USA > Maine > Oxford County > Sumner > Centennial history of the town of Sumner, Me. 1798-1898 > Part 3
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The second post-office in Sumner was established at East Sumner in 1832, with Dr. Bethuel Cary as postmaster, an office he continued to hold for twenty seven years.
The western part of the town got their mail from Paris for many years; this part of the town was not settled as soon as the East.
The first settlers here came about 1800, and in 1811, William Cobb bought the lot containing the mill privilege from the state of Massachusetts, it be- ing the lot reserved by the State in 1787. He prob- ably built the mills here about 1812, and afterwards sold them to Alphæus S. Drake who ran them for some years.
The third Post-office in town was established in 1833, here in West Sumner. Henry Howe was post- master. He was succeeded in 1837 by Whitney Cummings, who held the office until 1855.
The town had a steady growth for the first fifty years of its coporate life.
In 1790 there were one hundred and eighty-nine
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persons in both plantations. ; The population in- creased rapidly, and in 1820, at the time of the sepa- ration from Massachusetts, there were one thousand inhabitants in Sumner alone. These increased to "nearly thirteen hundred in 1840, but the census in 1850, showed a decrease which has progressed stead- ily until in the census of 1890 Sumner was credited with nine hundred inhabitants. . 1
The causes of this decrease are not far to seek. Between 1840 and 1860 the great west was opened, and young men emigrated to those fertile prairie lands. In 1849, gold was discovered in California, and drew still others from the town.
From 1860 to 1870, the civil war decimated the ranks of the younger men, and the population fell nearly fifty between 1870 and 1880. In the next ten years the town lost only fifteen. To-day the tide has turned, and Sumner probably has a greater popu- lation than ten years ago.
I purposely refrain from mentioning the events of the last half century. These will be rehearsed here this afternoon by those who have been actors in them. We have with us today those whose lives and memories cover almost the full century of Sumner's history.
It has been my task to recall the memories of still more ancient times; of the founders and the fore fathers. But the history of a century cannot be crowded into an hour, and time forbids us to dwell longer on this theme.
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It is not necessary to claim that our ancestors on this soil were in all things perfect or altogether faultless men in order to point to them. as in many ways our benefactors.
Their toils and struggles, their sacrifices and pray- ers, their counsels, faith and patience, have all en- tered into the-long process through which this town has become what it is; and have had their results in the material, the moral, the intellectual, and the spiritual well being which we recognize as our heritage today.
"The good men do lives after them; the ill is oft intered with their bones."
Then all honor to these men.
But what of the coming century ?
At the celebration of the Bi-centennial of this town in 1998, what will be said of us?
Shall it be said of us that we maintained the integrity, fidelity and honesty which was our inheri- tance from our fathers?
Amid all this rejoicing and jubille let us not for- get their examples, and strive to emulate their virtues.
"God of our days! Thy guiding power Sustained the lonely pioneer Who first beneath the forest's shade His evening hearth fire kindled here; To Thee a welcome sacrifice ; It's smoke ascending to the skies.
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"God of the centuries ! today A hundred years their tale have told, And lingering in their solemn shade We listen to the days of old. To us how vast the century's flight! To Thee as watches in the night.
"God of eternity ! Thy hand - To nobler hills has beckoned on ٦ The fathers, who, by many toils For us this pleasant dwelling won: With them hereafter may we raise Celestial anthems to Thy praise."
"God of our fathers, known of old, Lord of our far-flung battle-line, Beneath Whose awful Hand we hold Dominion over palm and pine, Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget-lest we forget !
"The tumult and the shouting dies, The captains and the kings depart; Still stands Thine ancient Sacrifice, An humble and a contrite heart, Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget-lest we forget !"
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CENTENNIAL POEM. ( Written by Mrs. HELEN S. ROBERTSON. )
Hail Sumner! proudly we hail thee to-day. . Thou hast reached a milestone on thy way, And for once from care and toil we are free ; We consecrate this day to God and thee. Then hail! we'll make the welkin ring with cheers, In honor and praise of thy crowning years, From Mt. Benson's summit bold and grand, Throughout the length and breadth of the land.
Hail Sumner! gladly we hail thee again, In honor of the brave women and men Who the perils of the wilderness dared, And many privations and hardships shared, That to posterity they might hand down Freedom and homes in this delightful town. These pioneers lived lives good and true, Their tastes were simple and their wants were few.
They built their cabins by the wild beast's lair, Their paths were crossed by the wolf and bear ; The stealthy panther in the forest stayed ; The Indian in feathers and blanket arrayed, Reared his bark wigwam on the mountain side, No roads, only spotted trees for a guide ; Brave and undaunted, many dangers they faced ; Their names on the honor roll should be placed.
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Time pauses not, it has forged ahead Until one hundred years have sped. A century has wrought a wonderous change- We can scarcely believe it, 'tis so strange.
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Now neat farmhouses dot hillside and plain, With fruitful orchards and fields of grain ; Here and there church spires dot in the sun, And schoolhouses open to every one.
Then, fondly loved Sumner, we hail ! Thou'rt lovely. When mists thy mountain veil, And every lake within its rocky bed Mirrors trees and flowers, while overhead The azure sky with clouds of faintest gray, Just touched with pink, at the dawn of day, Surmounts a scene of such rare loveliness That words can but imperfectly express.
Hail Sumner! loudly we hail thee and well, In memory of our heroes who fell · Defending their country-fighting for the right. Forget not heroes that are yet in sight, They have been ready in their country's cause. Sumner's men have done duty in all wars- Stood by their colors as if't mattered not When surrounded by flying shell and shot.
We stand to-day on the selfsame sod . Which was by our forefathers trod. What a boon to us they did bequeathe !. There's freedom in the air we breathe- We pledge ourselves this boon to keep. Great Keeper, who doth not slumber nor sleep, With thy help our town shall be free . For many and many a century .
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THE TOASTS.
Our Oldest Inhabitants: Sumner present joins hands with Sumner past, and seeks her benediction on Sumner future.
Response by CAPT. LEWIS BISBEE.
Our Ancestors : May. the industry and integrity that characterized their lives be emulated by their posterity. Response by HENRY B. HERSEY.
Ye Pedagogues : The masons who wield the - trowel. If the boys of Sumner have builded well in the architecture of life, it is because the foundations , were well laid. Response by JAMES B. CHAFFIN.
The Boys of the old-time District School, The pranks they played and the master's rule. Response by SHARON ROBINSON.
Sumner's first Sunday School: Recollections of a charter member who has never graduated. Response by DEA. JOSIAH T. STETSON.
The Church: Inseparably connected with Sum- ner's' past history, her present good name and her future hopes. Response by REV. P. E. MILLER.
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The Sons of Sumner: Be they far or near our hearts are with them, and we rejoice at their success. May their native heath ever occupy a warm corner in their memories. Response by NAHUM MOORE.
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The Daughters of Sumner: We love them. Response by ALBERT D. PARK!
Sumner in the War : Her quota was always full. Response by CAPT. CHARLES H. PRINCE.
Sumner at the Bar : May she in her practice be instrumental in closing the "open bars," and in plac- ing offenders behind the bars.
Response by PRENTISS CUMMINGS.
Our next Centennial : May our children's children do it honor. Response by JOSEPH A. NOYES.
Long Suffering Cuba : 6 May she soon be free. Response by W. STANWOOD FIELD).
The Pine Tree State : Physically, intellectually and morally, she furnishes timber for the Union. Response by "HON. ENOCH W. WOODBURY.
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"SUMNER CENTENNIAL.
CENTENNIAL HYMN.
( Written by ALICE E. MAXIM. )
O God above ! to Thee we raise Our praiseful song this day of days !. Our fathers loved and worshiped here ; O grant this day their presence near. ! . Give us the power to feel that they Unite with us to sing and pray, And something yet of interest see In our dear town's prosperity.
Our ancestors were led by Thee To make their home this fair country ; And Thou their toilsome lives did bless With flowers of mercy numberless.
These lands of forest growth were'shorn To yield rich fruits and golden corn : And many pleasant homes were reared, Which their descendants hold endeared.
These rocky hills and pleasant vales, These lakes where youthful pleasure sails. Are dear to all our hearts to-day, As to our grandsires passed away.
. The roses by the road-side grow, Our grand-dames planted long ago : And bloom as sweet this dewy morn As if in Eden newly born.
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The choicest fruitage of the years, Attained by struggles, prayers and tears, Is not of gold, but faith in Thee, Great love and sweetest charity.
And in the future, as the past, May Thy strong arms, around us cast, Make all our labors go to prove That in Thy love we live and move.
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[NOTE. The Personal Sketches in the succeeding pages are inserted by special arrangement with the Publisher, on the authority of friends of the subjects sketched. ]
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PRENTISS CUMMINGS.
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PERSONAL SKETCHES.
OLIVER GUMMINGS AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
BY PRENTISS CUMMINGS.
Oliver Cummings was born in Dunstable, Mass., July 12, 1756, and died in Sumner, July 2, 1823. He was son of Capt. Oliver Cummings, and was himself a soldier in the war of the Revolution. The family was Scotch, and the name was spelled Comings, Cumings, Comins, Cumins, and in other ways ; and the early settlers pronounced the name as if it had no "g". It was at my father's suggestion that the present spelling was adopted by the family generally. The original emigrant is said to have been Isaac Cummings, who settled in Topsfield, Mass., in 1632. The family was reputable, and very religious ; and among them were a number of brave soldiers.
When a child I heard it talked in the family that my grandfather, being one of the original proprietors, came early to Sumner to locate his land and settle, as he was engaged to be married to Betsy Bailey, a girl brought up in his father's family. He brought with him a plan of the grant which had on it the two ponds now known as Pleasant and Labrador. His land was located in fact about a mile southwesterly of Labrador Pond, where he afterwards lived and built a house which is still standing ; but he mistook what is now called Moose Pond in Paris for the
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westerly one on his map, and therefore began his clearing near Pleasant Pond on or near what was later the Charles Buck place. After he had got started he climbed the hill near by, and seeing another pond in the east, became aprehensive he had made a mis- take. He spent several days investigating; but there were no settlers within many miles, and he had no means of satisfying his doubts. He therefore . returned to Dunstable; and did not come back until he had married and had one or two children. He thus missed being the earliest settler in the town.
While he was making his clearing in the center of the town and building a cabin, his wife and children boarded in a house which is now the ell of the Col. White place in Buckfield. He passed Sundays with his family, and kept run of the days by cutting notches in a stick. Once he forgot to do so and worked all day Sunday ; and his conscience was much troubled that he had allowed his private interests to make him careless enough to violate a duty.
I know little of my grandfather beyond the fact that he was a prosperous farmer, and fond of music. At the age of sixteen he was a drummer-boy in his father's company ; and when he became a man sang tenor, and played the bass-viol. I think he played in parson Sewall's church. My grandmother had one of those high soprano voices known as counter : and when the children were young enough to sing alto, he, by means of his bass-viol, made up a family quartet.
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By his first wife, Betsy Bailey, he had two child- ren, Sibyl and Oliver.
SIBYL, married Zadoc Bosworth of Sumner, and left five children. Several of her descend- ants are still living.
OLIVER, died many years ago in New York city. He married Polly Churchill, (a sister of his father's second wife), and had seven child- ren, three of whom, Lawrence P., Harriet, and Mehitable, lived to marry. Of these Lawrence P. was a piano manufacturer in New York city, and when he had accumulated
1 a competency he became a presbyterian minister, and was a man of high char- acter and great thoughtfulness. He married Rebeckah Doremus, and had three daughters. His widow is now living in New York with her unmarried daughters, Henrietta and Sarah. The third daughter, Harriet, is wife of Dr. Chamberlain, has children, and lives in Springfield, Mass.
Harriet, (twin sister of Lawrence P.), married Aretas Damon of Sumner, has no child- ren, and is now a widow living in Buckfield.
Mehitable, married Merritt F. Damon of Sum- ner, is living, and has several children.
For his second wife my grandfather married, Feb. 1, 1804, Phoebe Churchill, daughter of Andrew Churchill of Sumner, who with five of his sons were Revolutionary soldiers. She in her latter years lived
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with my father, and was well known in the commun- . ity as "Aunt Phoebe". She died at an advanced .age. By her husband she had three children, Betsy Bailey, Larnard, and Whitney.
- BETSY BAILEY, born Dec. 3, 1804, and died at the age of twelve.
LARNARD, born Aug. 13, 1806, and died in Sum- ner in 1884. He was a farmer, miller, and Free-will Baptist preacher, was very eccen- tric, and noted for droll, original, and un- expected sayings. His attachment to his - brother Whitney, and indeed to all his rela- tives was very strong. He married Nancy White, who is still living in Sumner at a very advanced age. They had three child- ren who lived to grow up, as follows :-
Julia Ann, married Caleb Thomas of Hartford, and died leaving a large family of child- ren. Mr. Thomas is still living.
Marilla, lived with her mother and died unmar- ried. She was a noble, self-sacrificing " woman.
James Larnard, married Clara Washburn of Sumner, and has two daughters.
WHITNEY,(Oliver's second son by Phoebe Church- ill), was born Dec. 18, 1808, and died in Buckfield, March 4, 1881. ` He was a farm- er, beginning on his father's place, later at West Sumner, and afterwards at Buckfield. At various dates he also owned and run all the different mills at West Sumner. He was for many years deacon of the Baptist church, and held various town and other
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offices. He married Mary Hart Prentiss, daughter of Henry Prentiss of North Paris. She was a school-teacher of local note, was a great reader of good books, with a great memory, and an acceptable writer both of - prose and verse for several newspapers. She took much interest in young people, to whom she had the gift of imparting something of her own inspiration and am- bition. Both she and her husband are buried in the cemetery at North Paris. They had three children, Isabella, Prentiss, and Mellen, the last of whom died in child- hood.
Isabella, was born in the old Oliver Cummings house April 15, 1834, and married Joseph S. Ingraham, an apothecary in Bangor, Maine, son of Rev. John S. Ingraham of Augusta. She is a widow, and has a summer place on Paris Hill. She has two children, the elder of whom, Paulina, is unmarried and lives with her mother. The second daugh- ter Mary, is wife of Albert E. Davies, and lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Prentiss, was born in West Sumner, Sept. 10, 1840. Owing to a theory of his mother that every man should have a trade, he worked three years between the ages of fourteen and seventeen at printing in the Oxford Democrat office. He then began fitting for college under Free- land Howe and at Hebron Acadamy, and later took a two-years course at Phillips Acadamy, Exeter, N. H. He
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graduated from Harvard College, in I 864. The following year he acted as principal of the Portland High School, and began the study of law in the office of Nathan Webb, now U. S. District Judge for Maine. In the fall of 1865 he entered Harvard Law School. While there, owing to some sudden changes among college professors, he was unexpectedly appointed Tutor in Latin, and had charge of the Sopho- more Class in that department until the winter of 1870, when he entered a law office in Boston, having previously graduated at the Harvard Law School. In the summer of 1870 he was admitted to the Boston bar, and commenced practice. In 1874 he was appointed chief assistant to the U. S. Attorney in Boston, and until 1880 had almost ex- clusive charge of the law business of the government in that important district. In the years 1881, 1882, 1883, he rep- resented the great business ward of the city in the Common Council, and in 1884 and 1885 in the Legislature. In 1885 he was elected president of the Cambridge Railroad, and held that office until 1887 when the company was consolidated with the other Boston Street-railways as the West End com- pany. He then became Vice-president of the new company, and so continued until in 1897 it was leased to the Bos- ton Elevated Railway ; and since has been advisory counsel of the last
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named corporation. His corporate duties have always been chiefly legal. His home is in Brookline, where he is Trustee of the public library and of the local savings bank, is a member of the school committee, and has held other offices. He is also member of many clubs and societies, has been president of many of them, and has given papers and lectures on scientific and literary subjects. He has made a specialty of Homer and Homeric literature for recreation, and also of chess, and was for many years president of the Boston Chess Club. Of the various offices and business positions he has held he never sought one directly or indirectly. It is perhaps worth noticing that all his male ancestors on his mother's side . as well as his father's whose age made it possible took an active part in the Revolution ; and one of them. Dr. John Hart, he succeeds in the Society of the Cincinnati. On Feb'y 25, 1880, he married Annie D. Snow of Cambridge. He has no children.
It thus appears probable that in the next genera- tion the original settler will have no 'descendant bearing the name of Cummings. Many of the earli- est and most important dates above given were recorded in the family bible by my mother ; and are inserted here for preservation against the next centennial.
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THE PULSIFER FAMILY IN SUMNER.
Jonathan Pulsifer, second, married Nancy Ryerson and settled on a farm in Sumner, March 3, 1828. There was deeded to Jonathan Pulsifer at that time, a certain parcel of land, situated in said 'Sumner and bounded as follows :
"Beginning at the northwest corner of the town of Sumner, thence southwardly on the line between the town of Sumner and Woodstock, one hundred (100) rods to the "Great Brook", so called; thence down said Brook, as it now runs, to Stake and Stones, to John Cox's land; thence north to the north line of the town of Sumner; thence westward on the town line, to the point first men- tioned, containing seventy-five acres, more or less."
This farm was deeded to Jonathan Pulsifer by Willard Doble.
Jonathan Pulsifer, second , son of Ephraim Pulsifer, was a descendant of Benedictus Pulsifer, who settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts, a few years after the landing of the "Mayflower". Benedictus Pulsifer was a "Round-Head" and was banished from England because of his political views.
Jonathan and Nancy Pulsifer raised seven children, namely : Christiana, born March 29, 1817, Charles, born August 23, 1818, Joseph, born July 22, 1824 Hiram, born January 10, 1826, Moses, born Novem-
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JONATHAN PULSIFER.
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ber 2, 1828, Horatio, born December 18, 1833, and Sarah, born August 19, 1837.
The sons of Jonathan have owned farms in Sum- ner, and have been known as thrifty and forehanded citizens of the town.
Charles Pulsifer lived for a time in Lewiston, and was connected with one of the cotton mills.
Moses Pulsifer lived for a number of years in Jack- son Village. He was known and respected as one of the most enterprising and progressive men of the town. He was at different times, during his resi- dence in Sumner, engaged in. the cattle business, as a merchant, as a farmer, and as the proprietor of a house which gave hospitality to transients and sum- · mer visitors. He died at Auburn, where he took up his residence after leaving Sumner, and was buried in the new cemetery in that city.
Charles Pulsifer had three children, Charles, Jr., Marcia and George.
Joseph Pulsifer had five children, LeRoy,(deceased), Lizzie, Nellie, Hattie, and LeRoy, a son now living.
Hiram Pulsifer had seven children, Ella, George, Edgar, Walter, Pearl, Lewellyn andLouisa.
Moses Pulsifer had four children, William,-Lovina, Camille and Annie.
Horatio R. Pulsifer had three children, Henry, (deceased), Emma and Frank.
Sarah Pulsifer, who married Alonzo F. Barrows, had five children, Bertie, Frank, Charlie, Fred and Sadie. .
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_ William E. Pulsifer, oldest child of Moses Pulsifer, received his education in the common schools of Sumner, in the private high schools of Buckfield, and finished his preparation for college at West- brook Seminary, where he graduated in June, 1870. He was a student for a time at Kents Hill Seminary. He received from Bates College, the degree of A. M. After teaching in the town schools of Paris, Sumner, Waterford and Andover, he was elected principal of West Lebanon Academy, where he taught success- fully for two years. He was elected in the spring of 1876, the principal of the Stoughton, Mass., High School, where he remained for seven and one-half years, when he was called to the superintendency of the public schools of Leominster, Mass., where he remained two years, at the end of which time he was invited by the firm of Ginn, Heath & Co.,-a large Boston publishing house-to take a position as sales- man for that house. After five years' service with Ginn, Heath & Co., Mr. D. C. Heath, who had re- tired from the firm of Ginn, Heath & Co., asked Mr. Pulsifer to unite with him as a partner in the house of D. C. Heath & Co. Mr. Pulsifer is at the present time, the Treasurer of the corporation of D. C. Heath- & Co., one of Boston's best known publishing houses. His responsibilities as treasurer and office manager for the New York branch, are large and exacting.
William E. Pulsifer is the father of two child- ren, Mary G. Pulsifer, who is at present a senior in Smith College, and Lester S. Pulsifer, who is a senior at Amherst College.
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MOSES PULSIFER.
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Mrs. Ella Cotton, the daughter of Mr. Hiram Pul- sifer, resides at Windsor, Vt. She is the mistress of a spacious and beautiful home, over which she presides with great dignity. She is connected with a number of religious and charitable enterprises, and is well and favorably known throughout that section of Vermont.
George E., the son of Charles Pulsifer, who at the present time resides at Jackson Village, is connected with the Nursery firm of Homer N. Chase & Co.
George B., the son of Hiram Pulsifer, resides at South Paris, Me., and has held a number of positions of trust, and is known as a very useful citizen.
. Lewellyn, the youngest son of Hiram Pulsifer, is proprietor of a boot and shoe store at South Paris, . where he also resides. The other sons of Hiram Pulsifer reside in Massachusetts, as does LeRoy, the son of Joseph Pulsifer.
Lovina Pulsifer, married Dr. H. W. Field, and resides at Auburn, Me.
Camille Pulsifer, who taught school successfully in Sumner, married Ardon Tilton, and also resides in Auburn, as does Annie Pulsifer, who married George Merrill.
Charles Pulsifer, Jr., resides at Norway Me.
The children of Sarah Pulsifer reside at South Paris, Me.
Of the daughters of Joseph Pulsifer, Lizzie, who married Mellen Chandler, resides in Lynn. Nellie, who married Herbert Ryerson, resides in South
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