USA > Maine > Gazetteer of the state of Maine > Part 65
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Stow is 30 miles west by south-west of Paris, and 11 miles from Fryeburg. It is in the region which the Pequaket tribe of Indians formerly possessed. The settlement by the English was commenced in 1770. The original settlers were Isaac, James, Micah and Simeon Abbott, from Andover, Mass., William Howard, of Keene, N. H., and Samuel Farrington of Fryeburg, Me. The Abbotts obtained their land titles in part from the proprietors of Fryeburg, in part from William Steele, of Concord, N. H., and in part from Judge Phillips, of Andover Mass., and Mr. Howard obtained his from Jonathan Robinson of Fryeburg.
Stow was incorporated as a town January 28, 1833. The active religious organization is that of the Congregationalists. Stow has eight public schoolhouses, valued at $1,200. The population in 1870 was 427. In 1880 it was 401. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $104,018. In 1880 it was $128,202.
Stratton, a post-office in Franklin County.
Strickland's Ferry,-a post-office and railroad station in East Livermore, Androscoggin County.
Strong is situated near the centre of the settled portion of Franklin County. It is bounded on the east by New Vineyard, south by Farmington, west by Temple and Avon, and north by Freeman. The dimensions of the territory are 7 miles from north to south and 5 from east to west in the northern half and three in the southern. Sandy River enters the town near the middle from the west, soon taking an almost right-angled turn southward through a valley in the range of mountains running from Weld through Avon, Strong and New Vineyard. The rocks are slate, granite, and mica-schist. The soil along the river is sandy loam, and clayey loam on the uplands, and is strong and fertile. The principal crops are hay, wheat, corn, oats and potatoes. Porter and Bates ponds are the principal sheets of water, the first being one and a half miles in length by three-fourths of a mile in width. The town is very hilly; Day's Mountains, standing partly in Avon, being the highest elevation.
Strong village is nestled down among the hills just north of the bend in Sandy River, which is here crossed by an iron suspension bridge.
531
SULLIVAN.
The village contains several fine residences, and is one of the prettiest in the county. There are good powers on Sandy River, upon its north- east branch, and on the outlet of Porter's Pond. On the last are a saw-mill and clover mill. At Strong village are a machine shop, boot and shoe factory, and that of the Sandy River Cheese Company, a manufactory of clothes-pins, cane-seat chair bottoms and excelsior. The village is situated on the Sandy River narrow guage railroad from Farmington to Phillips.
The first settlements in Strong were made as early as 1784, by William Read, followed by Edward Flint, John Day, David and Joseph Humphrey, Jacob Sawyer, William Hiscock, Benjamin Dodge, Timothy Merry, Eliab Eaton, Peter Patterson, Robert McLeary, Jere- miah Burnham and a Mr. Ellsworth, all from Nobleborough, or its vicinity. Richard Clark and Joseph Kersey became residents about 1792. This township was purchased of the State of Massachusetts by an association, of whom William Read was one, and acted as their agent in the purchase and survey of the town. The inhabitants were for some years under the necessity of carrying their corn and grain to Winthrop to mill, or of using their mortars instead. This town claims to have been the birth-place of the Republican party.
The Methodists and Congregationalists each have a church in the town. Strong has seven schoolhouses, valued together with other school property at $2,225. The town valuation in 1870 was $220,794. In 1880 it was $223,525. The population in 1870 was 634. In 1880 it was 596.
Stroudwater,-a small village and post-office in Deering, Cumberland County.
Sullivan, in Hancock County, is situated on the eastern side of Taunton Bay, an extensive inlet of Frenchman's Bay. Within the limits of the town are eight islands, named as follows :- Capital A., Bean's, Drum, Preble's, Bragdon, Burnt, Clack, and Seward. The area of the town is 17,500 acres. The surface is very uneven, yet the soil is generally good. Hay and potatoes are the crops chiefly sought ; but the land in general is best suited for grazing. The principal inland sheets of water are Flander's, Morancy, Long and Round Ponds. The outlets of the first two ponds, and Gordon's and Simpson's streams, afford power for mills. Sullivan has long been noted for the first-class coasters constructed in its ship-yards, and for its immense deposits of granite and syenite, The granite contains beautiful veins of felspar green, is of superior quality, splits well, may be wrought into almost any shape, and is suitable for any building. The chief industry of the town now centres in quarrying and mining. Along the shore of Sul- livan River, and nearly parallel to it, is located the famous Sullivan lode, which is considered one of the most remarkable silver-bearing veins that has ever been discovered. On this vein several companies are operating. "The country rock in which the vein is found is a slaty quartzite, somewhat talcose, and in some places calcareous and, occasionally porphyritic." Almost every ore of silver is separated in this vein, native silver, argentite, stromeyrite, pyrargyrite, stephanite, and cerargyrite and the black sulphuret, the last predominating. There are now eleven incorporated companies owning mines in the town, most or all of them being operated. Work has been done also in five
532
GAZETTEER OF MAINE.
or more unincorporated mines. There has been completed in the vicinity a concentrating mill and smelting works for reducing silver ore.
On the various streams there are two saw-mills, two stave mills, one shingle-mill, and one grist-mill. Sullivan is 13 miles S. S. W. of Ellsworth, on the stage-line from Ellsworth to Cherryfield. A steamboat touches at Sullivan Falls three times a week.
Sullivan, while a plantation, was called New Bristol. The Indian name was Waukeag, their name for the seal. Settlements were com- menced in 1762, by Sullivan, Simpson, Bean, Gordon, Blaisdell and Card. The township had been granted to David Bean and associates in 1761, by the colonial government of Massachusetts, but the King refusing to confirm the grant, the settlers were in 1803 confirmed in the possession of 100 acres each by Massachusetts on the payment of 85. The town was incorporated in 1789 under the name of Sullivan in honor of one of the original settlers. At Waukeag are evidences of an old French settlement. In 1841, an earthen pot, containing some- what more than $400 in French coin was dug up. They bore the date of 1725. At the commencement of the Revolutionary war half the settlers moved back to York, reducing the families in the plantation from forty to twenty. Nine thousand acres of land in this town were, after its incorporation, given to Bowdoin and Williams colleges.
Sullivan furnished 80 men to the Union forces in the war of the Rebellion. The Baptists and Methodists each have a church in town. The number of public schoolhouses is six, and the school property is valued at $5,000. The valuation of real estate in 1870 was $141,954. In 1880 it was $193,477. The rate of taxation in 1880 was 1} per centum. The population in 1870 was 796. In 1880 it was 1,023.
Sumner lies on the eastern part of the middle portion of Oxford County. It is bounded by Peru on the north, Hartford on the east, Buckfield on the south, and Woodstock and Paris on the west. The greatest length of the town is north-west and south-east about 11 miles ; and its width averages nearly 5}. Through almost the whole length of the town runs the West Branch of Twenty-Mile River, and the East Branch of this river forms the eastern boundary line. Near this river at the north-east is Labrador Pond, west of the centre is Pleasant Pond, and in the south-eastern part of the town is North Pond, largest of the three, having an area of about one-third of a square mile. Smaller are Shag Pond in the north-west corner, and Little Labrador in the eastern part of the town. Black Mountain, noted for its blueberries, is an extensive elevation in the northern part ; and Spence Hills on the south-western line. Cushman's Hill, south of the centre, and Hedgehog Hill in the south-east, are also considerable elevations. The surface generally is uneven and broken, but the soil is generally productive. At Jackson Village (West Sumner post-office) are a saw-mill for long lumber, a shingle-mill, grist-mill, cooperage, etc .; and at East Sumner are saw, shingle and grist-mills, and various small manufactures. The main business of the inhabitants is agricultural, in which they have met with good success, and the town generally bears the appearance of thrift. The Fimford Falls and Buckfield Railroad touches the south-eastern part of the town, and has a station near East Sumner. The Grand Trunk railroad station at West Paris is about 8 miles from Sumner Centre.
This town was formerly one with Hartford; and these sections
533
SURRY.
bore respectively the names of East and West Butterfield. On June 13, 1798, it was separately incorporated under its present name in honor of Governor Increase Sumner. The first settler in town was Charles Bisbee, from Pembroke, Mass. The first settlement in the south-cast part was made in the same year by Increase Robinson and Noah Bosworth. Most of the first settlers came from Plymouth County, Mass., and were Revolutionary soldiers. Among the earliest were Increase and Joseph Robinson, Simeon Barrett, Noah Bosworth, Hezekiah Stetson, John Briggs, John Crockett, Benjamin Heald, Mesech Keen, Barney Jackson and Oliver Cummings. These obtained the titles to their lands from Massachusetts. Oliver Cummings, from Dunstable, Mass., struck the first blow of the axe at what is now the centre of the town. For some years the settlers were obliged to carry their grist upon their backs ten miles to a mill in Turner, being guided by a spotted line through the woods. The first grist as well as the first saw-mill in the town was erected by Increase Robinson in 1783.
The churches in Sumner are a Congregationalist, First and Second Baptist, Free Baptist and Universalist. The public schoolhouses num- ber sixteen, and the entire school property has an estimated value of $4,600. The population in 1870 was 1,170. In 1880 it was 1,014. The valuation in 1870 was $382,463. In 1880 it was $310,985.
Surry is situated on the west bank of Union River bay, in Hancock County. On the north-east it is bounded by Ellsworth, on the south-west, by Blue Hill, on the west, by Orland and Penobscot. The town has an area of about 21,025 acres. Toddy Pond forms part of the boundary between Surry and Penobscot, and on the line between Surry and Ellsworth are the two Patten ponds whose outlet is Patten Stream Fishways were constructed to these ponds in 1872, and the ponds have since been stocked with alewives and salmon. The surface of the town is considerably broken. The land generally is valuable for tillage. The most of the surface soil is so intermingled with com- minuted quartz, or siliceous sand, that cranberries grow in the grass fields. The cultivation of this crop is receiving increased attention. A large deposit of nearly pure silica in the town may prove of much value for glass and other ware. Over miles of surface on the Toddy Pond road lay, a few years ago, a bleak profusion of granite bowlders. To-day those bowlders are seen in every stage of ruin. On every hand they are smitten with decay, and here and there a patch of unworn gravel is all that remains of a once great bowlder. A few miles beyond these, is a field of immense bowlders, still uncrumbled, lying in wild confusion bowlder on bowlder,-
"The fragments of an earlier world."
The manufactories of Surry are a lumber, shingle, spool and two stave mills. Formerly there was a large business done in building small vessels, but it is now very much reduced. Surry has two mining companies, the Blue Hill Bay and the East Surry Company.
Surry was Township No. 6, in the grant to Marsh and others. It was first occupied by the French at Newbury Neck. The first English settlers were Symonds, Weymouth and James Flye. The next settlers were John Patten, a Mr. Hopkinson, Andrew Flood, Wilbrahim Swett, Matthew and James Ray, Samuel Joy, Isaac Lord, Hezekiah Coggins and Leonard Jarvis. Mr. Jarvis represented the eastern dis- trict in Congress from 1831 to 1837.
534
GAZETTEER OF MAINE.
Up to 1820, about 13,000 acres had been secured to settlers and by quiet possession titles, when Mr. Jarvis bought the remainder. In 1800, Surry included that portion of Ellsworth known as Ward 5; but in 1829 it was re-annexed to Ellsworth. There was a population of 239 as early as 1790. In 1874, a small quantity of silver coin was found ,at Weymouth Point. Surry furnished 135 men to the Union cause in the war of the Rebellion.
The Baptist, Free Baptist and Methodist denominations have churches in town. There are nine public schoolhouses, and the school property is valued at $3,400. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $209.137. In 1880 it was $177,534. The population in 1870 was 1,242. In 1880 it was 1,185.
Swan's Island Plantation, in Hancock County, is situ- ated south-west of Mount Desert Island and east of Deer Isle, being about equally distant from each. It has communication with Tremont, on Mount Desert, by boat. The soil is very rocky, but potatoes and hay yield fair crops. The rock is granite and a gray rock containing gold and silver ore. A mining company has recently erected a crush- ing-mill. Fish-barrels, oil-cloths and boats are the principal manufac- tures.
The Methodists and Baptists each have a society and preaching on the island. There are five public schoolhouses, valued with other school property, at $1,200. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $27,805. In 1880 it was $49,856 The rate of taxation in 1880 was 3} per cent. The number of polls in 1880 was 130.
Swanville is situated in the eastern part of Waldo County, 6 miles north of Belfast, on the Bangor and Belfast stage-line. It is bounded north by Monroe, east by Frankfort and Searsport, south by Belfast city, and west by Waldo and Brooks. The middle and north- ern parts of the town are quite hilly. Swan Lake (Goose Pond on the State map), in the north-eastern part is about three miles long and a quarter wide. Toddy Pond, at the north-western corner, is about one fourth of a square mile in area. In the southern part are three other ponds still smaller. There is no large village in the town. The indus- tries are chiefly farming, brick and soap-making, and quarrying paving stone.
This town was a part of the Waldo Patent, and was formerly known as the plantation of Swan. Petition was made in November, 1816, by James Leach and thirty-seven others, for incorporation as a town. The petition set forth the fact that the plantation had 100 rateable polls, 56 legal voters, and 58 soldiers enrolled in the militia; and that Mr. Sullivan, the proprietor, had appointed an agent to make convey- ance to settlers, and that many purchases had recently been made, and that the settlement was rapidly increasing. The petition was allowed, and the town incorporated February 19th, 1819.
The Methodists and Baptists have societies in Swanville, and each has a resident minister. There are six public schoolhouses, valued at $1,725. The population in 1870 was 770. In 1880 it was 703. The valuation in 1870 was $140,050. In 1880 it was $138,338.
Sweden lies in the southern part of Oxford County bordering on Bridgton in Cumberland County. Waterford forms the north-east- ern boundary, Lovell the north-western, and Fryeburg the south-west-
535
TEMPLE.
ern. The surface of the town is somewhat broken, and there are three high hills. These are Winn's in the north-eastern part, Popple, in the north-western and Black Mountain in the south-western. In the south- eastern part is Steven's Pond, about one square mile in area, with three smaller ponds connected. Keyes Pond in the northern part of the town, discharging into Kezar River, and three smaller ponds, discharg- ing into Moose Pond, form a line of ponds north and south across the midst of the town. The manufactures consists of a saw-mill for long and short lumber and shooks, and a carriage factory. The town is about 21 miles south-west of Paris, and is the terminus of the mail-line from Fryeburg.
Sweden formed a part of the grant made by Massachusetts to Cap- tain Lovewell's company in the memorable fight with the Pequaket warriors in Fryeburg. The first settler was Samuel Nevers, from Bur- lington, Mass., in 1794. In the two following years came Benjamin Webber from Bedford, Jacob Stevens, from Rowley, Andrew Wood- bury and Micah Trull, from Tewksbury, and Peter Holden, from Mal- den, Mass. Nevers and Trull, Mrs. Holden and Mrs. Woodbury were still living in January, 1857; Nevers being 91. At the age of 17 he shipped in the Rider-Rally, Captain Baldwin, a vessel fitted out in Boston during the Revolutionary struggle as a privateer, which was captured by the British brig Chatham. He was impressed into the British service, where he remained about a year ; but the vessel putting into New York, he there made his escape.
Sweden was incorporated February 26th, 1813. Its religious organ- izations are Congregationalist and Methodist. The public schoolhouses number seven. The school property is valued at $3,500. The popula- tion in 1870 was 549. In 1880 it was 474. The valuation in 1870 was $176,952. In 1880 it was $158,406.
Talmage lies in the northern part of Washington County, 30 miles from Calais, on the Houlton and Baring road. It is bounded on the north by Topsfield, east by Waite, south by Hinckley, and west by No. 6, East Division. The town is very hilly, but few or none exceed 200 feet in height above the plain, though Musquash Mountain, upon the northern line, is probably higher. The rock is of a granite charac- ter, and grayish in color. The soil is a light loam. Most of the usual farm crops are about equally cultivated. Nearly all the woods com- mon to Maine flourish in the forests. West Musquash Lake, 7 miles long and 3 wide, lies across the western border. The outlet of this pond is the principal stream. There is in the town a saw-mill for long lumber, and a shingle-mill, manufacturing about 2,000,000 of shingles annually. The nearest railroad station is at Princeton, 10 miles distant.
This town was incorporated February 8th, 1875. There is a gran- ite monument 15 feet in height to the fallen soldiers of the Union. Several caves in the side of a hill are objects of considerable interest.
The Methodists and Baptists have societies here. The Methodists have also a house of worship, recently built at a cost of $1,500. There are two public schoolhouses valued at $200. The number of polls in 1870 was 25. In 1880 there was the same number. The valuation in 1870 was $29,512. In 1880 it was $51,780.
Temple is situated in the southern part of Franklin County, between Weld and Farmington. Avon bounds it.on the north and
536
GAZETTEER OF MAINE.
Wilton on the south. The town is nearly square in form, measuring about 6 miles on either side. The middle of the town is not greatly uneven, but the base of the Blue Mountain range intrudes somewhat upon the northern border. There are two high hills in the north-east- ern part of the town, and a long elevation along the western side. Averill Mountain, a little south of the centre of the town, is the highest peak. The prevailing rock is red sandstone. The soil is loamy, and formed in a great measure from the rock. Maple, beach and birch constitute the greater part of the woods. Good crops are raised of hay, wheat, corn, potatoes, oats, beans and apples. The town is excellent for grazing, and is noted for the excellence of its sheep. Of the four con- siderable ponds in town, the largest is Farnum Pond, 2 miles long and 1 wide, and the next Drury Pond, about one-half as large. Temple Stream, rising among the mountains in Avon, runs southward across the eastern end of the town, furnishing the principal water-power. Temple Mills, situated on Temple Stream, in the south-eastern part of the town, is the principal business centre. There are here, or near by, three saw- mills, an excelsior and stave-mill, a grist-mill, and a carriage factory. Temple is 5 miles from Farmington, which furnishes its nearest rail- road communication. The streets in the vicinity of the village are well shaded with maple and elm, and pleasant residences abound.
This town was formerly known as Number One of Abbott's purchase. The first settlement was about 1796, by Joseph Holland and Samuel Briggs. They were scon followed by Thos. Russell, James Tuttle, Moses Adams, John Kenney, Jonathan Ballard, William Drury, Asa Mitchell, Samuel Lawrence, Gideon and George Staples. At the commencement of its settlement Temple was owned by Benjamin Phillips, of Boston, but was surveyed and settled under the agency of Jacob Abbott, of Brunswick, who subsequently purchased the residue of Mr. Phillip's eastern lands. The town was incorporated in 1803, taking its name from a town in New Hampshire from which many of the early settlers emigrated.
Temple has nine public schoolhouses, which, together with other school property, are valued at 82,600. The estates were, in 1870, valued at $161,981. In 1880 it was ยง160,245. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 2} per cent. The population in 1870 was 640. In 1880 it was 580.
Tennant's Harbor, a post-office in Knox County.
Thomaston is situated on St. George's River, in the eastern part of Knox County. It is bounded north and east by Rockland, west by Warren, south by Cushing and South Thomaston. The lat- ter, with Weskeag Stream, Mill River and Oyster River, are the prin- cipal streams. The surface of the town is gently undulating. The soil is clay and loam The usual crops are successfully cultivated, and there are many excellent farms. The forest trees are generally of soft wood. The Knox and Lincoln railroad runs through the town.
Thomaston village is pleasantly situated a little eastward of the great bend of the St. George's, on a bay-like expansion of the river. Along its broad, well-shaded streets, are many handsome and costly residences. The State prison is a conspicuous object, consisting of a high wall enclosing several acres of ground, and including an aban- doned lime-quarry. Its principal buildings are of brick and stone, and
537
THOMASTON.
are of form and solidity well suited to their several uses. Within its walls are manufactured boots, shoes, harnesses and carriages. The building was begun in 1824. At the village and elsewhere in the town are two grist-mills, two steam saw and planing mills, one boat- builder, three sail-lofts, nine patent lime-kilns, several ship-yards, brick- yards, etc. Lime has been manufactured here since 1734. The manu- facture of marble slabs from the lime-stone was commenced here by Mr. Dwight, in 1809, and in 1825 there were two mills and factories devoted to it, in which 200 saws were in motion.
Thomaston was the heart of the Muscongus, afterward known as the Waldo Patent. As early as 1630 a trading-house was erected by the proprietors on the eastern bank of the river, for the purpose of traffic with the natives. No attempt was made to settle it for nearly a century subsequent to that period. In order to encourage settlers, the proprietors erected in 1719-20, two strong block-houses ; and the old trading-house, situated directly in front of where the residence of Gen- eral Knox since stood, was remodeled and made into a sort of fort. They also built a double saw-mill, on a stream ever since known as Mill River, erected thirty frames for dwellings, and maintained a gar- rison of 20 men, under command of Capt. Thomas Westbrook. The Indians regarded this settlement as an unwarrantable encroachment upon their rights, and protested ; in reply to which the English as- serted that the territory had been sold to Sir William Phips, and the deed signed by Madockawando and Sheepscot John. But the Indians declared that these chiefs were not Penobscot Indians, one belonging to Machias and the other in the vicinity of Boston ; consequently, that they had disposed of what did not belong to them. Failing to per- suade or frighten the English to abandon their designs, the Indians determined on attacking the infant settlement. 'The government sent down a force of 45 men with cannon and the necessary munitions of war. On the 15th of June, 1722, the Indians made their descent upon the place, burning the saw-mill, setting fire to a sloop in the harbor, and destroying all the houses and frames that had been erected but a short time before. A vigorous assault was then made upon the block- houses, and it was with great difficulty that the garrison saved them from destruction. The Indians retired, but in the July following, re- newed the attack ; vigorously pressing the siege for 12 days. The besiegers had made considerable progress in undermining one side of the fort, quite to the alarm of the garrison, when heavy rains came on, causing the banks of the trenches to cave in upon the miners and forcing the savages to abandon the siege. The loss of the Indians in this attack was 20, and that of the garrison was but 5. On the 28th of December, 1723, they made another onslaught upon the fortress, continuing the siege for 30 days; at the end of which time Captain Westbrook, who had previously been succeeded in the command of the place by Captain Kennedy, came to the rescue, and put the Indians to flight. Another, but unsuccessful attempt was made the next year. In 1735, a company of 27 persons, by arrangement with Waldo, set- tled on St. George's River ; and in 1740 he erected a grist-mill upon the river, a proof that the settlers were raising sufficient grain to sup- ply themselves with bread. Yet harrassing conflicts with the Indians interrupted the progress of the settlement for some time after. Noth- ing here seemed permanent until the arrival of Mason Wheaton, who settled on Mill River, in 1763.
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