USA > Maine > Androscoggin County > Atlas and history of Androscoggin County, Maine > Part 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34
111
meeting held May 10, 1797, all the veles Ibrown (22) were for separatinu.
The next year a vole was passed giving consent to a d vision if the town by which the " east side of the river would be srl nff into a town by Itself." The town was finally divided and Kast Livermore Incorporated hy the legislature of Malve Iu 1843. Dea. Elijah Livermore was the first representative from the town In the jegtelature nf the commonwealth. He was elected unauimously, May 9, 1799.
The town was fortunate in haring for its foonder n mau en alda and av wise, of so touch Gnoncial strength and weight of character, as Des. Livermore. He was truly the father of the town ; and his nemo Is held In honor and veneration by its people. And he was fortu- nale In the character of the most of his associate proprie- lom and co-workers,
Under the Influence of auch man the settlers, who were early attracted to the loin, Were gelterally toeu of good character and of some pecuniary ability, Few lowna ju the Stale probably owe ture to the character of the first settlers then this town. Many of them had been officers or soliliers in the war of the Revolution and were active, rarnest men, bent upon making their way lu the world. The largest portion of them came from the neighborhood of loston; Cambridge, Watertown, and Waltham con- triliting the largest quota. A goodly number esme from Martha's Vineyard nod mowy from Worcester and Bristol enunties. The settlers from the viumity of Boston ivere familiar with gardening and frnit raising, and ao it hap- pried that at an early day the town becanm vefebrsted for the quantity and quality of its grafted fruit. From Bristol nud Worcester countles came the men and women whose descendants have made the town known in the markets of the State and of Boston fur ils excellent cheese. It was understood that the materials fur a pretty full arcount of the carly history of the town hall heen col- lected and perhaps prepared for publication by the lion. Elijah L. Hamlin, of Bangor. But It Is to be regretted that no snoh history or evidence of preparatiou towards it has been found among Mr. Hamlin' prpers. The fol- Inwing letter frutu Dr. Henry Bond, of Philadelphia, to the late president of the Malne llistorical Society will be rend in this connection with interrot. Dr. Bond was an omluent physician and the enthor of The Genealogies aud History of Watertown, an able and elaborate wurk,
PHILADELPINA, May, 1858.
WILLIAM WILLIS, Esq.
Dear Sir,-I apeul my boyhood in Livermore, Maine, anil lived a part of the time, betiveen the death of the Inst of my parents and going abroid to prepare for entering college, in the family of Dea. Elijah Livermore, the first settler and the chlef proprietor of that lowu. Although I have been ahsunt so long-now more than fifty years- I remember the place of my chillhond ivil an affectionate interest and still entertain a grateful and most respectlul remembrance of the wurthy denvon. He was the elder brother of the ilon Samnel Livermore, chilef Justice and U. S. senator of New Hampshire (as you may sun in Watertown Family Memorials, p. 346, oto.), I have in the mean thine frequently visited the scenes and the hiends of my childhood, snil I have of late repeatedly argent a venerable friend there to collect the interials for the history of thet town befora It Is too lete. This worthy friend, Dr. Broj. Bradford, now on the shedy side of 70, has collected some materials, but he now feels so mensilily tha infirmities of age, that he is nuable to pursno It. He informs te that the papers nf Den. Elijah Liver- more have pas-ed into the bands of his grandson, llon. Elijah Livermoro Hamlin, of Bangor. From what I re- member of Dea. Livermore [ should expect that his papers might be copiona, throwing much light upon the p'anting amt early history of that toren. Mr. Hamlin is a native of Livermore and a man of liberal education, and having many of the materials in tis hands, [ wonbl hope that he will sealily consent to furnish for your Historical Collections an account of the pianting and the early his- tory of Livermore. Dr. Bradford has tolil me that he will cheerftily render such ald as may be in his power. Ho has been town treasurer 45 years ! This is remarkable lu these times when rotution in office is no very generally prevalent, especially in the Northern States, My object at this time Is to recommend to you to write, amil invite, and urge Mr. Hamnllu to prepare for you a lilstory of Livermore, It is a good inland country town furnishing no stirring incidents or illustrious characters to charm the world, but a paper might be prepared Clint would deserve a plnos in your Collections, and that would be perused with intarest by many reailers.
Very respectfully yunrs,
HEXWY BOND, 246 South Stb Streal.
Topography, Soil, and Prounets,-Situated upon the middle ground between the hills of Oxford and the rolling lauds of Kennebro, it partakes in about egon! proportions of the characteristics of both. It has high hills like llam- lin's (or Błonnt Sier), Fuller's, amil Water's or Loverreli's, from whtoh extensive virws, grail as the eye Inrua towards the White Monntalu- and the mountains of the northwest ; beautiful as it rests upon the quiet landarapes That extend to the confines of Casco Bay on the suuth ant to the Megnuticook Munntains on the southeast, whosa baars are washed by the waters of Penabsent Bay,
The anil, white for the most part alouy, Is strong and productiva, and there is scarcely an aore of what may ba valled waste land within the town, Requiring more labor in cultivation than the lands In The valleys of the Kennelire and Penobscot, it yielils equal returns In the labor of the farmer, Apples and the products of the dairy are among the more noticealle morres of Income; while Indian enru and potatoes are ordinarily crops which will average with those of other towny In thia part of the State, 1w 1600 lev. Paul Coffin, of whose visita to Liver- more mention will be toade bereafter, says, " A Mr. Bemuis mised two hundred bushwels of rye, and his corn is be- lleved to be 500 bushola " He adda, " Dea. Livermore had a most thrifty and bearing orchard. " In Mlr. Coffin's Jonrual for 1798, under dale of Sepleinhier, he says, " Went to Dea. Livermore's and put up at that good house, He and won bave about Ofty excellent enttle, many sheep, horses, and au orchard. Their house la large and high, of four ruoins and two chimneys, They have four barns aod wany sheda."
Pomis, &c .- There ara four ponds in the town, Round and Long in tha northerly part, and separated by a few rods only from each other; Bartlett's, near the centre, and Brettun's, in the monthwesterly quarter of the town. There are several streams, none of them large, but two of them capable of furnishing a fair supply of water in ordi- bary #PasQua for griat aud saw. milis, and (In their day) for carding and clothing milla. There are, however, ex. cellent powers on the westerly side of the Audroscoggin
River, one al Livermore Falle, ant another & abort dis- tance abore. Thele powers ar ers are as yet nuemployed. Notices of Early Settlers and their Families .- Thu sketches of early settlers and their families, which can be given, must be brief and limited as a role to those who were in the town before the date of its Incorporatlou.
The first settler and principal proprietor of the town, and to whose honor it was named, was, as has been al- ready stated, Ehjah Livermore, who was born in Wall- liam, Mass., March 4, 1730-1, Ile was tha son of Samnel Livermore, a prominent citlsen of that town, and who had for a long time (we are told lu Bond'a Genealogles) "the greatest share of the municipal business of the town." He was selectman from 1743 lo 1764; representative from 1745 to 1763, and town cleik and treasurer twenty- sis years. Elijah was an elder brother of the Bon. Sanniel Livermore, who was born 1732, emul graduateil at Nassau HIall in 1752, settled lu Holderness, N. H., sbout 1780, and of whom Bond gives the following record : " lle studied Inw with Judge Trowbridge ; was made King's attorney-general for New Hampshire by Governor Weut- worth in 1749. Soon after the brenking out of the Rer- olution he was made the Stite attorney-general ; was several times ilelegate to the Continental Congress, and was noale chief Justice of the State 1782; was member of the convention for adopting the Federal constitution, upon the aitoption of which be was elected representa- tire to congress ; at the end of two years he was elected United States senator, which office he beld ujue years until he resignud lu 1800.''
Tho Hos. Suannat Livermore was the father of Edward St. Low and Arthar Livermoro, both of whom were judges of the supreme court of New Hampshire, aml members of congress. Elijah Livermore inbrrited his father's home. stead ; was a lieutenant In the militia of Massachusetts, and was chosen deacon in Waltham upon the death of his father, lle removed to Livermore In 1779, whuro he died August 5, 1808. Good sense, integrity, kindness, and a genial humor were traits which most distinctly marked his character. When he dled he was mourned as a good man auil frieud by the people of the town which be hod phimted with so much care and windom. The children of Deacon Livermore were as follows : Ahigail, Itho married the Rev. Elisha Willinins, the Arat school- master In town, and afterwards a Haptlat olergyman ; Willina, a major in the milltia, hred a merebant In Boston, who was for some years engaged In trade at Canton (then Jay) Point and afterwards in Hallowell, and who died iu Louisiana in 1832; Hanaak, who diril muimarried In 1785 ; Ksasc, bred a merchant In Boston, was afterwards a farmer und Justiue of the peace in Livermore ; SsrsA, who married Robert Pierpont and residen on her father's Inrm In Livermore after his decaso ; Aung, who married Dr. Cyrus flamlio, of Livermore, the Brat physician who settled in towu ; Samurl, a former, who resuled In Liver- more and represented the towu lu the legislature for sov. eral yenra.
Wiffium Carvar, Josiah W'yer, and Elishn Smith were the next settlers, Mr. Wyer was n soldier In the Revo- lutionary war, and when he died in 1827, was buried under arms. He left a large family. Then came Lieu. tenant Samuel Benjamin, of Waltbam, the fourth eettler with a family, who had been In the war from the bottle of Bunker Ilill to the capitulation of Cornwallis at Yorktownt. He came to Livermore in 1782, and a few years after warils become an owner of the mills which lind beun erected by Deacon Livermore, efterwards known as Gibbs's mills. He sold the wills, aml In 1797 bought a form on the river -cast side-and established the ferry known as Benja- min's Ferry, His sou, David Benjamin, Esq , Is tha present owner and oconpant of this form and is the only survivor (1873) of a large femlly. Ha died in 1826, and Wna buried with military bonors. Renbeo Wing, Dencon Peletich Gibbs, Jubez and Jones, Ebenezer and Zebedee Delaoo, the last of whom was a Baptist mluister ; Joto Walker, one of Arnold's men in the expedition to Quebec ju 1775 ; Danist Dailey with his sons Nathasiel and Nezar
Brettun's : Abint Turner, a soldier of the Revolution ; Deacon Elisha Fisher, anotber Revolutionary soldier who served for over six years, aud was for ona yaar a inember of Washington's life guards, and upon hils birthday, the 17th of June, 1775, was in the battle of Bunker Hill, were iu town within ten years after its settlement,
Genl. Darid Lenrned, a son of Gaul. Elienezer Learned, of Oxford, Mass,, one of the original proprietors of tha lowu, sattled in It about 1790. lle was a farmer and the first trader in the town. Ile was the first sheriff of the county of Oxford, and was the second representative from Livermore in tho blassachusetts legislatnro, lle died in 1811 on a voyage from New Orleans to Boston, His widow died in Livermora In 1863, aged ninety-seven years and Iwr months. A daughter, Maris, married the Hou. Pnb- IIns R. R. Pray, a distinguished jurist of Mississippi, and one of the judges of the court of errors and appeals of that State. Judge Pray diad in 1840. Thomas Chose, one of Paul Jones's men, the father of Col. Thomas Chase, Jr., for many years a representative In the legislature, auf tha great-grandfather of the gifted poetess wbo writes under tho prewilonyin of " Florenca Peroy," came in 1790 from Martha's Vineyard and settlad on the east side of Loog Pomil, where ha died in 1844 at the age of 89.
Abort this time camna several other froid Martha's Vineyard, moong them were Sylenter Norton and bis anna, Jaunes, Rimrom, and Zebulon, Rausoin became a Baptist minister, and Zubnlon was for many years, mora probably than any other, a selectman of the town. Capt. Tristrom Chase, & shipmaster-lost at sea about 1800- brother of Thomas and Deacon Sarson Chuse, another brother ; Sylvanus Boardman, tha Orst pastor of the Bap- Uist church in Livormore; wul Samuel Hilfinan, who afterwards became a Methodist olargyman.
Ahijnh, John, and Ahel Vonros came from Lincolo, Masg., 1790, Alijah war the Arst innkeeper In Liver- more; hla honse was a few rods below what formerly was kwowu an Saoder'a Cornar, In the southerly part of the lown ou the east side of old Malue road from Portland to Farmington, vis Blossom's In Turner, and Jay Hill, Lt was a famous " wayeida Ino" In its day, than which no other in the country around was more popular, A claau bed, a generous tabie, a warm froside, and a gewinl host wero its attractions. The first four lawyera iu towu had their homes and their offices at Mouroe's.
Benjamin Park, the father-in-law of Minuroe, came aboul the same time, and died at the age of 92. Johs Monron lived to be 92, and his wife to be 94 years old, Abni Musroe died at the age of 92.
Capt. Samuel Ateuod, the Grat captalu of the cavalry company, so long the pride of the town, was an early seltfer, and lived on the northerly side of the " Fuller Bill." He was an active, lotelilgout, aud publio apirlted cltizvu.
Lluni. Samuel Fuster, who died in 1925, was a soldier first falling mill in town was created by Joanph Horsley In of the Revolution. He lived on the east suis.
Henry Bond, s son of Col. William Bund, a distin- suisheil officer of the Revolution, moved to Liveriooro lu Jime, 1700, where he diedl, March 27, 179d. lla was | by Mr. Horsley abont the sams timis, Neither have lun'n owner of half of ths grist aml Anw-mills at Gilbs's, Dr. Henry Bond, of Phllsdelphis, the emtuent physician and anthor of the Genealugles of Waltbam auil Watertowu, Mnas., a work of great labor, the copyright of which be- longs to tbo New England Historio Genealogical Society, Was hils son. His wilow married Zubedea Rosm, of Liver- more. Dr. Bond died In 1550. Thomas Coolidge, of Waltham, came to Livermore this year and look np a farm on the west road, upon which he resided til hls death In 1834, at the age of 80, His widow dled in 1850 aged 96, He had a large farm, and his son Daniel- Capt. Atwood's successor In command of the " troop"- owned the adjoining fartu, one of the Inrgest and woost profitable In town. Very Near to Mr. Coolidge were Samuel and Alijah Sumo, from Watertown, formera. Samuel, like the Coolidges, was a largs frait ralser.
Spescer Gosling, from Walthsm, sbont 1790, owned # InTin on the cross-road leading from Ephraim Childs to the place on which Cutting Clark, a brother-lu-law of Deacon Livermore, resided. There were otber Goddlugu in town, great meu for orchards.
franc Lorewell, a ustive of Weston, Mnen,, owned & large farm with an extensiva orchard, and on which wna one of the best ofler milla in town-on the northerly side of Lovewull'a Ilill, He was one of the most "fore. handled" farmer in Livermore, anil had for the timo amasved a very considerable fortune hy loaning money at interent, putting out stook to donble In four years, and farming, lle was, in bls latter yearn, quite duaf,
Huntings Strickluod, another farmer who had a large onthani and a cider-mill, was the son of the Rer. John Strickland, of Turner, a graduate nf Yale College, Hle lived wear Alijah Monroe's tarero, on the farm nuw owned by Job t'hase, Baq. Major Isaao and Col. Lue tour In 1799, calis him, was a celebrated horarshoer. Strickland, of Livermore, and Gen. Samuel P, and Majar Hastings Strickland, of Mangor, are bis sons, an was the late Julin Strickland, Rsq., of Livermore. His wife was a dangliter of the Rev. Samnel Porley, of Gray.
Nathaniel Perley, Eng., a mun of Rer. Snivuel Porley, of Gray, and brother of Mirs. L. Strickland, settled, near the cluse of the last century, in the south part of the town. Ile was a Justice of the ponee for many years. lils fanın was on the old county road near the line of Turuer. dird iu 1844,
Simroo Howard, who settled naar the old Methodist merting. honse, where he bullt & large honre and had a good farm, was from Sutton, Mass, His sister, the widow of Jacob Bemis, is now Iving to town In good health at the eilvanced age of ?1. She rends the papers, and takes a lively interest in what is going on in the world around her.
Abram, John, and Isaac Fuller enme from Winthrop at an early day. Abram was a farmer on the east stile nf the river ; John and Iraao were on the west stils. Juhn owned fulling, grist, and saw tullls on the river rond above the "Intervals,"' and Isaco was for many years the ferryman at the Intervel ferry.
30 years was a desenn of the First Baptist Churchi.
Lieut. Elijah Wellington, a native of Lincoln, Mass., were employed at the trade, Unt Charles Benjamin was liveil on a form on the eust stile nf the river, three-fourths the first to ilo a burlunss of cousklernblo uxtout, ills shop was on the Interval.
of a mile from Stricklaml'a Ferry. Ille son Nathan owmul the farm after his death, He was the father of Rer. El- bridge Wellingtou, a Uulveranlat olergyman realding fu Alton, Malue.
Ebenezer Pitta, a native of Taunton, Maas., moveil to Livermore in 1791, His farin wes Buar the Corner and ndjulning that of Capt. Thompson's.
Maj. Joseph Mitts, from Messachusetts, a half brother nf Lient, Samuel Benjamin, tonk up the farm afterwards farm on lintter Ilill. This be sold a few years efterwards and went to Pennsylvania.
At a later date Richard ,Uferritt, an Englishman, eod for many years a trusted employe in a Inrgn London house, anıl who married a sister of Joseph Coolidge, of Jay ; Geo. Chandler, who lived on the farm now owned by Jamar Philom, a man of good sense and well Informal ; Jones Thanherlake, from Rayolının, farmer and teninster on the anth rows ; Cmpt. John Leavitt, from Rochester, Mass., farmer and drover aml a prominent citizen ; Johu Bige- low, of Worcester Conuty, who married Mary Howard, ail settled on the road from Livermore Contre to Nurth Inruer Bridge ; Solomoo Eides and Capt. Chus. J. Buker, whose farins were near that of Mr. Bigelow ; Ephraim Child, from Waltbam, aml brother- In-law of Lleat. Benja- mlu, who ilved on the old malu road on the southerly edge of Round lend, where his son Abijsh now residen ; Indac Fuller, whose farm was on the southerly slupe of Fuller's Hill and next adjoining that now owned by John Sanders ; Ichubod Houthby, for many yrare a stage- driver be- tween l'ortland and Boston, whose house was in the Perley nelghborimod ; Thumus aul Hezekiah Bryuor, whose forins wero in the same neighborhood ; Imac flimlia, half bro- Iber of Dr. Cyrus, who lived under the shadow of llamalin's Hill, or Muunt Sler, as It was christeneil hy Thomas Coolridge, Jr. ; Foinnet Beats and Dscit S. Whitmas, on tho west road ; Ellsha Chenery, whose honse was above tha Corner ; Dracon John Erhott, James, and Willlam Thompson, who lived In the neighborhood, and others, to refer to whom wonhl occupy more space than the lhults set to these notes will admit, moved to this town and becaine residents thereln.
Industrial Interests and Employmests-Traders-Course of Population .- Tim leading Interest of tha lowu Is agrt- onlture. There are lu It many good farma and few poor ones, yet there are no groat farina, none of oxtraordinary extent or productiveness. The valuation of the town in 1870 was 9514,200. This In a popolation of less than 15110, when the basis of valuatiou Is considered, and It Is understood that it Inolates no large estatas, lulicates a thriving and indupendent community, Referonce having already been made to the soll and prodnete of the farins, aod some account gireu of the farinsis, especially of those wbo wers early lo towu, a votloa of other luterents will be In plaen here,
Mills .- Tha Grat milla In town wars a saw mill and griet-mill, built by Deaoou Liverigore as early na 1782 or '83, near the outlet of Long Puud. They have passed through many hauds. They have long been known as Gllibs's mills. Other mills of the same kind were bullt hy Dencon L. at the falls a few years later, About 1812 a saw. mill, a fulling. mill, and a carding-mill were erected by Joho Fuller above the Interval and below Gibbs's Hills.
1604 on Bug Brunk, a mile fromn Ils entrance into Brettun's Fond. This mili attracted custom from a great distance, as far even as Romford and ilethel. A sarsull was ballt in existenen fur hatf a century. Barly In the century a grist. mill and saw- mill were built by Dereon Livsrinoro at tho ontlet of Breitun's, or, as it was formerly called, Turner's Pond. They were owned for many ysam hy Win. Il. Bration, E-q., who adilmil to them a fullluz-mill and carding machine. The place is now known as I.trannors Village. Recently a very fine steam-will for various manufacturing purposes, has besu ervetel by Theodure Inssell, a gentleman uf enterprise and business activity. Ahont 1830 s Inrge mill for breaking hemp was built nt the falls on the west side by P. F. Haines, Kaq., anıl others. It was, however, used for the purposs but (wy ur three years.
Carpenters,-Ona of the first carpenters In town was Davidd' Moras, from Sharburne, Maaw,, a iman of grunt Inguunity, who also worked at severni othur trailer. lle. lived in the southerly part of the town on the oll mahnt roail. [ils son, t'ol, Klias Morse, was also a carpenter. Besides, thero were Thomna Wisg, who was also a mtil- wright ; daniah Krith, who moved away In a few years ; Khanezer Hisits, .de., Nathaniel Laper, Abner and Samuel P. Itwas, and Ubededom Brown, an uncle of Artemne Ward, and who possessod In no swall ilegreo the finmer that ilistingitished his wephew.
Wasone, - Du rif .Ifirse, the carpenter, dil mason work, bnt the first maron hy tinde was Peter Humphrey, a native of Oxford, Masn., who died in a few years after ho cante lo Livermore, There have hron anToral manona since.
Blacksmiths, -Otin Robinson, who nt one time owned Glbby's Mills, and then beenmon n clergyman of the Baptist denomination and moval to Shayleigh, York County, IFas tho frat blacksmith, Capt. Junuthno Morse, " the oreal- Sunt hlackwith," as Ror, Paul Coffin, In his malasionary Darit Renit, whose shup was at the Corner (North Livermutu), carrieut on the traile as early as 1743.
Funneta .- Cul. Joseph Stuns, whin crow from Want, Minas., had a tannury nt the Corner, whogre hu also for many years kept & lavern. lle was the Art postinater at North Livermom, and was a worthy aud much enteemnd citizen. Hint the principal tannury -and both were mainly ampinyel in enstina work-was at the ontlut of liartlutt # lund, hy Capt. Orphous Keudall, Au oxcollout ouerler and a hileh- toned man.
Saibiler, -The first, and for many years the only, saddler In Livarmure, was Capt, Simeos Watera, who owned n large form on the southerly slupe of Love well's or Watora's Hiil, Ihn was a prominent eltisen, a captain of the company of envalry, and for nine years a representative In the legislature of Massachusetts, Hu Ivan from Sutton.
Shoemnd ars,-Deacon Faraon C'hure and hla son Mayhew carrhul on the business of shoemaking, and ownal a fonn on the west while of Lovewull's IIIII. Sylvester Norton worked at the Corour ; John Samdders and Iru Toldis nunr Monroe's. Tho business la now carried on oxtnualvely for the tradu at the village by Smnnur, Soul & Con, who mwpluy 100 hands, aud by S. V. Young, who employs 20, Vithicrights .- There were Thomay Wing, bufere mail-
Cept, Ira Thompson, a faripur near the Corner, conte from Middleborongh, Mass. He had twelve children, all tinned, and Ephraim and Otis Pray. The Frays were of whom are living, lle han an excellent farm, was a superior workmen, Olls Is now living, at n ripe old age, representative in the legislature of Massachusetts, aud for on the farm where he has realdait for sixty years
Cabinet Jukers. - Thomas Chase aml Saumel Bnothby
Carriage anit Sleigh Jhikers,-Saraon Charo, Jr., had a shup near the residenve previously ownedl hy Gen. Learned, and dhl superior work. Hils slelgha wora In iletuand forty years ago from l'ortland to Bangor. ile had a worthy successor in Bela 'T. Bioknull, now nf Bath. Seythe und Snenth Uukers, -Samuel Park madlo exout- lout soythes, ninh llenry Aldrioh, who came from Uxbridge, Mass., made sneaths nt Irettun'a.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.