Gazetteer of the state of Maine, Part 71

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

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The feeling of the people was against the war of 1812, and few or none enlisted. In the war of the Rebellion the quota of the town was largely obtained from abroad, the bounties paid ranging from $200 to $400. Wells has honored the memory of the forty-two of her soldiers who perished in that war by a neat monument. It consists of a simple marble shaft on a granite base.

After the Revolutionary war, there was a great increase of ship- building, the vessels being mostly of less than 300 tons burthen. So many of them were captured by the French at the time of their spoli- ations that it has been thought that the loss of the town in ships was as large as its gain by ship-building.

The business of the people is chiefly agricultural. The soil, though sandy in some parts, is excellent for vegetables, and yields a good crop of grass. On Ogunquit, Webhannet and Little rivers are many mill sites, if not great powers ; and each of these streams has its mill for lumber. A considerable number of the inhabitants are interested in the fisheries. The valuation of the town in 1870 was $683,940 ; in 1880 it was $613,326. The population in 1870 was 2,773 ; and in 1880, 2,483. The rate of taxation for 1880 is one third of one per centum.

The principal business centres are Wells Village in the north-west, Ogunquit at the south, and Wells Depot in the northern part of the town,-each having a post-office. Wells Village is finely situated on a ridge overlooking the ocean. The Boston and Maine railroad passes near the latter place, and the Portsmouth, Saco and Portsmouth road has a station at Wells Depot,-each place being about 28 miles from l'ortland.

Previous to the formal gathering of a church the town had provided the preaching. Rev. John Wheelwright was one of the first ministers. In 1661 the court at York appointed Ezekiel Knight and William Hammond to conduct worship at Wells on Lord's day, "as the law of God and this jurisdiction require." This order continued about two years when the people again hired their own minister at a stipulated salary. Six ministers or religious teachers were thus employed from 1664 to 1690,-the first being Joseph Emerson, settled for two or three years His successor was a physician as well as minister ; and the next but one was Richard Martin, a schoolmaster. About this time a church and parsonage were built. For his services in the pulpit, Martin had the use of the parsonage, and 50 pounds,-payable as follows : wheat at

580

GAZETTEER OF MAINE.

4s., rye 2s. 6d., pease 4s. per bushel, pork 2}d. per pound, boards 19s. and staves 17s. per thousand. From the time of the first Indian war until 1713, the period when Wells suffered most, it is probable that there was little or no preaching. The first Congregational church of Wells was organized in 1721, and Samuel Emery was ordained the pastor. The Rev. Moses Hemingway was ordained over this church in 1759, and remained until his death at the age of 76 years in 1811. He was a graduate of Harvard, and received from it the degree of D. D. Jonathan Greenleaf, author of Ecclesiastical Sketches of Maine, was ordained over the church in 1815, remaining until 1828. He died at Brooklyn, New York, in 1855, aged 80 years. The second Con- gregational church of Wells was organized in 1831. The first pastor was Rev. Charles S. Adams.

The first Baptist Church in Wells was organized in 1793, and arose from the labors of Nathaniel Lord, a licentiate. The Wells Christian church was organized in 1809, by Elder Elias Smith. The Christian church of Wells and York, at Ogunquit, was organized in 1830. The Free-will Baptist society was formed in 1843. The Methodists formed a class of ten members in 1851, with Shadock Littlefield as leader. A neat and tasty house of worship was erected by them at Missionary Ridge in 1870. The first Universalist Society was formed in 1861. At present the active societies consist of two Congregationalist, a Free Baptist, two Methodist and two Baptist. The Union House, at Plaisted Corner, was fitted up for worship in 1868.

Wells has 14 schoolhouses, valued at $5,000, and sustains a high- school. The amount actually expended for schools in the last school year, is $3,816. It has a library of about 400 volumes. Wells is a port of delivery in Kennebunk Customs District.

Wesley lies in the interior of Washington county, 20 miles north by north-west of Machias. It is on the stage-route from the latter place to Calais. Of the settled townships, Northfield adjoins it on the south, and Crawford on the north-east. East Machias River crosses the north-western part, and several tributaries of the Machias run southward through the town. There are two or three small ponds within the town ; on the north-west border is Chain Lake, and along the south-east border lies Long Lake. The surface of the town is uneven, and there are some high elevations: The rock is granitic, and the soil stiff. Hay and potatoes are the crops chiefly cultivated. Most trees natural to the region are found in the forests. There is a shingle- mill here that manufactures 10,000 shingles a day. The roads are in fair condition ; and there is one bridge of 100 feet in length. This town was incorporated January 24, 1833. The Methodists and the Advents each have a society here. There are four public schoolhouses ; and the school property-including lands-is valued at $4,000. The po- pulation in 1870 was 336. In 1880 it was 245. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $63,829. In 1880 it was $41,684. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 3 per cent.

West Bath, in Sagadahoc county, is situated south-west of the city of Bath ; having Phipsburg east of its southern half, Brun- swick, in Cumberland county, on the west, and Harpswell on the south.

RUSSELL-RICHARDEDINPER

Church

Goddard Hall.

Dining Hall.

Hersey Hall.

Seminary Building.

WESTBROOK SEMINARY,

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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.

It is separated from Brunswick by a long arm of the sea called New Meadows River, while Winnegance Creek, and a shorter one on the south leave, as the only connection, a neck about 200 rods wide, known as the Winnegance Carrying Place,-formerly much used by the Ken- nebec Indians in their trips westward. On the south-western part of the town, a bay penetrates nearly to the centre, into the middle of which projects from the north a long promontory called Rich's Mountain. There are said to be Indian inscriptions on the rocks on the west side of this mountain.

The business centre of the town is at the mills on a tide-power on the eastern side of this bay. The tide powers in this town are estim- ated as capable, if improved, of driving sixty up-and-down saws the year round,-but little use has been made of them as yet. The Bath branch of the Maine Central railroad crosses the northern part of the town; and two highway bridges connect it with Brunswick. This town was formerly a part of Bath but was set off and incorporated in 1844. The nearest post-office is West Bath. The town has four public schoolhouses. The total school property is valued at $1,250. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $130,012. In 1880 it was $161,531. The population in 1870 was 373. In 1880 it was 315.

Westbrook is situated in the southern part of Cumberland county, Deering on the south-east separates it from Portland, Fal- mouth bounds it on the north-east, Windham and Gorham on the north-west, Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth on the south. Its terri- tory is longest from north-east to south-west, and its width is about one half its length. The area is near 15,000 acres. The surface is beautifully diversified by swells of land rather than hills. The soil is generally loamy or clayey and is usually well cultivated. The excellent markets near give it great advantages for farming and gardening; and the farm buildings give evidence of thrift. The Presumpscot river passes through the midst of the town, and, turning, forms nearly half the boundary on the south-east. The other streams are Stroudwater River, which crosses the south-western part of the town, and Duck Pond Brook in the north-east. Saccarappa is the only considerable village. It was long celebrated for its lumber business, begun in 1829 by Benj. Ingersol and others. The other localities bearing special names are Cumberland Mills, near Saccarappa, Pride's Corner in the north-eastern, and Duck Pond in the northern part of the town. At the latter is a water-power occupied by the Portland Wooden-ware Company ; at Cumberland mills is the extensive paper factory of S. D. Warren and Co. The larger factories in Saccarappa are the Westbrook Manufacturing Company, producing cotton duck and shirtings ; the Westbrook Foundry Company ; the Haskell Silk Company, producing sewing-machine twist, train and fringe silks, and the Presumpscot Mills Dye House. Other manufactures are colored, dressed and plain cotton warps, grain bags, machinery and water wheels, carriages and harnesses, boots, shoes and moccasins, tinware, leather-board, bricks, wooden boxes, box shook and dimension stuff, meal and flour. Tha Portland and Rochester railroad passes through Saccarappa, and the Portland and Ogdensburg passes between that place and Cumberland Mills adjacent. The latter place was formerly an Indian planting ground, called by the tribes Ammon-Congin, known later as "Munjoy's

ENDELL DE

JOHNAUDREW-SON.

CUMBERLAND MILLS. NEAR PORTLAND.

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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.

Mile Square," which he purchased of two sagamores. The paper factories now operated here give employment to about 800 persons.

Westbrook was formerly a part of old Falmouth, from which it was set off and incorporated as " Stroudwater " in 1814. The next year its name was changed to Westbrook, in honor of Colonel Thomas West- brook, who distinguished himself in the Indian wars. Deering was set off from Westbrook in 1871. Westbrook was for many years the home of Rev. Prof. Henry B. Smith and Miss Annie Louise Cary. Paul Akers, the sculptor, was born in this town in 1825, dying in Phila- delphia in 1861. Other persons of eminence still reside here.

Saccarappa has a flourishing Methodist church, a Congregational church which dates its organization from 1832; a Universalist and a Catholic church. There is also a Congregational church at Cumberland Mills. Westbrook has 8 public schoolhouses valued at $1,700. The amount paid for the support of schools for the year ending April 1st, 1879, was $4,296. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $3,291,- 143. In 1880 it was $1.527,880. The population in 1870 was 2,788. The census of 1880 shows it to have increased to 3,981.

Westfield Plantation, in Aroostook County, lies in the second range of townships from the New Brunswick border. It is 32 miles north of Houlton on the stage-line to Upper Aroostook. It was formed from Deerfield and Westfield Academy grants. The Presque Isle Stream (of the St. John) runs for quite a distance through the north-eastern part. Clark Brook drains the middle of the town- ship on the northern side, Young's Brook and its branches, the south- eastern quarter, and Beaver Dam Brook, the south-western quarter. The settlements are almost wholly in the north-eastern quarter, but are now overrunning this limit.

The plantation has a public schoolhouse, valued with land at $400. The population in 1870 was 76, with 17 taxable polls. In 1880 the polls numbered 29; but the population in the preliminary report of the census, is massed with other divisions. The valuation in 1870 was $20,869. In 1880 it was $34,426.

West Forks Plantation, in Somerset County, lies on the western bank of the Kennebec River, where it receives the waters of Dead River. It is bounded on the west by Pierce Pond Plantation, and on the east by the Forks Plantation from which it is separated by the Kennebec. On the western border lies Pierce Pond, extending nearly from the north to the south line of its tier of townships. Dead River forms the entire northern line. Two ponds in the southern part of the township bear the name of Otter Ponds. Between the northern one and the western line of the township begins the short Otter range of mountains. The highest elevation in the town is Churchill Hill, whose summit is about 500 fect above the plain.

Slate, granite and quartz are found in the township. The soil is loamy, yielding well of hay, potatoes, the cereals and the osculent roots. Pine, spruce, maple and ash are the chief forest trees. The manufactures of this town consist of lumber, edge-tools, cant-dogs, etc. It is the head quarters of one or more lumbering firms. The roads in this plantation are called very good. There is here a bridge across the Kennebec 200 feet in length, constructed of spruce and pine. The place

585

WESTON.

is 54 miles north by north-west of Skowhegan, on the Canada road and stage-line from Skowhegan to Quebec.

The plantation has a schoolhouse ; and the school property is valued at $500. All the able-bodied men of this plantation joined the Union forces during the war of the Rebellion, and seven were lost. The area of this township is 17,800 acres, and the wild lands are valued at $6,000. Neither population, polls, nor valuation of estates are given in the pre- liminary report of the census of 1880, nor in the state valuation report of that year.

West Gardiner is situated in the south-western part of Kennebec County. It is bounded on the east by Gardiner, north by Farmingdale and Manchester, west by Winthrop and Monmouth and south by Litchfield. Cobbossee Contee Great Pond lies on the north- western line ; and from it the Cobbossee Contce Stream flows south- ward, forming the south-western line of the town, then turning, forms the south-western line also. The territory of the town was set off from Gardiner and incorporated in 1850. In 1859 a small part of Litchfield was added. Its early history is incorporated with that of Pittston and Gardiner.

The principal manufactures of the town consist of two saw-mills and a tannery. It is about six miles from Augusta, and is on the daily stage-line from that place to South Litchfield. Farming is the principal occupation of the inhabitants, and the land is generally under good cultivation. Orcharding has also been followed with much success. There are churches of the Baptists, Free Baptists and Friends. West Gardiner has nine public schoolhouses, valued at $3,300. The valuation of real estate in 1870 was $359,029. In 1880 it was $325,220. The population in 1870 was 1,044. By the census of 1880 it was 977.

West Great Works, a village and post-office in Orono, Penobscot County.

Weston is the south-eastern town of Aroostook County. It lies on the westernmost part of Grand Lake, which separates from the soil of New Brunswick. Bancroft adjoins it on the west, and Orient on the north. It is on the stage-line between Houlton and Danforth. The nearest railway station is at the latter place, near the southern line of the town. The surface of the country is uneven, but the high- est elevation is only about 400 feet. Birch, maple, hemlock and spruce are found in abundance at all elevations. The enclosed bodies of water are Brackett, Longfellow and Sucker Brook lakes. Baskahegan River . passes through the south-western part of the town, and the Mattawam- keag across the north-west angle. The eastern part of the town has several large coves ; and a well-enclosed harbor midway of the south- ern shore affords a good steamboat landing but a short distance from the main road of the town. Granite is the most numerous rock, and the soil is a sandy loam. Potatoes, wheat and buckwheat are princi- pally cultivated, and yield well.

This town was formerly known as the Hampden Academy grant, but was incorporated under its present name March 17, 1835. William Butterfield and Dr. Otis Smith, who settled here soon after 1820, ap-

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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.

pear to have been the earliest settlers. Col. Z. A. Smith, connected with the Boston Journal, is a native of this town.

The Methodists and Free Baptists each have a church-edifice here. There is a public library of about 170 volumes. The number of public schoolhouses is four. The value of the school property is estimated at §600. The population in 1870 was 394. In 1880 it was 506. The valuation in 1870 was $49,846. In 1880 it was $52,179.

Weston's Mills, a small village in Levant, Penobscot County,-the same as South Levant Post-Office.

Westport is an island situated in Sheepscot River between Woolwich and Boothbay, in Lincoln County. It is eleven miles long, and about a mile wide. The surface is uneven, and the northern ex- . tremity terminates in a narrow headland called Squam Heights. The remains of an earth-work fortification are here to be seen by whoever is curious enough to climb the steep sides of the promontory. It was erected during the war of 1812, and bore the name Fort McDonough. At the time of the engagement between the Enterprise and Boxer, off the mouth of the river, this work was mounted by a star battery of six guns arranged to command the river with a plunging fire, and was protected by a chevaux de frise,-a barrier of fallen timber trees bris- tling with sharpened branches and pointed stakes, which ran across the island from shore to shore below the battery.

The soil of Westport is a clay loam. Fair crops of potatoes, barley, oats and wheat are readily obtained. Westport has several excellent tide powers, which are improved for mills. There are three saw-mills which do more or less work, that of the Heal Brothers being the largest. But the principal occupation of the inhabitants is on the sea. The island is connected with Woolwich by a bridge 1,350 feet long. A ferry connects it with Wiscasset at a point about three miles from the sta- tion of the Knox and Lincoln railroad.

Among the eminent citizens of former days were James McCarty, Samuel and Ezekiel Tarbox, John and Joseph Hodgdon. The Meth- odist denomination is the only one having a church edifice on the island. Westport has four public schoolhouses; the school property being valued at $2,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $180,392. In 1880 it was $100,435. The rate of taxation in 1880 was 2} per cent. The population in 1870 was 699. In 1880 it was 612.

West's Mills, a small village and post-office in Industry, Franklin County.

West Waterville is one of the northernmost towns of Kennebec County on the west of the Kennebec River. Waterville bounds it on the east, Sidney lies on the south, and Belgrade on the south and west, Fairfield, in Somerset County, on the north, and Smith- field at the north-west. McGrath Pond forms the western boundary, East Pond lies partially within the town on the north-west, and Snow Pond or Messalonske Lake, projects from the southward almost to the centre of the town. The outlet of the latter, which flows north-east to the Kennebec, supplies the power for numerous factories at the village

587

WEST WATERVILLE.

of West Waterville. On the Messalonske, immediately after it passes the Waterville road, is a beautiful cascade. The stream, which is here about seventy feet wide, after passing a dam, pitches over a precipicc of jagged slate rocks, throwing the water into several beautiful forms and collecting it again as foam and spray in a deep, dark basin between high, rocky banks, overhung by birch, maple, cedar and hemlock. The fall is forty-four feet in eight rods. It passes through a glen about one-eighth of a mile, then issues in a broad basin, falls over a ruinous dam, then flows sparkling away through the elm-shaded meadow. The western line of the Maine Central railway passes through the village,

CASCADE AT WEST WATERVILLE, ME.

where it forms a junction with the Somerset railroad, which has its termination at this place.

West Waterville is a great manufacturer of farm implements. The Dunn Edge Tool Company, incorporated in 1856, produces large num- bers of scythes, axes, hay, straw and corn-knives, and grass-hooks ; the Hubbard and Blake Manufacturing Company, and Emerson, Stevens and Company, manufacture only scythes and axes. There is also a manufactory of threshing machines and a machine shop and foundry; some of the other manufactured products are chairs and settees, car- riages, leather, tinware, boots and shoes. There is also one or more

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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.

grain-mills. Granite is the prevailing rock in town. The principal cron is hav.

West Waterville was originally a part of Winslow. Waterville, including the territory of West Waterville, was set off from that town in 1802; and the western part of the latter was set off and incorporated as West Waterville in 1873. The first settlement appears to have been made about 1780.

West Waterville has a National bank and a bank for Savings. Three church edifices, the Free Baptist, Unitarian and Baptist, stand peacefully side by side on the principal street for residences, adding to its attractions. The Methodist church is near by on another street, between the high West Waterville schoolhouse and the elegant Sol- diers' Memorial Hall of variegated stone. West Waterville has eleven public schoolhouses valued at $6,500. The rate of taxation in 1880 was two mills on the dollar. The population by the census of 1880 was 1,647. The valuation in 1880 was $651,157.

White's Corner,-a post-office in Winterport, Waldo County.

Whitefield is the north-westerly town of Lincoln County, having Jefferson on the east, Alna on the south, and on the west, Pitts- ton and Chelsea in Kennebec County, and on the north Windsor, in the same county. The length of the town from north to south is about ten miles; its width at the northern part is about five and-a-half miles and at the south about one half the latter distance. The area is very nearly 29,000 acres. It was formerly covered with dense forests of pine and oak. Agriculture is the leading business. The Sheepscot River passes through the midst of the town from north to south, and the Eastern River takes a parallel course through the western part. In 1820 there were upon the several falls upon the Sheepscot in this town nine saw-mills and four grist-mills. There are now at North Whitefield a grist-mill, two saw-mills, two shingle-mills, a planing, a stave and carding-mill, two carriage factories, a furniture and boot and shoe factory. Cooper's mills has a lumber and a shingle-mill, a flour-mill, a tinware and a boot and shoe factory. At Alna post- office there is a carriage factory. There is also a small village in the southern part called King's Mills, which is the same as Whitefield post-office.

The Plymouth proprietors claimed the territory of this town, but failed to establish their right. It was settled about 1770 by Irish Roman Catholics. At this time the town formed the western part of Ballstown, now Jefferson, to which it remained attached until 1809, when it was incorporated, being named in honor of the celebrated preacher, George Whitefield. At the close of the Revolutionary war many of the veterans of the army settled in Whitefield.

The town has three Baptist churches, and one each of the Advents? Free Baptists, Methodists, and Roman Catholics. At North White- field is St. Joseph Academy, an institution belonging to the Roman Catholics. Whitefield has sixteen public schoolhouses, valued, with other school property, at 85,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 waa $441,346. In 1880, it was 8440,974. The population in 1870 was 1,594. In 1880 it was 1,511.

589

WHITNEYVILLE.

White Rock, -a post-office in Gorham, Cumberland County.

Whiting lies in the south-eastern part of Washington County. The township has the form of a parallelogram, and is about ten miles in length, east by north-east, and some six miles in width. The prin- cipal settlements are along Orange Stream, which almost divides the town into northern and southern halves. Gardner's Lake occupies a portion of the north-eastern part, Rocky Lake lies across the middle of the northern line, and several smaller are scattered along the north- ern side of Orange Stream. Though of uneven surface, the town has no elevation higher than 200 feet. Spruce, fir and birch are the most numerous trees. Many willows were set along the roads by the early inhabitants. The soil is variable, but principally of loam and clay. Hay and potatoes are the crops principally relied upon for money. There are two saw-mills, manufacturing some 475,000 feet of lumber annually.

The town is about 17 miles north-east of Machias. It formerly bore the name of Orangetown, but was incorporated under its present name February 15, 1825. Among the early settlers were Col. John Cram and Col. Lemuel Trescott, Revolutionary soldiers, who became residents in 1784. Whiting furnished 21 men to the Union army in the war of the Rebellion, losing 6.

Both the Congregationalist and Methodists have churches here. There are five public schoolhouses, and the school property is valued at $1,600. The population in 1870 was 414. In 1880 it was 425. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $74,629. In 1880 it was $82,037. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 274 mills.

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Gazetteer of the state of Maine, Part 71

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