim but
one dollar per acre for the soU. In 1834 they obtained a
deed of 200 acres of the best soU in Blanchard:. They
eventually sold out and moved to other places. The first
birth in the township occurred in this family. John Deane
was born Jan. 1, 1817.

Thomas Chase had lived several years in Atkinson, before
going to the " Million of Acres." He was quite a waterman,
and had already obtained quite a notoriety as a raftsman.
Rafts bound down river were taken apart at the Foxcroft
dam, and hauled by this and the Great Falls in Dover, and
then re-rafted, none thinking it safe to run those falls.

176 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

In the spring of 1811, a raft was put together, below the
Foxcroft dam, and in a high pitch of water Thomas Cliase
and Benjamin Spaulding ran it safely over those falls. This
was regarded as a superior display of raftsmanship. Chase
was distinguislied for this, though for want of coolness, he
would sometimes break down in some fearful crisis. Guy
Carleton Esq. once employed him to run a mft of lumber to
Bangor. As they neared the "Schoodic Rock," in the town
of Medford, a very diflBcult pass on account of the set of the
current, "Uncle Thomas'" courage failed him; he ceased all
effort, and cried out, "Tis no use, *tis no use, the set of wa-
ter, let her run, let her run!" The raft did run upon the ledge,
and lay there, a pile of wrecked and injured lumber, causing
a severe loss to its owner. This was no uncommon event in
their rafting adventures. As an incident connected with
this mishap, we mention that Mr. Carleton liad packed such
valuables as he expected to need, in his leather saddle-bags.
In the crash, they went down river. Several weeks after-
ward, they were picked up on the banks of the Penobscot,
in the town of Hampden, and he recovered them. They had
drifted some 60 miles down these rivers, and floated in the tide
waters, and finally lodged on the shore.

The rafting business was full of wild adventures, and
of great risk to owners and raftsmen. There was so much
of exposure, that rum was regarded as an absolute necessity.
No one could be trusted as a pilot, unless he was thoroughly
acquainted with the best channels, the numerous falls, the
dangerous rocks, the set of the currents and the eddies,
existing through the whole length of the streams, and could
remember their locations. When dams were built across
these rivers, a broad, sloping platform was attached to the
lower sid(3 of the dam, called a slip, upon which the rush-
ing water would glide the raft over, if it entered favorably.
To run these sluices was a pleasant excitement to the rafts-
men, and a fine entertainment to specbitors. In early times
lumber was rafted from Brownville, Sebec and Milo, and all
the towns on the Piscataquis, as far up as Blanchard. But
the multiplying of dams made it more expensive than haul-

BLANCILAJID. 177

ing it with teams, and this branch of business was abandoned.
But this and adjoining townships still remained the busy
center of lumbering. As clapboard and shingle machines
came into use, the riving and shaving of clapboards, and of
shingles too, to a large extent, ceased, and the best trees
were worked into cuts, the poorer, into logs, and driven
down the river. This business attracted a peculiar class of
men. Not all who engaged in it, dwelt, in the settle-
ment, but they were soon so assimilated that they passed for
genuine "Million-Acre-men." They could distinguish a
sound from a hollow tree at first sight. They could cut a
log so as to show soundness at the ends, and have the rot
entirely concealed in tlic middle. They could work in the
cold water, and sleep around their camp-fire, with little or no
shelter. They would brave fearful risks in breaking jams
at the head of falls, or upon dams, and make hair-breadth es-
capes in getting safe ashore, though often badly bruised, by
the rush of lumber. Still, with all these fearful adventures,
but one river<lriver on the Piscataquis has ever been
dro\viied. Mr. Jesse Davis of Sangerville lost his life in
Blanchard, in 1855, while at work on Gilman's diive, liav-
ing fallen from what is called Davis' rock.

This settlement was much affected by lumbering. The
work upon the river diverted them from farming, and kept
them dependent upon the down river traders. None owned
the soil they were clearing and improving. Col. Black, the
agent of the proprietors, never visited them until late in the
winter of 1824. At that time, a large nimiber of persons
had gone up these streams, and cut a large amount of tim-
ber. As he was returning fifom the Kennebec towns, he met
one of tliose teams on its way home. He made inquiries
where they had operated, how they had done, and wliat
stmnpiigc they had agreed to pay, etc. As he was unknown,
they gave marvelous accounts of their winter's work, and
also of that of others. He silently set his face towards
Chase's mills, and put an attachment upon the whole
amount these various plunderers had cut. Col. Black gave
the actual settlers what they had cut, for driving out what

178 HISTORY OP PISOATAQTHB COUNTY.

others had put in. This stopped the bold plundering of its
pine. But the Million-Acre people run considerable quan-
tities of lumber down to the merchants and mill-owners be-
low. Other parties obtained permits to cut from Col.
Black, by paying for the stumpage. At an early date
Thomas Chase built a saw-mill on the Blanchard mills' priv-
ilege, and afterwards put in a clapboard machine. Captain
Lamb and brother kept a small store there.

Col. R. Carleton, in 1827, opened a store there, and
purchased the clapboard machine. He had no trouble
in bujring timber enough to keep it running. He did not
find the business profitable, and sold out to Reuben Ord-
way, who continued the business a few years.

In 182^, Eleazer Coburn was employed to lot out this town-
ship. Three years later, March 12, 1881, Charles Blanchard
Esq. of Portland, and Hon. Thomas Davee of Dover pur-
chased the whole township for $4,000. They engaged to
sell to the settlers the lots, which they had been clearing,
for one dollar per acre. Blanchard owned three fourths, and
Davee one fourth. This opened a new era in the history of
that settlement. It might bo said that then it was born again.

A number of good, substantial citizens came from Cum-
berland, bought out the possessions of the former occupants,
and entered upon agricultural pursuits. Others flocked in
from other places, and many of those early pioneers moved
away. A new population brought into being a new order of
domestic life, business, morals and religion.

Incorporation. March 17, 1831, it was incorporated.
Why called Blanchard, is easily seen. Algur Chase Esq.,
who had resided there several years, was chosen town clerk
and one of the selectmen.

In 1832, Mr. Davee moved his family into town, and es-
tablished his residence there. Blanchard and Davee bought
out the mills, and rebuilt both dam and mills, also adding a
grist-mill. Previous to purchasing the township, they had a
store here, and this was continued. A good covered bridge
was built across the river. A Congregational church was
organized, and in the fall of 1834, a minister was settled.

BLANCHABD. 179

The same year Mr. Blanehard raised a meeting-house, and
When finished, sold what pews he could, to stated worshipers.
The land speculation was now in full blast. Abner Co-
bum and his brothers offered f 2.00 per acre for the west half
of the township, and 14,000 acres passed over to them in July,
1835, some of which they still own. The State road from
Athens to Moosehead Lake passed through Kingsbury and
Blanehard, and a portion of the travel to the lake passes that
way. It passed over the west slope of Russell Mountain,
and encountered hard liills in Kingsbury. By an increase of
two miles only, a much easier route was available. This was
opened, and that portion of the State road was discontinued.

The amount of good fanning land in Blanehard is small,
though larger than is now improved. The population has
ever been small. In 1840, it was 270; larger than it has
been since. Mr. Davee, while residing in Blanehard, was
speaker of the House of Representatives in this State, sheriff
of Somerset County, and twice a Representative in Congress.
He eventually died in Blanehard in the year 1842, a great
loss, and much lamented.

In 187G, the Bangor & Piscataquis Railroad was extended
to Blanehard, and there now is its terminus, teams and
stages connecting with it, and extending its business to the
lake. A slate quarry has also been discovered and opened.
Messrs. Ilayford and Hamlin of Bangor have become large
owners in it. Up to this time it has not been operated suf-
ficiently to determine its extent or promise. Another quarry
has been discovered in the north-east part of the town, which
appears to contain a large amount of superior slate. A com-
pany has purchased it, are opening it, and are now putting
in machinery for operations.

The building of a clapboard mill by Blanehard and Davee,
upon Thorn Brook, in the west part of the town, was not men-
tioned in its proper place. This is still occupied by a shin-
gle machine, J. L. Robinson & Sons successfully running it.

Blanehard now has but one school district, with two long
terms kept annually. Its school fund, obtained from the sale
of its reserved lands, amounts to $600.

CHAPTER XXL

MONSON.

MoNSON, — Number Nine, Eighth Range, — was granted, one-
half to Hebron Academy, and the other half to the Academy
in Monson, Mass. The Range in which this township lies,
is seven miles or more in width, so that it contained more
than the usual amount. As the grant to Hebron Academy
was limited to six miles in length, and three in width, a sur-
plus at the north end of this tract, witliin the limits of this
township, remained unappropriated. The trustees of Mon-
son Academy, on learning this, petitioned the General Court
for tlic ungi-anted part of the township, and obtained the
east half and this surplus also.

About one-half of it is good soil for agriculture, while
quite a portion of it is low and stony, and has never been
cleared. It has far more water power than has been im-
proved, and much wealth in its recently opened slate quarries.

Early Settlement. In 1811, the trustees of Hebron
Academy employed A. Greenwood Esq. to lot out their
grant, and he run the ranges of lots, north and south, six
ranges, ICO rods wide, just including their allotment. To en-
courage settlement, they offered to give fifty acres each to
any persons who would enter upon it, and perform "settlers'
duties."

Joseph Bearcc of Hebron felled the first opening, in 1816.
The next summer, famous for its frosts, ho attempted to raise
a crop', sowed wheat and planted corn and potatoes, but it
well nigh proved a failure. . This year George Doughty and
Simeon Irish both felled openings, and in 1817 harvested
their first crops. Mr. Irish put up a small framed house,

MONSON. 181

covering the walls with shaved clapboards, the roof with long
•shuigles, and into tliis he moved his family, the firBt which
settled in town, in the year 1817. In March, 1818, Mr.
Doughty brought in his, — a wife and five children, and soon
after, Mr. Bearce brought in his newly married wife also.
To liira history is indebted for the " MooBehorrCB " notoriety.
Finding a pair of broad antlers, he put them on a stout pole,
and reared them against a tree, to mark the point where a
path turned off northward toward the center of the townsliip,
and thence the roads have diverged to this date, and the
name Moosehorns has become a fixture. ^

A settlement had already been made on the "Million of
Acres," now Blanchard, and by the road to tliis, these first
selllorH cauio in. The earlier of them located in the west
part of the township.

Mr. Bearce m the fall of 1818 was removed by death, the
first event of the kind in the new settlement. Elder Zenas
Hall, then of Guilford, attended liis funeral and preached the
first sermon in town, and the first of his many funeral dis-
courses. Other settlers now came in, and one, James
Stinchficld, began on the east half, previous to 1820.

The main settlement of the east part began on this wise :
In the. fall of 1818, the trustees of Monson Academy sent
Dea. Abel Goodell to explore their portion and bring back
an account of its settling attractions. Ho stopped at Mr.
George Doughty's for entertainment, but they and their
neighbors had neither bread in the cupboard, nor meat in the
barrel. But their fields were loaded with well-filled corn and
splendid potatoes, a cow afforded millc and butter, and on
these they fed their welcome guest. With a few ears of
boiled corn in his pocket, he had to start for a day's tramp
through unbroken forests. His explorations were prevented
in part by heavy rains, producing such a freshet that the low
lands and large streams were impassable. He returned with
a favorable report. The Trustees of the academy offered to
give one hundred acres of land to each of a certain number
who would go and settle upon it. Induced by this, and re-

182 HISTORY OP PISOATAQTHB COUNTY.

lying upon the truthfulness and good judgment of Dea. Good-
ell, several of the Monson people resolved to settle on it.
Capt. Amasa Chapin exchanged his farm in Monson, Mass.,
for a mile square in the " Academy town," and moved his
family into a house in Number Seven, in the fall of 1819,
stopping there until he could clear an opening and build a
house upon his own soil. The next spring, April, 1820,
Capt. Samuel Whitney and William A. Hyde, with their
wives, Justin Colton with his whole family, Calvin Colton,
Dea. Lucius Hyde and Abel Goodell, without their families.
Royal Day, Austin Newell and Horatio Sherman, single men,
all started from Monson, to commence a settlement under
these regulations.

Those having families took passage from Boston to Ban-
gor in a packet, the others loaded a single horse wagon with
materials necessary for life in the woods, each riding in turn,
to drive the horse, while the rest kept pace on foot. Three
weeks were spent in making the journey, and both parties
met at Capt. Chapin's, May 6th, and spent the next day there,
as it was Sunday. Monday morning, the men started for the
woods, the women and children remaining there. It is prob-
able that several of these men had come the summer pre-
vious, and selected the lots, which they now commenced
clearing.

Many years previous, a furious hurricane had passed
through the center of this township, prostrating the primary
growth in its course. This had decayed, and a second
growth replaced it, smaller and more easily cleared. Most
of the first settlers chose this lighter clearing, for some of it
was the best farming land in the township.

The Trustees had also oflFered to give the mill privilege at
the outlet of Hebron Pond, and two hundred acres of land,
to any party that would put a saw- and grist-mill in opera-
tion, within two years. Whitney, Hyde and Fay had taken
this contract. Whitney and Hyde came on in person, and
Mr. Fay sent William A. Hyde in his place, and these tliree
commenced clearing the spot now occupied by Monson Vil-

MONSON. 183

lage. For a few dayB theystoppejl with James Stinchfield,
then living on the well known Stinchfield place, afterward,
with Amos Atkinson, who lived on the north side of the
pond, as it was much nearer. Those who began to clear
their various lots, tried their hand at campmg out.

After clearing a small opening, the mill company com-
menced a house to live in, and soon the second framed house
in town was raised. With the fragments of slate ledges
then on the banks of the stream, they constructed a chimney,
nearly equal to one of brick. As soon as their new habita-
tion would comfortably shelter them, they brought in t^eir
women, and set up housekeeping. Tlus house accommodated
Whitney's, William A. and Lucius Hyde's families for a few
ycai*8, and also afforded a stopping place for new comers,
until they could put up quarters of their own. In one year
five families of twenty-four persons in all, were housed in it.

These first pioneers were not adepts in back-woods life.
Capt. Whitney and William A. Hyde, at the close of a foggy
day, started for Mr. Atkinson's. Darkness began to obscui*e
the pathway, and fearing that they should wander off into
the boundless forest, they lay down and spent the night,
though not one fourth of a mile from their destined habita-
tion. During the summer of 1820, the dam across the out-
let of the pond w<as bujlt, and other preparations made for
the future mills. Many new openings were felled, and homes
prepared for new settlers.

January 1st, 1821, William A. Hyde and wife had a daugh-
ter born, in the Whitney and Hyde house, the first birth in
that part of the township. Tliis house was truly prolific in
the incipient events of tliis town. In this, the Congregation-
al Church was organized, the first town meeting was held,
and the first post-office was eventually kept.

lu the winter and spring of this year. Deacon Lucius Hyde,
Calvin Colton and Capt. A. Chapin moved their families in,
and others came, of whose m-coming we can not give a reli-
able date.

184 . HISTORY OF PISOATAQinS COUNTY.

Mr. Calvin Colton brought in the first cook stove ever
used in these parts.

In August of this year, 1821, the Congregational Church
was formed. Religious meetings had been held upon the
Sabbath, from the first arrival of this Old Monson colony.
At first they met in the house that Mr. Bearce built, far over
towards the Million- Acre settlement, then in Mr. James
Stintshfield's, as more central. These meetings were conduct-
ed by pious laymen, but were very generally attended by
those widely scattered and hard toiling new settlers. This
summer, missionaries, both Baptist and Congregational, had
visited the settlement, and under the lead of Father Sawyer,
measures were taken to organize a church.

In the fall of this year, the buildings for the saw- and
grist-mill were raised. A company of eight men from San-
gerville and Guilford went up to assist at the raising. The
day proved to be rainy, but they persevered and put up the
frames. But night overtook these men from Guilford, be-
fore they reached home. When they arrived at Alder Brook,
in Number Seven, within two miles of some of their abodes,
the freshet had overflowed the bridge, and cut off their ad-
vance. Before ascertaining this, they got into the water,
which proved an inconvenient outfit for lying out. But as
a shelter was far in the rear, they made the best of their sit-
uation, finding a dry place upon a log, or at the roots of a tree,
and whiled away the night. In the light of morning they
found a place to cross over, and safely reached their homes.

In the early months of 1822, other families moved in.
Dea. Andrew Cushman brought his wife and seven children
from Oxford, on an ox-sled. Drifting snows retarded their
progress, and they were fourteen days on the road. Three
men, Calvin Colton, Royal Day and Hiram Vinton moved, in
the same slow but sure way, from Monson, Mass. It re-
quired three weeks to accomplish the journey in this man-
ner. Soon after Dea. Cushman's arrival, Isaac Tyler
brought his newly married wife from New Gloucester, and
Austin Newell his, also, from Monson, Mass.

MONSOK. 185

In February, 1822, tliis township aud tho inhabitants
thereof were legally incorporated as the town of Monson.
Pursuant to a warrant from Samuel Pingree Esq., the first
town meeting was called, April 22, following, at the dwelling-
house of Whitney & Hyde. Capt. S. Wliitney was cho-
sen town clerk, and Dea. Abel Goodell, whose family then
resided in Harmony, was elected as one of the selectmen.'
In March, 1821, he moved liis family from Massachusetts to
Harmony, and began to clear land and provide a home in
Monson. The next spring, he moved to Guilford, and after
a year spent there, he made another move on to his own
place. Here he toiled on for about ten yeara, encountering
a large share of hardships. One spring, he needed seed
wheat. Starting early one morning, he walked to Sanger-
ville, and purchased four bushels. Shouldering a bag that
contained two of it, he started toward home. When wea-
ried witli this heavy burden, he laid it down by the roadside,
and walked back, resting as he went, and took the other
bag. With this he went pjist the first, tlien laid it down,
and went back for the one in the rear, proceeding in such
relays and changes, until he reached home, a disUince of
more thiin ten miles, traveling that day full forty miles, and
one-half of it, with two bushels of wheat upon his back.

In 1833, he left town, and settled in Galesburgh, 111.
Some twenty years later, he started with others, to join a son
hi Oregon. Hp was taken sick on the way, and died in the
forest. A more reliable, quiet, kind Christian it would be
hard to find, always embarrassed in his pecuniary affairs, not
because he was too honest, but, perhaps, because others were
not honest enough.

Before the grist-mill was put in operation in Monson, all
these early settlers were compelled to go to Sangervillc, to
mill. Many a grist was carried upon the shoulders of men,
if not upon horseback. Many a hard expenence, in this
line has been related. A whole day and sometimes a part
of the evening would be spent, ere they could recross their
rude threshold, and lay down the materials for their desired
supper. 13

186 HI8TOBY OP PISOATAQOTS COUNTY.

When incorporated, there were twenty-five voters in town,
and about ninety inhabitants. A steady increase was going
on. In the spring of 1823, F. F. Gates bought Mr. Fay's
share in the mills and the land thereunto belonging, and
moved into the house owned by the company.

Dea. Lucius Hyde, this summer, built a house for liis own
separate use. Whitney, Hyde and Gates soon dissolved
the copartnership, and divided the property. Capt. Whit-
ney retained the mills, while Hyde and Gates divided the
land between them. This spring, li323, Alexander Green-
wood Esq., who had surveyed most of the townships in this
vicinity, moved in to Monson.

He selected a lot for himself, when lotting out the township,
and, with the help of a large family of sons, was clearing it
up, and getting up good buildings. In the winter of 1826-7,
he engaged in lumbering in FuUerstown. In April, while
superintending the "drive," he met with a fatal accident.
They had got the last log over the falls upon which the mills
in Howard now stand. He said to his. men, "we have got
safely by this bad place, and we will take a drink and a
lunch." While sitting in a little group, a blast of wind hurled
a dead tree directly at thorn. All dodged it but Mr. Green-
wood. He was severely smitten. One of the company made
all spped to Monson for assistance, but he expired before the
messenger reached there. A relief party started immediate-
ly, but upon reaching the place, they could only bring out
his lifeless form to his grief-stricken friends and family.
Greenwood Falls, as thej' have ever since been called, per-
petuate the memory of that deplorable event. Mr. Green-
wood was a worthy and highly esteemed citizen. He was
urbane and affable in his manners, upright in his dealings,
and in all respects reliable. He possessed more tlian an or-
dinary amount of natural and acquired abilities. He had
represented the town of Hebron in the General Court of
Massachusetts, and had won . unlimited confidence as a land
surveyor.

These pioneers did not overlook the education of the

MONSON. 187

young. In the winter of 1821-22, a private school, free to
all who could attend, was taught by Dea. Lucius Hyde, in
the house of James Stinchfield. The next winter. Father
Sawyer taught the first town school in the same room, and
preached to the people on the Sabbath. In the summer of
1823, a school-house was erected near the mills; to .this all
the scholars in town for a few years came. This served also
for a place of public worship.

In the fall of 1823, Dr. Alpheus Davison came from Ver-
mont, and settled as a physician. Previously the people had
been compelled to go to Saugerville for medical assistance.
When cases of sickness occurred wliich woidd not admit of
delay, men, weary and sleepy, have risen from their beds,
and walked ten or a dozen miles, to hasten on the doctor,
while morn would arise before they arrived home. The in-
coming of an experienced physician was peculiarly satisfac-
tory. Dr. Davison was also long useful as a school teacher,
and as a town officer, spending the remainder of his days in
this town.

During 1824, other citizens of note were added to the pop-
ulation. John Crafts, Solomon Cushmaii and Oliver Eveleth
came in. As another great convenience, a post-office, was
established, and F. F. Gates appointed postmaster. Guil-
ford, ten miles away, up to this time had been their nearest
post-office. The mail was now carried weekly, though in
rather a primitive manner. The roads then answered for
horseback riding, but the pay would not allow it. So, the
Doughty boys at first, then Benjamin Stinchfield, took it in
a pack, and footed it down and back, usually going to Sau-
gerville village, to do certain entrusted errands. But this
was soon superseded. In 1827, Dea. Thomas Fuller drove a
carriage from Bangor to Monson for this purpose. In less
than five years a regular stage line, three times a week, took
tlic business.

The next year, 1825, marks another advance. Oliver Ev-
eleth opened the first store in town, and brought the neces-
saries of life nigh unto them. ;

188 HISTORY OP PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

Tlie Congregational church also settled Rev. Lot Rider as
its first pastor. He received the land reserved for the first
settled minister, and entered on a promising career, but sick-
ness soon fastened upon him, and he died in a few months
after his ordination, very deeply lamented.

In the gi'eat fire of 1825, this town was seriously damaged
in its timber and woodlands, but they all succeeded in fight-
ing it off from their buildings.

In May, 1824, the mills and surrounding buildings were in
great peril from an approaching fire, likewise in 1881, but
strenuous efforts delivered them.

In 1827, Mr. Samuel Robinson erected a building for card-
ing and cloth-dressing. He commenced dressing cloth in
the fall of 1828, and carding the next year. After a few
yeai-8, he sold out to Mr. Thomas Scales, but in a few years
Scales sold to Stedman Kendall, who afterward moved the ma-
chinery to Abbot, and the building was converted to other
uses. - Dea. Robinson settled on a farm, and remained in
town until his death, and was well known as a worthy and
highly esteemed citizen. This ye.ar, Solomon Cushman open-
ed another store in tlie place.'

In 1830, T. S. Pullen Esq., from Winthrop, opened another
store, and by this time mechanic shops of various kinds were
established in the village.

In the summer of 1831, the Congregational meeting-house
was finished and dedicated. This was the first liouse for
public worship erected hi the county, the firat, except the one
in Dexter, north of Bangor, and the to^vn of Monson was
the first to hear the tones of a church-going bell.

After the summer of 1831, the seasons in these parts were
colder, and early frosts diminished the harvests. But the
lumbering business on the lake made a great demand for
hay, oats and other farm products, so that the farmera of this

town, being nearer that market than others, were quite pros-
perous. But many of them became discontented. The se-
vere winter and late spring of 1835 increased this, so that
many were bent upon selling out at all hazards. When this

MON80N. 189

peculiar state of things became known abroad, a Mr. ElUot
J. Kidder came into town, took lodgings at the hotel, and
shrewdly surveyed the situation. After figuring slyly with
some of the residents, he was ready to buy farms, stock, prod-
uce, etc. But he could not pay money. He had wild
lands on the Indian Steam Tract, in northern New Hamp-
shire, and an indefinite amount of old notes against certain
parties in the vicinity of Norridgewock and Athens, which
he flippantly* and assuringly called good paper. He was
gentlemanly in his deportment, affable and self-confident,
so oily in speech that he could make the woi*se seem the bet-
ter reason, and IiJid such magnetic power that he would win
over almost anyone that he fastened upon. Pity it is that he
secured as a secret accomplice one resident of the place, a
man of influence, who was more confided in because he was
originally from New Hampshire, and was believed to know
the land Kidder was offering, and he capped the deception
by alTirming that Mr. Kidder was all right. So some eight
or ten good farms with their stock and farming tools were
sold to him, and paid for in tlicse bogus seciurities.

And so these honest, hard-working fanners were swindled
out of their hard earned patrimonies. At length the spell
broke. They learned too late that they had legally conveyed
away their property, and their despoiler could snap his finger
in tlieir faces. The sufferers were indignant, and the com-
munity sympathized largely with them. One remedy was
left them. They could arrest him for fraud. A precept
was put into the hands of a sheriff, and several of the inter-
ested parties as a volunteer "posse comitatus," started Avith
liim. He got wind of it, and took to the woods. They fol-
lowed in hot pursuit. The frightened fugitive bent his steps
towanl Number Eight as fast as his legs would cany him.
Striking the pfvth of James Johnson, who lived in a rude cal)-
in, some four miles beyond all other habitations, he reached
Johnson's opening, with his pursuers not far behind. Pant-
ing and perspiring, he besought Johnson to conceal him,
promising a tempting reward, for he expected that, if caught.

190 HISTORY OF PTSOATAQXnS COUNTY.

summary justice would be visited upon him. Johnson read-
ily consented. Lifting a trap-door, he hurried his protdg^
into a hole beneath his cabin floor, which he used for liis cel-
lar, and replacing it, sat down upon it, quietly mending a
part of his wearing apparel. The sheriff and his company
were soon at the cabin door, hastily inquiring if ho had seen
any one passing that way. Jolinson demurely answered, no.
"But he came this way, for we have tracked him." John-
son naively remarked that he "guessed that was what his
dog was barking at a little while ago," and kept on setting
liis stitches. He played the part of a deceiver so adroitly
that they left him witliout any suspicion of his complicity.
They soon gave up the pursuit as hopeless, and retraced their
steps. Johnson was the fit tool of such a desperate cheat,
and for such a crisis. When a young man, he hivd promising
powers of mind, was of good habits, and early fell in love
with a young lady, in whom he placed the utmost confidence.
As they were both indigent, he labored steadily to obtain
means to buy a piece of land and fit up a home. These earn-
ings he entrusted to liis sweetheart for safe keeping, and
toiled on to secure a sullicicnt sum. "O woman, tliy mime
is frailty!" Anotlier suitor came along, whom she liked bet-
ter. She forgot her first confiding lover, and basely kept
his money too I This was a crushing blow to poor James.
The double stroke overcame him. He sought to drown his
trouble in strong drink, but his manhood went under more
deeply. He fled, as far from society as he could conveniently
dwell, addressed himself to clearing a farm in an unbroken
forest, living in perfect solitude, except that roaming hunters
or explorers occasionally called as they passed that way.
Inexorable necessity would compel him to go to Monson vil-
lage now and then, to get his grain ground, and his stores
rei)lenished, tobacco and rum being the larger part. To
such an one Kidder committed himself, and upon such fare
as he could set before him, this man of taste and refinement
subsisted for two or three weeks, who had usually boarded at
the best hotels. But in his extremity, he accepted the situa-

MON80N. 191

tion. In Monson and vicinity, great inquiry was made for
him, and by a select few, not in vain. Favored ones, direct-
ed by that silent partner, went secretly to Johnson's camp,
and it is said, obtained payments from the secreted swindler.
At length he crept slyly from his hiding place, and by the
aid of his accomplice, went to parts* unknown. Some of his
farms lie conveyed to now owners, some he put tenants upon,
keeping himself out of the State, and remaining but a short
time in any one place. The next winter he went to a remote
town in central New Hampsliire, and took lodgings at the
village hotel. After remaining a week or two, he bantered
the proprietor to exchange the property witli him, for the
Chapin farm in Monson, for this was one of his trophies.
The trade was concluded, and so Col. Samuel Pillsbury and
his father, now deceased, became occupants thereof.

In 1848, an Academy was chartered, the second in the
county, and a suitable building erected by the contributions
of the people. The State granted it a half township of wild
land. Witli the proceeds of tliis and another subsequent
grant, the Trustees secured a permanent fund of $4,000.
It has been kept open a part of the time annually, advancing
effectually the education of the young. The building was
destroyed by fire, in March', 1860, and rebuilt the next sea-
son. On account of this loss, the State granted this Acad-
emy one fourth of another township of wild land, and a
part of the sum received for it, was added 'to its permanent
fuAd. •

Although this town lost no buildings in the great fire of
1825, yet no other in the county has suffered so severely by
the devouring element. The dwelling-house of Samuel
Rowe was destroyed in 1819, that of Calvin Colton, in 1823,
George Doughty's, in 1834, and A. G. Houston's, in 1853.
But May 27th, 1860, was a day of burning to the pleasant
and thriving village of Monson. It was a pleasant Sabbath
day, with a fresh wind from the south west. A little past
noon, a fire broke out in the stable connected with Nelson
Savage's hotel. The wind drove it through the heart of the
village with fearful rapidity. All resistance was powerless.

192 HISTORY OP PISCATAQinS COUNTY.

until the buildings failed in its path. It laid in ashes the
Congregational meeting-house, two stores, two hotels, sever-
al mechanic shops, dwelling-houses, barns alid out-buildings,
all numbering about forty. All this must be set to the ac-
count of a company of non church-going, careless, smoking
river-drivers.

In 1870, the slate quarries on tlie confines of the village
were unearthed, and this turned a new leaf in the business
of the place. The deposits proved to be extensive, and sev-
eral companies were formed to work them. This gave em-
ployment to many hands at the quarries, and to teams to
transport the slate to Dexter. When the Bangor and Pis-
cataquis Railroad was completed to Guilford, the teams un-
laded there, and now. Abbot depot, four miles from Alonson
village, takes the business. Six companies liave boon incor-
porated, and have operated with more or less success in devel-
oping these resources. In 1879, another quarry was opened.

In keeping with the intelligence, enterprise and good taste
of the residents of this town, when the fiftietli anniversary of
its incorporation occurred, they celebrated the day with pub-
lic commemoration. On April 22, 1872, the day on which
the first town-meeting was held, a goodly company of old
and young assembled in Academy Hall, and celebrated it in
this manner. Aretas Chapin, Esq. president of the d.iy, who
was present at that first town-meeting, made a brief opening
address. Rev. R. W. Emerson addressed the throne of grace,
Mr. Charles Davison, a native df Monson, gave an Iiistorical
address, to which I have been largely indebted in prepar-
ing the above sketch. Rev. A. H. Tyler and Hon. S. A.
Patten offered extempore remarks, and preceptor William S.
Knowlton read an historical, sprightly and facetious poem,
then some of the venerables, who could speak of pioneer life
from experience, told to their children anecdotes of those
earlier times. These closed, the assembly was invited to an
old fashioned supper, wliich, notwithstanding the progress of
the age and the fastidiousness of the rising generation, went
down with as good a relish as the intellectual feast above.

The hardships of breaking into the forest will appear by

M0N80N. 193

reliearsiug some of the exploits of the early settlers of this
town. In Jihe spring of 1817, Mrs. George Doughty with
her boys walked four miles to their new field, to plant a
bushel of seed potatoes, for which she had paid one dollar,
earned by her own labor.

Mrs. Amos Atkinson with a three months old infant re-
mained contentedly alone, wliile her husband went on busi-
ness toFoxcroft. In the silence of night, and in the solitude
of her secluded dwellhig, she awoke to find her sweet babe
cold in death. No neighbors were within three miles.
With true feminme fortitude, she watched and waited the
night out, and till the evening of the next day came on, be-
fore licr husb.and returned to mingle his tears with hers, and
share the heavy burden.

At Carleton's mill in Sangerville, they must get their
grinding done. For a while they had no passable road for
horses, nor horses, indeed. So a man would shoulder a bush-
el, a large boy a half bushel, and bear it twelve miles and
back, often hsistcned homeward by the approach of nightfall.

Mr. Joseph Jackson went on horseback to Bangor, and
purchased four bushels of corn. As three was the utmost
that the horse could carry, he shouldered the fourth, and
bore it fifty miles home, driving the heavily laden horse be-
fore him.

In December, 1819, Jsimes Stinchfield jr. went to Sanger-
ville, carrying three bushels on horseback. Darkness came
on early, and the horse could not keep the path. He took
off the bags and hitched the horse to a tree. He attempted
to strike fire, but lost his flints and failed. On dry meal he
made his supper, and walked and stamped to keep himself
from freezing, but as he had got wet in fording the streams,
his frame trembled, his teeth chattered, and thus he* spent
the niglit.

In 1822, after the business of the year was over, Messrs.
Hiram Vinton and Abel Janes started for Massachusetts.
On reaching Hallowell, they took pjissage to Boston by wa-
ter. They spent a night, a few miles out of Boston, and

194 HISTORY OF PISOATAQinS COUNTY.

started early on their way. They hardly stopped to take a
regular meal, but ate such food as they could whUe going
ahead, and reached home that night, one walking sixty-four
miles, the other seventy-five, in one day.

When the dark cloud of civil war overshadowed our fair
land, no town furnished a more liberal quota for the Union
forces than Monson. From a population of 708, .eighty-four
were mustered into the army. Of these, six were killed on
the field of battle, sixteen died of sickness, — twelve of them in
hospitals, and four reached home and died among th^ir kin-
dred, and sixteen others were wounded. It need not be
said that the pathway to Canada was not much worn by the
" skedaddling " feet of her cowardly sons, for she had none.
From the above narrative it may be ' readily seen that a
strong religious element has over existed in this town. The
original members of both of its churches were among its
early settlers. In this Monson was fortunate.

So, too, a good degree of intelligence has ever character-
ized this people. Their attention to common and high
schools has clearly indicated this. Many changes have taken
place in its families. Its early prominent actors have passed
away or removed to other places. But this interesting feat-
ure still abides. As proof of this, Mr. Davison stated in his
address that five daily, and one hundred and seventy-three
weekly newspapers, six semi-monthly, and eighty-four month-
ly periodicals were taken by the people of that town. Two
years previous, the population was only 008.

A few fatal accidents remain to be noticed.

In 1819, Asa Rowe, son of Samuel, a smart, active boy of
six or eight years, died after a brief, and peculiarly strange
sickness. A post-mortem examination brought to light a
living 'reptile in his stomach, of the lizard kind, nearly three
inches long. The boy had been in the habit of ,di*inking at
every little stream that he came to, and this, it was supposed,
accounted for it.

On Dec. 4, 1822, John T. Delano, a young man, was
drowned in attempting to skate across Hebron Pond.

M0N80N. 196

July 4, 1831, Alfred Ely, a son of Dea. Samuel Robinson,
in 1840, Streeter Strout, and, July 10, 1858, C. M. Tarr, all
lost their lives by drowning.

Mr. H. W. F. Carter, agent and manager of the Hebron
Pond Slate Company, was fatally injured m February, 1878,
by the fall of a heavy stone, while at work in tBe quarry.
He lingered a few weeks in great distress, and expired. He
was a reliable and sucoessful business man, a worthy and ex-
emplary Christian citizen.

In lV|onson village there are now ten stores, one hotel,
three lawyers, two physicians, also mills and various me-
chanic sliops.

SiLVRii MiNR. There Imvs been recently discovered on
tlic Drake farm an extensive mine of silver and lead. A
sufficient quantity of the ore has been already assayed, to
show that a paying quantity of silver is contained in it.
High expectations are raised that large and rich deposits are
there, and a company is forming and preparing to work it.

PjiYsioiANS. Dr. Alpheus Davison, James Leigliton, Jo-

siah Jordan, Clement, A. S. Patten and C. C. Hall have

practiced in this town.

The valuation of this town in 1870, was $134,520; its i)op-
ulation 608.

CHAPTER XXII.

OBNEVILLE, FOUMBBLY MILTON ANb ALMOND.

This was Number one, Sixth Range, and has an ^rea of
23,040 acres. Its soil is not quite an average with that of
its surrounding townsliips, but in water power it is not defi-
cient. At the outlet of Boyd's Lake there is a good fall, and
a steady supply of water. This is improved. On Dead
Stream, which passes through tlie south-west corner, there
were two mill privileges, one of which has been annexed to
Atkinson, both occupied, and another on Alder Brook, near
the north-west comer, also occupied.

PROPniETOR. Gen. J. P. Boyd, in 1806, soon after his re-
turn from India and England, purchased the whole township
from the State, and continued the proprietor of it until his
death. He did not hasten its settlement, caring more to have
the timber stand and increase. In 1820, only two persons
are returned as then residing there.

Eben Greenleaf was employed to lot out parts of the east
half, but eventually it was re-surveyed by Japheth Oilman.
The west half was lotted by D. W. Bradley, and the lots
deeded by their plans. Between 1820 and 1825, a county
road was laid out through the township, from Milo to Brad-
ford, and eventually made by O. Crosby Esq., at the expense
of the proprietor, and after this settlers began to break in.
Abner and Allen Hoxie, James Philpot, William M. and
Eben Ewer, William and Solon Hamlin were the first set-
tlers who took up lots and made openings upon this road.
At first the settlement was mainly in the west part of the
town, adjoining Atkinson.

The Huntington mills were early built, and the owners of

OBNEVILLK. 197

tlicm procured tlie annexation of the lot upon which they
stood, to Atkinson. James Porter and sons erected a saw-
and shingle-mill on Alder Brook, at a later date. These
mills have done a good business, and are still run by Judson
Briggs. Moses Chandler also early built a saw- shingle- and
grist-mill on Dead Stream, near the south .line of the town.
These have been long known as the McGregor mills. They
were successfully operated by different owners until 1878,
when they were burnt, and have not been rebuilt, much to
the inconvenience of that vicinity. Mr. J. W. Hall has put
a shingle mill in operation on that dam.

In 1832, after it had been Boyd's plantation for a few
yeai-8, it was incorporated as tlie town of Milton. It organ-
ized, chose its town officers, and assumed the usual responsi-
bilities of such corporations. But its course was singular,
presenting features of municipal life not found in the Iiisto-
ry of any other town. Men were chosen to important offi-
ces, who did not prove discreet and competent. Money was
raised and in some way assessed. Some of the inhabitants
were poor, not owning the farms which they occupied, and
in Uicse liard times, could not pay their taxes. A large part
of tliese was assessed upon the non-resident land. Gen. Boyd
was now dead, his estate was in the hands of his executors,
and they finding good reasons, refused to pay those assess-
ments. Still, town orders were drawn on the treasurer,
tliough it was well known that he could not meet them.
They were then offered for sale. Lawyers in Bangor would
buy them, commence a suit, and attach any personal proper-
ty that could be found owned by any inhabitant. This was
sold in due time under the hammer of the sheriff, the costs
added to the face of the order, and the excess, if any, paid
back to the owner. It was then his turn to sue, not for the
amount secured by the sheriff, but for the actual value of the
property which had been ^vi*ested from him by the grip of
the law. The next piece of attachable property was taken,
new costs made, new sacrifices necessitated, and a lower
depth of indebtedness reached, so that in a few years, every
piece of attachable property within the boundaries of the

198 HISTOEY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

town was transferred to persons outside of its limits. The
town was verily bankrupt. The lawyers found it too bare
for any more picking. These difficulties culminated in the
hard times of 1837. The reaction of the* great land specula-
tion had fallen with a palsying stroke, upon every branch of
business. When that speculation was in full blast, it prom-
ised to make everybody rich. But in its recoil, it made ev-
eryone for a season poor. Wealthy men could hardly pay
their taxes. The Banks all refused to redeem their bills.
Bread-stuffs rose to a higher price than they had reached
since the cold seasons. Only the bare necessaries of life
found a market. Employment for the laborer could hardly
be found.

In these trying times, the people of Milton had plenty of
time to consider. They learned, as tlioy ought to have done,
before, some really valuable lessons. They learned that
grave responsibilities rested upon voters, upon those who
used, and could use, the elective franchise. For incompe-
tent men, and irresponsible men, can only Accept of such offi-
ces as they are elected to by a majority of their fellow citi-
zens. And if they feel tlicir incompetence, their electors by
choosing them, have pronounced the«n otherwise. If
men chosen to provide for the town's poor, procured sup-
plies at the expense of the town, and appropriated some of
them for their own use, that especial trust and confidence
had been reposed in them by their friends and fellow citizens.
They had betrayed their trust; others had placed them in a
condition to do so. They learned, too, that by public meas-
ures they could carry the individual down to bankruptcy.
No one could sell any real estate in to^vn, for to buy, was to
engage to meet an untold number of waiting executions.

Even the crop raised in the sweat of the face, beyond a
certain amount, could be seized and sold to pay the town's
debts. So it is that public evils necessarily become personal
evils ; the mistake of a Legislature or body politic strikes back
into the family ; public dishonors come back to roost, upon
the shoulders of those who are primarily responsible for them.

In this peculiar crisis, an individual voluntarily came to

ORNEVILLE. 199

the rescue. The Hon. Henry Orne of Boston, who had mar-
ried a niece of Gen. Boyd, who ha^ a large estate, who was
unwilling to see all the land interest of the late proprietor
rendered worthless," and who was ^villing to make a name
and a place to himself, stepped in and undertook a work of
recovery. He obtained possession of the greater part ef the
late proprietor's unsold land. He eitcouraged the town to
raise and assess in a lawful and equitable manner, money to
commence the payment of their debts, and readily paid
his proportion. He began to erect mills at the outlet of
Boyd's Lake, and drew in business men. A saw-mill and a
first chiss grist-mill were a great convenience to the settlci*8.

Judge Orne selected an elevated and pleasant tract of
land, wliich connnanded a splendid view of the lake, cleared
it, and laid out an old-time "baronial manor." Buildings,
fields, orchards, gardens, and ornamental trees were all on a
large and elegant scale. A piece of primeval forest was re-
served for a deer park, but this was never stocked with them.
He was thoroughly educated, a man of refined taste, had en-
tered the legal profession, and had held the office of Police
Judge in the city of Boston. In his culture and bearing, ho
well represented "a gentleman of the old school," capped
with a large share of high-toned aristocracy. So in social
life he had a kingdom of his own, and business alone forced
outsiders to invade it. The workmen employed upon his
farm had a separate house, table, and style of living. He
lived upon his magnificent estate until his death, in 1852, and
departed, revered and gratefully remembered. As a finan-
cial operation this enterprise was not lucrative, shrinking his
estate of $20,000 when he came, to $9000 at its settlement.

After the municipal regeneration of the town, prosperity
returned to its chastened and wiser inhabitants. Land be-
came saleable, population increased, and schools were revived.

Elder Spencer Home contributed materially to the recov-
ered prosperity of this town. He came in \yhen it was
stranded, opened a store near Judge Orne's residence, run a
successful business, collected the taxes, and aided in wiping
out its old incumbrances. After Judge Orne's death, he pur-

200 HISTORY OP PISCATAQXnS COUNTY.

chased Ins homestead, but in a few years sold it and left
town. When residing irf Bradford, he became owner of a
part of the McGregor mills in Orneville, and by fallmg upon
a 'circular saw, when at work in them, was instantly killed.
In early life Elder Home was dissipated and wayward. But
a religious change reconstructed his whole character. He
was ordained as a "Christian" minister, and preached when
his services were desired.

Elder Gershom Lord, another " Christian " minister, pur-
^sued a successful business in this town. He purchased and
enlarged the Porter mills, ran them, kept a store, and had a
cooper's shop. After a few years he sold out to Mr. Nason,
and recently these mills have passed to Judson Briggs. Elder
Lord resided in Milo, after several removals, and died there,
highly esteemed, in 187(3.

This town never settled a minister, and its public reserves
all go to support common schools. Judge Ome took no in-
terest in the religious condition of the people, and though
they had many resident preachers, they have never em-
ployed the labors of an educated and elevating ministry.

In 1841, tlie name of Milton waschanged to Almond, and,
the next year, again changed to Orneville, in honor of its
temporal saviour.

The mills built by Judge Orne were burnt a few years
since, but have been rebuilt and are in successful operation.
The Bangor and Piscataquis Railroad padises by them.
Hallowell, Clark &.Co. run them, sawing out boards and
shingles, spool timber, and also manufacturing excelsior.

Mr. J. A. Hoxie, a grandson of Benjamin Sargent, the
first settler of Milo, and son of Allen Hoxie, emigrated to
Evansville, Wis., and has edited and published the Evans-
ville Review. He has kindly furnished the writer with facts
drawn from the records of the Sargent family, carried tliither
by Mrs. Alice Cooke. He was a native of Orneville, passed
his boyhood and obtained his education there.

The population of Orneville in 1870, was 575, its valua-
tion, $80,062.

CHAPTER XXIII.

GREENVILLE. *

Greenville, Number Nine, Range Tenth, is situated at
tlie southern extremity of Moosehead Lake, called usually
Foot of the Lake, and in a business pomt of view is nearly
identical with the lake itself. It has ever been the base of
supplies for the lumbering operations on the lake and its
tributaries, *it is tlie starting point of explorers, fisliing par-
ties, hunters and tourists, and this, too, is the cliief place of
its steamboat navigation. The commencement of lumber-
ing ou the margin of the lake and of the settlement of
Greenville was nearly coeval, and aided each other in open-
ing roads.

Tliis township was a public grant, the south half to Thorn,
ton Academy in Saco, previous to -1820, the north half, after-
ward, to Saco Free Bridge.

Nathaniel Haskell of Westbrook purchased the Academy
Grant, and commenced its settlement. On this there was
some very good farming land.

Wilson Pond is included in it. Wilson Stream, its

outlet, has some very beautiful cascades, and some very good

mill privileges also, The northern part has been valued

more for its timber than for agricultural pursuits. When

this part was lotted out by IL K. Stanton, m April, 1830, it

was found that the lake covered a few of its ranges on tlie

west side. The State gave Saco Free B ridge Cfimpany 4,000

acres, to be selected from any unappropriated wild land, to

offset this deficiency. Strange to say, they selected that

amoimt in the EUiotsville township. A. Greenwood Esq.
1/1

202 HISTORY OF PISCATAQXnS COUNTY.

lotted the south half into two hundred acre lots, in April,
1825.

First Suttlement. In the summer of 1824, Nathaniel
Haslcell and Oliver Young cut down ten acres of trees, and
John Smith, Mr. Haskell's son-in-law, six acres on an adjoin-
ing lot. The next summer, Mr. Haskell cleared his firat
opening, and felled seven acres more. He also cut out a
part of the road leading from Nelson Savage's mill to the
lake. By this time, Cowan, Littlefield and others began to
lumber on the lake, and to have supplies hauled in by sled-
ding over this road. In 1826, Haskell and Young raised the
first crop in town, and put up a house, and the next summer,
cut the first hay. In the spring of 1827, he moved Mrs.
Waldron, a widowed daughter, and two children, the first
family that settled in the township. A sister of Mi*s. Wal-
dron spent the summer with her, but left in the fall. For
more than a year afterward, she did not see the face of anoth-'
er woman. She eventually married Oliver Young, and still
resides in Greenville, now, 1880, eighty-four years of age.
Mr. Young settled on a lot adjoining Mr. Haskell's, and Mr.
John Smith sold out his possession, and gave up moving
there. Mr. Darling eventually settled on it, and died there
recently. William Cummings was the next to move in a fam-
ily, and Isaac Sawyer, Mr. Shaw, and Mr. Tufts were the
next comers. A few years later, Samuel Cole came, in 1881
Edmund Scammon moved in, and John Gerrish soon after.

In 1829, Messrs. Varnoy, two brother from Windham,
built a saw-mill on tlie Wilson Stream, so that boards and
sawed lumber became obtainable, and in 1830, Mr. Haskell
also put in a small grist-mill.

Mr. Haskell had not made full payment to the Trustees
of the Academy, and some questioned the safety of his titles.
But he effected a compromise with the Trustees, by relin-
quishing the' unsold land to them, and this bar to the sale of
land was removed. Mr. Phinciis Pratt, for many years pre-
ceptor of Thornton Academy, and Samuel Cole then pur-
chased this wild land, but it run Pratt into bankruptcy.

GREENVILLE. 203

Mr. Haskell continued to reside in town until his death, ex-
cept a short absence with one of his children. The State
granted him six hundred acres of wild land, to reward him
for breaking in to that remote township, in his old age, for
wliich, he received $600, and he would have accepted
Sugar Island also, if the Legislature had been generous
enough to bestow it upon him. He returned to Greenville,
only a sliort time before his death, and there expired, Nov.
29, 1843, aged eighty-four, and was buried in the soil he so
earnestly adopted.

In 1832, Samuel Cole and Isaac Whitcomb built a saw-
mill on Eagle Stream, a branch of Wilson Stream, and this
passed to Oliver Young. At a hitor <ljito, Samuel Cole put
up a saw-mill on Bog Stream, near West Cove, wliich was
eventually burnt. But now all these mills have been aban-
doned. ,

All the earlier settlements were on the East Ridge, from
one to three miles distant from the lake. Up to 1832, only
six or ciglit families had settled in town, though the lake
business had steadily mcreased. In 1830, Mr. John GerrLsh
began to clear an opening on the South Ridge, and the next
year moved his family there. A new road was then cut
from the foot of the lake, by Mr. Gerrish's, to the settlement
on the Whitney tract, from which one already extended to
Monson. This opened a new line of travel to the lake.
It was less hilly than the old route by Savage's mill, and the
teaming turning this way. Mr. Gerrish soon had neighbors.
New settlers came in. Mr. Hogan put a small steamboat
for towhig rafted logs, upon the lake, in 1836, and large sail
boats also came into use. This boat made a pleasure excur-
sion to Mt. Kineo, on the 4th of July, 1836. Rev. John Ba-
ker, J. Stockbridge Esq., and many othei's from Monson and
vicinity were in the joyful party. An impromptu celebra-
tion was resolved on, Rev. Mr. Baker giving an extempore
oration, which Stockbridge and others supplemented with
► spicy toasts, speeches and outbursting cheers. To the lake,
the mountains, steamboating and Greenville settlement, this

204 HISTORY OF PISCATAQOTS COUNTY.

was a "red letter day," and the company separated at its
close, feeling that it was indeed a great occasion.

Up to 1886, the site of Greenville village was covered
with its primeval forest, except what had been cleared for
roads, camps and piling places. In the spring of tliat year,
Henry Gower cleared a spot, and erected a two storied lio-
tel, where the Lake 'House now stands.

The drift of land speculators, the following summer, gave
it an extensive patronage. Mr. Gower felled a-large open-
ing that summer, and cleared up the site of the village. He
opened the first store there, in 1836, which his brother Charles
continued to occupy for several years.

In a few years a larger and more powerful steamboat was
built, and launched upon the lake, which the increasing lum-
bering all around the lake requii*ed.

In 1881, the township was organized as Haskell's Planta-
tion. In 1886, Feb. 6, it was incorporated as the town of
Greenville. In population and capital it has been steadily
increasing ever since. The first birth in town was a son in
the Tufts family, and the first death, Mr. Edmund Scam-
mon's, Feb. 4, 1837.

In 1846, the increase of travel and business called for more
hotels. That year, Eveleth and Whitcomb built the Eveleth
House. It has been once burnt and rebuilt upon the same
spot. In 1847, these men opened another store in the place,
and, in 1848, J. H. Eveleth left Monson and joined his father
here. This store was burnt. May, 1869, but soon rebuilt, and
has been continued to the present year, and now a third largo
general store has been added.

In 1858, another good step was taken. The people united
in erecting a meeting-house. The next summer, it was fin-
ished in a neat, tasteful style, and dedicated Dec. 1, 1869,
Rey. E. B. Webb d.d. going from Augusta to preach the
dedication sermon. In Jan. 1, 1874, largely through the ef-
forts of Rev. Mr. Cameron, it was surmounted with a bell,
whose pleasant peals, first rung out on that day, call the ^

GREENVILLE. 205

church-goer, bo he resident or stranger, to the worship of tlie
Most High.

In 1848, five ranges of lots from the north side of Wilson
were annexed to Greenville. There are now four school dis-
tricts in town, one having a graded school at the village, with
a neat two-storied school-house. The public school fund now
amounts to 1800, with a lot of wild land still to be sold.
Within a few years, a steam- saw- and grist-mill have been
running at the foot of the lake, and I. R. Gerrish has a saw-
mill on an inlet of Wilson Pond.

The prospect now is, that a railroad from Canada, passing
by Megantic Lake, will be put through to West Cove, about
two miles from the foot of Moosehead Lake, and thence to
Blanchard, opening a new line to St. John. A telegraph
line from Oldtown to Greenville and the Kineo House, along
the line of the railroad, is mider contract, and its construc-
tion is now in progress.

Sadly we record that Mellon Shaw, a highly esteemed
business man of Greenville, in* a temporary estrangement of
reason, terminated his life on March 4, 1880.

Greenville has several mechanics, but neither lawyer nor
doctor lias located there.

In 1870, the population of this town was 369; its valua-
tion $66,707.

CHAPTER XXIV.

SHIELEY, WILSON, KLLTOTSVILLE.

Shirley lies north of Blanchard, and is also on the Bing-
ham Purchase. Its ridges Jiave an excellent soil, and are
beautiful for agriculture, while its river courses abounded
with a giant growth of pine and spruce, as good as any found
in the county.

It is well watered. The main branch of Piscataquis River
rises in the township north of this, within four miles of
Moosehead Lake, and flows southward through Shirley. It
passes through a bog, at the lower end of which, there is a
good mill privilege, which was early occi^pied. Into the
north-west part of this town the Bog Stream enters, and flows
south, unithig with the IMscataquis in Blanchard. Tliis
stream has, by a little expense in damming, been made suffi-
cient to float out the excellent pine logs which grew upon
its banks.

This township was purchased by Messrs. Shaw and Jabez
True, in the whiter of 1829. Mr: True lotted out the east
half, began to clear an opening, preparatory to building
mills, and took measures to introduce settlers. He soon had
a saw-mill and clapboard machine in operation, also built a
large barn, and cleared up a large opening. The west half
of the township he sold at a large advance, and then pur-
chased Mr. Shaw's portion, and found himself ^able to go
into more desirable business. In the spring of 1833, ho
exchanged his mills and some other property with Rich-
mond Loring and Isaac Smith, for real estate in Guilford
village, they moving into Shirley, and he engaging in mer-
cantile business in Bangor, with a brother already estab-

SHIRLBY. 207

lishcd there. In this the Trues were successful. In the
civil war, Jabez was appointed pa}miaster in a Maine regi-
ment, and at its close settled in Portland. A few years later
he died in that vicinity, leaving a good estate to his surviv-
ing family.

First Settlement. In 1825, Joseph Mitchell came witH
Eben and David Marble, who were settling on the Whitney
tract, and settled on a lot on the east side of Shirley. About
the time Mr. True began to make an opening, Capt. C. Cush-
man cleared an opening and built a framed house in the
northern part of the town, hauling boards to cover it, from
Monson, on the snow crust, upon a hand-sled.

Mr. True introduced quite a colony from Poland, who set-
tled in the east part of the town, and othci*s came m, so that,
by 1832, there was quite a growing settlement. He had a
post-office estjiblished, "True's Mills," himself being post-
master, and had the mail carried to Monson in a private way.

Loring & Smith in the summer of 1833 put up a building
for a grist-mill and clapboard machine.

The next spring, March 9, 1834, the township was incor-
porated as the town of Shirley, J. Kel'sey Esq., who was
then in the Legislature, selecting the name of his own native
place, instead of Somerset, for which the inhabitants had
petitioned. At that tune there were about twenty-five vot-
ers. Elder Orrin Strout was chosen town clerk, and Charles
Loring one of the selectmen. As the valuable pine timber
on the west half had not then been cut to much extent, the
people petitioned for a " set-oflf " of the reserved lands. The
petition was in due time granted. After the annual town
meeting of 1835, the legally constituted board of trustees of
the school lands proposed to the proprietors of the west half,
to quitclaim their right to these reserved lots for their mon-
eyed value, without having them set off, as by law provided.
The owners readily accepted the offer. That half township
of wild land, although some of its timber had been already
cut, was held much higher then, than the present value of the
whole town of Sliirley. So, from this portion, by that timely

208 HISTORY OF PISCATAQinS COUNTY.

move, more than $2000 was secured for a permanent school
fund. From the other half, and from the part of Wilson
eventually annexed, it has been increased to $2,800, — the
largest in the county. As there aiw but three school dis-
tricts in town, the income of this fund, with what they are
compelled to raise by law, furnishes means to have as many
months of school kept annually, as the scholars can well
attend.

In the fall of 1834, a bridge was built across the stream at
the mills, and a good beginning made in laying out and open-
ing roads. In the summer of 1835, the town built a large
school-house, which is still standing and used as a town-house.

A. T. Loring and I. Phillips opened a small store, in the
spring of 1886, but they soon dissolved, and Mr. Loring left
town. Oliver Eveleth then opened a store, and put a shin-
gle mill in operation, employing other men to manage them.
This store was continued for many years after Mr. Eveleth's
death, Mitchell & Sturtevant occupying it, but now it is
closed.

In the winter of 1835-36, the timber in the west half was
sold by the owners,- to certain parties from Bangor and Oro-
no, on the stump, and an immense amount was cut. In sub-
sequent years, the more scattering was picked up, and that
half township, which was once valued at $50,000 and up-
wards, is now thoroughly stripped and wholly unoccupied.

The mills in Shirley have passed to several different owners.
Loring & Smith sold one half of their lumber mills, in 1834,
to Amasa and Asa T. Loring; in 1836 Smith sold his remain-
ing share to Isaac Phillips; the next year, A. and A. T. Loring
sold out to R. Loring and I. Phillips; a few years la-
ter, R. Loring sold to John Gerrish, who soon sold to Oliver
Eveleth ; and eventually, Evolcth and Mitchell owned them.
Mitchell and Sturtevant operated them for many years.
They have now passed to Blackstone and Neal, who still are
running a saw- and grist-mill, and shingle and clapboard ma-
chines, which saw out a large amount of lumber annually.

By the Legislature of 1848, the west half of Wilson was

WILSON. 209

•

annexed to Shirley. This brought in a hotel, the Shirley
House, at Shirley Corner, then kept by P. S. Merrill Esq.,
another mill privilege, now improved by the Sprague
mills, another Post-office, Shirley, enlarged their school
districts, and increased their population. Though tliis town
has good farming lands, long schools, and lower taxes than
othei*s, and good facilities for lumbering, it docs not advance
in wealth or population, as might be expected.

The Sprague mills, on the Little Wilson, in the east part
of the town, are now, 1879, run by John Stacy. In these are
two clapboard machines and a shingle machine.

Should the liidlroad bo extended from JManchard to the
lake, which now seems to be Jissured, it will p.oss by Slurley
mills, and increase their business facilities.

The Huff silver mine is now favorably spoken of, and
may prove to be a source of profit to its owners.

The postoffice at Sliirley mills has been continued from
its first establishment.

According to the last census, the popidation was 206, the
valuation, $56,220.

WILSON.

Wilson, originally Number Nine, Ninth Range, lies be-
tween Monson and Greenville. A portion of its soil is good
for agriculture, a part was weU timbered, and a part hilly,
and other parts unfit for settling. The Wilson Stream, issu-
ing from Wilson Pond, in Greenville, passes through this
townsliip, affording good mill privileges.

William C. Wliitney purchased 3000 acres in the south-
west corner of this townsliip, known as the Whitney tract.
The rest of it was gi'anted to the Massachusetts Medical So-
ciety, and 3000 acres in Number Eight, Ninth Range, was
included in this State grant. H. W. Fuller Esq. of Augusta
purcliJiscd this whole medical society gi*ant for $3000, and
tliis township took the name of Fullerstown. It was lotted
out by A. Greenwood Esq.

Early Settlement. In 1824, Eben and David Marble

210 HISTORY OP PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

commenced clearing on the Whitney tract, and in 1825
moved their families there. The same year, 1824, Nelson
Savage cleared 'an opening near the the center of the town-
ship, and built a saw-mill on the Little Wilson Stream, and
the next year, Messrs. Carter and Atwood also cleared open-
ings in that vicinity, and in 1826, moved their families.

Other settlers entered north of the Whitney tract, and
others began in the east part of the township. F. F. Gates
became owner of one-half of Savage's mill, but he soon dis-
posed of it. The road first cut out to Moosehead Lake
passed by this mill, and for several years all the travel and
teaming to the lake went this way. *

A post-office was established. Nelson Savage, postmaster,
and the mail was carried to Monson for the income of the
office. In the winter of 1885, a part of the inhabitants jieti-
tioned for the incorporation of the township, while those on
the west side petitioned to be annexed to Shirley. Both pe-
titioners had leave to withdraw, v The next year, a petition for
the incorporation of the township was granted, and in
Marcli, 1836, it became the town of Wilson. Tlie settle-
ment did not increase, tlio public burdens bore licavily on
the few inhabitants. So, in 1848, on petition of the hihabi-
tants, a strip containing five ranges of lots on the north side
was annexed to Greenville, about one-half of the remainder
to Shirley, the residue to EUiotsville.

Savage's mills were abandoned in 1858, and have gone to
decay, and all in that neighborhood loft their fanns and re-
moved to other places, after that road to the lake was aban-
doned. H. W. Fuller sold one-half of his purchase to E. T.
Bridge Esq., and afterward it was sold to several different
parties. On the Little Wilson, between Savage's mill And
its mouth, there is a stupendous fall of eighty feet perpen-
dicular; over which clapboard-cuts have been driven, but
many of them would be split and quartered from end to end.
Mr. Savage continued to reside there until 1858, then he re-
moved to Monson, and that settlement was depopulated.

KLLIC)TSVn-.LB. 211

ELLIOTS VILLB.

Elliotsv£LL£ also has faded from the list of towns m this
county, but it once had a place in it. Though now in the
twilight of its brighter days, it has a history. As primarily
run out by John Boardman, it was Number Eight, Ninth
Range. It has two lofty mountains within its limits, — Boar-
stone and Peaked Mountauis — ,wliile Sliip Pond lies in its
south-eastern part, and vents its surplus waters into Sebec
Lake. The Wilson Stream crosses the south-west corner of
it, and therein receives the Little Wilson: these united
make very good mill privileges. But limited portions of its
soil are good for agriculture ; other portions had a fan* amount
of pine and spruce timber; and other large portions are waste
and useless.

Grants and Proprietors. A strip on the west side,
nearly a mile wide, was included in the grant to the Massa-
chusetts Medical Society, to equal the 3000 acres in Number
Nine of that township, sold to William C. Whitney.

The Vaughan tract was the next granted. In February,
1812, the State of Massachusetts granted to the heirs of the
late William Vauglian, one full half to^vn8hip of wild land,
for services wliich he. had rendered to the State. A person
of this name resided in Portsmouth, N. H., who took an ac-
tive part in projecting and pushing forward the expedition
to Louisburg, in 1745, and this may be the individual.
These heirs selected the northern part of this township, on
the east of the Medical tract, and in 1814, 11,520 acres
were conveyed to them by the State authorities, including
the usual reserves for public uses.

By the Saco Free Bridge Co., Capt Ichabod Jordan was ap-
pointed to select and locate four thousand acres, to make up
the deficiency, and he took tliat amount on the south of the
Vauglian tract. Two other small parcels in the south part,
on either side of Ship Pond, remained, which Elliot G.
Vauglian Esq. and a Mr. Watson eventually purchased.
The Vaughan heirs early sold an undivided part, amounting

212 HISTORY OF PISOATAQXnS COUNTY.

to 4,333 acres, to C. H. Vaughan, to raise money to pay the
expense of obtaining and locating the grant.

This reduced the amount held in common, to about seven
thousand acres. Som'e of their owners sold out their shares,
and eventually Elliot G. Vaughan Esq. became chief owner.

First Settlers. Capt. Jordan had an opening felled on
the Free Bridge part, in 1824, and Joseph and Eben Sawyer
from Buxton also made beginnings. Joseph Sawyer was
the first to move his family in, and fifty acres of land were giv-
en to his son Joseph, m consideration thereof. In 1826, S.
G. Bodfish from Norridgewock moved on to the lot which
Capt. Jordan cleared. In 1828, John Drake and E. Briggs
from Buckfield came in, also two Messrs. Burnell from Port-
land, relatives of the Vaughan family. E. G. Vaughan Esq.
took quite an interest in settling the township. He early erect-
ed a saw-mill, and started a clapboard machine on the Wilson
Stream, and eventually settled his family there. He
worked up a large amount of timber in these, while clap-
board-cuts were also driven out on the Ship Pond and Wil-
son Streams. Mr. Vaughan's mills and house were not up-
on the Vaughan tract, but nearer the southern part of the
township.

E. T. Bridge Esq. built a grist-mill on the Wilson, above
Vaughan's mill, on the eastern side of the Medical tract.

Mr. Vaughan, hoping to promote the sale of his land, pre-
maturely procured the incorporation of the town in 183t5,
and named it Elliotsvillo, perpetuating his own name.
They were troubled to collect the Vion-resident taxes. ^ A
large amount of non-resident land was advertised and sold
at auction, and this discouraged, rather ^than encouraged, set-
tlement.

A county road was located and opened to Monson, school
districts were established, a school fund secured by tlie sale
of reserved lands, and the settlement promised well, except
£hat it was small, and the non-resident taxes were not paid
willingly.

ELLIOTSVLLLB. 218

After the annexation of the eastern part of Wilson, to El-
liotsville, the depletion of its inhabitants went on. After the
timber was cut off, the wild lands would not sell, for enough
even to pay the taxes. E. G. Vaughan and many others moved
away, and, in 1858, the inhabitsints petitioned for a rci)eal of
the act of incorporation. This was granted, and it has not
been organized into a plantsition since. Vaughan's mill lias
gone to decay, but the Sawyers built a shingle mill upon the
same dam, which is still operating.

In 1860, its population tv^as 59, in 1870, it was 42, now,
1880, it is stm less.

CHAPTER XXV-

"BOWWXBAJHL, HOWAXD^ KATAHDCf IKOX WORKS.

BowxRBASK W2A Xumber SeTexu Bange Eightli, azid lies
directly north of Foxeroft, bat separated from it bj Sebec
Lake. Its whole area is 36,880 acresy but a part of the lake
m within its limits, and reduces its available contents. A
umall portion of Foxcroft adjoining it on the north side of
the lake, was annexed to it. About one^third of its soil is
goo<l for tillage, and when cnltiTated has proyed highlj pro-
ductive. Originallj it was well timbered, and the lumber
wa8 easily mn down Sebec Lake.

pKOPKiBTOTts. Acconling to M. Greenleaf Esq., Thomas
Morikton was the first purchaser. It then passed to % Mr.
Howerbank, a London merchant. ^ He employed Charles
Vaughan Elsq. as his agent, and also appointed R. C. Barth
Esfj. of New York as his attorney to make legal conveyances.
During his ownership, and by his agents, the settlement was
commenced. Its unsold portions eventually passed to
Messrs. Parker, Lord and Smith of Bangor, and then to Sam-
uel Mclxjllan Esq. of Dexter, and now they are owned by
Edward C. Homans of Eaglewood, N. J.

Mr. Bowerbank at an early date explored this township
in pciVson and had it lotted into 200 acre lots by S. Hoyt jr.;
uftcirward these lots were divided into equal parts by Capt.
Ebcji (ireonleaf.

FffiHT Sk'ftlrment. Charles Vaughan Esq. in 1821, had
an ()p(!iiiiig of fifty acres felled, and the next springapart of it
was cleared and put into crops. Early in 1822, Mr. Edward
UobiiiHon, roccntly from England, was directed thither by

BOWERBANK. . 215 *

Mr. Vaughan. He crossed the lake alone on a frail raft of
his own .construction, selected a lot of 200 acres, and hired a
Mr. Crommet of Sebec to clear up and put into grass forty
acres by the close of 1824. Mr. William Heskith, another
Englishman, also had twelve acres of trees felled at the same
time. A Mr. Page had been lumbering there in the previous
winters, under Mr. Vaughan's direction. He had lost a son
there by diowning. This young man was walking upon the
ice, in the spring when it was growing soft, and carrying
some heavy logging chains upon his shoulders. The ice broke
beneath him, and the weight of the chains sunk him hopelessly
to the bottom.

A Mr. Hodges was employed through the summer of 1822,
in Mr. Vaughan's opening, camping there, and living alone.
The first settlers paid one dollar per acre for their land.

In the summer of 1825, Mr. Robinson put up a framed
house and barn, cut hay and grain, and prepared to make a
permanent settlement. In March, 1826, he married and
moved his wife into liis new home. He was the first settler,
William Newell a bhicksmith from llallowell, the next, Wil-
liam Heskith, the third, and Dea. J. Brown, the fourth.
Mr. Vaughan had secured the building of a saw-mill on Mill
Brook, previous to this, and now a saw-mill and grist-mill
are run there by R. Newell.

The early settlers soon took voluntary measures to build a
school-houso, and opened private schools for their children.
Religious^ meetings were regularly held, and, in 1836, a small
Baptist church was organized.

Sebec village was their most convenient business place,
reached by water in summer, and upon the ice in winter.
Foxcroft and Dover were also accessible when the lake was
frozen. They still haul white birch for spool timber and
other kinds of lumber in large quantities, across the lake
from this town.

The early settlers were ambitious to enjoy the elective
franchise. They could legally do so in any adjoining town,
by giving in their names to the assessors and paying a poll-

216 HISTOBY OF FISCATAQnS COTUXTT.

tax. But they were prone to forget this essential prelimina-
ry. So, when they went to Sebec to cast their votes, there
were legal objections which their political opponents were
not slow to make. This led to a premature incorporation of
the town. In March, 1839, the act was passed, the name
being taken from the English landlord, Bowerbank. This
imposed on the few, about thirty voters, the burdens of mu-
' nicipal regulations and high taxes. But it allowcfl them to
sell the public reserves, and secure a school fund of |£80,
which is still helping to sustain schools among them.

Mr. Robinson became interested in the woolen factory in
Sebec village, and, in 1864, he removed thit]ier. He then
possessed a large and productive farm. In 1837, he harvest-
ed 314 bushels of wheat and 1000 bushels of potatoes, beside
other crops.

Tlie population began to decrease. In 1850, it numbered
173, and showed a valuation of 117,376; in 1870, it was 83,
with a valuation of f 15,000.

In 1869, the inhabitants petitioned for a repeal of the act
of incorporation, and on February 15, it was repealed, and
its nnniicipal burdens removed. It has not been organized
as a plantation, but they have schools, sustauied in part by
private subscription.

HOWARD.

This is Number Eight, Range Eight, and still unincor-
porated. It took the name of Howard, from Abijah Howard,
oncse a large proprietor. It lias an area of 23,0^0 aci*cs, but
a large portion of Sebec Lake, and a part of Ship Pond are
within its boundaries, and reduce its amount of settling land.
• Natural Resources. The southern portion of it is
mountainous, but it contains a large amount of good settling
land. Quite a breadtli of soil on the Wilso^i Stream is es-
pecially inviting. It once had a large amount of pine tim-
ber, and this is not entirely exhausted. . Granite Mountain,
rising from the western shore of Sebec Lake, and extending
nearly to the mouth of Wilson Stream, contains an inexhaust-

HOWARD. • 217

ible amoimt of the finest granite found in the State. The
best of underpinning has been taken from the foot of this
mountain, to Guilford village, and also to Foxcroft and Do-
ver. A slate quarry was once opened in another part, but
it proved too hard to be worked profitably.

Proprietors. Gen. A. Davis j^ the first that we have
been able to ascertain. He owned a portion of it, possibly all
of it, as early as 1825 or 1826. So also, Abijah Howard, J.
S. Saywaid and William S. Coggm, once were its owners.
Abner Hallowell, before these, owned one sixth of it. Geo.
M. Weston and Dudley F. Leavitt, more recently have
owned a largo part of it. At tlic present date, 1880, there is
a small portion, one thousand acres, in the south west corner,
near North Guilford mills, known as the Harris tract, adjom-
ing it there are 960 acres set off for the public reserves,
there is the Osgood tract near the south east corner, and
4000 acres owned by the Howard Slate Co., in the north
east corner, and several lots owned and occupied by settlers.
The remainder of the township has been owned recently by
J. S. Wheelwright and George Boynton of Bangor, but is
now held by Messrs. Adams.

Settlement. This township has never been opened to
settlei*s, but kept in the market for the sale of large tracts,
and timber stumpage. Still, for more than fifty years, some
pei*sons and families have resided upon it.

In 1826, John Greeley was encouraged by Gen. Davis to
erect mills on the lower falls of the Wilson Stream, near its
moutli. He put in operation a saw-mill and clapboard ma-
cliine, and worked up a large amount of lumber.

Peter Brawn cleared up an opening on the shore of the
lake and of the stream, and both removed their families
thither. Mr. Greeley run these mills, about twenty years,
and then consigned them to Caleb Prentiss, and moved to
other parts. Mr Brawn, moved to Guilford, and died
there at an advanced age. . The mills were not kept in oper-
ation, and went to decay. Now all traces of them and of
the dwellings are blotted out. The land and privilege

passed to several owners, and was finally bought by Mr. Wil-
15

218 • HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

liam Davis of Poxcroft. In 1866, Blethen & Gilman erect-
ed a large hotel, the Lake House, on the lot cleared by
Brawn, and it has become quite a resort for summer board-
ers and tourists. It is now owned and kept by Capt. A. O.
Crocket, who* formerly run the steamboat on Sebec Lake,
and who now does a largp business in farming.

Some of its best settling land was easily reached from
Monson. As early as 1826, James Johnson, already noticed
in the ICidder swindle, pushed in from that direction, put up
a camp, and began to clear an opening just below Green-
wood's falls. There he lived, somewhat hermit-like, four
miles from other inhabitants, occasionally visited by hunters,
refugees and explorers, until he secured a lot by t:wenty
years possession. He then sold out to Mr. Joseph Moulton
of Foxcroft, and took up and cleared a new lot.

By 1850, about ten families had settled in that part of the
township. Messrs. Jordan and Jennison of Foxcroft put
up a saw-mill in the west part of the town, on a branch of
the Wilson Stre<am, but this has run down. Some years
since, Orin Brooks put a saw-mill and clapboard machine in
operation on Greenwood's Falls, but in 1877, they were de-
stroyed by fire. Mr. Harrison Welch has rebuilt them, and
they are operating profitably.

Mr. Johnson again sold his possession, and began anew,
near the north part of the town. He married late in life,
and reared up a family. In his old age, a son upon whom
he depended, by a serious accident, lost a leg, and he was
compelled to call upon the town for support. The town
of Dixfield assumed this, and he died in his native place,
after a long life of peculiar hardships.

A few years since, a slate quarry toward the north-east
corner of the township was thought to promise well, and a
company of Bangoreans was formed to work it. Tliey were
incorporated in 1870 as the Howard Slate Co. They pur-
chased 4000 acres of the soil and all other slate quarries
that might be found in the township, erected large buildings
for working out slates, and laid a tram-way one and a half
miles in length, to the shore of the lake, for transporting

HOWARD. 219

tliem to a steamboat landing. But the quarry did not prove
softer as they worked into it, as they confidently expected,
and the whole enterprise proved an entire failure.

SuKVBY. As early as 1828, Maj. P. P. Furber run out
three ranges of lots across the township, beginning at Greeley's
mills, and marked the corners of each one hundred acre lot.

Recently William P. Oakes of Saugerville has completed
the survey of Wheelwright & Boynton's tract, and it is of-
fered for settlement.

About thirty families are now residing in the township.
A county road has been opened through it, a school-house
erected in the west part, and sometimes it is occupied for
schools and meetings ; a post-office is established, and the pros-
pect of an increase of population is quite flattering.

Greenwood's Falls answer as a standing memorial of Mr.
Greenwood's lamentable death, already given in the sketch
of Monson.

Butler's Cove on the west shore of Sebec Lake records
another fatal accident. A man named Butler attempted to
swim across that cove, while his companions were making a
raft, but his strength failed before he reached the shore, and
he sank to rise no more.

In the summer of 1879, the Willimantic Thread Co. of
Connecticut purchased a lot at Greeley's Falls, and also all
the white birch timber standing upon the proprietor's land
in the township. They erected a mill upon the north bank
of Wilson's Stream, for splitting out spool timber, and sheds,
shops and dwelling-houses necessary for successful opera-
tions. They ^Iso built a bridge across the stream. By the
beginning of 1880, the mill was ready to operate, and, on
Jan. 6th, the electric light shone upon a large company of
invited guests there assembled, — its first introduction into the
county. They arc intending to have 2000 cords of wliite
birch hauled and split out this winter, and next summer, to
add a spool factory to the .establishment, for making a sur-
plus of spools over and above what they use in their own
extensive manufactory.

220 HISTORY OF PISCATAQXnS COUNTY.

ICATAHDIN IRON WORKS.

These are situated in Number Six, Range Ninth, and were
named from Mt. Katahdin. One-half of this township was
granted to Warren Academy, in 1808. It was divided by an
east and west line, and the north half belonged to the Acad-
emy. The west branch of Pleasant River flo^vs through the
township, and upon its banks some excellent intervals were
found. As early as 1814, Ichabod Thomas of Sidney bought
one-half of this northern part containing these intervals, and
Eber Davis of Fairfield, 1000 acres adjoining Mr. Thomas'
purchase. Mr. Thomas and his sons and Joseph Davis com-
menced clearing, and, in 1815, moved their families there.
Their openings were tliree miles aboVe the present furnace,
and full ten miles above the nearest settler in Brownville,
but they had a road from Sebeo through Barnard to their
homes. They remained there till 1821, there being twelve
residents in 1820, and then exchanged their estates with Mo-
ses Brown, for farms in Brownville. The hay has been cut
year after year, but no families have dwelt there since those
liardy occupants removed. At the present time, 1880, these
farms are possessed by J. llerrick and sons, the liotel keepers
at the Iron Works. In the year 1877, they harvested from
them 80 tons of hay, 800 bushels of oats, 600, of potatoes, 50, of
beans, 30, of wheat, and a large amount of garden vegetables.

Some time since, a mine of iron ore, known as "Bog ore,*'
was found upon the northern half of this township. It is at
the foot of Ore Mountain, near which the west branch of
Pleasant River flows. In 1843^ work was commenced to de-
velop this mine, and to build these Iron works. Edward Smith
of Bangor was the organizing and active agent. He aivi his
brother Samuel had been previously known among the enter-
prising business men of Bangor, during the period of its rap-
id growth. In the spring of 1843, Walter Smith of New-
market, N. H., the father of the above named, bought the
half township which contained this bed of ore, and Edward
cut out roads, put np buildings and built a furnace.

Then Warren Academy had sold out nearly all of its land,

ICATAHDIN IRON WORKS. 221

and its several ownei's conveyed their respective tracts to Mr.
Smith. The furnace was completed, the ore proved unex-
pectedly good, losing only half of its weight in smelting.
But tlie Smiths run it only for a short time. In January^
1845, they sold all the land they there owned, with the fui*-
nace and other buildings, to David Pingree of Salem.

Messrs. Pingree & Co. prosecuted the work with energy
till 185G, and then let its furnace fires go out. A large
amount of iron had been produced, 2350 tons the last year
it was operated, but the hauling of it by teams to Bangor
had been quite expensive.

Previous to this, a hotel and several houses had been built,
to accommodate workmen. For six or eight years, all were
left desolate, except one dwelling and the hotel, this was kept
open to entertain lumbermen, explorers and visitors. The
property then passed to the creditors of Pingree & Co.
Hinkley & Edgerly of Bangor had large claims. They
bought out the smaller owners, and put the furnace again in
operation. War times were not favorable to such industries,
and they also closed up. Other partners came in, and it
was started again, O. B. Davis jr. being the treasurer and
chief manager. It has once suspended both pajrment and
business, but it is now in successful operation.

When running, it gives employment to a large number of
workmen, in cutting and hauling wood to supply the fur-
nace with charcoal, and in hauling the products to the rail-
road, and in carrying back a species of limestone used in
smelting. «

Other valuable minerals,-^paints and copperas — are ob-
tamed there in paying quantities, while the ore improves in
quality, and gives no sign of exhaustion. In November, 1879,
an explosion occurred in tlie upper room of tlio furnace, as
they were drawing off the melted ore below, by which two
of the hands were instantly killed, and serious injury done*
to the building. Work was suspended for a few weeks, un-
til this could be rei)aLred. It soon resumed business, and
now it is in full blast in all its departments.

CHAPTER XXVI.

STIRRING EVENTS.
THE INDIAN SCARE.

In June, 1812, war was declared against Great Britain,
and the country was agitated with various fears, contests and
startling commotions. In some of these, the new settlers of
this county necessarily participated. The Penobscot tribe of
Indians was to them the first source of dire anxiety and fear.
Up to this time, these hardy sons of the forest had passed up
and down the river in prosecuting their hunting operations,
and had ever exhibited a friendly disposition toward the set-
tlers. Both parties had been neighborly and fearless, noth-
ing arising to disturb this mutual confidence. But now as
the sound of war was in the land, the settlers recalled the
former scenes of cruelty and blood, and feared that these
savages would seize the tomahawk and scalping knife, and
stealthily rush upon them in their defenceless state. The
Indians manifested no change of feelings or intentions
toward the whites, but if one or more of them were seen pad-
dling their birches on the river, or threading their way tlirough
the forests, the suspicious observer would hurry«away out
of sight.

The keen-eyed Indian instinctively interpreted this, and
felt that he might be treated as an enemy, and he too
skulked away hastily. They threatened no violence, they
did no injury, they showed no particular sympathy for the
English, still an increasing jealousy and fear frowned be-
tween them.

The settlers were so far from any available help, were so
near the Indian hunting grounds, were so unsupplied with

TIIK INDIAN SCARE. 228

means of defence, that they would fall* an easy prey to the
savage foe, if he should attempt a hostile invasion. The ex-
citement became general, and increased as it spread, and
soon the public felt that something must be done. So a
mass meeting was called to concentrate the united wisdom,
foresight and valor of the community, to deliberate pro-
foundly upon the impending crisis, to devise ways and
means for public safety. This meeting assembled in Fox-
croft, in August, 1812, the first meeting of the kind ever
held on the river. It was numerously attended, organized
. and conducted in an orderly and deliberate manner. Mr.
T. Ilutchings presided as moderator, R. Low was chosen
clerk, and, according to the religious sentiment of those days?
Dea. U. Herring was invited to seek the Divine blessing up-
on their solemn deliberations. These preliminaries over,
each person rose in turn and expressed his views upon the
apprehended danger, and the best way of averting it. All
thought tliat a garrison or some kind of fortifications should
be immediately built, but not in the most disinterested spir-
it, each one thought that liis own opening was the best
place for it. At length it became the turn of Phineas Ames,
then known as King Ames, to speak, and he rose to a high
pitch of rough-hewn eloquence, and made a decided impres-
sion. He counseled delay and moderation, that they wait
the movements of the national forces, for, if our army in-
vaded Canada, these Indians would follow in the track of
war, and let themselves to one or the other of the belligerent
forces, and so leave these back settlements unmolested; but
if they were not thus drawn away, we might have reason to
fear a visit from them, but when the movements of the
army were known, there would be time to take measures
for general defence. Again it was proposed to send an
agent to Boston, to solicit arms and ammunition from the
State government for their defence. This was voted by a
small majority, provided money enough should be contribu-
ted voluntarily to defray his traveling expenses, and Mr. E.
Bacon was ohosen for that embassage. So the meeting dis-

224 HISTOBY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

solved. Mr. Bacon faUed to receive the needed funds, and
did not go. The excitement in some measure subsided,
though some abandoned their exposed homes and went to
safer locations, all barricaded their cabin doors so that a
nightly assault, if attempted by a blood-thirsty savage,
should give them time for alarm and resistance.

It is not known that the Indians at Oldtown ever heard
of this meeting, nor how they would have treated it, if tlioy
had. But while the war lasted, they forbore to come into
these regions, and left these trembling pioneers totally un-
disturbed by them.

Two years later, when the British marched upon Bangor
and took it, a new wave of fear passed over these settlements,
but that Vill be treated of in connection with that event.

THE MABCH TO BANGOR.

Late in the summer of 1814, the British took Castine and
kept quiet possession of it till the end of the war. The
British officers hoping to attach that part of Maine to their
own province, bought and sold merchandise freely, and treat-
ed the people with an alluring lenience. But occasionally
the British Lion must shake his mane. Detachments of
troops would march out into the surrounding country, to re-
connoitre its military condition, to forage among the inhabi-
tants, to display their martial strength, and to awe the people
into profound submission. In September of that year they
made a serious raid upon Bangor, as there were some naval
forces in the Penobscot River, and some merchant vessels
afloat, and others on the stocks. British barges ascended the
river, and a land force marched up on the west bank.

The militia, was hastily called out by Gen. Blake of Brewer,
but as"there were but a few companies then organized, only
a feeble force could bo rallied for tlie combat. Thoy met
these invaders at Hampden, but as they had no fortification,
and were raw recruits, they broke and fled at the approach
of their trained and formidable enemy. The "John Adams,"
a sloop of war, lay at Hampden, and as her capture wa^ in-

THB MABGH TO BANGOB. 225

ovitablc, tlie mariuos abandoned her, and retreated toward
Portland, one of them lingering behind to blow her up. So
both river and country were now open to our haughty invad-
ers. They pressed on, and Bangor fell into their hands with-
out resistance. The citizens took the required oath, not to
engage in hostilities against the British during the war; the
soldiers committed acts of mercenary plunder unrestrained;
the officers commanded some vessels on the stocks to be
burnt, and released others, whose owners gave bonds to pay
a large part of their value; but the close of the war soon
coming, vitiated these bonds.

The report that the troops were advancing upon Bangor
spread rapidly through all these new settlements, and aroused
the patriotic spmts of those hardy and resolute backwoods-
men. TJiough there was no roll of the stirring di'um, nor thrill-
ing blast of the bugle, many ^ brave heart beat to arms, and
many a strong arm was nerved for action. The old musket
was put in order, ammunition procured, the knapsack filled
with bread and pork, and strapped upon their shoulders, the
parting words tenderly, falteringly dropped, and with hur-
ried step they started, on foot, and alone often, for the battle
field. There was then no drafting nor warning to appear,
but self-moved and self-called, they rushed to repel these

raiders.

<

But in Foxcroft and vicinity things took a more orderly
form. In the absence of military organization, fifty-six men
residing in this vicinity assembled here, organized a volun-
teer company, and adopted the rides and regulations of war.
They next elected officers, and prepared for military disci-
pline and action. Capt. Ezekiel Chase of Sebec, a Revolu-
tionary veteran, and who had afterward commanded a rifle
company on the Kennebec, was chosen captain, Nuthaniel
Cliamborlain of Dover, lieutenant, and Abel Chase of Sebec,
a brother of the captain, ensign. This company furnished
its own arms and ammunition, procured its own supplies,
sought no transportation, and expected only the reward of
genuhie patriotism for their pay. It marched at once toward

226 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

the seat of war, but, alas I all this flaming valor was a little
too late. Their commercial emporium had capitulated be-
fore these approaching succorers could arrive. But the com-
pany, by a forced march, had got over a large portion of the
way before that humiliating report reached them. Capt.
Chase advanced to Col. Whiting's abode, the old Jameson
stand, and encamped to wait further developments. Mean-
while those who remained at home sent them supplies of food, -
and gave substantial proof of a genuine sympathy. It soon
became evident that no further hostilities were to be appre-
hended, and the whole company returned safely to their
waiting homes.

But some characteristic incidents came to the surface in
connection with this campaign, which deserve to be related
to complete its history. Capt. Chase, knowing well that
raw recruits were not always reliable in the face of an en-
emy, contrived to have a report brought along, while on the
march, that the enemy was near, and that they must pre-
pare at once for battle. This was solely to try their courage.
He had faced the Red coats in open fight, and a few stirring
words magnetized his brave volunteers, so that they pre-
pared for action, and advanced with firm steps to meet their
foes. But as none were there, no battle was fought and they
only showed what they meant to do. But this feint, so well
intended and so well disposed of, opened a loop-hole to the
foul breath of slander. So it was bruited about that, when
this fearful notice was served upon the company, the
wliole of them, except tlie Captain, took to the woods, each
posting himself behind a tree so as to fire upon their ap-
proaching assailants from a good ambush. But the sharp-
est cut was, that one of the officers took care to be far in
the rear, so that he might surely intercept every one that at-
tempted a retreat. Now it is easy to see through this gos-
samer-covered scandal. It should be charged upon the son
of some Tory, though it is said that the Tories of the revolu-
tion never left any children, — none that would acknowl-
edge so unpopular an origin. But was not this the natural

THE mahoh to bangob. 227

fabricatiou of a guilty con^ience? Might not some one who
felt the twinges of remorse for not shouldering his musket and
rushing to the defence of our invaded soil, have got up such
an ingenious subterfuge, to allay those pangs, and to join in
the laugh with otJier cowardly exempts, though it cast con-
tempt upon those who hazarded so much, even though they
found so little to do ?

Gentlemen in Bangor were so well pleased with the readi-
ness and valor of these back settlers, that they requested
them to organize a volunteer company of minute-men.

Enough in Foxcroft and Dover heartily and promptly re-
sponded to this call, to form such a company. William
Thayer of Foxcroft was chosen captain. Job Parsons, lieu-
tenant, Dennis Lambert, ensign, and Nathaniel Chamber-
lain, clerk, — ^the last three all of Dcfver. This shows that
public confidence was not shaken in some of those maligned
so ungenerously by the above reports. I copy the following
from J. S. Holmes' record: "This company met frequently
to improve themselves in military arts and discipline, and
continued as a company, observing good regulations, and
due respect for their officers, until peace was proclaimed be-
tween England and the United States. They then met in
February, 1815, and disbanded themselves. Three or four
gallons of spirit had been sent to the clerk by gentlemen in
Bangor, as a testimonial of their high consideration of the
patriotic conduct of this company. And when the company
met for the last time under this voluntary organization, it
was to celebrate the return of peace, and to cast aside those
martial distinctions with which rapacious war had induced
them to invest themselves. But the present from Bangor
was the most powerful stimulant of the occasion. Over this,
and by this, they made* merry, rejoicing loud and long that
victory had declared in favor of their espoused cause, and
that war and bloodshed had ceased to desolate the land."

This capture of Bangor revived the Indian scare, and
awakened more stirring alarms than had formerly existed.
Many now felt that this would surely arouse all their savage

228 HISTORY OF PISOATAQUTS COUNTY.

thirst for blood and carnage, and» would embolden them to
fall at once upon the defenceless back settlers. The men
shuddered, the women turned pale, the children frantic and
trembling, knew not what to do. Public defence was out
of the question, as the wary savage would creep stealthily
from his ambush. As the men and boys were sweating
among the black logs, they would cast an eager glance
toward the dark forest, to see if these red-skinned marauders
were not advancing upon tliem. But with tlie darkness of
night came the most, fearful forebodings. Then, like the
wild beast of the forest, the Indian made his assault. So, on
retiring to rest, the doors were doubly barred, axes put with-
in, the musket loaded, the bayonet fixed, and the gun hung
where, at the least sound of approach, it could be seized in
the thickest darkness. But this gradually subsided. There
was no sound of war, no savage outbreak to justify these
fears or to brand this small dwindling tribe with any intend-
ed barbarities.

But before we ridicule these fears and sneer at the alarms
of tliose early settlers, let us put ourselves in their places,
and lionestly conclude what we should have done in such a
crisis. Bear in mind that the writer, thougli then in the
county, was too yoimg to be stricken with these fears.

THE COLD SBASONS.

The cold seasons mark an era, sadly memorable in the his-
tory of Piscataquis valley. The fertility of the soil none
doubted, its tall, sturdy, primeval growth conclusively
proved it. When these forests began to be broken, the
clearings were more frosty than more open lands in the same
latitude. .Up to 1815, the seasons were generally favorable,
and good crops were harvested, except the late planted, a
frequent event in new settlements.

New comers continually ari'iving called for quite a sur-
plus, and in this land of plenty, teams which came to move in
new settlers, were often loaded back with wheat, so abundant-
ly did these new lands produce it. But in 1815, a change

TUE COLD SEASONS. 229

«

Ciimo over all New England. In this portion, tlie corn
was all killed by an early frost, and other crops were seriously
diminished. With this, came hard times around those cab-
in door^. Many with large families had looked the hard-
ships of a new settlement in the face, to obtain bread more
easily, but dismayed by this failure, they knew not how to
"keep the wolf fr'om the door."

But the year 1816 was still colder. On the 29th and
80th days of May, snow fell to the depth of five niches.
From the sixth to the tenth of June, there were frequent
snow squalls, and every morning the surface of the ground
was found frozen. Every month through the summer, frost
wjis visible, and on the sixth of October, three inclies of
snow again fell. From this time, cold weather prevailed, and
an early winter came upon them. No com was raised this
year in any part of northern New England. In some por-
tions drought prevailed, but in this region there was an ex-
cess of rain as well as of cold. Early sowed rye and wheat
ripened, but much of that year's product was pinched, and po-
tiitoes came in light and watery. In 1817, but little com was
phintod, and that failed to get ripe„ but other crops were bet-
ter than those of the previous year. This summer there was
a great scarcity of provisions in all this new region. Corn
was nearly unknown. It could be brought from Bangor
only on horseback, and this was but rarely attempted.

Wheat sold for three dollars per bushel, rye for tyro dol-
lars, and potatoes for seventy-five cents. Some able bodied
men traveled six miles, and worked all day at reaping, to ob-
tain one peck of rye to carry back to thieir needy families.
And one peck of wheat per day was the common wages of
any laborer. Only those who cleared sunny slopes and
sowed early, were sellers, and they profited by their good
luck. Among these, Leonard Dearth of Sangerville was un-
usually successful, harvesting twenty-five acres of good
wheat in the coldest season. But he sold to the poorest and
the hungriest, at the highest price, and he did not round the
measure. Nor was he afterward more prosperous in his bus-
iness than others. He has recently died, aged eighty-eight.

230 HISTOBY OP PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

Many shifts and turns were made to arrest the cravings of
hunger. Raspberries grew in rich abundance, and these,
with a few morsels of bread, and the milk of their cows, con-
stituted the evening meal of many a sad^ weary and hungry
family. Others gathered certain kinds of weeds, clover
heads and nutritious plants, stewed them, and adding milk
and butter, fed upon them until they could secure some-
thing better.

The year 1818 was unusually warm and promising. A
large breadth of com .was planted, which ripened, and filled
these settlements with bread. Had not every bam, chamber
and barrel been absolutely empty, they would have been troub-
led to find room for it. The next winter, wheat sold in Ban-
gor for only seventy-five cents per bushel.

These cold seasons greatly retarded the settlement of this
county, and embarrassed thei pioneers, already here. Some
gave up their clearings, and returned to their former places
of residence. Others caught the Ohio fever, and, if able,
made their way westward. Others exhausted the means
wliicli they had brought to purchase land and put up build-
ings with, in supplying their needy families. This left them
poor, and for a long time they remained so.

Usually a fair crop of corn has been harvested in this
county. Early frosts occasionally injure it. In 1882 only,
since these cold seasons, has it been a complete failure, but for
several years following, it was an uncertain crop, and a less
amount planted. But now, if properly cultivated, it is as
sure here as in any part of northern New England.

Tlie winter of 1835 was unusually cold. More than once
the mercury sank to its freezing point, deep and drifting
snows were frequent, and they lingered long in the lap of
spring. On the first day of April, a solid mass of snow four
feet deep lay on the ground from Monson to Moosohead
Lake. Nor did it then soon waste. Tlirough that month,
there was sledding from Shirley to the lake. In the first
part of May, the weather was still cold, and the snows dis-
solved slowly. On the 25th day, banks of snow were still
lingering in open land, and ice still covered the mill-pond in

THE GREAT FIBB. 281

Sliirley. But that day was warm and summer-like. Before
the sun sank below the horizon, the snow-banks and ice dis-
appeared. It continued warm, an^ in four days the trees
were showing their opening leaves. Crops started and grew
rapidly, there was no killing frost, until the sixth of Sep-
tember, and a good harvest crowned the labors of the year.
After this, the seasons were more favorable.

THE GREAT FIRE.

The most severe and extensive calamity that ever befell
tliis county was the great fire of 1825. Previously the an-
nual rain-fall had been su Hie lent to secure good crops, and to
prevent extensive conflagrations. But in August and Sep-
tember of that year no rain fell, and a severe di'ought exten-
sively prevailed. The crops had grown and ripened. By
the beginning of October, the wells were without water, the
small mill streams had failed, the brooks ceased to flow, and
the fish gathered in the deep pools, or lay dead upon their
dry, stony beds. Much of the cleared land contained decay-
ing stumps, and was inclosed with log fences, while the stub-
ble upon the grain and mowing fields was tliick and rank,
and all as dry as tinder. Still those who were clearing up
new land, in their eagerness to burn off the fallen growth,
set fires as fearlessly as ever. And these fires did not go out,
but lingered and smouldered still. ^

In the evening of October 7th, after a still, smoky day, a
violent gale arose from the north and north-west, fanning
these smouldering fires into a furious and rushing blaze. In
the wood-lands the flames rolled on in solid column, while
tlie wind scattered the sparks and blazing fragments like
chaff, lighting up stumps, fences, and often the dry stubble.
Everybody was awake. Men and boys were hurried to the
earlier pouits of danger, but were soon summoned back to
fight the fire from their own threatened dwellings. Wooden
fences were torn down, if near buildings; back fires were set,
to singe off the stubble, and burn up stumps, when the fire
could be kept under control ; water was hauled from the living

232 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

fountains, to keep back the fiery deluge, and saye their homes
from devouring flames. Thus it was through that memora-
bly terrible night. As morning broke, the wind subsi-
ded, the fires lulled away, relieving the terror-stricken and
weary inhabitants. Then a dense and distressing smoke cov-
ered, the land, darkening the air beyond the limits of our
State. Near tlio firo this was i)ainful to the eyes, and so af-
fected tlie lungs that some of the cattle fell sick by it. For
more than a week this continued, then a slight fall of rain
dissipated the smoke and nearly extinguished the remaining
fire. Soon after, a heavy rain broke the drought and filled
the wells and streams.

Almost every man's wood-land had been burnt over, and
much of its growth killed ; large tracts of timber-land had
been severely injured ; and many buildings destroyed. In
Guilford, four sets of farm buildings well finished and fur-
nished, with all their contents, were destroyed; several in
Parkman shared the same fate, and others in several towns
were swept away. In Medford, the loss in pine and other
timber was heavy, but in other parts, the best timber land
was spared, though the fire had marked its way from Moose-
head I^akc across the county. None of the buildings de-
stroyed were insured, but help for the sufferers was widely
solicited, and liberally obtained, for many felt that they had
but just escaped a like serious disaster. Indeed, many houses
had been 'cleared of their contents, as their destruction seem-
ed inevitable, but a favorable change saved them. The
writer witnessed some of these scenes, and faced some of
these trials. They have not, they cannot, fade from his
memory.

A thrifty forest growth now succeeds those branchless,
blackened trunks left by the raging element; better fences
liavtw replaced those which then added fuel to the flame; other
buildings have arisen over the ashes of those demolished, for
nature and necessity are both reformers, and a full half cen-
tury rears up lasting monimients to remind us of its flight.

CHAPTER XXVII.

ECCLESIASTICAL SKETCHES.

•

Like all new settlements, this county in its incipient
stages of religious life and action, labored under two formid-
able dilTicultics. The greater i)art of its early settlers were
irreligious, and indifferent to the introduction and progress
of religious institutions; and while struggling with the
hardships unavoidable in pioneer life, i}; was easy to contin-
ue in the neglect of them. Again, when these settlements
were commenced, all the prevailing religious denominations
were in active existence. So those who professed religion
differed in sentiment, and could not readily amalgamate.
To combine in a union church or society, then, was less easy
than now. So the work was begun from without. Mis-
sionary societies sent the first preachers into these new parts,
and by their labors the first churches were planted. Such
societies then existed, and there were men of God willing to
press their way into these remote settlements, sometimes
traveling on foot, to preach Christ crucified to these back
settlers.

For convenience' sake, the subject will be pursued denom-
inationally, arranging the churches of each according to
their respective dates. We begin with the

CALVINIST BAPTIST.

Toward the close of 1807, Elder Thomas Macomber of
Sumner, and Elder Nathaniel Gould of Vassalborough, were
sent by the Baptist Missionary Society, on an exploring tour
into these frontier settlements. In Amestown, now Sanger-
ville, they found only thirteen resident families. Here they
16

234 HTSTOBY OP PISOATAQXnS COUNTY.

preached the word, an interest was awakened, and soon
twelve persons were ready to be organized into a Baptist
church. In January, 1808, one was duly organized, th§
first in the county. It rose in nunxbers to twenty-three
members, and eventually became connected with the Bow-
doinham Association.

Mr. William Oakes, already a member of the Canaan Bap-
tist church, was reclaimed from a back-slidden state, and not
long afterward was licensed to preach. He led their meet-
ings, and preached and attended funerals in the adjoining
settlements, and eventually, was ordained by a Council in
Canaan. An attempt was afterward made to vote him the
"minister lot" in Sangerville, but the town refused. Elder
Oakes again lapsed into various inconsistencies, was called
to account and suspoi\dcd from the ministry.. By this time,
this church in Amestown had been weakened by backslidings,
and difficulties had arisen among its members, it held no
regular meetings, and ordinances were abandoned, and it
was dropped from the Association and became extinct. It
might have been gathered too hastily, and some of its
materials evidently needed a careful scrutiny and a constant
watching not then readily enjoyed. It was in this church
that Daniel Ames, already ^uite conspicuous, had a standing,
but he never renewed his connection with any other.

Elder Oakes did not prove to be utterly graceless, but after
a few years of wandering, botli in faith and practice, returned
with professed penitence, and regained his standing in the
church and in the ministry. He labored as a temporary sup-
ply in various places, and often with apparent success, but
never was a permanent pastor.

GUILFORD.

From 1808, soon after Doa. Robert Herring moved into the
settlement, religious meetings were statedly held. Baptist
ministers early and frequently visited the place, and in 1813,
Elder Robert Low organized a church of thirteen members,
most of them dismissed from the Baptist church in New

iJArnsT. 235

Gloucester. This church held on its way and enjoyed a
healthy growth. Persons of this denomination who settled
in adjoining towns, sought a home in it until they were
ready to colonize and form one by themselves. In 1815, Elder
Thomas Macomber visited this people, and measures were
taken to settle him, and he received the minister's lot of 320
acres. He moved into the place in 1816. Soon after, a re-
vival was enjoyed, which strengthened the church. Again,
in 1827, an extensive revival prevailed, wliich brought many
into the church, increasing its membership to more than 100.
This was the most extensive, protracted and effective revival
this town has ever enjoyed. Its influence was felt for sev-
eral years, and many still survive who cherish a grateful rec-
ollection of it.

In the spring of 1831, this society raised a meeting-house,
the first in town, and dedicated it, July 4, 1833, Rev. R. C.
Spaulding preaching the sermon. In 1835, Elder Macomber
retired from his active pastorate, and afterward preached oc-
casionally in othei; places, as he was able. He had received
during his ministry, one hundred and eighteen persons to
the church. Aside from the "lot of land," and a share in
the annual income of a small ministerial fund, he received no
stipulated salary; but he labored, working with his own
hands, to provide for a^ large family, as Baptist ministers then
generally did.

Elder Macomber was not educated in the schools, but
was evidently taught of the Spirit. He was not a great
preacher, but a safe teacher, guide and overseer. Many
may excel him in the requii*ed qualifications for the pulpit
of the present times, who could well have sat at his feet for
lessons of thorough Christian experience. Through his mis-
sionary labors in other places, souls were converted and
foundations for other churches laid.

He remained in town till his last summons came, and died,
December 18th, 1852, aged seventy-eight, highly esteemed
for his every day piety. After Elder Macomber's retire-
ment, an educated ministry was sought and pecuniary sup-

236 HISTORY OF PISCATAQXnS COUNTY.

port was required. This church came up to this new de-
parture with commendable readiness. Elder D. E. Burbank,
a young man from Watervillc College, was the next per-
manent . supply, and his labors were cheered with conver-
sions and additions. But his health was poor, and after two
ycara he tendered his resignation, and in a few years closed
his earthly career in East Winthrop, dying at an early age.
Revs. Lucius Bradford, T. Goldthwaite, L. Kingman, O.
B. Walker, and others for a short period, from 1857 to 1873,
have supplied this church, dividing their labors with some
neighboring place.

Revs. C. M. Herring, A. J. Nelson and E. B. Haskell
were reared up in this church. It has passed through vari-
ous trialH, but always stood firm as a pilhir and ground of
the truth. Rev. J. F. Norris supplied it in 1878, and its
present membership is seventy-three, as reported in the min-
utes of 1879. Elder Norris left in 1879, and resumed mis-
sionary labors in Burmah, and this church is now destitute.

DOVEU, NOW SOUTH DOVER. •

This was organized, June 20th, 1818, consisting of six
members. In 1822, Elder Nathaniel Robinson moved into
town and became its pastor. He received one half the lot of
land reserved for the first settled miifister, and dwelt upon
it. Their place of meeting \vas in the Lambert neighbor-
hood. Tlie church grew under Elder Robinson's care, at
one time numbering more than seventy members. For sev-
eral years no other meeting was held in town, and the popu-
lation was steadily increasing. In 1834, Elder Robinson
closed his labors with this church, to engage in Bible dis-
tribution. Rev. J. F. Page succeeded him. A meeting-
house was built in 1838, and the church took the name of
South Dover. In 1826, a Free Baptist church was organized
in the same neighborhood and eventually purchased one
half of the meeting-house, and* they now alternate in the use
of it, each having preaching one half of the time. This

BAirriST, 287

church now reports a total of forty-four members. Elder
Robinson possessed very good native endowments, but was
not much indebted to early training. He was an easy, logical
speaker, a man of the positive, decided cast, in formmg, hold-
ing and expressing his opinions, more outspoken in declar-
ing his opposition to what he disapproved of, than his dis-
senting brethren always relished. He was quite an organ-
izer, well acquainted with human nature, having a good
share of worldly wisdom, and unavoidably influential. He
would make personal sacrifices for the cause of Christ, and
readily encourage any movement that promised good to Zion
or the elevation of dcpressc<l humanity. After closing his
ministry in Dover, he left tlie place, and eventually died, I
tliink, in Bangor, at a very old age.

PAUICMAN.

Many of the early settlers of this town were Baptists.
These united, as they scattered in, with the church in Guil-
ford. In August, 1818, eighteen peraons were formed into a
separate church, Joshua Cobiirn and Peter Cummings being
chosen Deacons. Mr. Zeniis Hall, who had been licensed by
the church in Guilford, was then supplying them, and
through his labors, a religious interest had been awakened.
He was invited to settle with them, and was ordained as
pastor, January 14th, 1811). Eventually he received the
minister lot, but by agreement relinquished a part of it to
the Universalists and Methodists. He was an industrious
man, an active citizen, an earnest preacher, and an exemplary
Christian.

No otlier meetings for several years were held in town, re-
vivals were frequent, and the church steadily increased. El-
der Hall obtained a greater influence over that people than
any other minister ever swayed in the county. At length
the temperance reform commenced, and his position and
course in regard to it has been stated in the history of Park-
man.

In December, 1831, they completed and dedicated a meet-

238 HISTORY OP PISCATAQXnS COUNTY.

ing-house, the second in the county, and a revival followed
its early occupancy.

Elder Hall continued to labor successfully with this people
until 1845, and then removed to Ohio. He left a church of
nearly two hundred members strongly attached to him. He
lived in the Western States until the Great Rebellion. His
visit to his early fiiends, and the change in his views have
been already given.

After Elder Hall's removal, the church obtained supplies,
but was never so prosperous, and steadily declined in its
membership. It enjoyed a revival last winter, and now re-
ports a total of sixty-eight, and sustains preaching one-half of
the time, the Free Baptist occupying their meeting-house the
other half.

SANGERVILLE.

This was organized in February, 1823, and Mr. Daniel
Bartlett from Hartford was ordained as its pastor. Revivals
ensued, and the church rose rapidly to a large memberahip.
Elder Bartlett's healtli failed, he was afflicted by the loss of
his wife, difficulties arose, and lie loft the place in 1827. In
1830, a meeting-house was raised at the village, but it was
not completed until 1835, and then it was owned in part by
other denominations. In 1831, another extensive revival
was enjoyed under th6 labors of Rev. Philip Chamberlain,
and the membership of the church rose to 120. Serious dif-
ficulties then arose in the church, discipline reduced its mem-
bership, and deaths and emigration carried off some of its
most substantial members. Rev. Atherton Clark was em-
ployed to supply it, in 1836, but the depletion still went on.
In 1839, a second church of eleven members was organized
in the south part of the town, and this reduced the old church
still more. It maintained woi-sliip a part of the time until
1847, and then it was dropped fi-om the Association. The
second church was always small, some of its members still
survive, but this, too, has been dropped from the Association,
making three Baptist churches which have existed, and be-

BAPTIST, 239

come extinct in this town, all falling by their internal diffi-
culties, and not from outward opposition.

ATKINSON AND MILTON.

Under the labors of Mr. Jonathan F. Page, a church was
organized in the east part of the town in the year 1825.
Mr. Page was ordained as an evangelist in 1830. It once
had thirty-four members, but now it is extinct. Rev. Alonzo
Bunker, a missionary to Burmah, was from Atkinson.

MONSON.

August 10, 1827, this church was organized, consisting of
fourteen members. It had occasional supplies until 1842,
when Rev. Lebbeus Kingman became its pastor. In 1845 it
built a meeting-house, and Rev. Lucius Bradford occupied it
for the next six years. In 1853 Rev. Dudley P. Bailey be-
came its pastor, preaching in other places one-half of the
time. He remained eighteen years. Since his removal it
has been supplied by several for short periods. Its present
number is 110, and Rev. E. C. Long is its pastor.

BLANCHARD.

In 1828, before the town was incorporated, a Baptist
church was organized. It resulted from the labors of Elders
Hall and Oakes. It was a hard field to enter and cultivate
in a religious sense, but this church once had more than 30
members. It soon began to decline, and in 1837 expired.

ABBOT.

This was organized in 1829. Soon after, a revival was en-
joyed, which increased this, and a Free Baptist church also.
Here Elder William Oakes, Joseph Hall and Samuel Tufts,
licentiates, preached the Word. This church once had forty-
two members. In 1840, it united with othera in building a
xmion meeting-house at the upper village, and had preaching
m it a portion of the time. For a few years past it has wor-
shiped with the Free Baptists, and has but thirteen members.

240 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

DOVER AND FOXCROFT.

In August, 1840, this church was organized, and after two
years, absorbed a small church previously existing in Fox-
croft. Rev. C. P. St.Clair was their first regular supply, and
Rev. O. B. Walker their first pastor, supplying firom 1843 to
1846. After him, Revs. S. Adlam, J. M. Follet (twice
engaged), C. M. Herring, A. D. F. Palmer, A. B. Pen-
dleton, E. A. Van Kleeck, S. P. Pendleton, C. M. Steadman
and George E. Tufts have been permanent supplies.

In 1843, they built and dedicated a meeting-house in Do-
ver village. This church has had a prosperous career, and
is the strongest of the order in tlie county. The strange and
tr]ring connection that this church had with C. M. Stead-
man, the imposter, will be learned from the account given of
him in a chapter furtlier on.

It has recently enjoyed the labors of Rev. J. H. Higgins,
a successful evangelist, a revival was experienced, and the
church is recovering jfrom its afflictions. It reported in 1879,
one hundred and one members.

MTLO.

This church was organized in 1840, starting with twelve
members. From the first it had preaching a portion of the
time. In 1853, it built a union meeting-house with the Free
Baptists and others, and still alternates with them in the use
6f it. Revs. Thomas Macombcr, A. G. Tibbets, M. Cross, A.
M. Piper, R. Noyes, F. J. Bickiiell and E. C. Long have sup-
plied this church, and it has enjoyed a healtliy growth, and
has sixty-two members.

GREENVILLE AND SHIRLEY.

This was organized by a missionary. Rev. O. B. Walker,
in 1843. It had only thirteen members when largest, and
after a few years became extinct.

BOWEllBANK.

A Baptist church was organized here in 1836, which once

CONGRKGATIONAL. 241

reported thirty members. It was connected with Piscata-
quis Association for a season, but now it. is extinct.

SEDEO.

A church of this order was organized at Sebec village, in
1886, consisting of twelve members. It had occasional
prcacliing and rose to tliirty nu^mbcrs. But it declined, and,
though some of its members still survived, it was dropped
from the Association. During the year 1878, it was re-or-
ganized, a pastor secured and a meeting-house (built by
the Congregationalists in 1837), obtained and repaired.
Its prospects are regarded as hopeful. It has seventeen
members, and Rev. H. Stetson is supplying it. Quite recent-
ly a revival has been enjoyed by this church, through the as-
sistance of Rev. J. H. Higgins. Expectations of good are
raised, but definite statements cannot now be given.

It appears from the above, that sixteen churches of this
order have been organized in this county. Eight have be-
come extinct, one, after a long suspension, has been rcorgjvn-
ized, and seven are now in an active, working state. G-iul-
ford church has survived the longest. Parkman has had the
largest number of members, four hundred and twelve in all,
previous to 1843, while Monson now has the highest total.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.
BROWNVILLB.

Brownville was the first organized. Rev. Hezekiah May
moved into this town in 1808, and was the first minister of
this order to enter the county. In 1814, he left the place.
• Mr. May graduated from Yale College in 1793. Between
1800 and 1805, he supplied the church in Bath for one year.
After he left Brownville, liis residence is not known.

Rev. Jolni Sawyer tlien came and succeeded him in the
same labors. At length Mr. Sawyer left, and missionaries
visited the settlement occasionally. One of these, a Mr.
Welch from Bangor Seminary was very acceptable, and dur-
ing liis visit in 1818, quite a religious interest was awakened.

242 HISTOBY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

In the previous summer, Miss Caroline Pillsbury, from
Newbiiryport, Mass^ taught school in this town, and gath-
ered the children into a Sunday-school, the second attempt-
ed in this county. On the 25th of August, 1819, a council
convened, and organized a Congregational church, consisting
of eight male and three female members. In October fol-
lowing, Rev. J. Sawyer spent a Sabbath with this churcli,
and administered the Lord's supper to it for the first time.

In 1824, the church took measures to secure a permanent
pastor, and they proceeded in the old-time way. A legal
town meeting was called to concur with the church in in-
viting Rev. N. W. Sheldon from Bangor Seminary, to be-
come their pastor. The town concurred, voting him the
minister lot, the whole income of the ministerial fund, and
$150 per annum, to be paid from the town treasury, as long
as he remained their minister.

A similar occurrence cannot be found in the county or ia
northern Maine. The town paid this amount, and som6times
raised more, for the nine years that Mr. Sheldon served them
in the pastoral office. He was ordained, June 2, 1824,
Revs. II. Loomis, T. Williams, M. Blood, and Prof. John
Smith, officiating as the ordaining council. He was
dismissed, March 2, 1833. In 1824, a Sabbath-school
was re-established, and it has continued to the present time.
Mr. Elisha Johnson and Dea. Jonah Thomas were its earliest
superintendents. May 21, 1834, Rev. Henry Richardson was
installed as its second pastor. He continued till January 12,
1838. Before his ministry commenced, a Methodist meeting
had been established, and the. Congregational society had suf-
fered losses. Father Sawyer saw distinctly that the building
of a meeting-house was essential to its life and prosperity.
It was undertaken, and carried through successfully. It was
completed and dedicated, Sept. 25, 1839, Rev. Elias Wells
preaching the sermon. From 1822 to that date, a meeting
of some kind had been held in the village school-house, every
Sabbath, not excepting the most stormy. In the afternoon
of Sept. 25th, Mr. William S. Sewall was ordained as the

CONGREGATIONAL. 243

«

tliird p«istor of this church, Rev. Robert Page preaching the
ordination sermon. Soon after, a parsonage was purchased,
and forever secured to the parish so long as its ministers
preach the orthodox doctrines as stated in the Assembly's
Catechism. . •

In the early part of Mr. Sewall's ministry, the slate quar-
ries were opened. This increased the population, though
many of the immigrants wjere Welslimen. He remained as
pastor till June 3, 1863. Then, for about four years, they
had occasional supplies. Nov. 9, 1867, Rev. L. S. Coan was
engaged as stated supply, and continued for the next three
years. Up to this time tliis [icoplo had been aided by the
Maine Missionary Society, but then they ceased to receive it.
During his labors a revival added a large number to the
churcli. He was a widower when he came to the place, and
married a. daugliter of Rev. I. E. Wilkins. He left the
church in a not very harmonious state. Mr. Coan obtained
some notoriety as a public reader, lecturer and author, but
died tlie past summer in Alton, N. H. Rev. C. L. Nichols
came to this people in July, 1871, and was installed pastor
Feb. 20, 1872. At this date the church numbered 139. It
has increased by a steady, promising growth, to 170, though
revei*ses in business have caused many removals. Recently,
1880, it has enjoyed a pleasant revival.

Lemuel Shepley and Francis Brown were the first chosen
to this office. Dea. Shepley joined the church in Milo, in
1829, thereby vacating the office, and Jonah Thomas was
elected to fill his place. He and Dea. Brown retained it un-
til their deaths in 1854. Then Gilman Ryder and Zadoc
Waterhouse were chosen, but both were removed by death
in 1857. Charles Page and George E. Wilkins were chosen
in 1858. Dea. Wilkins removed in 1869, and Samuel A.
Smith was chosen. Ho and Doa. Page still remain in office.
It should here be noted that Rev. I. E. Willdns, a son of
Dr. Wilkins, was a native of Brdwnville. After preaching
acceptably in several places, his health failed, and, in 1841,
he returned to Brownville and practiced medicine till his

244 HISTOBY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

death in 1848. His widow and some of their children still
reside in town.

In the spring of 1875, this people repaired their house of
worship. As the Penobscot county conference was organ-
ized in Brownville, January 11th, 1825, this and also Aroos-
took and Piscataquis conferences, formerly embraced in Pen-
obscot, met here to celebrate its semi-centennial in June
18T5. The review of half a century of evangelizing labors
recalled much that was encouraging, though not without
some reverses.

A few of the Brownville people who were present at the
first meeting, still survived to take part in this. But their
hoary heads spake affectingly of the past. Not one of the min-
isters or delegates who brought this conference into being
was then alive, but their labors and their memory lived in
the grateful recollections of those who once sat at their feet,
and who now succeed them.

MONSON.

In the first colony which came from Massachusetts to this
town, tlicro were scvcnil active Clu-istians who wcvo Congre-
gationalists. There were already there some of this, and also
some of the Baptist, denomination. .With one accord they
established a meeting upon the first Sabbath after this colo-
ny arrived. These meetings were conducted by the breth-
ren, with occasional help from visiting clergjrmen. Father
Sawyer soon made this a new outpost in his diocese, visited
it, and prepared the way for organizing a church.

On the 11th of August, 1821, a council convened, consist-
ing of Rev. J. Sawyer, a delegate from the church in Brown-
ville, Rev. J. Peet and delegate, and organized a church of
eight members. Abel Goodell and Lucius Hyde were chosen
deacons, both having held this office in Massachusetts. All
who attended that council from other places rode on horse-
back. The deep mire was*covcrcd over with fir and spruce
boughs. One woman rode in this manner, from Guilford,
another, from Harmony. Mr. Sawyer taught school there

CONGKEOATIONAL. 245

tlie next winter, and preached on the Sabbath. Students
from Bangor Seminary frequently visited this church. In
1823 and 1824, Mr. Henry White spent six months with
them. In the autumn of 1824, Mr. Lot Rider from Bangor
Seminary began to labor with them. By this time the church
had been increased, and he was invited to become theu* pas-
tor. On the 9th of March, 1825, he was ordained by a coun-
cil in wliich were the following clergymen, to wit, Rev.
Messrs. Fargo, Peet, Williams, Sheldon, and Prof. Smith of
the Seminary. The public services were held in Capt. Whit-
ney's barn. His career was short, but of much promise. In
a pleasant revival he was stricken down with sickness, and
died September 23, about six months after liis ordination,
leaving a deeply afflicted people.

They had occasional supplies till the fall of 1827. Rev.
Anson Hubbard then came, and was installed January 15th,
1828. The public services were held in Dea. L. Hyde's
wood-house. It will hardly seem credible to us now that a
good meml^cr .of the church would not have the meeting in
his dwelling-house, after he had fully prepared it, because
he was refused a license to sell spirits. But before five
years, he was a pledged and active temperance man.

In 1831, there was a revival enjoyed, wliich brought a
good addition into the chmxh. This year they finished
and dedicated a house of worship, the first completed in this
county.

After a stay of six yeai*s, Mr. Hubbard found it conven-
ient to retire, and was dismissed August 19th, 1834.

In the spring of 1835, Mr. John Baker came from Andover
Seminary, to supply them for a few weeks. He was accept-
able to the people, and continued to supply through the sum-
mer, having transferred his relation to Bangor Seminary.

September 15th, 1835, he was ordained pastor . of this
church. Rev. John Maltby of Bangor preachmg the sermon.
Revs. H. Sewall, T. Williams, S. S. Drake, H. Richardson,
Silas Baker and J. Maltby were members of this council.
Mr. Baker was an esteemed and successful minister, but his

246 . HISTORY OF PISOATAQXnS COUNTY.

poor health constrained him to sever his connection with
them. He was dismissed May 15th, 1839. Previous to this,
removals, in part occasioned by the Kidder swindle, had re-
duced the membership and resources of this church.

In the summer of 1841, Rev. H. Ilsley visited the place
and was installed as pastor, October 12th of that year. He
continued there with a good degree of success till Oct. 18th,
1855. He then went to Illinois, and there lost his wife and
eight children, all drowned in one night by the bursting of a
railroad embankment in a great freshet which completely
demolished their dwelling.

Rev. R. W. Emerson was the next pastor. He was in-
stalled May 6th, 1866, and dismissed May 4th, 1858. He
has remained in town and done good service in supplying
feeble and destitute churches in the vicinity. For the next
four years they had occasional supplies only. May 27th,
1860, their meeting-house was laid in ashes, in the great fire,
and rebuilt the next summer. For five years, beginning
Dec. 18, 1862 and ending in 1867, Rev. H. S. Loring was
acting pastor, preaching one half of the time in Blanchard.
For a season after he left, they had occasional supplies only.

Rev. A. H. Tyler formerly from this church, became act-
ing pastor in July, 1870, and continued till 1877. The
church increased during his labors. Rev. G. W. Jones en-
. tered this field May, 1878, and is now the acting pastor.
Its present membership is ninty-seven.

POXCROFT A!^D DOVER.

The first settlers of these towns were not like the Pilgrim
Fathers, and religious meetings were not early attempted.
The first was in the summer of 1809, and this, at the instiga-
tion of Col. J. E. Foxcroft, in which Mrs. William Mitchell
bore an important part, as already noticed. Soon after this,
Rev. John Sawyer began to visit this place in his pioneer
work, and several persons were hopefully converted. As
early as 1814, some of these united with the church in Gar-
land. About this time a regular Sabbath meeting was estab-

OONGUlcaATIONAL. 247

lishcd at the town-house in Foxcroft village, conducted when
no minister was present, by the brethren. The number of
believers increased, and the Lord's Supper was occasionally
administered to them. Some time during these labors, an
account of a Christian woman who had gathered a few chil-
dren to instruct them from the Bible, caught the eye of Mr.
Sawyer. lie asked: Why may it not be done here? Mrs.
Nathan Car pcnter ventured upon the experiment. A class
met at her house that summer, and she, it should be said,
established the first Sunday-school in the county, in 1816 or
1817.

In 182 0, Rev. Tliomas Williams began to visit this place,
and his labors were very acceptable. In due time measures
were t{iken to retain him permanently. Up to this time, all
the Congregatronalists residing in Foxcroft, Dover, Sanger-
ville and Guilford were connected with the Garland church.
These persons United in a request to be set off, as a distinct *
church. They also extended a formal invitation to Mr. Wil-
liams to become their pjistor. A town meeting also was
called in Foxcroft, to see if the town would concur, and vote
him the reserved lot of land. It did so concur, voting him
"the minister lot," and the entire income of the ministerial
fund, but pledged no specified salary. Mr. Williams return-
ed an aflBnnative reply, in which he manifested a humble,
but honorable Christian spirit. ^

On the 30th of December, 1822, Rev. Messrs. Sawyer and
Williams organized these eighteen dismissed members into
the Foxcroft and vicinity Congregational church. Jan. 1,
1823, the installing council convened. Rev. Jonathan Fisher
came on foot all the way from Bluehill, to attend it. Rev.
M. Blood from Bucksport, Rev. H. Loomis, Dea. Pike and
Prof. Smith from Bangor, Rev. J. Pcct and Dca. Ileald from
Norridgewock, and Rev. John Sawyer were also present. At
tliat time an ordination attracted a large assembly. It was
foreseen that the old school-house would not contain it, so
Blake's old "still-house" was fitted up for the occasion. Its
fires for distilling purposes had been long extinct, and the
building had been turned to better uses.

24^ HisTOKr OF nacAZAQCis cocstt.

Mr. WiUimia reeeiTed miaBOiuuy aul, and speot a port of
hia time in SongerrilLe and Seb«c. The chmck had a steady
inoreade. Afrer the acaJemj was bailu his meetings were
held in thac In Janoarr. 1S29« this chorch adopted a total
abetinence sole for icaell and for incoming members. In
1S'31« quite a reTi^al was enp^yed. which increased the
church. In 133S, it boilt a house of wondiipw which vr.is dedi-
cated Jan. 21, 1S34. The Penobscot Coontj Conference
con tinned the serrices. The weather was extremely cold^
the stoTes standing in the entrj at the north end were kept
intensely hot, and commonicated fire to the partition. ^The
wind droTC the flames directly np into the bel&y, and, with-
out an engine* it was impossible to save it, and soon that
beautiful house was laid in ruins. It was full of people when
the fire took. They hurrieil out without injury, gazed upon
the destructiye element with the deepest sadne^ss, and then
« gathered in a priTate dwelling, and closed as usual, by cele-
brating the Lord*s supper. This was a serious misfortune
to that struggling people. But though cast down they were
not discouraged. Mr. Williams applied to other churches
for aid, and found a ready response. The next summer
another house was erected on a more eligible spot. Then in-
ternal difficulties arose in the church. Mr. Williams tender-
ed his resignation, but the first council caUed declined to
dismiss him. This was soon after thought advisable, and his
pastoral relation was terminated, April 3, 1835, having con-
tinued more than twelve years. He left many tried and last-
ing friends in that place and in the vicinity.

Mr. Williams was grave, affable and sympathizing; a
learned, sound and devout man ; an able preacher, a faithful .
past^ir. During his ministry two colonies were set off to
form new churches, but more than one hundred still re-
mained connected with the church when he left.

For the next two years, they had occasional supplies, one
of which was llev. John Turner. Mr. Elias Wells from Ban-
gor Seminary 8i)ent a few weeks here, in the spring of 1887,
and, in November following, was ordained as pastor. He re-
mained about five years, and was then dismissed.

CONOBEOATIONAL. 249

Rev. Wooster Parker succeeded him, and was installed,
Nov. 10th, 1842. During his stay Mayo's factory was built,
and the population of the village was much increased.

On the night of Oct. 21, 1850, the second meeting-house
was burnt, and it was not thought to be accidental. With a
little aid from abroad, the present church edifice was erect-
ed on another lot, and dedicated Oct. 22, 1851, Rev. E.
Pond D.D. preaching the sermon. The church made a de-
cided advance in numbers and resources during Mr. Parker's
labors, which continued till Sept. 9, 1856. Rev. Edward S.
Palmer was next settled, Oct. 12, 1857. A revival was en-
joyed and a large addition made to the church, but old divis-
ions lingered, and, after one year, he left. Rev. Calvui
Chapman began his labors with them in the summer of 1859,
and continued with them till 1862.

Rev. Walter Darling was their next pastor, ordained May
28, 1862, but he left the field after two years, his health fail-
ing. Rev. Benjamin G. Chase succeeded him in April, 1864.
He w.as installed, and continued in pleasant and successful
labor till his lamented death, Oct. 13th, 1868.

Rev. John H. Gurney was the next pastor. His labors ex-
tended from September, 1869 to April, 1875. Mr. H. A.
Loring was next called to this pastorate, when completing
his studies at Bangor Seminary. He was ordained June 8,
1875, Professor Barbour of Bangor Seminary projicliing
the sermon, and A. Lorbig, his father, giving the charge.
That summer a convenient chapel for vestry purposes was fin-
ished, at a cost of nearly $4000, three fourths of it being paid
by the late Deacon Mayo. The next year, the meeting-house
was extensively repaired, its seating capacity increased, a
lofty steeple erected, in which a town clock was placed. A
good degree of religious interest has prevailed quite a
portion of the hist three years, and the church has increased
in numbers and strength. Its present membership, 1879, is
two hundred and forty-seven.

As these pages are going through the press, this church

and people are preparing to receive the Maine General Con-
17

250 HISTOBT OF nSCATAQXnS OOUHTT.

ference of Congregational Chnrches. It is to meet June 15l
1880. It will be the first time that this large and intelligent
body has ever met in this eoontj, and an interesting and
profitable meeting is anticipated.

SAKOEBYILLE.

In August, 1828, the members of the Foxcroft and Dover
Congregational church, residing in Sangerville, Guilford and
Parkman, were dismissed and organized into Sangerrille Con-
gregational church. Rey. Henry Sewall had removed into
town, and he supplied it, preaching a part of the time at
Guilford village. It incr^ised' slowly, and, in 1841, Rev.
Cliarles Duren was ordained as joint pastor over this and the
church in Abbot. After two years he left From this time
it had but occasional preaching until 1847, then Rey. Euse-
bins Hale spent his time with the destitute churches in the
vicinity, and preached in Sangerville a part of it. He,
too, left this field, and in 1857, Rev. J. A. Perry preached to
them a part of the time. After his death. Rev. FL W. Emer-
son was occasionally with them. This feeble church remind-
ed the Maine Missionary Society of its existence, by its regu-
lar contributions, but it was suffered to go unsupplied, yes,
to languish and decline.

Rev. Henry Sewall continued to reside in this town until
his death, in June, 1850. He was then in his seventy-ninth
year. He was a self-taught man, but very logical, clear and
methodical as a sermonizer. He knew the doctrines and
grace of our I-iord Jesus Christ, and exhibited them in word
and in life. In prayer he- was able and eloquent, mingling
adoration, praise, supplication and confession of sin, express-
ing them largely in well chosen scripture, in a reverent, sol-
emn and earnest manner. But in selecting the best
thoughts and phrases, he was led into a sameness not always
relished by constant attendants upon his ministry. Nor was
his sound, faithful preaching appreciated by the masses.
But the rewards of heaven may more than supply what an
erring world withheld, for verily sUch do not lose their re-
ward.

C0N6BEGATI0NAL. 251

This church was organized, May 6, 1829. Its first mem-
bers were dismissed from the church in Brownville. For
a season it enjoyed the labors of the Brownville pastor, a
small part of the time. It had a severe trial through the
defection of its senior deacon, still \t has had several valua-
ble members. Death and emigration reduced its numbers,
and now it is extinct.

BLANCHABD.

Several Congregational families moved into this town aft-
er Blanchard and Davee purchased it. March 13, 1833, a
churcli of eleven members was organized. Rev. A. Hub-
bard from Monson preached for them one-half of the time.
In 1834, Mr. S. S. Drake from Bangor Seminary spent a
Sabbath with them, and as a result, seven persons weje
hopefully converted. He was invited to settle with them,
and was ordained in a hall over Blanchard & Davee's store,
October 15, 1834, Dr. Pond preaching the sermon. He re-
mained three years. Blanchard & Davee built a meeting-
house at their own expense, but sold pews to all who wished
to purchase.

In 1849, Rev. J. A. Perry became their acting pastor, but
spent a portion of his time in other places. He resided with
them ten years, but his dwelling-house was destroyed by fire,
and he afterward left. They then shared one-half of the la-
bors of the Monson ministers. This church is still struggling
on, securing preaching a part of the time, and conducting ser-
vices and a Sabbath-school when destitute. It has recently
repainted and repaired its house of worship, making some
desirable improvements. Rev. R. W. Emerson spends a part
of his Sabbaths in supplying them, and their motto is, " faint,
though pursuing." It now reports fifty-one members.

WILLIAMSBUBG.

This was organized September 29, 1830, consisting of seven
members. Rev. Joseph Underwood took the pastoral charge

252 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

of it, being installed, October 16, 1833. He preached one-half
of the time in Sebec. Additions were made to it, increasing
it to twenty in all, but removals soon weakened it. After
two years' stay Mr. Underwood left, and the church and peo-
ple united with Brownville church. Its members have all
passed away, and the church is extinct.

SEBEC.

Its organization was, October 15, 1833. It secured preach-
ing by yoking with Williamsburg and afterward with Brown-
ville. In 1835, it built a meeting-house, aided largely by
other Congregational churches in the County Conference.
It also, received missionary aid. But it made only small
progress, and now is virtually extinct. The Baptists have
obtained possession of the meeting-house, repaii*ed it, and
now occupy it.

ABBOT.

February 2, 1841, a church of eight members was organ-
ized at Abbot village, and Rev. C. Duren took the pastoral
charge of it. After he left, it had supplies from Foxcroft,
Mouson and Blanchard a part of the time. Its membership
increased to twenty, but it declined and became nearly ex-
tinct. In November, 1875, it was reorganized as a union
church, but became connected with Piscataquis County Con-
ference. Rev. A. Redlon labored with it, and a pleasant re-
vival strengthened it. He solicited aid to help build a neat
and convenient house of worship, which is furnished with a
musical instrument and bell. It was dedicated October 10,
1876, Rev. Smith Baker of Lowell preaching the sermon.
The Piscataquis County Conference continued the services.
This church is struggling on, now having a membership of
thirty-two, although it has been reduced by removals. In
tlie autumn of 1878, Mr. Redlon left, and students from Ban-
gor Seminary have supplied the pulpit. It now shares the
labors of Rev. Mr. Jones of Monson.

CONGBBGATIONAL. 553

ATKINSON.

This was organized, March 2, 1842. It had only a par-
tial supply, was always small, and is now reduced to a few
members. Rev. Luther Keene, lately deceased in Franklin,
Mass., was reared up as a member of this church.

GRBBNVILLB.

Methodist and Baptist ministers early visited this place
and formed churches, but they soon expired. Rev. R. W.
Emerson also preached here in the summer of 1858, and the
people united in building a house of worship. This was
completed and dedicated December Ist, 1859. Rev. E. B.
Webb D.D. of Augusta preaching the sermon. Occasional
services were held by various preachers for several years.

Li 18G8, James Cameron, a landscape painter, a pious
laymen of the Presbyterian church, visited the lake and was
so captivated with its picturesque scenery that he resolved to
settle there. His next move was to re-establish a religious
meeting, which he conducted with so much interest and abil-
ity that it was unusually full and attentive. He was soon
licensed to preach. A religious interest was awakened and
several persons hopefully converted. As they differed in
sentiment upon non-essential points, a union church was or"
ganized, December 5th, 1869, and Mr. Cameron was ordained
as an evangelist. Tliis cliurch also joined the Piscataquis
Congregational Conference. Mr. Cameron soon left for oth-
er fields of labor, but not till he had made successful efforts
' to secure a bell for the meeting-house. After a few occasion-
al supplies. Rev. Charles Davison, a member of the church in
Monson, who had been already ordained, became theii* acting
pastor and still sustains that relation. This frontier church
occupies an important position. It leads all othei*s, consider-
hig its iiumbcrs, in its benevolent contributions. It grows
modcriitoly, and has now forty-six members. A recent re-
vival will probably strengthen it.

254' HISTOBY OF PISOATAQXnS COUNTY.

FREE BAPTIST.
SEBEG.

This order of Christians at an early date began their efforts
in Atkinson and Sebec. About 1810, quite a religious excite-
ment prevailed in Sebec, undier the labors of Elder Jesse Burn-
ham and others, and a church was organized, the date of which
is lost. Then, high and wild excitement was auned at and pa-
tient endurance did not always follow. Tliis church became
extinct. Elder Asa Burnham, ordained 1810, moved into Se-
bec, and another church was formed. Elder Burnham re-
ceived the minister lot, and labored faithfully with them un-
til his strength failed, but he remained, and died tliere in
1852. At times this churcli has had a large membership.
In 1837, they attempted to build a meeting-house near the
center of the town, but failing to finish it, they asked the
town eventually to complete it, and afterward it was used
for a town-house and meeting-house.

In 1861, mainly through the exertions of Elder G. Lord,
a union house was erected at Chase's comer, by the Free
Baptists and Christians, and this is stQl occupied. Of late
this church has decfined in its strength and has but twelve
members. This and the following numbers are as reported
in the Register of 1880. Recently a new interest promises
to recruit this ancient church, and new members have already
been received.

ATKINSON.

Elder Jesse Burnham early preached in this town, and, aft-
er him, Elder Nathaniel Harvey. He was ordained in 1819,
but a church was not organized until later. Elder Leonard
Hathaway, ordained in 1826, resided in this town after that
date, and the church was divided for a season, but finally re-
united. In 1840, a union meeting-house was built. The
Methodists and Free Baptists now occupy it alternately.
The. Free Baptist church now numbers ninety-six, and is
supplied one-half of the time by Elder Thomas Kinney.

FBEE BAPTISX. 255

SOUTH DOVBB.

This was organized in 1826. It has secured preaching
a part of the time, and has made steady progress. It now al-
ternates with the Calvinist Baptists in the use of the meet-
ing-house, and has a membership of sixty. Elder O. W.
Bridges supplies it.

MILO.

This was formed in 1827. It united with others in build-
ing the meeting-house at the village, in 1853, and sus-
tains preaching one-half of the time. Of late it has made
good progress, and hj\8 forty-seven members. Rev. F. A.
Palmer is for the present their stated supply.

WELLINGTON.

Elder Ephraim Johnson, ordained 1822, moved into Wel-
lington in 1826, and began to preach there. * The next year,
a church was organized. It held on its way for some time.
In 1840, they built a meeting-hoiise in the south-west part of
the town. Eventually the Associational Baptists (Buzzel-
lites), came in, and this church united* with them. The
meeting-house is now occupied by the Methodists a part of
the time.

ABBOT.

In 1829, this church was organized. Elders Leonard
Hathaway and Abner Coombs labored with it. A revival
prevailed and the church was strengthened. Mr. Abner
Coombs, while a member of this church, was ordained and
went to another field. He died in Wisconsin, in March, 1880.
In 1840, it united in building a union meeting-house at the
upper village, and secured preaching a portion of the time.
Elder O. Bartlett was reared up in this church. It has a
varied history, somethnes sinking low, sometimes prospering.
Recently, through the labors of Rev. E. G. Eastman, it has
prospered. They have repaired the union meeting-house,
and now this people occupy it. It now has forty-nine mem-
bers, a part of which are from North Guilford.

256 HISTORY QF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

SANGBRVILLB.

This church was organized in 1829 or 1830. It has held
on its way, worshiping in a school-house at Gilman's Corner.
Rev. B. S. Gerry supplies it one-half of the time. It now
has sixty-three members.

Sangerville Second Church. This was organized in the
south-west part of the town. It was always small, but has
preaching one-half of the time. Elder O. W. Bridges Sup-
plying it. It now has tWenty-six members.

PABKMAK.

A Free Baptist church was planted here several years
since. It held its meetings in the west part of the town.
It has had a steady growth. Rev. E. G. Eastman has sup-
plied it a part of the time, but has recently left these parts.
This church numbers forty-one, and is supplied one-half the
time by Elder J. Hillman.

MEDFORD.

This church was organized recently. It is small, and has
preacliing one-half the time. It has never had a meeting-
house, and is now unsupx)lied. It reports eleven niombers.

DOVER AND FOXCROFT VILLAGB.

This church was organized in the north-west part of Fox-
croft, by Elder A. Coomb's efforts, about 1830. Several years
later it joined with others at the village, and worshiped in
the court-house. In 1850, it united with the Methodist, and
built its present house of worship. In 1858, it wixs much en-
larged by a revival under Elder Moses Ames' labors. They
then became sole owners of the meeting-house, and continue
to occupy it alone. It has had its trials, but now is in a har-
monious and prosperous state. Revs. William H. Littlefield,
A. Rcdlon, M. II. Tarbox, Horace Graves and others have
supplied it since Elder Ames left. Rev. S. C. Whitcomb, a
graduate of Bangor Seminary, is its present acceptable pastor.
Its membership is one hundred and eleven. It has recently
enjoyed a revival.

HBTHODIST. 267

The above sketches are brief and meagre, not intentional-
ly, but for want of reliable data.

Elders J. and A. Burnham, N. Harvey, E. Johnson, L.
Hathaway, A. Coombs and M. Ames are remembered as the
past ministers who pioneered the way and founded these
earlier churches.. They have all departed, leaving their
work to succeeding leaders.

With departed years, times, customs and practices
have changed, changed for the better, in no class of Chris-
tians moTQ than in this. A laudable emulation to improve
has long existed. Education is now approved of as a valua-
ble aid to piety in the minister of the word; a teaching, as
well as a preaching ministry is found necessary to healthy
and abiding progress. As a denomination they have made
commendable advances, and may larger measures still open
before them.

The Association Baptists have several preachers in Wel-
lington, and one in Parkman, Elder William King, and two
churches in Wellington, and one in Kiugsbuiy, but
no printed reports of them have fallen in my way, and I can
not safely write up their history.

METHODISTS,

The pioneers of Methodism early penetrated these settle-
ments, practicing a broad range of itineracy. They tra-
versed the whole length of the county, looking up their isola-
ted members, forming classes, and preaching at long inter-
vals in various school-houses.

Elders Oliver Beal (afterward Presiding Elder), Mr.
Robbins, Isaac Lord, William Withee, Hotchkiss and Dow
were the earlier of these circuit riders. Soon this long cir-
cuit, which extended from Mooschead Lake to Howland, was
divided, all below Dover being committed to one, and all above
it, to another traveling preacher. At Exeter, the nearest camp-
meeting was hel^, and tliither many repaired to reap the ben-
efits of that peculiar institution. In most of these towns,
classes were formed, centers of influence revealed themselves,
and the different charges began to take form, varied by the

258 HISTOBY OF PIBCATAQXnS COUNTY.

flight of years. For instance, once Methodism was quite
prominent in Parkman, Wellington, Shirley, Greenville and
in East Sangerville, but it has faded, and only a small rem-
nant remains in these locations.

Guilford village was early occupied. Their numbers in-
creased, and in 1834, they united with the Universalists in
building a meeting-house. FOr several years they occupied
this one-half of the time.

At that date, a camp-meeting was held for several years
on the border of Sangerville, near by, which tended to in-
crease their strength. They have had their vicissitudes, —
some years have passed without preaching, and other denom-
inations occupied their meeting-house, and some have been
seasons of success.

Recently the Guilford .village charge has grown to fair
proportions. It embraces the Methodist people in Guilford,
Sangerville, Abbot and Parkman. Its preacher spends one-
half of each Sabbath at Sangerville village. In 1872, they
built a new meetmg-house, of which they have exclusive
possession, and abandoned the union house. The membership
of this whole charge in 1879 numbered one hundred and
twenty-four.

Bro WNVTLLB was another center for that part of the county,
from which the surrounding towns were visited and in which
occasional preaching was kept up. In 1839, they built a
meeting-house near the present slate quarry, and, after sev-
eral years, moved it to its present location, nearer the vil-
lage. The minister in charge now supplies Milo also, and
both places niunber one hundi*ed and fifty-five members.

Dover was first entered in the south part of the town, in
1832. In the winter of 1834, a revival occurred and greatly
increased their numbers. This induced J. Merrick Esq., the
proprietor of the town, to build them a meeting-house on
Bear hill, at a cost of $1200. He gave this, and twenty
acres of land for a parsonage lot, to the Bear hill society, in
1835. As the village made rapid advances, meetings were
held there also. In 1850, they built a meeting-house with
the Free Baptists, using it alternately. In 1858, a powerful

mnvEBSALisT. 269

revival pervaded the place and added many to all the church-
es. The Methodists then sold their share in the union
meeting-house to the Free Baptists, and worshiped for a sea-
son in the court-house. Meanwhile they built a large, sub-
stantial brick cKurch at a cost of $4500, including a bell,
completing it in 1860. A lofty spire surmounts it. The
East Maine Conference met in this house, May 7th, 1879,
Bishop R. B. Foster presiding.

Near Bear hill, camp-meetings have been held at two dif-
ferent times, with usual success. This station is included
in this charge. Its total membership is one hundred and
twenty.

Atkinson received more or less labors from the traveling
ministers, and classes were formed there. A preacher is us-
ually stationed there, who labors a portion of the time in
East Bradford, or some other place. It now reports, in both
places, one hundred and six members.

Sbbec has also been partially supplied. In the year 1878,
they built (^ small place of worship at the village, and now have
a constant supply. Barnard and Bowerbank are connected
with this charge. It now reports thirty-eight members.

The Methodist churches in this vicinity are purchasing a
lot near Foxcroft village for a permanent camp-meeting site.
Hereafter it will be held here annually.

UNIVERSALISTS.

Rev. Sylvanus Cobb and other preachers early visited
these new towns, preaching here and there^ and spending a
few Sg-bbatlis, and many gathered to hear them. Rev.
William Frost was the first to make a permanent abode in
this county. He moved into Dover, in 1822 or 1828, but
preached a part of the time in Guilford, Sangcrville and
Parkman. He was chosen to important town oflSces in Do-
ver, and esteemed higlily for his integrity, but after some
five or six years' stay removed to Dexter, and thence to
Franklin County.

In 1828, Mr. Barnabas Burseley commenced preaching a
modified Universalism, now quite extensively held by Uni-

260 HISTOBY OF PI80ATAQUI8 COUNTY.

versalists. After a few years, though highly respected, he
voluntarily laid down this work.

About 1829, Elder A. A. Richards moved into Parkman,
but preached over a wide circuit. He had a slight impedi-
ment in his speech, but was a strong disputant, apt and sar-
castic. ' At a certain funeral service in Guilford village,
which ho conducted. Elder I. Lord, a Methodist, was invited
to take part. He assented, but cut rather harshly into senti-
ments already expressed. This brought out a challenge for
a public discussion. It was accepted, and at the appointed
time a large assembly convened in Mr. A. Martin's bam, to
hear the disputants. Though Elder Richards was the chal-
lenger, he insisted on having the last hour or none, thus
gaining the inside track. The debate then proceeded. At
its close, each was hailed as victor by his own sympathizers.
Uncommitted persons were not unobservant of skillful ar-
guments, reasonable retorts, and conscientious attachments
to imbibed principles, but went away feeling that Universal-
ism and Methodism must be tried by their own merits still.
In 1836, Elder Richards moved to Milo, and continued there
until his death, a few years since.

Meanwhile societies were forming. In 1833, a Universal-
ist meeting-house was raised in Dover village, and completed
the next year. In Guilford they built with the Methodists,
owning the larger part. Soon after they obtained a share in
the house in Sangerville village. At this time there were
several preachers in the county, constant meetings kept up in
various places, and some churches of that order formed.

At length "sph-itism" arose. Many, before indifferent to
all shades of belief, and utter neglecters of the Bible, were
fascinated by its rappings, and eagerly swallowed its pre-
tended communications. The great majority of Uni versalists
adopted it, and some of other sects. A part of the ministers
went with the majority, a part kept silent, and a part openly
opposed it. Their meetings dwindled, some were suspended,
their churches also expired. For the past few years, from
1875 onward, preaching has been maintained in Guilford vil-
lage, only a few months each summer. This is its only point

CHBISTIAK BAPTIST. ADVBNTIST. 261

of occupation in the county, though many persons still pro-
fess to be believers of it. In the Abbot meeting-house they
also held a share, and formerly maintained preaching in it
occasionally, but have not had any of late.

CHRISTIAN BAPTISTS.

The earlier preachers of this sect, known in this county,
were Elders Hamilton, Tracy, A. D. Young and Richard
Gower. Mr. Gower resided in the " Million of Acres settle-
ment," and had been a profane, hard-drinking and quarrel-
some raftsman and river driver. But in the revival already
alluded to, he became a new man, and commenced preaching,
lie was unlearned, and not Very gifted, but his change was
so marked, his humility and love of truth so obvious, that
many were drawn to hear him. He soon removed to other
parts, and became unknown to the writer.

Previous to 1830, churches of this order were formed in
Parkman, Wellington and Blanchard ; and, subsequent to
this, in Guilford, Opievillc, Scboc and Atkinson. All of
these have become extinct. But, in the south-west part of
Parkman, one has been more recently formed, and this is now
prospering. It completed a house of worship in the autumn
of 1878, and has enjoyed a promising revival. Elder John
Clark is its pastor, and Elder J. Washburn is also a resident
minister. In Orneville this people have had undisputed pos-
session from the beginning, but have sorrowfully failed to
improve it.

ADVENTISTS.

In Milo, this people have built a house of worship with the
Universalists, and have a church organization, the only one
known to the writer in this county, though Shirley may pre-
sent an exception to this statement. Several of this sect re-
side there, and in other places, and are occasionally visited
by sympathizing preachers, who have twice held tent-meetings
in Dover village. They have long held that "the day of the
Lord hasteth greatly." There are some, who have been and
still are preachers of this sect, residing in this county, but I
am not able to give an accurate list of them.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE TEMPERANCE BEFORM.

When the settlement of this new region was commenced,
intoxicating drinks were regarded as a necessary of life. All
classes used them as a comfortable stimulant, as a medicine,
and as the life of all festive entertainments. So the use of
strong drinks was limited only by their scarceness, and the
diiliculty of obtaining them. Recall the herculean and per-
sistent efforts of the Spauldings, to get a barrel of rum from
Bangor, and the early building of Blake's distillery, as in-
dicative of the existing sentiments of those times. As the
population increased, and stores were *opened, strong drink
was everywhere kept for sale, and were sold to every one call-
ing for it. So the amount used steadily increased. A train-
ing without a treat would consign the officers to universal
scorn. A neighborhood husking without a dram, however
puddings and pumpkin pies might load the supper table,
would be the last to gather there. The raising of a building
was never attempted without it, while a "bee" for any pur-
pose would bring out a swarm, if a treat was sure. Rafting
and riv0r-driving must have a freshet of rum as well as a
freshet of water, while haying, washing sheep, journeying,
and all unusual exposure could be pursued only by those
enshielded by this all-potent talisman. Births, burials, relig-
ious anniversaries, and ministerial ordinations did not ex-
clude the poisonous bowl, although the Spirit of grace and
truth was most heartily invoked. The celebration of the
"Glorious Fourth," military elections and general musters
were, of all public gatherings, most revoltingly flooded with
drunkenness.

THE TBMPEnAKCE BBFOBM. 263

Though all classes then drank, not excepting ministers and
church-members, yet not all to the same extent. The great
mass were only occasional and moderate drinkers, but some-
times unwarily were overcome by it ; the young generally
avoided excess, but many in full manhood were habitual
drunkards.

The amount sold and drank when this reform commenced,
would now seem incredible. Suffice it to say, there was an
immense waste of property, time, domestic peace and com-
fort, character, morality, health and life itself. The first ef-
forts to stay this ruinous deluge were entirely directed to
reclaim hard drinkers, leaving the moderate and occasional
drinker as safe and faultless. But a thorough trial of this
proved to be a stupendous failure. Tliis opened the eyes of
Christian philanthropists and reformers. They saw that to-
tal abstinence must be the central thought and watchword of
successful reform ; that a total abstinence pledge, and party ,
and principles must combine and concentrate their powers in
a mighty warfare against this common foe. In the inception
of this idea, the Temperance Reform was born.

In 1826 or 1827, this leaven began to work in this county.
The first movers were men decidedly religious. Ministers,
deacons and leading members in the different churches, or-
ganized societies and took the pledge. Some irreligious men
readily came in and encouraged the infant enterprise which
was creeping slowly but surely into being. But it was a
brave infant. It laid the axe at the root of a tree, held by
many as the tree of life, but to more, it was a Bohun Upas.
It assailed a practice, hoary, popular and universal. It
laid its hand upon the gains of the dealer, and the sharpest of
them saw that tlieir craft was in danger. So it encount-
ered a formidable opposition. Its sole weapon at fii'st was
moral suasion ; its pledge, total abstinence from ardent spirits
as a beverage; its mode of warfare, public addresses, private
appeals, published statements of the extent and destructive-
ness of the evil, and the propriety, safety and promise of a
temperate life. But aided by Divine power, it soon laid off

264 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

its swaddling clothes, and stood up in youthful vigor. It
inaugurated a great, healthful, moral revolution. It laid the
foundations of all these temperance organizations which
have since had an honorable and useful existence. Volun-
tary Temperance societies were organized in the different
towns, members of both sexes readily joined in goodly num-
bers, an insensible influence went forth, and a silent and
healthful change came over public opinion. Many, who
stood aloof at first, saw its beneficent working^ and ceas-
ed to scorn and oppose it. The use of strong drink be-
came less frequent and less popular. Christian churches
favored the cause, and som6 of them reconmiended to all
their members to take the pledge of total abstinence, and
some adopted as a standing rule, that they would receive to
future membei'sliip, only such as would. Public gathermgs
were now held without spirits. The raising of buildings
without it was the hardest tug. Though a supper was fur-
nished, some would not go, and a few would leave when the
old-time treat was not brought around. Yet, before 1831,
some buildings were raised without it.

About this time, an advance step was taken. The pledge
was generally changed so as to include all that would intox-
icate. Some who had abandoned ardent spirits, made use of ,
fermented drinks, and the use of beer, wine and cider was in-
creasing. As drunkenness was the hydra to be exterminated,
whatever nourished its appetite must be slain. Then some
who were wedded to their wine, flinched, and fell back from
this advanced movement.

But the c^use was more strongly ribbed, and marched
more firmly by this thorough stand. Up to this time, moral
suasion, personal and combined influence, had been the
whole human armament.

By this, a great, primary and essential work had been ac-
complished. A few sellers voluntarily gave up the traffic.
Many saw the fearful end of those deceitful paths, and for-
sook them. A few hard drinkers were reclaimed, some to
stand firm and faithful. So the work moved forward, gath-

THE TBMFEBANGE REFOBM. 265

ering strength until tlio rise of Washingtoniaiiism. This
was born iu a bar-room, in the city of Baltimore, in the year
1838. A company of confirmed drunkards, of which John
J. Hawkins was ring-leader, in one of their evening revels, pro-
posed to break squarely oiT,and make tliis their last debauch.
All agreed to do it. All signed a teetotal pledge. All went to
work to reclaim their fellow inebriates, and they succeed-
ed wonderfully. The report spread through the land, and
hard drinkers, who had resisted former solicitations, listened
to their old comrades, and many were convinced and took
the pledge.

Hawkins was gifted as a speaker, and commenced telling
his sad and appalling experience of the woes and shame of a
drunkard's life. Othera followed. All parts of the country
were visited. These truthful narratives reached a cord
in the besotted heart, -that strong logic and elevated appeal
had not touched. For a season, this reform working in the
most needy place was astonishing.

But the leaders committed some grave mistakes. They
rejected the counsels and co-operation of the early workers,
claiming a peculiar superiority. They did not rest upon a
religious basis, but relied mainly upon an arm of flesh.
They cast no blame upon the seller, and expressed no wish to
prohibit the sale of spirits, and put the temptation out of their
way. The excitement subsided. The. grog-shop proved a
mighty snare. In a few years, three-foui-ths of these re-
claimed men finally went back to their old habits, said one,
who professed to know, and I only repeat his words.

This sweeping recoil turned the attention of thoughtful
temperance men to prohibition as essential to thorough re-
form. The sale of spirituous liquors had ever been prohibit-
ed in this State, except by persons duly licensed. All who
wished to soil, applied for, and, for a certain sum, obtained,
such license. Some persons selling without a license, were
prosecuted and fined, previous to 1830.

It may seem strange to us now, to read that the licensing

board reposing special trust and confidence in Hon. Thomas

18

266 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COXTNTY.

Davee, Deacon Robert Barker and Elder Flavel Bartlett,
granted to them severally a license to sell all kinds of spir-
ituous liquors in the town of Dover, during the year 1824.
So it was in all these towns, at that date. Traders, though
men of high standing and influence, generally were rum sel-
lers. But by 1840, many had abandoned the traffic. Pub-
lic opinion was rising against licensing the sale of it. In
some towns, the license was refused. This opened the era of
rum holes. Unprincipled men would get small quantities of
adulterated liquors, and sell them without license, on the sly,
to such as they could trust to keep the secret.

In 1846, a law was passed prohibiting the sale of spiritu-
ous liquors throughout the . State, except for medicinal and
mechanical purposes, under well guarded regulations. This
was the birth of prohibition. The idea was: Crush out the
tempter 1 Let those who would reform, stand firm in their
better resolutions, and not be cast down wounded I

Kindred organizations now arose. The Sons of Temper-
ance, Rechabites, Watchman clubs, making total absti-
nence a plank in their platforms, brought many, young men
especially, into the temperance ranks.

The penalties for violating the law were, from time to
time, increased. But the. law was evaded. Witnesses
would purjure themselves upon the stand, to screen the pros-
ecuted seller. Lawyers would exert all their powers to find
some fleck or flaw in the legal processes. Certain jurors
would be so kindly sympathetic that they could not appre-
ciate either law or evidence, and would not agree to convict
them. But prohibition and penalty were now made the right
arm of the service, working with, and giving substantial effect
to, moral suasion. Indeed, prohibition was its younger
brother, harmonious, affectionate, helpful, doing a needed
work.

Though the first great work had been done by moral sua-
sion alone, the reform could not now advance further by this
alone. The existing obstacles were beyond its reach. The
rumsellers now were such that appeals based upon morality,

THE TEMPBBANCE BEFOBM. 267

honor, compassion for the weak and suffering, would not
move them. Only the expected loss of property and impris-
onment could deter them. So, by their mean evasions of
wholesome laws, by their mad defiance of all mild and per-
suasive measures, they compelled the temperance leadera to
secure more stringent laws. Hence the Maine Law of 1851
was placed Upon our Statute Book. This opened a new
era. Business places could be searched for liquors, and if
evidently kept for sale, they could be seized. Higher fines
were levied upon the convicted seller, and the third offence
was punished with imprisonment. Lovers of rum pronounced
tills unconstitutional, the lawyers largely combined against
it, our judges did not like it, many sherifiEs would make a
prosecution fail if they could, and it was made a party issue.
But it survived the storm. It closed up a great many low
rum holes that had liitherto been unswept. It brought into
life and action Watchman clubs, that did good service in
executing the law. With one single exception, the legisla-
ture sustained it, and often amended and made it more ef-
fective. Once it was indiscreetly " intensified." This caused
disastrous reaction. Its enemies came into power, and re-
pealed it. But the next year, its friends triumphed, and re-
stored it, better adjusted and more popular than ever. In
its own sphere, and for its intended use, it has proved inval-
uable. Rightly used, it ever will. Without its aid, a
healthy, vigorous, successful temperance reform has not been
steadily carried forward, and it seems vain to expect that it
ever will be. But no human law executes itself. It must
be backed by moral power and living principle. It must em-
body the sentiments of the sovereign people.

The Order of Good Templars next came forward, and has
been an eflicient wing in the Grand Army. By receiving fe-
males, it secured a helpful and powerful arm of reform, and
when it tivkes in the young at an earlier age, it can become
a still greater power for good to all classes.

The present Reform Club and its operations make up the
last page in this varied history. This might be called an im-

268 HISTOBY OF PISGATAQXnS COUNTY,

proved edition of Washingtonianism. It commenced in 1871,
Avith a confirmed drunkard by the name of Osgood, in Oar-
diner, Me., and has marched nobly on, by organizing Reform
Clubs on an "Iron-clad pledge." It has not ignored relig-
ion, but. leaned upon it. By frequent meetings, by stirring
addresses from reformed men, by singing thrilling hymns, it
has drawn in many of the intemperate, and held them there.
Woman, too, silent, suffering, but. praying and hoping wom-
an, has here been a noble helpmeet. Believing in the power
of prayer, wives and mothers have crowded to the mercy-
seat, and have not gone in vain. The work lias gone on
well, is still going on, and the end is not yet. For fifty years
the temperance reform has shown its right to exist. The
results of its first half century are patent to every observer.
We claim that, abating unavoidable human imperfections,
acknowledging certain mistakes, certain rash endeavors, and
deploring certain wounds from false or rash brethren, we
need not hang our heads in shame, or regret the efforts
made, or be dissatisfied with our success. A glorious im-
provement has been effected. Compare the "general mus-
ter " of fifty years since, with recent ones, and what observer
of both does not mark the difference?

Yet more remains to be done. Let every patriot, philan-
thropist and Christian gird himself for the waiting work, and
strike for complete victory.

CHAPTER XXIX.

MILITARY OBOANIZATIONS.

The hostilities of the aborigines compelled the early set-
tlers of New England to act on the defensive, to be armed
for the fight, and sometimes to plunge into mortal combat.
Hence military companies were early organized, and milita-
ry trainings with arms, equipments, music, officers and
stimulating drinks, became a great institution.

The burden of military duty was cheerfully bomp. A mil-
itary officer was a titled and much respected notable. The
training, especially the general muster, was an event of pe-
culiar interest. So it was, when the settlement of this
county commenced. But for several years the people were
too few and too remote for regular military organizations.

The first military companies formed in this county, were
the volunteer companies already noticed. The first regular
organization, it seems, was in Sebec, about 1816. John Wells
was elected captain. In 1829, he was promoted to major,
but he soon moved away. After him, William Sands, Ad-
vardis Shaw, Joseph Chase, Abijah Chase and John Nelson,
successively commanded this company. Capt. Shaw, in 1826,
was chosen major.

About the same date, 1815 or 1816, the Atkinson company
was organized. Its commanding officers have been Luther
Turner, Daniel Chase, Oliver Crosby jr., Jacob Sherburne,
Elisha L. Hammond, James R. Ayer and Albert Hutchins.

March 27, 1824, Capt. Daniel Chase was chosen major,
and September 9, 1826, promoted to lieutenant-colonel.

In the spring of 1816, a company was formed in Poxcroft,
also including all who were subject to enrollment in Dover.

270 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

Samuel Chamberlain was its first captain. In 1821, he
resigned) and Job Parsons succeeded him.

As this was preeminently the cold season, many were un-
able to equip themselves, and brought only a fence stake,
when called out for manual exercise. Capt. Chamberlain
generously blinked this, requiring each to do the best he
could. After him, Isaac Weston, Salmon Homes, Sylvan-
us Longley, William Parsons, Charles S. Hammond and
Ellis Robinson held this office.

When a new regiment was organized in 1824, Capt. Wes-
ton was appointed to summon the commissioned officers to-
gether for an election of field officei*s. He was chosen lieu-
tenant colonel. He resigned in July, 1826.

In 1817 or 1818, the Sangerville company was formed.
Robert Carleton was elected captain. After him, William
Oakes jr., 'Aaron Morse, Isaiah Knowlton, Samuel Robey,
John Doiity, Jonathan Roberts and Daniel Spooner succes-
sively filled the office. Captain Carleton became major and
colonel. Capt. Oakes was promoted to colonel, and Capt.
Morse, to major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel.

The Guilford company was organized in 1818. William
Stevens, William Webber, Leonard Howard, John H. Lor-
ing, John Monroe, Stephen Ellis, William W. Lucas and
William McE. Brown have filled the office of captain. Capt.
Ellis was chosen major.

In 1823, a company was formed in Dover. In this, David
Haynes, Benj. Dow, Daniel G. Owen, Ira Rowe, A. D. Fuller,
J. R. Leighton and Asa P. Dow held the office of captain*

About the same time, a company was organized in Park-
man. Solomon Brown was chosen captain. He soon re-
moved from town, and Lieutenant Samuel Clark command-
ed it. At length Ransom Dunham was chosen captain.
He was soon promoted to major, then Abel Curtis jr. was
chosen captain, and after him, William Briggs, Daniel Tyler,
and Adam Macomber commanded this company. On the
formation of a new regiment, Capt. Briggs was chosen
colonel.

BOLITARY OBOAIOZATIONS. 271

In April, 1824, the Milo Light Infantry was formed, em-
bracing persons from other towns. Winborn A. Sweat, I.
W. Mitchell, Moses Sturtevant, Charles Durgin, Rice Dow,
Samuel Stinchiield and Benjamin Sands successively com-
manded it. This company di*essed in uniform and made a
fine appearance. Capt. Mitchell rose to a colonel, and
Capt. Dow to lieutenant colonel.

A company of Cavalry was formed in 1827, chiefly of per-
sons in Foxcroft, Dover and vicinity. J. S. Godfrey was
elected captain. He died soon after, and Isaac Blethen sue-
ceeded him. In 1834, he was chosen major of cavalry, and
Hiram Douty was elected captain. He was also promoted to
colonel, and Robert Cutts was chosen captain. Silas Paul
was the next captain, and he also was promoted to lieuten-
ant-colonel and colonel. A. S. Bartlett was then elected
captain, and after him, Leonard Robinson. Lieut. ^Silvanus
B. Byram was promoted to major of cavalry.

In 1828, a company was organized in Brownville. Phin-
eas MoiTill was elected captain. The history of this compa-
ny is not very easily written. It evidently became unwil-
ling to do military duty, and sometimes avoided it. C. R.
Hamlet and F.* B. Howard were captains.

A company of infantry was formed in Milo in 1829.
Nymphas Turner, J. W. Furber and George B. Stinchfield
successively commanded it. Capt. Turner was promoted to
major and lieutenant-colonel.

The Wellington company was organized in 1830. Thomas
Sears was chosen captain. After him, Isaac Pease and Isaiah
Huff filled the office. Lieut. Nathaniel Dennett of this com-
pany was elected lieutenant-colonel, when it was connected
with the Athens regiment. A company of Light Infantry
also was organizo<l in this town, and Oliver D. Wiggin was
chosen captain. He was promoted to major, but afterward
the company run down.

In 1836, another cavalry company was organized in Sebec
and vicinity. B. S., Cilley was its first captain. He was
promoted to colonel, and Charles Wingate became his suc-
cessor.

272 HISTORY OF PISCATAQTHB COUNTY.

The Abbot company was duly organized in 1836, and J. S.
Monroe chosen captain. After him, Columbus Crockett
filled that office. Capt. Monroe was promoted to lieutenant-
colonel.

In 1837, a company was formed in Blanchard. Bowman
Varney was its first captain. He was chosen major, and
John R. Baker succeeded him.

The attempts to organize and officer a company in Mon-
son were frustrated until 1839. Then Clement Cushman
was chosen captain, and it was brought into line.

A rifle company was organized in Sebec, called the Rifle
Greys, in 1839. A. M. Robinson was the first captain.
After him, Abijah B. Chase commanded it until trainings
were abolished, in 1844. Capt. Robinson was promoted to
major, and then to colonel.

A company was formed in^ Medford, including persons in
LaGrange. Levi R. Gray was chosen captain. He was pro-
moted to lieutenant-colonel, and then Alvin H. Garman was
chosen captain.

In 1837, a Light Infantry company was formed in Park-
man. Henry Williamson was its first captain, and Jesse Nut-
ting, its second. Nearly all of this company volunteered and
marched to Aroostook, in the Madawaska war.

REGIMENTS AND BEGIMENTAL OFFICERS.

The earlier companies of this county were included in the
fifth regiment, of which Isaac Hodsdon of Exeter was colonel,
Captains Wells and Carleton were elected majors, when thus
connected. The general muster was then in Garland. But
after 1820, these companies mustered by battalion in Dover,
usually near Eli Towne's residence. •

In 1824, all the companies from Milo to Parkman were or-
ganized into a new regiment, known as the Fifth Regiment,
First Brigade, Third Division.

March 27, 1824, at an election . of regimental ofiicers held
in Foxcroft, Major R. Carleton was chosen colonel, Capt.
Isaac Weston, lieutenant-colonel, and Capt. Daniel Chase,
major.

MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS. 278

Col. Carleton appointed J. S. Holmes, adjutant, Reuben
Ordway, quarter-master, and Seth Nelson, pay-master.

In 1826, Col. Carleton resigned, and Capt. William Cakes
jr. was chosen colonel. Lieut>-Col. Weston resigned soon
after, and Major Daniel Chase was promoted, and Capt. Ad-
vardis Shaw was elected major. In I829, Major Shaw re-
signed, and Capt. Aaron Morse succeeded hun. Lieut-Col.
Chase next resigned, in 1831, Major Morse was promoted,
and Capt. I. W. Mitchell elected major.

In 1834, Col. Cakes resigned, Lieut>-Col. Morse succeeded
him,, Major Mitchell was advanced to lieutenant-colonel, and
Capt. N. Turner chosen major. Col. Morse appointed El-
bridge 6. Thompson, adjutant, and Joseph Hammond,
quarter-master. Col. Morse held the office until 1839, and
resigned just before the militia were called out to march to
Aroostook. The quota of this regiment was one full com-
pany of sixty privates, with officers, non-commissioned offi-
cers and musicians. It was raised by draft, and joined the
embattled host in Bangor, and boldly marched to the line,
anil then marched back again, without the loss of a single
man, killed or wounded.

In 1839, Lieut>-Col. Mitchell was elected colonel, Maj.
Turner, lieutenant-colonel, and Capt. S. Ellis, major. Col.
Mitchell appointed Josiah Dow, adjutant. Lieut>-Col. Tur-
ner resigned in 1841, and Capt. Rice Dow succeeded him.
The same year, Maj. Ellis resigned, and Capt. A. M. Robin-
son was chosen to succeed him.

In 1841, the divisions of the militia through the State
were arranged anew, and this regiment became Second Regi-
ment, First Brigade, Ninth Division, but its companies re-
mained as before.

Early in 1843, Col. Mitchell resigned, Lieut-Col. Dow had
left for parts unknown, and Maj. A. M. Robinson was elect>-
ed colonel, Levi R. Gray, lieutenant-colonel, and Ensign C.
H. B. Woodbury, major.

In the fall of this year, the regiment mustered as usual,
but it proved to be its last.

274 HISTORY OP PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

parkma;^ regiment.

In 1838, a new regiment was formed, including compa-
nies in Parkman, Abbot, Blanchard and Wellington, in this
county, and also those in Harmony, Cambridge and Ripley,
in Somerset County. This regiment was named Fifth Regi-
ment, First Brigade, Eighth Division. Captain William
Briggs was elected colonel. As Lieut-Col. Dennett and Maj.
Wiggin were within its appointed limits, they were trans-
ferred, retaining the same rank.

Col. Briggs appointed Thomas Seabury, adjutant, Alden
Briggs, quarter-master, and Cornelius Gower, pay-master.
Col. Briggs resigned in the summer of 1843. Lieut-Col.
Monroe mustered the regiment that fall. The companies in
Sangerville and Guilford were petitioning to be annexed to
this regiment, but, in 1844, the legislature abolished all
trainings, and the martial spirit sunk quietly to sleep.

trainings.

Up to 1825, the companies were required to train three
times annually, in their respective towns, besides the musfbr.
Thou tlie legislature abolished the May training. The autum-
nal trainings were continued. Up to this time, twenty-four
rounds of powder were furnished by the town to each soldier,
to fire at the training, under the command of the officers.
This too was then omitted. Still the training was to many a
great occasion. A brisk set of boys and not a few men out-
side of the duly enrolled, would appear as appreciative spec-
tators. The officers treated freely both soldiers and specta-
tors, not always omitting the boys. These trainings would
call out the old revolutionary soldiers, some of whom then
survived. The military parade had an attraction for them.
Inspired by the occasion, they would recall the adventures of
their past campaigns, while some of the boys would crowd up
near, and listen with as much zest as these honored veteraus
would relate them. These brought home to our eager minds,
the reality and severity of that long and victorious struggle
in which our nation had its birth.

TRAININGS, 276

But the muster was emphatically a "general muster."
The gathering of armed companies, the music by the band,
and by the combined strains of drums and fifes, the regimental
officers in full uniform, mounted on the most imposing steeds,
and, above all, the general and his aids in full military dress,
combined attractions which moved all classes. The manceu-
vres upon the field, the review by the general officers, and
the rattle of so much musketry, when powder was furnished,
made up a grand and beautiful spectacle. The pageant was
highly ornamented by the uniform and show of the cavalry,
and of the light infantry, which constituted the acknowledged
Uowerof the regiment. But outside the line, there were other
objects of attraction. Tents, carts and wagons furnished re-
freshments for the hungry, in the most of wliich strong drink
was invitingly displayed.

Among the spectators, all classes were represented. Grave,
sober and aged men in limited numbers, discharged. military
officers, men of middle age exempt from military duty, boys
of every age and description, and some females, too, would
be thfere. Preeminently it was muster day to hard drinkers.
The place swarmed with them, and there would be confusion,
profanity, low jokes, quarreling and fighting, contrasting
widely with similar gatherings of the present time. Let it
be understood that the early musters of this county are here
pictured. Of the later, the writer was not an observer. In
these latter, to some extent, a change had reached the train-
band. Some companies had voted to dispense with treating
at their trainings, and many officers and soldiers had become
total abstainers.

But we must turn another dark leaf in the history of those
times. The elections of military officers were scenes of the
direst, drunken carousals. The successful candidates wot
their honors with liberal treats. The lovers of rum scented
it far and near. They gathered like vultures to their prey,
and many went home dishonored and degraded, as a dark
background to the military honors conferred.

But many began to feel that military duty was an onerous

276 HISTOBY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

and needless waste. Such began to avoid it by craft and
dodging. Some officers elect would neglect to take their com-
missions from the post-office. Warrants sent to privates by
some careless hand, requiring them to warn the company to
meet, would fail to reach them. Some would elect incompe-
tent commanders, whose level best was a mortifying failure.
All the laurels of the Madawaska war had feuled, our
north-eastern boundary had been amicably settled, no one
dreamed of the gigantic rebellion which has since drenched
those southern fields with blood, so, the wisdom and talent

of our State in legislature assembled passed an act in 1844,
abolishing all military trainings. It was a great step; up-
ward and onward. Industry, temperance, moraUty and re-
ligion by this, cast off a mighty burden, and the State re-
ceived no damage.

OUR WARRIORS.

Veterans of the revolution. Several of these were
among the early settlers of this county, to some of whom al-
lusions have been already made. But all should have an
honorable and lasting record. The entire list is not here
given, but the following are known to have borne arms in
that patriotic struggle. Abiel Packard of Monson, Eben
Deane of Blanchard, Jeremiah Rolfe of Abbot, Ephraim An-
drews of Parkman, Consider Glass and Nathaniel Stevens
of Guilford, Aaron Rollins, G. Spooner and Henry Leland
of Sangerville, Thomas Towns, Zachariah Longley, Eleazer
Spaulding and Allen Dwelley of Dover, and Ezekiel Chase
of Sebec. Probably there were others in the lower towns,
whose names the writer never learnt.

Generally they were hardy and resolute men, who lived to
a good old age, revered and honored by their younger asso-
ciates. But they could not continue always. They

" By the wayside feU and perished.
Wearied with the march of life.'*

ks all must. . Peace to their patriotic memories I

OUR wAttJiioiis. 277

A still larger number of soldiers from the war of 1812,
came and settled in this county. A list of them, if attempt-
ed, would be too defective. Some ten or more resided in
Guilford, but when pensions were granted to such, only one,
Isaac Edes, survived to receive it.

The Madawaska war, a part of which I saw, has been suf-
ficiently emblazoned. Its surviving veterans, for hardships
endured and dangers faced, must have a pension too.

The Mexican war, in spite of its distance and burning
clime, drew some recruits from this region. Here again, no
reliable statement can be given. But four whom the Mrriter
had instructed in the school-rooms of Guilford, were in it,
Steadman Davis jr., Joseph Young, Alexander Stevens and
Sebastian Buck, and tliree of them saw our national banner
wave over the Capitol of Mexico. Two of them, and anoth-
er from Parkman, Philo Harlow, did not live to return.

In the late civil war, this county filled its quotas with
promptness and liberality. Their names and companies are
all in the adjutant-generars published reports.

The roll of honor repeated on the annual return of each
decoration day shows that we bled away our life, as well as
our money. While the names of Col. C. S. Douty, and of
Maj. C. P. Chandler, a native of Foxcroft, and many other
heroes, who fell upon the battle field, are gratefully honored,
the sacrifices of this part of Maine will not be forgotten.

CHAPTER XXX.

FBATBBNAL ASSOCIATIONS.

Secret societies of various orders have long existed in this
county, and a brief account of them will now be given.

FBEE AND AOGBPTED MASONS.

This ancient Order, claiming to have existed in the days
of King Solomon, was early planted in the British Isle. It
is known that King Henry VI, as early as 1492, was a Grand
Master mason, and that other English sovereigns after him
held high degrees of masonry. So now, many of the crowned
heads of Europe are Free Masons. But it was not intro-
duced into our American Colonies till more than a century
from their first settlement.* In 1788, Henry Rice, a Master
Mason from England, established lodges in Boston, Phila-
delphia, and other cities, and set the ball in motion. It was
quite early planted in this county.

Piscataquis Lodge, No. 44 was chartered October 28,
1828, and installed soon after at Sebec village. Its meetings
were held there for several years. But as many of its mem-
bers resided in Milo, it eventually removed its place of meet-
ing to Milo village. It has recently rebuilt the building in
which it met, and is in a prosperous state.

Mosaic Lodge, No. 52 was chartered July 16, 1827.
It was installed soon after in Sangerville village, the late J.
S. Holmes Esq. delivering the public address. Elder Wil-
liam Frost was its first Master. About this time an exten-
sive anti-masonic excitement prevailed, awakened by the al-
leged abduction and murder of William Morgan, in the State

SONS OF TEMPBEANCB. 279

of New York. Some religions bodies entered strongly into
it, and other persons made it a political issue. For several
years masonry sat still and kept quiet. This lodge suspend-
ed its meetings from 1832 till 1845. It then resumed its
usual activity. It afterward removed its meetings to Fox-
croft and Dover village. In company with the "Piscataquis
Royal Arch Chapter," it built the "Masonic Building," in
which a well fitted hall accommodates both lodges, while
^ther parts rent to advantage. From its first organization,
814 members have been connected with it, and now it has a
membership of 170, and is in good working order.

Mount Kinbo Lodgb, No. 109, Abbot, was chartered
May 8, 18G2. As many were then going into the army, its
numbci*s increased rapidly. It owns a building containing a
hall, and stores on the lower floor, which it rents. Its pres-
ent number is 126.

Doric Lodgb, No. 149, is located in Monson village. It
was chartered May 7, 1868. This lodge, in 1876, erected a
largo and elegant building, at a cost of ^000, in wliich it has
a spacious hall. It is in debt for one-half of its cost, but the
amount received for parts rented more than pays the annual
interest. This lodge is in a prosperous state.

Pleasant Rivbb Lodge, Brownville, was chartered July
28, 1871. It rents a hall for the present. It has occasional
initiations, and now numbers 46 members.

Piscataquis Royal Arch Chaptbb was chartered in
May, 1866. Tliis order is composed only of masons who
have taken seven degrees in the scale of masonry. In its
work, discipline and forms, it is truly masonic, but on an ad-
vanced plane of the system. It meets in the Masonic build-
ing in Foxcroft, in which it is an equal owner.

The Sons of Temperance once had flourishing lodges
in tliis county, and they succeeded in reclaiming and holding
many hard drinkers. They had a benefit system, and some of
their sordid members took advantage of it. The disburse-

280 HISTORY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

ment of their funds was onsatisfactory, and this became the
rock of offence upon which the lodges, formed on a good
basis, and doing a good work, were wrecked. They all be-
came extinct, not one now existing in this county.

INDEPENDENT OBDEB OP ODD FELLOWS.

It is claimed that this order arose in the Roman army,
near the commencement of the Christian era. It existed in
Spain, in the fifth century, in France, in the twelfth, and aft-
erward in England.

Mr. Thomas Whidden, an Englishman, introduced it into
this country, in 1829, establishing the first lodge in Balti-
more. It has had a large increase, so that now $50,000 an-
nually are paid into their treasuries, aside from the life in-
surance department, and a large part of that sum goes to
their needy and unfortunate members, and their families.

DiBiGO Lodge, No. 68, in Milo, was established Jan. 21,
1869, the first in the county. It has had a prosperous
course, owning a hall which cost $1400, now having $700
funded, and a membership of one hundred and twenty.

KiNBO Lodge, No. 64, in Dover, was the next organized,
March, 1870. This is a vigorous body, having funds a-
mounting to $2,600. It reports seventy-seven members.

Good Cheer Lodge, No! 87, in Guilford, dates from
September, 1874. It had funds amounting to $1500, but
has built a superb hall the past summer (1879), which has
exliausted them. Tliis is in a prosperous state.

Eldorado Encampment, No. 20, meets in Dover bi-
monthly. It belongs to the 10th district of the Grand En-
campment. This is composed of members that have taken
the fifth degree or more, and corresponds in some respects
to the "Royal Arch Chapter " in Masonry.

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF GOOD TEMPLARS.

This is the youngest of these secret fraternities, but it has

PATRONS OF HU8BAKDBY. • 281

a large and growing membership. It has its pledges, forms,
oflBcers, quarterly payments, countersigns 'and fraternal aid,
as they all do. It is more expressed on the temperance ques-
tion than any of them. As an advanced step, it admits fe-
males to its lodges and its meetings.

The list of lodges in this county, as reported in 1878 and
1879, is as follows, to wit:

Centennial, No. 18, in Guilford.
•Hebron Pond, No. 102, Monson, 80 members.
Good Cheer, No. — , Sangerville.
Skbeo Lodge, No. 150, South Sebec, 50 members.
Harmony, No. 160, Dover, 70 members.
EiFREicA, No. 170, Atkinson, 100 members.
CONSTANTIA, No. 237, Milo.
A. J. W. Stevens, No. 47, Parkman.

These lodges are subject to an ebb and flow of interest;
consequently to variant success. Some are well established,
others have dwindled and expired. It has so been in the
past, it may so continue to be.

PATRONS OF husbandry.

This new order has arisen recently. Like the foregoing,
it is close in its aiBnities, signs, meetings and benefits. Its
main object is to modify trade, to prevent the multiplying
of profits by middle-men, to buy and sell in their ownfrat er-
nities, on specific terms, somewhat like Union Store Associa-
tions. Seven Granges have already been established, with
distinct names and locations, within this county, and they re-
port favorably. The order is young, and reports are not
available for a reliable history.
19

CHAPTER XXXI.

MISCELLANIES.
STEADMAN THE IMP08TBB.

In the summer of 1878, the Baptist church and people in
Foxcroft and Dover were without a supply, and were invit-
ing candidates. They were informed that a young man call-
ing himself Carlisle M. Steadman, from the Province of New
Brunswick, was at Georgetown, waiting a call to some field
of labor. He reported himself to bg the son of a Baptist min-
ister, an educated and ordained clergyman of that order.
When asked for his credentials, he replied that he had such,
but had left them in the Province, and he exhibited certain
letters from Baptist clergymen, which showed that he had
been known to them as a Baptist preacher. Herein com-
menced a grave mistake. Had they required fair testimoni-
als of his ministerial standing, as every church should do, be-
fore making any engagement with a stranger, it would have
saved them and the community from serious . and prolonged
difficulties.

He preached a few Sabbaths on trial, impressed some fav-
orably, otliers less so. Ho had a marked foreign accent; his
utterance was rapid and often indistinct; his pronunciation
of many words was entirely barbarous. Those who caught his
discourses, pronounced them able, but in the routine of his
public services, prayer occupied a very small place. A cer-
tain show of smartness attracted the curious, and some of
the drifting class were drawn to hear him. A permanent
stay was proposed, though they could not raise the salary
that he wanted. He stated to the committee that he 'had a
wife then in Georgetown, Maine, who was an accomplished

STRADMAN THE IHPOSTBB. 283

organist, and if ho remained, she could play the church or-
gan, in place of the paid orgiinist, and thus increase their
contributions for his support.

An engagement was concluded for one year, and on the
9tli of September he set off, as he pretended, for the Prov-
ince, to get a horse and other things that he had left there,
expecting his wife to meet him at Newport, on Ids return, and
come to Foxcroft with him. The next day, a dispatch di-
rected to him from Bath, signed J., A. S., was received at
Foxcroft, announcing that his wife had been thrown from a
carriage, and was in an insensible state, and, the next day,
anotlier came, saying that she was dead. His sympathizing
people sent messages to places on the way to the Province,
to intercept him, and waited in painful suspense. In a few
days, a letter from Mr. Steadman reached one of his people,
written in Georgetown, saying that he heard the affecting
news in St. John, had hurried to that place to find his dear
wife dead and buried, and that he would soon return to
Foxcroft. He reached there Saturday evening, but pro-
fessed to be so overcome with sorrow, that he could not
preach the next day. In other ways he showed Ids deep af-
fliction, and alluded to it in his pulpit services. But his
grief soon subsided. His demeanor was far from being grave
and ministerial. As a preacher, he violated ministerial and
denominational courtesy, but this was silently endured. His
confiding friends, procuring the assistance of a civilian, ob-
tained an appointment from the Governor, for him to solem-
nize marriages, and he did not hesitate to administer the sac-
raments of the church. In December, he began to show a
peculiar interest in a successful female school teacher, alleg-
ing as a reason that she resembled his departed Nellie. Tliis-
was rccijirocjitcd ; the attachment rfipidly ripened ; and in
February, not six months after the alleged death of his wife,
they were married.

It was conceded that he preached able sermons, but many
wondered when he prepared them, and the suspicion of pla-
giarism was sometimes expressed.

284 HISTORY OP PISCATAQUIS COUKTY,

At length fast day came. The four congregations usually
unite in one servic^e, each pastor preaching in turn. It
fell to Mr. Steadman. - A full house waited on him. One of
the pastors was absent; all the others were in attendance .
His discourse was remarkable for its scholarly method, its
range and freshness of thought, its chaste and elevated lan-
guage, but it was not appropriate to tlie occasion ; it was
bliglited in some places ,with ideas and expressions that sort-
ed strangely with the .general drift; but it unmasked the
fraudulent preacher, and set him in his true light before the
community. The Methodist clergyman who listened to it,
a few days afterward stumbled upon it, all printed in the
Homiletic Monthly. It was one of Dr. R. S. Storrs' very
best, hence the portions interpolated by Mr. Steadman
cropped out like the long ears in the familiar fable. The
discovery soon became public. A tempest immediately
arose. One of his stated hearers borrowed tliat periodical,
and found three other discourses in it, which he had listened
to, from Steadman's lips. It has since appeared that many
of the published sermons of distinguished ministers in New
York and Brooklyn had been copied and preached, and
some given as lectures, by this unblushing plagiarist, as his
own great productions.

He denied the charge of plagiarism, and told other obvious
falsehoods, but this only assured his condemnation. The
Baptist people now rejected him, and published him as an
imposter. Anticipating this, he had already written to Rev.
Mr. Battles, who was about vacating the Universalist pul-
pit in Dexter, stating that he had changed his views, and
could not preach acceptably to Baptists any longer, and mod-
. estly asked to be introduced to the Univcrsalists in Dexter,
reserving however the next Sunday, which he felt con-
strained to improve in explaining his change and the reasons
for it, to his highly esteemed people. He was not grabbed
up by that people.

The secular press now began to publish his proceedings.
Rumors s(5on came that he had a wife and two cliildren liv-

STBADMAN TUB IMPOSTEB. 286

ing ill tlic Province, and tlicso were soon confirmed. Doubts
then arose respecting the death of his wife at Georgetown.
The Methodist minister from Georgetown soon came to Do-
ver to attend their annual conference, and he affirmed that
no such deatli and bnriiil had taken place tliero. Steadman,
on hearing of tlicse reports, resorted to another characteris-
tic trick.

He vainly tried to inveigle his uncle, and induce him to
come to his defence. This uncle, hy the way. Dr. John A.
Steadman, liad formerly been a Baptist minister, but now
was engaged in tlie practice of medicine, in Georgetown,
lie was in(|uired of ros[)ecting liis ncx)hew, after the difficul-
ties arose, ancl had answered cautiously. He had sold
his nephew tlie horse which he had introduced to us as from
the Province. Steadman wrote his uncle that certain Meth-
odist ministers had contradicted some of his statements;
therefore he wished him to write Mr. Prentiss, affirming "that
he did bring a wife from tlie Province to his house, that she
died there as he had publicly stated, that his name was on
the Provincial Minutes as a regiUarly ordained Baptist min-
ister, and that lie was what he liad represented himself to be."
This letter was written May 8. It did not bring the desired
response. But Dr. Steadman telegiaphed to learn if he could
find liis nej^hew there, if he came directly on, and soon started
for Foxcroft. That purchased horse had not been paid for, and
^sucli a letter boded no good. Steadman now began to equiv-
ocate in various ways, some of which must not be wiitten,
but they were utterly rejected by all but his too confiding
wife. Before this, he had sold his horse, and now was selling
his books and other effects, preparatory to leaving the place.

He did not wish to see his uncle in Foxcroft, so he met
him at Dexter. They had a long, searching and distreasing
interview, in which Steadman disclosed much that his uncle
would not believe. Each returned to his home, and Stead-
man soon started for the West, his wife consenting to the
sale of her own acquired property, to pay off his debts, and
to help him off, and then returned to her friends.

286 MUlfUEl OV TOCATAQUIB COUSTT.

He was soon beard from in Mmneftpolis^ Hebadobtauiied
empIoymeDt there as a bookkeeper, and wrote to bis wife to
come on^ and lire with him, erentnallj sending her a small
sum of monej to defraj her trareling expenses^ Bj this
time her eye? were open. She now beUered him to be per-
firlions, bat did not let him know it, since legal measures
were on foot to arrest him, and wrote him as a blind, that she
could not start for a few dajs. His relatires in the Prov-
ince had written her, exposing his previous marriage, and ex-
pressing their pity for her present condition.

I^egal proof of his marriage in the Province was obtained,
and an officer started with a requisition on the Governor of
Minnesota for his arrest and delivery. He was brought bock,
but his trunk was withheld, as his board bills were unpaid.

On arriving at Foxcrofi, he was kept in close custody un-
til witnesses from the Province arrived. He grieved sorely
that his last-married wife did not fly to his arms, but she vis-
ited him only once, in company with 'friendly attendants.
When arraigned before a trial Justice for bigamy, he afiirmed
that it was all a mistaken identity. He denied all knowledge
of the witnesses who were present at the former marriage.
He aflirmed that his father's name was J. Harvey Steadmau;
that he himself was born in Berwick, Nova Scotia ; that his
father lived there; all which he pronounced /a7«e in his sec-
ond trial. He was held to appear at the Supreme Court, and
in default of bail, was committed to Bangor jail.

By certain persons in Bangor, his cell was carpeted and
neatly fumislied, fragrant flowers were sent in to ornament
it, books and periodicals were profusely fiirnished . him, dis-
believing, it would seem, that he had ever committed the
most infamous crimes, and perpetrated the grossest frauds
upon the honest and unsuspecting. It would have been well
for those persons to have heard his own defaming statements
of Inmself in his testimony.

Among his former people he found but little S3rmpathy.
Some were highly indignant, and advanced money to secure
his arrest, and bring him to justice. As he alleged that his

STBAD^IAK THE IMPOSTEB. 287

tmnk oontained valuable clothing, and papers important in
his trial, they contributed a small sum to release it, and have
it sent by express to him. But unfortunately it did not ar.
rive in season.

As our object is to exhibit the hypocrisy of this man, a full
report df his legal trial will not be given, only such parts as
reveal his infamous career.

At the September term of the Supreme Judicial court for
the county of Piscataquis, 1879, Chief Justice Appleton pre-
siding, Manly C. Steadman was indicted by the Grand Jury
for the crime of bigamy, and plead not guilty, and was put
upon trial. No case had ever aroused such an interest.
The court-house was crowded to its utmost capacity, ladies
making up a large proportion. Able counsel had undertaken
his defencCi on condition that he would make a clean
breast, and teU them and all others, nothing but the truth.

A select jury was drawn, each man questioned as to biases
for or against the arraigned, and the case proceeded. The
proof of his regular marriage to Rachel M. Smith of Pollet's
River, New Brunswick, in August, 1876, and that she was
still living when ho was married in Dover, in February, 1879,
was indubitable. He was permitted to take the stand, and
upon his oath, to testify in his own case. The substance of
it, with occasional refutations, will be briefly given, for in
this, the chief interest clustered.

He stated that "in 1873 and 1874, he was in Amherst, No-
va Scotia ; there he made the acquaintance of a young lady,
Georgie E. Campbell, who was attending school in or near
Sackville, New Brunswick, that he courted her, seduced her
and married lier to save her character, without the consent
of her father, that the ceremony was performed by a Catho-
lic priest named Groucher, in the presence of two witnesses,
in August, 1874, and a certificate of it given to his wife, that
her fatlicr, on learning what had been done, was angry, and
forbid liis living with her, that he left, and went to liis former
home, and taught school at Pellet's River, that hi§ incensed
father-in-law, a few months later, sent him a notice of his

288 HISTORY OP PISCATAQXnS COUNTr.

wife's death, which he supposed was true." Subsequently,
the Roman Catholic bishop was asked if there was a priest
of that name, and he answered that there had never been
one of that name in the diocese. But an aunt of Steadman
testified that she witnessed that marriage, and signed the
marriage certificate as a witness. But that certificate was
not in court, as his trunk had not arrived. The principal of
that school was also asked if a young lady of that name had
been there, and he answered that no such name was on their
catalogue.

He also testified that "sometime after this, he made a mar-
riage engagement with Miss Rachel M. Smith, and was again
married in August, 1875, by his father. Rev. James C. Stead-
man, which event ought to have taken place sooner, as he %
aflirmed; that in 1877 he professed religion and united with
his father's church, and soon commenced preacldng; that in
the fall of that year, he left his family at his father's house,
and preached at various places ; that he was at Kars, New
Brunswick, several months, boarding with John C. Camp-
bell; that his daughter Nellie G. informed him that she was
acquainted with his first wife, and know her to bo still living,
and through Nellie ho sent messsiges to her, inviting her to
meet him in St. John; that he met her there, and with her
went to Tauntonville, New Brunswick, in June, 1878, and
that she agreed to join him in Maine, if he became settled
here."

Mr. J. C. Campbell testified that he had never hoard his
daughter speak of such a friend at that school, that he usu-
ally carried her letters to and from the post-office, and had
never seen one directed to that name. But certain things
which leaked out, indicated that Nellie G. Campbell was the
person whom Steadman described to the committee of Fox-
croft as his wife, and whom he might then be hoping to ob-
tain as such, but failed.

" lie did not acquaint his wife with his second marriage,
but when he wrote her to come to Maine, she wrote him that
she had heard of it, that her father would not let her come,

RAILUOAD ACCIDENT AT LOW'S BHIDOE. 289

•

and now, she repudiated liim forever. He received this letr
ter at Bath, Maine, whither he directly went, though pre-
tending at Foxcroft that he was starting for New Bruns-
wick. He affirmed that he sent those false telegrams to
Foxcroft, to help him out of his dilemma. After his return
to Foxcroft, he received a letter saying that his first wife,
Goorgic K. Caiiipboll, wjih dead, and again he believed it,
and so contracted tliis last marriage, as his second marriage
was illegal, and he had resolved io disown that second wife."

All of the other testimony, except that of Steadman's
aunt, conflicted with his, and his was not believed by judge
or jury.

Steadman's testimony showed that he had never been li-
censed to preach, nor ordained; that he had sworn falsely
about liis own name, and that of his father's, and also his
place of i:esidence ; that he tried to entangle his uncle in the
deception ; and that much of his past life had been infamous. •

His counsel jilcad tliat, if tlie marrifige to Gcorgic E.
Campbell was legal, and she was living wheil he married lla-
chel M. Smith, then that marriage was invalid, and the in-
dictment on which he was under trial failed, and tliat legal
proof was in that expected trunk. The charge to the jury
was searching, clear and unbiased, as far as such a case woidd
allow. The jury, in a half hour, returned a verdict of guilty.
His counsel filed excci)tion8, and petitioned for a new trial.
This petition waits the decision of the full bench. Meanwhile
Steadman is a prisoner in Bangor jail.

Whatever the glorious uncertainties of the law may have
in reserve, the hj^pocrisy and fraud of this individual are
unmistakable, and these, mainly, it was attempted to expose.

llAlLnOAD ACCIDI'INT AT I/)W'S nUIDCE.

At Low's Jkidge there is a flag station, about midway be-
tween Dover find Guilford depots. At this, freight was
hauled to be loaded. As there was no side track, cars were
often left on the main track, to be pushed up by the next
train to the nearest turnout, and to be passed there.

290 HISTORY OP PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

October 18, 1879, three platform cars were so left by a down
train, to be loaded with shingles. Conductor Sw;an, who left
them, met the upward bound train in Lagrange, and told the
conductor, engineer and fireman on that train of their position.
Conductor Chase told all these men to remember it, and
keep a sharp lookout, as they should not reach that place till
it wjvs dark. But they all forgot it ! The conductor said it
just entered his mind as they started from Dover depot.

The train consisted of sev^ freight cars, and one passen-
ger car in the rear. They were running at great speed ; the
engineer, Fred W. Green of Mattawamkeag, was watching
the cars as they passed a curve, and did not see those loaded
cars, though it was moonlight, until nearly upon them. He
whistled " down brakes," and reversed the engine, just as it
struck the first loaded car. It rushed on, driving the second
.also, but kept the track until they collided with the third.
This threw them off the track, and the engine followed, and
they were smashed to a fearful pile, bur3ring the engineer be-
neath the ruins. The fireman, Wadlin of Oldtown was thrown
clear of the ^vreck, and but slightly hurt, and all the rest es-
caped injury. The crash was heard two miles, and many
hastened thither. The engineer was soon drawn out, with both
legs broken, with internal injuries, and also scalded badly.
He was taken to the nearest house ; surgeons hastened ; and
everything done that could be, to relieve his distress. He
lingered in great pain, from Saturday evening till Tuesday
noon, and died supported by the arms of his mother.

The directors discharged all these forgetful employes,
and supplied their places. As the train was coming up, the
next Tuesday evening, B. F. Hodgkins of Milo, a newly em-
ployed brakeroan, fell from the train in Milo, and was taken
up in a dying state. He was taken to Dover, and cared for,
but died at eleven o'clock. The lifeless remains of both
were sent down to their friends for burial, on the same train.
This was the first fatal accident to an employe or passenger
upon tlie road, in its first seven years' operation. The jury
reported that "the accident was caused by the leaving of

ANIfiCDOTES. 291

those three cars upon the main track, and by the engineer
and others forgetthig it. " The damage to the railroad prop-
erty was from two to three thousand dollars.

ANI«OI)OTK.

The late Eld. William Oakes, long a resident in Sangerville,
but thcu living in the same vicinity as tlie Westons (Canaan,
now Skowhegan), related many years ago the adventures of
a certain survey party, with which he was connected. They
came up the Penobscot and Piscataquis, bringing their pro-
visions in a batteau, from Bangor, and evidently run the line
between the sixth and -seventh ranges, regarding a part of
wliici), Mr. Oakcs was summoned to court as a witness
on a pendijig lawsuit. They became .short of provisions.
Their liard-bread had broken and crumbled badly in trans-
portation. They broke up as soon as possible, each starting •
for the Kennebec settlement, through the woods, by Iiimself.
Yet they all came out sjifo, though fatigued and hungry,
witliin a half mile of cacli other, and within a half houi* of
the same time. This wjis the Elder's own language, possible,
but very remarkable. He also remarked that his dog was
nearly exhausted, and would have famished sooner than he
himself.

UNCLE JOHN AND TUB BEAR.

Among the early settlers of Guilford, was a good-natured
rougli-hewed man, hardy and atliletic, not wanting in ordi-
nary personal courage, not especially daring, who was famil-
iarly called Uncle Jolui. Tlie evening of a certain summer
day, he spent at a neighbor's, and while busy in chit-chat, the
shades of night covered both field and forest. From the
woods near by, the scream of a bear was heard, and Uncle
Jolni just then was not fond of that kind of music. After
waiting awhile, with the liope that the bear would wander
away, he resisted the importunities of his neighbors to spend
the night with them, as his folks would be alarmed. He fixed
up and lighted a torcli, and with his large, resolute dog, at a

292 HIBTOBY OP PISCATAQinS COUNTY.

late hour, started for home. When about half way through
a piece of woods that he must pass, he espied the head of a
large bear lifted above a log that lay beside his foot-path.
His dog, brave and robust, dashed at him with a loud, defiant
bark. The bear turned and fled, leaving the way free from
danger, and Uncle John hurried on. The dog soon over-
took and grabbed his retreating game. The bear wheeled,
and struck back with such force that the dog desisted, and
ran yelping toward his master. Uncle John fearing that the
bear was coming too, dropped his torch, took to his heels,
and run for his life. Just then . one of his feet sunk in the
mud, his shoe stuck, and his foot came out minus its shoe.
He was in too much of a hurry to look for it, so he sped on,
one foot shoeless, and both he and the faithful dog safely
reached home, no bear pursuing. The next morning he went
. to the place, and fished up his shoe, and as the bear did not
report himself, he was not afterward recognized. *

This dog died a martyr to his own daring. When out in
the distant forest, with his master and others on an explor-
ing tour, he fell upon a porcupine, and made an attack. His
wily game bristled up, turned his defensive covering to the
dog, and lay still for safety. The dog, in his assaults^ wound-
ed his nose severely, and came off badly injured. The men
did what they could to relieve him, but his nose swelled, he
lost the power of scenting the tracks of the party, and stray-
ing from them, he never foimd his way out, and died in the
woods.

All sorrowed over the loss of so useful a domestic animal,
where wild beasts were numerous, and over his lamentable
fate.

THE COLONEL AND THE ENSIGN.

The fifth regiment was mustering in Garland. The com-
panies on Piscataquis River were not called out, as their bat-
talion then mustered in Dover. Hut ccrtiiin persons fi*om
those companies attended as spectators. In the afternoon, by
a certain evolution, the main guard was swept out of its

TirE COIiONKL AND TILE ENSIGN. 293

place, and the line left without sentinels. The spectators
began to press forward, and soon were intruding upon the
parade gi'ound. The colonel, who had an exalted idea of
military etiquette, was irritated, and spurring his horse furi-
ously ijito the crowd, ran over a boy and seriously injured
liim. As he lay prostrate, crying with fright and pain, an
ensign from the other battjvliou, not then on duty, sjirang to
his relief. While taking up the boy, the colonel daslied back
and spurred his hoi^e smartly on one side, making hun whirl
round suddenly, striking the ensign and nearly knocking
him down. The ensign's temper rose. He broke out in loud
and angry tones: "Are you going to run over me too?" pre-
facing it with profane and scathing words. The colonel re-
l)lied: "Yes, if you don't get off the field." Other uninili-
tary and ungentlemanly words and plu'ases fell thick and
fast. The colonel, when mounted upon liis charger, mth
epaulets and sword, did not expect to hear such contemptu-
ous rcl)ukes. Looking down to see who it was that thus con-
fronted him, he recognized, in his defiant antagonist, one of
Ids own suborduiate officers. He could not brook this. So
he hastily and arbitrarily declared the ensign under military
arrest, and forbade him ever appearing again on parade un-
til he made ample satisfaction. The ensign returned home,
and when his anger subsided, supposed that his commanding
officer would also cool off, and think no more of that angry
spat, or of his unauthorized sentence of arrest. So he went
"With his company in full uniform, and with side arms to the
battalion muster, and marched Avith it into line. When the
adjutant had formed the regiment, and the colonel came on
to the field, he rode directly to that ensign, and again pro-
nounced liim under arrest, and ordered him off the field.
He went, burning with wrath, and took his stand just out-
side the line, and stood all day, a silent but close observer of
the manijiiuvrcs in which he had sanguinely expected to par-
ticipate. His great regret was, that he could not challenge
the colonel to settle the quarrel by a duel, and fight it there
in the presence of the regiment.

294 HISTORY OF PISCATAQinS COUNTY.

•

The affair was an exciting one. Everybody was talking
about it, and casting censures according to their respective
opinions.

The colonel thought that he had the inside track. He
would not let such a public insult and military misdemeanor
pass unpunished. So he entered his charges against the
recreant ensign, and demanded that he be court-martialed.

But when the case came into the hands of the Judge-advo-
cate, that oflBcer coolly examined it, and found the colonel's
proceedings fatally defective. The insult with which the
ensign was deservedly charged, was .perpetrated when he
was not under the colonel's command, not under martial law,
when he was only a spectator, and amenable to the civil law
alone, for using abusive and profane language.

So both, military an-osts were invalid, tlio first, because it
was outside the colonel's jurisdiction, the second, because he
had done nothing when under his superior oflBcer, to call for
it. So no court-martial was called. The ensign resumed his
place, but a mutual hostility rankled and raged within them.

The regiment was soon divided. The colonel was pro-
moted to a brigadier, then to a major-general, and so ap-
peared upon the muster field. The ensign was still an oflB-
cer, promoted to captain, and finally to colonel. So on mus-
ter days the usual military recognitions and salutes * were
passed, but the flash of their eyes was as patent as the
gleam of their swords.

PROFESSIONAL AND EDUCATED MEN.
The following residents of this county are college gradaates.

BOWDOIN COLLSQB.

Wm. S. Sewall, Sangerville, 1834. Counsel Greely. Dover, 1854.

Josiali Crosby; Atkinson, 1835. Cyrus H. Carleton. Sangerville,1856.

Thos. D. Sturtevant, Blanohard,1841. Edwin P. Parker, Dover, 1856.

Henry S. Loring, Guilford, 1843. George N. Jackson, Foxcroft, 1859.

Freeland S. Holmes, Foxcroft, 1850. Mark Pitman, Barnard, 1850.

Cliiw. P. Chandler, Foxcroft, 1854. I>avld 11. Straw jr., Qullford. 185U.

Collins Stevens, Harvey Davis, H. O. Pratt, Evarts S. PilUbury, David
N. Gi*celey, of Foxcroft; Henry Folsom, Monson; Frank W. Chadbourne,
and John F. Robinson, Dover, entered this college, but did not complete
the full course.

PROFESSIONAL AND EDUCATED MEN. 295

CX>LBT UNIVBB8ITY.

E. A. Cummiugs, Parkman, 1847. SilvanusB. Macorabor,Monson, 1863.
Abner E. Oakes, Sasgeryille, 1847. Horatio N. Nutting, Parkman, 1863.
Hark A. Cummings, Parkman, 1849. Wm. S. Koowlton, Saufjrerville, 1864.
Albion P. 0ake8,Sangerville, 1849. Stanley T. Pullen, Foxcroft, 1864
Alfred E. Buck, Foxcroft, 1859. EliUu B. Haskell, Guilford, 1872.
Alonzo Bunker, Atkinson, 1802. Henry Hudson jr., Guilford, 1875.
Whiting S. Clark, Sangerville, 1862. Edgar H. Crosby, Brownville, 1880.

Ezi-a Towno, Dover, J. F. Norris, Monson, Sewall Brown, Dover, John
E. Sdwyor, Monson, Valentine B. Oakes, and William P. Oakes, Sanger-
villo, entered, but did not graduate.

Kov. Sewall Brown received the degree of A.M. in 1869, and Rev. Chas.
H. Herring, the same, in 1873, from Colby University.

Robinson Turner, Guilford, entered Tufts College, but loft, before com-
pleting his course.

Lulher Keene and George A. Keene of Atkinson, graduated from Am-
horet College, and Valentine B. Oakes of Sangerville, from Dsirtraoath
CoUogo.

BATBS COLLKGB.

Miss Mary W. Mitchell, 1869. F. T. Crommett, So. Dover, 1874.

E. £. Wade, 1870. K M. Briggs, Paikman, 1879.

E. P. Sampson, Dover, 1873.

AGIUCULTURAL CX>LLRGB.

J. I. Gurnoy, Foxcroft, 1874. E. D. Thomas, Brownville, 1878.

C. K Towno, East Dover, 1878. J. U. Williams, Milo, 187a

C. C. Chamberlain, Foxcroft, 1878.

L. II. Ramsdall, Atkinson, F. L. Moore, Sobec, F. P. Gurney, William W.
Dow, and F. H. Pullen, Foxcroft, entered, but left without graduating.

BANOOR THEOLOGICAL SEMINABT.

Isaac E. Wilkins, Brownville, 1825. Henry S. Loring, Guilford, 1846.

Wm. S. Sewall, Sangerville, 1838. Amory H. Tyler, Monson, 1854.

Elbridge G. Carpenter, Fox- Sam'l D. Bowker, Blaiichard, 1860.

croft, 1840. Lutlier Keene, Atkinson, 1862.

Amasa Loring, Guilford, 1841. George Williams, Sangerville 1864.

Asa T. Loring, Guilford, 1841. Thomas Kenuey, Milo, 1874.
Thos. D. Sturtevan t,Blanchard, 1844.

Charles Davison of Monson entered the Congregational ministry with
an Academic education.

THBOLOGfCAL INSTITUTION AT NBWTON CBNTBB, MASS.

£. A. Cummings, P^rkman, 1850. Alonzo Bunker, Atkinson, 1865.
J. P. Hunting, Guilfoi-d, 1850. J. F. Norris, Monson, 1865.

Leonard II. Hunting, Guilford, 1S51. Silvanus B. Macomber, ** 1868.
Mark A. Cummings, Paik man, 1852. Eliliu B. Haskell, Guilfoi-d 1875.
Cyrus II. Carleton,Sangerville, 18.')9. All now Baptist ministers.

Kcv. Samuel Low and Rev. C. M. Herring, Guilford, Rev. Sewall Brown,
Dover, graduated from New Hampton Baptist Seminary; Rev. A. J. Nel-
son, Guilford, entered the Baptist ministry with an Academical educa-
tion; Rev. William S. Knowltou has been ordained.

296 HISTOBY OF PISCATAQinS COUNTY.

FRBB BAPTISTS.

•

Tlie ministry of this denomination has ^en entered by the persons

whose names are here given: Abner Coombs, Gailford, 1828; Mr.

Livermore, Milo; Abel Turner jr., Foxcroft; Grin Bartlett, Abbot, eda-
cated at Free Baptist Seminary; Horace Graves, Dover; Albert Pratt,
Soboc ; and E. G. Eantman, Parkman. Several others have been ordained
by thti Association Baptists, without any special preparation, whoso names
I cannot f^ivo. llovs. Kotlious M. Byram and Daruabas Dursoley of San-
gorvlUe, entered the ministry as Universal ists. «

insTnoDiSTs.
Bov. Watts Dow, Sebec; Bev. Daniel Warren, Guilford; Bev. P. O.
Parsons, Sangerville, have become preachers in this connection.

PUT8I0IAK8.

William A. Harvey, Atkinson, 1847; Josiah Jordan, Foxcroft, 1848; E.
P. Snow, Atkinson, 1849; William Buck, Foxcroft, 1859; William B. Bal-
lard, Foxcroft, 1850; James H. Thompson, Sangerville, 1859; S. B.
Sprague, Milo, 1867; Frank W. Chadbourne, Dover, 1869; L. C. Ford. At-
kiuHon; C. D. Sprague, Milo; and Walter E. Turner, South Dover, 1870;
rocuivod the dograo of if.i>. from the medical department of Bowdoin Col-
lege at the dates above designated.

Freeland S. Holmes, Foxcroft; K A. Thompson, Dover; Daniel Straw,
Guilford; Hoi^atio N. Howard, Abbot; have received the same at other
institutions.

Others have practiced in the Thompsonian and Homeopathic methods ;
Dr. Jacobs of Dover; Chandler Wood of Abbot; S. B. Elliot of Dover;
C. B. Bennett of Guilford ; Mrs. E. C. Buck of Foxcroft, are prominent
among them.

LAWYERS.

We give an approach only to fUllness and accuracy, and to the order of
their admittance to the bar.

Charles A. Everett, Dover. E. F. Harvey, Atkinson.

William C. Crosby, Atkinson. George N. Jackson, Foxcroft

Josiah Crosby, Atkinson. W. S. Clark, Sangerville.

Winslow Blake, Foxcroft C. O. Clark, Sangerville.

William G. Clark, Sangerville. George E. Clark, Sangerville.

William McE. Brown, Guilford. * John F. Bobinson, Dover.

C. P. Chandler, Foxcroft H. O. Pratt, Foxcroft
Counsel Greeley, Dover. George Pratt, Foxcroft

J. D. Brown, Guilford. Evaito S. Pillsbury, Foxcroft

John U. Bice, Monson. J. F. Sprague, Sangerville.

A. G. Lebroke, Foxcroft WiUiam Lane, Monson.

Abner Oakes, Sangerville. H. B. Flint, Dover.

A. P. Oakes, Sangerville. Henry Hudson jr., Guilford.

y. B. Oakos, Sangerville. J. B. Peakes, Dover.

J. II. Macombor, Milo. D. L. Savage, Foxcroft

D. IL Sti*aw jr., Guilford. W. £. Parsons, Foxcroft
H. N. Nutting, Paikman. Bo well, Sebec.

C. A. Packard, Blanchard.

PROFESSIONAL AND BDUCATESD MEN.

297

County officers, from the incorporation of the county to 1880.

SHERIFFS.

1838, B. P. Oilman, Sebec.
1839-40, J. Chase, Sebec.
1841, n. K. A dams, Williamsburg.
1842-45, W. Oakos Jr., Saugerville.
184G-r>3, J. Cliaso, Sebec
1854-55, T. S. Pullen, Dover.
ia'>0, W. W. Harris, Ouilford.

1857-61, C. S. Douty.Dover, resgn*d.
1862, E. Jewett, Saugerville.
1803, £.J.Hale,Foxcron;,re8.1863.
1863-72, K. Jowott, Sangorvillo.
1873-74, M. W. Brown. BrownvUlo.
1875-78, C. Foss. Abbot
1879-80, J. L. Smart, Milo.

CLERKS OF COURT.

1838 A 41, P. P. Furber, Milo. 1851-62, E. Flint, Dover.

18:W-40, A. S. Patten, Dover. 1863-74, R Kittredge, Dover.

1842-50, E. S. Clark, Dover. 1875-^, H. B. Flint, Foxoroft

OOUimr ATTORNEYS.

18;«M1, C. A Everett, Milo.

1842^5' [ J- Do". Monson.
ia40-52, A. M. Robinson, Sebec.
1853-60, J. H. Rice, Monson.

1861-70, A. G. Lebroko, FoxcrofL
1871-73, Wm. P. Young, Milo.
1874-76, C. A. Everett, Dover.
1877-79, Wm. P. Young, Milo.
1880, J. B. Peaks, Dover.

COUNTY TREASURERS.

1838,
1841-42

\ C. P. Chandler, Foxcroft

iaj9-40, R Low, Guilford.
184:^-46, M. Fames, Dover.
1847, N.Hinds, Dover.
1848-40, J. S. Thompson, Dover.
1850-51, F. R Drake, Dover.
1852-55, A. B. Chase, Dover.
1856-57, C. U. B. Woodbury, Dover.

1866^?; I ®- "^^ "*^®' FoxcroO.
1860-61, C. O. Palmer, Dover.
1862-63, R Dearborn, Dover.
1864-65, C. K Kimball, Dover.
1868-69, M. Pitman, Dover.
1870-72, N. Hinds, Dover.
1873-74, W. Buck, Foxcroft
1875-78, C. B. Kittredge, Duver.
1870-80, W. Buck, FoxcroR

COUNTY COH>irSSIONER8.

18:^, J. S. Holmes, Foxcroft, J. Matthews, Monson, J. Lake, Brownville.
1839,40, A. M. Bobinson, Sebec, E. Packard, Blanchard, S. Palmer, Dover.

1841, U. G. O. Morrison, Dover, J. Lake, Brownville, J. Matthews, Monson.

1842, E. L. Hammond, Atkinson, R Loring, Shirley, M. Sweat, Foxcroft.

1843, E. L. Hammond, A. M. Robinson, William Brewster, Parkman.

1844, £. L. Hammond, William Brewster, R Loring.

1845, li. Loring, William Brewster, F. Turner, Milo.

1846, U. Loring, F. Turner, M. Sweat, Foxcroft.

1847, F. Turner, Milo, C. Chamberlain, Foxcroft, John Elliot, Abbot

1848, C. Chamberlain, J. Elliot, D. C. Cilley, Sebec.
1840, J. Elliot, D. C. Cilley, J. Roberts, Saugerville.

1850, D. C. Cilley, J. Roberts, C. N. Gower, Greenville.

1851, C. N. Gower, L. Itobinson, Foxcroft, J. D. Brown, Foxcroft

20

298 HISTOBY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

18.'52, C. N. Qower, J. D. Brown, L. Bobinson.

ia53, B. Bursley, Sangerville, L. Bobiuson, L. Howard, Guilford.

1854, L. Bobinson, L. Howard, J. A. Dunning, Williamsburg.

1855, L. Howard, J. A. Dunning, S. Cobum, Parkman.

1856, J. A. Dunning, S. Cobum, J. Spaulding, Dover.

1857, S. Cobuni, J. Spaulding, J. H. Macombnr, Milo.

1858, J. Spaulding, J. H. Macoiftber, A. Cbapin, Monson.
1850, J. H. Macoraber, A. Chapin, Ij. Bobinson.

1860, A. Chapin, L. Bobinson, G. W. Wingate, Sebec.

1861, L. Bobinson, G. W. Wingate, I. Hutchins. Wellington.

1862, G. W. Wingate, I. Hutchins, Wm. N. Thompson, Foxcroft

1863, I. Hutchins, Wm. N. Thompson, B. A. Snow, Atkinson.

1864, Wm. N. Thompson, Poxcroft, B. A. Snow, J. Elliot, Abbot

1865, B. A. Snow, J. Elliot, B. Brann, Dover.

1866, J. Elliot, B. Brann, J. Morrill, Subeo.

1867, B. Brann, J. Morrill, C. A. Packard, Blanohard.

1868, J. Morrill, Sebec, C. A. Packard, S. B Jackson, Foxcroft
1860, C. A. Packard, S. B. Jackson, C. L. Dunning, Brownville.

1870, S. K. Jackson, C. L. Dunning, C. A. Packard.

1871, C. lu Dunning, C. A. Packard, M. Mitchell, Dover.

1872, C. A. Packard, M. Mitchell, L. Sands, Sebec.

1873, M. Mitchell, L. Sands, C. A. Packard.

1874, L. Sands, C. A. Packard, P. M. Jeflferds, Foxcroft

1875, C. A. Packai-d, P. M. Je£fords, L. Sands.

1876, P. M. Jeffenls, L. Sands, L. Hilton, Kingsbury.

1877, L. Sands, L. Hilton, L. Bobinson.

1878, L. Hilton, L. Bobinson, IT. F. l)aggott,Milo. [Crockett, appointed.
1870, L. Bobinson, H. F. Daggett, Wm. G. Thompson, Guilford, Simon
1880, H. F. Daggett, Wm. G. Thompson, Volney A. Gray, Dover.

RBOI8TBR8 OF DBBD8.

183&-42, R K. Bice. 1863-64, D. Shepherd, died in office.

184:i-47, A. S. Patten. 1804-67, M. Pitman appointed.

1848-57, E. B. Avenll. 1868-82, M. W. Hall.
1858-62, J. Jordan.

JUDGBS OF PROBATB.

iaS8, E. W. Snow, Atkinson, 1845. 1861, T. S. Pullen, Foxcroft, d. 1865.

1845, E. Packard,Blanchard,d. 1855. 1865, C. A. Everett, Milo,re8'd 1866.
1855, J. Bell, Monson, resigned 1857. 1866, J. S. Monroe, Abbot, d. 1870.
1857, J. Stevens, Sebec, d. 1862. 1870, E. J. Hale, Foxcroft, 1880.

BBQI8TBR8 OF PROBATB.

1838, B. Bursley, Sang., rem'd, 1830. 1854, A. Getchell. Dover, 1866.

18:J0, U. Hinds, Dover, rem'd 1841. 1856, L. Lee, Foxcroft, 1^57.

1841, B. Bursley, Sang., rem'd 1842. ia57, W.F. Gal1ison,Foxcroft,d.l857.

1842, E. S. Greeley, Dover, 1840. 1857, A. Getchell, Dover, 1858.

1846, L. Lee, Foxcroft, 1850. 1858, S.Whitney, Sangorville.d. 1800.
1850, S. W. Elliot, Dover, 1854. 1860, A. Getchell, Dover, prea. 1880.

CHAPTER XXXII.

CONCLUSION.

These scanty jottings of backwoods life must come to an
end. Not so the inevitable history of "this county: that
will flow on for better or for worse, till time shall be no
more, till the mighty problem of human existence shall
reach its full and final solution.

''Life is real I life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust retumest,
Was not spoken of the souL''

Lot US then compare the present with the past, and calcu-
late the future, as the ocean voyager takes a solar observa-
tion and shapes his onward course. For fourscore years,
civilized life with energy and toil has been busily working
in this county. Eighty years, and what changes! What
marks of untiring industry, what monuments of successful
struggles, what improvements in mental culture, what mor-
al and religious advances, what unavoidable calamities,
what scenes of sorrow, wliat final departures of our early
and aged associates I We naturally carry the present back
over the past, and readily think that the things which now
are, have ever so existed. Few of the early pioneers who can
correct this impression from their own recollections, now
survive. Five, out of the seven persons whom I acknowledg-
ed myself in the introduction of this work indebted to, for
items of early history, have departed this life within the
four years spent in collecting materials for it. Being then
undertaken, these items were secured, but now they would
be inevitably lost. But some still live, whose memory

800 HISTOBY OF PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

stretches across many of these revolving years, and can easily
recall the changes, which have persistently gone on.

Changes in the face of nature stand out distinctly, they
daguerreot3rpe themselves upon the mind of the aged behold-
er. The gloomy forests have receded, and smiling fields
bathed with sunshine and showers, tender their harvests to
the hand of their cultivators. Smooth and graded roads
have superseded the spotted line and the rough and muddy
pathway, while the steamboat plows our largest lakes, and
the railroad stretches its iron track across this county. Be-
fore 1820, not even a weekly mail was known in this county :
now many towns have two and four arrivals daily, and the
telegraph brings its despatches with lightning speed.

The home, the domestic center, has passed through throe
distinct changes. From tlie log-cabins and hovels, the pio-
neers moved into their first framed houses. These were usu-
ally low, small, and roughly or partially finished, with their
great sprawling chimneys, from which capacious fire-places
yawned like the mouth of a cavern. These must have their
great back-logs, and fore-sticks, too, and much else, to make
the needed fire. Now the chimney has grown conveniently
less in all its proportions, while stoves and furnaces require far
less fuel, if they do not give us as good air.

In architecture and style there has been a decided change,
so that the advance is nearly as great as from the log-cabin
to the first framed house.

The barn and out-houses have risen also in style and con-
venience, and in economy, too ; tlie manure shed and cellar
being its best evidence, which most of our thrifty farmers
have brought into use.

Ordinary labors, both in-doors and out, have also changed.
After clearing new lands, the farmer cultivated and harvest-
ed his crops mainly by his own manual labor. Beyond
plowing and harrowing, carting and sledding, the ox and
horse did but a small part. But now agricultural machinery
worked by horse and ox power, takes the severest tdll out of
the hands of men. And if the introduction of these useful

CONCLUSION. 301

inventions has narrowed the demand for the day-laborer,
it has gi'eatly benefited the freeholder, who works liis
own fields^ and has thereby promoted the interest of the
greater number. The day-laborer can adjust capital and
labor, by securing a freehold of his own, and gain a liveli-
hood by working for himself. New land is now cheap, fer-
tile acres invite the industrious, and men without capital can
break into the forest with less hardships than our fathers
bore, while roads, markets and othet facilities favor the pres-
ent, rather than the past.

Many domestic employments have also changed. When
plain cotton cloth cost thirty cents per yard, and calico was
still liigher, fields of flax were common. When broadcloth
was from five to eight dollars per yard, farmers, mechanics,
merchants and professional men wore their well-dressed
homespun. And if this did not have the checks and stripes of
the present shoddy products of our factories, it had a little
more twist and a little stronger fiber. Then the spinning-
wheel and the loom were in every dwelling, and our motliers
and sisters could draw the thi^ead, and fling the shuttle.
But now, to many of the fair sex, to farmers' daughters even,
spinning and weaving are among "the lost arts." The fac-
tories,— quite a good institution, however, — have done this,
but they should be esteemed and treated as a public benefit.
They give steady and lucrative employment to a large class
of operatives ; they improve the markets for farm products,
fuel and lumber, and give business to other mechanics.
Sheep-raising, that profitable branch of husbandry, they en-
courage, and relieve the over- worked women of the hard la-
bor of home manufacture. Tliey keep a steady flow of money
in circulation, which essentially aids all the branches of in-
dustry. The scarcity of money in former times, then so
embarrassing, lias been greatly diminished by the running of
factories on our waterfalls, and the changes in tliis respect,
cannot now be easily realized.

The cheese factories I will not here omit. One in
East Sangerville, another in Milo, should have been men-

302 HISTORY OP PISCATAQUIS COUNTY.

tioned in their proper places. These are not to be estimated
merely by the profits they may pay to their owners and pa-
trons: they are a paying convenience. They take from wom-
an the hard labors of the dairy-room, and produce a richer
and better article. They are not a monopoly, not breaking
down, but aggrandizing, the small dairy.

Social entertainments and tolerated amusements have un-
dergone a marvelous change. Sixty years ago, checkers,
fox-and-geese, and simple* plays beguiled the evening hours
of the young, but then, card-playing was not allowed in the
homes, even of many irreligious families. An outdoor game
of ball was common, but nine-pins, croquet and billiards were
unknown. So were levees, picnics and concerts.

Fashions in dress, in ornaments, in traveling equipages,
liave so many times taken on their ephemeral changes, that
they defy all description. Like the speckled pig, they are
too spry to be counted.

The school-room, the school with its books and teach-
ers, and all the means of culture, have made brilliant im-
provements. For the first few years of these new settle-
ments, reading, spelling, writing, arithmetic, and very rarely
gmmmar, made up the exercises : a geography and atlas were
not seen. Newspapers and books were few, and religious
lectures only were given. The increase of all these various
means for growth in general knowledge, and for mental de-
velopment, for more pleasant intercourse with each other,
and for more cultivated deportment, calls for grateful recog-
nition.

Sixty years ago, our young ears were compelled to hear a
peculiar style of pronunciation, provincialisms, perhaps the un-
mended barbarisms of earlier days. Some would pronounce
the word friend, frind^ urgent would be aregent^ earn and
earnest, aime and airnesty and cover was always kiwer.
These relics of olden time have been buried in the grave of
oblivion : let us be careful that they have no resurrection.
Another relic of the dead past, the small-clothes and long
stockings with their knee and shoe buckles, the veritable

CONCLUSION. 303

style of revolutionary days and of colonial etiquette, came
within the vision of the writer. In the year 1818, my
grandfather made us his only visit, and his tight short breech-
es convinced us that he belonged to a former generation.
Again, as late as 1881, sinothcr venerable man who could not
yield to modern innovations in this respect, turned up m my
path, a second genuine specimen of the ancients.

But the old cocked, clerical hat, universally worn by the
orthodox clergy until near the beginning of the present cen-
tury, I have never seen, unless the one worn by college
presidents on commencement days, is a genuine specimen.
It is said that lie v. John Turner, who preached in Foxcroft
and Sebec, in 1835, was the first clergyman in Maine to don
the usual hat, and Ilev. Samuel Eaton of Harpswell was the
last to abandon the antique, he wearing it till his head was
pillowed in the grave.

Another sadly inauspicious change appears in the number
and make up of the family circle. In former times, early
marriages were the order of the day, and the Divine institu-
tion was honored. The young wife was Jilraost invariably
identical with the young mother. A thrifty circle of chil-
dren, like olive plants, surrounded the table of both rich and
poor, and New England names and blood and principles and
characteristics had a preeminence over imported foreign ele-
ments. And wliy should it not bo so now? And should
not philantliropist, sage and Cliristian iisk what will be the
end of this striking chiinge? — this frustrating of the design
of one of the most beneficient institutions that God ever gave
to men.

Have morals improved? Their standard is permanent.
Departures from, or approaches toward, it, denote the real
character of all. The temperance reform has been duly no-
ticed. Otlicr improvements were linked with it. But un-
less wo arc severe upon the faults of past generations, and
lenient to those of our own, we may not boast loudly of
other great moral advances. It is not safe to discuss this

304 HISTORY OF PISCATAQXnS COUNTY.

topic. A prophet of evil is sure to be unpopular, and so must
be the chronicler of it.

Religion, too, in its essential principles, is as unchangeable
as God's being and attributes. But in the statement and ad-
justment of its different doctrines, in the personal manifes-
tation of its experiences, in its routine of worship, in its ex-
pansive spirit and livelier activity, it can change, and has
changed, and we hail these changes with devout gi*atitude.

The pulpit secures more talent, learning and careful utter-
ance than formerly. It presents less of the frivolous, and
more of the solemn and weighty; less of the disjointed, more
of well arranged thought ; less of misstated doctrines, and
more of the symmetrical principles of Christianity, and of
the harmonious relations of doctrine and duty.

Human nature will occasionally throw up men of one idea,
extremists, the result, not of religion, but of peculiar tem-
peraments. So it is in all parties. Religion should not be
judged by those idiosyncrasies, which are its failures, and
not its legitimate developments.

But no generation entirely makes itself: it comes from the
foregoing, and brings along some of its well worn types.
And like the new edition of a book, each should be an im-
provement upon the former. So we may look forward and
inquire what kind of a future we are fashioning for our suc-
cessors? What foundations we are laying for social and
moral structures?

'* Lives of great men aU remind us.
Wo can ninko our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footpiints on the sands of time.

'' Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother.
Seeing, shall take heart again.''

37V

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