USA > Maine > Oxford County > Buckfield > A history of Buckfield, Oxford County, Maine, from the earliest explorations to the close of the year 1900 > Part 15
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The sketch of Mr. Fullerton closes during the pastorate of Elder Robert Hayes when the church had a membership of sev- enty-nine. Elder Hayes was a native of Windham and took charge of the church in January, 1843, remaining four years and laboring acceptably, but with small growth of the church.
During the next two years the pulpit was supplied by Elders Phinney, Hayes and William C. Witham of West Buckfield, who became a member of the society. They were followed in 1849 by Elder Charles Dow, who remained two years. during which a good degree of interest was sustained and some additions made to the membership by baptism. For several years following the church was without a resident minister and its prosperity some- what declined. Elder Witham was the principal preacher and labored faithfully in the interests of the society.
In 1856 Elder E. G. Eaton became a resident and preached several years with success. He was succeeded by Elder Otis Andrews, who remained several years, preaching here and in other places. He was the last resident clergyman and since his departure the church has been dependent on transient preachers and clergymen from neighboring churches. In 18,8 a revival occurred and thirteen persons were baptized in July of that year by Rev. Mr. Marriner of Auburn and in 1879 four were baptized by former pastor, E. G. Eaton, and two others were received into the church. For several years preaching was supplied by the pastors of the church at East Hebron. In August, 1881, Rev. Robert Scott began a pastorate which continued two years. He was followed by Rev. Mr. Towne in 1884 and by C. C. Keen during the two succeeding years. Of late years the society has become scattered and lost much of its former denominational in- terests and its services have been largely by Methodist clergy- men from the village.
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
One of the most beloved pastors of the church was Elder Clement Phinney, who followed his early pastorate with short terms of service and frequent visits for many years and in the society affairs of difficulty his advice and counsel were often sought. He was an interesting preacher and a delightful singer and the interests of the social meetings were greatly enhanced by his gift of song. He was a great-grandson of Capt. John Phin- ney, the first settler of Gorham. He died in Portland, March 2. 1855, aged 74 years.
REV. LEVI HERSEY.
Rev. Levi Hersey was one of the most highly esteemed pas- tors of the Free Baptists in Buckfield and his long and successful services with various churches rendered him one of the most widely known clergymen of his denomination in Maine. From his autobiographical notes the following sketch is largely gleaned :
He was born in New Gloucester, Sept. 11, 1803. During the early part of his manhood he was a business man and in 1836 was a trader at West Minot. He was a skeptic on religious af- fairs, but in 1838, under the preaching of Rev. George Ricker, he was converted and received into the Baptist church. His mind was at once filled with religious zeal and an irresistible de- sire to become a preacher. His conversion occurred March 20, 1838 and on the first Sabbath of July following he delivered his first sermon. Finding he was not in full accord with some of the articles of faith of the Baptists, he withdrew from that church and united with the Free Baptist church at Lewiston. He was licensed to preach in 1838, ordained to the ministry in June of the following year and commenced pastoral labors the next month with the church at East Buckfield, where he remained over two years, during which he baptized forty-two persons in Buck- field and many more in other towns and saw his labors rewarded with a wonderful religious interest. In January, 1842, he settled at Falmouth, preaching there two years and baptizing forty-four persons. From the date of his retirement from that town until 1871 he was constantly engaged in pulpit work, with long pas- torates successively in Harpswell, Brunswick, Phippsburg, Bath, Bowdoinham and Richmond Corner. In 1871 he purchased a farm in Buckfield to which he removed his family and upon
Rev. Levi Hersey
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
which he resided until his death, which occurred March 12, 1885. Thus, after his long and faithful service in the church he re- turned to pass life's evening among the scenes of his first re- ligious labors, for which he always cherished a fond attachment. During all the years of his absence he had never failed of an annual visit to the brethren at East Buckfield, invariably preach- ing to them the last Sabbath in September. This appointment came about informally and without public notice, and came to be understood as a matter of course. These annual visits, cov- ering an unbroken period of more than forty years were always pleasantly anticipated by the whole community and made occa- sions of deep interest in the church. The Elder was never sent home empty-handed but with bountiful supplies from the fruits of the farm to replenish his larder. After his final return to Buckfield he preached for this church three years and during the succeeding five years, or until the infirmities of age prevented further public service, he preached occasional sermons for the various churches in his vicinity and officiated at funerals far and near. During the first fifteen years of his pastoral work he at- tended forty-eight protracted meetings and he estimated that during his whole ministry he had baptized three hundred per- sons and attended six hundred funerals. Elder Hersey was a man of sterling character, strong convictions and a fearless champion of right. Though lacking early opportunities for a liberal education, he possessed a wonderful fund of native abil- ity, and his sermons were characterized with an originality and earnestness which reflected the sincerity of his motives and zeal for the cause he advocated and made him one of the most suc- cessful revivalists of his day.
FEDERAL MEETING-HOUSE.
East Buckfield, as outlined by the old Federal school district limits, embraced nearly all the town easterly from the village dis- trict. With no stores or mechanical shops, it has always been a neighborhood of prosperous farmers, who have contributed largely to the agricultural wealth of the town. Its historic cen- ter is Federal Corner, which, with its church, schoolhouse and Good Templars hall, has been a place second only to the village in social interest. It not only embraces all the east part of Buck-
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
field, but also includes a part of Hartford within the circle of its associations. How the name "Federal" came to be applied to this locality is related elsewhere.
Federal Meeting-house has occupied a place in the history of East Buckfield similar to that of Union Chapel in the village, having been the center of the social and religious interests of a large community for about three-quarters of a century. It was erected as a union house in 1834 by an association, called the Free Meeting-house Society, with which the most prominent citi-
Federal Meeting-House
zens of East Buckfield and South Hartford were associated. A building lot, containing three-fourths of an acre, was purchased by the society of Alvah Gammon at Federal Corner for thirty dollars and the building contract was let to James B. DeCoster for the sum of one thousand dollars. As with Union Chapel the price of its pews was paid in neat stock, which in turn was re- ceived by the contractor for his services. The house was of plain, simple architecture, common with country churches of that day and patterned largely after Union Chapel but without a steeple and less spacious than that building. The fencing of the
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
lot was put up at auction and struck off to Thomas Chase at "eighty-six cents for every sixteen feet." The house was dedi- cated March 25. 1835, with small attendance caused by the large amount of snow and hard travelling.
A large number of the proprietors of the house were Free Baptists and the members of this denomination have always been its principal occupants and makers of its history ; but several of its pew-owners were Universalists to whom one Sabbath in each month was allotted in the original assignment of time, and who
held public services in the house for many years. This allot- ment, however, did not prove harmonious, and denominational contentions arose, several of the pew holders being adverse to its occupancy by Universalists. In this contention, Dr. William Bridgham of the village, never lukewarm in controversial affairs. took a deep interest, becoming a purchaser of pews in order to sustain his Universalist brethren, and the original apportion- ment, with slight modifications, was preserved. But these sec- tarian influences passed away in time, and under the broader tol- eration of a later generation, public services by all denominations have received cordial and united welcome in the community. This house has been repaired from time to time through assess- mnts on pews and subscriptions, but at several times it has fallen into sad neglect, becoming a few years ago unsafe for occu- pancy, and religious meetings were held in the nearby Good Templars' hall. But in 1903 Virgil P. DeCoster secured con- tributions of sufficient amount for the restoration of this old landmark of East Buckfield. Dedicatory services were held with a sermon by Rev. George N. Bicknell, D.D., of Cambridge, Mass., and speeches by Hon. John D. Long and many others.
Many interesting associations of the easterly part of the town cluster about this old meeting-house, as the home of the Free Baptists and an abiding place of Universalists. Many stirring religious revivals, largely attended quarterly meetings and other interesting public gatherings have occurred within its walls, which have been far-reaching in communistic influences.
An occasion that lingers vividly in the minds of the older people occurred in the church March 22, 1850, in the public ob- servance of the one hundredth birthday of Jonathan Record, one of the earliest settlers of Buckfield and a Revolutionary soldier. He was then hale and hearty with nearly five years of life be-
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fore him. The house was filled to overflowing and a large choir was present with appropriate selections which sang :
"I take my staff and journey on, Till I the better land may view."
And again the old familiar lines in minor strains :
"My three score years," etc., substituting the word five for three and rendering it :
"My five score years are almost run And like an evening gone."
The occasional sermon was delivered by Rev. Adam Wilson, then of Hebron. The old-time choir of the church is of pleasant remembrance. Composed of a large number of good singers and led by Isaac Shaw, it furnished music on all public occasions and was somewhat famous in its day. Mr. Shaw was a tenor singer with a voice of remarkable compass. Whenever there were plenty of other tenors present he would sing "high alto" with bell-like clearness, his inspiring notes ringing through the house to the great edification of the congregation. Another prominent feature of the old choir was its violoncello, skillfully played by Lewis Mason.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Only occasional preaching by Methodists was heard in Buck- field previous to 1878. and the first movement in the interests of this church here was made by Holman W. Waldron, who in former years, while sojourning in California, had been converted to the Methodist faith. Zealous for the church with which he had united and anxious for local associations with it, he attended the Maine Conference in April, 1878, and made known to that body his desires that a preacher might be sent to his town, which was an untried field of labor with the society. His appeal was favorably considered and during that year W. H. Trafton, a local preacher, under the direction of Rev. C. C. Mason, Presid- ing Elder, came to Buckfield and preached in Reform Hall, over the Ephraim Atwood store. He found only six persons in town of his denominational faith, but a small class was formed, of which he was the leader, and the meetings were well attended.
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
This class was organized into a church in Reform Hall by Pre- siding Elder Mason, Jan. 10, 1879, with eight members as fol- lows: Holman W. Waldron, Stephen Childs, William B. Par- sons and their wives, Miss Elizabeth Waldron and Mrs. Bethiah Davis. Stephen Childs was chosen class leader.
At the annual Maine Conference in April, 1879, it was decid- ed, on account of the smallness of the churches in Buckfield and Turner, to unite the two in one charge and Rev. Samuel T. Rec- ord was appointed pastor of both churches. Mr. Record had been a farmer and worker in shops and took up preaching late in life. His educational advantages had been limited, and he had received no preparation for the ministry ; but he had great en- thusiasm and much native ability which attracted a good attend- ance at his meetings and created considerable public interest in the affairs of his church. His increasing congregations and the liberal patronage bestowed upon the church suggested the pro- priety of building a house of worship and through his efforts and the substantial aid from Mr. Waldron and others, this enter- prise was carried into effect in the spring of 1881, by the erection of the present Methodist Church edifice. It was dedicated free from debt June 29, 1881, Rev. H. W. Bolton of Boston preaching the dedicatory sermon. Mr. Record remained pastor of the church three years and left it in a prosperous condition.
Rev. N. C. Clifford was next sent to this charge and remained one year. He was a man of excellent character, but somewhat advanced in years and in poor health. He resided on a farm in Monmouth and with his home cares and pulpit supplies so far from his place of residence, he could render but slight pastoral associations to the people of Buckfield aside from his brief Sab- bath services, public interest consequently suffered a decline, which, with the loss of several prominent members of the church through removal from the State, left the affairs of the society at the end of the year in a discouraging condition. Nor was the situation improved, but rather farther depressed by the action of the annual Conference in 1883, which severed the existing pas- toral union between Buckfield and Turner and united the latter with North Auburn in one charge, leaving the Buckfield church alone in its weakness and without provisions for a pastor. Its local revenues were slight and its anticipated recognition as a charge was not realized. This depressing state of affairs con-
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
tinued three years without a regular pastor and with only occa- sional preaching. The members of the church became greatly discouraged, some of whom took letters and united with other religious organizations.
At the annual conference in May, 1886, it was decided to re- unite the churches in Buckfield and Turner in a charge. This union continued until 1890, when the two churches were again separated. The Conference, failing to supply a pastor for Buck- field, a local preacher was provided through subscription. In 1891 the union with Turner was restored, which continued until 1894, when the Buckfield church was made a charge by itself, since which time it has continued an independent church.
In 1895 a convenient annex to the church building for vestry purposes and social gatherings was erected and partially finished through the instrumentality of the pastor, F. W. Sadler, which was completed the following year by his successor. Rev. R. A. Rich, the greater part of its work being performed by these two clergymen.
In 1897 the society received, through a bequest of Mrs. Eliza J. Mitchell, a devoted member of the church and a resident of the village, her late residence on Elm street, conditioned on its use as a parsonage.
This church society has never been financially or numerically strong, but it has always had a few faithful workers and sup- porters; and, with the exception of its three pastorless years, be- fore mentioned, it has sustained regular preaching by supplies or resident pastors and maintained Sabbath schools and other church meetings customary with the denomination. Public Sabbath services have generally been held in the afternoon and its pastors have usually conducted services in the forenoon at East Buck- field. Its church edifice is located near the village center and has always been a favorite place of public meeting on Memorial days and other patriotic occasions.
The pastors have been as follows :
Year. 1879, (With Turner) 1880,
1881, 1882, 1883, By itself, 1884, 1885,
Names.
S. T. Record.
S. T. Record.
S. T. Record. N. C. Clifford.
No supply.
No supply. No supply.
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
181
1886, (With Turner) 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, By itself, 1891, (With Turner) 1892,
1893, 1894, By itself, 1895 1896, 1897, 1898,
J. P. Roberts. E. K. Mabery. E. K. Mabery. E. K. Mabery. F. W. Snell.
A. D. Graffam. Henry Crockett. Henry Crockett.
G. B. Hannaford, Sup.
F. W. Sadler
R. A. Rich
R. A. Rich
G. B. Hannaford
1899,
E. L. Hooper 16
1900,
Henry C. Munson
H. C. Munson
1901, 1902, 1903,
H. C. Munson
John C. Prince
1904,
John C. Prince
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
CHAPTER XX.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
SAMUEL ANDREWS.
Samuel Andrews was born in Berkley in the old Common- wealth before 1760. He married in June, 1779, Hannah Smith of Taunton, an aunt of Seba Smith, the author. They moved into Turner, then called Sylvester Canada, about 1780. He was the first trader there and kept his goods in his house. They were brought from Portland on horseback in saddle bags. He became one of the leading citizens of the town. He possessed an in- ventive turn of mind and when the great freshet of 1785 or 1786 swept away the mills on the river, he made a stone mortar to grind corn in-the motive power being furnished by wind.
In 1790 he was elected as a member of the board of select- men and was re-elected three times. The following year. 1795, he moved into Buckfield and bought of his brother, Mark, his place near the residence of Capt. Josiah Parris. According to the journal of Rev. Paul Coffin, Samuel Andrews was in trade here with his brother. In 1796 he was elected one of the board of selectmen and was three times re-elected, the last year serving as chairman of the board. In 1798 he was elected representa- tive to the General Court-Buckfield's first representative in any legislative body.
In 1799 he moved to Bridgton where he passed the remainder of his life. Largely through his efforts, North Bridgton Acad- emy was founded.
EPHRAIM ATWOOD.
Ephraim Atwood was justly regarded in his day as one of the most substantial and upright of the business men of Buck- field. He was born in Livermore, Oct. 2, 1808. At the age of 18 he came to Buckfield and entered the store of his brother, Nathan Atwood, as clerk and served an apprenticeship of several years. In 1830 he made a journey to Calais, Me., to visit his oldest brother, William B. Atwood. Returning to Buckfield he soon after formed a partnership with Nathan Morrill and pur- chased the store and goods of Nathan Atwood. In partnership
Ephraim Atwood
William H. Atwood
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
with others or alone he traded so long in the store located on the corner formed by the Hebron road with the street running over the bridge, that it came to be known as the Ephraim Atwood store. About 1844 with his brother, Lorenzo Atwood and Levi Cushman, the business of making starch from potatoes was started and factories were built at Buckfield and Sumner and these did a good business for several years. He was afterwards engaged with others in the wholesale flour business and in the manufacture of shovel handles.
Mr. Atwood was one of the chief promoters of the Buckfield Branch Railroad and lost the principal part of the fortune he had then made by the failure of the Smith enterprises. This was a severe blow but he did not sink under it. He kept on in trade and literally died in the harness.
Ephraim Atwood's integrity was never questioned. Ilis sound sense and excellent judgment were proverbial. In 1833 he was chosen town clerk and the next year was re-elected. In 1852 he represented the Buckfield district in the Legislature and was among those "Morrill Democrats" by whose votes William Pitt Fessenden was elected United States Senator in Congress. On the break-up of parties in 1854 he joined in forming the republi- can party as did all of the name in Buckfield and firmly held to this faith through life.
Mr. Atwood was twice married. His first wife was Eliza Ann Morrill, a sister of Nathan Morrill. She was born May 23, 1808 and died Jan. 29, 1850. He married second, Adaline Whit- ing. She was born Jan. 30, 1824 and died May 4, 1872.
DEA. WILLIAM H. ATWOOD.
William H. Atwood was born in Calais, Maine, December 25, 1826. Died in Buckfield, Maine, December 12, 1900. He was a son of William Boyden Atwood, and grandson of Capt. Samuel Atwood of Livermore, Maine.
Inclining to mercantile pursuits, after finishing his education in the Calais High School, he came to Buckfield, August 4. 1847, at the solicitation of an uncle, the late Ephraim Atwood, and became a clerk in the store of E. Atwood & Co. The following year, 1848, he was admitted as a partner in this firm. In the spring of 1853, seeing an opportunity to go into business for him- self, he removed to North Turner, where he was in trade three
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
years in the brick store still standing in that village. Returning to Buckfield in 1856 he went into business taking as a partner the late Laurin A. Bumpus (father of Dr. Hermon Bumpus, until recently Director of the American Museum of Natural History and now President of Tufts College.) Later, forming a part- nership with his cousin, Benjamin Spaulding, the firm of Atwood, Spaulding & Co., of which he was the senior partner, built up the largest store and business in the place and at the time of its erec- tion the first Department Store in Oxford County.
Mr. Atwood met with more than average success in mercantile enterprises and sustained a valued reputation as a sound and con- servative business man.
Early in life he identified himself with the Baptist denomina- tion and was an acknowledged leader in its councils. In 1881 he was made a trustee in Hebron Academy, serving until his death. He was a member of the building committee in charge of the crection of Sturtevant Hall and the present Atwood Hall at Hebron was made a memorial to him.
Mr. Atwood married Helen MI., daughter of the late Nathan and Ruth ( Rogers) Atwood, September 10, 1849. The product of this marriage was five children: Edna A., born April 16, 1851, who married George H. Watkins, of Paris, then editor of the Oxford Democrat and died Nov. 23, 1886; Kimball C., born Jan. 3, 1853, president of a leading New York insurance com- pany and a very successful business man ; Albion S., born May 3. 1858, died in infancy ; George M., born Oct. 6, 1860, now treas- urer of South Paris Savings Bank and for twenty-six years treasurer of the County of Oxford and Evelyn P., born Sept. 30, 1864 and died in infancy. The mother died June 8, 1865. In 1867 Mr. Atwood married Janette Loring, only daughter of the late Major Lucius Loring, who survived him by several years. Her death occurred at Buckfield, Jan. 6, 1903. There were no children by the second marriage. In the death of William H. Atwood, Buckfield lost one of its best citizens. For more than fifty years he was an active and useful member of the community, identified with all its best interests and faithful to every trust.
KIMBALL C. ATWOOD.
Probably no native son of Buckfield has had a more successful business career and acquired a more substantial fortune than Kimball C. Atwood. His parents were Dea. William H. and
Kimball C. Atwood
George M. Atwood
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
Helen M. Atwood, and he was born in Buckfield, January 3, 1853. His education was obtained in the village schools and at Hebron Academy. During vacations he was clerk in his father's store. As a boy he was passionately fond of hunting and fishing and also of riding and driving. These tastes have clung to him in later life and he is to-day as enthusiastic in any outdoor sport and pastime as when a boy.
At the age of nineteen he left home for New York with the passive acquiescence of if not with much encouragement from his father. He could see nothing ahead in his native town to strive for but he did have hope of a future in a larger field where his faculties and energies would have a full opportunity for develop- ment. He had about him, however, something which but few realized or understood and this was the determination to accom- plish, no matter what the obstacles might be, whatever he set about acquiring or attaining. And this characteristic, his pluck and sticktoitiveness, has been the great secret of his success. He had chosen his field of labor wisely-there is very much in that ---- and after putting his hands to the plow so to speak, he has never turned to look back or change his purpose. This is an example for young men worth more than money or influence, though these are not to be slighted if taken at their real merit and value.
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