USA > Maine > Gazetteer of the state of Maine > Part 25
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The First National Bank of Dexter has a capital of $100,000. The Dexter Savings Bank, at the beginning of 1880, held in deposits and profits, the sum of $146,196.78.
The "Dexter Gazette," published by M. F. Herring, Esq., is a wide- awake paper, serving well the interests of the town.
The Baptist, Free Baptist, Methodist, Congregationalist, Univer- salist, Episcopal, Roman Catholic and Advent, have organizations and churches in Dexter. Public entertainments are chiefly literary and
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dramatic in their nature. The village has an excellent high-school. The number of public schoolhouses is fourteen-valued, with their ap- purtenances, at $14,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $1,006,- 966. In 1880 it was $963,029. The population in 1870 was 2,875. In 1880 it was 2,563.
Dickeyville, a post-office in Frenchville, Arcostook County.
Dickvale, a post-office in Peru, Oxford County.
Dirigo, a post-office in China, Kennebec County.
Dixfield is situated on the north side of the Androscoggin River, between this and the north-eastern border of Oxford County. The length of the town, east and west, is about 72 miles, and north and south, 5 miles. The surface is uneven, especially north-west of the centre, where three large hills stand in a line, of which the south- western one, consisting of two peaks known as the "Sugar Loaves," is the highest. Near the Androscoggin, a little west of the middle of the town, is a high hill called " The Bluff." In the south-eastern part of the town is a group of three mountains in a triangular position, of which the highest are Burnt Mountain and Aunt Hepsey Brown's Mountain. Webb's River forms the boundary line between this town and Mexico, on the west; Newton Brook comes down from the north across the middle of the town to the Androscoggin, and Seven Mile Brook crosses the north-eastern corner. Each of these streams has one or more powers,-the town having a total of seven. Newton Brook has three powers, two of which are occupied by saw-mills. On Seven Mile Brook, at East Dixfield, are two powers, upon which are a saw- mill, a mill for long and short lumber, and a grist-mill. The principal power is at Dixfield Village, on Webb's River, at the south-west cor- ner of the town. On this power there are a saw-mill, a box-factory and a grist-mill. There is also a steam saw-mill at the village. East Dixfield, and Dixfield Centre each have a cheese-factory. Other man- ufactures in the town are carriages, tooth-picks and cigar-lighters, flies and leaders, boots and shoes, marble work, etc.
This township was granted by Massachusetts to Jonathan Holman and others. Ezra Newton with his wife and sister, spent the winter of 1793 here. They are supposed to be the first white persons who made their habitation in the town; but they left on the return of spring. John Marble came in during the same season with a yoke of oxen ; but no permanent settlement was made until 1795, when Mar- ble, with Gardner Brown, Amos Trask, Levi Newton, David Torrey and John Gould came, accompanied by their families. At this time the township had become the property of Dr. Elijah Dix, of Boston ; and for him at its incorporation, June 21, 1803, the town was named. Dixfield Village is beautifully situated and built. It is 18 miles from the railroad station at Bryant's Pond, and 13 miles from the North Jay station. The stage-line between the two places runs through Dixfield, by way of the village. Each of the three villages mentioned has a post-office. The denominations which have churches here are
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the Congregationalists, Universalists and Free Baptists. Dixfield has nine public schoolhouses, valued-with the connected lands-at $3,700. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $273,352. In 1880 it was $320,- 265. The population in 1870 was 1,049. In 1880 it was 913.
Dixmont is the south-western town of Penobscot County. It is 20 miles south-west of Bangor, on the stage-line to Unity. The nearest railroad stations are at Newport on the north, and Brooks at the south, each about 9 miles distant. Plymouth and Etna bound it on the north, Newburgh on the east, and on the south and west are Jackson and Troy. The town is square in form, and contains 23,040 acres. The surface is uneven and broken, and there are many gray bowlders scattered over the surface. Mount Harris and Peaked Moun- tain are the principal eminences. The soil is a yellow loam, excellent for hay ; of which large crops are raised. The forest trees are chiefly beech, birch, maple and hemlock. Skinner Pond, in the northern part of the town, has an area of 300 acres ; another at the Centre has 200 acres ; and two others have an area of 75 and 100 acres respectively. The powers on the outlets of these ponds are occupied by two mills for long lumber, two for shingles, and one grist-mill. Dixmont has four small villages, Dixmont Centre, East, North, and North-East Dixmont.
The township, in the original survey, was known as No. 3, Range 1 north of the Waldo Patent. It was granted by Massachusetts to Bowdoin College, wherefore it was called Collegetown. John J. Blais- dell, of Parsonsfield, purchased of the college 3,000 acres, at $1 per acre ; but he failed to make the payment at the stipulated time, and the purchase reverted to the college, from which the settlers on this tract obtained titles to their lands. The remaining 20,040 acres were purchased by Dr. Elijah Dix, of Boston, July 12, 1801, for the sum of $21,431 ; and from him and the mountain in the southerly part, the town takes its name. Dixmont was incorporated February 28, 1807. Friend Drake, Elihu Alden, John Bassford, Benjamin Brown, and nine others were the first permanent settlers. This town was the residence of Hon. Samuel Butman, representative in Congress from 1827 to 1831.
There are two Free Baptist churches, one Baptist, one Christian, and one Methodist church in the town. Dixmont has thirteen public schoolhouses, valued with appurtenances at $5,500. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $266,028. In 1880 it was $308,176. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 13 mills. The population in 1870 was 1,309. In 1880 it was 1,132.
Dover, the shire town of Piscataquis County, is situated mid- way of the southern border, having the Piscataquis River on its northern side. It is bounded by Foxcroft on the north, Atkin- son on the east, Sangerville on the west, and Garland, in Penobscot County, on the south. Withee Pond, two miles long by half a mile wide, is the principal body of water. The area of the town is about 22,444 acres. The surface is uneven, but not hilly. The prevailing rock is granite. Dover is one of the best townships of farming land in the county, having a large extent of interval, and few lots not under cultivation. Potatoes, corn and grain are cultivated with success.
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DOVER.
The township was purchased of Massachusetts about the year 1800 by Hallowell and Lowell, of Boston, for Charles Vaughn and John Merrick, of Hallowell, from whom present titles are derived. Mr. Mer rick, in 1836, built a meeting-house on Bear Hill, and gave it with 20 acres of land to the Methodist society. He also gave the land which constitues the park at Dover village.
Abel Blood was the pioneer in making clearings. Sometime before 1799 he purchased a tract of land a mile square; and in the following June he came in with seven men. They were obliged to make the way from Norridgewock, a distance of fifty miles, on foot, excepting about fifteen miles at the start. Having made openings they returned. The first permanent settler of Dover was Eli Towne, of Temple, New Hamp- shire, who moved in with his family in 1803. Thomas Towne, who soon came to reside with his son Eli, had been a Revolutionary soldier, and was a mighty hunter ; and many are the stories told of his contests with moose, deer, bear and wolves. On one occasion he fired upon and wounded a bear that was swimming across the pond. As the animal approached the shore the dog swam out and attacked him. Bruin seized the dog and plunged his head under water; upon which the veteran soldier and hunter rushed in, and seizing the bear's head, thrust it under water, crying out fiercely, " Drown my dog, will you !" The bear was soon overcome and the dog rescued.
Paul Lambert came in with his sons in 1808, having purchased 500 acres of land. In 1810 Deacon James Rowe moved his family in. Other settlers of this early period were Lyford and John Dow, Allen Dwelley, John Spalding, Peter Brawn, Jonas Longley, Mr. Fifield, and the Chamberlains. Zachariah Longley, the father of Jonas, had been a fifer in the Revolutionary army. Nathaniel Chamberlain was famous for building " X bridges," and was once called to Ohio to build one there. In 1811-12 Paul Lambert put up an excellent set of frame buildings, and in after years his seven sons settled around him.
In 1812 the township was organized as Plantation No. 3; and in 1822 it was incorporated as a town under its present name. The war- rant for the first town meeting was issued by Justice Joshua Carpenter to Abraham Moor; and the meeting was held at the dwelling-house of Joseph Shepard. Eli Towne was chosen clerk, D. Lambert, E. S. Greeley and Eli Towne, selectmen.
Colonel J. Carpenter and Eben S. Greeley built a saw-mill on the Moor priviledge about 1822. Thomas Davee, in 1821, put up a store and a potash-factory at Dover village. He soon after put up saw-mills on the falls below Brown's mills, but after the dam was carried away in 1830, they were taken down. A plot was made of the present village territory about 1823, and Charles Vaughn constructed a dam and canal in 1826, putting up a grist mill upon it which had three sets of stones, with a cleaner for wheat. The first miller was Mr. Sewall Coch- ran, who for forty-four years honestly took toll of grain raised thirty miles around. He at length became owner, but finally doffed his miller's coat and sold to the heirs of Hon. S. P. Brown. A carding and clothing-mill was also erected by Mr. Vaughn on this canal in 1827 ; and in 1836 it was changed into a woolen-factory. In 1840 both mills were burned. The woolen mill was soon rebuilt, and S. P. Brown, who had before superintended the business became the owner. In 1867, just before Mr. Brown's death, he built a large brick mill, which is still
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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.
in operation. It has six sets of machinery and employs seventy-five hands. A new flouring mill had also been built, and both were run by S. O. Brown & Company. The two mills have been estimated at $150,000. Other manufactures at the village are carriages, boots and shoes, harnesses, pumps, trunks, tin-ware, etc. At East Dover, on the Piscataquis, is a wood-pulp and pasteboard mill; and on Black Stream, at Dover South Mills, is a lumber-mill. Dover village has its streets shaded with maples and elms from five to fifty years of age, and is one of the neatest and prettiest places in the State. It is connected with Foxcroft village, on the north side of the river, by a bridge 265 feet long, so that the two appear as one village. The Bangor and Pis- cataquis Railway is the chief transportation line.
The " Piscataquis Observer," published in Dover by Edes and Bar- rows, is the only paper in the county. It is independent in politics, and fulfils its office in an excellent manner. The Piscataquis Savings Bank, located at Dover, on November 3, 1879, reported deposits and profits amounting to $58,663.25.
Among former esteemed citizens of Dover may be mentioned Thomas Davee, Calvin S. Douty, Mordecai Mitchell, S. P. Brown, John G. Mayoand Thomas S. Pullen. John H. Rice was three times elected to Congress while a citizen of Dover.
A Baptist minister, Elder N. Robinson, was settled by the planta- tion about 1820. In 1822, Elder William Frost, a Universalist preacher, was residing in town. The Methodists, Baptists, and Free Baptists now have church-edifices. Dover has sixteen schoolhouses, valued at $6,400. The valuation of estates in 1870 was 675,000 In 1880 it was $574,943. The rate of taxation in 1880 was 2 per cent. The popula- tion in 1870 was 1,983. In 1880 it was 1,687
Dresden, is the most westerly town in Lincoln County. It is situated upon the Kennebec River, opposite Richmond, and is on the medial line between the northern and southern points of the county. Alna and Wiscasset lie on the east ; on the north is Pittston, in Ken- nebec county ; and on the south is Woolwich, Sagadahoc County. Opposite, in the Kennebec, is the town of Perkins (Swan Island). Eastern River passes longitudinally through the town in a south- westerly direction. Gardiner's Pond, one mile in length, is the chief body of water.
The surface of the country is not greatly varied. The principal rock is a coarse granite. The soil is a sandy loam and clay. Hay, potatoes, barley and wheat, are each cultivated to a considerable extent. The villages are Dresden Mills and West Dresden. The first is situated at the head of sloop navigation on Eastern River. The last is connected by a ferry with Richmond, the landing being near a station of the Maine Central Railroad.
The streams which furnish water-power are the Goud and Gardiner streams ; and there were until within a few years saw and grist mills in operation upon both. The manufactures consist of hay-knives, boots and shoes, etc.
Dresden was formerly a part of Pownalboro, which embraced the town of Alna, Wiscasset and Perkins. The territory of these towns, excepting the last, was purchased by Christopher Lawson of the Indians in 1649, and sold by him to Messrs. Clark and Lake. The
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DREW.
latter resided in the region until he was killed by the Indians. It was afterward owned by Sir Biby Lake, Edward Hutchinson and others. In a 1754, a fort was erected on the shore opposite the upper end of Swan Island, receiving its name of Fort Shirley, in compliment to Governor Shirley, of Massachusetts. This fort was commanded by Major Samuel Goodwin until it was dismantled. Pownalboro (incor- porated in 1760) was named in honor of Governor Pownall, who had succeeded Shirley. It was the shire town of Lincoln County for thirty- four years. Its court-house is still standing, nearly opposite the upper end of Swan Island, and in view from the cars of the Maine Central Railroad, on the western side of the river. It was 44 by 45 feet in ground dimensions, and three stories in height, as now. The court- room was 45 by 19} feet, with two fire places in it.
Three brothers, William, Charles, and Rowland Cushing, were among the early settlers in this part of the town, having taken up their residence here in 1760. They were for many years quite prominent in public affairs of the county and State. Dresden formed what was known as the west precinct of Pownalborough, the east being Alna, and the south Wiscusset ; and these, in 1794, were incorporated as a town, taking its name from the German town from which some of the inhabitants had emigrated under the auspices of General Waldo. Major John Polereczky, a Frenchman, distinguished as a soldier in the American army under General Rochambeau, coming to reside here, was for fifteen years the town clerk. During the Revolution the town was in a troubled state; the royalist side being sustained by Rev. Jacob Bailey, an Episcopal clergyman, supported here mostly by an English missionary society. He appears to have been a pious man and faithful pastor ; yet the outrageous treatment he received from those favorable to revolution led him to forsake the country and take refuge in Nova Scotia.
There is now an Episcopal and Methodist church in the town. Dresden has a library of some 200 volumes, the property of the Dres- den Library Society. There are nine public schoolhouses valued, with other school property, at $5,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $316,717. In 1880 it was $326,665. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 16} mills on the dollar. The population in 1870 was 990. In 1880 it was 1,032.
Drew Plantation occupies the north-eastern corner of the pastern part of Penobscot County. It was formerly township No. 7 of range 4. It is bounded by Prentiss on the south, Washington County on the east, and Barker and Reed plantations, in Aroostook County, on the north. The Mattawamkeag River enters near the north-eastern corner, and forming a sharp angle at the centre of the township, leaves it on the western side. The township is square in form, and contains about 36 square miles. The highest hills are Beech Ridge and Potter Hill. The forests contain the usual variety of trees. The soil is good where not too sandy. It yields well of most of the usual crops. Mud Pond is the largest sheet of water, being about one mile long by half a mile wide. The plantation is 76 miles E.N.E., of Bangor, on the European and North American Railway.
It has two public schoolhouses, valued, with other school property at $500. The valuation of estates in 1880 was $33,335, The rate of
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taxation was 23 mills on the dollar. The population in 1870 was 85. In 1880 it was 137.
Dry Mills, a post-office in Gray, Cumberland County.
Duck Pond, a post-office in Westbrook, Cumberland County.
Dunstan's Corner, a small village in Scarborough, Cumberland County.
Durham is situated in the southern part of Androscoggin County, on the south side of Androscoggin River. It has Lisbon on the north, Topsham and Brunswick on the east, Pownal on the south, and Auburn and New Gloucester on the west. Its area is about 18,000 acres. The township was a part of the Pejepscot purchase, and was formerly called Royalsborough, for Colonel Royal, of Medford, Mass- achusetts, who was a large proprietor. It was incorporated as the sixty-ninth town in 1789, under its present name ; having at that time a population of about 700. In 1870 its population was 1,350, and in 1880 it was 1,253. The valuation in 1870 was $482,861. In. 1880 it was $422,724. There are now thirteen schoolhouses in town, and the school property is valued at $3,000. The first school-master in town was Martin Rourk (the surname since changed to Roak), who also held the office of town clerk from 1791 to 1807. He was a native of Ireland, but left that country when a boy, serving in the Continental army during the Revolution. He is the ancestor of the persons of that name in Androscoggin County.
The first settler of Durham was Captain Samuel Gerrish, and the location was the farm since occupied by A. True Osgood. Captain Gerrish came into town after the reduction of Quebec, probably about 1770. In 1775, he enlisted in the Continental army leaving his family in such solitude that often for three months at a time, they did not see any other person. Judah Chandler came into town and built a saw-mill near where the Runround Mill now stands; and in 1773 he had quite a clearing, built a house and got his mill at work. Most of the settlers came from Duxbury, Salisbury and Scituate, Massachusetts, and later from Scarborough, in Maine. Other Revolutionary soldiers in the town were Isaac Davis, Isaac Turner, Samuel Gerrish, John Vining, Eben Woodbury, John McIntosh, and Elisha Lincoln. The earliest set- tled minister was Rev. Jacob Herrick, who preached in the old Centre Meeting-house for nearly forty years. This was the first meeting-house erected in the town, having been begun in 1796 and completed in 1804.
Members of the society of Friends moved into the southern portion of the town from Harpswell in 1775, and others soon after came from Falmouth. Their first meetings were held in the house of Joseph Estes, at South Durham, now known as the "Old Hawkes House." A small one-storied meeting-house was built soon after, a two-story ad- dition was made in 1800; and in 1828 the whole structure was burned. The present brick meeting-house was built soon after. There are also now a Congregational church at South-West Bend, a Free Baptist, one mile and a half eastward, and a Methodist house at West Durham. The first grist-mill in town was on the Newell Brook where it crosses
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the upper Brunswick road, about one and a half miles from the Bend. It was owned by Mr. James Gerrish, who sold it to Henry Plummer. Mr. Plummer was a Freewill Baptist, and devoted most of his Sundays to preaching. Having the means, he built the church near his mill at his own expense. Later a grist-mill was built at the Run-round power. Previous to this a mill was built on Dyer's Brook near the Bend, by John Mayall, an Englishman, for the manufacture of woolen cloth. This was afterwards converted into a grist, shingle, clapboard, and stave mill. A steam engine was added a few years ago.
In 1818, a corporation was formed and a bridge built across the river near the Bend, connecting Durham with Lisbon; but it was swept away by a spring freshet the sixth year after its erection. It was rebuilt, and stood until the great ice freshet in February, 1828, swept it off ; since then a ferry-boat has furnished transportation in its place.
In the war of 1812 several from the town enlisted in the army ; and besides these, the militia was called out to act as a coast-guard, and marched to Bath. The danger being over, they returned after being on duty from 14 to 25 days. By the report of the adjutant- general, it appears the town had under the various calls 161 men in the army for the suppression of the Rebellion. The amount paid out for bounties duties during the war was $27,673.
The surface of the town is somewhat undulating, from north-east to south-west, with a slope at the north toward the river. The soil is mostly well- adapted to farming. The extreme south and part of the northern portion is somewhat rocky; the central portion sandy ; while in all parts of the town are rich meadows and loamy uplands well adapted for hay. In the eastern part is a large peat bog.
Dyer Brook, a post-office in Aroostook County.
Dyer's Corner, a locality in Turner, Androscoggin, County.
Eagle Lake Plantation, in Aroostook County, is 12 miles south of Fort Kent, and 36 miles N.N.W. of Ashland. Walla- grass Plantation lies on the north between it and Fort Kent. The area is 36 square miles. The western part of Eagle Lake lies in the eastern part of the town; and the Wallagrass Lakes in the north- western part. Fish River runs for a short distance in the south-eastern part; and the north branch of Birch River gathers its streams in the south-western part. The plantation has three saw-mills and one grist- mill. The principal products are cedar shingles and buckwheat.
The principal settlements are along the western side of Eagle Lake, extending southward. The first settlers were Lefroi Nadeau, a Canadian Frenchman, and Richard Woods, an Irishman, who com- menced their residence here in 1840. It was organized in 1856; tak- ing its name from the numerous white-headed eagles which frequented the place. The pond also has its name from the same circumstance. The plantation has two public schoolhouses. The valuation in 1880 was $11,020. The population in 1870 was 143. In 1880 it was 233.
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East Bass Harbor, a port and small village in Tremont, Mount Desert Island.
Eastbrook is situated a little east of the middle of Hancock County. Waltham bounds it on the west, Franklin on the south, Township No. 16, on the east, and No. 21 on the north. Eastbrook is 6 miles square, and has therefore an area of 23,040 acres. It is 18 miles north-east of Ellsworth. The name of the town is derived from the Eastbrook branch of Union River. Molasses, Scammon's, Abram's and Webb's ponds are the principal bodies of water. They vary from two to three miles in length and equally in width. The town is notable for its peat deposits. The principal rock is granite. The soil yields a good crop of wheat chiefly. The plough frequently turns out a fossiliferous stone composed of small shells imbedded in sand or clavey slate. Bull Hill Mountain is the highest elevation of land.
The first settlements were made in 1800, by Joseph Parsons, Rob- ert Dyer, Samuel Bragdon and John E. Smith. The first mill, and also the first framed-house, were built by Joseph Parsons. Francis Usher Parsons was the first child.
There are now in the town two saw-mills for lumber, a stave-mill and a shingle-mill. Eastbrook contributed 17 men to the Union cause in the war of the Rebellion, of whom 9 were lost. The soldier's monu- ment is a square marble pillar. There is one church-edifice, occupied as a Union house. Eastbrook has four public schoolhouses, valued at $800. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $39,288. In 1880 it was $63,681. The rate of taxation in 1880 was 15 mills on the dollar. The population in 1870 was-including townships Nos. 9, 10 and 13,- 187. In 1880 the same have a population of 289.
East Livermore is the most northerly town in Andros- coggin County. The Androscoggin River separates it from Liver- more on the west, Jay forms its northern boundary, Fayette lies on the east, and Leeds on the south. It contains about 12,000 acres. Its. length from north to south is about three times as great as its width from east to west. Moose Hill at the north-east angle of the town, Jug Hill near the middle of the town, and Ford's Hill half way be- tween the two former, are the principal elevations of land. Moose Hill Pond near the hill, and a group of small ponds east of Jug Hill are the principal bodies of water. It has one village, situated on the falls at the north-west corner of the town, and bearing the name of Livermore Falls. It is about 27 miles from Lewiston and 17 from farmington, with which places it is connected by a branch of the Maine Central Railroad. Other stations in town are Strickland's Ferry and East Livermore. The town was formerly a part of Liver- more, which was granted by the General Court of Massachusetts in 1771 to the heirs and assigns of certain persons for services rendered in the reduction of Port Royal. The portion east of the river consti- tuted about one-fourth of the original grant, and was set off and in- corporated under its present name in 1843. The first settler is said to have been a Mr. Couledge, who made an opening in the woods, and built a house on the side of Moose Hill. He soon after sold the place to Philip Smith, who died upon it a few years since at the advanced
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