USA > Maine > Gazetteer of the state of Maine > Part 36
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289
JACKSON BROOK.
the school property is valued at $3,500. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $153,703. In 1880 it was $158,033. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 2} per cent. The population in 1870 was 1,230. In 1880 it was 1,208.
Jackman Plantation, See article on Moose River Plantation.
Jackson, a post-office in Waldo County.
Jackson is situated in the northern part of Waldo County, 15 miles N.N.W. of Belfast. It is bounded on the east by Monroe, south by Brooks, west by Thorndike, and north by Dixmont, in Penobscot County. In dimensions it is 5} miles in length from north to south, and 5 miles wide from east to west. The surface is very much broken ; and in the north-western and southern part are many hills. The principal streams are the Hadley Brook, and its tributary, Moulton Brook, which form a branch of Marsh River. The manufac- tures consist of long and short lumber (two mills), a carriage factory, etc. The village is connected with Belfast by a stage-line.
The first settlement in this town was made in 1800 by Benjamin Cates, of Gorham, from whom Cates' Hill has its name. Joel Rich arrived the next year, and settled on a hill which has since borne his name. Other early settlers were Nicholas Hamlin, Benjamin Skillings, John Cates, George, Elisha and Ebenezer Morton, and Nathaniel Knight, most of whom were from Gorham. First Minister. S. Warren.
The town was a part of the Waldo Patent. Gen. Henry Knox, who soon after the Revolution became proprietor of this patent, sold a few lots to settlers, then disposed of all that remained to Israel Thorn- dike, David Sears and William Prescott. Thorndike was a citizen of Boston, but, having a taste for agricultural pursuits, he cleared up and cultivated a large farm near the centre of the township, which he stocked with horses, kine, sheep and poultry, and set out an orchard of 500 apple trees. The place was long after his death known as the " Great Farm," but has since deteriorated.
The plantation was organized in 1812, and incorporated as a town in 1818. It was probably named in honor of Gen. Henry Jackson, a soldier of the Revolution. Ezra Abbot, D.D., LL.D., was a native of the town.
The Congregationalists and Free Baptists each have a church in town. The number of schoolhouses is ten; and the value of the school property is $3,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $176,- 604. In 1880 it was $159,315. The population in 1870 was 707. In 1880 it was 682.
Jackson Brook lies in the northern part of Washington County, with its north-eastern corner resting on the southern section of Grand Lake, at the head of St. Croix. It is bounded on the north by Eaton and on the south by Codyville. It is on the road from Calais to Houlton, being 45 miles from each. The European and North Amer- ican Railway runs through the midst of the township. The form is square, and its area 36 square miles. This plantation was regarded as having an organization at the State election in 1874. There is here a large tannery, and the small manufactures common to villages.
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GAZEETER OF MAINE.
The religious societies are the Free Baptist and Methodist. The number of public schoolhouses is two; and the school property, in houses and lands, is valued at $2,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was 840,000. In 1880 it was $84,660. The population in 1870 was 206. In 1880 it had increased to 335.
Jackson Village, the same as West Sumner post- office, Oxford County.
Jay is the south-western town of Franklin County, and is 30 miles north of Lewiston. It is bounded north by Wilton, east by Chester- ville, south by Livermore and East Livermore, in Androscoggin County. The town is nearly square in its form, and has an area of about 18,000 acres. The Androscoggin River runs south-eastward across the south- western corner. The only other stream of magnitude is a large brook which comes down from Dixfield and Wilton through the western part of the town. The largest sheet of water is Perkin's Pond, which has an area of about 150 acres. The highest eminence in town is Spruce Mountain, which has an altitude of about 2,000 feet. The usual varie- ties of trees are found in the forests. The rock is principally granite. The soil is loamy, and quite productive. Hay, corn, wheat, potatoes, oats and apples are raised in quantities beyond the need of the town. On the Androscoggin River in this town are three excellent water- powers-the aggregate fall being about 36 feet. That near Jay Bridge is improved by a good dam, on which is a saw-mill. Jay Steam Saw- Mill has an engine of 150 horse-power. At North Jay is a saw-mill, a brick-yard and several granite quarries. Bean's Corner has a car- riage-factory, and East Jay has a saw-mill. The Farmington Railroad passes through the town, having a station at Jay Bridge and at North Jay.
The township which is now Jay was granted to Capt. Joseph Phips and sixty-three others, for services in the French war of 1755, and was for a long time known as Phip's Canada. It was incorporated in 1795, and named for Hon. John Jay, the eminent patriot and statesmen. The conditions of the grant were that it should be divided into rights of 400 acres each, one of which was to be reserved for Harvard Col- lege, one for the use of the University, and one for the schools. A settling committee appointed by the associates subsequently purchased the whole. There were no settlements previous to the close of the Revolutionary war. The earliest settlers were Simon Coolidge, Oliver Fuller, Samuel Eustis, Scarborough Parker, Moses Crafts, Isaac West, Thomas Fuller, Joseph Hyde, Nathaniel Jackson, Samuel Jackson, William Godding and William Atkinson. Jay Hill-where there is now a small village, and a bridge across the Androscoggin-was first settled by James Starr in 1802.
The Baptists, Universalists, and Free Baptists each have a church in the town. Jay has sixteen public schoolhouses, and her school property is valued at $4,200. The valuation of estates in 1870 was 8497,029. In 1880 it was $483,601. The rate of taxation was 13 mills on the dollar. The population in 1870 was 1,490. In 1880 it was 1,291.
291
JERUSALEM PLANTATION.
Jefferson is situated in the northern part of Lincoln County, on ponds forming the heads of Damariscotta and Dyer's Rivers and Great Meadow Brook. The chief of these is Damariscotta Lake, which sepa- rates the town from Nobleboro, and the Great Bay, a continuation of the lake lying wholly in the north-eastern part of the town. About the head of this pond is some very pleasant scenery; and a sail the length of the lake is charming. Dyer's Long Pond lies in the centre of the town, and sends its waters through the town of Newcastle to Sheep- scot River. Pleasant Pond lies on the western border, partly in the town of Whitefield. Damariscotta Lake, including Great Bay, has an area of about 10 square miles; Long Pond 1.20 square miles, and Pleasant Pond, 1.10 square miles. There are several smaller sheets of water.
The surface of the town is hilly. The principal occupation of the people is agriculture. There is at East Jefferson, on Damariscotta Lake, a flourishing cheese factory. At this place there are also lum- ber, stave and shingle mills, a wooden pump and a carriage factory, etc. At West Jefferson are a shingle-mill and potash factory. Jefferson and South Jefferson are the other centres. Jefferson is on the stage line from Augusta to Waldoboro, and is 24 miles from the former, and 20 miles from Wiscasset. Newcastle adjoining on the south has the nearest railroad station.
The town was settled a few years previous to the Revolutionary war. John Ball, John Weeks, Ezra Parker, Jonathan Fish, Jonathan Eames, Jonathan Linscott, Joseph Jones and Thomas Kennedy were the first settlers. Jefferson was originally included with Whitefield in the territory known as Ballstown, from the first settler, who came in 1770. Many of the first settlers came from Boothbay and Woolwich. The town was included in the " Brown Claim,"-for which see Nobleborough. There were difficulties between the proprietors and settlers, which were adjusted by referees, and titles obtained from Massachusetts in 1814. The price paid by those who settled before 1784, was 13 cents per acre ; by those who settled later, 30 cents.
Alphonso Ross, Esq., of the " Boston Advertiser," is a native of this town. The churches are the first, second and third,-all Baptist. Jefferson has fourteen public schoolhouses. The total expenditure for schools in the year ending April 1, 1879, was $2,661. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $420,003. In 1880, it was $459,237. The popu- lation in 1870 was 1,821. In 1880 it was 1,590.
Jerusalem Plantation forms a north-eastern angle of Franklin County, and is bounded on the south by Kingfield, and on the north by Dead River Plantation, in Somerset County. The town- ship is about 6 miles square. The Mount Abraham group of moun- tains extends into the south-western part, while just beyond the bor- der, on the north, is the Dead River Range, which enters the north- east corner of Jerusalem Plantation. The Carabasset River runs through the township from north to south. The plantation has one saw-mill, manufacturing long and short lumber; it is also the head- quarters of the Franklin Land and Lumber Company. The post-office for the plantation is Kingfield.
The population in 1870 was 32. In 1880 it was 23.
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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.
Jonesborough is a seaport town in Washington County, at the head of Mason's Bay, and 7 miles west of Machias. It is on the Bangor and Calais stage route. Chandler's River, the principal stream, has two good powers,-" Great Falls," and " The Mills " at the village at the head of the tide. There are now in operation in the town one mill for long lumber and one lath and shingle mill. Granite and syenite are underlying rocks in some parts. The soil is clay loam. The principal crop is hay. Birch, spruce, and fir constitute what forest remains.
This town was contained in the grant by Massachusetts to John C. Jones and others in 1789, of 48,160 acres. Judah Chandler is sup- posed to have been the first settler. He arrived in 1763 or 1764, building a house and mill in the latter year, near the site of the Whit- ney mills. Joel Whitney, father of Captain Ephraim Whitney, came from Portland about 1767. Captain Whitney was a member of Mas- sachusetts Legislature two years, of the convention in 1820 to form a constitution for Maine, and represented his district in the legislature of the new State. Captain Samuel Watts, from Falmouth, removed here in 1769, and Josiah Weston in 1772. The latter married Hannah, the daughter of Captain Watts, in 1774. This noble woman is intimately connected with the history of the town, especially by her remarkable night journey to Machias to bring powder to the patriots for the cap- ture of the British armed schooner, Margaretta. She died in 1855, in the 97th year of her age.
The town was incorporated in 1809 ; its name being chosen in honor of the leading proprietor. Previously it had borne the name of Chand- ler's River. The section at its settlement was remarkably well wooded. The first ship was sailed up the river in 1785, by Captain Locke, for purposes of trade.
Near the village are the agricultural grounds and buildings, where the fairs of the West Washington Agricultural Society are held. Jonesborough furnished 16 men to the Union forces in the war of the Rebellion, and lost seven. There is a neat church in the town used by the denominations in common.
The number of public schoolhouses is six ; and the school property is valued at $2,500. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $86,990. In 1880 it was $80,000. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 42 mills on a dollar. The population in 1870 was 522. In 1880 it was 552.
Jonesport, in the western part of Washington County, is nearly all seaboard. Two-thirds of the width of the town is joined to Jonesborough on the north, but Addison, lying on the west, is sepa- rated from it by Indian River. Mason's Bay lies on the east, Jonesport Harbor on the west, and on the south is Moosabeck Reach, which, pro- tected by numerous islands, affords a good haven. Belonging to the town are Great Wass, Beal's, Head Harbor, Steel Harbor, and Moose islands, with several smaller.
On Indian River, near its mouth, is a fall of ten feet, affording a good water-power. Jonesport has its shipyards, a lobster-canning factory, two boat-builders, a sailmaker, riggers, etc.
This town is 20 miles south-west of Machias, and is the terminus of
293
KENDUSKEAG.
the stage-line from Columbia Falls. The territory of the town is small, and a large proportion of the inhabitants find their occupation on the sea. Jonesport was set off from Jonesborough, and incorporated Feb. 3, 1832. Its early history is involved with that of the parent town.
The Congregationalists have a society and sustain a minister here ; and there is a Union church. The number of public schoolhouses is eight. The school property is valued at $5,900. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $156,388. In 1880 it was $192,984. The popula- tion in 1870 was 1,305. In 1880 it was 1,561.
Katahdin Iron Works are situated nearly 50 miles south of the mountain whose name they bear. Their location is in No. 6, Range 9, on the north of Williamsburg. The west branch of Pleasant River flows through the township, and upon its banks are some excellent intervals. The first clearing was made in this township as early as 1814. A deposit of bog iron ore was found upon the northern half of this township at the foot of Ore Mountain sometime before 1843. In that year the development of the mine was commenced, and the construction of the works for smelting. The north half of the township had been granted to Warren Academy, in 1808: Walter Smith, of Newmarket, bought most of this portion, and he and his son Edward, of Bangor, at once began the improvements. They sold in 1845, and Messrs. Pingree and Company of Salem became the owners ; the latter also relinquished the business, and the property passed into the hands of Hinckley and Egery of Bangor. It was started again by a company, O. W. Davis, jun., being treasurer and chief manager. When running it gives employment to a large number of workmen in cutting and hauling wood for the furnaces with charcoal, in hauling the products to the railway station in Milo, 16 miles distant. Other valuable minerals, as paint and copperas, are obtained there in paying quantities, while the ore improves in quality and gives no sign of exhaustion.
Keen's Mills, a small village and post-office in Turner, Androscoggin County.
Kendall's Mills, a village and post-office in Fairfield, Somerset County.
Kenduskeag is a small town near the centre of the south- ern section of Penobscot County, 12 miles north-west of Bangor, and on the stage-line from Charleston to that place. It is bounded on the north by Corinth and Hudson, east by Glenburn, south by the latter and Levant, and west by Levant. It is less than half the size of the neighboring townships, which are mostly 6 miles square. There is one hill 30 or 40 feet high, of the kind known as "horsebacks." The surface is very even, with a clay loam soil that is casily cultivated and yields well. Hay is the most valuable crop. The forests are made up of the trees common to the county. The Kenduskeag River runs through the midst of the town from north-west to south-east, fur- nishing, at the village, near the centre, the power for several mills. The manufactures are long and short lumber, cooperage, horse-rakes and cultivators, stoves and agricultural implements, meal and flour,
294
GAZETTEER OF MAINE.
cheese, etc. The village has many tasteful residences, and the strects are beautified by well-grown elms and maples. There is here a sub- stantial covered bridge, 130 feet in length, spanning the Kenduskeag. Bangor affords the nearest railroad connection.
The early history of this town is found in the accounts of Levant and Glenburn, from each of which a portion of its territory was taken. It was incorporated Feb. 20, 1852. Among the original settlers of the town were Lemuel H. Hasey, three sons of Major Hodson, and a son of Pecallis Clark. The town furnished 103 men to the Union cause in the war of the Rebellion, losing 37.
The Congregationalists and Universalists each have a good church edifice. The number of public schoolhouses is four. The school prop- erty is valued at $2,500. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $171,230. In 1880 it was $181,700. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 175 per cent. The population in 1870 was 770. In 1880 it was 650.
Kennebago Lake, a lake and post-office in the next township north of Rangely, in Franklin County. The lake is the source of the " Sparkling Kennebago " River, which empties into Rangely Lake, all famous for trout-fishing.
Kennebec County occupies the most valuable section of Kennebec River. The surface, though hilly, is not mountainous, It contains a large number of ponds, and many fine water-powers. The territory is nearly that of the Kennebec Patent, but it somewhat overpasses the limits of that patent as finally settled. The indefinite description of those limits caused much litigation, but was finally set- tled in 1757, by reference to five eminent lawyers. By their decision, the southern boundary of the patent was placed at the northern line of the town of Woolwich, in the present county of Sagadahoc, and the northern boundary at what is now the southern line of Cornville, in Somerset County. Briefly stated, the patent, as settled, covered ter- ritory 30 miles wide (15 miles wide on each side of the Kennebec River), and extended from Merry-meeting Bay to the falls below Norridgewock, and contained 1,500,000 acres. The tract was valuable in the early period of the country on account of the trade with the natives, and its fisheries. In 1640, the proprietors of the patent ceded it to the whole body of freemen of Plymouth Colony. Between 1648 and 1653, the colony obtained from the Indian sagamores deeds of the land extending from Cushnoc (now Augusta), to the northern limit of the grant, built one or two small forts on the river, and sent magis- trates into the region to protect their rights. Their monopoly was often intruded upon, and caused them so much annoyance that in 1661 they sold their entire right in the patent for £400 sterling to four men, Antipas Boies, Edward Tyng, Thomas Brattle and John Winslow.
The settlement of the river was very slow, so that in 1675, when the first Indian war broke out, there were scarcely 100 persons resid- ing on or near the river. In 1676 the buildings northward of Swan Island were all destroyed, and the inhabitants driven away. Under an act passed by General Court in 1753, a new corporation was formed with the name of " The Proprietors of Kennebec Purchase from the late Colony of New Plymouth," which was usually contracted to
295
KENNEBEC COUNTY.
" Plymouth Company " in actual use. In 1818, the corporation, hav- ing disposed of all its interest in the territory, ceased to exist.
The Kennebec River, when first visited by the English, was occu- pied by a powerful tribe of Indians called Canibas. It numbered about 1,500 warriors at this time. Their various villages formed sub- tribes, all of which acknowledged allegiance to the great chief, Kenne- bis, who resided on Swan Island, opposite what is now the town of Richmond. The chief villages were Norridgewock, Taconet (at Waterville) and Cushnoc (Augusta). Sebastian Rasle, a Roman Cath- olic missionary, resided at Norridgewock for many years, exercised a powerful influence over the whole tribe.
The first trading-posts on the Kennebec were established at Augusta and Richmond in 1629, the same year that the patent was obtained by the New Plymouth proprietors. In 1754, in order to give security to the settlements in the region, the Plymouth Company built Fort West- ern at Cushnoc by agreement with the government of Massachusetts, which built in the same and following year Fort Halifax, in what is now the town of Winslow, and Fort Shirley in Dresden, opposite the other end of Swan Island. At about the same time, Dr. Sylvester Gardiner, agent of the Plymouth Company, made his residence on the Kennebec, the better to effect settlements. Soon after the above date he erected two saw-mills, a grist-mill and a fulling-mill, a wharf, stores and dwel- ling-houses in the town which now bears his name. The downfall of the French power in the north brought security to the settlements of Maine, and those on the Kennebec soon greatly increased.
In 1760 two counties called Cumberland and Lincoln were organized from old York County. Lincoln County at that time included the territory of the Kennebec Patent, and the proprietory company erected. buildings for the new county at Pownalborough, now Dresden. The old court-house has been changed into a dwelling-house, and is still in a good state of preservation. In 1799 the northern part of Lincoln County was erected into a new county by the name of Kennebec, with Augusta as the shire town. In 1809, Somerset County was organized, by which Kennebec County lost nearly four-fifths of its territory. Waldo County, formed in 1827, took from it four towns,-Unity, Free- dom, Joy and Burnham. By the organization of Franklin County in 1838, Kennebec lost the towns of New Sharon, Chesterville, Wilton, Temple and Farmington ; and at the incorporation of Androscoggin County, the towns of East Livermore, Greene, Leeds, and Wales, were dissevered from the County of the Kennebec. It is now made up of 24 towns and 3 cities. The last are Augusta, Hallowell and Gardiner, situated upon the Kennebec, the first and last only 6 miles apart, and the second between them.
In 1787, Hallowell (then including Augusta), was made a half- shiretown with Pownalborough, the session being held at Fort West- ern. The judges were William Lithgow, James Howard and Nathaniel Thwing. In 1788, William Lithgow, jr., opened an office at Fort Western settlement, and was therefore the first lawyer resident in what is now Kennebec County. The first court-house was built in Au- gusta (then a part of Hallowell), in 1790, and stood in Market Square. In 1801, Kennebec County having been incorporated and Augusta set off from Hallowell, a new court-house was begun on the site of the present jail. In 1827, the present granite court-house was erected.
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GAZETEEER OF MAINE.
A jail of wood was erected in 1793, but was burned in 1808. Another built at that time remained in use until 1859. In the latter year was completed a new jail of granite, iron and brick, at a cost of over $50,000. It is considered to be the finest building in the city, and the finest and most substantial building for its purpose in the State.
Kennebec, though one of the smallest counties in area, is one of the best, and at present the very best agricultural county in the State. The soil along the river on both sides is, to a great extent, of clay loam, and easily cultivated and productive; and probably a larger crop of hay is harvested in the river towns of this county than in any other equal area in New England. The underlying rock is chiefly granite, and quarries of fine quality are operated in Hallowell. The ice business is also an important industry ; and probably no section of equal ex- tent in the world yields a larger supply, or a superior quality, of this very useful article.
Kennebec County has several agricultural societies, all in a flour- ishing condition. It has three hundred and forty-nine schoolhouses, valued at 8243,781,. Its real estate in 1870 was valued at $21,004,034. In 1880 it was $23,292,164. The population at the same date was 53,203. In 1880 it was 52,061 ; of these 26,423 are male and 26,638 females. The natives number 49,565, and foreign born 3,496. There are 123 colored inhabitants.
Kennebec Purchase. See article on Kennebec County.
Kennebec River. See articles on Sagadahoc, Kennebec and Somerset counties, Sagadahoc River and Moosehead Lake.
Kennebunk, in York County, is a seaboard town and port of entry, 24 miles south of Portland and 12 south-east of Alfred. The Boston and Maine and Portland, Saco and Portsmouth railroads pass through the town. Previous to its incorporation, in 1820, it was em- braced in the town of Wells. It is bounded on the east by Kenne- bunk Port, on the south by the ocean, on the west by Wells, and on the north by the towns of Sanford, Alfred and Lyman. It contains 9,876 acres of land. Four small villages constitute the business centre of the town, bearing respectively the names, Kennebunk Village, Depot and Landing, and Harbor Village. The harbor is small but safe, being defended by strong granite piers. The beaches and sea-repelling cliffs about Cape Arundel form noble combinations of scenery. The climate is thought to be very salubrious. There are two inhabitants over ninety-one years of age, and more than twenty between eighty and ninety.
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