USA > Maine > Gazetteer of the state of Maine > Part 72
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Whitneyville is a long narrow town on the Machias River in the southern part of Washington County. It is bounded on the east by Marshfield and Machias, and west by Jonesboro' and Centreville. It is above eleven miles in length, while its greatest width is scarcely two miles. The surface is uneven, but Pope's Ledge, about 300 feet in height, is the greatest elevation. The trees common to the region are found in the forests ; and about the public ways are many of elm, juniper, etc. The rock is various, a portion being granitic. The soil is clay and sandy loam. Potatoes, wheat and hay are the leading crops. On the Machias River in this town are three saw-mills, which manu- facture large quantities of lumber. There is also a prosperous carriage factory. A freight railroad, some eight miles in length, connects the village with Machiasport, where the products of the mills are trans- ferred to vessels. It is also on the Bangor and Calais stage-line. The roads are in general very good. There is a bridge across the Machias here 200 feet in length.
Whitneyville was formerly a part of Machias, but was set off and incorporated February 10, 1845. Among the valued citizens have been James Miller, S. B. Lowell and Nathan Bacheller. The town sent 35 men'into the Union army during the war of the Rebellion, of which number 10 were lost.
There are Methodist and Congregationalist societies here, the last having a church edifice. The number of public schoolhouses is one.
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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.
The school property is valued at $2,500. The population in 1870 was 560. In 1880 it was 492. The valuation in 1870 was $111,264. In 1880 it was 872,671. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 2175 per cent.
Williamsburg is situated in the southern part of Piscata- quis County, 17 miles north-east of Dover. It has the Katahdin Iron Mines on the north, Brownville on the east, Barnard on the west and Sebec on the south. The surface is uneven and in the northern part is mostly uncleared. Greenleaf Hill is the highest elevation. The south- ern portion is fair farming land. The town is principally noted for its fair roofing slate. Only one quarry is worked at present. Its streams are the west branch of Pleasant River, Roaring Brook and Whet- stone Brook. Each of these has good mill privileges, and upon the latter a saw-mill and shingle machine have been erected.
Mr. William Dodd of Boston early purchased this township from the State, and from his Christian name comes the name of the town. John Crommet settled in the part near Brownville as early as 1808, Moses Head in 1810, and Moses Greenleaf, Mr. Dodd's agent, probably in the same time. Williamsburg has a noted pre-eminence in one re- spect, for in it the first map of Maine was plotted, and the first book of the county written. The work was Greenleaf's "Statistics of Maine," issued as early as 1816, intended to explain his map. This book he afterward enlarged and amended, issuing it in 1829 as the " Survey of Maine." The first mentioned book had 154 pages, the last, 468. He issued a new map, enlarged and improved, at the same time with the latter volume. Col. John F. Dunning and Captain Adams are especially remembered among the respected citizens of the town.
The " Piscataquis Central Slate Company's " quarries employ more men then any other enterprise in town.
The inhabitants of the township were organized in 1819 as Wil- liamsburg Plantation, Eben. Greenleaf being chosen plantation clerk. In the following year it was incorporated as a town, being the second town incorporated by the first legislature of the new State of Maine. The town was divided in 1834, the western portion becoming the town of Barnard.
A small Congregational church was organized here in 1830. The town sent 12 men as soldiers in the war for the Union, of which two were lost. Williamsburg has three public schoolhouses, valued at $250. The valuation of the town in 1870 was $29,909. In 1880 it was $28,275. The rate of taxation in 1880 was one cent. and three mills. The population in 1870 was 176. In 1880 it was 444.
Wilson is an extinct town, now a part of Shirley, on the south- western border of Piscataquis County. Its history and description constitute a homogeneous part of that of Shirley, and may be found under that head.
Wilson's Mills, a post-office in Lincoln plantation, Oxford Co.
Wilton it situated in the southern part of Franklin County, having Farmington on the east, Carthage on the west, Temple on the north, and Jay on the south. The town is about ten miles long from
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WILTON.
east to west, and seven wide. The principal sheet of water is Wilson's Pond, about 1} square miles in area, situated midway of the northern part. In the northern part is North Pond, nearly as large as the last ; and in the south-east is Pease Pond, of smaller size. The soil of the town is generally fertile, and the usual forest trees flourish. The busi- ness centres of the town are Wilton and East Wilton. The last has a station of the Farmington branch of the Maine Central railroad ; the former has a station about one and one-half miles distant. The chief occupation of the inhabitants is farming; and the well-cultivated appearance of the farms and the neatness and good repair of the buildings indicate thrift.
At East Wilton the largest manufactories are the Moosehead Mills and the Holt scythe-factory. The manufactures are woolens, scythes, the lightning hay-cutter, moccasins, harnesses, tinware, packed fruits, etc. The chief manufacturies at Wilton village are the Furnel woolen factories, a superior flour-mill, the Wilton Cheese Factory, and a tan- nery. The manufactures are furniture, leather, boots, cloths (meltons, cassimeres and repellants), shingles, boards, scythe-sharpeners, potash, flour and meal, cheese, canned corn (2 factories), etc. East Wilton is a beautiful village, the dwellings being scattered along a street at the base of a grassy hill, upon whose top waves a considerable forest ; while below, on the other side of the road, flows quietly the spreading stream which carries the mills. Wilton Village, two or three miles distant, occupies the bottom and side of a picturesque valley, with a wild wood on the opposite hillside ; and between this and the principal street for a fourth of a mile rushes Wilson's Stream, which furnishes the power of both villages. This is the outlet of Wilson's Pond ; which occupies so elcvated a position that the stream furnishes nine powers within the town. The pond according to the town plan, con- tains an area of 190 acres ; while at one point it is over 175 feet in depth. This large body of water retains the heat to such a degree that there is no trouble with ice at the mills near the pond. In a com- manding position stands the noble building of the Wilton Academy, of the few remaining of these valuable institutions.
The township which is now Wilton was granted to Captain Tyng and company, of Concord, Mass., for an excursion against the Indian enemy, in which a dangerous savage called Harry was killed. In 1785 the township was explored by Solomon Adams and others, located by Samuel Titcomb, surveyor for the State, and lotted by Mr. Adams in 1787. The explorers called it Harrytown, in memory of the ill-fated Indian ; but the first settler called it Tyngtown, in honor of the grantee. In 1790, Samuel Butterfield settled in Wilton and built a saw and grist- mill at East Wilton. At the same period Isaac Brown became a res- ident ; and after these soon followed William Walker, Ammial Clough, Joseph Webster, Silas Gould, Ebenezer Eaton, Josiah Porham, Ebe- nezer Brown, Josiah Perley and Josiah Blake. Henry Butterfield, who, at sixteen years of age, cut the first tree within the limits of the town, as well as Captain Hammon Brown, the first male child born in town, were a few years since, still alive and resident in Wilton,-whose territory they had seen to change from a wilderness to cultivated farms and busy villages.
At Wilton village are a church belonging to the Congregationalists, one to the Methodists, and one to the Universalists. At East Wilton
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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.
are a Methodist, Free Baptist, Congregational Union, and Universalist church. Wilton has thirteen public schoolhouses, which, together with other school property, are valued at $15,000. The valuation of the town in 1870 was 8595,260. In 1880 it was $638, 797. The popula- tion in 1870 was 1,906. In 1880 it was 1,739.
Windham, in Cumberland County, at its northern angle joins Raymond, forms for a short distance the eastern shore of Jordan Bay and Lake Sebago, and thence extends down the Presumpscot River to Westbrook. Jordan Bay, Standish, and Gorham bound it on the west ; a part of Westbrook, with Falmouth lie on the south-east ; and Gray bounds it on the north-west. Little Sebago Lake, for about one-third its length, lies in the north-eastern part. Near this on the south is Collins Pond ; and Little Pond lies about a mile distant on the north ; south-west of this about one mile distant, is the Basin of Lake Sebago. On the eastern line of the town, midway of its length, lies Duck Pond about two miles to the north. The streams are Outlet Brook, by which Little Sebago discharges into the Basin ; Ditch Brook, connecting Collins Pond with Pleasant River ; Black Brook, Caller- wright Brook in the southern portion of the town; and Inkhorn Brook, at the southern angle of the town. Pleasant River, which passes through the middle of the town southward, is the largest stream except Presumpscot River, which forms the western boundary. Five powers on the Presumpscot River and two or more on Pleasant River, are improved by mills. At Great Falls are a saw-mill and a barrel factory ; at Gambo Falls are the numerous buildings of the Oriental Powder Company ; at Mallison Falls is a woolen-mill ; and at Pope- ville, on Little River are a woolen and felt-mill. Other manufactures are, boots and shoes, lumber in its various forms, meal and flour, wood-paper board, carriages, harnesses, coffins, clothing, wooden-ware, etc.
In 1814, an artificial outlet which had been made at the south end of Little Sebago Pond became so enlarged that great quantities of the water of the pond escaped, carrying away mills and bridges and doing much damage along Little and Presumpscot rivers.
The grant of this township was made in 1734 to Abraham Howard, Joseph Blaney, and fifty-eight other citizens of Marblehead. The township consequently took the name of New Marblehead. In 1762 it was incorporated as Windham, the name being the same as that of a town in Norfolk County, England. Capt. Thomas Chute felled the first tree, and in 1737 built of logs the first house on the banks of the Presumpscot. A meeting-house was erected in 1740. The surface of the town is uneven, though there are no lofty hills. The soil is loamy and easily worked. In the southern part are inexhaustible quarries of granite. Perhaps it was this part of the town that Whitefield looked upon late in the autumn of 1744 or 1745, and exclaimed, "Pray where do they bury their dead ?"
In 1744 a substantial fort was erected in the settlement, and fur- nished at the expense of the inhabitants with two swivel guns and the necessary ammunition. From 1745 to 1751 the inhabitants lived within its walls. It was a period of great suffering and danger ; yet dur- ing this time none of the inhabitants lost their lives by the Indians, though William Maxfield was wounded, and William and Joseph
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WINDSOR.
Knight, Wiliam Bolton and Seth Webb were taken and held prisoners for a short time. After a respite of peace and prosperity for three years, Indian hostilities again commenced. Beside the defense of the fort, many dwelling-houses had now been prepared as garrisons. The last and most important attack upon Windham was made in May 14th, 1756, by about twenty savages led by Poland, the chief of the Rocko- meko tribe. On the morning of that day, Ezra Brown and Ephraim Winship, accompanied by four men and four boys as a guard, left the fort for the purpose of working on Brown's lot. In passing through a wood, Brown and Winship being some distance in advance, were fired upon by ambushed Indians ; Brown being shot dead and Winship severely wounded, and both scalped. Four of the party in the rear hastened back to the fort, while the others, Abraham Anderson, Stephen Manchester, Timothy Cloudman, and Gershom Winship, con- tinued on to avenge their companions or perish in the attempt. As they approached the spot, the Indians sprang behind the trees, the white men also dropped behind some logs, and the conflict began. As the result, Poland, the chief, and two of his followers, were killed by our four Spartan pioneers. After this, the people of Windham had peace and prospered until the Revolutionary war.
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. With the zeal which springs from a consciousness of being engaged in a just cause, Windham took all necessary measures to prepare her citizens at home or abroad. Officers were chosen to impart military instruction ; ammunition and accoutrements were provided ; and many of his townsmen served under Capt. Richard Mayberry through the campaign of 1777, till the surrender of Burgoyne in October of that year. No less than seventy-two men from Windham served in the Federal armies, and $2,280 in silver money were given by the town for the prosecution of the war. The first church was organized in 1743, when John Wight was ordained as pastor. The next pastor was Peter Thatcher Smith.
Windham has produced quite a number of eminent persons. Among these may be mentioned John A. Andrews, distinguished as governor of Massachusetts ; and Mrs. Abby Goold Woolson, favorably known as an author and lecturer. Her father, Hon. William Goold, still a resident, has rendered useful service to the historical interests of the State.
Windham has two Congregational churches, one Free Baptist, one Universalist, one Methodist, one Friends, and one Union church. The number of public schoolhouses is nineteen, valued at $7,800. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $1,014,877. In 1880 it was $819,839. The population at the same date was 2,428. The census of 1880 places it at 2,313.
Windsor is one of the eastermost towns of Kennebec County. It is bounded by China on the north, Augusta on the west, Whitefield in Lincoln County on the south, and Somerville in the same county on the east. The town is a square in its form. Its surface is hilly; and from some of its elevations noble views are obtained. The principal rock is granite; the soil is a clay loam, and the largest crop is hay.
Three-mile Pond projects a considerable portion of its arc into the town at the north-west, Mud Pond lies at the middle of the western side, and Moody and Longfellow ponds, lie in the south-western part, Savade and Fox ponds at the north-east, and Donnell Pond a little
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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.
south of the centre of the town. The principal stream is the western branch of the Sheepscot, which passes through the eastern part of the town from north to south, affording power for a grist-mill, lumber, shingle, and carding-mills. Leather is the only other manufacture of note. At the period of its settlement, the town was remarkable for the quantity and quality of its pine, oak, hemlock, and other woods. The land is fertile and well-cultivated. The town is about 10 miles from the Kennebec, on the stage-line from Augusta to Belfast. The territory of the town belonged to the Plymouth Patent. The first settlement was commenced in 1790 by Walter Dockindoff, Thomas Labalister, Prince Keen, Samuel Pierce, John Linn, Dr. Stephen Bar- ton, Benjamin and Joseph Hilton, Joseph Linscott, and Joseph Trask. The town incorporation was in 1809 under the name of Malta. It was changed to Gerry in 1820, and to the present one in 1822. Joseph Trask, Jr., born October 30th, 1790, was the first native citizen of Windsor. In the history of the town the murder of Paul Chadwick, a surveyor for the proprietors in 1809, by some squatters disguised as Indians, is an important incident. Several arrests were made ; and though an attack upon the jail was attempted by an armed band of disguised men, the offenders were brought to trial. The. evidence, though conclusive as to the killing by some person in the company accused, did not show whose shot caused the death of the unfortunate man ; and as the public feeling was largely in favor of the accused, all were acquitted by the jury.
The post-offices are Windsor, and West and South Windsor. The Methodists and Baptists each have a church in the town .. Windsor is said to have sent about two hundred soldiers into the war for the Union, and to have lost about one hundred and twenty-five. The town has thirteen public schoolhouses, valued at $3,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $262,212; in 1880, $302,088. The rate of taxation in 1880 was 23 per cent. In 1870, the population of Windsor was 1,266; but according to the census of 1880 it has fallen off to 1,079.
Wing's Mills, a small village in the town of Levant, Penob- scot County, the same as Levant Post-Office.
Winn lies on the eastern bank of Penobscot River, in the eastern quarter of Penobscot County, about 55 miles north by north-east of Bangor. It is bounded on the north by Mattawamkeag, east by Webster Plantation, south by Lee and Lincoln, and west by Chester. The Penobscot River separates it from the last. The area is 22,040 acres. The rock is chiefly granite and slate. The Mattakeunk is the principal stream, entering the town at the south-east and discharging at the north into the Mattawamkeag, which has a part of its course along the northern line. Salmon Stream, in the western part of the town, is the next in size. Each of these have falls suitable for driving mills. The basins of the Mattakeunk and Salmon streams lie mostly in this town, and are still largely covered with forest. The manufac- tories of Winn consist of two saw-mills for long and short lumber, one for short lumber, a large tannery, a carriage-factory, a boot and shoe shop, etc. The European and North American railroad passes along the river, having a station at Winn village, in the northern part of the town. This place is at the head of steamboat navigation on the Pen-
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WINSLOW.
obscot. The other village is East Winn, situated on the west branch of the Mattakeunk, in the southern part of the town.
There are Episcopal, Roman Catholic and Methodist churches here. Winn has four public schoolhouses ; and the school property is valued at $1,500. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $95,708. In 1880 it was $103,304. The population in 1870 was 714. In 1880 it was 898.
Winnegance, a post-office in Phipsburg, Sagadahoc County.
Winslow, in Kennebec County, is situated upon the eastern side of the Kennebec River, opposite Waterville. It is bounded on the east by Albion, on the north by Benton, and on the south by China and Vassalboro. Pattee Pond, near the centre of the town, is the principal body of water. Sebasticook River runs south-westward to the Kennebec across the south-west corner of the town. The stream which forms the outlet of China Lake enters the Sebasticook near
WAARDSON.SO
" IM'
LAST BLOCKHOUSE OF PORT HALIFAX.
Winslow village, half a mile below Ticonic Falls, on the Kennebec. This village is small; but it is well shaded by trees, and has much natural beauty. The eastern trunk line of the Maine Central Railway passes through this village, crossing the river to Waterville, a short distance above. The manufactories of Winslow consist of a small woollen-mill, two grist-mills, two saw-mills, and a shoe-peg factory. The principal rock in town is slate. The soil of the parts bordering on the river is a sandy loam; farther back, it is slaty and gravelly. The chief employment of the people is agricultural, and the principal crops are hay and potatoes. The usual forest trees are found in the woods, while on the public ways there are many elms and maples, some of which are very old. Reynold's Hill is said to be the highest elevation in town, affording fine views of the Kennebec and a wide expanse of landscape.
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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.
Winslow, which formerly embraced the territory of what are now Waterville and West Waterville, is the ancient Tacconnet (Ticonic). It was a part of the Plymouth Patent; and the original proprietors were mostly from Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Among the early settlers were persons bearing the Old Colony names of Howard, Wins- low, Taylor, Bradford, Delano, Warren, Otis, White, etc. ; and de- scendants of these are still found in the town. In 1754-5 a fortifica- tion was erected by Governor Shirley, at the junction of the Sebasti- cook with the Kennebec as an outpost, which was named Fort Hali- fax. A single block-house of this fort is still standing a little to the north of the bridge over the Sebasticook, and may be seen from the cars, looking toward the Kennebec. The settlement was slow, the first being about the fort. The first farming attempted was upon the flat below Fort Hill, by Morris Fling, about the year 1764; which was for a long time afterward known as Fling's field. In 1676, the second year of King Philip's war in Maine, Abraham Shurte, the magistrate at Pemaquid, held a parley with the Indians near where Fort Halifax was built about 75 years later. He was received by the Indians in the " great wigwam " or fort ; but he was unsuccessful in his attempt to end the war.
The town was incorporated in 1771, being named in honor of Gen- eral John Winslow, who had command of the force employed in the erection of Fort Halifax. As a plantation, it had been called King- field. At the first town meeting of Winslow, held April 3, 1771, Eze- kiel Pattee was chosen clerk and treasurer; and Mr. Pattee, Timothy Heald and John Tozier, selectmen, and Solomon Parker, constable. Other minor officers were Robert Crosby, Nathaniel Carter, Francis Dudley, and Peter Crosby. Names of honored citizens of a later period are Hons. Joseph Eaton, Thomas Rice, Joshua Cushman, David Garland, and Lemuel Paine, Esq. In 1802, all that part of Winslow lying west of the Kennebec was set off and incorporated as the town of Waterville.
The Congregationalists, Baptists, and Methodists each have a church in town. Winslow has fifteen public schoolhouses valued at $3,500. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $470,002. In 1880 it was $503,269. The rate of taxation in 1880 was 18 mills on the dollar. The population in 1870 was 1,437. In 1880 it was 1,467.
Winter Harbor, a post-office in Hancock County ; also a historic locality at the mouth of the Saco River, so named by Richard Vines, in 1617, from his having spent the winter there.
Winterport lies on the western bank of the Penobscot, constituting the north-eastern portion of Waldo County. Frankfort bounds it on the south, Monroe on the west, and Newburg and Hamp- den in Penobscot County, on the north. Bucksport lies opposite, on the eastern side of the river. Winterport has a fine harbor, usually open in winter-whence the name of the town. The surface is some- what broken, and has many swells, some of considerable altitude, es- pecially a range lying in the midst of the town. The water-power is from Marsh River, which, for a considerable distance, forms the divid- ing line betwixt Winterport and Frankfort. Cole's Brook, in North Winterport also furnishes some power. The manufactures consist of
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WINTHROP.
cooperage (two factories), sugar hogsheads and glass-casks, lumber, cheese and butter (Winterport Cheese and Butter Factory), men's vests (four factories), harnesses, etc. This was the pioneer town in the State in the manufacture of clothing. Agriculture furnishes the chief occupation of the inhabitants, and along the larger streams and in the interior there are some fine farms. The town is 20 miles north by north-east of Belfast, on the stage-line between that city and Bangor.
Formerly what is now Winterport was noted for its ship-building and commerce. Its capacious wharves, large store-houses and deserted ship-yards bear evidence of the business which has now departed. The hard times of 1857, and the depreciation of shipping property which followed, brought financial ruin to owners and builders ; and only an occasional vessel has since been built here. Thirty or more years ago Theophilus Cushing ran a steam saw-mill here, the usual annual product of which was 11,000,000 feet of lumber, and 200,000 sugar-box shooks. The mill ran night and day, employing 100 men. At this period, also, large quantities of flour, grain and other commodities were discharged here from the vessels during the winter season, and hauled 13 miles to Bangor,-thus making employment for farmers' teams for many miles around .* Since 1870 there has been a large re- duction of population, many mechanics having removed to the granite- quarrying localities in and about Penobscot Bay and River, and others to the Great West.
Winterport was set off from Frankfort and incorporated March 12, 1860. The religious societies are those of the Congregationalists and Methodists. The number of public schoolhouses is sixteen, which are valued, with their appurtenances, at $9,000. The population in 1870 was 2,744, and the number of polls, 624. In 1880 it was 2,260, with 523 polls. The valuation in 1870 was $600,300. In 1880 it was $558,099.
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