USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bremen > A history of the towns of Bristol and Bremen in the state of Maine : including the Pemaquid Settlement > Part 49
USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bristol > A history of the towns of Bristol and Bremen in the state of Maine : including the Pemaquid Settlement > Part 49
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Wm. HI. Little, the subject of our notice, was probably of the . sixth (perhaps the seventh) generation from Thomas who was
501
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
the first of the name in America. He was born Dec. 21st, 1761, and came to this place when quite young. He married Rhoda Trouant and settled on a farm near the north line of the town ; and besides carrying on his farm engaged also in ship-building, timber for the purpose being then abundant in this region. Be- fore the war of 1812, he had built several small vessels; but after the war, beginning in 1816, in connection first with some of his neighbors, and afterwards with his sons, he built a vessel of a hundred or more tons every year for twenty years.1 He was a man of strict integrity in his intercourse with others, and enjoyed, in an eminent degree, the esteem and respect of the community, but never sought public office. IIe had several sons, by whom the name is still perpetuated, and several daughters.
Sullivan Hardy, long a resident of this town, died Feb. 28th, 1848, aged upwards of 68 years. He came here when quite a young man ; and during his life filled some important public offices. He had received a good education, and often in winter was employed in teaching a district school in his neighborhood. He was first elected on the board of selectmen of the town (Bristol) in 1809, and was subsequently several times re-elected. It was while he was a member of this board that the difficulties between the citizens of the place and the non-resident proprietors came to a crisis, and means were adopted which finally led to their settlement, as heretofore described. He was early ap- pointed to the office of justice of peace, which he held for many years, performing the duties required to the general satisfaction. When the town of Bremen was incorporated, in 1828, he was elected first town-clerk.
At a town-meeting, May 4th, 1850, a movement was made for building a town house, to be used for the public meetings of the citizens ; and a committee appointed to determine the proper location, and secure a proper site. This committee subsequently reported that the whole distance from the southern boundary of the town to the line of Waldoboro is 7 miles, less 14 rods; and that the middle point is 6 rods north of the school house of district No. 3; and that a suitable lot of land for a school house could be obtained of Wm. Johnston, a third of a mile north of the centre; but nothing further was done.
One effect of the Crimean war in Europe, was to create a
' Family Record, Otis Little, Esq.
502
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
great demand for vessels ; and an immense impulse was given. to the ship-building interest in this region, but it was not ... long continuance. No vessels of importance were built in the. town, but the business was active at Waldoboro, Round Pond, New Harbor, and at Damariscotta, where many men from the. place were constantly employed. As a matter of course business of all kinds was active for several years.
July 15th, 1855, there occurred in this town one of those dis. tressing cases of suicide, which, however common they may be, never lose their sadness, and against which no human listy or foresight can protect us. Thomas Child, a farmer in com. fortable circumstances, as was supposed, destroyed his own life by taking poison. It was afterwards discovered that the desperate act was occasioned by embarrassment in which he had become involved by the failure of a Damariscotta firm of ship builders, to whom he had made a considerable loan of money held by him in trust.
The " war of the rebellion" found the people of this region in the same spirit as prevailed elsewhere. The "coming events " had for years been " casting their shadows before," and the public mind was in some degree prepared for the call that was to be made upon their patriotism and their valor.
In all the various calls of the government for men the town of Bremen never failed to meet the full demands made upon her, and by means essentially the same as practiced in other towns. Early in the war small, but afterwards, large, bounties offered for volunteers by the town in addition to those offered by the general and state governments did not fail to secure the large number of men called for as they were needed.
The attempt to secure men for the army by the ancient mode of drafting produced the same result here as elsewhere. Though theoretically just and equal it is directly opposed to the universal feeling in favor of the sacred freedom of the in- dividual, and probably will be no more attempted by our government except in very extraordinary cases or sudden and unforseen emergencies. It is true that men must be had to carry on a war, but they can always be obtained by the offer of a sufficient pecuniary consideration, and the burden then becomes one of the purse only, and is equally diffused among the people of the state, and the liberty of the individual is not violated.
503
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
The following list contains the names of all from this town who served in the army or navy during the war, so far as can be ascertained. It has been compared with some care with the returns contained in the reports of the adjutant general. Pos- sibly there may be some omissions, especially as regards those serving in the navy.
The list was prepared by Thomas Little, Esq., whose name will be found in it.
1861.
Samuel Davis, 1 Private, Co. B., 2nd Reg. of Inf. ; wounded near Williams- burgh, Va., and subsequently discharged.
Joseph Fogler, Private, Co. - 2nd Reg. ; wounded and taken prisoner at Bull P.un, and subsequently discharged.
Frank G. Haynes, 2 Corp., Co. B., 1st Cavalry ; taken prisoner, and after- wards exchanged and rejoined his company.
Emery J. Hilton, Private, Co. E., 4th Reg. Inf. ; wounded in hand at Bull Run and discharged.
Charles T. Hilton, Private, Co. B., 8th Reg. Inf. ; reenlisted at close of time, and discharged with his company at the close of the war.
Thomas P. Keen, Sergt., Co. E., 4th Reg .; discharged, Feb. 17, 62 for disability.
Frank A. Lawler, Corporal, Co. E., 4th Reg. ; served his full term of 3 years, and was mustered out with his company ; reenlisted in Han- cock's Corps, 1863.
Wm. McLain, Private, Co. B. 8th Reg. ; wounded near Fort Darling, 1864.
Edward Palmer, Private, Co. E., 4th Reg. Inf. ; killed in action, May 23, 1864.
Francis W. Rhoades, Private, Co. E., 4th Reg. Inf. ; wounded by an axe and discharged, Nov. 6. Reeulisted, Sergeant of Co. I., 13th Reg. ; and was killed in battle of Gettysburgh.
James G. Roades, Private Co. E. 4th Reg. Inf .; wounded, and died in hospital in Washington, Sept. 13, 62.
David W. Roades, 3 Private, Co. H., Ist Reg. Cavalry ; died Jan. 24tb, 1864, in Virginia,
Charles C. Turner, Private, Co. E., 4th Reg. Inf .; taken prisoner at Gettysburg, and died in Andersonville prison.
1 Believed to be the same as Samuel W. Davis who entered the army from Orono, May 28th, 1861. - Adjutant General's Report, 1863, p. 106.
" This name is not found in its proper place in some copies of the adjutant general's report.
3 Entered the army from the town of Harmony, according to report of adju- tant general.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
Thomas F. Turner, Private, Co. E., 4th Reg. Inf .; discharged for di i. bility, Dec. 11, 62. - 1862
Joseph W. Bryant, Private, Co. I., 21st Reg. Inf. ; regularly discharge ! at expiration of time of service.
Green Burns, Private, Co. I., 21st Reg. Inf. ; same as last.
Joseph Burns, Private, Co. I., 21st Reg. Inf. ; do.
Roscoe D. Creamer, Private, Co. I., 19th Reg. Inf .; transferred! to inth- lid corps.
Asa F. Flye, Private, Co. I., 21st Reg. Inf. ; discharged at expiration of time of service.
Wm. J. Genthner, Co. - , 14th Mass. Inf. ; subsequently transferred to the navy.
Seth Hall, Private, in same Co. and Reg. ; discharged for disability.
John E. Johnston, Private, Co. K., Ist Reg. Cavalry ; discharged on a4. count of disability, April 13, 1863.
Daniel W. Keen, Corporal, Co. K., 20th Reg. Inf .; and Lieutenant of
128th Reg. of colored troops ; was wounded at Fredericksburg, and died, Aug. 19th, 1865.
Weston H. Keen, Ist Lieut., Co. K., 20th Reg. Inf. ; and subsequently Capt. Co. A. ; killed in action Sept. 30, 1864, near Petersburg, Va. Thomas Little, Private, Co. I., 19th Reg. Inf. ; wounded at Gettysburg and subsequently discharged.
Otis Il. Little, Private, Do., 19th Reg. Inf. ; killed at Petersburg, June 24, 1864.
Wm. H. Little jr., Corporal, 19th Reg. Inf. ; wounded in action, May 18th, 1864.
Joel H. Little, Serg. Co. I., 21st Reg. Inf. ; discharged for disability, Dec. 16, 1862.
Timothy Ozier, served in a Massachusetts Reg., probably the 14th.
Ogilvie Richards, Private, Co. I., 21st Inf. ; wounded in action, May 27,
1862, and subsequently taken prisoner July 30, 1864; released on parole, 1865.
Lincoln Rhoades, Private, died in Louisiana.
James W. Taylor, Private, Co. I., 21st Reg. Inf. ; died, Feb. 21, 62.
Vincent R. Taylor, do. do., discharged, time ex- pired.
George W. Trouant, Private, Co. I., 21st. Reg. Inf. ; died of fever in New York, Jany. 21st, 1863.
George S. Turner, Private, Co. I., 19th: Reg. Inf. ; wounded in action at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2d, and died, July 12, 62.
Wm. R. Webber, Private, Co. I. 21st Reg. Inf .; served the full term for which he enlisted, and was honorably discharged.
Joseph S. Woodbury, Corp., Co. I. 21st Inf.
505
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
1863.
Lucius H. Bond, Private, Co. L., 2d Cavalry ; Monhegan.
Wm. J. Brown, Private, Co. E., 2d Reg. Cavalry ; transferred to navy. James McLoon, Private, 7th Battery of Mounted Artillery, served until close of war, and honorably discharged.
John W. Webster, Wagoner, Co. I., 21st Reg. Inf. ; served full term of enlistment and honorably discharged.
John S. Woodbury, Corporal, Co. I., 21st Reg. Inf .; served full term of enlistment and honorably discharged.
1861.
Burton A. Beal, Private, Ist D. C. Cavalry ; disch. May 11, 65.
Henry E. Challis, Private, Ist Reg. D. C. Cavy. ; disch. by order No. 77.
J. Emerson Hilton, Private, Co. -- , 32d Reg. Inf .; killed in action at Petersburg, Va., April 2d, 1865.
1 1865.
Wm. Burke, Private, Co. B., 1st Battalion of Inf.
John Clark, - -, 13th Reg. Inf. ; discharged for disability.
Austin Lawler, ----- , 13th Reg. Inf. ; discharged for disability.
John Mullen, Private, Co. B., 1st Battalion Inf.
John H. Pray, Private, Co. D., 1st Battalion Inf.
Byron Richards, 1 13th Reg. Inf.
Charles D. Shillings, Private, Co. E., 1st Battalion of Infantry.
Charles F. Walker, -, 1 D. Col Cav.
The following are known to have served in the navy, but with one or two exceptions the ships to which they were at- tached has not been ascertained :
1862.
Abdon Davis, ship Constellation ; discharged for disability.
Alonzo Richards, ship Constellation served three years and was honorably discharged.
1863.
Charles W. Little, ship unknown ; honorably discharged.
John McLain, 66 1864.
Frederic Creamer, 66
James Donnells,
Wm. W. Hardy, .6 66 ‹: Samuel Heavener, 66
George Smith,
66 .
1 This name has not been found on any list of this regiment in the adjutant's report, but Mr. Little includes it in his list.
64
ye
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
Joseph W. Welman, ship unknown ; honorably discharged. John H. Bond, Monhegan.
The names of several others who served in the army during the rebellion, require to be mentioned here.
Samuel T. Keene, who entered the army from Rockland, was a native of this town where he was born in 1833. He was at one time a member of Waterville College, but graduated at Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., in the class of 1856. After graduating, he had charge of the academy in Cherryfield, for a time, and subsequently studied law, and opened an office in Rockland.
When the 20th regiment was organized in the summer at 1802 he was appointed 1st lieutenant of company 1, but w .: afterwards transferred to company F. as captain, In this ci- pacity he served with so much distinction, that he was further promoted as major of the regiment, but he died before his come mission reached him. He was shot through the head by a rebel sharp-shooter in front of Petersburg, Va., June 22d, 1864. Fall- ing into the arms of a brother officer, he said, " write to my wife, it is all well, I die for my country." He then quietly passed away. He was a man of excellent character and worth, and a very superior officer. He had greatly endeared himself to his associates, and his loss was deeply lamented. His remains were brought to Thomaston, and interred with military honors.
Dr. Daniel McRuer, of Bangor, who joined the army as sur- geon to the Second Regiment of Infantry, is a Scotchman, but came to this country about fifty years ago, and several years practiced his profession in Bremen and at Damariscotta, before going to Bangor. Before reaching Washington, he was ap- pointed Brigade Surgeon, and during the winter while the army was encamped in front of Washington, by appointment by Gen. MeLellan, he made an examination of the field hospi- tals, the chief object being to advise with the surgeons in regard to their general arrangement, ventilation, cleanliness, etc., so as best to promote the general health and improvement of the patients. Subsequently he was appointed chief surgeon of Gains's hospital, where by aid of his assistants, many important surgical operations were performed ; and then as chief surgeon on the hospital ship, Louisiana, which was employed in trans- porting sick and wounded soldiers from the James river to the hospitals in Washington.
Rep. Adj. Gen., vol. 1, 1864-5, p. 407.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
Other important positions in connection with the hospital service which he filled cannot be here enumerated; but, by his incessant labors, his health became so much impaired that he felt obliged to resign in Sept., 1862, after only a year's service.
.
Rev. Joshua Soule, D.D., bishop of the Methodist Episcopal church, who died near Nashville, Tenn,, was a native of this town. His father, whose name also was Joshua, came to Bristol some time before the revolutionary war, and settled on the farm at Round Pond, now owned by David Chamberlain, Esq. August 13th, 1773, he sold the farm to the Rev. Alexan- der McLean, and removed to Broad Cove, where Joshua jr. was born August 1st, 1781. The house occupied by the family was on the Damariscotta road, and probably on the place now owned and occupied by Thomas Johntson .? When he was about two years old' the family removed to the town of Avon in the Sandy river country ; and we hear no more of him until the time of young Joshua's conversion, and connection with the Methodist Episcopal church, which took place in 1799. Avon was included in the Readfield circuit then in charge of Rev. Robert Yallaley.
The settlement was then new, and the family poor; and ap- parently there was very little in the circumstances of the young man to inspire his ambition or call him to effort. From a child he was serious and thoughtful, his memory very tenacious, and his mind precociously active, but his personal appearance exceed - ingly rustic.
Though so young he began a very active Christian career which knew no abatement until he was worn out by many years and much toil. He became connected in the usual way with the New York conference in 1799, which held its session that year in New York city, and was appointed to the Portland cir- cuit in connection with Rev. Timothy Merritt. He at once secured the confidence of his brethren and the people to whom heministered, and in 1808, was a member of the famous Baltimore conference, by which the plan was adopted providing for a quadrennial general conference, then and still designed to be perpetual. The rule as it still stands in the discipline of the church was drawn up by him.4
1 Rep. Adj. Gen., vol. 1, 1864-5, p. 423. 2 Mrs. Sarah (Johnston) Barnett, who served as nurse in the family, at the time of his birth.
3 " About 1795," Memorials of Methodism, p. 450. New American Cycloyetin.
1
50S
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
By the general conference of 1816, he was elected book agent, and in consequence he removed to New York city. Elected bishop in 1820, he declined to accept the office, but being reelected in 1824, he accepted, and afterwards acceptably performed the duties of the office until the separation of the southern conferences in 1844. He greatly deplored the un- fortunate separation of the southern conference that year, but his sympathies were with the separating ministers; and after the organization of the Methodist Episcopal church, south, in 1846, he was acknowledged by them as senior bishop of that church. This office he held until his death.
During the latter part of his life his residence was at Nash- ville, Tenn., or the immediate vicinity.
Though so thoroughly identified with the south he never favored the secession movement.
In person Mr. S. was tall, stately and dignified, his voice sonorous and strong. His sermons were usually very long and elaborate and often "overwhelmingly impressive," though "entirely destitute of imagination and figurative illustration." He was faithful and warm towards his intimate friends, but to strangers cold and reserved.
At his first election to the office of bishop he was but 38 years old, the youngest man ever elected to this office in the Methodist Episcopal church, except the present bishop, E. S. James, who at his election was only 37.1
A distinguished native of this town, Samuel Boyd Tobey, M.D., died suddenly of apoplexy June 23, 1867, in Providence, R. I., where he had resided from his early youth. His father, Samuel Tobey, came to Bristol about the close of the last cen- tury ; and having married Caroline Martin, daughter of Jacob Martin, of Broad Cove, the newly married couple settled on a farm in the same vicinity.
They had two sons, Wm. H. and Samuel B., the latter of whom was born Nov. 12th, 1805, and the father died while he was quite young. Both the father and mother were members of the society of Friends ; and their children were educated in the same faith. Samuel was an unusually bright, rosy checked, boy ; and when he was about ten or a dozen years old had the good fortune to attract the attention of a rich Quaker lady of Providence, R. I., who came on a visit to the ' Memorials of Methodism by Rev. A. Stevens, New American Cyclopedia.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
Bristol and other societies of Friends in this state. By herad- vice and the consent of his mother, he left his home soon after- wards, and took up his abode in Providence, where he ever afterwards resided.1
After his removal from his native place he attended the academy in Plainfield, Conn., and subsequently the school of Samuel Gummere, at Burlington, N. J., from which place he returned as a teacher to the Plainfield Academy, in 1822, when he was only sixteen years old. Subsequently he was employed as teacher in the Friend's boarding school in Providence, but left it to engage in the study of medicine. He attended the medical lectures in one of the schools of Philadelphia, and re- ceived his degree of M.D. in March, 1828.
Returning to Providence, after his graduation, he immediately entered upon the practice of his profession, in which he labored - with great industry and distinguished success until 1846, when he retired from active practice, partly because of a partial failure of his health, but more especially because of his appointment as executor of the will of a rich friend who had recently died.
But it was not only as a successful physician that Dr. Tobey was known; he was deeply interested in many of the public and benevolent institutions of his adopted city and state. In 1835, he was elected a member of the board of trustees of Brown Uni- versity, and subsequently, in 1854, became chancellor of the same, holding the office until the time of his death. He was one of the founders of the Rhode Island hospital, and a mem- ber of its board of trustees, a trustee of the Butler Hospital for the Insane, and vice president of the Providence Dispensary. To these and other public and benevolent institutions he gave much of his time, and contributed liberally from his purse. Few men in any country have enjoyed more fully the public confidence.
Dr. Tobey by birth and education was a member of the so- ciety of Friends, to which he was strongly attached. For many years he was an approved and active minister of the society, and clerk of the yearly meeting for New England. He was twice married, and left a family of several children.2
1 It has always been understood by the people of the place where Dr. T. was born that he was adopted as her own by the lady alluded to, and educated at her expense ; but this is said to be a mistake by members of his family still living in Providence.
Letter of John F. Tobey, Esq., Rep. of Trustees of the R. I. Hospital, Nov., 1857.
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510
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
Daniel and Eliphaz Weston, distinguished citizens of Bremen, were sons of Arunah Weston, who, some time before the revolu - tionary war, removed from Duxbury, Mass,, to this place, and settled on a farm of 320 acres at Greenland, then recently purchased by a brother of his, named Daniel, who was lost by shipwreck only a few months after making the purchase. Ile (Arunah) was some times employed in ship building, and died in 1831.
Daniel, his son, was born July 12, 1783, and died only a few years ago. He was three times married, and left a large family, several of whom have occupied, or now occupy, important posi- tions before the public. Rev. Sullivan II. Weston, D.D., has long beon one of the ministers of St. John's (Episcopal) chuch in New York city. He graduated in the scientific course in the Wesleyan University in 1841. He has once, certainly, and per- haps oftener been elected to the office of bishop, but has declined. Hon. Wait K. Weston, some time judge of one of the courts of California, died only a year or two ago in San Francisco. Another son, Heury, is a successful printer and publisher in California.
Eliphaz Weston, son of Arunab, was born in 1785, and died September 22, 1872. He spent his whole life in his native town of Bremen. Rev. James P. Weston, D.D., a son of his, gradu- ated at Bowdoin College in 1840, and was many years president of Lombard University at Galesburg, Ill., and now is the popular principal of Dean Academy in Franklin, Mass. Samuel M., another son, graduated at Bowdoin College in 1844, and has many years been principal of the High School at Boston High- lands. Still a third son, Jefferson B., graduated at Union Col- lege in 1856, and is settled as a lawyer in Nebraska. There were also several daughters.
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APPENDIX.
POST OFFICES IN BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
The first post office in Bristol was established in Walpole in the autumn of the year 1800, and Thos. MeClure appointed postmaster, who held the office until May, 1806.
Aaron Blaney succeeded McClure in the office, and held it until May, 1818.
Aaron Blaney jr., now received the appointment, and held the office until his death in 1834; and was succeeded by his son, Arnold Blaney, who held the place until 1843, when the location was changed to the Mills, and Peaslee M. Wells ap- pointed postmaster. In 1849, he was superseded by Henry Chamberlain, the present occupant of the office.
The Bristol Mills office was established in 1828, with James Varney as postmaster, but the office was discontinued in 1843, or rather the Bristol Mills office at this time took the name of Bristol, the original Bristol office being discontinued.
The Pemaquid office was established at the Falls, in 1835, and John Fossett, appointed postmaster, which office he held until his death in 1848. He was succeeded by Francis Wheeler, who in 1851, was superseded by Oakman Ford. Wm. P. Ford, was appointed to the office in 1865, and is the present incum- bent.
The Round Pond office at Round Pond, was established in 1850, and Parker Mears, appointed postmaster, who was fol- lowed in 1857, by Alexander B. Munroe. The present incum- bent, Alexander Yates, succeeded Munroe in 1861.
The south Bristol office was established on Rutherford's island in 1863, and the present incumbent, James Otis 2d, ap- pointed postmaster ..
The post office in Bremen has had a varied history. It was first established in 1830, with Francis Cook as postmaster, but was discontinued in 1834. In 1888, it was reestablished and
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
Wait W. Keen, appointed postmaster, who was succeeded first in 1849, by James P. Hilton, and then in 1854, by Daniel Keene ; but in 1856, the office was again discontinued. Again reestablished in 1857, with Wm. M. Keen, as postmaster, it was finally discontinued in 1858 .-- (Communication of Ilon. J. WV. MARSHALL, First Asst. P. M. General, 1872).
Population of Bristol at different periods.
Date.
Population.
Date.
Population.
1764
200
1830
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