USA > Maine > Oxford County > Buckfield > A history of Buckfield, Oxford County, Maine, from the earliest explorations to the close of the year 1900 > Part 36
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The powder mills here blew up several times and in one explosion Charles Bicknell, son of Otis, was killed. Mr. Marble sold out his interest in powder mills in 1878, and the business
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
at North Backfield having been transferred to the Windsor plant, the factory went into decay.
The little village of North Buckfield has from the beginning been a place of considerable business for a small country village. It accommodates the people of that section of the town and a part of Sumner. Here, besides its mills, store, post office, black- smith shop and schoolhouse, is located a flourishing grange, where the farmers and their wives and children regularly meet in a comfortable and spacious hall, and in addition to the social gatherings so beneficial to all, religious services and other gath- erings are frequently held. In no part of the town are the pleasures and benefits of life more to be enjoyed.
One who has ever dwelt in this little village or vicinity and gone away to other scenes, may well recall with pleasure the events of other days and say with Goldsmith :
"Dear lovely bowers of innocence and ease, Seats of my youth, when every sport could please : How often have I loitered o'er thy green,
Where humble happiness endeared each scene ! How often have I paused on every charm ; The sheltered cot, the cultivated farm ;
The never-failing brook, the busy mill,
The old white church that topped the distant hill."
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
Part II.
ZADOC LONG'S JOURNAL.
Hon. Zadoc Long
Extracts from Diary of Zadoc Long which he kept for 50 years. These extracts are but a very small part, but enough to give an impression of the local village life :
I was born on the 28th day of July, 1800, at Middleboro, Plymouth County, Mass. The earliest thing I can remember was my father's return from a military muster in the costume of a commissioned officer with
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cocked hat and coat faced with white. The next I recall was the birth of my brother Miles in 1804. My father moved from Middleboro to Buck- field in 1806, and bought the Daniel Howard farm on North Hill. The first time I came to the village there were but two two-story houses here- Mr. Benjamin Spaulding's and the one in which I now live. There was no church here. I worked on a farm till I was 14 years old. My father carried on his farm and his trade of a shoemaker at the same time. In 1815 I commenced the study of English and Latin grammar. In the autumn of 1816 I attended the academy at Hebron and boarded a mile away at Mr. Barney Myrick's, where I could pay in shoemaking at $1.00 per week. This I think was the last bill my father ever paid for me.
1823.
April 13-Bought a stand for trade jointly with Capt. James Jewett -the new store on the north side of the river and east of the bridge-3 stories high on the water side-the largest and most convenient store for business in village-together with a building and apparatus for mak- ing potash.
1824.
Sept. I-I was married to Julia T. Davis of New Gloucester and com- menced keeping house. Lucius Loring, who has married my sister Sally, and I, hired a house called the "Foster House." He will occupy one part and I the other.
Oct. 24-A pleasant young gentleman by the name of Henry White is boarding with us. He has lately commenced preaching the gospel and is engaged for a short time in the village.
1826.
July 30-The first meeting of the members of the Bible class in Buck- field holden at Mr. Chase's Meeting House so called. The question writ- ten upon was: "How extensive is the knowledge of God."
The undersigned feeling persuaded that Capt. - is injuring his health, his reputation, his property and the peace of his family, by an increasing habit of intemperance, and believing that, as he is not accustomed to the use of ardent spirits in his own house, it might prove a preventive of this evil for him to be denied it at the stores, by the glass, and feeling very solicitous to save a man from destruction, who but for this, would be one of our most respectable and useful citizens, hereby engage ourselves to let him have no more rum to be drank in our stores. Buckfield, Dec. 2, 1826.
ZADOC LONG LUCIUS LORING ENOCH CROCKER NATHAN ATWOOD SPAULDING ROBINSON
The above accompanied by a letter to Mr. P. expressing the kindest wishes for his welfare.
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
1827.
Apr.25-The greatest freshet remembered here. It was caused by 24 hours only of rain.
May 24-Purchased a chaise of Mr. Babcock, Portland, for which I gave him $185.
June 21-This day was appointed a Justice of the Peace for the County of Oxford.
July 24-Purchased a black horse of Hosea Benson, Canton, for $135 caslı.
1820 ..
Mar. 9-Snow 4 feet deep on a level. Sam H. Blake teaching the school and boarding at my house.
Aug. 17-Drouth continues. Corn is so much injured that it is thought there will be but half a crop. Potatoes nearly ruined .. Business dull in consequence of the extreme scarcity of money. No sale for stock yet which is all that can be relied upon for a general circulation of cash here and we have no prospect of better times this season.
Oct .- Started from Buckfield Sat. morning and the Mon. following was in old Plymouth, Mass., a distance of 215 miles. Went to see Bro. Thomas, who had been for 40 mos. on the U. S. Frigate Brandywine on the Pacific coast of So. America. Had not seen him for 6 years. He had a roving disposition. His life on a man of war has improved him.
Autumn-The portraits of myself and wife painted by G. U. Apple- ton. My age 29, my wife's 22.
Dec .- It is nearly 2 years since I sold any spiritous liquors in my store, and though the profits of my business have been consequently less my satisfaction has been much greater. Did not feel justified in selling that to my neighbors which I knew to be for their injury. About the time a Temperance Association was formed in this vicinity I quit retail- ing ardent spirits .. (These are words that deserve to shine in letters of gold. Authors.)
1830.
Jan. 17-The weather has been remarkably moderate this winter so far. There has been but little snow. We have had one week of sleighing.
1831.
Feb. I-There has been no sleighing yet this winter. To-day it snows. Feb. 6-Snow enough and the sleigh-bells begin to be heard on the streets.
Mar. 15-Sold my goods and rented my store to Samnel W. Ingalls and E. Taylor for 2 years at $24 per year.
Apr. I-There has been a big freshet here the past week. Damage $2500 at least, Lucius Loring's share is not less than $1000, Buck's & Gray's $1000. The east part of the upper dam was broken away by the ice and the main current of the river let into the road at the east of Buck's wagon shops, surrounding them. Gray's blacksmith shop and
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Loring's potash being in water in such a manner that no one could get to them to remove anything. The buildings were undermined and what- ever was in or about them washed away, leaving but a wreck behind. Notes and accounts to the amount of about $1500 belonging to Buck and Gray were lost. A shoe shop and a part of a shed attached to Crocker's store went down stream and were destroyed. It will be $100 damage to the roads.
Nov. 27-We have just returned from Sunday School. My wife and I have a class. The interest of the school is enlivened by our infant Library. There are some favorable symptoms for Buckfield-wicked, God-forsaken place as it has been called-our new meeting-house with its heaven pointing spire for one. We intend to have a bell if the pur- chase money can be raised by subscription.
1832.
Jan. 2-Winter set in the last of Nov. with sufficient snow for sleigh- ing and it has been the most severe and steady cold weather for the time of year that the oldest men among us can remember. Commenced business in the store of Lucius Loring, Ang. Ist last, and have made a greater amount of sales than ever before in the same length of time. Business of every kind has been better during the past year than I ever knew it to be.
Mar. 28-There have now been 125 days of sleighing. It has been the longest and coldest winter ever known in this country.
Mar .- Rev. Seth Stetson made some remarks a few days since upon the subject of intemperance and especially about retailers, which have kindled a war against him, that promises not soon to subside - - in particular has taken it in high dudgeon and swears that he will no longer hear him preach or assist in his support and all this for what? Why be- cause our minister had conscience and independence enough to admonish the people of the evils resulting from the practice of ardent spirits-for preaching morality. What a queer thing it would be I am thinking if the people of Buckfield drive away a Universalist minister for preaching temperance. Smith, the hatter from Portland, died last night at Young's Tavern. His death was no doubt occasioned by intemperance. It is sickly in this vicinity. Influenza prevalent. There have been 5 deaths in this village this winter-2 infants, Mrs. Cole, wife of Sampson Cole, Mrs. Parris, wife of Josiah Parris and Rev. Seth Stetson's daughter, Emily.
Apr. 18-There are now 5 stores with large stocks of goods for the country in operation here, Long & Loring, Luther Crocker, Ephraim At- wood & Co., Nathan Atwood, Samuel Ingalls & Co. The latter firm oc- cupy the store belonging to me where I formerly traded.
June 6-Meeting house in this village ("church on the hill") dedicated. Dedication sermon by Rev. Seth Stetson.
June 10-It has been cold and cloudy nearly 4 weeks. Farmers are almost discouraged. Much of the corn and potatoes have rotted. There
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is very little prospect of a corn crop this year. It has been so damp and cold that I have kept a fire in the store every day for a month.
June 17-Attended Sabbath School this morning. There are now about 40 attendants. Have raised a sufficient sum by subscription to double the number of books in the school library. Much good may be expected from it, though far from popular with the majority of the town's people.
June 28-The Universalists have their annual convention here today July 20-The season is several weeks later than usual.
Sept. 12-The corn on low lands killed by frost.
Oct. 22-It has been a very cold and unfavorable season for vegeta- tion. So little corn has not been raised for many years. It is now sell- ing for 6 shillings per bushel.
Dec. 16-Mr. Bates, a Universalist minister, preached at Union Chapel. A great majority of the owners of the meeting house are pro- fessed Universalists. Rev. Seth Stetson who has preached in this place once or twice a month for the past 2 years was formerly an Orthodox preacher. He is now a believer in universal restoration. I am not acquainted with a more exemplary man.
Dec. 25-Christmas. Six years ago to-day was the first meeting of the Temperance Association in this village at which an address was deliv- ered by Stephen Emery, Esq. Since that time I have not trafficked in ardent spirits.
Sunday, Dec. 29-Rev. Mr. Bryant, a Methodist, preached at the school house to-day.
1833.
Jan. 24-About one o'clock we awoke and found the whole village in an uproar. It was dark and misty-not a breath of wind. A broad red glare lit up the sky. Thought at first it was Atwood's store on fire. Soon ascertained that it was the grist mill. If any wind had been blow- ing nothing could have prevented the saw mill and probably Atwood's store from burning. The flames kindled in 20 places and burned the outside next to the grist mill to a coal .. Mr. Heald's loss is probably $1500. Nathan Atwood's whose carding machinery was burned, $600. A. B. Morrill's blacksmith shop was in that part of the building, where the fire commenced. Many persons had admonished Mr. Ilcald of the im- prudence of having this shop in the building.
Mar. 5-Since March came in, we have had some of the worst freez- ing and blustering weather of the winter.
Mar. 12-1 expected to sell my store to-day to Mr. Cole of Livermore, but he seems inclined not to take it. I have offered him my house, store and whole concern for $1600. He talks of buying Dr. Bridgham's house and store at $1350. The term for which Ingalls & Taylor hired the store expired to-day. Just sold my store for $400 to Nathan Morrill and Arte- mas F. Cole.
Mar. 13-The rain which continued nearly all night is changed into a snowstorm and the wind is piping louder and louder from the northi.
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Hurrah for another blockade. Blue devils are flapping their dull wings about. This weather's propitious for hatching 'em out. Continual snowing and blowing and blasting and vapors and darkness and storms everlasting.
Mar. 17, Sunday-Mr. Stetson preached to-day at Union Chapel. He talks about moving away in the spring and we are in the way of having no preaching of any kind in this town. For vindicating the cause of Temperance, he lost the friendship and support of those who were most instrumental in procuring him to preach here for which reason mainly he will remove.
Mar. 19-Have nearly sold my house from over my head to-day to V. D. Parris, Esq., who is about being married to Miss Columbia Rawson of Paris possessing $8000 in addition to her other attractions. He has the refusal of it at $1200.
Apr. 9-Mr. Samuel Hutchinson, a very amiable young man, in at- tempting to pass a bridge without any railing on horseback, over what is called the "Roundabout," while the water was running over it, was washed off by the current and drowned. His body was found after lying in the water 8 or 9 hours. Left an affectionate wife, who mourned him bitterly.
Apr. 14-Mr. Chase, the first man I ever heard preach in Buckfield, holds forth to-day at Union Chapel. (This was Elder Nath'l Chase).
Apr. 22-Rev. Mr. Bates, a Universalist preacher, lectured this even- ing at Union Chapel on the subject of Temperance.
Apr. 25-Dr. Comstock dined with us to-day.
May 5-Rev. Mr. Stoddard, Universalist, preached at Union Chapel. Buckfield Sabbath School Society held its annual meeting at 5 o'clock.
May 26-The season forward. Trees have been several days in bloom. Grass knee high in my front yard. Lilacs blossomed for the first time since I planted them.
Sunday, July 14-Just returned from Sabbath School. Have charge of a class. Mr. Chase preached to-day.
Oct. 6-Sunday School closed to-day for the season. Mr. Brown and myself have been the only teachers. Have been absent but 2 Sabbaths during the summer.
1834.
Jan. 23-About 8 o'clock this morning Mr. Jewett's cabinet shop was discovered to be on fire. It burned to the ground in a few minutes. Other buildings in great danger were saved.
Feb. 26-We had a temperance meeting here to-day and an address. Apr. 26-At 8 o'clock evening my wife presented us her first boy.
May 15-To-day it snows fast. The ground is covered and sleighs are out.
June 23-Our store was broken into last night and about $200 worth of silk goods stolen.
Aug. 26-One William Dyer had his trial this week at Topsham for breaking a store. We attended and found about $15 worth of our goods which were taken from our store June 23d.
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
1835.
Jan. 7-We sent five tons of dried apples to Portland to-day. They sold for 41/2 cts. per lb.
Aug. 26-Bought what is called the old Record homestead in Buck- field Village with 9 acres of good land for $1000 ..
Sept. 8-Sold the situation where I have lived for 9 years to Albert D. White for $1000.
Nov. 19-The sound of the explosion at the Gorham Powder Mills, 50 miles away, was heard and the smoke seen in this town. One man killed. Never knew money so plenteous and business of every kind so good as during the last six months. There has been a high price paid for every- thing the farmer has had to sell. 50 cts. for wool, average quality. 20 cts. per lb. for butter, $1.00 for corn, 8 s. for wheat, 67 cts. for oats, $2 for beans, $10 for hay. Goods have been sold at advanced prices and the demand for them was never greater. The prices of labor of every kind has been very high. Fine times. Sold the orchard near the school house to John Taylor for $150.
Nov. 23-Cold snow storm. Up to this it has been one of the most delightful autumns ever known.
Nov. 29, Sunday-Preaching in the Village by Elder Starr of New Gloucester.
Dec. 2-Obtained $200 by subscription for a bell for Union Chapel. Dec. 6, Sunday-Elder Starr preached in the village again to-day.
Dec. 19-Hay very scarce. Stock almost to be given away in con- sequence.
1836.
Jan. 6-Erysipelas prevails in this vicinity. Three out of one family have died within a few days. Have just heard of the death of Jonathan Buck's wife.
Jan. 13-Bought meadow hay of James Jewett at $10 per ton. Wood at 11/4 dollars per cord, not so plenteous as usual.
Jan. 18-Widow Jane Record the oldest person in the village is sick and not expected to live many days.
Jan. 19-Money circulates less freely. Hay sold in the village to-day for $15 per ton. Best flour $9 per bbl. in Portland.
Jan. 24, Sunday-Rev. Mr. Pennell preached here to a large audience.
Jan. 25-Mr. Pennell plays psalmody sweetly on a flute. With that and a violin we have been whiling away the time pleasantly during the storm.
Jan. 27-Session of the court was to have commenced at Paris yes- terday but the Judge had not arrived this morning by reason of the storm.
Feb. 1-Mr. Pennell held a meeting in the evening at Squire Brown's to discourse about missionary objects according to the custom on the Ist Mon. in Feb.
Feb. 8Another tremendous snow storm. The snow is up to the win- dow stools on a level.
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Feb. 13-No regularity to the mails is expected. Mrs. Jenkins, aged 83, died in the village to-day.
Feb. 16-Hay $20 a ton and scarce at that. Ephraim Hathaway, a pensioner, died yesterday.
Feb. 20-Lewis Record nearly killed yesterday by the falling of a tree.
Feb. 29-Mr. Pennell left, having preached in the village 6 Sabbaths.
Mar. 2-Said to be the coldest winter ever known. It has been very sickly and the largest number of people have died that ever did in the same length of time since the town was settled.
Mar. 19-Very cold. Snow nearly 4 feet deep. The stage-driver is this moment passing by with ear locks and whiskers as white by the frost as a powdered wig.
Mar. 25-Marshall and Hiram Andrews have been on trial before me two days on complaint for passing counterfeit money. Court at the town house. Mr. Brown and Carter, counsel for the state. Mr. Emery for defendants. 500 people present. They were bound over to the Supreme Court May Term in the sum of $500. The counterfeit was on Kendus- keag Bank, Bangor.
Mar. 27, Sunday-Mr. Libby, a blind man, preaches here to-day. He never could see or read, yet knows much of books. Repeats hymns for singing his text and the context with perfect accuracy. Uses very chaste language grammatically and is a very tolerable sermonizer.
Apr. 15-Two citizens are quarreling within a few rods of the house about a land line. One threatens to brain the other with an ax and strikes a slight blow upon his leg. The ax is taken from him. He then strikes with his fists. The other returns the blow and knocks him down. A sickening spectacle. The one knocked down is nearly 60 years old and is a sworn Justice of the Quorum and bound to keep the peace and maintain the laws.
Apr. 24, Sunday-Rev. Mr. Caldwell, Methodist, preaches in the vil- lage.
June 5-Sunday School commenced.
June 27-Circus here. Very warm. Corn backward.
June 29-Refreshing shower about sunrise attended by sharp light- ning and thunder.
July 3-Preparations making for celebrating the anniversary of our National Independence to-morrow. V. D. Parris delivers an oration at Union Chapel.
Aug. 2-Warm, dry weather, fields parched, grass withered, corn on low grounds killed by frost. The streams almost dried up. A good crop of hay, rye, wheat and oats. Very little sound corn will be raised. Po- tatoes small by reason of the drouth.
Sept. 8-Every vegetable kind killed by the frost. Business dull. Money scarce. Corn is sold for 8 s. 6 d. per bushel. The poor suffer, the rich groan and hug their treasures closer.
Sept. II-Elder Houghton preached to-day.
Sept. 25-No preaching in the village. Gave 9 shillings last week for a bushel of corn. Flour $10 per bbl. Wheat II shillings per bushel, Butter 20 cts. per lb. and scarce at that.
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Nov. 3-Sold the Potash and appurtenances which I owned with Lucius Loring to Daniel Young and Stephen D. Hutchinson for $212.
Nov. 6, Sunday-No meeting. People in the place getting to be very indifferent about preaching.
Nov. 13-Rev. Mr. Johnson, Baptist, preached at Union Chapel.
Nov. 19-Mr. Jewett very sick. News from Penn. All is lost for the Whigs.
Dec. 13-Moved into our new house (now Hotel Long).
Dec. 21-Violent rain storm. Snow all carried away.
Dec. 23-Hard times for men in business. Money in our cities worth 24 per cent. per annum-best security-Provisions high.
Dec. 25-Christmas-snow storm-no meeting. Dull-dull out and in-neither wheeling nor sleighing.
1837.
Jan. 3-Storm over, one of coldest ever known-having continued 48 hours. Snow 21/2 feet deep on a level. Very cold. No living creature seen out. People tremble that have no wood.
Jan. 12-First arrival of the stage from Portland since the storm.
Jan. 15, Sunday-No meeting as usual.
Jan. 24-Shoveling snow between our house and Brown's. The snow is higher than our heads on each side of the path.
Jan. 25-In the evening was a wonderful appearance in the heavens- a blood red light in form of an arch extending from east to west-most brilliant directly overhead, making objects far and near as distinctly vis- ible as by full moonlight and giving the snow a crimson hue, as if it had been showered with blood. Continued an hour or more unabated. Commenced soon after sunset. Brightest about 7 o'clock
Jan. 29, Sunday-Rev. Mr. Jordan preached at the school house. A full meeting. A prayer meeting in the evening at Rodney Chaffin's.
Feb. I-Singing school commenced.
Mar. 22-Henry H. Hutchinson, Jr., tried before me for flogging El- bridge Bridgham and acquitted.
Apr. 25-Hard times. Merchants in our cities, failing.
May 7-Sunday. No meeting. Everybody stupid about preaching.
May 8-Cold, cold, cold. Ground froze last night. It is a time of unexampled distress among merchants and will be among farmers if such weather continues. Monstrous scarcity of money in proportion to the business throughout the country. An immense and inevitable fall in prices of merchandize, stocks, lands and labor. Thousands thrown out of employment. The general distress produced by derangement of the cur- rency through unwise intermeddling of Government by overdoing busi- ness on a system of credit by extravagant importations as well as home manufactures by land speculation and a variety of causes. The depres- sion has come upon us suddenly and severely and a vast many who thought themselves rich a few months ago are ruined.
May 10-Canker rash prevailing in the village. Have just heard of the death of Mr. Bean's child by this disease.
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May 14, Sunday-Pleasant. Rev. Mr. Houghton preached at Union Chapel.
May 27-Bread stuff scarce and high. Wheat, $2 rye and corn 9 shillings per bushel, potatoes 2 shillings, beans 15 shillings.
June I-Fine growing weather. My corn and cucumbers peeping out of the ground.
June 25, Sunday-Meeting at the Poor House.
July 9, Sunday-Rev. Mr. Millner preached at the Chapel.
Aug. 2-People generally just begun haying. Wheat everywhere well grown, forward and abundant. There is an enormous extent of ground in this state. It is said that a destructive little insect called the weevil is doing great damage to the crop. Some fields nearly ruined.
Aug. II-Clear and cold. Fears of a frost. The few last years, win- ter and summer, have been colder than formerly owing as is thought to spots on the sun which are seen at this time of large size.
1838.
Jan. 7-Pleasant and sunny weather. No snow. More agreeable weather never known at this season of the year.
Jan. 14-Mr. Chase preached at the school house.
Jan. 15-Summer weather. No snow on the ground. Such a mild, broken winter never known in this country.
Feb. 3-Paschal Barrelle, the singing master, boarding with us two days.
Mar. 8-A tremendous excitement is produced all over the country by Jonathan Cilley's death in a duel.
Mar. 14-Warm-snow running off. The winter has been short and pleasant.
Mar. 18-Mr. Stetson has appointed a meeting at Union Chapel. There seems to be a religious awakening in several places among Uni- versalists.
Mar. 23-People in the State are excited over the northeastern bound- ary matter.
Mar. 28-Zadoc Long unanimously nominated (by the Whigs) as candidate for Representative in Congress to fill the vacancy, occasioned by the death of Hon. Timothy J. Carter.
Apr. 12-Appollos Osgood and daughter, Eliza, called on us this afternoon. Eliza is a fine singer and delighted us with several selections.
Apr. 18-Virgil D. Parris nominated for Congress by the Jackson con- vention to-day. 60 delegates present. Buckfield has the honor of fur- nishing the candidates for both parties.
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