Gazetteer of the state of Maine, Part 40

Author: Varney, George J
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Boston Russell
Number of Pages: 648

USA > Maine > Gazetteer of the state of Maine > Part 40

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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.

Lewiston Machine Company, Lewiston Gas-Light Company, D. Cowan & Company (wooilens), Cumberland Mills (woollens), R. C. Pingree & Company's saw-mill, Lewiston Steam Mill Company (lumber), Bar- ker's Mills (saw-mill) a file-factory, the Morton, Ham, and Tarbox grain-mills, loom-harness, belt and roll, seed, last, paper-box, boy's coat and confectionery factories, two carriage and sleigh factories, sev- eral carpentry and machine shops, etc. The total amount of cap- ital invested in manufactures is near $7,250,000. The total number of spindles in the cotton-mills is 291,806. The number of setts of wool- en-machinery is fifteen. The consumption of cotton in the last year was 23,123,253 pounds, or about 53,000 bales. The number of females employed in the factories is 4,500; the number of males, 3,000. The total annual disbursements in the city of the manufactories is $2,880,000, or $240,000 per month for all purposes. The city has two savings banks, and two national banks. The Maine Central Railroad connects it directly with Portland on one hand, and Bangor on the other; the Lewiston and Auburn branch railroad connects it with the Grand Trunk road; the Androscoggin branch connects it again with the Maine Central at Brunswick, and the Farmington branch forms the only railroad connection with Franklin County.

In the account of a manufacturing city like Lewiston, some history of this industry seems to be in place. The first saw-mill, as before stated, was built by L. J. Harris in 1770-1, near the falls, and was burnt about 1785. Some three years later he put in a grist- mill, probably the first in Lewiston. Colonel Little in 1809 put up a building on the same site, which was used for a saw, grist and fulling- mill and carding-machine. The mill was burnt in 1814, was rebuilt, and stood until about 1850. The Water-power Company who had bought land and water privileges of Colonel Josiah Little and others, in 1851 built a saw-mill at the head of the falls, and excavated a canal to supply the power. Captain Daniel Holland leased the mill, but it was burned in 1852. It was rebuilt, and in 1856 leased to S. R. Bearce & Co. Its site is now occupied by the City Water works. In 1865 S. R. Bearce & Co. built a large steam-mill at a cost of $60,- 000 on the margin of the river, above the station of the Maine Cen- tral railroad. It employs about 200 men. A steam-mill built at Barker's Mills in 1847 by Read, Small & Co., at a cost of $7,500, was burned in 1852, and rebuilt the same year. In 1859 it was purchased by James Wood & Co., and removed to the shore of the Androscog- gin River, about one-half mile above the Maine Central railroad station. In 1860 a company was formed with a capital of $50,000 (since doubled) and incorporated under the name of Lewiston Steam Mill Company. The company owns about 35,000 acres of woodland on the upper waters of the Androscoggin and its tributaries. In 1775 Jacob Barker built a grist-mill at Barker's Mills, and some two years later a saw- mill. These mills were rebuilt once or twice by his son, and once (about 1836) by his grandson. About 1800 a saw-mill was built on the rips opposite Boxer's Island, which was burned about 1812. There was at one time a saw-mill on the Stetson Brook, which was removed to Auburn. About 1800, Colonel Joel Thompson, Captain Isaac Cot- ton and Captain Joseph Dill erected a mill at the outlet of No-name Pond, where they manufactured ship-timber.

In 1819 Colonel Josiah Little procured the services of Mr. Dean

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LEWISTON.

Frye, of Brunswick, to aid in carrying on his carding and fulling-mill. This was burned in 1829, but in 1830 the woolen-mill now standing was built; where some time after they began the manufacture of satinet. Larger capital being required, a charter for the Lewiston Fall's Manufacturing Company was obtained from the legislature in 1834. This was the first charter for manufacturing purposes in Lewis- ton. The corporators were John M. Frye and William R. Frye, sons of Dean Frye. A brick building was added in 1836; but a heavy spring freshet in 1837 undermined the wall, causing the building to fall into the river. The manufacture of cotton in Lewiston was begun soon after 1836 by Mr. Ephraim Wood, who manufactured cotton warps and batting. Mr. Joseph B. Harding succeeded Mr. Wood, and about 1844 put in three cotton looms, and wove the first cotton- cloth manufactured in Lewiston. Mr. Harding removed to Yarmouth, and about 1850 the building was partially destroyed by fire, and the remainder removed to make room for the present brick grist-mill build- ing near the falls. In 1836 the Great Androscoggin Falls Dam, Locks and Canal Company was incorporated with a capital of $100,000. The company owned the water-power of the Androscoggin at Lewiston, to- gether with a large amount of land in the vicinity on both sides of the river. In 1845 the name was changed to "Lewiston Water-power Company," which increased the extent and value of its property until 1856; when the newly-formed Franklin Company, with a capital of $1,000,000, succeeded to the ownership.

With the industrial growth of Lewiston her educational institutions have been multiplied and developed. The Maine State Seminary was incorporated in 1856, with an endowment by the State of $15,000. In 1863 a collegiate course of study was instituted, and the name of the institution changed to Bates College, in honor of Benj. E. Bates, of Boston, its most munificent patron. From him, and by his aid the college has received $100,000, while a similar amount was a few years ago promised by him on condition that the friends of the college raised an equal sum within five years. Rev. O. B. Cheney has been president of the institution since its foundation. The college graduated its first class in 1867. The Nichols Latin School is the preparatory school for the college ; and the bu'llings of the two institutions are located near each other. The college ha thirteen free scholarships. A theological de- partment was institutu, in connection with the college, in 1870, having before been located in New Hampshire. The college has a library of 6,000 volumes, a theological library of 2,000 volumes, and society libraries of near 2,000 volumes. There is another library in town con- taining about 8,000 volumes, which is available to all citizens by the payment of a small annual fee.

The "Lewiston Journal " was the first newspaper published in the city, the first number having been issued May, 1847. It was published by William H. Waldron & Co., Dr. Alonzo Garcelon being partner with Mr. Waldron. Nelson Dingley, Jr., purchased an interest in it in 1856, and a year later he became the sole proprietor. The "Journal " Is now recognized as one of the ablest, as it is one of the best patron- ized paper in the State. Besides the weekly, the establishment pub- lishes a daily journal of three editions. A younger brother, Frank L. Dingley, is associated in the management. Mr. Dingley (senior pro- prietor) was governor of Maine in 1873 and 1874, but declined a

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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.

re-election ; and in 1881 he was elected a member of Congress. Mr. Waldron in 1872 started the "Lewiston Gazette," which he pub- lished until his death in 1881. It is a newsy and interesting sheet, conservatively democratic in politics. It is now bi-weekly, being issued Tuesday and Friday. Other papers and periodicals of the city are "The Bates' Student," published monthly by the students of Bates College ; the "Maine Independent," issued every Saturday, by Weeks & Stetson, and devoted to literature and humor; the "Maine Messen- ger," a religious sheet, published monthly, by N. C. Dinsmore; and " Le Messager," published every Thursday, by L. J. Martel & Co., which is devoted to the interests of the French inhabitants of the city.

The land about the falls was originally quite rough, marked by deep gullies, and sandy knolls, with abundance of clay on the slopes, which have supplied and are still supplying many bricks; but the hand of improvement has rapidly subdued the rudeness of nature ; and lawns, and thriving shade trees fill most of the spaces between the dwellings and other buildings, many of which are large and elegant. Among the larger residences may be noted that of Hon. William P. Frye, member of Congress sinee 1871, of Colonel J. M. Frye, J. L. H. Cobb, Esq., several on Bates and other streets. The Roman Catholics have two churches in the city, one of them of superior beauty. The Congre- gationalist society also has a fine edifice, previously referred to. The Universalists have a fine church overlooking the park. The church of the Baptist society is an elegant building, and the Episcopal church near by is a substantial edifice. The Methodists have two churches, one of wood, the other of brick ; and the Free Baptists have also one of brick and one of wood. The Society of Friends have a small but neat and elegant little meeting-house on College street.

The schools of Lewiston are noted for their excellence. They are graded according to the best system, and the school buildings in the rural as well as in the thickly settled parts are creditable to the city. The number of public schoolhouses is thirty ; and the value of the school property belonging to the city is $178,000. The valuation of the estates in Lewiston in 1870 was $8,813,629. In 1880 it was $9,930,- 407. The rate of taxation in 1880 was .0024 on the dollar. The popu- lation at that date was 13,600. In 1880, it was $19,086. See Auburn.

Lexington is situated on the western side of Somerset County, 25 miles north-west of Skowhegan, on the stage-line from that place to Flagstaff. The town is bounded on the north by Highland Plantation, east by Concord, south by Emden and New Portland, and west by Kingfield in Franklin County. The area is about 28,000 acres. The surface generally is moderately uneven. The highest sum- mits are Gilman Pond Mountain in the south-west part, and Peaked Hill on the eastern side, rising from West Range Mountain, a broad elevation which covers the eastern border nearly the whole length of the town, and continues into the townships north. Upon the southern part of this elevation lies Spruce Pond. Butler Pond lies in the north- west, Judkins Pond in the west, Indian Pond in the south-west, and Gilman Pond in the south. Sandy Stream and Alder Brook are the chief water-courses.

The town has two saw-mills manufacturing long and short lumber.

325

LIBERTY.

The principal crop is hay Lexington was incorporated March 4, 1833. The Free Baptists are the most active denomination in the town, the number of public schoolhouses is seven, having an estimated value of $500. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $77,897. In 1880 it was $58,421. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 43 mills on the dollar. The population in 1870 was 397. In 1880 it was 322.

Liberty lies in the south-western part of Waldo County, 16 miles W.S.W. of Belfast, on the stage-road from that city to Augusta. The outline of the town is of diamond form, having its longest axis north and south. Montville bounds it on the south-east, Searsmont lies at the eastern angle, Palermo on the north-west and west, Wash- ington and Appleton in Knox County, on the south-west and south- east. The greatest length of the territory is about 8 miles, and the width, 6. The surface is much broken by rocky eminences, of which the highest is Haystack Mountain. Others are Coon Mountain and Bowlin Hill. The soil is sandy in some parts, while in others, especially in the valley, it is a clay loam, of much fertility. Excellent crops of hay, grain, apples and potatoes reward the labor of the farmer. The town is noticeable for its numerous large apple orchards. St. George's Pond, in the northern part of the town, has an area of 2 square miles. Steven's, Cargill's and Mud Ponds are the other sheets of water. The principal streams are the Sheepscot, which crosses the north-western part of the town, and the St. George's, which is the outlet of the St. George's, Steven's and Cargill's Ponds. Liberty Village, situated at the northern border of the town on the outlet of St. George's Pond, is the chief business centre. There are here an axe-factory, a foundry and machine-shop, two tanneries, five saw-mills, manufacturing long and short lumber, and a grist-mill, water-wheels, carriages, cultivators, horse- rakes, cabinets and coffins, saddles and harnesses, boots and shoes, etc. At South Liberty are two lumber-mills. The nearest railroad station is at Belfast.

Liberty is within the limits of the Waldo patent. It was incor- porated January 31, 1827. Among the prominent citizens of this town have been Messrs. J. W. Knowlton, T. Copp, J. C. Knowlton, William Sanborn, W. H. Hunt, W. R. Hunt, and others, some of whom are still living. There are Methodist, Christian, and Baptist societies in the town; the last having a good church edifice. There is a high-school sustained in the village district. The number of public schoolhouses is seven, and their value, with appurtenances, is estimated at $3,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $193,819. In 1880 it was $264,757. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 2} per cent. The population in 1870 was 907. In 1880 it was 970.

Limerick is a prosperous town in the northern part of York County, 25 miles from the seaboard. It embraces an area of about 15,500 acres, or about 24 square miles. The township was enlarged by act of legislature in 1870, when a tract of about 350 acres was an- nexed from the adjoining town of Limington. The town is bounded on the north by Cornish, east by Limington, south by Little Ossipee River, which separates Limerick from Waterboro, and west by New- field and Parsonfield. The town is part of Francis Small's purchase from the Pequaket chief, Captain Sunday. The town was first settled

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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.

in 1775. The settlers came from the seaboard towns of York County, Newbury, Mass., and a few from Limerick, Ireland,-wherefore, on the incorporation of the town in 1787, it received the name of Limerick. James Sullivan, subsequently governor of Massachusetts, was a pioneer of the town.

The surface is uneven and hilly, with good soil. The declivities of the hills are best for tillage, while the lowlands are excellent for hay. The usual crops are cultivated, with, perhaps, a larger proportion than usual of apples ; while grapes and cranberries yield a good return. The rock formation consists principally of a coarse granite. Stroul's Mountain, at the extreme north-east of the town, is the highest eleva- tion. The principal business points are Limerick village, near the centre of the town, and Hollandville, about 2 miles to the north-east. The 'manufactories consist of a steam-power furniture manufactory, a tannery which turns out about 600 hides per week, a clothing factory at the village, and at Hollandville two woolen factories, one of which produces the celebrated "Holland blankets," and the other woolen cloths to the value of about $150,000 worth of goods annually. There are also grist, shingle and lumbermills on the same stream, Brown's Brook, and on Staple's and Fogg's brooks, and on the Little Ossipee River, which bounds the town on the south. The public buildings consist of three churches, a town-hall and an academy. The town-hall is an elegant brick building, 40 by 60 feet in ground dimensions. The basement is used for commercial purposes ; and above are two commodious halls, and rooms for the town-officers.

The Rev. Edward Eastman was the first pastor of the Congrega- tional church, having been ordained over it in the year of its organiza- tion. Later pastors have been the Rev. Charles Freeman, Rev. Albert Cole, Rev. Charles Packard, Rev. Philip Titcomb, and Rev. Thomas M. Lord. The Baptist church was organized in 1796, Elder Ebenezer R. Kinsman being ordained its first pastor. Among his successors have been Elder Joshua Roberts, four years from 1831 ; Rev. Henry A. Saw- telle, ordained July, 1858 ; Rev. Asa Perkins, 1870. The Free Baptist church was organized in 1822, with Rev. Elias Libby as pastor. The church was re-organized in 1835, when Rev. A. R. Bradbury, a graduate of Bowdoin College, was settled as pastor. His successors up to 1854 have been Rev. William P. Chase, Elder David Manson, Elder Keene, Revs. D. H. Lord, James Rand, and Horace Wellington.

In the war of the Rebellion, the quotas of Limerick were promptly filled, and no drafted men went from the town. Of her soldiers in this war the most distinguished are H. H. Burbank, Arthur Burbank, Mal- colm Burbank, Samuel H. Libby, Frederick Libby, William Barker, Charles Cobb, Horace Favor, Gardner Libby, John Key, John Connor, Francis Sawyer, George Gore, Jefferson Stimpson, Frank Libby, Henry Bradbury, Edwin Clark, Joseph Hill, Thomas P. Miles, Lewis Richards, Granville Boynton, Winfield Hasty, Daniel Watson, Richard Dearborn, Isaac Sawyer, George Miles, Charles Knight, John Knight, James Evans, Plinny Drew, Mr. Durgin ; of whom the last five died in the service.

Limerick has ten public schoolhouses, valued at $4,000. The valua- tion of estates in 1870 was $392,637. In 1880 it was $365,362. The population in 1870 was 1,425 ; in 1880 it was 1,253.

Limestone lies on the eastern border of Aroostook County,

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LIMINGTON.

near the north-eastern angle of the State. It is on the stage-line from Fort Fairfield to Van Buren, 56 miles north of Houlton. It is bounded on the north by Pleasant Ridge Plantation, south by Fort Fairfield, west by Caribou, and east by the town of Grand Falls in New Bruns- wick. The principal streams are Limestone River and Greenlow Brook. The first runs entirely through the town from north to south- east, furnishing several water-powers. On these are two saw-mills manufacturing long and short lumber. There are also two starch fac- tories. The highways are kept in very good condition. The nearest railroad connections are those of the adjoining towns of Caribou and Fort Fairfield, or at Limestone on the St. John's in New Brunswick, all about equally distant.

The surface of the town is rolling, and the principal rock is lime- stone. The soil yields well of potatoes, wheat and oats. The first are the chief crop, finding a market at the starch factories in the town. Maple, birch, beech, spruce, pine and cedar form the forests.

Limestone was incorporated February 26, 1869. Among the first settlers were Benj. Eastman, Barry Mclaughlin, Gen. Mark Trafton and Geo. A. Nourse. The religious societies in the town are the Free Baptist, Christian and Presbyterian. There are six public schoolhouses, six lots of land reserved for the schools ; the total value of school prop- erty being $2,100. The value of estates in 1870 was $27,647. In 1880 it was £76,583. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 11 mills on the dollar. The population in 1870 was 263. In 1880 it was 655.

Limington, one of the most northerly towns in York County, is bounded on the north by Baldwin, east by Standish, south by Hollis and Waterborough, and west by Limerick and Cornish. The Saco River forms the boundary line of the town on the entire north and east, while the Little Ossipee separates it from Waterborough on the south. There are several small ponds; of which the principal one, situated on the north-east part of the town, is Horne Pond. The soil is fertile, and the usual crops are cultivated. The surface of the town is much broken, and there are several lofty eminences, the chief of which are Veasie, Meserve, Moody and Maloy mountains, so called, and Crockett's Hill. Granite is abundant about the falls on the Little Ossipee. The water-powers are numerous. Nason's Falls, on Little Ossipee River, fall 60 feet in the distance of one-fourth of a mile. Three miles further down the stream are Chase's Falls, which have a . descent of 35 feet in 40 rods,-the width of the river being 160 feet.

At Nason's Falls there are shingle, stave and grist-mills; at Chase's Falls are saw, box and shingle-mills ; on the outlet to Horne Pond are saw and grist-mills ; upon Salmon Brook an a grist-mill and a tannery, and on Kellog Pond is a saw-mill having a clapboard and shingle- machine ; at Steep Falls, on the Saco, at the north-east angle of the town, Union Falls, near by, Limington Falls, a mile below the last, are saw and other mills for wood-working. The principal village is Limington, at the centre; other points are North, East and South Limington, and Nason's Mills. Stages run daily from the village to Steep Falls, a distance of about 5 miles, connecting there with the Port- land and Ogdensburg Railroad ; also, through South Limington, Bonny Eagle, and West Buxton, connecting with the Portland and Rochester Railroad at the Saco River Station ; also connecting at the latter place

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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.

with stages for Saco and Biddeford. The town was a part of Captain Francis Small's purchase from Captain Sunday, a chief of the region in 1668. In its earlier settlement it was known as Little Ossipee Plan- tation, which name it continued to bear until its incorporation under its present name in 1792. In 1798 a tract of about 2,000 acres was annexed from Little Falls Plantation (Hollis) ; and in 1870, about 1,500 acres of land with the inhabitants thereon, constituting about one twelfth the valuation, was set off from Limington and annexed to Limerick. The first settler was Deacon Amos Chase, who removed here and commenced a mill in 1773, at the location known as Chase's Mills, at the mouth of the Little Ossipee River. Ezra Davis and Jonathan Boothby followed him in 1774, and John McArthur and Joshua Small in 1775. Eminent among later residents have been Abner Chase, Wingate Frost, Simeon Strout, Isaac Mitchell and Arthur McArthur.

The first Congregational church was organized in 1789. The first church was built in 1793, on the site of the present house ; it was enlarged and rebuilt in 1835. The present first Free Baptist church was built in 1852. The number of men furnished for the army in the war of the Rebellion was 153. The sum paid out for war expenses was $51,150, for a portion of which, however, the town was reimbursed by the State.

The Limington Academy was incorporated in 1848. Its chief founders were Arthur and James McArthur, Rev. J H. Garmon, Dr. Samuel M. Bradbury, Gideon L. Moody, and Isaac L. Mitchell. Among its valued teachers have been Rev. Jonathan Atkinson, Rev. David Boyd, Hon. Samuel Tappan, Isaac Mitchell, Arthur McArthur, Esq., James Frost, Shadrach Boothby, Rev. Westcott Bullock, Thomas Gilpatrick, and Richard Meserve, M.D., The town has sixteen public schoolhouses, valued at $2,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was 8567,808. In 1880 it was $408,573. The population in 1870 was 1630; in 1880 it was 1431.

Lincoln lies on the eastern side of Penobscot River, about midway of Penobscot County. It is on the European and North American Railway, 45 miles N.N.E. of Bangor. Lincoln is bounded on the north-east by Winn, east by Lee, and south by Enfield, Lowell and Burlington. The Penobscot River separates it on the west and north-west from Mattamiscontis and Chester. Its area is 57,600 acres. The surface of the town is much broken, and back from the river it is quite rocky with slate ledges and granite bowlders. The soil is of average fertility, and about one half the territory is under cultivation. There was formerly a heavy growth of pine, but what now remains of the forests is chiefly spruce and hemlock. There are within the limits of the town no less than 15 ponds. The Cumbolasse series of seven in the northern part supply at Lincoln Centre, on their outlet near the Penobscot, two excellent water-powers. The Mattanawcook series, lying across the middle of the town, supply the power for several mills at Lincoln village. The Coldstream series, consisting of five ponds lying near the southern border, furnish some small powers on their connecting streams. The largest of these ponds is Long Pond in the northern part of the town, having an area of some 400 acres, while two of the Mattanawcook series, and three of the Coldstream ponds are of nearly equal size. The manufactures of this town consist of long

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LINCOLN COUNTY.

and short lumber, spools, leather, meal and flour, marble and granito work, and others usually found in small villages.

About the year 1825, Israel Heald, John Carpenter, Alfred Gates, Benjamin Hammond, Stephen Chase, Humphrey Merrill, Ira Fisk, and others became residents of what is now Lincoln. It is supposed that there may have been some settlers earlier than these. Not far from the above date that portion of the territory not already sold to settlers was purchased by Governor Enoch Lincoln. Those who located on the Lincoln purchase were mostly from Oxford County, while those in other parts came from New Hampshire. The first mill appears to have been on the Mattanawcook Stream, where the lower village now stands. The construction of the military road to Houlton, which passed through here, gave the settlements an increased impetus ; and this village, being quite central for the lumbering operations of the period, became quite a rendezvous for lumbermen.

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Gazetteer of the state of Maine, Part 40

Author: Varney, George J Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Boston Russell Number of Pages: 648

Author: Varney, George J
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Boston Russell
Number of Pages: 648