USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Orono > Centennial celebration, and dedication of town hall, Orono, Maine, March 3, 1874 > Part 6
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Rumors of battles, of the approach of Mohawk Indians, and the bloody Bluenoses, were rife upon your streets, but yet were unable to stifle the sense of the ridiculous and quench the love of fun that
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ruled the hour, breaking out now in disrespectful re- marks at the expense of the glorious company of videttes-and martyrs; now in Otis Banks' offering a dollar for the head of Thomas Hill, a carpenter and Englishman, who was loyal to his native land; and again, in sending a crowd of anxious patriots and wonder-mongers from Whitney's bar-room to my office, to see Gen. Wool, and where they were soberly introduced, by the graceless wag who had sold them, to Artegus Lyon, the colored man. But the war ended, and a brace of your own poetasters celebrated the scare and flight in which it begun, in a parody on Hohenlinden, which, as it may serve to renew the events and haps of that stirring (but somewhat ridic- ulous) time, I will venture to present to you.
THE SCARE OF THE RESTOOK.'
On Restook when the sun was low, All bloodless lay the untrodden snow, Muffling the current, in its flow, Of Restook, rolling rapidly.
But Restook saw another sight, The Rakerebo's 2 on their flight, And, following fast, with main and might, The Posse,3 frighten'd dreadfully.
1 The Aroostook river is usually called "Restook " by the Provincials.
"A company of Oldtown lumbermen commanded by Capt. Stover Rines.
' Posse Commitatus, from l'enobscot county.
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Then Jameson 1 to old Ashbel 2 said, " Come pile your carcass on my sled, Far better so than be abed With Cushman,3 in sweet reverie."
Then shook the ice so hard and even; Then rush'd the teams by Number 'Leven; 4 And ere the clock had pointed seven, They left Masardis 5 speedily.
But faster yet that band shall fly From Mohawk 6 furies, drawing nigh, Blue-nose braves, with fire in the eye, And Restook, rolling rapidly.
'Tis morn, but scarce a weary man Will stop to drink from jug or can: With tucker'd legs and faces wan, They push for the Cumberlassie.7
Now, Posse, all your blankets wave; You rush'd from glory and the grave; Your heels did well your bacon save, Your flint-locks and your toggery!
Few, few shall meet where many part! Of all that force no trembling heart Felt British shot or Savage dart, Or found a soldier's sepulchre.
1 Jobn G. Jameson, of Oldtown.
2 Ashbel Hathorn, of Bangor.
$Judge G. G. Cushman, legal adviser, who, while asleep with Thomas Bartlett, at Fitzherbert's, near the New Brunswick line, was taken prisoner by the Blue-noses. and sent to Fredericton.
" This is now the town of Dalton.
" The present town of Masardis-eleven miles from Dalton.
" The report was that the fugitives were pursued by five hundred Mohawk Indians and New Brunswickers.
7 A small river at Centre Lincoln.
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1840-1850.
The first event of moment in this stage was the division of the town, and the erection of a new mu- nicipality by the name of Oldtown. After the rival villages of Stillwater and Oldtown had grown to im- portance in business and population, the inevitable jealousies and rivalries between communities situated as these were, broke out. They appeared especially at the town meetings in the spring, but were felt at all times.
The separation was amicably effected, and was in the interest of convenience, as well as of harmony and good neighborhood. The two divisions of the old town have been excellent friends ever since the causes of difference were removed.
The act of division and incorporation was passed March 16, 1840. At the census taken in the follow- ing June, the population of Orono was 1521, of Old- town, 2345-or 3866 in both towns. In the division more than two-thirds of the territory was set off to Oldtown, leaving Orono one of the smallest towns in area in the State. The progress of Oldtown has been, as the enterprise and intelligence of its people
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could not but make it, constant and gratifying. Its present population is between 4000 and 5000. By act of the Legislature of 1841, Orono and Glenburn were classed together for Representative, and Israel Washburn, jr., was elected in September, 1841, as Representative for 1842.
But the number of Representatives having been reduced by an amendment to the Constitution, a new apportionment became necessary in 1842, and under the latter, Orono, Bradley, Eddington, and Clifton were made a class or district for the residue of the decade. The Representatives elected from Orono during this period were, for 1843, Isaac Sanborn; 1845, Martin McPhetres; 1847, Asa W. Babcock ; 1849 and 1850, Nathan Weston, jr.
Soon after the Presidential election of 1840 com- menced a gradual but slow revival of business in the country. In this neighborhood it began to be felt, in 1843 and 1844, in increased demands for lumber, our great staple, and in a moderate appreciation of timber lands. The impulse, quickening from year to year, became an active. movement by 1847. The saw mills in this town were gradually coming into
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the hands of residents, who, feeling a new interest in their work, labored with increased zeal and care to make their investments and labors profitable, and, in a large and most gratifying measure, they succeeded. The community, which for several years had been living under the burden of debt and discouragement, responded to the thrill of a new life. Debts were paid or compromised, mortgages discharged, and work and enterprises were engaged in, prudently, but with confidence. The business of the lawyers was well- nigh ruined, for, instead of seven or eight in the village, as there had been ten years before, there were now but four. But, while the lawyers decreas- ed the people increased ; so that when the time ap- proached for a new numbering, the population was well-nigh twice as large as it had been at the previ- ous census.
Under this renewal the people grew more and more impatient of their want of railroad facilities ; the more numerous and able they became the less did they enjoy the sound of the whistle on the " Back Road," and they considered whether or not it was possible to obtain for their trade and personal
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convenience the accommodations which a railroad would furnish; and so, in 1847, they petitioned the Legislature for a charter to build the Bangor & Orono Railroad. The charter was granted as asked for, August 7, of that year; but in a year or two it was amended, so as to permit a road to be built to Mil- · ford, under the name of the Penobscot Railroad.
The movement encountered the active and per- sistent hostility of the back road, and, finding little support in Bangor, was unable for several years to do more than to keep alive and vigorous the purpose of the people to secure the building of the " shore road," as it was called, at the earliest moment practicable.
In February, 1843, an organization was effected for building a Universalist church, and on the 24th of the subsequent August "The First Universalist Society in Orono " was formed. An attempt in this direction, made by John Bennoch, F. A. Fuller, W. C. Fillebrown, Esqs., Capts. Henry Sleeper, Ludo Thayer, and others, in 1836, was unsuccessful.
A church was built in 1843-4, and dedicated in August of the latter year ; the Rev. L. P. Rand, who had been active in bringing the people up to the
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work of organization and building, preached the ser- mon of dedication. Mr. Rand remained with the Society a year or two, but its first settled minister was the Rev. Henry C. Leonard, who came here in May, 1847. The Society has been since incorporated as "St. John's Parish."
The pastor of the Congregationalist church during a part of this decade was Rev. John A. Perry, son of Dea. John Perry. Mr. Perry's connection with his people here continued for several years. He was a faithful minister and good man, and was highly esteemed in the town. Mr. Perry has been dead for many years.
Rev. John O. Fiske supplied the pulpit for a season about 1842. He afterwards settled in Bath. Rev. Messrs. Hoadley and Clapp were among the clergy- men who preached to this Society between 1847 and 1855. Among the Methodist ministers stationed here were : Revs. Moses Springer, Charles Munger, - Higgins, - Curtis, and Charles Scammon.
The lawyers in town were Fred. A. Fuller, Nathan- jel Wilson, Israel Washburn, jr., and Nathan Weston, jr. The physicians were : Drs. John Ricker and Wm.
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H. Allen. Dr. Niran Bates was in town for a few months.
1850 TO 1860.
Although the census returns disclosed a small de- crease of population in the ten years extending from 1850 to 1860, the number of houses occupied in town and the unquestionable increase of business indicated an error in the numbering of the people at the one time or the other. The population in 1850 was 2785.
The Orono Bank was incorporated February 14, 1852, and was organized for business the next autumn. Nathan H. Allen was its first, and Benjamin P. Gilman its second President, and E. P. Butler its Cashier. It was succeeded by the Orono National Bank, of which Mr. Gilman was the first, and Col. Eben Webster is the present President.
The Penobscot Railroad, which had been organized in 1851, commenced work on its line in 1852. The town, under the authority of an act of the Legisla- ture, subscribed -- in its corporate capacity-$25,000 to its capital stock, and something over $50,000 was subscribed by its citizens. By the death of the first
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contractor, the Hon. Horatio C. Seymour, of New York, and by the failure of the second, the construc- tion of the road was delayed; and it was not opened to Orono until 1868, when it had gone into the hands of the European & North American Railway Co. The stock in the road, including that of the town, was sunk-but the road itself was finally secured, and became part of the great trunk line from Bangor to St. John and Halifax. Without the stock sub- scriptions and the partial construction of the road therewith, there can be little doubt that what was known as the back road-the Bangor, Oldtown & Milford Railroad-would have been built from its line to the Red Bridge, and thence into Bangor. If this had been done, there would have been scarcely the hope of a road to this village during the century. So, I think, and especially since you have paid the railroad debt to the last dollar, that you may well regard that investment as the most fortunate the town ever made.
The High School house, a spacious and convenient structure, for the building of which the town was in a good measure prepared by two able and exhaustive
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reports by the Rev. Mr. Leonard, as chairman of the School Committee, was erected in 1851, the building committee being Nathan H. Allen, Gideon Mayo, and Eben Webster, jr.
In the same year the Universalist church was en- larged, so as to receive sixteen additional pews, and a clock and bell were placed in its tower. A par- sonage was built the same year.
The Methodist church was renovated, and greatly beautified and improved, in 1859.
The clergymen of the several churches during this period, were, Congregationalist-Revs. L. J. Hoad- ley, - Clapp, and S. L. Bowler.
Methodist-Revs. George Pratt, Charles Scam- man, A. Moore, S. W. Partridge, E. A. Helmershau- sen, John Atwell, and William Bray.
Universalist-Rev. II. C. Leonard till 1855, Rev. B. B. Nicholas in 1856-7, and Rev. L. Barstow.
The Lawyers were, Nathaniel Wilson, Israel Wash- burn, jr., Nathan Weston, jr. (till 1856), and Matthias Weeks. The last-named died September, 1857.
The Physicians were, Dr. John Ricker, William HI.
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Allen, F. S. Holmes, Charles Alexander, and J. H. Thompson. Dr. Ricker moved from Orono in 1859.
The town was classed with Glenburn for the clec- tion of a Representative to the Legislature, and the members chosen from Orono were-for 1853, Nathan H. Allen ; 1854 and 1855, Gideon Mayo; 1856, James Webster; 1858, Gideon Mayo; 1859, Hiram Joy; 1861, Samuel Libbey.
On the 16th of August, 1859, there died in this town a venerable and much-respected citizen, who, from his arrival in it in 1832, to the time of his death, was an active justice of the peace-as he had been for many years before in the county of Waldo-and for some twenty years its postmaster. I refer to Col. Samuel Buffum, of whom it was said in the " Bangor Whig,"-"A magistrate of forty years' standing, he had probably tried more cases, cognizable under our laws by a justice of the peace, than any man now living in the State, and so manifest always was his desire to do right that it is believed he never made an enemy by an official opinion or act."
Col. Buffum was a native of Berwick, and was of Quaker parentage.
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1860 TO 1874.
The history of this term reflects marked and last- ing honor upon the people of Orono, and describes events of encouragement and promise in respect alike to its material prosperity and growth, and its educational and moral upbuilding.
It commences with the town in the civil war, in which her citizens united with zeal, and with a strong and unfaltering purpose, to render all the aid they could, through their young men going to the battle, their old men staying at home, providing means, and guarding the rear, and their women working with willing hands and loving hearts for the comfort of the sick and the wounded-to uphold the flag of beauty and of empire under which they had lived in happiness and in pride so long, and whose folds they had determined should never be dragged in the dust and mire of dishonor and defeat. Her quotas of men were promptly and cheerfully filled at all times when called for, by the voluntary enlistment of men whose record in the war was in keeping with the uncalculating patriotism which prompted the offering of all they had and were in the defense of an im- perilled country.
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From the opportunities which I had of judging during the first two years of the strife, I assume no risk in saying that no town in the State did better work at this period than your own.
Nor did she stop here. Feeling that the debt which she had so freely and generously incurred in the war, could be discharged most easily at a time when money was plenty and cheap, as was the case during, and immediately after, the struggle, owing to the enormous amount in circulation ; and that it ought not be left to weigh upon the material inter- ests of the people in the future, she took measures for paying the debt as soon after it accrued as pos- sible, so that within a few months after the fall of the rebellion, every dollar of her debt incurred in consequence of it was wiped out.
For this grand policy of wisdom and sagacity the people of this town deserve the highest honor.
It was during this time that the Congregationalist and Universalist parishes repaired, remodelled, and improved their churches at very considerable ex- pense, making them more convenient and beautiful, and therefore better aids towards the upbuilding of
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the Christian faith and the accomplishment of the Christian work to which they had been consecrated. The alterations and improvements on the Universal- ist church were in 1863-on the Congregationalist in 1867. Besides these improvements, a handsome and convenient church was built by our Catholic fel- low-citizens, in the year 1867, at an expense of six or seven thousand dollars.
On the 25th of February, 1865, the Legislature passed " An Act to establish the State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts," and in the month of January, 1866, this town was selected as its seat, and two large and excellent farms, situated on Marsh Island, were purchased by the town, aided by a gen- erous contribution from Oldtown, and granted to the College.
Considering the locality of the College in its re- lation to the whole State-its proximity to the broad and fertile agricultural county of Aroostook, a county containing a larger number of acres of farming lands of the finest quality than any other five counties in New England-considering the different kinds of soil on the College farms, furnishing opportunities for
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a great variety of experiments, and considering, finally, the surpassing beauty of its site, and its proximity to what I have ever regarded as beyond question the most charming inland village in the State, so far as outward setting of landscape and scenery is concerned, I think it must be universally conceded that the location of the College was fortu- nate and wise. I rejoice and triumph in the success which this noble foundation, under the auspices of its accomplished President and able faculty, has achieved, and in contemplation of the greater suc- cess which I see in the future that lies before it.
May the utmost harmony and good neighborhood ever exist between it and the people of the town- for the help which in various ways each can render the other, if proper dispositions are cultivated, is in- calculable.
The Orono Savings Bank was incorporated Febru- ary 21, 1868, and went into operation soon after, and has been eminently and justly successful in obtaining the entire confidence of the community.
The population in 1860 was 2554, and in 1870 it reached 2888.
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The roll of lawyers was changed between these dates by the removal of Israel Washburn, jr., to Portland, in 1864, and by the addition, in 1868, of the name of T. F. McFadden, who has since removed from town, and, in 1871, by that of Joseph C. Wilson.
The death of Dr. Wm. H. Allen, which occurred January 29, 1863, deprived the town of an able physician and a much-respected citizen. He had been in practice in town for about thirty years. Dr. J. H. Thompson was in partnership with Dr. Allen for some time previous to the decease of the latter, and remained a year or more afterwards. Drs. Paul M. and Preston Fisher came here in 1863. At a later period Dr. F. W. Chadbourne was in town for a short season, and Dr. Edward N. Mayo has been here for several years.
The Representatives from this town in the State Legislature since 1861 have been-1862, Frank Hamblen ; 1864 and 1865, Gideon Mayo ; 1867, John HI. Gilman ; 1868, Charles Buffum; 1871 and 1872, John W. Atwell; 1873, Eben Webster. Charles Buffum was a State Senator in 1870 and 1871, and the latter year was President of the Senate.
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Since 1860 the clergymen settled over the several parishes have been-
Congregationalist: Rev. S. L. Bowler, for six or seven years; Rev. Smith Baker, jr., Rev. J. G. Leav- itt, and Rev. N. R. Cross, the present pastor.
The ministers supplying for the Methodists have been : Revs. Benjamin Arey, Albert Church, G. D. Strout, J. W. Day, and N. P. Jewell.
The pastors of the Universalist church have been : Revs. L. Barstow, W. W. Lovejoy, and Henry Shep- herd.
For the Catholics the priests have been: Revs. James Durnin, John McFall, and the present pastor, Rev. John Duddy.
Not only were the war and college debts extin- guished, and extensive and costly alterations and improvements in churches made, and a new church erected within this period, but in 1870 the last dollar of the debt for the railroad was paid, thus leaving no outstanding obligation against the town.
But I will not delay you further by reference to matters of recent date ;- with these you are more familiar than I can be. But I will ask your indul-
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gence, for a moment, while I recall a few incidents and occurrences illustrative of certain periods in your history, and of particular phases of character and humor which have given to that history a de- cided expression and flavor. There is no town so poor that it does not possess a life, manner, character, and humor of its own. If there is, it is not Orono.
For many years previous to 1825 the town had been inclined to the party of the Federalists, and after that time, till 1829, its majority was rather with those who supported Mr. Adams than with the friends of Gen. Jackson. From the later date, it was for several years with the Jackson or Democratic party.
But, in 1837, something like a Whig rennaissance seemed probable ; Edward Kent was elected Govern- or, and a Whig Legislature was returned. The suc- cess, however, was but temporary, as it rested rather upon internecine troubles in the Democratic camp than upon any positive increase of Whig strength or prestige. But Orono felt the influence of the move- ment, such as it was, and nominating for Represent- ative a popular and highly esteemed gentleman, an
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enterprising citizen, and an old settler, elected him by a majority of ninety-one, in something like eight hundred votes. This victory was so unexpected, and so great a surprise to the Democrats, that it need not be thought strange if the Whigs were thoroughly excited and happy over it; and to those who can put themselves in their place, the story that Major Henry Clay Wirt (a blind wood-sawyer, who had taken his name by act of the Legislature, in token of his intense Whiggery) jumped at one leap half way from the toll bridge to the bank building, and gave a shout of "Glory !" that was heard as far as the " Corporation "-will not be rashly disputed; and they will be as kind as their principles will permit, to the memory of the genial and excellent President of the Stillwater Temperance Society, who declared, in the ecstasy of the hour, that he should "hold no man as in good standing in the Society who did not, on that occasion, 'take a little something!'"
To say that politics ran high in town in those days is no mere figure of speech. The excitement which had long been increasing would culminate on election day. And yet this is to be said, that in all the heat
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of the times there was never enough of bitterness to extinguish the good nature and love of fun that characterized the people, and in which they seemed to live as in an atmosphere. There were many "Frenchmen " in town then as now; some from Can- ada and others from Madawaska-but on election day all were from Madawaska, for only such could vote; and when the ballot of an undoubted Cannuck was received as that of a native of the State, born on the southerly side of the river St. John, the strategy often seemed to be enjoyed as much by the losing as by the winning side.
Artegus Lyon, a Congo negro, black as the day of judgment, brought here by John Lyon, who pur- chased him at Rio Janeiro fresh from his importation, was allowed to vote in 1840, and when the objection of the Democrats had been overruled on the ground that as the law provided that an alien, upon being naturalized, must renounce all allegiance to the prince of the country of his nativity, and as it was clearly impossible for " Teague" to renounce allegiance to a State that might have no existence, and of which he, at least, could have no certain
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knowledge, and as a liberal construction, such as they were bound to give, in favor of suffrage, would re- quire that a condition which it was plain could never be complied with, should be waived or declared ille- gal, as the law did not require impossibilities-the Democrats, although at first dumfoundered by the decision, were so penetrated with the humor of its assumptions that I think they enjoyed it quite as much as the Whigs. At any rate, Teague's right to vote was never questioned afterwards.
From the division of the town in 1840, Orono uni- formly cast Whig majorities until the formation of the Republican party, to which its adhesion-contin- ned ever since-was promptly given.
As has been suggested, it was, in the " brave days of old," a town of infinite humor. Its facetiæ, skil- fully reproduced, would make a most entertaining volume. The stories of its law suits would fill a portly chapter, for, like most rapidly growing places, and especially lumbering towns, it furnished a good deal of business for that useful but unappreciated class-the lawyers. There was, in 1835, the great case of Veazie vs. Wadleigh, in which was involved
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the construction of the conveyance by Massachusetts to John Marsh of Marsh Island, and the title to nearly all the valuable mill property at Oldtown, a case in which Daniel Webster and Jeremiah Mason were engaged as counsel, and all the old settlers for miles around were summoned as witnesses to the United States Court at Wiscasset, where Park Hol- land discovered confirmation of the maxim that "like attracts like," as he witnessed the immense and continuous masses of pumpkin pie moving from the table in the direction of Esquire Johnson's head.
About this time a suit was pending in the Supreme Court of the State, in which the title to the farm of. Valentine Page, then occupied by Abram Reed, was involved. It was a suit in equity, John Bennoch, jr., pltff., es. Joseph Whipple, deft., and, as Mr. Reed, whose testimony in the case was deemed important, was in failing health, his deposition in perpetuam was taken. The counsel employed were Judge Cutting and the late Hon. William Abbot, of Bangor; the Justices of the Peace and Quorum, by whom the de- position was taken, were Hon. Theophilus P. Chand- ler, then of Bangor, and now of Boston, and myself.
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