USA > Maine > Androscoggin County > History of Androscoggin County, Maine > Part 76
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CITY OF AUBURN.
the location which had been accepted by the city council for the year 1889, and to charge the expense of the same to the appropriation for contingent expenses. The entire cost of this bridge, including masonry, filling, etc., was $7,474.44. This bridge fills a long-felt public want, and the large use of it made by our citizens from the day it was opened has proved the wisdom of those who urged us to undertake and complete the work. The bridge is iron, 300 feet long, with a roadway 24 feet wide, and five-foot sidewalks on either side. There are six spans, 50 feet apart, each having three columns. During the year sewers have been constructed upon Summer, Troy, School, Broad, Seventh, Newbury, Washington, Goff, and Charles streets, in all 3,255 feet, at an expense of $3,872.09. Under the sewer act, adopted by the city council in 1889, munic- ipal officers for the last year assessed sewer benefits upon various lots and parcels of land, to the amount of $1,213.25. There was charged to the appro- priation for permanent improvements $2,131.90 for bank wall and filling on Minot avenue ; $226.37 for bank wall and filling on Western Promenade; and $468.30 for bank wall and filling on Washington street. The city set 2,800 feet of curbing for sidewalks, at a cost of $1,930, and laid 700 feet of flagging, at a cost of $552.12. Court street was paved from Spring street to Union street, at an expense of $6,400.11. This is a very valuable addition to the paving in Auburn streets and the Maine Central Railroad has paved a large portion of the station grounds. A handsome school building was built on Auburn Heights. Varions industries have been either established or are being discussed, and Auburn socially has been wide-awake. A public library fund of over $10,000 has been raised and a lot donated by the Franklin Company for a new library building. Streets have been opened, and the general growth of the city has been healthy and unforced.
Indebtedness of Auburn, February 28, 1891 .- For outstanding bonds bearing interest at six per cent. due as follows: In the year ending March 1, 1892, $13,000. Bonds bearing interest at five per cent. dne as follows : 1892, $4,300; 1893, $7,200; 1894, $16,000; 1895, $14,500; 1898, $5,000. Bonds bearing interest at four per cent. due as follows: 1899, $10,000; 1902, $15,000; 1903, $15,000; 1904, $25,000; 1905, $23,500; 1906, $15,000; 1907, $18,000; 1908, $10,000; 1909, $14,000; 1910, $13,000. Total funded indebtedness, $218,- 500. Resources - Uncollected taxes, 1889, 1890, $22,139.28; sewer assessments unpaid, $1,658.25; Slattery note, $68; cash in treasury, $1,084.70; total, $24,950.23. Balance municipal indebtedness after deducting available resources, $193,549.77; balance muni- cipal indebtedness February 28, 1890, $191,847.30.
Action in the Rebellion. - April 27, 1861, a committee was chosen to provide for soldiers' families, and voted to raise $5,000 for a fund. This committee was continued until the close of the war, various persons giving their services. April 5, 1862, voted to hire $1,500 as a relief fund. July 21 voted to pay $100 to each volunteer accepted on the quota of 45 men required under the call for 300,000 men, and the selectmen were authorized to borrow this money.
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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.
August 22 voted to pay $100 to each volunteer accepted before September 3, on the quota of 64 men under the last call of 300,000 men. September 1 voted to raise $50 by subscription for each man who shall enlist to fill the quota. This was annulled two days later, and the town voted to pay $50 in addition to the $100 previously voted. November 22 voted $1,000 more for family relief fund for three years' men. March 9, 1863, voted $2,000 for soldiers' families. July 29 voted to pay each drafted man serving himself or by substitute $8.33 per month while in service. November 9 voted to offer a bounty of $200 to each volunteer to fill the quota under the call of October, 1863. December 8 appropriated $6,000 to promote enlistments. August 20, 1864, voted to advance and pay the $300 authorized by the state, and August 29 to pay $200 to each man enlisting or furnishing substitute before September 5. December 10 voted to pay bounties discretionary with the selectmen, and to bond the town for $5,000 for this purpose. March 4, 1865, voted to raise $8,000 to enable the town to fill its quota, and March 13 to raise $4,000 for support of soldiers' families. April 12 voted to raise by loan $5,000 to defray the expense of filling the present quota. March 12, 1866, the selectmen and treasurer are authorized to borrow $1,000 to pay state aid to soldiers' families. Auburn furnished 434 men for the army and seven for the navy. 15 were drafted, of whom 4 entered the service, 4 provided substitutes, and 7 paid $300 commutation. The town paid $62,365 in soldiers' bounties and $2,376.91 in other war expenses.
CIVIL LIST. - Town of Auburn. 1842 - Elisha Stetson, Daniel Briggs, Stephen Packard, selectmen; Thomas B. Little, clerk. 1843- Enoch Littlefield, George Ricker, Jr, Thomas J. Howard, selectmen; Thomas B. Little, clerk. 1844- Enoch Littlefield, Thomas J. Howard, Charles Briggs, selectmen; Thomas Littlefield, clerk. 1845, 1846 - Nathaniel Small, Harvey Dillingham, John Downing, Jr, selectmen; Thomas Littlefield, clerk. 1847- Nathaniel Small, Thomas J. Howard, Harvey Dilling- ham, selectmen; Thomas Littlefield, clerk. 1848-Thomas J. Howard, Daniel Briggs, William Banks, selectmen; Thomas Littlefield, clerk. 1849, 1850- Timothy Bailey, Hiram C. Briggs, David Strout, selectmen; John C. Briggs, clerk. 1851 - Daniel Briggs, Rufus Penley, Timothy Bailey, selectmen; Philip A. Briggs, clerk. 1852 - Daniel Briggs, William S. Young, George Ricker, Jr, selectmen; Philip A. Briggs, clerk. 1853 - Thomas Littlefield, Thomas J. Howard, James S. Nash, selectmen; Philip A. Briggs, clerk. 1854 - Thomas Littlefield, Thomas J. Howard, James S. Nash, selectmen; John C. Briggs, clerk.
1855- Jeremiah Dingley, Hiram C. Briggs, James S. Nash, selectinen; Philip A. Briggs, clerk. 1856, 1857 - Thomas Littlefield, Hiram C. Briggs, John R. Merrill, selectmen; John F. Cobb, clerk. 1858- Thomas Littlefield, Lewis Philips, Peter Noyes, selectmen; John F. Cobb, clerk. 1859 -Thomas Littlefield, George Ricker, Timothy Bailey, select- men; John F. Cobb, clerk. 1860- Thomas Littlefield, George Ricker, Timothy Bailey, selectmen; A. I. Merrill, clerk. 1861 -Thomas Littlefield, Samuel D. Harris, Seth P. Miller, selectmen; Richard Dresser, clerk. 1862, 1863-Thomas Littlefield, Samuel D. Harris, Josiah W. Littlefield, selectmen; Richard Dresser, clerk. 1864-Thomas Littlefield, Nelson Dingley, Harvey Dillingham, selectmen; Richard Dresser, clerk. 1865-Thomas Littlefield, Oscar D. Bailey, Joel S. Cobb, selectmen; Richard Dresser, clerk. 1866, 1867 -Thomas Littlefield, Oscar D. Bailey, Prentiss M. Woodman, selectmen; Richard Dresser, clerk. 1868-Thomas Littlefield, Oscar D. Bailey, Prentiss M. Woodman, selectmen ; George S. Woodman, clerk.
CITY GOVERNMENTS. 1869 - MAYOR, Thomas Littlefield. ALDERMEN, Ward 1, Wm H. Keith; Ward 2, P. M. Woodman; Ward 3, Daniel P. Atwood; Ward 4, Jeremiah Dingley, Jr; Ward 5, Daniel Field. City Clerk, Geo. S. Woodman. COMMON COUNCIL, Ward 1, H. C. Briggs, Alex.
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CITY OF AUBURN.
Stinson, E. P. Crafts; Ward 2, Silas Sprague, Nathan Briggs, Ezekiel Eveleth; Ward 3, S. P. Miller, O. B. Morse, Win B. Merrill; Ward 4, E. T. Luce, W. S. Young, John F. Cobb; Ward 5, A. C. Pray, Geo. W. Bailey, A. J. Verrill.
1870-MAYOR, Seth P. Miller. ALDERMEN, Ward 1, Hiram C. Briggs; Ward 2, Prentiss M. Woodman; Ward 3, John W. Perkins; Ward 4, James Wagg; Ward 5, Almon C. Pray. City Clerk, George S. Woodman. COMMON COUNCIL, President, William B. Merrill; Clerk, William M. Harris; Ward 1, John M. Perry, Benjamin Conant, Alvan Waterman; Ward 2, Ezekiel Eveleth, Charles S. Emerson, James White; Ward 3, William B. Merrill, Albert Young, Oren B. Morse; Ward 4, Oren S. Libby, Hannibal R. Smith, Increase B. Kimball; Ward 5, Charles Dunn, Nathaniel G. Sturgis, Andrew G. Haskell.
1871 -MAYOR, Thomas Littlefield. ALDERMEN, Ward 1, Osear D. Bailey; Ward 2, Silas Sprague; Ward 3, John W. Perkins; Ward 4, James S. Robbins; Ward 5, Almon C. Pray. City Clerk, George S. Woodman. COMMON COUNCIL, President, Charles Dunn; Clerk, William M. Harris; Ward 1, Alonzo Crafts, Benjamin Conant, Harrison O. Whitman; Ward 2, Josiah Penley, Silvester Oakes, Frank Bartlett; Ward 3, Oren B. Morse, Ansel L Lombard, Wm M. Chamberlin; Ward 4, J. W. Peables, Rufus Penley, Frank E. Young; Ward 5, Charles Dunn, Samuel Emerson, Charles O. Martin.
1872 - MAYOR, Thomas Littlefield. ALDERMEN, Ward 1, John M. Perry; Ward 2, Hannibal R. Smith; Ward 3, Oren B. Morse; Ward 4, James Dingley; Ward 5, Charles Dunn. City Clerk, George S. Woodman. COMMON COUNCIL, President, Richard Dresser; Clerk, William M. Harris; Ward 1, Zibeon Crafts, George H. Dillingham, Ira T. Waterman; Ward 2, Frank Bartlett, Edward W. Gross, Benjamin F. Sturgis; Ward 3, Ansel L. Lombard, William B. Merrill, William M. Chamberlin; Ward 4, James Wagg, William S. Young, Richard Dresser; Ward 5, George W. Bailey, James L. Martin, Alden J. Verrill.
1873 - MAYOR, Thomas Littlefield. ALDERMEN, Ward 1, John M. Perry; Ward 2, Frank Bartlett; Ward 3, Seth P. Miller; Ward 4, Francis M. Jordan; Ward 5, Charles Dunn. City Clerk, George S. Woodman. COMMON COUNCIL, President, Benjamin F. Sturgis; Clerk, Murray B. Watson; Ward 1. Zibeon Crafts, George H. Dillingham, Alvan Waterman; Ward 2, Edward W. Gross, Benjamin F. Sturgis, A. J. Coburn; Ward 3, Ansel L. Lombard, James O. Foss, William M. Chamberlin; Ward 4, Benjamin F. Briggs, William S. Young, Oren T. Libby; Ward 5, Thomas J. Freeman, William D. Adams, William 1). Brewster.
1874- MAYOR, Thomas Littlefield; ALDERMEN, Ward 1, Oscar D. Bailey; Ward 2, Joseph Little- field; Ward 3, Seth P. Miller; Ward 4. Francis M. Jordan; Ward 5, Charles Dunn. City Clerk, George S. Woodman. COMMON COUNCIL, President, Wm H. Keith ; Clerk, Murray B. Watson; Ward 1, Alvan Waterman, William H. Keith, Joseph Q. Edmonds; Ward 2, A. J. Coburn, Ezekiel Eveleth, John Rolfe; Ward 3, John C. Symmes, B. C. Keen, Ellery F. Goss; Ward 4, Edward A. Little, W. S. Rogers, Jacob Larrabee; Ward 5, Thomas J. Freeman, George W. Bailey, Dexter W. Verrill.
1875 - MAYOR, James Dingley. ALDERMEN, Ward 1, Fred A. Allen; Ward 2, Hannibal R. Smith; Ward 3, Seth P. Miller; Ward 4, John F. Cobb; Ward 5, Dexter W. Verrill. City Clerk, George S. Woodman. COMMON COUNCIL, President, William P. Bearee; Clerk, Murray B. Watson; Ward 1, Charles K. Packard, Richard Hutchinson, S. H. Stockman; Ward 2, William P. Bearce, Dana Goff, Samuel F. Merrill; Ward 3, Ellery F. Goss, B. C. Keen, Abram Atwood; Ward 4, Isaac Haskell, Andrew M. Peables, Rufus Penley; Ward 5, George E. Strout, Leonard Hieks, Benjamin A. Rideout.
1876- MAYOR, James Dingley. ALDERMEN, Ward 1, Fred A. Allen; Ward 2, William P. Bearce; Ward 3, Ellery F. Goss; Ward 4, William W. Bolster; Ward 5, Ether S. Paul. City Clerk, George S. Woodman. COMMON COUNCIL, President, George E. Stront; Clerk, Murray B. Watson; Ward 1, Alden B. Crafts, George H. A. Bradbury, Milburn Furbish; Ward 2, Almon L. Goss, Benjamin F. Sturgis, Charles S. Emerson; Ward 3, Abram Atwood, B. C. Keen, John B. Jordan; Ward 4, J. Dingley, Jr, Jacob Larrabee, Everett W. Burgess; Ward 5, Leonard Hicks, George E. Strout, Benjamin A. Rideont.
1877 - MAYOR, Hannibal R. Smith. ALDERMEN, Ward 1, Oscar D. Bailey; Ward 2, Benjamin F. Sturgis; Ward 3, Ellery F. Goss; Ward 4, William W. Bolster; Ward 5, Freedom Haskell. City Clerk, George S. Woodman. COMMON COUNCIL, President, John B. Jordan; Clerk, Murray B. Watson; Ward 1, Charles A. Kinsley, George A. H. Bradbury, H. O. Whitman; Ward 2, Almon L. Goss, Thomas Littlefield, William P. Bearce; Ward 3, John B. Jordan, Jabez H. Merrill, Charles E. Smith, Ward 4, J. Dingley, Jr, Jacob Larrabee, Everett W. Burgess; Ward 5, N. H. Woodbury, Dexter W. Verrill, Charles Flagg.
1878 - MAYOR, Hannibal R. Smith. ALDERMEN, Ward 1, Oscar D. Bailey; Ward 2, Ezekiel Eveleth; Ward 3, Seth P. Miller; Ward 4, Nathaniel I. Jordan; Ward 5, George W. Wagg. City
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Clerk, George S. Woodman. COMMON COUNCIL, President, Augustus M. Pulsifer; Clerk, Murray B. Watson; Ward 1, Charles H. Record, Joseph E. Metcalf, Herbert S. Whitman; Ward 2, Thomas Littlefield, Joshua W. Beede, Daniel Lara; Ward 3, Jabez H. Merrill, John Pickard, Wallace K. Oakes; Ward 4, Calvin S. Libby, James W. Peables, Angustus M. Pulsifer; Ward 5, N. H. Woodbury, Charles C. Rowe, David S. Whitehouse.
1879- MAYOR, Thomas Littlefield. ALDERMEN, President, Seth P. Miller; Ward 1, Charles H. Record; Ward 2, Ezekiel Eveleth; Ward 3, Seth P. Miller; Ward 4, Nathaniel I. Jordan ; Ward 5, George W. Wagg. City ('lerk, Henry M. Sprague. COMMON COUNCIL, President, Wallace K. Oakes. Clerk, Murray B. Watson; Ward 1, Royal J. Bradbury, Edward W. Bird, Herbert S. Whitman; Ward 2, Daniel Lara, John Stinson, H. R. Bisbee; Ward 3, John Pickard, Wallace K. Oakes, Henry Willis; Ward 4, James W. Peables, Isaac Haskell, J. T. W. Stinchfield; Ward 5, Charles Thurston, George W. Woodbury, David S. Whitehouse.
1880-MAYOR, Thomas Littlefield. ALDERMEN, President, Edwin T. Gile; Ward I, J. E. Metcalf; Ward 2, Edwin T. Gile; Ward 3, Jabez H. Merrill; Ward 4, Benjamin F. Briggs; Ward 5, Moses Crafts. City Clerk, Henry M. Sprague. COMMON COUNCIL, President, Ebenezer Jordan; Clerk, Alton J. Shaw; Ward 1, E. W. Bird, Charles H. Record, W. F. Munroe; Ward 2, H. R. Bisbee, H. B. Sawyer, Joseph Goss; Ward 3, William A. Robinson, John F. Clifford, Nathan W. Harris; Ward 4, Albert M. Penley, Horatio B. Pulsifer, Ebenezer Jordan; Ward 5, Charles Thurston, Daniel H. Rendall, Samuel Farnham.
1881-MAYOR, George S. Woodman. ALDERMEN, President, Horatio B. Pulsifer; Ward 1, Lucins C. Dunham; Ward 2, Joseph Goss; Ward 3, Jabez H. Merrill; Ward 4, Horatio B. Pulsifer; Ward 5, John Stinson. City Clerk, J. W. Mitchell. COMMON COUNCIL, President, Nathan W. Harris; Clerk, Alton J. Shaw; Ward 1, Joseph Q. Edmonds, J. P. Garcelon, Francis Packard; Ward 2, David P. Field, Horatio B. Sawyer, Edwin O. Wells; Ward 3, William A. Robinson, John F. Clifford, Nathan W. Harris; Ward 4, John W. May, Edson G. Spofford, Winfield S. Larrabee; Ward 5, Algernon M. Roak, George W. Wagg, Isaiah V. McKenney.
1882 - MAYOR, George S. Woodman. ALDERMEN, President, George W. Wagg; Ward I, W. F. Munroe; Ward 2, Daniel Lara; Ward 3, N. W. Harris; Ward 4, E. G. Spofford; Ward 5, George W. Wagg. City Clerk, J. W. Mitchell. COMMON COUNCIL, President, William A. Robinson; Clerk, Fred O. Watson; Ward 1, Francis Packard, J. P. Garcelon, William H. Briggs; Ward 2, David P. Field, Edwin O. Wells, Charles W. Campbell; Ward 3, Win A. Robinson, B. F. Teague, Edmund Libby; Ward 4, A. M. Penley, L. W. Haskell, John T. W. Stinchfield; Ward 5, D. W. Kinsley, S. R. Robinson, S. S. Merrill.
1883 - MAYOR, George S. Woodman. ALDERMEN, President, Nathan W. Harris; Ward 1, Harrison O. Whitman; Ward 2, David P. Field; Ward 3, Nathan W. Harris; Ward 4, Lewis W. Haskell; Ward 5, George W. Wagg. City Clerk, J. W. Mitchell. COMMON COUNCIL, President, Charles W. Campbell; Clerk, Fred O. Watson; Ward 1, William H. Briggs, Seth Briggs, Fred W. Hutchinson; Ward 2, Charles W. Campbell, Thomas Littlefield, George W. Curtis; Ward 3, Benjamin F. Teague, Edmund Libby, Henry W. Oakes; Ward 4, N. C. Estes, Solomon Larrabee, Albert Jordan; Ward 5, Samuel R. Robinson, Royal M. Mason, Charles E. Marvel.
1884- MAYOR, Benjamin F. Sturgis. ALDERMEN, President, David P. Field; Ward 1, Harrison O. Whitman; Ward 2, David P. Field; Ward 3, Edmund Libby; Ward 4, Albert M. Penley; Ward 5, Samuel R. Robinson. City Clerk, J. W. Mitchell. COMMON COUNCIL, President, Ansel Briggs; Clerk, Fred O. Watson; Ward 1, Seth Briggs, Fred W. Hutchinson, Ansel Briggs; Ward 2, George W. Curtis, Benjamin F. Beals, Horace Goff; Ward 3, Henry W. Oakes, N. M. Neal, John N. Foster; Ward 4, Henry Lowell, Frank A. Haskell, Charles A. Jordan; Ward 5, Charles E. Marvel, Stephen S. Merrill, Delance Young.
1885-MAYOR, Lewis W. Haskell. ALDERMEN, President, Ansel Briggs; Ward 1, Ansel Briggs; Ward 2, George W. Curtis; Ward 3, A. P. Lamb; Ward 4, C. A. Jordan; Ward 5, Albert A. Young. City Clerk, J. W. Mitchell. COMMON COUNCIL, President, Jolin N. Foster; Ward 1, E. S. Crafts, H. N. Johnson, J. Wesley Rieker; Ward 2, B. F. Beals, James White, James L. Lowell; Ward 3, N. M. Neal, John N. Foster, W. F. Lord; Ward 4, C. S. Bond, G. M. Atkins, F. G. Vickery; Ward 5, Charles H. Stevens, Stephen S. Merrill, Peter M. Austin; Clerk, Fred O. Watson.
1886- MAYOR, Lewis W. Haskell. ALDERMEN, President, A. P. Lamb; Ward 1, Ansel Briggs; Ward 2; Isaac W. Harris; Ward 3, A. P. Lamb; Ward 4, G. M. Atkins; Ward 5, Albert A. Young. City Clerk, Rodney F. Foss. COMMON COUNCIL, President, Charles S. Yeaton; Ward 1, H. N. John- son, J. W. Ricker, Stafford B. Jones; Ward 2, John T. Hale, Charles S. Yeaton, Charles H. Parker; Ward 3, Charles E. Libby, George E. Bisbee, P. M. Bickford; Ward 4, S. K. Ballard, A. W. Miller, W. S. Larrabee; Ward 5, Josiah W. Littlefield, V. P. Buck, P. M. Austin; Clerk, C. C. Jordan.
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CITY OF AUBURN.
1887 - MAYOR, Albert M. Penley. ALDERMEN, President, John N. Foster; Ward 1, J. W. Ricker; Ward 2, Benjamin F. Sturgis; Ward 3, John N. Foster; Ward 4, H. C. Day; Ward 5, James L. Martin City Clerk, J. W. Mitchell. COMMON COUNCIL, President, N. M. Neal; Ward f, H. N. Johnson, George F. Rollins, Stafford B. Jones; Ward 2, John T. Hale, James L. Lowell, Herbert L. Foss; Ward 3, J. E. Tibbetts, E. G. Heath, Seth Manley; Ward 4, James Dingley, A. C. Snow, Laurent Laberge; Ward 5, N. M. Neal, F. R. Rounds, H. L. Haskell; Clerk, John H. Neal.
1888 - MAYOR, Albert M. Penley. ALDERMEN, President, John N. Foster; Ward 1, Horace N. Johnson; Ward 2, Benjamin F. Sturgis; Ward 3, John N. Foster; Ward 4, Horace C. Day; Ward 5, James L. Martin. City Clerk, J. W. Mitchell. COMMON COUNCIL, President, N. M. Neal; Ward 1, S. B. Jones, George F. Rollins, Dana B. Holmes; Ward 2, Herbert L. Foss, D. B. Stevens, R. S. Brad- bury; Ward 3, John E. Tibbetts, E. G. Heath, Seth Manley; Ward 4, A. C. Snow, Laurent Laberge, Charles E. Greenleaf; Ward 5, N. M. Neal, Harry L. Haskell. Charles Stackpole; Clerk, John H. Neal.
1889- MAYOR, Albert R. Savage. ALDERMEN, President, Benjamin F. Sturgis, M.D .; Ward 1, Stafford B. Jones; Ward 2, Benjamin F. Sturgis; Ward 3, John E. Tibbetts; Ward 4, P. H. Kelleher; Ward 5, Harry L. Haskell. City Clerk, J. W. Mitchell. COMMON COUNCIL, President, T. E. Eustis; Ward 1, Dana B. Holmes, Charles F. Curtis, Daniel W. Kinsley; Ward 2, Russell S. Bradbury, Herbert L. Foss, Daniel B. Stevens; Ward 3, T. Everett Eustis, Raymond Toothaker, Charles W. Dexter; Ward 4, Charles E. Greenleaf, L. O. Brackett, Thomas Marsden; Ward 5, Samuel B. Smith, Frank Martin, Charles Stackpole; Clerk, George E. McCann.
1890- MAYOR, Albert R. Savage. ALDERMEN, President, T E. Eustis; Ward 1, Dana B. Holmes; Ward 2, Winchester G. Lowell; Ward 3, T. Everett Eustis; Ward 4, I. N. Haskell; Ward 5, Harry L. Haskell. City Clerk, George G. Gifford. COMMON COUNCIL, President, George E. McCann; Ward 1, Daniel W. Kinsley, Charles F. Curtis, Thomas Dillingham; Ward 2. Charles H. Briggs, George E. Davis, James M. Stevens; Ward 3, Raymond Toothaker, Charles W. Dexter, Henry H. Hanson; Ward 4, George E. MeCann, Orrel F. Brown, Edmund H. Soper; Ward 5, Samuel B. Smith, Isaiah V. MeKenney, Elbridge G. Robinson; Clerk, J. H. Neal.
1891 - MAYOR, Albert R. Savage. ALDERMEN, President, T. E. Eustis; Ward 1, Daniel W. Kinsley; Ward 2, Winchester G. Lowell; Ward 3, T. Everett Eustis; Ward 4, I. N. Haskell; Ward 5, Samnel B. Smith. City Clerk, George G. Gifford. COMMON COUNCIL, President, Charles F. Curtis; Ward 1, Charles F. Curtis, Roland S. Woodward, Wellington D. Curtis; Ward 2, Charles H. Briggs, George E. Davis, James M. Stevens; Ward 3, Henry HI. Hanson, Henry W. Oakes, E. H. Hutchins; Ward 4, A. A. Garcelon, John P. Auger, Edmund H. Soper; Ward 5, Elbridge G. Robinson, Samuel S. Ashworth, Charles E. Marvel; Clerk, J. H. Neal; Treasurer, George E. McCann.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Early Shoe Manufacturing - Progress from 1860 to 1870 - Manufacturers Twenty Years Ago-Statistics from 1871 to 1881 - Manufacturers Ten Years Ago- From 1881 to 1891 - Shoe and Other Manufactories, January, 1891 - The Shoe Companies-Other Manufact- uring - Minor Industries, ete.
A UBURN is the shoe city of Maine, and here was the first attempt made in the state to develop shoe manufacturing as now conducted. A charter was granted by the legislature to the Minot Shoe Company, organized at West Auburn, January 2, 1835, with a capital first of $5,000, but soon made $10,000, and with Asaph Howard, Martin Crafts, Charles Briggs, Gershom B. Holmes, Benjamin Johnson, Timothy Bailey, Eliphalet Packard, Nehemiah Packard, George Ricker, Austin Kingsley, William Ladd, and others as stock- holders. Asaph Howard, president; Eliphalet Packard, clerk and treasurer;
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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.
Charles Briggs and Nehemiah Packard, directors. Work was begun in the dwelling of Mr Crafts in May, 1836, Moses Crafts helping cut the first case ; in November a shop was completed, and the manufacturing removed thither. A good quality of work was made, but the character of goods required to suit a general market and the proper method to make soles do not appear to have been understood. In the first two years of operation a large amount of work accumulated, and in anticipation of an early sale of the goods a dividend of 13 per cent. was declared, for which the company gave notes. The third year was unprofitable and no dividend was declared. David Green, of Auburn, then became agent, and while on business for the company embarked on the steamer Lexington on the trip on which it was burned, and was found frozen to death in a small boat that drifted to the shore. Jacob H. Roak, a son of Martin Rourk, of Durham, who had conducted a boot and shoe store at Goff's Corner since 1835, succeeded Mr Green as agent, and a year later bought the stock at less than one-eighth of its par value. Notwithstanding the ill luck, some of the pioneers continued to manufacture, others followed their example ; the demands of the market as to kind and quality of goods came to be under- ยท stood, and the result has been the phenomenal growth of Auburn's shoe industry, and a development through its means of a wealthy city of nearly 12,000 population. Jacob H. Roak from 1840 gave his energy to the upbuilding of this important industry, and was the promoter of many of Auburn's leading business interests.
J. H. ROAK & Co. (E. F. Packard, Samuel Pickard) commenced manu- facturing in 1847 on the site of Phoenix Block. Mr Packard was son of Gen. Eliphalet Packard, an early pioneer in the Southern shoe market and a stock- holder in the Minot Shoe Company. This firm at first made men's coarse work for New England country trade. The factory was burned in 1855 and re-estab- lished in Phoenix Block as Roak, Packard & Co. Later Mr Packard bought Mr Roak's interest, and in 1864 B. F. Briggs became partner in the firm of E. F. Packard & Co. In 1873 the brick factory on Railroad square of 122 x 40 feet, with five floors, was built. Steam furnished both power and heat. The firm this year produced 6,000 pairs of shoes weekly of goods for Southern and Western trade. Frank H. Packard became a member in 1874. Over 200 operatives were employed, and the weekly product was 9,000 pairs. In 1879 Frank H. Briggs was one of the firm. In 1882 the business was discontinued.
JAMES MUNROE & CO. In 1843 C. S. Packard and Noble N. Munroe purchased the interest of Jacob H. Roak in the business at West Auburn, and commenced operations as Packard & Munroe. In 1846 James Munroe became partner, and the firm name of C. S. Packard & Co. was assumed, which, upon the retirement of Mr Packard, became James Munroe & Co. Nelson H. Munroe was soon taken into the firm, and, five years later, was succeeded by H. M. Packard. A business of large proportions was developed, which, under
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CITY OF AUBURN.
the names of James Munroe & Co. and Munroe Manufacturing Co., continued without change until the death of Noble N. Munroe in 1886. The shoe man- ufacturing was discontinued, however, in 1880, having been in constant opera- tion for 30 years, except two months in 1861, when preparations were going on for war. The business was in its greatest prosperity from 1865 to 1875, but was ever conducted in a thrifty way and to the prosperity of the community. During the whole course of business every dollar of indebtedness was met by payments in full. Mr James Munroe resides at West Auburn and is one of the wealthiest men of the city.
At first manufacturing was done in a primitive manner, and the product was a coarse, heavy article. The work was cut out by the manufacturer, aided sometimes by a " cutter " or two, in a small room or shop, and then sent to the dwellings of the community, where the men and women worked at bottoming, stitching, etc. Everything was done by hand; no labor-saving machinery being introduced until about 1850. With the introduction of machinery and the making of a finer class of goods, a more systematic method of manufacture came into operation. Factories were built where the labor was done under the careful supervision of competent overseers, and by the aid of machinery run by steam-power. This factory system was generally adopted by 1870, though some of the work was still "farmed out." From that time the tendency has been towards large shops fitted with modern accessories of science, steam-power and heat, gas and electricity for light, elevators, etc., for the more easy hand- ling of materials and products. The development of Lewiston Falls, with the facility for shipment afforded by the railroad caused the shoe manufacturers to largely locate there, and from 1860 to 1870 the population of that part of Auburn lying within four miles of Court street bridge nearly doubled. This was largely due to shoe manufacturing and the business it created. In 1865 this manufacturing amounted to $1,000,000 annually, paying for labor $300,000, excise tax $60,000, freight $30,000, stock $520,000, and producing 600,000 pairs of shoes. From the incorporation of Auburn as a city this industry has been the one overshadowing all others. General business improved with the progress of the shoe business. Real estate brought higher prices. There was a brisk demand for building lots, an influx of a good class of citizens, a rapid and solid growth, and the new city attained prominence for its activity, push, and amount of business done. According to statistics carefully compiled by the Lewiston Journal, in 1871 the total manufacturing capital was $1,900,000, of which $1,300,000 was used in the shoe business, and only $550,000 was corporate capital. The number of shoe factories was 21. These used 3,000,000 pounds of leather, made over 2,367,000 pairs of shoes, valued at $2,377,000, and employed 2,137 operatives, with an annual pay-roll of $554,600. The total amount of manufacturing of Auburn in 1871 was $3,071,000, and the aggregate pay-roll $621,600.
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