Gazetteer of the state of Maine, Part 47

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

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The principal harbors are Somes', Pretty Marsh, and North East. Somesville, the principal village, is situated at the head of the sound, having an excellent harbor. There is quite a water-power at the place, furnished by Somes' Stream, on which are a saw-mill, woollen-factory, and grist-mill. There is also a steam saw-mill. The post-offices are Mount Desert (Somesville), North East Harbor, Pretty Marsh and Long Pond. Considerable business is done in the town in gathering ice, the annual crop being estimated at 12,000 tons. There are also several granite quarries, one of which employs about 40 men. The annual shipment of cut stone is estimated at 3,500 tons. It is said that there is not a level field in town. Hay is a small crop, and it brings a better price than in neighboring towns.

Mount Desert Island was a familiar landmark to the early voyagers of the coast. Its name seems to have been first applied by De Monts in 1604. It was temporarily occupied by the French in that year. In

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1608, the Jesuits, Peter Biard and Enemond Masse. established a mis- sion on the island, supposed to have been located at Kernald's Point at the base of Flying Mountain, about two miles north of South-West Harbor. " Here they constructed a fortified habitation, planted a gar- den, and dwelt five years ; entering with great zeal and perseverance upon the work of converting the natives to their faith." In 1613. the island having been granted to Madame de Guercheville, a lady of zeal- ous piety, connected with the French Court, a colony of about twenty- five persons, led by Saussaye, were sent out by her to join the two mis- sionaries. Before their fort was fully completed, they were attacked by Argall, Governor of South Virginia, who captured or scattered both the colonists and their Indian friends. No attempt appears to have been made by the French to resettle the island until one Cadilliac received from Louis XIV. a grant containing 100,000 acres, bordering for two leagues on the bay near Jordan's River on the mamland, and the same on Mount Desert Island, including the smaller istands lying in the bay. He made a resolute attempt to hold his ground, but in 1713, after the cession of the whole of Acadie to England, he abandoned it. In 1785, however, his granddaughter, Madame de Gregoire, claimed of the General Court of Massachusetts the lands of her ancestor. The Court naturalized the claimant and her husband, and quit-claimed to them all but lots of 100 acres each for actual settlers. Having been abandoned by the French, in 1688, an Englishman named Hinds, with his wife and four children, lived here. The first permanent settlement was by Abraham Somes and James Richardson, in 1761. The first child, George Richardson, was born in August, 1793. The first mar- riage was on August 9, 1774. Mount Desert Island became a Planta- tion in 1776, and was incorporated as a town in 1789. In 1838. Bart- lett's, Hardwood and Robinson's Islands were set off and incorporated into "Seaville." Christopher Bartlett first settled on Bartlett's Island about 1770. The act incorporating Seaville was repealed in 1859, Bartlett's Island again becoming a part of Mount Desert. Eden was set off in 1796, and Tremont in 1848. The island contained an area of about 60,000 acres, of which Eden has 22,000, and Tremont half the remainder.

The Congregationalists have a church in the town, and maintain a clergyman. Mount Desert has nine public schoolhouses, and its school property is valued at $3,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $158,069. In 1880 it was $160,803. The population in 1870 was 918. In the census of 1880 it was 1,017.

Mount Katahdin is the highest of a numerous group of mountains near the middle of the eastern side of Piscataquis County. The base of the cluster, of which Katahdin is the highest peak, rests on the north-eastern bank of the West Branch of the Penobscot, at a point about 70 miles north-west of Bangor. Radiating to the north- west and south-east are eight other lofty ridges, easily overlooked from the summit of Katahdin. Around this mountain, except on the north, are table lands about 3 miles in width, rising with gentle acclivity to its base. The form of the elevation is somewhat eliptical, with its longest axis running nearly north and south ; with a circumference of eight or ten miles. Its sides are covered with granite rocks of a light- gray color, which have broken and split into a thousand irregular

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forms, while others have crumbled into powder, forming the principal component of the soil ; the latter, with many of the rocks, being cov- ered by a deep green moss. The trees grow shorter and shorter as the height increases, until they are mere dwarfs but a few feet in height, but with very long limbs, and trunks six inches in diameter at the ground. The trees find their limit, and are succeeded by the mountain-cranberry vine and blackberry bushes; but at a mile from the top the vine ceases, and all shrubs disappear. Here the rocks, both pebbles and small bowlders, have a finer grain and a more blueish color than those lower down. The southern and eastern sides, by reason of general steepness and projecting cliffs, are almost impossible of ascent. The ascent has usually been made on the west or south- west end, where, prior to 1816, the surface was inclined from 359 to 46° to the horizon, and was extremely ragged with ledges, so that the distance from the upper margin of the table-lands, about 2 miles in a direct line, was much extended by the circuitous and zig-zag course necessarily taken. Sometime in the year mentioned, an enormous mass, starting from about midway of the height, slid down the moun- tain, rending away many obstacles, so that the ascent was rendered much easier.

The-summit of Katahdin is a plain, inclining partially north-west- ward, and formed of solid rock. The western portion is very smooth, as if ground away by drift ; but the rest is rough and broken, and the interstices filled with coarse gravel. The area of this plain is about 800 acres, being full half a mile in length, though much less in width. Over it all is spread a covering of light-gray moss. Katahdin is the highest mountain in our State, the altitude of its summit being 5,385 feet above the level of the sea. The height of Mount Washington, in New Hampshire, is 7,920 feet. Its landscapes extend from the high- lands that border the Bay of Chaleur on the north-east to the White Hills of New Hampshire at the south-west ; and from the long ridge that forms the line of division between Maine and Canada on the north-west to peaks of Mount Desert Island, at the south,-the latter "appearing to rise in a semi-globular form from the bosom of the ocean."-[Williamson.] The Indians have shown unwillingness to visit the summit of this mountain, professing it to be the summer resi- dence of an evil spirit, called by them "Pamola." This being, they say, rises in the beginning of snow-time with a great noise, and takes flight to some warmer region; and they tell, with fearful countenances, the story of seven Indians, who, a great many moons ago, were too bold, and ascended the mountain to its top, where they were killed by the terrible Pamola; "for," say they, " we never hear of them more ; and our fathers told us that an Indian never goes up to the top of Katahdin and lives to return."

Mount Kineo, see article on Moosehead Lake.

Mount Mica, an elevation of no great height, situated in the eastern part of Paris, Oxford County. It is noted for the number of minerals found in it, some of which are very beautiful and of great rarity, as a fine quality of mica, green and red tourmaline, rose quartz, and many others.

GAZETTEER OF MAINE.

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Mount Vernon is a pleasant upland town, situated in the north-western part of Kennebec County, 20 miles from Augusta. It is bounded on the east by Belgrade, south by Readfield, north by Rome and Vienna, and west by Fayette and Vienna. The territory was included in the Kennebec Patent. It was settled in 1774 by fam- ilies from Readfield. The plantation name was Washington ; but as there was already one town of that name in the State it was in 1792 incorporated as the town of Mount Vernon, for the home estate of Washington. Nathaniel Dudley was the first representative to the General Court.

Though high above the sea its hills are not high. Granite, lime- stone and iron are found in town. The soil yields good crops of corn, potatoes, wheat, oats and apples. There is a large extent of fine pas- turage, and the town is noted for the superior quality of its cattle. The numerous ponds in and about the town enhance the charms of its scenery. The largest are Long Pond on the north-east, Parker Pond on the west, and Crotched Pond on the south-west. There are also Flying Pond, at the north-west and Greely Pond in the southern part, Morse Pond, in the centre of the town, and others of less size. The business centres are Mount Vernon Village, at the north-west, and West Mount Vernon toward the south-west. Scattered through the town on the various streams are five saw and shingle mills and one grist-mill. The manufactures consist of long and short lumber, sashes and doors, wood-pumps, furniture and coffins, rakes of various kinds, excelsior carriages, spool-squares, brooms, clothing, leather, harnesses, and boots and shoes. There are Free Baptist, Methodist and Calvinist Baptist societies in the town; but the church-edifices consist of the Union and the Free Baptist houses. Mount Vernon sustains a high- school for a portion of the time. It has twelve public schoolhouses, valued at $7,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $397,034. In 1880 it was $393,381. The rate of taxation in 1880 was 1} cents on the dollar. The population in 1870 was 1,252. By the census of 1880 it is placed at 1,171.

Mouse Island is an island, summer resort and post-office in Lincoln County.

Moxie Falls are on Moxie Stream, about half a mile from its junction with the Kennebec River, some two and one half miles above the Forks. The stream is the outlet of a series of ponds closely joined, and all bearing the name of "Moxie Pond." The height of this fall is 95 feet, over a bluff of schist, slate and limestone.

Muscle Ridge Plantation, in Knox County, consists of about a dozen islands, lying on the south-western part of Penobscot Bay at the verge of the ocean. The most noted of these islands is Dix Island, famous for its inexhaustible quarries of granite. These islands vary in area from half an acre to 75 acres. The inhabitants do a little farming, but are chiefly employed in the fisheries. The Dix Island Granite Company owns all the dwellings and other buildings, excepting those belonging to the fishermen. The population of Dix Island varies according to the demand for granite ; and the population of the entire plantation is quite variable. In 1870 it was 263. In

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1880 it was 258. There is one schoolhouse, valued at $50. The val- uation of estates in 1880 was $32,273. The rate of taxation was about 1 mill on a dollar.

Muscongus Patent, see article on Waldo Patent.

Naples is situated in the north-western part of Cumberland County, between Bridgton and Lake Sebago. It is bounded on the north by Bridgton, Harrison and Otisfield, on the east by Otisfield and Casco, south by the latter, Lake Sebago and the town of Sebago, west by the last and by the south-western part of Bridgton. The town was . made up from parts of Otisfield, Harrison, Raymond, Bridgton, and Sebago. It contains about 20,000 acres of land and water, the latter : amounting to about 3,300 acres. The date of its incorporation is 1834. About one-third of Long Pond is within its limits, together with Brandy Pond, continuous through a short narrow with the former, and Trickey Pond. The streams are Songo River, 6 miles long, connecting Brandy Pond with Lake Sebago; Crooked River, which forms the larger portion of the eastern boundary of the town; Muddy River, outlet of Holt's Pond and Cold Stream Creek, connecting Cold rain Pond with Peabody Pond.

The rock formation of Naples is granitic, having many dikes of quartz and trap rock. The granite is coarse and of little value as a building material from the preponderance of mica and felspar. There are localities, however, where a good quality of gneiss is quarried. There are also scattered over the surface many granite and gneiss boulders, much worn and some very large. These afford a limited quantity of building stone, and fine specimens of flesh colored felspar The surface of the town is pleasantly diversified with hill, valley, plain, and sheets of water. The soil varies from arid sand to tough clay ; but the larger portion is a gravelly loam, containing many pebbles and bowl- ders. The uplands afford excellent grazing, and hay is the principal crop. There is a canning factory of the Portland Packing Company at Naples Village, which creates a considerable demand for sweet corn. Other manufactures of the town are carriages, cooperage, men's and boy's clothing and boots and shoes. The strait uniting Long and Brandy ponds is spanned at Naples Village by a drawbridge. Except by a single lock on Songo River, navigation between the northern parts of Bridgton and Harrison and all parts of Sebago Ponds, a dis- tance of about 25 miles, is uninterrupted. Naples is the terminus of the stage-line from the station of the Grand Trunk railway at Oxford. It is also on the stage-line from Portland to Bridgton. A narrow guage railway projected between the latter places will also pass through Naples, if constructed.

There are a Methodist, a Congregationalist and a Union church in the town. Naples has eleven public schoolhouses, valued at $4,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $268,645 ; in 1880, $242,618. The population in 1870 was 1058. In 1880 it was 1008.

Nason's Mills,-a post-office in York County.

Nealey's Corner,-a post-office in Hampden, Penobscot County.

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Nequasset,-a railroad station in Woolwich, Lincoln County.

Newburg lies on the southern border of Penobscot County, 15 miles west-south-west of Bangor. Carmel bounds it on the north, Hampden on the east, Dixmont on the west, and Winterport and Monroe in Waldo County on the south. The surface of the town is broken and hilly in parts, with some meadow. The soil is various, being clay in some portions and sandy or slaty in others. The prin- cipal crops are hay and potatoes. Apple orchards have also been cultivated with success. The forest-trees are chiefly beech, maple, hemlock and spruce.

The town is drained by the Soadabscook and its tributary streams. There are two saw-mills, two cheese factories, a carriage factory, etc. The occupation is chiefly agricultural, and much attention is given to cattle raising. The nearest railroad connections are at the stations of the Maine Central Railroad in Carmel and Hermon, adjoining towns. The post-offices are Newburg, at the north-east corner, North, Centre, South, and Newburg villages.

This town is embraced within the limits of the Waldo patent, and was sold by Gen. Henry Knox (who inherited much of the patent) to Benjamin Bussey, who continued to be the owner of all the unoccupied land until his death. He held the land at so high a price that settlers came in slowly ; but after his demise more favorable terms were offered and the settlement since then has a rapid growth. Among the original inhabitants we have the names of Freeman Luce, Edward Snow, Levi Mudgett, James Morrison, Abel Hardy, Thomas Morrill, Ezekiel Smith, George Bickford and Daniel Piper, who arrived about the year 1794.

The Free Baptists, Methodists, Baptists and Christian Baptists have societies in the town, and there is a Union edifice for religious meetings.

Newburg usually sustains three high schools at different quarters of the town during the fall and winter months. The number of public schoolhouses is ten ; and the value of the school property is estimated at $2,500. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $237,964. In 1880 it was 8275,102. The rate of taxation in the latter year was $18.60 on one thousand. The population in 1870 was 1,115. In 1880 it was 1,057.

New Casco,-a post-office in Falmouth, Cumberland County.

Newcastle, is situated near the middle of Lincoln county, on the peninsula between the Sheepscot and Damariscotta rivers. Jefferson lies on the north, Nobleboro', Damariscotta and Bristol, on the east, Edgecomb on the south, and Alna and Wiscasset on the west. The principal streams within the town are Dyer's River and Great Meadow Brook. The town is about six miles in length and four in breadth. The surface is varied more by gulleys than by hills. There is a variety of soils,-generally well adapted to the usual crops,-of which hay is the chief. An expansion of Sheepscot River where it receives the waters of the two streams mentioned, forms "Old Sheepscot Neck " and contains an island of many acres in extent.

A remarkable object of the town are the oyster beds on the northern shore of a peninsula in Damariscotta River, a short distance above the

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village. A bank of these shells 30 feet in depth, at some points of a cor- responding width, extends the entire length of the peninsula. By whom or when deposited is not known; but they are generally supposed to have been taken from the adjoining salt-water basin in the river by the Indians. Oysters are still found in these waters in small numbers.

The principal village is at the lower falls and head of navigation on the Damariscotta river. Other small ones are Damariscotta Mills, on the river a short distance above the last ; north, on the eastern side, opposite Nobleboro'; and another at Sheepscot Bridge, which connects the town with Alna, on the west side of the river. There are two grist mills, and three lumber mills, one of the latter at each of the three villages on the Damariscotta. Other manufactures are ships, leather, boots and shoes, match splints and large quantities of bricks.

The Knox and Lincoln railroad has a station at the village and at South Newcastle and Damariscotta Mills, the first 18 miles from Bath.

Newcastle was settled at about the same time as Pemaquid and Arrowsic, and was for 35 years or longer called Sheepscot Plantation. The first settlement was made on a neck on the Sheepscot side of the peninsula, occupying an area of about 400 rods in length and 92 in width. A street ran the whole length of the neck, upon both sides of which, at uniform distances, were laid outt he two acre lots into which the homesteads were usually divided. On these, traces of cellars have been found ; and not far away the remains of an extensive reservoir. Easterly from these were the farms, consisting of 100 acres each, reached by a road called the " King's highway,"-which also led to the woods and the mill. The latter was on a stream called Mill Brook, or river, about a mile from the settlement. On the highest point, opposite the falls and overlooking the town, was a small fort. Sullivan, in his history of Maine, says, quoting from Sylvanus Davis, a resident pro- prietor : "There were in the year 1630, 84 families, besides fishermen, about Pemaquid, St. Georges, and Sheepscot, and 50 of these were said to be on the Sheepscot farms."

In 1665, Robert Carr, George Cartwright and Samuel Maverick, commissioners appointed by the Duke of York, arrived at Sheepscot, this being within the limits of the territory claimed by him under his patent from the English crown. The house of John Mason, at which they met and organized a government, is supposed to have been in the Sheepscot plantation. Mason, about 1649-50, purchased of the sagamores Robin Hood and Jack Pudding, a considerable tract about his resi- dence. The commissioners erected the whole extensive territory [see history of Maine, ante. ], into the county of Cornwall, applied the name, New Dartmouth, to the whole region about the plantation, and estab- lished the line between this and Pemaquid. The commissioners vested the civil power in the county in a chief constable, three magistrates or justices of the peace, and a recorder. The justices were Nicholas Raynal, Thomas Gardiner and William Dyer. This government lasted until 1675, when the first Indian war desolated the region. When Arrowsic fell beneath the tomahawk, a little girl escaped, flying 10 miles through the woods to the Sheepscot, giving the inhabitants a timely alarm. A ship which William Phips, a Boston citizen, had been building near this place was ready for sea; and instead of taking to Boston a cargo of lumber, as he had intended, he took the affrighted inhabitants and their goods, and conveyed them to a place of safety. Phips, who was

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a native of this region, was afterward knighted by the King, and became a distinguished governor of Massachusetts. Three years later the war had closed, and many inhabitants returned. Commissioners John Palmer and John West, appointed by the Duke's governor at New York, and Colonel Dungan, arrived at Sheepscot in 1686, and began to lay out the town in lots as before. Their administration was obnoxious to the inhabitants, but was soon terminated by another French and Indian war in 1688. The settlements were again laid in ruins, continuing in this condition for nearly 30 years.

In 1718, Rev. Christopher Tappan, of Newbury, sent two men to inclose a portion of the territory in this region, which he had pur- chased of Walter Phillips and other claimants as early as 1702,-some of these being settlers who had been driven away by the Indians. Phillips' title was derived from the Indian sagamores by three several purchases, in 1661, 1662 and 1674. Tappan himself arrived in 1733, and began to survey his lands on the Sheepscot side of the town; laying out 45 one hundred acre lots, two of which were allotted to the first settled minister and the first parish. The latter still remains in the hands of the first parish. Tappan's title to the east of Mill River was disputed by William Vaughan and James Noble, who held under the Pemaquid patent (which see) and Brown claim (for which see Nobleborough.) A sharp litigation followed, and Vaughan's title pre- vailed; and the lands there are held from him to this day ; while on the west side of the river the titles are derived from Tappan.

The town was incorporated in 1653, being named, probably, in compliment to the Duke of Newcastle, known as a friend to the American colonies. The town was first represented in the General Court by Benjamin Woodbridge in 1774. The census of 1764 shows a population of 454 persons. The Newcastle National is the only bank in town. It has a capital of $50,000.

The Rev. Alexander Boyd was employed to preach at Sheepscot soon after it was made a district, having been ordained by the Boston Presbytery in 1754. He was dismissed in 1758. After a lapse of 18 years, during which Messrs. Ward, Lain, Perley and Benedic were employed as preachers, Rev. Thurston Whiting was settled (1776), and a Congregational church formed. There are now two Congregational churches, an Episcopal, an Advent, and Methodist church in the town. Lincoln Academy, located in the village, was incorporated in 1801, and is still flourishing. Newcastle has 14 public schoolhouses, valued together with other school property, at $4,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $697,981. In 1880, it was $827,108. The population in 1870 was 1,729. In 1880, it was 1,534.

Newfield, in the north-western part of York County, is a part of the tract conveyed to Francis Small of Kittery, Indian trader, by Captain Sunday, a sagamore in the region in 1668. The tract lay between the Ossipee and Little Ossipee rivers, which when laid out into townships were generally spoken of as the five Ossipee towns. From all the information now attainable, it appears that the larger part of landed estate in town is held by titles derived from the Francis Small and Cape Ann rights. A survey of this tract was made in 1778, by John Wingate, and the number of acres found to be 14,543. The ter- ritory was enlarged in 1846 by the annexation from Shapleigh of 600

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or 800 acres in the south-eastern part of the town, below the Little Ossipee river. For a number of years it was called Washington Plantation. At its incorporation in 1794, the present name of New- field was adopted.

Of the early settlers, Nathaniel Doe came in the year 1777 ; Zeh- ulon Libby and Paul McDonald in 1777; Leander Nelson came in 1780, settling in West Newfield. Rev. John Adams moved his family here in 1780. William and Eben Symmes of Ipswich, Revolutionary soldiers, came about 1780. Samuel Dam of Waterborough, built a grist-mill and saw-mill at what is now Newfield village, between 1780 and 1784. Josiah Towle came from Epping, N. H., to Hiram, thence to Limerick, and in 1790, to Newfield, where he opened a store. He was the first representative to the General Court of Massachusetts. William Durgin came from Limerick with his father and a brother about 1798. He built a saw-mill and grist-mill at the upper village, and in 1801 a store. Other Revolutionary soldiers who settled in Newfield, were Robert Thompson, William Libby, Nicholas Kennison, Stephen Wood, James Heard, William Campernell, Simeon Tibbetts, and others .. Ten men from the militia were called to the defense of the seaboard in the. war of 1812. Newfield furnished 96 men for the army during the war of the Rebellion, 20 of whom were killed in battle or died of wounds or sickness. Other eminent citizens were Thomas Adams, son of Rev. John Adams, Gamaliel E. Smith, and Nathan Clifford ; and of natives who became eminent in their sphere are Caleb R. Ayer and Ira T. Drew, prominent lawyers of the York County bar, Charles W and Horace Tuttle, formerly connected with the Harvard College Observ- atory, the former connected later with the Boston bar, and the latter in the navy. James Ayer, M.D., settled in town in 1805, Dr. M. L. Marston settled in 1824, Dr. Stephen Adams in 1829.

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Gazetteer of the state of Maine, Part 47

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