USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Waterville > A chronology of municipal history and election statistics, Waterville, Maine, 1771-1908 > Part 7
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The following is a copy of notices that were posted about the town on June 3:
The undersigned, not doubting the full sympathy of the citi- zens of Waterville in the fate of Burns, recently remanded into
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slavery in the city of Boston, take the liberty of calling a public meeting in the town hall at three o'clock this afternoon to see if they will have the bells tolled in token of their sympathy, and also take any other measures in regard to the case.
J. T. Champlin, J. R. Elden, J. H. Drummond, Moses Hans- com, T. Boutelle, F. Kimball.
The meeting was largely attended, addresses were made, reso- lutions of sympathy adopted, and it was voted that the bells of the city be tolled for one hour. The vote was carried into effect immediately upon adjournment. The town, like thousands of others, had taken its first step that led to the condition of affairs that were not settled until Lee surrendered his sword at Appomat- tox.
1855
Ticonic bridge damaged by freshet.
July 30. Portland and Kennebec Railroad opened to Bangor.
March 12. It was voted that the burying ground near the academy lot, (Monument Park), known as the "old burying ground," be closed against any further interments, and that the sexton be instructed to act accordingly.
GOVERNOR WELLS
State vote for Governor:
Whole vote, 110,447
Anson P. Morrill, Rep., 51,441
Samuel Wells, Dem., 48,341
Isaac Reid, Whig, 10,610
Scattering, 81
There was no choice for Governor by the people and the Leg- islature that convened at Augusta, January 2, 1856, elected Sam-
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uel Wells, Governor. Gov. Wells for a time, commencing in 1825, was a resident of Waterville, and was engaged in the practice of law. The town voted:
Anson P. Morrill, Rep., 439
Samuel Wells, Dem., 237
Isaac Reid, Whig, 30
1856
Thomas W. Herrick elected State Senator from Kennebec County.
September. Samuel Wells, who was again nominated for Governor by the Democratic party was defeated by Hannibal Ham- lin, the Republican candidate.
VOTE FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT
Fremont and Dayton, Rep., 515 Buchanan and Breckenridge, Dem., 138 Filmore and Donelson, American, 15
Maine was entitled to eight electoral votes. They were cast. for John C. Fremont of California for President, and William L. Dayton of New Jersey for Vice President, they being the candi- dates of the Republican party. James Buchanan of Pennsylvania, Democrat, was elected President.
1857
Thomas W. Herrick re-elected State Senator.
1858
Josiah H. Drummond elected Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives.
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PROHIBITION
The temperance question again came before the people for action in this year. An act entitled, "An act to restrain and reg- ulate the sale of intoxicating liquors, and to prohibit and sup- press drinking houses and tippling shops," that was approved April 7, 1856, that the people pleased to call a "license law," also an act approved March 12, 1858, "for the suppression of drinking houses and tippling shops."
At a meeting held June 7, called for the purpose of giving the voters an opportunity to express their choice of the two acts, the following vote is recorded :
For the prohibitory law of 1858, 292
For the license law of 1856,
18
1859
Wyman B. S. Moor appointed Consul General to the British Provinces by President Buchanan.
June 13. A vote was taken on "an act to aid the Aroostook railroad," with the following result:
In favor, 123
Opposed, 62
EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION OF MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS
June 13, 1859. Voted, that we assent to exemption from tax- ation in this town such manufacturing establishments hereafter erected in this town by individuals or by incorporated companies for the manufacture of fabrics of cotton or wool, or of both cut- ton and wool, and all the machinery and capital used for operating the same, together with all such machinery hereafter put into
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
buildings already erected, but not now occupied, and all the cap- ital used for operating the same, under and in accordance with the "act to encourage manufacturers" approved April 1, 1859.
1860
Population, 4392.
Polls, 1870.
Estates, $1,348,330.
Kennebec County, 55,655.
Josiah H. Drummond, member of the Maine Senate.
John Ware, Sr., was a candidate for Presidential elector on the Bell and Everett ticket.
VOTE FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT
Lincoln and Hamlin, Rep., 504 Douglass and Johnson, Dem., 149
Breckenridge and Lane, Dem., 7 Bell and Everett, Union, 30
At the annual town meeting held March 12, articles in the war- rant were dismissed, favoring the purchase of a fire engine for the west village, favoring the assumption of the debt of the Ticonic Village Corporation, and one relative to a city charter. It was voted to prosecute all violators of the liquor law.
THE BIG FIRE OF 1859
At the annual town meeting, March 12, the Selectmen were instructed to abate any portion of the taxes due from W. & W. Getchell and David Moor, assessed on the mills or other property that were burned on the night of Aug. 20, 1859, that in their judgment, was just and proper.
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1861
Charles R. McFadden appointed postmaster by President Lin- coln. He continued in the service of the government in this capac- ity until 1879.
THE CIVIL WAR
It would not be within the province of a book of this char- acter to attempt to give even an outline of the causes that led to the firing of the shot on Fort Sumter on that fatal April morn- ing in 1861, that aroused the nation from ocean to ocean. Neither would it be within the province of this compilation of municipal affairs to record the events of a disastrous civil war. To even attempt to enumerate the acts of loyalty and patriotism on the part of the loyal citizens of this city, would necessitate a volume of its own.
To attempt to picture the scenes in the old town when the news was flashed over the wire that hostilities had actually com- menced, or those attending the opening of two recruiting offices, the drilling of the men, the call of the bugle and the roll of the drum, or to record the scenes in the old town hall when a public meeting, presided over by Joshua Nye, which was attended by every man, woman, and child who could possibly be there, would certainly be beyond the object of this work.
Let it be sufficient to record that Waterville furnished its full quota of men, brave and true, many of them receiving commis- sions, others content to fight for their country in the ranks. The government of the town supported the soldiers loyally and the patriotism of the men who remained at home and bore the finan- cial burdens, although not memorialized in song and history, con- tributed as much toward the final result as those who bore the arms.
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
Affairs were as carefully managed as the attendant circum- stances would permit, the needy and dependent were sufficiently cared for. Large sums of money were raised for the various needs and requirements, both by the municipality and individuals. The various independent and ladies' societies each contributed gener- ously and cheerfully. The town and State records have been care- fully examined and extracts from them will, as far as they relate to the question of municipal expenditures, etc., be found in the following pages.
1862 MUNICIPAL WAR EXPENSES
On March 10, the town appropriated seven hundred dollars for the support of families of soldiers already in the army. On July 25, in answer to President Lincoln's call for three hundred thousand men, a special town meeting was called to provide ways and means by which the number of men required by the govern- ment from the town could be raised. An enlistment committee was chosen, consisting of the following persons: Joshua Nye, Joshua C. Bartlett, A. W. Lewis, James P. Hill, John F. Libby, John M. Libby, John W. Hubbard, W. A. Stevens, George Milli- ken, Charles R. McFadden, George H. Atkins, George A. Dingley, and Asa R. Clifford.
Forty-seven men were required to fill the quota, and the Select- men were authorized and instructed to hire on the credit of the town, forty-seven hundred dollars for the purpose of paying each volunteer under the call for men, and they were further instructed to pay each volunteer one hundred dollars when he shall be mus- tered into the service of the United States. One thousand dol- lars was also appropriated for the support of the families of soldiers in the army, in addition to that raised at the March meeting.
The forty-seven hundred dollars required was raised by notes, as follows: Waterville Bank, $1700; Ticonic Bank, $1600; Adam
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Wilson, $400; William P. Blake, $1000. Interest was placed at six per cent.
The second call for men in this year necessitated the calling of another special meeting on Aug. 29 to arrange for the enlist- ment of fifty-two men to fill the quota required. An enlistment committee was appointed, and the Selectmen were instructed to raise fifty-two hundred dollars, to be employed in paying the volunteers in the same manner as provided at the July meeting. $4000 was secured at the Waterville Bank, and $1300 at the Ticonic Bank. Interest six per cent.
A total of $9900 was paid out for bounties this year, and thirty-nine families were assisted. There were one hundred and eighteen people in the families and $1394.60 was expended.
1863
Dennis L. Milliken, State Senator from Kennebec County.
On Aug. 6, a special town meeting was called to make arrange- ments for the enlistment and to raise the necessary funds for the purpose of filling the quota required under a call for more men at the front. It was voted to fill the quota, if possible, and to raise ninety-three hundred dollars for the purpose. It was voted to pay each man drafted the sum of one hundred and fifty dol- lars who shall be mustered into the service, and one hundred dol- lars to those who should furnish an acceptable substitute, provided that no greater sum shall be paid than is actually paid to the substitute.
On Oct. 16, President Lincoln issued a call for three hundred thousand more men. On Nov. 16, the town voted to raise ten thousand dollars to be used for enlistment purposes, and that two hundred dollars be paid to each volunteer.
In this year $8926 was paid out for bounties. Fifty-three fam- ilies required aid, consisting of one hundred and seventy-one people. For this purpose $2338.80 was expended.
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1864
VOTE FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT
City :
Lincoln and Johnson, Rep., 508
Mclellan and Pendleton, Dem., 184
County : Lincoln and Johnson, 6,803
McClellan and Pendleton, 3,347
State :
Lincoln and Johnson, 67,805
Mclellan and Pendleton,
46,988
Notwithstanding the burdens of taxation and the large sums required for the purpose of the war, the men at home did not allow the interests of the town itself to suffer or to relax in their energy to look after its future welfare. At the annual town meet- ing, held March 7, they voted to raise four thousand dollars to make free that part of Ticonic bridge, that lies within the town of Waterville, provided that a sufficient sum be raised from other sources, to make the whole bridge free within one year. They further voted that all capital over two thousand dollars, in each case, employed in erecting mills and machinery for the manufac- ture of woolen goods after this date should be exempted from tax- ation for the term of ten years from the date of the passage of this resolve.
APPROPRIATIONS FOR WAR PURPOSES
On Aug. 20, a meeting was held to provide the necessary number of men required under President Lincoln's call of July 18 for five hundred thousand men. The Selectmen were instructed to raise twenty-five thousand dollars to be used in securing enlistments, and it was voted to pay volunteers for three years, five hundred dol- lars ; two years, four hundred dollars; one year, three hundred dol- lars. Substitutes to receive the same amounts and drafted men to receive four hundred dollars.
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At the same meeting, by a vote of 527 to 3, the citizens ex- pressed themselves in favor of an amendment to the constitution that would allow soldiers in the field to vote. On Dec. 31, the Selectmen were elected recruiting officers to enlist an additional number of men required under the call of Dec. 19, for three hun- dred thousand men, and it was further voted that the same boun- ties be paid as were authorized at the meeting of Aug. 20.
1865
W. A. P. Dillingham, Speaker of the House of Representa- tives.
Efforts were continued at the town meetings during the year to make Ticonic bridge free to the public.
CLOSE OF THE WAR
This year witnessed the close of the war. Waterville received the news of the surrender of Lee with unbounded enthusiasm. Preparations were immediately commenced with the same vigor to promote its drooping industrial interests as five years before had been shown in its efforts to assist its country in its time of need. Its sympathy was as deep as its patriotism. The wounded and sick were cared for. The widows and orphans given substantial aid. It seems a fitting tribute to municipal benevolence to record a vote taken at the annual town meeting held March 13, 1865, viz: "Voted that the Old Burying Ground lot in Ticonic Village be assigned to the use of the Soldiers' Monument Association."
There stands on the spot today a beautiful monument dedi- cated to the soldiers and sailors who lost their lives for their country's honor.
In 1864 and 1865 the town paid out for bounties $45,790. In the same years the town paid out for volunteers $1200, and for
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
substitutes $2200, making a total paid out for bounties during the whole war of $68,016. In 1863, from a draft, eight men from the town of Waterville paid computation of $300 each or $2400, viz: Reuel Ellis, Horace G. Smiley, Joseph Stevens, Josiah Good- win, Richard J. Barry, Elbridge B. Randall, Theophilus Holmes, and Seldon Holmes. In 1864 the amount of aid furnished to fam- ilies was $4281.95. In 1865 it was $2219.07. Seventy families of two hundred and one members were assisted in 1864, and fifty- three families of one hundred and sixty-two people in 1865. The total amount paid during the war for this purpose was $10,234.42. In the following table will be found the moneys, hospital stores, etc., contributed in Waterville, reduced and entered as money value :
U. S. Sanitary Commission, $400 00
U. S. Christian Commission, 1500 00
Soldiers in Camps,
600 00
General Hospitals in loyal States,
300 00
Regimental hospitals and individuals, 350 00
New York, Philadelphia, Boston, etc.,
200 00
$3350 00
From a certificate filed by the municipal officers of the town with the commissioners on equalization of municipal war debt, appointed by the Governor and Council of the State of Maine in 1868 to audit the claims of cities, towns, and plantations for reimbursement, it appears that Waterville furnished one hundred and seventy-one three years' men, one two years' man, fifty one year's men, and forty-two nine months' men, making a total of two hundred and sixty-four men.
This certificate shows that Waterville paid out for bounties $63,925, and was reimbursed by the State in 1868 the sum of $19,883.33 1-3.
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From figures given out at the office of the Adjutant General the following interesting information is secured relative to the cost of the Civil War to the State of Maine, in matter of dollars and cents. The statistics are compiled by Capt. Thomas Clark, clerk in the office, for the use of the government at Washington, D. C., and some time was required in reaching the final result. The State of Maine paid out in bounties to men serving during the Civil War, and in subsequent claims the sum of $4,660,738. The amount paid in bounties by 415 cities, towns, and plantations of the State to the soldiers enlisting in the Civil War, as shown by the returns made to the office of the Adjutant General in pur- suance to an order of the Legislature and published in the Adju- tant General's report for the years 1864 and 1865, was $9,695,320.95.
There was also paid out by the several cities, towns, and plan- tations of the State, as aid to the families of soldiers during the Civil War, the sum of $1,945,961.77. There were drafted in 1863 an aggregate of 1937 men who paid to the several provost marshals a computation of $300 each, which amounted to $581,100. The total amount paid out by the State, cities, towns, and plantations on account of the men serving in the Civil War was $16,883,120.70.
1866
On February 6, "The Ticonic Water Power and Manufactur- ing Company" was chartered by the Maine Legislature. The first board of directors were, Solyman Heath, George A. Phillips, James Drummond and John P. Richardson. The first meeting was held at the office of Solyman Heath. Everett R. Drummond was elected clerk and George A. Phillips, Treasurer. The Lock- wood dam built this year.
1867
Name of Waterville College changed to Colby University.
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
June 3. The cause of temperance had not suffered during the period covered by the war. Its friends were still active, for by a vote of 226 to 12 the town voted in favor of an act "addi- tional and amendatory of chapter thirty-three of the laws of 1858 for the suppression of drinking houses and tippling shops" that provided for more stringent legislation for the government of the traffic.
1868
VOTE FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT
Grant and Colfax, Rep., 608
Seymour and Blair, Dem., 194
John Ware, Sr., was a candidate for elector on the Democratic ticket.
Dennis L. Milliken was elected a Presidential elector on the Republican ticket.
Edwin P. Blaisdell, Representative to the Legislature, mem- ber of the committee on Mercantile Affairs and Insurance.
Kennebec county entitled to thirteen members of the House of Representatives, one from Waterville.
1869
March 8. The sum of two thousand dollars was raised to be equally divided between the two soldiers' monument associations of the two villages. It was specified at the meeting that the names of all the Waterville soldiers who died in the service or by reason of disease contracted, or wounds received in the service of the United States, be inscribed on both monuments.
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A TROUBLESOME FRESHET
Heavy fall rains caused the Kennebec to rise to freshet pitch, carrying away Ticonic bridge on Oct. 5. Considerable other dam- age was done, but the most serious was the effect upon the town itself. Its disturbing consequences were of greater magnitude than were ever dreamed of. For years strong efforts had been made to have the county purchase the bridge and make it free to all travel, the loss of the bridge at this time presented a favorable oppor- tunity for those in favor of such a course to press their claims. The result was one of the most bitter contests in municipal affairs in the history of the town. In the meantime, those who favored the division of the town and setting off the town of West Water- ville also saw their opportunity by taking advantage of the finan- ical situation, and agitation commenced immediately that was prac- tically the cause of the success of the movement a few years later.
GENERAL FRANKLIN SMITH
General Franklin Smith of Waterville was nominated by the Democratic party as its candidate for Governor.
General Smith had long been identified with Democratic poli- tics, having represented Kennebec County in the Maine Senate and serving several terms in the Governor's Council. The party which he had the honor to represent was in a hopeless minority and he was defeated as he had every reason to believe that he would be, so that the result was in no way a disappointment to him- self or his friends. Following is his letter of acceptance of the nomination : -
Waterville, Me., July 16, 1869.
Hon. C. P. Kimball, President of the Democratic State Convention.
SIR :- Your official notice of my nomination as the Demo- cratic candidate for the office of Governor of this State by the recent Democratic State Convention, is received.
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
I accept the nomination with less reluctance, because having been made without any solicitation on my part, I am relieved from any responsibility for it.
I have examined the resolutions passed by the Convention and find nothing in them to object to. I have also recurred to the resolutions of the Democratic State Convention of 1868, which express more in detail what I understand to be the issues pre- sented by the Democratic party to the people of the State. I can- not doubt that if the principles thus announced should prevail in the councils of the State and Nation, they would impart a new energy to the Capital and Industry of the Country, nor can I doubt that the disregard of those principles by the party in power, has had an unfavorable effect upon all the regular business inter- ests of the Country.
It should not dishearten us, if we do not triumph this year. The fact that we are in minority makes it more necessary to keep our counsels before the Country. If they are truths as we believe they are, they cannot but have a reforming influence, and enable us to check, if we cannot wholly prevent unwise and un- constitutional legislation.
The questions in issue between the respective parties, are be- fore the people. It will be their detriment, if in the coming elec- tions they do not decide them rightly.
I thank the Convention for the honor of the nomination and yourself especially for kind expressions of your letter.
FRANKLIN SMITH
The election on Sept. 13, resulted as follows : In the State :
Joshua L. Chamberlain, Rep., 51,314
Franklin Smith, Dem., 39,033
Scattering, 4,735
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In the County :
Joshua L. Chamberlain, Rep., 4,987
Franklin Smith, Dem., 3,127
Scattering, 769
In the town :
Joshua L. Chamberlain, Rep., 289
Franklin Smith, Dem., 205
Nathan G. Hichborn, Dem., 159
Republican majority in the State, 7,546.
Republican plurality, 11,281.
1870
Population, 4852.
Polls, 901.
Estates, $1,904,017.
Population Kennebec County, 53,223.
Reuben Foster elected Speaker of the Maine House of Repre- sentatives.
TICONIC BRIDGE
By special act of the Legislature, approved by Governor Cham- berlain January 21, 1870, the County Commissioners were author- ized to build a free bridge across the Kennebec river between the towns of Waterville and Winslow and it was provided that the expense of building and maintaining the bridge should be imposed upon the towns of Waterville and Winslow. Those who had been the supporters of a free bridge at the county's expense were bit- terly disappointed. At a meeting held January 22, the day fol- lowing the approval of the act by the Governor, it was voted to instruct the selectmen and town agent to remonstrate against the enactment of the law requiring the towns to build and maintain
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
the bridge or a county road as established and laid out by the County Commissioners. By a vote of 255 in favor to 141 opposed, the selectmen, Solyman Heath and E. P. Blanchard were chosen a committee to present resolutions to the Legislature asking that the towns of Winslow and Waterville might be authorized by law to take and hold an assignment of the charter stock and remaining property and right of the proprietors of the Ticonic bridge and to hold and enjoy the same during the term of said charter with authority to erect a new toll bridge with the same rates for pass- ing and transportation as allowed in the old charter. The funds to be used first to pay the semi-annual interest, second, to pay repairs and expenses and third, to establish a sinking fund with which to pay the principal.
The petition was ignored by the Legislature and preparations were made to build the bridge. At the annual meeting held March 14, the selectmen were instructed to "meet the County Com- missioners on the 15th inst., with the best counsel that can be obtained, and show cause why the public necessity does not require the building of the bridge." Dennis L. Milliken and others who had petitioned the Legislature for the enactment of the law op- posed the motion, however. The selectmen were further instruct- ed in case the County Commissioners granted the petition of Den- nis L. Milliken, and others for a free bridge, to protest in the name of the town against further action until a decision could be obtained from the Supreme Court in regard to the legality of the act. These instructions failed to bring forth any material results. In the meantime a syndicate of Waterville men was building the bridge. The Court had been asked to grant a writ of prohibi- tion, but it was declined.
On June 18, a special meeting was called to vote on the following question : "To see if the town will authorize the select- men or choose a special committee to act in conjunction with the selectmen of Winslow to build as laid out by the County Com- missioners of Kennebec county, and to raise money for the same."
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