USA > Maine > Waldo County > Unity > A history of the Town of Unity, Maine > Part 27
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George Theon Ranlett, Dec. 18, '63, 2nd Me. Cav., trans. Navy, Aug. 1, '64 John S. Ranlett, Oct. 4, '64, U. S. Navy, 2 yrs.
Amander Rackliff, Lt., Dec. 10, '61, B 14th Me., dis. Apr. '62
Amander Rackliff, Jr., Dec. 4, '61, B 14th Inf., dis. Apr. '62
Lemuel Reynolds, Nov. 23, '63, I 20th Me., died Dec. 8, '64
Cyrus Reynolds, Dec. 4, '61, C 13th Inf.
Hiram Reynolds, June 5, E 16th Inf.
Josiah K. Reynolds, June 15, '61, F 4th Inf., re-enlisted July '62, 2nd Cav.
Joseph E. Reynolds, I 2nd Regt. Cavalry
Joseph V. Rackliff, Dec. 31, '63, L 1st Heavy Artillery, died June 30, '64 Charles H. Robinson, Sept. 7, '61, 1 8th Inf., resigned July 3, '62
Fred Seavey, Nov. 23, '63, I 2nd Cav., died Aug. 31, '64
Josiah Scribner, Aug. 21, '61, E 7th Inf.
Daniel Scribner, Aug. 6, '61, E K 7th Inf., deserted
David M. Scribner, Aug. 21, '61, K 1st Regt. Inf.
Daniel F. Small, A 31st Inf., killed on picket near Richmond, died June 19, 1864.
John Smith
Daniel Starkey, May 28, '61, G 2nd Inf.
Edwin E. Stevens
Joseph Edwin Stone
William E. Stevens, 7th Regt. Mounted Artillery
Lewis Thompson, Sept. 5, '64, B 14th
George W. Tebbetts
John Van Deets, Nov. 27, '63, B-C 30th Inf., Aug. 20, '65
Reuben R. Webb, Aug. 25, '62, C 19th Inf.
Samuel W. Webb
Charles Webster, May 3, '61, A 4th
Richard Whitten, Aug. 25, '62, C 19th, Cpl. Sept. 10, '62, Jan. 2, '65 William H. Whitten, Nov. 20, '63, I 2nd 'Me. Cavalry, Dec. 6, '65
Otis Whitmore, June 15, '61, D 4th Inf.
Allen D. Wood, June 15, '61, I 4th Inf., died June 17, '62, gunboat serv.
Randall K. Whitten, Aug. 25, '62, C 19th Inf.
Roscoe G. Young, Nov. 18, '61, H 3rd Inf.
Civil War Veterans Buried in Unity Other Than Those Listed Previously
William Coombs, died Nov. 3, 1863 Gustavus Coombs, Co. K. 14th Me. Regt., died Jan. 12, 1863 William Farwell, Co. L, 1st Me. Regt. Cavalry, wounded near Ream's Station, Va., confined in Raleigh, Danville, and Libby prison, exchanged March '65, died 1894 Ruel Hollis, Co. K, 13th Me. Inf., (1848-1923)
Wilfred Mitchell, Co. A 22nd Me. Regt., killed Pont Hudson, 1863
232
A HISTORY OF UNITY, MAINE
James Sawyer Marcellus Whitney, B 14th Me., from Thorndike
Amos Billings, died in Kansas
W. H. J. Moulton, "A" 26th Inf., enl. Sept. 10, '62 from town of Jackson, buried in Unity
APPENDIX J
World War I Veterans
NAME - INDUCTION OR ENLISTMENT - ORGANIZATION - OVERSEAS - DISCHARGE
Cecil Bacon, U.S.N.R.F., May 21, '18, Sea 2nd class, USS Breke, Aug. 25, 1919 Charles H. Bartlett, Sept. 18, 1917, Batt'ry D, 303 F A, none, Dec. 2, 1918 Fred O. Bean, July 22, 1918, Cpl. 151 Dep. Brig., none
Samuel B. Berry, N. G. June 8, 1917, Cpl. "F" Co. 2nd Inf., N. G., 103 Inf., Champagne - Marne overseas, Ainse - Marne Sept. 25, 1917 to July 22,killed July 22, 1918
Hugh Chase, 1918, none, Dec. 15, 1918
Wallace Chase, Oct. 2, 1917, Dep. Brigade, 301 T M Batt'ry, Co. B 1st Div. Br., none
Ambrose Dean, enl Aug. 13, 1918, 2 M C, Sept. 29, 1917 to June 9, 1918 Carl C. Bennett
Walter Douglas, Oct. 2, 1917, Co. A M G Bn., Co. B 4 Eng., Aisne Marne St. Mihiel Meuse-Argonne, killed Oct. 3, 1918
Charles Edgerly, Dec. 14, 1917, Batt'ry B, 54 Art. CAC, St. Mihiel, Meuse Argonne, Feb. 15, 1919
Everett Edgerly, July 8, 1916, N G 102, M G Bn., overseas, Eng. Toul Sec .; Chateau Thierry, Aisne Marne, St. Mihiel, Apr. 20, 1919
Glenn Edgerly, U.S.N., July 9, 1917, R/S Boston, July 21, 1919
William Fairbanks, ind. Aug. 15, '18, COTS Cp. Grant, Ill., No overseas, Nov. 26, 1918
Orville Fuller, Oct. 15, 1918, SATG U. of Me., No overseas, Dec. 9, 1918 Leland Furbish, U.S.N., May 1, 1917, electrician 30 G, U. S. sub-chaser - Disc. USS N-7-Submar. Base, New London, Jan. 23, 1919
Clarence Gerry, Oct. 7, 1918, SATC Univ. Me., Dec. 7, 1918
Carl Goodwin, July 29, 1918, 331 G & G, none, Jan. 8, 1919
Mark Grant, enl. R. A. May 1, 1917, Co. E 9th Inf., overseas from Sept. 17, 1917 to May 11, 1919, May 23, 1919
Philip B. Grant, Jan. 6, 1918, 2nd Lt. Apr. 29, 1919, OTC Cp. Devens-816 Po. Inf., July 22, 1919
William H. Grant, Oct. 10, 1918, SATC U. of Me., No overseas, Dec. 8, 1918 Clayton Hamlin, Aug. 8, 1918, unassigned, 2 M C, none, June 17, 1919
Raymond Hamlin, enl. N G June 8, 1917, Co. F 103rd Inf., Meuse-Argonne Apr 28, 1919
Preble D. Hatch
Melvin Hubbard, enl. May 23, 1917, B'try C. 102nd F A, Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Apr. 29, 1919
Arthur Irish
Ralph H. Johnson, Ind. Mar. 30, 1918, 151 Dep. Brig. Co. I 304th Inf., over- seas: July 8, 1918-Dec. 31, 1918, dis. Jan. 15, 1919
Clifford B. Jones, U.S.N. Dec. 4, 1917, F 3c Electrician, NTS Newport, R. I .: USS Pueblo, Dec. 12, 1918
Alton W. Libby, Ind. June 24, 1918, 151 Dep. Brigade, Jan. 21, 1919 Morris Mills, Ind. Oct. 2, 1917, 151 Dep. Brig & Co. M 362nd Inf., overseas Apr. 12, 1918, St. Mihiel: Meuse-Argonne, June 13, 1919
Wilfred Mills, N G June 8, 1917, Co. F 2nd Inf., Me. N G, Hq. Co. 103rd Inf. to death, Aisne-Marne, Champagne-Marne, died July 24, 1918 Guy Morse, enl. Mar. 21, 1917, 2 Co. Ft. Totten, N. Y., Hq. Co. 8 F A, over- seas, Aug. 18, 1918-June 20, 1919, June 4, 1920
Paul Mosher, enl. U.S.N.R.F., electrician 3c: USS Radio Naval Sch., USS Georgia, USS Emerald, R S Philadelphia, US Lake Tahoe, May 20, 1919
233
APPENDIX J
Percy Nickless, Ind. Oct. 2, 1917, 151 Dep. Brig. Hq. Co. 60th Inf., St. Mihiel; Meuse-Argonne-overseas: Apr. 16, 1918-July 28, 1919
Lynn T. Rand, U.S.N.R.F., Apr. 4, 1918, M M 2c, Aug. 5, 1919
Clarence Reynolds, Ind. Sept. 18, 1917, Batry D 303 F A, overseas July 16- Jan. 20, 1919, Feb. 7, 1919
Walter O. Stevens, enl. Aug. 8, 1918, Meat Handling Sec., overseas: Sept. 20, 1918 to July 15, 1919, July 24, 1919
C. Wellington Taylor, Ind. Mar. 14, 1918, Q. M. Mech. Repair Sch. Unit, Rep. Unit No. 311, MTC, No overseas, Apr. 17, 1919
Robert R. Wellington, Ind. Oct. 15, 1918, SATC U. of Me., No overseas, Dec. 7, 1918
Preston W. Whitaker, 1st Lt. M C Aug. 27, 1917, M. off. 108 Am. Tn. St Mihiel-Meuse Argonne, May 31, 1919
Fred H. Whitehouse, Ind. Oct. 2, 1917, 307 Mo. B. Ord. Rep. Shop, St. Mihiel:
Meuse-Argonne, overseas: May 19, 1918-May 6, 1919, May 13, 1919 Robert R. Whitehouse, Ind. Oct. 10, 1918, SATC, No overseas, Dec. 11, 1918 Chesley E. Reynolds, Ind. May 28, 1918, Hq. Det. F A Br., St. Mihiel-July 15, July 9, 1919, July 21, 1919
Daniel Shute
Eben C. Reynolds, Ind. July 25, 1918, A 73rd Inf., Dec. 9, 1918
Veterans of World War II
Albert Adams, U.S.N.
LeRoy Hunter
James Adams
Lt. Richard Jones *
Cecil Bacon
Thomas Barnes, Signal Corps
James Kenney, U.S.N.
John Berry, U.S.N.
Philip Libby
Kenneth Berry, U.S.N.
William Manley
Raymond Berry, U.S.N.
Wilfred Manley
Maxine N. Berry, W.A.C.
Harrison Manley
Dr. Harlan Bartholomew
Leighton Milliken *
Phyllis Bradeen, C. N.
Owen Mitchell
Lee Boulier
Richard Boudreau, M.
Carleton Murch
Gideon Bowerman
Charles Burgess
Roger Oakes, Air Corps
Cecil Clark
Theresa Oakes, C. N.
Bert Clifford, U.S.N.
Manley Palmer
Donald Constable
Kenneth Palmer
George Constable
Frederick Palmer
David Cook
Crosby Packard
Ronald Crocket, U.S.N.
Hilton Plummer
Charles Reed, Merchant Marine
Maurice Cyrway
Wallace Reynolds
Franklin Dalzell, U.S.N.
Basil Rines
Lester Dalton George Dobson
Robert Shorey
Roy Dobson
Maynard Stevens, Merchant Marine
Robert Edwards
Erwin Emery
E. S. Farwell
Ernest Thompson
Bernard Foster
Vernon Thompson
John Foster, Air Corps
Albert Fowler, 'Sea'bees
Donald Furrow
James Tweedie
Arnold Tweedie
Albert Hillman
James B. Vickery, Jr.
Stanley Hillman
Stanley Hamlin
Donald Walton
Kermit Walton, U.S.N.
Albert Hubbard
Alec Reynolds
Chandler Dalzell, U.S.N.
George Shorey
Joseph L. Stevens
Ralph Stevens
Raymond Stevens *
Ralph Trull Perley Tucker
Ralph Gordon Russell Good
Roland Pelletier, Merchant Marine
Lt. Com. A. R. Curtis, U.S.N. Francis Curtis
Linwood Mitchell, Merchant Marine
Lt. Claude E. Mussey * Air Corps
Merle Nichols
Alfred Clark
Harold Jones, U.S.N.
George Tweedie
234
A HISTORY OF UNITY, MAINE
Margaurete Walton, W.A.C. Elwood Waning Ellery Whitten
Paul Winters Harold Winship
Lt. Hershell Winship
U. S. N. - - U. S. Navy
W. A. C. - Women's Auxiliary Corp.
M. M. -- Merchant Marine
* - Missing in action
C. N. -
APPENDIX K
THE WALDO TRUST COMPANY
The Waldo Trust Company was organized at Belfast in 1904. On September 20, 1913, a branch bank was opened at Unity, with Ben- jamin A. Fogg, manager. A commodious brick building had been built near the railroad station. In 1920 Beula Knight became mana- ger; she remained there for three and one-half years.1
In the summer of 1923 this Unity bank received considerable pub- licity because of a spectacular bank robbery, which jolted the deposi- tors' sense of security. On Tuesday evening of August 21, 1923, thieves pried open the vault2 taking the contents of the cash box. It was reported that $1,840 in cash was stolen, but the safety deposit boxes were not molested. There was a series of robberies that sum- mer and fall, and the Sheriff never arrested the culprits. Approxi- mately a month later the robbers appeared again, but this time they performed a more thorough job by blowing open the safety deposit boxes.
During this era of boom and wild speculation the Waldo Trust Company seemed a forerunner of the tragic days of October and No- vember 1929. The bank's stability failed, and on March 5, 1927 closed its doors.
THE FEDERAL TRUST COMPANY Unity Branch
Largely through the influence of James B. Vickery with the direc- tors, the Federal Trust Company of Waterville opened a branch bank here. They erected a fine wooden building in the village and on June 4, 1928, opened its doors for business.
Mr. George Patterson assumed the manager's position, and he has ably managed the Unity banking business for the past twenty-five years. He has been assisted by Mrs. E. D. (Gladys) Young in recent years.
1. Succeeding Mrs. Knight were Mr. Bean, Philip Williams and George Leadbetter.
2. Republican Journal, August 23, 1923.
235
APPENDIX K
THE UNITY TELEPHONE CO.
On February 15, 1900 the selectmen of the Town of Unity autho- rized the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company to put up poles and wires along the streets and highways of this town. In the same spring this company started work in linking Waterville with Belfast by telephone lines. The wire went through Unity and four individuals had telephones installed.1
Because of the high rates charged, a group of Unity citizens re- solved to form a company of their own. Consequently in May 1902 a small group organized at the Central House, the Unity Telephone Company.2 Incorporated with a capital stock of $25,000 the company raised money by selling stock to subscribers. The company construc- ted a line from Unity to Dixmont Corner and started service in the autumn of 1902. Not long after this the line was extended to Hamp- den. The central office was located first at the hotel, then at Adam's Store, next Dr. Cook's office, and finally in Rodney Whitaker's home. In 1905, when Rodney Whitaker became chief operator (central), there were sixty-three telephones from Unity to Troy Corner, on five separate lines.
In 1925 the Unity Telephone Company purchased the Half Moon Telephone Company which controlled the Thorndike and Knox lines.
Rodney Whitaker maintained day service until his resignation in October 1944.1 At that time the exchange was placed in Georgia Grant's home, where, with three assistants, Mrs. Grant maintains twenty-four hour service.
APPENDIX L
Postmasters
Lemuel Bartlett
Daniel Whitmore
Dr. Rufus Burnham
Hiram Whitehouse
James B. Gilkey
James G. Patterson
James Bowdoin Murch
Jonathan F. Parkhurst
October 10, 1815 January 23, 1829 July 13, 1841 July 29, 1845 April 9, 1849 July 29, 1853 June 15, 1858 August 31, 1861 December 13, 1865 'July 15, 1867 December 7, 1868 June 15, 1874
Alfred Berry James R. Taber Clement R. Taber Josiah Harmon
L. H. Whitaker
June 30, 1875
Ira F. Carter
March 17, 1880
H. B. Rice
November 24, 1885
James R. Taber
1. They were: Dr. Jesse Cook, F. A. Whitehouse, E. E. McCauslin, and E. D. Chase.
2. These persons were Edward McCauslin, Frank Bartlett, E. D. Chase, Jesse Cook and F. A. Whitehouse, who incorporated and elected McCauslin, president, Frank Bartlett, secretary and treasurer; E. D. Chase, manager. Rufus Stone was president following McCauslin.
1. For many years there was no night service after nine o'clock and only partial service on Sunday.
April 1, 1806
236
A HISTORY OF UNITY, MAINE
Hezekiah C. Chandler
Robert B. Cookson James R. Taber Edgar T. Whitehouse Benjamin F. Ham Clayton R. Hamlin George Henry Foster
Lloyd W. Tozier
March 27, 1889
August 17, 1893
May 31, 1895
October 17, 1914
1922 March 1, 1926
August 1, 1934
August 1, 1949
Rural Mail Carriers
Guerney Stevens Ambros Dean C. B. Jones
October 1, 1902 until April 1923 April to October 1923 October 1923 to the present
The Mail
The road through Unity was established in 1810 as a post road. The mail arrived weekly by a post rider. Beginning about 1825 serv- ice came bi-weekly. In 1827 the firm of Burleigh and Marshall con- tracted to carry the mail; the next year Marshall bought out Burleigh who continued the service. In 1833 Col. Thomas briefly operated a stage service, but he sold out to the Augusta Stage Company, again under Marshall's control. He put on a four-horse post coach that de- livered the mail. About 1843 V. D. Pinkham bought out the Augusta company and carried both mail and passengers. Unity was a stopover, where the stage changed horses at the local tavern. After the railroad was built through to Fairfield, the mail was brought by stage from that place.
Merchants and Storekeepers
In the early days of settlement the head of the house was forced to do his trading at Clinton, Fairfield (Kendall's Mills), or Winslow. Later he traveled to Belfast with his produce and traded for provi- sions. About 1805 Unity had its first general store. The following list provides the names of those who gained a livelihood by sale of groceries and merchandise here.
1805 Benjamin R. Rackliff
John Rackliff
1815
Chandler Hopkins on Quaker Hill
1820 Isaac Adams
Elijah Winslow
Allen Taber
Hezekiah Winslow
1830
Thomas Chandler
1836
Hiram Whitehouse 1848
1838
Nelson Dingley 1853
1840
Thomas 'Snell, later Gilkey and Snell
1842
Henry Kelley 1854, later E. D. Williams & Kelley
1840
James G. Patterson 1855
1848
Charles Snell 1851
1849
Charles Lamb
1848
Josiah Harmon 1876
1826
Oliver & Henry Farwell 1833 at Farwell's Mills
1823
Rueben Brackett 1835, clockmaker and manufactured oilcloth
237
APPENDIX L
1826
Samuel Getchell
Benjamin Ayer, Jr. 1833
Henry Kelley & Weed 1855, Kelley and Files 1856
Jonathan F. Parkhurst and H. Chandler
Jonathan F. Parkhurst & Charles Taylor
1857 1.860 1857
Charles Taylor 1905
B. F. Harmon
1856
Benjamin Stevens
1865
Curtis Mitchell 1913 (Taylor & Mitchell)
1870
Eleazer Adams 1885
1866
George Linkfield 1872
1863 1856
Nelson Vickery 1865
Alfred Berry in the Union Store
1873
Lindley Mosher 1914 (Store carried on by Mrs. Mosher 1928).
1866
Andrew Myrick
J. A. Adams (Adams and Knight 1904)
J. A. Adams & Son (Now Lyle Adams)
F. A. Whitehouse & George Grant
1890
E. E. McCauslin & Rufus Stone
J. H. Farwell 1912. J. H. Farwell & Son 1921.
1910
H. L. Clark, Hardware
1900-1925 Frank Fairbanks, Furniture and Undertaking
1928
Agnes Adams, Dress Goods
1935
Edwin Parkhurst, Grocer
1946
Unity Hardware Co. (Milton Hills) Harry_Worthen, Mngr.
1951 Harold Good, Grocer
1945 Maynard Stevens, Grocer
1952 Lloyd Barrows, Grocers
TRADES
Shoemakers
Jonathan Stone 1830
Benjamin Chase
Bryant Moore 1836-1860
Otis Starkey 1826-1860
John Gerry
Josiah Twitchell 1830's
John B. Young 1840's
Nathaniel Rice
1840's
James Merrick
1848-1860
William Woodsum 1848-1860
Daniel Starkey 1848-1860
Oliver Whitten 1880's-1890's
Lewis Thompson 1880's-1890's
Blacksmiths
Roberson Davis 1830 Ira Buck
Chenery Broad
Gardiner Batchelder
Frederick N. Burrill 1840-1850
Nathaniel Stetson
1840-1850
Charles H. Robinson 1840-1850 James G. Varney 1870
David Dyer
Miller Monroe 1880's
B. T. March
1880's
Charles Means
1880's
William Gerrish
1886-1930
Charles Graffam 1905-
1870
James R. Taber 1914
1880
1899
E. T. Whitehouse 1945 (Maplewood Lumber Co.)
1908
1916
Harold L. Glines 1946
1830 1856 1855
238
A HISTORY OF UNITY, MAINE
Cabinet Makers & Casket Makers
Gorham Hamilton Adam Myrick S. A. Myrick Alonzo Hamilton
Saddlers and Harness Makers
Isaac Adams
Luther Mitchell Charles Collar Bert Rackliff H. B. Rice
Carriage Makers
Harrison G. Otis 1840's-1860's
Solomon Hollis 1840's-1860's
Bryce Jewett 1840's-1860's
Newell Murch 1840's-1860's
Adam Myrick 1840's-1860's
James G. Varney
1870's
Station Agents
Alfred Berry 1870-1882
Fred Terry 1882-1894
Harry Walker
Fred A. Whitehouse
E. T. Whitehouse
H. M. Gregory
Beverly Robinson
J. J. Shanahan
E. A. Emery
G. W. Hasty
Herbert Oakes
Maynard 'Stevens
Lynn Stevens
Druggists
Taylor & Mitchell 1865-1905
C. Boyce Mitchell 1900-1922
Charles Barney 1924-1930 John Reed & Son 1930-
Restaurateurs
Albert Adams
Max J. Fortier
Maplewood Lumber Company
Soon after the railroad was built, many merchants believed that the business section of the village would gradually concentrate itself near the station. In a sense this has come about, but not to the extent anticipated. Eleazer Adams owned a store where Hood's Creamery now stands. In the early nineties Frank Rice and Mr. Colson built a store adjacent to the railroad station. Subsequently Rufus Stone and E. E. McCauslin bought the business, but they sold out in 1899 to Fred A. Whitehouse and George Grant. Whitehouse & Grant conducted a grocery store and a lumber and spool bar business. The proprietors, calling their partnership the Maplewood Lumber Company, carried on a large and profitable business here and in Burnham and Dixmont by buying wood lots for pulpwood or lumber. After Grant died,
239
APPENDIX L
Whitehouse bought out his heirs. About 1927 Fred Whitehouse re- tired from an active career, and his interest was carried on by Mr. E. T. Whitehouse. The latter had the business incorporated in 1930 under the name long associated with it. After World War II, May- nard Stevens bought out the store, which he now operates.
J. H. Farwell & Son and the Waldo County Farmers' Union
About 1908 Joseph H. Farwell built a general store, where he sold groceries, farm supplies and grain. About 1912 he sold his business to the Farmers' Union.1 This organization of farmers was formed chiefly (1) "to establish conditions whereby anyone desiring, may buy Maine Central produce true to name, (2) to develop our present markets and find new ones for all our products, (3) to ascertain the conditions of the crops throughout the season and furnish this information to the stockholders, (4) to buy and sell and consign all kinds of farm produce and to establish uniform grades of the same," and finally "(5) to own or lease and operate a storage warehouse for produce."
The Union Store was managed by Lin Cornforth, and later by Beverly Robinson and Chesley Reynolds. How successful this venture proved is not known, but the Union sold out to Rufus Stone. About 1917 Carl Connor conducted a grocery business in this store. Con- nor sold out about 1921 to Joseph H. Farwell, who together with his son, E. S. Farwell, have operated the business until the latter's death. Mrs. E. S. Farwell now owns the business.
APPENDIX M
Unity Doctors
Almost fifteen years of settlement passed before Unity boasted of its first doctor. About 1796, Doctor Abner Knowles of Eastham, Mass., settled here.1 Before his coming the people depended on herbs, which provided medications of all varieties. Some women gained a reputa- tion for their knowledge of medicinal plants and homemade prescrip- tions. They depended on one another for nursing and there was usually one woman who practiced midwifery and nursing in every community.
1. The Farmers' Union was incorporated October 5, 1912. The Union's by-laws provided for a capital of $10,000 of which each share was sold for ten dollars, but no one was to hold more than one share. The association had a president, sales manager, and a board of direc- tors. President, E. B. Hunt; Wilmont Gray, secretary; others associated with the Union were: Lin Cornforth, Dr. C. M. Whitney, Walter Ger- ald, and Willis Myrick.
1. The Records of the Bureau of Census, Maine, 1800, Vol. III, p. 88, recorded 1794 as the date of his settlement. However, his marriage record gives his address as "of Hampden"; and his eldest child was born in Hampden in 1796.
240
A HISTORY OF UNITY, MAINE
ABNER KNOWLES
Abner Knowles was born in Eastham, Massachusetts in 1770.2 Nothing is known of his background except his birthplace and parent- age. He presumably received the amount of medical training required in those days, which meant studying with an older doctor as an ap- prentice. After one or two years of instruction, study, and association the elder doctor wrote out a testimonial.
In 1795 Knowles was residing in Hampden, Maine, and in the same year married Dorcas Godfrey of Orrington. Shortly afterward they moved to Unity, where all but the eldest of their ten children were born.3 Dr. Knowles entered public life as town clerk to which office he was elected in 1802. This position he held for more than twenty- five years, giving it up in 1829.4
As a doctor he seems to have had a moderate practice, perhaps not quite as extensive as that of Dr. Burnham, but he did well. It is said that Doctor Knowles insisted that "if folks knew the true value of mul- len, they would remove their hats and make a bow." The old records frequently show a child named for the doctor, as Abner Knowles Hurd; or if the baby was a female, she was named for the doctor's wife as Dorcas Knowles Perley. Is this not an indication that the doctor was appreciated?
After forty years of medical practice Abner Knowles retired and in 1838 moved his family to Dexter. Why he should forsake his old home is not clear, unless it was that he wished to be near his only son, Abner, Jr., who became a well known Dexter and Bangor lawyer.5 All the Knowles children married into families outside of Unity, and after 1840 the name disappeared from Unity records.
RUFUS BURNHAM
When Doctor Rufus Burnham died in Unity in his seventy-sixth year, his obituary read "one of the oldest practicing physicians in Waldo county."6 To the citizens of Unity Dr. Burnham was more than just a country doctor attending to their maladies; he was likewise a town father. He was the first gentleman of Unity. His name was asso- ciated with every movement which was connected with town affairs from 1807 until 1854. He was philanthropist, politician, town official, businessman, tavern keeper, farmer; there was scarcely a thing to which Dr. Burnham did not give his time and influence.
2. Abner Knowles was the son of Seth and Ruth Freeman Knowles.
3. An old watertrough and spring before crossing the Mussey Brook as well as a clump of old fashioned cinnamon roses marked the site of his house until a few years ago.
4. There are three town books written in his handwriting, a homely scrawl, which doesn't indicate a careful precise hand. His medical prac- tice occupied his time, and he never held any other official town office.
5. Old deeds in Penobscot Registry of Deeds Office, Bangor, Maine, show Abner Knowles of Dexter in 1838, where he probably died.
6. Republican Journal, Belfast, Maine, November, 1854.
241
APPENDIX M
Rufus Burnham was the second physician here, commencing prac- tice probably in 1807. Burnham was born in Scarboro, February 29, 1779, the eldest son of Solomon and Betty Kimball Burnham. After receiving the usual amount of schooling, he commenced the study of medicine about 1802 with the Dr. Alvan Bacon of his home town. Burnham was an apt student and learned the secrets of his profession with ease. Completing his medical studies in the summer of 1806, Burnham began seeking a location. With at least two good recommen- dations in his pocket, he arrived in Unity, probably in the fall of 1807.7 These recommendations revealed him as thoroughly trained for his profession and testified to his excellent character.8
His second recommendation was provided by the selectmen of Scar- boro, who seconded Dr. Bacon's belief in Burnham's medical knowl- edge.9
Unity could not have received a better man. Rufus Burnham quickly won the respect of the inhabitants of his adopted home. Within a few years he was participating in town affairs and taking a leading part. As a doctor he was regarded without a peer; as a citi- zen he was practically worshipped. As Eliza Gilkey affirmed "every- body swore by Doctor Burnham."10
The doctor started practicing in the home of John Chase, where he resided, until he was able to secure a house of his own.11 Within a few years he bought an uncleared farm situated on the main street of Unity village. This farm comprised the land along the west side of Unity's main street from the corner where the brick block stands today to Roy Knight's place and extended westerly on the Burnham road to the trotting park. In 1810 he married a widow, Dorcas Milliken Lea- vitt, the sister-in-law of Dr. Bacon. Soon after his marriage Rufus
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