USA > Maine > Piscataquis County > Historical collections of Piscataquis County, Maine, consisting of papers read at meetings of Piscataquis County Historical Society, also The north eastern boundary controversy and the Aroostook War, V. I > Part 3
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Some years ago a committee on improvements was chosen and is still in harness. As a result of its labors you now see these tasty and comfortable furnishings. Our latch-string is always out and we are always at home, to the craft.
I have given you in a slipshod manner something of the history of this lodge covering a period of some sixty years, and leave that part of my subject. May I add a word relative to our ancient institution as a whole?
No great moral force for the uplift of humanity was ever organized in this world that did not meet a counter force, whose tendency was to degrade. Take for instance the Christian Church, founded as it is upon the pure pre- cepts enunciated by the Nazarene, yet it has been encom- passed roundabout continually by the forces of sin, watching for opportunity to destroy it. The church, however, is stronger to-day than in the beginning because of its inherent principles of right.
Truth and right may be obscured for a while by the dust of abuse and error, but in the end must prevail, because it is truth and right.
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Standing not long since in the Cliff House at the Golden Gate, I watched for an hour the great waves as they came rolling in from across the bay. Like an army of white-plumed knights they came, tossing their foamy banners on high, and hurling themselves against the giant cliffs that disputed their farther progress. Again and again they came in their mad fury, beating like great demons at those silent, time-stained rocks, only to be hurled back into old ocean, and their white banners flung mountain high in air, and those grim and storm- beaten sentinels, whose foundations are as strong as the Eternal Will, will stand there bidding defiance to every onslaught of those mad, relentless waves until time shall cease writing her record across their weather-beaten faces. So it is with our ancient institution. Founded upon the rock of Truth, which is eternal, it has stood unwavering against the onslaught of every opposition.
Twenty-nine years ago, when living in Idaho, I had occasion to go to the town of Fairview on the summit of War Eagle Mountain. From this place, on a clear day, one may look off to the east and see lying before him the green valley of the Snake River, and traversing the valley from west to east I could mark here and there the glistening waters of the Shoshone or Snake River. On this day the clouds and mist had dropped down from the mountain tops and had spread like a dark funeral pall over the valley, and in imagination I was looking down into the Valley of the Shadow. Now and then light winds with deft fingers would draw aside those misty curtains, opening to my view long, dim aisles leading down into that gloomy underworld, while here and there I could see dusky glimmers of the river Styx, with Charon waiting at the crossing. Suddenly, as I looked, the sun came out from behind a cloud and shot a ray of light down into that restless valley of cloud and mist.
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In an instant those particles of mist became grains of gold and precious stones, and lo, instead of the Valley of the Shadow, I was looking upon the city of the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Looking out over the valley of glorified color, I could see the golden streets, its walls of jasper and gates of pearl, while below, glis- tening with radiant light, I could see the River of the Water of Life proceeding out from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Once again the scene shifted, the city with golden streets and jasper walls had slowly drifted away on the wings of the lazy summer wind, and there was once more the broad valley of the Shoshone lying like a great emerald between the mountains and the sea.
Just when or where Masonry had its birth I am not able to say, but at some period in the remote ages it came as a ray of light out of the blackness of the night, leading man up from the gray, desolate barrens of Super- stition into the peopled cities of Reason; up out of the slough of Disappointment into the broad highway of Hope. A study of the art has broadened the intellect, and given to man a more profound and comprehensive understanding of life. It has taught you and me to answer that question that man has been asking ever since the morning of life, "If a man die, shall he live again?" It has helped its true adherents to divest their minds and consciences of at least some of the vices and super- fluities of life, thus fitting them as living stones for that spiritual building eternal and in the heavens. It is not an opponent of Christianity, but walks hand in hand with it. Fierce antagonism and papal decree have sought to destroy the institution, but as some white- winged ship sails serenely on through troubled waters and past dangerous rocks to finally moor itself in a sun-
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kissed harbor of safety, so also will our grand institution survive and outride all the perils of antagonism and misconception.
I beg not to be misunderstood as taking this occasion to advertise the institution. Such an idea is farthest from my thought. I would as soon think of advertising the majesty of some lofty mountain standing in its silent grandeur amid the decay of the centuries, or some mighty rolling river sweeping along in all its restless and resistless power toward the sea; or the golden sunshine that kisses the green sod of the valley; or the gentle rain that falls upon the just and unjust. My chief desire is no more than to pay humble tribute with my brethren, and to bring this simple testimony before you of my great esteem for an institution that is a part of the world's history.
"To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." As Free Masons we know what it is to be overcomers, and have received the white stone with the new name.
1198572
Some Facts in Regard to the Early History of the Town of Guilford
By Henry Hudson, Esq.
O N May 1, 1794, the committee of the Common- wealth of Massachusetts for the sale of eastern lands, through Daniel Carey, issued letters of in- structions to Samuel Weston to proceed and survey three ranges of townships between Penobscot River and the east line of the million acres, located on the river Ken- nebec, to be bounded west on the million acres, south on the sixth range and a line extended east from the north- east corner of township number one in the sixth range aforesaid to Penobscot River, easterly on Penobscot River and north on unlocated lands to be numbered the seventh, eighth and ninth ranges progressing northerly, and the townships to be laid out six miles square except- ing those bordering on the Penobscot River. A copy of these instructions I embodied in my sketch. Under this letter of instructions Samuel Weston did in the year 1794 locate said three ranges and divide the ranges up into townships. I have also incorporated and made part of my sketch a letter written by Samuel Weston to the committee for sale of eastern lands under date of October 15, 1801. It would appear that complaint had been made in regard to the survey of township 4, range 7, and a request was made for a resurvey of that township. Township 4, range 7, is now the town of Sebec. This
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letter is a full explanation of the way in which said ranges and townships in the ranges were located. I incorporate a copy of these two original documents as a matter of historical interest to be preserved. These copies were obtained at considerable expense. I will say that in the case in this county between Edward Stetson and others and Sprague Adams and others these two documents were used as evidence.
On February 25, 1795, the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts granted to Bowdoin College four townships of land. These townships were number four, five, six and seven in the seventh range of townships north of Waldo Patent. These townships subsequently became the towns of Sebec, Foxcroft, Guilford and Abbot. Guil- ford was township number six, range seven. The north line of Waldo Patent is the south line of the towns of Hampden and Dixmont. The ranges, therefore, are numbered consecutively commencing at the south line of Hampden and Dixmont.
In 1803 Deacon Robert Lowe and Deacon Robert Herring, both of New Gloucester, bought from Bowdoin College a few thousand acres of land in township six, range seven, now Guilford. Immediately after said pur- chase they began to make preparations for forming a settlement therein.
In the plantation records of the town of Guilford is a short historical sketch, no doubt written by Robert Lowe. In this sketch he says that, ""These men (mean- ing no doubt Deacon Robert Herring and Deacon Robert Lowe) formed a determination to admit on their part no person as a settler who was not industrious, orderly, moral and well disposed. In this they so far succeeded that for many years thereafter contentions, lawsuits and broils among neighbors were known only in name among the inhabitants."
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We quote further from the historical sketch as follows: "In A. D. 1804, trees were felled in several places in the town and the next year corn was raised. On the 16th day of February, A. D. 1806, the first family moved into the town, and about the middle of March the second family came, together with several men who worked dur- ing the summer, and remained here the winter following."
These two families were those of Deacon Robert Lowe, Jr., and Deacon Robert Herring, Jr. Robert Lowe, Jr., settled on the farm now occupied by Joseph H. Deering. Robert Herring, Jr., settled on the farm now occupied by Herbert L. Crafts.
In 1806 there were seven men residing in said town- ship. These men were Robert Lowe, Jr., Robert Herring, Jr., David Lowe, John Bennett, Isaac Bennett, Nathaniel Bennett and John Everton.
These men, deeming that there should be some suitable regulations to preserve good order and harmony, met and made such by-laws for one year as were deemed necessary. They chose a clerk to keep a record of their doings and such other officers as were thought necessary to carry these laws into execution. These laws so adopted were respected and rarely ever known to be evaded.
The public schools were supported by private sub- scription. Public worship was carried on constantly from about the time of the first settlement. Robert Lowe records the fact in regard to the obedience to these laws as follows: "Here let it be noticed that although the only barrier which supported the execution of these laws was a pledge of honor, they were rarely known to be evaded."
From the records we find that Robert Herring was born June 1, 1764, and his wife, Sally Herring, May 20, 1765. The record further shows that they had eleven children. The eldest of these children was Robert
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Herring, Jr., who was born January 1, 1784. Robert Herring, Jr., was married as early as 1806 according to the above statement, and was, with Robert Lowe, Jr., the first settlers in the town of Guilford. Robert Herring, Jr., married Polly Herring, who was born April 25, 1782. They had eleven children. Robert Herring, Jr., died in Guilford in 1847. At the date of his death he owned the mills at North Guilford now owned by Ellis & Wise. The sons of Robert Herring settled in Guilford. Some of the girls, however, after marriage went to other places.
Robert Lowe, Jr., was born in New Boston, N. H., March 1, 1781. His wife, Rebecca Lowe, was born in New Gloucester September 1, 1782.
John Everton was born in Dorchester, Mass., April 5, 1765. Rebecca Everton, his wife, was born in North Yarmouth, Me., 1771. His second wife was born in North Yarmouth in 1767.
John Everton had three children, two sons and a daughter. John Everton settled on the road from Dover to Guilford on what is known as the Maxfield flat. We find nothing on the records in regard to what became of Mr. Everton and his family.
John Bennett was born in New Gloucester January 29, 1773. His wife, Sally Bennett, was born in New Gloucester March 14, 1772. They had eight children, -seven sons and one daughter. The daughter, Sally Bennett, was the wife of Isaac Edes, whose descendants now live in Guilford. The seven sons all settled, lived and died in Guilford. Many of their descendants are now living in town. John Bennett was known as Captain John Bennett.
Nathaniel Bennett was born in New Gloucester Novem- ber 19, 1768. His wife Rachel was born in North Yar- mouth June 22, 1774. Nathaniel Bennett had by his
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first wife eight children, -two sons and six daughters. Nathaniel Bennett's second wife was born in Lewiston July 9, 1778. She was the widow of James Douglass. At the time of her marriage to Nathaniel Bennett she had four children by her first husband, James Douglass, all boys. The youngest of the four was George H. Douglass, a respected citizen of our town and father of Henry Douglass, who recently died in our town. Nathaniel Bennett by his second marriage had six chil- dren, -four sons and two daughters.
Isaac Bennett was born in New Gloucester December 8, 1770. His wife Peggy was born in New Gloucester May 29, 1771. They had eleven children, -six sons and five daughters.
I have given a sketch of the first seven men who settled in Guilford, except David Lowe. I find no mention of David Lowe in the records. The three Bennetts were brothers. The descendants of some of these first settlers are still living with us.
In the conveyance of township six, range seven, now Guilford, by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to Bowdoin College, four lots of 320 acres each were reserved for public uses. These uses were as follows: One for the first settled minister, one for the ministry, one for the schools and one for the future disposition of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. These lots after Guilford was incorporated as a town were located.
In the plantation records, at a warrant issued by the assessors for a meeting to be held on the 22d day of April, 1815, we find the following article: "To see if the plantation will agree to give Elder Thomas Macomber an invitation to settle here as a town minister on such conditions as shall be thought proper when met." At the doings of said meeting, "It was voted to give Elder Thomas Macomber an invitation to settle here
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as a town minister on the condition following, to wit : That he shall serve the town as their minister ten years, but should he or the people be dissatisfied, or should he leave the town before ten years, then to have such pro- portion of the land appropriated for the first settled minister as the time he shall serve as aforesaid shall bear to ten years. "
It would seem that after this vote was called the people must have thought that the terms were rather exacting with their pastor, therefore a meeting was held on the 15th day of June, 1815. We find the article in the warrant for that meeting to be: "To see if the plan- tation will agree to settle Elder Thomas Macomber as a town minister." At this meeting it was voted that Elder Thomas Macomber be the minister of the town when it shall be incorporated so long as he and a majority of the people of the town are agreed.
We will say that Elder Thomas Macomber did settle as minister and preached at Guilford Center for many years. He died in Guilford. Some of his descendants now live in Guilford.
Thomas Macomber was born in Marshfield, Mass., August 17, 1773. His wife Phebe was born in Bedford, N. H., August 25, 1778.
On the 6th day of October, 1812, Phillip Leavitt of Athens, by virtue of a warrant from the treasurer of the County of Somerset, issued his warrant for organizing the township into a plantation. On November 11, 1812, said township was organized into a plantation. Robert Lowe was chosen clerk. Robert Herring, Nathaniel Graves and Robert Lowe were chosen assess- ors. Isaac Herring was chosen collector.
On July 7, 1813, the first road in the plantation was accepted by the plantation. This was known as the
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river road and extended from the Foxcroft town line to Abbot town line on the north side of the river.
On February 8, 1816, Guilford was incorporated as a town. The original township line of township six, range seven, Guilford, was south of the Piscataquis River from the southwest corner of said township to a point nearly opposite to the buildings recently occupied by Mr. Samuel Crafts. When the town of Sangerville was incorporated June 13, 1813, its northern bound was the Piscataquis River. When Guilford was incorporated its southern bound was the original township line. There is therefore a small piece of land at the extreme southern bound of the Crafts farm nearly opposite the buildings which was not incorporated in either town. The center of the Piscataquis River, however, is the true division line between said towns.
The burden of supporting two of the bridges on the Piscataquis River was upon the towns of Guilford and Sangerville. Within three miles and a half there are three bridges across the Piscataquis River. The most westerly bridge is at Guilford village, entirely within the limits of the town of Guilford. The other two bridges are supported by said Sangerville and said Guilford as before stated.
From careful examination of the plantation records and of the early records of the town of Guilford facts have been learned which in some instances are different from what the popular opinion has been. The first record upon the record books of the plantation and of the town of Guilford in regard to any bridge is in the year 1822. On September 9, 1822, the voters in town meet- ing assembled voted to accept one half of the bridge across the Piscataquis River between Joseph Kelsey's and Carleton Mills. The first bridge across the Piscataquis River within the limits of the town of Guilford was built
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where Sangerville station now is. Prior to building the bridge at this place the river was forded. In 1821 we are informed that a bridge was built at this place by sub- scription. It was a primitive affair but it served its purpose. In the spring of 1824 this bridge was carried out by the freshet.
At a special town meeting on April 16, 1824, the town raised the sum of two hundred dollars to be applied to the building of the bridge across the Piscataquis River near J. Kelsey's. At the same meeting a committee of three was chosen to act with a like committee, chosen by the town of Sangerville. This committee was Joseph Kelsey, Seth Nelson and Stedman Davis. The town, "Voted to allow Joseph Kelsey one dollar and fifty cents per week to attend the ferry until the bridge or some other thing shall render it unnecessary, provided that the town of Sangerville shall agree to pay to the town of Guilford one half of said expense and one half of the expense of a boat." The bridge which was then con- structed at this place was more substantial than the former one. There was a trestle in the middle of the river which supported the bridge.
Mr. Loring, in his history of Piscataquis County, says that this bridge was carried away by the high freshet in 1832. The bridge, however, at that time must have gone to decay considerably because we find on the records where a meeting was held on the 4th day of June, 1831, when the town voted, "That the selectmen cause Sangerville bridge, so-called, to be repaired in the cheapest and best possible way they can consistently with the interests of the town considering it is an old bridge and unworthy of expensive repairs," and voted, "To raise fifty dollars in corn or grain as we raised it in March last to pay the expense which may arise in repair- ing said bridge."
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The first record, however, which we find in regard to our rebuilding the bridge after it was carried out by the freshet was held on September 8, 1834. The town at this time passed a vote to take measures to have the road across the river at this point discontinued. Sangerville would not agree to this. Thereupon the town chose a committee to rebuild the bridge. This meeting was held on the 29th day of September, 1834. Joseph Kelsey, Robert Herring, Jr., and Seth Nelson were chosen a committee to superintend the building of the bridge.
At the annual town meeting held on March 2, 1835, the town raised six hundred and eighty-one dollars to defray the expense of building a bridge near Joseph Kelsey's. The bridge, therefore, must have been built in 1835. Mr. Loring, in his history, states that the bridge was completed in the fall of 1835. The records of the town of Guilford substantiate his statement. We are aware that the popular opinion has been for many years that this bridge was built in the year 1833. For many years there were the figures 1833 on the south end of the present bridge. The bridge is now in fair repair although it has done service for seventy-two years. It now is the oldest bridge on the Piscataquis River.
Where the places of business now are in Guilford vil- lage, on the north side of the river, there was a very thick cedar swamp. In 1824 Robert Herring, Jr., and S. and J. Morgan built a dam across the Piscataquis River and in the fall of that year put a sawmill in operation. In the fall of 1825 Addison Martin built the first store. This store was built on the spot where the building now is which is occupied by Straw & Martin. The road from what was called the river road near the old meeting-house to the river was accepted on September 12, 1825. Moses Stevens purchased from Bowdoin College all the
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land on the north side of the river where the places of business now are. From him titles were taken. Moses Stevens lived where David Stevens lived in his lifetime near the station. On April 3, 1826, the town accepted the road from Herring and Morgan's mill towards Moses Stevens'. This now is Water Street.
In the early part of the year 1828 it had become necessary to have a bridge across the Piscataquis River at Herring and Morgan's mill. During the summer of that year a bridge was started to be built by subscription across the river, substantially where the present bridge now is. On September 8, 1828, a town meeting was called. Article four in the warrant was, "To see if the town will assist in building a bridge over the river near Herring's Mills." The town voted to pass over the article. At this time no road had been located across the river at this point or near the point. There must have been considerable contention as to just where the road should be located and the bridge built. We find upon the record where there was an attempt to locate the road and bridge across the river near the west end of the lot now occupied by Dr. Cowie. There was also an attempt to locate the road and bridge near where Hussey & Goldthwaite's elevator now is. Thereupon there must have been considerable agitation because we find that on the third day of November, 1828, there was an article, "To see if the town will petition to the Legislature to set off that part of the town lying between the river and the town of Parkman to the town of Parkman." The town in town meeting, however, voted to pass over this article.
There were numerous town meetings held in regard to the building of the bridge across the river at Herring and Morgan's mill. We do not find, however, any definite action taken by the town towards the construction
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of the bridge until the town meeting held on the 19th day of November, 1829. At that meeting the record states, "There are considerable sums subscribed by indi- viduals to expend on the bridge aforenamed." "Voted that after so much of the sum that can be collected has been expended the town will finish it in manner herein- after described." The town voted that a town agent be chosen to superintend the finishing of the bridge and made provision as to the amount to be paid for the ser- vices rendered, fixing the compensation of such persons. Isaac Smith was chosen such agent. The town voted, "That a man and his oxen shall be entitled to eight cents an hour." In the fall of 1830 the town held meetings and passed votes towards the completion of this bridge. We do not find that the bridge which was built at this time was carried away by the freshet of 1832. Mr. Loring states that it was. We find, how- ever, that after the year 1832 considerable sums of money were raised to build the bridge at Guilford village. We are of the opinion that this bridge was either carried away by freshet or became so unfit for service that it was necessary to build a new bridge, for the reason that in the year 1839 the records state that the bridge was not safe for travel, and a new bridge was built at that time. This bridge which was built was carried away in the spring of 1855 by the high freshet. During that season the bridge which has recently been removed was built. Willard W. Harris and Isaac B. Wharff took the con- tract to do the stonework and build the bridge. The selectmen for the year 1855 were George H. Douglass, Charles Loring and Isaac Weston. In the high freshet in the spring of 1857 this bridge received some injury and the town raised money that spring to repair it.
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