Gazetteer of the state of Maine, Part 53

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

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This township was originally granted in 1771 to Capt. Joshua Fuller, of Watertown, and the sixty-four privates of his company, for services in the French and Indian wars ; but many of these were dead and the property really came to their heirs instead. The first settlement was made in 1779 on the site of the present village of Paris Hill by John Daniels, Deacon John Willis, Joseph Willis, Benjamin Hammond,

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PARKMAN.

Lemuel Jackson, and Uriah Ripley, from Middleborough, Mass Mr. Daniels, it is stated, purchased the land now occupied by Paris Hill Village, of the Indians, the price paid being an iron kettle. Joseph Daniels, born February, 1784, is the first native citizen. The first church here was Calvinist-Baptist, organized in 1795, and Elder James Hooper, of Berwick, was the same year ordained as their pastor, the ceremony being performed in a barn. He filled this office for nearly half a century. The first house for public worship was erected by the Baptists at Paris Hill in 1803. There are now in town societies of the Baptists, Congregationalists, Free Baptists, two of the Universalists, and three of the Methodists. Some of the church edifices are fine structures.

The town was incorporated June 20, 1793, and on the organization of Oxford County in 1805, became its shire town. Paris was the birth-place and residence through minority of Hon. Hannibal Hamlin, many years a United States senator from Maine, and vice-president for one term with Lincoln. Hon. Sidney Perham, who was six years in Congress and three years Governor of Maine, resides in Paris Hill Village. This town has also furnished six other members of Congress, namely : Levi Hubbard, Albion K. Paris, Enoch Lincoln, Timothy J. Carter, Rufus K. Goodenow, and Charles Andrews, of whom the last only was a native. Of these, Paris and Lincoln were also governors of the State, and the first a United State senator.

Paris Hill Academy was long a flourishing and superior school, but has given way to the high schools and the Oxford Normal Institute. The latter, located at South Paris, is a flourishing and excellent school. District No. 16 has a library, known as the Prentiss Library, having 800 volumes. The " Oxford Democrat," an excellent country paper, is published here by George H. Watkins. South Paris Savings Bank, on Nov. 1, 1880, held in deposits and profits $132,011.16. The number of public schoolhouses in this town is 20, valued with lots and apparatus at $10,000. The population in 1870 was 2,765. In 1880 it was 2,930. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $977,975. In 1880 it was $985,274.

Parker's Head, a post-office and village in Phippsburg, Sagadahoc County.

Parkman is situated in the south-western part of Piscataquis County, 12 miles west of Dover, and 4 miles from the Bangor and Pis- cataquis Railway station in Abbot. The latter town lies ont he north ; on the east is Sangerville ; on the west Wellington ; and on the south, Cambridge, in Somerset County. It has an area of 25,000 acres; and a large proportion of it is excellent for farming purposes. Watson's Hill is the greatest elevation of land. Bennett and Harlow Ponds are the principal bodies of water. There are several saw-mills and a grist- mill in the town. At Parkman Corner there are several mechanic- shops, four stores and one hotel.

The township was early purchased by Samuel Parkman, Esq., of Boston. The first settlers were Peter and William Cummings, Ephraim Andrews, Arvida Briggs, William Brewster, and Richard Caswell. Samuel Pingree also early moved in and became the proprietor's agent. He settled near the centre of the town where he put a saw and grist mill in operation. Mr. Pingree was a hatter by trade, and

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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.

made the first hats produced in the county. Edward Soule, from Free- port, was one of the earlier settlers. In the war of 1812 he was three times taken prisoner by different British cruisers, and the last time was confined for fourteen months in the famous Dartmoor prison, only to be compared with Libby and Andersonville ..

The preaching of Rev. Zenas Hall, in 1818, led to the organization of a Baptist church in the town.

The township bore the name of Plantation Number Five, Sixth Range, until 1822, when it was incorporated as the town of Parkman. The first store in town was opened at the Corner about 1827 by Thomas Seabury. The first physician was Dr. Nicholas Jumper, who, about 1834, was succeeded by Dr. A. J. W. Stevens, who died in 1875. Besides attending to his practice, Dr. Stevens represented the town in the legislature, and was an able temperance lecturer. Dr. George Parkman, after his father's death, succeeded to his lands in this town ; and previous to his own tragical death, visited the place annually. The Baptist and the Christian denomination have each a church-edifice in the town. Parkman has fifteen public schoolhouses valued at $4,500. The valuation of all estates in 1870 was $259,304. The rate of taxation in 1880 was about two per cent. The population in 1870 was 1,105. By the census of 1880 it is 1,005. The valuation in 1880 was $249,211.

Parlin Pond, a post-office and settlement and pond at West Forks, on the Kennebec, in Somerset County.

Parsonsfield is the north-west town in York County, and is bounded on its western side by New Hampshire. Porter and Hiram lie on the north, Cornish and Limerick on the east, and Newfield on the south. It has an area of about 22,000 acres. The Ossipee River forms the northern boundary line, and furnishes at Kezar Falls the principal water-power of the town. At this place there is a set of saw, shingle, and grain mills, another on South River, in the western part of the town ; and there are several smaller ones in the various parts of the town. The principal business centres are East Parsonfield, Kezar Falls, North Parsonfield, Parsonsfield Village, South Parsonsfield, West Parsonsfield and Lord's Mills. Long Pond, Mudget and Spruce are the largest ponds, and there are as many more of smaller size. The surface of the town is very rough and hilly. The greatest elevations are Cedar Mountain in the central part, and Randall Mountain in the eastern. The soil in general, though rocky, is fertile, yielding good crops of hay and grain. The scenery from almost every eminence is grandly beautiful. Scarcely more than 20 miles to the north, slightly west, the White Hills of New Hampshire lift their rugged peaks above the clouds. In the intervening space, smaller hills, some covered with verdure, others broken with rocks, with smiling green valleys between, dotted numerously with neat farm-houses and bright little villages form many a pleasing picture.

Parsonsfield is part of a tract of land sold in 1661 by the Indian chief, Captain Sunday, to Francis Small, who conveyed an individual half to Major Nicholas Shapleigh, of Kittery. The original deed of Small was found in 1770, and the descendants of the two tenants in common took formal possession. Again in 1771 a partition was effected, when the territory comprised in this township fell to the claimants

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PASSADUMKEAG.

under Shapleigh, who immediately conveyed it to Thomas Parsons and 39 associates. The town was shortly afterward surveyed into hundred- acre lots, two of which were reserved to each proprietor, nine for the use and support of the schools and churches, and one for a mill privi- lege. Twelve families settled upon or near these lots in 1772; John and Gideon Doe settled in the western part of the town in 1775; and soon after George Kezar settled in the eastern part. The town was incorporated in 1785, under its present name, in honor of Thomas Par- sons, one of the largest early proprietors.

The town has been the residence or birth-place of many distingushed men. Hon. Rufus McIntire was a graduate of Dartmouth College, be- came a member of the York County bar in 1812, soon after recruited a company and marched to the northern frontier, remaining in active service until the close of the war. He was afterward elected to Con- gress for four consecutive terms, commencing December, 1827. He was land agent under Governor Fairfield, Marshal of Maine under President Polk, and Surveyor of Customs under President Pierce. Hon. James W. Bradbury of Augusta, was the son of Dr. James Brad- bury, an eminent physician of Parsonsfield. Elder John Buzzell, after long service in teaching and in the ministry, removed to Parsonsfield in 1798, remaining until his death in 1864, in the ninety-sixth year of his age. He united with the Free-will Baptists when that denomina- tion numbered but 101. He was the author and editor of many publi- cations, and he and Dr. Moses Sweat, a resident physician, were the chief means of establishing the North Parsonsfield Seminary, the first institute of learning under the auspices of the denomination. Hon. L. D. M. Sweat, of Portland, is a son of Dr. Moses Sweat. William B. Wedgewood, LL.D., elected vice-chancellor of the university at Wash- ington, D.C., in 1870 is a native of Parsonsfield. Hon. Zenas P. Went- worth, late of Houlton, Maine, was also a native. One of the old men of the town is Deacon Elisha Waldleigh, who at the age of one hundred, rode 4 miles to deposit his vote.

The first church in town was built in 1790 by the town proprietors, and a parsonage in 1794. There are now in town, churches of the Con- gregationalists, Baptists, Old School Free-will Baptists, Free Bap- tists (three churches) and Advents. Parsonsfield has seventeen public schoolhouses, valued at $4,500. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $632,970; in 1880 it was $563,075. The population in 1870 was 1,804; in 1880 it was 1,613.

Passadumkeag, in Penobscot County, lies on the east bank of the Penobscot River, 31 miles north-east of Bangor. It is bounded by Enfield on the north, Lowell on the east, Greenbush on the south, and Edinburg on the west, but separated from the last by Pe- nobscot River. The territory is about 62 miles in length along the river, and 3} of a mile in average width. The surface is varied and interesting, with good soil. The largest streams are Passadumkeag, and its tributary, Cold Stream, outlet of the large pond of the same name, situated just outside the north-western angle of the town. There is a saw-mill, containing board, shingle, lath and stave mills. The vil- lage is situated on the Penobscot at the mouth of the Passadumkeag, near the middle line of the town. There is here a large steam-mill, manufacturing large lumber, boards, shingles and staves. Other manu- factures are coopers' ware, carriages, etc. Farming and lumbering are

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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.

the chief occupations of the people. The European and North Ameri- can Railway passes through the length of the town, having a station at the village.

Passadumkeag was incorporated in Jan., 1835. The name is an Indian word, supposed to signify quick water. In 1842, about one- third of the territory was set off, and annexed to Lowell. On Passa- dumkeag Island there are the remains of an old fort, said to have been built by the French and Indians.

There is here a Congregationalist society, though meetings of other denominations are sometimes held in the town. There are four public schoolhouses, valued at $800. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $30,738. In 1880 it was $42,662. The rate of taxation is 3 per cent. on a low valuation. The population in 1870 was 243. In 1880 it was 302.

Pattagumpus, a post-office in Penobscot County.

Patten lies on the eastern border of Penobscot County, 96 miles from Bangor. It was incorporated April 16th, 1841, having been No. 4 of Range 6. Mount Chase (Monterey planta- tion on Chace's map of the State, 1862), bounds it on the north, and Crystal, in Aroostook County, on the east. Other townships adjacent are unsettled. Patten is heavily timbered and has a good soil. Fish Stream and Hersey Brook, tributaries of the Mattawamkeag, are the principal water-courses. There is a small pond in the western part of the town having one of these streams as an outlet. The village is sit- uated in the eastern part of the town on Mattawamkeag Stream. The manufactories are at this point ; and consist of one lumber-mill, a sash, door and blind factory, a grist-mill with two sets of stones, a tin-ware factory, a wheelwright shop, a tin-shop, etc. This town is the terminus of Jones' and Laing's stage line from Mattawamkeag.

Patten Academy was incorporated in 1846, and has been and is still, a valuable institution to the whole region. The number of pub- lic schoolhouses in the town is six, which have an estimated value of $1,200. There are here three churches, a Congregationalist, Methodist and Baptist. The valuation in 1870 was $191,342. In 1880 it was $198,358. The population in 1870 was 704. In 1880 it was 716.

Pea Cove, a post-office in Oldtown, Penobscot County.

Peak's Island, a post-office and island in Casco Bay, Cum- berland County.

Pejepscot Purchase and Patent. See articles on Brunswick, Topsham, Bowdown, Webster, Auburn, Durham, Lisbon, Lewiston, Greene and Leeds.

Pemaquid a post-office and a sea point in Bristol, Lincoln County.

Pemaquid Patent was the last grant made by the New England Company within the limits of our State. It was issued in

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PEMBROKE.

1631, and comprised the territory between the Medomac and Damaris- cotta Rivers, and far enough north to include 12,000 and an additional 100 acres for every man who should settle within its limits during the seven following years. It was a charter as well as a patent, including rights of government, wherefore Pemaquid became a seat of govern- ment independent of all others in New England. The earliest settle- ment under this patent, says Williamson, seems to have been on the western banks of Pemaquid River. See article on Bristol.

Pembroke lies on the north-west side of Lubec Bay in the south-eastern part of Washington County. Its greatest length is north-west and south-east, above 8} miles; and its width is about 32. Perry lies on its north-east side, Charleston on the north, Dennysville and Edmunds on the south-west. The surface of the town is uneven, but without lofty eminences. The land is well suited for agriculture, and the town is becoming one of the best in this respect. Pemina- quan River, the principal stream in the town, furnishes not less than five good water-powers, all of which are occupied. There are two mills for manufacturing long and short lumber, a planing-mill and a sash and blind factory, two grist-mills, and works of the Pembroke Iron Company. These consist of furnaces, rolling-mill, machine-shop, etc. The main building of this establishment is 171 feet wide and 160 feet long. The dam is of stone, and the power is very uniform. Gen- eral Ezekiel Foster, an enterprising merchant of Eastport, was the originator of this enterprise, having commenced building the work in 1832. They were operated by Foster and Bartlett for a few years, then sold to Gray & Co., of Boston. In 1849, they were purchased by William E. Coffin & Co., of Boston, the present proprietors. For fif- teen years prior to 1873, these works did an extensive business in the manufacture of iron spikes, rivets and other articles. The iron pro- duced here is said to be surpassed by very few factories.

The southern shores of this town are washed by the sea; and there are several places where the flow of the tide in and out of basins might be made available for mills. The chief natural curiosity of the town is Cobscook Falls, formed by the tide, which rushes tumutuously through a narrow passage over rugged rocks, into and out of an immense basin or reservoir. The bay formed by the mouth of the Pemmaquan is easy of access and safe. During the century in which the town has been settled, though every year a hundred vessels visit the harbor, not one was ever lost within its precincts. Shipbuilding began in this town as early as 1825; yet the vessels built were very few until Hon. S. C. Foster, in 1844, commenced the industry, constructing in a few years quite a fleet. In 1860 the business had so increased that there were in the town seven ship-yards. Two only are in operation at present. Many of the vessels built here are for coasting and the fish- eries.

Pembroke was first settled in 1774, Hatevil Leighton, from Gould's- borough, Maine, being the pioneer. Edmund Meagher (Mahar) and William Clark, from Boston, came in 1780, settling near Cobscook Falls. These were followed by Robert Ash, M. Denho, Joseph Bridges, Zadock Hersey, Caleb Hersey, Samuel Sprague, Theophilus and Bela Wilder, Moses Gardiner, Stephen Gardiner, and M. Dunbar, most of whom came from Maine and Massachusetts. Theophilus Wilder is said

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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.

to have become a resident as early as 1740. These pioneer families were marked by industrious and frugal habits, a love of order, and the stern virtues of our illustrious ancestors. The proprietors of the lands in this town were Thomas Russell, John Lowell and General Benjamin Lincoln, of Revolutionary fame. The Herseys and Theophilus Wilder were soldiers in the war for independence ; and the latter was a cap- tain in the army under General Gates, and present at the surrender of Burgoyne.

Pembroke was a part cf Dennysville until Feb. 4, 1832, when it was set off and incorporated. Hon. Stephen C. Foster, a native of East Machias, but long a resident of Pembroke, represented his district in Congress from 1857 to 1861.

Union Church, the first in the town, was erected in 1842. Robert Crosset, a Congregationalist, was the first settled minister. Now there are also a Baptist and a Catholic society, and two Methodists. Pem- broke has 13 public schoolhouses, valued at $15,000. There is a high school, and the village schools are graded. The population in 1870 was 2,551. In 1880 it was 2,324. The valuation in 1870 was $388,233. In 1880 it was $409,443.

Penobscot is situated in the southern part of Hancock County, having Penobscot Bay on the west, and South Bay (an exten- tion of Castine Harbor) in the southern part. Castine lies on the south-west, Surry and Bluehill on the east, and Orland on the north. 1 The surface is generally level, the greatest eminence being Togus Hill, which has a height of perhaps 300 feet. The ponds are Pierce's, Wight's and Turtle. Granite is the prevailing rock. The soil is a clay loam. The crops principally cultivated are wheat, potatoes and hay.

There are in operation in town three stave, one saw and one meal and flour mill ; other manufactures are bricks, fish barrels, lime casks, carriages, harnesses, coffins, boots and shoes. There has been quite a business done by a mitten factory, whose annual product has reached $12,000. The Penobscot Mining Company is a corporation of the town. The principal village is at the head of Northern Bay. This is 22 miles from Ellsworth on the Bucksport and Deer Isle stage-line.

Penobscot was a district of the ancient Pentagoet. Its name is from the Indian " Penobskeag," or " Penopeauke," signifying a rocky place. In its original form it included Castine and the easterly part of Brooksville, its early history is involved with that of these towns. It was township No. 3, in the grant to David Marsh, and others. The first survey of the town was made by John Peters; and the following names appear among its earliest municipal officers : John Lee, Jere- miah and Daniel Wardwell, John and Joseph Perkins, John Wasson, David Hawes, Elijah Littlefield, Isaac Parker and Peltiah Leach. As given by H. B. Wardwell, in Wasson's Survey of Hancock County, the first settlers within the present limits of Penobscot were Duncan and Findley Malcolm, Daniel and Neil Brown. They were Scotchmen, and being loyalists or tories, left for St. Andrews when the English evacuated Bigaduce (Castine) at the close. of the Revolution. The first permanent settler was Charles Hutchings, in 1765. The first child of English parents was Mary Hutchings. In 1765 also came Isaac and Jacob Sparks, Daniel Perkins, Samuel Averill and Solomon Littlefield.

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PENOBSCOT COUNTY.

Others of the early period were Giles Johnson, Elijah Winslow. Pelatiah Leach, Jonathan Wardwell, Andrew Herrick, David Dunbar, Elijah Littlefield and Eliphalet Lowell, nearly all of whom came from towns in Maine. Among the notable citizens of a later date were HIon. William Grindle, Samuel Leach and William Eastman, Esqrs.

The plantation name of Penobscot was Major-bigwaduce. It was incorporated under its present name in 1787. Castine was set off in 1796, and a portion for Brooksville in 1817.

The Methodists have four churches in Penobscot, and the Baptists one. Farmers' clubs and Temperance lodges furnish the public enter- tainment. The number of public schoolhouses is twelve; and the school property is valued at $1,625. The valuation of real estate in 1870 was $227,356. In 1880 it was $215,237. The rate of taxa- tion in 1880 was 18 mills on the dollar. The population in 1870 was 1,418. In 1880 it was 1,341.

Penobscot County in its shape appears like many rect- angles of various size and form joined in one. Its southern section lies a little south-east of the centre of the State, its eastern extends to within about 25 miles of New Brunswick, while it also sends north- ward on a line with Penobscot River a parallelogram whose northern line continued to our eastern boundary would fall but little more than one township south of Mars Hill. Its southern line is divided about midway by the Penobscot River at a distance of some sixty miles from the southern coast-line of the State; and this river continues to be, in the main, the medial line for the entire length of the county. Within its borders are many small but few large bodies of water. Pushaw Lake, just north of Bangor, is the largest sheet wholly within this county ; Newport Pond at the western border, and Cold Stream Pond on the eastern side of Penobscot River being next in size, re- spectively 8, 7} and 6 square miles in area. At the south-eastern angle lies the Lower Schoodic group, while at the western line begin the large and numerous lakes of the West Branch of the Penobscot. The largest body of water within the county is found in Milinokett Lake, whose area is 18 square miles. The western edge of this lake lies in Piscataquis County, but five-sixths are in Penobscot. Other consider -. able rivers having some portion of their length in this county are Aroostook River, which is formed in the northern part ; the Piscata- quis River, draining the southern part of Piscataquis County; the Mattawamkeag, fed from south-eastern Aroostook ; and above all the West Branch of the Penobscot, drawing its waters from a succession of lakes in northern Piscataquis and quite from the summits of the western hills that divide Maine from Canada, and send down rills to the Connecticut and St. Lawrence. Some portions of the county are quite hilly, but the only mountains of note are the Chase group north- east of Katahdin, and belonging to the same system. In the middle portion of the county there is much slate rock, in the north-eastern portion there is granite, and in the southern, a large tract of argillo- micaceous schist.

· Penobscot County was originally included in Hancock County. The act establishing it passed the Massachusetts legislature Feb. 15, 1816. The southern boundary was fixed very much as it remains at present; but on the formation of Piscataquis County in 1838, Penob-

434

GAZETTEER OF MAINE.

scot lost 5 ranges of townships north of the lines of Dexter and Brad. ford; and the following year Aroostook County received from it the ranges of townships numbered 3, 4 and 5, north of Mattawamkeag ; and in 1843, it took ranges 6, 7 and 8, north of townships numbered 8. The area is now 2,760 square miles; and it embraces one city and 54 towns, 7 organized plantations and 42 townships. From 1814 to 1816 Bangor and Castine were half shire towns of Hancock County; but in Penobscot County, Bangor had the exclusive honor from its establishment. The population in 1870 was 75,150. In 1880 it was 70,478. The valuation in 1870 was $22,697,890. In 1880 it was $21,408,151.

Penobscot River and County were occupied, at the periods of dis- coverv and settlement, by a branch of the Abenaqui nation called Tar- ratines by the English,-of whom the Oldtown Indians are a remnant. When first known by the English they numbered more than 2,000 war- riors. About 1660 there was a destructive war between the New England Indians and the Mohawks; and tradition asserts that the Tar- ratines took part in it, but were defeated, and in 1669 were followed to the banks of the Penobscot by their victorious foes. The principal settlement of this tribe was near the mouth of the Kenduskeag. The Penobscot Indians do not appear to have entered as a tribe into the first Indian war, but were actively engaged in most of the subsequent ones. In the war of the Revolution they fortunately adhered to the American cause, and rendered it some service. Roman Catholic mis- sionaries came with the first French visitors, and mingling with the Indians, ere long converted them to that faith .*

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Gazetteer of the state of Maine, Part 53

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