USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Harrison > Early settlers of Harrison, Maine > Part 1
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29 H3 R5
1800
Class
Book
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jistory of the
mmen
-AND-
EARLY SETTLERS
LIBRARY OF CONG .. LOL
-OF-
1381
CITY OF WASHIN
arrison, A
laine.
1877.
/
EARLY SETTLERS
-OF-
-
HARRISON, MAINE,
-WITH AN-
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE SETTLEMENT,
PROGRESS AND PRESENT CONDITION OF
THE TOWN.
ideon 1
BY REV. G. T. RIDLON.
RY OF CONGR
1881.
CITY OF
WASHI!
SKOWHEGAN : . KILBY & WOODBURY, Printers. 1877.
1
TO THE READER.
This humble volume makes no pretensions to be a history of the town of Harrison from its settlement to the present time. It was not my purpose when compiling the geneal- ogies of the pioneer families of the town, to give any account of the settlement and growth of the town other than was closely associated with the history of families ; but many representatives of the families whose pedigrees I have made out, expressed a desire to see a sketch of the town history in the work when published. I must say that neither my time nor means would admit of an attempt to prepare a complete history of the town ; and, besides, such a work- should begin with the early history of Bridgton and Otisfield, towns from which Harrison was made. I will here say that I have gathered a considera- ble amount of material which would properly come within the scope of the history of the towns before mentioned, and shall be glad to assist any competent person in preparing such a work. The material found in the genealogical de- partment of this work has been gathered from a wide field. I have spent days in listening to the aged people, as they recounted events connected with the early settlement of the town, in which they enacted a part, or were witnesses of; and these I have noted down for permanent preser- vation. The records of the old families have been gath- ered from family registers, old bibles, wills, deeds, inven- tories, petitions, grave-stones and the town records. Much has been gathered from distant parts by correspondence. Great care and patience have been exercised to avoid mistakes in dates. Where discrepencies were known to exist, I have searched diligently for the "bottom facts." Those who have provided records must bear the respon- sibility of their correctness ; I have copied such rerbatim.
PREFACE NOTE.
No doubt errors will be found and corrected in the future ; but it is believed the genealogies will be found nearly correct. Nearly all of the old pioneers have passed away, and would have left but little by which their history could have been known, but for the exertions of the author to note down such incidents as they were recount- ed, before their memories were impaired. The meagre records of the town have nearly faded ont by lapse of time, (those relating to its early history) and will soon be illegible ; the old tomb-stones are moss-grown and erumb- ling ; old documents have been destroyed by vermin or sold to the tin-pedler, and in a few more years nothing would have been found for the basis of a town history but faint and fragmentary traditions. The author has not been inspired to his self-imposed undertaking by the pride of birthright, for he is only a townsman by adop- tion ; he has not driven his horse over the hills and through the deep snows when gathering the statistics for this work, for pecuniary considerations, as all know who are acquainted with the expense of compiling and pub- lishing such a work ; he has not prosecuted the task with the persistency and discrimination which it has demand- ed, with the expectation of receiving the thanks of the present towns-people, for so few appreciate a work of its class sufficiently as to regard the time devoted to it but foolishly employed ; but the work has been carried for- ward under an impetus of inborn interest in the perma- nent preservation of the annals and records of towns and families. While others have been sleeping, much now found in this little book was arranged and composed. The work is too limited in scope to give place to any old documents ; it has been condensed as much as possible and be specific. I sincerely hope that some competent histo- rian will consult the proprietors' records of Otisfield, and other documentary evidence, and write a detailed and authentic history of the towns of Bridgton, Otisfield and Harrison; for these towns are so intimately associated in historical interest that the history of one must be, in part, the history of the other. There is this comforting thought
PREFACE NOTE.
about my work, viz: That my undertaking has been a commendable one ; that I have done all in my power, with my means, to make it reliable, and that it will, like wine, grow richer and be better appreciated in the future than at present. Those who know the least about the magnitude of my work, and the difficulties with which one of its class is attended, will have the least patience with any errors they may discover ; while those who have had experience in such work will properly appreciate what I have accomplished. With the hope that the ma- terial incorporated in this book may prove of value to the families whose records it preserves, and to future writers as a reference, I commit it to the public.
G. T. RIDLON, HARRISON, MAINE.
August 1, 1877.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
OUR PIONEER FAMILIES
ABBOTT FAMILY
BISBEE
BENNETT
BOLSTER
BRAY
BURNIIAM
BRACKETT
CHAPLIN
CHADBOURNE
ANOTHER
CARSLEY
CASWELL
CUMMINGS
DAWES
EMERSON
FOSTER
GAMMON
GILSON
GRAY
HALL
HOWARD
IIOBBS
HASKELL =
HARMON
HARMON
INGALLS
66
ANOTHER JOHNSON
66
KNEELAND
KILBOURN .6
LAKIN
LAMB
LEWIS
LOWELL
NEWCOMB
NEAL
PACKARD
PITTS
PHINNEY
PLAISTED
PEIRCE
PERLEY
RUSSELL ROSS
SCRIBNER
ANOTHER -
110
STRICKLAND
110
SAMPSON
114
SPRINGER
117
STILES
117
THOMS
118
ANOTHER "
119
TRAFTON
120
WALKER "
121
WATSON
125
WOODSUM 4
127
WHITEMORE
130
WITHAM
. 131
WILLARD
. 133
WHITNEY
136
7 20 24
25 25 26 28 31 34 37 38 41 43 50 54 55 57 59 64 61 67 68 70 72 71 76 79 82 82 83 86 90 91 93 93 95 97 97 98 99 100 102 102 104 106 106 107 109
STEWART "
111
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
The town of Harrison, named in honor of the HON. HARRISON GRAY OTIS, of Boston, was taken from the towns of Bridgton and Otisfield; the former town was granted to soldiers who were in the Canada expedition of 1690, and confirmed to them in 1765. The town was originally called Pondicherry, and was afterwards named for MOODY BRIDGES, EsQ. Otisfield was granted to HON. JAMES OTIS, NATHANIEL GORHAM, and the other heirs of CAPT. JOHN GORHAM, June 14, 1777, for services against Canada, in 1770.
In 1805, that part of Bridgton lying on the east side of Long Pond, containing about 8500 acres, was taken off to form, in part, the new town of Harrison, and, united with that part of Otisfield on the west side of Crooked River, was incorporated into a town, March 8, 1805.
When the first explorers, and early settlers, came into the township they found it a dense wilderness. There were no marks of the woodman's axe, or prints of the white man's foot ; no sound was heard to disturb the aw- ful silence of the primeval solitudes, save the music of the waterfall, and the scream of wild beasts; and the only thing to guide them, or to help them on their way, were the Indian trails.
The first settlers who established themselves on the town lands, were men well adapted to the work of the pioneer; descended from the Puritan stock of the old colony of Plymouth, and born during the dark days of
8
HARRISON, MAINE.
the Indian wars; skilled in wooderaft, and acquainted with hardships and the use of the musket from childhood, they were calculated to endure the deprivations that are incident to the settlement of a new country.
Several of the first settlers were born in the old fort at Gorham, when their parents had taken shelter there to save themselves from the torch and scalping-knife of the treacherous red men ; and were reared at a time when their parents could only cultivate their growing crops, or attend the worship of God under arms; when the mothers dare not leave the cradles of their sleeping in- fants for a moment, lest they should be snatched away and borne to the wigwam of the savage. Under constant apprehension of danger, and trained to watch every bush and brake with discriminating vigilance, these children, grew to be men and women of courage, fortitude and strong nerves, invested with strong constitutions, and capable of great endurance.
The woods everywhere abounded with game, and the waters with fish, so that the pioneers could provide for the necessities of their families until their ground would yield a sufficient harvest to depend upon as the basis of supply ; and for several years much of the living was taken by the rifle and trap. Bears and wolves were con- stantly destroying the growing corn, or stealing from the sheep-fold, and the settlers were compelled to hunt these marauders as a means of extermination, as well as to furnish meat for their tables.
There were times when the early settlers suffered ex- tremely from cold, exposure and hunger; and a less courageous and determined people would have deserted for more populous districts. The wives and mothers
9
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
shared in all the interests and hardships of their hus- bands; they worked in the fields, went to mill, and made the eloth for their own and family's wear. Before mills were built, corn was pounded into samp, and boiled with milk for food.
The first houses were built of logs, and chinked with moss; the roof covered with bark ; the floors, if any, were usually of hewn logs, and the fire-places of stones, rudely made, and the chimney-tops made of sticks of wood. In these primitive dwellings the family lived, worked and slept ; and by their rough hearth-stones many of our towns-people were reared, who have since enjoyed all the comforts of the well arranged modern homes.
As soon as mills were in operation, and the clearings were sufficiently productive to provide comfortable family support, the log-house gave place to the frame, and weather-boarded dwelling; and its rude furnishings to the more pretentious conveniences of prosperous times. But the settlers and their families had to be industrious to provide for the immediate demands of every-day life ; the noise of the spinning-wheel and the loom from the inside, and that of the axe and flax-brake on the outside, were the sounds that awoke the children in those days, instead of the piano and organ of our days. The parents had but few books and but little leisure to read them : and the children had few advantages for learning letters ; many of them learned to write on birch bark.
The first settler in town was JOHN CARSLEY, from Gor- ham, a descendant of a Puritan family in old Plymouth Colony : he opened a clearing on the ridge, near where MR. GEORGE CUMMINGS BOW lives, but on the opposite side of the road that leads to the old Baptist Meeting
10
HARRISON, MAINE.
House. A brother of John, NATHAN CARSLEY, and a brother-in-law, JAMES WATSON, came into town about the same time; the former settled just below his brother John's clearing, and the latter, about one mile below the village, on the "Pond Road." It has been a matter of dis- pute, whether NATHAN CARSLEY OF JAMES WATSON built the first frame house in this town, but from the best evi- dences to be obtained, I conclude that Watson's was built first. The boards were sawed in Waterford, and Mr. Watson's place was very much nearer the mill, and more easily reached with a team than Mr. Carsley's; besides some of the old people have informed me that they heard Mr. Watson say his house was the first erected.
The Carsleys came into town and fell trees in. the au- tumn previons to their removal ; and after building some rude "Sugar Camps" they returned to Gorham. In the following March, 1793, they came into town with their wives and made maple sugar-and that was not all, for Nathan's wife, who had been drawn over the snow on a hand-sled by her husband from Otisfield, gave birth to a child during their sojourn here-the first child born in the town. They returned to Gorham, and remained there until their second child was born, 1796. It is believed
that the brothers planted corn and erected substantial log-houses while their families were in Gorham ; and by some that they did not permanently locate until 1796-7; other of the old people claim, however, that JOHN CARS- LEY and wife never returned to Gorham after their first coming into this town, which statement is probably true, as he was married in 1790, and there are no records of births of his children in Gorham; hence I think they came into town in the spring of 1793, and became per-
11
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
manent residents here. Other Gorham families followed soon after, and families from Bridgton, and Minot, set- tled in town quite early.
The town was surveyed and "lotted" by BENJAMIN KIMBALL, JR., of Bridgton, (that part which was then in Bridgton) in 1793. There were fourteen lots granted to the early settlers, located on the easterly side of Long Pond, called "merited lots," in June, 1782; but these were not run out until 1793, when all that part of Bridgton lying north and east of Long Pond, was laid out by Mr. Kimball into ninety lots, of about ninety aeres each, (old survey) and was called the "Second Division." Four of the poorest of these lots were set aside as blank lots ; and of the remaining eighty-six, one was drawn to the holder of each of the eighty-six different rights. For perform- ing this service, Mr. Kimball received fifty acres of land, which he selected at the outlet of Anonymous Pond- where the village is now situated.
That part of Harrison that was taken from Otisfield, was surveyed and "lotted" by GEORGE PEIRCE, EsQ., the Proprietors' Agent for the latter town, and a large part of the territory was then owned by that gentleman. The road that leads from the village to the sonth part of the town, by the Methodist Meeting House, is on the o- riginal line between Bridgton and Otisfield. Many of the old deeds show that the PERLEY family were heavy owners in that part of the town, which was taken from Bridgton. The first settlers in the south part of the town were CAPT. BENJAMIN FOSTER, and MAJ. JACOB EMER- SON. The first town meeting was held at the house of
NOTE .- One MUFFAT commenced a clearing near Harmon's Corner very early; he had a house near the brook, and buried a child there.
12
HARRISON, MAINE.
NEPHITALI HARMON, at "Harmon's Corners," near where the "Old Baptist Meeting House" stands ; and near where said meeting was held-on the opposite side of the road- the first town-house was built. [Mr. Harmon then lived at the road corner, on the side toward Capt. Charles Walker's.] At the first meeting it was voted to hold future town meetings at the house of NEPHTALI HAR- MON, till a more convenient place be appointed. JOEL SIMMONS was Moderator; SAMUEL WILLARD was chosen Clerk; SAMUEL WILLARD, BENJAMIN FOSTER and STEPHEN STILES, were the first Selectmen; NATHANIEL BURNHAM was made Treasurer, and SAMUEL SCRIBNER, Constable; SIMEON CASWELL, EDWARD LOWELL, EBEN- EZER CARSLEY, NATHAN CARSLEY, and RICE ROWELL, were chosen Highway Surveyors; and JOHN WOODSUM Surveyor of Lumber; LEVI PERRY, DANIEL STONE, and PETER GILSON, were Fence Viewers; JAMES SAMPSON, EDWARD LOWELL, and BENJAMIN FOSTER, were Tith- ing-men ; JOEL SIMMONS, JEREMIAH TURNER, and MOSES CHICK, were Hog-reves; NEPHTALI HARMON, Pound- keeper ; CUSHING DAWS, STEPHENS INGALLS, and ED- WARD LOWELL, Field-drivers. The foregoing proves that those parties were in town as early as 1805; many were settled here before.
SCHOOLS. The first summer schools were taught in barns, and the winter schools in private houses. Although schools were instituted in town early, the branches taught were few; some of the children learned to write on birch bark. In 1806, the town was divided into six school districts; and a few years later, it was voted in town meeting that "every school district shall build their own school house." The first school house in town, was
13
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
on the "Scribner Hill," on the right hand side of the road that leads from "Harmon's Corners" to said hill. The second school house was built near JACOB EMERSON'S, and called the "Emerson School House." Soon after the preceding, the "Springer School House" was built near where HEBER KIMBALL now lives; after this the village folks, and those in the interior of the town, united and built the "Pound School House." The first six districts were divided and sub-divided as the population increased, until all were well accommodated, although the town raised but one hundred dollars a year, until 1814, for the support of schools.
CHURCHES. The first religious meetings were held in barns, school houses, the town house, and in dwelling houses. The first preacher in town was ELDER NICHO- LAS BRAY. ELDER CLEMENT PHINNEY was the first F. W. Baptist preacher. ELDER SAMUEL LEWIS was an early preacher here. The Congregational Church was organized at the house of OLIVER PEIRCE, in 1826; it consisted of eleren members. REV. JOSEPH SEARLE was the first installed Pastor. The Calvin Baptist Church was organized at the house of SAMUEL SCRIBNER, on "Seribner's Hill" in 1827, *(?) and its first regular preacher was ELDER JACOB BRAY, father of the present ELDER JACOB BRAY, of Bridgton. The F. W. Baptist Church was organized at the house of SHEPHERD HAWK, (where NEWELL TRAFTON now lives) in 1826. The first Meeting house (now called the "Old Baptist Meeting House") was built at "Ilarmon's Corners" by the Baptists and Congre- gationalists, in 1827. The F. W. Baptist Meeting House,
*William Harmon was Chosen Deacon of the Baptist Church in 1827; hence, I suppose, the Church was organized at that date.
14
HARRISON, MAINE.
in the interior of the town, and the Congregationalist House at the village, were built in 1836. The Methodist Church was organized, and their house of worship built, some years subsequently. The Christian Meeting House, in the south part of the town, was ereeted in 1870.
MERCHANTS. The first store was kept by CAPTAIN FOSTER, at the south part of the town ; it was situated on the right hand side of the road leading toward Edes' Falls, a few rods below the BENJAMIN FOSTER house. This store was the place where many great stories were told, and where much ardent spirit was imbibed. The residents in the north and central parts of the town, went to North Bridgton, and traded with "Old Merchant AN- DREWS." JOEL WHITMORE was the first trader at the vil- lage; he was a brother of MRS. JAMES CHADBOURNE. Mr. Whitmore kept goods in a small wooden building between the old briek store where Carter traded, and the Blake store. LEVI BURNHAM and OLIVER PEIRCE were also traders in town quite early. ISAAC BOLSTER built and kept the first store at "Bolster's Mills," and GEORGE PEIRCE, the second.
MANUFACTURERS AND MILLS. The first manufacto- ries were carried forward on a small scale. JAMES SAMP- sox built the first mills at the village-a saw-mill and grist-mill. SAMUEL TYLER carried on wool-earding and cloth-dressing where NEWELL CASWELL'S mill now stands; he and Sampson were the only residents at the village, "Flat," at that time. Old MR. EDSON carried on the man- ufacture of wrought nails somewhere on the "Neal Hill," above the village ; he sold nails to "Merchant ANDREWS" of North Bridgton. COLMAN WATSON carried on coop- ering in the village, quite early. The GILSONS owned a
.
15
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
mill on Crooked River, below "Bolster's Mills," at an early day; the Bolsters bought out the Gilsons and built mills above, in 1819 and 1820. SETH CARSLEY had mills at Harrison village, subsequent to Sampson, and manu- factured hat-blocks and wooden plows. DAVID MORSE built a small shingle mill on the outlet of Anonymous Pond, which he soll to LUTHER CARMAN, who changed it to a machine shop and manufactured power looms and general machinery ; this was in 1846. He sold ont to T. H. RICKER in 1848. Mr. Rieker manufactured shingle machines, horse powers, and plows, until 1859, when he and his son Sherburn-who became a member of the firm in 1855-commenced the manufacture of wood-working machinery. They were burned out in 1859, but immedi- ately rebuilt, and have continued to extend their business until the present time-a business amounting to about eight thousand dollars a year. Their machinery goes to all parts of the United States, and British Dominions. The firm now consists of the father and two sons.
GREENFIELD BLAKE and ICHABOD WASHBURN, COM- menced the manufacture of wire here (in the village) as early as 1834, and that business has been carried on by different parties ever since ; and is now owned by TOL- MAN, CASWELL and WALKER, who have a large factory, and in prosperous times drive an extensive business.
TRANSPORTATION. A line of canal-boats commenced running between Harrison village and Portland in 1828, and continued until the Ogdensburg Rail Road, touched the foot of Sebago Lake. As the head of the canal route was at Harrison, large store-houses were built at the vil- lage, in which the supplies for many back towns were stored until the heavy teams, which brought in manu-
16
HARRISON, MAINE.
factured Imber, wood and produce, could take them to their destination ; in consequence of these circumstances the village became quite a business mart, and presented a lively appearance. A large tavern was built to accom- modate the teamsters and travelling public; and around its ample fire, many joyous and hilarious meetings were held by the story-tellers.
A steamboat named the "Fawn" was built by a stock company, and run down the chain of lakes to the "carry- ing-place" at Standish Neck, many years ago, but it was not properly constructed, and was taken off after a few years ; it was commanded by Capt. Christopher C. W. Sampson. There was no other steam navigation over these lakes until one Simonds commenced running a beautiful little steamboat named the "Oriental;" this proved a success, but was burned at the village. Mean- while the "Sebago Lake Steamboat Company," was in- corporated, and two fine boats, the "Sebago," and "Mount Pleasant," were launched upon the waters of the lakes ; these boats supplanted the canal boat transportation, and have carried a great amount of freight over their route. They are owned and run by Mr. Charles Gibbs of Bridg- ton, a gentleman of great enterprise and publie spirit. As the steamboats run only in summer, a great amount of freight is taken from South Paris station, on the Grand' Trunk Rail Road, by teams, in winter. But the white sails of the canal boat may still be seen, like the wings of some mighty bird, spread out upon the waters of the Lakes; they are now run to the foot of Sebago Lake, with wood and manufactured lumber, and return with heavy freight.
IMPROVEMENTS. The Harrison of to-day, presents a
17
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
very different appearance from that indicated in the open- ing of this sketch. The strong arms of the pioneers, moved by a determined will, have plied the strokes of the axe, until the primeval forest has given place to broad fertile farms; the rude, primitive dwellings have been taken down, and beautiful modern residences, stately, graceful, and ornamental, have taken their places; the old-fashioned school houses have been abandoned-those places where so many of our aged towns-people were deeply impressed, both with book and birch-and new and commodious ones erected ; the old town house-over the dismantling of which there was a severe contention-has been taken down, and a large and respectable one built at the village; the old church-houses have been closed, and others of modern architecture and convenience are now raising their graceful spires among the elms and maples that grow around them ; population has gathered about the centers of trade; the villages have risen from little hamlets, to manufacturing places of considerable import- ance; the blessings of education have been multiplied ; new resources discovered, and all branches of industry carried forward, until the town has become one of the most enterprising, prosperous, and beautiful in Cumber- land County. For its romantic scenery and picturesque views it can hardly be excelled. Like Zion of old, Har- rison is " beautiful for situation ;" there is no monotony or tiresome sameness ; there are the rugged, towering hills, with their rock-ribbed and tree-covered sides ; and, nest- ling at their feet, the silver-surfaced lakelets which reflect like a polished mirror, in their miniature bays, the forest- shaded headlands and the bordering pastures ; there run the purling brooks, in serpentine course, like a thread of
18
HARRISON, MAINE.
silver woven into the landscape's green fabrie by the creative fingers, which all day long glisten in the sun- light, and sing through their pebbled harps to the traveler who, with rod and line wanders along their banks, to take the speckled trout that finds his home in their tree-shaded coves ; here are the larger bodies of water which have now changed their old names from that of ponds to the more popular one of lakes ; upon their bosoms plow the noble steamboats, while their shrill and business-toned whistles echo and re-echo among the hills and valleys along the shores. Instead of gathering at the store and village green, to engage in neighborhood gossip, as on even ings of the past, the villagers now crowd around the wharves to gaze upon the new arrivals-the city folk who during the hot weather flock to our cool hillsides for rest and recreation. Everything wears a neat and enter- prising appearance. The farmers have opened their com- fortable homes to their city neighbors, and find pleasure as well as profit in entertaining those who have been inore closely associated with the great busy outside world. Since the beauties of the scenery, and the new facilities for travel have become known, Harrison has grown to be a very popular resort for the weary, more especially since the remarkable "Summit Spring" was discovered ; the water of this spring possesses the most valuable medici- nal properties, and is healing hundreds; this water is now sold in all parts of the country. While the lakes that intersperse the landscape afford pleasure to the city boarders when rowing or sailing over them, the smoothly graded and forest-arched carriage roads invite the drive. No more invigorating air, no more healthy situation can be found in New England, than is found here; and the
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