USA > Maine > Androscoggin County > History of Androscoggin County, Maine > Part 92
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Poland Baptist Church .- Many of the early residents became Baptists, and united with the church in Paris. In 1824 they were embodied into a church, with 21 members. But they were few in numbers, and, after several years,
751
TOWN OF POLAND.
they united with the church in Oxford, which became " Poland and Oxford " church. This union continued until the membership and influence was mostly confined to Oxford, when the name Poland was dropped.
GLEANINGS FROM RECORDS. - The First Town Meeting of which there is record was held at the "Centre School-House " June 5, 1824. 1825, April 4, voted to lay out one-half of the interest of the ministerial fund, to be divided among the several denominations. 1826, November 14, voted not to annex Thompson Pond plantation. 1827, January 20, voted $50 to build a bridge across the Little Androscoggin river at or near Bog falls. December 18 the division of the ministerial fund was: Meth- odists, $12.90; Freewill Baptists, $9.74; Congregationalists, $6.88; Calvinist Baptists, $5. 1832, March 5, voted to grant licenses to innholders and retailers of spirituous liquors. May 29, the limits of the two militia companies, commanded by Captain Snow and Captain Rufus Haskell, were defined by the selectmen. 1833, March 13, voted not to grant licenses to retailers of spirituous liquors. 1834, March 31, Joshua Thurlow and Tilson Waterman were chosen to petition the legislature for liberty to sell the school lands for a school fund. 1835, March 2, voted Wentworth Ricker, James Dunn, Nehemiah Strout, John Martin, and Sprague Keen pound-keepers, and their yards to be pounds. 1836, December 10, a meeting was held on the banks of the Little Androscoggin and chose David Harris, Samuel Atwood, and Samuel Lane to meet a committee from Minot to draw plans for a bridge across the river, on the road leading from Poland Corner by Samuel Cousens's to " Bog falls." Plans were reported and accepted, and contract for building the abutment awarded to Simeon Lane for $175. 1837, March 13, voted that each school district choose its own school agents; voted to receive the surplus revenue money; William Dunn chosen agent to receive it, and Josiah Dunn, John Cousens, and Jonathan Pulsifer to loan it, the interest to be appropriated to pay town charges. 1838, April 9, voted to fence the public burying-grounds.
1840, September 14, for governor, John Fairfield had 359 votes and Edward Kent 119-the largest vote yet cast. 1841, March 6, the representative was instructed to oppose the petition of Samuel Jordan and 79 others of Raymond, Poland, and New Gloucester, for incorporation, and Benjamin Waterhouse, Stephen M. Marble, and Tilson Waterman were appointed to draft a remonstrance. 1844, March 25, voted to purchase a poor-farm at a cost not exceeding $1,500. 1846, April 18, voted to build a town house on the land owned by the proprietors between the Methodist meeting-house and Amos Cum- mings's land. John True, Jr, contracted to build it for $375. Alden Chandler was appointed to see that the work was done according to contract and the house finished by March 1, 1847. 1854, September 11, voted to buy, build, or hire a house for sufferers from small-pox or other contagious diseases. 1857, September 14, Joseph Freeman, William Schellinger, and Joseph Strout were chosen to sell the poor-farm and purchase a "new one." October 24, voted that the town purchase George Fickett's farm for $2,800. 1858, one vote cast for the liquor license act of 1856; 187 for the prohibitory act. 1859, February 19, resolutions were adopted denouncing the petition of the Poland Shakers to be set off from Poland and annexed to New Gloucester as "unreasonable, oppressive, and unjust." 1860, September 10, for governor, Israel Washburn, Jr, had 324 votes, and Ephraim K. Smart 263.
The Civil War. - Poland sent 216 enlisted men, 41 citizens furnished substitutes, and $45,230 was expended during the war. May 25, 1861, the town voted to hire $5,000 for aid of soldiers' families, to assist those only having a legal residence here, to appropriate (out of the above sum) one-half of a sum sufficient to supply the Mechanic Falls company with revolvers when Minot shall furnish the other half. July 22, 1862, voted to hire $2,250, and to pay each soldier (not exceeding 30) enlisting within six days $75 bounty. August 27 voted to pay a bounty of $100. September 9 voted to hire $5,000 to pay volunteers of the last quota $100 bounty. August 6, 1863, voted to hire money to relieve all conscripts from service. November 6, 1863, to hire money to pay each volunteer $300; November 13 to raise $250 for each volunteer under the last call. September 5, 1864, voted to pay $300 bounty under the present call. December 24 voted $450 bounty to fill the quota. January, 1865, voted to pay $200 for one year, two years $300, three years $450. A. A. Dwinal Post, G. A. R., assisted by the town, erected a beautiful monument (dedicated May 30, 1887,) in the little park in front of the Poland Paper Company's mills at Mechanic Falls.
1865, August 23, Stephen C. Atkins and Daniel F. Ayer were appointed special police at the East Poland camp-meeting. 1867, voted 111 to 8 in favor of an amendment to the existing liquor law. October 12 voted to exempt from taxation for ten years property exceeding $5,000 when expended for manufacturing purposes. 1868, September 26, the school committee of Minot and Poland adopted text- books for the public schools. 1869, December 11, George B. Dunn and Charles Lane agreed to repair
752
HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.
the town house for the use of the hall for five years (when not in use by the town) for festivals, meetings, parties, singing schools, concerts, dances, etc., but December 31 it was " voted that the town house shall not be used as a dance hall," and to pay Lane & Dunn their expenses for repairs.
1871 it was agreed that Poland should send representatives in 1871, 1873, 1874, 1876, 1878, and 1880, and Minot in the otlier years between 1870 and 1880. 1872, June 22, voted to raise $3,100 to pay the rent of a shoe factory, provided the citizens of Mechanic Falls take care of the loan and provide the building with machinery. 1874, March 9, voted to raise $500 for a free high school, and A. T. Denison, J. M. Libby, S. S. Littlefield, David Dunn, and John S. Dunn were chosen to locate the school and expend the money. Voted to set off the Shakers from school district No. 12 and the Shakers's property in No. 1 to district No. 9 in New Gloucester. 1876, November 7, voted to build, with Minot, an iron bridge at Mechanic Falls. 1877, May 1, voted to fund the town debt by issuing 5% bonds. 1878, November 9, line between Poland and Oxford perambulated.
1883, March 12, voted $25 for Memorial Day. Voted to abolish the school district system. 1884, September 8, vote on the prohibitory amendment, "yes," 306; "no," 103. September 29, Alfred G. Thurlow, Orren S. Keen, and Charles W. Dunn were appointed to sell the town farm and buy another. 1887, March 14, voted to build (and $800 appropriated) with Minot, an iron bridge at Minot Corner. September 3, voted to establish free high schools at West Poland and Poland Corner. 1888, December 9, voted to oppose the incorporation of Mechanic Falls village, and the annexation of that part of Poland lying east of the Grand Trunk to Minot. 1890, March 10, voted for a uniform course of study in the schools, and $1,000 appropriated to buy school books. $1,200 was raised to protect Mechanic Falls against fire, provided the Poland Paper Co. give bond to furnish water. 1891, money appropriated at annual meeting, schools, $3,000; high school, $250; highways, labor, $2,500; roads and bridges, money, $2,000; poor, $1,200; other purposes, $3,925. The valuation of the town is $958,428.
Schools.1-Poland has ever had a good character of district schools and late years has sustained free high schools in various parts. November 26, 1887, the town voted to change from the district to the town system. This terminated the union of districts No. 20 in Poland and No. 1 in Minot, leaving 224 scholars in Poland to be provided with educational facilities. March 12, 1888, the town voted $5,000 for suitable school-buildings at Mechanic Falls, which were at once built. A. J. Weston was contractor for the wood work. These buildings are on Elm street, on commanding ground. There is a well- kept lawn in front, with walks and young shade trees, and large play-grounds, and all the spacions, well-lighted, and perfectly ventilated rooms are heated with steam. It is supplied with four teachers, and the most progressive methods are employed. Number of pupils attending in each department, from 40 to 50. The school is free to all Poland scholars, and the way is open for them to graduate here. The course covers three years in the primary depart- ment, four in the grammar, and four in the high. The high school has elective courses, English and classical. The classical comprises a preparation for college. The English gives more thorough drill in English branches and allows substitution of natural science, book-keeping, English and American literature, for the languages. Among those who have done good work for
1 Ruel J. Everett, son of David R. and Harriet E. (Cobb) Everett, is one of the sons of Poland who has successfully devoted himself to teaching. He was born here December 8, 1852 ; his father being a native of Norway. Mr Everett was fitted for his educational work at Hebron Academy and Bates College, where he was graduated in 1876, and for nine years was principal of the Oxford Normal School at South Paris. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of Mt Mica Lodge, I. O. O. F. In 1878 he married Annie L., daughter of James and Lucretia Curtis, of South Paris. They have a son, Philip R. Everett.
753
TOWN OF POLAND.
Poland schools are F. A. Millett,1 E. F. Bradford, M.D., J. K. Denning, B. M. Fernald, F. E. Hanscom, W. W. McCann, F. D. Shackford, and C. J. Cheney.
CIVIL LIST. - Town Clerks : 2 1824, 1825, 1826, 1827, 1828, Josiah Jordan; 1829, 1830, Timothy Water- house; 1831, 1832, 1833, 1834, 1835, Amos Cummings; 1836, Daniel Harring; 1837, 1838, Sampson Sonle; 1839, David Dunn; 1840, 1841, 1842, 1843, 1844, Amos Cummings; 1845, 1846, 1847, Freeland Marble; 1848, 1849, George Bridgham, Jr; 1850, 1851, 1852, 1853, David Dunn; from September, 1853, to March, 1854, Cyrus Briggs; 1854, Stephen Gould; 1855, 1856, 1857, David Dunn; 1858, 1859, 1860, 1861, Andrew J. Weston; 1862, 1863, 1864, Thomas Hillman; 1865, 1866, A. C. Denison; 1867, 1868, A. T. Denison; 1869, Charles Lane; 1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, Zenas Lane, Jr; 1876, I. W. Hanson; 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, Charles Lane; from October, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, 1891, Zenas Lane.
Selectmen : 1824 - John Cousens, James Twitchell, Wentworth Ricker; 1825 - Josiah Jordan, Daniel Waterman, Jr, William Stevens; 1826- William Stevens, John H. Bartlett, Jabez True, Jr; 1827, 1828-John H. Bartlett, David Harris, Nathaniel Dunn; 1829 - John H. Bartlett, Daniel Water- man, Jr, William Dunn; 1830- Daniel Waterman, Jr, Reuben B. Dunn, Benjamin Waterhouse; 1831 - Reuben B. Dunn, Benjamin Waterhouse, Daniel Herring; 1832, 1833 - Benjamin Waterhouse, Zenas Lane, Moses Snell; 1834 - Zenas Lane, Joseph Freeman, Jedediah Pratt; 1835 - Benja- min Waterhouse, Daniel Waterman, Jr, William Maxwell, Jr; 1836 - Daniel Waterman, Jr, William Maxwell, Jr, Stephen M. Marble; 1837 - Stephen M. Marble, Joseph Freeman, William Stanton; 1838- Stephen M. Marble, William Stanton, David Dunn; 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842 - Benjamin Waterhonse, Eliphalet Davis, Joseph H. Snell; 1843, 1844- Benjamin Waterhouse, John Megquier, Samuel Cousens; 1845- Benjamin Waterhouse, Joseph H. Snell, Samuel Consens; 1846 - Joseph H. Snell, Robert Martin, William Dunn; 1847 - Joseph H. Snell, Robert Martin, Samuel Consens; 1848 - Robert Martin, Samnel Cousens, Rufus Haskell; 1849 - Robert Martin, Stephen M. Marble, Daniel W. True; 1850, 1851 - Daniel W. True, William Consens, James S. Gerry; 1852 - Daniel W. True, George Bridgham, Jr, Benjamin Waterhouse; 1853, 1854 - George Bridgham, Jr, Benjamin Waterhouse, Whitney Frank; 1855, 1856-Thomas Lane, James H. Fernald, William A. Tobie; 1857 - Thomas Lane, James H. Fernald, Lewis Perkins; 1858 - Benjamin Waterhouse, John M. Allen, E. W. Fyler; 1859-Thomas Lane, William Consens, Luther Perkins; 1860, 1861 - Thomas Lane, Luther Perkins, William A. Tobie; 1862- Benjamin Waterhouse, William A. Tobie, A. J. Weston; 1863- Luther D. Cobb, William A. Tobie, A. J. Weston; 1864- Luther D. Cobb, Isaiah Wentworth, A. J. Weston; 1865-John R. Pulsifer, Thomas Lane, A. J. Weston; 1866- Thomas Lane, A. J. Weston, James S. Gerry; 1867 - A. J. Weston, Joseph McDonald, W. W. Waterman; 1868, 1869 - A. J. Weston, J. S. Gerry, J. C. Davis; 1870, 1871 - John R. Pulsifer, Simon Libby, Peter R. Tileston;
1 Frank A. Millett was born in Hartford, April 28, 1844. He was the son of Lemuel T. (born in Peru) and Mary A. (Milliken) Millett (born in Scarborough). His grandfather, William Millett, was a resident of Auburn. He was the son of John, a Revolutionary soldier, and settled in (Bakerstown) Minot. This John was son of David, who settled in New Gloucester. David was the son of John, one of the proprietors of New Gloucester, and died in North Yarmouth, about 1785, and John was the son of Thomas, and Thomas was the oldest son of Thomas, the English emigrant, who came over in the ship " Elizabeth," of London, in 1635, and Thomas was the son of Henry Millett, Gentleman, Attorney at Law, of Chertsey, Surrey county, England. Frank A. Millett married Lucy A. Faunce, November 29, 1866. In politics he is a Democrat, and has for many years been recognized as a prominent factor in the councils of his party. In 1866 he was entrusted with the management of the State campaign. He has been identified in many popular movements in his village and town; conspicuous among which are the improvements in schools, the organization of the G. A. R., and the I. O. O. F., having received the highest honors in the G. A. R., and the three branches of the I. O. O. F. He is a Knight of Pythias. He attended the district schools of Hartford, Auburn, and Minot, where his parents resided. He also received an academical education at Kent's Hill and Hebron Academy, and when taking a college preparatory course at the last named place, he visited Stoneham, Mass., in the summer of 1864, and while there enlisted in Co. I, 4th Mass. H. A., and served until the close of the war. He has twice held a commisison of trial justice, resigning that office when he became postmaster of Mechanic Falls, March 24, 1887, which office he held until April, 1891. He resides on the Poland side.
2 No record is attainable giving town officers before 1824.
754
HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.
1872- John R. Pulsifer, Simon Libby, W. W. Waterman; 1873, 1874, 1875-A. J. Weston, Luther D. Cobb, Jabez T. Waterman; 1876- A. J. Weston, Luther D. Cobb, Jesse B. Stanton; 1877 -Thomas Lane, John R. Pulsifer, V. P. Waterhouse; 1878-Thomas Lane. V. P. Waterhouse, Charles L. Hackett; 1879 -- V. P. Waterhouse, Charles L. Hackett, Orrin S. Keen; 1880, 1881 - V. P. Waterhouse, Orrin S. Keen, A. G. Thurlow; 1882- A. J. Weston, L. D. Cobb, Leonard C. Herrick; 1883- V. P. Waterhouse, L. C. Herrick, James H. Stanton; 1884- V. P. Waterhouse, William M. Megquier, S. L. Littlefield; 1885-L. C. Herrick, A. E. True, James D. Downing; 1886- A. E. True, O. S. Keen, James I. Chipman; 1887 - V. P. Waterhouse, James I. Chipman, Charles E. Stevens; 1888 - James I. Chipman, S. I. Jewett, Francis Storer; 1889- James I. Chipman, S. I. Jewett, John G. Davis; 1890 - James I. Chipman, J. G. Davis, E. W. Jordan; 1891 - John G. Davis, E. W. Jordan, William Blair.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
HON. ADNA CURTIS DENISON.
A CCORDING to Burke's "Book of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain," "The Denison family is unquestionably ancient, the name appearing in the Charter of King Malcom I, who died in 1165. The English Denisons are said to have sprung from a cadet of this ancient house, who went from Scotland in the time of Charles I, who fought at Marston Moor." The family is undoubtedly of Norman origin; members of this family fought in the Crusades, and were entitled to bear a "coat of arms"; the motto of the Denisons is Domus Grata. The American Denisons are descendants of William of England, who came, in 1631, in the Ship Lion, with his wife Margaret, and sons, Daniel, Edward, and George, and John Eliot, afterwards apostle to the Indians, who was a tutor to his sons. William Denison settled in Roxbury, Mass., was deacon, and died in 1653. George had two children born in Roxbury. His wife died in 1643, and he returned to England, served under Cromwell, was wounded at Naseby, and nursed at the house of John Borodell, whose daughter, Ann, he married. He returned to Roxbury, and subsequently settled at Stonington, Conn., where he was almost constantly placed in important public positions. His wife was always called "Lady Ann." They were remarkable for magnificent personal appearance and force of mind and character. Capt. George Denison was distinguished in the military movements of the times, and also active in civil affairs. He has been described as "the Miles Standish of the settlement." His oldest son, Capt. John Denison, held a high position and was a man of mark in Stonington. He married Phebe Lay. Of their children, William, the fourth son, resided in North Stonington, married Mary, daughter of John Avery. Avery Denison, their son, was born in 1712, married Thankful Williams, in 1734. Elisha, the oldest child of this marriage, married Keturah Minor; their children were born in Stonington, but they eventually removed to Ludlow, Vt. Isaac, son of Elisha, was born in
-
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TOWN OF POLAND.
1778. The descendants of Capt. George Denison intermarried with the Palmer, Cheseboro, Stanton, Williams, Babcock, Avery, and many other prominent families in Stonington and vicinity, and his posterity is numerous and honorable. Isaac Denison married Electra E. Newell, of Farmington, Conn., October 21, 1798. He was a pioneer settler of the town of Burke, Caledonia county, Vt, going there when a young man, and by his industrious labors developing a fine farm and a pleasant home from the forest wilderness. He died in Norway, January 9, 1867. His children were Nancy C., Almira, Lucius, Maria, Rev. Nathan, Rebecca N. (married Alonzo Bemis), Minerva C., Adna C., Oscar A., Isaac A. (married Laurestine Bemis, resides at Mechanic Falls), and Rosalie S.
Hon. Adna Curtis Denison, son of Isaac and Electra E. (Newell) Denison, was born in Burke, Vt, November 15, 1815. He had common school and academic education, and when fifteen years old became a clerk in the store of Morrill & Denison, at Sutton (his father being a member of the firm), and remained twelve years, manifesting a peculiar aptitude for mercantile life. In 1842, at the solicitation of his brother-in-law, Titus O. Brown, he moved to Norway, Me, opened a store at Steep Falls with E. W. Fyler and Clark W. True as A. C. Denison & Co., and in a short time wrought a revolution in the mercantile business of the Androscoggin Valley. He carried on trade in a different manner from former merchants, bought everything a farmer had for sale, inaugurated cash payments, transacted a vast business for years, and had a store at Auburn from 1845 to 1848. He was also largely engaged in supply- ing contractors on the Atlantic and St Lawrence R. R., at the head of firms at South Paris, Bethel, Gorham, and Northumberland and North Stratford, N. H. He continued in this business until 1853. In connection with Dr Asa Danforth, Mr Denison built one of the first paper mills in the state at Norway, in 1848. He also had saw-mills, and every industry felt his influence. In 1851 Mr Denison turned his attention to Mechanic Falls, bought the old mill owned by Isaiah Perkins and others, and built the paper mill, now No. 1 of the Poland Paper Company. In 1855, with Sewall Danforth, he erected a paper mill at Duck Ponds, which he later purchased and removed to Mechanic Falls. From 1856, when he made this place his home, he was the leading business element. In the development of paper manufacturing, in trade, in the erection of buildings, in the encouragement of other manufacturing, Mr Denison, more than all others, added to the growth and importance of Mechanic Falls, and continued the manufacture of paper until four mills and two auxiliary mills were in operation on the three dams here, with a daily production of 15 tons. About 1880 his company was among the first to manufacture chemical wood- pulp to use in paper making, building a large mill at Canton for this purpose, having a daily production of 12 tons. Mr Denison's son, Adna T., was associated with him in 1862 and thereafter in his various enterprises, as was
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HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY.
also his son-in-law, Calvin M. Cram, for several years prior to 1883. Mr Denison was also prominent in the stock company that purchased and remodelled the large paper mill on the Farnsworth privilege, in Lisbon, which was burned shortly after its completion.
Mr Denison married, September 13, 1838, Hannah, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Kennedy) True. She died March 23, 1881. Their children are Adna True and Fannie M. Adna T. married (1st) Sarah C. R. Welch ; they had one child, Frank W .; (2d) Sarah W. Gunnison. They have three children : Ansel T., Adna C., Hannah A. Mr A. T. Denison resides in Portland. Fannie M. married Calvin Morse Cram, now president of Fowler Manufacturing Company, of New York City. Their children are Agnes Denison and Fannie Warren. Since 1872 Mr Denison has owned the Cousens farm, said to be the finest on the old stage road between Norway and Portland, and in 1880 he made his home here with his nephew, Adna D. Bemis, who conducts the farm. (Mr Bemis married Ellen M. Young.)
Mr Denison has been an active Universalist in religion, and a Whig and Republican in politics. His extensive business operations prevented him from giving much time to public positions, but he has served with credit in both houses of the state legislature. He has won the respect and esteem of an extensive acquaintance ; while his courtesy and benignity, beaming from a face of kindliness, have made Lowell's lines as true of him as they were of Agassiz, that
" Where'er he met a stranger, There he left a friend."
Luther Perkins, son of Oliver and Sarah (Elmes) Perkins, was born in Oxford, May 9, 1817. He married, in 1841, Mary L., daughter of Captain Jonathan Waite, a retired sea-captain of Portland, who had purchased a farm on Johnson hill. Mr Perkins then made his home at West Poland, and at once commenced to deal in cattle and real estate, in which he has extensively engaged for many years. In May, 1888, he removed to Mechanic Falls. He has been much in public life; was selectman three years; representative in 1871 and 1872; county commissioner in 1876, 1877, and 1878, and has been a justice of the peace for over 40 years. He has been prominent in society organizations - Masonic, Odd Fellow, Pythian, Patrons of Husbandry, etc., and is a public-spirited and generous citizen. He has two children, Alice (Mrs I. W. Hanson), and Kittie E. (Mrs J. M. Libby).
757
TOWN OF MINOT.
/
MINOT.
CHAPTER XLIV.
Incorporation - Boundaries - Name-Physical Features, Soil, Population and Valua- tion-First Settler-Captain Daniel Bucknam and Descendants- Early and Other Settlers-Incidents of Pioneer Life- Voters of 1800.
M INOT was incorporated as the 129th town February 18, 1802, and was set off from the northern part of Poland with these bounds : " Begin- ning at the southeast corner of the town of Turner, at a place called the Crooked Ripples, in the Great Androscoggin River; thence by a line drawn on the middle of said river to the Great Falls; thence by the line in the act which incorporates the said town of Poland, until it strikes the Little Androscoggin River; thence by a line drawn on the middle of said river, until it strikes the Little Androscoggin River ; thence by a line drawn on the middle of said river, until it strikes the southerly side-line of Hebron, com- monly called Davis's line, to the southwest corner of Turner; and thence by the line of said Turner to the bounds first begun at." It is said that the name selected by the petitioners for the new town was Raymouth, but the agent (Dr Jesse Rice) caused Minot to be inserted in the act of incorporation, in honor of Judge Minot, a member of the General Court, who rendered effective assistance in the passage of the bill incorporating the town. Nathaniel C. Allen, Esq., was empowered to issue a warrant to some suitable citizen requiring him to call the first town meeting, and the act of incorporation specifies that all future taxes are to be levied on the two towns until a new valuation shall be assessed, in the proportion of one-third to Poland and two- thirds to Minot. February 24, 1842, that portion of Minot east of the " curve line " was set off and incorporated as Auburn. The Minot line was " to com- mence four miles from the Androscoggin river and run parallel with that until it struck the Little Androscoggin river."
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