USA > Maine > Franklin County > Industry > A history of the town of Industry, Franklin County, Maine > Part 37
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After awhile Rev. Alden Boynton preached in the town statedly for four or five years. Then followed Rev. John Perham, under whose ministry of five years much religious interest prevailed. Afterward Rev. Josiah Tucker ministered to the spiritual wants of the people. Other denominations had their preachers and occupied in turn the Union meeting-house.
And there were rare people-men and women-in that school district : the Allens, Capt. Newman T. Allen and his brother Benjamin, who mainly owned the mills ; they were leading men in the town and most worthy men. They were singers and led the singing on Sunday,
* Rev. Mr. Hayes is slightly in error as to this. The first meeting-house in town was the Old Red Meeting-House, built as nearly as can be learned, about 1822 .- W. C. H.
EVENTS FROM 1866 TO 1893. 429
walking a mile and a half, as we all did for the most part, to the meet- ing-house with a lunch in our pockets, and waiting through the inter- mission for the afternoon service. Then there was another family of Allens, of another stock -Capt. Wm. Allen, a venerable christian man, who was one of the first settlers of the town, who lived in a great square house which took the place of the log-house he at first built on the hill half a mile from here. There was a neighborhood revival at one time with only prayer meetings held at Capt. Allen's house, and there I began the christian life at the age of fourteen years.
Capt. Wm. Allen was the father of Harrison Allen, a missionary of the American Board, who died in 1831, and of John Allen, known as "Campmeeting John," whose granddaughter, Lillian "Nordica." of world-wide fame as a singer, is delighting the music-loving crowds at the Symphony concerts in Boston at the present time. He was also the father of Deborah Allen, who was the mother of Rev. Wm. A. Merrill and Rev. Truman A. Merrill, whose boyhood days were mostly passed in this district, and who are so well known for their faithful work in the ministry. Rev. Stephen Allen, D. D., and Rev. Chas. F. Allen, D. D., were also grandsons of Capt. Wm. Allen; both of them were born in this school district and became distinguished Methodist preachers .* On this Allen farm, where they were born, afterwards lived Dea. Ira Emery, whose son Ira is a well-known Baptist minister. A half a mile east from here was born Jared Eveleth, the friend of my boyhood, who also became a very useful Baptist preacher. On the road leading south half a mile from the Centre school-house, was born another boy who became a useful minister in the Methodist church, Rev. John M. Howes. Not far from my father's house lived, later on, Brice Edwards, whose youngest son, Brice M., is a minister of the gospel in the Free Baptist denomination, and whose daughter, Susan Edwards, now Mrs. Vaughan, is doing a noble work as superintendent of the North End Mission in Boston.
Then there was Dea. Truman Luce of the Congregational church, whose children and grandchildren and nephews and nieces are now living in the vicinity. In the northern part of this district also lived the Rackliffs, Benjamin and Henry, both christian men. In 1834, near the Centre meeting-house there lived a man whose remarkable con- version was occasioned by the christian character and consistent life of Benjamin Rackliff. During a season of special religious interest,
* Rev. Chas. F. Allen was born in Norridgewock, though his brother Stephen was a native of Industry .- W. C. H.
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HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.
Samuel Ring, a man who was seldom known to attend church or to favor any religious movement, busy at work in his field, had his curiosity excited by seeing Benjamin Rackliff all in his Sunday dress going into the church with many others. Wondering what there was that could lead his neighbor to leave his work those pleasant afternoons, the thought occurred to him that for once he would leave his own work and step into the church and see what was going on. The result was that Samuel Ring left that church that day a praying man. Benjamin Rackliff's christian example and silent prayer lifted to the eternal throne brought down the blessing of salvation to that worldly, unbelieving man.
Another Baptist minister who went out from this district, having resided in the town for several years, was Rev. Ebenezer Trask, a good man and true.
In about the centre of the district. near where the old school-house stood, lived Nathan Goodridge, a man prominent as a christian man, and in town affairs in his day, whose mother, Mrs. Jonathan Goodridge, is worthy of mention, as one of the strong and noble women of that early day.
Last 1 mention the Shorey family, more memorable than any in connection with this Shorey Chapel. Pelatiah Shorey came to Industry from the town of Berwick in 1824, and settled in this district. He brought his wife and two young children, the eldest of whom is now Mrs. Elizabeth Price, whose heart and hand have ever been in every good work, and who will be gratefully remembered for her generous gift of this Shorey Chapel. Her father was always a sedate, thoughtful man, a devout christian, a deacon in the church, who ruled well his own household, who always went to the house of God on the Sabbath, who prayed for the peace of Jerusalem and loved to sing the songs of Zion. His sainted wife was my own cousin, who died many years ago, but who left her impress on all her children for their good ; one of whom is Rev. Harrison Allen Shorey, well-known for his activity and usefulness. Such were some of the families in that one school district of my childhood. And here are twelve christian ministers, counting myself, all in that small, obscure neighborhood, eight of whom are still living. And now my prayer is that the Divine blessing may so rest on Shorey Chapel, that a holy influence shall go out from it continually, gathering great numbers into the kingdom of Christ now and in coming years. And I would that all distinctions might be merged in one name, "The church of the Redeemer."
STEPHEN H. HAYES.
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EVENTS FROM 1866 TO 1893.
Rev. Ira Emery, another native of Industry and an able minister of the Baptist denomination, sent greeting from the Granite State in the following interesting letter. Though it did not reach Allen's Mills until the evening after the dedication, it is here given that his many friends as well as the friends of Shorey Chapel may be cheered by its happy, hopeful tone :
MEREDITH, N. H., Nov. 8, 1891. Mrs. Elizabeth Price, Industry, Me :
Last evening I received a letter from Dea. Joseph P. Thwing, of Farmington, Me., extending to me from you an invitation to attend the dedication of "Shorey Chapel" on Tuesday next. In reply, allow me to say that, while thanking you for the same and would gladly meet you and other friends on that interesting occasion, I cannot do so. My health at present will not allow such a journey ; then again I cannot from this point go in season to get there in time for the service. I am doubtful even if this letter shall reach you until after the services. So you will have to excuse me from coming as desired. But from old acquaintance sake you will pardon me for a more extended letter than I would otherwise write. For some time I have learned something of your intention to do this thing of building a house of worship for that locality in memory of your honored father. Allow me to congratulate you on seeing its completion and participating in its dedication in your lifetime. In so doing I have reason to believe that a high and noble purpose has inspired your action-"In his name and for the glory of God."
That chapel supplies a long felt and real need of that place so dear to yourself and me from the hallowed associations of our early years ; although our church home of worship was in the old Centre meeting- house, yet Allen's Mills people always formed a large part of every Sabbath congregation, and how often the evening service was held at the " Allen's Mills School-house."
The Allens of that time and place have passed "over the river," many of them. Others are scattered abroad and possibly none have the ability to so memorize the past as you have done. I am grateful that God has not only given you the ability financially in the "entrusted talents," but also given you the heart to do this for the place and people and for the cause of Christ. How mysteriously strange are the ways of Providence in the purposes of God in the distribution of the goods of this world ; yet, " He doeth all things well."
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HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.
As a temperance man good and true I distinctly recall your father's record.
There is one little incident in his life and mine that I can never forget. When I had fully decided in the year 1866 that it was my duty to enter the ministry I made my first attempt at preaching in the brick school-house at Allen's Mills. Your father was present, and an attentive listener, looking me directly in the face. Somehow I felt a little afraid of the aged " Patriarch Shorey." I fancied he did not sympathize with me in going into the ministry. But when I got through, Brother Shorey was the first to grasp me by the hand, with tears coursing down his cheeks, in true christian sympathy, saying as he did so, "God bless you, Ira." That hand grasp and "God bless you, Ira," was then of more value to me than any fifty dollars I ever saw. Even now as I write of this scene tears of penitential joy and gratitude fill my eyes. Your father was ever my friend and my father's friend and acquaintance. Your father's theology was that of the New Testament, " Man lost in sin saved through the atoning blood of Christ by repentance toward God and faith in Christ." He was a strict observer of the Sabbath, a man whose faith and christian walk, so far as aim and purpose were con- cerned, was consistent and harmonious. The family altar was one of the chief institutions of his home life.
It is my earnest desire and prayer that the pure Gospel of Christ may ever be preached from that chapel altar and that many souls there be brought to Christ.
I trust, Mrs. Price, you already feel more than repaid for what you have done. Yet your richest reward will be in the glorious hereafter.
Sincerely yours,
IRA EMERY.
A steamboat, called " Crystal Queen," for carrying pleasure parties, was put into Clear Water Pond carly in the summer of 1892, and made its trial trip on Wednesday, June 8th. The Crystal Queen, originally built for the mackerel fishery, was bought of parties in Boothbay, Maine, carly in that year, by Chester and Orville S. Greenwood, Herbert E. Spinney and Edward S. Dingley, now known under the firm name of the Crystal Lake Steamboat Company. These gentlemen re- modeled their purchase, put in a five horse-power engine for driving the propeller, and fitted it with all the conveniences of a first-class pleasure boat. The craft is 33 1-2 feet long, 7 1-2
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EVENTS FROM 1866 TO 1893.
feet wide, and can conveniently carry forty passengers, and is a fast sailer, even when heavily loaded. With a full load of passengers it has crossed the pond from north to south in eleven minutes. A large building has been erected for the accommodation of pleasure parties, on the northern shore of the pond, a base-ball ground laid out, and other improvements made. A more lovely retreat than this for a day's recreation can hardly be found, and it is confidently predicted that the enterprise of the Crystal Lake Steamboat Company will receive a generous patronage.
CHAPTER XX.
MISCELLANY .*
Physicians .- Tallest Soldier from Maine .- Table of Incidents .- Poem : "To the Old Church-Bell."-Town Officers in Industry from the Incorporation of the Town to 1893 .- County Commissioners .- Senators .- Representatives to the Legislature. -Marriages Solemnized by Esq. Cornelius Norton. - Examination Questions .- Statistical. - Town Officers' Bills. - Date of Ice Leaving Clear Water Pond. - Temperature Chart .- Industry's Gubernatorial Vote .- List of Voters in Industry, I855.
PHIVSICIANS.
DOCTOR JONATHAN AMBROSE, an educated but somewhat eccentric physician, was the first practitioner to settle in Industry. He was a native of New Hampshire and came to this town carly in the present century, and lived for a time near Butler's Corner. He was considered a skilful physician, and was very successful in treating cases of the "cold fever" during the prevalence of that malady. He eventually removed to Stark, where he died at an advanced age in 1863.
Dr. John Cook came to Industry from Tamworth, N. H., about 1820. Being a single man he boarded for a time in the family of Esq. Daniel Shaw. He subsequently married, in 1823, Clementine, daughter of Capt. William Allen. He was elected a member of the superintending school committee in 1829, and soon afterward moved to New Sharon.
Dr. John A. Barnard settled at West's Mills about 1825. Like Dr. Cook he was a single man and for a time boarded in
* In preparing Part First of this volume many interesting historical facts have accumulated which could not be conveniently used. These "odds and ends" the author has preserved and incorporated in a separate chapter bearing the above title.
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MISCELLANY.
the families of Dea. Ira Emery and John Gott. He married, in 1828, Clarissa Bodfish, of Norridgewock. He was elected school committee-man in 1826 and re-elected in 1829. He moved to Strong, and in 1841 was in the State Senate.
Dr. Josiah Henderson and his son, Jophanus, also a phys- ician, came to Industry from Massachusetts in 1832, or perhaps somewhat earlier, and settled near the Centre Meeting-House. They afterward moved to Goodridge's Corner and lived in a two-story house which they bought of James Davis. About 1842 they removed to Farmington Centre Village, where the elder died Oct. 8, 1845, aged 79 years.
Dr. Francis Caldwell came from Kennebec County about 1816 or 1817, to finish his medical studies under the instruction of Dr. James Brown, of Bloomfield. He was in practice with his preceptor for a time, and also practiced in Skowhegan and other places before coming to Industry. He came to Industry from Anson in 1835 and settled at West's Mills. He was elected town clerk in 1837 and re-elected in 1838. After practicing in town some four years, he returned to Anson. He died in New Portland, Me., Dec. 3, 1874, aged 85 years .*
Dr. William C. Staples, a physician of the Thompsonian school, came to Industry in 1847 and made his home in the family of Zebulon Manter, whose daughter, Annis, he subse- quently married. After a few years' sojourn in town he went to California, where he died.
Sherburne W. Elliott, also of the Thompsonian school, came to Industry from New Hampshire and practiced from 1838 to June, 1841.
Dr. H. B. Tuttle practiced medicine at West's Mills for a brief period in 1852-3.
Dr. Henry W. Hamilton, a practitioner of the Homoeopathic school, came to Industry in 1858 or 1859, but made only a short stay in town.
The author located at West's Mills Dec. 25, 1877, where he practiced medicine until his removal to Stark, May 27, 1891.
* From a record furnished by his daughter, Mrs. Benjamin Manter. Headstone gives age as 86 years.
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HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.
THE TALLEST SOLDIER FROM MAINE.
John Ingalls Handley, the tallest soldier from Maine, and with one exception the tallest soldier in the Army of the Poto- mac, was born in Industry, Feb. 7, 1839. He was the eldest son of John and Nancy ( Ingalls) Handley, who at the time of their marriage resided in Industry. He enlisted in 1861 and served three months in Co. F, Ist Regiment, Maine Volunteer Infantry. Soon after the expiration of his term of service he re-enlisted as a member of Co. A, 8th Regiment, Maine Volun- teer Infantry, and was mustered into the service Sept. 7, 1861, and immediately appointed corporal, and soon after was pro- moted to sergeant. Re-enlisted Feb. 29, 1864. Mustered out Jan. 18, 1866, at Fortress Monroe, Va. His army measurement was six feet, seven and one-half inches. From the time of his discharge he made his home in East Wilton Village, where he was appointed postmaster in 1889, and held the office up to the time of his death, which occurred Dec. 20, 1891.
TABLE OF INCIDENTS.
1798. Nov. 28. Joseph Greenleaf, of Industry Plantation, and Tamson Stover, of New Sharon, married.
1799. May 5. More than two feet of snow in the woods. The spring unusually cold and backward. People obliged to travel on snowshoes.
1806. April 9. The town votes to buy weights and measures. 1808. Voted that Samuel Mason's old log-house be a legal enclosure for impounding cattle and other stock.
1814-15-16. Very unproductive seasons. Corn sold as high as $2.50 per bushel. William F. Johnson states that his father, James Johnson, who lived on Bannock Hill, was the only person in town whose corn reached perfect maturity in 1816.
1818. Nov. 2. Town votes to hereafter designate the school- house at Davis's Corner as "The Centre School-House."
1822. April 19. Town votes to buy a compass and chain.
1834. March 3. The town votes "To restrain cattle from running at large in the highway."
MISCELLANY. 437
1834. May 15. Snow fell to the depth of eighteen inches. ( Town Records.)
1837. Spring of. Great scarcity of food. Flour $15.00 per barrel ; pork 18 cents per pound, and other things propor- tionally high.
Fall of. Diphtheria visits this State.
1841. May 9. Very early season. Farmers nearly completed their planting.
1842. April. Census shows that there are 458 scholars in town.
1846. October 7. Carding-mill, clover-mill, and threshing- machine owned by Solomon Luce, John Stewart, and Nathaniel E. Wright, burned. Loss $2000. No insurance.
Nov. 21. Elder Datus T. Allen licensed to retail liquors agreeably to act of 1846. He was required to keep a book in which all sales were to be recorded, quantity and kind of liquor sold, name of purchaser, and date of sale. No liquor to be drank at the place where it was sold.
1847. March I. Town votes to raise $500 for the support of schools.
June 29. Ichabod Norton, of Edgartown, Mass., a man of large fortune, dies. Aged 85 years, 6 months.
1852. April 21. About two feet of snow fell. Nearly all the fences hidden from view.
1856. Sept. S. Two hundred votes polled for Representative to Congress.
1861. September. Benjamin N. Willis elected Representative to the State Legislature by 343 majority.
1 864. September. Williams's Great Painting of the American Rebellion exhibited at the Union Church, West's Mills.
1866. Summer of. U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey establish a station on Bannock Hill.
1869. Jan. 27. Eclipse of the moon. One-half its diameter obscured.
Feb. 5. Great snowstorm.
Feb. 15. Hailstorm. Sufficient hail to form a thick, strong crust fell.
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HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.
1869. August 7. Eclipse of sun. Nine-tenths of its diam- eter obscurcd.
Sept. S. Terrific hurricane. Great damage done.
Oct. 22. Earthquake of thirty seconds' duration.
Oct. 30. Heavy snowstorm. Roads rendered wholly impassable. Between one and two feet fell.
1870. June 11. Town votes to exempt from taxation for a period of ten years any steam-mill which Hiram and Eli N. Oliver may erect.
Sunday, July 17. A smoky, gloomy day. Sun almost obscured. Smoke due to extensive fires in the vicinity of Rangeley Lakes.
Dec. 24. Town votes to pay Nathan S. Johnson $150 for enlisting soldiers during the war.
1872. March 2. Town votes to exempt Smith & Coughlin's steam-mill from taxation, also that every voter's barnyard be a legal pound.
1873. Fall of. Great railroad panic. Money very scarce and exorbitant rates of interest demanded. Money loaned in Industry for twenty per cent. interest.
1873-4-5-6-7-8-9-80-1. Raised no money to pay on town debt.
1874. Feb. 5. Richard Fassett stricken with apoplexy at his home in West's Mills.
1875. Feb. 3-15. Great suffering among the people of New England and along the coast from the severe and protracted cold. Vessels wrecked and lives lost.
March 1. Town votes to raise $150 for free high school. Dec. 9. Smith & Coughlin's spool-factory burned. 1881. April 20. A meteor of great brilliancy falls.
1 882-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-90-1-2. Raised $500 to pay on town debt.
1883. Monday, March 26. Twenty-seven persons from In- dustry and vicinity start for the West. Among those from Industry were James M. Norton, Calvin B. Fish, Asa II. Patterson, Charles T. Oliver, Flora M. Rackliff, Milton R. Pinkham, etc.
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MISCELLANY.
1883. By the new legislative apportionment of Representative Districts the following towns and plantations were classed with Industry, viz .: New Vineyard, Freeman, Salem, King- field, Eustis, Madrid, Rangeley, Rangeley Plantation, Green- ville, Dallas and Coplin Plantations.
1884. May 30. Graves of soldiers buried in Industry first decorated by a detail from the Madison Post, G. A. R.
May 31. Very heavy frost. Ice of considerable thick- ness formed.
June 14. Very severe frost. Much injury done to vegetables and farm crops generally.
July and August. Very poor season for curing hay. Unusual amount of rain.
Sept. 14. A very heavy frost. Vegetation killed.
October. Potatoes rot badly. In some instances more than half the crop left in the field.
Nov. 12. Democrats celebrate the election of Grover Cleveland at West's Mills.
Dec. 8. Warm and pleasant. Farmers engaged in plowing.
1885. Jan. S. Truman A. Nottage's barn, near Withec's Corner, burned, including five head of cattle and twenty-two sheep.
Jan. 10-14. Wagons in use.
Jan. II. Amos Stetson, Jr., dies very suddenly.
Feb. 10. Snow and rain accompanied by vivid light- ning and heavy peals of thunder.
March 5. George Manter and Moses Bradbury dic at nearly the same hour.
April 20. William H. Johnson introduces the telephone into Industry and establishes a line between his residence and shovel-handle factory at Allen's Mills.
April 24. An oppressively warm day. The thermom- eter 90 degrees above zero in the shade.
July. D. W. Austin, Farmington, erects a boat-house on the shore of Clear Water Pond and puts in a fine new boat.
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HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.
1885. July 29. Buildings of Jerry P. Look, at New Vineyard Mills, struck by lightning and burned together with others.
July 30. Henry Day's hotel, at New Sharon, burned. Also Thomas Smith's drug-store and other buildings.
October. Harrison Daggett establishes a second line of telephone in town.
1886. Feb. 2. Remarkable storm of sleet. Every tree and shrub heavily loaded with icicles. These presented a very beautiful appearance in the sunlight.
Feb. 26 to March 4. Heavy storm. No mail received at West's Mills for a week. Trains blockaded throughout the Statc.
June 11. George W. Batchelder, Jr., son of George W. Batchelder, of Industry, instantly killed at Madison Bridge by being thrown from a wagon. Aged 11 years.
Oct. 22. Great fire at Farmington Village. An immense amount of property destroyed. Loss estimated at nearly $500,000.
Oct. 26. Simon Collins, formerly of Industry, instantly killed by a runaway horse at Farmington Village.
1887. Feb. 9. John O. Rackliff drops dead in his barnyard.
Feb. 26. The Dea. Ira Emery house. near Goodridge's Corner burned last night.
June. Remarkable from the fact that thunder was heard but once during the month.
July 27. Joseph Collins drops dead in the haying field.
Sept. 7. Heavy thunder-shower just at night. Benj. Franklin Hilton's barn, in Stark, struck by lightning and burned. Loss $5000.
1888. Feb. 1. Quite a heavy shock of carthquake at 11.20 A. M. At Chas. M. Hilton's store a glass jar was shaken from the shelf and broken by the fall.
April 21. Very good sleighing.
Sept. 6. Very heavy frost last night. All vegetation destroyed. Ice formed as thick as window-glass. Augustus H. Swift's farm buildings destroyed by fire.
1889. Jan. 19. People using wheeled vehicles.
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MISCELLANY.
1891. Spring. In the Goodridge Corner school district 1,418 gallons of maple syrup were made. When Mrs. Wm. M. Bryant came to Industry to reside, Charles Hayes, who resided on the old homestead, was the only person in the district who made maple syrup, and he manufactured only a limited quantity.
April 30. Apples very scarce and command fabulous prices. Eight dollars and twenty-five cents received for a barrel of Northern Spys shipped to Boston.
July. U. S. Coast and Geodetic Surveying party estab- lish a station at the summit of Bannock Hill.
July 29. Obsequies of Benjamin G. Eveleth occur at the M. E. Church at West's Mills. First funeral held in the house since its erection.
Autumn. Drouth of wide extent occurs. Mills shut down on the Kennebec. Water famine threatened in New York City. Great anxiety everywhere felt.
Nov. 15. Total eclipse of the moon, commencing soon after sunset. A clear sky rendered this interesting phe- nomenon plainly visible to many interested watchers.
Dec. 3. Clear Water Pond reported to be at least six feet lower than the oldest inhabitant ever saw it before.
December. This month will be remembered for its mild, balmy air and pleasant weather. There was but little or no frost in the ground up to near the 20th of the month. On the 15th there was a slight fall of snow followed by rain and mild weather. Wheels were in use in January, 1892.
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