Gazetteer of the state of Maine, Part 59

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

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The Congregationalists, Free Baptists and Methodists each have a church in town. Richmond has thirteen schoolhouses, the total school property being valued at $7,200. Richmond Academy, incorporated in 1861, is still sustained in connection with the town high-school. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $1,242,040. In 1880 it was $1,221- 354. The population in 1870 was 2,442. In 1880 it was 2,658.

Riley Plantation forms a part of the western border of Oxford County, and is the next township north of Gilead, through which the Androscoggin River enters the State, Grafton lies on the north, Newry on the east, and Success Township in New Hampshire, on the west. Its chief mountains are Goose-Eye and Wheeler's, with Stone Mountain at the north-east on the border of Newry. Miles Notch between the latter mountain, and one north-west of it, displays some remarkable features. Youngman's Mine, in this township, is spoken of as a natural curiosity.

This plantation is wholly mountainous, except a small strip at the south-west corner, and in the middle on the branches of Sunday River. Bull Branch is the principal stream. The arable parts have a light sandy, but productive soil. The forests are principally spruce.

This locality has long been known as Riley, and is now organized as Riley Plantation. The most accessible post-office is Bethel. The valuation in 18 :0 was $5,014. In 1880 it was $18,800. In the census this plantation has been massed with Batchelder's grant, both having in 1860 a population of 32; in 1880, of 40.

Ripley is a small farming town in the north-eastern part of the southern section of Somerset County. Cambridge bounds it on the north, S . Aloaus on the south, Harmony on the west, and Dexter, in Pe-

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ROBBINSTON.

nobscot County, on the east. The surface of the town is uneven, but the soil is generally good. Main Stream, a feeder of Moose Pond, forms the boundary line between the town and Cambridge. Roger's or Ripley Pond, lying in the south-eastern part of the town, is 2 miles long by § of a mile wide. Its outlet furnishes a good water-power, which is improved by two saw-mills manufacturing long and short timber, and a grist mill. The larger part of the population of the town is in this vicinity. The nearest railroad connection is at Dexter, 4 miles distant from Ripley Village. The soil of the town is a gravelly loam. Maple, birch and beech constitute the forest trees. Hay, po- tatoes, corn, wheat and oats all yield well. The buildings through the town are generally in good repair.

Ripley sent some 30 men to the Union army in the late war, losing more than a third of this number. A marble monument has been erected to their memory.

The religious societies are Baptist, Methodist, Christian, and Chris- tian Baptist, and there is a Union church edifice. The public school- houses are five in number. and are valued at $1,200. The population in 1870 was 584. In 1880 it was 550. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $116,705. In 1880 it was $119,253. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 5 per cent, including highway tax.

Riverside,-a post-office in Kennebec County.

Robbinston lies on St. Croix River in the south-eastern part of Washington County. Calais bounds it on the north, Perry on the south and Charlotte on the west. The area is 17,800 acres. The surface of the town is quite level, but rising by a gradual slope from the river. Boyden Lake extends into the south-western part; in the northern and central parts are West Magurrewock Lake and the smaller sheets of Rand's, Goulding, Western and Eastern lakes. The outlets of these supply power for several mills. The manufactures of this town are long and short lumber, wedges, laraquins, leather and moccasins, carriages, and canned fish of various kinds. For many years Robbinston was the centreof trade for the neighboring towns. Ship-building was formerly largely carried on here, while the ports of Europe furnished ready market for this product ; but since the introduction of steam vessels the business has de- clined. The attention has now been turned more to food products. Potatoes, from the shortness of the season, mostly escape the diseases incident to longer seasons, and possess rare excellence, and accordingly are largely raised and eagerly sought for. The principal villages are Robbinston and South Robbinston. This town lies on Calais and East- port stage-line. It is 35 miles north-east of Machias. Opposite, on the eastern side of the St. Croix is St. Andrews, a considerable port and village in the British Dominions.

Robbinston was granted by Massachusetts, October 21, 1786, to Edward H. and Nathaniel J. Robbins, in honor of whom the town was named. Two families were already settled in the township when the grant was made. The proprietors soon made clearings and erected a store-house and other buildings ; and settlers came rapidly. It is said by Williamson that a post-office was established here as early as 1796, and that the first mail came

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through in September in that year. In 1810, the inhabitants petitioned. for incorporation as a town ; and appointed as a committee to present it, John Brewer, Thomas Vose, John Balkham, Obadiah Allen, Abel Brooks, Job Jonson and Thaddeus Sibly which petition was granted, and the required act passed, February 18, 1811.

A meeting-house was built here in 1817, and in the following year Rev. Daniel Lovejoy was settled by the Congregationalists. The society still flourishes ; and there are now also societies of the Baptists and Methodists. The town has six public schoolhouses ; and the school property is valued at $2,500. The population in 1870 was 926. In 1880 it was 910. The valuation in 1870 was $127,030. In 1880 it was $111,694.

Rockabema,-a post-office and a lake in Moro Plantation, Aroostook County.

Rockland, a city, and the shire town of Knox County, is situated on Rockland Bay, on the western side of Penobscot Bay. Its harbor is enclosed by two headlands, Jameson's Point on the north and the long projection of Thomaston, terminating in Owl's Head, on the south. The city, being located on level land, is better seen from the neighboring headlands and the hills in the rear than from the ap- proaches of the harbor. The surface of the town is rough and broken, low near the shore, but in the western part of the town rising in a chain of hills extending northward from Thomaston, and ending in the Camden mountains. The environs abound in picturesque hill and marine scenery. The north-west is occupied by an extensive meadow. Limestone is the prevailing rock. The soil is generally clay or loam. Among the forest trees the red oak is numerous. The streets of the city proper are extensively shaded with elm and rock-maple. The only considerable sheet of water is Chickawaukie pond, lying partly in Camden, which, by means of an aqueduct, supplies the city with ex- cellent water.

Rockland has three or more ship-yards, one marine railway, five sail-lofts, two boat-builders, three grain mills, two foundries, three car- riage factories, six lumber mills, two machine shops, three cooperies, a tannery, twelve lime manufacturers, four granite and marble works, two boot and shoe factories, four printing-offices, etc. Formerly ship- building was the leading industry, but the lime business has now out- grown it. In 1854, Rockland ship-yards sent out eleven ships, three barks, six brigs, and four schooners,-their total tonnage being 17,365 tons. The " Red Jacket," registering 2,500 tons, was built here in 1853, being one of the largest and finest vessels ever sent out from our ports. She made the quickest passage across the Atlantic ever made by a sailing vessel, and the quickest from Australia to Liverpool and back. In 1858 there were twelve lime quarries in operation, requiring 125 kilns of the old style to reduce the rock, turning out about 900,000 casks, upwards of 300 vessels being employed in conveying them to market. The amount now produced is 1,200,000 casks annually, the lime industry employing about 1,000 men. Rockland is a port of entry in the Waldoboro district. The Knox and Lincoln railroad connects it with Bath and the Maine Central railroad.

This town was first visited by John Lermond and his two brothers

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ROCKLAND.

from Upper St. George (now Warren) ; who, in 1767, built their camp and got out a cargo of oak staves and pine lumber. From him the place obtained its early name of Lermond's Cove. Its Indian name was Catawamteak, signifying "great landing place." Lermond did not stay, and the town was not permanently settled until about 1769, when the following persons with families took up their abode in the locality, viz .: Josiah Tolman, Jonathan Spear, David Watson, James Fales, John Lindsay, Constant Rankin, Jonathan Smith and John Godding. These all erected log huts, and commenced clearing up and cultivating their lots. John Ulmer, of Waldoboro', moved here in 1795, and began the manufacture of lime, in which business he was the pioneer.

The growth of the place was slow, and in 1795 the dwelling of John Lindsay was the only house where the city now stands. The territory was included in Thomaston, and after that town was incorporated, the settlement on Lermond's Cove was known as Shore Village. On the establishment of a post-office here, about 1820, it took the name of East Thomaston ; and on the division of the parent town in 1848, Rockland was incorporated under this name. The name was changed to Rock- land in 1850, and in 1853 it obtained a city charter.

Rockland has several tasteful and substantial public buildings. The post-office is a handsome and spacious structure of St. George's granite, built a few years since at a cost, including grounds and furniture, of $142,000. The county court-house, erected in 1874, cost $80,000. The Farwell building is another prominent, though not a public edifice, erected in 1871. Among the eminent citizens of Rockland may be mentioned Robert and Charles Crockett, Timothy Williams, and Gen- eral Hiram G. Berry. The latter, after having made a high reputation as a skilful officer, fell while leading his division on the bloody field of Chancellorsville. A colossal statue of him in marble by Simmons, on a handsome pedestal, keeps guard over his resting place in the city of his birth and residence.

The Rockland Savings Bank at the close of 1879, held deposits and. profits to the amount of $283,885.21. There are three banks of dis- count and circulation. The Lime Rock National Bank has a capital of $105,000. The North National Bank has a capital of $100,000. The Rockland National Bank has a capital of $150,000. The city has three newspapers and a sheet devoted to the interests of hotels. The latter is entitled the "Hotel Register and Livery Journal," and is published ever Mondav. The Rockland Free Press, published every Wednesday, is a valuable city weekly of Republican politics. The Rock- land Gazette, is independent in politics, and an entertaining and useful paper. The Rockland Courier, also independent, fills an im- portant place in the city and country. The Rockland Opinion, is a very positively Democratic sheet, outspoken and vigorous on public questions, and a successful news-gatherer. There is a public library containing 3,500 volumes.

The churches of the city consist of two Baptist, one each of the. Free Baptists, Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Methodists, Roman. Catholics and Universalists. The last was built in 1876, at a cost of $26,000. There are three fine schoolhouses in the city proper, where the schools are graded. The number of public schoolhouses in the entire city is eleven. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $3,419,-

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355. In 1880 it was $2,951,019. The rate of taxation in the latter year was three per cent. The population in 1870 was 7,074. In 1880 it was 7,599.

Rockport, a post-office and village in Camden, Knox County.

Rockville, a post-office and small village in Camden, Knox County.

Rome is situated in the north-westerly part of Kennebec County, 19 miles from Augusta, and 16 miles from Farmington. Vienna lies on the west, Mount Vernon on the west and south, Belgrade on the south and east ; a portion of Smithfield, in Somerset County, lies on the east of the northern part, and Mercer on the north, and New Sharon in Franklin County on the west of the northern portion. Long Pond, in the southern portion, Great Pond at the south-east, and North Pond at the north-east, take up nearly half the surface of the town- ship. It was settled about 1780. Among the early inhabitants were Benjamin Furbush, Trip Mosher, Stephen Philbrick, Stabard Turner, and Joseph Halbo. These obtained their titles to their lands of Charles Vaughan, R. G. Shaw, Renel Williams. It was first called West Pond Plantation, but was incorporated under its present name in 1804. Rome sent into the war of the Rebellion 103, and lost about 40. The town is much broken by hills and valleys, but furnishes excellent grazing, and has some superior farms. The principal rock is granite, and the soil in general is gravelly. There are two post-offices-Rome, near the centre of the town, and Belgrade Mills, at the south-east. The principal manufactures are a saw-mill and a grist-mill.

The Baptists and the Adventists each have a society and a church in the town. Rome has seven schoolhouses, valued at $1,400. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $149,731. In 1880 it was $129,857. The rate of taxation in 1880 is stated as being .033 on one dollar. The population in 1870 was 725. In 1880, the census gave it 606.

Ross' Corners, a post-office in York County.

Round Pond, a post-office in Lincoln County.

Roxbury lies in the north-eastern part of the middle section of Oxford County, adjoining Franklin County. Byron bounds it on the north-west, Andover on the south-west, and Rumford and Mexico and Carthage on the south. Ellis Pond, the largest sheet of water, lies in the north-west corner, having Ellis River as an outlet. Swift River runs southward across the eastern part of the town. Old Turk is the highest of the several mountains, having an elevation of 1,436 feet. The eastern part of the town is largely occupied by a group of mountains, of which the most notable are Bear-on the border line -with Walker, Cave and Bunker mountains following to the river. In the north-east, Noisy Brook winds around the base of another to the river. In the south side of the middle of the town two mountains form the noted Roxbury Notch. Ellis Falls, in Andover, are near the western line of this town. The rock is chiefly granite. The soil of

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Roxbury is generally a gravelly loam, with some good low intervals. A tract in the western part of the town, and another extending in irregular form from the centre to the northern and eastern borders, are comparatively level. Pine, poplar, birch and maple are the principal forest trees. Much hay is raised here, finding a sale with the lumber- men ; and considerable stock is kept also. The largest manufactory is a shoe shop, where one case of shoes a day is made. The buildings are not generally kept in the best repair, but the roads are of average quality. The nearest railroad stations are in Woodstock and Bethel, -- several about 20 miles distant. The town is on the stage-line from Mexico to Byron.

Roxbury-formerly No. 7-was incorporated March 17, 1835. The town sent 16 men to aid in the war for the Union, of whom 3 were lost. There are three public schoolhouses,-and the school property is valued at $400. The population in 1870 was 162. In 1880 it was 175. The valuation in 1870 was $48,856. In 1880 it was $23,201.

Rumford lies in the northern part of the middle section of Oxford County, having Andover, Roxbury and Mexico on the north- west, north and north-east, Peru directly east, Bethel, and Milton and Franklin plantations on the south and Newry on the west. The An- droscoggin River runs north-eastward through the southern part of the town, Ellis River comes down to it through the western part, Swift River in the eastern part, and Concord River from the south enter the Androscoggin at Rumford Point. In the southern half of the town and in the extreme north are mountains ; but between these the surface is generally level. The most important elevations are White Cap (600 feet in height) and Black Mountain, at the north, and Mount Heming- way at the extreme south. The northern mountains especially are noted for their immense crop of blueberries. The rock in the town is chiefly granite. The soil, in general, is sandy. Birch, maple, poplar and pine trees constitute the forests. Wheat, corn, oats and potatoes are the crops chiefly cultivated, and yield well. The principal village is East Rumford on the Androscoggin in the eastern part of the town. There are here three saw-mills manufacturing long and short lumber, a shovel- handle factory, a grist-mill, a cheese and a starch factory. On or near Concord River (Rumford Post-Office) are saw, grist and shingle-mills. At this and other points are the other manufactories common to villages. The public and private buildings are neat in their appearance, and the public roads are generally very good. Other Post-Offices are North, East, Rumford Centre and Point. The nearest railroad stations are those in Bethel and Woodstock. The stage-route from Bryant's Pond on the Grand Trunk railroad to Andover is through this town.

About 3 miles above Rumford Point Village is a paint mine,- formed by deposit from a spring of the ochreous red oxide of iron. Near this is considerable deposit of iron ore. On the Alonzo Holt farm, black lead or plumbago has been found in considerable quantities. Lime stone abounds in several places, but more largely at Rumford Falls. These falls are in the Androscoggin River in the eastern part of the town, and form the grandest cataract in New England. Here the whole volume of the river leaps over abrupt and craggy ledges of granite, dashing the spray far into the air. At present there are three or four pitches at this place, but anciently there must have been a dc-

UPPER FALLS, RUMFORD, ME.

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RUMFORD.

scent of greater magnitude ; for large holes peculiar to falls are found high in the rocky banks, far above where the waters have run within the knowledge of man. The whole pitch is from 160 to 170 feet. The principal one has a perpendicular descent of 84 feet, somewhat broken by rocks near the middle of the stream. In 1833, a stone flume was built at the head of this fall to divert a portion of the water to mills. After its completion, Mr. Nathan Knapp, one of the proprietors, stepped upon the wall to see if it was tight,-when 30 feet of it were forced over by the water, and he was precipitated to the base of the fall, and drowned. A few years since a steamboat was placed in this river, to run between the falls and Canton, where it connected with the Buck- field and Rumford railroad.

This township was granted by Massachusetts in 1779 to Timothy Walker, jr., and his associates, of Concord, N. H., to make up losses which they and their ancestors sustained in controversy with the town

LOWER FALLS, RUMFORD, ME.

of Bow, growing out of the purchase of Concord. The township was at first named New Pennacook. The pioneers were Jonathan Keyes and his son Francis, who arrived from Massachusetts in June, 1782. A few years later came Philip and David Abbott, Jacob, Benjamin and David Farnum, Benjamin Lufkin and wife, Stephen Putnam and wife, and John, Daniel and Kimball Martin,-these coming principally from Concord, N. H. The settlement was incorporated as Rumford in February, 1800. There are in the town Methodist, Congregationalist, Universalist and two Union church edifices Rumford has a good high-

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school ; and there are 13 public schoolhouses. The school property is valued at $3,000. The population in 1870 was 1,212. In 1880 it was 1,006. The valuation in 1870 was $380,854. In 1880 it was $351,119. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 2 mills on a dollar.

Sabattus,-a village, with Post-Office and railroad station at the joined corners of Webster, Wales, Greene and Lewiston, in An- droscoggin County.

Sabino Peninsula, the site of the Popham colony. See articles on Sagadahoe County and Phipsburg.

Saccarappa, a village with railroad station and post-office in Westbrook, Cumberland County.

Saco, in York County, was granted in 1630, to Thomas Lewis and Richard Bonython, by the Plymouth Company, though the latter had, in 1622, granted nearly the whole territory between this and the Kennebec River, to Mason and Gorges. The tract granted to Lewis and Bonython, extended four miles along the sea in a straight line, and back into the country eight miles. The limits, as surveyed by the commissioners appointed by Massachusetts, in 1659, commenced at the mouth of Little River and run on a north-west line, leaving about 3,000 acres in Scarborough that belonged to the original patent. This grant was also over-lapped by the " Plough Patent," issued the same year. The settlement on this grant with that on the other side of the river was known as Winter Harbor. In 1653, it was organized as Saco, and in 1659, began to be represented in General Court. In 1719, it was incorporated as Biddeford, being the fourth town in Maine; in 1762 it received a separate incorporation, with all the rights of a town ex- cept that of sending a representative to the General Assembly. This incorporation was under the name of Pepperellborough, in honor of Sir William Pepperell, then recently deceased, who had been a large proprietor. In 1805, by act of Legislature, its name was changed to Saco; and in 1867 it became a city. The first mayor was Joseph Hobson. The name, Saco, is of Indian origin. The river separates the city from Biddeford on the south-west, Scarborough bounds it on the north-east, on the west and north-west is Buxton, and Old Orchard Beach forms its junction with the sea on the east. The area is about 17,500 acres. For many years the habitations were located near the sea, at Old Orchard Beach and toward the mouth of the river. Rich- ard Vines was the founder of the settlements in this vicinity, having himself wintered at the mouth of the river, in 1616-17. Among the early inhabitants were Scammans, Edgecombs, Townsends, Youngs, Sharps, Banks, Sands, and Googins. There were a considerable num- ber of respectable Scotch immigrants from the northern part of Ire- land, who came over about 1718, and after. Captain Scamman and persons employed at the mill, with their families, were all that were settled about the falls until 1731. In 1680, Benjamin Blackman pur- chased 100 acres of land including the mill privileges on the east side of the Saco Falls, and built a saw-mill.

During the year 1675, the first year of the first Indian war, Major Phillips on the Biddeford side of the river was attacked, and success-

Cho Vo Wachten

BOSTON & MAINE RAILROAD BRIDGE, SACO, ME.

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fully defended. About the same time, the house of John Bonython, in Saco, was burned, but the family had escaped. The settlers about the falls soon retired to near the mouth of the river, and all the mills and houses above were destroyed by the Indians. Captain Wincoln, and others of Piscataqua, coming soon after to aid their neighbors of the Saco, were discovered by some of the Indians, and fired upon. Informed of the approach of the English, about 150 savages rushed out of the woods toward them, as they landed on the beach near Winter Harbor. During the skirmish, Wincoln and his men found protection behind a pile of shingle-bolts; and, with this advantage, they soon drove their assailants from the ground, inflicting upon them a consid- erable loss. Eleven of the inhabitants of Winter Harbor set out to aid their friends, whose presence and danger had been announced by the firing; but a body of Indians lay in ambush on their road, and shot them all down at a single discharge. In 1676, the house of Thomas Rogers, near Goosefare, was burned. In 1688, during the second war, some of the Indians on the river having uttered alarm- ing threats, sixteen of those who had been most active in the recent war, were seized and taken to Boston, but without averting the threat- ened war. In April, 1689, the savages commenced hostilities, and the family of Humphrey Scamman and others were carried into captivity. Most of the men were absent from the fort when the alarm was given there, and the women immediately arrayed themselves in male apparel, and stalked about the fort, thus deceiving the skulking savages until the men got in from their work. Again from 1702 to 1710, Indian hostilities prevailed. About 1713, the inhabitants began to. return to their homes ; and the settlement prospered until 1723, when another Indian war broke out, lasting three years. There were at this time besides Fort Mary, fourteen garrisons along the river from the shore to the falls, most of them being in Saco. One of the captives during the first summer of this war was Mary, daughter of Captain Hum- phrey Scammon, a girl eight or nine years of age. Pleased with her brightness the governor of Canada took her into his family, and edu- cated her carefully in the Roman Catholic faith. She finally married a French gentleman of Quebec, of good estate, resisting all solicita- tions to return to her native place.

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Gazetteer of the state of Maine, Part 59

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