USA > Maine > Oxford County > Buckfield > A history of Buckfield, Oxford County, Maine, from the earliest explorations to the close of the year 1900 > Part 39
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Dec. II-The stockholders much discouraged about our R. R. The Company has not the means to pay its debts. The engine ran off the track to-day at Mechanic Falls, so that passengers were obliged to take sleighs. Mr. White from Bangor is here and talks of buying the farm of the late Jonathan Buck.
Dec. 13-My son, Zadoc, is in the store of William A. Child & Co. Dec. 15-Our R. R. spending more than it earns.
1851.
Jan. 7-The snows have so blocked up the R. R. that the cars have not passed over it for some 10 days.
Jan. 10-The R. R. Co. desperately embarrassed. The stock is worth- less and holders cannot give it away to responsible parties. The road is mortgaged for about $40,000 and the floating liabilities are nearly as much besides. Subscribers to stock were not aware that they made themselves liable to creditors of the company to the amount of their stock. Many are disposing of their property to avoid it.
Jan. 14-A rumor is out that the Canal Bank has failed. If so the loss among the people will be severe as the money on that bank is largely in circulation here and elsewhere. I have some $45.
Jan. 25-Stockholders of the R. R. met at the depot to see what can be done for the road. It is not now in operation, owing to some injury done to the engine.
Feb. 4-Zadoc takes charge of the store of Wm. A. Child & Co. John Davis in the Post Office.
Feb. 13-Bought the entire stock of Wm. A. Child & Co., appraised at $1680.12. I have done this for Zadoc.
Mar. 26-Funeral of my brother, Miles's wife. She died of consump- tion and has left 7 children.
Apr. 3-Funeral of Mr. John Loring, one of oldest citizens of the place, aged 81.
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
Apr. 12-Meeting of the B. B. R. R. stockholders at which about $14 .- 000 were subscribed in part to satisfy their liabilities.
Apr. 15-The prospect for business and for social improvement in this place, dim and small. People embarrassed and discouraged on account of the R. R. The whole effect on the community is bad.
Apr. 26-The town has voted to petition the Legislature to grant power to loan its credit to the amount of 15 per cent of the cash valua- tion of property for the purpose of aiding the R. R.
Oct. 1I-John Davis recites his first lessons in Greek to Mr. Small, preacher in this village.
Oct. 13-We are building a new school house in the village with brick walls. It is on the ground had of V. D. Parris, on the road nearly op- posite the town house on a place embracing improvements recommended by the State Board of Education. Cost estimated $(400 all told.
Oct. 20-Bought the store in which my son, Zadoc, trades this day deeded to me by N. O Douglass and paid $1000 for it to Artemas F. Cole, who exchanged a dwelling house for it with Mr. Douglass. Mr. A. F. Cole has this day bought one-half of my stock in trade and enters into co-partnership. He pays me $100 for half the stock.
Nov. 27 -- Thanksgiving Day. Delightful weather. Good sleighing. Winter is about 30 days earlier than usual.
Nov. 30-I last week gave up to the R. R. Co. claims against it for $2072.00 and took a certificate from the Treasurer. That clears me from all further liabilities to the Co. and to its creditors according to the laws of the State. This matter has occasioned me much anxiety and I have been fortunate to get fully discharged so cheaply. I subscribed for 20 shares. My whole liability was $4000. I have managed to get dis- charged for less than $1400 by buying claims against the company.
1852.
Apr. II -- Mr. Small has commenced a sort of an Educational Institute in the village -- that is to meet with as many of the scholars in this dis- trict as please to attend twice a week for the purpose of improvement. etc. Mr. Hiram Hall has opened a store in this village with a new and large stock of common country merchandize.
Apr. 15-Fast Day. Farmers out of hay. It is a very discouraging time for them. Old Mr. Wm. Brock, a poor pauper, buried in a howling snow storm, without mourners and without funeral services. Old Mrs. Chaffin was buried yesterday.
Apr. 16-Snow fell yesterday 16 inches deep.
Apr. 28-Mr. Small preached. He has fuller meetings than any min- ister we have had this long time.
Apr. 29-Martins came yesterday.
June 28-Sold to Artemas F. Cole my part of the stock in trade and dissolved the co-partnership of Cole & Long.
Aug. 30-Zadoc went this morning at half past 5 on the ears to com- mence as clerk with J. N. Dennison & Co., Boston.
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HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
Sept. 5-Mr. Small preaches at Union Chapel. We miss Zadoc's flute in the choir.
Oct. 25-The telegraph this morning brings us the news of the death of Daniel Webster at his home in Marshfield, Mass .- A great light is ex- tinguished-a star of the first magnitude has fallen.
1853.
Feb. 9-We never knew so warm and broken a winter.
Feb. 23-There have been brought into the village this winter 125 tons of dried apples.
Feb. 25-F. O. J. Smith is here making contracts to grade the exten- sion of the R. R. to Canton.
Feb. 28-Last day of the shortest and mildest winter I ever experi- enced. I have this day written for counsel touching my R. R. liabilities. The R. R. has cost the people here much money and trouble.
Mar. 3-Buckfield Sewing Circle held its annual fair this eve at Cresey's Hall. A Mr. Nicholson, an itinerant phrenologist, has been in the village a week humbugging old and young. He has 50 cts. for chart of head. I believe there has been no necessity this winter for breaking roads-an unheard of instance in this climate.
Mar. 7-Annual town meeting. The people divided into two parties upon the Maine Liquor Law -- denominated Ramrods and Rummies. The Rummies carry the day and elect all their candidates by a majority of 30 or 40.
Mar. 9-Free Soil people hold a meeting to-day and to-morrow at Union Chapel.
Mar. 18-America Farrar raising up his house for a tavern.
Mar. 27, Sunday-No meeting. Mr. Small absent and talks of leaving the place.
Apr. 3-Grandfather Long. 83 years old, walked up 2 miles to see 115- as spry and smart as a lad of 12.
Apr. 9 -- My field broken into this week for the extension of the R. R. Men are making a culvert in the swale. A gentleman named Woodbury, overseeing the work, lost his pocketbook a few days ago. containing in cash $400 and as much more in drafts and notes. Yesterday I set out a snow-ball tree on the north side of my front yard path-also a small elm and 2 peonies, I high cranberry bush, ail taken from Mr. Farrar's front garden, which Mr. Samuel F. Brown planted there, when he owned the place. It is sad to see the shrubbery Mr. Brown took so much pains with. rooted up.
May 1 -- Mr. Small preaches. We have a seraphine in the church, hired of the Baptist Society of Norway.
May 3-F. O. J. Smith moved with his family into the village Sat. last. Boards at Mr. Cresey's tavern.
May 5-Mr. Small who attended the examination at Hebron Academy tells me that John Davis is the best Greek scholar there.
501
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
May 30-A young Irishman who worked on the R. R. was drowned here last evening. He went into the river on horseback-fell off his horse and was drowned before he could get help.
June 24-America Farrar furnishing his tavern to be opened next week under care of John Taylor as landlord.
July 5-Mr. Farrar's new hotel opened to-day.
July 21-John Davis returned from Cambridge with his certificate of admission at Harvard.
July 27-A day to be remembered as the day of my own mother's death-77 years of age.
Aug. 4-Ball at Farrar's hotel last night. Cost of music $50-costly supper. Mr. Clifford of Portland, Robinson of Hartford, Ruel Washburn of Livermore, Seth May of Winthrop, Belcher of Farmington and Lud- den of Turner, referees and counsel in a law case of A. G. Cole vs. Wm. Bridgham staid at our house last night. Zadoc went into trade with Carroll Loring at his father's store. I let Zadoc have $1500 in cash and Carroll has $1500. Carroll's father works all the time for them and has 1-3 of the profits. The firm name is Loring & Long.
Dec. I-No snow on the ground. Cattle feeding in the field. The weather is delightful.
Dec. HI, Sunday-Mr. Small baptized Col. Ichabod Bonney, D. Swett and wife, E. Ricker and wife and Mr. Noah Prince yesterday in the river near A. G. Cole's dam and gave them the right hand of fellowship and welcomed them into the Paris Church of which he is a member.
1854.
Jan. 24-The Buckfield Sewing Circle has its annual levee at Taylor's Hall to-day.
Jan. 25-Josiah Whitten leaves my house to-day and moves on to the Capt. Record place. This is one of the old-fashioned winters, weather cold, snow deep.
Feb. 5-Very cold. Thermometer 24 degrees below zero. Funeral of Elizabeth Rice, a pauper at Union Chapel. She and her widowed mother, who is about 80 years old. lately went to the poor house after years and years of struggling against poverty with heroic courage, suffering and severe destitution, rather than become a public charge.
Feb. 12-Mrs. Valentine Ripley buried to-day.
Feb. 15-The Whigs by a split in the Democratic party in this state have a Governor, Speaker of the House, etc. Prices of provisions: Best flour, $12; hay, $15 and other things in proportion.
Feb. 23-Snow storm. The earth is buried deep. The people are un- casy. Many talk of finding a warmer latitude. Some have already started for California. The traders and merchants suffer most. Their business in a great measure is stopped.
Apr. 7-9 bbls. of liquor destroyed here this afternoon. A great crowd around the sheriff as he knocked open the barrels and spilled "the critter."-Ramrods and Rummies-some cross, some making sport-some ready to fight, some catching the liquor in their caps from under the
502
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
sheriff's ax and drinking freely of it and then passing it to others, some pushing, some pushed, some laughing, some swearing, one man pounded in the face and searching furiously with doubled fists for him who did it. Rummies seized a barrel of liquor and rolled it away were chased by Ramrods who retook it and guarded it as they would a condemned mur- derer till he undergoes the sentence of the law. A disgraceful row de row.
May 14-Last night we had a fearful fire in the village. Mr. Battles' public house and all the stables and sheds connected together with Bridgham's store were entirely consumed. The fire broke out about mid- night. Loss estimated at $4000. Insurance, $2400.
June 16-Ezra Bisbee buried.
July 4-No celebration here. The American Flag is waving from the sign pole of Farrar's hotel.
July 26-Mr. Leonard from Boston has fixed our old clock so that it strikes the hours correctly. It has been running for half a century and was bequeathed by grandmother Nelson to Zadoc. It was valued highly by her. Its original cost was $80. She kept it in her sleeping room and its ticking and striking was company for her especially when at the late hours of the night she could not sleep. For several years the striking part has been out of order. It is pleasant to hear it again, though it awakens sad memories. It seems like the knell of departed friends and departed enjoyments.
Aug. 1-Persis Seaver is married to Percival W. Bartlett of Boston and takes leave of us. Ceremony performed by Rev. A. K. P. Small.
Aug. 4-Political secret associations are being formed all over the country whose members are called Know Nothings.
Aug. 7-News of cholera in the city of Portland.
Aug. &-Business in the village very dull. Nothing being done on the extension of the R. R.
Sept. 11-The drouth has caused a panic throughout the country that operates unfavorably to buyers of produce. Arrangements are being made to build a Calvanist Baptist church in Buckfield village. Tivo- thirds of the pews already sold. The house is being erected by Mr. Small who started the enterprise and is doing much towards its completion.
Sept. 13-New Baptist church organized to-day under the pastorate of Mr. Small-chiefly of ladies.
Oct. 27-This morning at 41/2 o'clock there was an unusual appearance in the heavens. First broke into my room a flash of soft and beautiful light with the suddenness of lightning. I beheld southeastward from my window a line of meteoric light like a long string of brilliant stars-first dazzling to the sight, then changing-the lower end turning up so as to form the resemblance to a horse shoe. In 15 minutes it had disappeared.
Nov. 2-Mr. David Swett, one of our most valuable citizens and neigh. hors, died to-day about noon, typhoid fever.
Nov. 9 --- Singing school commenced under the instruction of Mr. Cush- man of Hebron.
503
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
1855.
Mar. 5 -- Annual town meeting. All the voters out. Two strong parties, Ramrods and Rummies. The latter are victorious and sweep ev- crything before them.
Mar. 17-F. O. J. Smith is erecting a bridge over the river above the grist mill dam for the R. R. extension.
Apr. I, Sunday -- A powerful rain-travelling bad. No meeting for public worship.
June 4 -- Refreshing rain. The apple trees in full blossom. It is a hard time for poor people on account of the scarcity and high prices of provisions. Wheat, $3; corn. $1.50; best flour, $15; beef per cwt., $10.
June 25 -Funeral of Sam'l Thomes's wife.
July 3-The 2 principal political divisions-Fusionists and Liberals, marshalling their forces for celebrating to-morrow at So. Paris and Paris Hill.
() what a war of words there'll be Twixt tweedledum and tweedledee. How demagogues will vant and strain
And vulgar masses shout amain. How dandy orators will blow About the country's weal or woe,
Tell what to do in such a crisis
To check advance of public vices Achievements mighty will be done In declamation : yet the sun
Will rise in spite of all they say And set as usual every day.
Aug. 17-Yesterday the County Commissioners were here to app aise the damage for locating the extension of the R. R. over my land.
Oct. I -- Pleasant autumn weather. The R. R. extension is being for- warded. The rails are laid as far as Mr. Artemas F. Cole's house.
1856.
Jan. 12-Ordered of N. Hooper & Co., a bell for the Baptist church, 800 lbs. at 31 cts. and the fixtures for hanging $27. The whole complete for $275 put on board of steamer.
Jan. 20, Sunday- Attended worship in the new church for the first time. It is a very pleasant house. Mr. Small is entitled to much credit for what he has done to improve society here.
Jan. 24-1 have collected over $350 in contributions for the new Bap- tist Church. Bell came on the cars this afternoon. Will cost when ready to be rung $300. The remainder of what I have collected. I shall give to Rev. A. K. P. Small to relieve him from debts assumed in building the house. This is the first church bell ever seen in Buckfield and it has cost me some effort.
Feb. 10, Sunday -- Church bell ringing for meeting. The first Sabbath on which a church bell has been rung in Backfield.
504
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
Apr. 2-The corporators of the Nezinscot Bank met at the tavern and voted to accept the charter and chose a committee to procure subscribers for the stock. The Bank is chartered for the village with a capital of $50,000. Robins singing.
July 13-Funeral this afternoon of Mr. Murdock's child.
Ang. 27-Last night we were alarmed at midnight by the ringing of the church bell and the cry of fire. Elder Small's house and stable with much of his furniture were entirely consumed. It is supposed the fire was set by an incendiary. Mr. Smalll and his wife were at Yarmouth at- tending an association meeting.
Ang. 28-Moses Thomes moves into our chambers at a rent of $9 per quarter. Mr. Small, wife and child returned home to find their house in ashes and they put up with us. The people met last eve and subscribed $145 towards rebuilding them a house.
Sept. 18-The condition of this village at present is not so promising as it has appeared at some earlier periods. There is no considerable money invested in useful manufacturing. The business of the place is limited to a few retail stores and common mechanic shops. The R. R. has passed into the hands of creditors. It has cost the people here over $50,000. It is now beyond redemption and the rails may be taken up which would leave us in a worse condition than before the road was built.
Sept. 29-We are preparing to start on a visit to E. Boston to stay for the fall and winter with our children.
1857.
July 15-Commencement day at Cambridge. John Davis graduated the 4th in his class for the whole course-the 2nd for the Senior year.
Ang. 17-John Davis starts for Westford, Mass., where he will com- mence his engagement as principal of the academy there.
1858.
May 28-Virgil D. Parris appointed Naval Store Keeper at Ports- mouth, N. H.
June 7-Home from Mass. Rode from Mc Falls in a wagon 21/2 miles, then on a hand car to the village.
June 9-Some of our old acquaintances have died during our absence. Old Mr. Benj. Spaulding, one of the fathers of the town and first settlers, 90 years old, whom I have known from my childhood, a most excellent old man, died last winter. Don D. Daggett and old Mrs. Caleb Cushman, old acquaintances, died in our absence.
June 13, Sunday-No meeting for religious worship. Mr. Small is ab- sent. Mrs. Haskell, a Spiritual medium, preaches at Union Chapel. Many go to hear the delnding and deluded creature. Recd. a letter yes- terday from Samnel F. Brown, Esq., of Bangor, one of the oldest and most cherished friends I have. We lived near neighbors in uninterrupted friendship and harmony for more than 30 years.
505
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
June 17-Went to see my father who is now almost 88 years old. I called on my aunt. Miles Holmes's widow, who is nearly 79 years old and very feeble. Yesterday I met James Waterman, one of the oldest in- habitants of the town. He lived 4 miles from the village. He was walk- ing spryly along with a cane. He talked in a lively and intelligent man- ner. I asked him how old he was. He said he was 944 this year. "Al- most as old as my mother," said Mr. Churchill who was standing near us and who lives under Streaked Mt. Many persons in this town live to a great age.
June 19-Mr. Small called in the evening. He has a call to preach in Bangor.
June 27-Very warm. Attended church. Mr. Small preached elo- quently. At noon 4 or 5 persons were baptized, among whom were Will- iam Atwood and wife.
July 5-No notice of the Anniversary here. Mr. Andrews, the lawyer, has given me one of the pleasantest chaise rides 1 ever had. His estab- lishment for riding is most elegant and comfortable and I feel grateful to him for the enjoyment it has afforded me. II years ago Mr. Andrews came here, poor and almost a stranger, and commenced the practice of the law. under very discouraging circumstances. He counted me a friend. He is now one of the largest practitioners in the county. He is County Attorney and with a good wife is living in better style than any other man in the village.
July 8-The prospect is that the B. B. R. R. will not run any more. The rails on some parts have been taken up-the bridges and sleepers are rotting.
July 21-There goes by in an old wagon, with a poor old lame horse, a poor old lame man with a wooden leg-78 years old-who comes once a week to the village to peddle herrings which he brings from Harpswell, 40 miles away. He sits up erect, chirrups to his old nag-looks smiling- as he asks this one or that one to purchase his fish as he turns their broad, fat sides to the best advantage. Now this poor man is of the same age as the celebrated Humbolt, who is remarkable for the retention of his faculties and his cheerful application of them to scientific research. He is now completing a great work entitled Cosmos. Why is not this poor old herring peddler who is winding up his long life of obscurity, pentry, misfortune and toil, working patiently and cheerfully for his bread to the last, in a humble but honest calling as worthy of mention as Humbolt ?
Aug. 9-Zadoc, John Davis and Percival started with a merry com- pany-Artemas Cole, Captain, for the Lakes, some 80 miles away on a fishing trip.
Aug. 23-Mr. Small leaves Buckfield to-day to settle in Bangor as pastor of a Baptist church there.
Aug. 25 -- School children have a picnic in Atwood's Grove-a very in- teresting occasion. John Davis begins his 2nd year at Westford. Art. Cole called to-day to have a letter from some Rochester. N. 11., gentle- men, inquiring about the Lakes answered. They wanted him to take
506
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
charge of party who are going there. He is a sort of a Leather Stocking of the woods and lakes-a noted character and another Izaak Walton in his skill, experience and fondness for angling. Mr. Cole. Uncle Art., Capt. Cole, Art. Cole as he is variously called, is a man who by great industry and rigid economy acquired $15,000. He belongs to no society. attends no church, reads ancient history, is thoroughly acquainted with Bible history and is a good mathematician. He has fished every year more or less at the Lakes for more than 20 years. Some seasons he has caught and sent to the Boston market many hundred fine fat trout weigh- ing from I to 10 lbs.
Sept. 15-A new comet has made its appearance in the heavens. It looks like a kite in the far northwest.
Sept. 26, Sunday-No preaching. The Baptist Society small. Mem- bers meet, read and sing. Isaac Bearce and daughter. Mrs. Emily Gleason, visited us. She is my deceased sister, Bathsheba's daughter, who lives in the town of Perry. She is a very smart young woman. She was awarded the highest prize. $40, at the State Fair at Augusta last week in the exhibition of horsemanship or horsewomanship. This equestrian exhibition was the most interesting feature of the fair, 10,- 000 people present.
Oct. 3. Sunday-No preaching. A sermon will be read. Few attend. Our little church bell rings mournfully and calls up the memory of sor- rowful changes which have happened to us-the removal of our minister and many a dear friend.
Oct. 8-Clear 'and pleasant after the rain. Picked up one large spice apple that has remained some time alone upon the tree, after all the rest had fallen and been gathered. The tree is much respected on account of its age-its early and excellent fruit. it is probably the oldest apple tree in Buckfield. Its trunk girts 61/2 ft. and its branches are of correspond- ing size and spread. It bears some years 30 bushels of apples. It has probably produced since it began to bear not less than 1000 bushels.
Nov. I-The Baptist Church Society has given Mr. Pray a call to sup- ply Mr. Small's place in the pulpit. Mr. P. appears to be a very pions and amiable man-a graduate of Harvard-36 years old, of infirm health. He has a wife and 3 children and will preach for a salary of $100. Bap- tist people here generally poor.
Nov. 7 -- Nathan Morrill and Carroll Loring spend the evening with 11s. Danville Bisbee died this afternoon.
Nov. 17 and IS-Universalist convention to-day at Union Chapel.
Nov. 21, Sunday-Pleasant as summer. Ground bare. No preaching in the village. A sermon is read at the Baptist church and the Universa- lists meet at Union Chapel to see about reviving religious worship in that house. Perhaps it would be well that this should be done. A very large proportion of the people will not attend the Baptist meetings. pre- judiced against the exclusiveness of regulations and the doctrines they preach. If more liberal worship be not established here. they will follow after spiritualists or stay at home on the Sabbath. I think it would be honorable and profitable to this community to substitute enlightened Uni-
507
HISTORY OF BUCKFIELD
versalist preaching for that of trance mediums, who have been here and have had large attendance the year past. While Mr. Small was here and before this delusion appeared, I felt it to be my duty to give my un- divided support to the Baptist Society, I having been somewhat instru- mental in getting Mr. Small here and believing though far from being a Baptist, that it was the best thing I could do for the general religious interests of Buckfield. Mr. Small has taken himself away, giving us liberal Christians-outsiders as we are called -- to understand by his fare- well sermon that the church and society, which he had established here can stand and be supported without our help, thus releasing us from any obligations to give them our continued and exclusive aid.
Dec. 5-John Davis attended Baptist Church a. in. and went in the afternoon to hear Rev. Mr. French, Universalist, at Union Chapel.
Dec. 12-Church bell tolling for Mr. Richard Fobes. Mr. F. was buried at East ineeting house.
Dec. 24-Joseph Tuttle died this a. m.
1859.
Feb. 14-Jacob W. Browne, Esq., married to Widow Bisbee.
Mar. 5-Percival and his daughter, Margaret, start for Boston at half past 8 o'clock in an old lumber wagon. drawn by an old feeble, worn- out horse-the meanest stage team that ever went out of the village. What a reduction in our accommodations for travel in 2 years from the time we were carried to and fro in a handsome passenger car propelled by a $10,000 engine.
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