USA > Maine > Oxford County > Norway > A history of Norway, Maine : from the earliest settlement to the close of the year 1922 > Part 23
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"This book is addressed to all earnest students of Life, and grate- fully inscribed to the 'Sweet Singer,' who in the midst of her triumphs in opera, renounced a brilliant public career to aid in making these researches. Except for that generous aid, this exposition of what we hold to be a scientific renaissance of Christianity would hardly have appeared."
CHARLES F. BROWN.
Charles Farrar Brown, son of Levi and Caroline E. (Farrar) Brown, was born in Waterford, April 26, 1834. His father having died Dec. 23, 1847, he was apprenticed by his mother to John M. Rix of Lancaster, N. H., who was the publisher of a weekly newspaper there. He did not stay long. He had a peculiar physiognomy-sharp feat- ures, high cheek bones, long, thin, hooked nose, and long hair. A pose accompanied by a serio-comic look was enough to make one laugh. A cook at his boarding place in Lancaster said that Brown was a "queer-looking critter." His mischievous pranks soon made his mas- ter determined to get rid of him, and he sent the youngster back to his mother, with the explanation that the boy required more schooling. She sent him instead to his brother Cyrus W., in Norway, who was editing and publishing the Norway Advertiser, in the office of which he became the "printer's devil." Two years later (1850) the paper plant was sold to Mark H. Dunnell, who had come to Norway as principal of the Norway Liberal Institute. He retained young Brown as printer's devil. After conducting the paper for about four months, Mr. Dunnell found that it was running him deeply in debt, and he concluded to stop its publication. The printer's devil, in a characteristic manner figured prominently in the closing scenes of winding up the concern by smuggling some liquor into the office, for the compositor to find, use and get intoxicated on, upon which Mr. Dunnell discharged his employees and closed the office for good. Brown then drifted about in several places as a printer's journey- man, finally landing in Cleveland, Ohio, in the latter part of 1857, and obtained a position as city editor in the office of the Plain Dealer. In Jan. 1858, appeared in its columns, his first letter under the nom de plume of "Artemus Ward," and he soon found himself famous. It has been assumed that he meant by this pseudonym to personate the militia general, Artemas Ward, in command of the
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MINNIE SCALAR STEPHENS
DR. C. A. STEPHENS
THE LABORATORY
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Massachusetts forces at the beginning of the Revolution, whom Gen. George Washington superseded after the battle of Bunker Hill, as the author once believed, but this is extremely doubtful. The famous editor and publisher of the Louisville, Ky., Courier-Journal, Henry Watterson, is authority for the statement that a strolling showman using that name, having attracted Brown's notice, suggested the idea of using it as a nom de plume and his business as an exhibiter of wax works, etc. It was a hit or miss affair at first, but on finding that it took, he kept it up to the end. He once said that the selection of this nom de plume was purely accidental, not expecting to ever make use of it but once. This seems to be the correct version of the matter, but if he wished to personate any one of that name but the showman, it must have been Gen. Artemas Ward, who was all the one of that name who ever had anything whatever to do with the township of Waterford or its settlement, and he only as a member of a committee of the Legislature.
Charles F. Brown became one of the greatest of American humor- ists. He went to California in 1863 and before returning to the East visited the Mormons at Salt Lake City. In 1866 he crossed the ocean to London, and was received there in literary circles with great en- thusiasm. His short stay in London was a continued triumph. He claimed to have made enough from his lectures to give him a com- petency but after his death little comparatively of his earnings re- mained. He died at Southampton, England, Mar. 6, 1867, and his remains were brought to South Waterford and buried in the family lot there. Among his productions are: "Artemus Ward, His Book;" "Artemus Ward, Among the Mormons;" "Artemus Ward, His Travels," and "Artemus Ward in London."
REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D.
Sylvanus Cobb, the son of Ebenezer Cobb, the Norway pioneer and Revolutionary soldier, was born July 17, 1798, on his father's farm in the south part of the town. Among his early teachers was Rev. Noah Cressey, who did so much for the educational interests of Nor- way. He taught his first school when he was eighteen years of age. He began studying for the ministry with Rev. Sebastian Streeter of Portsmouth, N. H., in 1820, and preached his first sermon that year, in Rev. Mr. Streeter's church, and in the autumn he took a mission- ary tour to the Universalist churches of the state. In 1821 he taught school in his native town, and the same year accepted a call from the society in Waterville. The next year he married Miss Eunice Hale Wait of Hallowell. He remained in Waterville, where his distin- guished son was born, till 1828, and while there twice represented the town in the State Legislature. He removed to Malden, Mass., and was pastor of his church society there some nine years and twice during that time was a member of the General Court in Boston. In 1839 he began the publication of the Christian Freeman, a Universalist news- paper which he edited for some twenty-five years. He was regarded as the ablest preacher and writer of the denomination of his time in New England. He was the author of "A Commentary on the New Testament" and other works. He died at East Boston, Oct. 31, 1867.
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ARTEMUS WARD
1
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SYLVANUS COBB, JR.
LAVINIA BARTON SMITH
- -
HUGH PENDEXTER
ALMA PENDEXTER HAYDEN
MRS. HUGH PENDEXTER
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SYLVANUS COBB, JR.
Sylvanus Cobb, Jr., although born in Waterville (June 5, 1823), where his father, a native of Norway, was temporarily located as a Universalist minister, always regarded this town with the same ven- eration as if he had been born here. His school days were spent in Malden, Mass., where his parents then lived. They removed to Waltham in 1838. Three years later, without their knowledge, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy, on the war ship Brandywine, for a four years cruise on the coast of Africa and in the Mediterranean Sea. He was discharged in March, 1844, at Norfolk, Va., and reached home soon thereafter, where he was joyfully received. At the age of twenty-two, he married Mary J. Mead of Waltham. He served before going to sea a brief apprenticeship in a printing office and learned to set type. He seems to have had very early a taste for literature and story writing and a short. one is preserved that he wrote when eleven years old. He began in 1850, writing for the "Flag of Our Union," published by F. Gleason. At once his sketches and stories attracted great attention.
At the solicitation of his uncle, Samuel Cobb, in 1852, he came to Norway with his family and settled on a farm near him in the south- west part of the town. In 1856, having moved into the village, he wrote his first story for the New York Ledger. It was "The Gun- Maker of Moscow." This story made Mr. Cobb famous. It was writ- ten in the second story of the house then owned by Benj. Greeley on the northwest corner of Main and Whitman streets. Many stories, sketches and tales of adventure followed, till up to the time of his death, but none of them quite equaled "The Gun-Maker of Moscow."
Mr. Cobb took part in the Free Soil movement of the fifties and as he was a good speaker, was frequently called upon to make stump speeches. He was an ardent supporter of the War for the Union, and by voice and pen did all he could towards the suppression of the Rebellion.
He was elected in 1863 Captain of the Norway military company and was in service with it at Fort McClary, Kittery, for 72 days in the summer of 1864. During that time Captain Cobb was in com- mand of the garrison. In the autumn of 1867 he moved with his family to Massachusetts and a year later settled at Hyde Park, near Boston, which he made his home till his death, July 20, 1887. During the later years of his stay in Norway he lived in a house on the west- erly side of Danforth street.
On the formation of the republican party he joined it and usually voted for its candidates. He did not approve the administration of General Grant, however, and voted for Horace Greeley for President in 1872. Sylvanus Cobb, Jr., was in early life a Universalist, having imbibed the doctrine from his father, but in his later manhood he became a Unitarian.
Mr. Cobb's great fame as a writer was established while living in Norway. As a writer of fiction he does not rank with the great Eng- lish novelists, Thackeray, Dickens, Reade and Collins, but in his day his writings were universally read by the great mass of the people, and exerted a powerful influence for good especially in the time of
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the Civil War, for they taught a clean and pure affection of the sexes, nobility of character, high ideals and a lofty patriotism.
Revs. Washington W. Hooper and John L. Stevens were writers of note. Their biographical sketches appear among the Norway clergymen.
DON CARLOS SEITZ.
Don C. Seitz, son of Rev. J. A. Seitz, was born in Portage, Ohio, Oct. 24, 1862. He came to Norway with his parents in 1877-his father having accepted a call to the pastorate of the Universalist church here. He graduated at the Norway Liberal Institute in 1880, and entered the New Religion office of his father, where he learned the printer's trade. Later removed to New York. Attracted atten- tion by his letters from Albany during legislative sessions-1887-9, to the Brooklyn Eagle. City editor of that journal 1889-91. Married Miss Mildred E. Blake, East Deering, Apr. 15, 1890, and has several children. Assistant publisher New York Recorder, 1892-3. Adv. Mgr., New York World, 1895-7. Business manager of New York World. Has been abroad several times, and has attained great suc- cess as the business manager of The World-one of the great news- papers of the country, and considerable celebrity as an author. He has not by any means reached his limit as a writer. While in Nor- way he was the general favorite of all classes of the people, which has not in any degree abated to this day.
Don C. Seitz's writings to date (1919) comprise the following vol- umes : "Artemus Ward," "Whistler Stories," "The Buccaneers" (Don C. Seitz His Pirates), "Farm Voices," "Discoveries in Everyday Europe," and "Elba and Elsewhere in Praise of War."
HUGH PENDEXTER.
Hugh Pendexter was born in Pittsfield, Maine, January 15, 1875, the son of G. Jefferson and Clara B. (Watson) Pendexter. He spent several years as a teacher of Latin, and Greek in Maine High schools and left that work to enter newspaper work in Rochester, N. Y. After twelve years as news writer he returned to Norway, where he married Helen M. Faunce, and devoted his entire time to fiction writing. One New York editor recently said that Mr. Pendexter has written about every kind of decent fiction there is. He started his literary life as a humorist, two of his short stories being selected by Mark Twain for his Library of Wit and Humor-three volumes.
For twenty years this author has been a steady contributor to the leading American magazines and to several English magazines. Be- sides being the author of nearly two thousand short stories, articles, novelettes, and serials he has written thirty book-length novels for Adventure Magazine, which are being produced at the rate of two a year in book form. These novels have gained wide popularity, as the background in each is historical. Among his books already published are: "Tiberius Smith;" "Camp and Trail" series, five volumes; "Along the Coast" series-two volumes; "Red Belts;" "Kings of the Mis- souri;" "A Virginia Scout;" "Over the Rim of the Ridge."
He also has taken an interest in moving-pictures and has sold the screen rights for the following: "The Mantle of Red Evans;" "The
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Hyp and the Hop;" "A Daughter of the Wolf;" "Wolf Law." Ulti- mately practically all of Mr. Pendexter's historical romances will ap- pear on the screen. His "A Virginia Scout" was used as a handbook in making the historical pageant of Virginia, and his "Over the Rim of the Ridge" has been filed by the State Library of Nevada as being an important source of historical data for that state. Mr. Pendexter is recognized as an authority on the American Indian, Colonial and Revolutionary War history and has been invited to contribute on these subjects to the government publications of the United States and Canada.
Since making Norway his permanent home he has taken a deep interest in the town and has served six years as a member of the school-board. He initiated the movement for the high school gymna- sium and exerted himself in making that addition to our schools possible.
LAVINIA BARTON SMITH.
Lavinia Howard Barton, daughter of Aaron and Sarah (Smith) Barton, of Bethel, Canton and Livermore and granddaughter of Asa and Mercy (Bartlett) Barton of Newton, Mass., was born in Canton, Dec. 20, 1805. She married in 1836 Elliot Smith-his second wife.
She was a lady of exceptional literary tastes and ability and was the author of several fine poems. She died Dec. 26, 1890.
CENTENNIAL ODE.
Hills where the North winds sweep,
Land where our fathers sleep, Thy children come; Who love thy rocky hills, Thy lakes and mountain rills, Thy woods where echo trills A welcome home.
Peace to our fathers' sleep, Who sowed the sheaves we reap With song today : Sheaves of an hundred years, Freedom through blood and tears, O bold, brave pioneers! Our fathers-they.
Wave high the banners, then, Sing o'er their deeds again, And tell their fame; Who stood on Bunker's height, When Charlestown's lurid light Burst on the startled sight Her fun'ral flame.
Their sons were brave as they, When British war-ship lay Off Preble Fort. Her broadside toward the town, With wide-mouthed cannon frown ; Men rushed the hills adown To guard the port.
Crowns for the martyrs' graves, Who died to free the slaves; We bring today; For them a laurel wreath, Who faced the foe and death; From hot-mouthed cannon's breath,
In war's dread fray.
O Time! Sweep all the tears From out the hundred years, On this glad day: Sing loud, ye lakes and rills! Break forth, O vales and hills! Till every bosom thrills, And joins the lay.
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Let songs of praise arise To God who rules the skies, And lights the way: May the next century
Unseal the mystery, And science find the key To life for aye.
ALMA PENDEXTER HAYDEN.
Alma Pendexter Hayden is the daughter of G. Jefferson and Clara B. (Watson) Pendexter of Pittsfield, Maine. She is a sister of Hugh Pendexter, the author, was married to Charles H. Hayden of Norway, who died many years ago. The genealogy of the family appears else- where.
Mrs. Hayden, after obtaining her education, selected teaching as a profession, which she has followed with great success in Maine and other states, and is now (1922), as at a former period, an instructor in the Norway village schools. She has the gift of being able to write real poetry which is characterized by purity of style, harmony of metre and sweetness of tone. During the Great World War, she wrote several noteworthy poems which were highly commended by the Eng- lish Queen.
THE LITTLE FLAG.
A little flag of stars and stripes He bore one summer day, While marching proudly to the drum, With soldier boys at play.
I press the flag against my cheek- It seems to bring him near- Then place it back with broken toys, Unused for many a year.
And when the flags are all afloat, What joy could I but see My little lad, with starry flag Come marching home to me.
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CHAPTER XXXVIII. NORWAY IN 1865.
The establishing of the shoe business in 1873 wrought a great change in the social as well as the material affairs of Norway. The old order of things passed away to give place to the new. It is well to take a glance at the town and its citizens just before the great change, for it will never be seen again as it was then.
The writer from Buckfield came to Norway for the first time in the autumn of 1865 as a student at the Academy, and the following winter taught the school on the east side of the lake in district No. 8. The village then was the largest in the county, and its beautiful shade trees, clean streets, well kept lawns, and painted dwelling houses and places of business, rendered it in fact as in name one of the prettiest localities in western Maine. It was then as now noted as a great place for trade. The people from the country adjoining, particularly toward the west, came here for their goods and the merchants and business men were prosperous. There was an air of prosperity about the place to be found nowhere else in all this section. There were an hundred men in town capable of managing its affairs prudently, ably and well. They were not all in the village, but scattered over the town as well, on its productive farms.
Sylvanus Cobb, Jr., most impressed me, with his sage-like appear- ance, though but little past forty,-his pleasant and kindly expression of countenance, his fine and luminous eyes, and his long hair and lengthy beard.
Gen. Wm. Wirt Virgin-everybody called him Wirt Virgin-was the most influential citizen of the village and town-in fact for that period he was "monarch of all he surveyed."
Old Squire Levi Whitman, who had practiced law in the village for over fifty years, and whose integrity was never questioned, was a large man. I judge he weighed at least 200 lbs. He moved about slowly and methodically as in all matters of business. He was in appearance the venerable man of the village. (His age was 76.)
Dr. Asa Danforth, then seventy years old, had been over forty years in the practice here of his profession and was then active and so continued for about fifteen years more. He was tall and straight and moved about with an elastic step. Everyone had an affectionate regard for him.
Robert Noyes' book-bindery was the greatest attraction to the writer outside of the Academy. Mr. Noyes was then in his 55th year but seemed much older. He was a kindly and good man and his visitors, old and young, were always made welcome.
Old Maj. Henry W. Millett, the postmaster, was verging on 70. His days of activity and political management had largely passed. His asthmatic trouble was so bad that one often feared that he would pass away in one of its serious attacks, but he lived about four years longer. His son, "Little Major" Henry R. Millett, was still in the army as were Gen. Geo. L. Beal and Capt. Wm. W. Whitmarsh.
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NORWAY VILLAGE TODAY
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Ezra F. Beal was engaged in various building enterprises. He was one of Norway's solid business men. Senator Wm. Pitt Fessen- den put great confidence in his integrity and judgment, as well he might. His word was as good as his bond. Mr. Beal was not fully appreciated in Norway till after he had passed away.
Capt. Jonathan Blake was 44 when the War of the Rebellion broke out, but he was one of the very first to offer his services to the gov- ernment. His military record is given elsewhere. Captain Blake was faithful in the discharge of every duty. He was a thoroughly good man. The writer, after finding out his sterling qualities, came to like him as very few men he has ever known. He obtained pensions for him and his widow, which added much to their comfort in their last days.
Lee Mixer was a shoemaker. He also had a boot and shoe store in the lower story of what is now the printing office building on the corner of Main and Bridge streets. He was a lame man but of kindly disposition. Everybody respected him for his integrity and good qualities. He died at a good old age but left no posterity.
Charles B. Cummings, who was born in the house now owned by Col. E. F. Smith, passed many years of his minority at East Bethel. He began business in a very small way which has grown to be the third industry in the town. He was always the friend of the writer from their first acquaintance. His name, I believe, was on every official bond of mine as long as he lived.
Eben C. Shackley was in trade in 1865, in a store near the head of Main street, in the corner made by it and Pleasant street, in the vicinity of which "from ancient times" there had always been a place of trade. Several students, including the writer, had rooms over the store that autumn. Mr. Shackley was one of the most respected of the business men of the village. He was a large man physically with a red nose. He told the following good story. The delegates to political conventions of that day were always given reduced rates, usually one-half, on the rairoads, and traders took advantage of such times to go to Portland to procure goods-there being no "drummers" in those days.
On one occasion there was to be a political convention in Portland of men who opposed the Maine Law. Mr. Shackley wanted to replen- ish his stock of goods. So one morning he took the early train at South Paris and after the conductor had punched his ticket, he began looking over his memoranda to make sure that he had got every- thing down that he wanted. Soon some of the delegates on the train who had imbibed something stronger than water, began an animated conversation near him about the officers of the convention and candi- dates, and Mr. Shackley was approached to ascertain his preferences, and to his questioners he said: "Gentlemen, I do not wonder that you considered me one of yourselves, for my extremely red nose would indicate it, but to be honest with you I am a ramrod, and have never voted your party ticket in my life."
Thomas Higgins was one of the most upright and substantial of the business men and citizens of the village. Every one who knew him, respected him. His health was poor and like Old Major Millett,
HISTORY OF NORWAY
251
URIAH H. UPTON
SOL. I. MILLETT
JOHN A. FRENCH
CHAS. W. RYERSON
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he was troubled with asthma. He was injured so severely a few years afterwards on a steep hill in Buckfield by being thrown from his car- riage that he died shortly after-Apr. 10, 1874.
Rodolphus Young, who kept a little confectionery store in Hatha- way block, on Main Street, took the sharpest note of men and passing events of any one of that day, in the town. It was a great treat to visit his store, and, eating candy and peanuts, to listen to his charac- terization of rogues and shams and persons who tried to make great and favorable impressions when, in fact, they lacked real worth and ability and were very shallow. Sylvanus Cobb, Jr., often used him, as well as others in the place, for characters in his stories and sketches, under fictitious names, of course, but every one acquainted with Young and them, knew who were meant, and this for a time created much interest and amusement among the people.
Everybody knew and liked Wm. W. D. S. Millett, or "Bill Millett" as he was invariably called. He drove the hack and carried the mail between the village and railroad station at South Paris. This business he continued for nearly twenty years, till the Norway Branch railroad was built. He was a very quiet man,-pleasant and agreeable to all, and attended closely to his own affairs.
All but one family who sent scholars to the school in district No. 8 in the winter of 1865-6 (Solomon I. Millett's), lived in that part of Norway called the Lee's Grant. There was a period, as elsewhere related, when the people there with one exception were tenant farmers, holding under yearly leases, and over this tract may still be seen scores of places where dwellings had been anciently erected. There is nothing like it in any other part of the town. A cellar hole with a well near, in the vicinity of the school-house, marks the opening of Daniel Cary who was drowned in the autumn of 1789, in attempting to cross the outlet of the lake near what is now Crockett bridge, to go to his clearing after his day's work was done at Rust's Mills. Joshua Pool, the post rider, later occupied the lot and probably dug the well. Another old cellar-hole may be seen at the top of a little hill on the Millettville road where it branches to run to the school- house mentioned. A large white birch tree is growing in it. The people living on the tract in 1865, were thrifty farmers and substan- tial citizens. Abner F. Jackson's farm in the Millett neighborhood was one of the three best in town-the other two being the Tucker farm at Norway Lake village and the Wyman farm at Norway Cen- ter. Nathan W. Millett like his father, Nathan Millett, a deacon of the Baptist Church society, also had a fine farm in the same neighbor- hood. Mr. Millett for many years was the leading member of this society.
Solomon I. Millett was a self-made man. He married Harriet Porter of Paris who outlived him and was past 90 years of age at her death. They had three girls. Alice, the oldest, a bright, pretty and lovable girl, died when fourteen years of age. Mr. Millett was a "49-er" in the gold diggings of California, was prudent, saving, and had excellent judgment about investments, and accumulated a handsome property.
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