A history of the town of Industry, Franklin County, Maine, Part 11

Author: Hatch, William Collins. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Farmington, Me., Press of Knowlton, McLeary & co.
Number of Pages: 938

USA > Maine > Franklin County > Industry > A history of the town of Industry, Franklin County, Maine > Part 11

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A church was organized in Stark on the 26th day of June, 1833, consisting of about fifteen members, a number of mem- bers from the Industry church having been previously dismissed to join this newly organized society .* Elder Allen was en- gaged as their pastor and preached to them a portion of the time. He was subsequently dismissed to that church March 3, 1838. He died at his former residence in Industry, May 30, 1862, aged 73 years.

During the autumn of 1833 we find Elder William Wyman, of Livermore, visiting the church at Industry, where he also preached. On the ninth of November the church voted to hire him, but for how long a time is not known. He preached one-fourth of the time at the Centre Meeting-House, and probably about as often at West's Mills. In the fall of 1836 the society chose a committee to settle with him, consequently one might infer that his labors extended up to that date. Elder Allen was also invited to preach during this time "as opportunity offered."

The church invited William Smith to preach at the Centre Meeting-House on March 6, 1836, and were so well pleased with his effort that they voted to license him as a preacher. Shortly after this he moved to Belgrade, where he was ordained a minister of the Baptist Church.

* In 1856 this society erected a small house of worship in Stark, near the In- dustry line. This house was not completed until the following year, and was dedi- cated in the fall. It was commonly known as "The Union Street Church," and after some years fell into disuse. At length it was sold, torn down and moved away in the fall of 1882.

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Elder William Cross was employed to preach in town for a short time in 1836.

In 1837 the church voted to raise fifty-four dollars to be expended in preaching. Elder Haynes, it appears, preached in town occasionally in 1838, and Elder Leach the following year.

As the result of an extensive revival in 1840, under the labors of Elder John Butler, of Winthrop, assisted by Rev. John Perham, of Industry, a large number were added both to the Baptist and Congregational churches.

A gentleman by the name of Pearson, probably a licentiate, preached to the society by invitation, for three months in 1842. James S. Emery, a son of Deacon Ira Emery, was received into the church during this year. He removed to Lawrence, Kansas, about 1854, where he still resides, an influential and highly respected citizen.

Eben G. Trask, a young man of considerable ability, was licensed to preach April 1, 1843. In the month of September following, he was engaged to preach in town for the term of one year. On the 5th of December, 1844, after the expiration of the term of his engagement, he was ordained a minister of the Baptist Church, the services being held at West's Mills. In the month of May, 1845, the society engaged him to preach one-half of the time for one year. From this date up to 1849, a break occurs in the records of the church, and consequently but little is known concerning the affairs of the society during this period. During the last mentioned year we find Rev. J. M. Follett acted as pastor of the society, and in the following year the pulpit was supplied by Elder Miller.

Elder T. Brownson, an Englishman by birth, was employed as pastor in 1852 or 1853. In 1854 the society numbered fifty- six members.

Ira Emery, Jr., a young man of eminent piety, was licensed to preach Dec. 22, 1866, and after laboring with the society a little more than a year he was dismissed, at his own request, and joined the Free Will Baptist Church.

Rev. A. C. Hussey was employed in April, 1867, to preach

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in Industry once in four weeks. During this year Thomas Stevens and wife moved into town, and were received by letter from the Anson church.

In 1873 and 1874, Elder Heath preached occasionally in town. At this time there were only seven resident members. The membership having been reduced to four in 1885, the church was disbanded, and the members, viz. : Thomas Stevens, Sarah Stevens, Jesse Luce and Sophronia Norton, were received into the Farmington church .* Afterward, Rev. Edward A. Mason, of the Farmington church, preached in Industry occa- sionally until his removal to another field of labor in 1886.

Prior to its annexation to the Farmington, and when it was a large and flourishing society, preaching was also supplied by such ministers as Revs. Arthur Drinkwater, John Haines, Squire Sherburne Brownson, and William E. Morse, who labored with the church a part of the time in 1859.

HISTORY OF METHODISM.t

In August, 1793, some six years after the first settlement of the town, Rev. Jesse Lee, a noted Methodist preacher, was sent to the District of Maine, by the New England Conference, and came as far north as the settlement at Farmington. After traveling extensively in his new field he returned to Lynn,

* Mr. Luce is now (1892) the only surviving resident member.

t The author completed this sketch about the time Dr. Stephen Allen began preparing his elaborate work, " Methodism in Maine." On receiving Dr. Allen's circular of inquiry, the pastor on Industry circuit being unable to gather much of importance from members of the society, applied to the author for assistance. Wish- ing to oblige, the manuscript was placed in his hands and permission given to copy such parts as he might deem of value to Dr. Allen. The copy was made in extenso, and forwarded without the least hint as to the source of his information. Dr. Allen, on learning of this some years later, employed every means at his command to correct the error into which he had unintentionally fallen. A short time before his death he wrote for the Farmington ( Me.) Chronicle a very flattering notice of the History of Industry, from which we take the liberty to make the following extract : "The sketch of the Methodist Society in Industry, as given in the history of ' Metho- dism in Maine,' was prepared by Dr. Hatch, though from no fault of the under- signed, credited to another person." * * [Signed] S. Allen. This explanation is made by the author, that his readers may not adjudge him guilty of plagiarism.

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Mass., near the close of October, 1793, and remained in the vicinity of that place till January, 1794, when he started on a second visit to the District of Maine. According to his Jour- nal* he visited New Vineyard and preached there, June 2, 1794. He subsequently (see p. 87) preached to a large con- gregation at Farmington Falls, in Deacon Francis Tufts's barn. Neither Lee in his Journal, nor Butler in his History of Farm- ington, mentions this second visit to that town. Lee planned a circuit for succeeding ministers, and at the conference, July 25, 1794, Philip Wager and Thomas Coopt were appointed to take charge of a circuit which embraced the whole of the District of Maine, and Rev. Mr. Lee was made presiding elder. Lee came to Maine in November, 1794, and near the close of that month started over a lonely way to visit the settlements on Sandy River. He preached in Middletown (Strong), Novem- ber 27th, and immediately returned to Farmington. On Mon- day, Dec. 1, 1794, having procured a guide,# Rev. Mr. Lee set out to visit the settlements at Industry, New Vineyard, Anson and Stark. He visited the settlement on the Gore with the intention of preaching at Deacon Cornelius Norton's, but owing to sickness in the Deacon's family, the plan was deemed infeasi- ble and he went on to Daniel Luce's in New Vineyard, where he spent the night and preached on the following morning.§

* Methodism in Maine, p. 13, by Stephen Allen, D. D.

+ Stephen Allen, D. D., in his " Methodism in Maine," makes no mention of this gentleman or his labors, but writes the author under the date of March 17, 18SS: " I notice your mention of Rev. Thomas Coop with Rev. Philip Wager, as preachers, in 1794. You are undoubtedly correct. In my account of Industry circuit I do not mention Thomas Coop. His name is entirely omitted by Dr. Abel Stevens in his History, and I was led to omit his name by taking my sketch mainly from Stevens. Mr. Coop was on what was called the Readfield circuit, but a short time, so far as I can learn, and his name does not appear on the early records of Readfield circuit. According to Bangs's Ilistory he was soon after 1794 expelled, and no account is given of him in any Methodist history that I have seen. So our historians have passed over his name in silence."

# The guide who accompanied Mr. Lee, according to Rev. John Perrin, was Capt. John Thompson, of Industry.

$ Allen's History of Industry (see p. 28) gives the date as December Ist, as does also Dr. Stephen Allen's " Methodism in Maine " ( see p. 311 ), but in a more de-

RELIGIOUS HISTORY. 125

The writer is unable to learn anything regarding the labors of Wager and Coop, and is uncertain whether they visited the Gore settlement or not. In 1795 Rev. Enoch Mudge and Elias Hull were appointed as successors of Wager and Coop. They visited the settlement on the Gore and preached occasionally at Abner Norton's. During their labors here, Mr. Norton and his wife, with several of their children, made a profession of religion, as did also Daniel Collins and several others. These converts were organized into a society and a class was formed. The class gained numbers rapidly and Methodist preaching was furnished once in four weeks, either at Mr. Norton's or Mr. Collins's, for many years.

The author recalls an anecdote related to him by one of the early members, illustrating the inconveniences of pioneer life : "On one occasion the quarterly meeting was held at Abner Norton's, and as was the usual custom, the person at whose house the meeting was held furnished refreshments for those in attendance. In those days the settlers' china closets did not contain a superabundance of table ware, and in this in- stance the demand was far in excess of the supply. To remedy this deficiency, a quantity of nice large maple chips were pro- cured, from which the food was eaten, in lieu of plates."

Elders Mudge and Hull were succeeded in the pastorate in 1796, by Rev. John Broadhead. About this time a second class was formed at the house of Esquire Herbert Boardman, who settled on the farm now owned by Asa Q. and Calvin B. Fish, in the fall of 1795. Both Esquire Boardman and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist Church for many years.

Capt. John Thompson, afterwards a licensed local preacher, succeeded in forming a class in his neighborhood in 1798. Capt. Thompson was an assiduous laborer in his Master's vine- yard, and through the instrumentality of his preaching much good was accomplished.

tailed account of Mr. Lee's labors (see p. 16), Dr. Allen gives as stated by the author. Esq. William Allen declares this to have been the first sermon preached in New Vineyard, which, according to Lee's journal, is incorrect. Rev. Mr. Lee preached his first as well as the first sermon in New Vineyard June 2, 1794.

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In 1802 Esquire John Gower, also a licensed local preacher, moved from Farmington and settled in the south part of the town. Here he formed a class and. preached as opportunity offered for many years, until that insidious disease, consump- tion, made such inroads upon his health as to entirely incapaci- tate him for further labor. Esq. William Allen says of him : " He was a man of much firmness and decision, of a benevolent disposition, of strong mind and of strict integrity, a useful citizen, highly respected by all who knew him." The exem- plary christian lives of such men as Capt. Thompson and Esquire Gower were powerful auxiliaries in behalf of early Methodism in Industry, and at the same time exercised a salutary restraining influence over the more turbulent portion of the populace. At all times these good men were ready and willing to acknowledge the power and goodness of God, and by earnest appeals urged others to avail themselves of His precious promises.

Prior to 1809, Industry was not a separate circuit, but was an appointment on the Norridgewock circuit. But in this year we find it mentioned as a circuit, and Rev. Isaiah Emerson stationed here as preacher in charge.

Rev. Howard Winslow, a local Methodist preacher of note, everywhere known as Father Winslow, often preached in In- dustry during a period dating from his earliest efforts in 1812, up to near the time of his death, which occurred in June, 1858. Although Father Winslow's educational advantages were limited, he was in the fullest sense of the term one of Nature's noble- men. Simple and unostentatious in his habits of life, meek and inoffensive in his disposition, he won a strong position in the affections of the people of Industry, and many were gathered into the fold through the influence of his teachings. Anec- dotes showing the truly wonderful power of his preaching, in this town, are related in his biography.

Daniel Collins, Jr., made a profession of religion in early life, joined the class, and was a licensed local preacher, in which capacity he labored with considerable acceptance for several years. From the earliest Methodist preaching up to 1825, no

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statistical knowledge of the Industry church is attainable. Up to 1825 Maine had no conference, but was under the jurisdic- tion of the New England Conference. The first session of the Maine Conference was held by the clergy at Gardiner, com- mencing July 7, 1825. This separation established a new era in the history of Methodism in Maine, for during this year we find the first attempt made to keep a record of proceedings and a list of members, by the church in Industry. At this time the circuit included Stark and New Vineyard, with por- tions of Anson, New Portland and Strong. At that time there were four classes in Industry, viz .: Class No. I having a mem- bership of twenty-one, with Robert Thompson, a licensed exhorter, as leader, and Lemuel Howes, Jr., assistant leader. In this class the female members were largely in the majority. Among the male members were Ichabod Johnson, Wesley Thompson and a few others. Class No. 2, with thirty-five members and Nehemiah Howes, leader. Among its more prominent members were Esq. John Gower, of whom mention has already been made, and Nahum Baldwin, Jr. Class No. 3, at the head of Clear Water Pond, Peter Daggett, leader, had twenty-one members. Among these were Daniel Collins, Sr., Obed Norton and Zepheniah Luce, together with their wives ; also Isaac Norton and B. Ashley Collins. Class No. 4, at West's Mills, was formed December 9th, 1824, with thirteen members and Matthew Benson for leader. Although having the smallest membership of any class in town, it contained some of the wealthiest and most influential members in the church. William Cornforth, a licensed exhorter of much abil- ity, was a member of this class, as was also Esq. Peter West and wife, Peter W. Willis and wife, Capt. Benjamin Manter, James Manter and James Stevens. John Gott and wife joined the class April 19, 1825, and on the same day Mr. Gott was appointed leader. During the year the various classes added largely to their numbers by receiving into full connection many who had been taken on probation. David Davis and wife made a profession of religion in 1824, and, after the prescribed period of probation, were received as "members in full con-

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nection." Their son, Nathaniel M., experienced religion in 1825, joined the class, and in due time was received as a mem- ber of the church. In after life he took an active part in prayer and social meetings, and was a class Icader at the time of his death, October 19, 1843.

In June, 1825, a camp-meeting was held in a grove near Capt. John Thompson's. There were a dozen or fifteen rude cloth tents erected on the ground with a stand made of poles and a few rough boards. The total expense to be paid by the encampment was only eleven dollars! This amount was promptly raised by taking up a collection. Father Thompson, as he was often called, took an active part in the meetings. Among the converts was the late John Allen, who has since won the title of "Campmeeting John" by his fondness for attending those religious gatherings. Soon after his conversion he received an exhorter's license, and in 1828, that of a local preacher, which he held for seven years, frequently participat- ing in revival work. In 1835 he was admitted to the Maine Conference, where he labored with success, as a circuit minister, for many years. On twelve circuits, after joining the confer- ence, he baptized 648 converts, or an average of 54 for each circuit. In several instances the number exceeding one hun- dred on a single circuit. After traveling on circuits for twenty- two years, he became an evangelist, in which capacity he labored in various places in Maine and Massachusetts, and in nearly every instance his labors were blessed by a reformation. For the ten years or more that he thus labored he kept no account of the number converted, but left this to the preach- ers in charge. "But," says Elder Allen, "I hesitate not to say that quite a number of hundred were converted during these years." He lived to the ripe age of nearly ninety-two and one-half years, and died August 31, 1887, while attending the East Livermore Camp-meeting.

William Frederic, of Stark, who died March 19, 1892, and Samuel Patterson, of this town, also deceased, were converted at the same camp-meeting. A second meeting held at the

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same place in September, 1826, was well attended, and nearly one hundred persons were converted during its continuation.

In the fall of 1841* a camp-meeting was held in a grove on the farm of David Merry, ; one mile north from West's Mills, and was known as John Allen's Camp-meeting, from the fact that he was the originator of the project. At this meeting Rev. Heman Nickerson presided, but was called away when the meeting was about half through. On leaving, Elder Nickerson put the management into Elder Allen's hands, who conducted it to a successful termination. Quite a number were con- verted during the week, and on the whole it was a very prosper- ous meeting. "This," says the venerable Campmeeting John, "was the only time I acted as presiding elder at a camp- meeting." During the last days of the meeting a band of rowdies, from Anson, calling themselves "Shad-eyes,"# made a great deal of disturbance about the encampment. They were joined by a few of the more dissolute young men from Indus- try and during the night, before the breaking up of the en- campment in the morning, their yells and howlings became hideous in the extreme. They also boasted " That they would carry Allen ( meaning Campmeeting John) off before morning." How well they succeeded we will allow Elder John to relate in his own quaint yet forcible language : "On hearing their threat I felt somewhat alarmed, but called out a watch to go among them and if possible ascertain the names of the leaders. The men took lanterns and went up into the field where the desperadoes

* Authority of Rev. John Allen. Mrs. Warren Cornforth, who possesses a remark- ably retentive memory, says this date is incorrect. She states that her father, Col. Benjamin Luce, who died July 14, 1842, was ill and died during the progress or very soon after the close of this meeting. Elder Allen was the circuit minister and attended Col. Luce's funeral. The conference which appointed him to this pastorate convened at Skowhegan, July 21, 1841, and the following year he was sent to an- other field of labor. The author is inclined to believe Elder Allen's memory was slightly at fault in this instance, and to accept the date as given by Mrs. Cornforth.

+ This farm is now owned and occupied by Charles F. Oliver.

# This band existed for some years and became the terror of all law-abiding citizens in the communities they were wont to infest. Their depredations became of such frequent occurrence that, among the inhabitants shad-eying and malicious mis- chief became synonymous terms.

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were making great outcry. One of their number, from Indus- try, not wishing to be recognized, on seeing our men, ran and pitched over a fence in order to elude them. He was caught, however, and brought to the light, when it was discovered that it was a man by the name of Allen,-the son of a Baptist minister. He offered to go back and quell the racket and pay money if they would not reveal his name. The night wore away, and the next morning, as we were about packing up, I told the people, the last threat I heard from the rowdies was that ' Allen would be carried off before morning,' and so it was, but it did not prove to be me."

In 1823* a meeting-house was built near Capt. John Thomp- son's. In erecting this house Capt. Thompson was largely instrumental, giving liberally in material and money. At his mill the necessary lumber was sawed, and the house was almost universally known as the Thompson Meeting-House. It was occasionally called the Red Meeting-House, from the fact that it was painted red on the outside. By the most strenuous efforts the frame was raised, boarded and finished outside the first season, but for some years the inside remained unfinished and the congregation were obliged to sit on rough plank seats. The pulpit first erected was a huge affair, access to which was gained by a flight of stairs on the back side. When standing, the parson's head and shoulders could just be seen above the top of the desk. Afterwards the inside was finished, and years later the pulpit was rebuilt in a more modern style. This was the first, and with one exception, the only Methodist meeting-house, strictly speaking, ever built in Industry. For years large congregations gathered here to worship, but in time other houses were built in contiguous localities, and the tide of church-goers turned in other directions. It was torn down in the winter of 1872-3, and moved to Goodridge's

* Dr. Allen's Methodism in Maine gives the date as 1822 (see pp. 312, 528 ). This date was drawn from the author's own manuscript (see note p. 292), but in the final revision the change was made in consequence of newly discovered evidence. Of the early days of this house Dr. Stephen Allen writes: "I sometimes attended meeting in the Thompson Meeting-House and heard lively singing and loud shout- ing."

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Corner, where it was rebuilt as a factory for the Enterprise Cheese Company. Thus was forever obliterated one of the most important mementos of early Methodism in Industry, and one with which the name of good old Father Thompson was inseparably connected.

General prosperity attended the church from 1825 to 1830. In the month of June, 1830, the Industry circuit was divided, New Portland and New Vineyard being set off as a separate circuit. Houses of worship had been erected at the centre of the town and at West's Mills, by the united efforts of the sev- eral christian denominations of the town.

Many of the church members formed themselves into a missionary society in 1838. This society was auxiliary to the Maine Conference Missionary Society of the M. E. Church. The membership fee was twenty-five cents for males and twelve and one-half cents for females, to be paid annually. At the end of the second year this society numbered 139 members in the towns of Industry and Stark.

From 1830 to 1835 many new converts were baptized and received into the church, and general prosperity attended the society. James Cutts experienced religion under the preaching of James Farrington in 1835, and two years afterwards was baptized by Father Winslow and joined the church, of which he was a leading and influential member for many years. He always contributed liberally for the support of the gospel, as well as for other worthy charitable objects. Ile was frequently called to fill important positions in the church, and held the office of district steward at the time of his removal to Farm- ington in 1868.

In July, 1841, "Campmeeting John Allen was appointed by the Conference as preacher on the Industry circuit. A series of revival meetings were started at West's Mills, in the month of March following, by Elder Allen, assisted by such of the laity as were willing to aid in the work. William Folsom, who is now (1892) a lawyer in Somerset County, was among the first fruits of this revival. Others followed in rapid suc- cession and a wonderful reformation was the ultimate result.

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The good work thus begun spread rapidly, first to the Thomp- son neighborhood and from thence to the Goodridge neighbor- hood and the centre of the town, and from there to Stark. Within two months more than one hundred were converted, nearly all of whom Elder Allen baptized and received into the church on trial before leaving Industry. He had no ministerial assistance in this revival work save an occasional sermon from some brother minister.

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A history of the town of Industry, Franklin County, Maine, Part 11

Author: Hatch, William Collins. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Farmington, Me., Press of Knowlton, McLeary & co. Number of Pages: 938

Author: Hatch, William Collins. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Farmington, Me., Press of Knowlton, McLeary & co.
Number of Pages: 938