History of Androscoggin County, Maine, Part 62

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew, ed
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Boston, W.A. Fergusson & co.
Number of Pages: 1050

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1820, April 3, for governor, William King had 79 votes, Ezekiel Whitman 18, James Wingate, 18, Luther Robbins 2. 1824, March 22, voted to pay 20 cents each to soldiers in lieu of rations, as the law requires. For governor, Albion K. Parris had 56 votes, and E. Barrell 1. 1825, September 12, for governor, Albion K. Parris had 77 votes, and Stephen How 1. 1827, September 10, Hon. Enoch Lincoln had every vote cast for governor-63. 1828, March 24, Moses Sprague, Silas Richardson, and John Quimby were chosen a com- mittee to procure information respecting the purchase of the old meeting-house for a town-house. 1830, for governor, Samuel E. Smith had 135 votes, and Jonathan G. Hunton 83. Voted that the selectmen petition the next legislature to determine the line between Greene and Lewiston. 1831, September 12, voted that the selectmen procure a hearse for the use of the town. 1835, March 30, the selectmen were instructed to inquire into the expedieney of building a town-house. September 28, the interest arising from the ministerial fund was apportioned among the several religious denominations in Greene as follows: To the Free Society, $111.55; to the Universalists, $111.55; to the Calvinist Baptists, $90.64; to the Freewill Baptists, $41.83; to the Methodists, $31.38. 1837, April 4, Captain Benjamin Allen was appointed agent to receive the surplus money from the state, and Elijah Barrell, Moses Spragne, Tristram Hill, and Aaron Daggett were associated with him as a committee to loan the money in sums not less than $10, nor more than $100, to the inhabitants of the town, and take satisfactory security for its re-payment. 1838, John Fairfield (Dem.) had 153 votes for governor, Edward Kent 121, and F. O. J. Smith 1. 1840, September 14, Kent (Whig) received a majority of Greene's gubernatorial vote. Flis vote was 147 to John Fairfield's 143. 1842, March 22, "Voted that the Select- men Don't grant licenses the present year " [for the sale of intoxicating liquors].

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1843, February 6, Hannah Bonney had one vote for representative to the legislature from the district of Greene and Monmonth. 1845, Benjamin P. Rackley was chosen constable and collector, and to avoid having to wait five or six years for the proceeds of the taxes, it was voted that the collector should receive no percentage for collecting unless he closed his bills within one year. September 8, "Voted that the traders of Greene be licensed to sell spirituous liquors in said town." 1848, July 1, the selectmen were instructed to take such measures as they see fit to oppose the petition of John Lombard and others to be set off into Webster. September 15, the selectmen were instructed by a unanimous vote to petition for a post-office at Greene Corner. 1850, March 8, the selectmen were instructed to petition the post-office department to change the names of the post-offices in Greene, calling the one at the depot, Greene post-office, and the one at the Corner, Greene Corner post-office. 1851, September I, a committee of one from each religious denomination in town was directed to prepare papers, headed by the names of the Calvinist Baptist, Free- will Baptist, Universalist, and Methodist denominations, and put them into the hands of the school agents to be presented to every voter in their respective districts for their signature, to be placed in the column headed by the denomination by whom he would choose to have the ministerial fund expended. 1854, March 20, voted that every person in town be required to give in his valuation under oath; and every person refusing so to do shall be doomed in such a sum as the assessors shall see fit. October 2, Greene voted by 227 to 26 that Lewiston should be the shire town of the new county of Androscoggin. 1855, September 10, for governor the total vote was 302, the largest vote yet in the history of the town. Samuel Wells had 143 votes, Anson P. Morrill 139, Isaac Reed 20. 1856, September 8, Hannibal Hamlin had 165 votes for governor, Samuel Wells 105, George F. Patten 11. 1857, March 16, Benjamin Allen, Augustus Sprague, and Ingerson Parker were appointed a committee to buy a poor-farm for the town. 1858, June 7, the vote stood: For the prohibitory law of 1858, 146 votes; for the license law of 1856, none. 1860, September 10, for governor, Israel Washburn, Jr, had 162 votes, Ephraim K. Smart 117, Phineas Barnes, 3.

1863, January 16, Robert S. Ellms was designated at a meeting called for that purpose for appointment as postmaster at Greene. 1865, April 12, voted to raise $6,000, to pay in part the debt of the town. 1868, March 23, voted that school districts be allowed to choose their own school agents. 1869, April, it was voted to revoke the liquor agent's license and return the liquors now on hand to the state liquor agency within five days. 1871, March 20, the school agents were authorized to employ teachers in their respective districts. 1872, August 20, the selectmen were authorized to appoint a liquor agent for ensuing year, and it was voted that the liquor agent should be allowed to make sales of liquors for medical purposes only upon prescription or certificate of some regular physician, and should preserve all certificates on which he made sales and exhibit the same as vouchers on the settlement of his accounts. 1873, January 18, voted to exempt from taxation for the term of ten years any property which might be invested for the purpose of manufacturing in the town. March 17, voted to raise $150 for a free high school and to leave the matter of locating and conducting said school in the hands of the superintending school committee. September 8, for governor, Nelson Dingley, Jr, had 81 votes, Joseph Titcomb 71, and Joseph H. Williams 4.

1874, September 14, Nelson Dingley, Jr, had 80 votes for governor, and Joseph Titcomb 68. 1875, January 22, Augustus Sprague was chosen agent, to oppose the annexation of a portion of the town to Lewiston. 1878, April 3, the selectmen and treasurer were authorized to fund the town debt for $8,000 at four per cent., to be paid $1,000 per year after five years. September 9, for governor, Joseph L. Smith had 104 votes, Selden Connor 90, and Alonzo Garcelon 32. 1879, September 8, for governor, Joseph L. Smith 102 votes, Daniel

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F. Davis 98, Alonzo Garcelon 43, S. D. Greenlief 7. 1880, September 13, for governor, Harris M. Plaisted 155, and Daniel F. Davis 124. 1887 voted C. S. Stetson supervisor of schools instead of a school committec. 1888, March 12, a committee was appointed to make all necessary arrangements for a centennial anniversary. 1890, September 8, for governor, Edwin C. Burleigh had 85 votes, William P. Thompson 63, Aaron Clark 6, Isaac R. Clark 1. 1891, March 9, it was voted to abolish the district system. Appropriations : Highways, $500 in money and $1,600 in labor; schools, $800; purchase of school books, $100; current expenses, $800; payment on debt and interest, $100; observance of Memorial Day, $15.

Early Action Concerning Schools. - 1790, October 4, John Larrabee, William Sprague, and Joseph Herrick were chosen a committee to define the limits of the school districts. 1791, April 4, voted £12 for schools, the tax to be paid in produce-wheat, six shillings a bushel, rye, six shillings, Indian corn, four shillings. 1793, £20 were voted for the support of schools. 1794, April 7, voted to raise £30 for schools, and Lemuel Comins, Jacob Eams, Asa Rolfe, Sen., Solomon Bates, Sen., John Larrabee, William Mower, Jesse Coburn, and Jabez Bates were chosen school committee. 1796, April 4, voted to raise £15 for schools. 1797, April 3, £40 were voted for schools. 1798 voted $200 for schools. 1799, April 1, the school districts were arranged as follows: First district beginning at the south- erly corner of the town, and on the Post Road as far as John Pettengill's, taking the two roads which lead, one by Captain Daggett's, the other by Benjamin Merrill's as far to the north as Samuel Tolbut's; second, beginning at Asa Rose's, Jr, taking all the mountain, so called, and to the northwesterly corner of the town, thence casterly as far as Cyrus Deane's, taking in Abiathar Richmond, John Caswell, and John Walker, etc .; third, beginning at Joseph Dunham's on the road to Benjamin Parker's, thence taking the north- easterly road to Amaziah Reed's, inclusively; fourth, containing all the other inhabitants of the town. $200 was raised for schools, Lemuel Comins, John Larrabee, Benjamin Alden, William Sprague were chosen school committee, and directed to collect the school tax. 1801, April 6, $333.33 raised for schools. The school committee for 1802 were Benjamin Thomas, Thomas Stevens, Simeon Rose, Moses Harris, Zebedee Shaw, Barthol- omew Coburn, Cyrus Dean, David Littlefield, Phillip Judkins, Samuel Bates, Ammi R. Cutter. Voted to raise $250 for schools. 1803, April 4, voted to choose two persons out of each school district for a committee to district the town anew. Chose Benjamin Merrill, 3d, Freeman Landers, Captain John Daggett, Simon Wheeler, Jacob Eams, Aruna Briggs, Jarius Phillips, Benjamin Alden, Joseph Dunham, Solomon Bates, Cyrus Dean, John Caswell, Seth Barden, Luther Robbins, William Sprague, James Wesson, Ammi R. Cutter, John Mower, Captain Joseph Herrick, Jesse Coburn, James Peary, and Eliakim Hatch, for said committee. 1804 voted to raise $400 for schools. 1805, April 1, voted that the stake set up by the selectmen on the pitch of the hill on Eli Herrick's ground, be the place to build a school-house in the fifth district. 1808, April 4, $500 voted for schools. 1809 a meeting of school district No. 7 was called for January 22, to see what sum the district would raise to build a school-house. In 1817, the town "voted to choose three committec- men to examine the schoolmasters," and Elijah Barrell, Dr Ammi R. Cutter, and Nathaniel Herrick were chosen "committeemen," and these were active many years.

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TOWN OF GREENE.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Settlers and Descendants.

S ETTLERS AND DESCENDANTS. - Deacon Lemuel Cummings 1 was, probably, the third person to make his home in the wilderness of Greenc. He came from North Yarmouth, but was a native of Charlton, Mass., coming to Maine in 1775. Deacon Cummings was the first deacon of the Baptist church, and, when the society was without a pastor, he was the acknowledged leader in the religious services. His house was one of the first framed houses built in town. He settled in the same neighborhood with Captain Daggett. Two of his sons, Lemuel and Peter, were deacons. Rev. Silas S. Cummings, born May 22, 1814, graduated from Kent's Hill Seminary in 1839, and, in 1840, became a clergyman and joined the Maine Conference of the M. E. church, and, until he was commissioned chaplain of the Fourth R. I. Regiment, in January, 1863, preached in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachu- setts, and Rhode Island. After serving as chaplain he was employed in the Christian Commission, and July 1, 1868, was appointed missionary agent of the Baldwin Place Home for Little Wanderers in Boston, and began a carcer of usefulness in connection with that institution which is not yet ended.

Thomas Taylor resided near the center for a time, but exchanged his real estate with Joseph Herrick, who moved from Boxford, Mass., to Lewiston in 1772, came to Greene in 1780; married Mercie Preston, of Wilmington, October, 1775; she died August 16, 1820, and he in September. She was a woman of strong intellect. Her sons inherited her mental force, and as a family were unequaled for scholarship and business capacity by any in town. Of the sons, General Jedediah settled in Hampden; Joseph in Harmony ; Samuel emigrated to Cincinnati, O., and died in New Orleans. Nathaniel, Seth, and Henry settled in Greene. The daughter, Betsey, became the wife of Caleb Bates, of Greene. Eli and Samuel Herrick, twin brothers, came from Methuen, Mass., in 1780. Eli died in 1813. Samuel moved to Leeds, and died in 1844.

The Larrabee Family, from Yarmouth, settled between the center and west part of the town. Deacon John Larrabee, one of the first selectmen, filled the office several years, and was a joiner by trade. He had four sons and six daughters. Nathaniel married Penelope House, of Turner, lived several years

1 The name Cummings was originally De Comines, the family having been domiciled in France.

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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.

in town, moved to Parkman, where he died, aged 83 years. John married Cynthia Mower, lived on the homestead, and died at 84. Josiah married Lurina Phillips. He died in Auburn aged 80. Ammi, the youngest, died at the age of 70. Sarah married Rev. Phineas Pillsbury; Phebe, Alpheus Drake, of Minot; Mary, Benjamin Parker, of Greene Corner; Hannah, William Parker, brother of Benjamin; Margaret, Thaddeus Sawyer; Deborah married Isaiah Coburn. Deacon John Larrabee died of the cold fever in 1816. He was eminent for piety. Stephen Larrabee, brother of Deacon John, had five sons and four danghters. Samuel, William, and Jeremiah married daughters of Samuel Mower. Samuel lived several years on the homestead, moved to Leeds, and died aged 82. William settled first in New Portland, then moved to Wisconsin. Jeremiah settled in Parkman. One daughter married Joseph Herrick, Jr, and settled in Harmony. Rhoda married Deacon Daniel Briggs, of Minot; Polly married a Mr Waterman of Minot; Susanna lived in Leeds.

Benjamin Rackley came from Yarmouth when the Larrabees did, and settled on a farm adjoining Deacon Larrabee's, who was a brother to his wife. He had four sons, Benjamin, Samuel, Stephen, and one that died young. Benjamin's farm joined Deacon Larrabee's, being the one where William M. Longley now lives. He died at about 75. He married a daughter of Jairus Phillips. He was the father of B. Phillips Rackley, one of our best farmers, who lived near Greene Corner, where the old stage driver, Thomas Longley, lived. Samuel lived on the home farm till his death, at 28. Stephen settled in Leeds, was several years in trade, and accumulated a good property. One of the daughters, Temperance, married William Mower; Mary married Zebedee Shaw; another married a Mr Deane, of Leeds ; the other, Asa Barden. Abner Brown settled on the next lot to Benjamin Raekley. His sons were Samuel, married Elizabeth Mower; Benjamin, married a daughter of Jacob Stevens; Moses, Ambrose, and Abner.

William Coburn came from Dracut, Mass., about 1783, with his sons, Jesse, Eliphalet, Joshua, William, and Joel. Joshua subsequently moved to Park- man, and Joel to Lagrange. Eliphalet died aged 55, William not long after, and Deacon Jesse at 83. All were men of piety. Isaiah, oldest son of Jesse, lived on what was known as the Key farm, near Keene's Corner; Jesse, the second son, at Barkerville, Lewiston. Deacon Jesse Coburn was boru in Dracut, Mass., in March, 1765; he came to Greene when 18 years old, and resided here until his death, December 18, 1847. He was for many years deacon of the Baptist church, and was much esteemed. His youngest son, Calvin S., was born in Greene, September 1, 1813, on the farm where he now lives, and has been an agriculturist. He married Mary Keay, of Wolf- borough, N. H. Their son, Henry Harrison Coburn, was born in Greene, November 5, 1839, was educated at common schools and Maine State Seminary. He married Charlotte E. Robinson, and has children, Mary L., Benjamin A.,

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and Reid R. Mr Coburn enlisted in the 2d D. C. Inf. Regt. (President's Guard), in May, 1862, and served three years. He is a Baptist, a deacon of the church, a Republican, a member of the G. A. R. and I. O. G. T., and is now serving his fifth year as selectman. He is a farmer, and the place were the Coburn's settled, which has since been known as Coburn Corner, and the farm on which William Coburn located, has never passed out of the name, and is now owned by the heirs of Simeon Coburn.

John Mower (born in 1758) with wife, Elizabeth Edwards (a relation of the celebrated Jonathan Edwards) came from Charlton, Mass., about 1786, and moved into a temporary shelter and commenced clearing the forest where his grandson, Wilbur F. Mower, now lives, and in a few years by industry and tact had quite a clearing. He was a man of strong constitution, and understood the art of planning his work. His wife was willing and able to assist in this pioneer life, and with all the characteristic qualities of her family, which her children no doubt inherited, she was a most valuable acquisition to the young settlement. Mr Mower died aged 94 years and 10 months. They had seven sons and four daughters. The oldest son, John, known for 25 years as Master Mower, was educated at Hebron Academy and was one of the first school teachers born in town. He is remembered for his social and friendly habits and as a peacemaker. He was also a farmer. He married Mehitable Andrews (who died December 1, 1873), and died November 29, 1829, aged nearly 47 years. Jabez, the second son, went to Vermont in 1811 to settle on land given his father by John Mower, of Malden, Mass. Ile was 18 months in the War of 1812, and later was colonel of the militia. He died in Vermont in 1870, aged 83. The third son was Martin, who ultimately settled in Bangor, cleared a large farm, kept tavern several years, and built a meeting-house and parsonage on his own land. Leonard, another son, born in 1794, was educated at Farm- ington Academy and was a farmer. He served as selectman, was drum-major, and a trial justice for many years, and proved his ability. He married Lydia Robbins, who died at the age of 94. He died aged 82. Calvin, Oliver, and Josiah settled in Greene, as farmers. Josiah moved to Barkerville (Lewiston), and died in 1869. Oliver Mower was born February 19, 1802, and has been a farmer, school teacher, justice of the peace, selectman, and was an ensign in the militia. He married Harriet H. Robinson, who died aged 67. Their children were Lowell M., Wilbur F., Francis O., a graduate of Bates, now teaching in California ; Seward P. (dec.) ; Julia, married V. H. Sprague ; and Harriet, married George Rowell. Mr Mower has been a worthy citizen. He was one of the members at the reorganization of the Free Baptist church, its clerk for thirty years, and has been deacon. In 1872 he wrote an historical sketch of Greene for the Atlas of Androscoggin county, from which we have obtained much of value. Lowell Mason Mower is a prominent member of the Free Baptist church and succeeded his father as church clerk, and has been chorister

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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.

for 35 years. He married Mary Clark Small, of Limington, and has two sons, Walter Lindley and Charles Mason. Wilbur F. Mower was born in Greene, December 23, 1841. He was educated at common schools and Lewiston Falls Academy, and has been a school teacher and farmer. He served in the Civil War from July, 1862, until its close, as private, corporal, sergeant, color- bearer, orderly sergeant, and lieutenant in Company I, Sixteenth Maine. He was twice wounded and twice taken prisoner, and always showed the gallantry and courage of a true soldier. Mr Mower is a Republican, a Baptist, a member of the G. A. R., and an Odd Fellow, is an industrious and worthy citizen, and stands high in the estimation of his townsmen. He married Esther A. Longley in 1878; their children are Seward F., George L., and L. Blaine. Calvin Mower, fifth son of John Mower, was a man of more than ordinary knowledge. He was a farmer by occupation, taught school and music, and was somewhat of a chemist. He was the father of Melville C. Mower, who with Sanford Mower and George Norris did the first work in Greene on the railroad. The daughters of John Mower, the pioneer, were Betsey (married Samuel Brown), Pamelia (married Ireson Parker), Jemima (married Samuel Ranlett, of Monmouth), now 94 years old, resides with L. M. Mower, and is the oldest person in town, retaining her faculties to a wonderful degree, Cynthia (married John Larrabee).

John C. Mower, son of John Mower, Jr, was born in Greene, April 19, 1820, and became a farmer. He married Julia A. Libby in 1842. Their children are Leonard C. (dec.), Wallace W., Emeline L. (dec.), Clara S. (dlec.). Mr Mower is a member of the Baptist society, and a Republican. Ile was the first man in town to mulch fruit trees and introduce the system of scientific orcharding that has become such a source of revenue. In this department he is an artist as well as an artisan. As a citizen he stands in the front rank. Alfred P. Mower, brother of John C., was born in Greene, June 17, 1824, and is a farmer and orchardist. He married Elizabeth G. Smith. Their son, Alfred A., was born August 10, 1860, and is a farmer on the home farm with his father. They devote time and labor to the improvement of their orchards and raise fine fruit. Mr Mower is a Baptist and a Republican.

Frank N. Mower, son of Leonard and Lydia (Robbins) Mower, was born June 5, 1832. He is a mechanic and land surveyor. He has been selectman several years, town clerk and treasurer, and is a trial justice. He married Helen O. Shaw, January 11, 1857. Their daughter, Carrie Linwood, died April 1, 1881, aged 21 years and 4 months. Mr Mower attends the Baptist church, and politically believes

" For forms of government let fools contest, What'er is best administered is best."

Everett L. Mower, the oldest merchant at the Depot, was born in Greene, April 14, 1838, and was the son of Leonard and Lydia (Robbins) Mower.

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Mr Mower established himself in the grocery business at the Depot in 1861. He was postmaster from 1863 to 1886, and was again appointed in 1889. He was selectman in 1877 and 1878, and town treasurer in 1889. Mr Mower has always been an ardent Republican, and in religion he is a Baptist. He married February 1, 1863, Julia Alexander.

Jonathan Mower, elder brother of John, Sen., came from Charlton, Mass., with his brother, and settled on an adjoining farm. He had three sons and two daughters, and died in 1841, aged 83. William, his oldest son, lived in Farmington, Jay, and Temple, where he died at 82. Jonathan, Jr, settled in Turner, where his sons, Harrison and Albion K. P. settled and became enter- prising farmers. He died in 1862. Peter S., the third son, settled in Jay.

Thomas Stevens and wife, Esther Tucker, moved from Charlton, Mass., in 1786, and settled in the west part of the town. He was an energetic and suc- cessful farmer. Mr Stevens, his wife, and a grandchild lost their lives by the burning of their house. His son John moved away; Aaron and Benjamin settled in town ; Benjamin subsequently moved to Auburn. Thomas, grand- son of Thomas, located at Fogg's Corner. Jacob, brother of Thomas, came from Charlton, married Martha Pettengill, of Lewiston, located on the farm near his brother. He was a man of endurance and activity, and accumulated a handsome property. He died in 1844. He had three sons: Jacob, who settled on a farm adjoining his father; John, who later moved to New Jersey, and Lora B.

Benjamin Alden, a descendant of John Alden, was one of the early settlers. He was a native of Connecticut, and having served in the Revolution, came to this town soon after its close. He located on lot 241, afterwards occupied by Lewis Gilbert, who married his daughter Eunice. Beside the land owned by him in Greene, he bought and cleared extensive tracts in Turner near Keen's Mills. To each of his four sons he gave a valuable farm. He was a black- smith and followed the business in connection with his clearing and farming. He belonged to the Society of Friends, was in good standing among his fellow- townsmen, and served as selectman sixteen years; and when he died, at the age of 84, it was said that he never had an enemy.

Luther Robbins came from Hanover, Mass., about 1788, and settled first in the northeasterly part, and later at Greene Corner. He was a very indus- trious, ready, and accurate business man. He was selectman, town clerk, representative to the General Court of Massachusetts several years, and post- master, holding each office many years and with fidelity and ability. He was proverbial for honesty and generosity. His sons were : Nathaniel, settled first in Winthrop, then Greene, next in Bangor, and then in the West, and possessed the valuable traits of the father ; Charles, in early life a cabinet maker, lived in Winthrop, and afterwards in Greene, was an author and composer of several pieces of music; Luther, Jr, a very ingenious mechanic, was first deacon of

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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.

the Free Baptist church in Greene, and spent most of his life in town, but died in Skowhegan; Reuben settled in Greene, was a good farmer, and the father of John M. Robbins, who has been very successful in business, is a shrewd and careful financier, and is prominent in banking circles in Lewiston, where he resides. He is president of Manufacturers National Bank; Martin was drowned in Sprague's mill-stream at the age of 14; Calvin, the youngest, established himself in trade in Bangor. The daughters were Nancy, Betsey, who married Dr Alfred Pierce, and Lydia, who married Leonard Mower, Esq.

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History of Androscoggin County, Maine, Part 62

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew, ed Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Boston, W.A. Fergusson & co. Number of Pages: 1050

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew, ed
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Boston, W.A. Fergusson & co.
Number of Pages: 1050