USA > Maine > York County > Parsonsfield > A history of the first century of the town of Parsonsfield, Maine > Part 2
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THE EXERCISES.
A special over the Portland and Ogdensburg railroad, which left Portland at 6.30 o'clock in the morning, brought Chandler's full band and a large number of others interested, to Baldwin, the nearest railroad station, nine miles away. An ample number of conveyances were in readiness to carry the company to the scene of the celebration. Half a mile out from the North Road Village, where the pro- cession was to be formed, the band was met by a company of fifty uniformed horse- men, and escorted to the village, where line was immediately formed for the march to Academy Hill, one mile away, where the literary and gustatory exercises were to be held in two enormous tents, which were pitched in the field of Mr. Sherman E. Piper, on the summit, one for the speaking and one for the eating.
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
First in the procession, which was marshaled by Captain Almon O. Smart, a brave soldier in the late civil war, came the horsemen, Captain John Lougee, of the First Maine Cavalry, commanding. Following in the order named, came Thompson Post, of Cornish, and Mitchell Post, Newfield, of the Grand Army of the Republic, in uniform, Chandler's full military band, of Portland, one hundred of Parsonsfield's fairest young ladies, dressed in white, and carrying a beautiful banner, which bore the inscription, " 1785-Parsonsfield Centennial-1885." After these was a carriage containing ex-United States Senator James W. Brad- bury, his brother, Dr. Samuel Bradbury, ex-Congressman L. D. M. Sweat, and his brother, Dr. Moses E. Sweat. The procession was closed by a long line of citizens and visitors.
Upon arriving at the tent where the speeches were to be made, the G. A. R. Posts were assigned seats which had been reserved for them in the front row, while the band, and young ladies, and invited guests, found seats upon the large platform, with the excellent chorus, under the direction of Prof. L. O. Emerson, of Boston, himself a native of Parsonsfield. This tent was one hundred and forty feet long and eighty feet wide, and although it was packed full, not half the crowd could get inside. The sides of the tent were raised and many listened to the exercises from the outside.
It was precisely ten minutes past eleven o'clock when the band opened the ex- ercises with a medley of popular airs. This was followed by the address of wel- come by the President of the day, Hon. J. W. Dearborn. His speech, which occupied fifteen minutes in its delivery, was able and eloquent, and his hearty words of welcome fell pleasantly upon the ears of a large audience. Rev. Wil- liam Ricker Thompson then invoked the Divine blessing, after which H. G. O. Smith, Esq., an honored resident of the town, was introduced, and gave a very interesting and concise address on the grant and surveys and early settlements in the town, the substance of which was published in our Saturday's edition. The act of incorporation and organization, which was to have been read by E. J. Cram, Esq., of Biddeford, was omitted on account of a lack of time, as was a poem writ- ten by Mrs. D. M. Merrill, of Boston, which was to have been read by Miss Elva Staples. After the rendition of Prof. Emerson's festival anthem, " Praise the Lord," by the chorus, Hon. James W. Bradbury, the orator of the day, was intro- duced, and was greeted with loud applause.
The following is taken from the "Maine Sentinel," of the same date :--
The people of the good old town of Parsonsfield, with thousands of their outside friends, celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of the organization of the town last Saturday, by carrying out the full programme of exercises we published in the Sentinel two weeks ago.
From the well-known energy of the citizens of Parsonsfield, high expectations were raised that the occasion would be one of rare enjoyment to all participating, and all who had the pleasure of being present went away more than pleased with the varied exercises,
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
The grand preparatory Musical Festival was held at East Parsonsfield three days before the Centennial, under the able direction of Prof. L. O. Emerson, of Boston, ably assisted by Dr. John T. Wedgewood, of Cornish, with Miss Alice Crouch, of Boston, soloist, and Misses Rose K. Wedgewood, of Cornish, and Elizabeth U. Emerson, of Boston, pianists.
Mr. Sherman E. Piper generously loaned the use of his field for the erection of the two mammoth tents for the Centennial, and, in fact, on the day of the cele- bration, free use was made of his house, barn, outbuildings, and nearly every foot of his whole farm, for which all interested were truly grateful to him.
The Piper field, on which the two large tents were erected, was an excellent place for the celebration. The ground is the highest in the vicinity, and from the place an excellent and widely extended view can be had, overlooking twenty- three different towns in Maine and New Hampshire.
A large amount of work was necessary in preparation for this Centennial cele- bration. We had the pleasure of looking over the active preparations going on on Friday, the day before the grand celebration. The two tents had been erected, one filled with seats for three thousand or four thousand people, the other filled with tables, and handsomely arranged to dine one thousand at a time. Scores of men were actively at work (as they had been for many previous days,) in com- pleting the final arrangements for the celebration of Saturday.
Much of the success of this celebration was due to the energetic efforts of the committee. Messrs. J. W. Dearborn, Chairman; John W. Piper, Recording Secretary; Wm. E. Moulton, Treasurer; John Bennett, L. T. Staples, C. F. San- born, E. S. Wadleigh, Corresponding Secretaries; Samuel Merrill, Dominicus Ricker, Gilman Lougee, Committee on Finance.
Messrs. Eben Foss and the Churchill brothers, also proved very efficient aids to the Executive Committee.
Saturday morning was clear and beautiful. At an early hour teams came pour- ing along from all directions, and when Chandler's band arrived from Portland, via Cornish, at about ten o'clock, there were probably fully six thousand people present. Nearly or quite two thousand carriages, bringing two, four, six or more each, were there. Over one thousand carriages were counted around the Piper place, near the tents, and nearly as many more must have stopped at points more distant.
A procession was formed a half mile below the academy, on the Limerick road, made up as follows: -
Marshal, Capt. Almon O. Smart, with aids. Thirty-six Cavalry men, mounted, Capt. John Lougee, commanding. Thompson Post, G. A. R., of Cornish. Mitchell Post, G. A. R., of Newfield, both in uniform, Chandler's full band,
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
One hundred of Parsonsfield's fair young ladies, dressed in white, with a beauti- ful banner bearing the inscription, "1785-Parsonsfield Centennial -1885."*
After the young ladies, came a carriage containing ex-Senator James W. Brad- bury, his brother, Dr. Samuel Bradbury, ex-Congressman L. D. M. Sweat, and his brother, Dr. Moses E. Sweat. The procession was closed by a long line of citizens and visitors.
Upon arriving at the tent where the speeches were to be made, the G. A. R. Posts were assigned seats which had been reserved for them in the front row, while the band, young ladies and invited guests found seats upon the large plat- form, with the excellent chorus, under the direction of Prof. L. O. Emerson, himself a native of Parsonsfield.
" Aunt Polly " Edgecomb is now living near the celebration grounds, in her one hundredth and fifth year. She received many callers on Saturday.
On the stand were three aged sons of Parsonsfield, Messrs. Robert T. Blazo and Joseph Merrill, of Parsonsfield, and Mr. Eben Blazo, now of Porter, each of whom is about ninety years of age.
Reporters on the platform: Mr. P. W. McIntire of the Argus; Miss McIntire of the Press; Wormwood of the Oxford Register; Pease of the Boston Globe; Pres- cott of the Biddeford Journal; Cummings of the Biddeford Times; and Hanscom of the Maine Sentinel.
Exercises at the tent opened at ten minutes past eleven, A.M., by music from the band and singing by Prof. Emerson's chorus.
On Sunday, it being quite stormy, the exercises were held in the church, which was filled. The exercises were of much interest. They were as follows: -
Praise Singing-L. O. Emerson's Chorus, Miss Wedgewood presiding at the organ.
Remarks -by Rev. Mr. Snow, of Cornish.
Prayer and Remarks-by Rev. I. P. Quimby, of Turner, Maine.
Singing-" Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing."
A very interesting and powerful sermon, by Rev. R. H. Conwell, of Philadel- phia, on the progress of Christianity for one hundred years. ;
Singing-" Praise God from whom all Blessings Flow." In which we plainly recognized the strong bass voice of Hon. Leonard Andrews,¿ of Biddeford.
A fervent benediction by Rev. Mr. Conwell, closed the interesting exercises pertaining to the Parsonsfield Centennial.
* At the close of the exercises this banner was presented to Prof. L. O. Emerson, who proudly took it home to Boston with him.
+ Digest of sermon appears in this work, Part III.
# Since deceased ..
DANIEL CHEENFYL
C.E. BROWN
A
OLLABE
DEAR BORN!
JF.MOORE
D.SMITH
POST OFFICE
LAMASA BOOTHBY
I.I
«O.H .WALKER & CO. LITH. BOSTON
MAPLEWOOD
.
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
EXERCISES AT TENT.
Chandler's band opened the exercises with a medley of popular and inspiring airs. The address of welcome was then given by the Presi- dent of the day, Dr. J. W. Dearborn, which was as follows: -
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: The town of Parsonsfield on this, the one hun- dredth anniversary of her birth, extends to you a kindly greeting and a cordial welcome.
To every son and daughter of this soil, native and adopted, she gives a mother's love and blessing, and opens thereto the dearest hospitalities of the old home.
Those of us who remain as members of the household, rejoice that we are again allowed to meet so many who have sought homes elsewhere, but who on this oc- casion manifest by their presence their continued regard for this, their fatherland. To you we open wide our hearts, and clasp your every hand with the warmest frater- nal greetings. To those from sister towns, from far and near, who have come here today to aid us by their presence, and by their expressions of good-will, in erecting this, the first great milestone in the onward march of years, thus mark- ing off by centuries this town's existence, to you I say, we swing the doors wide open, and bid you hail and good cheer. On this auspicious morn we meet, a re- union of hearts, and a unity of effort, to briefly contemplate and review the his- tory of this grand old town from its infancy to the present; and with the vision of faith glance forward to the destinies that await its future. This review and fore- cast are not altogether free from saddening thoughts, although the blessings that have been showered upon us in the past have been so rich and so varied. Of that number who participated in the exercises of incorporation, none remain. All those noble, heroic souls, with thousands of their descendants, have by the pale boatman been ferried across the dark and murky waters. But of the num- ber then living within its borders, there is one remaining, a lone woman, who resides almost within sound of my voice, and who is now more than one hundred and four years of age. Her infancy was cradled in the century preceding this town's birth, and should her life continue through this day, into the border of the next, she will have clasped by the golden band of years, fastened only by the ten- der, silken thread of life, three centuries together. Then, again, as we look for- ward over the chasm of another hundred years, we are saddened by the contem- plation that all these-this buoyancy, and life, and beauty, and mirth - will have taken their places with the loved ones gone before, in the ranks of that great, silent, fast-swelling majority. But notwithstanding these facts, let us not fail to rejoice and give thanks for the many blessings which crowned our lives. For an ancestry rich in strength of character, nobleness of soul, devotion to duty, to humanity, and to Christianity. For the noble lives that have gone forth to bless and to educate. For the fathers and mothers who have endured privations and toils for us, their children. For a birth and home in this healthful, peace-
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
ful, productive, and quiet town. For all the unnumbered and unnoticed bless- ings which have surrounded us in the past. For this glorious day, and the privi- ege of greeting so many of the dear ones, long absent; seeking hearts of grat- itude for recognized favors and blessings, believing with the noble Whittier,-
"Nor bounds, nor climes, nor creed Thou knowest, Wide as our needs Thy favors fall; The white wings of the Holy Ghost Stoop, seen or unseen, o'er the heads of all."
With gratitude for the blessings of the past, and imploring a continuance for the future, I now invite each and all to revently unite with Rev. Wm. R. Thomp- son in the invocation.
After the fervent prayer by Rev. Wm. Ricker Thompson, and the ren- dering of Prof. Emerson's Festival Anthem, "Praise the Lord," by the Chorus, an able and interesting paper was read by H. G. O. Smith, giving a summary of grants and surveys, act of incorporation and or- ganization, which appears, with other historical matters of importance, in this work, Part II.
The orator of the day was then introduced as one of the native sons of Parsonsfield, who comes to us laden not only with years but with honors, Hon. James W. Bradbury, of Augusta, Maine.
Mr. Bradbury spoke as follows: -
MR. CHAIRMAN:
Fellow Citizens-I am glad to stand upon the soil and breathe again the air of my native town-to look once more upon the hills and valleys, the fields and forests, of my earliest recollection.
I am glad to see assembled here so many of the children and grandchildren of the acquaintance of my boyhood.
I am glad to grasp the hand of the few that survive of those I then knew.
This scene bring back the memories of the past. It recalls the changes that the lapse of years has made.
My recollection goes back three-fourths of the period since the organization of this town.
One hundred years ago today, the hardy pioneers of this settlement met at the house of Thomas Parsons, and organized the town of Parsonsfield.
You meet today to celebrate that event. It is an appropriate, as well as an agreeable service.
It is due to the memory of those enterprising pioneers, from you who occupy the places where they stood, and constitute the present citizens of the good old town.
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
It is well for the present generation to recall the privations and hardships en- dured by those men and women who came into the wilderness, upon the very verge of civilization, to make homes for themselves and their posterity.
The discomforts of life in the rude dwellings they were first able to provide, the toil in clearing the heavily wooded land, of walling and fencing the fields, of making the highways over the rocky soil, of erecting comfortable buildings, schoolhouses and churches, the men of the present generation hardly know how to appreciate. Such noble acts, looking beyond self, to secure homes and inde- pendence for those who should come after them, is deserving of commemora- tion.
It was very kind in you, Mr. President and gentlemen of the Committee, to in- vite those of us who had strayed from the old homestead, to join you in this cele- bration, and give us the opportunity to share in its pleasures. For myself, and I think I may add in behalf of all the rest, we give you our hearty thanks.
Perhaps I ought here to say, that when your committee did me the honor to invite me to make a leading address on this occasion, I was so environed by sick- ness, cares, and the weight of years, that I felt constrained to decline. And I understood that what was expected of me was to give some personal reminiscen- ces, and a sketch of the early lawyers, until I saw the programme which assigns to me a duty I am not prepared to discharge.
We have heard with pleasure the interesting summary of the grants and early settlements of the territory. The most prominent figure among the first settlers was Thomas Parsons, the leading proprietor of the township. It is appropriately left for others to do justice to the memory of him, who bore so prominent a part in the early history of the town.
Mr. Parsons and the settlers were sure they had a good title to the land, going back to the original lords of the soil. The deed from Captain Sundy, the local chieftain, to Francis Small, dated November 28, 1668, of the tract of land between the Ossipee rivers, was subsequently confirmed by the General Court of Massachusetts. By intermediate conveyances the title came to the pro- prietors who made the agreement with Mr. Parsons and his associates.
Whatever may be said respecting the dispossession of the original occupants of many portions of the country, the proprietors of the soil of Parsonsfield can trace their title back to the original source.
According to tradition, there is something of romance connected with the origin of this deed to Mr. Small.
Francis Small, when twelve years of age, came with his father from England to America. In 1868 he was an Indian trader, residing at Kittery. In the spring of that year he established a trading camp in the Ossipee region, and was proba- bly the first white man who entered upon Ossipee soil. Through the summer of that year he sold goods to the Indians on credit, to be paid for with furs in the autumn and winter.
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
In November, Captain Sundy, the Indian chieftain, came to Mr. Small and told him, that the men of his tribe intended to set fire to his camp and kill him the fol- lowing night, and, as he could not restrain them, he advised Small to flee for his life. Small thought the story a scare, and declined the advice. But when night came on, he began to think so much of the information, that he concluded to leave his camp and secrete himself in some pines, on a hillside near by, and watch. Toward morning he saw the flames of his burning camp, and he took to his heels to save his life, and rested not until he had reached the white settlement at Kit- tery.
This mode of settling accounts did not suit Captain Sundy. A few days later he followed Mr. Small to Kittery, and to make good his losses by the fire and bad debts, he sold to Small, for a nominal consideration, the entire Ossipee tract, which was supposed to be some twenty miles square. This deed is still in exist- ence, as I am informed.
Sundy appears to have been an honest man, who hated repudiation, but his men were rank repudiators. Had they lived in these times, they would not need to resort to violent means to relieve themselves from debt, if they had a United States Supreme Court to interpret the law. They could assemble in their con- gress and enact a law making wampum, at their own price, a legal tender for debts contracted before the passage of the law, and then tender the wampum in legal payment of their debt. If not more honorable, it would be a milder and less cruel mode of discharging obligations. But I must not trench further upon the domain of the historian, who is to address you.
My recollection goes back far enough to recall many of the early settlers in the town, some of whom took part in its organization. Walter Neal, who lived half a mile above Middle Road Village, was elected pound keeper at the first town- meeting, one hundred years ago today. His brother Enoch, lived just above him on the other side of the road. Of the venerable forms of my earliest recollection, I recall that of good old Parson Benjamin Rolfe, the first settled clergyman of the territorial parish, which then embraced the whole town. I remember seeing him in the pulpit, in the large unfinished church, situated on the small common at Middle Road Village, and in his garden moving briskly about, dressed in his green baize dressing-gown, rolled up behind. He was an ardent politician in his latter days, and his dislike of Napoleon sometimes found vent in his prayers.
I also well remember Elder Wentworth Lord, the Baptist minister, venerable in appearance and in character, who lived at the Middle road, half a mile easterly from the village, and preached in the meeting-house situated on the east side of the road, west of the village, almost up to Walter Neal's.
Elder John Buzzell, the Free-will Baptist minister, resided at the North Road Village, and preached in the meeting-house there, and subsequently, a part of the time, in the meeting-house in the South part of the town. I saw him fre- quently at my father's house. I recall his venerable appearance, and his cus-
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD. .
tomary apostolic salutation on entering a house. I must not trespass upon the field of the biographer of the clergymen, but you will allow me to add that Elder Buzzell was a remarkable, far-seeing man, who has made his name almost his- toric. He was one of the founders of his denomination, and did more than any other man to secure its enlargement and success. He early perceived the neces- sity of advancing the standard of education of the ministry, as that of the people advanced, and gave every stimulus in that direction in his power. He was one of the foremost of the founders of the seminary in this village. To provide an organ for his denomination he started, and for some time edited, the "Morning Star," which was first published at Limerick. I received letters from him after he had reached the age of eighty-four, written with the vigor and accuracy which showed that with him, as with Moses of old, his natural vigor had not abated.
I recall, as if now standing before me, the good deacon, Samuel Garland, of the Congregational Society (or Standing Order, as then called), and the good Free- will Baptist deacons, Samuel Moulton and Samuel Moulton jr.
Dr. Moses Sweat commenced his study of medicine with my father, and at his suggestion, as I have heard him say. My recollection of him at that time is not as vivid as in subsequent years. He was one of the first medical students who began their professional studies with him. In the course of my father's more than forty years' practice of medicine in the town, twelve or thirteen young gen- tlemen entered upon the study of their profession with him. All of them achieved success in their calling, and several of them eminence.
Among my old neighbors at the Middle Road Village, I recall Benjamin Dal- ton, the careful and successful merchant. Peletiah Ricker, Tobias Ricker, Cut- ting Moulton, and the sturdy form of John Bennett, the substantial farmer, who lived a little distance on the way to the North road. At a later time Israel Chadbourne moved into the village, and still later, Noah Tibbetts, Esq.
On the South road we came first to the house of Deacon Samuel Moulton jr., then to the houses of William Moulton, and Deacon Moulton senior. Near them re- sided the Wedgewood families, Jesse and his son; farther on were the residences of the Hilton, Bickford, Piper, Morrison, Burnham and Burbank families.
On the cross roads, leading from the village to Newfield, we came first, to houses of Richard Lord and Captain Tristram Redman; then, some distance beyond, to that of Deacon Garland, who had a large family of sons, with whom I afterward became acquainted; then further on to the residence of Col. Joseph Parsons, a son of the proprietor, who raised up a large family of sons and daughters, of whom only one, Dr. J. Addison Parsons, of Windham, is the sole survivor. Dr. Charles G. Parsons, another son of the Colonel, who married my only sister, studied medicine, removed to Windham and practiced successfully his profession for several years, and died there. The Wiggins, Samuel, the successful teacher, and Daniel, his brother, lived in the vicinity, and further on, the family of Mr. Dominicus Ricker, one of whose sons, the Rev. Joseph Ricker, D.D., has accom-
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
plished as much for the Baptist denomination, of which he is a very able and useful minister, as any man in the State.
But I will consume no more of your time in personal reminiscences.
I understand it is expected of me, that I should give a biographical sketch of the lawyers who early settled here. In this respect the town has been fortunate in the character of those she has had. A good lawyer is a useful citizen; a bad one may be one of the worst.
We owe to law the protection of property, liberty and life. Without law, vio- lence and brute force seize all. Weakness and innocence would stand no chance. To secure justice and give protection, law must be wisely administered; and to do this, learned lawyers are needed, as well as good judges and intelligent jurors. The profession is, therefore, essential in securing the dearest rights of society.
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