USA > Maine > Gazetteer of the state of Maine > Part 62
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There are in Searsport church edifices of the 1st and 2nd Congrega- tional societies, of the 1st and 2nd Methodist societies, and of the Baptist society. The town has graded schools in the village, and sometimes a high school. The number of public school-houses is eleven, valued at $18,450. The population in 1870 was 2,282. In 1880
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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.
it was 2,323. The valuation in 1870 was $1,036,823. In 1880 it was $1,049,662. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 12 mills on the dollar.
Seaward,-a Post-Office in Kennebec County.
Sebago is situated on the north-western shore of Lake Sebago and in the western part of Cumberland County. Bridgton and and Naples lie on the north-east, Baldwin lies on the south, and Denmark and Hiram, in Oxford County, lie on the west. The early history of Sebago is blended with that of Baldwin ; the territory having been granted with the latter by Massachusetts, in 1774, to Whit- temore, Lawrence, and their associates,-the survivors of John Fitch and Company. In 1826 this territory was divided,-the northern part being incorporated under the name of Sebago. About 1000 acres from Denmark was annexed in 1830; and 400 acres have since been added from Baldwin ; but in forming Naples, in 1834, 4,700 acres were taken from Sebago. The surface of the town is very uneven, and generally rocky. It was a severe task to clear up a farm in this rough region ; but the soil was strong and repaid the industrious with abundant crops. The building and maintaining of roads among the rocky hills and the construction of bridges over its rapid streams has always been a severe tax upon the inhabitants ; but the work has been well performed. The highest eminences in Sebago are Saddleback Mountain, on the southern border, Peaked Mountain, in the eastern part, and Tiger mountain in the north-eastern. Brown's and Perley ponds,-the largest three-fourths of a mile in length-lie within town limits. On its borders are Sebago Lake, Peabody, Great Hancock, Hancock, and South-East ponds. The principal streams are North-West River, Mill Brook and Sandy Beach Brook. The chief settlement is on Mill Brook, near the centre of the town,-constituting Sebago village. The principal manufactures are long and short lumber, shooks and boots and shoes.
The town has Congregationalist, Baptist, Gen. Baptist, and Union churches. Sebago has nine public schoolhouses, valued at $1,600. The estates in 1870 were valued at $175,550. In 1880 they were valued at $183,095. The population at the same date was 803. The census of 1880 increases it to 808.
Sebago Lake-See article on Cumberland County.
Sebec is situated in the southern part of Piscataquis county, 10 miles north-east of Dover, on the Bangor and Piscataquis railway. Williamsburg and Barnard lie on the north, Milo on the east, Foxcroft on the west and Atkinson on the south. The area is 22,228 acres. There are several small ponds in town. Sebec Lake lies partly within its limits, and the outlet furnishes two excellent water- powers. The Piscataquis river forms its boundary line on the south. There are fine intervals along the streams, and many good upland farms. The principal manufacturing is on the outlet of Sebec Lake at the village. There are at this place a saw-mill producing large and small lumber, a cedar tub factory, a carriage and a woolen factory. South Sebec is the other village of the town.
The township was the eastermost of the Bowdoin College townships. In 1803, the treasurer of the college deeded 16,000 acres to Richard
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SEBEC.
Pike of Newbury Port, for which he paid 70 cents per acre. In 1804, Mr. Pike sold one-sixteenth of this to Capt. Benjamin Wyatt, and soon after, David and Charles Coffin, Mary Pike and Philip Coombs bought equal shares, and became proprietors. Capt. Ezekiel Chase was the first clear settler. He had been a Revolutionary soldier, loved to roam the forest, and had become a successful hunter. He once took four hundred dollars worth of furs at a single hunt. In 1802, he selected his lot on the Piscataquis River, and felled an opening. He bought of Vaughan and Merrick of Hallowell,-in whose township this point lay, being brought into Sebec by the act of incorporation. "In 1803, he raised his first crops, cut and stacked meadow hay, built a log cabin, and in September moved his family,-the second planted in the county." The next summer (1804) a child was born to them-Charles Vaughn Chase -- the first white child born in the county. Capt. Chase was a self taught physician, as well as soldier, hunter and farmer. He was also once honored by the Democratic party in being chosen a presidential elector. Abel Chase, a brother, was also an early settler. Among other settlers of the early period were James Lyford, Mark Trafton, Jeremiah Moulton, Peter Morrill, and W. R. Lowney, Mr. Trafton became sheriff of the county, later a military officer, and finally, a militia general. He was the father of Hon. and Rev. Mark Trafton, an eloquent and successful Methodist clergyman, and once a member of Congress. Sebec was incorporated on February 27, 1812, thus becoming the first town in the county. The warrant for the first town meeting was issued by John Whitney to James Lyford, and the meeting was held in the dwelling-house of the latter. The minister's lot was voted to Elder Asa Burnham, a Free-will Baptist, who con- tinued his religious labors as long as he had the strength,-dying in 1852. Dr. Francis Boynton settled on the place still known as Boyn- ton's Point, practising medicine, teaching school, and vocal and in- strumental music, as opportunity offered. Some of the aged will remember his red coat on the muster field, others, the smooth tones of his clarionet in religious meetings, and others still his thorough in- structions in the rude school-room. He was drowned at the rips in run- ning a raft of boards from the mill down to his farm. This occurred in 1822, when he was in the 36th year of his age.
The first store in the place, was opened by Mr. Towle, who soon took in Solomon Parsons as his partner. J. Lamson and son opened the second store ; and John and Nathaniel Bodwell, in 1823, started a hatter's shop. Later store-keepers have been Benjamin Gilman and brother,-who also engaged in lumbering ; and in 1832, J. W. Jewett opened still another store, being joined in the next year by Theodore Wyman. Henry Parsons was the first lawyer to open an office in the town. Hon. John Appleton, now chief justice of Maine, opened his first office in Sebec village in 1824. Mr. Joseph Lamson, a leading business man of Sebec, in 1852, visited California and made an exten- sive tour of the Pacific coast. Recently he has brought out the record of his observations in a neat and interesting volume, entitled " Around Cape Horn."
The religious organizations of this town are two Methodist societies, one Baptist and one Free Baptist. It has nine public schoolhouses, valued at $4,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $190,407. In 1880 it was $179,940. The population in 1870 was 964. In 1880 it was 876.
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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.
Sebec Lake, see articles on Foxcroft, Bowerbank and Sebec.
Sedgwick is situated in the south-western part of Hancock County, having Bluehill on the north-east, Brooksville on the north- west, Brooklin on the south-east, and Eggemoggin Reach (a part of Penobscot Bay) on the south-west. The area is about 14,000 acres. There are two or more ponds in the northern part of the town connected with Bagaduce River. The streams are Sargent's, Frost's Pond Stream Thurston Brook, Black Brook, Camp Stream, and Benjamin River,-all of a size to carry mills. The latter is a tide-power. Benjamin's River and Sargent's Stream each has a grist-mill and the other saw mills. Other manufactures are ship building, tanning and cooperage. Sedgwick has two companies-Eagle Brook Silver and Eggemoggin Silver- engaged in mining argentiferous galena. The latter has a capital of 8200,000, and reduction works were erected a few years since at a cost of $40,000. The villages are Sedgwick, Sargentville, and North Sed- wick. The town is about 24 miles south-westerly of Ellsworth, and is the stage line to Bucksport, which terminates at Sargentville. The town has two excellent harbors. The surface is broken and ledgy. The underlying rock is granite. A large part of the town is suitable for sheep-grazing rather than for cultivation. Along the shore of Egge- moggin Reach, from Sedwick to Sargentville, the soil is easy of culti- vation and quite productive. A large part of the occupation of the inhabitants is connected with the sea.
Sedgwick was one of six townships granted by Massachusetts in 1761 to David March and 359 others. They were to be 6 miles square, and located contiguously between the Penobscot and Union Rivers. The grantees bound themselves to settle each township with 60 Pro- testant families within six years after obtaining the king's approbation, and to fit for tillage 300 hundred acres of land, build a meeting-house, and settle a minister. In a " census of the people of this region," in 1688, two French families of eight persons were found at Naskeag Point. The first permanent settler was Andrew Black, in 1759. Four years later came Captain Goodwin Reed, John and Daniel Black, and two years after these, Reuben Gray moved in from Penobscot. His de- scendants are very numerous. In 1789, the General Court confirmed to each settler 100 acres of land. The town was incorporated the same year, being named in honor of Major Robert Sedgewick. In 1817, 5,000 acres were set off to form Brooksville; and again in 1849, about 9,000 acres were set off to form the town of Brooklin. The first minis- ter of Sedgwick was Daniel Merrill. The two churches now in the town belong to the Baptist denomination. Sedgwick has 10 public school- houses, valued at $5,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was 8197,706. In 1880 it was $188,605. The population in 1870 was 1,113. In 1880, it was 1,128.
Shapleigh, in York County, is bounded on the east by Alfred and Waterborough, on the north by Limerick and Newfield, west by Acton, and south by Sanford and Acton. The area is stated at 20,000 acres by the Maine Register and 14,735 acres by York County Atlas. Its nearest railroad connection is at Springvale on the Portland and Rochester railroad. It was called Hubbardstown for a time, but received its present name from Nicholas Shapleigh, who purchased it
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SHAPLEIGH.
from Francis Small, whose deed from the Indian sagamores included this and adjoining territory. The first settlement was made in 1772, when Simeon Emery erected a saw-mill at the foot of Mousam Pond. Settlers followed so rapidly that in 1784 there were over 40 families at this point. The town was incorporated in 1785. It then included Acton which was set off in 1830; and in 1844, a portion of the north-west corner was annexed to Newfield. In the north and north-east, plains of sandy loam yield good crops of grain. The southern and larger part of the town consists of various elevations ranging from mere swells to precipitous hills. The soil of this portion, though stony, is fertile. The roads are good and afford many pictu- resque and pleasing views. The principal trees are oak and pine. The highest elevation of land is Jo Day mountain. Little Ossipee River forms a portion of the northern boundary, and Mousam and Square ponds lie on a portion of the western line. Other ponds are Loon, Goose and Beaver. The water surface in town amounts to about 2,528 acres. Mou- sam pond contains 1,760 acres ; Square, 640 ; Loon, 128. There are saw- mills at Emery's Mills, Shapleigh Corner and North Shapleigh. The latter has also a woolen factory and a leather board factory. Prior to 1842, cider was largely manufactured in town, from which it may be inferred that the soil was favorable to orchards. Ross Corner at the east side, is one of the four villages of the town.
The Congregationalists formed a society organization in 1823, and settled Rev. Henry A. Merrill, as pastor. A church was built soon after. Rev. Amasa Loring was ordained minister in 1842, and a new meeting-house was built. He remained seven years; being followed by Rev. Levi Loring for one year in 1850 ; since which time there has been no settled minister.
The Baptists had long held meetings in private houses and barns, when, in 1781, a society was formed. Rev. Nehemiah Davis was ordained over it in 1787; but he served almost gratuitously, laboring hard upon his farm through the week. He once stated that he had traveled 300 miles barefoot to preach the gospel. The society erected a meeting-house at the corner in 1802, and a new one in 1845.
The Methodists built a meeting-house at Emery's mills in 1828. There are now in Shapleigh two Baptist and two Free Baptist churches and one Methodist church.
At a meeting of the proprietors of the township in 1778, a lot of 150 acres was assigned for the support of schools ; some years afterward the lot was sold for $1,034.18, which constitutes the local school fund. The first recorded action of the town relating to schools was in 1790, when it was voted to raise $133 for the use of schools. The town now has nine schoolhouses, and sustains for a part of the year a school called the Lindsey High-school. The school property is valued at $5,000. The town valuation in 1870 was $251,118. In 1880 it was $248,713. The population of the same date was 1,087 ; in 1880 it was 1,128. The rate of taxation for 1880 is 1} per cent in money and 2} on the highways, the latter to be worked out by the taxpayers. Among the valued citizens of the town have been Dr. William Lewis, Elias Ham, Elizur Bodwell, Alfred Hull, Darling Huntress, Simon Ross, Ivory and Levi Bragdon. The town sent its full quota to the army in the late war, and received a drawback on excess of bounty from the state. Fourteen of those were lost in the war.
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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.
Sheridan Plantation lies near the average centre of Aroostook County, 60 miles north-west of Houlton, on the stage-line from Presque Isle to Ashland. It is bounded by Castle Hill Plantation on the east, Ashland on the south, and Nashville Plantation on the west. The Aroostook River runs through the town from south-west to north-east. Little Machias Stream runs across the south-western corner. The nearest post-office is Ashland.
Sheridan was originally No. 12, Range 5, and later, Buchanan Plantation. It was organized under its present name in 1873. The population in 1870 was 69. In 1880 it was 85.
Sheepscot Bridge, a post office in Newcastle, Lincoln County.
Sherman is a flourishing town in the south-western part of Aroostook County, 38 miles south-west of Houlton, 24 miles from Mat- tawamkeag and 10 miles from Patten. This was formerly called Golden Ridge. It was incorporated under its present name January 28, 1862. Lots 18 in ranges 2 and 3 were taken from Silver Ridge February 4, 1870. The principal streams are Molunkus and the outlet of Macwahoc Lake, in the south-eastern part. The lake is 2 miles by ¿ of a mile wide. The town is generally level, having only moderate swells. A great variety of trees are found in the forests, as beech, birch, maple, hemlock, spruce, pine, cedar, elm, ash, fir, basswood, etc. The principal rock is slate ledges. The soil is loamy and productive, yielding good crops of wheat, potatoes and hay. Young as the town is, elm and maples from 10 to 25 years' growth decorate some of the streets. The general thriftiness shows itself in the neat appearance of the buildings, and the goodness of the roads. A bridge over Molunkus Stream at the village is 150 feet long, solidly built of wood and stone.
Sherman has a starch factory, with a capacity of producing 200 tons of starch annually, one grist-mill running about half the year, and two saw-mills running for an equal period. The nearest railroad station is at Mattawamkeag, 25 miles distant. The climate of this town seems favorable to longevity, since there are three inhabitants about 80 years of age, and 21 who are over 70. Sherman sent 113 men to do battle for the Union in the war of the Rebellion, losing 34.
The town has a good hall 35 by 60 feet in ground dimensions, and two stories in height. There is a public library of about 600 volumes. The Congregationalists have a good church edifice. There is a high- school sustained one or more terms in each year. The number of public schoolhouses is six ; and the entire school property is valued at 82,000. The population in 1870 was 701. In 1880 it was 798. The valuation in 1870 was $109,240. In 1880 it was $97,844. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 2 per cent.
Shirley is situated on the south-western border of Piscataquis County. It is bounded on the north by township No. 5 and by Gren- ville, east by Eliottsville, south by Monson and Blanchard, and west by East Moxie, in Somerset County. The town is made up partly of the disintegrated town of Wilson. This portion of the town was origin- ally No. 9, Range 9. For a time it was known as Fullerstown, from
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SIDNEY.
H. W. Fuller, Esq., of Augusta, who had purchased 3,000 acres of its territories from the Massachusetts Medical Society, and later nearly the whole. The surface of Shirley has many ridgy hills, especially in the southern part. These generally have an excellent soil, and are valuable for agriculture. Much of the eastern part, however, is infe- rior. On its river courses abounded a giant growth of pine and spruce. The main branch of the Piscataquis River rises in. the township on its north, flowing southward through a bog in Shirley. This bog allows of flowage; and where the river issues from it on the south is a good water-power which is improved by a saw-mill and grist-mill. The other principal streams in town are Wilson's, at the north-eastern part, and Bog Stream, in the western part. On both of these are good powers. The western part of the present Shirley, constituting the original of the township, was purchased by Messrs. Shaw and Jabez True in 1829. The latter introduced some settlers, and built a saw- mill about which the village of Shirley Mills has grown up. The first settlers were Joseph Mitchell, Eben and David Marble, who came in 1825. About the time that Mr. True began to make an opening, Capt. C. Cushman made a clearing and built a frame house in the northern part of the town ; hauling boards to cover his house on a hand sled from Monson. In 1834 the township was incorporated as the town of Shirley ; the name being that of the native place of J. Kelsey, Esq., the representative in the legislature at the time. At the first town- meeting Elder Orrin Strout was chosen town clerk, and Charles Loring, one of the select-men. In 1848, the west half of what was then the town of Wilson, lying east of Shirley, was annexed to the latter. This brought in the little village known as Shirley Corner, at little Wilson Stream, with another mill privilege, a hotel, and what is now Shirley post-office. This point is on the stage-road from Dexter to Moose- head Lake, and on the line of the proposed extension of the railroad be- tween the same points. The Huff silver mine-expected to yield a con- siderable profit-is in this town. Shirley has three public schoolhouses, valued at $1,000. The valuation in 1870 was $56,220. In 1880 it was $50,973. The population in 1876 was 206. In 1880 it was 253.
Sidney, in Kennebec County, lies on the western side of the Kennebec River north of Augusta and of a small part of Manchester. Vassalboro, on the opposite side of the river, bounds it upon the east, Waterville and West Waterville in the north, and Belgrade on the west. Messalonske, or Snow Pond, separates the northern half of the town from Belgrade on the west. The town contains about 20,000 acres of land, of which a bog in the southern part absorbs about 1,000 acres. Though there are numerous streams in town, they are small ; and the several saw and grist mills are rarely able to run through the year. Agriculture forms the almost exclusive occupation of the in- habitants. The soil is clay and clay loam for about 2 miles from the Kennebec ; from this line to Snow's Pond, about 2 miles, the surface is hilly and the soil gravelly. The principal crop is hay. The prox- imity of the Augusta market is of great advantage to the farmers of Sidney: The rock is slate formation with granite, with some limestone, etc. A notable feature of the town is the size of its forest trees. There are several small ponds, of which Ward's Pond, at the south- west of the centre, is the largest. The post-offices are Sidney, Centre
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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.
Sidney, North and West Sidney. There is no railroad in the town, but ample accommodation is afforded by the two lines of the Maine Central Railway, which pass, one along the eastern side in Vassalboro, and the other through Belgrade, on the west.
The first settlements were along the river, and were made about 1760 ; and soon after there were clearings made in the vicinity of Snow's Pond. Moses Sawtelle was one of the early settlers, and his seven grown up sons soon after began their plantations about him. A distant relative, John Sawtelle, was an early settler on the river road. The climate of Sidney seems favorable to longevity, as there are at present about 50 persons in town above seventy-five years of age.
The territory of Sidney was first a part of Vassalboro, but was set off and incorporated as an independent town in 1792. The Baptist church was probably the first in town. The Rev. Asa Wilbur was their pastor for many years, and in 1808 he became the first represent- ative of the town in the General Court of Massachusetts. The Con- gregationalists, Universalists, Friends and Methodists, each have a society and church in the town, and the Baptists and Free Baptists have two each. Sidney has nineteen school-houses, valued at $4,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $649,582. In 1880 it was. $579,- 764. The rate of taxation in 1880 was 22 cents on the dollar. The poj ulation in 1870 was 1471. By the census of 1880, it is given at 1,406.
Silver Ridge Plantation lies in the south-western part of Aroostook County. It is bounded on the north by Sherman and west by Benedicta. Kingman, on the European and North Ame- rican Railroad, 15 miles south-east, is the nearest railroad station. The principal streams are Molunkus River and the outlet of Plunket Pond, which lies on the western line, and a short section of Macwahock River at the north-eastern corner. The surface lies much in swells and ridges, but there are no high hills. The rock underlying is slate, and the soil, a gravelly loam. Hay and grain are the chief crops, and yield abundantly. The forests contain nearly every species of Maine woods. The settlement is principally along the road from Sherman to King- man. The roads are few, but quite good. There is one bridge of hemlock wood about 70 feet in length. There is one saw-mill manu- facturing long and short lumber. This township received its first settler in 1858. It was formerly the east half of No. 2, Range 5. It was organized as a plantation July 20, 1863. There are three residents near ninety years of age. The plantation has three public school- houses, valued at $250. The population in 1874 was 184. In 1880 it was 229. The valuation in 1880 was $16,662.
Simpson's Corner,-a post-office in Penobscot County.
Six Mile Falls,-a small village in Bangor, Penobscot County.
Skowhegan is a prosperous manufacturing town lying on both sides of the great bend of the Kennebec in the southern part of Somerset County, of which it is the shire town. Cornville bounds it on the north, Canaan on the east, Fairfield on the south and Norridge-
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SKOWHEGAN.
wock on the west. The surface is somewhat broken by swells and ridges, Bigelow Hill, the greatest elevation being about 500 feet in height. Slate rock generally underlies the soil, the latter being sandy loam, and quite fertile. Hay, potatoes and wool are the principal agricultural products. The water-power of the town is on the Kenne. bec, at Skowhegan Falls, where the whole volume of the river de- scends 28 feet in half a mile. An island, the head of which is at the crest of the perpendicular fall, divides the river into two channels, and serves at once as a natural pier and as a site for mills. The bottom and banks of the stream are of solid ledge, and other vast masses of rock support the dam and render it of great strength. The minimum volume of water available here in a drouth, is estimated at 110,500 cubic feet per minute for 11 hours a day, equal to 5,852 horse-powers, or sufficient for 234,000 spindles. The manufactories
NORTH CHANNEL, DAM, AT SKOWREGAN, ME.
here consist of a paper-mill, saw-mill, two sash and blind factories, two flour-mills, a wood pulp-mill, three planing-mills, a woolen-mill, an oil- cloth-factory, two axe-factories, one scythe-factory, two harness and saddlery factories, and a foundry. The town hall is a three-story brick block belonging to a corporation. The seating of the hall is 1,500 and the cost $60,000. There is a public library in the village containing upwards of 3,500 volumes. The elegant brick building con- taining the court-room and county offices was presented to the county by Hon. Abner Coburn, to induce the removal of the county capital from Norridgewock. The houses in village and county are in neat re- pair, and the roads are generally good. There is an excellent iron railroad bridge here. The highway bridges across the river are of wood, and 150 feet in length. The streets generally are adorned with trees ; and on one old street along the river are rows of elms seventy-
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