A history of the town of Industry, Franklin County, Maine, Part 2

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 2

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The principal growth of wood is beech, birch and maple, of which, the last named variety predominates. Beside these varieties are to be found, red oak, cedar, hemlock, spruce and poplar, with scattering trees of other species. The point of land extending into Clear Water Pond, was originally covered with a heavy growth of pine timber; but it was destroyed by fire at an early date, prior to the settlement of the town.

There is a range of mountains in the west part of the town, north of Clear Water Pond, a peak of which is the highest elevation of land within its limits. Boardman Mountain, t situ-

* Walter Wells's " Water Power of Maine."

¿ This mountain was so named in honor of Esquire Herbert Boardman, who settled at its base in 1795.

HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.

ated in that part of Industry ceded by New Vineyard in 1844, was formerly regarded by the more superstitious and imagina- tive, as an extinct volcano, as some of the dwellers at its base aver to have heard, at times, mysterious rumblings within its rugged sides. This mountain, with slight exceptions, is still covered with woods, and from its southern aspect presents a very picturesque view.

Bannock Hill, in the southeast part of the town, is a noted eminence. It is said to have received its name from a survey- ing party under Judge Joseph North, who encamped near its summit in 1780, and baked there a bannock for their breakfast. Whether this was the source from which it received its christen- ing, or whether it received its name from subsequent settlers. owing to its shape, which closely resembles that of a huge old- fashioned loaf of its delectable namesake, there seems to be a diversity of opinion. From the summit of this hill a magnifi- cent view greets the eye of the beholder on every side. Look- ing west the blue placid surface of Clear Water Pond is to be seen almost at your feet, with Backus Mountain rising abruptly from its western shore. While old Mount Blue, towering in lofty grandeur, can be plainly seen in the distance. North of the pond lies the chain of mountains which separates Industry and New Vineyard; and rising above the top of this range the summit of Saddleback, Abraham and Bigelow mountains can be seen. Looking north, Boardman Mountain, situated wholly in the town of Industry, which forms an interesting feature of the New Vineyard chain, is seen just at hand. To the west, south and east, one gets a fine view of fertile fields, cozy farm- houses, interspersed, at frequent intervals, by large tracts of the forest primeval. Occasionally one gets a glimpse of Sandy River, winding its sinuous course to mingle its waters with those of the Kennebec. The villages at New Sharon, Stark and Madison Bridge, can likewise be seen. This hill, which has an altitude of 1227 feet above the mean sea level, affords a more commanding view of the surrounding country than can be ob- tained from any point within a radius of twenty miles. The United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, of 1866, found it a

INTRODUCTORY.

desirable position for a signal station, as did also the Survey of 1891 .*

On that portion of the town set off from Industry and an- nexed to Farmington, is located a beautiful cascade, where the water takes a sudden leap of seventy-five feet over a precipice. This is counted one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the State. From a favorable position, on a sunny day, the colors of the rainbow can be seen amid its foamy spray, hence it has been called Rainbow Cascade by many. A large number of tourists visit this attractive locality each year, with whom its popularity seems to increase rather than to diminish.

The waters forming this Cascade are derived from a small pond in the west part of Industry, known, probably on account of its diminutive size, as "The Little Pond." The stream from this pond flows in a southwesterly direction, and empties into Fairbanks Stream in the town of Farmington.

Clear Water Pond, in the west part of the town, is, as its name indicates, a sheet of remarkably clear water. Among the early settlers it was almost invariably known by the name of "Bull-Horse Pond"; but the manner in which this name was acquired is veiled in obscurity.t Esq. Wm. Allen, in speaking of Judge North's surveying party, says: "On arriving at the pond they watered their pack-horses, and proposed the name of ' Horse Pond,' but put a prefix to it and called it . Bull-Horse Pond.'" The writer recollects of hearing, in his boyhood days, some of the older people say that the pond received its name from the circumstance that a bull and a horse were accidentally drowned there, at an early date. This statement can hardly be regarded as worthy of credence, and those best qualified to judge give it but little weight. Perhaps the most reasonable of all traditions bearing on this subject, and one fully as worthy of credit, is that a Frenchman named Blois once resided on its

* Through the courtesy of Hon. T. C. Mendenhall, Superintendent of this Survey, we learn that the geographical position of Bannock Hill is : Latitude 44°, 44', 01.70'', Longitude, 70°, 2', 23''.99, or 4 h. 40 m. 09.6 s. west of Greenwich.

+ Since the above was written it has been discovered that, as early as 1803- ( Petition Inhabitants Northern Part of New Sharon ) - this body of water was sometimes designated as Clear Water Pond.

HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.

shores, spending his time in hunting and trapping. It is claimed that in this way the lakelet acquired the name of Blois Pond. The advocates of this theory claim that Bull-Horse, or " Hoss," as it was almost invariably pronounced, was but a cor- ruption of the name Blois. True, it would require but a small amount of orthoepical license to effect this change,-not nearly as much as is sometimes taken with other words in the English language. This explanation, to say the least, has the merit of plausibility.

On the map of Franklin County, published in 1861, it was laid down as Clear Water Pond, by which name it is now generally known. Clear Water Pond has many interesting features. Its western shore rises abruptly, forming what is known as Backus Mountain, in Farmington, and near this shore the water is very deep. Several mills derive their motive power from this source, as the pond furnishes an abundant supply of water the year around. When the fact that it receives the waters from only two or three small brooks is taken into consideration, and that these, which are usually dry a large portion of the summer, at no time supply a large amount of water, it is evident that this pond is fed by abundant springs beneath its surface. Another fact which goes to establish the theory of this spring-supply, is the temperature : the water during the warmest weather being several degrees colder than that of similar bodies of water known to receive their supply from streams.

The principal farm crops of Industry are wheat, oats, corn and potatoes. Rye, in large quantities, was raised by the early settlers ; but it has almost entirely disappeared from the list of the farm products. The apple-tree seems to flourish well in . the soil of Industry, and fruit-growing is a branch of husbandry that is steadily gaining ground. Maple syrup is also made to a considerable extent. The rock or sugar-maple (Alcer sac- charinum) being indigenous to the soil, almost every farmer has at least a small sugar-orchard, from which he makes syrup for family use, while others engage more extensively, making from one to three hundred gallons each season.

INTRODUCTORY.

The hills, with their many springs of deliciously cool water, afford unequalled facilities for grazing. This has rendered sheep-husbandry a paying branch of agriculture, and prompted many farmers to engage therein. The breeding of neat stock and horses has also received considerable attention. The time has been when Industry was noted for its many yoke of fine, large oxen, ranking in this respect second to no other town in Franklin County. Of late years, horses have come into more general use on the farm, hence the lively competition which formerly existed in raising nice oxen has in a large measure subsided.

The scenery of Industry is by no means tame or uninterest- ing. Its mountains, covered with shady woods, the commanding views which their summits afford, the springs of pure cool water, issuing from their rugged sides, are all a source of con- stant admiration to the summer visitor. On the mill-stream, but a short distance from West's Mills, is a beautiful cascade,* which, with its surrounding forest, forms, during the summer months, an interesting and attractive bit of scenery. Then, too, a body of water like Clear Water Pond would furnish a constant attraction for any summer resort. This is a favorite resort for fishermen and excursionists, and, during the summer months, parties frequently come here from adjoining towns to sail on its clear, placid waters, or to hold picnics on its cool, shady banks. The first attempt to make the carrying of pleasure parties on Clear Water Pond a business was made by Captain Reuben B. Jennings, a gentleman from Farmington, who, in the summer of 1868, put into its waters a sail-boat called the " Minnehaha." He likewise built a rude cabin, on the Backus Mountain shore, where he lived during the season, and where many parties landed for the purpose of holding picnics. So far as the writer has been able to learn, the season's work proved fairly remunerative. Since that time, excursionists have been dependent upon local resources for boats. At the present time, several very good ones are owned by parties residing at Allen's Mills. Probably

* This cascade was given the name of Sunderland Falls, in early times.

HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.

there is not another pond of equal size in the State which affords more natural attractions, and whose surroundings are better adapted for a summer resort, than this. It is situated within an hour's drive of railroad connections, and a daily stage brings the mail on the arrival of the evening train. Let a com- modious hotel be built at Allen's Mills for the accommodation of guests ; let the same pains be taken to stock the waters of this pond with fish, as has already been taken with Rangeley Lake; and a good supply of serviceable boats kept ready for use as occasion requires, and one of the most attractive inland summer resorts in Maine would be the result. Thus located, it would draw numerous visitors whose delicate health precludes even the thoughts of a journey to more remote and inaccessi- ble points. With the improvements mentioned, the clear brac- ing air, the fine scenery and perfect quiet, could but have a salutary influence in restoring invalids to a state of perfect health. The place would soon become popular, and eventually secure a patronage which could not prove otherwise than re- muncrative to those interested in the enterprise.

The principal varieties of fish found in Clear Water Pond, are: Lake-trout (Salmo confinis)-commonly called togue- cusk, chivens,* suckers and perch, with innumerable swarms of the smaller varieties. Of the edible kinds, the first named is the most valuable and eagerly sought. Probably the most success- ful fisherman in the waters of this pond was Isaac Webster, who died, at an advanced age, a few years since, in Taunton, Mass. He moved to Industry from Stark, and resided at Allen's Mills for many years. Though a shoemaker by trade, he was an ardent devotee of Izaak Walton, and spent much

* For some years the writer has been of the opinion that this name was of local origin and incorrect. To settle the matter, a specimen, preserved in alcohol, was sent to the U. S. Fish Commissioner, Hon. Marshall McDonald, Washington, D. C. The following letter was received in reply : "Dear Sir : The fish sent by you for identi- fication is the round white fish, shad waiter, or ' chivy ' ( Coregonsus quadrilateralis) of ichthyologists. It is taken about this time of the year (April 16th) in some of the rivers and lakes of Maine. The species has a very wide range, including the whole width of country in your latitude and a large part of British America and Alaska."

INTRODUCTORY.

time in luring the finny tribe with baited hook. Others may have caught larger specimens than he, but Mr. Webster un- questionably stands ahead of all competitors in point of nun- ber and aggregate weight. The largest trout ever caught by him weighed seventeen and three-fourths pounds, with a great many weighing ten pounds and upward. Among those who have captured large fish from this pond are: John Daggett, 31 3-4 pounds; John Wesley Norton, 21 pounds; Samuel Rackliff, 20 1-4 pounds; James C. Luce, 16 pounds ; Luther Luce, Sen., 21 1-2 pounds ; Reuben Hatch, Sen., 16 pounds ; Nelson W. Fish, 13 lbs. 14 ozs. ; John Atwell Daggett, 22 1-2 pounds ; John F. Daggett, 16 pounds; Wm. R. Daggett, 16 1-2 pounds ; Fred F. Backus, 15 3-4 pounds. In 1833, Truman Luce caught a fine specimen weighing ten pounds, and in 1857, Daniel Sanders Collins, one weighing 16 pounds. In July, 1890, Harry Pierce of Farmington, and John Richards of Boston, each caught a trout, weighing 10 1-4 and II I-2 respec- tively. Chas. E. Oliver, West's Mills, caught a large specimen, in the summer of 1885, which weighed 13 pounds; and in the spring of 1891, John L. Sterry, Stark, while fishing through the ice, caught two trout weighing 11 and 12 pounds. But the greatest catch of late years, was made by George W. Dobbins, of Boston, in March, 1889, when he landed two splendid trout, weighing 16 and 20 pounds. Five were caught the next year, each weighing ten pounds or more, beside a large number of smaller ones.

Some effort has been made to stock Clear Water Pond with black bass and salmon, in the past decade, but the results have not been wholly satisfactory. Herbert B. Luce, of Allen's Mills, after a protracted correspondence with State Fish Com- missioner, Henry O. Stanley, of Dixfield, induced that gentle- man to visit Industry, in the summer of 1883, to consider the feasibility of stocking this pond with black bass. Being well

* Since the foregoing was put in type, the writer learns that Chas. Augustus Allen, of Farmington, while a resident of his native town, Industry, caught a trout from Clear Water Pond which, by actual weight, tipped the beam at 16 3-4 pounds; and afterward, another of equal weight.

HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.

pleased with the natural facilities it afforded, he forwarded to Mr. Luce, twenty-five small bass ( Grystes nigricans, Agassis), taken from a pond in Wilton, Me. These measured from five to ten inches in length, and were put into Clear Water Pond in the month of September. Since then specimens have been caught, occasionally ; but for the most part, have been returned to the water, and it is believed that in the course of a few years the pond will be well stocked with this valuable fish .*

It was not known for some years after the settlement of the town, that there were suckers in Clear Water Pond. The story of their discovery is as follows: Joseph Collins, Sr., then a mere boy, one day went down to the pond in company with a man named Otis Foster, to strip elm bark, which was much used in those early times to scare crows away from the corn- field. In the course of their rambles they came to the brook and found it full of fish. Not knowing what they were, young Collins went home and called his father, who, being an old sailor, was the authority of the settlement in all such matters. Mr. Collins, after catching and examining one, pronounced them suckers. Since that time a great many have been caught each spring.

The first cusk ever taken from this pond, was caught by one of Josiah Butler's sons, about 1828, or perhaps later. This fish was also carried to Mr. Collins to be named.

Chivens were not known to exist in the pond till about 1835. As they are a fish which can be caught only through the ice, in shoal water, their discovery was the result of the merest accident. At the mouth of the sucker brook, the bank of the pond makes off very suddenly from shoal to deep water. Several sons of David M. Luce were in the habit of fishing for pond trout, in the deep water just off the mouth of this brook. By a miscalculation, they one day cut their fishing holes in the ice too near the shore, and while angling through those holes, noticed numerous fish of an unknown species

* Since the above was written, black bass have been caught in large numbers, some specimens being of good size. Among the largest taken, was one caught by John Vehue, in 1889, weighing six and one-fourth pounds.

INTRODUCTORY.

gathering about their bait. As they could not be induced to take a baited hook, a method was devised by which they were casily captured. A gaff was made, by tying a large hook to a slender pole, and while one would troll a large piece of pork in the water, another would watch with his gaff and dextrously hook any fish which came near the bait. Even Daniel Collins did not know the name of these fish, and they were for a time called dun-fish, etc., etc.

In June, 1886, while Fish Commissioner Henry O. Stanley was at Weld, Me., looking after the land-locked salmon there, it was suggested to him that Clear Water Pond, in Industry, possessed superior advantages for breeding and rearing salmon. Mr. Stanley, knowing something of its characteristics, at once agreed to put in a certain number of young salmon, providing some one would bear a portion of the necessary expenses. This Mr. D. W. Austin, of Farmington, volunteered to do, and under his immediate supervision, on the 17th of June, 5,000 young salmon were placed in the cool, limpid waters of this pond. Many argued that the black bass was an inveterate enemy of the salmon, and that it was absolutely impossible to breed them successfully in waters infested by the bass. Perhaps time may prove these views to have been erroneous; but after the lapse of nearly six years, the result of Messrs. Stanley and Austin's experiment is still shrouded in doubt.

CHAPTER II.

LAND TITLES.

Early Attempts to Colonize New England .- King James's Grant .- The Kennebec Purchase .- The Appraising Commission, Etc., Etc.

AFTER the failure of Capt. John Smith to establish a colony in New England, in 1618, Sir Ferdinando Gorges turned his undivided attention to the formation of a new company, dis- tinct from that of the Virginia company, whose exclusive atten- tion should be devoted to the colonization of New England. A liberal charter was granted to this company, by the sole authority of the King, constituting them a corporation with perpetual succession, by the name of "The Council established at Plymouth in the county of Devon, for the planting, ruling, ordering and governing of New England in America." The original grant reads as follows, to wit. :

"TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, Greeting :- Whereas his Majesty King James the first, for the advancement of a Colony and Plantation in New England, in America, by his Highness' Letters Patent, under the great seal of England, bearing date, at West- minster, the third day of November, [1620], in the eighteenth year of his Highness' reign of England, etc., did grant unto the right Honora- ble Lodowick, late Lord Duke of Lenox, George, late Marquis of Rockingham, James, Marquis of Hamilton, Thomas, Earl of Arundle, Robert, Earl of Warwick, Sir Ferdinando Gorges, Viscount, and divers others, whose names are expressed in the said Letters Patent, and their successors, that they should be one body politic and corporate, per- petually, consisting of forty persons, that they should have perpetual succession and one common seal to serve for the said body ; and that they and their successors should be incorporated, called and known by

LAND TITLES.

the name of the Council established at Plymouth, in the county of Devon, for the planting, ruling, ordering and governing New England in America. And further did also grant unto the said Vice-President and Council, and their successors forever, under the reservations in the said Letters Patent expressed, all that part and portion of the said country called New England in America, situate, lying and being in breadth from forty degrees of northerly latitude, from the equinoctial line, to forty-eight degrees of the said northerly latitude, inclusively, and in length of, and in all the breadth aforesaid, throughout the main lands, from sea to sea, together, also, with all the firm lands, soils, grounds, creeks, inlets, havens, ports, seas, rivers, islands, waters, fishings, mines, minerals, precious stones, quarries, and all and singular the commodities and jurisdictions, both within the said tract of land lying upon the main, as also within the said islands adjoining. To have, hold, possess and enjoy the same unto the said Council and their successors and assigns forever, &c."

This grant extended from New Jersey northward to the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, and nearly half of it was comprised in a former grant to the Virginia Company. Objec- tions were made to it, at the outset, from that quarter. Not succeeding with the King and the Privy Council, the complain- ants carried the matter before the House of Commons, and Gorges appeared three several times at the bar of the House to answer objections. On the last occasion, he was attended by eminent legal counsel. The result was unfavorable, and the House, in presenting to the King the public grievances of the kingdom, included amongst them the patent of New England. The effect of this movement was at first prejudicial to the Com- pany, for it was the means of discouraging those who proposed to establish plantations in this quarter, as well as some of the Council. But James was not inclined to have the propriety of his own acts disputed, or denied on the floor of Parliament. So, instead of destroying the patent, as he had intended to do, he dismissed the Parliament and committed to the Tower and other prisons, the members who had been most forward in condemning the charter and most free in questioning the prerogative of the Crown.

Dr. Belknap well remarks, that "either from the jarring in-

HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.

terests of the members, or their indistinct knowledge of the country, or their inattention to business, or some other cause which does not fully appear, their affairs were transacted in a confused manner from the beginning; and the grants which they made were so inaccurately described, and interfered so much with each other, as to occasion controversies, some of which are not yet ended." No part of New England has suffered more from this cause than Maine, even as at last to a complete denial of the title of its proprietary by a neighboring colony.

The first grant by the Council that included the lands of Industry, seems to have been the patent of Laconia, to Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Capt. John Mason, in 1622. This comprised " all lands situated between the rivers Merrimack and Sagadahock,* extending back to the great lakes and the river of Canada." Both patentees acted under this patent, although many subsequent grants of the Council were made within the same limits. After seven years joint title, Capt. Mason, Nov. 7, 1629, took out a separate patent of that portion lying south and west of the Piscataqua River, to which he gave the name of New Hampshire. The remaining portion became the exclusive property of Gorges, who, however, had no separate title until 1635, when he gave the territory between the Piscata- qua and the Kennebec, the name of NEW SOMERSETSHIRE.

The next event of general interest in the history of the State, was the confirmation of the patent from the Council of Plymouth to Gorges, by a new charter from the Crown, in 1639, in which the territory is first styled the PROVINCE OF MAINE.

After the death of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, the Province of Maine fell, by heirship, to Ferdinando Gorges, Esq., son of John Gorges, and grandson of the old lord proprietor. In 1678, Mr. Gorges sold and conveyed by his deed of the date

* When the territory, now the State of Maine, was first known to the white peo- ple, the Kennebec River bore four different names. From its mouth to Merrymeeting Bay it was called Sagadahock; from that bay to Skowhegan it bore the name of the Indian Chief Canabais, afterwards changed to Kennebec; from Skowhegan Falls to Norridgewock Falls at Madison, it was called Nansantsouak, afterwards called Norridgewock; the rest of the river to its source was called Orantsoak.

LAND TITLES.

of March 13th, to "John Usher, of Boston in New England in America, merchant," all the lands comprising the Province or County of Maine, for £1250, or about six thousand dollars. Two days thereafter, Mr. Usher conveyed his purchase to the Massachusetts Bay Company.

After William and Mary ascended the throne of England, a new charter was received, uniting in one province the colonies of Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay, the Province of Maine and the territory east of it to the St. Croix River.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A history of the town of Industry, Franklin County, Maine, Part 2

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