USA > Maine > Gazetteer of the state of Maine > Part 4
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The bonded debt of the State on January 1, 1880, was $5,849,900. The total of liabilities over resources at the same date was $6,335,- 980.80. The total receipts of the Treasury in 1879 were $1,228,160.94. The expenditures for the same time were $1,316,003.67.
The volunteer militia consists of a regiment of infantry, five unat- tached companies of infantry, and one company of light artillery. There is also one company of high school cadets, of Bath.
GOVERNORS OF THE STATE OF MAINE.
1820 William King, Bath (resigned). 1841 John Fairfield, Saco (elected sena- 1821 William D. Williamson, Bangor tor). (acting). 1843 Edward Kavanagh, Newcastle (act- 1822 Albion K. Parris, Paris. ing).
1827 Enoch Lincoln, Portland (died). 1829 3 mos., Nathan Cutler, Farmington 1847 John W. Dana, Fryeburg. (acting). 1850 John Hubbard, Hallowell.
1830 Jona D. Hunton, Readfieid.
1831 Samuel E. Smith, Wiscasset.
1834 Robert P. Dunlap, Brunswick.
1838 Edward Kent, Bangor.
1839 John Fairfield, Saco.
1840 Edward Kent, Bangor.
1844 Hugh J. Anderson, Belfast.
1853 W. G. Crosby, Belfast.
1855 Anson P. Morrill, Readfield.
1856 Samuel Wells, Portland.
1857 Hannibal Hamlin, Hampden (re signed).
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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.
1857 Joseph H. Williams, Augusta (act- 1871 Sidney Perham, Paris. ing).
1874 Nelson Dingley, jr., Lewiston.
1858 Lot M. Morrill, Augusta.
1876 Selden Connor, Fairfield.
1861 Israel Washburn, jr., Orono.
1879 Alonzo Garcelon, Lewiston.
1863 Abner Coburn, Skowhegan.
1880 Daniel F. Davis, Corinth.
1864 Samuel Cony, Augusta.
1881 H. M. Plaisted, Bangor.
1867 J. L. Chamberlain, Brunswick. 1883 Frederic Robie, Gorham.
CHARITABLE AND REFORMATORY INSTITUTIONS,
The State has been mindful of the welfare of the unfortunate within her limits, and of the security of her citizens against the evil-disposed ; and in her prisons she has aimed to reform as well as to restrain the criminal. Accordingly, several institutions suited to these different purposes have been provided.
The asylum for the insane, at Augusta, affords accommodation for upwards of 400 of this class of unfortunates. At Bath, the State has an asylum for the needy orphan children of those who have served their country in the army or navy. The inmates are freely admitted to the excellent schools of the city, and are regular and welcome atten- dants of the churches and Sabbath schools. At the commencement of the year 1879 there were 66 children in this Home.
The Reform School at Cape Elizabeth is reaching a condition in which it really deserves its name. The number of boys under instruc- tion at the commencement of the year 1879 was 141, and there were 28 received during the year. During the same time 47 have been dis- charged. With respect to the latter, it is hoped that most of them will become not only harmless but valuable members of the com. munity.
The Maine Industrial School for Girls, located at Hallowell, is a private corporation, but it is in a large degree the beneficiary of the State; the latter being represented in its management by the Governor, the Secretary of State and the Superintendent of Common Schools. The legislature has provided by statute law for the custody and educa- tion of wayward and exposed girls therein, and aids in their material support. The influence of the school on the character of those com. mitted to its charge have already proved quite gratifying. The insti- tution is the object of many donations from benevolent citizens of the State.
Maine General Hospital, at Portland, was opened for patients in 1874. It is governed by a Board of Directors, six of whom are chosen by the corporation, and four by the Board of Visitors.
The State prison is located at Thomaston. The system now in operation for the treatment of prisoners includes employment, education and religious instruction. In the matter of discipline, the Commuta- ti , law -- by which a deduction is made from the term of service for good behavior-is working very favorably.
The general government has two charitable asylums in Maine, the Marine Hospital at Deering, and the Togus Military Asylum at Chel- sea, near Augusta.
EDUCATION, LITERATURE, AND THE PUBLIC PRESS.
At the time when Maine became a State there were within its limits twenty-four incorporated academies ; that of Portland, established in 1784, being the oldest. Probably not one-half as many are now in op-
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THE STATE OF MAINE.
eration ; the town high schools, the Normal schools, the seminaries and colleges have succeeded to their places.
Nearly every town of above one thousand inhabitants sustains a high school for a portion of the year. The school mill tax on corpora- tions has contributed largely to this result. By the report of the Superintendent of Schools for 1879 we find that the estimated value of all public school property in the State in that year was $2,947,655. The number of school houses was 4,263, of which 70 had been built during the year. At the same date the total number of children in the State between the ages of four and twenty-one was 215,724. The amount of money actually expended for public schools from April 1, 1878 to April 1, 1879, was $984.108.
There are now three State Normal Schools exclusively for the train- ing of teachers. These are located respectively at Farmington, Cas- tine and Gorham. The State also sustains a training teacher in the Madawaska region. The Oak Grove Seminary, at Vassalboro and the Maine Central Institute, at Pittsfield, each graduate a class annually from a Normal department, receiving aid from the State to the amount of $600 each.
The Maine Wesleyan Seminary, at Kent's Hill, also has a Normal course, as well as a course in almost every desirable department for a school of this grade. The Eastern Conference Seminary and Com- mercial College at Bucksport, like the former, is a Methodist Institu- tion. It is an excellent school and well patronized.
Westbrook Seminary, a school of excellent reputation, is the prin- ciple institution of learning of the Universalist denomination in Maine. It is pleasantly located at Steven's Plains, in Deering. Other excel- lent schools are the Wendell Institute, in Farmington, for young ladies and gentlemen, and the famous Little Blue School, in the same town for boys only.
Another institution under State patronage is the State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, opened at Orono in 1868. The num- ber of pupils, male and female, at the close of 1879 was 102. It has a faculty of seven professors and an instructor in iron work.
Our oldest collegiate institution is Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, whose President is Joshua L. Chamberlain, formerly Major-General of Volunteers in the war of the rebellion, and later, Governor of Maine four years. The institution is under the patronage of the Congrega- tionalists, though the students are not unduly influenced by the author- ities in religious matters.
The Hallowell Classical and Scientific Academy is the chief fitting school for Bowdoin, and has also finished courses of its own.
Colby University, at Waterville, is beautifully situated, and is a well appointed institution. It is under the patronage of the Baptists. The Classical Institute, in the same town, is the principal fitting school.
Bates College, at Lewiston, is a young but flourishing institution under the patronage of the Free Baptist denomination. The Nichols Latin School, near by, is the principal fitting school. A Theological Seminary also forms a department of the college.
The Theological Seminary at Bangor is the oldest religious school in the State. It was incorporated in 1814 under the name of the Maine Charity School. It went into operation at Hampden in 1817, and removed to Bangor in 1819. The institution is Congregationalist.
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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.
Further facts in regard to schools may be found under the heads of the towns where they are located.
The libraries in Maine are numerous, but small. There is scarcely a city without a library which is accessible to the public at little or no cost to the patrons. Most of the villages also have private circulating libraries.
The first newspaper published in Maine was the " Falmouth Gazette and Weekly Advertiser" of Portland ; and its first number was issued on the 1st of January 1785. Its publishers were Mr. Benjamin Tit- comb, a Portland printer, and Thomas B. Waite, who had previously been concerned in the " Boston Chronicle." The paper went through various changes of ownership and title, until about 1826, when it took as its name the " Portland Advertiser." In 1831, the " Daily Advertiser" began to be published consecutively. In 1829, Mr. James Brooks be- came editor of the paper, and continued in that relation until 1836, when he started the " New York Express." Mr. James G. Blaine was its editor in 1858. In 1859 it passed under the control of Messrs Wal- dron, Little & Co .; and in January, 1861, it was sold to Mr. F. O. J. Smith. In his hands the political attitude of the paper suffered, and its circulation diminished ; and at the date of the great fire in Port- land, its daily issue was suspended. In 1868 it passed into new hands and Republican management, and appeared as an evening paper-and thus continues to the present time.
The "Christian Mirror " has now reflected its light upon the world weekly for above half a century. It owes its existence to the zeal in- spired by that eminent Trinitarian Congregationalist, Rev. Edward Payson,-its founders being members of his church. Its first editor was Rev. Asa Rand.
" Zion's Advocate " first appeared about 53 years ago. It was printed by Day & Sumner, and edited by Rev. Adam Wilson. In 1859 it passed into the hands of Dr. Shailer and J. W. Colcord, who conducted it with great success. H. S. Burrage has since been the owner.
" The Daily Eastern Argus" was started in 1835, and has been is- sued continuously, and without change of title since that time.
In 1866, Mr. G. M. Gage, then principal of the Western Normal School at Farmington started an educational monthly entitled "The Maine Normal." Two years later its place of publication was changed to Portland, where it took the new name of the "Journal of Educa- tion." A few years later it was merged into the "New England Journal of Education,"-its editor being continued as the editor of the Maine Department of the latter journal.
The first newspaper in Brunswick was issued by Joseph Griffin, in 1820, under the name of " The Maine Intelligencer." It had a brief but brilliant existence of only six months. "The Brunswick Tele- graph " was started in 1853 by Waldron and Moore, with William G. Barrows, Esq., as editor.
The " Bridgton News" was established by H. A. Shorey, Esq., at Bridgton Centre in 1870. The " Kennebec Farmer" was started in Winthrop in 1833, with Dr. Ezekiel Holmes, editor. It was published in Hallowell in 1857, then again removed to Winthrop. In 1844 it was purchased by Russell Eaton, Esq., and removed to Augusta, where it has ever since remained, its name meantime having been changed to " Maine Farmer."
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THE STATE OF MAINE.
The " Bangor Daily Whig" arose from the " Bangor Courier," es- tablished in 1833 to support the principles of the Whig party, then just organized. In 1834, its founder, Mr. Wm. E. P. Rogers, estab- lished with the "Courier " a daily paper, styled "The Bangor Whig." Before the end of the year, the two names were joined in the daily, forming the present title, which bids fair to continue long unchanged. It is now published by Boutelle and Burr. " The Gospel Banner " was established by Rev. Wm. A. Drew in 1835, as the representative of the Universalist denomination ; which purpose it still retains. Its present owner is Rev. George W. Quinby.
The " Kennebec Journal " was established in the autumn of 1823, by Luther Severance and Russell Eaton. "The Daily Kennebec Journal " was commenced in 1870, by Sprague, Owen & Nash, who had become proprietors of the weekly. Both are now owned by Sprague & Son.
The first genuine newspaper published within the limits of the present county of Androscoggin was the "Lewiston Journal." Wil- liam H. Waldron was its founder; and it was edited by Dr. Alonzo Garcelon. In 1857 the paper passed wholly into the hands of Nelson Dingley, Jr. In 1861, Mr. Dingley, associated with F. L. Dingley, be- gan the publication of the "Daily Evening Journal." Both this and the weekly have become models of their kind, and have steadily in- creased in circulation.
The total number of periodicals now published in the State is 114. Of these 11 are dailies, 1 is tri-weekly, 1 semi-weekly, 79 are weeklies, 2 are semi-monthlies, 18 are monthlies and 2 are quarterlies. Mention of these various periodicals will be made under the head of the towns where they are published.
RELIGION.
A form of religious polity was first established by law in Maine in 1639, by the charter of the Province of Maine. Heretofore there had been no limitations in the matter of religious faith or practice, and this still continued to be the case, east of the Kennebec. Weymouth, the first explorer of Maine, carrying the appearance of government author- ity, set up crosses as a token of possession by the King of England and head of the Christian church in that country. The Popham colony, which located at the mouth of the Kennebec, was spiritually under the charge of Richard Seymour, a clergyman of the Church of England, and the first minister who resided in Maine.
Though having all the right that could be derived from his govern- ment to control public worship in his province, Gorges seems never to have made any discrimination in religious opinions in respect to property or citizenship; but the officers of the government he organ- ized appear to have been adherents of the Church of England, yet not generally strenuous in their opinions or practice. The settlement on the Saco effected a sufficient religious organization among themselves to choose a member of their community as an exhorter,-which suggests that the majority of the settlers there may have been Antinomian in their views. This is the first mention of a religious minister within the present limits of the State,-except the Roman Catholic. Mem- bers of one or another order of that church were frequently, if not con-
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GAZETTEER OF MAINE
stantly, on the coast somewhere from Penobscot to Annapolis in Nova Scotia, after 1604. In 1637, Richard Gibson, a clergyman of the Church of England, ministered to the spiritual wants of the people from Casco Bay to the Isles of Shoals. He was " highly esteemed as a gospel minister, especially by the settlers and fishermen at Richmond's Island and on the Isles of Shoals." He returned to England in 1643. Another Episcopal clergyman, Rev. Robert Jordan, came over from England in 1640, at the age of twenty-eight. He lived in the country thirty-nine years, administering the ordinances under the Episcopal form, and preaching occasionally for thirty-six years. During all this time there was freedom of religious opinion and practice in the province, except when the Massachusetts authorities forbade the administration of the ordinances in the Episcopal form, and interfered with the meet- ings of Baptists and Quakers.
East of Kennebec the Presbyterians, Lutherans, and such others as held meetings found opposition from the government. After the restoration of Charles II. to the throne of England, the public feeling became effective against any interference of government with worship, except to protect the rights of worshippers of all opinions.
A noted Puritan minister in Maine at this time was the Rev. John Brock, who principally resided at the Isles of Shoals. He was a man of fervent faith, and a useful pastor. A later member of the Puritan clergy was the Rev. George Burroughs, a graduate of Harvard College in 1678. He began to preach at Falmouth in 1674, but, with other inhabitants, was driven away by the Indians in 1676. Returning in 1683, he was again driven away when the town was sacked by savages in 1690. He then took up his residence near Salem, and, two years later, became one of the victims of the witchcraft delusion. He appears to have been a man of learning, piety and misfortune.
The next clergyman requiring mention is the Rev. Samuel Moody, who graduated at Harvard College in 1697, and was settled as the first minister in York in 1700. He was a " zealous, faithful and successful pastor," remaining in connection with this church until his death in 1747.
About 1744, there was a considerable revival of religion in the southern part of the State, to which a few sermons of George White- field contributed much.
At the time that Maine became a State, there were within its limits three Episcopal churches ; two Roman Catholics, with a membership of about 500; in 1750, there were twelve Presbyterian churches within the limits of the State, but in 1820 these organizations had all died out, and those remaining of the members had generally become merged with the Congregationalist. The last was the permanent form into which Puritanism became cast in this county. At the time of the erection of Maine into a State it had 130 churches, and by estimation, 6,000 members. The Baptists at the same time had 9,328 members, and 109 ordained elders; the Methodists had 73 located ministers, and 6,192 members. The number of Friends or Quakers, at this date, was about 2,000, constituting thirty societies. The Shakers had three societies, at Gorham, New Gloucester and Alfred.
The religious denominations in Maine at the beginning of the year 1880, number thirteen. The Advent Christians have 105 churches, 48 ministers, and a membership of about 3,000. The Baptists have 263
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THE STATE OF MAINE
churches, 181 ministers, and 21,165 members. The Protestant Episco- pal Church has 35 parishes and missions, 25 ministers, and 2,107 com- municants. The Free Baptists have 281 churches and a membership of 15,870. The Congregationalists have 243 churches, 190 ministers, 21,558 members, and 22,131 scholars in Sabbath schools. The Maine conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church has 120 churches, valued at $539,700 ; 61 parsonages, estimated worth $75,000; 125 ministers ; a membership of 11,649; and 1,667 probationers. The East Maine Conference of the same body has 111 churches, valued at $325,200; 65 parsonages, valued at $62,450 ; 112 ministers, 11 of whom are native Chinese missionaries ; 9,435 members, and 3,287 probationers.
The Universalists have 88 parishes, 4,525 families, and 45 church organizations. Their Sabbath School scholars number 6,477; the value of the church property is $567,450 ; and they have 44 preachers. The Unitarians have 21 churches, but I am unable to state the member- ship or the number of ministers.
The New Jerusalem Church has five churches in the State, with a membership of 341. The " Christians " have about 60 ministers, and a membership of nearly 6,000. The "Disciples " have 9 churches with a membership of about 500. The Lutherans have two churches, and about 500 members. The Roman Catholic " Diocese of Portland " embraces Maine and New Hampshire. In Maine it has 49 churches, 40,000 communicants and 40 priests. Its religious institutions are 4 academies for girls, 3 orphan asylums, and 11 parochial schools. The " Church of God " was organized as a church body in 1830 in Pennsyl- vania. Its first church in Maine was founded in Palmyra in 1873. Its communicants within the State number about 1,500.
INDIANS. 1424882
The aboriginal inhabitants of Maine constituted the Abnaki nation. The oldest tribe was the Sokokis, who dwelt upon the Saco river. The age of the tribes decreased according to distance eastward from this. The Openangoes, or Quoddy Indians were in fact scarcely known as a tribe until after the Revolution. They were probably made up of a few Tarratines and of some of the Marechites from St. John's river, who favored the American cause at that period. The Tarratine was the most numerous tribe. The Canibas tribe occupied the Kennebec river, having their principal settlement near Norridgewock. The Anasagunti- cooks occupied the Androscoggin river. During the summer all the tribes spent much time on the sea-shore, where, like their successors, they subsisted largely on fish.
With the overthrow of the French power in Canada the Indians of Kennebec and the rivers westward mostly retired to the rivers north- west of Maine on the south side of the St. Lawrence. In 1614, when Captain John Smith visited our shores, their number according to the best estimate must have been about 30,000. Wars with the Mohawks and of the tribes among themselves occurred at about that time, followed by a destructive pestilence in 1616 and 1617,-by which their numbers were greatly reduced. In 1675, when the first war broke out between them and the English settlers of Maine and Massachusetts, they num- bered about 12,000.
Of the remnants of the Tarratines and of the Openangoes, the first
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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.
reside in Oldtown on the Penobscot, and the other at Pleasant Point near Perry, and on the Indian township at the Schoodic Lakes. These are the beneficiaries of the State, having given up all their lands except the tracts about a township in extent each,-assigned to their exclusive use. In 1879, the Penobscots numbered 446; and the amount expended for them by the State Government in that year was $7,554.26. The Quoddy tribe numbered at the same period 523; and the expenditures of the State on them was $5,547.35. Both tribes have an ample extent of good land, and efforts to induce them to give more attention are meeting with some success.
CIVIL HISTORY.
Undoubtedly the shores of Maine were first seen by European eyes -about A.D. 996. The historic records of Norway, Denmark and Iceland show that a Northman named Biarne, sailing for Greenland, was in that year driven by gales far to the south. From his vague descriptions of the voyage, it is surmised that he caught sight of Cape Cod, and after the storm was over coasted back along the shores of Maine and Nova Scotia to Greenland.
Again in 1008, an expedition from Greenland passed along within view of Maine, on its way to Narraganset Bay, where a former expedi- tion had erected huts. This location was known to the Northmen as " Vineland," having received this name from them on account of the wild grape vines found there. The leader of the expedition was a wealthy citizen of Iceland, named Thorfinn ; and his company-consisted of 160 men, in three ships. The noted stone tower at Newport is claimed by some to be a relic of these visitors ; but there exists un- impeachable evidence that. it is a portion of a wind-mill erected by Governor Arnold, of Rhode Island, not far from the year 1653.
OLD STONE TOWER, OR MILL, NEWPORT.
The next European who looked upon Maine was probably Sebas- tian Cabot, who set out with two ships from Bristol, England, in May, 1498. He is said to have sailed along the coast of the Gulf of Maine, scanning the shores from his ship somewhat carefully ; yet no definite record exists of his ob- servations here. Gasper Cortereal,
a Spanish explorer (who visited our coast in A.D. 1500), did better ; but he only alluded to the country generally as abounding in forests and large rivers, and having its waters well stocked with fish. He adds that the region is well adapted for ship-building. In all of these points he was right; but he kidnapped fifty-seven of the natives, intending to sell them for slaves, and therefore sinks in our esteem. One of his vessels, containing himself, with a large portion of his spoils, did not reach Spain, nor was its fate ever known. Verrazano, an Italian, was the next navi- gator on the coast. He was sent out by the King of France in 1523, returning the next year. It is possible that Maine was the scene of the
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THE STATE OF MAINE.
traffic he carried on with the Indians, who let down from the craggy rocks with ropes " whatever they were pleased to offer, demanding in return, knives, fishhooks and tools." Charles V. of Spain, in 1525, sent Estevan Gomez to the western seas to find the way to the East Indies. It can only be said of this voyager, that he entered some of the Bays of New England, and named the whole country for himself,-" The Country of Gomez."
Again in 1556 a French gentleman and scholar, named Andre Thevet sailed in a French ship along the whole coast. He applied the name "Norumbega " to the Penobscot River, but says that the natives called it Agoncy. He spent several days in the vicinity of Penobscot Bay, where he held conferences with the natives. He also speaks of a fort built on this river by the French in a former time, and named by them the Fort of Norumbega. The Englishman, John Rut, in a ship, " The Mary of Guilford " made a voyage to the coast of Maine in 1567, but no definite record of where he touched or what he did, has come down to us.
Nearly half a century passes before we hear anything again from the coast of Maine. Bartholomew Gosnold, an English voyager, is said to have touched Maine near Mount Desert in 1602. The next year Mar- tin Pring, with two vessels, " The Speedwell " and " The Discoverer," sailed from Milford Haven with goods suited for a trade with the Indians. He entered Penobscot Bay on the 7th of June, being delighted with everything,-anchorage, fishing, beautiful and impressive scenery, and luxuriant vegetation. Seeing some foxes on one of the islands, led them to apply the name "Fox Islands," still borne by this group. From here they sailed past the beautiful islands of Casco Bay, and ascended the Saco River. They are also believed to have visited the Kennebunk and York Rivers. Finding in Maine nothing but furs, whey went further south for sassafras, and reached home with a valu- able cargo.
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