USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Sebago > Centennial history of Sebago, Maine, 1826-1926 : containing the centennial celebration of 1926, and historical matter > Part 1
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Gc 974.102 Se21m 1759265
M. L
REYNOLDS HIFTONIO, GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01093 0250
CENTENNIAL HISTORY
OF
SEBAGO MAINE -
1826 - 1926
.....
CONTAINING
THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF 1926 AND HISTORICAL MATTER
Gc 974,102 Se 21m
Compiled By FRED. L. MESERVE
RESIDENCE AND LAW OFFICE OF THE LATE EDWIN L. POOR, NOW OWNED BY HIS DAUGHTER, MRS. LILLIAN A. P. MESERVE
1759265
PREPARING FOR SEBAGO CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
In the spring of 1926 when the selectmen made up their War- rant for the Annual Town Meeting they inserted the following article : To see what sum of money the Town will vote for Sebago Centennial, and raise money for the same : also to choose a committee to look after and take charge of the same. When the article came up in Town Meeting it met with an hearty ap- proval of the voters, and they voted to raise five hundred dollars for the celebration of Sebago's Centennial. at North Sebago, sometime in August : and the following committee were chosen : Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Hunt, Mr. and Mrs. Howard E. Irish, Mr. and Mrs. Fred L. Meserve. Mr. and Mrs. Elmer F. Larrabee. Mr. and Mrs. Anson L. Brackett. Mr. and Mrs. Harry H. Fitch.
The first committee meeting was held May 18th, at the Town Hall, for organization. The following officers were elected : Anson L. Brackett, Chairman : Mrs. Harry H. Fitch, Secretary ; Elmer F. Larrabee. Treasurer ; Howard E. Irish. Advertising : and it was voted to add Mr. and Mrs. William O. Nason to this committee and Mr. Nason was elected chairman on grounds. The committee met every week, and the Town of Sebago owe them a vote of thanks for their work and the very successful way everything was carried out. At the second meeting it was de- cided to have the Centennial on Wednesday, August 4th. The five hundred dollars which the Town raised looked to be a large sum, but as the committee commenced to make plans they found that they needed more money and it was talked pro and con and was decided to ask our friends to help us: the Secretary was authorized to send out letters to former citizens : Mr. Harry H. Fitch was asked to call on our non-residents : and with the other committee's help a thorough canvass was made and our friends responded to the sum of four hundred seventy-two dollars and twenty-five cents.
The committee hired a large tent in which to serve dinner. A caterer was secured to furnish dinner for seventy-five cents per plate. The Town furnished "Centennial trays" for cafeteria service.
Clarence Chute had his "Merry-go-round" on the grounds, which made it very interesting for the young people as well as some of the older ones.
The committee secured the St. Cecelia Boys' Band of Lewis- ton to furnish music for the day.
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THE DAY ARRIVES
It was a most glorious day, very warm but a cool breeze from the lake. It would be a very hard proposition to find a more picturesque spot on which to celebrate a centennial than on the shore of Sebago Lake at North Sebago. First on the program was the parade headed by the Marshal of the Day, Edward S. Douglass, followed by the St. Cecelia Boys' Band of Lewiston. There was a large number of very beautifully decorated automo- biles and floats in line ; also one hundred fifty boys from Camps ()-at-ka and White Mountain marching four abreast. The judges, Gardner H. Rankin of Hiram; Lewis Crockett, Portland ; Charles Murch, West Baldwin; after a very long consultation, gave the following decision: First prize to Maple Grove Grange ; second prize to Dyke Mt. Farm, Miss Grace L. Dyke, proprietress; third prize to Potter Academy. The prizes were very pretty cups suitably engraved for the occasion. Imme- diately after the parade the Stars and Stripes were raised and saluted by the Camp O-at-ka boys. Next on the program were some boxing, wrestling and stunts by the Camp boys. There was a very interesting game of baseball between the Camp O-at- ka and Camp White Mt. boys. A prize, a silver cup, was won by the O-at-ka boys. Dinner was next in order. Some brought theirs and a few near ones went home and the rest flocked to the large tent, where a very bountiful dinner was served. Ice cream and cold drinks sold on the grounds.
Program of the afternoon was held in a large tent at 1.30 P. M. Charles E. Hunt introduced as chairman of the afternoon pro- gram, Fred W. Hill, who made some very interesting remarks. As the centennial committee had overlooked or rather had not thought of engaging a stenographer, we can give but a short account of the speeches.
Music St. Cecelia Boys' Band
Prayer Rev. Allison J. Wentworth
Singing-Sebago Audience, Accompanied by Band (Composed by Lunetta M. Chessey )
History of Sebago Fred L. Meserve
Doctors of Sebago Dr. L. H. Poore
Lawyers of Sebago Philip R. White. Esq. Music Band
Teachers of Sebago Hon. George H. Babb
Remarks-Non-residents Hon. Anson L. Brackett
Address Burton M. Clough
Poem Lunetta M. Chessey
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EDWARD S. DOUGLASS, MARSHALL OF THE DAY
GRANGE.NO. 148 MIN
FIRST PRIZE
Music Band Address Rev. E. J. Dennen
Singing-Doxology
Audience
Benediction
Rev. E. J. Dennen
At 3.00 P. M. there was a ball game between Steep Falls and Limington teams for a purse of fifty dollars. A very interesting game was played, won by Steep Falls. Score, 3 to 1.
There was a seaplane present all day and it did a good busi- ness carrying passengers, as a large number improved the oppor- tunity to view the earth from the air.
In the evening it was estimated there were four thousand people on the grounds to see the fine display of fireworks.
SEBAGO
(Tune: "America")
Sebago, 'tis to thee,
First town of all to me, To thee I sing. Home where my fathers died,
Home and all else beside,
From every fireside Let welcomes ring.
This is Cen-ten-nial Day ; We come from far away, To show our love ; We love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and many hills,
Our hearts with pride doth thrill, To thee above.
Let friends and strangers meet At thy fresh, verdant feet, Se-ba-go, dear. Let old time songs be sung,
Let all unite as one,
Let us thy praise prolong, To thee up here.
May God His blessings give To all who here doth live, In Se-ba-go. And may we meet again, To sing thy praises here, In love to you so dear, Great God we trow.
6
del
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DYKE MT. FARM FLOAT, SECOND PRIZE
POTTER ACADEMY, THIRD PRIZE
HISTORY OF SEBAGO
FRED L. MESERVE
Mr. Chairman and Fellow Citizens and Friends of Sebago:
By the esteemed appointment of your committee it is my privi- lege and pleasure to present to you an historical review of the incidents attending the settlement of this town. This is an occa- sion, dear friends, not only for looking backward to the days of our revered ancestors and commemorating their lives and deeds, but for the interchanging of greetings and congratulations, for friendly clasping of welcoming hands, for seeing eye to eye and speaking heart to heart. In short, for taking general account of our emotions and indulging in such expressions of sentiment as are appropriate to a reunion like the present.
I think that the sweetest emotion of our nature is joy. A very common occasion for the excitement of this grand emotion is aptly described in a little poem that I have seen :
There is joy in sailing outward, Though we leave upon the pier, With faces grieved and wishful, The friends we hold most dear ;
And the sea may roll between us- Perhaps for many a year.
There is joy in climbing mountains, In fording rushing brooks; In poking into places That we've read about in books ;
In meeting lots of people with Unfamiliar looks.
But the joy of joys is ours, Untouched by any pain,
When we take the home-bound steamer, And catch the home-bound train ;
Oh, there is nothing half so pleasant As coming home again.
Yes, there's no place like home to him or her whose constitu- tion of soul and body receives its first and everlasting principles of life and vigor from the native elements of the earth, the air and the sky amid the influences of the education and the associa- tions of that dearest spot of earth. But there is another emotion to be reckoned with closely related to joy; it is thankfulness; deep unspeakable gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His goodness and innumerable mercies in permitting us to come to-
8
POTTER ACADEMY
CAMP O-AT-KA
gether on this centennial day in glad remembrance of our fathers and mothers who won this fair town from the wilderness.
I would give you a picture of the ambition shown by the first settlers as they came scores or hundreds of miles through an un- broken forest and after a few days of toilsome tramping the weary home seekers arrived at the chosen spot. the promised land of their day dreams and nightly visions.
The woodman's axe wielded by sturdy arms soon opened a space for the sun's rays to light up the surface of the land. A log cabin was soon erected and the homesteads grew in meas- ured acres and the good man and his brave, patient and resource- ful wife, reinforced in a few years by the willing hearts and strong hands of stalwart sons and daughters, find themselves in partnership with nature in redeeming the wilderness to civiliza- tion and all that pertains to the welfare of humanity and earthly happiness.
SETTLEMENTS
The town of Sebago is made up principally from Baldwin. Flintstown, as the old township was first called, was granted by the General Court of Massachusetts to the survivors of the Com- pany of Captain Flint of Concord, Massachusetts, 1724. That part forming the town of Sebago was for half a century occupied principally by lumbermen, who disappeared with the first growth of pine. A part of Denmark was added in 1830, which is called the mile square, a part of Baldwin subsequently, A part of Naples was taken off in 1851.
Joseph Lakin and Jacob Howe were the earliest permanent settlers. Mr. Howe carried the first mails from Bridgton to Portland. I cannot find any record of his family, if any, nor where he settled. Joseph Lakin came from Groton, Massachu- setts, in 1490. He built his cabin on lot No. 5, in first range east just about east from Thomas H. Jackson farm. Returning for his family and goods, he crossed Sebago Lake in a boat and made his way through the difficult path to where he hoped the public road would soon be built. He has several great-great- grandchildren living in Harrison at the present time. Deacon Daniel Hill, father of Daniel J. and Charles Hill, then a young man of twenty-seven, married Mr. Lakin's daughter, Polly, in 1729, settled on the same land and left it to his sons. Deacon Hill died in 1821, a young man. His widow, Polly Hill, a very energetic woman, built the large barn that is now owned by Frank L. Brown, in 1836. Mrs. Thomas H. Jackson is a great-
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RESIDENCE OF CHARLES E. FITCH BUILT BY HIS GREAT GRANDFATHER, ESQUIRE FITCH IN 1811
RESIDENCE OF HARRY H. FITCH, BUILT BY HIS GRANDFATHER,
granddaughter and Fred W. Hill is a great-grandson, Mrs. Eva Hill Rogers of Naples, a great-granddaughter, Daniel Hill Jack- son, Sebago, a great-great-grandson, Ettie Hatch Decker, North Waterford, a great-great-granddaughter of Joseph Lakin, and there are other great-great-grandchildren in Hiram.
In 1793 William Fitch of Groton, Massachusetts, came to Baldwin. He settled on the farm now owned by Charles E. Fitch of Sebago and in 1811 he built the house. When Baldwin was incorporated, in 1802, he was one of the first selectmen and served as a selectman for twelve years before Sebago was incor- porated. He also served Baldwin three terms in the Legisla- ture. When Sebago was incorporated, in 1826, he became one of the first selectmen, also in 1827, 1829 ; first postmaster, also first town clerk. He married Betsey Woods before he left Groton. Their children, Rebecca, George, Betsey and William, were born there. Mrs. Fitch came on horseback and brought baby William in her arms. He built the first grist mill, at the foot of the pond at Sebago Centre in 1798; also built the first sawmill in town at Sebago Centre. He also settled East Sebago and built the first lumber mill on North West River, the site of the present old grist mill. About 1829, Luther H. Fitch of Groton married Rebecca, William's daughter, took over the lum- ber business and built the house now owned by Mrs. William H. Fitch, also the saw mill, that is there today, in 1866. In 1873 Luther's sons, George, William and John, took over the manage- ment of the mill under the firm name of Fitch Brothers and in 1912 William's sons, Paul and Harry, took over the management of the business under the old name of Fitch Brothers. Paul died in 1925, and Harry Fitch is carying on the business.
Joseph Fitch settled on what is now the town farm. Col. David Potter came to Sebago in 1796, settled near Joseph Fitch's on the farm now owned by Howard E. Poor. The Potter house burned about fifty years ago, also one of the barns ; the other is still there and was built in 1998. His children were: Capt. David Potter, John, Sybil, who married Capt. Amos Storer, Martha, Deborah, Richard F., who was admitted to the Bar and died at the age of 31, Joseph Fitch Potter, who became a very successful physician in Cincinatti, Ohio, and because of his love for his native town and its people, present and future, he bequeathed a fund of some $35,000 for the maintenance of an academic school, free to the pupils of Sebago. The other children were Luther F., Betsey F., Pamelia P.
Col. David Potter was one of the First Selectmen of Baldwin. He also served in 1806 and 1811. In 1808, Edward Dike came
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STONE BRIDGE ON THE MARRINER ROAD NEAR THE SITE OF THE FIRST GRIST MILL IN SEBAGO
SITE OF FIRST SAWMILL AT SEBAGO CENTER
from Massachusetts, moved with his family to the north side of Saddleback Mountain and built a log house and cleared up an ex- tensive farm. He had a large family. The place was divided into two farms, later owned respectively by Kimball J. and Oliver D. Dike, now owned by a daughter of Kimball and Grace L. Dike, daughter of Oliver.
Oliver M. Pike, Esq., born at Cornish, Aug. 16, 1188, came from Cornish to Sebago. He felled the first tree on the Pike farm ; cleared a portion of the place and built a log cabin ; married Sarah Page of Epping, New Hampshire, and brought his bride to the log cabin to live. Ten children, seven boys and three girls, were born to them: Bennett, Nathaniel, who became a lawyer, Oliver, who lived on the old homestead, Edwin, who became a lawyer, Albion, Daniel, Ezra, Hannah, Dora and Elizabeth. He lived in the log cabin for a number of years and then built the house now standing on the farm. The wedding trip of Esquire Pike and wife was from Epping, New Hampshire, to Sebago on horseback, she riding on the rear seat on the same horse as he over the trail through the dense forest.
Where Douglass Inn and annex, cottages and Douglass Hill Post Office now stand, the farm of Edward S. Douglass was settled by a Brown. One of his sons became a very successful lawyer in New York, who, when at two years of age his father died, moved to North Bridgton with his mother.
Asa Irish, born in Standish, came to Sebago on to the place that was later occupied by Florilla Wentworth, moved into a log- house, and his son Charles was born there. He then moved to the Frank Cole Farm, lived a few years and then moved on to the Wilbur Warren Farm on the ridge and from there to Beech Hill on to the place. now owned by his grandson, Howard Irish, which was the Alfred Farnum Farm. Asa was a carpenter and a great framer of the old-fashioned barns. The long King post and the plates 50 or 60 feet long, eight inches square, hewed from white pine. When the day came for the raising, 50 to 15 men would gather and they would raise broadside at a time. Then the rafters and then the purline, a crew on each side racing to see which side would get the ridge pole on. Then some dare- devil with a bottle of rum in each hand would stand on his head on the ridge.
NEW LIMINGTON EARLY SETTLERS
John Douglass, father of Rufus and Andrew Douglass, settled near Barker Pond. His great grandsons, Morton and Grover Douglass, are on the same farm.
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THE LEON C. SPAULDING MEMORIAL LIBRARY, EAST SEBAGO
SEBAGO TOWN HALL
John Meserve, Morrell Jewell, Thomas and David Jewell were other early settlers on "Hog Fat Hill" so-called.
Daniel Dyer, one of the early settlers, was born in 1780. Mathew Dyer, his son, was born in 1808. Mathew's son, Wil- liam, was born Jan. 17, 1836. William lived on the old place and at his death left it to his daughter, Mrs. Leona Richardson.
James Brown was born in 1798. His son, Coleman, was born in 1821. Edwin Brown, son of Coleman, was born on March 29, 1859. Edwin carried the mail from Sebago to Mattocks for twenty-four years in succession. His son, Herbert, is mail car- rier at the present time, assisted by his father, who makes the afternoon trip.
John Pugsley, who was born in 1791, came to Sebago in 1816 into a wilderness. He married Sally Libby. They had three daughters. William Haley, Jr., married Miriam Pugsley, daugh- ter of John Pugsley, and went to live with her father.
Robert Libby, a Revolutionary soldier, and John Libby, his son, were early settlers.
Benniah Jewell, born in Cornish in 1806, came to Sebago in 1831, built a log house and took his bride, Esther Douglass, there to live. In 1840, he built the house in which his son, George D. Jewell, at the age of ninety-one, now lives.
Deacon William Haley, born in 1796, died in Sebago, 1877, came to Sebago from Limington. Polly Johnson, his wife, was born in 1794, at Limerick. Ten children were born to them.
Capt. Amos Storer, born in 1787, married Sybil Potter, who was born in 1799. He settled on the farm that is now owned by Fred Douglass. There are several grandchildren and great- grandchildren of Capt. Storer in Sebago, Baldwin, and Bridgton.
"SANDY BEACH"
George Ward of Scarboro, born in 1994, came to Sebago in 1838, and cleared up a large farm. The present occupants are two granddaughters, Mrs. Wallace Shaw and Mrs. John Rich- ardson. Ephraim Bacheldor, George W. Burnell, Daniel Nason and the Shaws and McKenney were also early settlers. George W. Burnell is present with us today. He is eighty-nine years old. A grandson, W. F. Bacheldor, is living on part of his grandfather's farm. Will Nason, a grandson of Daniel, is the present owner of the Nason farm. Andrew Douglass cleared a farm on "Picked Mountain," now occupied by his grandson, John E. Douglass. James Gray and Daniel McKenney were early settlers at Picked Mountain. George W. Gray of Denmark,
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POTTER ACADEMY DORMITORY
FITCH BROS. MILL, EAST SEBAGO
who was town treasurer for twenty-five years in succession, was born in Sebago, the son of James Gray. Daniel McKenney. born January 4, 180%, married Eliza Sanborn, born in 1813, moved to Picked Mountain in 1830 and built a log cabin in the dense wilderness. He was a brave hunter and heroic pioneer, who cleared a good farm and built a commodious dwelling. He became blind when advanced in life and was cared for by his daughter, Mrs. II. L. Clough. He died when 1 years of age. His wife died eight years before him. There were nine daugh- ters born of this union, all of whom married. But one survives, Mrs. Celista White. Robert Staples and Thomas W. Larrabee were early settlers in the Larrabee District. Elmer F. Larrabee, grandson of Thomas W. Larrabee, lives where Thomas lived.
John B. Brown was first settler near Brown's Pond. John Libby and Samuel Meserve settled near Brown's. Jonathan San- born settled on Tiger Hill. Louis Sanborn was his son and lived on the same place. James Sanborn, son of Louis, was the father of E. F. Sanborn. Other settlers were Andrew Lord; John Martin, a Revolutionary soldier; his son, Nathaniel, who was in the 1812 war; Nathaniel's son, Daniel, who was in the Civil War ; Daniel's son, Henry, also was in the Civil War ; Hen- ry's son, Carlton, was in the Spanish-American, War; also another son, William Henry, who was in the World War. Very good record for one family. Jonathan Poor came to Sebago in 1802 on to lot No. 1 first range east, which he bought of Jonas Fairbanks of Lancastertown in the County of Worcester, Com- monwealth of Mass., when he was 31 years old and married Ruth Porter, who was born in 1981. They had five children, Tyler, Mary, Leander. Martha and Jonathan D. Tyler married Almira Barker of Otisfield, now Naples, and lived on the old place for a number of years, then transferred the home place to Leander and moved onto the Andrew Lord place at Tiger Hill and oper- ated the mill many years. There were eight children born of this union, four boys and four girls: William C. married Mary Kimball and lived on the old place. Four boys and four girls
were born to them. Maria married William L. Davis; four children were born of this union. One, Frank W. Davis, became a minister of the Gospel, the only preacher, am sorry to say, who was a Sebago-born boy. Roscoe married Julia Whitney of Standish and lived at Sebago Lake.
Edwin L., who married Amanda M. Whitney of Bethel, be- came a lawyer and located in Sebago; four children born to this union, two boys and two girls, one boy died in infancy, the
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other, Dr. Leland H. Poore, we have with us today. Mary mar- ried Mark Richardson of Sebago; two boys and four girls born to them; their son, Albert F. Richardson, was known all over the state as a great educator. Leander never married. Martha married Reuben Pendexter ; one son was born, Charles W. Jon- athan D. married Carolyn Porter ; two boys were born to them, Russell and Leander A., who served as major in the Civil War.
The house now occupied by the daughters of Leander A. Poor was built in 1806 by Jonathan Poor. A few years ago Leander A. made extensive repairs on the same. Peter White, born July 22, 1791, married Thankful Blake and came to East Sebago in the early part of the 18th century. He raised a large family of children. John, the son of Peter, was the father of Cassius M. White, who married Celista McKenney. Five boys and five girls were born to them. All are living but one daughter. The grandson of Cassius M. White, Philip R. White, is a lawyer in Massachusetts.
Capt. James Babb came from Gorham in 1817 and with two workmen opened a cooper shop near Joseph Fitch's place, and a store, the first in town, where he kept West India goods, cot- ton for spinning and a few of the most needful articles of trade. Capt. Babb was first sergeant in Capt. Robie's company at Port- land in the war of 1812, and rode all night to alarm the company when called out. Capt. Babb married Sally Potter and moved on to the farm on the Ridge now occupied by his granddaughter, Mary A. Babb, and great-grandson, Raymond Holden Babb. Chadbourne came from Cornish in 1835 on to the William San- born farm now owned by James L. Chadbourne, a grandson.
Robert McDonald was an early settler at the southern part of Sebago, called Mc's Corner.
Besides the Fitch Mills before mentioned were: Brown's Mills at the foot of Brown's Pond; General Hall's mill at the "Old Hall Place," so-called; Peter White, one of the early settlers at East Sebago, built a mill at the "Old White Mill Privilege;" John White, his grandson, built a mill below his grandfather's mill in later years.
George Ward had a mill on the little brook near his place. Loring and J. Hannibal Bacheldor and Marcellus Ward and Sherburn Ward had mills on Bacheldor's brook.
Daniel and Josiah McKenney built a mill on North West River at the "Folley" in 1830 and commenced sawing hemlock that was before thought worthless.
Andrew Lord built a mill at Tiger Hill that was later owned by Tyler P. Poor.
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INCORPORATION
In the year of 1825, one year before Sebago became a town, there were four towns incorporated. The year 1826 witnessed also five towns besides Sebago. Sebago was the 260th or 261st town. The town of Howland was incorporated the same day as Sebago, thus becoming a twin sister to Sebago.
A petition for an election was signed by O. M. Pike, Samuel McOrrison, Samuel Dike, Edward Dike, Reuben Cook, W. M. Norton, George Whitney, William Irish, James Gray, Scolly G. Usher, William Sanborn, James Cook and George W. Dillingno. The meeting organizing the town was held at-the schoolhouse formerly Dist. No. 5 of Baldwin on March 13, 1826. 89 votes were polled. Owing to the destruction of the town records in 1874 it is impossible to present a complete list of town officers. Se- lectmen for 1826: William Fitch, Oliver M. Pike, Joseph Leav- itt; first Collector, Scolly G. Usher ; first Town Clerk, William Fitch; first Treasurer, William Fitch. A large town house was erected about 1835.
CHURCHES
The Free Will Baptist Church of Sebago was organized by Revs. James Libby, Jeremiah Bullock and John Stevens, Novem- ber 19, 1826. Mr. Stevens, who was first pastor, preached his first sermon in the schoolhouse west of the present church, which was built in 1844 by Deacon William Haley, John Pugsley, Wil- liam Whitney, trustees. Among the first members were: William Haley, who was chosen deacon, Mrs. William Haley, James Weed, Mrs. Thomas Butler, Phoebe, wife of Rev. William Whit- ney, Isaac Ridlon and Mr. and Mrs. John Moody. James Weed was chosen clerk. Rev. Mr. Stevens was succeeded by Revs. John Pike, Samuel Tyler and Reuben Whitney. Rev. Reuben Whitney remained until his death in 1837. Rev. Nahum Foss preached here in 1845 and was succeeded in 1847 by Rev. John Bussell, through whose efforts the general provisional Baptist church was formed of twenty members. Paine Kezar was chosen second deacon and Lemuel Dyer. clerk. Rev. Walker B. Parker was settled pastor from 1866 to 1883. Since then there has not been any settled pastor. In the summer months the members have kept up a sabbath school, and have had services several Sundays every summer. There is a present membership of sixteen.
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