USA > Maine > Androscoggin County > Atlas and history of Androscoggin County, Maine > Part 12
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Soif .- The soll la varlens, on the higher parts a strong Imamy buil somewhat rouky soil predominales, well nilapted to grazing, orcharding, anit all klud of crops suiteil to our ellmate, and very free frum frost, On the west hordering tho Andromcoggin the soll Is a sandy or olay loam, easy of cultivation, vury proluative when pet In hoed crops, lint not as good for whent as the higher lauda.
Water Powers, -The town Is deflotent in wator powurs, there helng no streams of moch inaguitude within Its limits. Thero ls a privilege occupied on a emnil stream emptying into Sabatina Pood-called Sprague's Milla. Here Is a grial-mill with two run of stone, which does business a principal part of the year, aud a saw and shingli-mill which runs spring and fall. On what is calleil Mostly Brook is a enw and shingle-till which iloes a mail business a portion of the year. The best privi- lege ia at the outlet of what was forioerly known as Bates, more recently as tho Robinson, hint now as the Allen Poud, where formerly stood a grist and shingle-mili, and also a mill for cloth-dressing sud cardteg, but long ainoe they wero abaniloned and have not been ocenplur for yesrs. Abont fifty years ago a anı and grist-mill was vreotel on a brook a short distanco below Greene Corner, lint It never did an extonsivo business owing to a detiol- ency of water, an element very emsoutial in propelllog settled in Kingfeld; the second, Thomas, in Carthage ; machinery for such purposes.
Nomes .- In the early settlement tho uren within this town was called Lewiston Plantation, thsu Littleborough, alter Moses Little, of Newbury, Mass., who was e large proprietor, he having obtained title to Il from the Pejop- avet Indians. Lastly le was onilod Greene, in honor of Gen, Nathaniel Greene, one of Washington's best oflicara In the Revolutionary war.
Organization, -The organization of tho town oconrred In 1788. The warrant for the purpose was issued by Daniel Cony of Augusta, Jostlee of the peace. The tuent- ing was held lo the dwelling boone of Samuel and Eli Herrick, whero Leander Patleu now lives, The building In which the fret town meeting was helil was oand many years for a weoil-shed, but was demolishel in Isitt, Tho record of the first town meeting held Friday, August 29, 1788, in presorved and given heluw. Dautot Cony, Esq., Was chosen tosterator, and Benjamin Merrill, third town eterk. For Selectinen, Benjamin Morrill, Sen., Lemuel Comina, John barrebee, John Daggett, and Benjamin Olden, were chosen; Astussors, Dowjumin Merritl, Son., Juhu Daggett aul Jolin Larral'e-Win. Sprague Treas .; Tythingmen, Benjamin Merrill, Son,, Steptien. Lerrabee, James Sprague; Surveyors of llighwaye, Win. Sprague, Jacob Kames, Benjamie Brown, Lemuel Comlos, Benjo- Daw Allen, and Win, Coburn ; Fenou Viewers, Lemuel Cumine, and Win, Sprogou ; Fieldl Drivers, Win, Sprague, Joseph Herrick ; Informer of Duer and Moose, Exeklul Itackett, Je,; llog Reeves, Joseph llernick, Samuel ller- rick, Brujamin Quimby ; Constable, Jacob Kames, Voted lo aut up the collection of loxes to the lowest bidder, aml Benjamin Brown bid It off at eleven pence ou the pound. Veteil to post up warrants, notifications, eto,, at Mesers, Sprague, and Crocker's mills, and at Mesars. Samuel and El Ilerrick's dwulhog-hinune. The meeting is dissolved.
Joseph Herrick moved from Roxford, Mass., to Lewislon iu 1773, emme to Greone In 1780 ; married Mercio l'reston, of Wumingten, Oct. 1775 ; she died Ang. 16, 1820, and he First Sellern,-Benjamin Merrill was the first man who moved into town and remaluel a perinanent settler. lle came frem North Yermouth, November 16, 1755, with his wife, whose melden tinwe was Margaret Harris, and hve outhireu. Their conveyance was au ox-cart. The show lay a foot deup upon the ground, and muore failing as they moved into their rude log-house. No shelter had bren provided for bis cattle, and they remainedl without one till he built nue alter hisurrival. The Damos of his eball- the following Sept, She was a woman of very large dl- mensions, mentally as well as physically, and In point of intelligence, bed few peers of either sex. Her sous Inherl- led lorgely of her toental force, and As a famlly were onequalled for scholarship, and business oapoity by any other in the towe, Of the soon, Gen'l Jedediah settled in Hampden ; Joseph In Hormony ; Samuel omigraleit to Clmoinnati, Ohlo, repressuted the town In the legislature, died in New Orleans, while there on business. The other drew were : Benjamto, John, Anun, Jeremiah, au Lovl. cons, Nathaniel, Seth, aud llenry, sattled In Greene, Tuo ouly daughter, Betsy, became the wife of the late Caleb Bates, of Greeno.
Ell and Samuel Herrlok, twin brothers, caroo from Metli- une, In 1580, Ell lived and ilied in Greene, iu 1813. Samuel moved to Levda, ani die there 1844.
Uhl. William Sprague osine into Greene, in 1779, from Medford, Mass., where he was born in 1759, He was a man of au muventive turn uf mind, built the first mills in lown, and was a valued ellisou. He excelled as a military lactiolan, a trait his posterity inherited in a marked de. gree. llis family, consisting of five sons, and an runny ilaughters, settled Immediately around him, Moses, tho eldest, was a blacksmith, and for many years selectman of the town, for which, or any other official husluens, he way highly qualified, He dled at the ags of 58. William, who illeil at the age of 16, aud lago, were good farmors ; Greque and Washington were farmers and mechanics ; subsequently they moved to Lewiston, Groene now re- siles tu Auburo, with his son Silas, who Is Register of livedo, Washinglou died in 1869. Both Ware tullltary officers in the State milltis. Augustus, sou of Moses,
sneceeded to the ownership of his grandfather's mille and homestead, nud is highly esteented by his fellow towns- men, as Is evinced by a long coutlonance in lowo office, aud receiving from them the highest in their glit. The Ave daughters married as follows : Ruth, Søtb Horrick ; Susan, Renben Bates ; noother, Jonathan Shoptey ; Sally, Russell H. Read ; Charlotte, Banj, Quiinhy ; all settled at Grst in Groene, but Mr. Shapley subsequently moved to Dexter, and Mr. Read to Angosta,
John ,Morrer, accompanied with his wife, whoso maiden name was Elissbeth Elwarde, came from Charlton, Massa- stood where the Ricker orchard ao culled le now situated. He was u mon of strong constitution, and It was said of bim that his faculty for scheming was a little lo excess of his rellsh for hard work. His companion was In every way alapted to pioneer life aud wall calonlated to for- ward the sohomes of her husband. In those duye the smartest men could be hired for elght dollars per month, and produce was legal tender, Ile began clearing tho forest where his grandson, W. F. Mower, now lives, aud In a few years by industry and tact had quite a clearing, Frugal, he ever kept his Income in excess of uils ontgues, ao- cording to Dr. Franklin's rule, and thus made tlow though sure progress. As hils posterity are more numerous than that of any other of the early settlers, perbops u little more space may be allowed for a description of thom, Ile had a family of soven sons and four daughters. The old- ost sou, John, Jr., was familiarly kuowu for 25 years as Master Mower, and was one of the frst scheol leschers raised in town. He is likewise remembered for bis social and friendly habits and as a peacemaker among his nelgh- hora. His second son, Jabez, was of a different tempera- ment and sald to ba proud and aspiring, thereby oxciting a spirit of envy aud detracttou. Ile went to Vermont In 1811 to settle on a tract of land given to his father hy ble namesuks, John Mower, of Malden, Massachusetts, who was wealthy, thinking that among the Green Monutain boys of Etban Allen fame he might more safely indulge bis high aspirations, He entered the army In the war of 1612, was clerk of an artillery company, und bad charge of leeiling a cannon which he newed the " Fear Nanght," was in severul engagements and honorably discharged after elghivee months' service, At a celebration of the victory of MleComb ovor Sir George Provost at Plattsburg, Le gavo the following sentiment :-
Sir Gog. Provost, with all hin bort, And bis tyrannie master, May now retreat, both man ned floot, To tell of his disaster.
Subsequently he was elected colonel of roilitia, In which office hs acquitted himself well, and told the writer upou one ooonston that the summit of his aspirations had been reached, lle died in Vermoet 1870 aged 83. His oldest son le a merchant in Boston, muother son Is a well-to-ilo farmor who served as a captalu in the rebellion oud with whoin the father lived and died.
The third son, Martin, was the tallest of the family, and ust his mark correspondingly high. Hla ambition was to obtain wealth bylarge transactions. He Arat comweneed on a naw farm lu New Vineyard. His method of clearing was original. In nineteen days ho notched the trees on Ofteen acres and u atrong wiud laid all prostrate lu an hour. Finding farming aud clearing too small business for him, with two or three others he bought part of a towwahlp of land on Dend River, and for two winters de- voted himself to logging, hullt a double saw- mill in George- town for the purpose of working up his lumber, hot the enterprise proved unanccessful, the suow upon which he had celoulated wasted away so gradnelly that uo freshet resulted, aud his largest logs refused to foat to his mill. He next built a steamboat aed ran it himself on the Ken- nobue from Bath to Angusta. It was the first one that plisd ou these waters; he ulso nsed it to low vessels be- calvoed at the mouth of the river into port. He transported lumber from Brunswick to Bath, and carried from Quincy u portion ol the granite of which tho Bunker Hill Moon- meut is made. By turns he was rioh and poor. At last he settled in Baugor, cleared a large farm, kept tavern several year, built a ineetleg-house and personage on bis own land, oud bow lu peace and quietness he is spending the evening of his days with one of his sons on the Inet named place.
The other four sons of John, Sr., Leonard, Calvin, Oliver, and Josiah, settled Io Greene as farmers, und are so well kuown us to need no particolar mention. Grouping them all together, the writer Inkes the responsibility to any ae Leonard did at a trial of mowing with a hired man, when the spirit of rivalry hegan to give ploce to fatigue, " should be satisfied to be called middling." Josinh moved to Barkersville some five years ago, aud died in 1869,
Jonathan Mfotoer, older brother of Jnliu, came from the same place and at the same time, ond settled on an adjoin- ing ført. He was a very hard laboring nian, as wore all huls family, oousisting of three sons and two daughters. He dien In 1841, aged 83. William, bis oldest son, at first went to Farmington, afterwards to Jay, and from thence to Temple, where he died at 8 !. Jonathan, Jr., Butlled in Turuer, where two of his sons, Harrison and Albion, K. P., who are enterprising farmers, now reside. He died In 1862, Peter S., the third son, uow lives in Jay, the ouly survivor, his wife and ten children were consigued to the grave before him, Mary, the eldest daughter, lives on the old bomestead at tho advanced age of 00.
Luther Robbins ocine to Groene from Hanover, Massachn- setts, about the year 1788 or '9, and settled In the north- easterly part of the town, where he resided till 1812 or '14, when he removed to Greene Corner. He was a very industrious, ready and accurate business man, and hold town office longer aud more continuously than any other wan in town. He was one of the selectmen nearly overy year from 1791 to 1818, town elerk several years, repre sentolive to the General Court of Massachusetts with hut few exceptions until the separation from that common- wealth in 1820, and postmaster mnuy years longer than In any other office, He was proverbial for honesty and generosity, His oldest son, Nathautei, sottled Erst in Winthrop, than Greene, next in Bangor, aod is now living in the far West. He possessed all the valuable treits of the father, and in education was inneh his superior. The second mon, Charles, in carly Hfv was a cabinet mekor, lived in Winthrop several years, and afterwards moreil lo Greeno, was fond of music and author and composer of several pieces. Luther, Jr., the third son, was a very Ingenions mochanie and first deacon of the Free Baptist Church in Greone. He spont most of his life in town, but died a few years since al Skowhegan. Reoben settled in Greene, was a good farmer, and the father of John M. Rohhina, alluded to elsewhere. Marti's, the fifth son, was drowned in Sprague's mill-stream at the age of 14. Cal- rin, the youngest, established himself in Bangor, Aret tu trade but afterwards as au accountant, in which depert-
ment he had no rival In Bangor. The three dangliters still anrviva. Nancy, the oldest, lives with a second hun- hend in Capaau. Betty, widow of the late Elon. Dr. Alfred Plerce, lives et Greene Corners, and Lydia, wife of Leonard Mower, Esy., father of E. L. Mower, postinaster at Greene Centre.
Simeon Rone came from Taunton, Massaobutotts nbont 1790, and settled lo the northwest part of the town, and reared a famlly of seven children, only three of whoin are now living, Simeon and Ginefll liveil aud died In Greene, Haansl lives In Leeds, and Humphrey moved to Turner a few years ago. Alanson and Solomon, graudchildren of Simeon, Sr., occupy the farm on which ho lived, and are ludostrions onterpricing young men and valuable citizens. Lewis Murray, born in Leeds, where he Ilved fifteen years, and two in Turner, reebles near the bridge that spans the Androscoggin al East Turner. He is entitled to nollce for the judicious division and appropriation he makes of hle tivo, Being merehant, mechanic, and agri- oulturlat, u portion of bis time is devoted lo esch, and yet space is found for reniling, which, with u retentive memory, rendere him un interesting and Inetructive person in conversation,
Benjamin Alden was one of the early settlers of Greens. He was a nativo of Connecticut, and having doue service In the Revolution, osme lo this town soon after its close. He took up the farms now occupied by Lewis Gilbert and Alden Allen. Beside the land owned by him in Greene, be bought und cleared extensive tracts in Turuer near Keene's Millls. To each of his four sons be gave a valuable farm, By trade he was a blacksmith, smil followed the business in couweution with his clearing and farming. He belonged to the Society of Friends, was in good stand- ing among bis fellow- townsmen, and served as one of the euleelmen sixtesu years; aud when ho dled, at the age of 64, it was said of him that he never bad an enemy.
As u cotemporary and equally worthy oftizen, -I wish to allnde to Mr. Silas Richanison, who was also one of the early solllers. He came from Dracut, Mass., and was an so- Live business mou of the town. Buside farming, he worked al shoeroaking, and was proverbial for punctuality, a treit thoso of his craft at thut period wore very apt to be re- miss to observe. It was a custom, particularly with those of this profession, to make promises sotisfactory to the applicant as to time at which work wes to be done, with a mental reservation embodylug doubts, Mr. Richardson once told the writer's father "that he never failed but In one instance to folfl his promise, und that was onavoil- able. By adopting honesty as his pulley, industry and frugallly as his practice, he xeonrod tho good-will of his lownauen and a competence for the support of his family. His son, Josoph M., suogeeded to the ownership of the homestead. He is a mon of much originallty and given lo experiments, which havo resulted in beusfiting that class of his fellow-citizens wbo with him make oroharding a specially. Ferhape no man in lown, if we except the Messrs. Gilberts, kuow so well how to give a treo syinme- try of form and increase its productiveness with least expense as he ; aud having taken an advance step In the science of agrloulture, which underlies all that supports our roog, deserves to be regarded to some extent as a publlo benefactor.
Ths Coburns, father and sons, came frem Draout, Mass., in 1784 quil '85. The sons wore Jesse, Eliphatet, Joshne, William, and Joel, Joshuu subsequently moved to Park- man aud Joel to Lagrange. Eliphalet dieil at the age of 55, Willlain wet long after, and Deacon Jesse at 83. All were men of piety, Isalah, oldest son of Jesse, lives on what was formerly known as the Key farm, noar Keene's Corner ; Jesse, the second sou, at Barkerville, Lewiston ; and Cat- vin, the youngest, ou tho homestead.
The Harrin brothers also euroe from Dracut, Mass,, in the years 1791, 192, and '94. Jobin, Silan, and Moses had esch I] children. John had three sous, John, Jr., Joseph, and Jedediah, Joseph followed the sea several years ; married Cynthin, daughter of John Record, and reared quite a family. Ile is now living, at the age of about 80, with a cousin, Andrew J. Harris, Jedediah moved West, and is supposed to he still living.
Silus had fre sons, Nathaniel, Silas, William, Arelas, and Josiah, Nathaniel was popular as a school-teacher, and followed tho business inauy years in connection with farming. The last years of his life he becaroe engaged in mercantile pursuits, and died in Greene at an advanced age. Silas, the second son, died at 25. William was subject to fainting bta, and was fonud dead in the road in which he had beon traveling to see a relative. Arelas aud Josiah live in Greens, the lattor ou the horoestrad. Mises was a man of large business capacitles, and in addition to farming carried on a tannery, haruess-inaking, and kept a small store of goods. When he died, at the age of 48, he was the wenithiest man in town. He had fonr sons, David H., Moses, Henry S., and Amilrew J., the latter of whom lives on the home-forin. David H. is dead. Heury S. lives near tho home place and is a snug farmer ; has reared up three daughters who possess extra qualid- cations as school-tesoliera, and in this department have dono themselves end parents houor. His wife is a daughter of " Unele David Thomson," the oldest male resi- dent of the town. He retains his faculties remarkably well, and is smitably cared for by his youngest son. He ouine from Durham aboot 52 or 53 years ago.
Moses, son of Andrew J. Harris, is & popular and talented Universalial clergyman, settled in Brattlebo- rough, Vermont,
Bilns and Willlam Haskell, Iwin brothers, are grand- children of Silas Harris and men of high standing and much promise, Stlas Is a successful teacher in Boston, and William a Congregational clergymau settled In Falmouth. Another daughter of " Unele David Thomson," before mentioned, is the amiable wifo of Renheu Sletson, who lives In the north part of the town. He has four sona, to whom good eilnostional advantages have been given. Herbert, the oldest, spent tivo or three years at Colby University, but falling health compelled him to relinquish a collegiate for a theologienl course, and he Is now lu the ministry at Ridgeville, Ill. William, the scooud son, Is engaged in tenoting at the West ; Clement is receiving a thorough academlyal course, and has entered upou leaching.
Daniel Wilkins came from Draont abnnt the year 1792 or '93 and settleil in the Harris neighborhood, By persevering industry, hard lubor, and coouomy he became a prosperous farmer ; had three sons and oue daughter, The youngest, Buos, remulus on the homesteadl. Daniol, Jr., lives ou the furio formerly owned by his wife's father, Seth llerrick. Davil, the oldest son, settled on the farm Adjoining the one on which Silas Harris lived, aml is now owned by Marshall Sawyer, who married one of his daughters. All the sons ruberited tho frugal and Indas- trious habits of their father, as did also the daughter, who married Etipbalet Cohuru, one of the wealthiest vitizend of our towu while living.
Benjemu the oldest lived and dled in the house be built, wbleh is the ono now ovoupied by Elmuud Fogg and spe. Julin, the second son, ocoupled the house be binit till his death. This house long sinoe disappeared. The third child, Anne, murried John Pickett, who built on a part of the three-huntred sore tract his fether bought. Both liveil lu it nutil death ; ho ilivił at the age of 41 ; she at b4. The house is uow oounpied hy Ezra I'ratt ant Mar- garet Pickett, Benjamin Merrill, Seu., was born February 26, 1741 ; died April 7, 1814, aged 83, Margaret, his wife, hom March 28, 1738 ; died Decomber 7, 1621, aged 83. Benjamin, Jr., horu February 28, 1704; dieil February 13, 182G, aged 02. Jolm, boru September 29, 1767 ; lied July 30, 1817, ageil 50. Jeremiah, born August 15, 1770 ; dled April 13, 1516, ogrd 5. Aune, born Seplomber t2, 1772; ilted October 29, 1858, agod 84. Levi, horu Feb- ruary 16, 1775 ; died August 13, 1838, aged 62, Benjamim Merrill, Jr., kept the frat poal-office in lowu in 1799. Ite was also the frat towu clerk, A Mr. Blossom carrieit tin tunil on horseback wuce a wrek, aml a Mr. Blake druve the first stage through lowu.
Capt. John Daggett came from Cheriton, Massachusetts, In the spring of 2786, with his wife, whugo tusiden osmo Was Mary Stevens, uud three children, Themas, John, and Sarah. Their next son, SImoon, was born the spring they came to town, Capt. Daggett taught the first school In town, lu the dwelling-linuse of Descon Lemuel Comino, In 1786, and the three succeeding years, and was the Aral mili- tary oficer of which the town coold boast, llis son, John, Jr., was ordsinel to the ministry about the year 1808, and wes & faithful aud devoted gospel shepherd sixteen yesrs, was an excellent oltieu-patriotlo, and a sound philanthropist ; he died 1824. Anrou, the fourth son of chusetts auont 17-6, and moved into a shanty which John, Sen., Was a man of more than ordinary Intelligenco
within the gift of his townamen, and served one yesr in the legislatoro. lfe died in 1883 or '64, at the age of 73. Ilo resided on the old hotnesteud, lle had fre sons, tho two oldest bvonme professional mey ; the oldest, Groenlisf D., studied medloine, located in New Jerssy, wbere ho dled suildenty after a short hut successful practice, The second, Converse R., aftor receiving a good acsdemicol education spent some tims teaching, than studled the- ology at Bangor, and is now settled over the Baptist Church In Greone, to which his nucle ministered some fifty-five years ago. The youngest son, Aaren, served in the war of the Rebellion, and was a member of the legis- lature In 1864. lo the army ho was captain, and then major, he is now an officer in the regular service, The third non, Simon B., a very promising and amiable young man, died at the age of 19, much lamsuted. John, the fourtb son, lives ou the homestead.
Thomas Stevens moved from Charlton, Moss., 1786, with his wife, whose maiden name was Esther Tuoker. Hle sottled in the westerly part of the town, was an ener- gello and successful former, but with his wife and & grundehill, were vlotime to tho greatest calamity that ever marked the history of the town. Que extremely cold night in the winter of 18- he was awekened by the orackling of fire and a dense stroke in the room, Escape by the window was delayed, It having haen boarded from the ootable to save theglass from the chips of wood chopping near, so that before bo could get out he was so badly burned, that borued aml hlistereil skin was found on the bare over which he crawled to reoch the barn. He lingered in excruciating agony but twenty-four bouts. The charred remains of his wife were found in the cellar. The wife of a sou, with her children and n sister, occupied a chatuher. Thoy aroused from their slorobers, Irled es- cape by the stair-way but wero met by the Dates and driven back. In the coufusion and struggle for life a child two years old wae dropped anl consumed. The bed-clothing was cast from the window, and uu Infant thrown upon it, and though badly burned they sttegoeded in making their escape, Ilie olilest son Jolin, It Is believed,
Aaron lu Greene; Benjamin to Greene, and afterwards in Auburn.
Jacob Stevens, brothor of Thomas, onme from the same place, and about the same time, as a single man : married Martha Pettengill, of Lewiston, and took up a farm, adjoin- Ing his brother's, betwean thai and the river. He too was a man of great energy aud phy-ival endurance, and snc- eeeiled in socumulatiog a hand-wide property before his leatii, which occurred in 1844, nt about the age of 76. Ho had three sous. Jacobs, the oldest, settled on a farm ailjojeing his father's, but it is now owned by Lora B, the youngest son ; John, the second son, Ilved many years ou the home farm ; but emigraiell to New Jersey a few yeors siwco, The farm Is now owned by Win. E. end Geo. Longley. William Sawyer came inio town, from Wells, about 1791, arriving, as he Informed the writer, at evening with his wife, and money enough to buy a gallou of mo- lasses and a poumí of tos. The next morning he pur- chuseit on credit of Mr. Stevens, ahove montioned, n bushel of corn and a piece of pork. The corn he took upon his shoulder, aud carrieit some six or eight tuiles to turil. With his bushel of meal, piece of pork, gallon of molnssen, and pound of tea, he begen housekeeping. From this roodest beginning he became an Independent farmor. His son, Capt. Thaddene Sawyer, who inhorited his property, was a very intelligent man, and the father of Nathaniel L. Sawyer, whe wus perhaps the most brilliant scholar the town has produced. He gredueted with
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