USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Hallowell > Historic Hallowell > Part 4
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At about the age of eighteen Mr. Cox began to take an active part in religious activities and by 1820, be- living himself called to the ministry, he received a license as a local preacher. He preached his first ser- mon in the Carlton schoolhouse in Readfield and there- after preached in Wiscasset, Phippsburg, Brunswick and Hampden; teaching school in the meanwhile to ob- tain money for an itinerant outfit. He was received in the New England Methodist Conference in 1822 and held appointments in Exeter, Buxton and Kennebunk.
Because of failing health he went south in the hope of finding a better climate. While in Baltimore he married Ellen Cromwell and also took charge of The Itinerant, a weekly religious paper. His wife and child died within three years and his grief and poor health unfitted him for either bodily or mental effort. The doctor forbade his preaching but, in spite of that, he felt that he was called to the missionary field, and he was appointed by the Church a missionary to Liberia in May 1832. Upon his arrival there the next year he found some members of the Methodist Episcopal Church among the emigrants from the United States - these he organized into a Methodist Society.
He organized and enlarged the work of the mission and established an academy at Monrovia. He arranged for and held the first campmeeting ever held in Africa, and within a month had a Sunday School class of seventy children. All this work he accomplished in less than five months, for he was stricken with African
fever and died July 21, 1833 in his thirty-third year. He was buried in Monrovia and a monument was erected at his grave with the following inscription:
"To the Memory of Rev. Melville B. Cox, the first Missionary from the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States to Liberia, Western Africa. He arrived in Monrovia on the 9th of March, 1833, where having organized a branch of the same church, he died in the triumphs of the christian faith on the 21st of July, of the same year, aged 33 years. He was a truly amiable man, a devout christian, and an able and successful minister of Jesus Christ."
The local Methodist church now bears the name of Cox and there is a stained glass window in his memory near the entrance of the church building.
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ALGER V. CURRIER
Alger V. Currier was born in Hallowell February 7, 1862. His father, A. C. Currier, was head draughts- man at the Hallowell Granite Works and designed the public library building. Alger, the son, was educated in the public schools of Hallowell and at the age of 21 decided to make painting his life work. He studied at the School of Fine Arts in the Boston Art Museum, where he won two free scholarships, the first prize in art pictorial composition and the first prize in decora- tion. He then went to France in 1885 for a year and, after a four months stay at home, returned for further study. During his third year there Mr. Currier had four paintings accepted for exhibition at the Salon in Paris, two in oils and two in water colors. Of the oil
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paintings one is entitled "To Your Health" and repre- sents the bent figure of an old gentleman who is lifting a wine glass to his lips. It now hangs in the Walker Art Museum of Bowdoin College. Mr. Currier's paint- ing of a young girl was the first in the nude to be ad- mitted for exhibition at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. It was admittedly conservative. The girl is seated, her legs bent under her, her hands crossed over her breasts, and her face in half profile.
One of the portraits he was commissioned to paint was that of Dr. Merritt C. Fernald, president of the University of Maine.
In the Hubbard Free Library there is a portrait which Mr. Currier painted of his wife in her wedding gown. For many years this oil painting hung in the parlor of the Currier home, although at one time it was loaned to Bowdoin College for an art exhibit.
He died in March 1911 after a long illness and was buried in the Hallowell cemetery.
ELIPHALET GILLET
The first minister of Hallowell was born at Col- chester, Connecticut November 19, 1768. A Congre- gational Church was organized in Hallowell in 1790, and in 1794 the members (ten men) voted "to hire a teacher of Piety, Religion and Morality" and to take measures for the erection of a meeting house. A call was extended to Mr. Gillet in November of the same year. He accepted and was ordained August 12, 1795. Services were first held in the Academy building but a meeting house was completed in 1798 on the site of the present building of the Old South Congregational Church.
William A. Drew, writing in the Gospel Banner, No- vember 4, 1848, said "Parson Gillet's sermons were usually practical and felicitously expressed; there was a vein of good humor and even wit running through his heart which he could not suppress." He was as well known in Augusta as in Hallowell through the unvary- ing practice of exchanging pulpits once in four weeks with Parson Tappan.
Parson Gillet was a "refined and scholarly-looking man, tall and slender and very graceful. He always appeared smoothly shaven and neatly attired in black broadcloth. In the pulpit he wore linen bands and black silk gloves."
After a pastorate of thirty-two years he left the Old South Congregational Church to become secretary of the Maine Missionary Society. This Society was organized at his home in 1827. One hundred years later the centennial anniversary of the Society was cele- brated in the same house. This house is still standing at 201 Second Street and is occupied by the Marvelle Webber family. "Parson" Gillet died October 19, 1845 and is buried in the Hallowell cemetery.
EZEKIEL GOODALE
One of the earliest printers and publishers in the town was Ezekiel Goodale, who came here from New Hampshire in 1802. He first opened a little shop in the front room of Moses Sewall's house where he sold spell- ing books and the New England Primer. His was the first bookstore in Hallowell and the only one east of Portland. In 1813 he established a printing business "At the Sign of the Bible" near the foot of Academy Street. Many important volumes issued from his press --- the first volume of Decisions of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court (commonly called Maine Reports), the early volumes of the Revised Statutes of Maine; for over sixty years he and his successors in the firm pub- lished the Maine Farmer's Almanac.
He imported from England the best books of the time, including novels, for sale at his bookstore and for his circulating library. From small beginnings this circulating library grew to a large collection. Upon its shelves were found the works of leading English au- thors, old and new. Among its periodicals were the Atheneum, the Edinburgh Review, Quarterly Review, and American Review of History and Politics. To Ezekiel Goodale is due in great measure the high cul- tural standing of the Hallowell generation that followed him.
Mr. Goodale with James Burton, Jr. founded the Hallowell Gazette in the year 1814. It continued for twenty years though Mr. Burton's connection with it lasted only a year.
In 1820 Mr. Goodale acquired a partner, Franklin Glazier, and three years later Andrew Masters and Jus- tin E. Smith were taken into the firm. When Mr. Glazier retired in 1857 Colonel Danforth P. Livermore became a partner. The firm was continued under the name of Masters and Livermore until 1880. Each of these men was a prominent and highly esteemed citizen of Hallowell.
Mr. Goodale was born in West Boylston, Massa- chusetts and died in Hallowell in 1828. The house which he built on Chestnut Street is now occupied by Mr. K. B. Coe, Jr.
Do you know . .
That according to an article signed "Senex" in an old Hallowell newspaper Arnold's Expedition en- camped for a night upon the Hook (Shepard's Point)?
That in 1803 the Town voted to appoint a Harbor- Master and chose Elisha Nye to "superintend the lay- ing of vessels within the town limits."
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JOHN HUBBARD
John Hubbard, Jr. was born in Readfield, Maine, March 22, 1794. By training at Hallowell and Mon- mouth academies and by private study he was able to enter the Sophomore class at Dartmouth College from which he graduated in 1816. The next year he was preceptor at Hallowell Academy and for three years after was a teacher in Virginia. He then entered the Philadelphia Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania from which he graduated in 1822. He married July 12, 1825 Sarah Barrett of Dresden, Maine. Dr. Hubbard practiced in Virginia seven years and then, after a year of study in the schools and hos- pitals of Philadelphia, he returned to Hallowell in 1830 and entered upon the career which made him famous as a physician and gave him many honors at the hands of the State.
His practice was large, his opinions were highly regarded and he was sought in consultation by the most skillful physicians in Maine and other states.
His energies were not confined to his profession as he became deeply interested in community and political matters. He was the first president of the Hallowell Savings Institution serving in that capacity for fifteen years. Kennebec County elected him to the state sen- ate of 1843, and for the years 1850, 1851 and 1852 he was governor of his State. During his term as governor he signed the first prohibitory law - known far and wide as "The Maine Law." A contemporary writer has said that as the chief magistrate of Maine, Governor Hubbard "hesitated not to throw all of his influence, personal and official, in aid of all measures calculated
to improve the condition of the people, and develop the resources of the state;" and that "the people of Maine will ever remember him with pride and honor, as an able, honest, efficient chief magistrate 'whose adminis- tration marked an important era in the history of the State.'"
Governor Hubbard died February 6, 1869 and his burial place in the local cemetery is marked by a shaft of Hallowell granite.
The Hubbard home is still standing at 52 Winthrop Street. It is owned and often occupied by the great grandson of Dr. Hubbard, Joseph H. Darlington.
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THOMAS HAMLIN HUBBARD
Thomas Hamlin Hubbard was born in Hallowell December 20, 1838. He graduated from Hallowell Academy and from Bowdoin College in the class of 1857. From Bowdoin during his life time he received three degrees - A.B., A.M., and LL.D.
For a year after graduation he served as principal of Hallowell Academy, meanwhile commencing the study of law. He was admitted to the Kennebec Bar in 1860, but decided to begin his practice in New York. Dis- covering the importance of the larger legal training that could be obtained in professional schools, he en- tered the Albany Law School and was admitted to the New York bar in 1861.
He entered the Civil War as Adjutant of the 25th Maine Volunteers and later became Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel of the 30th Maine Volunteers. He was
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often mentioned in dispatches for his courage and bril- liant leadership, and was awarded a commission July 13, 1865 as Brevet Brigadier General of United States Volunteers for "meritorious service during the war." He was honorably discharged July 23, 1865 and re- turned to the practice of law in New York City.
He became prominent in a firm which was widely known for its practice in corporate litigation. This work naturally led to the business side of corporate management and he became a director or other officer of many corporations.
After his retirement he turned his attention to inter- ests more personal and which resulted in many gifts of great worth. In 1901 General Hubbard endowed a chair of legal ethics in the Albany Law School. In 1903 he gave a library building to Bowdoin College. In 1904 he made another gift to Bowdoin ---- the "Hub- bard Grandstand." He rendered substantial and effec- tive assistance to Admiral Peary. Cape Thomas H. Hubbard in the Arctic is Peary's own tribute to an un- failing friend and helper. A generous endowment made by him to the Hallowell Library in 1893 enabled that institution to enlarge its granite building. Its pres- ent name "The Hubbard Free Library" has been given in memory of the Hubbard family.
He died in New York City May 19, 1915.
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JOHN MERRICK
One of the most interesting men who have lived in Hallowell was not a native of Maine or of America. Mr. John Merrick was born in London August 27,
1766, and, after completing his divinity studies, took orders in the Episcopal Church. He preached as a licentiate for two years but was never ordained.
He then became a tutor in the family of Dr. Ben- jamin Vaughan at first in England and then, in 1795, accompanying them to this country. He returned how- ever in 1797 and married, in April 1798, Rebecca Vaughan, sister of Dr. Benjamin and Charles Vaughan. He and his bride immediately came to Hallowell and built the cottage where William L. Vaughan now lives.
Mr. Merrick held from time to time several munici- pal offices, was a trustee of Hallowell Academy and a member of the Board of Overseers of Bowdoin College. He was appointed by the Governor on a commission of three to determine the feasibility of constructing a road from the Kennebec to Quebec.
He reported in shorthand the trial of several men ac- cused of murdering Paul Chadwick at the time of the famous "Malta War." A full account taken from his notes was afterwards printed in a volume of 188 pages. Very few people in his time were capable of using short- hand, but he had learned it as a child.
Mr. Merrick was a remarkable and versatile man. He had a genuinely scientific mind. He examined and defended Hadley's claims in connection with the quad- rant. He invented a new practical method by which everyone can map out the heavens for himself. He was one of the first in this country to detect the planet Uranus with the naked eye. He made himself a good practical surveyor and even navigator.
In music he had exquisite taste and a very fine ear. He played "the violoncello with extraordinary neatness, accuracy and depth of tone, and, until quite late in life, sang with great sweetness." He died October 22, 1862.
BENJAMIN VAUGHAN
Dr. Benjamin Vaughan was born in Jamaica April 30, 1751 where his father, a London merchant, had an extensive plantation which he often visited.
Educated in England, he studied at Cambridge, and later obtained his degree in medicine at Edinburgh. He married Miss Sarah Manning June 30, 1781. The two fathers endowed the young couple with an inde- pendent fortune and Dr. Vaughan's father-in-law made him a partner in his business. During the year 1782 he became a confidential messenger between the Eng- lish government and the American Commissioners in Paris with whom previously he had had a personal and friendly acquaintance. His efforts contributed so much to the final terms of the Treaty of Paris between Great Britain and the United States that Lord Shelburne, on behalf of the English government offered him a liberal
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BENJAMIN VAUGHAN
remuneration; but Dr. Vaughan refused all compensa- tion although his father-in-law cut him off from a year's profits of the firm "for neglecting the business of the firm to engage in American politics."
After serving in Parliament nearly two years, in 1794 he found it discreet to depart suddenly for France, hav- ing been too much interested in French revolutionary ideas to suit the ruling ministry. There, where he lived in retirement, he decided to become a citizen of Amer- ica. Accordingly, his wife and children were sent to Boston under the care of Mr. John Merrick, a tutor in his family. They were met by Dr. Vaughan's brother, Charles. Some months later he arrived and the family moved in 1797 to Hallowell where Charles had a house ready for them on property derived from his maternal grandfather. The house still stands in its lovely setting overlooking the Kennebec River and is still owned by the Vaughan family.
Although Dr. Vaughan did not practice as a regular physician he was often called in consultation. The agriculture of the country was indebted to him for the introduction of new varieties of seed and plants and for the importation of improved breeds of animals. He was the author of numerous political and philosophical papers and of several historical treatises. His most important work was "The Rural Socrates," an account of a celebrated philosophical farmer living in Switzer- land. "Most notable of all is his library which, at the time of his coming to Hallowell, was the largest collec- tion of books in New England, with the exception of
that of Harvard. It contained over ten thousand vol- umes, and included works on history, science, philos- ophy, and literature."
The degree of LL.D. was conferred on Dr. Vaughan by Harvard College in 1801 and by Bowdoin College in 1812. He died at Hallowell December 8, 1835, "highly and universally respected," and was buried in the family burial ground.
CHARLES VAUGHAN
Charles Vaughan was the junior by eight years of his brother Benjamin having been born June 30, 1759, but he was in Hallowell as early as 1791. An energetic and enthusiastic man he had great plans for the future of the town. He built the wharf at the Hook, a store and warehouses, a brewery with "the hope that beer might be used instead of ardent spirits, and improve the habits of the intemperate."
He built a home, cleared a farm, and then cleared another and larger farm which he stocked with the best breeds of animals. He had an orchard of choice fruit and a fine garden. Mr. Vaughan was zealous in pro- moting the agricultural interests of the country; did more than any other individual of his time to improve the breed of stock and swine, and furnish scions for the improvement of orchards.
He was also actively interested in the educational and religious movements of the town. He was one of the founders and trustees of the Hallowell Academy and was a generous supporter and attendant of the Old South Congregational Church.
Mr. Vaughan married, in 1774, Frances Western Apthorp of Boston, and they had four children.
He died May 15, 1839.
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SHIPBUILDING IN EARLY DAYS
In the early part of the last century when Hallowell was really beginning to grow one of the sources of its prosperity was its great shipbuilding industry that was carried on upon its shores. These vessels, constructed and owned by Hallowell people, sailed to the far cor- ners of the earth bringing great profits to their owners.
In the 1790's following the setting up of the federal government in 1789, shipbuilding in Maine was greatly stimulated due to Congress establishing protection for the American Merchant Marine, then in its infancy. Shipbuilding along the Kennebec increased by leaps and bounds. The town of Hallowell was not without its share.
The three major shipbuilders of Hallowell at this time were Isaac Pillsbury, Captain Isaac Smith, and Ebenezer Mayo. Capt. Smith's Yard was located at Sheppard's Wharf and Mayo's, in the vicinity of Shep- pard's Point.
In 1795, the Springers, William and James, had a yard at Bowman's Point in what was then Hallowell, but is now Farmingdale.
From 1800 to 1810 Hallowell was second only to Bath in total launchings, with 38. During part of this period the Agry Brothers, John and Thomas, built ships in Hallowell as did Stephen Hinckley and Peter Grant. The first bark built on the Kennebec was launched at Hallowell in 1828. Her name was the Caroline.
During the first three years of the 1830's, the size of vessels were increased to meet the demands of the cotton trade which had more than doubled in the South. Many ships were needed to carry this cotton across the Atlantic. The Florence of Hallowell was one of these. She was considered a big ship in 1831, measuring 449 tons. She had a square stern, bluff bow, and kettle bottom. Not much for looks, but the Florence could carry many bales of cotton which brought handsome profits to her owners.
During the 1840's, Hallowell's shipyards were all but shut down and only five vessels were launched. How- ever, during the fifties which was the decade of the square-rigger, there was a revival of shipbuilding in
Partial List of Vessels Built in Hallowell
NAME
TYPE
TONNAGE L x B x D
BUILDER
DATE BUILT
Polly
Schooner
119
73 × 22 × 8
S. Howard
1785
Kennebec
Sloop
86
71 × 21 x 7
J. Ring
1801
Packet
Schooner
76
66 x 20 x 7
Wmn. Pool
1801
Industry
Schooner
91
67 x 21 x 7
S. Taylor
1801
Nancy & Mary
Brig
226
82 x 25 x 13
E. Mayo
1807
General Ripley
Brig
135
73 × 22 × 10
Jos. Speech
1815
Minerva
Schooner
103
61 × 26 × 10
N. Hilton
1815
Washington
Schooner
56
55 x 17 x 7
N. Hilton
1815
Kennebec Trader
Schooner
102
64 x 21 x 9
N. Hilton
1816
Belle Savage
Brig
138
73 x 21 × 10
Isaac Smith
1815
John Merrick
Ship
693
146 x 32 x 19
H. Tupper
1849
Anna Perkins
Bark
329
122 x 31 x 11
J. Atkins
1854
Abby Langdon
Ship
1035
157 x 35 × 18
J. D. Rideout
1854
Dashaway
Ship
1012
178 x 35 x 24
J. D. Rideout
1854
Daylight
Ship
547
132 x 30 x 15
J. Atkins
1854
Lorenzo
Ship
1090
184 x 37 x 18
P. P. Hawks
1854
Marilla
Ship
702
155 x 31 x 19
Blanding & Dyer
1854
Gov. Hubbard
Bark
370
125 x 27 x 12
J. Kempton
1854
Eaglet
Schooner
232
100 x 28 × 9
J. Atkins
1855
Scotland
Ship
820
163 × 33 × 16
D. Burt
1855
Northland
Ship
931
169 x 34 x 17
P. P. Hawks
1855
Adrianna
Ship
1082
183 x 36 x 18
P. P. Hawks
1855
Forest Oak
Ship
843
164 x 33 × 16
P. P. Hawks
1856
Sarah Judkins
Ship
545
140 x 29 × 14
J. D. Rideout
1856
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Hallowell. This was due to the initiative and public spirit of Rufus K. Page who was mayor at that time. Page was also one of the largest ship owners on the Kennebec. Hallowell yards turned out 22 vessels dur- ing this time. Twelve of them were square-rigged vessels.
This was also the era of the clipper ship. Hallowell was not without the honor of building one of these. She was the clipper ship Dashaway, 1012 tons launched in 1854 from the yard of J. Rideout. This fine vessel gave a good account of herself and made her mark among the clippers of the country. Her dimensions can be found in the list of ships built in Hallowell.
Then came 1857 and with it financial panic and dis-
aster. Many yards in Maine closed down never to open again.
The ship Sarah Judkins was launched from the yard of J. Rideout in 1856, and with this launching Hallo- well's great shipbuilding days became history.
Two Hallowell built ships were victims of war. The Hallowell commanded by Capt. Samuel Smith, was captured by the British during the war of 1812 and left dismasted off Bermuda.
During the Civil War the ship John A. Parkes of Hallowell bound for Montevideo, Uruguay with a cargo of white pine, was captured and burned by the famous confederate raider Alabama in Latitude 29° - 25° North and Longitude 37°-47° West.
1759912 - Arthur R. Moore
The Sea Serpent
"I, Shubael West, of Hallowell, in the County of Kennebec, master of the packet DELTA, plying between Kennebec River and Boston, testify and say that I left Boston on the morning of Sunday, the twenty-first instant, and about 6:00 P.M., Cape Anne, bearing west southwest about two degrees steering a course north northeast saw directly ahead distant three-fifths of a mile an object which I have no doubt was the sea serpent so often mentioned by others engaged with a whale that was trying to elude the attack. The serpent threw his tail from twenty-five to thirty feet in a perpendicular direction, striking the whale with tremendous blows rapidly repeated, which were distinctly heard and were very loud for two or three minutes. They then both disappeared for several minutes, moving in a west southwest direc- tion, when they reappeared in-shore of us and about under the sun, the reflection of which was so strong as to prevent our seeing so distinctly as before. They again went down for a short time and again came up to the surface of our larboard quarter, the whale appearing first and the serpent in pursuit. Here our view was very fair-the serpent shot up his tail through the water to the height before mentioned and held it out of water for some time, waving it to and fro, and at the same time while his tail remained in this position, he raised his head leisurely ten or twenty feet, as if taking a view of the surface of the sea. After remaining in this condition for a short time, he again sank into the water, disappeared, and was not seen afterwards by any on board. The serpent's body was larger, in my opinion, than the mast of any ship I ever saw, his tail appeared very ragged and rough, and was shaped something like an eel's, and his head like that of a land serpent. Being well acquainted with whaling, I think the whale was endeavoring to escape as he spouted, but once on coming to the surface, the whale's back was distinctly seen, as well as his spouting, and the last time he appeared, he went down before the serpent came up.
"The above was seen by all on board, amounting to fifteen or eighteen persons, as well as myself, with the exception of one woman. During our view, the combatants had passed a mile or more. The whale was humpback and a pretty large one."
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