USA > Maine > York County > Parsonsfield > A history of the first century of the town of Parsonsfield, Maine > Part 35
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ALLEN GARNER,
Whose portrait here appears, has been a resident of the town but a few years, yet he is closely identified with one of its most prominent inter- ests, " The Kezar Falls Woolen Manufacturing Company," which was organized in December, 1880, by an act of the Legislature, with an authorized capital of thirty thousand dollars. It was designed to put in one set of machinery, and ten thousand dollars in stock was at once taken by the citizens. By the spring of 1881, fifteen thousand dollars had been raised and expended, and the enterprise yet far from comple- tion. In April, 1881, Mr. Garner was engaged to superintend the set- ting of machinery. Five thousand dollars additional were required to put the mill in operation.
Among those whose efforts made the enterprise a success, and who contributed most liberally, were Mr. George W. Towle and Mr. John Devereux, of Parsonsfield, and Mrs. Fox, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, late of this town. The officers consist of G. W. Towle, president ;
GEO.H .WALKER & CO. LITH. BOSTON
allen Gamer _
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
F. G. Devereux, clerk; G. W. Towle, John Devereux and Allen Gar- ner, directors, with Allen Garner, agent and manager. The first yard of cloth was woven in July, 1881. In 1882, they manufactured 88,540 yards. In 1886, 322,000 yards.
The company is increasing the capacity of their buildings, putting in more machinery, is employing nearly one hundred persons, with a pay- roll of over two thousand dollars per month, and the business is yet in its infancy.
Much is due to the executive ability of Mr. Garner. He was born in England, 1842, has followed the business from his early life, having been in every position from bobbin-boy to manager, prior to his resi- dence in this town. His father dying when he was six years of age, his mother soon decided to remove with her family to this country, and finally, in 1856, settled in Lewiston. He is a man of uprightness and strict business integrity, esteemed by all his associates.
WIGGIN.
Early among the pioneers of Parsonsfield, we find the names of Bradstreet Wiggin and Winthrop Wiggin, and a few years later that of Nathan Wiggin; whether they were related, near or far, or not at all, we are unable at this date to ascertain. No traces of the families of Bradstreet or Winthrop remain, no one of whom we inquire can give us any clue.
The family of Nathan Wiggin has been prominent for many years. He was born in Stratham, New Hampshire, October 22, 1760, and mar- ried Olive Weymouth, March 21, 1782.
They had nine children, Joseph, Nathan, Nathaniel, Sally, Mitty, Daniel, Samuel, Lot and Drusilla. Two of his sons, Daniel and Samuel, settled in Parsonsfield. Lot settled in Limerick. Daniel was thrice married, had a numerous family, now all gone, only two grand- children remaining, one in St. Louis, the son of his son, William H., and one in Boston, the son of his son Nathaniel.
SAMUEL WIGGIN,
The fifth son of Nathan, of whom worthy mention is made, on page forty-two, was a man of more than ordinary mental ability and moral
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
worth. He was quite independent in his modes of thought and expres- sion, so much so as to be regarded somewhat eccentric, yet it was an eccentricity that exists with those whose minds are in advance, and who exist mentally in an atmosphere above and beyond their surround- ings, anticipating the thought and progress of the ages. Yet there was a warmth in his friendships and a heartiness in his genial greetings, which lapse of time does not efface, and a genuine kindness to the loved ones of his household which renders sweet and fresh the memory of the dear father to those who survive.
He was born September 9, 1796, married Miss Louisa McCullock Downing, April 30, 1831, and died April 22, 1852. Mrs. Wiggin, a lady worthy her husband, survived him nearly thirty years, dying_ December 3, 1881, aged seventy-two years. Of the three daughters, the second, Maria Drown, died at eighteen years of age; the eldest, Eliza Jane, retains the family homestead, where she resides, and the youngest, Sally Esther, is the wife of Honorable Charles F. Sanborn, of Parsonsfield.
FOSS.
It appears that Ebenezer Foss, senior, became a property holder, and paid taxes in town first in 1798. He took up lands in what is termed the Gore, on which his descendants have ever lived. His two sons, Levi and Samuel, settled in town. Levi married Betsey Elliot, daugh- ter of Daniel and Lydia Elliot, on September 1, 1825, and remained on the home place, where he died some years since. Mrs. Foss is yet liv- ing, in her eighty-eighth year. Here they reared a family of three children, Eben, Lydia and Freeman. The youngest son is now occu- pying the homestead with his widowed mother. The daughter, Lydia, is the wife of Adoniram Ricker of Cornish, Maine.
EBEN FOSS,
Whose portrait here appears, is the eldest son, born in 1826. He remained on the farm with his parents till about 1850, when he went to Massachusetts and was there employed for some years, and was for a time associated with John Devereux in business, as piano movers, but sold out that business some years since and returned to the old home,
GED. H.WALKER & CC. BOSTON
Eben For
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
and later, purchased the farm adjoining, where Oliver and Benning Parker formerly lived, and there resides.
He is an open-hearted, generous friend, firm to his convictions, and ready to express his views in approval or disapproval, without fear, and regardless of favor if his conviction of duty thus prompts. In pol- itics, a democrat, he enjoys not only the confidence of his party, but of his fellow townsmen, and has been frequently elected to serve in important positions. In 1852, he married a Miss Patten of Newport, and they have one son who resides with them.
Samuel Foss, a brother of Levi and son of Ebenezer Foss, senior, married Betsey, daughter of Captain Jacob Dearborn, and settled on the North road, so called, some two miles north of East Parsonsfield. He has been dead for nearly twenty years. His widow resides with the only surviving son, on the old homestead.
MAJOR PAUL BURNHAM
Was the first of the name to take up a home in the new town of Par- sonsfield. We find his name on the tax list first in 1795. He was twice married, first to Sally Weymouth, and second to Comfort Pease. He was born February 5, 1760, in Epping, New Hampshire, and died in Parsonsfield, June 3, 1832. His children were Betsey, Abigail, Asa, Noah, Sally, Nancy, Polly, John, Julia Comfort, Joseph and Susannah.
Asa married a daughter of Colonel Joseph Parsons, and after a time moved to Winslow, Maine. Noah married Martha Hilton. There are three of his sons living, George O. Burnham, of Biddeford, James E., who resides in town on the homestead farm, and John L., who is a suc- cessful merchant in Nashville, Tennessee.
John, the third son of Major Paul, remained with his father in the home where he lived and died. Married Lydia Burbank, and they had issue two sons and two daughters. Their eldest son, Thatcher W., retains the old farm and occupies the same house which was built in 1799. It is a nicely proportioned two story house, and was for many years at the opening of the present century occupied as a tavern. The youngest son, John, is a resident of Dover, New Hampshire. Of the two daughters, one resides in Providence, R. I., the wife of Charles B. Green ; and the other is Mrs. Eben F. Severance, and resides in Limerick.
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
CRAM.
Major James Cram (who was a commissary in the army of the Revo- lution, with rank of Major) came to Parsonsfield in 1797. His chil- dren were Wadleigh, Abigail, James, Lydia, Hannah, Mary and John. Wadleigh Cram was for a time in trade at Middle Road, prior to the Daltons. James, second, settled in Parsonsfield ; and one of his sons, Nathan B. occupies the old homestead with his son Frank. Two other of the sons of Nathan B. are properly mentioned on page sixty-nine, and the youngest is a teacher of schools. James Cram, second, joined the Friends' society about 1812, and remained a member through life.
Nathan B. had two brothers, James and Merrill, James settled in Brownfield and Merrill in Somersworth, New Hampshire.
KEZAR.
Of this family, which for many years was prominent in town, we have been unable to gather desired information. We find that Abnah Kezar was for a long time one of the municipal officers, and was for three years representative in the legislature ; that he was married October 27, 1803, to Dorcas Perry, and that they had children, Sarah, Jane, John, Nancy, Mary, Abnah, Susanna Hannah, and James. Mr. Kezar died October 9, 1849, surviving his wife but two years. There were evidently several older brothers of Abnah, probably the son of George, the celebrated hunter. In records of 1795, we find the names of George Kezar, also Josiah and Ebenezer. In 1795, the name of George Kezar, junior, is added, and in 1796 that of Abnah. We do not find the name of George, junior, after 1797. But those of George, Josiah, Ebenezer and Abnal remain. (I presume George, senior, died about 1797.) Of the family of Abnah, his son John was most prominent.
JOHN KEZAR
Was born August 3, 1807. He married a Miss Anna Mathews, of Ossipee, New Hampshire, in 1828, and they had five children, two sons and three daughters. Their eldest son, Samuel F., is living, a resident of Turner, Maine. Mr. Kezar was, like his father, a prominent busi- . ness man of the town, holding various offices, and he served in both branches of the Legislature, being representative in the years 1851-52 and 53, and senator in 1856.
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
He took great interest in neat stock, and next after Harvey Page, expended considerable money and effort in the introduction of improved breeds, especially the Durham. He died in 1864. Mrs. Kezar died in 1861.
MUDGETT.
Notwithstanding we have made considerable inquiry, we have been unable to gain desired information relative to this family, and while it is asserted by those of the present generation that Simeon was the original settler in this town, we are led to believe that there is one generation back of said Simeon. Among the first to settle here was one David Mudgett, whose name is lost from our records prior to 1794. But the names of six Mudgetts soon thereafter appear, and in the fol- lowing order, viz .: Joseph, Jeremiah, Simeon, Abraham, Nathaniel and John. These, we presume, are the sons of David, the original settler, In this, however, we may be in error. They all disappear from the records before 1807, save Joseph and Simeon. Joseph married Sarah Rumery, of Biddeford, and Jeremiah married Molly Hilton, both on March 27, 1786. The marriages were solemnized by Reverend Mr. Weeks. Abraham married Katy Paine, January 2, 1797, ceremony by Reverend Mr. Chadbourn. No further trace is found of Nathaniel and John. Joseph's children were Mary, Susanna, Joseph, Jemima and John, all born between the years 1790 and 1806, and there is no trace of one of these. Mr. Joseph Mudgett died May 8, 1811, and thereafter Simeon becomes the only remaining one of that generation. He was married November 26, 1789, to Dorothy Edgerley, and they had six children, two sons and four daughters, Sally, David, John, Judith, Dolly and Mary. The last two only are living. David and John both settled in Parsonsfield, and followed farming, were both men who were esteemed and respected for their uprightness and true manliness. David married Salome Merrill, and they had two sons, Doctor Simeon Mudgett, of Dexter, Maine, and Hardy, a resident of Massachusetts, and three daughters, Abigail, the wife of Hardy Merrill, of Parsons- field, Harriet, the wife of B. F. Pease, of Cornish, and Sarah, the wife of Frank S. Carr, of Sangerville.
John Mudgett was more prominent in the business affairs of the
22
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
town, and was representative to the Legislature in 1843 and 44. He married Zipporah Dearborn, daughter of Captain Jacob Dearborn, and had three sons and three daughters. His youngest son resides in town. Jacob, the second son, is a resident of Lynn, Massachusetts. One daughter, Mrs. Eben Day, resides in Limerick, and one, Mrs. Tracy Hughes, in Saco. Of the eldest son, Simeon D., and the youngest daughter, Ada, the writer has no knowledge.
MOULTON.
The Moulton families of Parsonsfield trace their ancestral line by authentic records back into the early colonial history, thence back, on authority that affords very strong probability of being correct, through nearly twenty generations of English families, until it is finally lost in the dimness of the eleventh century, in the generations preceding the Norman Conquest. The name seems formerly to have been spelled " Multon," and in "Domesday Book " where the great survey appears to have been made by order of William the Conqueror, in A.D., 1086, " Thomas Multon " is mentioned as a land owner, having been put in possession of " Galeshore " seized from the " Gales " by King William.
Later, during the reign of King Richard in the latter part of the twelfth century, another "Thomas de Multon, Earl of Gilsland " is spoken of as one of the favorites of the king. Readers of Walter Scott will see, both in "Ivanhoe " and "The Talisman," reference made to this same " Thomas de Multon " in connection with the personal his- tory of King Richard. Thomas de Multon appears to have been one of the nobles that arrested " Magna Charta " from King John, and still later, about A.D., 1297, appears another Thomas de Multon as signer of the Great Charter of Edward. For nearly two hundred and forty years this name appears in every generation among the English nobility.
We refer to these facts however, merely to introduce the Moulton family, which we purpose to trace only briefly back to A.D., 1637, when a young man who had scarcely attained his majority came from Ormsby, Norfolk county, England with Robert Page and his family, and landed at Newbury, near the Merrimac. He was a brother to John Moulton and Thomas Moulton who had preceded him to America.
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
The names Thomas, John, William, George, Samuel and Jeremiah are constantly recurring in the Moulton family during the generations. This young emigrant, who came with Robert Page's family, was Wil- liam Moulton, who married Robert Page's daughter, Margaret, and became the ancester of the Parsonsfield Moultons. His youngest son, William, born in 1661, married Abigail Webster, cousin to Hannah Dustin (so famous in the history of Indian captivity). He appears to have been a young man of energy, and coming to Moulton Hill in Newbury in 1683, he built him a house for his family, which his descendants continue to occupy. For this and other important facts, credit is to be given to Henry W. Moulton Esquire, of Newburyport, Massachusetts.
Joseph Moulton, son of the preceding, was born in A.D., 1694, and was one of a numerous family. He reared a large family of sons and daughters, among whom was Samuel Moulton born in 1718 and who was the father of two brothers, Samuel Moulton and Cutting Moulton, who after having been in the Revolutionary War, and having fought in the trenches at Bunker Hill, after the close of the war, turned their faces to the northern wilderness, and settled in Parsonsfield, Maine,. about 1788.
Samuel settled on the farm now owned by Joseph Moulton, and Cut- ting settled on the farm now owned by William E. Moulton. The children to the fifth generation of these ancient pioneers are scattered far and wide, many of whom still remain in York and Cumberland counties in Maine, and in Strafford and Carroll counties in New Hampshire.
In Parsonsfield, this family has not only been numerous but prom- inent. One of the first deacons of the Free Baptist church, under Reverend John Buzzell, was Samuel Moulton. Many remember with distinctness those two sterling men, Deacon Samuel Moulton and Deacon John Rand, men in whom the virtues of meekness, humility and loving kindness were combined with boldness, aggressiveness and outspoken independence. They were conscientious, firm and progres- sive. Then later, his son Samuel, also deacon, and another son Silas, for many years a leading minister in the old-school Free Baptist church. In fact, there are many who should receive especial mention among the:
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
families who have descended from the early pioneers, Samuel and Cutting. Doctors Alvah, John and Albert R., have already been re- ferred to on pages 139, 154 and 155, and Frank and Alvah on page 70.
Many have been quite scholarly, and have won distinction as teachers and in positions of honor and trust. Among these are Lorenzo, yet a resident of town, George, a resident of Limerick, and David O., a resi- dent of Cape Elizabeth. Many others deserve equal commendation.
WILLIAM E. MOULTON,
Son of William and Mary (Pearl) Moulton, was born in Parsonsfield, March 19, 1813, married Miss Priscilla Towle, November 30, 1837, and is yet living on the old homestead farm of the pioneer Cutting, his grandfather.
Of their eight children, six are yet living. Lucy, the wife of James Perry, of Portland; Mary, wife of Judge Hill, of Sandwich, New Hampshire; Ada, wife of Albion Towle, of Newfield; Eva, wife of H. W. Colcord, of Parsonsfied; Clara, wife of John B. Lord, of this town, and Hattie, who resides with the father. One died in infancy, and one son, Alonzo, died August 12, 1886, of disease contracted while in the United States service, during the late Civil War.
Mr. Moulton has served his townsmen faithfully and well in the various offices of selectman, superintending school committee, treasurer, etc .; has ever been an independent thinker, progressive and stalwart, and though at present, as for over fifty years past, an active and effi- cient member of the Free Baptist church, he is, and ever has been, a true, consistent Christian, of advanced thought and liberal views. He has ever been devoted to the best interests of humanity, and the inter- ests of his native town have always found in him a true supporter. He was, notwithstanding the burden of years, very actively interested in the proper observance of its centennial, and was the treasurer of the organized committee chosen to prosecute the work, and was not absent from any of its numerous meetings, where his presence could afford aid or encouragement. Years with him do not quench his generous im- pulses, nor destroy his ardent desires for progress.
GED. H . WALKER & CO . BOSTON
Wan E Moulton.
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
MARSTON.
The early settlers of this family came from Hampton, New Hamp- shire. David Marston was the first. He was born February 5, 1756, married Mary Page in 1782, and died January 29, 1835. He was one of the municipal officers of the town for many years, and representative to the general court of Massachusetts for the four years from 1806 to 1809, inclusive. The most prominent of his sons was Jacob, the fourth son, born April 16, 1799. Married Martha Doe, 1827, and died January 29, 1853. He was chosen to serve his townsmen quite frequently in various ways, and was representative to the Legislature of 1849 and '50.
Two brothers, ISAAC and SMITH MARSTON, of another family, set- tled in the southern portion of the town and resided there many years. Isaac moved, later, to Newfield and died there in 1880. His widow is yet living, a very active, amiable and accomplished lady, now over ninety years of age. His only daughter was the wife of John Garland ; both now are gone. Smith died in Parsonsfield some twenty years since, and his only son, Samuel, died in 1886. His eldest daughter is the wife of Otis Hatch, of Tarnworth, New Hampshire, and the young- est, the wife of John Ferrin, of Freedom. These were also families of good standing and repute.
BLAZO.
From the veteran lawyer, Robert T. Blazo, of Parsonsfield, I learn the following : Amos Blazo, from Bordeaux, France, came to the United States about 1735, and settled in Greenland, New Hampshire, and that a son of his, by the name of 'Amos, settled in Parsonsfield in 1778 on the farm now owned by his grandson, Robert T .; that he had sons, Daniel, John, Ebenezer, Joseph; Jonathan and William, all of whom settled in town on farms near, or adjoining each other. Robert Tib- bets Blazo, eldest son of Daniel and Abigail Chapman Blazo, has, received merited mention on page one hundred twenty-nine ; his son, Doctor Charles, page one hundred fifty-six. As a family they have been numerous, and of high standing and good repute in society, serving: faithfully in whatever positions they have been called to fill -honest,, scholarly and retiring.
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
BOOTHBY.
This family has been and is now quite numerous in town. They are agriculturists and stock-raisers, and are and have been amongst our best farmers and most reliable financiers. Samuel and John Boothby, sons of Joseph Boothby, deserve especial mention.
Chase Boothby, of whom a sketch appears page forty-three, has been more prominently identified with the business interests of the town than any other of the name. He has been much in office and was repre- sentative to the legislature in 1863. He is safe and reliable, a good financier and a man of wealth. As a family, the Boothbys are indus- trious, frugal, upright and circumspect.
CHURCHILL.
Through the kindness of O. B. Churchill, I am able to state the fol- lowing facts relative to this family. The first in this country was John .Churchill, of Plymouth, Massachusetts, who married Hannah Pontus in 1644. Their son Joseph was there born, and on June 3, 1672, mar- ried Sarah Hicks.
July 6, 1686, they had a son born whom they named Barnabas, who on February 14, 1714, was married to Lydia Harlow, and in turn their son Thomas, born April 30, 1730, married Mary Ewer, of Barnstable, and moved to Newmarket, New Hampshire, where their son, the first settler of Parsonsfield, Ichabod Churchill was born June 21, 1764. He married Elizabeth Doe and moved into town in 1797, and purchased a farm which has continued in the name, now owned by his grandson, Nathaniel H., who has done more for the past fifteen years to improve the breeds of neat stock in town than has been done by all others for a century. Thomas, the third son of Ichabod, born January 20, 1798, occupied the homestead farm, married Mary Banks, March 14, 1830, and they had eight children, five sons and three daughters. One son and one daughter died in infancy, and the others are yet living, three, Thomas S., Otis B., and Nathaniel H., in town, successful farmers and business men, and one, John Churchill, in Freedom, New Hampshire.
te
GED. H. WALKER & CO. BOSTON
Thomas Of, Churchill
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
THOMAS S. CHURCHILL
Was born May 6, 1831, was educated at North Parsonsfield Seminary, married Mary A., daughter of William D. Dixon, and took up his abode with Mr. Dixon, on which place he now resides. He purchased the farm prior to the death of Mr. Dixon, and has built thereon large and com- modious buildings and made many improvements. They had three children, only one of whom is now living, William D. D. Churchill, of Cornish, Maine. Mrs. Churchill died, and Mr. Churchill again mar- ried, Mrs. Olive Roberts, daughter of James Bowers, of Whitestown, New York, now a resident of Newfield, Maine.
Mr. Churchill is modest and retiring, a close thinker, a man of sound judgment, of determination and force of character, positive in his con- victions, and scrupulously conscientious in the performance of his obli- gations, an hospitable, worthy neighbor, citizen and friend.
MOSES DAVIS
Was born in Cornish, Maine, November 14, 1790, married Abigail Moul- ton, daughter of Deacon Samuel Moulton, senior, of Parsonsfield, and had three children, Alvah M., Sarah and Malcolm. The latter is a physician, of whom brief mention is made on page 154. His father died when he was twelve years of age and after living in several fami- lies in Parsonsfield till he was nineteen, he started for the West, and has made the best of his opportunities. He held important offices in Isabella County, Michigan, for some six years, was a member of the second regiment cavalry. He is now well established in Clare, Michigan. -
The daughter Sarah died in Biddeford, Maine, in 1879.
ALVAH M., the eldest son, was born March 19, 1820, married Sarah, daughter of Gardner Smart, of Parsonsfield, October 24, 1844, and died in Limerick, Maine, June 11, 1879. He was by trade a furniture man- ufacturer, but was engaged for many years in mercantile business at North Parsonsfield, Acton, Freedom New Hampshire, and Limerick. While in New Hampshire he was representative to the legislature and held the office of county treasurer for three years. He was a man esteemed for his integrity, business capacity and genuine worth.
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HISTORY OF PARSONSFIELD.
FENDERSON.
John Fenderson was the first settler of this name. He was a soldier in the Revolution and at one time aid-de-camp to General Lafayette. The following is a copy of his discharge from the service as corporal.
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