USA > Maine > Washington County > Columbia > Centennial historical sketch of the town of Columbia, Me.; as gathered from the town records, family records and traditional history from the memory of its aged citizens, from 1796 to 1896 > Part 1
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Gc 974.102 C72& 1762881
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
G&
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01092 2182
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014
https://archive.org/details/centennialhistor00leig
By Levi Leighton, Goq., COLUMBIA FALLS, RIZ.
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CENTENNIAL HISTORICAL
.Sketch
OF THE
TOWN OF COLUMBIA
As gathered from the Town Records, Family .Records and Traditional History from the memory of its aged Citizens.
... FROM 1796 TO 1896 ... ..
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THE REPUBLICAN. MACHIAJ, LE.
السع الدة
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entennial historical
OF THE
1762881
.... Town of Columbia ....
As gathered from the Toum Records, Family Records and Traditional History from the memory of its aged Citizens.
From 1796 to 1896.
Bp Levi Leighton, Esq., COLUMBIA FALLS. MC.
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Account of the Celebration.
HE town of Columbia, at its annual meeting, March 17, 1896, voted to raise $75.00 to be used in celebrating the One Hundredth Anniversary of the town ; and appointed a Centennial Committee, consisting of Jesse L. Nash, as Chairman ; M. F. Inger- soll, as Secretary ; George H. Leighton, V. N. Look, George C. Coffin, Augustus Dunbar, E. A. Foster and Jethro P. Hartford. This committee appointed Asaph H. Leighton as President of the day, Levi Leighton, Esq., of Columbia Falls, Historian, and Rev. E. K. Drew, of Harrington, Chaplain ; also decided to hold the cele- bration July 4th, at the Lower Epping Corner. A program was posted and carried out as far as the weather would permit. A sunriss salute was fired by Jethro P. Hartford, a street parade at 7 a. m., base, ball at 8, and dinner at 12 m.
The Harrington Brass Band was in service all day and dis- coursed nice music, which was highly appreciated. The literary exercises were held in the Union Church, the weather not permit- ting them in open air, as previously arranged. At 1:30 p. m. the
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crowded house was called to order by the President, and the following exercises were carried out :
First-Music by the Band Second-Prayer by the Chaplain.
Third-History by the Historian. Fourth-Singing by the Choir.
Fifth-Impressive speeches by Hon. John F. Lynch and Geo. W. Drisko, Esq., editor of the Machias Union, of Machias. ,
Sixth-Oration by Rev. A. J. Turner, of Columbia Falls.
Last-Singing America by the audience, and giving three hearty cheers for the speakers and the old town of Columbia.
Fireworks and a dance ended the great Centennial Celebra- tion of the old town of Columbia.
أسماكر
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INTRODUCTORY AND PRELIMINARY REMARKS BY THE HISTORIAN.
In writing the following historical sketches of Columbia in the brief space of time alloted me I have done the best I could. My friends have responded promptly in assisting me in this almost Herculean task. The longer we drift away from the incidents of our fathers, their doings and family history, where they came from and where they settled as pioneers in the town, the less likely we are to get a true written history. Chronology in history is the hardest to remember, and the hardest to obtain. Students of history will tell you that much of the history of the world rests upon old tradition, and that most all historians are partial writers. American historians will err on the side of their own country. So the English, the French, the Greek, the Roman and the Jewish historians have not written much impartial history. The history of nations, states and towns should be carefully written, not in a hurried manner, but after most profound research and patient inquiry. One hundred and twenty years ago a nation was born and when christened its name was called the "United States of America," and in its infancy it proudly took its place among the great, the older and the most powerful nations of the earth, and took for its motto, "E. Piuribus Unum," one of many. One of thirteen states into one nation and under one government ; and soon adopted for its emblem or flag, having on .its surface of red, white and blue bunting, thirteen stripes and thirteen stars. The thirteen stripes represent the thirteen original states, and the stars the number of states. As a state is admitted into this union of st tes another star is put on the flag. until now there should be forty-five stars. Those stars are the emblems of a higher destiny.
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The ethereal blue is a fit emblem of purity and freedom. That spotless white the emblem of truth and virtue, and with fervent red the emblem of pure devotion to our country. Seventy-six year ago a state was born and soon took its place as the 23d state ir our union of states. and the twenty-three stars was placed on our flag ; and when christened it took for its name, the State of Maine, and soon adopted for its motto : "Dirigo," meaning, "I lead ;" and if you know of the high position our delegation occupies in -congress today you must be. convinced the motto was well selected and well carried out. We are proud to be ranked as the 104th . town in our noble state. But as we were in the District of Maine twenty-four years, and under the laws of Massachusetts before Maine became a state, we must give credit to that state for much of our childhood training. We are proud of such a mother whose motto should be a leader in education and patriotism. An- niversaries of many kinds are held, and we believe they are proper and profitable, and serve as mile stones in the history of nations, states, towns and individuals. In writing this history the plan I shall pursue is to first write recorded history as found on the town records and in the Adjutant General's report, and then traditional history as obtained from family records and aged citizens. In some instances we shall go behind the incorporation of the town in the traditional history of pioneer families, and some events in the first and early settlement of the town. If we err in some instances we hope to be pardoned.
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RECORDED HISTORY.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts-In the year of our Lord, 1796, -an act to incorporate the Plantations No. 12 and 13, west of Machias, in the County of Washington, into a town by the name of Columbia :
BE IT ENACTED-By the Senate and House of Representa- tives in general court assembled, and by the authority of the same, that the Plantations No. 12 and 13, west of Machias, in the County of Washington, bounded as follows, to wit : Beginning at the south- east corner of Plantation No. 13, on the head line of No. 6 ; thence running west 12 1-4 miles on said line of No. 6 and No. 5 to a corner ; bounded on the easterly side by No. 11 ; thence running north 5 3-4 miles to a corner which terminates in a pond ; thence east on the southerly bounds of Townships No. 18 and 19, 10 1-4 miles ; thence south 5 miles and 209 rods on the easterly line of Township No. 22 to the first mentioned bounds, together with all of the inhabitants thereon, be and thus hereby are incorporated into a town by the name of Columbia, and said town is hereby vested with all the powers, privileges and immunities which . ther towns in the Commonwealth do or may enjoy ;
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And be it further enacted that Alexander Campbell, Esq., be and is empowered to issue his warrant, directed to some suitable person, inhabitant of said town, requiring him to wirn a meeting of the said inhabitants of said town at such a time and place as shall be in such warrant for the purpose of choosing such town officers as other towns are,empowered to choose in the month of March or April, annually. In the House of Representatives, Feb. 6, 1796. This bill having had three several readings, passed to be enacted.
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EDWARD H. ROBINS,
Speaker of the House.
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In the Senate, Feb. 8, 1796. This bill having had tv several readings, passed to be enacted.
THOMAS DAWS, President pro tem of the Senate.
Feb. 8, 1796. Approved by the Governor.
SAMUEL ADAMIS.
True copy attest : JOHN AVERY, JR., Secretary.
Under this act the first meeting was called by Obediah Aller constable of the town of Columbia, the 18th day of April, 1796 at the dwelling house of Joseph Patten. This, we believe, wa once known as the Woodward House, and later on, a little whil before it was torn down, it was called the Bee Hive. Joseph Patter at the time the town was incorporated, was town clerk, and Thoma Ruggles, William Wass and David Wass, were the selectmen. A the first regular annual meeting Benjamin Ruggles was choser moderator ; Wm. Bucknam, town clerk; Elisha Coffin, Thomas Ruggles and Gowen Wilson, selectmen ; Joseph Patten, treasurer. Time and space would not allow me to report all the proceedings at the annual town meetings. Extracts will be made as we pass along, which may be worth recording in this history. To prove that Columbia early disapproved of foreign immigration, I will write what the Selectmen ordered the constable to do :
WASHINGTON, SS. To any Constable of the Town of Columbia. GREETING :
You are hereby, in the name of the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts, to warn and give notice to Samuel Marston, Sarah, his wife, and all the family, who have lately come into this town for the purpose of abiding therein, not having obtained a legate, the town's consent, therefore that they all depart the limits thereof
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ithin twenty days, and of this precept with your doings thereon, ou are to make return into the office of the Town Clerk within venty days next coming, that such further proceedings may be as' ie law directs.
Given under our hands and seals at Columbia aforesaid this :9th day of March, A. D. 1798.
THOMAS RUGGLES, ELISHA COFFIN, Selectmen of Columbia.
GOWEN WILSON,
VASHINGTON, SS. . Columbia, April 7, 1798.
Pursuant to the within precept, I have notified and warned the within named Samuel Marston, Sarah, his wife, and family, the limits of said town by reading the warrant to them.
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NATHAN WHITNEY,
Fees, 62 cents. Constable of Columbia. Attest :- JOSEPH PATTEN, Clerk.
. At their annual town meeting in April, 1801, the town voted . to raise $75 for the support of the gospel. Also that Deacon David Wass be an agent to hire or engage a person or persons to supply or preach the gospel.
At a special legal meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Columbia, the 5th day of April, A. D. 18oz, for the purpose of drawing two good and lawful men to serve as Grand Jurors, was drawn from the box, Mr. Isaac Nash and Joseph Patten, Esq.
Attest : WILLIAM BUCKNAM, Town Clerk.
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At the same meeting, Article 26, the town voted that the $50 that were raised for the support of the gospel shall be appropriated to the use of schools.
At the annual town meeting of 1803 a vote was passed to let hogs go at large, being lawfully yoked.
At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of Columbia, in the County of Washington, holden on the first Monday of September, being the 6th day of the month, 1319, to give in their votes for the approbation or disapprobation of the constitution as prepared br the convention of delegates assembled at Portland on the 2d Monday of October, last, pursuant to an act entitled, "an act re- lating to the separation of the District of Maine from Massachu- setts proper and forming the same into a separate and independent state. The whole number of votes given in said town were sorted, counted and declaration thereof made in open meeting of said town by the selectmen who presided at said meeting, and there were twenty votes given in, of which nine were in favor of the constitution prepared by the convention as aforesaid, and eleven were opposed to said constitution.
Attest : ICHABOD BUCKNAM, Town Clerk.
So we see that a majority then, of the voters of the town, chose to remain under the laws and control of their mother state, - rather than set up for themselves, but other older and larger towns thought different and the District of Maine became a state. From this date we take quite a leap in the town's recorded history.
In the year 1862, at the annual town meeting, Charles A. Wilson was elected town clerk to succeed his father, Truman Wil- sco, who 'had filled that office since the year 1840, twenty-two consecutive years. March 24, 1863, the last annual town meeting was held in Hamlin Hall, before the division of the town. In the
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ear of 1863 an act was passed by the legislature of Maine divid- ng the town on the division line between Nos. 12 and 13, setting of the eastern half of No. 13, by a line stated in the act, a town of itself which was named Columbia Fails. A satisfactory line was run by Addison Dodge, Esq., of Ellsworth, and stone monu- nents erected by both towns. Financial committees were soon appointed by both towns to settle all financial matters. The old town of Columbia chose for their committee: Levi Leighton, Abraham Nash and W. H. Puffer. The new town of Columbia Falls chose : George Harris, George W. Ruggles and Gowen Wilson. The former committee are all alive at this date, and the latter committee are all dead ; your Historian of today having been chairman of the former committee, and of course, then a resident of Columbia. In a few years all financial matters were amicably settled between the two towns without much cost or litigation ; and ever since a friendly feeling has existed between the towns.
About this time both towns were called upon for soldiers to help put down the Southern Rebellion. According to the Adjutant General's report Columbia furnished for the Sixth Maine. Volun- teers as follows : Wm. K. Stiles, Fones G. Leighton, Frank G. Leighton, Hannibal H. Leighton, Stephen S. Leighton, George Leighton, John E. Stewart, Robert Worster, Eli Tracy and Sydney . W. Tucker.
At the next call Columbia sent as Volunteers in the 15th or Heavy Artillery Regiment : Harrison G. Smith, who went out as captain and was promoted to the rank of major, Joseph W. Wor- ster, James Buzzell, William H. Cates, George S. Tibbitts, Philander D. Low, William A. Buzzell, Albert J. Dunbar, Elisha C. Grant, Oscar Tracy, Lewis Barton, Warren L. Hall, Joshua I. Nash, Alex- ander Parker, William A. Sinclair, Zimri D. Tabbutt, Benjamin N.
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Tucker, and Aaron L. Worster Columbia sent, to be assigned to some regiment : Charles A. Drisko, John F. Dorr and Greer Leighton,
At the next call, for nine months, men who went south in the 22d Regiment, Columbia sent : Nathaniel White, Lincoln Rhodes. . Isaac N. Allen, Wm. H. Allen, John Buzzell, Wm. I. Dorr, Venlesor E. French, George M. D. Grant, John B. Grant, Jethro P. Hartford Alfred E. Leighton, Jotham S. Leighton, Warren G. Leighton, Went- worth A. Leighton, Henry Low, Joseph D. Mckenzie, George I. Mc- Dowell, Sydney L. Preble, David F. Wass, Charles Sinclair, Rufus Tabbut, Amos H. Tucker, John Webb, Algenon A. Worster, Asa T. Worster, James Worster, Moses Worster and William G. Worster. In the thirteen sent Matthew Wood and Philander F. White went first in the navy and then enlisted in the 20th Regiment. Sent in the IIth Regiment : Columbus Nash and James McCarty.
The old pioneers of Columbia and their descendants were always loyal to their government and willingly responded to every call when help was needed in defense of their country's honor. I would that I had time to speak of the many deeds of valor these veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic performed to save their country from being rent in twain. Can time ever efface from the records or from memory such heroic deeds, hardly found in Roman or Grecian story ?
We must here leave the recorded history as found in the town records and Adjutant General's report and take up tradition- al history of the pioneer families, or first settlers of the town, where they came from, when they settled, what they did and who their children were. This has been gathered from family records and verbally from the oldest residents in town. Of course so hastily gotten up there may be some errors in it.
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The first settlers, as tradition says, in Columbia, were two brothers, William and Noah Mitchell, who came fromn Falmouth, Me., about 1750. It is said that in entering the mouth of Pleas- ant river they saw large areas of marsh land which they thought would afford them great privilege for cutting hay for stock, which privilege they- soon utilized in cutting and feeding it to cattle brought there. They at first constructed rude log houses to live in and hovels for their cattle. It is further said that William built the first frame house in town. Exactly where located it is not known, but there are old cellars on Bryant's Hill, and on Coffin's Point. Capt. Joseph Wilson, who died Dec. 22, 1796, aged 72 years, was one of the first settlers in Columbia. Capt. John Buck- nam came from North Yarmouth, an early settler, and soon com- menced to build mills, and commenced the lumbering business in 1773. He married Mary, daughter of Joseph Wilson, who came from Kittery with his family and went into the lumber business with others. Joseph Patten, a blacksmith from Wells, Me., settled here about 1792. James Bailey also came from Wells and settled here in 1802. He set up the first coloring and cloth dressing ma- chine, which often went by the name of the "Fulling Mill." Cloth for your historian's freedom suit was fulled, colored and dressed in this mill. After the decease of James Bailey, Jotham Lippincott, Esq., in 1822, married his widow, and in company with Henry Bailey, son of James Bailey, continued the business; and at the decease of Lippincott and Bailey, A. A. Lippincott, son of Jotham Lippincott, continued the business as long as it would pay.
The first resident minister was Elder Joshua Young, a Baptist, who settled here about 1793, and returned to Massachusetts in 1800. Doctor Caleb Haskell, from Massachusetts, was the first regular physician to settle here in 1799. He also returned to Massachusetts in 1812. He put up the first wool carding machine
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in Columbia. Wool carding was carried on afterwards a long time by Samuel Bucknam, succeeded by his son Charles C., who at this date runs the machine. Sheep husbandry is about played out, and but a small quantity of wool is brought to the mill. Jonathan Western, Esq., was the first lawyer to settle in Columbia, in 1802. As this was then a new and sparsely settled country it was a hard place for a professional man to get a living in, and they did not stay long.
THE CARLTON FAMILY.
John Carlton was born in Methuen, Mass., in 1772 ; married there and had one child by the name of Samuel ; lost his wife there and then came to Maine to do blacksmith work for Joseph Patten and others, who were building vessels here at that time. He soon married here a woman by the name of Amie and had the follow- ing named children : Esther, Pamelia, Daniel, David, Isaac and Nancy Carlton. He died in Columbia in 1814. At this date Daniel is alive at the age of 88 years.
THE LOW FAMILY.
Jonathan Low moved from the town of Sanford, Me., into Columbia, when Daniel Low, his son, was four years old. He first settled on the Enoch Low place, where George Norton now lives. Afterwards he sold that place to his son Enoch, and moved on to the place now occupied by A. J. Merritt. A. J. Merritt at the death of his mother, Mrs. John Merritt, went to live with Deacon Daniel Low, when he was four years old. Jonathan Low was a revolutionary soldier. Daniel, his son, was a long time deacon of the Baptist church in Columbia. -
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THE JOHN McCASLIN FAMILY.
John McCaslin was a revolutionary soldier and when the war vas over he came into Columbia and married Susie Knowles. He :ook up the place where Asaph Leighton now lives, as government land ; paid only $5, which was for making out the title. He had nine children : Reuben, Andrew, Alexander, John, David, Shep- ard, Hannah, Mary and Sally.
THE ISAAC LEIGHTON FAMILY.
About 1760 two brothers, Thomas and Samuel Leighton, came from Falmouth, Me., to the Narraguagus river. Samuel, as near as we can learn, settled on the lot now in the possession of Richard P. Willey. His sons were : Theodore, Isaac, Parrot and Phineas. Isaac was born Feb. 25, 1763. . He married Mary Worster in 1813, a sister to Deacon Moses Worster. He built a small house down south of the Epping road, leading over the Ep- ping plains. After he got a farm cleared he built a house and barn up on the said road. It was near the house which Hollis J. Leighton now occupies. He had nine children : Moses, Samuel, Daniel, Levi, Harrison S., Aaron, Lovicy, Sally and Anna. The only one living at this date is Harrison T., who will be 95 years old the 25th of next November. He lives in a house a few rods. from where he was born. He retains his faculties and bodily health to a remarkable degree.
THE ARCHER FAMILY.
John Archer was born in England, March 26, 1752. He was a soldier in the revolutionary war and came into Columbia in 1789. He was a brick mason by trade and raised a family of twenty-three
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children. Next to the last was the well known David Cob' Archer. Some of these children died young, and only nine o. them were born in Columbia.
THE INGERSOLL FAMILY.
William Ingersoll, the first Ingersoll settler, known as Governor Ingersoll, came to Columbia in 1779 from Yarmouth, Me. He married Elizabeth Knowles; built a house in Epping, then so called, but in the town of Columbia, a little southeast of the corner on what has been known as the Ingersoll farm. The old cellar can now be found near the line between the land of W. H. Wor- ster and that of L. P. Ingersoll. He, with others, built a mill which was burned, and the place where it was located is now known as the "Burnt Mill Rips." Their children were William, Nathaniel, Samuel, James, Thomas, Sarah, Eliza and Susan. Thomas went to Pennsylvania and settled there. William married Susan Wass and built the house at the corner, now owned by W. H. Worster. They had fifteen children : Abigail, Eli, Elvina, Green, Root, Luther, Temperance, Irene, Mary, Mellen, Hezekiah, Margaret, Rebecca, Fannie and Abi. Nathaniel married (1) Pru- dence Stewart. Children : Luther, Daniel, Nathaniel, Ulmer, Julia, Dency, Sally and Ruth. (2) Married Susanna Sawyer. No children. Samuel married Elizabeth Look. Children : Phebe, William, Cynthia, Eliza, Nathaniel, David and Susan. James mar- tried Margaret Wass. Children : Rebecca, Levi, Emma, Heman, Maria and Christiana. Sarah married Robert Allen. Children : Amos, Henry, Sophia, John Truxton, Francis, Joseph and Jones. Mary married Solomon Root, and moved to Pennsylvania, where her brother went. Eliza married Isaac Littlefield. Children :
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.saac C. and Caroline. Susan married one Hines ; one child. They settled in Brewer, Me.
[I have a more detailed account of this large family on account of its prominence in settling this part of the towa; and I was assisted more by the lemily.]
Governor Ingersoll died in 1807, and as no stone was placed : his grave his last resting place cannot be found, but we presume jat he was buried a few rods west of the Union Church.
DR. ALPHEUS CHANDLER'S FAMILY.
Dr. Alpheus S. Chandler was born in Elliot, Me., 1796; ed- cated in Phillips' Exeter Academy and graduated from the Har- ard Medical school. He married Christiana Milliken of Belfast, Me., and commenced the . practice of medicine in Columbia in 820 ; had three children : Dr. Charles P., Emeline A. and Sam- iel H. He was an able physician and had a wide and lucrative practice, extending from East Machias to Steuben. He would , often face the toughest weather to attend the poorest family in own. He died July 11, 1871.
JOSEPH CRANDON'S FAMILY.
Joseph Cran''on was born in New Bedford, Mass., in 1802, and after enjoyin a whaling voyage, learned the tanner's trade. As a journeyman :anner he drifted down into Columbia, Me., and hired with Danie. Townsley to work in his tan yard. He was a steady, industrious young man and soon captured for his first wife Ruth, a daughter of Thomas Ruggles. He soon bought out Mr.
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Townsley. He built the house and lived in it until he died, now reconstructed into a hotel, called the Crandon House. He also built the store which is now occupied by Levi Leighton & Son. He also built several vessels which will be mentioned under the head of vessels. Children by his first wife : George R., John H., Sophia and Augustus. He married for his second wife Mrs. Alic B. Small. Children : Alice, Joseph and Ruth. He was a practi cal business man. He died in 1883.
GIDEON ALLEN'S FAMILY.
Gideon Allen married Miss Susan Rideout. Where they came from has not been ascertained. In the history of the Allen family. which follows, his name is not found, but nevertheless, they were true pioneers of Columbia. They went back into the wilderness some three miles, away from roads and schools, and made a clear- ing and erected rude dwellings to live in. Here, where the farm on which W. H. Ingersoll now lives, he raised the following named children : Obediah, Abraham, Isaac, Nickolas, Jacob, Dolly, Polly, Prudence, Ruth and Hannah. Obediah married Polly Mansfield. Abraham married Polly Worster. Issac married Judith Nash. Nickolas married Polly Dorr. Jacob married Fannie Tinney. Dolly married Thomas Sinclair. Polly married (1) Brown then Mckenzie. Prudence married Moses Leighton. Hannah mar- ried Peter Magee. Ruth married Christopher Chandler.
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