USA > Maine > Waldo County > Unity > A history of the Town of Unity, Maine > Part 10
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77. Ibid.
78. The committee consisted of Clement Rackliff, John Chase, Isaac Jones, and John Winslow.
79. China Monthly Meeting Records, August 15, 1826. Also, Ibid., October 17, 1826, there was sixteen dollars and twenty-five cents raised this meeting towards the expense of building Unity Meeting House.
80. Unity Monthly Meeting Records, April 14, 1837, Maine His- torical Society, Portland, Maine. “ .. the dividing line between the China and Unity Monthly meeting commenced at the southwest cor- ner of Albion and run easterly in a line between China and Albion to Palermo, thence on Palermo line until it intersects the county road leading from China village to Montville and following said road to Belfast leaving all territory north and easterly of said line . .. to Unity Monthly Meeting."
81. Ibid.
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A HISTORY OF UNITY, MAINE
lor, Charles Coffin and Reuben Jones were appointed to sit with the Unity body during its first meeting in order to help it get started. Furthermore, they were requested to furnish that meeting with a book for records and make a report.
Unity Monthly Meeting was established with a membership of nearly two hundred.82 Asa Jones was chosen clerk, an office he retained for several years.83 The Unity Friends nominated Asa Jones, and Daniel Cook as their overseers; Nathan Hussey and Daniel Cook were chosen as overseers of funerals; and Benjamin R. Stev- ens and Elisha Mosher, overseers of the poor. The first clerk of the women's meeting was Lydia Winslow, who held the office for a number of years.84
Three months after the formation of the Unity meeting, a request signed by eleven members in Thorndike was presented to the meet- ing asking for the privilege of holding a meeting at the house of Robert Hanson.85 The request was granted, and Friends' meetings were held at his house until 1849, when the Thorndike members purchased the old Methodist church. The Thorndike Friends flour- ished until approximately 1885; all the time they remained an in- tegral part of Unity Monthly Meeting.86 Of the four meetings which constituted Unity Monthly Meeting that of Albion was the largest, but death and removal of its members to other places caused in- roads, and as early as 1860 it was deemed advisable to discontinue the preparative meetings. Services were held on the Sabbath, how- ever, for twenty years (about 1880), when they gradually ceased.
82. Lois Varney, Sketch of Friends' Society in Unity. (Manuscript sketch written in 1906) Unity Monthly Meeting, of course, consisted of all the Friends residing in Albion, Unity, Brooks and Thorndike, which accounts for the large membership.
83. Succeeding clerks were Joseph Taber, William Taber, Clement Jones, James Cook, and Ephraim Jones.
84. Following her in office were Almira Hanson, Jane Jones, Olive Cook. Since 1889 the business meetings of the monthly meeting were held in joint session.
85. Unity Monthly Meeting Records, p. 5. Also sketch written by Lois Varney. The request was signed by Robert Hanson, Gibbs Tilton, Ezekiel Boothbay, Hezekiah C. Tilton, Timothy Hanson, Huldah Tilton and others.
86. Robert Hanson of Thorndike became an elder and frequently spoke at Unity and Thorndike services. A story was told about Elder Hanson, who during a Sunday afternoon meeting was heckled by one of his sons. This son and a couple of his friends were outside whistling "Yankee Doodle" while meeting was in session. The whistling caused the Quaker elder to lose his Quaker composure. Suddenly he stopped his talk and shouted to the pranksters, "If thee Yank thee Doodle anymore, I'll take the gord stick to thee." Story as told to the author by Edward Cole of Thorndike.
Another amusing Quaker story is told about Elder Robert Hanson's daughter, Dorcas, who at times was wont to ride her horse side-saddle. One morning the horse feeling exceptionally frisky was difficult for Dorcas to manage. Her good disposition and Quaker temperament were tried, and she did not realize that she had an audience enjoying her difficulty. Dorcas, by this time quite provoked, spoke to her horse, "If thee don't behave, I'll put the other leg over."
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Brooks and Unity meetings continued the longest. Asa Jones was appointed elder about 1840, followed a few years later by William R. Taber. In 1854 Jedediah Varney moved to Unity from Albion and was for many years one of the more prominent leaders of the Unity Friends. A later contemporary leader was Clement Jones, who also conducted Friends' services and weekly evening prayer meetings in the Unity meeting house in the eighteen eighties, and nineties. On February twenty-second and twenty-third, 1873, the Friends from all over New England met at Unity for their yearly meeting. The famous Quakeress and humanitarian, Elizabeth L. Comstock, who a few days previously had spoken at the State Prison at Thomaston, was the principal speaker. The meetings were held at the Union Church.87 In late years the meetings assumed the characteristics of other de- nominations by having a minister preach and lead the service instead of the silent meetings of meditation.
Their joint membership, about 1906, was seventy-two. After 1910, however, the Unity Friends were considerably weakened by the loss of Jedediah Varney, who devoted much of his time to the service of the Friends. His son, George Varney, occasionally held meetings, especially during the summer months, as late as 1930, but the surviving Friends were reduced to only three.88 The last mem- ber died in 1947.
The Quakers, or Friends, aimed to restore to religion a marked simplicity, based on good works and faith. "The core of Quaker belief was the idea of the inner light or of man's kinship with God. In every person there dwelt a spark of divinity that might be en- larged by man's conscious effort until he became Godlike."89 The attributes of charity, meekness, love, purity, mercy and faith were sincerely practiced by the Quakers. No ministers were necessary as man might directly commune with God. Elders of the church need not be trained in narrow dogmas and useless ritual, and any member might rise at meeting and speak when he felt divinely inspired. Mar- riages were performed without the services of a minister, "since God sealed the union, not man." War was outlawed. Frivolity in dress was frowned upon, and the words, "thee" and "thou", in olden times spoken only to servants and children, were used by the Quakers in order to show humbleness and equality. These things were strongly advocated and by most adhered to. If any person faltered in the ob- servance of sobriety of dress, manner of speech, or participated in ac-
87. Taber, History of Unity, p. 48.
88. George Varney, Etta Varney, and Lois Varney were the last members of Unity Friends.
89. Curtis B. Nettels, The Roots of American Civilization, New York, 1947, p. 76.
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tivities alien to the creed, he was warned. But if he disregarded the warnings of the elders, he was disowned and dropped from member- ship. The Friends' records reveal many instances of positive action against backsliders. A few examples illustrate the sincerity and strict- ness of the Quakers.
Complaint against Lemuel B. Rackliff.
.
Lemuel B. Rackliff has so departed from the order of Friends as to neglect the attendance of meetings, has departed from plainness of dress, and address, and has twice appeared as a spectator in the train- ing field and appears to have no wish to remain a member of our so- ciety any longer. Robert Hanson, Asa Jones, Overseers.
Lemuel did not harken to the appeal of his brethren and was dis- owned March 18, 1828.90
In 1826 James and Jacob Whitaker were disowned for similar ac- tions. In 1827. Hezekiah Rackliff was dropped because of his neglect of plain dress and not attending meeting. In 1839 Hezekiah Tilton "has so far disregarded the good order of Friends as to neglect the attendance of meeting ... plainness of speech and apparel and has joined himself with the training company for which he has been la- bored with from time to time." For these offenses the Friends denied him membership.91 At one of the preparative meetings, complaint was made against Elisha Mosher for keeping company with and for marrying a woman "not of our society." A short time later Elisha addressed them thus, "Dear Friends, whereas I have so deviated from the good order of Friends as to keep company with and marry a woman not of our socity, I wish Friends to pass it by." For his con- trition, he was allowed to stay.
Friends meetings were conducted somewhat differently than those of other religious bodies. A young lady attending Oak Grove Seminary in 1865 wrote,92
Did you ever attend Quaker Meeting? ... We started to go at eleven o'clock. Well, we got there as a matter of course and had the happiness of sitting in perfect silence for nearly one whole hour. I suppose I need not ... tell you the nature of my thoughts during that time . . . but my last and most wicked thought was . . . it seemed as if it would be a great relief if I could only strike up and sing some of pretty little ditties ... origin of Yankee Doodle, for instance. At last I was startled from my deep meditations by the melodious tones of a stern, old Quaker whom the spirit had moved to say a few words. The Quakers don't approve of singing in meeting, but if he didn't approach as near "Old Hundred" as anybody I ever heard, I'll give up. He enter- tained us with his flute like music of his voice for nearly half an hour when he resumed his seat; and another period of silence began. .. We had about ten minutes of interesting silence when those on the high seat began to shake hands. Never was a child more tickled .. .
It was customary in the Friends meeting for the women to sit on one side of the church and the men on the other. Marriage cere- monies were usually performed at meeting; the prospective couple
90. China Monthly Meeting Records, March 18, 1828.
91. Unity Monthly Meeting Records, March 8, 1839.
92. Letter from unknown writer, Oak Grove Seminary, March 26,
1865 to Rebecca Webber. Original letter in author's possession.
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CHURCH HISTORY
previously announcing their intentions of marriage. Thereupon some person or persons were authorized to ascertain any reason why the marriage should not be performed, and, if so, report it at the monthly meeting. Otherwise a favorable report was given and a special com- mittee was delegated "to attend the said marriage to see that it was conducted orderly." In the case of the marriage of Henry Jones and Esther Hussey, the committee caused the clerk to write in the records that "they attended and saw nothing but it was conducted orderly."
The Friends were a remarkable religious body and the members represented the finest people in the community. Their lives were char- acterized by good works. They promoted education and sent their sons and daughters to the excellent Quaker schools which they found- ed. The Unity branch of the Friends has completely disappeared, but when we think of them, we could do no better than recall George and Etta Varney, two true saints if there ever were, the last of a flourishing church which will not be seen here again.
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
About 1920 there were two congregations, one in West Unity and another in South Unity which attended the Church of Christ services in Albion. About 1922 Mr. Everett Wing, their minister, advised that the two should merge and form a church in Unity. Therefore, they dismantled the Albion church and rebuilt it in Unity on a lot adjoin- ing the grade school building.
After Mr. Wing left them this church was without a minister and the lay leaders used to conduct services, or during the summer special visiting ministers would hold meetings.93
In 1946 Mr. Shirley Morgan of Snyder, Texas, moved here with his family and commenced building up the membership. Under Mr. Morgan's direction and ministerial guidance this church has grown to a membership of nearly fifty. He has organized an active church Sunday School of six classes. This church has been able to purchase a parsonage which adjoins the church property, this house being re- modelled into a commodious dwelling. Mr. Morgan has been an energetic leader not only with his people, but in the community.
93. Hansel Dilahay led meetings on occasion. Loyal supporters of this church have been the families of John Waning, Manley Waning, John Woods, Ruel Willey, George Webb, C. B. Jones, William Walton, Thomas Walton, Ozro Knights, T. O. Knights, and others.
CHAPTER VI
SCHOOLS IN UNITY
During the first twenty-five years of Unity's history there was little attention given to schools or schooling. It was not that the neglect was intentional, rather it was a matter of necessity. Scattered homes, subsistence living, unavailability of teachers combined to make im- possible the establishment of schools. To be sure, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts laws required a certain amount of schooling, but they hardly affected the country districts in distant Maine.
The 1800 census listed seventy-two heads of families, and almost all of these had children of school age. Perhaps there were approxi- mately one hundred children between five and sixteen.1 In the years before Unity was incorporated there were no school houses in the town. The brief education consisting of a little "readin' and writin' ", which the children received was directed by the parents. Many of the pioneer mothers had taught school before their marriages, Lydia Bartlett, Olive Jackson? and others.
At a town meeting held at Benjamin J. Rackliff's tavern on April 1, 1805, the fifteenth article concerned schools. This is the first mention of projected action. The article read, "To see if the town will vote a sum of money for schooling or any other purpose."3 A month later at a May meeting the town "voted to raise one hundred dollars for schooling the present year." Just what measures were taken is not known. Perhaps some young ladies may have held a brief term or two at some centrally located house; if so, the instruction undoubtedly consisted of sewing and manners, and reading and arithmetic. Books were scarce; copy books, and slates were the usual tools. In 1806 the town appropriated one hundred and twenty dollars for schools. At this April meeting the voters decreed that the several districts build their own school houses.4 Soon a school house was built in the "first district", although there were no well defined districts until a few
1. There were one hundred and sixty-six children of ages from in- fancy to sixteen in the year 1800. See 1800 census.
2. Her arithmetic copy book, which she used in teaching is in the possession of Dr. S. S. Berry, Redlands, California.
3. Unity Town Records, Book I, (1802-1829) April 1, 1805.
4. Ibid., The first school house was built as early as 1805. Taber's History relates that this school house was later moved to the street passing Roy Knight's barn, and then moved to a location between the Temperance Hall and the Berry house. The first mention in the town records of a school house in the village district was in 1811.
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years later. A school house was built in the second district about 1810 on the outskirts of the village.
These school houses were one room buildings, heated by fireplaces and poorly equipped with hand-hewn benches. Because the school agent furnished the wood, his children were seated during the winter months nearest the warm blaze. Classes were conducted usually for only a few weeks, when the seasons permitted; a spring, a summer or fall term with now and then a short winter term. Books were rare items. Instruction consisted of figuring, copying, learning the multi- plication table, and reading the Bible.
In 1807 the town raised two hundred dollars to defray school ex- penses. Each head of a family was assessed a specified amount, de- pending upon the number of scholars of eligible school age. As hard money was scarce and mightily coveted, it was the custom during the first two decades of the nineteenth century to pay this school tax in produce. In April 1809 the townspeople voted that the money ap- propriated for schools be paid in corn, rye, or wheat. Tax payers were allowed eighty-three cents per bushel for rye and corn, and one dollar and thirty cents for wheat.5 Each district appointed its own
Among the perplexing problems confronting the citizens of Unity was the establishment of district limits. Frequently the boundaries were altered. In 1811 the problem was first introduced into town meeting: "To see if they will establish the school districts as they now are, or make alterations."7 At this meeting held April Fool's Day, 1811, it was "voted that selectmen be a committee to regulate the school districts of the town of Unity." Evidently little was ac- complished and the committee's life was extended by successive town meetings. In March 1814 the committee was directed to prepare a report for the next town meeting. In due time the committee reported and at the April 1815 meeting the town accepted the recommenda- tions : 8
Voted that Clement Rackliff, Joseph Stevens, Benjamin Stevens, James Gilkey, and Solomon Whitney, be set off from the school class in which they now belong, into a class by themselves.
Voted that any others that live within a reasonable distance, be an- nexed to this district.
5. Unity Town Records, Book I, April 1809. In 1810 corn and rye brought a dollar a bushel, and wheat a dollar thirty-three.
agent, whose duty it was to assess each family and collect the prod- uce, crediting him for the amount.
6. Ibid., Book I, April 1809. The agent corresponded roughly to the present day superintendent. He employed the teacher, determined when the term should commence and end, furnished the wood, collected the school tax, and attended to all other relevent duties. Most of the teachers were young ladies hired from the neighborhood who were required to procure a certificate signed by one of the school commit- tee stating her qualifications. She boarded around, remaining at a particular home two or three weeks depending upon the number of children from that home in school.
7. Unity Town Records, Book I, Warrant March 11, 1811.
8. Unity Town Records, Book I, April 1815.
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A HISTORY OF UNITY, MAINE
Voted that Ebenezer Pattee, Henry Farwell, Richard . Cornforth, William Cornforth, and Josiah Farwell be discharged from the first school district and become a district by themselves.
Voted to take of all the inhabitants from Thomas Gilpatricks to the road where James Wilson used to live, be taken off from sixth school district and become a school district of their own.
Voted that the inhabitants to Segars and to take in Reuben and Josiah Glarks and Stephen Giles, all within the bounds and to be taken off the ninth school district, and become a district by themselves.
Voted that the money be divided among the scholars in the several districts and apportioned according to the number of scholars from four to twenty-one years of age.
This action did not end the school district controversy, and the committee filed a later report in May 1818; committee consisting of chairman, Rufus Burnham, Benjamin Bartlett, and Hezekiah Chase arrived at the following conclusions regarding districts.º
Your committee although sensibly impressed with the many difficul- ties which could attend such an undertaking, found on general ex- amination and discussion of the subject their most timid anticipation more than realized, but after duly examining, considering and discuss- ing the subject, they have adopted the following plans which they offer for your consideration.
Viz: The first district so-called, with any additions the meeting may see fit to make to form one district, to be, Number 1.
Secondly: The second district, the Pond district and the Sinclair District, so-called with Matthew Fowler's family to make one district to be Number 2.
Thirdly: Parkhurst's District and Fowler's District, so-called, with all convenient adjacents, Matthew Fowler excepted to form one dis- trict to be called, Number 3.
Fourthly: Woods District and so-called, to make district to be Num- ber 4.
Fifthly: Paine District and Larrabce's District, so-called, to make one district to be called Number 5.
Sixthly: Small's District, so-called with any additional the meeting may think just to make, shall form one district to be Number 6.
Seventh: The Mill District, so-called, shall be added to the first or sixth district, and the Clement Rackliff shall also be annexed to the first, or sixth which may be thought convenient.
Rufus Burnham, per order
Attest: Abner Knowles, Town Clerk.
By 1820 the town's school districts were set up and functioning ade- quately, though there were still frequent changes. Requests to be set off from one school district into another appeared regularly in the town warrants. These demands were made for reasons of convenience of the family. It must be remembered that distances had to be taken into account; in summer barefoot and tan the school boy pattered over the dusty roads and in winter he clumped over the snow-packed roads in heavy cowhide boots. Transportation was usually by foot, and during the rainy seasons these roads were muddy and virtually impassable. Also in winter roads were seldom broken as they are to- day.
9. Ibid., May 8, 1818.
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SCHOOLS IN UNITY
An exceedingly interesting account of Unity schools of the eighteen twenties appeared in a newspaper article written by John Perley.10 Perley's reminiscenses prove the severe discipline as well as illustrate old customs prevalent during his youth.
If the scholars of today could step back seventy-five or eighty years ago they would be astonished at the manners and customs of that time. Then, when we met strangers, we were required to take off our hats and make a respectful bow; also when we entered the school room; and when we stood up in the classes to read or speak the same was required of the boys, and of the girls a graceful courtesy. The standard books then were the old English Reader, Webster's Spelling Book, Walker's Dictionary, Lindley Murray's Grammar, Kinney's Arithmetic, and Morse's Geography.
One of the careful schoolmarms of those days had a class carefully trained for examination in geography. The supervisor had a little sus- picion that the scholars as well as the questions had been numbered and taking the book asked the first boy the second question, "What large animals inhabit the River Nile?" Answer, "Columbus and his crew." He then asked, the second boy the first question, "Who discovered America?" Answer, "Crocodiles and alligators."
Our writing materials in those days were of the most primitive order. There were no engraved copies, we had to make and rule our own books, make our own ink, and write with quill pens. There were no steel pens. The first, of Gillott's extra fine were thirty-three dollars per gross, or ten cents apiece. Then our copies began with a long, straight mark and woe betide the unhappy urchin that made them crooked. I shall never forget my first effort nor how the teacher held up my book and wanted the scholars to see the "crooked straight marks this boy has been making." That teacher was "monarch of all he surveyed, and his right, there was none to dispute." If anyone did dispute his right, they were sure to get a striking impression from something he carried in his hand. His mode of government was severe. He used to take two boys by the hair, and thump their heads to- gether and sometimes would whack heads together against a brick wall and call them block heads. His scholars did not cry the last day of school.11
Recalling his boyhood days in the late eighteen twenties Moses Farwell wrote:
We Farwell boys had no advantages, only a common school edu- cation of from six to twelve weeks a year. We had to haul wood, cut it and take care of a large stock of cattle, and at the same time travel to an old log school house over the coldest of hills. This school house was heated by means of an old rock chimney which often smoked as badly as to cause tears to drip down our cheeks.11
Each scholar furnished his own textbooks, purchased at a local store, or used a worn reader or speller handed down from an older brother or sister, brought his own slate and writing materials. Only the most elementary instruction was provided. The schools were ungraded; each student progressed according to his own inclination and ability.
10. John Perley, "Memories of Other Days". Newspaper clipping, November 6, 1892, from scrap book kept by John Perley, who was a well-known Unity teacher. Probably printed in Lewiston Journal. The scrapbook is now owned by Mrs. Henry Tweedie of Unity.
11. Cyrus Eaton, History of Thomaston, Rockland, South Thomas- ton, Vol. II, printed 1865, p. 223.
12. Freedom Academy was founded in 1836, and always three or four Unity youngsters attended until the last of the century.
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