USA > Maine > Knox County > Union > Union, past and present. An illustrated history of the town, Maine, from earliest times to date > Part 1
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Gc 974.102 Un2u 1770937
M. D.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01091 8610
UNION
PAST AND PRESENT.
AN ILLUSTRATED
HISTORY
OF THE TOWN OF UNION, MAINE,
FROM
EARLIEST TIMES TO DATE.
1895. THE UNION WEEKLY TIMES: UNION, MAINE.
SCENE ON CRAWFORD RIVER-THURSTON BROS.' MILLS.
170937
SCENE ON CRAWFORD RIVER- THURSTON BROS.' NEW DAM.
Ellipaxou
4
PREFARE
The publishers do not claim this condensed history of the town of Union, Maine, to be a model of perfection, believing it an impossible task to write a complete and accurate history of any town, from a critical standpoint. In this volume, however, the reader will find material which has been care- fully compiled from many sources and believed to be trust- worthy and reliable. Many extracts have been made from Sibley's History of Union to which credit is hereby given. To many citizens about town the publishers are grateful for numerous favors and extend thanks for the same.
Respectfully,
THE PUBLISHERS.
UNION, ME., February 2, 1895.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER 1.
Early Settlement-Situation-Boundaries-Statis- tics-Storms and Freshets -- Deaths-Scenery, -
9
CHAPTER II.
Waldo Patent-Boundary Line-Indians-Early Settlers -- First Buildings --- Sterlington, -
12
CHAPTER III.
Families in Town - Census- Quarries - Lime Casks - Grain - Apples - Mills - Tanneries- Factories-Fossett's Mills -- Corn Packing -- Traders, 16
CHAPTER IV.
Canals -Common - Town House - Churches- Religious Societies-Preachers, 20
CHAPTER V.
First Representative - Postmasters - Schools- Lawyers - Physicians - Soldiers -- North Knox Society-Fire Insurance Co .-- Cheese Factory- Corn Factory-Creamery Company, -
- 24
CHAPTER VI.
The Common-Railroad-Building Operations- Scenery-Hotel-St. Georges River Privileges- Prosperous Farmers-Fish Hatchery, - -
28
WIEKLe
CHAPTER VII.
South Union-Crawford's River-Water Privil- eges-Manufactures-Thurston Bros., - -
- 31
CHAPTER VIII.
Newspapers - Thurston Bros. - S. W. Jones- Wingate, Simmons & Co .- Brown Bros .-- Dr. A. Thompson, - -
33
CHAPTER IX.
Cooper Post Grand Army of the Republic- Soldiers and Sailors-The Soldiers' Monument, - 37
CHAPTER X.
Georges Valley Railroad -- Agitation -- Town Meeting -- Stock -- Contractor -- Celebration- Present Officers 45
Union's Wants, - -
- 47
Biographical Sketches, - - -
48-81
Union Business Directory, - - -
73-76
Births, Marriages and Deaths, 1894-5, 82-83
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L W
*UNION, MAINE,
CHAPTER I.
EARLY SETTLEMENT-SITUATION-BOUNDARIES-STATISTICS STORMS AND FRESHETS-DEATHS-SCENERY.
HE town of Union in the County of Knox and State of Maine was settled July 19, 1774, and named Taylor Town from the purchaser and settler Dr. John Taylor. May 3, 1786, it was organized as the plantation of Sterling- ton ; October 20, 1786, it was incorporated and named Union. Washington was formed from a portion of its ter- ritory in 1811. In 1810 its population was 1, 266, having increased from 575 in 1800. Union is bounded on the south and southwest by Warren and Waldoboro; on the west by the Medomac river which separates it from Washington ; Appleton, Hope and Camden lay to the north and northeast ; at its eastern extremity it makes with Rockport and Warren near the summit of Mt. Pleasant. There is of course but little difference between the climate of Union and that of Maine in general. General Knox in 1799 says of this terri- tory : "The ground is generally covered with snow from the middle of December to the last of March." A journal kept by Samuel Hills says: "January 28, 1797, rain the first time since November 22d, and very cold. October 26, 1827, crossed Seven Tree Pond on the ice, said to be the earliest in
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40 years; pond opened between the Eyes March 15, 1828." Forty yoke of oxen hauled a one and one-half story house from the Col. Hawes place across Seven Tree Pond on the ice to the hill south of South Union, April 4, 1844. There is said to have been considerable change in the climate since the early days. Of late years, snow has not fallen so much and the sleighing season has been cut down to a few days. On the whole, a milder climate has prevailed. In the spring of 1832 the town was visited by heavy rains; from June 10th, to July 18th, not one fair day, and severe freshets was the result. Great damage was done bridges and mills.
July 21, 1820, a tremendous hail storm came along and the corn crop was entirely destroyed. Grain and potatoes, as well as other articles were much injured. When the hail had disappeared large quantities of frogs appeared, said to have come from a pond in Appleton. During a terrific thun- der storm, June 29, 1815, James Lermond, living with his brother William in the last part of the town, was killed by lightning. The house was badly wrecked by the stroke. August 8th, of the same year lightning burnt the barn of Noah Rice and Obadiah Morse's barn with forty tons of hay was set on fire, but it was extinguished by Mr. Morse, whose hands were badly burned
Sunday, May 25, 1823, the house of Jason Ware was struck by lightning ; the same stroke of lightning injured the barn of Matthias Hawes, about 25 rods distant. August 25, 1840 the store of Henry Fossett in the north-western part of the town was struck by lightning. In 1792-3 the throat distem- per caused the death of many children in town. In 1826 the dysentery was very prevalent and fatal. Consumption car- ried off many in the early days and still causes many deaths.
Some idea may be formed of the general healthfulness of the town from the number of deaths reported from time to
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time as follows: In 1807 II deaths occurred; in 1808, 5; in 1811, 10; 1812, 7; 1815, II; 1818, 3; 1821, 8; 1824, 16; 1825, 18; 1827, 9; 1829, 16; 1830, 22.
In 1830 there were in town 17 males and 16 females above 70 years of age. In 1835 there were 27 persons here who were 75 or more years of age. Abigail Messer was 99 years of age when she died.
The relative position of the hills and valleys is favorable for a brisk circulation of air. The water in general is un- commonly pure.
The scenery of Union is magnificent. As Sibley says, "Hills and valleys, ponds and streams, the romantic and the picturesque are combined in the prospects." Union is pre- eminently an agricultural town and ranks high as such. From earliest time has the town enjoyed its reputation for fine lands, excellent water and beautiful natural scenery.
CHAPTER II.
-
WALDO PATENT-BOUNDARY 3 LINE-INDIANS-EARLY SET- TLERS-FIRST BUILDINGS-STERLINGTON.
NION was a part of the tract of land called the Muscon-
gus Patent, which was a grant made March 2, 1629, by the Plymouth Council to John Beauchamp of London, and Thomas Leverett, then of Boston, England, later of Boston in New England. This tract was afterwards called the Waldo Patent. For more than a century the French and English claimed the land. In 1711 or 1712 it was proposed to make the St. Georges River the boundary between the English and French, but it was never effected. While not noted as a place much resorted to by Indians, it is known that they were here more or less in the early days. Many relics have been found from time to time even up to the pres- ent that would indicate their presence here in goodly numbers at various periods. Several accounts of adventures with the Red Men have been put on record. Stephen Hart and Sam- uel Boggs had a narrow escape once while fishing in Craw- ford's Pond, but they reached home in safety.
Probably the first white people who located in town were Archibald Anderson and James Anderson, in the fall of 1772; also James Malcom and John Crawford, Jr. All of these were natives of Scotland. In 1776 Philip Robbins of WN- pole, Mass., bought about 4000 acres of land here at about 50 cents an acre. Other members of the Robbins family also
13
came and the numbers increased quite rapidly. Richard Cummings from Stoughton, cleared land here about this period, but afterwards returned to Massachusetts. Dr. Taylor built the first frame house in town in 1776, work being done by Col. Benjamin Burton and Nathaniel Fales. It was about 18x20 feet in size. This was the only frame house in Union until years after the town was incorporated. This year rye was reaped, being the first grain ever harvested in town. Taylor erected a 34x40 foot barn the same season and Rich- ard Cummings built a log house. In 1777 Philip Robbins got out a frame for a barn and Taylor put up the frame of a saw mill on Crawford's River. A grist mill was also put under the saw mill.
In February, 1777, Phineas Butler enlisted under Col. Bur- ton and joined the army. Abijah Hawes came from Frank- lin, Mass., in June. At the time of Burgoyne's surrender there were but three families in Sterlington, supposed to have been the families of Philip Robbins, David Robbins and Richard Cummings. In December 1778 the barn of Philip Robbins was burned. Mason Wheaton bought 1000 acres of land of John Taylor, January 2, 1779, and resided here a short time. He raised a barn in 1780. He returned to Thomaston and was the first representative from that town to the Legislature of Massachusetts. May 15, Joel Adams, Matthias Hawes and Jason Ware came from Franklin, Mass., and settled here. In September 178t Joel Adams and Jemima Robbins were married; this was the first wedding in town and the ceremony was performed by Colonel Wheaton. January 1, 1783, Matthias Hawes, married Sarah Payson in Warren, and on the 16th moved home and commenced house- keeping. In September 1784 Amariah Mero came from Stoughton and settled here; later he married a daughter of Philip Robbins. In the spring of 1785 Josiah Robbins,
14
brother of Philip Robbins came to Sterlington and began work. In May of the same year came Royal Grinnell and his family. In 1786 Josiah Robbins came from Franklin, Mass., also Samuel Hills, the first blacksmith, and his wife. This was twelve years since the first arrival of Dr. Taylor.
In 1786 Sterlington or Taylortown, was organized as a plantation. The earliest entry on any of the town books reads as follows :
LINCOLN, SS .- To Philip Robbins, gent. A principal inhabitant of the plantation called Sterlington, in said County of Lincoln, greeting :
"In obedience to a precept from William Lithgow, Esq , treasurer of the county aforesaid to me directed : These are to require you to notify and warn the inhabi- tants of your said plantation, being freeholders, to meet at the dwelling house of Capt. Philip Robbins, in said plantation, on Monday the twelfth day of June next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, in order that such of the inhabitants of said plantation [as] shall then assemble shall and do choose a moderator and clerk, and also assess- ors and collector or collectors for said plantation's proportion of all such taxes as have [been] or may be assessed upon the same county, either for soldiers bounty money or for defraying the necessary charges of said county until other assessors and collectors shall be chosen in their stead at the annual meeting of said plantation in March next ; such clerk, assessors, and collectors to be sworn by the moderator of said meeting [to] the faithful discharge of their respective trust [$] ; and the assesors so to be chosen and sworn thereupon to take list of the ratable poles and a valuation of said estate of the inhabitants of said plantation, for to make such assessments, and to judge of the qualifications of voters in meetings of such inhabitants there- after to be holden, until other valuation shall be made ; and to make return of the names of the collector or collectors, with the sum committed to him or them to col- lect, as soon as may be, to the said William Lithgow, Esq., or his successor in said office of treasurer ; and to make return of this warrant, with your doings there- upon, unto said meeting. Given under my hand and seal at Thomaston, in said county, May, 3, 1786.
MASON WHEATON,
Justice of the Peace.
Sterlington County Tax Soldiers Bounty
£2 11 10 I 12 43-4
A true copy :-
MOSES HAWES,
Plantation Clerk.
15
A second document on the town records was drawn up within a fortnight after the preceding document and was a petition signed by Moses Hawes, Joel Adams and Samuel Hills, Committee of the Plantation of Sterlington. This was probably not presented. A petition dated September 12, 1786, was followed by the act of incorporation which passed October 20, 1786.
CHAPTER III.
FAMILIES IN TOWN - CENSUS - QUARRIES - LIME CASKS - GRAIN-APPLES-MILLS-TANNERIES-FACTORIES -- FOSSETT'S MILLS-CORN PACKING-TRADERS.
T the time of the incorporation there were in town the following families. The number of people in each family being also given as follows :
Joel Adams, 5 Amariah Mero, 2
Ezra Bowen,
5 Elisha Partridge, 5
John Butler, 5
Bela Robbins, 2
Richard Cummings, 6 David Robbins, 9
Royal Grinnell, 4
Ebenezer Robbins,
3
Abijah Hawes, 3
Jessa Robbins, 2
Matthias Hawes, 4
Josiah Robbins, 5
Moses Hawes,
5
Philip Robbins, 3
Samuel Hills,
2
Jason Ware,
5
Elijah Hoimes,
2
Total number of families 19, with 77 population, was the town's standing at this time. In 1787 Levi Morse came; with him also came William Hart and Oliver Leland. In 1788 Joseph Maxcy came from Attleborough, Mass .; he brought with him Joseph Guild. Thomas Daggett, Jr., and Aaron Daggett came in 1789, then came Seth Luce and family, Christopher Butler and family. Ichabod Irish came this same year.
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The first census of Union was taken Adg. 1, 1790, and showed that the town had 200 inhabitants. In 1837 William Gleason took the census and the population was found to be 1754. June 1, 1850, the census was also taken by William Gleason, and the total number was shown to be 1970. In 1860 the population was 1958; in 1870 it was 1701; in 1880 it was 1548; in 1890 it was 1435. The present population is believed to exceed 1500, as the coming of the Georges Valley R. R. in 1893 was the beginning of a season of activity in many branches of business.
There has never been a geological survey of the town that the writer is aware of. It is known, however, that there are quarries of limestone which are said to make a very fine grade of lime, very pure and white. The quarry on the George W. Bachelder farm, opened in 1894, is considered of great value. There are also quarries of granite. Iron ore is said to be found in large quantities in the eastern part of the town.
John Little is said to be the first man who made lime casks here. This was probably more than ninety years ago. In the early days casks were made to contain 100 gallons each and made of well seasoned oak or ash staves with ten hoops on each cask and secured with nails or pins. Later 75 gallon casks were made, and in 1810, 50 gallon sizes were made. Now they hold about 28 gallons. They were sold in early days as high as 60 cents each. Casks for some years past have sold all the way from 12 to 18 cents. Stave and head- ing machines now do a greater portion of the work.
Rye was the first grain planted in Union. It was sown in autumn upon burnt ground. Union is a great town for apples. Levi Morse, away back in 1793, set out apple trees.
The first fuller's-mill was built on Crawford's river in 1799 by Micajah Gleason. There have been four since but there
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are none here now as a matter of course. The first carding machine for wool was built on Crawford's river by Ebenezer Alden in 1806.
In 1809 a cotton factory was built on the west side of St. Georges river. It was carried away by a freshet in 1832. The Farmer's woolen factory was built in 1814 and owned in shares of $10 each. In 1843 Wm. Gleason converted a building formerly a paper mill into a woolen factory.
In 1810 a paper mill was erected on Crawford's stream. The mill was burnt in 1818. Another mill was put up in 1819 but we believe no paper was made there after 1837. The water of Crawford's river was considered particularly good for paper making.
Richard Cummings was the first man to tan hides here. In 1826 there were three tanneries in town -- one owned by Joseph Beckett, another by Susman Abrams, a Jew. We are unable to find out who owned the other. In 1840 there were four tanneries in town. Edward Jones was engaged in the manufacture of potash soon after the town was incor- porated. Ebenezer Alden was also engaged in the same business later.
In June 1843 an iron foundry was established at South Union. August 1844 Vaughan and Pardoe commenced the manufacture of edge tools, principally axes, ship tools and coopers' tools. J. Vaughan & Co. started a shovel factory March 12, 1850. The products of these factories were con- sidered excellent, as well as the tool work of Bradley R. Mowry at the Middle Bridge. The most extensive mill establishment was the Fossett's at North Union. It was completed in December 1848 at an expense of about $10,000. Under one roof were a saw mill, and a grist mill, beside a corn cracker, stave machine, shingle machine, lath machine,
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threshing machine, cleanser and bolt -- all carried by steam. They were destroyed by fire June 21, 1850.
The Piper Packing Co. began packing corn here in 1887, and did quite a large business. The factory was totally destroyed by fire three years later.
Among the early traders may be named Edward Jones, Ebenezer Alden and John Little. Nathaniel Robbins and , Ebenezer Alden formed a partnership in 1803. Afterwards came Mallard and Chase, Charles Pope and William Pope. In 1812 Robert Foster opened a store at South Union. In 1840 there were six, in 1843 there were eight, and in 1849 twelve stores in town. A glance at the Business Directory printed elsewhere in this book gives the number of merchants in Union doing business in 1895.
CHAPTER IV.
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CANALS-THE COMMON-TOWN HOUSE-CHURCHES-RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES-PREACHERS.
N act was passed March 9, 1793, authorizing Charles Barrett, within six years, to cut a canal from Barrett's Town, beginning "Twenty-five miles above the head of the tide in Georges River," and to "have the exclusive right of making locks and canals upon the said river" for seventy years. The canal was opened only from Thomaston. Gen- eral Knox was principal or sole owner when the canal was completed. It was used several years, but did not prove profitable and before Knox died in 1806 it was neglected. Another canal was laid out in 18446 from Thomaston to Sears- mont, and it was completed in 1847. This also proved a bad speculation and the canal has long been abandoned and for the most part filled in.
There appears to have been much discussion regarding the Common. In the course of time after a considerable talk the following deed was obtained and placed on record :
"Know All Men by these presents, That I David Gillmor, of the Plantation No. Two, in the County of Hancock, and State of Massachusetts, gentleman, in consideration of one hundred dollars, well and truly paid by Nathaniel Bachelor, Joel Adams, and Will- iam Hart, selectmen of the town of Union, for the year A. D. 1809, and their successors in said office as selectmen of Union, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby give, grant, sell and
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convey unto the said Bachelor, Adams and Hart, and their successors in the office of selectmen of said Union, for ever, a certain tract of land lying in Union aforesaid, and is bounded as follows, viz : Beginning at a stake and stones standing west thirty-three degrees south seven rods and five links from the south-west corner of Capt. Rufus Gillmor's dwelling, at the northerly corner of said tract ; thence south seven degrees east (west?) fourteen rods to a stake and stones; thence east fifteen degrees south twenty-three rods to a stake and stone; thence east seventeen degrees north thirteen rods and five links to a stake and stones; thence east twenty-six degrees north eight rods to a stake and stones; thence north seven degrees west four rods and sixteen links to a stake and stones; thence west four- teen degrees north forty rods and twenty links to the bound first mentioned, be the same more or less ; and the above premises are to be occupied for the sole purpose for a Common for the use of the town of Union, to have and to hold the afore-granted premises to the said Bachelor, Adams, and Hart, or their successors, to their use and behoof for ever.
"And I do covenant with the said Bachelor, Adams, and Hart, that I am lawfully seized in fee of the afore-granted premises; that they are free of all incumbrances; that I have good right to sell and convey the same to the said Bachelor, Adams and Hart, or their suc- cessors in officer; and that I will warrant and defend the same premises to the said Bachelor, Adams and Hart forever against the lawful claims and demands of all persons.
"In witness whereof, I, the said David Gilmor, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this fifteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nine.
"DAVID GILMOR, and seal.
"Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of us,
"RUFUS GILMOR. "NATHL. ROBBINS.
"LINCOLN, SS. June the 15, A. D. 1809. Then the above named David Gilmor personally acknowledged the above instrument to le his free act and deed before me.
"NATHL. ROBBINS, Justice of Peace."
السـ
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Acting under the direction of the Selectmen, June Ist, 1839, the Common was surveyed by Mr. Wm. Gleason and a plan of the same was drawn by a scale of five rods to an inch, which space will not allow us to reproduce. Attached to the above mentioned plan appears the following document :
We, the undersigned, being inhabitants of the Town of Union at the time the Common was deeded to the Town by David Gilmor in eighteen hundred and nine; and being well acquainted with the boundaries thereof at that time; hereby certify, that according to the best of our knowledge the plan hereunto annexed as surveyed by Wm. Gleason this Ist day of June 1839, and as now held by said town, is the tract of land intended to be conveyed to the town by David Gilmor.
Union, Sept. 19th, 1844. Attest-C. G. BACHELOR.
RUFUS GILMOR. JOHN LITTLE. AMARIALI MERO.
March 3, 1806 the warrant for a town meeting contained an article "to see if the town would build a town house." Noth- ing appears to have been done as the subject was not again brought forward until July 1, 1837. After a long struggle the house was built. April 7, 1845, voted to buy a stove for the town house. This old house was patched and repaired more or less year after year and became almost a disgrace to the town until it was entirely reconstructed and we now have one of the finest town halls in the state. B. Burton, O. N. Butler and G. W. Payson were the selectmen who deserve thanks for the good work. The Union Hall Association held a series of entertainments and raised sufficient money with which they built an addition to the town hall which greatly improved the building.
The first meeting house in Union was "raised", Wednes- day, October 3, 1793. Rev. Auherd Auquhart was one of the early preachers, and so was Rev. Aaron Humphreys. Rev. Henry True was hired to preach in 1806, with an
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Wingate, Simmons & Co., Carriage Factory.
Thurston Bros.' New Dam.
Robbins Block.
Overlooking New Dam, towards G. V. R. R. Bridge, train on the track at South Union.
Thurston Bros., Factory and Falls.
Burton House.
Irville C. Thurston, residence.
Ziba Simmons.
Benjamin Burton.
Warren Hills. F. A. Alden. J. E. Arnold. Jedediah Morse.
E. H. Burkett.
C. W. Thurston. G. W. Payson. J. M. Robbins. Herbert Hawes.
79001 51200
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annual salary of $400; later twenty cords of wood and $25 were added to his salary and he was allowed four Sabbaths in the year to visit his friends. "Articles of Faith and Covenant" were agreed on by the "Congregational Church of Christ," March 3, 1803, and adopted with addi- tions, February 6, 1804. There were many church difficul- ties to bridge over in the early days, and the struggles were long and bitter. The Methodists and Baptists were in the field with a goodly number of followers in these days. The Congregational church was incorporated, Jan. 31, 1816, by act of the Massachusetts Legislature. The first sermon by a Universalist was preached in 1814, probably at the house of Geo. W. West. The Universalist Association met in Union June 20, 1829. The society here was re-organized, Septem- ber 9, 1840, and constitution adopted October 30. At the present day a flourishing society of Methodists, Rev. C. B. Chadwick, pastor, and Congregationalists, Rev. HI. J. Wells, pastor, are doing good work in Union. The Universalists and Baptists have no settled pastors.
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CHAPTER V.
FIRST REPRESENTATIVE-POSTMASTERS-SCHOOLS-LAWYERS PHYSICIANS- SOLDIERS - NORTHI KNOX SOCIETY - FIRE INSURANCE CO. - CHEESE FACTORY-CORN FACTORY-CREAMERY COMPANY.
HE first representative from Union to the General Court of Massachusetts was Edward Jones, in 1807. The first postoffice was established in 1810 and William White was the first postmaster; he was succeeded by Ebenezer Alden January 19, 1813, who held the office for thirty-two years. Jesse W. Payson succeeded him August 12, 1845 ; he was removed and the office went to Edward Hills, May 11, 1849. Those who have held the office since are, P. M. White, Mrs. Amanda Thompson, Joseph Irish, Andrew Libby, O. S. McCorrison, B. Burton, R. W. Bartlett, J. D Gleason, and A. M. Wingate the present incumbent.
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