A history of the town of Industry, Franklin County, Maine, Part 5

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 5

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In 1795, Capt. David Davis became a permanent settler on the southwest section of the Gore, on the farm owned by the late Alexander Hillman. Ile lived in a log-house until 1803, when he built a large convenient two-story house which, for more than three-fourths of a century, stood on the place .* He was a successful farmer, bore an excellent reputation and possessed considerable property. In 1803 he paid a money tax of $10.36, it being the highest tax paid by any individual on the Gore. In personal appearance Capt. Davis was of command- ing carriage, and extremely corpulent in his old age. It is claimed that he weighed nearly or quite 350 pounds. He died Aug. 27, 1837, aged 78 years.

THE LOWELL STRIP.

This tract of land in Industry was a portion of the grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (sec p. 28), and had fallen by heirship or otherwise to Francis Cabot Lowell, a mer- chant residing in Boston. It extended the whole length of the township from east to west, and was a mile and a half wide. Like the lands of the Patent, it was settled without any pre- liminary survey. In 1802, nearly seven years after the first settlement, Esquire Cornelius Norton, Jr., made the survey, and numbered the lots from one to twenty-nine inclusive. Lots No. 1, 2 and 29 being in Stark and comprising that por- tion of the town set off and annexed to Industry in 1822 (sce p. 13).

As nearly as the writer can learn, Jabez Norton, Sr., was the first settler on the Lowell Strip. He settled in town in 1795, on the farm recently owned and occupied by Abel W. Spauld- ing. His lot was originally the north half of No. 21, but the farm has since been greatly enlarged by purchasing portions of

* This house was destroyed by fire on Wednesday P. M., April IS, ISSS.

SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN.

adjoining lots. His son, Sprowel Norton, settled to the west of him on the north half of lot No. 20.

Abraham Page, from Farmington, commenced a clearing on the Lowell Strip, at the head of Clear Water Pond, probably about the same time as Mr. Norton. Though capable of per- forming a great deal of labor, he was of a roving disposition and remained on his land but a short time.

In the fall of 1795, Tristram Daggett, having sold his lot and improvements to Esq. Herbert Boardman, bought Page's improvements on lot No. 11, on the Lowell Strip, now known as " the Collins Luce farm." On the first day of January, 1796, Mr. Daggett obtained a deed from Calvin Boyd,* of Farming- ton, purporting to convey one hundred and fifty acres of land to include the above-mentioned improvements of Page, the consideration being thirty-two dollars. He built a log-cabin on his lot, in which he and his family lived for many years. This house stood on the west side of the sucker brook and nearer the pond than the present one on the farm. He sold to David M. Luce, of New Vineyard, and removed to an adjoining lot which he subsequently sold to James Bailey, who in turn sold to Benjamin R. Rackliff, of Georgetown.t

Daniel Luce, Sr., settled on lot No. 17, about 1796, and several of his sons and one son-in-law settled near him. Tru- man settled on lot No. 18, joining his father's lot on the east ; Rowland on No. 19, still further to the cast, on the farm now owned by James T. True. Daniel, Jr., married and settled on the western part of his father's lot, which is now ( 1892) owned by James Edgecomb, the eastern portion belonging to the heirs of Amos Stetson, Jr. Deacon Benjamin Cottle, a son-in-law of Mr. Luce, settled on lot No. 13, adjoining the New Vineyard Gore, where he lived until, in his old age, he went to live with his daughter, Mrs. David M. Luce.

Captain Peter West took possession of lot No. 28, embrac-

* The courts subsequently decided that the title of Mr. Boyd and others was illegal and that Francis Cabot Lowell was the legal owner.

+ Throughout this work where no State is mentioned, the State of Maine is gen- erally to be understood.

HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.

ing the site of the village of West's Mills, which was named in honor of him. Capt. William Allen and Benjamin Manter commenced a clearing for him in 1797, and felled two acres of trees. He subsequently built a log-house and moved his fam- ily to Industry in 1798. He did not, however, obtain a deed of his land, as we learn from Allen's History ( see p. 6), until 1803.

Peter Daggett was an early settler on lot No. 16, now owned by George Luce, but there is no means of learning the exact date of his settlement in town. Mr. Daggett purchased land in New Vineyard as early as 1793, and probably came to the District of Maine about that time.

Asa Conant settled on lot No. 15 and built his log-house on the top of the hill between George Luce's and Oliver D. Norton's. The exact date of his settlement is veiled in ob- scurity, but both his name and that of Mr. Daggett appear in the list of voters for 1803.

James Eveleth, Sr., came to Industry in 1800 or perhaps a year earlier, and settled on the Lowell Strip, on land now com- prising a portion of the farm owned and occupied by Davis Look. Some of the rose-bushes which grew near his log-house may still be seen.

John Marshall and sons came from Lewiston, in 1800, and probably settled on land now comprising a part of the Davis Look farm, formerly owned by Samuel Frost for many years. Mr. Marshall was a carpenter by trade, and in indigent cir- cumstances. After living in town a few years, they all moved away.

Ammiel Robbins also settled on the Lowell Strip, on lot No. 12, at the head of Clear Water Pond, and one of his sons on a part of the same lot. The orchards near their respective dwellings can still be seen, though the houses have long since gone to decay. Simeon Butler settled on a small tract of land lying to the south of lot No. 12, which afterwards, in 1824, passed into the hands of Sanders Luce. Mr. Luce moved a house on to his land from the Fish place, situated in the edge of Farmington, in which he lived for ten years. Peter Tilton and Francis S. Rogers each lived in the house after Mr. Luce

SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWWW. 53

left, and it was finally bought by Joseph Collins, Sr., and moved to "Federal Row."

NORTH INDUSTRY.

This part of the town was first settled as a portion of New Vineyard, and was set off from that town and annexed to In- dustry in 1844 (see p. 14). The first settler in this portion of the town was Tristram Daggett, who commenced a clearing on the west half of lot No. 7, in 1791 .* This land now comprises a portion of the farm owned and occupied by Asa Q. and Calvin B. Fish, additions having been made to it by Esquire Herbert Boardman, to whom Mr. Daggett sold his possession.

Capt. Jeruel Butler came from Martha's Vineyard to Farm- ington, July 26, 1793. The following year he purchased lot No. 9, in the first range of lots adjoining the Lowell Strip, and recently owned by the late John O. Rackliff. The same year he felled trees, made a clearing and built a log-house. After its completion, he removed his furniture and provisions to his new home and made everything ready for occupancy. Un -. fortunately the house and its contents were destroyed by fire before Mrs. Butler ever saw it. A second dwelling was immedi- ately erected, by the assistance of his neighbors, on the site of the one burned, in which he and his family spent the winter of 1794-5. About the same time that Captain Butler commenced his clearing, Henry Norton, of Edgartown, Mass., obtained a title to 200 acres of land, it being a part of lot No. 3 in the first range, and is now owned by Eli N. Oliver. Here Mr. Norton made a clearing and built a grist-mill, which never proved of any service, owing to its faulty construction.

Ephraim Gould Butler, son of Benjamin and Sarah (Gould) Butler, of Martha's Vineyard, came with his family to the District of Maine in April, 1792. His family made a year's

* Wm. Allen says ( Ilistory of Industry, p. 12) that Mr. Daggett settled on lot No. 6, which he afterward sold to Charles Luce. This is erroneous. He settled on the west half of lot No. 7, and sold 10 Esq. Herbert Boardman, Sept. 5, 1795. Mr. Luce bought his land of John Oakes, July 17, 1795, as shown by a deed recorded in the Lincoln County Registry.

HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.

sojourn in Sandy River township ( Farmington ), during which time he was probably engaged in making a clearing and erect- ing a log-cabin on his lot in New Vineyard township. This lot, to which he moved his family in the spring of 1793, was No. 1 in the first range, more recently known as the Henry Manter farm. It is now ( 1892) owned by the widow of the late William Lewis. Mr. Butler resided here till 1801, when he removed to another part of New Vineyard.

Charles Luce commenced a clearing on the east half of lot No. 7, subsequently known as the Jeremy Bean farm, in 1795. Here he made a good farm, on which he spent the remainder of his life and brought up a large family. James Manter settled on lot No. 5, where James D. Badger now lives, about the same time as Mr. Luce, and died of "cold fever" early in the follow- ing winter. His sons, with the aid and advice of their mother, conducted the farm for many years after the father's death.

Joseph Smith and sons settled on lot No. 3 in the second range, in 1795. He died in the following year, and the farm passed into the possession of his son, Joseph Warren Smith. There are no buildings standing on the place now, and the land is owned by Eli N. Oliver.

Asa Merry was an early settler on lot No. I in the second range of lots. Here he made an excellent farm, kept a large stock, especially of cows, and became in later years a noted cheese-maker. This farm is now owned by Charles F. Oliver.

Esquire Herbert Boardman, as has been previously stated, bought out Tristram Daggett, in September, 1795, and moved his household effects to his new home on an ox-sled in the month of December following. He was a man of some means, and greatly enlarged his farm by the purchase of adjacent lands. He lost heavily by the burning of his buildings and their contents on the night of January 22, 1824. The house was rebuilt, and he continued to live on the farm up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1838.

John Daggett, Sr., came from Edgartown, Dukes County, Mass., and settled on lot No. 2 in the second range, about 1793-4. The deed of his lot, recorded in the Lincoln County

SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN.

Registry, bears the date of Feb. 11, 1793. He died a few years after coming to the District of Maine, and his land was divided among his heirs. Mr. Daggett was a miller by occupa- tion, and tradition says, operated a wind-mill on the Vineyard. Being unused to the hardships of pioneer life, he was not able to withstand the exposure incident to his home on the very borders of civilization, hence his untimely death.

CHAPTER IV.

EVENTS FROM 1800 TO 1810.

Condition of the Settlers .- Plantation Organized .- Town Incorporated .- Roads .- Early Town Officers. - The Embargo Act. - The Town becomes a part of Somerset County, Etc., Etc.

AT the beginning of the nineteenth century a bird's-eye- view of what now comprises the town of Industry would have revealed a vast expanse of forest dotted here and there with "openings " made by the axe of the settler. In each of these might be seen an unpretentious log-cabin with the smoke curl- ing upward from its rude chimney -- the home of the settler and his family. A rude hovel or cow-house would also be seen, provided the occupant of the cabin was not too poor to own a cow, which was not unfrequently the case. A closer acquaintance with these cabin homes and the families that oc- cupied them would have told a story of toil and want, of which but few have any conception. Clothing of the poorest quality and insufficient in quantity, children clothed in rags and bare- footed even in the coldest weather, food of the coarsest kind and sometimes none at all, were a few of the many privations and hardships incident to the pioneer life of the early settler and his family in Industry.

In 1800 and for several years thereafter, the population of the town increased very rapidly by reason of immigration. Among many others who moved into town in 1800, was Benja- min Jewett and family, who came from Shapleigh, York County, Maine, in March of that year, and settled on lot No. 42 adjoin- ing Alvin Howes's lot on the east. His family and goods were

EVENTS FROM 1800 TO 1810.

drawn by a four-ox team, which crossed the Androscoggin River on the ice below Lewiston Falls. The only building in the cities of Lewiston and Auburn at that time, was a small mill on the Auburn side of the river. There were in fact no large settlements in the District of Maine at that time, save on the sea-coast.

James Winslow, from Farmington, formerly of Gardiner, now Pittston, was another settler who came the same year as Mr. Jewett .* He took up lot No. 45, containing one hundred acres, and here he spent the whole of his life. The excellent farm which he cleared was set off in part to New Sharon in 1852, and is now owned and occupied by his granddaughter, Mrs. Betsey W. Stone, relict of the late Franklin Stone of that town.

Zephaniah Luce, from Martha's Vineyard, settled on lot No. 31, in 1801, but being in indigent circumstances, did not gain a title to the land. He removed to Farmington, prior to the incorporation of the town, and resided for some years on the "Fish place" near Industry line. The lot on which he first settled is now owned by Charles S. Rackliff.

Lemuel Collins, Jr., married in December, 1800, and the following year took up lot No. 49, adjoining his father on the south. This land is now owned and occupied by William H. Manter of New Sharon, it having been included in Industry's cession to that town in 1852.

Nathaniel Chapman, whom Esq. William Allen calls one of the carliest settlers in town, settled on a part of Joseph Taylor's lot, No. 68, in 1801. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and was granted a pension by the government. He died in Kingfield, to which town he removed after Industry was incorporated.

In 1802, David Maxwell, from Wells, Me., settled on lot No. 3, a near neighbor of Nathaniel Willard, Jonathan Bunker, James Thompson and others in that vicinity. Jacob Matthews, from Mt. Vernon, who settled on lot No. 9, adjoining Zoe

* Wm. Allen, Esq., ( Ilist. of Industry, p. 17) gives the date of Mr. Winslow's settlement as 1799. The date here given is from the official report of the Appraising Commission.

HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.

Withee on the east, also came in 1802. The following year he married a daughter of Mr. Withee, and in 1807 sold his pos- session to Moses Tolman, who came to Industry from New Sharon. This lot comprises the south part of the farm occu- pied by the late John Tolman. Benjamin Stevens was another settler who came in 1802, and took up lot No. 10, which he sold to Moses Tolman in 1807, but whither he went or whence he came the writer has been unable to learn.

Ebenezer Stevens was Benjamin's nearest neighbor on the north. He also came in 1802, and settled on lot No. 11. It is supposed that these two gentlemen were in some way related, as well as John B. Stevens, whose lot joined theirs on the cast. Samuel Stevens, a cooper by trade, settled on lot No. 12, prior to the incorporation of the town. Like many of the early settlers, he had served in the Continental Army and was in straitencd pecuniary circumstances. Being unable to pay for his land, he removed to lot R, by New Sharon line, and after- ward left town.

DeHave Norton, from Farmington, settled on lot No. 40, in 1802, lying south and west of Withee's Corner. He was a young man, the son of Zachariah and Hannah ( Smith) Norton of Farmington, and although his name appears among the petitioners for incorporation of the town of Industry carly in 1803, nothing further is known concerning his residence in Industry.

Aside from the arrival of new settlers, but little of impor- tance occurred in the history of the settlement until 1802, when a State tax of forty-four dollars, and a county tax of nearly an equal amount, was assessed on the inhabitants. The sheriff was directed to serve the warrants on some principal inhabitant who was able to pay the amount if he did not cause the tax to be duly assessed. After passing through both parts of the set- tlement and failing to find any such principal inhabitant, he decided to leave the warrants with William Allen, Jr., who had just attained his majority. Mr. Allen procured a warrant from a Justice of the Peace, for calling a plantation meeting, and a legal organization was thus secured. In extent, the plantation

EVENTS FROM 1800 TO 1810.

embraced all the lands comprising the towns of Industry and Mercer as subsequently incorporated, together with a part of the town of Smithfield, and to the whole was given the name of Industry Plantation. The manner in which the plantation received its name, notwithstanding every effort of the author to settle the fact, is still a mooted question. William Allen states in his history of the town (see p. 17), that " At a meeting for the choice of these [militia] officers [in the winter of 1799], my father proposed the name of Industry for the military territory, which was adopted by the company, and when the westerly portion of the territory was incorporated retained the name." There is also a tradition among the Winslows (see Hanson's History of Gardiner and Pittston, p. 66) that the plantation received its name from the wife of Capt. John Thompson, whose maiden name was Betsey Winslow. This tradition runs as follows: "When the town# was about being incorporated, Mr. Thompson said to his wife as he was leaving home, 'What shall we call the new town?' 'Name it for the character of the people,' she replied, ' call it Industry.' He proposed the name and it was accepted."

The inhabitants were warned to meet at the dwelling-house of Lieut. Ambrose Arnold, who lived in that part of the planta- tion subsequently incorporated as the town of Mercer. The organization was perfected by the election of the following officers : Clerk, Nahum Baldwin ; Assessors, Nahum Baldwin, Luther Burr and William Allen, Jr. All these with the excep- tion of Mr. Allen were chosen from the Mercer portion of the settlement, but the following year the voters from the back settlement, as the present town of Industry was then called, outnumbered the others, and consequently chose all the offi- cers from their own locality. The plantation also voted to raise a certain sum of money to buy powder for muster and to defray

* The writer is of the opinion that it was on the organization of the plantation, instead of the incorporation of the town, that is here meant. Osgood Carlton's Map of Maine, published prior to the incorporation of the town, gives this territory the name of Industry Plantation, hence Mr. Hanson must have been slightly in error as to time.

HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.

other necessary expenses; and Samuel Hinkley was chosen treasurer.

The next event of importance in the history of the settle- ment was the survey of the township (see p. 33) in the month of September, 1802. No little excitement and anxiety prevailed among the settlers regarding this survey and the subsequent arbitration to which it was a preliminary measure. At that time, no person residing on the lands of the Plymouth Com- pany had any title to his land, and the usage they would receive at the hands of the Commission (sec p. 32) promised to be anything but favorable. When the commissioners met at Augusta, in October, after the completion of the survey, the worst fears of the settlers became a reality. Exorbitant prices were affixed to the lots of the settlers, which those who re- mained were compelled to pay, while many of the poorer class were forced to abandon their homes and improvements for want of the necessary funds to purchase .*

But little is known concerning the doings of the plantation at its second annual meeting, aside from the fact that all the officers were chosen from the back settlement, as has already been stated, and that James Thompson, Esq., was elected clerk. Probably William Allen, Jr., was re-elected as one of the asses- sors, but as the plantation records are not to be found, the fact cannot be established with absolute certainty.

Esquire Allen says: "At the plantation meeting on the first Monday of April, 1803, the inhabitants for the first time gave in their votes for governor, all for Caleb Strong, except three, who voted for Gerry (these voters not knowing the christian name of the candidate), and were returned accord- ingly. The next year our Republicans, as the supporters of Mr. Gerry were called, were seasonably furnished with the Argus, which had then been established as a Republican paper, and

* The appraisal of the forty-eight lots in Industry was a surprise to all. But twelve lots out of this number were valued at less than one dollar per acre; the re- maining thirty-six ranging in price from one dollar to two dollars and twenty cents per acre.

EVENTS FROM 1800 TO 1810.

were then, as ever after, prepared to give in their votes accord- ing to order."

INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN.

Early in the year 1803, an effort was made to incorporate that portion of the Industry Plantation lying west of Stark and commonly known as the back settlement, to distinguish it from the other portion of the plantation, which was called the river settlement. By a careful enumeration it was found that the back settlement contained more than fifty ratable polls, and that its valuation when compared with the river settlement was as twenty-four is to twenty, or six-elevenths of the entire planta- tion according to the valuation of 1800. At the earnest re- quest of James Thompson, the plantation clerk, and others, William Allen, Jr., prepared the following petition to the Gen- eral Court [Legislature] of Massachusetts, then in session at Boston :

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives, of the Com- monwealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled in Jan'y, 1803.

The petition of the subscribers, inhabitants of the north part of the Plantation of Industry, in the County of Kennebec, respectfully sheweth that they are debarred from many priviledges which they would enjoy if they were incorporated into a town, such as the want of schools, high- ways, etc.

That the said Plantation is in two distinct settlements which are in no way connected by roads and are not situated so as to form a town to commode the inhabitants as will appear by examining the map of the District of Maine, it being formed by two triangles, one to the west and the other to the south of the town of Starks.

That on account of their peculiar situation they are in a great measure detached from and suffer great inconveniences by being con- nected with the south part in attending Plantation meetings which are holden sometimes nine miles from some of your petitioners. That the north part of said Plantation bounded as follows : Beginning at the S. W. Cor. of Starks running south 1-2 mile to New Sharon, thence N. W. by said New Sharon 5 miles, thence N. 3 miles to the New Vineyard, thence E. by said New Vineyard 4 miles to the N. W. Cor. of Starks,

HISTORY OF INDUSTRY.

thence south by the west line of Starks 6 miles to the first mentioned boundary, containing about 50 ratable polls whose inconveniences would be alleviated by being set off from the rest of the Plantation. And therefore your petitioners earnestly solicit the Hon. Legislature to take the premises into their wise consideration and by setting off the afore- said tract from the rest of the Plantation of Industry, incorporate the same into a town by the name of Industry vested with those legal rights and priviledges which are allowed to other towns in the Commonwealth. And as in duty bound will ever pray. [Signed.]

Levi Greenleaf.

John Thompson.

James Thompson. William Allen, Jr.

DeHave Norton.

Zoe Withee.

Trueman Allen.

Jacob Mathews.

Atkins Ellis.

John Thompson .*

Thomas Johnson.

Levi Willard.

Benj'n Burgess.

John B. Stevens.

Daniel Luce.

Eben'r Stevens.

Lemuel Collins.

Bartlett Allen.

James Heard.

Benjamin Stevens.

Lemuel Coslins.

David Maxwell.

Jeremiah Bean.

Sam'l Brown.

Ebraim Page.

William Ladd.

Benjamin Cottel.

Nathaniel Willard.

Rolin Luce.

John Thompson, Jr.

Jabez Norton.

Shubael Crowel.

Jabez Norton, Jr.

James Johnson.

Rowlon Luce .*

Joseph Moody.

Benjamin Cottle .*

Ephraim Moody.

Trustom Dogit .*

Daniel Moody.

Abraham Page .*

Will'm Allen.

Archelaus Luce.

Samuel Willard.

James Winslow. John Webber.

This petition having been duly presented, passed the House of Representatives on the 18th day of June, 1803, and on the 20th, having passed the Senate and received the signature of the governor, Caleb Strong, the town of Industry was declared legally incorporated.

* These, and perhaps other names, were added apparently to swell the petition.

EVENTS FROM 1800 TO 1810.

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A history of the town of Industry, Franklin County, Maine, Part 5

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