USA > Maine > Oxford County > Norway > Centennial history of Norway, Oxford County, Maine, 1786-1886, including an account of the early grants and purchases, sketches of the grantees, early settlers, and prominent residents, etc., with genealogical registers, and an appendix > Part 28
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 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65
ART. 4. The officers of this Society shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Auditor, to be chosen at each annual meeting of the Society; and who shall perform the duties assigned to such officers.
Article five defines the duties of the officers in their associate capacity, to propose meas- ures necessary for raising funds, and for promoting the objects of the Society; also to make a report of their doings at the end of each year.
Article six provides that the Society shall meet annually at such day during the first week in July as the Executive Committee shall determine.
The proposed Constitution was adopted and most of those present having subscribed to it, the following officers were chosen : -
President, Hon. Luther Cary of Turner.
Vice-President, Hon. Stephen Chase of Fryeburg.
Treasurer, Jeremiah Mitchell of Norway.
Secretary, Samuel F. Brown Esq. of Buckfield.
Auditor, Dr. Leander Gage.
Executive Committee, Levi Whitman, Dr. Reuel Barrows, Wm. Warren, Seth Morse, Robbins Brown of Bethel, Aaron Cummings, Henry Farewell, Capt. Levi Ludden, Rev. Henry White, Dea. Wm. Barrows, Francis Keyes of Rumford.
Resolutions were passed inviting all Temperance Societies in Oxford County to co-operate in the objects of this society and to become members thereof; that the members of this Society within any town in the county, be authorized to form and act as an auxiliary society, and that the doings of this Society be furnished for publication to the Oxford Observer, Feffer- sonian, Christian Mirror and Zion's Advocate.
--
29I
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
A town society was not organized in Norway until 1833, unless the society at North Norway was organized before the one at the village, which may have been the case, although it is not probable. In order to show the number of societies in Oxford County in 1834, the names of the principal officers, and their numerical strength, the following table has been compiled from the reports to the State Society.
North Nor- way Society made no report.
Towns.
When Organized.
Presidents.
Secretaries.
No. of Members.
Albany,
1831,
Asa Cummings,
P. Haskell,
91
Andover,
Rev. William Gregg,
E. Poor Jr.,
88
Bethel,
1829,
Dr. T. Carter,
L. Grover,
140
Brownfield,
1834,
I. Spring,
William Wentworth, I10
Carthage,
1834,
D. Storer,
D. Stickney,
27
Dixfield,
J. Adams,
Dr. A. F. Stanley, 64
Denmark,
1833,
Amos Poor,
J. Smith, 40
Fryeburg,
1833,
E. Fessenden Jr.,
Dr. R. Barrows,
195
Greenwood,
Rev. E. Whittle,
John Small,
80
Gilead,
G. W. Chapman,
William Wight,
67
Hartford,
N. Bicknell,
J. Churchill,
137
Hebron,
S. Myrick,
S. Perkins,
138
Jay,
1833,
Major M. Stone,
Colonel D. Merrit,
I33
Livermore,
1828,
Reuel Washburn,
J. Chase,
132
Young Men's,
J. Leavitt,
S. Hearsey,
202
East Livermore,
C. Haines,
F. F. Haines,
126
Lovell,
Rev. V. Little,
A. Andrews,
85
Norway,
1833,
Uriah Holt,
Benj. Tucker Jr., 250
50
Oxford,
1833,
Dr. J. Tewksbury,
Giles Shurtleff,
125
South Paris,
1832,
Seth Morse,
Henry R. Parsons,
116
Sumner,
Rev. S. Sewall,
Zury Robinson,
120
Sweden,
E. Powers,
William H. Powers,
79
Turner,
T. Phillips,
J. R. Shaw,
176
66
Dr. P. Bradford,
J. P. Harris,
113
Weld,
J. Abbott,
Rev. L. Perkins,
148
Waterford,
1830,
L. Gage,
William W. Stone,
300
North Norway,
There was a license law in Maine at that time, but it was not enforced in Oxford County, and probably the question of prohibition had not then been dreamed of by the radical temperance men. In 1829, two indictments were found in Oxford County for violation of the license law, but the county attorney dropped them both before trial on payment of costs. In 1830 and 1831, no indictments were found. In 1832, the county attorney filed four indictments; three of them were nol. pros. on payment of costs, and the other without costs, he having shown that he had a license. Members of the State Society in Oxford County were : Buckfield, Samuel F. Brown, Virgil D. Parris, Albert D. White; Nor- way, Jacob Bradbury, William Cox Jr., James Flint, Hiram Millett,
292
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
Jeremiah Mitchell; Paris, Stephen Emery; Peru, Joseph H. Jenne; Sumner, Ira Hersey, Daniel Robinson, Rev. Samuel Sewall ; Turner, Luther Cary, John Turner; Weld, Jacob Abbott, Joshua Eaton, Ephraim Houghton, Charles Houghton.
1
The next great temperance reformatory movement was that called the Washingtonian. This began in a small way in Baltimore among a few reformed drunkards, but it spread like wildfire throughout the Middle and Eastern States. It came into Maine, about the year 1842, like a tornado, and seemed likely to sweep everything before it. An Oxford County Washingtonian Society was formed, holding its meetings in different parts of the county, and there were subordinate societies in almost every town. The proceedings as given in the papers of those years, show the great interest manifested in the good work, and that leading men and women were everywhere in the movement. Thousands of inebriates not only reformed themselves, but used every effort to bring others into the organization. Hundreds all over the country were in the field battling against the common enemy, and everywhere the greatest enthusiasm prevailed. 3 About the year 1842, or perhaps a little later, the movement reached Oxford County, and its effect here was the same as elsewhere. Everybody was awakened, almost every- body took the pledge, and many kept it inviolate ever after. It did a vast amount of good. But the history of all great moral movements plainly indicated what the fate of this must be. Human passions however noble the cause, have their metes and their bounds beyond which they cannot pass, and the great success of a movement is often the first step toward reaction. In the excess of zeal in the Washing- tonian movement, there was wanting that concert of action to give it permanency. The cause was like a rudderless bark upon the sea, without compass or pilot, and freighted with the materials of its own destruction. The Washingtonian movement had a strong hold in Nor- way, and was the means of accomplishing a great amount of good. But as in all other places, it had its day, and then the interest began to wane. While many were permanently reformed by it, others, when the excitement had died out, returned to their old habits. On the whole, a healthy public sentiment upon the subject of temperance had been created, and the progress of the cause was steadily onward.
--- -
293
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
RECHABITES.
The next temperance movement in this town, and the first of the succession of secret societies which have followed it, was the organiza- tion of Pennesseewassee Tent of Rechabites on the twenty-seventh day of February, 1846. It was instituted by C. G. Downs, James H. Merrill, John G. Tolford, and John M. Adams of the Maine District Tent .. The persons admitted at the first meeting were James N. Hall, William Andrews, Gilford D. Woodbridge, Loren H. Wrisley, Robert Noyes, Francis H. Whitman, Alfred P. Burnell, Ephraim H. Brown, James L. Shackley, John G. Robinson (of Greenwood), Augustus H. Pike, John Tucker, Asa Thayer Jr., and Peter B. Frost. John G. Robinson was installed Shepherd ; Francis H. Whitman, Past Chief Ruler ; James N. Hall, Chief Ruler; Peter B. Frost, Deputy Ruler ; William Andrews, Recording Secretary ; Asa Thayer, Financial Secre- tary; Loren H. Wrisley, Treasurer ; E. H. Brown, Levite; John Tucker, Inside Guardian ; G. D. Woodbridge, Outside Guardian. A committee was chosen to procure a hall in which to meet, and it was voted to hold the meetings on Monday evening of each week. At the next meeting, a sick committee was appointed. March 16th, the following new mem- bers were added : Stephen H. Knapp, George A. Noyes, Thomas J. Whitehead, Solomon S. Hall, and Olive. A. Hall, and at subsequent meetings there were added, S. M. Newhall, Cyrus M. Buck, William E. Goodenow, W. S. Allen, Henry R. Webber, Nathan K. Noble, Joshua B. Richardson, Osgood Perry, William Evans, Ebenezer P. Fitz, Rev. Cyril Pearl, Francis A. Young, David B. Crockett, William Deering, Theodore L. Laselle, Isaac S. Parsons, Orren W. Bent, William P. Witt, Charles Pike, Horatio Q. Blake, Ebenezer P. Hinds, and others. How stringent the pledge of this association was we have no means of knowing, but a resolution introduced by James N. Hall "that in the opinion of the members of this tent, cider does contain a portion of alcohol, and therefore we discard the use of it as a beverage," was laid upon the table for three weeks, then called up and tabled again for two weeks without discussion and was not again called up. October 12th, a resolution was offered by Mr. J. G. Robinson pledging the members to support the law for the suppression of drinking-houses and tippling- shops, which was discussed and tabled. A Bible was presented to the
294
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
tent by the ladies of Norway, through Mrs. Goodenow, and it was voted that the presiding officer read selections of Scripture at the opening of the tent. The tent continued prosperous for about a year, and then a perusal of the records shows that the interest began to wane. Meet- ings were thinly attended and frequently no business was transacted except to adjourn. The last entry in the record book is December 6, 1847.
SONS OF TEMPERANCE.
It was when the Washingtonian movement was at its height in various parts of the country, that thoughtful men in New York con- ceived the idea of an organization that would combine and consolidate the discordant elements of the movement, invest it with a social char- acter, and leave lasting impressions of affection and interest on the mind, in connection with the great cause and its objects. The outcome of this was, the Order of the Sons of Temperance, an organization which has doubtless accomplished more than any other, in giving perma- nence to the temperance cause, after the enthusiasm awakened by the
Washingtonian movement could no longer be maintained. The first Division of the Sons of Temperance was organized in New York City, at Teetotaller's Hall, No. 71 Division Street, on Thursday evening, September 29th, 1842. The order had a steady growth, and reached the State of Maine in. December, 1844. A Grand Lodge for Maine was organized at Augusta in April, 1845, and three years later, there were one hundred and ten Divisions in the State, with a membership of over seven thousand. In 1850, the movement had reached Oxford County.
Aqua Division of the Sons of Temperance was instituted at Norway Village, April 4th, 1850. Rumford Division, the first in the county, was numbered 146, Acadia Division of Paris was 147, and Norway was 150. Many leading young men took hold of the matter here, and it started under the most favorable circumstances. Among those who were prominent in the movement, were William Wirt Virgin, George L. Beal, Rev. John L. Stevens, George W. Sholes, Franklin Manning, Lee Mixer, James Merrill, Jeremiah Howe, Lorenzo Hathaway, Mark H. Dunnell, Joseph H. Danforth, Benjamin Tucker, Samuel Favor, Cyrus Brown, Wellington Hobbs, Otis F. Mixer, Edwin W. Howe, George W.
İ 1
1
1
295
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
Severns, John Tucker, Isaac A. Denison, and Osgood N. Bradbury. There were many others who engaged in the movement at first, or joined in it later, but, unfortunately, the book of records is lost, remov- ing the only reliable source of information. The returns to the Grand Division show that William Wirt Virgin was the first Worthy Patriarch, and Mark H. Dunnell, Recording Scribe. Mr. Virgin was followed suc- cessively by Franklin Manning, Mark H. Dunnell, Edwin W. Howe, and George W. Severns, and Mr. Dunnell as Recording Scribe was suc- ceeded by George L. Beal, Joseph H. Danforth, George W. Sholes, and Otis F. Mixer. Probably the Division never surrendered its charter to the Grand Division, but in October, 1854, the Grand Scribe reports it as "virtually dead." It was very popular at the start, but like most of the Divisions of this order in the county, it did not come to stay.
TEMPERANCE WATCHMEN.
This brotherhood of temperance workers was first instituted at Dur- ham, Maine, in April, 1849, its cardinal principles being "Temperance, Humanity, and Progress." A club was organized in Norway, March 2Ist, 1851, and those who joined at the start were Osgood N. Bradbury, Jeremiah H. Hall, H. A. M. Bradbury, Amos F. Noyes, Samuel Part- ridge, Charles S. Mallett, Frank L. Pool, William A. Marston, Osgood Perry, and Isaiah Hall. Subsequent members were Sidney A. Stevens, Jacob Bradbury, Lorenzo D. Hobbs, H. B. Upton, William C. Hobbs, Sumner Hale, David A. Gorham, Simeon Noble, Franklin Manning, E. H. Brown, Sylvanus Cobb Jr., John L. Stevens, Simon Stevens, Alfred Shattuck, George W. Verrill, T. L. Lassell, Edwin Farrington, Osmon Town, Salmon A. Wilson, James L. Partridge, A. Oscar Noyes, John R. Smith, Hannibal I. Kimball, J. Whitehouse, A. C. Noble, William Parsons, D. A. Briggs, and many others. It was voted to call this organization the Pennesseewassee Watchmen's Club. The meetings were held at Hall's Corner. The first presiding officer was Osgood N. Bradbury, and the first Recording Secretary, F. H. Hale. This organization had a fairly prosperous career. It took a decided stand in favor of prohibition, and in fact this was one of the leading tenets of the brotherhood. The avowed object was "to discourage the manufacture, sale, and use of alcoholic beverages." The last meeting,
296
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
according to the records, was held April 25th, 1854. It was called to order by William W. Hobbs, and "Mr. Bradbury made remarks upon the importance of keeping up the organization." Here closes the record, and the third Norway secret society for the promotion of the cause of temperance, came to an end.
After the demise of the Pennesseewassee Watchman's Club, it was ten years before another secret temperance organization was effected in Norway. Meantime, the friends of the cause were not idle, but by various agencies such as branch leagues, auxiliary county societies and other organizations of like character, kept the ball rolling. Parties in Oxford County had re-organized largely upon the prohibition issue, and Norway was decidedly a prohibition town. The question of prohibition or license has in some form and on several occasions been directly sub- mitted to the people of the State, and on each occasion Norway has voted for prohibition.
GOOD TEMPLARS.
Pine Grove Lodge, No. 350, of Good Templars was instituted in Norway Village, May 5th, 1874, by Fred. E. Shaw. The principal officers were: Rev. Lemuel H. Tabor, Chief Templar; Addie Denison, Vice Templar ; C. G. Blake, Secretary ; and F. M. Houghton, Treasurer. The other officers were: Mary Haskell, Winnie Evans, Lizzie Akers, F. E. Drake, F. H. Gibson, Clara Hayden, T. G. Goodwin, Etta Hough- ton, and Herbert Hillier. The meetings were held every Monday even- ing, at first at Elm House Hall. Subsequently the lodge met at the vestry of the Congregational church. At a meeting August 3d, 1874, Alton O'Brion was chosen Chief Templar, and F. M. Houghton, Secre- tary, and Annette Sampson, Treasurer. D. P. Black was Lodge Deputy. In November, 1874, F. H. Gibson was elected Chief Templar; G. H. Shedd, Secretary ; and Emma O'Brion, Treasurer. The Lodge seems to have been highly prosperous. A perusal of the records shows that a weekly paper was sustained, while declamations and discussions filled up the spare time. The Lodge possessed an unusual amount of literary talent. During the second year there was a waning interest, and at a meeting October 22d, 1875, nine members were expelled for not paying their dues. The principal officers chosen October 29th, 1875, were :
297
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
George Shedd, Chief Templar; I. A. Frost, Secretary ; and Asa True, Treasurer. November 26th, a committee was chosen to try and procure another place of meeting. December 10th, a meeting was held and an elaborate programme arranged for the next meeting, but if it was held, no record was made of it. The charter was surrendered.
Rustfield Lodge, No. 53, was instituted June 29th, 1883, by B. C. Tor- sey, of Winthrop.
NORWAY REFORM CLUB.
The organization of the Norway Reform Club was perfected at Good Templars Hall, April 27th, 1875. David Knapp was chosen President ; Samuel Thompson, James A. O'Connor and George W. Locke, Vice- presidents ; E. B. Whitehouse, Recording Secretary ; F. W. Howe, Financial Secretary ; and George W. Hobbs, A. O'Connor, George B. Yeaton, Benjamin Whitehouse, and William F. Rounds, Executive Com- mittee. The pledge was comprehensive and to the point. Each mem- ber promised for the good of himself and others with the help of Almighty God, to abstain from buying, selling or using alcoholic or malt beverages, including wine and cider. Only males upward of six- teen years of age who had been in the habit of using intoxicating liquor to a greater or less extent, were eligible to membership. An employ- ment committee was provided for to assist members in obtaining work, and the members were pledged to make every reasonable effort to induce persons addicted to the use of strong drink to join the club. The club grew rapidly in numbers and influence, and soon its roll bore the names of more than two hundred persons, including some of the most persistent drinkers in town. Its meetings were well attended and its influence was felt throughout the town. December 30th, 1875, James A. O'Connor was chosen President, Alton O'Brion, J. Devine and Charles L. F. Howe, Vice-presidents, C. W. Ryerson, Secretary, and George W. Hobbs, Treasurer. A Ladies' Aid Society was organized to co-operate with the Club and did efficient service in the interest of temperance. February 2d, 1877, a vote was passed modifying the qual- ifications for membership so that all male citizens above the age of sixteen years who knew by personal experience or observation, the evil effects of the use of alcoholic beverages, and who were desirous of using
298
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
their influence to stop the use of the same, might become members of the Club. The records show that the financial question was often troublesome, members neglecting to pay their dues and the Club being embarassed with debts. In November, 1877, it was voted to have a committee of three appointed at the close of each meeting to provide speakers and make arrangements for the next meeting, all speaking to relate strictly to the subject of temperance. After February Ist, 1878, the place of meeting was called the Reformers' Home. The sixth anni- versary of the Club was celebrated April 21st, 1881, at the Methodist Church. Invitations were extended to the clubs at Bolster's Mills, Harrison, Lisbon, Auburn and Lewiston, and to the Ladies' Aid Socie- ties of those places. The meeting was well attended and much interest prevailed. This organization has had a longer existence and probably accomplished more good, than any other temperance society in the town. It still (December, 1885) keeps up its organization and holds occasional meetings, though the zeal of its members has somewhat diminished.
A Reformers' Aid Society was organized by the ladies of Norway, July 27th, 1875, its object being to aid the Reform Club in temperance work. The call for the meeting to organize was signed by Mrs. Mary L. Howe and one hundred others. At the first meeting Mrs. Mary L. Howe was chosen President, Mrs. L. H. Tabor, Vice-president, Alice Burnham, Secretary, and Mrs. Dr. Jewett, Treasurer. The meetings were held on Tuesday evenings, and subsequently on Monday evening in connection with the Reform Club. Regular meetings were kept up for ten years and much good was accomplished by its efforts. The organization is still in existence although regular meetings are not held.
CHAPTER XXII.
MAIL-CARRIERS AND POSTMASTERS.
UNTIL the year 1801, mail facilities for the people of Norway as well as for the settled portions of Oxford County, with the exception of the extreme western towns, were very poor. A post-office was established at Fryeburg in 1798, and one in Bridgton about the same time. The offices at Waterford, Norway, Buckfield, and Paris, were established the same year. Previous to that time, the people in this region were obliged to depend on the courtesy of the postmaster in Portland, who forwarded their letters by any responsible person who was coming this way. There was not much mail matter in those days. Postage was high, money scarce, and the early settlers could spare but little time in which to write letters. Messages from relatives and friends left in the old Bay State, were like "angels' visits, few and far between," and like angels' visits, too, they were ever welcome. There were very few papers published in the country at that time, and a weekly paper in Norway, prior to 1800, was a great rarity. Persons who went to Portland on business, sometimes brought home a copy of the "Gazette," the only paper published there, and it was loaned from house to house, until it was worn out. At that time, the postage on a single letter, when car- ried a distance of four hundred miles and over, was twenty-five cents; for one hundred and fifty miles, eighteen and three-quarters cents ; for eighty miles, twelve and a half cents; and for thirty miles, six and one- fourth cents. Postage might be prepaid or not, at the option of the writer. Postage stamps were not used for many years after. Newspaper postage was one cent per copy within the State, or if published not more than one hundred and fifty miles beyond the line of the State ; beyond that distance, the postage was one and one-half cents per copy.
The early mail-carriers rode on horseback, and were called post-riders. The mail was carried in a pouch fastened behind the saddle, and in addi- tion, the post-rider had a bag in which he carried mail matter for dis-
300
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
tribution along the route. This was allowable, and the post-rider received certain compensation for doing this extra service. He carried a tin horn or trumpet, upon which he always blew a blast before reach- ing a post-office or a house where mail matter was to be left, in order that some one might be in attendance, and that his business might be dispatched with as little delay as possible. The roads were bad, and it was impossible for the mail-carrier to travel by a time-table, but he generally made his full number of trips during the year. The first mail- carrier in this section was Jacob Howe. At first his route extended only to Bridgton and Fryeburg, but after the establishment of the offices in this town and in Paris, the route became a round trip. Start- ing from Portland, he passed through Gorham, Baldwin (where he resided), Standish, etc., to Fryeburg and Bridgton, then to Waterford, Norway, Paris, Hebron, Poland, New Gloucester, and Gray, to Portland. Waterford was an important center, and for many years the distributing office for western and central Oxford. Mr. Howe subsequently settled in Paris, and died there. He was the ancestor of those of the name in this town. The next post-rider was Seba Smith, who had recently moved from Buckfield to Bridgton. He was the father of Seba Smith, the well-known author. The next one was William Sawin, of Water- ford, son of General Benjamin and Martha (Howe) Sawin, an early settler in that town, and the father of Jabez Sawin, for many years a stage man on the route between Portland and Augusta. Sawin was succeeded by Joshua Pool, of this town, who came here from Bridge- water. In 1815, offices had been established in Sumner, Albany, and Rumford, and that year the mails reached Waterford Friday night. Saturday, the postman made a circuit through the towns in western Oxford and back to Waterford to spend the Sabbath. Monday he visited Norway, Paris, Woodstock, Rumford, Bethel, and back to Waterford by way of Albany. In 1812, William Sawin bought out the route; he generally went on horseback, but he would go with a wagon and take passengers when desired. His route was directly from Port- land and return. About the same time, Mr. Brown, of Waterford, con- tracted to carry the mail by way of Norway and Paris, and he used a one-horse wagon for that purpose, and carried a passenger when he could find one.
:
301
HISTORY OF NORWAY.
James Longley, son of Jonathan and Mary (Osborne) Longley, of Waterford, was the first person who contracted to carry the mails from Norway and Paris to Portland direct. He ran a double sleigh in the winter, and a two-horse wagon in summer, and built up a paying route. John B. Stowell, of Paris, was Longley's successor, and was in turn suc- ceeded by Grosvenor G. Waterhouse. Orren, son of Daniel Hobbs, of this town, Addison A. Latham, who came here from St. Johnsbury, Vermont, and William Gallison, of Paris, became the popular drivers of Waterhouse's coaches, soon after. The stages ran direct to Paris, and there were connected with two tri-weeklies, one going through Norway, Greenwood, Bethel, and Shelburne, to Lancaster, New Hampshire, and the other through Woodstock and Rumford to Andover and Dixfield.
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.