USA > Maine > Franklin County > Industry > A history of the town of Industry, Franklin County, Maine > Part 20
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INDUSTRY POST-OFFICE.
Name.
Date of Appointment.
Jonathan Goodridge,
October 12, 1816.
James Davis,
Nathan Goodridge.
Ira Emery,
Nathan Goodridge,
Mark Emery,
Samuel R. Allen,
Nathan Goodridge,
Hovey 'Thomas,
June 16, 1821. November 20, 1839. June 29, 1841. July 29, 1845. December 15, 1856. March 6, 1863. October 7, 1864. September 27, 1871.
POST-OFFICES, ETC. 229
CHANGED TO ALLEN'S MILLS, OCTOBER 24, 1879.
POST-MASTERS :
Name.
Date of Appointment.
Moses M. Luce,
October 24, 1879.
Herbert B. Luce, Elbridge H. Rackliff,
September 28, 1881. August 17, 1889.
The office at West's Mills was established March 8, 1828, and first kept in Esquire Peter West's store, he having been appointed post-master. His son, John West, succeeded him in 1839, but held the office less than two years. The inaugura- tion of William Henry Harrison, president, in 1841, caused a change in the political character of the government, and im- mediately after steps were taken to secure the appointment of Jesse Thing to succeed Mr. West. At that time Mr. Thing lived in a house just north of where Charles M. Hilton's store now (1892) stands. He was appointed July 10, 1841, and removed the office to his house, where it was kept during his term of service, which terminated July 24, 1845, by the appoint- ment of John West Manter as his successor. During a portion of his term of office Mr. Manter was in trade with his brother Peter, in the store built by Moses Tolman, Jr., (sec p. 197) and here the office was kept. The letters were kept exposed to the public view on a bulletin board, and held in place by a narrow tape tacked across it at regular intervals. These letters were accessible to all who called at the store, yet it is believed none were ever taken by other than their legitimate owners. In 1849 Mr. Thing was re-appointed and kept the office in his store. While Mr. Thing was in office an important change occurred in the rates of postage. The rates had been much simplified in 1845, by making the fee five cents for any dis- tance under three hundred miles, and any distance greater than that ten cents. In 1847 stamps were introduced, and the rates fixed according to weight instead of distance .* The era of
* Prior to the introduction of postage stamps, the pre-payment of postage was optional with the sender, who could either pay it in advance or allow the sum due to be collected of the person to whom the missive was addressed.
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HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.
cheap postage really dates from 1851, when the rate on prepaid letters was made three cents for any distance within 3000 miles. Mr. Thing held the office a few days over three years, when he was succeeded by Cyrus N. Hutchins. No one held the office any length of time after Mr. Thing, until Nov. 10, 1854, when Peter W. Butler was appointed to fill the position. Mr. Butler was a carpenter and wheelwright by trade, and kept the office in one corner of his shop which was partitioned off for that purpose. He gave general satisfaction to his constituents and held the office until 1861, when the administration changed and the business passed into the hands of Elbridge H. Rackliff. Mr. Rackliff fitted up a convenient office in one end of the Tolmian store, and sold stationery and conducted an extensive newspaper and periodical agency in connection with his official business. Warren N. Willis was the next appointee to fill the position, and the office was removed to his brother's store, where it remained until the fall of 1865, when, preparatory to settling up his business to go West, he resigned his office in favor of his father-in-law, Asaph Boyden. Mr. Boyden kept his office in Thomas P. Patterson's store a short time in the winter of 1866, but after a brief period removed it to his home, where it was kept for a period of nearly thirteen years. Mr. Boyden resigned his position in the fall of 1879, on account of the infirmities of age, and Alonzo Norton of the firm of James M. & A. Norton was appointed to fill the vacancy. A com- modious office was fitted up in the store of the firm, and nearly a hundred glass call-boxes were constructed and furnished to the patrons of the office, rental free. The excellent accommo- dations, the central location and the careful and courteous manner in which the duties of the office were discharged, made it very popular with its patrons and largely increased its receipts. April 1, 1886, Charles M. Hilton, having been appointed post-master, the office was removed to his store and an apartment fitted up with considerable elaboration for its reception, where it remained some three years. Though much had been said in relation to the civil service rules, by the Republicans, during President Cleveland's administration, the
231
POST-OFFICES, ETC.
more candid had but little faith in their pretentions. No sooner than fairly established in office did President Harrison and his coadjutors commence a systematic course of removals from federal offices of the appointees of their predecessors. Among the early petitions received by the post-office depart- ment at Washington, was one asking the removal of Charles M. Hilton and the appointment of Harrison Daggett as post- master at West's Mills. Just previous to this, Mr. Daggett had gone into trade in the Richard Caswell store (sec p. 202), and on receiving his appointment, immediately fitted up an apart- ment in his store for the transaction of the business of the office. He purchased his predecessor's glass call-boxes, a very fine set numbering over 100, took possession of the office, and on the 13th day of June, 1889, the mail was delivered for the first time from the office in its new location. The new appointee was not a novice at the business, having served as a clerk in the office nearly five years when his uncle, Alonzo Norton, was post-master. Always courteous and obliging in his business transactions, Mr. Daggett's popularity with the patrons of the office became an established fact ere he had held his position many months. The following persons have served as post- masters at the West's Mills office :
Name. Peter West,
John West,
Jesse Thing,
John West Manter,
Jesse Thing, Cyrus N. Hutchins,
Benjamin N. Willis,
Peter West Willis,
Peter West Butler,
Elbridge H. Rackliff, Warren N. Willis, Asaph Boyden,
Alonzo Norton,
Charles M. Hilton, Harrison Daggett,
Date ot Appointment. March 8, 1828. October 19, 1839. July 10, 1841. July 24, 1845. April 27, 1849. May 31, 1852. February 2, 1853. January 11, 1854. November 10, 1854. August 3, 1861. April 26. 1864. January 15, 1866. November 7, 1879. March 1, 1886. May 16, 1889.
232
HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.
Owing to the destruction by fire of a portion of the records in the P. O. Department at Washington but little knowledge of the avenues through which the Industry offices received their mail or the frequency of the trips can be obtained .* In 1863 and for several years thereafter Moses Chandler, of Temple, owned the route and drove three times a week, viz., Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, from Farmington to Stark via the Industry and West's Mills Post-Offices, arriving at his destination about noon,-making the return trip the same day. He was succeeded by Isaac Edwards as owner of the route. About January Ist, 1866, the time of arrival and departure of the mail was changed so as to connect at Farmington with the out-going morning and in-coming evening train. By this arrangement the mail left Farmington on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays after the arrival of the evening train, reaching West's Mills at about 8 o'clock P. M., and arriving at Stark about 9.15. Leaving Stark early the following morning the mail reached Farmington in scason to depart on the morning train. This arrangement proved a great convenience, for while it existed a letter could be sent to or received from Boston the same day it was mailed. But after a continuation of four years it was again changed and the old schedule time adopted.
About 1878 the citizens of Stark petitioned the authorities at Washington to discontinue the three-trip-a-week route from West's Mills to Stark and establish, instead, a daily mail route from Madison Bridge via Stark to West's Mills. The mail to leave Madison Bridge on the arrival of the evening train and leave West's Mills on the following morning in season to connect with the first out-going train. Asaph Boyden, who at the time was post-master at West's Mills, strongly opposed the measure, though the patrons of his office generally favored it. The re- sult was West's Mills was made the terminus of the Farmington route and Stark got its daily route from Madison Bridge.
Soon after the post-office at West's Mills came into the hands
* AAmong the early mail-carriers was Fred V. Stewart, of Farmington, who carried the mail in a two-wheeled carriage or gig from Farmington to Norridgewock via Industry and Stark post-offices.
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POST-OFFICES, ETC.
of Alonzo Norton a petition was sent to Washington asking that a daily mail-route be established between Farmington and West's Mills. The prayer of these petitioners was granted, and the arrangement went into effect July 1, 1880. The change not only proved a great convenience to the patrons but largely in- creased the receipts of the office.
On receiving its concession from New Vineyard in 1844, Industry added a third post-office to its number. This office was kept by Isaac Daggett, in the house recently owned and occupied by his son, John T. Daggett, and comprised a portion of the Industry post-route, being its northern terminus. From its establishment, December 6, 1827, to May 14, 1847, it was known as the New Vineyard Post-Office. On the last mentioned date the name was changed to West Industry. This name proved to be a misnomer, and on the 8th of June, 1847, the name of the office was changed to Vorth Industry Mr. Dag- gett continued to serve as post-master until June 8, 1855, when the office was discontinued for lack of patronage.
Prior to August, 1889, the mail arrived at West's Mills from Farmington at II o'clock A. M. and returned in season to connect with the out-going afternoon train. During the month previously mentioned a change was effected whereby the mail left West's Mills each day (Sundays excepted) at II o'clock the year around. Returning, it left Farmington from May Ist to Decem- ber Ist on the arrival of the evening train, and from December Ist to May Ist at three o'clock P. M. While the summer arrange- ment was very convenient,* the winter time-table could not have been more illy contrived, and the result was frequent and vexa- tious delays in the delivery of important messages. This ar- rangement continued in force until March, 1891, when agreeably to a strong petition the time of leaving West's Mills was changed so as to connect with the out-going morning train at Farmington. Returning, it left Farmington on the arrival of the evening train, reaching West's Mills at about 8 o'clock P. M. This time-
* Illustrative of the convenience of the summer arrangement the author will say that a letter post-marked Washington, D. C., August 7, 1890, was delivered to the person addressed, at West's Mills, in just 31 hours.
234
HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.
schedule, which remains in force the year around, proves a great convenience and enables the citizens of Industry to send a letter to Boston in about fourteen hours, or receive one from that place in the same length of time.
CORRESPONDENCE OF JOHN MASON.
John Mason,* a nephew of Samuel Mason, came to Indus- try, Maine, in April, 1819. He came from New Hampshire and was a descendant of John Mason who, in company with Ferdinando Gorges, received a grant from the council for New England in 1622 of a tract of land extending cast from the Merrimac to the Kennebec, and from the Atlantic to the Saint Lawrence.
We give an account of the journey in his own words :
In October, 1818, Daniel Shaw and others induced Uncle Samuel Mason's eldest daughter, Sophronia, or Froney, as she was called, to come to Industry as a teacher. I went into Industry the April follow- ing, when only a little over nineteen years of age -little more than a boy. I left home with but a small fortune, the larger share of which consisted of good health, a tolerable education and plenty of pluck. Previous to this I had served an apprenticeship to a tanner and currier. After I left home I went into Maine to seek my fortune, as I had served my apprenticeship there. Not finding wages as good as I anticipated, when I got to Portland, I invested all my money in such trinkets as people must have, and went to trading in the back settlements of
* John Mason was born at Ilampton, New Hampshire, July 6, 1799, and died at Woodlawn, near Accotink, Fairfax County, Virginia, Friday, September 21, ISSS. He was the son of Robert Tufton Mason and Sarah Mason, nee Gilman. In childhood he was adopted by his Aunt Newman of Andover. On her second marriage he began to learn the tanner's Irade, but soon quit it for a mercantile life. Ile married in East- port, Maine, September 6, 1827, Rachel Lincoln, daughter of Otis Lincoln. In 1828 he joined the Baptist Church, in which communion he remained a faithful deacon until his death. In 1837-1838 his fortune was wrecked by the great crisis, and in 1840 he located in Iladdonsfield, New Jersey, where he lived until 1850 and then removed to his late residence at Woodlawn. Mr. Mason was a zealous reformer in schools, public morals and religion. On Monday, September 24, ISSS, his neighbors thronged to honor the departed. They placed an anchor of roses on his breast, emblem of his early life; a sheaf of wheat upon his folded hands, token of a ripened career. On his feet were palm branches, suggestive of immortal rest. Then they laid him in the little cemetery under the very oak tree he had selected to shade his grave.
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CORRESPONDENCE OF JOHN MASON.
Maine. In this peddling expedition I succeeded very well, besides affording me an opportunity to see the country. After going cast of the Kennebec River until my stock got quite small, I came back to Waterville ; stopped there some days to see Moses Dalton, a cousin to my father, who was away from home with a party exploring land in the vicinity of Moosehead Lake, but failed to see him.
As my stock needed replenishing I thought that perhaps I might be able to get some goods at Norridgewock,-if not it would take me nearer to Portland. When I arrived at Norridgewock, I found that I was but eleven miles from Industry. I knew that we had relatives there besides Cousin Sophronia Mason : The wives of Daniel Shaw and William Remick were my mother's own cousins ; while Gilman Hilton and Rowland Luce's wives were cousins to my father.
While at Industry I attended a meeting and assisted in the sing- ing, for which I had a good talent, and could also teach vocal music. This brought me favorably before the people, and as there was no tanner or currier in town, nor in any of the towns back of Industry, they all set in for me to settle there. I first hired with Esquire Peter West for a month and a half, and commenced buying all the hides and calf-skins I could. Took them to Henry Butler's at Farmington Hill to have them tanned, and worked with Mr. Butler to pay for tanning them. I also worked a month in haying for Benjamin Norton. After this I went to Boston by water, and then to Andover to visit an aunt, who had married Mark Newman for her second husband, with whom I had lived from my seventh to my twelfth year. On my return to Maine I was employed by Berry, the tanner, to work at my trade, in New Sharon, with Deacon Ira Emery as my boss. Deacon Emery invited me to make it my home with him. We took our pay for our work at New Sharon in leather out of the tan, and I curried it. We then hired shoemakers to work it up together with my stock at Farmington Hill. Deacon Emery took his boots and shoes East, I took mine to Boston. There I met an old school-mate who was in the employ of a firm engaged in the importation of rectified spirits, who wished me to introduce their liquors into Maine. Would give me a right good chance. I refused at first, but told him if they would buy my boots and shoes and would make me out an assortment of groceries, I would try their liquors. They took my stock, gave me a right good price ; some money with a good assortment of groceries at a low price. I sent my goods in a vessel to Hallowell and returned by the way of New Hampshire. I examined the records in Sandwich, and found
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HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.
that old blind Fogg,* who, with his wife and non compos daughter were paupers in Industry, had a pauper residence in that town and was entitled to a support there.
The superior quality of my liquor and other goods, together with relieving the town of the expense of the Fogg family, gained for me a strong affection in the hearts of the people. Immediately on my return from Boston I commenced the erection of a building, near Deacon Ira Emery's, 20 x 32 feet, with a basement, in which to display my goods and also to serve as a shop and dwelling-house. The day on which I raised my building was extremely warm and the men got so drunk that they could not put the roof on .; That advertised my liquor, and notwithstanding the fact that I was making nearly 200 per cent. profit on it the people said that "they were glad that one honest trader had come into the place." On the opening of my store, there were none in successful operation in town. Everybody liked me ; my educational and other advantages had been superior to theirs, and my musical talents soon gave me the lead among the young people. In fact, it was the verdict of all that there was not a young man in Somerset County whose business prospects were more flattering. I had continued the sale of liquor only about ten months when I became convinced of its harmfulness and have ever since been an active advocate of temper- ance principles.
At the time I was engaged in trade it was considered a perfectly honorable and legitimate business to retail ardent spirits, and no grocery dealer failed to keep a supply.
Owing to an unfavorable turn in a love affair, on account of a rival whom the young lady's parents favored, I felt that I could no longer remain in a place where everything seemed to remind me of my dis- appointment ; so, hastily settling up my business, I went to New Sharon. Soon after this I joined Esquire Daniel Shaw and Captain Benjamin Manter, of Industry, in a trading expedition to Saint Andrews, New Brunswick. We hired a vessel, got our cargo loaded, and sailed from Wiscasset on the night of the 13th of January. There had been but very little rough weather thus far, but the first day out we encountered
* Prior to this date articles had frequently been inserted in town meeting war- rants relative to a disposal of this family. The overseers of the poor were confident that this town was under no legal obligation for their support, yet was unable to establish the residence of the family elsewhere .- W. C. I7.
t The reader must recollect that in those days it was thought to be impossible to raise a building without " plenty of rum," and the person who failed to furnish it was in no wise popular in the community .- W. C. 17.
CORRESPONDENCE OF JOHN MASON. 237
a fearful storm, and the following night was truly terrifying. I kept making ginger tea for the men to keep them from freezing ; indeed some of them did get frost-bitten in spite of my efforts. About mid- night the stoutest man on board came below bellowing, " If I must die I will die below deck." I looked up. Esquire Shaw and Captain Manter were both engaged in prayer, while the waves ran mountains high. I, too, felt very badly, and placing my forehead in my hand, I uttered the words of Christ's disciples to their Master : "Lord, save us ; we perish," and immediately my fears left me. I broke open a box of clothing, put on several extra garments to protect me from the intense cold and went on deck. There I saw Captain Manter seated on the binacle hatch, his nose and ears frozen. When I saw this, the same feeling of the helplessness of our situation returned. Again I bowed my head and uttered my former prayer, when my fears instantly van- ished. I offered to take the captain's place at the wheel, but he would not consent to this at first. When I told him that I knew what he was doing, that it was his intention to take the seas on the starboard quarter, for if the vessel fell into the trough of the sea she might tip over, or if she made a plunge she might not come up again,-he then consented for me to relieve him at the wheel. The only sail we could carry was the fore gaff lashed to the fore boom with the throat hoisted up. The scene was awfully grand ! I sang as loud as I could, to keep the men's courage up :
Thy works of glory, mighty Lord, That rule the boisterous sea, The sons of courage shall record, Who tempt the dangerous way.
At thy command the winds arise, And swell the towering waves; The men, astonished, mount the skies, And sink in gaping graves.
Again they climb the watery hills, And plunge in deeps again : Each like a tottering drunkard reels, And finds his courage vain.
Frighted to hear the tempest roar, They pant with fluttering breath; And, hopeless of the distant shore, Expect immediate death.
Then to the Lord they raise their cries; lte hears the loud request,
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HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.
And orders silence through the skies, And lays the floods to rest.
Sailors rejoice to lose their fears, And see the storm allayed :
Now to their eyes the port appears; There, let their vows be paid.
'Tis God that brings them safe to land : Let stupid mortals know, That waves are under his command, And all the winds that blow.
() that the sons of men would praise The goodness of the Lord ! And those that see Thy wondrous ways, Thy wondrous love record.
Fortunately our vessel outrode the gale and we reached our destina- tion in safety, though many of us suffered from the effects of frost-bitten ears, noses and fingers. We had, as a passenger on this eventful voyage, a son of old Captain Thompson of Industry .*
The time spent among the people of Industry is among the most pleasant memories of my long and eventful life, and I often think it was the great mistake of my life in leaving the town. The saying of, I think, Shakespeare has often occurred to me: "There is a time of tide in man's life if taken on the flood leads on to wealth and fame. That time lost all is lost, you can not recall that time." It was certainly flood tide with me while there, especially in regard to the good will of the people. Just prior to my departure I received a long letter from my merchants is Boston advising me to enlarge my business to the fullest extent which the country would bear. Had I remained in Industry I should have hired Esquire West's store and filled it from cellar to garret, so as to wholesale as well as retail. I have an idea, had I remained, that I might have been elected to the Legislature in 1822 and perhaps reached the State Senate in 1825.
I was of the opinion that West's Mills would eventually become the outlet for all the back towns in going to Hallowell and to a market. Moreover the village at Farmington Falls was down flat. I saw all its mills go sailing down the Sandy River in the great freshet of 1821.t
* This was probably Captain John Thompson's second son William, who, when a young man, went to the British Provinces, where he married and raised up a family. -W. C. H.
t Butler gives the date of this freshet as 1820 ( Hist. of Farmington, p. 133) which is unquestionably correct. He also gives the month and day as October 16th,
239
CORRESPONDENCE OF CAPTAIN BUTLER.
There were five in one fleet ; three were stove by the New Sharon bridge while the fourth, a very large one, took the bridge along with it. As this had usually been the thoroughfare to Hallowell the calamity just mentioned would have had a tendency to turn the travel from the back towns in another channel, and through West's Mills seemed to be the most feasible route.
CORRESPONDENCE OF CAPT. JERUEL BUTLER.
Some years since the author had placed at his disposal a package of old letters possessing great intrinsic interest. They were written by Captain Jeruel Butler to his wife and family during the time he was engaged in an extensive coast and foreign trade, and in many instances were of such thrilling interest that the writer feels constrained to make some excerpts therefrom. Capt. Butler was a sea captain, a native of Martha's Vineyard, and an early settler in that part of New Vineyard set off to Industry in 1844. The farm on which he settled lies at the terminus of the road running north from Tibbetts's Corner, and has been known of late years as the John O. Rackliff farm.
BOSTON, MASS., April 10th, 1819.
I left Bath [Me.] last Wednesday and arrived at Portland the same day. On Friday at 8 o'clock A. M. left Portland and in eight hours and eight minutes I came to anchor in Boston harbor. I do not know what to write or say to comfort you ; we are here in the hurry and confusion of the great city of Boston. The chiming of bells and the sound of the coach wheels on the pavements often salute our ears.
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