USA > Maine > Oxford County > Sumner > Centennial history of the town of Sumner, Me. 1798-1898 > Part 6
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PERSONAL SKETCHES. 127.
setts regiment. At the expiration of this service, he returned to Maine, enlisted in Co. F. 9th Maine Volunteers, and was commissioned its Captain; was promoted, first to Lieut. Colonel, and afterwards, to Colonel of his regiment, subsequently resigning on account of ill health. He studied law at Rockford, Ill., was admitted to the bar, and located in Jackson- ville Florida, where he now resides. He has been U. S. District Attorney for the District of Florida, and has served two" full terms in Congress, from the Jacksonville District. He now has a very extensive and lucrative practice, having a wide field in both the State and United States Courts, and stands at the head of his profession in Florida. Col. Bisbee has always found time to take an active interest in political matters, both State and National, his ser- vices having been sought as a stump speaker, not only in Florida and other Southern States, but also in his native state of Maine.
Elisha,4 b. Feb. 11, 1843, was a member of Co. F. 9th Maine Volunteers, and died at Hilton Head, Jan. 4, 1862.
Maria H.,4 b. June 13, 1847, graduated from the State Normal School in 1867, and has since been - teaching at Evansville, Ind., where she is now Prin- cipal of a large grammar school.
Mary Bisbee,' the third child of Charles, the pion- eer, m. Charles Ford of Pembroke, Mass., and re- moved to Sumner. Her second son, Charles, Jr., was the first white child born in town.
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PERSONAL SKETCHES.
John,2 the fifth child of Charles, the pioneer, settled on a farm about one-half mile south from Labrador Pond. He was a noted bear trapper. He raised a large family, most of whom settled in other towns. His daughter, Dolly, m. Thaddeus Thompson, and lived for many years on the "Uncle Johny" .Bisbee homestead.
Solomon,2 the sixth son of Charles, the pioneer, settled on a farm opposite the "Uncle Johny" place. He was also a blacksmith. He bought the farm of Moses, his brother, Oct. 28, 1791. At that time very little clearing had been done, and to Solomon belongs the credit of reclaiming it from the wilder- ness. He m. Ruth, daughter of Simeon Barrett, - and sister of Simeon, Jr., May 10, 1795. Of their ten children only three settled in town. Abel W., their second child, was an expert blacksmith and, after living for a time in Paris, bought the Oliver Cum- mings farm, which is now owned by his son Antipass. He was postmaster at Sumner, twenty-two years; often held town office, and was a member of the Legislature in 1850. . First. he m. Polly Record, . and had George; second, m. Nancy Durell, and had Polly, Nancy and Antipass.
Anna,3 the sixth child of Solomon, m. Abel Fletch- . er who, at the age of ninty-three, is the oldest per- son now living in town. Aunt Annie, as she was familiarly known, was beloved by all. Their child- ren were, Harriett A., m. Luther Hollis; Rachel R .. m. Addison Partin; and Abel Thomas, who was accidentally shot.
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Solomon, Jr., 3 the seventh, familiarly known as "Dea. Bisbee," lived for a few years in Waterford. but at the death of his father came to Sumner and cared for his mother, on the old homestead, where he lived and died. He was postmaster several, and treasurer of the minister fund for the town many years. He m. Hannah P., daughter of Benjamin Heald, Jr. Of their children, Timothy H. went to California at the age of twenty, and now resides in Oregon, where he has a family; Maria m. Orrin P. Houghton, and resides in Kansas; Lewis H. lives on the old homestead, and has a family of four children. He has been a member of the board of selectmen.
Calvin,2 the seventh son of Charles, the pioneer. lived and died on his father's homestead. He was a member of the convention which framed the State Constitution, often held town office, and served as - member of the Legislature. Of his children, Lewis. known as Captain, only remained in town, and still lives with his aged wife on the old homestead. They `had two daughters, and have made a home for nine- teen orphan children and five old people. The Captain has been a member of the board of select- men, several years.
George W. Bisbee, * son of Elbridge G., settled in . Hartford, where he carried on the blacksmith busi- ness. He removed to Peru, in 1857, where he died Jan. 27. 1872. His wife, Mary B., died in Buckfield, June 25, 1885.
* An addition to last paragraph, page 112.
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PERSONAL SKETCHES.
CAPT. LEWIS BISBEE, son of Calvin, and grandson of Charles, was born in Sumner, at the old Bisbee homestead, August 10, 1808, and at the date of this sketch (March 4, 1899,) is still living upon the old farm of his father and grandfather. He was married Dec. 31, 1829, to Elizabeth Sampson of Hartford, by Dr. Bethuel Cary. The children of this worthy couple were:
Amanda M., born July 11, 1830, and married. June 7, 1850, Fred A. Spaulding of Buckfield, who died June 12, 1856, after which she married Rufus K. Harlow, and since the latter's death has remained single and kindly cared for her aged parents.
Amerilla, born June 13, 1832, married, Oct. 26, 1852, William F. Bard of Hartford, and died May 29, 1853.
On December 31, 1879, about 125 of the friends and relatives of Capt. Bisbee and wife assembled at his residence and celebrated in an interesting man- ner their fiftieth wedding anniversary. June 9, 1874. there was a pleasant reunion of the Bisbee family at the old homestead, a result of which was the pub- . lishing of some of the family records from which we gathered dates used in this sketch.
Calvin Bisbee, father of Capt. Lewis, was a prom- inent citizen in town for many years, and one of its municipal officers for a long time, as the records will attest. He was also a member of the convention which framed the Constitution of the State, and subsequently served as a member of the Legislature.
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ELIZABETH (SAMPSON) BISBEE.
CAPT. LEWIS BISBEE.
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Capt. Lewis Bisbee has been similarly honored, as he has served faithfully and long as one of Sumner's town officers, and in 1854 was chosen to represent the district in the State Legislature, being a suc- cessful opponent to the Hon. F. O. J. Smith of the Buckfield Branch R. R. notoriety. The Captain sometimes speaks of his triumphant election over such a candidate, as one of the proudest events of his life.
During the late Civil War, the Captain was very - - loyal and of valuable assistance in filling quotas and raising money for defraying town expenses, some -- times giving his own note to satisfy the timid and doubtful.
In the early agitation of the Washingtonian ten- perance movement Capt. Bisbee signed the pledge. and has faithfully kept the same inviolate to the present time. At the town of Sumner's Centennial Celebration he, with his faithful wife, was present and responded to a sentiment proposed for "Our aged citizens." To him, more than any other man, is the author of this brief sketch indebted for the early history and personal incidents which have been collected and made a record in the columns of the Lewiston Journal of June 16, 1898, a part of which is published in this little volume.
His faithful wife and congenial companion, at the age of 91, is still a cheerful helpmate and comfort. to him in declining years,
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In works of neighborly kindness, charity, and kindly sympathy for the unfortunate, this worthy couple are deserving of emulation, and the town's history would be incomplete without special men- tion of them. "SLOCUM.""
Since the above sketch was sent in to the Publisher, we learn that the Captain's wife, Elizabeth (Sampson) Bisbee, died · Mar. 10, 1899. . PUBLISHER.
SETH STURTEVANT, ONE OF GEN. WASHINGTON'S LIFE GUARD.
" I was born in Halifax, Plymouth County, Mass., June 4, 1760. My parents were of Scotch descent and were common farmers, with whom I lived until I was sixteen years old. The Revolutionary spirit run so high that I entered the service at sixteen, in the year 1776, in Capt. James Harlow's company at Plympton, of Col. Cary's regiment of Bridgewater.
"I enlisted for five months, marched to New York, was present at the time of the fight on Long Island, made a retreat from New York when the - British took the city, Sept. 16, 1776, served out the five months and received a discharge on the ist of December, 1776.
"1777. June 6, second enlistment, for three years. Capt. Amos Cogswell's Company, Col. James Wes- son's Regiment, Gen. Arnold's Brigade of Massachu- setts. We marched from Boston and joined Gen.
SETH STURTEVANT. One of General Washington's bodyguards.
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Gates' Army at Stillwater in the state of New York. Was in the Battleof the 7th October, 1777, when we gained a complete victory over the British army un- der the command of Burgoyne, and was present at the surrender of his army ten days after the Battle. This surrender was on the 17th of Oct., 1777. A good 'haul upon the British Boys of over 6,000 men. "About the first of November in this year, march- ed with Gen. Gates' army to Pennsylvania at a place called White Marsh, a long tedious march, suffered greatly for shoes, clothes and provisions. Some of the soldiers died on the way and some were obliged to leave on account of their sufferings.
"At White Marsh we joined Gen. Washington's grand army and soon after our whole army marched to Valley Forge, about thirty miles from Philadel- phia, on the Schuylkill river, where we built huts and wintered.
"Gen. Washington divided his men into parties of twelve, and ordered each party to build a hut for its own accommodation. These rude structures, sixteen feet long and fourteen feet wide, with walls six and a half feet high, were built of logs and lined with clay, with rough chimneys. The officers' quarters were like these, but a little larger. . The weather became bitterly cold and the sufferings almost be- yond endurance. Both Washington and Congress were powerless to provide new clothing. Our bare feet were through our worn-out shoes, nearly naked from the tattered remains of our only pair of . stock-
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ings, our breeches hanging in strings, our faces thin from hunger, and a forsaken look on all. The horses > died of starvation, and the men harnessed them- selves to sleds and hauled their wood and scanty provisions.
"Surely we, who enjoy the blessings of. Liberty, will remember the terrible winter at Valley Forge, 1778.
"About the first of April I was transfered from this Regiment to Gen. Washington's Life Guard, commanded by Caleb Gibbs, Major, belonging to Massachusetts, William Livingston of New York, Captain, William Colfax of Connecticut, Ist Lieu- tenant, John Grimes of Virginia, 2d Lieutenant, - Edwards of Connecticut, 3d Lieutenant, - Notch of Virginia, 2d Sargent, - Harris of Connecticut, 3d Sargent, - Young of Virginia, 4th Sargent, - Jones of Virginia, 5th Sargent, Seth Sturtevant of Massachusetts, Ist Corporal, Ephraim Eddy of Massachusetts, 2d Corporal, - Forbes of Rhode
Island, 3d Corporal, Randolph of Virginia, 4th Corporal, - Law of Connecticut, 5th Corporal. All told, one hundred and fifty Rank and File.
"Headquarters remained at Valley Forge until the British army evacuated Philadelphia in June, and then Gen. Washington pursued the British army and overtook them at Monmouth, New Jersey, on the 28th of June, where a severe battle was fought. Gen. Washington's army had the pre-emi- nence, causing the British to retreat to Sandy
PERSONAL SKETCHES.
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Hook at night, where they went on board of their shipping which carried them to the city of New York.
" Seventy-two of the Life Guard, myself among the number, were detached to Col. Morgan's Reg. of Rifleme , as a Flank Guard at the Battle of Mon- mouth. Gen. Washington's army then marched up the west side of the Hudson river and crossed the ferry to White Plains, New York. I remained in the Life Guard until my three-years' enlistment had ex- pired, when I received an honorable discharge. The following is a copy:
COPORAL SETH STURTEVANT of the Corps of Guard, having served the time out for which he was engaged, is dis- charged the service of the United States.
. Given under my hand at Headquarters, Morristown, this first day of June, 1780.
C. GIBBS, M. C. GUARDS.
RECOMMENDATION.
I do certify that Coporal SETH STURTEVANT has served two years and three months in his Excellency's, Gen. Wash- ington's Life Guard, under my command, that during this period of time he has not been absent from the Guard 24 hours unless on duty.
I furthermore say that he has been vigilent and attentive to every duty of his office, and is worthy of the esteem of his Country.
Headquarters, Morristown, New Jersey, June Ist, 1780.
.C. GIBBS. M. C. GUARDS.
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"Soon after Peace was made I married Miss Aba- gail Cushing of Duxbury, Mass., by whom I had three children, in Massachusetts, one of them died and I moved my family from Halifax, Plymouth County, Mass., on to the Province of Maine to West Butter- field, now Sumner, 20th of July, 1795. Two years later my honored mother, Joanna Sturtevant, came to live with me. She died May 11, 1815, aged 79 years, and was buried at East Sumner.
"1802, April 22, I was baptised by immersion and joined the Baptist church at Buckfield, May 22. I had two children born in this County."
"I have outlived my wife and all of my children but one. I lived in Sumner 55 years. I am living in Hartford with my only living child, Martha, wife of Capt. Hopestill Bisbee.
"I write this statement of my life at the age of 87 years. With the few dates kept while in the ser- vice it has been written from memory and without the aid of glasses.
"I wish well to my Country's good."
SETH STURTEVANT.
A true copy
BY HARRIETT BISBEE MAXIM.
DIED
In Hartford, July 11, 1852, Seth Sturtevant, aged 92 years one month.
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INCREASE SUMNER.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
BY
SHARON ROBINSON.
(Condensed from Lewiston Evening Journal of June 11, 1898. )
Barney Jackson and wife were the first white couple that spent the night in what is now the town of Sumner, and they pitched their camp near the present residence of Capt. Lewis Bisbee. They did not, however, locate permanently in town. Michael Kinley made the first clearing, but was not a per- manent resident. The first permanent family was . Noah Bosworth's, who moved from Plympton. Mass., probably about 1782. This place is now occupied by H. S. Palmer. The second family was Danich Oldham's from Pembroke, Mass., who located on the place so long known as the Russell farm, and now occupied by H. B. Cobb. The third family was Charles Ford's, also from Pembroke, and is the farm now occupied by Thomas Stephens. As to the fourth family it is not certain.
The fifth family to move into the new settlement was William Hayford's of Pembroke, who located upon the place now occupied by A. Pomeroy. The sixth family was Increase Robinson's, also from Pembroke, Mass., who moved to what is now East Sumner in 1783 and erected a cabin, and the next season built the first saw mill, and shortly after- wards built the first framed house in town, which is
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still in good condition and occupied by two of his great-grandchildren. The original site of the mill is occupied as a saw mill. A few years later a grist - mill was built near by and operated many years, but the last relics were consumed by fire in 1871. These mills were operated until the advent of the fourth generation by the Robinsons. Dea. Sharon Robin- son of the third generation used to tend both mills at the same time by starting the old "up and down" saw in a log, and then hurrying into the grist mill to attend to that, thus running from one mill to the other. He has ground many bushels of corn, loaded it by night upon a horse-sled and hauled it with one horse to Portland market, a distance of over fifty miles. It took three days to make the trip. The farmers used to bring, usually, a half bushel of corn or rye on their shoulders.
The seventh family was Charles Bisbee's, also of Pembroke, Mass., who located upon the farm now occupied by Capt. Lewis Bisbee. . Some of the seventh generation still reside upon the farm, (children of Lewis Spaulding). Charles Bisbee moved from Massachusetts in 1783, coming in a sailing vessel to Freeport, Me., thence to Sumner with all his effects on the backs of two horses. As all could not ride, the women took their turns in riding. Capt. Lewis and his father, Calvin, etch served the town many years as one of the select. men, and each have represented the town in the 1 State Legislature. Each have been prominent and worthy citizens, always loyal and truc.
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It will be noticed that quite a portion of the early settlers that came into Sumner were Revolutionary soldiers. This may be partially accounted for by the fact that they were paid off in soldiers' notes, which had but little purchasing value in Massachu- setts, but were capable of being used at their full value to purchase lands in the District of Maine. Then many of them had been away from home in the army for years. Some of them might have visit- ed this part of the district while in the service, and at the close of the war were not adverse to making it their permanent home. Another cause of the rapid development of this section after the Revolu- tion was the spirit of speculation which always seems to follow in the wake of every war. Many com- panies were formed to purchase townships and pro- mote immigration with the expectation of realizing great profits from the future sale of lands after the townships had begun to fill up. It was natural then. as now, for people to want to invest in any new en- terprise that gave promise of being a good invest- ment. Massachusetts was fast filling up, and, lands were advancing in value continuously, while the District of Maine was very sparsely settled and that confined to places along the coast. Those old heroes of the Revolution did a fine thing for the country ater the war in opening up the now noble State ot Maine.
From 1782 to 1798 the settlement was called West Butterfieldl. The first town meeting of Sum-
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ner was held Aug. 13, 1798. Following is the warrant:
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
LS . Cumberland ss
To Alvan Robinson of Sumner in said County Greeting. In persuance of a law of this commonwealth directing me to issue my warrant to some suitable inhabitant. of said Sumner.
I do hereby request you forthwith to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Sumner to meet at the dwelling house of Hezekiah Stetson in said Sumner on monday the thirteenth day of August next at ten of the clock in the forenoon then and there to choose all such officers as towns are by law requir- -ed to choose in the month of March or April annually and make return of this warrant and your doings thereon to the Moderator and Town Clerk that shall then and there be chosen.
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Given under my hand and seal dated at said Sumner the twenty-third day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninty-eight.
Isaac Sturtevant Just Peace.
Persuant to the foregoing warrant to me directed I hereby notify and warn the inhabitants of the said town of Sumner to meet at the time and place for the purposes therein expressed. Alvan Robinson.
· Sumner, August 13, 1798.
Pursuant to the within warrant to me directed I have notified and warned the inhabitants of the said town of Sumner to meet at the time and place and for the purposes within mentioned. / Alvan Robinson.
The first town officers were as follows:
Moderator, Increase Robinson. Clerk, Alvan Robinson.
Selectmen and assessors, Benjamin Heald, Increase Robinson, Simeon Barrett. Treasurer, Joseph Robinson.
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Collector, John Briggs. (at 25cts. per pound). In- crease Robinson was his bondsman.
Surveyor of highways, Meshack Keen, Benj. Heald, Alvan Robinson.
Surveyor of boards, plank and shingles, Timothy Cobb.
Surveyor of staves and hoops, Jonas Coburn. *****
Fence viewers, Noah Bosworth, Enoch Hall, Wm. Hayford.
Thythingmen, Joshua Foord, Isaiah Cushman.
Sealersof leather, Isaac Sturtevant, Alvan Robinson, Deer-reeves, Benj. Heald, Levi Crockett.
Hog-reeves, John Bisbee, Noah Bosworth, Jr., In- crease Robinson, Jr. 1
Field drivers, John Crockett, Jr., Wm. Tucker, Wm. Hayford.
Pound keeper, Hezekiah Stetson.
At a meeting held two weeks later (Aug. 27), vo- ted to allow the road laid out from Joseph Robinson's to Simeon Parlin's, also to allow the road from the mills to John Briggs', also the road from Asa Rob- inson's to Isaac Bonney's. The road first men- tioned is that now leading from W. H. Downs' to Hiram H. Buck's. The second leads from East Sumner to H. C. Buck's, The third is the road from Sumner Corner to John H. Bonney's. (Old Buckfield road.)
The town also voted that Elisha Bisbee shall build a pound for nine dollars. April 1, 1799, Alvan Rob- inson, Benjamin Heald and Isaac Bonney were
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chosen the first school committee of the town. Voted $100 to be expended for schools. At a sub- sequent meeting a discussion arose as to the place where publishment of parties intending marriage should be posted. For some time no agreement could be made, when finally Increase Robinson, Jr., (then unmarried), made a motion that the notices should be posted on Seth Allen's hog-stye, (an out of the way place at the end of the lane) .. The mo- tion prevailed and singularly enough, the author of the motion was the next one to be published and his intentions were literally carried out.
, The first white male child born was Charles Ford. The first white female child was Rebecca. Robinson who married Cyrus' Thompson, esq., of Hartford.
The first death was that of a man named Beals who was buried near where A. W. Horton resides. The first schoolhouse stood near the same spot, the timbers of which now constitute Capt. Bisbee's woodhouse.
The first store (if such it may be called) was kept at Deacon Increase Robinson's who also made and sold cooper ware. In an old account book of the deacon's the most frequent charges are- "a peck of corn," "a peck of rye," "2 quarts of rum."
The first blacksmith shop was located near where Asa Robinson now resides, and Asa Robinson, Ist. was the smith. In those days each customer had to furnish his own iron and steel and sometimes the
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coal. Except in very icy traveling, horses and oxen were not shod except the doctor's and minister's horses. 1
The first doctor was Micah Allen, located near Jefferson Russell's present abode.
The first potatoes grown in town were raised on the Bosworth place now occupied by Horace S. Palmer. Some of the timber of the first barn is now a part of Palmer's woodhouse. . .
Levi Cushman was the youngest prisoner of the Revolutionary war, (a son of Dea. Isaiah Cushman). He was about two years old when liberated.
The first cast iron plow was brought from Mass- achusetts by Isaiah Cushman and sold on trial to Elisha Bisbee on condition that it plow a certain rocky piece of land without breaking. It was tried and stood the test.
On Capt. Lewis Bisbee's barn are boards that were twitched by oxen through the woods by spot- fed trees from Buckfield, a distance of nearly two miles. The boards then were sawed by an upright saw and were not split apart at one end until needed.
The first meetinghouse was erected on Sumner Hill in 1819. Some of the timber is now doing service in the Congregational church on the hill.
In 1802 a Congregational church was formed and had various supplies until 1812, when Rev. Samuel Sewell of Bath was called to be pastor, a position be retained until 1845.
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Probably the first public religious meetings were held at the home of Dea. Increase Robinson in 1783.
For several years a few faithful disciples met here and worshiped according to the custom of those days, until the first log schoolhouse was erected, when public services were held there. Meetings on the Sabbath were thus maintained in those rude huts and old "family kitchens" until the first Congrega- tional church was erected on Sumner Hill in 1819.
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SUMNER'S FIRST CHURCH.
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This old meeting house did duty until 1854, when it was taken down and rebuilt near Parson Sewall's residence, where it still is in use for regular Sabbath services.
The Baptist people, however, settled the first. minister, Elder Macomber, who received the grant
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of land given to the town's minister. This land, however, was afterward given back, and the pro- ceeds of its sale still constitute a permanent fund, the interest of which is divided annually among the several religious societies in town. The Baptists have been supplied by various pastors among which were Joseph Palmer, who labored for years · preach- ing at different schoolhouses in town and other pla- ces. On March 20, 1833, Elder Manassah Law- rence moved into town and began a faithful ministry which continued until 1858, a pastorate of twenty-five years. The church numbered when he came fifty-one members. When he left it numbered one hundred and thirty-three.
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