USA > Maine > Oxford County > Buckfield > A history of Buckfield, Oxford County, Maine, from the earliest explorations to the close of the year 1900 > Part 38
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Mar. 20-Very pleasant and spring-like. The robins singing.
Mar. 27-Snow fell 9 or 10 inches yesterday so that it is good sleigh- ing.
Apr. 7-Fast Day. Some snow on the hills. The times throughout the country were never so hard. The Bankrupt Law is in operation and people everywhere are taking advantage of it. Debts are uncertain. We cannot have much confidence in people who have done and are still doing business on credit. One thing is certain people en masse must be more industrious and economical or they will not soon see an end of this pres- ent wicked state of things.
Apr. 22-The fields in many places look green. People plowing and sowing. To-day the weather is warm as June. At night was the warmest I ever experienced at this time of year. The thermometer stood at 92 degs. above zero.
May 9-Bro. Washington dissolved his connection with the store. Mr. Loring and Jewett continue in partnership.
May 29-The apple trees in blossom.
July 4-Very warm. A party celebration in this village.
July 13-Warm and clear. Thermometer 104 degrees.
Aug. 18-Rode for the first time in the steam cars from Portland to Kennebunk, 25 miles in one hour-among the first passengers that have passed over the railway from Saco to Kennebunk. Dined at Dover, N. H. Arrived at Boston half past 6 p.M. in the cars, 21/2 hours going 66 miles. Stopped at the American House, Hanover St.
Sept. 22-Frost last night and night before-the first we have had. Dr. Comstock here. Sold his farm to Dr. Coolidge.
Sept. 23-Mr. Pearl has resigned the superintendency of the High School. Mr. Atkinson takes his place.
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
Oct. 9-Cool. Cattle Show at Norway. Hard Times. Good crops of corn.
Nov. 14-People preparing for Thanksgiving. Money very scarce. Provisions of all kinds very low-plenteous. Flour, $4.50; corn, 67c; wheat, $1.00; rye, 67c ; oats, 30c; beef, 21/2 to 3 cts .; chickens, 4c ; butter, 10 to 13 cts .; cows from $io to $15; oxen from $50 to $60; wool, 25c; molasses, 25c; sheeting, 8c.
Dec. 2-People breaking roads. I should judge there have been 50 yoke of oxen in the village to-day.
Dec. 3-Winter, winter-storm after storm. Snow upon snow.
D.c. 17-Fine weather and very good sleighing.
1843.
Mar. 19-A meeting was appointed at the High School house for Elder Hayes, a Free Will Baptist preacher.
Apr. 3-The snow is so deep that the top of the fence in my front yard is entirely covered. We never saw so much snow on the ground at any time nor so badly drifted.
Apr. 26-Warm and wet. The snow disappearing.
May 1-A freshet. The water is roaring sublimely over the dams. It flows in one broad sheet over the entire upper stone dam and runs a river down the road in front of Mr. Ripley's smith shop.
May 7-Funeral this forenoon at Union Chapel of H. Hathaway's daughter. Have been to see Squire Swallow who seems near his end.
May 21-Attended 2 meetings and heard 2 good sermons by Mr. Davis.
June 21-Old Mrs. Jane Record, the oldest person in the place and one of the early settlers buried to-day.
July 4-Very cold. Slight frost this morning. We have kept a fire in the sitting room two days to make us comfortable-a sudden and very great change in the weather.
July 27-Ozen Spaulding very sick.
Sept. II-Frost this morning. Killed everything in my garden that was not ripe. Farewell squashes, cucumbers, musk melons, sweet corn, etc.
1844.
Jan. 1-A delightful morning. The weather has been pleasant through Dec. Money plenteons. Prices low.
Jan. 5-The proceedings of Congress are interesting now. John Quincy Adams, 76 years old, the best informed and most independent and persevering statesman in our country has triumphed in his long and arduous struggle with the Slave Power upon the Right of Petition.
Jan. 8-John C. Calhoun of S. C., Van Buren of N. Y., Buchanan of Penn., and Col. Johnson of Ky. are the men talked of as candidates of the Democratic party for our next President. Henry Clay is the man for the Whigs.
Jan. 13-It was a very blustering night and the sad news comes to us to-day that a drunken man perished in the road on his way home from
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
the grog shop. He was found this morning with his extremities frozen- quite dead.
Jan. 21-The late death in this place by rum is having a good effect upon the cause of Temperance. The two retailers, who have hitherto sold ardent spirits to be drunk in their stores have promised to sell no more.
Jan. 22-I have been consulted about the propriety of apprehending a man who is suspected of passing counterfeit Mexican dollars. Five new well stamped dollars were exhibited to me, which I should without hesi- tation have taken for good money. The community is everywhere in- fested with spurious bank bills on all the banks of long standing. Such bills are extensively in circulation, so well inade that even the banks in some instances have been imposed upon by them. And a bold rogue, a short time ago, passed 80 Mexican dollars, all counterfeit silver, to one of the Portland banks. It was, however, soon enough discovered to secure the villain who is now in state's prison.
Jan. 28-Extremely cold. It seems as if every living thing would perish.
Jan. 31-It has been altogether the coldest January I ever experi- enced. It is so cold it seems that we all must perish in spite of roaring fires in 2 rooms and a red hot cook stove in the kitchen.
Feb. 8-Dull times. An old drunkard is going home sober. He can't buy a glass of rum in this village. Our rum shops have discontinued the sale of ardent spirits to drunkards.
Mar 3-Spring weather. The snow is running off.
Mar. 10-Delightful weather. Mr. Carlton from Oxford preaches at the school house.
Apr. I-A clear cool winter day. Rode to Lewiston in a sleigli.
Apr. 21-Luther Crocker died at Dr. Bridgham's last night.
Apr. 22-Clinton Ripley, a bit of a lad 7 years old, has brought me a trout, which he just now caught out of the river with hook and line, weighing 2 lbs. and 6 ozs .- a beauty. The largest ever caught before in this stream it is said. I paid him 20 cts. for it.
May 3-Best of weather. People sowing and planting.
May 12-Mr. Chase, 83 years old, preached at Union Chapel.
May 14-A meeting this P.M. in the village of the County Singing Society.
May 16-Apple trees in full bloom.
May 20-Mr. Ballard commences a High School in this place.
June 13-I have just walked down stream to see the preparations making for a starch factory. Atwood & Co. are erecting a dam, digging a canal and making brick for the building that is to be 75 ft. long and 3 stories high.
June 20-Prices: Hay, $6; corn, 67 cts .; rye, 67 cts .; oats, 25; flour, 4.67; butter, 9 cts .; molasses, .30. Money plenteous at 6 per cent. for good security.
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
July 4-So cold that we have a fire in the sitting room to make us comfortable. The American Flag hoisted on Bridgham's store is waving in a good stiff breeze. Boys are firing the swivel. This is all Buck- field does in commendation of the birthday of our Independence.
Aug. 9-Attended a mass meeting of the Whigs at Paris and heard able speeches by Mr. Evans and Mr. Morse upon the subject of protection, tariff and the annexation of Texas.
Aug. 23-Cold rain storm. My father here 74 years old says it is the coldest summer but one that he can remember. We have had a fire in the sitting room all day which is needed for comfort as much as in winter.
Aug. 31-Mr. Morse delivers a Whig political address in the village.
Sept. 4-County Washingtonian Temperance Society met in this vil- lage and were addressed by Neal Dow of Portland.
Sept. 5-Attended the Free Will Baptist Quarterly meeting at the East meeting house.
Sept. 7-Attended Whig mass meeting at Lewiston. 2000 people as- sembled with banners, music and roar of guns.
Sept. 18-This is believed to be the most fruitful season that has ever been in this country. Large crops of every kind of produce. Nothing fails this year, yet it has been an unusually cold season.
Sept. 23-A change in the weatehr. Frost this morning. The first to injure anything this season.
Oct. 22-This is the day the Millerites looked for the coming of Christ and the end of the world.
Dec. 15-Pleasant. No meeting in this village for religious worship on the Sabbath. We are a stupid people.
Dec. 28-A man stopped in the way and wrote on a post by the spring :
"A Temperance fountain, good as can be Better far than Rum or Brandy And if this truth excite your fury, Then let my horse be judge and jury."
1845.
Jan. 19-Clear, cold weather. Good sleighing. We have had no re- ligious meeting in the village of late. The Universalists ran themselves out last summer, by dividing into two parties-the Thomes party and the Canfield party and by contentions for the ascendency till it might be said they were consumed in their own fiery conflicts. Heaven grant us a bet- ter state of things.
Jan. 22-A dancing school is kept in the village under charge of Elisha Buck.
Jan. 28-Summer-like weather.
Feb. 2-The coledst weather we have had. For 48 hours it has been almost insufferable.
Feb. 3-The cold continues and increases.
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
Feb. 27-Warm. Snow running. A Temperance dinner party at Paris Hill.
Mar. I-Mr. Geo. F. Emery addresses the people here upon the sub- ject of Temperance. The Temperance folks are divided into two par- ties-the moral, suasionists and the legal suasionists.
Mar. 3-Annual town meeting. All the nominations are made with reference to Temperance and Anti-Temperance.
Mar. 30-A meeting was held in the village yesterday to choose a committee to survey a route from Mechanic Falls through this village to Rumford Point for the great Railway in contemplation from Portland to Montreal. Charters have been granted from our State Legislature and Canada. The books are opened for taking up the stock. The expense of the railway is estimated at $5,000,000.
Apr. 13-My son, Zadoc, takes great interest in his Latin lessons. Carroll Loring recites to me in English Grammar and James Jewett in reading and spelling.
June 22, Sunday-Mr. Tenney from Ellsworth-a talented sermonizer, preaches at Union Chapel.
July I-A severe drouth, cloudy and cold. We have a fire in the sit- ting room and the stores in the village keep fires as in January.
July 4-Delightful morning. The boys firing the swivel.
July 22-Drouth severe. Blueberries ripe.
Aug. 2-Sold a strip of my field on the north side 6 rods long to Wm. Cresey containing about 11/2 acres for $226.
Sept. 1-Mr. Foster commenced a High School in the village.
Sept. 27-Have just finished digging potatoes. Carried about 100 bushels to the Starch Factory and received 121/2c per bushel. The crop this fall bad everywhere in this quarter. Not a quarter crop of sound potatoes will be saved.
Nov. 6-Very pleasant-no frost. The grass springing up anew since the rain and gives the ground a spring-like appearance.
Nov. 17-Very fine weather. Mr. Brown gone to Boston to get the of- fice of Supt. of Mass. Gen'l Hospital.
Dec. 7, Sunday-Attended meeting at Union Chapel. Heard John Allen called "Camp Meeting John."
Dec. 15-Miss Mary Ann Brown married and moved to Bangor.
Dec. 18-Albert D. White has sold his tannery and land to Josiah W. Whitten and Alexander Robinson for $2000-the same property I sold him for $1800.
1816.
Jan. I-Clear, cool weather. Fine sleighing.
Jan. 22-Extremely cold and blustering. My son, John Davis, had both his ears frozen when coming home from school.
Mar. 27-We have had a great rain. Hall's bridge carried away by the freshet.
Apr. 10-We are all topsy turvy, making arrangements to move to Portland. I have let my house and garden to Mr. Ferdinand Warren for
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
$75 a year. He to pay one-half the taxes. I have let my field adjoining my house to E. Atwood & Co.
Apr. 22 --- Mr. Benjamin Bean buried. Funeral at Union Chapel.
Apr. 27-Started with my family for Portland.
Aug. 26-We have concluded to move back to our old place in B.
Sept. 10-Arrived in Buckfield.
Sept. 21-Commenced keeping house again in Buckfield.
Oct. II-That oft mentioned character, "the oldest inhabitant," does not remember so pleasant and so productive a season as this
Nov. IT-The Fall elections everywhere turn out favorable to the Whigs. New Hampshire sets the example by a thorough change. Maine next has given almost a death blow to Locofocoism-the Whigs having prevented the election of Governor by the people.
Dec. I-Thanksgiving. Fine winter weather.
1847.
Jan I-A thaw.
Jan. 31-50 yoke of oxen from different sections of the town have been in the village breaking out roads.
Feb. 12-Pleasant. Good sleighing. My son, John Davis, playing dominoes with his grandmother Nelson-She is 80 and he 8 years old.
Feb. 16-Very cold. Money plenteous. Provisions rising very much in price on account of the demand in Europe. The repeal of duties in England, the destruction of the potato crop, the chief dependence of the Irish people, have opened a market for provisions from the U. S. to suchi an extent, that merchants are unable to procure carrying vessels enough for our exports.
Mar. 31-The last day of as cold a March as was ever experienced in this climate. To-day a cold snow storm. There is a mass meeting in the village to-day for the purpose of explaining and having generally under- stood the object, probable expense and advantage of a railway from this village to Mechanic Falls, 12 miles to meet the Portland and Montreal road. The people of this village have already pledged themselves to take about $17,000 stock in the contemplated road.
Apr. 8-Fast Day. People travel in sleighis, Feb. and March have been the coldest for 30 years. Contributed 9 shillings for the relief of the suffering Irish and Julia and Persis have also articles of wearing apparel priced at 15 shillings.
Apr. 13 -- The martins appear this morning. They must have made a miscalculation. It is two weeks earlier than they usually come.
Apr. 15-Persis begging old clothes to send to Ireland. With one hand we are sending our ships laden with food and clothing to Ireland, with the other our ships laden with implements of war and blood shed to Mexico.
Apr. 22-Warm and damp. The birds singing. A warm shower with thunder and lightning. The ice is coming over the dam. Men and boys are assembled on the bridge to witness it.
494
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
May I-Very cold. The trees are as naked and budless as in Jan- uary. A meeting in the village to see about the R. R. to Bog Falls. Many attend-some from Portland.
May 2-V. D. Parris, Marshal of Maine, called.
May 3 -- Have sold a house lot to Virgil D. Parris out of my pasture land-about 3/8 of an acre for $75. Snow storm. Dr. Bridgham calls on me and says that he has visited patients 5 miles distant in a sleigh. He says the snow in some places is very deep.
May 17-Beautiful weather. Trees leaving out.
May 18-My Father has walked up here in the rain to bring me a piece of veal. He was 77 years old last week. My mother, 71 years old, walked up to see me 2 miles and back.
June 6-A goodly number of children attend the opening of the Sab- bath School. Mr. James, Congregationalist minister, preaches at Union Chapel at 5 o'clock.
June 15-Mother Nelson died without a struggle at 9 o'clock A.M. She died a Christian, universally beloved and respected, in the 82d year of her age.
June 22-Business of the village, No. of stores, mechanics, etc .: Five stores in operation, Loring & Jewett, Ephraim Atwood & Co., Geo. Ben- nett, James Murdock, Sam Thomes. Two wagon shops, Amory H. Allen and Aaron Parsons. 2 blacksmith shops, I starch factory that makes 30 tons of starch yearly, I hoe factory that makes 200 doz. hoes yearly, one tin factory -- Mr. Douglass. I boot and shoe factory-John Taylor. I tannery, Alexander Robinson and Josiah W. Whitten, 2 saw mills, I grist mill with 4 run of stones, Artemas F. Cole, I cabinet shop, Lloyd Cole, I tailor, Samuel Thomes; I slop shop, James Murdock; I public house for travellers, Sydenham Bridgham; I clothing and carding mill, Addison G. Cole. 36 dwelling houses, 3 lawyers doing business in sep- arate offices, 4 physicians, William Bridgham & Son (Wm. P.), Cyrus Coolidge and Jolin S. Drake; I harness maker, Ferdinand A. Warren. Business of the village increasing. People are industrious and temperate and though not rich, are generally independent as to property. 225 in- habitants in the village.
July 5-The Pres. of the U. S. was at Augusta last week and at Port- land yesterday.
July 20-The charter for a Branch R. R. to Mechanic Falls received from the Legislature.
July 26-Went with Zadoc, John Davis and Carroll Loring to Streaked Mountain blueberrying. Hay is abundant this season.
Aug. I, Sunday-Warm. No meeting in the village to-day.
Aug. 13-There are 2 factories in Buckfield where great quantities of powder are made.
Aug. 15, Sunday-Went to East meeting house where we were much edified by a sermon by Elder Phinney, a very fluent Free Baptist preacher.
Aug. 18 People talking about the Buckfield Branch Ry. It is now nearly certain that the enterprise will go into effect.
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
Aug. 21-Books opened for subscription for stock in the Buckfield Branch Railroad.
Aug. 27-$32,000 of stock in the railroad is subscribed for.
Aug. 31 -- The Universalists have an association meeting in this village to-morrow.
Sept. 6-It is sickly. People are troubled with fevers and colds.
Nov. 25-Thanksgiving. We have had a powerful rain. The weather is now warm as summer.
Dec. I-Extremely cold. No snow on the ground. School has com- menced under charge of Lucy Robinson.
Dec. 15-Julia Davis was married to her half cousin. Nelson D. White by Mr. Butler.
1818.
Jan. I-Warm as summer. Ground entirely bare. The grass looks green around my buildings.
Jan. 13-Extremely cold. Good sleighing. The month of Dec. aver- aged 5 degrees colder than for 30 years.
Jan. 24 -- I am summoned to attend the trial of Valorus Coolidge for murder at Augusta to-morrow.
Jan. 26-Started to go to Augusta. Went 20 miles and heard of the adjournment of the trial to March.
Feb. 3-Mild-little snow. It has thus far been the mildest winter known in this climate.
Mar. 13-Rode in a double sleigh with Squire Brown, Mr. Loring, Elder Thomes and Josiah W. Whitten to Augusta.
Mar. 14-Trial of Coolidge commenced in the largest church in the place which was filled with people.
Mar. 15-Very cold. Trial continnes. The prisoner appears well. House crowded-galleries with ladies.
Mar. 25-We hear that Valorus Coolidge was convicted of murder and sentenced to be hung after one year's solitary confinement at hard labor in the State's Prison.
Apr. 22-Martin birds arrived to-day. Road nearly settled. People plowing.
May 7-Delightful. Earth and heavens full of beauty, music and gladness.
May 29 -- Mr. Walker from Indiana gave us a ranting specimen of Western stump oratory yesterday p. m. which did no great credit to him or his state.
Ang. 23-I have bonded to Levi Cushman 14 acre of land opposite Mr. Jewett's for a house lot, price $250. Land for building lots is high in this village. Mr. Loring sold a piece 40 ft. square near his store on the Hebron road for $125.
Sept. 20-Rented my house, stable and garden to Seth B. Horton for 5 years at $225 per year to be kept for public entertainment.
Oct. 18-Cattle show at the village. Rain.
496
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
Oct. 31 -- Summer-like weather. This is a proud day for Buckfield. We celebrate the breaking ground for the Railroad. Elder Chase was appointed to invoke the blessing of Heaven upon the work We procured a large carriage and 3 horses to carry oldest citizens to the ground at the head of a long procession with martial music and the firing of cannon, 13 old men whose average age was 84 years, 5 of them Rev. soldiers whose average age is go years. After a short and appropriate speech by Mr. Parris, President of the Company, Mr. Chase, 87 years old, who has been a minister of the Gospel one-half a century, made a prayer. Mr. Jona- than Record, 98 years old, who helped make the first road in Buckfield, struck the first blow on the railway. After the ceremonies on the ground, the old men were escorted to the Nezinscot House kept by Seth B. Hor- ton and a dinner was given them. 113 guns.
Nov. 16 -- Thanksgiving Day. Beautiful weather.
Nov. 17-Old Zack Taylor, so-called Whig, is elected President of the U. S.
Nov. 25-Capt. Horton put up his sign for the Nezinscot House.
Dec. 14-The addition to my house for hall and dressing room nearly completed.
1849.
Jan. I-Very pleasant.
Jan. 25 --- Buckfield B. R. R. goes ahead rapidly, 1/4 of distance is graded and a contract is made and $5000 advanced for the iron rails, 1000 tons at $34, exclusive of duties, to be delivered at Portland next June. Capt. Horton has the California gold fever.
Feb. 6 -- Capt. Horton gone to Bath to procure a vessel in which to go to California for gold. He has sold his furniture in this house to Mr. Nathan Morrill, who has agreed to take a lease of the house.
May 7-Zadoc and John commenced study at Hebron Academy. Board with Mr. Fairbanks, the preceptor at 6 shillings each per week.
May 14-A high freshet.
July 4 -- A Temperance celebration here. Very honorable to the place. 4000 people judged to be present.
Aug. 13-Began to-day to lay the rails for the Buckfield Branch R. R. at Mechanic Falls.
Aug. 18-Sold a house lot to Ira Ames, 25 rods square for $50. Land in east corner of the pasture lately conveyed to me opposite Allen's, Par- ris' and Thomes's land by Sam. B. Perry.
Aug. 23-Railroad nearly graded. It will be in operation this fall if the company can raise a loan of $35,000 which they are in pursuit of.
Aug. 26-Meeting at Union Chapel. 4 ministers present, 2 Baptists and 2 Universalists whose united ages were 314 years, average 781/2 years.
Aug. 27-Annual meeting of the Railroad Company last Sat. Old Board of Directors elected with one exception.
Aug. 28-Sold my shares in the B. B. R. R. to V. D. Parris for 521/2 per cent. ; 20 shares, $2000 for $1050. Loss $950. I have paid into the
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
treasury $900. MIr. P. is to pay the remaining assessment that will be made on me by my paying $50 and then he receives certificates of stock.
Dec. I-The B. B. R. R. not yet in operation. The rails laid to within 5 miles of the village. The cost when the road is completed will not be less I think than $150,000- $50,000 more than the estimates.
Dec. 2-Very cold. The ground shut up effectually last night. Many of the boarders of the Nezinscot House have left. Mr. Arrowsmith and wife are in N. Y. Parsel and Benson at Portland, Barrett and Stevenson on the line of the Atlantic & St. Lawrence road, Mr. Gregg at Mr. A. F. Cole's and about to be married to Miss Helen Cole. All the foregoing have been connected with the construction of the railroad. Mr. Sullivan Andrews has left because he is not satisfied with his treatment. I am again to take the house the first of May.
Dec. 21-I have bought of Ephraim Atwood an orchard-about 34 acre, on which there are some 82 apple trees for $100.
1850.
Jan. I-Good weather. Good sleighing.
Jan. &-A great multitude assembled at the village to see the first train come in. A dinner prepared at this house for 100 invited guests from other towns. Owing to the snow drifting upon the track, the en- gine could not get through to the great mortification and disappointment of the people of the place.
Jan. II-The cars with passengers came into the village for the first time.
Jan. 13-Olive Record buried to-day.
Jan. 20-Jonathan Buck buried to-day.
Jan. 26-Mr. Brown has sold his house and farm to America Farrar. Jan. 29-Mrs. Ephraim Atwood, our near neighbor, is dying with con- sumption.
Feb. 6-We are having the coldest weather for the winter. Snow's very deep and travelling difficult. The Railroad is in operation, but meets with much delay and trouble on account of blocking snows.
Apr. 3-Mr. Brown moved from his house and Mrs. B. and Charlotte left the place to reside in Bangor.
Apr. 13-I have let the Sons of Temperance have the use of the hall for the meetings of their Society at $8 per quarter.
Apr. 17-Mr. Morrill moved his goods and family away from our house.
Apr. 27-Mr. America Farrar raising an addition to his house. His business large.
May 6-Mr. America Farrar is building a spacious addition to his house on the side of my garden. Considerable improvement has been made in the buildings and business of the village since the commence- ment of the R. R. Rents and real estate have advanced very much.
July 3-The town is widening and repairing the bridge in the village. July 25-Howard, the violinist, here.
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
Ang. 3-The Buckfield Brass Band meet this evening. The B. B. R. R. is doing business enough to pay running expenses, but not enough to pay the interest of the company's debt which would be about $20 a day. Oct. 20-Mr. Small, Preceptor of Hebron Academy, preached at Union Chapel The Sons of Temperance left my hall and now meet at Farrar's.
Dec. 5-The business of the village has very much increased since the R. R. commenced. Loring. Jewett & Co. are beginning the manufacture of shoes. Atwood & Cresey are also preparing for it. Charles Davis & Co. are doing a considerable business in their flour mill. They have ground with what they now have on hand 8000 bushels of wheat, which they brought from the State of N. Y. last year. 20 dwelling houses have been erected, 3 stores and very many other buildings within two years. The population of the village has been increased by many coming in. The R. R. here is in a bad way. It is believed that it will be an entire loss to stockholders, to the amount they signed for. There seems not to be company funds enough to pay creditors.
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